Category Archives: C. Blame worthy Morals

The bad moral characteristics that have to be removed from within ourselves

Islahi relationship

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Shaikh Mawlana Abdul Hafiz khalifa of Shah Abdul Ghani Phulpuri (Allah have mercy on them) said,

‘Many people develop an islahi (self betterment & improvement) relationship (with a Shaikh). However, few of them fulfill its rights.

The right of this relationship is to consult the Shaikh in every issue and follow his recommendations. There are very few individuals that follow the recommendations (thoroughly). One has to stay away from self opinion (khud-raiy) and self conceit (khud-beini). Otherwise, instead of proximity and pleasure (of Allah) one is distanced (further away) from Him.

This is a very clear but subtle path.

Only the individual who follows the recommendations thoroughly will progress on this path.’

Malfuzaat e Hafiziya, (pdf online) page 50-1

 

Instruction and own islah

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The reviver of Islam Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi (Allah have mercy on him) wrote to one of his deputies (khalifa),

‘Be concerned about your own affairs (that is, your relationship with Allah), so that you leaves this world safely (with eman).

In the hereafter certificate of authorization (ijazet-nama) or (increased number of) disciples will be of no help.

Indeed! While managing your own affairs if anyone comes (asking for guidance explicitly) with sincere yearning then instruct him about the path. However, do not make the instruction about the path (tariqat) your main goal and management of your own affairs subservient to this. Doing so will be an affliction and loss for you.’

Maktoob 228, quoted via Tofah-tush-Shuyuk, page 48

Controlling sight and tongue

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Shaikh Haji Shakeel Ahmad (Allah preserve him) said,

‘Be totally silent. Develop this habit (of keeping the heart attentive towards Allah), especially here in illuminated Medinah. Remain mute, deaf and blind here. Keep your sight focused to ground. Do not look at anything except for the essential, like way towards the door of blessed mosque.

The sight and speech should not be used without an active intention. If this control is achieved one is bestowed with many blessings from Allah. Our sight and speech are irresponsibly out of control. The sight wanders here and there without any restrictions.

Be vigilant about safeguarding the sight especially in the blessed city of Medinah. This is the least that should be done here. By the evening time there should not be a single image of non-mehram in our mind. This can only be achieved if one actively lowers his gaze. If accidentally something inappropriate is seen then turn to Allah immediately, asking for protection and removal of its bad effects.’

Madinah e munawarrah, 3rd Muharram 1434/17th November 2012, after asr

The calamity of our era!

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Shaykh Mawlana Dr Hafiz Tanvir Ahmad Khan (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘The biggest calamity of our era is not to consider an evil to be evil, a sinful thing to be sinful, and impermissible (haram) activity to be impermissible.

This lowly individual remembers till today these words of Shaykh Mawlana Dr Abdul Hayy Arifi (Allah have mercy on him);

‘Alas. You will watch television, movies, and operate VCR. You are not going to abandon these activities. Moreover, you will continue all the other abominable practices.

The conditions these days have deteriorated to the extent that  it has become impossible to stop people from indulging in these activities.

Now our lamentation is that, for the sake of Allah, at least consider these things to be impermissible and sinful.

Do not boast about being involved in them. These days people take pride in them and boastfully tell others that we have television, VCR, video camera, etc.

Take heed! Consider these acts sinful.

Indulge in them with the understanding that they are sinful. Otherwise, it is feared that one may be be deprived of faith (eman).

Shamet e Aamal, page 8

Our main battle front!

‘These days the main battle front for our nafs is in dealings with spouse.

The closer the relationship more are the chances of blameworthy morals to be manifested in behavior and attitude.

One has to take extra-precautions to avoid this from happening.

As rule one has to suspect him/herself to be the culprit, lacking proper adab and try the best to behave.

We should never ever try to do islah of our spouse!

This is the job of their Shaikh.

We have to focus on our own islah all the time.

 

‘Ujub-Self admiration

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The Prophet (Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) said:

“And the destroyers are: desires which are followed; stinginess which is obeyed; and a man being pleased with himself, and this. (last trait) is the worse of them (of the things which spiritually wrought destruction to one).”

Ujub is to attribute one’s excellence to oneself while being oblivious of the possibility of such excellences being snatched away by Allah. Ujub is a concealed and subtle trick of the nafs which always desires to occupy a distinguished rank (above others). The nafs obtains pleasure in this desire (of ujub). Allah detests one who considers himself to he distinguished, laudable and the receptacle of excellences.

Delight over the bounties granted by Allah is not ujub. Such true delight is not unrestricted and does not produce vanity since the fear of the elimination of the bounties is ever present in the heart. One realizes that the excellence or bounty which one has gained is purely a gift from Allah Who has awarded it because of some act or knowledge (which is also the favor of Allah), and one further realizes that Allah has the full power of snatching away the bounty at any time He desires. This experience of delight is therefore not ujub.

On the other hand, a person suffering from the ailment of ujub becomes neglectful and fails to recognize that the bounty in his possession is in fact a gift from Allah. One afflicted with ujub considers himself to be entitled to the bounties.

THE REMEDY
Always regard excellences and virtues which one possesses to be the bestowal of Allah. Contemplate on the power of Allah and fear the possibility of the gifts being snatched away. Ponder about your faults, both internal and external so that the notion of perfection and holiness is annihilated.

Path to Perfection, Mawlana Masihullah Khan (Allah have mercy on him)

Reasons for not developing love of Allah!

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

‘Most frequently the reasons for not developing love of Allah in a murid are,

1. Either listening to the instructions and sayings of Shaikh inattentively or not following them,

2. Not having the love of Shaikh,

3. God-forbid, considering Shaikh to be insignificant,

4. Adulteration in the instructions of the Shaikh through self-opinion (khud raiy).

(Remember) There is no room at all for self-opinion and opposition (of Shaikh) in this path!

Majmua’ talifat e Muslih al Ummat ra, volume 5, page 81

 

Affection & devotion of people these days!

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Shaikh Dr. Ismail Mangera sahib (Allah preserve him) narrates,

My respected Shaikh Mawlana Masihullah Khan Jalallabadi (Allah have mercy on him) once said to me in private,

“See here, in this day and age no person is loyal and faithful (mu’taqid) to anyone else, except a few, masha’Allah.”

(Hadhratwala’s tone and expression was something special.)

“Each person is a devotee of his own self.

As long as you pander to others, agreeing with their whims, talking softly and sweetly, people will express their devotion to you.

The moment you say ‘No. No;’ and people cannot make use of you, both affection and devotion vanish – muhabbat is gone and so is i‘tiqad.”

(And this has been borne out by experience!)

SF blog

Hajj: which category?

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The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) once said,

“Near the time of Qiyamah the rich people from my Ummah will perform Hajj for the sake of travel and holiday (like having a holiday in Hijaaz instead of one in London or Paris).

The middle class will perform Hajj for commercial purposes, thereby transporting goods from here to there while bringing commercial goods from there to here.

The scholars will perform Hajj for the sake of show and fame; (to outdo and surpass so and so scholar, or any rival shaykh who had performed Hajj a certain number of times).

The poor will perform Hajj for the purpose of begging.” (Kanzul Ummaal)

Virtues of Hajj, page 7