Category Archives: B. Praise worthy morals

The good moral characteristics that are to be developed within one’s self

Tackling eccentric opinions

Mention was made about the stream of publications written recently against the eccentric views of a contemporary scholar.

Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) said,

‘Indeed we live in a era where holding individualistic views are common. Anyone with an attentive audience feels free to do it. It is one of the signs of the end of time as mentioned in a Prophetic sayings.

فإذا رأيت دنيا مؤثرة وشحا مطاعا وإعجاب كل ذي رأي برأيه، فعليك نفسك

However, the tactics used to bring this to their attention and correct them should be with utmost wisdom, thorough knowledge and in a heartfelt manner. It should be in private. This is so that they are not humiliated and alienated.

Publishing these sorts of books is usually not useful. It will lead to the publication of a rebuttal and then another answer to it will be written. This process will be repeated multiple times without any benefit. Moreover, all this argumentation and infighting adds to the armamentarium of the enemies of Islam.

These issues were referred to us at Darul ifta in Darul Uloom, Karachi also many years ago. We wrote in detail about them and send it directly to the highest authorities in charge of the movement this scholar is associated with. All praise to Allah, it was received well by them and significant improvements were made according to our recommendations.’

Makkah Towers # 2, 3rd January 2012, after esha

Kindness

Definition: compassion, generosity
Synonyms: affection, altruism, amiability, beneficence, benevolence, charity, clemency, consideration, cordiality, courtesy, decency, delicacy, fellow feeling, forbearance, gentleness, good intention, good will, goodness, grace, graciousness, heart, helpfulness, hospitality, humanity, indulgence, kindliness, magnanimity, mildness, patience, philanthropy, serviceability, solicitousness, solicitude, sweetness, sympathy, tact, tenderness, thoughtfulness, tolerance, understanding, unselfishness
Antonyms: cruelty, harshness, meanness

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Our master the holy Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,

إن الله يحب الرفق في الأمر كله (رواه البخاری)۔

“Allah is kind and loves kindness in every matter.”

إن الرفق لا يكون في شيء إلا زانه . ولا ينزع من شيء إلا شانه ( رواه مسلم) ۔

“Whenever kindness is in a thing it adorns it, and whenever it is removed from anything, it disfigures it.” [Muslim]

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) often says that Arabic is a very unique and rich language. It has a huge vocabulary. Sometimes it is quite difficult to convey the meaning of a word when translating it into another language. This is specially so with the languages like English.

Respect all human beings

A seeker living in the holy city of Makkah wrote,

‘I feel disgusted when I see the Shia Iranian pilgrims roaming around in this holy city. Please, advice if I need to do anything about these feelings.’

Shaikh Dr. Hafeezullah Sukkharwi/Madani (Allah have mercy on him) replied,

‘Aren’t they human being?

This is grossly inappropriate.

One should abhor their deviant beliefs. However, every human being is to be respected and the best should be desired for him (this includes salvation in hereafter. That is, by making supplication (dua) and effort (as much possible within one’s means) that he may be guided to true faith and practice).’

الموت تحفة المومن

الموت جسر یوصل الحبیب الی الحبیب أ

أ

موت سے كس كو رستگاری ھے

ٓآج تم كل ھماری باری ھے

Shaikh Wasif Manzoor (Allah have mercy on him) passed away in Karachi couple of days back. He was buried in Darul Uloom Karachi.

A khalifa of Shaikh Sayyid Raziuddin Ahmad Fakhri (Allah have mercy on him) he was extensively involved in dawa o tabligh.

May Allah forgive him, raise his status manifolds in hereafter, give patience to all those who knew him and provide them with a substitute to continue benefiting spiritually. Amin!

Having good opinion

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

‘I am thankful to Allah that I never developed an ill opinion in my heart about any of the pious individuals just because of the differences in the peripheral issues (faru’i ikhtelafat). This is so provided that the signs of piety overwhelmingly manifested in them.

I keep a good opinion of those who are engaged in remembrances of Allah. This is in spite of their involvement in few mistakes. It is not necessary to prove all their statements and actions to be in compliance with Shariah. I make an excuse for the pious who are in overwhelming spiritual state that they are excused because of their over powering condition. Moreover, in issues that are ijtehadi (open to genuine interpretation) the possibility of genuine difference of opinion holds me from having a bad opinion of them.’

Ashraf us Sawanih, volume, 1, pg 183

Permeation of dhikr

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Shaikh Dr Hafeezullah Sukkharwi/Madni (Allah have mercy on him) wrote to a senior seeker (most likely a colleague),

‘Pas anfas is a spiritual exercise (shugal). It is recommended for the novice (mubtadi) or intermediate (mutawaset) seeker until the remembrance of Allah (dhikr) is deeply established within him. Once the dhikr has permeated and established then there is no need for these spiritual exercises.

All praise is for Allah. The dhikr has permeated within you. In my lowly opinion there is no need for you to indulge in these exercises.

