Category Archives: A. Reality of Tasawwuf

The nature, definition, goals and principles of Tasawwuf

Reality of Tasawwuf

Hadhrat Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said, 

“To us, the reality of Tasawwuf is knowledge accompanied by practice. 

The acceptable practices are those that are from the teachings of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), and are within the ability (ikhtiyaar) of the aspirant.

Apart from this, everything else is supplemantary.

If  they are granted and the Shaikh validates them, then they are an additional bounty worthy of gratitude.

If they are not granted, or are granted and then taken away, then to try to regain them and to worry after them, or to feel restless due to their loss, all of these are inappropriate in the Tareeq and are extremely harmful for one’s self (baatin). This is regardless of what the nature of these extra bounties might have been.”

Basair e Hakim al-Umma ra, page 56

حقیقت تصوف

حکیم الامت حضرت مولانا اشرف علی تھانوی رحمۃ اللہ علیہ نے فرمایا،
ہمارے نزدیک حقیقت تصوف صرف علم با عمل ہے۔اور عمل وہی جو رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے تعلیم فرمایا ہے اور جو سالک کے اختیار میں ہے۔اس کے علاوہ سب چیزیں زائد ہیں اگر عطا ہو جائیں اور شیخ ان کو بتلا دے تو نعمت ہے اور قابل شکر اور عطا نہ ہوں یا عطا ہو کر زائل ہو جائیں تو ان کی تحصیل کی فکر یا ان کے زوال پر قلق طریق میں ناجائز اور باطن کے لئے سخت مضر ہے خواہ کچھ ہی ہو
بصائرحکیم الامت رح، ص 56

Cleansing the heart

An individual requested for a recitation (wadhifa) to purify the heart (from all that is sinful).

Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) replied,

“The recitations are not adopted for cleansing the heart. The heart is purified by rectifying the actions done, both the outward physical (dhahiri) acts and the inner (batini) thoughts and acts. Recitations provide an auxiliary support in execution of these actions.”

Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 1, page 407

Leaving the Shaykh for another one!

It has been excessively emphasized that one should be very cautious and particular about selecting the Shaykh. However, once this has been done it is essential to stick to him until something grossly inappropriate is established.

In this regards Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) says,

“One should not abandon murshid’s doorsteps and approach another Shaykh. This is because none of the realized Shuyukh (ahle-nisbet) will appreciate such an aspirant knowingly (i.e. his previous affiliation to a genuine Shaykh and abandoning it). And if a (Shaykh) does accept him, then it is a sign of his spiritual immaturity and there will be no significant benefit achieved from him. Also, concealing this information from the new Shaykh is a proof of insincerity, that is, in itself an obstacle in achieving any benefit.”

at-Takashshuf, page 225

Two types of Sufis

Hadhrat Mawlana Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) said,

“There are two types of sufis. Firstly those who strive immensely in performing supererogatory (nawafil) actions in abundance, such as excessive dhikr, salah, fasting etc. Whereas, the other type sticks to the basic actions required with few supererogatory ones but they strive to develop and establish the spiritual works of their heart. These spiritual works are, being mindful of Allah at all the times, requesting Him for every need, thanking Him for His favors, asking His refuge from any disaster, etc. They appear to be ordinary people without any show of excessive worship. In reality they are realized sufis with a perpetual connection to Allah most High.

Being this second type of sufi is the unique characteristic of the path (tariqa) of Hadhrat Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him).”

Waaz 5/07     

When reading the Spiritual discourse

An individual inquired what points should he pay most attention to when reading Shaykh’s spiritual discourses (mawaiz) to achieve maximum benefit.

Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) replied,

“When reading these discourses paying attention to two things are beneficial. Firstly, the blame worthy things mentioned in them which are present in me and then working to remove them. And similarly, the praise worthy attributes mentioned that I do not posses and trying to achieve them.”

Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 1, page 429

Dhikr e qalbi

Hadhrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) said

‘Your heart should be always busy with Allah, either asking Him for something or thanking Him for a blessing, or seeking forgiveness for a slip or seeking refuge from anticipated tribulations.

This is dhikr-e-qalbi.

It is a very simple and doable things that leads to the development of a strong permenant relationship with Allah (ta’luq ma’ Allah).’

