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Category Archives: N. Advice
Muraqaba e Ihsan: Developing taqwa
Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) said,
‘Sit in solitude. Close your eyes. Contemplate (do muraqaba). Repeatedly remind yourself either by saying it or thinking that, ‘I am in front of Allah’, ‘I am in front of Allah! Allah is watching me! Allah is watching me! I am in front of Allah! Allah is watching me’
Do this daily for some (fixed) duration of time.
As a result of this activity, by the kind bestowal of Allah, this awareness will gradually and progressively increase.
This contemplation is known as muraqaba e Ihsan.
Allah provides assistance to the one who does this activity (punctually). A awareness develops in this individual prior to all actions and verbal sayings that makes him ponder about the permissibility and accountability (in front of Allah) about that actions or sayings he is going to do.
This is a recommendable state.
It changes the heedless lifestyle into a cautious and caring one.’
Sunday waaz, Sept 2nd, 2012, Daruloom Karachi mosque, after asr.
A prayer
‘Arif-billah Shaikh Dr Abdul Hayy Arifi (Allah have mercy on him) used to instruct that prior to any good deed make this supplication,
O Allah! Help me. Make it easy for me. Let me complete it successfully. And (kindly) accept it.’
Ma’arif al-Abrar ra, page 4
What to do when consultation with Shaikh is not possible?
Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) said,
‘When consultation with Shaikh for guidance (in islah related issue) is not possible, either due to time constraints or logistics reasons then one should consult Allah directlly.
اللهم خرلنا واخترلنا
That is, turn to Allah asking for guidance and assistance in that perplexing situation. This should be done repeatedly and continuously.
Allah guides the individual who turns to Him for guidance as it is said in the Holy Quran,
اللَّهُ يَجْتَبِي إِلَيْهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي إِلَيْهِ مَنْ يُنِيب
Allah chooses (and pulls) towards Himself Anyone He wills and guide to Himself anyone who turns to him (to seek guidance). (42:13)
Ramadhan 1433 (8/14/2012)
Repentance
Shaikh Dhiyauddin Abdul Qahir Soharwardi (Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘Heedlessness (gaflah) in repenting from a sinful act is far worse hideious then your commission of those acts of disobedience in the first place.’
Adab ul Murideen, page 48
How to balance between the religious practices?
Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) said!
‘Advice from a Shaikh is needed to effectively balance between the religious practices. In absence of this guidance mistakes are committed. They may lead to either negligence of the rights of parents/spouses or involvement in sinful. This may lead to souring of close relationships and displeasure of Allah.
Moreover, it alienates the secular observers. They become vary of religious change in their lives.’
An individual inquired regarding the nature of this advice.
Is it the one given in weekly or monthly discourses?
Sayyidi wa sanadi elaborated,
‘In general discourses the fundamental principles of practicing Deen are mentioned. However, their application in everyday life varies according to the particular individual’s conditions, circumstances, priorities, etc.. Therefore, specific individual guidance is required. This requires consultation with a spiritual mentor:Shaikh.
To make it more understandable to the physician who asked this question Shaikh added,
This is similar to the field of medicine where the principles of medical sciences are taught in formal lectures. However, application of these principles in a particular clinical settings is very specific to each and every patient. This is based on his signs, symptoms and other comorbid conditions etc.
Therefore, specific guidance from ‘a’ Shaikh is needed to follow Deen effectively.
Ramadhan 1433
Balancing the practices of Deen
Sayyidi wa sandi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani(Allah preserve him) mentioned,
There is growing trend of Islamic awareness and practicing in younger generation. This often leads to clash with their non practicing parents. Sometimes the situation becomes ugly. It is imperative to be firm on the religious commandments. This is because there is no obedience of anyone in things that displease Allah. However, in doing so full respect of the parents has to be maintained. There should be no anger, rudeness or harsh language used. This is also an Islamic injunction. The fine balance between the practices of Deen has to be maintained in order to gain pleasure of Allah.
Ramadan waaz1433: sabr series
Things to do prior to Ramadhan
Arif-billah Dr Abdul Hayy Arifi (Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘Do not pursue excessive information.
It is worthwhile to act on whatever knowledge one already has.
Our acts of worship and obedience have become ritualistic. In this era of chaotic life style with environment promoting egoistic and hedonistic characteristics our hearts do not appreciate their reality and status as it must be. Therefore, first of all we must supplicate to Allah, ‘O Allah! You have bestowed on us these forms of worship, please, make us appreciate them, give us their blessings, spiritual effulgence, fruition, sound understanding, facilitation of action and a blessed lifestyle. Amin!’
Ramadhan is going to start soon. Appreciate its significance and try to gain benefit from it to the maximum.
Cleanse your exterior and interior body parts prior to its starting by repenting and asking Allah’s forgiveness (from all sinful activities) thoroughly.’
Ramadhan ul mubarak kay anwar shuru honay say pehlay
Prepare for Ramadhan
1. Ask Allah for facilitation (tawfeeq) to benefit from the blessings of Ramadan daily, from now onwards.
2. Make a firm determination to abstain from all sins. Especially those committed by the eyes, ears and tongue.
3. Try to free as much time as possible from work and other commitments for pure worship (ibadah).
4. Reschedule non essential appointments till after or before Ramadan. Finish all Ramadan and Eid shopping prior to the sighting of the crescent.
