sallalaho alehey wa alehi wasalam

A’rifbillah Dr. Abdul Hayy quddus sirrahu used to tell his mureed how he did this;

“I practiced this for a very long period of time. That is, whatever I wanted to do, I did not do it instantaneously. I paused for a moment. Brought to my mind this knowledge that observing Sunnah is of utmost importance. Then I made an intention of following the method of Allah swt’s beloved sallalaho alehey wa alehi wasalam and did the act appropriately.

For example, when I entered my house, I found one of my children playing. Feeling a rush of fatherly love and affection, I thought of picking her up and kissing her. However, I did not do it right away. I stopped myself for a moment. Brought to my mind the Sunnah of Allah swt’s beloved prophet sallalaho alehey wa alehi wasalam, that he used to love children and showed affection to them. I then made an intention (niyyah) of following him and proceeded to pick her up and kiss her.

Similarly, while on dinner table, I did not start eating immediately. I brought this fact to mind that it was Sunnah of prophet sallalaho alehey wa alehi wasalam to eat. Then intending to do so, I began eating using my right hand, after reciting Bismillah and observed the Sunnah table manners throughout the dinner.”

Jigar pani keya hay mudatoon, aay A’rifi, gam ki kasha kash mein
Koiy aasan hay keya khogar e aazar ho jana
(Arifi ra)

However, it is important to point out that this is not a play of words. That is, in fact I am eating because I am hungry or a very tasty platter of food is in front of me. I just recite that I eat because it is Sunnah and fulfill my own desire. This is not the message. One has to contemplate the importance of observing Sunnah at that moment and proceed with the intention to do so. Doing it in the correct Sunnah manner. This is the correct sequence of events to make it a true following of prophet sallalaho alehey wa alehi wasalam.

Teray habib ki ya Rabb shabahat lay key aya houn
Haqiqat is ko tu kardey mein sorat ley kay aya houn

sallalaho alehey wa a’lehi wasalam

Hazrat Thanwi quddus sirrahu said that in our tareeq (path) the goal is achieved comparatively quickly. The reason being the extraordinary emphasis laid on following the Sunnah of Allah’s beloved prophet sallalaho alehey wa alehi wasalam. This makes the achievement of goal by jazb (Divine attraction/pull) rather than sulook (personal effort and toil).
As it is said in the holy Quran;
(O Prophet!) Tell (them) that if you want to love Allah (swt), then you should follow me. (By this) Allah swt will love you and forgive all your sins. Indeed! Allah swt is all forgiving and merciful. (3:31)

It is therefore, very important to follow Sunnah in all daily activities. The whole life of Allah’s beloved sallalaho alehey wa alehi wasalam is in front of us. His personal appearance, attire and hygiene, activities from morning to dust, relationship with wives, way of worship, social interactions, manners, economic and governmental matters, and every imaginable daily activity is included in this. It is preserved in texts like “Shamail” by Imam Tirmizi ra (Arabic, Urdu) and “Uswa-e-Rasool e Akram” by Arifbillah Dr Abdul Hayy Arifi ra (Urdu, English) and “A’laikum bisunnati” by Mufti Abdul Hakeem Sukharwi ra (father of Mufti AbdurRaouf Sukharwi dbt) (Urdu).

By following these intentionally all daily activities become an act of worship. Thus a means of getting closer to Allah swt. It is the same personal, family, social and work life but adopting the Sunnah method changes dust to gold. Alchemy!

Nothing is easy. Every thing needs initiative and may be difficult in the beginning. But with constant practice it becomes easy and a routine. Such is the case here. After acquiring the knowledge of the Sunnah it has to be practiced in every day life thoroughly. If one faces difficulties in doing so, Sheikh needs to be consulted. He with his insight and experience will define a mode of achieving it.

Sab thay kay dehkha keyay unka kharam-e-naz
Hum thay kay unka naqsh-e-qadam choom tay rahay
(Arifi ra)

C. Prophet’s prayers:
Third mode of dhikr is the recitation of the Prophetic prayers (iediya-e-musnoonah) for the specific occasions. They cover all the aspects of an individual’s life from waking up, going to bathroom, coming out, wudhu, entering and leaving home, walking to mosque, in the mosque, before and after praying, greeting a friend, seeing something undesirable, sneezing, before and after conjugal relations, illness & visiting the sick, weather changes & calamities, etc., etc. There is no occasion in a Muslims life which can not be made into remembrance of Allah swt by reciting them thoughtfully at that moment.

