Hadhrat Hanzlah's (Radhiyallaho anho) Fear of Nifaq:
Hadhrat Hanzlah (Radhiyallaho anho) says:
"We were once with the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)
when he delivered a sermon. Our hearts became tender, our eyes were
flowing with tears, and we realised where we stood. I left the Prophet
and returned home. I sat with my wife and children and cracked jokes
with my wife, and I felt that the effect of the Prophet's sermon
had completely vanished from my heart.
Suddenly, it occurred to me that I was not what I had been, and
I said to myself; '0, Hanzalah! You are a Munafiq'. I was stricken
with grief and I left my house repeating these words in sorrow;
'Hanziah has turned Munafiq.
I saw Abu Bakr (Radhiyallaho anho) coming towards me and I said
to him; 'Hanzalah has turned Munafiq.' He said; 'Subhanallah' What
are you saying? Hanzalah can never be a Munafiq.
I explained to him: 'When we are with the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe
wasallam) and listen to his discourses about Paradise and Hell,
we feel as if both are present before our very eyes but when we
return home and are absorbed in our domestic and family affairs,
we forget all about the Hereafter. Abu Bakr (Radhiyallaho anho)
said: 'My case is exactly the same.
We both went to the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) and I
said; 'I have turned Munafiq, 0 Prophet of Allah!' He inquired about
the matter, and I repeated what I had said to Abu Bakr (Radhiyallaho
anho). Thereupon the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) remarked:
'By Him Who controls my life, if you could keep up for all times
the fervor aroused in you when you are with me, angels would greet
you in your walks and in your beds. But, 0, Hanziah! This is rare!
This is rare!"
We have to attend to our personal and impersonal worldly affairs,
and therefore we cannot be contemplating the Hereafter for all the
twenty-four hours of the day. According to what has been said by
the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam), complete absorption in
the Hereafter is rare, and it should not be expected by all. It
is only for the angels to remain in the same state for ever.
In case of men, the state of their mind changes with circumstances
and environments. But we can see from this story how anxious the
Sahabah were about the condition of their Imaan. Hanziah (Radhiyallaho
anho) suspects Nifaq in himself when he feels that the condition
of his mind at home is not the same as it is when he is with the
Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam).
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