Category Archives: L. Books

How to read the spiritual discourses?

Instructing a senior scholar from Rangoon, Myanmar, who is staying in Darul Uloom to be in sayyidi wa sanadi’s company for the month of Ramadhan, Hadhrat said,

“Read the spiritual discourses (mawaiz) of Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) as much as possible during your stay here. Make an effort to read at least forty of these.

However, while reading them keep an intention for your own self reformation (islah). It is a common ailment of scholars that when they read something beneficial they make a mental note of it to mention it in their next public speech. This is not beneficial. One’s own reformation (islah) should be the primary concern to gain maximum benefit.”

7th Ramadhan 1429, Darul Uloom

Some sections of Tasawwuf are dangerous!

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Having a clear perspective of Tasawwuf’s reality is essential from the very start of the spiritual journey.

That is, what is the goal and means to reach it?

Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) made this vividly clear upfront to every seeker who approached him for spiritual reformation (islah).

People with their creative imagination, knowledge of partially correct or interpreted information and especially readers of Sufi hagiographies and difficult classic texts make assumptions and set unrealistic goals.

To dispel these sorts of myths Hakim al-Umma wrote exegesis of some of the Sufi texts that are commonly misinterpreted.  They include explanation of Mathnawi of Mawlana Rumi (in 24 volumes), poetry of Hafiz Shirazi and Fusoos of Ibn Arabi (may Allah have mercy on them).

A very beneficial point he makes in the introduction to one of the text is as  follows,

“From the teachings of Tasawwuf, I always had intellectual interest in the instructive section (uloom e ma’amla) because this deals with the commands and prohibitions and acting on them leads to the proximity of Allah, Most High.

In comparison, the section of unveiling (uloom e makashafa) was instinctively attractive but not appealing intellectually. This is because they play no role in gaining Allah’s nearness and have a great inherent danger that some mistakes in them (interpretation and application)  may lead to loss of faith (eman) itself.

(May Allah save us all from this calamity.)”

Al-tanbih al-tarabi fi tanzih ibn al-Arabi ra, page 6

A Curriculum of Study for every Muslim

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mohammad Mufti Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) recommends the following books to gain essential knowledge,  sound understanding and practical application of Islam for every Muslim.

“Section 1: Necessary Beginners Knowledge

“…without which living a life like a true Muslim is not possible.”

  • Hayat al-Muslimin (Mawlana Ashraf `Ali)
  • Furu` al-Iman (Mawlana Ashraf `Ali)
  • Ta`lim al-Din (Mawlana Ashraf `Ali)
  • Behishti Gohar [for men] (Mawlana Ashraf `Ali)
  • Behishti Zewar [for women] (Mawlana Ashraf `Ali)
  • Jaza’ al-A`maal (Mawlana Ashraf `Ali)
  • Sirat Khatim al-Anbiya’ (Mufti Shafi`)
  • Hakayat Sahaba (Mawlana Zakariyya Kandihlawi)
  • Tarikh Islam (Mawlana Muhammad Mian)
  • Usway Rasule Akram (Mawlana `Abd al-Hayy)

Section 2: Broadening the Core

“…by which such vastness and firmness is produced in religious aspects that a person will not be misguided by those who misguide.”

  • Ma`arif al-Quran (Mufti Shafi`) or Tafsir Usmani (Mawlana Shabbir Ahmed)
  • Ma`arif al-Hadith (Mawlana Manzur Nu`mani)
  • Behishti Zewar ke Masa’il (Mawlana Ashraf `Ali)
  • `Ilm al-Fiqah (Mawlana `Abd al-Shakkur Lakhnawi)
  • Aqa’id al-Islam (Mawlana Idris Kandihlawi)
  • Shari`at wa Tariqat (Mawlana Ashraf `Ali)

(Fatawa Usmani, volume 1,  pg. 181-182 ed. Maktaba Ma`arif al-Quran: 2005)

How to create yearning and desire?

In sequel of the previous post.  An individual inquired how can this yearning and desire be created and developed.

 Sayyidi wa sanadi Hadhrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) was obviously pleased at this question and replied,

“Once Mawlana Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) was elaborating on this same topic. He said that an individual should stretch out his begging bowl and keep on beseeching Allah, Most High for this. Hadhrat (Khawajah Azizul Hasan) Majzoob (may Allah have mercy on him) asked that if someone didn’t even have the begging bowl what should he do? Hakim al-Umma replied that he should request for the bowl itself from Allah, Most High.

