Category Archives: A. Reality of Tasawwuf

The nature, definition, goals and principles of Tasawwuf

What to tell the Shaykh?

Hakeemul Ummat Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi ra’s very special khalifa Moulana Shah Wasiullah ra said:

I do not look for how many raka’t of tahajjud you pray?
I am looking for how many of your blame worthy moral traits have been successfully treated.

People keep telling me regarding their virtuous acts.
As for the the blame worthy moral traits they acquire the following attitude:

وہ الگ باندھ کر رکھا ہےجو مال اچھا ہے
(The real stuff I have kept separately hidden)

Meaning they never mention any thing regarding these filthy moral traits, hypocritical attitudes (acting to be pious but in reality not being so ) and improper trust (on Shaykh. That is, hiding things from him).
Whereas, these are the very thing I need information about.
Because, your relationship with me is for islah (reformation). And islah (reformation) is done of these blame worthy moral characteristics. Hence, it is most beneficial to inform me regarding them.

Nevertheless, you mashaAllah, may also have few virtuous qualities. This is very good. But even if you do not mention them to me what will you lose. Indeed, hearing good things regarding you will make me happy and motivate me to make (special) dua for you. But remember this part is a secondary thing and not the original aim and objective (of islahi ta’luq).

Halat-e-muslihul Ummat page 310-11

The Islahi Correspondence between Mureed & Sheikh

This islahi/self-reformation correspondence is the vital cornerstone of sulook in our path.
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Mureed writes about his state in regards to observance of Shariah, the wird prescribed, overwhelming thoughts and any questionable moral traits demonstrated in every day life in dealing with self and others. The Sheikh reviews it and diagnoses any ailments, if present and treats as appropriate.

To be definitely effective this has to be at regular intervals, usually once every month or fortnightly.

It is alchemy.

Recognizing its importance, nafs & shaytan try their best to put obstacles for doing it successfully. Mureed becomes lazy & slack, finding numerous excuses for not doing it. Even if he sits down to write a letter, he can not recall anything ‘significant’ to convey.

Once as similar mureed wrote to Sidi wa sandi Hazrat Moulana Mohammad Taqi Usmani sahib (Allah SWT preserve him & allow us to benefit from him a lot. Ameen!) that I can not bring to mind any thing to write in my letter.

Hazrat db replied:
“Writing even this, itself is sufficient.”

This is because; it keeps you in the habit of writing letters to the Sheikh, shows your concern and sincerity for self reformation, is an opportunity to request for dua and informs the Sheikh that at least you are not deteriorating and seeing your effort he makes special dua for you.
–
Hazrat db also said;
“For mureed who do not have the opportunity to be in close direct contact with the Sheikh to discuss their states in person regularly, it is essential to have this islahi correspondence. The mureed and even the Sheikh who do not recognize this are committing a fundamental mistake in Tasawwuf (especially our tareeq/path).”

On Death of the Sheikh!

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On the death of Hazrat Moulana Shah Abrarul Haq (Allah have mercy on him) (died May 17th, 2005), the last surviving khalifa of Hakeemul Ummat, an individual inquired Sidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani sahib ( Allah preserve him and allow us to benefit from him a lot. Ameen!) regarding the attitude to be adopted by a mureed on the death of his/her Shaykh.

Shaykh replied,

“Regarding this mureedeen fall into two categories.
First are those who are mojaz (khalifa) (they have the permission to initiate others). For them it is not essential to take another Shaykh. However, it is very beneficial and advisable to take one and not leave one’s self independent.

Second category is the rest of mureedeen (disciples). It is absolutely essential for them to take another Shaykh as soon as possible.

In both the cases it is wise to select the next Shaykh from the same silsila (spiritual lineage) with the similar disposition/style (hum mazaq) in approach to Tasawwuf/islah as the recently deceased Shaykh, for uninterrupted spiritual progress.”

Jeddah, 18th May, 2005

Sheikh’s Style

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Arif billah Hazrat Dr. Abdul-Hayy Arifi ra said:
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It takes a considerable duration of time to pick up and understand the Sheikh’s style (the characteristic method, approach and its implementation in sulook). However, (once understood) one should completely adapt to it.
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Sukoon-e-qalb 80
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Each and every Sheikh has a unique style of his own.
It is essential to the understand and agree to it before becoming a mureed.
Only if this is present it is possible to benefit and progress.

