Monthly Archives: June 2006

Sign of Acceptability from Allah SWT

Hazrat Abu Hurairah ra narrates that Prophet (Salutations and blessings of Allah SWT be upon him) said:

When Allah SWT makes someone His beloved, He calls for Hazrat Jibrael(AS) and tells him that I love so and so, you must love him also.

Hazrat Jibrael loves this individual and announces in the heavens that Allah SWT loves this person so you all must love him. Hence all beings in the heavens love this individual.

Then the acceptability and love of this person is placed in the heart of the people of Earth.

Similar is the case when Allah SWT hates someone. The abhorrence to this individual descends to the heart of the people of the Earth in a similar manner.

Sahih Muslim

Explaining this hadith Hakeemul Ummat Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi ra writes:

In this hadith one of the differentiating characteristic signs of Awliya (friends of Allah SWT) from non-awliya is mentioned. This sign must be used while searching for a Sheikh. It is most essential to avoid a non-acceptable individual (as a Sheikh).

(This characteristic is “being maqbool i.e. accepted by Allah SWT”.)

This means, that without any worldly reason, or any other worldly association, or hope of material profit or loss, turning of hearts favorably towards an individual and holding a good opinion about him by most of the creatures is a sign of his being loved and being accepted (by Allah SWT).

Haqiqat et tariqah min Sunnatal aneqah: At-Takashuf, page 269

The thing to note is that true acceptability comes from above downwards. That is, from elite to general public and not vice versa.

پیر بھائی

حضرت حکیم الامت مولانا اشرف علی تھانوی قدس سرہ نے فرمایا:

خلیفہ ارشاد گو پیر بھائی ہو لیکن جب وہ بانابت شیخ افاضہ کرے تو اس کو مخدوم سمجھنا چاہیے۔ مساوات کا دعوی اورحسد موجب حرمان ہے۔”

عرفان حافظ: التکشف ص91

Reading & Excessive remembrance of Allah SWT

A mureed wrote:

“For the previous few days I am having doubts about the advantages of reading religious books recommended. For a novice (like myself) isn’t zikir and shugal more important to create strong bond with Allah SWT than reading books?

Sayyidi wa sanadi Hazrat Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani sahib db replied:

“Reading religious book with correct intention is also a form of zikir (remembrance of Allah SWT).

کل مطیع للہ فھو ذاکر”

Islahi khutoot

بندہ پیر

بندہ  پیر  خراباتم  کہ  لطفش  دائم  ست

ورنہ لطف شیخ و زاہد گاہ ہست و گاہ نیست

 

حافظ شیرازی رح

التکشف ص132

When to repent & start good actions?

Right now.

At this moment.

At once.

Right away.

This minute.

Without delay.

Straightaway.

As soon as possible.

Immediately.

Sayyidi wa sanadi Hazrat Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani db said:

“Do not procrastinate.

Putting off repentance and good actions for future is the deadliest weapon in the armamentarium of Nafs & Shaytan.

Do not let them deceive you!”

محبت سرور کائنات صلی اللہ علیہ والہ وسلم

صلی اللہ علیہ والہ وسلم صلی اللہ علیہ والہ وسلم صلی اللہ علیہ والہ وسلم

–

محبت محمد کی رکھ جان میں

محمد محمد کہہ ہر آن میں

محمد کی الفت سے اور چاہ سے

ملے گا تو امداد اللہ سے

–

صلی اللہ علیہ والہ وسلم صلی اللہ علیہ والہ وسلم صلی اللہ علیہ والہ وسلم

–

جہاد اکبر: شیخ العرب و العجم حضرت حاجی امداد اللہ صاحب مہاجر مکی قرس سرہ

Wife’s monthly Stipend

A newlywed mureed inquired:

“I am planning to give an amount of money to my wife monthly.  Can I make intention of paying off “maher” in it?  And if so, is it necessary to inform her regarding it.”

Sayyidi wa sanadi Hazrat Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani db replied:

“An amount of money should be given to the wife monthly as “pocket money”.  This amount should be enough to easily payoff her basic (personal) expenses. And also, the zakat due on her can be paid from it.  This stipend should never be counted as “maher” amount.

However, an amount additional to this stipend can be given with intention of “maher”.  The best way to do so is to open a bank account for her and deposit this amount monthly in it. Let her know that this saving is the “maher” money.  This is because smaller amounts that are given are spend easily and the benefits of a larger amount in hand are lost.”

