A spiritual aspirant inquired how would it be possible to preserve and increase the beneficial effects accquired in the company of the Shaykh after returning back to usual routine.
Hakim al-Umma Hazrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) replied,
‘By being regular on your daily practices (ma’moolat) and intermingling less with the people.’
Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 1, page 394
In Masjid al-Haraam, Makkah e mukarramah, a pious individual informed that a person in Okara visited the local religious gathering. He reviewed some of the books displayed at the bookstalls outside. He picked up this book, read few pages but placed it back in the shelf and returned back to his home.
That night he was blessed with vision of our master Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) in his dream. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) had few books in his noble hand. They included, ‘Seerat e Ayesha رضى الله عنها ‘ by Allama Syed Suliman Nadwi (may Allah have mercy on him), ‘Uloom e Quran’ and this book ‘Huzoor صلى الله عليه وسلم nay farmaya’ (both) by Hadhrat Mawlana Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him). The blessed Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) then addressed this individual inquiring why didn’t he buy this book.
This individual travelled all the way from Okara, NWFP to Karachi and personally narrated this dream to Hadhrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him).
Hadhrat regarded it as a mubasharah (glad tidings) and a state of increased thankfulness (shukur) and humility (tawadu) overcame him.
Mufti Mohammad Shafi’ (may Allah have mercy on him) said explaining the verses of sura al-Hujjarat,
‘Some scholars say that if someone has made a pious person his spiritual guide (murshid), and then he behaves rudely and with contempt towards him, similarly (to the effects of rude behavior towards the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم described in these verses) this often becomes a source of removal of facility (tawfeeq) of good actions and leads to great deprivation. It eventually results in loss of wealth of faith (eman).
May Allah save us all from this. Ameen!”
Ma’ariful Quran, volume 8, page 102
Among the optional (nafl) prayers, this prayer is of great magnitude.
Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said to his uncle Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib (may Allah be pleased with him),
“Shall I not give you a gift?
Shall I grant you a blessing?
Shall I inform you of a great benefit?
Shall I give you something, which if you do, Allah will forgive you all your sins, old and past and new, committed by mistake or knowingly, small and big, committed in secret or openly?
It is that you have to offer four unit (rak’ah) of optional prayers in this way: in every unit (rak’ah) after the Al-Hamd and Surah and while yet standing, recite the third kalimah
fifteen times, then in the bowing (ruku), ten times, then standing up after the bow (qoma), ten times, then in each prostration ten times and in between the two prostrations ten times, and sitting up after the second prostration, ten times; seventy-five times per unit (rak’ah), three-hundred times in all.
Then, He said, “If possible, offer this prayer once every day; if you cannot, offer it once on Fridays, if this is not possible, offer it once a month, if this too is not possible, offer it once a year, and if even this is not possible, offer it once in your lifetime.”
(Ibn Maja, Tirmizi, Abu Daud)
Hazrat Abbas (Radhiallaahu Anhu) used to offer this prayer every Friday.
Another way of offering this prayers (may be easier for Hanafis) has been reported by Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (may Allah have mercy on him). It is to recite the kalima fifteen times after opening praise (thana) but before al-fathiha (and in all raka’h). The ten times after al-fathiha and a Surah. The rest as stated above, except that there will be no need to recite these kalimat after the second prostration (sujud, in sitting position) in any rak’ah.
