Showing off

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Somebody asked regarding getting random thoughts (wasawis) of riya (showing off).

Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani ( Allah preserve & protect him) replied that riya is a volitional act. It is done, it does not happen by itself.

So one should not be too worried about getting such stray random thoughts. However, there is a chance that these random thoughts may develop into actual riya. So one should remain cautious at all times and vigilantly take note of what thoughts make one happy. At the same time, one should inform Allah Ta’ala about these stray thoughts and seek His protection (i.e. do ruju ilallah).

Look! I have already told you that ruju ilallahis the key to Tareeqat! Just take this one thing with yourself! Adopt it as your way of life!”

Intekhab e Kaiseri, Ramadan 1440

Before doing anything do this!

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani ( Allah preserve & protect him) advised,

“Do everything with Ikhlas (sincerity) and supplicating to Allah (ruju ilallah). Before starting any work, make dua: “Oh Allah! Give me the ability to do this work with sincerity and in a manner which is according to Your Pleasure.”

Intekhab e Kaiseri, Ramadan 1440

Remedy for Sins of eyesight

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Replying to a letter from a seeker, sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him) commented:

“This person was involved in sins of the eyes. A solution was given which Alhamdulillah proved effective. He read the words of a pious elder to whom people complained: “Sir, immodesty has become widespread nowadays.” The pious elder replied: “Where is it? I haven’t noticed any immodesty. When I’m walk in the streets, my gaze does not shift from the path I’m walking on.”

Sayyidi continued: “This person got Tawfeeq to act on this advice. He was also involved in seeing immodest content on his smart phone. He was told to remove the means of this sin if he was not able to control himself otherwise. He removed Wifi from his home to avoid this sin. Spiritual struggle (mujahidda) and sincere dua are needed to avoid sins. As Allah Ta’ala says:

وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا

“As for those who strive in Our way, We will certainly take them onto Our paths”.

Intekhab e Kaiseri, Ramadan 1440. Post zohar, office majlis

Essential for Tasawwuf

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani ( Allah preserve & protect him) advised:

“Two things are necessary in Tareeq (Tasawwuf):

1. Ikhlas (sincerity)

2. Mudawamat (regularity)

Mudawamat (regularity) is effective by itself. There is no alternative to being regular in one’s daily  ma’moolat (recitations, prayers, recitation of Quran, etc.) except by forcing oneself. 

Our respected teacher Maulana Rasheed Ahmad used to quote from Maulana Khair Muhammad (May Allah’s mercy be upon them both):

“The excuse that I am not regular in my ma’moolat because of being busy is a sign of lack of importance given to the ma’moolat.”

It means you did not include your ma’moolat in the list of things which keep you busy.”

Intekhab e Kaiseri, Ramadan 1440

Myanmar : Khalifa

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– It was learnt that Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve & protect him gave Ijazat-e-Baiyah to Hazrat Maulana Mufti Nur Muhammad Sahab (Allah protect him) of Burma (Myanmar).
Someone had asked Hazrat Maulana last year as to whether Hazrat had given him Ijazat-e-Baiyah. Hazrat Maulana replied: “No no. I still have a long way to go for my Islah (moral reformation).”

 

For those staying in Burma, Hazrat Maulana Nur Muhammad Sahab (DB) conducts an Islahi Majlis at:

Venue: Punjabi Jame Masjid, Street Number 37, Yangon, Myanmar

Timing: Every Tuesday, after Asar prayer

Intekhab e Kaiseri, Ramadan 1440

Tariqah

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve & protect him) said,

Ṭarīqah is part of Sharīʿah.

My Shaykh’s Shaykh Ḥakīm al-Ummah Mawlānā Ashraf ʿAlī Thānawī (d. 1362/1943) revived taṣawwuf and purified it from many innovations that had crept into it. He also prescribed an easy solution for people nowadays who are unable to undertake the sacrifices undertaken by the saints of the past. He prescribed two easy things to keep a firm relationship with Allah Almighty. The first is making abundant Shukr (gratitude) and the second is making abundant supplications.

