Category Archives: D. Acts of Worship

Various acts of devotion to show our servitude

Prepare for Ramadhan

1. Ask Allah for facilitation (tawfeeq) to benefit from the blessings of Ramadan daily, from now onwards.

2. Make a firm determination to abstain from all sins. Especially those committed by the eyes, ears and tongue.

3. Try to free as much time as possible from work and other commitments for pure worship (ibadah).

4. Reschedule non essential appointments till after or before Ramadan. Finish all Ramadan and Eid shopping prior to the sighting of the crescent.

5. Make special effort to follow as many as possible Sunna in daily activities.
Learn these and memorize the adiya e masnoon (dua) for particular occasions before hand. The book “Alaikum bi sunnati”by Mawlana Abdul Hakim Sukharwi ra is a good, practical and handy resource for this.

6. Review the essential fiqh (rulings) relating to fasting, taraweeh and other Ramadan related issues from “Behishti Zewar” (Heavenly Ornaments) of Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him).

7. To get motivated and organized, read the discourses of Hakeem al -Umma regarding Ramadan (Mawaiz-e-Ashrafiya volume : Barakat e Ramadan) and listen to the talks of Sayyidi wa sandi db on how to prepare for the holy month.

8. Practice the actions of the Heart. Do not do any action without a proper intention.Abstain from all the blame worthy morals. No anger, arrogance, belittling caustic remarks, etc. It is strange to abstain from otherwise halal (lawful food) and commit an act which is always haram (forbidden). Try to do most of the praise worthy moral actions. Having patience, humility, gratitude, sincerity, etc. Keep a tight grip. Do not slip here.

9. Make a practical and doable time table for daily activities.

The point to remember is that in Ramadan acts of primary form of worships (i.e. salah, dhikr, tilawat, etc.) are to be increased. These lead to an increasing direct relationship with Allah  (i.e. ta’luq ma’Allah).

The tawfiq is from Allah!

Remembrance of Allah

Hakim al Ummah Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘This is the action that stops the random thoughts and whisperings (wasawes). It keeps the lower self (nafs) involved in something (beneficial). If it was to be left on its own it would get into something (spiritually) detrimental.

It is acknowledged that this action is the remembrance (of Allah) by heart (dhikr e qalbi).

This can be done at all the times.

Therefore, involve your nafs in this action. By doing so it will not get into detrimental things and heedlessness (gaflah).’

Jawahirat e Hakim al Ummat ra, volume 3, page 68

Involvement in sinful and feeling of hopelessness

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Our master Shaikh Ibn e Ata-Allah al Iskanderi (Allah have mercy on him) said in al Hikam,

‘Commitment of a sinful act must not make you feel hopeless in acquiring a steadfast state with your Lord. Maybe this is the last sin destined for you.’

Shaikh Mawlana Abdullah al Gangohi (Allah have mercy on him) wrote in his explanation of this;

‘This is because involvement in sinful acts due to human nature (of being weak and forgetful) is not against steadfastness on Deen. However, persisting on sinful actions, not repenting and having an intention of committing it again are against steadfastness.’

Ikmal ush Shiyam, page 55

 

Those at loss in middle Night of Sha’ban

Our master Prophet Muhammad, (Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) said,

“This is the middle Night of Sha’ban. Allah frees in it a large number of the people from (Hell) Fire, more than the number of the hairs growing on the sheep of the tribe, Kalb. But He does not even look at an individual who

– associates partners with Allah, or

– who nourishes malice in his heart (against someone), or

– who cuts off the ties of kinship (qata’ rehmi), or

– who leaves his clothes extending beyond his ankles (as a sign of pride), or

– who disobeys his parents, or

– who has a habit of drinking wine.”

Allah save us from being among these individuals. Amin!

The pleasure of intimate conversation

Haji Shakeel Ahmad (Allah preserve him) mentioned a very important thing in his talks that affects us all. A summary of it is posted here,

The pious said that the first and foremost sign of displeasure of Allah is that the afflicted individual lose interest in supplication (dua) and presence of mind in worship.

This is because of his disobedience. And it is the displeasure and turning away of Allah’s attention from him that he does not find pleasure in the intimate conversation of dua, salah, etc.

We should check ourselves and find out if we are from the afflicted one’s. If so, then we should be vigilant in correcting our mistake, repenting and pleasing our Lord.

Wa ma tawfiqi ila billah

Abu Dhabi,UAE

الم يعلم بان الله يري

Leaving what does not concern us

“The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,

“From the excellence of a man’s Islam is leaving that which does not concern him.”

“That is, to leave that which is not important or befitting of him, whether in speech, actions, or thought.

