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
By Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi
“He (Allah Most High) then firmly established (istawa) Himself over the Throne” (Qur’an 7:54) means He firmly established Himself over the Kingly Throne and began decreeing orders (ahkams) in the heavens and the earth. In the tafsir (exegesis) of [the verse] “He then firmly established Himself over the Throne”, [...]
Mawlana Abd al-Razzaq al-Qadiri (may Allah have mercy on him)of Bansa (1636-1724), told his students:
“Watch me.
So long as I follow our pious predecessors, follow me; and if I do not follow our pious predecessors, do not follow me.
Our predecessors were better than we are, because they lived closer to the time [...]
Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Shah Ashraf Ali Thanwi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“Always remember this tip.
Never ever provide any occasion or means for your inner-self (nafs) to misbehave.
This is a an essential thing that is being told.
This inner-self (nafs) is the enemy that has ruined the zuhud (asceticism), taqwa( God-fearing) and piety of [...]
بدنیا گر کسے پائندہ بودے
ابوالقاسم محمد زندہ بودے
صلی اللہ علیہ والہ وسلم
Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi [may Allah have mercy on him] said,
‘It should be realized that actions and practices innovated after the passage of the first three generations of Muslims [khairul quroon/ best of eras] are categorized into two types,
First category: Pseudo-bid’ah
Those actions whose rationale is new but some essential acts of the Shariah [...]
Mawlid Hawl Hadra Urs
Milaad Qiyam-Salat-o-Salam
Ijtemai Zikr Chillah Dhikr Raqs
Hizb Litanies Bayaih Tawajuh
Lataif Sama’ Barsi Khatam
Fatiha Nazar Niyaz Gheyarweih
Sajjada-nashini KhalwaWazifa Dawair
Shah Waliullah Dehlawi (may Allah have mercy on him) a Sufi master and the main teacher of Prophetic traditions (ahadith) for all the scholars of subcontinent origin said,
‘The spiritual, perpetual and mutually favorable personal relationship with Allah (nisbet) of Sufis [...]
Shaykh Shah Wasiullah (may Allah have mercy on him) instructed the spiritual aspirants,
‘The most benefical and sanctified daily spiritual practice (wird) is the recitation of the Holy Quran.
However, this is based on the condition that this recitation is not mere verbal pronunciation of the holy text. There must be participation of the qalb (heart/mind)
This involvement of the qalb [...]
تیری محفل میں کیا انوار ہیں اے مہ جبیں ساقی
اتر آیا زمیں پر آج کیا عرش بریں ساقی
تیرے رندوں پہ سارے کھل گۓ اسرار دیں ساقی
ہوا علم الیقیں عین الیقیں حق الیقیں ساقی
شراب تلخ دے مجھ کو بجاۓ انگبیں ساقی
کہ نکلے رقص کرتی روح وقت واپسیں ساقی
عجب ہے تیرے میخانے کا اے پیر مغاں عالم
کہیں [...]
“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.”
– Zig Ziglar quotes (American motivational Speaker and Author. )
Source: Ibn Ayyub
For motivation (hal)in the path of Allah company of pious is essentially required.
This may be either their physical companionship or by reading their sayings, works and [...]
من تمسک بسنتی عند فساد امتی فلہ اجر مائـۃ شہید
Explaining this Prophetic saying Shaykh Shah Wasiullah quotes Mulla ‘Ali Qari (may Allah have mercy on them) that,
“Whoever practices (’aml) on my Sunna during the period of the affliction of my Ummah, that is when innovations (bida), ignorance (jahl) and lack of action (fisq) [...]
Sidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) instructed a seeker,
“The desires to commit sins are produced solely to be crushed and, hence obtain additional reward for this.
One should neither be surprised nor feel depressed on these desires.
When they arise, one should crush them and climb one step above.”
Islahi khutoot
Arif-billah Shaykh Dr. Abdul Hayy ‘Arifi (Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘I tell you the synopsis of my (80 years of) life.
The catalysts for changing dust to gold are,
1. Get the blessed supplications (dua) from the pious (awliya) as much as possible
2. Respect the elderly
3. Be thankful for each and every bounty of Allah.’
Malfoozat e Arifi 168
In the state of ihram proceeding towards Masjid al-Haram, sayyidi wa sandi Shaykh Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani sahib (Allah preserve him) repeatedly recited;
لبيك اللهم لبيك
لا شريك لك لبيك
ان الحمد و نعمة
لك و الملك لا شريك لك
and told us:
“In the state of ihram the most superior form of dhikr is this talbiyah.
Reflecting on it, it is my [...]
During the weekly discourse sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) asked the audience if anyone remembered the dua that is recited when the sun arises.
There was an uneasy silence for a moment. Then a young seeker (talib) recited the dua fluently.
الحمدلله اقالانا يومنا هذا ولم يهلكنا بذنوبنا
Shaykh was obviously pleased and commended him [...]
چوں دلت بود نسبت چشتیہ
ہست در خاک تو قوت برقیہ
برمزارش فیض ربانی بود
نسبت آں شیخ نورانی بود
چونکہ نسبت چشتیہ دارد ز نور
بوۓ عشق از مرقدش آمد ظہور
(حضرت اقدس حکیم اختر صاحب مدظلہ)
