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

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

وعظ

رمضان المبارك ١٤٣٢ بیان :١

Allah’s mercy in His displeaure!

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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

Two rules of success

An individual who was opening an Islamic school requested for advice and dua.

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

‘Make sure that whatever you do is with sincerity. That is, to please Allah alone.

Develop the habit of turning to and supplicating to Allah (ruju ila Allah) in all the matters.

Theses two things are the most important rules for success in all the matters of life.

Furthermore, do not make extensive plans for future.

Stick to your principles as per Shariah all the times.’

Then he raised his hands and instructed all present to make dua. A succinct heartfelt dua was made.

Office, 8th Shawwal 1432/7th September 2011

The condition that the Beloved has placed me in is the best condition for me indeed

A high caliber scholar murid complained about his business commitments that were preventing him from teaching at a Darul Uloom.  Due to the huge debt secondary to the embezzlement of the caretaker (who was also an ‘alim) and unavailability of a responsible individual to run his enterprise he did not have a choice.

Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Taqi Usmani (Allah grant him long, healthy and productive life. Amin!) replied,

یار جس حال میں رکھے وہی حال اچھا ہے

The condition that the Beloved has placed me in is the best condition for me indeed!

(That is, have complete reliance (tafweez) on Allah. He selects for the moment whatever is the best for His servant.)

Ajyad, Makkah e mukarramah, Friday 22 July 2011, after esha

Time management

 

 - Go to sleep right after Isha salaat and wake up in tahajjud. Complete all your reading and writing tasks at that time. That has been the routine of our akaabireen.

- Never attend any gatherings after 9 pm. If there is a gathering at your place, make sure its ends before 9!

- He further said that nowadays most of the gatherings are not segregated so one can easily apologise the host beforehand for not being able to attend it. Secondly, one could very well visit earlier, give a present and politely inform the host why they needed to leave.

- The biggest ‘calamity’ that has befallen the urbanites is this day and age is that they have stopped sleeping early, and the misfortune (be-barkati) this produces in one’s life, and time, is clearly evident in our messed up daily routines.’

musaafir-e dasht

Signs of humility

Shaikh Dhul-Nun al-Misri (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘There are three signs of humility:

1. Considering one’s self (nafs) to be the lowest of all the creatures. This is in order to find out its faults.

2. For the sanctity of Oneness of Allah (tawhid) respect and serve other people.

3. Accepting the truth and beneficial advice from any one (irrespective of his piety, faith, status, etc.)’

Awarif al-Ma’arif, page 415

Shara’iah, Makkah al-mukarramah

 

Rusty Heart

Noble Prophet (Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) said,

“Listen carefully! There is a piece of flesh in man’s body, if it is healthy then the whole being is healthy and if it is corrupted then the whole being is corrupted. Beware! That piece of flesh is the heart (qalb).” (Bukhari)

He also said,

“Just as iron catches rust on contact with water, so are the hearts rusted.”

People asked, “How to remove the rust of the heart?”

The Noble Prophet (Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) said, “By remembering death and by reciting the Qur’an.” (Baihaqi)

Living a heedless life in an un-Islamic environment makes our heart rusty. Parts of the machinery inside clank, crank and move grudgingly. Acting on Shariah laws seems extremely difficult. The heart mechanic (Shaikh) using the Prophetic medicines removes this rust by prescribing contemplation of death and here-after (muraqaba e maut) and oils it with the of remembrance of Allah. (This is in a systematic and individualized manner. The daily compliance is an essential component for the aspirant’s success.)   Once this rust is removed and the parts well lubricated the machinery of the qalb starts to function properly. Then there are no hardships in observing the laws of Shariah. Actually it becomes an innate calling.

May Allah facilitate this for us. Amin!

An important advice: How to be tolerant?

Shaikh Hafiz Hakim Fakhruddin Allahabadi (Allah have mercy on him) instructed his disciples,

‘Be steadfast on Religion (ad-Deen).

Do not create dissensions.

Hold fast to the principles (usool) and do not denigrate each other for the peripheral disagreements.

Consider this disagreement amongst the truthful scholars to be a mercy.

In regards to those who consider themselves to be mujtahid and disagree with the precedent Imams, scholars, pious saints and concoct meanings of the Holy Quran in a manner that was never done by the blessed Companions, their associates (taba’i & tab’ taba’i), well established scholars and Imams : consider them to be astray. It is essential to stay away from them. However, do not quarrel with them or call bad names. To answer and argue with them is the duty of the pious scholars. Not any or everyone can do this job.

It is essential for an individual to be always cognizant of his actions. Stay away from sins and transgressing your Lord. If by chance a sin is committed immediately repent in front of Allah. This will wipe away the sin.’

Majmua’h award wa wazaif, page 4

Dealing with marital conflicts

Shaikh Mawlana Yusuf Ludhyanawi shaheed (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘A pious man wrote to his Shaikh the complaints about her wife in detail and requested advice on how to deal with this situation.

The Shaikh replied that, how can an individual who can not be patient on the (mental & emotional) afflictions caused by his wife claim to be superior to her?’

Narrating an incident of a friend Shaikh said,

One day I became fed up of this continuous bickering between my wife and myself and approached Shaikh Arif-billah Dr. Abdul Hayy Arifi (Allah have mercy on him). I told him that I am tired of this situation. I am short tempered and my wife is more short tempered than me. Patience and forbearance is totally lacking in both of us.  Please, guide what should I do?’

Shaikh Arif-billah used to be very succinct in his replies. He avoided lengthy talks. He listened carefully and recommended,

‘Make the traffic one-way.’

That is, let her speak and you remain quiet.

I did as instructed and the situation became better.’#

‘….. In summary in regards to the eccentricities of their spouses men should have forbearance. They should try to improve (islah) them as much as possible and leave the rest to Allah.’*

Momin aurat, # page 43, * 42

Signs of arrogance

The arrogance (kibr) means that an individual considers himself superior to others regarding the excellent (and desired) qualities. 

It is expected that when an individual has such an allusion about his grandeur the nafs bloats up and starts to manifest the signs (of kibr). They include,

1. Trying to be ahead of everyone while walking with others.

2.  Preferring to be seated in a prominent place in a gathering.

3. Looking down on others with despise.

4. Being angry if others do not initiate to greet and welcome.

5. Being upset if others do not respect him/her.

6. Being visibly annoyed if others offer advice (nasiha).

7. Not accepting the truth even after being convinced.

8.  Looking at the general public as though they are donkeys.

Allah save us all from these.(Amin!)

Taharat e qalb, page 165

Guidance

The pious Gnostic (‘arif)  swear by Allah that acceptance of guidance is neither achieved by intelligent argumentation nor via thorough research. Neither can one thrust it forcefully nor passionately upon another.

It is the light of guidance itself from Allah that illuminates the heart. The doubts cease and truth is manifested. It is an act of mercy, kindness and benevolence from Almighty Allah.

Supplications play a vital role in facilitation of this. Therefore, one should not be neglectful of making excessive dua. This is asking, showing one’s need, reliance and humility to Allah.