The permeation and establishment of remembrance (dhikr) means that with slightest effort and concentration the heart turns towards Allah and becomes involved  (in His remembrance or following of His commandments).

Hakim al-Umma Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) has given an example to illustrate this. That is, a teacher who has been teaching for a period of time develops such an expertise in that subject that whenever he is teaching it all the matters related to it are within his mind and grasp. However, this is not the case when he is teaching another subject.

Moreover, Hakim al-Umma (Allah have mercy on him) said that even this permeation and establishment (of dikr) is also a state (haal). The real goal (maqam) of this permeation and establishment of dhikr is to act appropriately when the time of action comes.

Allah praise is for Allah. You are blessed with all these treasures. Continue at your pace on the path Hakim al-Umma and Shaikh Mufti (Mohammad Hassan) (Allah have mercy on them) have placed you. It is thoroughly adequate and beneficial.

In how many things can we emulate others (Sufi orders & their techniques)?

Every flower has a different color and unique smell.

Moreover, the paths to the relationship with Allah are as numerous as the number of breaths of all the creatures.’

Gulistan e dil, page 16

Brethren in Tasawwuf

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Shaikh Shah Wasiullah Allahabadi (Allah Have mercy on him) said,

‘An individual who has established a relationship with Allah also develops a bond with the (contemporary) pious Masters and their disciples, Therefore, they are now called brethren in the Path (of Tasawwuf)  (ikhwan at tareeq).

However, if (in practical life) they do not have unity and mutual compassion then how could they be brothers? They are acting like enemies.Then how could they be called ikhwan at tareeq?

(If this is happening) Then it can be deduced that these individuals are not on the Path. It is only a ritual and a symbol they are following (without any reality). This is because, if they were to be on the Path then its essential effects must have manifested in their life (i.e. bond with Allah and His creation). The absence of the desired result proves the futility of the principles involved itself.’

Halaat e Mulih al-Ummat ra, volume 3, page 419

آوڈیو کتاب : شریعت و طریقت

 

شریعت و طریقت

حضرت حکیم الامت مولانا اشرف علی تھانوی قدس اللہ سرہ

 

How to recognize a pious Shaikh?

Shaikh Wasiullah Allahabadi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘The predecessor pious elders have documented that there are only two methods of recognizing a pious Shaikh.

The first is that the an individual is gifted by Allah with the ability of spiritual insight to do so.
The other method is that the individual is gifted by Allah with the ability to listen and accept the words of the knowledgeable and wise person.’

Halaat e Muslih al-Ummat ra, volume 3, page 323

The weakest and the most powerful individual

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Shaikh Abu ‘Amr al-Dimashiqi (Allah have mercy on him) said, when he was asked: ‘Who is the weakest of all human beings?’

“The one who is incapable of managing his nafs.“

‘And who is the most powerful of all human beings?’

“The one who is capable of mastering his passions (desires of nafs).”

Jawami ‘Adab al-Sufiyya, page 37

Irfan

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A spiritual aspirant wrote about the realities (haqaiq) of Tasawwuf that dawned on him after staying in the company of Hakim al-Ummah Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi(Allah have mercy on him).

Hakim al-Ummah approved of them calling it absolute (‘ain)  gnosis (irfan) and added some explanation to each of them (written here in bold).

‘1. The foremost thing is the remembrance (dhikr) of Allah. It is to be in all conditions with involvement of heart and tongue.
This seems limited to the level of superficial thinking and self conversation.  It has to be accompanied with (active) contemplation (fikr). Though in your vocabulary you may consider this to be a branch of remembrance. In Holy Quran contemplating ones (yatafakaron) are mentioned after (yatadhakaron) those who remember Allah.

2. Being honest and cognizant of Allah (taqwa) is all matters.
Both in external (dhahir) and internal (batin) matters. As it says in the Prophetic tradition that taqwa is here pointing towards his chest.

3. Being vigilant in observance of the absolute essential (faraidh) with excellence.
Accompanied with the Sunna and reward-able actions. For excellence in good actions actions can not be achieved without them.

4. Avoidance of all that is sinful. That is both major and minor sins.
This also includes the external and internal actions, as Allah says ‘leave external sinful and internal also’.

They includes from the blame worthy morlas arrogance, ostentation, love of money and fame,etc.

Repent immediately if they are committed (by mistake).

However, the rights of other individuals including the financial dues are not forgiven by repentance alone (one has to recompensate for them or ask forgiveness).

Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 3 page 31

Intention of self islah

A scholar murid inquired displaying the text of Basair al-Hakim al-Ummat that it is an absolute contraindications for a Salik to be engaged in giving lectures and instructions to others until he has acquired nisbet ( a strong, perpetual and mutually friendly relationship with Allah). Being a scholar he was involved in giving regular sessions at his local mosque. What was he supposed to do?

Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammmad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) replied,
‘These sessions should be with the intention of self rectification and mutual reminder. Only then they will not fall into the category Hakim al-Umma has restricted for the salik.’

Masjid Darul Uloom, Karachi, Ramadan 1432

Jeddah

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