اے آنکہ زنی دم از محبت
از ھستی خویشتن پرھیز
بر خیز وبہ تیغ تیز بنشین
یا از رہ راہ دوست برخیز
Mufti Mohammad Shafi (Allah have mercy on him) wrote to Sufi Mohammad Iqbal Qureshi (Allah preserve him),
‘At the same time it came in my heart that I should give you the permission (ijazet) to take ba’yit and instruct. So start this with an intention of self reformation (islah). This is because experience has shown that by being involved in others’ reformation one’s own islah is facilitated.
To do this work read Tarbiyet us Salik, Taleem ud Deen, Tabligh e Deen, etc. Inform your close friends about this permission.
Khair us Sawanih, page 568
Sidi Ahmad Zarruq al-Barnusi al-Fasi (Allah have mercy on him) [1442 – 1493 CE] said,
I have also seen that the seekers of this age are afflicted with five things:
1.The preference of ignorance over knowledge
2. Being deluded by every spiritual impostor
3. The inability to prioritize important matters
4. Using the spiritual path as a means to inflate the selfish soul
5. Attempting to expedite a spiritual opening without fulfilling its prerequisite conditions.
This has resulted in five other afflictions:
1. Preferring innovations as opposed to the tried and true prophetic practice (Sunna)
2. Following the people of claims and conceit as opposed to the truth
3. Acting on capricious desires in all of their affairs, even the most celestial
4. Preferring fantasies to realities
5. The manifestation of claims without sincerity.
Foundations of the Spiritual Path Translated by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf Hanson
اللهم صل على حبيبك خير الخلق كلهم دائما” ابدا
Shaykh Shah Wasiullah (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“People yearn for vision of the Prophet (Allah’s blessing and peace be upon him) in their dream. However, this is not within our volitional achievements. Therefore, I am telling you a method by which perpetual spiritual vision of the Prophet (Allah’s blessing and peace be upon him) can be achieved.
That method is, to be vigilant in keeping in mind and putting into action the Sunna of each occasion and activity. By doing so the impression and reflection of Prophet (Allah’s blessing and peace be upon him) will dominate your thoughts. And this is a magnanimous blessing!’
It is easy to say this.
In reality, in spite of being easy, recalling them (at the appropriate time) and acting on them is solely depended on facilitation (tawfiq) from Allah, Most High. In practical life usually we forget and action on Sunna is missed. Therefore, we should (make it a habit to) supplicate, ‘O Allah! By Your mercy facilitate for us thorough following of the Sunna of your Beloved Prophet (Allah’s blessing and peace be upon him)’. ذالك فضل الله يوتيه من يشاء
Tazkira Musleh al-Ummat ra, page 99 – 100
Shaykh Sayyid Zawwar Hussain Shah (Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘The progress in spiritual path (sulook) is not sudden. It is gradual and therefore, not appreciated by the spiritual traveller.
For example, if someone has hundred rupees in his pocket the addition of one more does not draw any attention and is, therefore, most of the time not appreciated. However, when this addition increases to two hundred then the increase is evidently appreciated.
In most of the instances the spiritual aspirant can not gauge his own progress. The Shaykh, however, assesses this by various signs and symptoms and leads him further on the path. ‘
Mahnama Tamir e ifkar, eshaet khas bayad Shaykh Syed Zawwar Hussain Shah (Allah have mercy on him), page 596
Shaykh Syed Zawwar Hussain Shah (Allah have mercy on him) was born in a Shiafamily. It was after correspondence with Hakim al-Umma Shaykh Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) he became a Sunni.
Shaykh Shah Wasiullah (Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘For successful spiritual graduation it is essential that an individual is aware of his/her deficiencies.
Remember, for a person who has acknowledged his short comings there remains no barrier in proceeding towards success . (That is, by effectively correcting these faults).’
Shaykhain, page 36
Shaykh Fazlur-Rehman Ganjmuradabadi (Allah have mercy on him) replied to a question regarding this,
‘When the following of Sunna beomes an instinct then it is the condition of annihilation in the blessed Prophet (Allah’s blessing and peace be upon him), i.e. fana fi Rasul.’
