Posted July 2nd, 2009 by 'abd
.
……..sometimes passes through rough terrain
A sincere seeker wrote of his declining spiritual condition to one of his close friend. He received the following reply. Being in sync with the teaching of sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) it is worth sharing.
In the name of Allah,
as salam o alaykum
JazakAllah for the kind email.
I read it in detail. Be assured that these are the natural up and downs of the path. As the Friends of Allah (awliya) say,
“Truly the fortunate one is he, who is blessed with the ability to recognize his own shortcomings.”
All praise is for Allah, that you have done this. That is, recognized and acknowledged the problem.
Now the second part is at hand. That is, to overcome these short comings. This is the spiritual struggle (mujahida). This will be facilitated by asking Allah sincerely to make it easy to control these unlawful desires (to indulge in sins). At the same time you will have to put all your effort in trying to do so. That is, using self determination (himmat). There is no short cut to success without genuine determination. In absence of sincere effort the likelihood of giving up sins will only be a wishful thinking.
You have already recognized that failure to follow a daily schedule of wird, etc. and loss of regular contact with Shaykh have resulted in this. Try to overcome these. You are smart, intelligent and hardworking. You can do it.
Set your priorities.
Ask your wife or a close friend to remind you of them if they see you slipping.
Set a penalty if you do slip. Like four units (rakat) salah of repentance and/or skipping everything sweet that day, or something similar that is a burden on your self (nafs). This is to remind and ingrain that mistakes have consequences.
It is okay to slip and fall.
However, it is not okay to keep lying flat in dirt for ever.
Saturday 5th July, 2008/1st Rajab 1429
Posted July 1st, 2009 by 'abd
A murid wrote:
I do not find any of the daily activities (i.e. salat, dhikr, reading, etc.) interesting. I feel as if all my emotions and feelings are numb. Please, advice!
Sayyidi wa sanadi Hazrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him and allow us to benefit from him abundantly. Amin!) replied;
This is also one of the (inner) states (hal).
It seems to convey an important message regarding the inner states.
It is emphasizing that the necessary things are to be done even without passion. Having enthusiasm, fervor, dedication is not essential (for action). And in most situations this is more beneficial.
(That is, without emotional involvement actions are done purely for Allah SWT. There is no mixing/partnership of satisfaction of one’s enthusiasm.)
Islahi Khutoot
Posted June 29th, 2009 by 'abd
حال: بوجہ کمزوری دماغ بموجب حکم حضور بعد تہجد بارہ تسبیح بلا ضرب کے آہستہ کہ معمول ہے، مگر بوقت ذکر یکسوئی نہیں ہوتی۔
تحقیق حکیم الامت مولانا اشرف علی تھانوی رحمۃ اللہ علیہ: یکسوئی نہ ہونے کی جو شکایت لکھی ہے (اس کا علاج یہ ہے کہ) اپنی طرف سے دوسرے خیالات کا استحضار نہ کیا جاوے، اگر اس پر بھی یکسوئی نہ ہو تو مضر نہیں۔
جس یکسوئی کا نہ ہونا مضر ہے وہ یکسوئی اعتقادی ہے، ایسے یکسو کو حنیف کہتے ہیں۔ اس کی تحصیل واجب ہے، اور اختیاری ہے۔
باقی خیالی یکسوئی وہ نہ اختیاری ہے نہ واجب اور نہ اس کا عدم مضر ہے۔
اس بات کو خوب یاد رکھنا چاہیۓ۔
اس کے نہ جاننے سے بہت لوگ پریشان ہیں۔
تربیت السالک، جلد 1، ص518
Posted June 28th, 2009 by 'abd
Tafwidh is to assign one’s all affairs to Allah.
Allah may do with one as He desires.
One’s aspiration and hope should be on none besides Allah. In addition to employing the means and the methods, the result of all things should be left to Allah.
Tafwid is accquired by immediately reflecting when being confronted with an event which is in conflict with one’s liking that this is from Allah and most assuredly there is wisdom and goodness in it.
In the beginning it will be difficult to acquire this attitude. However, constant reflection facilitates it and then this attitude assumes a natural condition in the Pious (Auliyaa).
Shariat wa Tasawwuf, Mawlana Masihullah Khan ra
Posted June 27th, 2009 by 'abd
دل کونصیب ہو گداز، جاں کو عطا ہو سوز و ساز
ہے یہ دعا بصد نیاز درگہ بے نیاز میں
دل جو ہوا ہے سیاہ کار، آنکھ عطا ہو اشکبار
دھوۓ جو دل کو بار بار خلوت خاص راز میں
سید سلیمان ندوی رح
Posted June 25th, 2009 by 'abd
Following is an extract from the supplications of our master, the mercy to the Universe Prophet Mohammad (Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him). It is very much reflective of his slavehood (abdiyet).
اللهم إنك تسمع كلامي
وترى مكاني وتعلم سري وعلانيتي
لا يخفى عليك شيء من أمري و
أنا البائس الفقير
المستغيث المستجير , الوجل المشفق
المقر المعترف بذنبه
أسألك مسألة المسكين
وأبتهل إليك ابتهال المذنب الذليل
وأدعوك دعاء الخائف الضرير
دعاء منخضعت لك رقبته
وذل لك جسمه , ورغم لك أنفه
O Allah! You hear my speech and behold my situation.
You know my secret and open matters.
None of my affairs is concealed from You!
And I am the miserable, needy, suppliant, succor seeking,
fearful and anxious person who confesses and recognizes his sins.
I beg you - the begging of a destitute.
I implore you - the imploring of an abased sinner.
