Spiritual
DISCOURSE
By Mufti Taqi Uthmani
Allama Busayri has beautifully narrated in his famous
Qasida Burda:
“Nafs is like a child. If you keep
breastfeeding it, it will grow up
with love for it, but will keep away
if you wean him off it”
When a breast-fed child is ready to be weaned (at 2 years of
age), this habit must be, at some point, discontinued. Initially
it is tough to do that as the child is hooked on it. He
will cry and throw tantrums if his desire is not fulfilled, but
he will surrender eventually. However, if the mother gives
in to his tantrums, then he would never be weaned.
Similarly, the nafs is like a child. It is accustomed to and
finds pleasure in committing. If it is not stopped, then
it can lead to one becoming a habitual sinner. The way
to overcome this is to resist the nafs and prevent it from
committing sins. Initially, it will throw tantrums and make
it difficult but if the desires of the nafs are resisted for an
extended period, it will then soon give up. It will be then
“conditioned” to this new habit of staying away from sins.
Willpower can do wonders
Allah has created two opposite characteristics in human
beings: willpower and irresolution. A person can use his
willpower to achieve unthinkable goals and great success. If
he demonstrates irresolution and lack of determination, he
can dwell in an apathetic state his whole life. Great achievements
all over the world can be seen as a result of this
innate characteristic of willpower and determination. Even
meaningless pursuits and sinful acts are accomplished
through willpower.
Niagara Falls
We can take the example of Niagara Falls, which is one of
the seven wonders of the world. During my visit there,
I was presented a booklet outlining the historical facts of
this amazing and beautiful sight. The booklet mentioned
its wonders and some of the daredevils who tried to jump
into the Fall. The booklet listed names of men who tried to
sail in rubber boats in the river and plunged into the Fall
and others who tied ropes across the Falls and tried to walk
over it. While a number of them plunged with their bodies
being crushed by the ferocious speed of gushing water
and the height, there were others who made it by tight
roping across to make historical records. There was a man
who placed a blind man on his shoulders and rope-walked
across the Falls, setting a new world record. His name
stands in the record book to this day.
I wonder, can everyone do this? Forget Niagara Falls, the
average person cannot even walk a short distance on a rope.
However, if a person uses his willpower and determination
then it can become something doable. Willpower is such a
quality bestowed by Allah on human beings that they can
achieved extraordinary goals with the blessing of Allah.
If Allah can allow a disbeliever to attain an unthinkable goal
through his willpower then a believer who works hard and
uses his/her willpower to submit to Him and avoid disobedience,
would surely achieve this task with Allah’s help. The
error that we make is that we submit to irresolution and
apathy and feel we are helpless. However, on the contrary
the Shari‘a tells us that we are not helpless.
Nothing is beyond our capacity
Allah says in the Quran, “Allah does not obligate anyone
beyond his capacity” (2:286).
Therefore, whatever tasks have been set forth by Shari‘a
for a person are within his/her abilities. All a person has
to do is practice willpower and determination in carrying
out those tasks. That is why Hazrat Thanawi has concluded
that the gist of Tasawwuf is to overcome apathy and use the
14 March – April 2021 | AL-MADINAH