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
Arifbillah Dr Abdul Hayy Arifi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“The book, Tarbiyat us Salik is the khanqah (zawiya) of Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Mohammad Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him)”.
He added, “It is the book which has no parallel in the fourteen hundred years of literary history of Tasawwuf. In it Hazrat [...]
Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“Essentially in every era there exist one or two such pious people that having no connection with them whatsoever, leaving aside open opposition and confrontation, leads to (Divine) displeasure and great loss of blessing. Though, no punishment results.
I consider Hadhrat Mawlana (Rashid [...]
Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“The quarters of the heart should not be left vacant.
If they are not occupied with Allah’s remembrance(dhikr) fill them with something else that is permissible (mubah).
Otherwise, seeing them vacant Satan will move into them and take hold (of the heart).”
Waaz: Arza al-Haqq, [...]
دل میرود ز دستم! صاحب دلاں خدارا!
دردا کہ راز پنہاں خواہد شد آشکارا!
حافظ رح
Hadhrat Mawlana Wasiullah (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“The worst lethal thing (for a seeker) is the companionship (suhba) of an individual who is deficient (spiritually).
I define this deficient person as someone who has no grief on lacking perfection (kamal) and is not remorseful for his debilitated state (hal) of affairs.
The person who is aware of his [...]
Giving initial instructions to a novice murid, sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) wrote;
For future from now on, make special effort for the following;
1. Try your best to abstain from all sins, especially those of eyes, tongue and ears/hearing.
2. Refrain from useless (fazool) and petty (laya’ni) activities.
3. Read from Hakeemul [...]
Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“An innovation (bid’ah ) is to introduce something which has no basis in Shariah (Divine law) into the religion (deen) regarding it to be (an integral) part of religion and to act upon it with the hope of reward.
Indulgence in an innovation is a major sin.”
Behishiti Zewar
The wife of a very close murid (and khalifa) wrote,
‘I have the spiritual illness of anger. This is particularly so for my husband. At times I become very angry at him. Later I regret it and sometimes even cry.’
Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) replied,
“To become angry, especially in intimate [...]
In answer to one person’s question Hadhrat Hakim all-Umma Mawlana Shah Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi(may Allah have mercy on him) replied:
I don’t know how these innovators (bid’ati) link us to the Wahhabi’s?
First of all, the one whose name they are slandering is not even Abdul Wahab. For no reason they have slandered the poor guy. The [...]
Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Shah Ashraf Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“It is in “Fawaidul fawad” (malfuzatof Hazrat Mehboob e Ilahi Khawajah Nizamuddin Awliya Chishti ra) that, salik is he who travels on the path (of sulook). Waqef واقف is the one who is stuck in the middle
If a salik is negligent in his [...]
Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Shah Ashraf Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said;
‘Although, all the sins and attachments to other-than Allah are an obstacle in this path (sulook). Few indispensable ones are explained here.
First and foremost is opposition of the Sunna of Prophet, Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him (in beliefs, acts of worship, [...]
‘Arifbillah Hadhrat Dr. Abdul Hayy ‘Arifi (may Allah have mercy on him) told those gathered to hear him speak;
“To reap maximum benefit from something heard that is spiritually beneficial do these three things;
1. Make dua immediately. Asking Allah for the assistance (tawfeeq) to act according to it.
2. Pass it on to others. That is, repeat it to [...]
