Category Archives: N. Advice

Doubts 2: Benefitting from grave

A seeker inquired,

I wish to ask about istighatha min al qubur
By this I don’t mean istighatha of physically asking the wali for a son or rain etc. These things are clearly shirk.
But I am asking about istighatha where the mureed gets spiritual help and sustenance and learns the daqaiq of tasawuf from the sahib-e-qabr.
This would seem to be mentioned in al muhannad by shaykh khalil ahmad saharapuri (ra) in Al Muhannad.

Ashrafiya replied,

There is detail in this issue.
Only a very advanced, that is sahib e nisbet, mureed can benefit from a passed away sahib e nisbet Shaikh. So the lay people like us have nothing in it.
Also, there is no teaching/learning/instruction in this form of benefit. You need a living Shaikh for that,
The benefit is of faiz e nisbet/increase in relationship to Allah. Also, these are from zauqi umoor. That is something to be tasted/experienced. They are neither propagated or preached. They are to be experienced.

Islahi emails:NS

Ajman 🇦🇪

Doubts 1: Are Sufis ahle biddah

A seeker inquired, I am attracted to the deobandi mashrab but have read some arab sufic works.

Ashrafiya replied,

This is good to know. It also shows your concern for Deen. May Allah swt increase it more with ‘afiyet. Amin!

Seeker continued ,

1)I wish to ask if you know where I can obtain Hakim ul Umma’s treatise on sama’

Ashrafiya replied,

It can be read online or downloaded from here.

https://archive.org/stream/haqqalsama00thnv#page/n4/mode/2up

Seeker asked, and his book on the chishtiya buzurgan not being ahle bidat

There is a book al sunnat al jalilia chishtiya.

https://archive.org/details/AlChishtiyyah-AshrafAliThanawi/page/n11/mode/2up

In general it is about the importance paid by the Chishti mashaikh on following the Sunnah.

There is a detailed communication of Hakim al Umma rehmatullah aleh on the maslak of Hazrat Haji Imdadullah sahib rehmatullah aleh and that of his deobandi khulafa. It is included in the book Bawader al nawadir, page194 – 204
the book can be downloaded on read online from the following link,

https://archive.org/stream/Bawadir-un-nawadirByShaykhAshrafAliThanvir.a#page/n0/mode/2up

The concept of bidah as understood and implemented in practice by the scholars of Deoband must be very clear upfront.
Most of the practices which we identify as bidah these days are rusoom that were mubah/permissible activities. In previous generation the over all religiosity was better than nowadays and people knew that these are cultural and customary practices. They indulged in them with a good intention. Most importantly they knew definitely that these are neither Sunna or wajib practices. However, in later generations the over all religiosity decreased (see for yourself nowadays) and especially the lay people (most of whom are negligent in observance of Sunna and wajibat) started to regard these activities essential. They criticized those who did not do so or said that one can be a Sunni Sufi without them. That was the point when scholars o Deoband took the bold stand.

Hazrat Haji Imdadullah sahib mohajir Makki rehmatullah aleh was well aware of the stance of his deobandi khulafa. However, he was also aware that these practices are cultural/customary rituals, they are neither from aqaid or ebadaat. Thay are zauqi umoor. The book Faisala hafta masala explicitly documents this.That is the reason he did not cancel their khilafet or forced them to do what they considered bidah. He tried his best that the two parties understand each others view point. He endorsed the book written by both of them.

Islahi emails:NS

Ajman 🇦🇪

Allah’s decree: Accept or be upset about it

Our master Shaykh Abdus Salaam ibn e Mashish (Allah have mercy on him) said,

There are two vices that erase all good actions. First is, being upset with whatever Allah decides for us, and second is being cruel and unjust to fellow human beings.

And there are two virtues that wipe out all the wrongdoings. One is accepting the decree of Allah, and second is forgiving the fellow human beings (for their shortcomings).

(Usman Hijazi. 16/1/2021 Stillborn)

Consolation : Long distance relationship

Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him) said while consoling a gentleman who lost his son,

‘I remind people who have lost their dear ones to imagine how you manage when you have a child living abroad. You don’t meet him for years. But you are content that he is living happily. You don’t see him all the time or talk to him often but you are satisfied about his well being. Similarly a believer (momin) feels the same about his departed loved ones. Moreover, this separation is temporary. It is not permanent. One day you are going to meet him. This is the meaning of

انا للّٰہ و انا الیہ راجعون۔

We certainly belong to Allah, and to Him we are bound to return. 2:156

When this meeting will happen no one knows. But it will, for sure, occur.

