Category Archives: B. Praise worthy morals

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

Seclusion

Leave a reply

Hakim al Umma Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Allah have mercy on him) once mentioned:

‘Nowadays, salvation lies in keeping to oneself and associating less with people. (In this way, one will be able to concentrate on one’s self reformation and be safeguarded from the wrongs of association and company.) 

I came across the statement of a pious predecessor in a book wherein he stated that when remaining in seclusion, one should not make the intention that he is doing so in order to be saved from the harms of people. Rather, he should remind himself, “I am like a snake or scorpion that can harm people and therefore I should not associate with them in order to protect them from my harm.”

How cautious indeed were our predecessors and seniors in ensuring that they did not fall into self admiration and other similar sins! ‘

(Malfoozaat Husnul Azeez pg.116 Ihyaauddeen.co.za:Saying of the pious#110)

Love of the Prophet (Allah bless him & grant him peace)

Leave a reply

Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) instructed,

‘O Abu Hurairah ! If you desire not to be separated from my company on the Day of Judgement and eventually enter the Paradise along with me then love me in way that you can not forget me. 

And remember that if you love me then you will not abandon three things,

1. Following my example (Sunna)

2. Longing for me 

3. Sending salutations (salwaat) on me excessively. ‘

Fatuhaat Makkiya, volume 37 chapter 560, page 121

Differentiate between the sinner and the sinful

Leave a reply

hed

A spiritual aspirant wrote,

Nowadays my condition is that unintentionally I feel a repugnance in sinful involvement.

Moreover, when I see someone involved in sinful I feel that this individual is headed towards Hell fire  and I must try gently to persuade him to not to do so.  I try my best and with the barakah of your supplications my efforts are not wasted.

It is humbly request that whatever is best for me (in this regards) may please, be instructed.  Duas are requested.

Hakeem al Umma Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Allah have mercy on him) replied,

‘The development of repugnance from sinful involvement is a superior state (hal).

However, feel repugnance for the sinner is dangerous thing for a novice (mubtadi) aspirant. This is because most of the time reason for this is arrogance (kibr), feeling self superiority and presumption of self piety.

(Therefore) Till the attainment of a steady spiritual state (tamkeen) consider that this individual (sinner) is superior to me. Nevertheless, his involvement in sinful is repugnant (in itself). His condition is similar to soot smeared on the face of a beautiful person.  This consideration combines the notion that the person is beautiful and the soot is black (and disfiguring). Similar consideration should be done for the sinner and sinful involvement.

Moreover, a novice aspirant should not be involved in forbidding others.

However, giving a lecture in general to the public (about prohibition of sinful involvement) is okay. This is so provided that no other preacher is available to do so. Proceeding beyond this is dangerous.

It is perplexing that in spite of staying here (khanqah, Thana Bhawan) you are unaware of these details.’

Tarbiyet us Salik, Volume 1, page 422-3

Be thankful for being a Muslim

Leave a reply

Church-of-St-Mark

Shaykh Abu Ali Daqqaq (Allah have mercy on him) stood at the entrance of a church and recited,

وَلَوْلَا نِعْمَةُ رَبِّي لَكُنْتُ مِنَ الْمُحْضَرِينَ

And had it not been for the favour of my Lord, I too had been of those haled forth (to doom).

As Saffat 57

Resala e Ainiya

Being a Muslim is great blessing. We should appreciate this and thank Allah for this repeatedly. This thankfulness is a safeguard from kufr.

Sins: a plea for safeguard

Leave a reply


O Allah! I ask You for such fear which would prevent me from Your disobedience so that I may do, through your obedience, actions which will make me eligible for Your pleasure, and so that I may truly repent before You out of the fear for You, (and) be shameful in front of You, so that I place my trust in You in all matters. And I ask You for good expectations from You. 

You are Perfect, the creator of nur (a faculty to differentiate between bright pious deeds and sinful dark actions). 

O Allah! Do not destroy us suddenly, do not take us to task all of a sudden nor make us heedless of any obligations or advice. ‘
–

Munajaat e maqbool # 170, Wednesday manzil 

Islah:Self improvement

Leave a reply



Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve and protect him) said,

‘The prescription for an individual’s islah has 3 components,

1.  Turning to Allah (inabet illa Allah). This is by repentance from transgressions done in the past and asking assistance in doing good actions in the present and future. 

2. Removing one’s self from places, conditions and situations where the likelihood of falling into sinful is possible based on past experience. 

3. Developing spiritual strength to resist the temptations of nafs by having a daily routine for remembrance of Allah. 

Majlis, 28 Ramadan 1437/ 4 July 2016, post Zohar, Darul Uloom Karachi 

Sincerity – less: Shaykh & mureed fall

Leave a reply


Musleh al Umma Maulana Shah Wasiullah Allahabadi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘As it is possible that an individual has knowledge and he does not practice accordingly, similarly it is possible that one practices (according to the knowledge) but without sincerity (ikhlaas).  

