Professor Shaikh Mohammad Ashraf Sulemani (Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘In general, prevalent Tasawwuf in Muslim communities is of three types;
1. Tasawwuf that is subservient to Shariah
2. Tasawwuf that is a philosophical theory
3. Tasawwuf that revolves around innovations (bida)
The real Islamic Tasawwuf is the one that is totally subservient to Shariah.’
Mard e Darvesh, page 186
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An individual inquired about controlling the random thoughts that pervade the mind all the time. This automatic phenomenon is perpetual and does not spare the mind free for a split of a second. These thoughts are there even while being is salah, reciting the Holy Quran and doing remembrance of Allah. What is the tip to harness them?
Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) replied,
‘This is achieved by practice.
The thoughts have to be steered repeatedly to the right direction.
This random thinking is very natural. However, as soon as one realizes the derailment come back on to the track. One has to repeatedly refocus his attention from useless thoughts. Reminding himself of their futility.
Initially the derailments will be frequent. However, with persistence in effort to refocus one’s attention eventually one will be successful. The useless random thoughts will recede and one will be able to keep his thoughts in control.
This does not happens overnight. It takes constant practice to achieve.
The thoughts have to be steered to the remembrance of Allah, His grandiosity, His benevolence, acknowledgment and thankfulness of blessings bestowed on us.
Once achieved this may be called ta’luq ma’Allah or nisbet. It does not matter what you call it. However, it will keep you focused on remembrance of Allah at all the times.’
27 Ramadan 1432/ 28 August 2011, Darul Uloom, Karachi, Hadhrat db’s residence, drawing room, after tarawih.
During the initial period of his islah, Shaikh Dr Abdul Hayy Arifi (Allah have mercy on him) prohibitted Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) from giving any lectures, talks and speech.
If anyone pressurized him to do so he was directed to get permission from Shaikh ‘Arifi. This needed lot of courage and was a very good method to excuse.
These types of methods applied in islah are the ones that bring reformation of moral characteristics and finally lead to a firm relationship with Allah.
The awrad, dhikr and wazaif assist and facilitate this process of islah.
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Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) said,
‘It is essential to have the intention of islah while visiting the pious to benefit spiritually.
My respected teacher Mufti Rasheed Ludhyanawi (Allah have mercy on him) one day instructed me that your father is a very pious individual (Shaikh) however to benefit from him spiritually make an intention of islah while visiting him instead of keeping the usual son-father relationship.
All praise is for Allah. After this He gave me the tawfiq to do this and the results were amazing.’
Waaz: Sunday 25th September 2011
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Hakim al-Ummah Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘Encouraging others for bayah (by a Shaikh himself) is against the way of our pious elders.
The acceptance and repudiation is from Allah. Means and effort (to acquire or remove them) do not play an active role in this regards.’
Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 3, page 27
Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Hasan (Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘Shaikh Mazhar Janejanan (Allah have mercy on him) said that if I come to know of the night of power (laylatul qadr) I would supplicate and ask Allah for the company of the pious.’
Al-qawl al-Aziz, page 28
Karachi
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An individual approached sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) with extreme reverence and admiration. After salutations were exchanged Shaikh inquired his purpose of visit. He replied that, ‘I have islahi ta’luq (relationship for self improvement) with you.’
Shaikh looked at him sternly and said, ” I do not recognize you at all.
What type of islahi ta’luq is this?
Is this something playful?
Whenever you feel like keeping in contact you decide to come and at other times you are absconding.
I am sorry. I can not assit in such type of relationship. Please, excuse me. Now you can go. Find someone else who agrees to this type of relationship. ”
Another such scenario occurred. However, the seeker (already a murid) admitted his mistake and asked for forgiveness. After admonsihing him Shaikh instructed,
‘Attend the weekly majlis regularly. Meet me after the majlis. If you are regular and serious with this then I will consider giving you permission to restart this relationship.’
Office, Darul Uloom, Karachi after duhar, 28th Ramadan 1432/ 29August 2011
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Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Hasan (Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘By committing sinful activities an individual harms himself alone. This is the reason for Allah being displeased with these transgression.
There is mercy in Allah’s displeasure for what is harmful for an individual.
Acknowledgment and contemplation of Allah’s mercy creates His love. This love facilitates activities that please Him. This leads to the blessings of His pleasure and proximity.’
Al-qawl al-Aziz, page 25
Jeddah
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Staying in the company of the Shaikh is essential component of the spiritual training and development (tarbiyah) of a seeker.