Islahi khutoot

علامات محبت

جو ایمان و الفت میں صادق ہے تو

تو پھرکیوں گناہوں پہ عاشق ہے تو

کرے ہے کب عاشق خلاف حبیب

نہیں تجھ کو اس کی محبت نصیب

جہاد اکبر: تصنیف شیخ العرب و العجم

حضرت حاجی امداد اللہ صاحب مہاجر مکی قرس سرہ

کلیات امدادیہ ص 109

The Companionship to be avoided

Hakeemul Ummat Hazrat Mawlana Shah Ashraf Ali Thanawi ra said;

In his last will Hazrat Shah Waliullah sahib (Muhadith Dehlawi) ra advised to avoid the companionship of the following:

1. Wealthy people, without a genuine religious reason

2. Ignorant Sufis

3. Unenlightened ‘abid (devout worshipper)

4. Dry/impersonal scholars and ascetics

5. Individuals who hold a grudge against the Hadith & Fiqh scholars.

6. Individuals who are excessively involved in ilm-kalam (scholastic theology) and maqool (logic).

Taleem ud Deen, page 135, Taj Co. edition. (An essential reading in Nisab e Tasawwuf)

Kids:Establishing habit of praying Fajar

A mureed inquired, “My daughter is mashaAllah, 10 years old now. Alhumdulillah, she has been consistent with four of the five daily salah  (prayers) since 7 years of age. The question is regarding the fajar prayers. How much disciplining must be done to achieve this?

My wife and I differ. I force her up physically, while my wife restricts to verbal commands only.

Please, advise us to the correct method in this issue. JazakAllah.

Sayyidi wa sanadi Hazrat Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani sahib db replied,

“It is essential to acknowledge the fact that if the habit of performing fajar at its appropriate time is not established at this young age, it will be very difficult to establish it later in life.

Therefore, it is quite appropriate to try your best and make her pray on time.  However, it should be with gentleness never using any corporeal punishment.”

Etiquettes of being Imam

Hakeemul Ummat Hazrat Moulana Shah Ashraf Ali Thanvi ra said;

“If you were to be the imam to lead in a congregational salah offer very light (short, succinct & manageable) prayers.

This is because there are different kinds of people behind you. Some of them may suffer if you do not do this (i.e. either they may be sick or in a hurry). If you do not care for them they may develop an aversion from praying in congregation.”

Taleem ud Deen, page 30, Taj Co. editiion

Are any khulafa of Hakeemul Ummat ra Alive ?

It is sad to know that there are no khulafa of Hazrat Haeemul Ummat Hazrat Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi ra alive today.

Hazat ra passed away in 1943.

He gave ijaza to almost 150 blessed individuals. The youngest of these khulafa, Hazrat Mawlana Abrarul Haq sahib ra of Hardoi, India died last year.

However, there are few individuals who either made bayait with Hazrat ra or attended his blessed majalis still amongst us. These Shuyukh subsequently turned to Hazrat ra’s khulafa, completed their sulook and gained permission to accept mureeds.

Having observed Hazrat Thanawi ra directly, seeing him do the tarbiyah of mureedeen and explain the intricacies of tasawwuf & sulook these individuals are blessed with special barakah.

They include;

  • Shaykh ul mashaykh Hazrat Nawab Eshrat Ali Khan Qaiser sahib db, House # 32, Street 4, F6/3, Islamabad
  • Hazrat Rifat Ahmad Khan sahib db, House # 49, Block 2, PECHS, Karachi
  • Hazrat Dr. Tanveer Ahmad sahib db, Hyderabad, Sindh

For individuals seeking islah in Hazrat Thanawi ra’s silsila they are an immense treasure to benefit from.

Watching Television

Sayyidi wa sanadi Hazrat Mawlana Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani sahib db advised a mureed;

One should not keep a television set at home by choice. If some one else has kept it without you having any control over it then you will not be sinful.

Few of the scholars have squeezed out permissibility of watching programs that are being broadcasted live and do not contain anything objectionable as per Shariah. However, it is best to avoid watching them also.

Moreover, people seeing you watching live broadcast will not be able to appreciate this difference and deduce that you consider watching television to be permissible.
(Whereas, it is impermissible to watch the television.)

Islahi khatoot