Do not incur loss when doing good
By the renowned spiritual guide and leader of Ahl al-Sunnah, Mawlana Muhammad Ilyas Attar al-Qadiri دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـهْ
Performing pious deeds is indeed rewardable, but at times, Satan leads someone to perform a good act and deceives a person by means of that act. Consequently, one incurs loss whilst doing good. For example, Satan may cause someone to fall into ostentation. Likewise, an act may outwardly appear to be a virtue, but it involves infringing the rights of others or hurting their feelings. For instance, a person might recite the noble Quran aloud near someone sleeping, causing him to awaken repeatedly. And if the latter requests the reciter to recite quietly, this reciter may even retort, “Are you preventing me from reciting the noble Quran!” In such a scenario, the reciter will be sinful.[1] Similarly, some people hold gatherings of Prophetic odes (naat) in the locality late into the night using speakers with echo, disturbing residents and preventing the young, old, and ill from sleeping. Note, even if a few people from the local area are participating with you in the gathering, this certainly does not mean that the young, old and ill in the locality approve of what you are doing. If someone tries to prevent such a gathering from take place, the organisers snap, “You stop us from reciting Prophetic odes!” Similarly, in the nights of Rabi al-Awwal, some people arrange for large speakers and position them towards people’s houses, preventing them from sleep. If they complain, those who have set up the speakers may even begin to quarrel with them. The reality is that it is Satan who makes us do such things, and we be under the false impression that we are pious and devout Prophetic devotees.
Our voices should not bring inconvenience to anyone. It is for this reason that it is stated regarding a muḥrim uttering talbiyyah (لَبَّیْک), “Islamic brothers should recite لَبَّیْک aloud; however, they should not raise their voices to the extent that it harms them or anyone else.”[2]
May Allah Almighty grant us the ability to perform pious deeds according to correct Islamic etiquette and protect them from being ruined.
اٰمین بِجاہِ خَاتَمِ النَّبِیّٖن صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
(Note: This subject matter has been prepared from the Madani Muzakarah that took place on 5th September 2020 AH and is presented here after adjustments approved by the Ameer Ahl al-Sunnah دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـهْ)
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