Spiritual seekers often complain these days about missing the daily tasbihat and recitations instructed to them. They want an easy solution.

Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani ( Allah preserve him) has repeatedly reminded us that there is no magical potion or incantation or amulet that the Shaikh can prescribe for this. One has to use his determination and do it.

Moreover, laxity in performance of daily wird is a sign of taking it lightly. An individual does not miss something that he considers to be important.

The daily wird provides the soul nutrition required for performance of good actions and staying away from all that is corrupting. Hence, the spiritual progress is dependent on it.

Missing it is spiritually detrimental.

The daily recitation prescribed these days (especially in Ashrafiya tariqa) are minimal. They are adjusted to each and every individual’s capacity, enthusiasm and time availability.

The following narrations shows the demeanor of the pious elders in this regards.

Shaikh Fazal ur Rehman Ganjmuradabadi writes about the daily wird of his Shaikh Shah Mohammad Afaq (Allah have mercy on them),

‘Every day he used to recite salutations (durood) on the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) 10,000 times, tahleel (kalimah e taiyaba) 50,000 time and read ten juz of Holy Quran. The recitation of these ten juz was completed in an interval of time that appeared to an unaware observer to be suitable for a single juz’s recitation. Moreover, with all the five fardh salah he used to offer salah at-tasbih.’ Tazkirah, page 198

In recent past repetition of ism e dhat (Allah!) 24,000 times a day was a normal routine for  most of the spiritual seekers.

If we can not be consistent with the minimum wird prescribed, then how can we expect for spiritual progress?

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The blessed Companion Jabir bin Samrah (Allah be pleased with him) narrated that,

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to remain silent most of the time.

It means that talking less was a prominent feature of his character. If something important and beneficial was needed only then he would speak otherwise he remained silent.

It is reported in Shahih al-Bukhari, al-Muslim and other books of Hadith: ‘Whoever believes in in Allah and the Here-after he should either speak good or remain quite.’

Our master the leader of the believers Abu Bakr Siddiq ( Allah be pleased with him) said,

‘I wish I was (partially) inarticulate and only had the power of speech to make remembrance of Allah.’

Mazahir al-Haq, sharh Mishkat, volume 5, page 352

Related

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

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

أ

موت سے كس كو رستگاری ھے

ٓآج تم كل ھماری باری ھے

Shaikh Wasif Manzoor (Allah have mercy on him) passed away in Karachi couple of days back. He was buried in Darul Uloom Karachi.

A khalifa of Shaikh Sayyid Raziuddin Ahmad Fakhri (Allah have mercy on him) he was extensively involved in dawa o tabligh.

May Allah forgive him, raise his status manifolds in hereafter, give patience to all those who knew him and provide them with a substitute to continue benefiting spiritually. Amin!

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

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

کیوں نہ ھو دنیا سے غافل کیوں نہ ھو

جو تمھاری یاد سے غافل نھیں

مولانا اسعداللہ رحمۃ اللہ علیہ

شریعت و طریقت

حضرت حکیم الامت مولانا اشرف علی تھانوی قدس اللہ سرہ