Moreover, it is possible that previously there was sincerity in actions done but later it evaporates. 

Shaykh Muhiyuddeen Ibn Arabi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

وقد راینا شیوخا” سقطوا

We saw many Shuyukh that fell from their ranks (as a spiritual guide due to this). 

If even a Shaykh can fall (from his rank), then possibility for a mureed to fall (due to lack of sincerity) is much greater.’

Majales Musleh al Ummat ra, volume 6, page 134

Tasawwuf: Ashrafiya Approach 2

Leave a reply

Tasawwuf-Aur-Nisbat-e-Sufia-250x384

Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi usmani (Allah protect & preserve him) continued,

‘Similar is the story in all of the Tasawwuf. In some quarters the method of treatment (of spiritual maladies) has  been made a goal in itself.

This is the case of gathering of remembrance done aloud (ijtemai majalis e dhikr bil jaher).  Remembrance (of Allah) done aloud and in a gathering are both per se permissible. However, these days in some (sufi) paths it is considered to be an essential part and without it remembrance is considered to be deficient and less rewarding.

Similarly, as an example is the case of  supplicating in front of the graves facing the qibla. It is permissible per se. Moreover it is proven by Sunna of our master prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). However, when our pious-predecessors saw that grave-worshipers can misuse it for their benefit then they discouraged doing so

We consider our master Hakim al Umma Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Allah have mercy on him) to be the mujaddid (one who revives) of this era.  In Tasawwuf lots of things were done as a means of treatment prescribed by masters, however, gradually (with passage of time) they became an objective in them-self. The revival of Tasawwuf that Hakim al Umma did was to state that the real objective (of Tasawwuf) is the acquisition of praise worthy moral characteristics (fadhail) and riddance of blame worthy moral characteristics (razail) from one’s self.

In reality there are various degrees of crossing the limits in Tasawwuf. Some elders prescribed as a form of treatment something for their disciples, others selected something else to be more beneficial. Then some considered this treatment to be essential (for all), others promoted them to the level of things highly desired (mustaheb) or Prophetic practice (Sunna). The problem starts from here (with this meddling in the fiqhi hierarchy of status of actions) onwards. ’

Albalagh,Urdu, volume 51, publication 6-7, (April 2017) page 71-2

Truthfulness & sincerity

Leave a reply

  
“Do not be very strict on yourselves for then Allah will be strict upon you. Verily, a group of people were strict upon themselves so Allah was strict upon them. Their remnants are the (ascetic) people living in the hermitages and monasteries. [Then he quoted the verse,] ‘But the monasticism which they invented for themselves, We did not prescribe for them.”‘ Abu Dawud

In explaining this Prophetic saying Shaykh Abdul Haqq Muhadith Dehlawi (Allah have mercy on him) mentioned that Shaykh Ahmed bin Abilhawari approached his teacher Shaykh Suleman Darani (Allah have mercy on them) and inquired that the people of Bani Israel strived with such (physical) endeavors and struggles that their skin became like old worn out leather whereas we eat, drink, clothe ourselves and live with comforts and luxuries. My heart is burdened by this luxurious lifestyle and I worry what will be its end result. 

Shaykh Suleman Darani (Allah have mercy on him) replied,

‘O Ahmed! What is demanded from us (by Allah) is truthfulness (sidiq) and sincerity (ikhlas) (in our intentions and actions)

Burning and melting (with strenuous endeavors and struggles) is not demanded from us. 

Good deeds performed with sincerity for ten days are better than 10 years of (physical) struggle that burns and melts (the skin). 

The real objective and goal is the pleasure of and acceptance by (radha) Allah. (This can only be achieved with sidiq and ikhlaas.)

As the poet says

من لم یکن للوصال اہلا فکل احسانہ ذنوب ‘

Ashaat alelmaat volume 1, page 473 via Basariyet ki rah say taraqqi 

Ijazet: Who is worthy of it?

Leave a reply

 

Murideen used to come to Shaykh al Hadith Maulana Zakariyah (Allah have mercy on him) during Ramadan. During his initial years he used to send them to Hazrat Abdul Qadirahmer Raipuri (Allah have mercy on him)(for them to stay in his blessed company). Regarding this Shaykh al Hadith writes:

“The condition of some of them improved greatly and with the spiritual blessings (tawajjuhaat) of Hazrat Raipuri (Allah have mercy on him) it became even better but some of the residents there said to my guests (i.e. Murideen): “Why hasn’t Shaykh given you permission (of Ba’yat) until now?” This thing became a poison for them as they began to consider themselves something. 

