In some areas, it is a custom that a woman who does not have any brother makes a strange man her sworn brother; similarly, a man who does not have any sister makes a strange woman his sworn sister, and by giving this sworn brother or sister the status of a real brother or sister, Hijab (purdah) is also not observed with them, whereas in Shari'ah, a sworn brother or sister has no status, they are strangers, and observing Hijab from them is necessary. (Aham Masail / Vol: 6)
The Reality of this World and Preparation for the Final Journey
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say: "What connection do I have with the world? My example and the example of this world is like a rider who stops under the shade of a tree (to take rest), then leaves it and moves on." Prophet Isa (Jesus - peace be upon him) advised his companions: "Pass through (this world), do not engage yourselves in building or populating it." A man went to Hazrat Abu Dharr (Radi Allahu Anhu) and started looking around his house (but saw nothing that could be called household goods or possessions). He asked, "Where is your luggage/goods?" He replied, "We have another home (Paradise), and our focus is entirely towards that." The man said, "As long as you are here, some luggage and possessions are necessary." He replied, "The Master of the house will not let us stay here." Hazrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz (Rahmatullah Alaih) said in his sermon: "This world is not your permanent abode. Allah Ta'ala has decreed destruction and annihilation for it, and has decreed a journey for its people. How many inhabited homes will soon become desolate, and how many residents of houses who are envied today will very soon depart! Therefore, prepare well for the departure, and the best provision for the journey is piety (Taqwa), so take it along." Hazrat Ata al-Sulami (RA) used to pray: "O my Lord! Have mercy on my strangeness in this world, have mercy on my loneliness/dread in the grave, and have mercy on me tomorrow on the occasion of presentation before You." Hazrat Dawud al-Ta'i (RA) says: I asked Hazrat Atwan bin Amr al-Taymi (RA), "What is the minimum expectation/hope regarding life?" He replied, "Only as long as a single breath lasts." When this was mentioned to Hazrat Fudayl bin Iyad (RA), he wept and said, "Hazrat Atwan (RA) remained highly alert regarding death, which is why he said 'until the breath lasts', meaning he feared he might die before completing that very breath." Hazrat Habib Abu Muhammad (RA) used to write his will every day (just as it is made at the time of death) specifying who would perform his ritual bath (Ghusl), etc., and he used to weep morning and evening. When his wife was asked about the reason for his weeping, she said, "He fears Allah Ta'ala, thinking that since evening has come, perhaps morning will not come, and if morning has come, perhaps evening will not come." Hazrat Hasan (al-Basri - RA) said: "O son of Adam! Two mounts are carrying you on a journey; the night hands you over to the day, and the day hands you over to the night, until one day they both hand you over to the Hereafter. Who is in greater danger than you?" Imam Awza'i (RA) wrote to one of his brothers: "Understand that you have been surrounded from all sides, and you are being dragged continuously night and day; fear Allah Ta'ala and facing Him." _____________________________________ Book: Waqt ka Behtareen Istemaal (Pages 162-163) Author: Muhammad Bashir Juma Selection: Islamic Tube Pro App
