[Jorcelirl]

Praise be to Allah, that there are still ulama, though scarce, around the world who give due consideration to and lament properly the widespread destruction of the blessed Sunnah’s of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), and who exercise considerable effort themselves and exhort others towards the revival of such Sunnahs.

Quite often these Sunnahs are destroyed due to the customs and fashion of the non-muslims dominating the Muslim psyche. The prevalent indifference to the obliteration of these Sunnahs, aids further in its destruction. The situation then proceeds to a stage where it becomes not only acceptable in the eyes of the laity, but also of the people of knowledge. Eventually, even the ulama begin to defend the widespread indifference to these acts of Sunnah, with slogans of “It’s only a Sunnah!”

This step-by-step mental conditioning of the Ummah by Shaytan usually occurs over a period of time. The existence of this mental conditioning can be appreciated by considering our reaction to the hypothetical destruction and absence of Sunnah acts that are still relatively intact and whose widespread omission would not yet be deemed as acceptable by most ulama today. For example, consider the possibility of the prevalence of the following habits amongst both the laity and the ulama:

• Eating with the left hand without valid Shari' excuse
• Doing Musafah with the left hand alone
• Missing the Eid Salats frequently.
• Leaving the hair uncovered more often than not
• Using the words ‘Hello’, ‘Good Morning’, as a complete substitute for Assalamualaykum
• Ommitting both the adhan and the iqamah for the congregrational prayers

If one were to contend that the above Sunnahs are unlikely to become relatively extinct, then it should be borne in mind that most of these examples are of a lesser status than Sunnahs such as growing fistful of beard and isbal - both of which are at the least Sunnah in all four Madhahib, are regarded as obligatory by many fuqaha, and are amongst the salient symbols/features (sha’aar) of the Muslims, yet whose absence has already become acceptable, even amongst the ulama.

May Allah grant us the tawfeeq to hold the same fanatical passion as the Sahabah (radhiallahu anhum) held in their love for the blessed Sunnahs of the beloved Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace).