What is Yaqeen?

Answer

Yaqeen in the Islamic context means firm, unshakeable faith and assurance in the reality of the Beliefs of the Deen.

The foundational pivot for Yaqeen is Imaan. Yaqeen is proportionate with Taqwa, and the absolutely incumbent condition for Taqwa is Ibaadat and Taa-at (Worship and Obedience).

There is no limit for Yaqeen. It is a limitless attribute. The Muttaqi‟s yaqeen progresses higher and higher in proportion to the degree of his Taqwa. The very minimum Waajib degree of yaqeen for every Muslim is such belief which constrains him to believe in the correctness and truth of every tenet, teaching and belief of Islam. This is intellectual (Aqli) yaqeen devoid of the emotional (Tab‟i) condition which accompanies the Yaqeen of the Auliya.

Yaqeen is a ghair ikhtiyaari bestowal of Allah Ta‟ala to His bandah. It cannot be willed into oneself. The actual degree of Yaqeen is decided by Allah Ta‟ala. We usually hear speakers, especially of the Tablighi Jamaat, blowing much hot air about yaqeen while they do not have the faintest idea of the meaning of Yaqeen and the way of acquiring it. The bandah‟s objective must be the Ridha‟ of Allah Ta‟ala, and nothing else. This Ridha‟ is attainable only by means of Ibaadat and Itaa-at. Ibaadat in the context refers to the ritual acts of worship such as Namaaz and Thikrullah. Itaa-at refers to the strict observance of the entire Zaahiri Shariat.

Sometimes Allah Ta‟ala bestows implicit Yaqeen to a person whose Nawaafil and Thikr are not at all considerable. Nevertheless, on the basis of the purity of his heart and any other factor pleasing to Allah Ta‟ala, He grants Yaqeen. Consider the following episode:

A Buzrug bought a fish in the bazaar. He hired a

street urchin for a dirham to carry the fish. As they were walking, the Zuhr Athaan was being proclaimed at the Musjid they were about to pass. The lad, leaving the fish on the ground outside, proceeded to enter the Musjid. The Buzrug remonstrated that this was improper. The lad responded: "You may guard your fish. I have been summoned to go to the Musjid for Salaat."

Embarrassed and criticizing himself for lack of yaqeen, the Buzrug too left the fish and went into the Musjid to perform Salaat. After they had completed the Salaat, they found the fish intact. No one and no animal had even touched it. This was the athr of the Yaqeen of the boy, not of the Buzrug. For this Buzrug the Zaahir of the Hadith applied: "Tie your camel…" But the one of implicit yaqeen has no need to tie his camel.

While it is necessary for a person of deficient Yaqeen to make the necessary asbaabi (material) arrangements, it does not apply to one who has perfect Yaqeen. The idea of consequences does not even occur to him.

Hadhrat Maulana Qaasim Nanotwi mentioned to Haaji Imdaadullah (Rahmatullah alayh) his intention to abandon taking a wage for teaching Hadith. He sought the advice of Haaji Sahib who responded: "Your asking me regarding this issue is the evidence for the deficiency of your Tawakkul. The day you overcome this deficiency, you will not ask."

Yaqeen is a state/condition of the heart. It is not kasbi (volitionally acquired). It is a bestowal which Allah Ta‟ala grants the bandah in proportion to his Taqwa which is kasbi, and sometimes He bestows this wonderful Ni‟mat without kasb.