A seeker inquired regarding the criteria for ascertaining what speech is useless.
Hakim al Umma Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Allah have mercy on him) replied,
‘This is an issue that requires mental reasoning (ijtihad).
Access mentally that if I do not say this thing is it going to harm me or another in religious or worldly matters to any extent (tiny or big).
If it is then say it. Otherwise don’t.
This is the criteria, especially in the beginning. ‘
Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 3, page 185
While performing tawaf Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve & protect him) shared with us,
‘By Allah’s tawfeeq during tawaf I ask Allah that He accepts for us from all the supplication made here by the Prophets (Allah’s peace & blessings be upon them all), their (families &) Companions (Allah be pleased with them) , the elite chosen friends (awliya) and all the Muslims (Allah have mercy on them all) whatever is most appropriate for us. Ameen!’
Masjid al Haraam, Makkah e mukarramah. Mataf, as he passed by muqam-e-Sayyidina Ibraheem (peace be upon him). After esah. 9th January 2019
Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve & protect him) inquired from one of his mojaz regarding the weekly majalis (gatherings of mutual reminding).
In response to the update provided he said,
‘They should be done with the intention of your own self-reformation (islah). ‘
Millennium Hotel, Makkah e mukarramah. After esha. 9th January 2019
A seeker requested further elaboration of the Allah’s fazal mentioned in the previous post.
Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve & protect him) said,
‘It means facilitation (taufeeq) of and persistence on good deeds, attainment of Allah’s pleasure and His acceptance. ‘
Masjid al Haraam, Makkah e mukarramah. Prior to exiting Bab 89. After esah. 9th January 2019
Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve & protect him) said in reply to the complaint of a seeker feeling dejected,
‘Dear brother, keep up with your daily (good) activities irrespective of feeling any spiritual results or affects. These activities themselves are the goal.
In Urdu verses I have conveyed this
قدم ہیں راہ الفت میں تو منزل کی ہوس کیسی
یہاں تو عین منزل ہے تھکن سے چُور ہوجانا
(When traveling on the path of love why lust for the destination,
Here exhaustion from tiredness is the destination itself).
One who continues to work diligently is eventually bestowed with Divinely grace (Allah’s fazal). ‘
As Salaam Holiday Inn, Jeddah, 7/1/2019, after esha
In reply to a question regarding islahi correspondence Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve & protect him) said,
There is always a big pile of islahi letters. I reply to all, however, it may be delayed sometimes.
Prior to this travel I cleared all the back log. But next day there was a another collection piling up.
I don’t accept new request for islahi relationship anymore.
I look forward to the islahi letters from my close friends (Shaikh always uses this term for murideen and those who have islahi relationship with him).
Jeddah, as Salaam Holiday Inn, after esha, 7/1/2019
Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him. Ameen!) wrote,
(12) The verse signifies that one must not follow whims and conjectures, nor should he act on presumptions based on surmises. He should act on premises based on knowledge. If someone believes in conjectures without proper investigation, he will be questioned on the Day of Reckoning on what basis he accommodated this belief in his heart, and whether he believed in something after seeing it with his own eyes, or hearing it with his ears. If he believed in it without proper investigation through these sources of knowledge, he will be punished.
The Meanings of Noble Quran, Chapter 17-Isra
InshaAllah Weekly majlis (Urdu) will be as follows from 22 December 2018
Saturday
5:00 PM (KSA)
May Allah facilitate & make it beneficial for me and all. Ameen!
Shaykh Ibrāhīm al-Khawwāṣ (may Allah grant him His mercy) said,
The beginning of sin is the (random) evil notion (خاطر).
If its owner does not obviate it by disliking it, it will become (a persistent) resistance.
If its owner does not obviate it by resisting it, it becomes whispering.
If its owner does not correct it through discipline, from it will awaken lusts with [his] capriciousness, and it will obstruct one’s mind, knowledge, and clear distinction. (Leading to sinful involvement.)
The infamies of the soul and their treatment (edit)
One fortunate day, I was blessed with the opportunity to accompany Shaykh Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani on a Nikah ceremony that was to be conducted in a vicinity near Darul’Uloom Karachi (1).
To obtain his permission for accompanying him, I was waiting for him outside his residence. His car was parked at his doorstep and in its direction, his driver had opened a car door in anticipation of his arrival.
When he stepped out of of his home, l quickly moved towards him to seek his permission. As soon as he saw me approaching towards the car, he moved around the car while leaving the opened door for me. Seeing this, I was absolutely dumbfounded and I tried to gather my confidence to utter ‘Hazrat can I accompany you?’. He plainly replied ‘Yes, sure!’, while indicating towards the opened door. While I was still gazing at him in amazement, he casually opened the door on his side and got in to the car. Feeling immensely humbled, I too followed the suit by using the door that had originally been opened for him.
Thus I sat with the Shaykh on the back seat of the car (Alhamdulillāh for such a privilege). I had planned to consult him regarding a personal matter in brief but I thought to wait for him to settle well in the car before beginning to talk. Meanwhile, I was hoping that my amazement and excitement will also settle, allowing me to start the talk.
