"Worship Your Lord and Do Good"

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ارْكَعُوا وَاسْجُدُوا وَاعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمْ وَافْعَلُوا الْخَيْرَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

'O you who believe, bow down and prostrate yourselves, worship your Lord, and do good that perhaps you may be prosperous.'

(Surat al-Hajj: 77)

This article was written by Ra'sul Hududil Mayameen Janab Syedi Aziz Bhaisaheb Qutbuddin in 2016.

Shehrullah al-Mo’azzam is the month of worship. It is a month in which we focus our energies on fasting and forbearance, zakaat and muwasaat, ruku’ and sujud, and ‘ibaadat in the day and the night.

Syedna Taher Fakhruddin TUS in a recent sabaq said that along with worship, Allah Ta’ala has also instructed us to do good (khayr-khuwahi). In the ayat (quoted above) Allah Ta’ala says “O you who believe, bow down and prostrate yourselves, worship your Lord, and do good that perhaps you may be prosperous” (Surat al-Hajj: 77). Syedna stressed that the ayat emphasizes “doing good” in the same breath as Allah’s worship.

Shehrullah is the month of worship because it is the month of Allah, and because in this month Allah’s reward for worship is multiplied. Each sunnat garners the sawab of farizat, each farizat garners the sawab of 70 farizats. This is purely Allah Ta’ala’s rehmat.

This month is also an opportune time to “do good”: to do silat with our loved ones, to help our friends and those in need in general, to offer iftaar etc.

It is narrated that Amirul Mumineen SA owned land which he cultivated, and the income from these farms would be spent every year offering iftaar to the people of Kufa. Hasan Imam and Husain Imam SA personally managed the jaman. Amirul Mumineen cultivated his land with this noble purpose, while he himself - azhahuz-zuhhaad - in his last Shehrullah did iftaar on three luqmas.

Following the example of Amirul Mumineen, his Dai Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA, offered iftaar to Mumineen all over the world on the 19^th of Ramadan for many years. His many khayraat are akin to the khayraat of Syedna Hatim RA.

Under the auspices of Zahra Hasanaat, Syedna Khuzaima Qutbuddin RA offered iftaar in many of the suburbs of Mumbai throughout Shehrullah, especially in areas of low income. Each year thousands of thaals were organized. Over the years, Zahra Hasanaat has taken care of a multitude of household medical emergencies, marriages, education – for some children Zahra Hasanaat has been a strong presence from kindergarten till graduation from college.

With Syedna Burhanuddin’s raza and doa, Syedna Qutbuddin also single handedly spearheaded the establishment of the Syedna Taher Saifuddin Memorial Foundation and organized the fundraising for “Sandoz House” to be bought by the foundation in the 1960’s. The rental income from that property has been used continuously for the good of the community (Link to Golden Panorama page). Today the annual rental income from Sandoz House is more than 10 Cr Indian Rupees (100 million INR/ approx. 1.5 Million USD), all of which is earmarked for charitable purposes. The khayraat of Syedna Taher Saifuddin, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin and Syedna Qutbuddin continue in many ways.

Following the example of Amirul Mumineen, and with the noble intent (baland niyyat) of doing good, Syedna Qutbuddin began the cultivation of farmland in USA a few years ago. He instructed his Shehzada and successor, Syedna Fakhruddin TUS, to personally oversee the development of the farm. Inshaallah, by Amirul Mumineen’s wasila, the fruit of the trees will help fulfill the noble intent of Syedna Qutbuddin - his khayraat will reach Mumineen and ‘ibadullah’ for years to come.

In this holy month, May Allah Ta’ala give us the strength and inspiration to worship Him. May Allah Ta’ala also give us the strength and inspiration to do good deeds in this month and in every month. May we help others with our wealth as well as our time. May Allah Ta’ala grant longest life to the Dai of Amirul Mumineen and may his khayr, and the khayr of Maulana Qutbuddin, continue forever.