My Sheikh dbt often says that these prayers are explicit proof of our Master’s prophethood (dalail-un-Nabowat). No ordinary man could have recited such meaningful prayers at these occasions.

In our tareeq special emphasis is laid on memorizing them and reciting them contemplating their meanings.

Hazrat Sheikh Moulana Mohammad Taqi Usmani dbt has complied them in a handbook “Radiant Prayers” (Purnoor duaiy).

Also, daily recitation of a section (hizb) of “Munajat e Maqbool” is a usual practice for all mureeds. Hakeem ul ummat Hazrat Thanvi ra rearranged Mulla Ali Qari ra’s compilation of Prophet salallaho alehey wasalam’s prayers “Hizb il A’zam” into seven approximately equal length sections as “Munajat e Maqbool”. Making it convenient to be read daily.

D. The Four Marvelous Gems:

Another form of remembrance of Allah swt is to practice the four praise-worthy acts appropriately.

Arif billah Dr. Abdul Hayy Arifi ra pointed out that any given moment in a salik’s (person traversing the path) life only four states can exist. They are;
1. Either, he is happy and content from his present situation, or
2. He is unhappy and distressed by things happening against his wishes, or
3. He is guilty of a mistake or a sin committed, or
4. He is worried about anticipated future mishaps or disasters

For each of these if he develops the habit of practicing the following, he will be in a perpetual state of remembrance.
1. For first state, he thanks Allah swt for these bounties. Bearing in mind that he did not deserved them and it was only the mercy of Allah swt to grant them. And Allah swt is capable of taking them away at any time. This is thankfulness (shukkur).
2. For the second, he is patient. He understands that Allah swt knows what’s best for him and He decides accordingly. I with my limited knowledge, insight and experience can not decide this. This is Patience (sabr).
3. For the mistake, he repents. Fulfilling the three criteria for repentance. That are, he is remorseful, he leaves the sin immediately and finally he pledges never to commit it again. This is Repentance (taubah).
4. Finally for the future worries he takes refuge in Allah swt. Asking His help and protection from such calamity. This is taking refuge (istiaza).

One who develops the routine of practicing these praise worthy actions appropriately, he is in constant contact with Allah swt.

This eventually will result in the development of ta’aluq ma’Allah/love.

Mauhabat duno alam mein yehi ja kar pukar aiy
Jesey khud yar ney chaha, uosy ko yad-e-yar aiy!

Love is a spontaneous condition.
It is an unintentional state.
You have no voluntary control over its origin.

However, there are some voluntary acts that may lead to the creation of a strong relationship with Allah swt. It is well established by the experience of masters of Tasawwuf that when practiced appropriately they do lead to creation of Allah swt’s love (muhabbat).

These actions are:

· Excessive remembrance of Allah swt

· Observance of Sunnah, in all matters

· Keeping company with pious.
Those who already have this strong relationship with Allah swt (Ahlil-Allah)

· Being thankful for the bounties of Allah swt.
At the same time reflecting about our attitude in regards to them

· Being steadfast in following the rulings of Shariah

· Asking Allah swt (dua) a lot.

All these are to be carried out simultaneously.

This will, inshaAllah, create a strong bond between the slave (abd) and his Master (Allah swt).

This bond/relationship/love is the objective of our path.
It is the driving soul for true observance of Shariah.

It is, however, important to clear a misconception:
We may set an imaginary expected standard for this love.
For example, Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani or Khawajah Moinuddin Chisti ra’s state of love for Allah swt. And when this not happens within our expected short time frame, we feel at loss. This is inappropriate. This is the path (tareeq) of slave hood (abdiyat). Our under par desires and immature wishes have no standing in this path. They have to be annihilated (fana).
After implementing these acts correctly, a strong relationship with Allah swt will certainly develop, accordingly to our state. It will inshaAllah develop over time and become ingrained in us.

We will, inshaAllah, discuss each of these actions separately in detail.

Wa ma taufiqi ila billah