Category Archives: D. Acts of Worship

Various acts of devotion to show our servitude

Post Ramadan effort: preserving the momentum

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For development and maintenance of  reverence of God (taqwa) in our post-Ramadan life sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) said,

1.Leave sinful activities:

Be strict on holding your lower (nafsani) desires. Make a firm determination. Do not yield to these sinful desires easily. These desires and Satan are our two arch enemies.

2. Change the thought pattern.

The mind is constantly occupied with thoughts. There is no gap or vacuum in this process. These thoughts are either of worldly matters or useless issues or sinful activities. It is essential to intervene and develop a spiritually healthy though pattern. We have to actively think about hereafter, heavens, thankfulness of Allah for the innumerable bounties and blessings bestowed upon us, asking refuge for anticipated calamities, repenting from sinful activities, etc.

3. Adopt pious company

This is the most effective way to achieve the change of thought pattern. It leads to absorption, assimilation and implementation of the Divine teachings in our life. Without the company of the the pious the Deen remains limited to superficial level.

4. Make remembrance of Allah

Set up a daily routine of making remembrance of Allah. There are three categories of remembrance of Allah. First is that it is done with the tongue without presence of mind. Second is when tongue is silent and there is mindfulness. Finally, when both tongue and mind are making the remembrance together. Do not under evaluate even the first category. It is a stepping stone for the rest of the categories. Moreover, with consistency it eventually engulfs the mind also.

Make a daily time table for this. The daily activities done in an organised method creates barakah in time. More things are done in the same period of time. Include in it these four things, recitation of Holy Quran atleast two pages daily, durood, third kalima and istegfar. Fix a specific time for them. In other times recite whatever form of remembrance comes to mind.

The remembrance of Allah (dhikr) is a form of energy and power. It assists in development of determination to fight the lower desires.

5. Make supplication (dua)

Set a specific time for this. Like prior to sleeping, after esha. For few minutes sit and supplicate.

Say, ‘O Allah I want to follow the path You are pleased with. I want to control my thoughts, aspirations and desires as per Your desires. You have repeatedly instructed us in the Holy Quran to do so. How can I do it? I am weak. My determination and effort are feeble. Provide from Your benevolence and mercy the determination, power and motivation so I can control my desires and make them totally subservient to Your commands.’

Make this supplication daily without any gap. It is impossible that Allah will reject this supplication indeed.

29th Ramadan 1432/30th August 2011, Darul Uloom masjid, after duhur bayan.

Zikr e qalbi

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Shaikh Professor Mohammad Ashraf Khan Sulemani (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘Zikr e qalbi (the remembrance of the heart) is that at all the times, while standing, sitting, talking, trading, listening, telling, writing, reading etc. the thought that Allah is watching me prevails.

This contemplation (if it is genuinely acquired) should hold one from committing sins and make steadfast on good works.’

Mard-e-Darvesh, page 28

Allah’s mercy in His displeaure!

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Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Hasan (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘By committing sinful activities an individual harms himself alone. This is the reason for Allah being displeased with these transgression.

There is mercy in Allah’s displeasure for what is harmful for an individual.

Acknowledgment and contemplation of Allah’s mercy creates His love. This love facilitates activities that please Him. This leads to the blessings of His pleasure and proximity.’

Al-qawl al-Aziz, page 25

Jeddah

Two rules of success

An individual who was opening an Islamic school requested for advice and dua.

Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) said,

‘Make sure that whatever you do is with sincerity. That is, to please Allah alone.

Develop the habit of turning to and supplicating to Allah (ruju ila Allah) in all the matters.

Theses two things are the most important rules for success in all the matters of life.

Furthermore, do not make extensive plans for future.

Stick to your principles as per Shariah all the times.’

Then he raised his hands and instructed all present to make dua. A succinct heartfelt dua was made.

Office, 8th Shawwal 1432/7th September 2011

Eid & the right of the family

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) inquired a seeker visiting from Iran towards the very end of Ramadan,

‘Why are you not planning to celebrate Eid with your family?

He was not able to provide a satisfactory answer.

Shaikh added,

‘Celebrating eid with the family is their right.

Go ahead immediately and arrange for your trip home to be with them for eid.’

Office, Darul Uloom, Karachi, 28th Ramadan 1432/29th August 2011.

Khanqah at Darul Uloom Karachi

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Staying in the company of the Shaikh is essential component of the spiritual training and development (tarbiyah) of a seeker.

Special lodgings called khanqah (zawiya) are used for this purpose. Here the seekers (murideen) stay to be in company of their Shaikh. This is their private time in seclusion from all that is worldly. They attend the daily discourses, keep themselves vigilant in worship and make excessive remembrance of Allah as instructed by their Shaikh .

In addition, this provided an opportunity to see the Shaikh closely, learn from his attitude and behavior and absorb his spiritual states.  It also gives the Shaikh a chance to analyze each and every murid individually and closely.

In short, staying in khanqah is extremely beneficial for spiritual growth.

During the blessed month of Ramadan a lot of seekers spare time to do so.

