ASK MAULANA

ASK MAULANA Your Questions Answered Maulana Wahiduddin Khan in Interaction with Centre for Peace and Spirituality Team Q: Maulana, you say that dishonest people will not go to Paradise. What is dishonesty to God? A: Dishonesty is hypocrisy. It is not to act according to what your heart regards as true while pretending that you are acting according to it. Some study God’s Book and the life of the Prophet and act according to what they find therein. Others may not fully act according to what they have learnt but repent for this. They admit their weaknesses and accept they were wrong. They do not conceal their reality. They keep doing dua to God. If God wills, these people will be forgiven by Him. But God will not forgive those who knew the Truth but did not follow it and, yet, at the same time, made a show of following it. This is what is called hypocrisy, and for hypocrites there is no forgiveness from God. Q: How do we inculcate contentment? A: According to a hadith report, the Prophet said: “Look at those who are lesser than you and do not look at those who are higher than you. That is more likely to prevent you underestimating the blessing of God on you.” (Bukhari) There is a very simple method for this. Do not compare yourself with someone above you. If you do that, you will develop discontentment. You will think, ‘He has so much, and I have so little. He has such a big house, and the house I live in is so small. He has a fancy car, and I have just an ordinary one.’ That will make you miserable. Instead compare yourself with people below you, to develop contentment. You will realise how much better off you are than others, and this will make you contented. Q: What is the real sign of modesty? A: It is very difficult to recognise genuine modesty. People show themselves to be very modest, but the reality is different. You can find out the reality of someone when they are tested. At such moments, people’s masks fall off and they show themselves to be as they are.