Thus, ‘the excellence of a man’s Islam’ is its perfection, such that one remains steadfast in the submission to the commands and prohibitions of Allah, and surrenders to His rulings in accordance to His destiny and decree (qada wa qadr). This is the sign of the heart having been expanded by the light of its Lord, and the descent of quietude (sakina) into the heart. The reality of ‘that which does not concern him’ is that which is not needed for a worldly or next-worldly necessity, and does not aid in attaining his Lord’s good pleasure, such that it is possible to live without it…

This includes excess acts and unnecessary speech… This hadith may well be taken from Allah Most High’s saying,

“And who shun all vain things.” (Qur’an, 23: 3)

Mulla Ali al-Qari (Allah have mercy on him) mentioned this in his commentary on Mishkat al-Masabih.

Riyadh,KSA

The best of both the worlds

Mawlana Abdul Qadir Madni a senior khalifa of Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve them) said

‘My respected Shaikh Qari Fateh Mohammad Panipati mohajir Madni (Allah have mercy on him) used to say in regards to hassanah of duniya and akhira that people consider them to be huge bank balance, cars,property  and gardens or maidens of paradise respectively. However, in reality the best of this world are the accepted good deeds and that of here-after is the pleasure (Radha) of Allah.

Masjid e nabawi, near Bab e nisa,  after asr salah, 20th June 2012

Following the Sunna

Grand Mufti of Pakistan, Hadhrat Mufti Mohammad Shafi’i (may Allah have mercy on him) said,

In the presence of Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) while visiting the Holy mosque at Medinah e munawwara, I felt as though the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) is saying,

“Being nearer to me is in following my sunna. It is not in coming here.

As much you follow me the nearer you come (to me).”

Ahsan us Sawanih, page 157

How to gauge spitirual progress?

Imam ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Alawi al-Haddad (Allah have mercy on him) said,

Should a man wish to know whether he is rising or falling in religious terms, he should look at how his state and conduct had been a month or a year ago.

If he finds that they were better than his present state and conduct, he should know that he is descending into degradation; whereas if he finds that his present state and conduct are better, he should know that he is rising and improving.

It has been handed down that “he who finds that his (present) day resembles the previous day has been cheated, and he who finds that his (present) day is worse that the previous day is accursed. Accursed here means remote from a particular and specially accorded to mercy.

He who is not increasing is diminishing.

To explain, if when thinking about previous days, you feel that you then had no desire for the world, were eager for the Hereafter, scrupulously avoided doubtful things, were quick to good actions, quick to obedience, remote from transgressions, and by comparison are now no better or are to any extent worse, then know that you are going down, deteriorating in religion, in your aspiration for God, and in striving for the Hereafter.”

Knowledge and Wisdom

Improve our salah

One of the attendees requested for a premature departure  Shaikh Haji Shakeel Ahmed (Allah preserve him) humbly asked him to wait few minutes to listen to what he had to say. Then he briefly advised,

‘It should be crystal clear that if we do not improve our salah we will not be able to improve our (spiritual) life.

On the Day of Judgment Allah will not question us about the time spent in Tableegh, or Khanqah or education (madersa). The very first question will be regarding the salah. The foremost thing we will be accountable for will be our salah.

If we are questioned about our salah now, we will be dissatisfied ourselves. Then how could this salah please Allah.’

11/8, MC1, KKNGH, Jeddah, 02 June 2012,  after esha

A tip to improve salah!

Shaikh Haji Shakeel Ahmed (Allah preserve him) said in regards to praying with concentration that Allah is watching me,

‘A tip to improve one’s salah is to offer two rakat daily with intention of forwarding its reward (esal e thawab) to our master Prophet Muhammed (Allah bless him and grant him peace).

This noble association (nisbet) will make one strive more for perfection in salah.

All praise is to Allah. Many individuals have tried this and found it to be very beneficial in improving their salah.’

Madarsa Sayyidena Maaz bin Jabal (Allah be pleased with him), Jeddah, 07 June 2012,  after maghrib

Improving salah

Shaikh Haji Shakeel Ahmed (Allah preserve him) said,

‘A very senior pious individual instructed me that if I was seriously interested in becoming religious than I should be vigilant about improving my salah. That is, praying salah as per Sunna with contemplation that Allah is watching me. He added that if I did not do this than in spite of praying punctually I will be simultaneously doing all the undesirable worldly stuff.

Haji sahib instructed to those present to not to take this lightly. Improving salah should be our topmost priority.

Moreover, he emphasized reading the booklet ‘Namazain Sunnat kay mutabeq parhyay’ by sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) carefully and meticulously implementing each and every step as instructed. ’

11/8, MC1, KKNGH, Jeddah, 02 June 2012,  after esha