‘Imitation of Desires; Main Cause of Nations’ Fall’

Khateeb of Ahl-us-Sunnah in Zahedan, Shaikh Abdul Hameed Ismaeelzahi, talked about the detriments of accepting the self’s wishes and orders in his Friday’s sermon on 9th December 2011 in the Grand Makki mosque of Zahedan, Iran.

The prominent Sunni preacher began his sermon by recitation of the Qur’anic verse: «أَفَرَأَيْتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ إِلَهَهُ هَوَاهُ وَأَضَلَّهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى عِلْمٍ وَخَتَمَ عَلَى سَمْعِهِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَجَعَلَ عَلَى بَصَرِهِ غِشَاوَةً فَمَن يَهْدِيهِ مِن بَعْدِ اللَّهِ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ» [الجاثیه: 23]
{So, have you seen him who has taken his desires as his god, and Allah has let him go astray, despite having knowledge, and has sealed his ear and his heart, and put a cover on his eye? Now who will guide him after Allah? Still, do you not take lesson?} And enlightened the consequences of following the ego.

He said that one of the most important things that threatened the human society over its history is imitation of the self and passions. On the other hand, the greatest thing which ends up with the success of mankind is imitation of Shari’ah and Islam.

‘Whenever, people failed to rein their passions, complete failure was their end. As they faced lots of crises in their routine life. On the opposite side, all nations who imitate the Shari’ah law and the Qur’an and Sunnah, they get complete success and salvation,’ Mawlana Abdul Hameed added more.

Addressing tens of thousands in the largest grand mosque of Sunnis in Iran, he pointed, ‘Though, a significant part of the Quran talks about the past nations and their stories; by studying their conditions it can be understood that the main reason of their defeat and infamy was imitation of the self and desires unlimitedly.’

The rector of Darululoom Zahedan went on saying that no doubt accepting some desires, rightly, is correct and allowed. But, paying numerous attentions to egos is quite dangerous. Because the human self is very avaricious that never gets satisfaction with money and properties. This is the point which has been underlined by the Qur’an.

He urged that “imitation of Shari’ah” is the only remedy for Muslims. Muslims of the initial centuries followed Shari’ah and Islam in all aspects of life, their tendency to the worldly tools was in sober and they were trying to reform themselves and the society. So, they received the fruit of their efforts and all Muslims had an advanced life and developed society.

Shaikh further stated that some nations revolted against their rulers recently; in fact, those tyrant heads and figures have been fond of their desires and egos. They want extremely to extend their power and bank balances. Arrogant leaders in some Muslim countries consider the states their heritages. ‘If these aggressive rulers tried to provide justice, their fate was different. But, Muslim nations have reached to social and Islamic adolescence after they were disgraced and their countries were occupied by despots,’ he added.

Shaikh Ismaeelzahi counted “repentance” the only way for salvation and success. He asked the audience to return to Allah Exalted sincerely. By purification of the self people can get durable successes.

At the end, Mawlana Abdul Hameed indicated towards the attacks on two Shiite processions in Afghanistan’s Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif saying that the incident was painful and shocking. He underlined that such attacks are not in favor of Islam; rather, sectarian and ethnic violence are the wishes of the international arrogant powers.