Shaikh Sufyan bin Thawri (Allah have mercy on him) used to say:
“My mother advised me:
‘My son!
Only seek religious knowledge if you intend to implement it.
Otherwise, it will be a source of torment for you on the Day of Resurrection.’ ”
Ikhlaq as-Saliheen, translation Tambih al Mughtarin of of Imam Sha’rani (Allah have mercy on him)
Sayyadi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) said,
‘A Yemeni Shaikh has written a book about the coming of Imam Mahdi, our master Esa (peace from Allah be upon them) and The Day of Judgment. Using the verses of the Holy Quran and the science of abjad (numerical values of the alphabets) he has come up with 2024 to be the year of these happenings. He requested me to write an introduction to this book.
I read the book with much interest and wrote a detailed introduction. In it I appreciated the marvel and excellence of Quranic sciences, the uniqueness of the scholar’s idea and his excellent application of the abstruse science of abjad.
However, at the same time I cautioned the readers about these sort of prophecies. Their reliability can not be guaranteed. They are at their best, guesstimates of an intelligent observer. If people develop firm faith in them then two catastrophic things are possible. Firstly, they may postpone repentance from sins and commission of good actions till that date. Secondly, if this incident did not happen then they might loose faith or life like the Adventists’ ‘Great Disappointment’ of 1844.
In summary, we can enjoy a good read but in regards to coming of qiyamah the best thing is to improve our condition. Repent from sins. Mend our ways and do good actions, both physical and spiritual.’
Makkah Towers#2, 3rd January 2012, after esha
Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) said,
‘These days most of us are preoccupied by the past events or future apprehensions. In doing so we neglect the present.’
An individual inquired,
‘In our era due to technological advances every day chores are done relatively quickly. Hence we have extra time available to us. This usually results in preoccupation with useless involvements including those you mention. How can we utilize time more effectively?’
Sayyidi wa sanadi replied,
‘I repeatedly tell the people the same and ask them what are they doing with the time they save by using these new technologies.
An individual has to develop the importance of value of time.
Once this importance is developed then it will be impossible for him to waste a single second. Moreover, Allah will give barakah in his time and he will be able to do more work effectively in the same amount of time.’
Makkah Towers, 3rd January 2012, After esha
Our master Prophet Jesus son of Mary (Allah’s peace be upon them) said,
“It is of no use to you to come to know what you did not know, so long as you do not act in accordance with what you already know.
Too much knowledge only increases pride if you do not act in accordance with it.”
Abu ‘Abdallah Ahmad b. Muhammad al-Shaybani Ibn Hanbal: Kitab al-Zuhd 327:
Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Shah Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) instructed a seeker,
‘A little determination is required to stay away from all that is sinful. In addition, sit and recite daily with contemplation hundred times ‘Allah’ ‘Allah’. Do this in spite of not having the desire to do so.
…….
I have a strict criteria (in instructing those aspiring spiritual progress) to stay away from all that is sinful.
Holding one’s self from indulgence in sinful is the most undesired (yet most beneficial) of all the spiritual struggles and exercises for the lower self (nafs).’
Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 3, page 1026
Many people try to coerce their family members to reform (islah). Use of verbal, physical or emotional pressure may be involved in this effort.
The golden words of Mufti Rasheed Ahmad Ludhyanawi (Allah have mercy on him) must be remembered that this is not permissible to do so for post-pubertal individuals, like adult sons, daughters, sons & daughters-in law, etc.
If done without wisdom it backfires and leads to alienation from religion, misunderstandings and souring of relationships. (May Allah save us all. Amin!)
It is best to make excessive supplications (dua) in this regards and ask Allah for guidance. Then only one should advice them gently in a heartfelt manner at an appropriate time in privacy. Until then one should be involved in his own islah.
Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) repeatedly tells us,
‘A truthful advice in not a club to strike another individual as one desires.
Sometimes one has to wait for years to say the right thing with the right intention in the right manner for it to be effective.’
Allah give us the tawfeeq. Amin!
| Definition: | compassion, generosity |
| Synonyms: | affection, altruism, amiability, beneficence, benevolence, charity, clemency, consideration, cordiality, courtesy, decency, delicacy, fellow feeling, forbearance, gentleness, good intention, good will, goodness, grace, graciousness, heart, helpfulness, hospitality, humanity, indulgence, kindliness, magnanimity, mildness, patience, philanthropy, serviceability, solicitousness, solicitude, sweetness, sympathy, tact, tenderness, thoughtfulness, tolerance, understanding, unselfishness |
| Antonyms: | cruelty, harshness, meanness |
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Our master the holy Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,
إن الله يحب الرفق في الأمر كله (رواه البخاری)۔
“Allah is kind and loves kindness in every matter.”
إن الرفق لا يكون في شيء إلا زانه . ولا ينزع من شيء إلا شانه ( رواه مسلم) ۔
“Whenever kindness is in a thing it adorns it, and whenever it is removed from anything, it disfigures it.” [Muslim]
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Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) often says that Arabic is a very unique and rich language. It has a huge vocabulary. Sometimes it is quite difficult to convey the meaning of a word when translating it into another language. This is specially so with the languages like English.
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
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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
Our master Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said,
‘Desire for yourself what you desire for others.
If you do so, you will become a true Muslim.’
Musnad-i-Ahmed, Tirmidhi
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Shaikh Abu ‘Amr al-Dimashiqi (Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘He who keeps to the Sunna of the Prophet (Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) and lets himself be guided by it, he is the one who governs his nafs in the most excellent way.’
Jawami ‘Adab al-Sufiyya, page 37
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!
