Seventy for One

'Indeed a great month has shaded you. A month in which there is a night of deeds, in which doing deeds reaps the rewards of deeds done in a thousand other months. One who approaches it with a good deed, it is as if he has performed an obligatory deed (farizat). And one who performs an obligatory deed (farizat) in it, it is as if he has performed seventy obligatory deeds.'

(Rasulullah SA)

This article was written by Taha bhai R. in 2017.

In Syedna Taher Fakhruddin’s TUS bayaan mubarak on pehli raat of Shehrullah this year, he urged us to take advantage of the immense opportunities available in Shehrullah al-Mo’azzam. Syedna explained that it is easy to understand in the context of business and wealth the importance of seizing opportunities for multifold return. Syedna urged Mumineen to understand and appreciate the unique opportunity in Shehrullah to garner sawaab from Allah Ta’ala. This metaphor in Maulana’s bayaan mubarak makes it strikingly obvious what our priorities should be, especially in Shehruallah.

In the context of business and wealth, I reflected that when something we wish to have is on “promotion” or “special offer” we buy more of it before the offer expires. For instance, if one wishes to buy a shirt and sees that a particular shop is offering a “2 for 1” promotion, they would purchase it immediately to take advantage of the special offer. Moreover it is likely one would purchase more than required (and thus get even more free / promotional benefit) in order to take advantage of this offer and stock up for the future.

Syedna explained in this bayaan that in in Shehrullah Khuda Ta’ala grants us seventy times the sawaab for one farizat amal (e.g. one farizat namaaz garners the sawaab of 70 farizat namaaz) and for each sunnat amal grants farizat sawab. And this ehsan is further multiplied during Lailatul Qadr, when the sawaab garnered for ibadat and good deeds is 1000 times.

In arguably what is among the most generous offers that we will receive in life, when Allah Ta’ala offers such manifold reward for ibadat, ought we not hasten to avail of this opportunity?

As I listened to Maulana’s bayaan mubarak I reflected on why this common sense and straightforward approach is easy to apply in our personal matters like finance and family, but not in other religious and spiritual aspects of our lives. For in fact, in the Qur’an Majeed, Allah Ta’ala says, “Wealth and children are the beauty of worldly life” (Surat al-Kahf: 46). If we are willing to prioritize and maximize our returns and profits for possessions of this physical world, why are we not willing to do so for Aakherat, for God, for our eternal soul? Are our minds so trapped in the physicality of this world that we only value that which is easily visible, clearly measurable, physically attainable, and cumulatively storable? And if so how can we escape this heedless competition and unfortunate greed to accumulate even more physical possessions?

In continuation of the ayat quoted above, Allah Ta’ala says, “But the things that endure, good deeds, are best in the sight of Allah Ta’ala and garner the best rewards” (Surat al-Kahf: 46). Alas, we must fight the draw of materialism by refocusing our energy on accomplishing good deeds, for these are the things that truly count – good deeds are what are valued by Allah Ta’ala. They are the currency with which a person can attain salvation in the Hereafter and are the true cause of pride and (friendly) competition among the people of the world. Attaining and gathering these goods deeds (saalihaat, khayraat, hasanaat) should be the goal and objective of every moment in our life. And as Syedna explained, Shehrullah is the most opportune time to refocus on ibaadat and good deeds as this month generates multifold sawaab for even the littlest of ibaadat or smallest khair amal.

May Allah Ta’ala give us the tawfiq and good sense to take advantage of these priceless days of Shehrullah. May we have the clarity in our hearts and souls to deprioritize accumulation of worldly possessions. May Allah Ta’ala expand our mindsets so that we may gain perspective of the relative insignificance of this worldly life, which is at most 80-100 years, in favor of Aakherat, which is eternal. May Allah Ta’ala help us act according to the guidance and principles of our Hudaat Kiram, Dua’t Mutlaqeen: may we pray with the utmost concentration and sincerity, may we engage in good deeds without ulterior motives; and may we spend every second in gratitude of the immense blessings we have. May we have the strength to honor our worldly commitments and duties, whilst constantly prioritizing deen over dunya, as per the teachings of our Awliyaullah. And finally, may Allah Ta’ala give afdalul jaza to Maulana TUS, Syedna Qutbuddin RA, Syedna Burhanudin RA and all our past Awliyaullah for showing us the right path (Siraat-e-Mustaqeem) and for teaching us the importance of Shehrullah.