روضہ اقدس پر
اغثنی یا رسول اللہ انی
لمغبون و قنطنی العظام
اے خدا کے رسول آپ میری فریاد رسی فرمائیے کیونکہ میں نقصان رسیدہ ہوں،
اور بڑے بڑے درباروں سے مایوس ہو کر واپس آیا ہوں
ترحم یا بن امنۃ تراحم
ففی جوبی رضاعی والفطام
اے آمنہ کے لخت جگر! آپ مجھ پر رحم فرماریں،
کیونکہ گناہوں ہی میں میں نے ساری عمر بسر کی ہے
بک استشفعت فی قلی و کثری
بک استشفیت اذ عرض السقام
چھوٹے بڑے تمام کاموں میں میں آپ کی شفاعت کا طالب ہوں،
اور بیماری کی حالت میں آپ ہی سے وفا کی امید کا خواستگار ہوں
ملاذی انت ان ھجم اللیالی
و حین قتالھم انت الحسام
اگر زمانے کے حوادث مجھ پر حملہ کردیں تو آپ ہی میری جاۓ پناہ ہیں،
اور جب دشمن میرے ساتھ مصروف پیکار ہو تو آپ ہی میرے شمشیر براں ہیں
ان استغفرت لی مولای یوما
اکن ممن علی الدین استقامو
میرے مولا اگرمیرے لۓ ایک دن بھی استغفار کردیں
تو میں ان لوگوں میں سے ہو جاؤں جو صراط مستقیم پر ثابت قدم رہتے ہیں
یطیعک مثل عبد کل عضوی
وفی قلبی یدوم لک الغرام
میرا سارا بدن غلاموں کی طرح آپ کہ تابعدار رہے گا
اور میرے دل میں ہمیشہ آپ کی محبت باقی رہے گی
صلی اللہ علیہ والہ وسلم
مناجات مقبول ص237
Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) instructed a disciple,
“A novice (mubtadi) spiritual aspirant should not engage even in backbiting (ghibah) that may be permissible.”
Tarbiyat us Salik, volume 1, page 317
اسے حال و قال سے واسطہ، نہ غرض مقام و قیام سے
جسے کوئی نسبت خاص ہو ترے حسن برق خرام سے
جگر رح
An aspirant wrote,
“Is it appropriate for me to use words like ‘lowly’ or ‘unworthy individual’ for myself?”
Hadhrat Mawlana Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) replied,
“There is no harm in using these words, provided you actuallyconsider yourself to be so.”
Islahi khutoot,
“ Certainly There Is For You In The Messenger Of Allah An Excellent Example.” [Holy Quran, 33:21]
“And We Have Not Sent Thee Except As A Mercy Unto The Worlds.” [Holy Quran, 21:107]
Say thou: if ye are want to love ALLAH, then follow me, and ALLAH shall love you and forgive you your sins: And ALLAH is Forgiving and Merciful. [Holy Quran, 3:31]
This book sheds light on the habits and teachings of the Holy Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) which have been extracted from the most authentic books of Ahadiths (traditions). These teachings practically cover all aspects of life and are a perfect example for all muslims to follow.
“This is in a way the complete extract of the teachings of the Holy Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). “
Mufti e Azam Pakistan Muhammad Shafee (Allah bless him and give him peace)
“This book can serve as a guiding light and mentor to the (right) path in the matters of faith, worship, dealings, social relations, moral values, norms and routine of the Prophet’s (Allah bless him and give him peace) blessed life, matrimonial and social life and the various natural and physical stages of life. Allah has blessed this book with such popularity that few books of our present times can boast of.” Maulana Syed Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi
“It is a very useful book written in a very lucid style, about the Holy Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). God willing, it will be very beneficial. Beside its hidden virtues it has been published in a befitting and attractive style. I pray to Allah to make it beneficial for people and also make it an act of continuous charity for the author.”
Sheikh ul Hadith Maulana Muhammad Zakaria Kandhalavi (Allah bless him and give him peace)
Click on the image to download the book (pdf format).
Sunna: On completion of the adhan recite salutations (durood) on the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) and then the following prayers,
Recitation of this prayers (dua e waseela) leads to the intercession of Prophet (may Allah bless and give him peace) on the day of Judgement (qiyama).
Sunna of answering the call for prayers (adhan):
Repeat the wordings of the caller (moadhin), except when he says,
حى على الصلوة and حى على الفلاح
answer them by saying,
لا حول ولا قوة الا بالله
In predawn (fajr) adhan when the caller says
الصلوة خير من النوم
answer by saying,
صدقت و بررت
Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“The proximity (wisel) and closeness (qurub) to Allah, most High is the disconnection of all other-than-Him relationships .”
Tarbiyat us Salik, volume 1, page 169