Till that time you can send him gifts 🎁 in form of forwarding the reward of good deeds (esal-e-thawab) as much as you wish. This will certainly benefit him as has been reported in authentic sayings of Prophet of Allah (Allah’s blessing & peace be upon him).

This thinking gives much consolation to the bereaved family members.’

Saturday 2 January 2021, post-zohar, Hazrat residence, Darul Uloom Karachi

On seeing non-Muslims & non-practicing Muslims

A seeker wrote,

Sometimes I would look at non-Muslims, or non-practising-Muslims, and the thought of Hell would cause me grief and anxiety. I would get this feeling of helplessness, that I’m not helping them despite knowing.

Ashrafiya replied,

The best help is to make dua for them and be a role model Muslim. Set 2 or 3 minutes daily to make dua specifically for all of them.

Islahi emails:KN

Unfulfilled Rights of others

A seeker wrote,

Sometimes I would get the thought that there could be so many huqooq-e-ibad in my past which I did not fulfill, or I did some injustice to someone, and all these require asking forgiveness from that person, while I don’t even remember who to seek forgiveness from. This thought also caused me much distress and grief.

Ashrafiya replied,

Keep a firm intnetion that if you meet or remember you will repay their dues. For now, please, make dua for them and give some sadaqa for their esal e thawab. InshaAllah this will compensate for the wrong doings.

Islahi emails: KN

Changes in daily routine

A seeker wrote,

The daily ma’moolat were going OK for some time until I got the thought that Qada salah has priority over Quran recitation, so I tried to give more time to Qada salah. But I was not able to keep up with this change in routine beyond a few days. This change in routine, which was done without seeking your permission, caused me distress, as I was not abe to fulfill this routine. I have now reverted back to 8 rakat per day, as were your instructions, and will increase it on a day-to-day basis, without increasing the daily minimum. Please advise regarding this.

Ashrafiya replied,

Keep the daily routine as usual.


Drastic and quick changes are usually difficult to maintain.

Do not be in a rush. Alhumdulillah you have a sincere intention of qada, inshaAllah you will be able to do so eventually.

Be aware that the tricks of nafs and shaitan are not limited to sinful activities. Sometimes it creates fitna in permissible and rewardable activities. Be cautious.

Islahi emails:KN

Tahajjud

A seeker wrote,

A few days after my last email, thanks to your duas, Allah gave me Tawfeeq to pray Tahajjud Salah. I pray Qada Salah at that time, as well as recite the portion of the Quran revised the day before. For about two weeks, I read 1 Hizb of Munajat-e-Maqbool at that time, but owing to shortage of time, I now sometimes make my own dua, and sometimes read from Munajat. Please instruct how I should best utilize that blessed time. I normally get about 30 minutes. Sometimes, perhaps due to my sins, I wake up only for Fajr.

Ashrafiya replied,

Please, be gentle on yourself.

Evaluate and see if your daily activities allow you to spare 30-45 minutes for tahajjud, with a minimum of 6 hours (preferrably 8 hours) of good sleep.

Please, remember tahajjud in spite of all its virtues is supererogatory (nafil), whereas, taking care of your health and family sustenance (by work/education/job), etc. is wajib. We have to balance them.

InshaAllah, eventually a time comes on the path when this becomes easier for us.

The akabir stress on making dua in this time.

etc is wajib. We have to balance them.
InshaAllah, a time comes on the path when this becomes easier for us.

The pious predecessors (akabir) stress on making dua in this time.

Islahi emails:KN

Remembrance

A seeker wrote,

Once my friends were saying that doing remembrance (Zikr) with inattentiveness (Ghaflat) is a cause of (more) inattentivness (Ghaflat).


Ashrafiya replied,

This is not correct.

At least the tongue is doing remembrance.

Zikr with ghaflat eventually leads to real remembrance (by heart & mind). As per our Hazrat Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him) this zikr with ghaflat is the first step in the ladder leading to real remembrance.