The first half of Sūrah al-Fātiḥah indicates upon the first whilst the second half indicates upon the second. Hold on to the maʾthūr (transmitted/Sunnah) supplications and establish a firm relationship with Allah. This is an easy prescription.”

Source: Seven days in Bukhara & Samarqand

Knowledge is to Act up

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him) said,

“The advice is that acquiring knowledge on its own is not beneficial, it must be accompanied with action. The primary purpose is to follow the Sunnah in all areas of life.

Many non-Muslim orientalists have more knowledge than many Muslims, however, their knowledge is of little benefit.

A person who wishes to act upon the knowledge should remain in the company of scholars and pious people and always have the intention to please Allah Almighty.”

Source: Seven days in Bukhara & Samarqand

Quran recitation & Salaam at graves

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve & protect him) is asked regarding the recitation of the Qurʾān at graves, whether it should be audible or not. The Salām should be audible and the Qurʾān should be read silently, he says.

I ask Mufti Ṣāḥib regarding conveying Salām at graves on behalf of other people. He answers that this practice is established for the Prophet ﷺ, and suggests that perhaps qiyas can be done upon this for others. 

Source: Seven Days in Bukhara and Samarqand

Piety of Imam Bukhari

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve & protect him) explains that the reason for Imam Bukhārī’s (Allah have mercy on him) success is not his profound knowledge alone, rather his piety and abstinence are central to this. He performed at least 14,000 rakʿat Ṣalāh whilst authoring his Ṣāḥīḥ. Acceptance is from Allah Almighty. The congregation is advised to keep this third point in mind when studying the Ṣaḥīḥ.

Source: Seven Days in Bukhara and Samarkand

Knowledge without actions is useless

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve & protect him) said, “Knowledge on its own does not benefit. My father Mufti Muḥammad Shafīʿ [Allah have mercy on him, d. 1396/1976] would say, ‘if knowledge was the criterion for a person’s virtue, then Satan was the most knowledgeable, however, his knowledge did not benefit him, because he disobeyed Allah.’

Therefore, knowledge alone is not in itself the primary objective. The primary objective is the obedience of Allah and his Messengers (i.e. acting as the knowledge states).

Source: Seven Days in Bukhara and Samarqand

Recitation of Holy Quran & experiencing pleasures

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A student asks regarding the lack of experiencing ḥalāwat (sweetness) when reciting the Qurʾān.

Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve & protect him) advises to continue with the recitation, as experiencing sweetness is in itself not an objective, the objective is to please Allah Almighty. If sweetness is experienced then it is welcome, otherwise, it should not deter a person from continuing to recite.

Source: Seven Days in Bukhara and Samarkand

Tabarrukh

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve & protect him) addressed the question of tabarruk (taking blessings from the pious or things associated with them) explaining that there are two extremes in this regard. Some people reject it altogether and suggest it is shirk. This is wrong because there are several ḥadīths that affirm tabarruk. On the other hand, some people have total reliance on tabarruk and do not perform good deeds. Citing the example of the hypocrite ʿAbdullāh ibn Ubayy ibn Salūl (d. 9/631), he emphasises that tabarruk is of no benefit to he who performs no good deeds.

Source

Rights of Shaykh

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

When a person takes someone as his Shaykh or religious guide, then in order for him to benefit from the Shaykh, he will have to fulfil three essential requirements. These three requirements are among the rights which he owes to the Shaykh and should be borne in mind at all times. These requirements are:

  • He should have faith (I’tiqaad) in him i.e. he should have love and respect for him and accept him to be a pious, rightly guided person who follows the sunnah.
  • He should have trust (I’timaad) in him i.e. he should have confidence in the guidance and knowledge he imparts and regard him capable of guiding him correctly in Deeni matters.
  • He should submit (Inqiyaad) to him i.e. he should follow the advices and teachings of the Shaykh diligently with complete commitment and dedication.

(Malfoozaat Hakeemul Ummat 23/77)

Source:ihyaauddeen.co.za

ECCMID2019, Amsterdam, NL