السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
It’s Monday 6th April 2020.
*** Today’s message is strictly for the ꜤUlamā and to be kept within the ꜤUlamā as well please.
I wanted to touch upon the point of ‘Conflict of Interest’.
Almighty Allāh blessed us with an opportunity to study at a Dārul Uloom. We were young, majority from poor backgrounds. We spent a number of very hard years at our Dārul Ulooms. We graduated. We moved on. Many of us became teachers, maybe at the same Dārul Uloom or another one. Hardly any one of us had been out of our own country of residence. Maybe for Tarāwīḥ in Ramaḍān. Maybe for ꜤUmrah. But that’s about it.
As time went along, we had students in our classes from different parts of our own country and also many parts of the world. They came to study, many from poor backgrounds. They started looking up to us as their teachers, and we started developing friendships with them.
Suddenly, we started travelling the world. This student of mine has invited me to his country and that student has invited me to his country. What happened? These students came to study. It was our duty to educate them to the best of our knowledge. They paid fees, and we received salaries.
So how did this friendship bond? Yes, these students needed their teachers to visit their country and guide their people. Of course, why not … but at what price? Flight tickets? Accomodation? Envelopes and gifts?
We were the ones who were, first and foremost, supposed to educate our communities. Our local families need us. Do we deliver QurꜤān Tafsīr every week to our locals? Do we deliver Ḥadīth Dars to our locals every week? Very few of us.
However, the regular visits to foreign countries have become a must. Why? Let’s question ourselves. Is it for Dīn or is it for leisure, pleasure and gifts? Each one can only answer for himself; I am also involved. Let’s make a firm intention in front of Almighty Allāh today. My first duty is my community, my locality. The minimum I should do is Dars-e-QurꜤān and Dars-e-Ḥadīth weekly. Then I should travel the world.
When I do, then apply 3 strict conditions.
- If Almighty Allāh has blessed us with wealth then pay for the full trip from our pocket. Do not take anything at all.
- If we cannot afford the trip ourselves, then take absolute minimum expenses. Use the cheapest available flights and simple comfortable accommodation. Donate whatever money or gifts are received; money to the hosts who invited us, and gifts to the less fortunate. This will ensure our intention is safeguarded.
- If in doubt, leave it out.
We are all best placed to make our own judgements. I apologise in advance if I have spoken out of place but if my few words benefit our Dīn and makes our Creator happy, then my intention is fulfilled.
Almighty Allāh give us all the correct understanding. Āmeen
جزاك الله خيرا
Request for Du’ās
والسلام Hanif Dudhwala