Special lodgings called khanqah (zawiya) are used for this purpose. Here the seekers (murideen) stay to be in company of their Shaikh. This is their private time in seclusion from all that is worldly. They attend the daily discourses, keep themselves vigilant in worship and make excessive remembrance of Allah as instructed by their Shaikh .
In addition, this provided an opportunity to see the Shaikh closely, learn from his attitude and behavior and absorb his spiritual states. It also gives the Shaikh a chance to analyze each and every murid individually and closely.
In short, staying in khanqah is extremely beneficial for spiritual growth.
During the blessed month of Ramadan a lot of seekers spare time to do so.
Alhumdulillah, at Darul Uloom Karachi there are arrangements for this. Permission has to be obtained from the Shaikh. This year there were approximately 300 mutakifeen in the mosque. There were other seekers living in the guest house, guest rooms and students’ hostel. Few had come from other countries such as USA, Saudi Arabia, Iran and UAE. There were regular sessions for their spiritual training.
During the last 10 ten days the daily schedule was like this; after fajr prayers, tafsir of Holy Quran was done by Shaikh Mufti Mehmood Ashraf Usmani (Allah preserve him). Around 10 AM there was a session by Shaikh Mufti Abdur Raouf Sukkharavi (Allah preserve him). It included reading from the essential text and its explanation. After dohur sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) spoke. This was about tazkiyah & tarbiyah. It was the crux of all the activities. After ‘asr and ‘esha Shaikh Mufti Abdur Raouf Sukkharavi (Allah preserve him) had sessions.
In addition the Shaikh provided opportunity to the seekers for private meetings.
Overall, the blessed moments of Ramadan, the gathering of sincere seekers and company of pious Shuyukh was extremely conducive to awareness of spiritual betterment.
Room # 141, Darul Usman ra, Darul Uloom, Karachi, 20th- 23rd & 26th – 29th Ramadan 1432, 21st – 24th & 27th – 30th August 2011
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Shaikh Mawlana Shah Wasiullah Allahabadi (Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘I have made it essential to include in my speech and writings (about the path) the sayings of the scholars of the Divine law and Prophetic traditions ( that is, fuqaha and muhaditheen). This is in order to save Tasawwuf from becoming an independent discipline itself and to keep it totally subservient to Quran and Sunna.
I am observing that in this era people want to make it an independent discipline. I consider this to be the source of (religious) calamities.
Therefore, in addition to my writings I start my speeches with quotations from Quran and Sunna. Then to support them further I mention the stories of pious precedent saints and their sayings. And this is the way Hakim al-Umma (Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi, Allah have mercy on him) did in his book ‘Masail e Sulook’.
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This approach has benefited me a lot and I hope that it will be beneficial for others to. The first benefit will be the awareness of knowledge of Quran and Sunna. Also, when it will be firmly established in minds that the real obedience is is that of the Prophet (Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) the desire to traverse the path in accordance with Sunna will develop. The blessings (barakah) of this mode will be axiomatic. Finally, knowledge of those things that are against Sunna and have crept into Tasawwuf will be acquired. This will save the masses from massive misguidance.’
Halaat e Muslih al-ummat ra, volume 3, page 319
Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) has this same style. In his weekly discourses for the seekers of islah he has given dars of Prophetic traditions from Riyadh us Saliheen of Imam Nawawi, Adabul Mufrad of Imam Bukhari, Kitab uz Zuhd of Imam Ibn al-Mubarak, Tasharuf of Hakim al-Ummat (Allah have mercy on all of them). MashaAllah!
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Shah Mohammed Ahl al-Allah (Allah preserve him) a khalifa of Shaikh Masihullah Khan (Allah have mercy on him) explains the signs of servitude,
‘An individual having servitude diligently carries out all the esoteric and exoteric acts of worship considering that they can not be possibly done with his effort alone, unless the Divine help assists him to do so. That is, he attributes (all good works) to Allah (facilitating them for him). Whereas, for any short comings he blames himself.
He tries very diligently not to hurt any other individual, or to cause them any loss or sorrow.
An individual having servitude conscientiously carries out both the exoteric and esoteric acts of worship (especially his wird) irrespective of issues related to health, sickness, hunger, poverty, prosperity, affliction or other non-volitional conditions.
He is diligent in fulfilling the rights of others but does not keep a desire for his own rights.’
Malfozat Shah Mohammed Ahl al-Allah sahib db, page 1,2