Mahnama Tamir e ifkar, eshaet khas bayad Shaykh Syed Zawwar Hussain Shah (Allah have mercy on him), page 608
Sayyidi wa sanadiShaykh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) said,
‘The people living in the vicinity of the House of Allah (Ka’ba) have a greater responsibility of following the Shariah commandments. To do so they must develop a strong relationship with Allah.
As per the teachings of my Shaykh Hadrat ‘Arifi (Allah have mercy on him) following three things are helpful in developing this relationship and love of Allah,
1. Recitation of the Sunna prayers (azkar) for the different occasions in once daily life.
2. Making supplications for each and everything.
3. Being abunbdantly thankful of all the blessings Allah has bestowed on us.’
Bayan, Jeddah 16th February 2010, after ‘Asr
Sayyidi wa sanadiShaykh Mufti Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) is in the blessed Medinah these days.
With the Saudi school mid year vacations there is a huge crowd of pilgrims.
Going for the Friday prayers an individual inquired the Shaykh where could he find him in the Haram. The Shaykh replied that usually he tries to be in the first row of the mosque. To do so he left two and half hours before the juma salah time.
This apparently ‘ordinary thing’ is a teaching for all of us who are trying to improve their condition.
The excellence of praying in the first row, coming early for Friday prayers, sitting with the intention of e’itkaf, reading Holy Quran, reciting tasbih & salawat, offering salat at-tasbih, waiting for salah, etc. are things with numerous rewards mentioned in the Prophetic sayings.
Setting our priorities appropriately and useful utilization of time is the key to implementing these things in our practical life.
May Allah facilitate this for us. Amin!
Friday, 12th Feburary 2010, Medinah e munawwarah
5th Feb 2010. Vist Library at Darl al-Mustafa, Tarim, Hadramaut
Imam Abdallah ibn Alawi al-Haddad (Allah have mercy on him) (d.1132 Hijri) said,
And know that the loftiest of models, the most noble and the greatest and the most binding to all Muslims is the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace: verily he is by unanimous agreement the Greatest Exemplar.
And the obligation due to him is the greatest after that of Allah; and the adab with him the most emphasized of the aadab and obediences.
For whosoever loves him and immensely esteems him, he has indeed loved Allah and whosoever obeys him has indeed obeyed Allah. Says Allah, the Exalted: “Say, if ye do love Allah, follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. For Allah is the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” (âl-‘Imran: 31).
And says the Exalted: “He who obeys the Apostle, obeys Allah” (an-Nisaa: 80).
And says the Exalted: “So take what the Apostle assigns to you, and deny yourselves that which he withholds from you. And fear Allah; for Allah is strict in punishment” (al-Hashr: 7).
And says the Exalted: “Then let those beware who withstand the Apostle’s order, lest some trial befall them, or a grievous Penalty be inflicted on them” (an-Nur: 63).
Ad-dawa-tut-Taammah
Visit Darul Mustafa, Friday, 5th February 2010
Imam Abdallah ibn Alawi al-Haddad (Allah have mercy on him) (d.1132 Hijri) said,
‘The aim and spirit of awrād is presence with Allah.
Aim for it; you will reach it only if you travel the road that leads to it, which is performing the external activities and striving to be present with Allah during them. When you persevere in this you become immersed in the lights of Proximity, and the sciences of gnosis emanate upon you, at which your heart becomes wholly intent on God and presence becomes its nature and well-established quality.’
Risalat ul-Mu‘awanah
Tarim, Hadramaut, Yemen
Grand Mufti of Pakistan, Mufti Mohammad Shafii’, senior khalifa of Hakeem al-Umma (Allah have mercy on them) writes:
“The narratives regarding the senior Awliya Allah fall under three categories;
From all these it is this third thing that the general Muslims have to read and learn with utmost emphasis. This is because it is essence of the teachings of Awliya. It is the most effective medicine for betterment of Muslims.”
Preface, Nuzhatul Basateen (Translation of Imam Yafai’i ra’s Rawdh ur Reyaheen+) page 6. Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) supervised the translation of this book and recommended its reading for salikeen to develop and increase the love of Allah.
It is published by HM Saeed Co., Karachi, Pakistan. It is freely available at major Islamic bookstores.
اصلاح حال و سکون قلب، ص 35
Shaykh Mohammad Abdullah Gangohi (Allah have mercy on him) said,
A humble man is not a person who regards himself above the act of humility he is displaying. A humble man is a person who considers himself below the act of humility he is doing.