Sayings of Mufti Ahmad Yaar Khan Naeemi

Statements of Pious Predecessors

Sayings of Mufti Aḥmad Yār Khān NaꜤīmī

Bilal Husayn Attari

Mufti Aḥmad Yār Khān NaꜤīmī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه, the author of acclaimed books and masterpieces such as Tafsir Nūr al-ꜤIrfān, Tafsīr NaꜤīmī, Mirāt al-Manājīḥ, and Jā al-Ḥaq, was born in the month of Shawwal in the year 1314 AH, in the district of Budaun (UP, India). After completing his education, he initially remained in India engaged in teaching, issuing fatwas, and writing, and then later in Pakistan, spending his whole life serving Islam. He passed away on 3 Ramadan, 1391 AH (24 October, 1971) in the region of Gujrat, Pakistan, which is where his shrine is also located.

In this article, a selection of advice is taken from his book "Islamic Life." Read it yourself and share it with others too.

1.   Eating and drinking openly in front of everyone during the day in Ramadan is a severe sin and shamelessness. In earlier times, Hindus and other disbelievers would also refrain from eating and drinking in the markets during Ramadan to respect the fasting Muslims. However, when Muslims themselves stopped respecting this month, what complaint can we have regarding others.

2.    Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are also days of worship. Alas, Muslims commit sins and be immodest even during these occasions. If the Muslim community were to review their spending, thousands of rupees are spent daily on cinemas, theatres, and other indulgences in India. If this money is saved and spent on some national work, the destitute of the nation would benefit, and the circumstances of Muslims would change. In short, during these days, engaging in the activities mentioned earlier is a severe sin.

3.   Stop wasting money. Instead, save it and use it to help your relatives, neighbours, orphanages, and Islamic institutes. Know that the Muslim nation will only truly experience joy when the entire nation is prosperous, skilful, and righteous. If you provide new clothes to your children on Eid but the poor children of your Muslim community are begging on that day, understand that it is not the Eid of the nation. May Allah Almighty grant the Muslim nation a true Eid. اٰمین

4.    A Muslim can only be a true believer when Islam is visible in his appearance and in his heart. Meaning, Islam’s impact should enhance both his appearance and character. His heart should overflow with enthusiasm to obey Allah Almighty and His Messenger صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, the light of faith should be illuminating therein, and his appearance should be beloved to the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

5.   Big moustaches were disliked by the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Thousands of prophets came to the world, but none of them shaved their beards or grew their moustaches. Therefore, keeping a beard is a natural practice, meaning, a sunnah of the prophets.

6.   Food and clothing have an impact on the heart. If you dress like disbelievers or imitate their appearance, it will undoubtedly create love in your heart for them and an aversion for Muslims. In turn, this will prove to be destructive, and this is why the hadith mentions, مَنْ تَشَبَّہَ بِقَوْمٍ فَہُوَ مِنْہُمْ “Whoever resembles a nation is from them.”

7.   We are also servants of the Islamic Court, the Muhammadan Sultanate, and divine governance. We have been assigned a distinguished appearance, such that even if we were standing in between thousands of disbelievers, we would still stand out and be recognised as a servant of the Prophet        صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

8.   The beard has many benefits. First and foremost, the beard is the beauty of a man's face, just as hair is for women or eyelashes and eyebrows are for humans. If a woman shaves her head, she will look unappealing, or if a person removes their eyebrows or eyelashes, they will look strange. Likewise, a man who shaves his beard looks unattractive.

9.   A man’s honour is not acquired from clothes; the reality is contrary to this. If you have some gem inside you or if you are an individual of a respected and progressive nation, you will be honoured in every way, regardless of what clothes you wear. If you are void of these things, no respect will be given, no matter what clothes you wear.

10.   Just as the heart governs the body, and each limb moves according to its will, similarly, one should make the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم a sovereign over the heart. Whatever movement takes places will be as per his will; this is the definition of tasawwuf and the essence of ḥaqīqah, maꜤrifah and ṭarīqah.

11.   Reading voluntary (nafl) salah and giving charity in celebration of the birth of a son is a rewarding act. However, distributing sweets out of fear of relatives and to avoid embarrassment is entirely useless.

12.   It is impermissible to give charity to those who earn through playing musical instruments, because in reality, showing sympathy to them encourages them to continue their sinful activities.

13.   A great cause for the downfall of Muslims is for their youth to be unemployed and idly wander around. Muslims in Pakistan are facing high expenses and limited opportunities. Unemployment certainly causes poverty. The consequence of poverty is debt, leading to disgrace and humiliation. In reality, poverty is the root of hundreds of problems. Theft, robbery, begging, fraud and forgery are all its branches, and the outcome is imprisonment and being sentenced to death. No weight is given to the word of a pauper.

14.   Muslims should i) strive to avoid unemployment, ii) not let their children become vagrants, and iii) engage the youth in work. Learn from other nations. The young children of Hindus are either seen in schools and colleges or selling goods. Muslim children may be seen flying kites or playing cricket, while the youth of other nations may be seen working in courts, offices, holding high posts and running businesses. However, Muslim youth are either indulged in fashion, luxury, begging, or illicit activities.

15.   The companions رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُم were not only people who offered salah in the masjid, but also brave warriors on the battlefield, judges in courts, and elite traders in the market. The teachings conveyed to them in the Prophetic madrasah made them examples of esteemed angelic beings in the masjid and role models on how to conduct affairs outside the masjid.

16.    Every person should engage in a trade suitable for them. Allah Almighty has created everyone for specific work. Some prosper in selling grains, some in textiles, some in timber and some in books. In short, before venturing into any trade, it is essential to determine the type of business you can be successful in.