And I make dua to You - the dua of the fearful afflicted person,
whose neck is bowed down before You,
whose eyes pour out tears before You,
whose body is humbled before You and
whose nose touches the ground for You repeatedly.
(Munajat-e-Maqbul, manzil #3 (Monday) , Supplication #108)
May Allah bless us with some degree of this humility. Amin!
Posted June 24th, 2009 by 'abd
یکم رجب 1430
اللہم بارک لنا فی رجب و شعبان و بلغنا رمضان
آمین
Posted June 23rd, 2009 by 'abd
A brother inquired about the need of ‘ijazah‘ (permission) to recite from ’Hisn-haseen’ (a collection of Sunna azkar).
As per the teachings of sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) following reply was given.
There is some detail to this ‘ijazah’ issue.
For the azkar mentioned in Quran and hadith no specific permission is required. The mentioning of it by Allah and His messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) is enough ijazah for all to recite.
However, if a person has a Shaykh who is doing his spiritual tarbiyah then it is essential etiquette (adab) to get his permission for all recitations one is going to include in his daily routine. This brings blessings (barakah) in this recitation.
The reasons for this barakah are,
1. There may be some other higher priority things pending (like completing his many years of qaza salah, earning a halal living, etc.) and the Shaykh will redirect his focus on these essential things.
2. Breaking the habit of doing whatever comes to mind
3. Developing the Sunna habit of consultation.
4. Keeping the Shaykh informed of one’s condition. For advanced murid this calling may be a sign of spiritual progress
5. Informing the Shaykh will also enforce persistence in daily recitation. That is, after getting the permission it is extremely bad to not do it. Also Shaykh will inquire about the previous recitations if in future another similar request is made.
It is a misconception that the barakah of ‘ijazah’ is somewhat similar to a nur or an electric current that passes on from the Shaykh to whom the ijazah is given. It is assumed that without this the recitation will be invalid or less effective or even spiritually or mentally detrimental. This is incorrect.
May Allah guide us all. Amin!
(P.S. All this discussion is in regards to awrad and azkar and do not apply to a’maliyat)
Related:
1. Ijaza for masnoon azkar
2. Ijaza for Sufi dhikr
Posted June 21st, 2009 by 'abd
Imam Qushairy (Allah have mercy on him) said,
“It is essential (wajib) for the murid to conceal his private affairs with utmost vigilance. He should not disclose them to his closest friend.
However, this concealment should not be done when dealing with the Shaykh.
If an individuals hides even a single breath from his Shaykh then indeed he has committed a great breach of trust in the rights of the Shaykh.”
Nasihah-lil-mustarshadin translation of last chapter of ‘Risala Qushairia: al-wasiay lil-murideen‘, via Ma’arif e Sufiya, page 310
Posted June 20th, 2009 by 'abd
سوزِ دل، اشکِ رواں، آہِ سحر، نالۂ شب
ایں ہمہ از اثَرِ لطفِ شُما می بینَم
حافظ رح
Posted June 19th, 2009 by 'abd
Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) said,
‘As per the Prophetic saying (hadith) Hakim al-Umma Shaykh Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) considers that making supplications (dua) for the deceased are more superior and beneficial then doing esal e thawab (forwarding the reward of good actions).’
Waaz: surah wash Shamah ki tafeer May 2009
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:
“When a man dies, his acts come to an end, but three, recurring charity, or knowledge (by which people) benefit, or a pious son, who prays for him (for the deceased).”
[Sahih Muslim]
Posted June 17th, 2009 by 'abd
سیدی و سندی حضرت مولانا محمد تقی عثمانی صاحب مدظلہم العالی
كی مفصل تحریر
غیر سودی بینكاری
Posted June 16th, 2009 by 'abd
عن عبد الله بن عمرو رضي الله عنهما قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : “أربع من كُنَّ فيه كان منافقاً خالصاً. ومن كانت فيه خَصلة منهن كانت فيه خصلة من النفاق حتى يدعها: إذا ائتُمِنَ خان، وإذا حدّث كذب، وإذا عاهد غدَر، وإذا خاصم فجر” متفق عليه
Narrated ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr:
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,
“Whoever has the following four (characteristics) will be a pure hypocrite and whoever has one of the following four characteristics will have one characteristic of hypocrisy unless and until he gives it up.
1. Whenever he is entrusted, he betrays.
2. Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie.
3. Whenever he makes a covenant, he proves treacherous.
4. Whenever he quarrels, he behaves in a very imprudent, evil and insulting manner.”
(Sahih Bukhari & Muslim)
We have to see ours daily activities in light of this hadith and judge the stage of hypocrisy we are in.
Posted June 15th, 2009 by 'abd
Khawajah Mohammad Ma’soom Mujaddidi (Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘Believe it with certainty that the love (muhabba) and company (suhba) of a person who possesses millions of virtues and miracles (karamat) but is slack in following the Sunna of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) are lethal poisons.
Whereas, the love and company of an individual who holds no virtues or miracles at all but is steadfast in following the Sunna of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) are indispensable elixirs.
Tazkirah Muslih al-Umma ra, page 205
Posted June 14th, 2009 by 'abd
‘Arif-billah Hadhrat Dr. Abdul Hayy ‘Arifi (may Allah have mercy on him) used to ask this question repeatedly from those who use to attend his weekly talks on spiritual improvement (islah),
“All praise is for Allah. I appreciate your effort in taking out time from your busy schedule and attend this gathering. However, I put forward this question to you,
‘What change has happened in yourself since you started attending these gathering?’
Contemplate.
These gatherings are meant to bring about a change in ourselves. They are not formal speeches or academic lectures.”
Friday, weekly majalis e ‘Arifi ra
P.S. Same question may be put to the readers of this blog!