Hence, one should make supplications for it. That is, ask Allah, I lack true desire and yearning, please, correct this deficiency. Keeping company of those who already have this yearning and reading their books (Shaykh and pious predecessors mashaikh)  will also help in its creation and development.

Well! This question itself is a sign that, all praise to Allah, true desire and yearning is present (to some extent) in the inquirer.”

Thrusday, pre-zuhar, 25th October 1990/5 Rabi II 1411.  Meeting in office with respectable Drs. Sayyid Abdul Qadir Ahmer and Sayyid Abdun Nasir Moin (may Allah preserve them).

Book: The Legal Status of Following a Madhab

This book is the English translation of sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani’s book “Taqleed ki Sharaiee Haisiyat“. It sheds light on the reality of following a madhab(taqleed), its different types and why it is necessary today. It also answers the doubts and objections of people on this topic.

Download the pdf document here.

طلب

دست از طلب ندارم تا کار من برآید

یا تن رسد بجاناں یا جاں زتن برآید

Awarif al-Ma’arif

picture.jpg A classic textbook of tasawwuf. It is an essential reading for advanced level murid. It is included in the core curriculum for the seeker (nisab e tasawwuf) recommended by Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Asraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him).

Regarding sihr (black magic)

In regards to getting rid of the effects of black magic (sihr) ‘Arif-billah Dr. Abdul-Hayy ‘Arif (may Allah have mercy on him) said,

“Pray two units (rakah) of salah.

In first unit recite  قل اعوذ برب الفلق (chapter 113) and in second قل اعوذ رب الناس (chapter 114) after al-fatiha. 

After salam recite  لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله العلى العظيم five hundred times.  Send salutations on the Holy Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) eleven times before and after this recitation. Then make dua, especially for removal of the sihr.

This is very effective method. Do not belittle it due to its being so simple and easy.”

From audio of weekly majlis 1980s.

Use of black magic (sihr) is rampant these days.

There are various reasons for it. Firstly, the ease of availability which is most likely due to the consumer demand.  Secondly, the rise in number of individuals who can afford it. And finally the declining religious state of Muslims. This is both in external (dhahiri) and spiritual (ruhani) realms.  

The external elements include lack of care about major or minor impurity states, eating what is definitively halal, not praying regularly,  indulging in sins, especially the major ones and not repenting immediately. These all make one more susceptible to the effects of sihr.

The spiritually destructive (muhlekat) characteristics of anger, envy or jealousy  (hasad), hatred(bugdh), lack of love for Allah and has His creation and loss of sense of accountability before Him are the real forces driving theperpetrator to use of this ulterior method to harm fellow human beings.

Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) has mentioned in Bahishti Zewar (Hanafi fiqh manual) a list of thirty three Quranic verses to be recited daily for the treatment of and propylaxsis against black magic. They have been compiled into a booklet known as manzil (online).

Finally two things need to be clarified in this regards. Firstly, not every illness, accident or unusual thing should be assumed to be a result of black magic. Common things are more common.  Secondly, if black magic is suspected it must be diagnosed correctly and treated by an expert (a’amil). The things mentioned here are general measures. Specific treatment may be needed in some cases. This expert should be a pious Muslim. He should not be a person who is using black magic himself for this treatment as is very common these days.

Allah save us all from sihr. Ameen!

Do not leave wird totally!

An individual wrote,

I recite one section (manzil) of Dalail al-Khayrat and Munajat e Maqbul daily. However, some days I miss these recitations as a retribution of my deeds. 

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

“The section of Munajat e Maqbul are quite concise. There is no reason they should be missed. However, this is possible in the recitation of Dalail al-Khayrat. Recite individual sections over 3 or 4 days, completing the whole recitation of Dalail al-Khayrat in a month.”

Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 2, page 913-4 

Understanding the Ashrafiya path

In order to develop clear understanding and for easy practical implementation of the principles of Tasawwuf as outlined by Hakim al-Umma Mujaddid Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) most of the senior shuyukh of the tariqa recommend thorough reading of the following three books;

1. Tarbiyet us Salik (3 volumes) by Hakim al-Umma

2. Ashraf us Sawanih, volume 2, by Khawaja Aziz ul Hasan Majzoob

3. Maasir e Hakim al-Umma by ‘Arifbillah Dr. Abdul Hayy ‘Arifi