Ongoing need of treatment & re-treatment in the spiritual path

failure-is-not-falling-down-but-refusing-to-get-up

In discussion about the need of repeated treatment for moral ailments sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah bless him with a long, healthy and productive life, Amin!)  said,

‘Do not assume that (the treatment of moral ailments once done) suffices forever.

There is always a need of re-treatment.

That is, one has to reevaluate (his/her condition) repeatedly and (if necessary) treat again.

Do not assume that all those individuals who are bestowed with the permission (ijaza) of taking bayiah have become so perfect that they neither falter nor are they infallible from making mistakes nor are they immune from developing the desires of sinful.

That is not the case.

They also develop the desires for sinful. They also falter. However, they become immediately aware of their slip. This is because of the attribute developed in them and (previous ongoing effort of) moral disciplining (by spiritual struggle and excessive remembrance of Allah). After this awareness they have do the treatment of their aliment.

Even (Hakim al Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali) Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) said that when I see a (spiritual) illness in myself, I treat it (sometimes by giving a public discourse about it. That is in order to wake up my nafs, so I practice what I preach).’

Islahi Majali, voume 1, page 69

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