Help the Closest First

As-Salāmu ‘Alaykum wa RaḥmatuLlāhi wa Barakātuh. A‘ūdhu BiLlāhi Minash-shayṭāni r-rajīm. BismiLlāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm. Wa ṣ-Salātu wa s-Salāmu ‘alá Rasūlinā Muḥammadin Sayyidi l-Awwalīna wa l-Akhirīn. Madad yā RasūlAllāh, Madad yā Sādāti Aṣḥābi RasūliLlāh, Madad yā Mashāyikhinā, Dastūr Mawlana Sheikh Abdullāh al-Fā’iz ad-Dāghistāni, Sheikh Muḥammad Nāẓim al- Ḥaqqānī. Madad. Ṭarīqatunā aṣ-Suḥbah wa l-Khayru fi l-Jam‘iyyah.

Our Holy Prophet ﷺ says that the best among you in the sight of Allah ﷻ is the one who does goodness to people and helps them. Helping people is the attribute of a believer. It is the attribute beloved by Allah ‘Azza wa-Jalla. Therefore, a Muslim who does as much as he can to cover the needs of people becomes a beloved servant of Allah ﷻ.

Certainly, when people do goodness, “The closest are worthier of goodness.” They should start with the closest ones first. They should start doing goodness and helping, showing good things to their families first. And then they can go on with their relatives and neighbors. But they should start with people close to them. If there is an opportunity, it is ok to help other people who are far and not related to them. It is good if they help them.

Every word of our Holy Prophet ﷺ is beautiful. If you help others when those around you are in need, it is accepted. But it is more accepted to help those around you first. The things given firstly to people in your household, to your family are counted as Sadaqah, says our Holy Prophet salla Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam.

Therefore, doing goodness and helping are the attributes of Muslims. They do it for the pleasure of Allah ﷻ. “Because Allah ﷻ likes it, I am doing this. I am doing these things to attain the pleasure of Allah ﷻ, in order for Allah ﷻ to be pleased with us”.

Helping people or covering their various needs are done for the pleasure of Allah ﷻ. It is not to make people do something by force or to receive praise. More than praising, when people nowadays help someone, they expect something in return, saying “I did so and so”. That is wrong. It is not good to do so. It is said in Qur’an ‘Azimu sh-Shan, “Lā Nurīdu Minkum Jazā’an Wa Lā Shukūrāa”, “We wish not from you reward or thanks.” (Qur’ān 76:09). “We want neither payment nor thanks from you. May Allah ﷻ be pleased with us; that is sufficient.” This is the attribute of believers. May Allah ﷻ help us to have these attributes. May He ﷻ not leave us to our egos insha’Allah.

Wa min Allah at-Tawfiq. Al-Fatiha.

Mawlana Sheikh Muhammad Adil ar-Rabbani 16 January 2023/ 23 Jumada al-Akhir 1444 Fajr Prayer, Akbaba Dergah

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