5. Make special effort to follow as many as possible Sunna in daily activities.
Learn these and memorize the adiya e masnoon (dua) for particular occasions before hand. The book “Alaikum bi sunnati”by Mawlana Abdul Hakim Sukharwi ra is a good, practical and handy resource for this.
6. Review the essential fiqh (rulings) relating to fasting, taraweeh and other Ramadan related issues from “Behishti Zewar” (Heavenly Ornaments) of Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him).
7. To get motivated and organized, read the discourses of Hakeem al -Umma regarding Ramadan (Mawaiz-e-Ashrafiya volume : Barakat e Ramadan) and listen to the talks of Sayyidi wa sandi db on how to prepare for the holy month.
8. Practice the actions of the Heart. Do not do any action without a proper intention.Abstain from all the blame worthy morals. No anger, arrogance, belittling caustic remarks, etc. It is strange to abstain from otherwise halal (lawful food) and commit an act which is always haram (forbidden). Try to do most of the praise worthy moral actions. Having patience, humility, gratitude, sincerity, etc. Keep a tight grip. Do not slip here.
9. Make a practical and doable time table for daily activities.
The point to remember is that in Ramadan acts of primary form of worships (i.e. salah, dhikr, tilawat, etc.) are to be increased. These lead to an increasing direct relationship with Allah (i.e. ta’luq ma’Allah).
The tawfiq is from Allah!
Involvement in sinful and feeling of hopelessness
Our master Shaikh Ibn e Ata-Allah al Iskanderi (Allah have mercy on him) said in al Hikam,
‘Commitment of a sinful act must not make you feel hopeless in acquiring a steadfast state with your Lord. Maybe this is the last sin destined for you.’
Shaikh Mawlana Abdullah al Gangohi (Allah have mercy on him) wrote in his explanation of this;
‘This is because involvement in sinful acts due to human nature (of being weak and forgetful) is not against steadfastness on Deen. However, persisting on sinful actions, not repenting and having an intention of committing it again are against steadfastness.’
Ikmal ush Shiyam, page 55
اھم اصول
Those at loss in middle Night of Sha’ban
Our master Prophet Muhammad, (Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) said,
“This is the middle Night of Sha’ban. Allah frees in it a large number of the people from (Hell) Fire, more than the number of the hairs growing on the sheep of the tribe, Kalb. But He does not even look at an individual who
- associates partners with Allah, or
- who nourishes malice in his heart (against someone), or
- who cuts off the ties of kinship (qata’ rehmi), or
- who leaves his clothes extending beyond his ankles (as a sign of pride), or
- who disobeys his parents, or
- who has a habit of drinking wine.”
Allah save us from being among these individuals. Amin!
Warning regarding Sufism
Speaking in United Kingdom sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) said,
I would warn the younger Muslim generation about the wrong interpretation of Sufism.
It has been widely propagated in the Western world by non-Muslims. They coined the term Sufism. They praise Sufism. They preach sufism. They propagate Sufism. One may think that they do this in service to Islam. However, the reality is that the Sufism propagated by Western writers is quite contradictory to the Shariah. It is quite contradictory to the real essence of Tasawwuf and tariqat.
A high ranking western offical visited the Darul Uloom, Karachi. After having a detailed tour observing the teaching activities he commented that he did not see anything about Sufism being taught.
It was inquired that what did he mean by Sufism.
He replied that Sufism is something related to one’s soul and what pleases one’s soul. For example, playing music, dancing, having ectasy (wajd) and qawwali,etc..
The poor individual restricted Sufism to these kinds of activities.
The real problem is that when Western world speaks of soul as against the physical life they assume that they are speaking of the spirit or spiritual things. There is a big difference between soul and spirit.
In fact soul is what is called the nafs in Tasawwuf. That is the (lower) desires of the heart. Tasawwuf does not have realtion to soul in that meaning.
Tasawwuf realtes to the spiritual qualities- the human instincts (reforma tion of the moral characteristics – thus becoming a better human being & Real Muslim).
Turath lecture, 23rd June 2012
Dubai, UAE
Leaving what does not concern us
“The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,
“From the excellence of a man’s Islam is leaving that which does not concern him.”
“That is, to leave that which is not important or befitting of him, whether in speech, actions, or thought.
Thus, ‘the excellence of a man’s Islam’ is its perfection, such that one remains steadfast in the submission to the commands and prohibitions of Allah, and surrenders to His rulings in accordance to His destiny and decree (qada wa qadr). This is the sign of the heart having been expanded by the light of its Lord, and the descent of quietude (sakina) into the heart. The reality of ‘that which does not concern him’ is that which is not needed for a worldly or next-worldly necessity, and does not aid in attaining his Lord’s good pleasure, such that it is possible to live without it…
This includes excess acts and unnecessary speech… This hadith may well be taken from Allah Most High’s saying,
“And who shun all vain things.” (Qur’an, 23: 3)
Mulla Ali al-Qari (Allah have mercy on him) mentioned this in his commentary on Mishkat al-Masabih.
Riyadh,KSA
Following the Sunna
Grand Mufti of Pakistan, Hadhrat Mufti Mohammad Shafi’i (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
In the presence of Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) while visiting the Holy mosque at Medinah e munawwara, I felt as though the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) is saying,
“Being nearer to me is in following my sunna. It is not in coming here.
As much you follow me the nearer you come (to me).”
Ahsan us Sawanih, page 157