Finding that which is lost.

Something that is lost has to be found; especially so if the matter concerned is of utmost importance in our lives as Muslims, both in this world and in the Hereafter. An analogy was made, that if a person were to lose his most treasured diamond ring, he would endeavour tirelessly to find it back. Now, replace that diamond ring with Taqwa, which is, as we all know, infinitely more precious than any material diamond ring, regardless how heavy its carat measure. Is the same amount of fervor seen in finding that Taqwa? In fact, it should be more!

Well, the sole reason why it isn’t the case must be that our emphasis on the importance/appreciation of Taqwa is seriously insufficient.

Bearing in mind, half of Ramadhan 1430H has already passed; in it is the Divine Ordainment to fast, with the ultimate purpose of obtaining precisely just that, that extremely precious Taqwa.

Sometimes, in all the speech meant to stir up our zeal in obtaining Taqwa, a mental picture of finding something comes to mind. I honestly do not know which case is more reflective of the truth; that Taqwa is to be found or Taqwa is to be built up from/beginning with ourselves; that is, assuming such differences do exist.

The first case seems to tantalise us with a sudden rapture upon the finding of that ‘lost’ entity, whereas the second tends to subtly inform us of the need for time, arduous training and the likes, in order to slowly increase that Taqwa.

‘lost’ itself seems to mean that the entity was once present, and then it went missing.

فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ
So keep your duty to Allah as best ye can
At Thaghabun (64:16)


People have misinterpreted this to mean that Man can slacken in his duties to God, even when it comes to those matters obligatory, because they say, “that is the best we can.”

But Man has the capacity to reach perfection, for otherwise letting us know about Paradise and perfection would be vain and useless, all those stories on high levels of servanthood would be useless. So in reality, “keep your duty to Allah as best ye can” is an instigation for us to dutifully maintain our God-Consciousness, definitely not an excuse to enjoy sloth and lazing around.

I am indeed grateful to have Ust Hasbi, as a person who truly teaches and inspires us to have Taqwa, and to love the Beloved Prophet s.a.w.


And just to share, whatever that is left of Ramadhan this year and all the other Ramadhans to come insyaAllah, Shaykh Afeefudeen taught us a very important dua to be regularly recited in Ramadhan. A simple request asking Allah to make us from amongst those who are near; Allahumaj’alnaa minal muqarrabiin… why? Just a simple allusion to the verse at the end of Ayat of the Dalil for Shiam:

وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ
And when My servant question thee concerning Me, then surely I am Near. I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he crieth unto Me.

When we are near, our prayers are answered.

Wallahu ‘alam.
God Forgive us all and accept all our ‘amal this Ramadhan, and all our sincere intentions.
Amin