It is a well-established principle in this field (of Tasawwuf) that as long as one considers himself to be incompetent and unworthy then he is successful; but as soon as he considers himself as competent and worthy then he becomes unsuccessful.I have experienced this in many of the friends and close senior murideen (khuddam) of my pious elders.

This incompetent writer was given permission (of Ba’yat) by my Shaykh (Allah have mercy on him) in Dhi Qa’dah 1345H in Madinah Munawwarh. This incompetent writer remembers it clearly that without any exaggeration I held the feet of Hazrat Raipuri (Allah have mercy on him) that please don’t mention it to anyone in India. But Hazrat insisted that he would definitely inform them and began writing to people in India from there (i.e. Madinah Munawwarah).

After coming back to india I did not get the courage to accept anyone’s Ba’yat for a long time. Perhaps it is mentioned somewhere in Aap Beeti that I started accepting for Ba’yat after being scolded by my Uncle (Maulana Ilyas May Allah have mercy on him). Thereafter I went to Hazrat Shaykhul Islam (Hussan Ahamd Madni)and Hazrat Raipuri (May Allah have mercy on them both) several times that if they take consideration of my inability and thus order me to stop accepting anyone for Ba’yat then I will get a way out. But each time they in return scolded me. I remember a saying of Shaykhul Islam (Maulana Hussain Ahmad Madni, Allah have mercy on him) that on my request he angrily replied “Who accepts anyone for Ba’yat considering himself to be worthy and competent? The one who does that is himself unworthy and incompetent. The successful one is he who considers himself incompetent at all times”.

Source: Aap Beeti of Hazrat Shaykh-ul-Hadith Maulana Muhammad Zakariyyah Kandhlawi, Volume 2, Page 441-442

Intekhab e Kaiseri

 

Hadith

Leave a reply

  

The greatest Imam our master Abu Hanifa (Allah have mercy on him) wrote in his bequest (wasiyet) to his son Hammad that I have chosen five traditions (Hadith) from all the sayings of Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). These are enough for a person to practice the religion.

Our master Prophet Muhammed (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

1. Actions are according to intentions

2. It is from the excellence of a person’s Islam to abandon what does not concern him

3. A believer is not a believer until he is pleased for his brother with what he is pleased for himself

4. The lawful is clear and the forbidden is clear, but between the two are ambiguous matters. Whoever guards himself against ambivalent matters has gone to the utmost limit in seeking to be clear in his religion and honour.

5. The Muslim is one whom others are safe from their tongue and hands.    

(Reference 1,3,4&5 are in Bukhari & Muslim, 2 is in Tirmidhi)

Suhbat e ba awliya, malfuzaat of Sheikh al Hadith ( Allah have mercy on him)

The Lost Art of Dying 

Leave a reply



All of us are living to die.

How well prepared are we for this?

How well have we prepared our spouse, children and family to handle it?

Is our state of affairs and a legal will ready ?

Have we made it clear to our physician and next of kin that no heroic measures are to be used in my care? (This is especially so for the elderly >70 years and those diagnosed with a terminal disease.)

A Westerner writes, ‘Dying used to be accompanied by a prescribed set of customs.

Reaffirming one’s faith, repenting one’s sins, and letting go of one’s worldly possessions and desires were crucial, and the guides provided families with prayers and questions for the dying in order to put them in the right frame of mind during their final hours. Last words came to hold a particular place of reverence.’

Sounds Muslim.

Muslims are to be prepared for death all the time.

Our master Prophet Mohammed (Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) instructed us to remember often -the destroyer of all pleasures :death. (Tirmidhi, Ahmed, Ibn e Majah)

Most of us are not prepared and in the right frame of mind to handle death. In facing, it especially for the elderly and those diagnosed with a terminal disease, all our effort is to prolong life. This is done at at all measures, irrespective of the pain, suffering and financial burden to the afflicted and those around.

We pay no attention at all to a peaceful departure, accepting the decree of Allah wholeheartedly, a farewell as a believer (khatima bil khair), forgiving others and asking forgiveness from Allah and fellow Muslims, recitation of kalima (There is no God except Allah, Mohammed [Allah’s blessings ans peace be upon him] is His messenger) as their last words by the dying and the chapter of  Yasin from Quran by those around.

This is also a an issue we have to improve upon.

 

Sign of spiritual benefit 

Leave a reply


Imam Abdul Wahab al Sha’arani (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘The Masters of this path have stated that the signs that a disciple is benefiting from his Shaikh are,

– He keeps a good opinion about all the people except for himself.

– He does not see the deficiencies of others.

-Moreover, he is not perturbed at all by anyone saying bad things about him and considers it to be correct.

Imam adds that it is imperative (wajib) for whoever reads quotes of Sufis like this that demand action to look into their own self.

If he finds himself acting accordingly then he must thank Allah. And if he lacks it then he should repent and strive to incorporate it into his life.’

Lataif al minan, page 44