Islahi emails:KN

Remorse: A milestone

A seeker wrote,

As for sins of the eyes, I am still not able to stop them. But I can feel an increased feeling of remorse at doing them. I think previously I had less remorse when I did them.

Ashrafiya replied,

This is a step towards its control. InshaAllah.

(Reaffirm your determination and try your best to abstain. Make dua for protection. If you slip, God-forbid then repent and pay the penalty set for it.)

Islahi emails:KN

Staying focused

A seeker wrote,

At the movement i am suffering from FOCUS problem during my study and Office work.
Its happening with me since 1 year. When I try to FOCUS on the book , different kinds of negative thoughts hold my mind , therefore I cant understand a easy paragraph. And sometimes when this problem increases, I face problems in my official work also.

Ashrafiya replied,

Do not worry.
InshAllah this will improve with time. For now do the following,
Organize your time.
Keep things simple.
Do one task at a time.

For now just read the books of Hakim al Umma Maulana Thanvi (Allah have mercy on him).

Start with Talim ud deen.

Read at least one page daily.

Islahi emails:QK

A Solution at the Time of Financial Crisis

Hakim al Umma Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Allah have mercy on him) once mentioned:

Mr. Ilaahi Bakhsh was an influential prominent person from Meerut who was blessed with wisdom. He once made a very beneficial statement. He said,

“In order to alleviate financial difficulty, people make an effort to increase their income, whereas this is not generally within a person’s control. However, they do not consider or make an effort to decrease their expenditure – especially unessential expenditure which can be greatly decreased, whereas this is something within the control of every person.”

(Malfoozaat Hakeemul Ummat 24/66)

Source: Ihyaauddeen.co.za

Random thoughts!

A seeker wrote,

When any opportunity of leading Salah (or any other opportunity which may put in prominence) comes up, I can almost “feel” my Nafs getting pleasure as if I’ve already taken that opportunity. But I make sure I run away from that opportunity, by either leaving that place, or distracting myself by doing some Zikr, or reading some book, or thinking about something. I conclude from these feelings that Hubb e jah has not left me, but Inshallah I’m trying to suppress it as much as I can.

Ashrafiya replied,

One has to differnetiate between the random thoughts (wasawes) and the real spiritual disease.
Wasawes are created by nafs and Shaitan to bother us and keep us occupied in them instead of the the real issues.

Whereas, the spiritual diseases are all ikhteyari. That is volitional, within your own control. You consciously decide to do this to get pleasure.

In my lowly opinion you are having wasawes. Just ignore them and keep yourself busy in what needs to be done.

Islahi emails:KN

The blockades in sulook – 1

A novice seeker wrote,

Next ~3 days: Suddenly I began feeling the daily routine as a burden. I did not feel like doing Zikr, or reading Quran, or praying any Salaah beyond the Fard, and I was getting increasing ‘khayaals’ to do Gunaah. This has always happened to me as long as I can think back. I would be doing good A’amaal for some time, and then I would face this condition. Please give some explanation of this state, and also suggest what I should do to avoid this, or if it cannot be avoided, what should I do if this happens again.

Ashrafiya replied,

This is quite normal.

The initial enthusiasm waxes away for everything.

This is the moment of test. Ego-centric self (Nafs) and Shaitan will try their best to derail and demotivate you.

Being persistent in these circumstances is the key to success.

Ignore the negative feelings and thoughts. Just complete the routine you have fixed.

It is just like eating or going to work in spite of a strong desire not to do so. But the essential activities are to be done., otherwise health will deteriorate or job will be lost. Similar is the case here. If you become lax and start being negligent, then this Divine-calling (warid) for good actions may go away (Allahuma hafizna).

Islahi emails:KN

Giving up the permissible activities

In response to a seeker’s question regarding giving up all the permissible activities Ashrafiya replied

InshaAllah, travelling on this path attaches the heart of the aspirant to Allah in such a manner that eventually all other things become petty. Outwardly he may appear to be involved in all the usual day to day activity but inwardly his condition is of perpetual awareness and attachment. May Allah give this to both of us.

Our akabir advice not to give up the permissible worldly (dunyawi) stuff outright. This is because it will create a vaccum and if that vaccum is not filled with something beneficial it will be filled with impermissible stuff. Allah save us from this.

However, when the attachement and awareness of Allah increases it automatically drives away all other useless things even though they are permissible.

Islahi emails:IM