Alhumdulillah, at Darul Uloom Karachi there are arrangements for this. Permission has to be obtained from the Shaikh. This year there were approximately 300 mutakifeen in the mosque. There were other seekers living in the guest house, guest rooms and students’ hostel. Few had come from other countries such as USA, Saudi Arabia, Iran and UAE. There were regular sessions for their spiritual training.

During the last 10 ten days the daily schedule was like this; after fajr prayers, tafsir of Holy Quran was done by Shaikh Mufti Mehmood Ashraf Usmani (Allah preserve him). Around 10 AM there was a session by Shaikh Mufti Abdur Raouf Sukkharavi (Allah preserve him). It included reading from the essential text and its explanation. After dohur sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) spoke. This was about tazkiyah & tarbiyah. It was the crux of all the activities. After ‘asr and ‘esha Shaikh Mufti Abdur Raouf Sukkharavi (Allah preserve him) had sessions.

In addition the Shaikh provided opportunity to the seekers for private meetings.

Overall, the blessed moments of Ramadan, the gathering of sincere seekers and company of pious Shuyukh was extremely conducive to awareness of spiritual betterment.

مستی كے لیے بو؁ے مے تند ھے كافی

مے خانہ كا محروم بھی محروم نھیں ھے

Room # 141, Darul Usman ra, Darul Uloom, Karachi, 20th- 23rd & 26th – 29th Ramadan 1432, 21st – 24th & 27th – 30th August 2011

Witr with congregation in Haramain

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An individual inquired regarding offering witr salah with congregation in Haramain sharif (where they offer it with two rakah ending with salam followed with a single rakat with dua e qunoot after rukoo).

Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) replied,

‘It is better (afdhal) to offer it individually (i.e. without congregation).’

Mataf, Masjid al-Haram, Makkah e mukarramah, 26th July 20011, after esha

At another instance Mufti sahib had added that ‘however, if offered with congregation it will be valid and has not to be repeated. Additionally, it has been observed that occasionally Mufti sahib offers witr in congregation in Haramain sharif.

The new masa’a extention

After esha salah accompanied with Professors N A Zaigam and Omar Siraj Abu-Rizaiza from Department of Earth Sciences, King Abdul Aziz University Jeddah, Shaikhs Mufti Rafi’ Usmani and sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve them) visited the basement area of the masa’a to ascertain the boundaries of Mount Safa. This was essential to validate the sa’ee in the newly extended construction.

The base of the original Mount Safa is still preserved. It is quite wide. It starts approximately in line to the hajar e aswad corner of the Holy Ka’aba and extends beyond the present constructed area of the masa’a’s eastern wall.

Sayyidi wa sanadi discussed with the experts and made sure that the base of Mount Safa was being distinguished from thatof Jabal Abu Qubais, since they are from the same mountain range. This was firmly established. The professors explained in detail about the various extensions that have been done in the past. They also told about a new very expensive device (ground penetrating radar) that will be used to map the deep geology of this area without excavation. They reassured that the results from this study will provide further validation.

Mount Marwa was not seen as sayyidi wa sanadi said that there was no issue regarding its boundaries. They were well established.

On the way back sayyidi wa sanadi commented that apparently it looks to be fine and the sa’ee in the newly extended area will be valid without any reservations. Previously we had not issued an explicit ruling (fatwa) of permissibility about it.

Makkah e mukaramah, Tuesday, 26th July 2011, after esha

Dua to be Recited at the Approach of Ramadhaan

 

Hadhrat Ubaadah bin Saamit (Radi Allahu Anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) used to teach the Sahaabah (Radi Allahu Anhum) the following Dua at the approach of the Month of Ramadhaan:

 اَللَّهُمَّ سَلِّمْنِيْ لِرَمَضَانَ وَسَلِّمْ رَمَضَانَ لِيْ وَسَلِّمْهُ لِيْ مُتَقَبَّلاً

Allahumma Sallimnee Liramadaana Wa Sallim Ramadaana Lee Wa Sallimhu li Mutaqabbila

“O Allah! Safeguard me for the Month of Ramadhaan (by making me see the Month of Ramadhaan healthy and fit so that I can take maximum benefit from it), and safeguard the Month of Ramadhaan for me (by making the conditions in it such that I can take maximum benefit from it) and accept it from me.” (Kanz-ul-ummal, Vol.8, Pg. 584 Hadith 24277)

Every Muslim should endeavor to memorize this dua and recite it in abundance in these few days before Ramadhaan.

Source: Daul Iftaa

Excessive good works

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After ‘esha salah walking towards the hotel from Haram sharif a murid informed about a  state to use time effectively. He said that in addition to the ma’molat (daily wird) prescribed he does more stuff, like reciting Holy Quran, tasbihat, durood sharif, etc.. However, he felt uneasy about this because this was not done with your consultation.

Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah grant him a long, healthy and productive life.Amin!) was obviously pleased and replied,

‘The daily ma’amolat should be those that you are able to do consistently. However, doing more is fine, especially if you have time to do so.’

Al-Ajyad, Makkah e mukarramah