_

Testing our Ikhlaq

Arif-billah Hazrat Dr. Abdul-Hayy Arifi ra said:
–
” Develop a habit of examining yourself.
How is my worship (‘ibadat)?
How are my dealings (muamlat)?
How is my ikhlaq (morals/behavioral characteristics)?

And to test the ikhlaq (morals/behavior) take a ride in one of the public buses in Karachi (notorious for being overcrowded with less educated & emotionaly frustrated people). You will find out the reality, where do you stand?.”

Sukoon-e-qalb 47

It is under stressful condition that the praise-worthy and blame worthy moral characteristic, (that are: patience, humility, giving preference to others, love & sympathy, etc. and anger, envy, arrogance, etc.) are shown in one’s behavior. Under normal circumstances most of us act and consider ourselves to be the perfect model of good morals. But the our reality will appear when others are rude and obnoxious, they do not give us the ‘status’ we deserve and ignore us.

The emotions which emerge in these circumstances show our reality. And if we act on the commands of these emotions, it shows the extent of the diseased heart we have!
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These are the things to be reported to the Sheikh. He after diagnosing the problem will advice a treatment. We use the therapy and then report back to him again for the sucess or failure of treatment.
_
This is the real Tasawwuf and Peeri-mureedi.

Chisti asbaq/lessons

The famous scholar, historian, linguist and author Moulana Syed Suleman Nadwi ra was in search of a Sheikh. He visited Hazrat Hakeemul Ummat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi ra for the first time. While departing he requested Hazrat Thanvi ra for some general advice (nasiha).

Hazrat Thanvi ra later told his mureedeen that I felt perplexed for a second. I was thinking what advice would be suitable for such a high ranking scholar? I turned my attention towards Allah SWT and requested Him for guidance in this matter.

Hazrat Thanvi ra replied, the first and also the last thing in our tareeq (path) is annihilation (fana).

Hearing this Moulana Syed Suleman Nadwi ra started to cry.
He became a mureed and later a khalifa of Hazrat Hakeemul Ummat ra.

This annihilation is that of self-suggestion, planning, expectations & of blame worthy traits۔ And acting as being told by the Sheikh.

–
سوختن – و آفروختن – و جامہ دریدن
–
شمع زمن پروانہ زمن گل زمن آموخت

خلاصہ تصوف

حضرت شاہ وصی اللہ الہ آبادی رح (خلیفہ حکیم الامت رح) نےفرمایا
تین چیزیں خلاصہ تصوف ہیں؛
۔ ازآلہ غفلت
۔ دفع رزائل اور
۔ حذر خوطر
حالات مصلح الامت رح379

کل سلوک

عارف باللہ حضرت ڈاکٹرعبدالحئ عارفی رحمہ اللہ علیہ نے فرمایا؛
ہمارے حضرت والا (حکیم الامت مولانا اشرف علی تھانوی ر ح)
بڑی جامع اورگر کی بات فرماگۓکہ
کسی کو کسی سے تکلیف نہ پہنچے کل سلوک یہی ہے۔
سوانح و تعلیمات حضرت عارفی ر ح 544

اب تو اس دل کو بنانا ہے تیرے قابل مجھے

سیدی و سندی قطب الارشاد حضرت مفتى محمد تقى عثمانى صاحب مدظلهم العالی نے فرمایا؛ 

ہمارے حضرت حضرت ڈاکٹرعبدالحئ صاحب رحمہ اللہ علیہ فرمایا کرتے تھے کہ آدمی ایک مرتبہ یہ ارادہ کر لے کہ
آرزوئیں خون ہوں- یا حسرتیں—پامال- ہوں
اب تو اس دل کو بنانا ہے تیرے قابل مجھے

آدمی یہ عزم کر لے کہ دل میں جتنی خواہشات اللہ تعالی کی مرضی کے خلاف ہو رہی ہیں، ان کو کچلنا ہے اور
پامال کرنا ہے اور پامال کرنے کے نتیجے میں ان پر قابو حاصل کرنا ہے۔-
اور جب بندہ ایک مرتبہ یہ کام کرلیتا ہے اور اپنی خواہشات کو کچلتاہے اس کا نتیجہ یہ ہوتا ہے کہ وہ خواہشات مضمحل ہو جاتی ہیں اور کمزور پڑجاتی ہیں۔ 

