Category Archives: D. Acts of Worship

Various acts of devotion to show our servitude

Ujub: My effort & actions!

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Shaikh Wasiullah Allahabadi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘An incident from the life of Shaikh Ibrahim bin Adham (Allah have mercy on him) is mentioned in books. The Shaikh said,’ One night I overslept and missed my wird. This disturbed me a lot and I became agitated. This was because in those days I was from the individuals who have faith in their effort and see them (as their own achievement). In its retribution,due to oversleeping, I missed few essential (fardh) religious duties.

I became extremely anxious and cried asking Allah, ‘What is this happening? Having surpassed omission of supererogatory (nafil)  actions now I am missing the essential ones.’

Instantaneously I heard a voice from within,

O Ibrahim! Become Our slave (abd).

By doing so you will find spiritual serenity.

(This means to abandon your own determination and choices and act as per Our decree and guidance). When We make you to oversleep then sleep. And when We command you to get up then rise. Between these two extremes you have no choice of your own.’

Talifaat e Muslih al-Ummat ra, volume 2, page 20

Permeation of dhikr

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Shaikh Dr Hafeezullah Sukkharwi/Madni (Allah have mercy on him) wrote to a senior seeker (most likely a colleague),

‘Pas anfas is a spiritual exercise (shugal). It is recommended for the novice (mubtadi) or intermediate (mutawaset) seeker until the remembrance of Allah (dhikr) is deeply established within him. Once the dhikr has permeated and established then there is no need for these spiritual exercises.

All praise is for Allah. The dhikr has permeated within you. In my lowly opinion there is no need for you to indulge in these exercises.

The permeation and establishment of remembrance (dhikr) means that with slightest effort and concentration the heart turns towards Allah and becomes involved  (in His remembrance or following of His commandments).

Hakim al-Umma Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) has given an example to illustrate this. That is, a teacher who has been teaching for a period of time develops such an expertise in that subject that whenever he is teaching it all the matters related to it are within his mind and grasp. However, this is not the case when he is teaching another subject.

Moreover, Hakim al-Umma (Allah have mercy on him) said that even this permeation and establishment (of dikr) is also a state (haal). The real goal (maqam) of this permeation and establishment of dhikr is to act appropriately when the time of action comes.

Allah praise is for Allah. You are blessed with all these treasures. Continue at your pace on the path Hakim al-Umma and Shaikh Mufti (Mohammad Hassan) (Allah have mercy on them) have placed you. It is thoroughly adequate and beneficial.

In how many things can we emulate others (Sufi orders & their techniques)?

Every flower has a different color and unique smell.

Moreover, the paths to the relationship with Allah are as numerous as the number of breaths of all the creatures.’

Gulistan e dil, page 16

آوڈیو کتاب : شریعت و طریقت

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شریعت و طریقت

حضرت حکیم الامت مولانا اشرف علی تھانوی قدس اللہ سرہ

 

Takbir e tashreeq

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Starting from the fajr of 9th till asr of 13th Zil-Hajj, it is essential (wajib) to recite at least once after each fardh salah. Audibly for the male.

These days are special. The Islamic day/date begins at the sunset (maghrib) of the preceding day. However, this is not the case in these dates. In these days it begins at fajr (astronomical twilight) of that day.

May Allah facilitate and accept the Hajj and udhiya (qurbani) of all Muslims. Amin!

 

Irfan

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A spiritual aspirant wrote about the realities (haqaiq) of Tasawwuf that dawned on him after staying in the company of Hakim al-Ummah Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi(Allah have mercy on him).

Hakim al-Ummah approved of them calling it absolute (‘ain)  gnosis (irfan) and added some explanation to each of them (written here in bold).

’1. The foremost thing is the remembrance (dhikr) of Allah. It is to be in all conditions with involvement of heart and tongue.
This seems limited to the level of superficial thinking and self conversation.  It has to be accompanied with (active) contemplation (fikr). Though in your vocabulary you may consider this to be a branch of remembrance. In Holy Quran contemplating ones (yatafakaron) are mentioned after (yatadhakaron) those who remember Allah.

2. Being honest and cognizant of Allah (taqwa) is all matters.
Both in external (dhahir) and internal (batin) matters. As it says in the Prophetic tradition that taqwa is here pointing towards his chest.

3. Being vigilant in observance of the absolute essential (faraidh) with excellence.
Accompanied with the Sunna and reward-able actions. For excellence in good actions actions can not be achieved without them.

4. Avoidance of all that is sinful. That is both major and minor sins.
This also includes the external and internal actions, as Allah says ‘leave external sinful and internal also’.

They includes from the blame worthy morlas arrogance, ostentation, love of money and fame,etc.

Repent immediately if they are committed (by mistake).

However, the rights of other individuals including the financial dues are not forgiven by repentance alone (one has to recompensate for them or ask forgiveness).

Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 3 page 31

Supplicating for the philanthropist

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An individual reported that he read that a pious precedent Shaikh use to recite the name of the grand Shaikh of his tariqa eleven times each day in the morning. Most likely this was in a form of supplication which the narrator accidentally omitted to mention. Since then that individual made a routine to supplicate every day mentioning the name of sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) eleven times. It was like this,

1. O Allah! Protect Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani db.

2. O Allah! Give Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Usmani db a long, healthy and productive life.

3. O Allah! Give barakah in Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani db’s time, work and effort.

4. O Allah! Safe guard Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani db and his family, especially from terrorism.

5. O Allah! Forgive the parents of Mufti Mohammad Usmani db and raise their status in hereafter.

6. O Allah! Forgive the Shuyukh and teachers of Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani db and raise their status in hereafter.

7. O Allah! Under the guidance of Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani safeguard Darul Uloom Karachi from all internal and external strifes and let it flourish abundantly.

8. O Allah! Protect and help the relatives, disciples and admirers of Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani db.

9. O Allah! Give me absolute congeniality (munasbet), reverence and love of Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani db both intelectually (aqli) and emotionally (taba’i).

10. O Allah! You have made Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani db to be the manifestation of Your attribute ‘The Guide’ (al-Hadi) for me. Please, facilitate for me benefiting from him spiritually to the maximum.

11. O Allah! Please, lift me up to the standards of an ideal & perfect murid of Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani db.

Amin!

Sayyidi wa sandi Shaikh Mufti Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) replied,

‘May Allah reward you for making these precious supplications routinely for this lowly person. Please, add to it that Allah facilitates with ‘afiyet the completion of my esoteric and exoteric reformation (islah).’

Islahi khutoot (qalmi)

Dover, New Hampshire

Keenness in performing good deeds

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) visited the blessed Haram in Makkah for couple of hours after ‘esha prayers. The Hajj season had started. The mataf (the area around Ka’aba) was full of enthusiastic hajjis. Performing tawaf was a challenging task. The local individuals accompanying Sayyidi were reluctant to do so. However, Sayyidi performed three tawafs with agility and enthusiasm in this short duration. He was completely absorbed in making supplications during them. It was difficult to keep pace with him.

It was indeed an example for lazy individuals like us to be keen in performing virtuous acts of worship, especially in sanctified places and times.

October 4th, 2011 Makkah al-mukarramah

North Conway, NH

Khushu: Presence of mind in salah

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh  Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) said, i

It is recommendable that while reciting sura al-Fatiha in salah to stop at each verse for few seconds and bring to mind the response Allah gives to the the praying individuals as it has been reported in the text Sahih al-Muslim. l

Allah the Exalted had said: I have divided the prayer into two halves between Me and My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks.i

When the servant says: Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the universe, Allah the Most High says: My servant has praised Me.i

And when he (the servant) says: The Most Compassionate, the Merciful, Allah the Most High says: My servant has lauded Me.o

And when he (the servant) says: Master of the Day of judgment, He remarks: My servant has glorified Me. and sometimes He would say: My servant entrusted (his affairs) to Me.u

And when he (the worshiper) says: Thee do we worship and of Thee do we ask help, He (Allah) says: This is between Me and My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for.i

Then, when he (the worshiper) says: Guide us to the straight path, the path of those to whom Thou hast been Gracious not of those who have incurred Thy displeasure, nor of those who have gone astray, He (Allah) says: This is for My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for.i

قال رسول الله صلى الله علیه وسلم :قال الله تعالى : قسمت الصلاة بینی وبین عبدی نصفین ، ولعبدی ما سأل ،

فإذا قال العبد:{الحمد لله رب العالمین}، قال الله:حمدنی عبدی .

فإذا قال:{الرحمن الرحیم}، قال:اثنى علی عبدی.

فإذا قال:{مالک یوم الدین}،قال :مجدنی عبدی.

وإذا قال:{إیاک نعبد وإیاک نستعین}، قال:هذا بینی وبین عبدی ، ولعبدی ما سأل.

فإذا قال :{اهدنا الصراط المستقیم.صراط الذین أنعمت علیهم غیر المغضوب علیهم ولا الضالین}، قال:هذا لعبدی .ولعبدی ما سأل.

حدیث صحیح امام مسلم

Dars Tafseer -e-Quran, (Being recorded at al-Hira School audio room, Darul Uloom Karachi) Ramadan 1432/August 2011. Please, make dua that this mega project is completed with ‘afiyet. JazakAllah.e

رمضان المبارك ١٤٣٢ بیان :١

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سیدی و سندی حضرت مولانا مفتی محمد تقی عثمانی صاحب مدظلھم العالی

وعظ

رمضان المبارك ١٤٣٢ بیان :١

The real achievement: Leaving sinful!

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) said,

‘It is relatively easier to make ‘itekaf (of the last ten days of Ramadan), offer numerous supererogatory (nafil) salah, recite the whole Quran daily, perform many Umrah and Hajj.

However, the real feat is when it comes to leaving the sinful activities. This is the real achievement and mark (of true religiosity). To have control over the sinful desires of nafs. To be steadfast at the time of temptation. Being cognizant of the commands of Allah.

On the Day of Judgment an individual will not be questioned about missing supererogatory worshipful acts but he certainly will be admonished for being involved in sinful activities. ‘

Ramadan 20th, 1432, 21 August 2011, Darul Uloom Karachi Mosque