However, I noticed that as soon as the Shaykh entered the car, he didn’t let a minute of his to go in vain. He quickly started reading out some Du’aas (for protection) from a booklet. Immediately afterwards, he took out his smart phone and started reciting Qur’an on it! Since my matter wasn’t urgent, I thought to wait for him to get free.
When we reached the Masjid, where the Nikah was to be held, the Shaykh was welcomed by a crowd (which appeared large in that congested locality). He led the ‘Asr Salāh which was followed by the Nikāh. Thereafter, the same crowd accompanied him towards the car.
In a zigzag fashion, I too navigated my way through the crowd to reach the car, eager to find the Shaykh available to talk this time. Interestingly, but no longer surprisingly, he resumed his recitation as soon as he reentered the car.
It was when we entered Darul’Uloom again (and thus were about to reach Shaykh’s residence in a minute), the Shaykh finally kept his cell phone back in his pocket. Fearing that he might engage in another form of Zikr (remembrance of Allah), I took a quick breath, gathered my strength and and spoke up to put forth my query to him, while gasping between my broken words. He listened patiently and then replied to me in a polite and satisfactory manner.
Alhamdulillāh, thus I was able to experience a brief, yet an immensely lesson full, meeting with Shaykh Mufti Taqi Usmani (may Allah Ta’ālā preserve him and allow us to benefit from him).
Dr Sayyid Talhah is a mujaz e baiyet of Hazrat Syed Ishrat Jameel Meer sahib (Allah have mercy on him). Now he has islahi ta’luq with sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve & protect him).
Hakim al Umma Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Allah have mercy on him) once mentioned:
The purpose of self-reformation is to acquire the pleasure of Allah. In order for one to gain self-reformation, one requires two things; knowledge of the path and correct application of this knowledge. Self-reformation will be obtained through one adhering to the laws of Shariah in accordance to the Sunnah, regardless of whether the laws pertain to our external actions or internal.
In acquiring self-reformation, there are two things that will assist one greatly; remaining in zikr at all times, and remaining in the company of the pious servants of Allah as much as one is able to. If it is difficult for one to remain in the company of the pious all the time, then the substitute is for one to study the lives of our pious predecessors and their advices.
One should refrain from two things as they are the cause of impeding one’s progress; falling into sins and becoming involved in futile activities.
Together with the above, one will only be able to derive full benefit if one regularly reports his condition to his spiritual guide and sheikh (person under whose supervision he is carrying out his self-reformation).
After adopting the necessary procedures in self-reformation, each person will progress and receive blessings from Allah in accordance to his capacity and the level of commitment and dedication he shows. This is the essence of the path of self-reformation.
(Malfoozaat Hakeemul Ummat 23/56)
Via:Ihyauddeen.co.za
Shaikh Ibraheem bin Adham (Allah have mercy on him) said,
There are three veils covering our hearts. Certitude (Yaqeen) does not develop until they are removed. They are,
1. Being happy with what we have.
2. Being sad for that which we do not have
3. Being happy when we are praised
(The reason is that) being happy with what we have is due to greed ( a blameworthy-trait) . Being sad for what we do not have is because of anger. Anger (is also a blame worthy trait that) results in punishment (from Allah). Whereas, being happy when we are praised is due to sense of high self regard (ujub). This ujub destroys the good actions.
Ahya al Uloom bab faqr o zuhd via
حضرت علامہ سید سلیمان ندوی رحمہ اللہ علیہ
Hey, Abdallah ! Do not be like a man who used to get up for the night vigil and then he left it.
Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve & protect him) said,
‘Based on this Prophetic saying (hadith) scholars have said that one should not leave the supererogatory (nafil) acts of worship that has been included in his/her daily routine.
However, the meaning of leaving, as I have heard from my Shaykh Dr Abdul Hayy Arifi with reference to Hakim al Umma (Maulana Ashraf Ali) Thanvi (Allah sanctify their secret), is to make an intention to abandon them (altogether and forever).
If there is no intent to abandon them (altogether and forever) but they are skipped for a duration, however, there is an intention that I will continue them (whenever the circumstances are suitable) then inshaAllah it will be not included in this admonishing. ‘
Ina’m al Bari, volume 4, p 320
Shaykh Khalid Kurdi (Allah have mercy on him) said that in the blessed city of Madinah he requested a Yemeni Shaykh for dua and advice prior to departing for Makkah mukarramah.
The Yemeni Shaykh made dua for him and instructed,
‘Do not waste time there.
Use it effectively in tawaf, supererogatory salah, recitation of Holy Quran, remembrance of Allah (dhikr) or performing your missed (qaza) salah.
Moreover, under all circumstances avoid all (even in your thoughts), criticism of, and argumentation with, anyone in the Holy precinct of Makkah.
Be busy with your own work. ‘
Khutbat e Mashaheer , volume 2, p 77