Category Archives: A. Reality of Tasawwuf

The nature, definition, goals and principles of Tasawwuf

In Sheikh’s company

20th Ramadhan 1427 (After Asr)

I asked Hadhrat that being for the first time in the company (suhba) of my Sheikh, what should I mostly focus on?

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

“Previously when someone used to ask me to stay here with me, I used to decline as I used to think that I am busy and I will not be able to give proper time to those who come to stay here with me.

But then a thought came into my heart that who am I to give someone something? Allah swt is the one, Who gives. Hence, now whoever comes with genuine yearning (talb-e-sadiq, I allow him to stay.) He will get benefit, inshaAllah.”

Hadhrat db continued:

“While being in the presence of your Shaykh, if he is talking then listen to him very attentively. If he is not talking then contemplate that a light (noor) is emanating from the heart of my Shaykh and is going into my heart.”

Meraj us Salikeen: Malfoozat Ramadhan 1427.

Remedies for spiritual ailments

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

“Hakim al-Umma laid great stress on prescribing proper remedies for the spiritual ailments of people. This cure was not to give them some sort of medicinal syrup or to engage in (recitation of) some formulas (wazifas), but his prescribed remedy comprised action (either physical or via thought).”

Irshadat-e akabir 25, The Path to Perfection, page 142

Informing Sheikh regularly is essential

Hadhrat Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) confirmed a senior seeker’s comment that, it is true in most of the cases that if a seeker does not report his spiritual condition to his mentor regularly all further progress is impeded and moreover things already accomplished become obscure.

Tarbiyat us Salik, volume 1, page 98

Seeker’s tasks

Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said in response to an irrelevant question of a spiritual aspirant;

“To ask such question is against the etiquette (adab).

Seeker (talib) has two commitments to fulfill (in regards to self reformation (islahi) correspondence with the Sheikh).

First, is to inform (the Sheikh) of his spiritual condition.

The other is to inquire about the actions to be performed.”

Tarbiyat us Salik, volume 1, page 99

Come leaving the arrogance, prepared for humiliation

An individual wrote a letter requesting permission for visiting Hadhrat Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) for self reformation (tazkiya).

Granting permission Hadhrat told him (this will be achievable) only if he comes leaving behind all arrogance and prepared to receive all kinds of humiliation.

Tarbiyat us Slaik, volume 1, page 91

How to perform good deeds and stop committing sins?

An aspirant requested something for recitation (wird) that will assist in performance of good deeds and stop one from committing sins.

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

“Performance of good deeds and giving up sins are both volitional things. Recitations have nothing to do with them.

The method to adopt in implementation of volitional things is to use one’s determination and will power. In order to facilitate the use of determination one needs to do spiritual struggle (mujahida). This is by opposing and resisting the desires of one’s lower self (nafs). Doing this regularly will over time eventually result in facilitation (of effective use of determination).

I have summarized the whole art (of tasawwuf in this answer).”

Tarbiyat us Salik, volume 1, page 93

Strategy and goal of tareeq

After describing the reality of tareeqat in detail, Hazrat Hakeemul Ummat Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi ra summarizes it,

“Thus, salik has to do two things.

One is essential (faraz). That is observance of the commands of Shariah, both exoteric and esoteric. The other is mustaheb (commendable). That is excessive remembrance of Allah SWT.

By observance of the commands of Shariah Allah SWT’s acceptance and by (His) excessive remembrance (His) extra-pleasure and proximity is achieved.

This summarizes the strategy and goal of tareeq.”

Tarbiyat us Salik, volume 1, page 8

Obligations on taking the tareeq

Listing the obligations for those who take the (Ashrafiya) tareeq Hakeemul Ummah Hazrat Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi ra mentions,

Firstly, one has to read all the eleven parts of Behishti zewar (Heavenly ornaments, essential text of Hanafi fiqh) cover-to-cover, word-by-word. (In case if one cannot read, he/she has to have it read to him, listening attentively.)

Secondly, one has to keep all his/her states as per (the Shari’a rulings described in) Behishti zewar.

Tarbiyat us salik, volume 1, page 8

 

It is not interesting!

Referring to the common complaint by spiritual aspirants, “I do not feel it to be interesting”, when instructed to do the essentials of tareeq (wird, informing their condition regularly to the Sheikh, reading the prescribed texts, etc.) routinely, Sayyidi wa sanadi Hazrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani shaib db said:

“Till when will you remain a slave of your feelings?

Irrespective of it being interesting to you, it is essential.

It is like the medicine for the sick. It may taste awful but it has the cure.

Be determined and overcome these feelings!”

Ramadhan 1426, after zuhar majlis

Spiritual reformation

Hakeemul Ummat Hazrat Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi ra said:

“Spiritual development and training is related to acquisition of maqamat (spiritual stations), ahwal (spiritual states), acts of worship and their subtle affects, recieving waridat (divinely intutions) and warding off evil whispherings (khatirat).

It has been exprienced that without these essential components islah e batin (reformation of inner self) can not occur.”

Tarbiyat us salik, page 5

Message of Masnavi

مثنوى در شش مجلد يك نوا ست

حاصل آن غوطه در بحر فنا ست

خاتمه مثنوى از مولوى الهى بخش رح كليد مثنوى جلد 24, ص 598

The six volumes of masnavi say in one voice,

Our essence is to dive deep into the ocean of annihilation!

Tajdeed e Baiyet

A mureed proceeding for his faraz Hajj requested Sayyidi wa sanadi Hazrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani sahib db for tajdeed baiyet (renewal of the repentance & allegiance to Shariah pact).

Obviously delighted Hazrat db accepted his requested wholeheartedly.

Darul Uloom, Karachi, Zil Hajj 1422

Baiyet

Friendship of Awliya

Hazrat Sheikh Ahmed Sirhindi ra (mujaddid alif thani) said;

“It is an immense blessing that friends of Allah SWT (awliya) consider someone to be their friend.”

(Durr e lasani, Intekhab e maktoobat e Imam Rabbani ra, page 51)

Useless reflection

Hazrat Haji Imdadullah mohajir makki ra said;

“Heart is a like a mirror so protect it from reflecting on any thing other than Allah SWT.”

That is because these useless reflections will waste your time and if you develop a habit of thinking about them all the time they will become permenant dwellers of your heart. Allah SWT save us all from this. Ameen, bijah e Sayyidul mursaleen.