Preserving the benefit of the company of pious

A spiritual aspirant inquired how would it be possible to preserve and increase the beneficial effects accquired in the company of the Shaykh after returning back to usual routine.

Hakim al-Umma Hazrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) replied,

‘By being regular on your daily practices (ma’moolat) and intermingling less with the people.’

Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 1, page 394

Adab of murshid

Mufti Mohammad Shafi’ (may Allah have mercy on him) said explaining the verses of sura al-Hujjarat,

‘Some scholars say that if someone has made a pious person his spiritual guide (murshid), and then he behaves rudely and with contempt towards him, similarly (to the effects of rude behavior towards the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم described in these verses) this often becomes a source of removal of facility (tawfeeq) of good actions and leads to great deprivation. It eventually results in loss of wealth of faith (eman).

May Allah save us all from this. Ameen!”

Ma’ariful Quran, volume 8, page 102

Proximity of Allah

Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,

“The proximity (wisel) and closeness (qurub) to Allah, most High is the disconnection of all other-than-Him relationships .”

Tarbiyat us Salik, volume 1, page 169

Building determination

An individual wrote in detail about his unsteady state. That is, for a period of time he becomes a good pious Muslim, praying and abstaining from all that is forbidden but after a few days or a month he slips back to the old bad ways. He requested advice on how to overcome this instability and give up sins altogether.

Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) replied, The condition you have described is not unusual. Many individuals face this problem.

The underlying reason for it is the low level of determination. Increasing the determination to a higher level can treat it.

Two things augment the growth of this determination. Firstly, the best and most effective means is to stay in the company of the Pious (ahlul Allah) for some duration following their recommendations wholeheartedly. If this is not possible then the second best option is to read (Imam Ghazali’s) Alchemy of Happiness (Keymiah Sa’adet) regularly with concentration.

And the other thing is to keep me (the Sheikh) informed of your condition at regular intervals.

Tarbiyat us Salik, volume 1, page 224   

Advice on being over zealous

Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) advised a traveler on the path (salik),

“Excessive indulgence is not required even in the rectification (islah) of volitional (ikhteyari) actions . For example, if an important act (‘amal) is missed, its compensation should be done (qadha), if a mistake is committed repentance should be made and one should then return back to his usual routine.

Do not fixate your thoughts on these particular episodes by worrying that how come I missed or committed such a thing. Sufis’ consider this to be extreme and overwhelming zeal (gulu and mubalagha) that is prohibited according to the teachings of Quran and hadith.

لا تغلو فى دينكم

من شاق شاق الله عليه

سددوا و قاربوا و استقيمو

ولن تحصو من غلبه النوم فليرقد

لا تفريظ فى النوم انما التفزيظ فى اليقظه

Hadhrat ‘Arif (Hafiz) Shirazi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,

سخت مى كرد جهان بر مردمان سخت كوش

The specific effect of this extreme and overwhelming zeal (gulu and mubalagha) on the physical and mental capabilities in our times is that hopelessness sets in, halting the traveler (salik) completely.”

Tarbiyat us Salik, volume 1, page 32

Priority of islah over bay’a

In response to an aspirant’s request for taking-pledge (bay’a), Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah sanctify his secret) said,

Rectification of actions (islah e a’mal) has priority over taking-pledge (bay’a), excessive remembrance (dhikr) and spiritual exercises (shugal).

To do this rectification it is essential to study forty or fifty of my printed discourses (mawaiz), the booklets ‘Islah ur rasoom’, ‘Adab ul masharat’ and ‘Tahzib us salikeen’. Without this essential reading all excessive remembrance (dhikir) and spiritual exercises (shugal) are useless. Therefore, complete this before proceeding.

It is best to do things in an organized way. Otherwise, if the foundations of a building are weak it is most likely to collapses easily.

Tarbiyat us Salik, volume 1, page 94

Path to success

In reply to a disciples’s letter Hakim al-Umma, Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,

 “Keep doing what has been instructed and informing me about it. This is the path to achieve success. Whoever has arrived has done so by this method. Similarly, Allah will grant you success.”

 Tarbiyat us Salik, volume 1, page 94