Summary and Main Points of a discourse by Hadhrat Shaykh Abdul Mueed (Hafizahullah) – Sunday, 02 November 2025, 11 Jamaadu Thaani 1447 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
All Praises are for Allah Ta’ala and Salaams and Salutations upon our Beloved Master (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). May Allah Ta’ala accept our gathering and make it a means of reformation, purification, love, and mutual understanding.
Among the noble practices of our seniors was the reading of the works of the pious elders, both during travel and at home. Their words are filled with sincerity, light, and divine guidance – a reflection of hearts illuminated by the remembrance of Allah.
The Heart Created for Love and Remembrance
Allah Ta‘ala did not create the human heart for jealousy, hatred, or enmity. He created it for His love, for His remembrance, and for kindness towards His creation. Yet, in this world, one encounters both sorrow and joy, comfort and pain, health and illness. This is the nature of life — a temporary abode of test and trials. Jannah (paradise), on the other hand, is free from all sorrow and hardship. To reach that eternal bliss, one must journey through this world, performing righteous deeds along the way. Life’s difficulties should not harden the heart or make it indifferent. A person may be engaged in prayer, yet restless within – consumed by thoughts of revenge or resentment. When hatred enters the heart, it gives birth to countless evils, corrupting both worship and character.
The Presentation of Deeds
It is mentioned that every Monday and Thursday, our deeds are presented before Allah. If Allah finds disloyalty or rancour in the heart, the decision of Jannah, may be withheld. Furthermore, our deeds are also presented to the Prophets, and to our deceased parents and forefathers. The angels carry these records to them every Friday. Each Prophet is shown the deeds of his Ummah — and we belong to the Ummah of the Beloved of Allah ﷺ, the Seal of the Prophets and the Leader of all Messengers. This honour alone should move us deeply: that our actions are shown to Rasulullah ﷺ himself. If one were to pause and think — when my deeds are presented before my Prophet ﷺ, will they bring comfort or pain to his pure heart? — that single thought could transform a person’s life. It would lead to repentance, the abandonment of sin, and a life of sincerity.
Reverence Before the Prophet ﷺ
Sadly, today, many have drifted away from the Sunnah — from that which pleases the Beloved ﷺ. True love for him is reflected through the Sunnah: when the life of his Ummati becomes a mirror of the Messenger’s servitude. One should be recognised by character and conduct, as a true follower of the Prophet ﷺ. Yet today, even in the holy places, people lose this sense of reverence. Visitors to Madinah Munawwarah often stand before the blessed Rawdah and take selfies, unaware of the spiritual disrespect such acts entail. The smartphone has deprived many of the blessings of those sacred moments.Let us imagine: if one were to stand before Rasulullah ﷺ in his blessed lifetime, how would one present oneself? Would one arrive with a camera, or with humility, awe, and tears? When a believer approaches with this consciousness, his heart trembles, his feet grow heavy, and his spirit is overwhelmed — because he stands before one who is alive and blessed by Allah Ta’ala. The Qur’an commands: “O you who believe, do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet…” (Surah al-Hujurat, 49:2). Even a raised voice near his resting place can nullify one’s deeds. How then can one expect blessings if one behaves carelessly in such a sacred presence?
The Effect of Our Deeds on the Deceased
Our actions also reach our deceased loved ones. When they are informed of our good deeds, their hearts rejoice, and the radiance of their faces increases. Just as parents in this world feel joy over their children’s success, the souls of the righteous find happiness when their descendants walk the path of goodness. Conversely, when our sins are presented before them, they feel sorrow. They grieve at our heedlessness, wishing they could ‘convey’ a message of warning and guidance. They have witnessed the realities of the Hereafter, while we remain distracted by the glitter of the world. They call out, as it were: “Do not humiliate us through your sins. Do not dampen the joy we feel through your disobedience.”
The True Measure of Success
Today, many have set their own scales for success — measuring it by wealth, comfort, and status. Yet the Shari‘ah does not forbid worldly progress; rather, it teaches that it must not come at the cost of one’s Hereafter. The world should serve as a means for attaining Allah’s pleasure, not as a distraction from it.The Sahabah (RA) were among the wealthiest, yet their hearts were detached from the dunya. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (RA) spent his entire wealth for the cause of Allah. Sayyiduna ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan (RA), when offered double profit by traders for his caravan of a hundred camels, replied that he had found a buyer offering a greater return — and he gave it all in charity. For who can give greater profit than Allah Ta‘ala? Allah declares in the Qur’an: “Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their wealth in exchange for Paradise.” (Surah at-Tawbah, 9:111). This life and wealth belong to Allah Ta’ala, yet out of His mercy, He attributes them to us and then offers Paradise in return. What a generous transaction! Thus, every blessing we possess should be used in the pleasure of Allah — this is true gratitude.
A Call to Reformation
Let us reflect: Are we using Allah’s countless blessings in His obedience or in His displeasure? The time for change is now — before the moment comes when regret is of no avail, and a person departs this world with unfulfilled hopes. Our deeds are presented to the Prophet ﷺ and to our departed elders. They rejoice at our good deeds, and their prayers and intercessions reach us. This honour alone should move us deeply: that our actions are shown to Rasulullah ﷺ himself. However when our sins are shown, their hearts are grieved — and no apology can reach them from the world of Barzakh. So, let us purify our hearts, reform our lives, and strive to bring joy to the heart of our Beloved Prophet ﷺ.
May Allah grant us sincerity, forgiveness, and the honour of his intercession on the Day of Judgement.
Muslims First 