Teachings of Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf 'Ali Thanawi & his spiritual successors, particularly 'Arifbillah Dr 'Abdul Hayy 'Arifi (may Allah bless them) and Sayyidi Mawlana Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) regarding Tasawwuf
Hadhrat Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“Most of the people do not pay necessary attention required for the proper upbringing of children. They postpone accurate training in childhood saying they are just kids.
However, this is the age for establishing permanent habits. The characteristics developed at this age last [...]
Hadhrat Mawlana Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) said,
“There are two types of sufis. Firstly those who strive immensely in performing supererogatory (nawafil) actions in abundance, such as excessive dhikr, salah, fasting etc. Whereas, the other type sticks to the basic actions required with few supererogatory ones but they strive to develop and establish the spiritual works of their heart. [...]
نہ ہونا ہاۓ کیا ہو گا ہمارا
کہ ہونے پر نہ ہونے کا گماں ہے
A spiritual aspirant wrote,
“At times of having the opportunity of casting lustful glances I remind myself that if I am able to save my eyes from seeing the prohibited it will be a grand miracle (karama). In fact it will be million times superior to any super natural feat. I also recall the saying from [...]
Hakeem al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“Pious elders have stated that as doing some thing (primarily) to please others is ostentation (riya), similarly abandoning an action for same reasons is also ostentation.”
Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 1, page 349
Allah save us from it! Ameen.
Suuna related to food: To sit together while eating food. (Abu Dawood)
An individual requested special prayers (dua) complaining that his wife was irritating him a lot.
Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) replied,
“Do not be distrubed by wife’s pestering. This is also a spiritual struggle (mujahida). You will be rewarded for it*. Let her annoy you.”
Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 1, page [...]
An individual inquired what points should he pay most attention to when reading Shaykh’s spiritual discourses (mawaiz) to achieve maximum benefit.
Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) replied,
“When reading these discourses paying attention to two things are beneficial. Firstly, the blame worthy things mentioned in them [...]
A spiritual aspirant wrote his occassional routine of distributing food to the needy and forwarding its reward (esal e thawab) to the senior Sufis of the tariqa.
Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) replied,
“This is a reward earning act. However, in doing so the intention should not be to [...]
Hadhrat Mawlana Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) told a disciple, who had taken multiple loans (non-interest bearing) and was unable to pay them back, to write in detail regarding the payment of these debts in every letter written to him (usually fortnightly or monthly).
He was instructed to write these financial matters first [...]
Sunna related to food: To use right hand for eating food, accepting it from and giving it to someone. (Ibn e Majah)
Hadhrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) said,
“The similitude of our daily basic recitations (ma’moolat/wird) is like wheels of a vehicle. They are essential for it to move. The love of Allah, most High, is like the fuel in its engine. Both are necessary for it to run. Lacking either of them is [...]