یاد رکھو! یہ خواہشات مرتے دم تک ختم نہیں ہوں گی بلکہ باقی رہیں گی،
لیکن ان کے جوش و خروش میں اور ان کی شدّت میں کمی آجاتی ہے۔ اور جب اس دل پر بار بار چوث پڑنے کے نتیجے میں اس کی خواہشات کمزور پڑجاتی ہیں تو اللہ تعالی حلاوت ایمان عطا فرماتے ہیں۔

اور اس حلاوت ایمان اور معرفت کی جو لذ ّت حاصل ہوتی ہے، اس کے مقابلے میں خواہشات کی لذ ّت ھیچ درھیچ ہے۔

اللہ تعالی اپنے فضل سے ہم سب کو حلاوت ایمان اور اپنی معرفت عطا فرما دے۔ آمین۔

اصلاحی مجالس 122 جلد 4

حاصل تصوف

حکیم الامت حضرت مولانااشرف علی تھانوی قدس سرہ نے
فرمایا ‎‎
وہ زرا سی بات جو حاصل ھے تصوف کا یہ ھے کہ
جس طاعت میں سستی محسوس ھو
سستی کا مقابلہ کر کے اس طاعت کو کرے
اور جس گناہ کا تقاضا ھو تقاضے کا مقابلہ کر کے اس گناہ سے بچے۔
جس کو یہ بات حاصل ھوگئ اس کو پھر کچھ بھی ضرورت نہیں،
کیونکہ یہی بات تعلق مع اللہ پیدا کرنے والی ھے اور یہی اس کی محافظ ھے۔
اور یہی اس کو بڑھانے والی ھے۔
بصائر حکیم الامت ص 99

Spiritual Progress

Hakeemul Ummat Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi ra said,
“Do you observe how a child grows?
If he is measured everyday, it will not be perceptible and the day to day growth would not be noticed. In reality, however, he keeps growing. Soon he reaches puberty. He grows a beard and turns into a full-grown man.

In the same way, if one follows this path (tariq) with sincerity and steadfastness and does not become careless, he will progress gradually and reach spiritual puberty (attain Love of Allah swt/t’aluq m’aAllah).”

“The Spiritual Discourses” by Qutubul Irshad Sidi wa sanadi Hazrat Moulana Mufti Taqi Usmani sahib db

Signs of Spiritual Puberty

Arifbillah Hazrat Dr. Abdul Hayy Arifi ra said:

The signs of attaining spiritual maturity/puberty are;
-All actions are done purely for the pleasure of Allah swt
-Having tasleem (total surrender to the commands of Shariah) and raza (whole hearted acceptance of Allah swt’s decisions).
-If a mistake is committed, one humbly repents immediately and makes amendments
-Being incessantly motivated for all of this
-When the capabilities of heart will be rectified and the state of the spirit are eventually developed, at that time automatically an urge of compassion and kindheartedness arises. That is, one considers that this information I became aware of is very good and beneficial, if I pass it on to someone it will be excellent. This instinctive feeling or urge tells that this is the time of spiritual puberty.

Malfoozate Arifi ra 165

Spiritual Puberty

Arif-billah Hazrat Dr. Abdul Hayy Arifi ra said:

There is a physical puberty and similarly there is a spiritual puberty.
It is difficult to realize the exact timing of the physical puberty. However, it is the natural human phenomenon that a time comes when this stage is reached and functions associated with it start appearing. Similar is case with spiritual puberty.

Body needs food and nutrition for growth and development to reach the physical puberty.
In the same way spirit needs nutrition for its growth and eventual puberty.

What is this food & nutrition for the spirit?

It is being thoroughly steadfast on mustahabbat (recommendable), nawafil (optional extra) works and excessive zikir (rememberance) (i.e. after fulfilling faraiz, wajibat, sunun and abstaining from all sins to the best of one’s ability).
If these are provided, the spirit (batin) continues to nourish and grow. Eventually a stage is reached when the capabilities of heart and spirit are so developed that the Salik (traveler on the path of sulook) attains spiritual puberty. In other words it can be expressed as nisbat-e-batini (t’aluq ma’ Allah/Love of Allah swt) is achieved.
This bounty is a pure gift from Allah swt and is not dependent on salik’s own effort.

Shirkat e bazam munhasir un kay karam per hay magar
Meri jabeen to ho chuki waqaf e neyaz e sang e dar