Qutub al-Alam Shaykh Abdul Qudoos Gangohi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“Sanctified is Allah!
How can an intelligent individual leave the path of the masters of this path (mashaykh), which is like being the emperor of the worlds, moreover similar to having access to the Divine Throne, and prefer this wretched world (dunya)?”
Maktoobat Qudusiya, page 346
Related:
Mawlana Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi said in regards to Shaykh Shah Wasiullah (may Allah have mercy on them),
“Those who attended his discourses not only felt the aroma of faith, the zest of worship and awareness of Here-after but also became aware of their own short comings and their unique personal spiritual ailments.
They left these gatherings not only with spiritual satisfaction but with a desire to change their present condition, feeling burdened with the previous mistakes and remorseful on the life already wasted.
This is the real benefit and result of being in presence (suhba) of and attending the spiritual discourses of the the pious (ahl Allah), the spiritual physicians (musliheen).
Halat e Muslih al-Ummat ra, page 6
Hadhrat Shah Wasiullah (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“The Shuyukh have said that a believer is always afraid of hypocrisy (nifaq) in himself, while a definite hypocrite (munafiq) feels protected from it.”
Hayat e Muslih al-Ummat ra, page 232
Giving instructions to a newly appointed mujaz Hadhrat Dr. Ismail Memon (may Allah preserve him) said,
‘In the Prophetic sayings ingestion of intoxicating beverages has been pointed out to be the source of all the sins (umm al-khabayis), similar is the status of viewing television and video cassette recordings (VCR and these days DVDs). They are the root cause of most of the immoral actions (abb ul-munkerat).
Refrain from them completely.
Many individuals fail intellectually to recognize the evil effects of these things.
Even if one does not understand, it is essential to abstain from them.”
Maqalat wa shuzrat, Mawlana Yusuf Ludhyanawi shaheed (may Allah have mercy on him), page 8
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
In the earlier part of his life Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) used to teach at the Islamic seminary (darul uloom) in Kanpur.
One day students entered the class to find him sitting there obliviously very sad. The signs of melancholy and sorrow were clearly evident on his face. The students were concerned and respectfully inquired what was the reason for this unusual demeanor. Hakim al-Umma informed them that he had just received the news of demise of his eldest sister. Students felt sad and requested him to postpone teaching session for that day. Hakim al Umma told them that he had come to teach as usual. However, seeing the sadness of their teacher students insisted and requested that instead of the usual daily class they wanted to recite the Holy Quran and forward its reward to the deceased muslimah. After much insistence Hakim al-Umma accepted their plea on three conditions,
Firstly, they would not recite the Holy Quran sitting together. It will be done individually and in private.
Secondly, every participant was to recite whatever amount was possible for him with ease. Half or quarter juz (section) or even sura iklas (chapter112) three time would be fine.
Thirdly, after recitation no one should inform how much he recited.
Hakim al-Umma enforced these conditions to ensure absolute sincerity in the recitation. It is well established that the reward of good deed is based on the sincerity (ikhlas) with which it is done. Actions devoid of sincerity are worthless and there is no benefit in forwarding its reward to others.
Issue like social coercing, show-off and undue hardship on those involved essentially destroys the sincerity altogether.
Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
From the general lay public when I accept someone’s request for allegiance (baya’), I instruct him to abandon innovations (bida’) but at the same time I tell him not to quarrel with those who indulge in these sort of activities. Allah is not going to ask you why did those people indulged in them.”
Mufti Jamil Ahmad Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) adds in a footnote,
“However, the knowledgeable (scholars) have the permission do so if there is a need.”
Al-rafiq fi sawa et-tareeq, Malfuzat e Hakim al Ummat, volume 27, page 205
It is important for the novice seeker (salik) to understand this upfront.
Indulgence in these sorts of argumentation is a waste of quality time and destroys spiritual serenity. Moreover, without having the blame worthy moral characteristics under control it leads to sinful activities, like anger, arrogance, ostentation, looking down on others, etc.
May Allah save us all from these! Amin.
Shaykh Shihabuddin Surharwardy (may Allah Have mercy on him) narrated that,
“The most ignorant individual among the mankind is the one who abandons action on an issue despite its definite knowledge.”
Awarif al-Maw’arif, page 172
O Allah! make me cognizant of my real status and save me from complex ignorance & arrogance.
And facilitate for me the first step of spiritual journey (sulook) : the self annihilation (fana) and give me complete servitude with the Sunna humility and serenity.
Amin!
Arif billah Shaykh Dr. Abdul Hayy Arifi (may Allah ahve mercy on him) said,
“Once I inquired a pious person that these days we do not see saints similar to those who performed extra-ordinary feats (karama) anymore.
He replied that saints who had this blessing had always been very few in each era. Most likely you have read a book that compiled many such incidents of pious individuals. And now you are misled to believe that all Shaykhs must have this capability.
Remember in previous days the karama was in matter (maadi) and hence, it was visible to others. Nowadays it is in essence (manawi).
These days any company (suhba) that leads one to do good deeds, cleanse inner self (batin from moral corruption) and make rememberance of Allah is a karama.
A company like this is achieved by true yearning (talub). If you sincerely desire this, than be reassured that individuals like this are always present in each era.”
Khutbat e Arifi, Idarae Talefat e Ashrafiya, Multan, page 164
Baba Najam Ahsan (may Allah have mercy on him) said;
A sin can be defined as an action leading to remorse. The perpetrator regrets doing it.
If there is no remorse then it is not a sin but a rebellion.”
Zikr e Ahsan, page 183
Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) said,
“Controlling the gaze is the first step to rectification (islah).
The one who doesn’t control his gaze will not be able to progress spiritually.”
From: In Shaykh’s Company
حضرت علامہ ظفر احمد عثمانی صاحب(خلیفہ حضرت مولانا خلیل احمد سہارنپوری و حکیم الامت مولانا اشرف علی تھانوی رحمۃ اللہ علیہم اجمعین) نے فرمایا،
“
جس کا اثر یہ ہوگا کہ
کبر و عجب و حب جاہ وغیرہ سےبالکل بری ہو۔ اگر تکبر و عجب باقی ہے تو سمجھ لو کہ تم صاحب نسبت اور واصل و فانی نہیں ہو بلکہ تم کو صرف طریق کا علم ہوگیا ہے اور تم محض صاحب مناسبت ہو۔
Shaykhul Hadeeth Hadhrat Maulana Muhammad Zakariyya Sahab (may Allah have mercy on him) writes,
For quite some time there has been one question which has been put to me repeatedly in letters: “Why did Shaykh XYZ give permission to initiate murid (ijazat) to so-and-so?”
In reply to foolish questions like these, I always answer: “If Angels Munkar and Nakeer should ask you this question in the grave, then by all means you may answer: ‘I do not not know.’”
[Aap Beeti Part V, pg 657]
at-Tazkirah: التذكرة
Moreover, it is a fact that only a person who considers himself to be superior judges others to be not worhty of what they are. This is crystal clear arrogance (kibr). The mother of all moral maladies (umm al-amradh).