The Reality of Taqwa

Our Shaikh, Hazrat Maulana Hakeem Akhtar (DB) said:

“The reality of taqwa (god-fear) is to tolerate the “wound of regret” and withstand the grief of not being able to fulfill one’s forbidden desires, in spite of the severe urge and inclination to do so. This is the reality of TAQWA. Listen to this couplet of mine regarding this:

I have suffered the wounds of regret,

 

Only then have I attained Him.

 

 

By guarding myself from the forbidden beauties,

 

I have undergone much grief.

(Mawaahib-e-Rabbaniya; pg. 95)

 

 

Note: Hazrat mentions that the nafs feels a sense of a loss, disappointment, and dissatisfaction of not having fulfilled its desire. And when the nafs becomes sad the ruh becomes happy. Hazrat (db) is most vividly explaining one of the most necessary factors in the journey to Allah Ta`ala, and that is undergoing the pain and tolerating the hardship of the path.

 

As the saying goes, “No pain, no gain.” Similarly in the path of Sulook, one must struggle and go through a lot of grief and sadness of giving up what one loves for what Allah Ta`ala loves for us.

 

That person who does not tolerate this pain and is not prepared to sacrifice his/her forbidden desires and evil habits will never attain Allah Ta`ala no matter how much zikr is made or how much worship is done and books are read.

 

Whether it is addiction to pornography, lustful glances or an illicit relationship with a boy or girl, or neglect of prayers and religious obligations; whatever the case maybe, one needs to clench one’s teeth, roll up his sleeves and be ready to take the pain of leaving these evils. Addiction to sin, like any other addiction, has adverse effects of being dependant. And the symptoms of dependence to sin are the grief and depression a person goes through in abandoning them. One should therefore not become bothered by this pain, for it is through tolerating this pain that Allah Ta`ala grants us His special love and acceptance due to which a person becomes a special friend of Allah.

 

Undoubtedly, there will be a lot of grief in leaving sins but Allah Ta`ala has promised, “And those who strive in Our (cause), We will most certainly guide them to our Paths: For verily Allah is with those who do right.” (Ankabut: 69)

 

Greater than the amount of pain and grief one goes through in this path will be the amount of enjoyment and noor that will be granted in lieu of that pain. But once a person tolerates that pain and undergoes the hardship of the path he will experience an ecstasy greater than the pleasures of Jannah in this very earth because He will have attained the Creator of Jannah. Allahu Akbar, may Allah Ta`ala grant us all the ability to sacrifice our forbidden pleasures for His sake.

 

Ameen…

-Submitted by: Maulana Tameem Ahmad Sahib Khalifah of Hazrat Hakeem Akhtar Sahib (DB)

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