Category Archives: D. Acts of Worship

Various acts of devotion to show our servitude

Be careful with loans

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Financial dealings are the real test of one’s awareness of Allah (taqwa).

The corrupt financial dealings and bad attitudes of a murid in addition to being major sin for himself lead to negative reputation of the Shaikh and Tasawwuf in public.

It is essential to educate the disciples regarding these issues. It is impossible to step on the pristine grounds of Allah’s pleasure and approval while being soiled in sins.

Taking loan is highly discouraged. However, if due to necessity loan has to be taken then one should keep an intention of paying it back as soon as possible and work for it deligently.

The following Prophetic tradition should be an eye-opener for all of us.

Sayedna Abu Hurairah (Allah be pleased with him) narrates from the Beloved Prophet (Allah’s blessing and peace be upon him),

‘The Prophet (Allah’s blessing and peace be upon him) said, ‘An individual who takes from the wealth of another (as a loan) and his intention is to repay it then Allah will (facilitate & make arrangements for its) recompense for this individual. However, if an individual takes the wealth (loan) with the intention of not returning then Allah will destroy him.’

Bukhari, Ibne Majah

Jamae ul Huqooq, page 9

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Preparing for Ramadhan

vema

 

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 appointmentstill after or before Ramadan. Finish with 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 Hazrat 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!

Time management

 

 – Go to sleep right after Isha salaat and wake up in tahajjud. Complete all your reading and writing tasks at that time. That has been the routine of our akaabireen.

– Never attend any gatherings after 9 pm. If there is a gathering at your place, make sure its ends before 9!

– He further said that nowadays most of the gatherings are not segregated so one can easily apologise the host beforehand for not being able to attend it. Secondly, one could very well visit earlier, give a present and politely inform the host why they needed to leave.

– The biggest ‘calamity’ that has befallen the urbanites is this day and age is that they have stopped sleeping early, and the misfortune (be-barkati) this produces in one’s life, and time, is clearly evident in our messed up daily routines.’

musaafir-e dasht

عبدیت/Servitude-2

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Shah Mohammed Ahl al-Allah (Allah preserve him) a khalifa of Shaikh Masihullah Khan (Allah have mercy on him) explains the signs of servitude,

‘An individual having servitude diligently carries out all the esoteric and exoteric acts of worship considering that they can not be possibly done with his effort alone, unless the Divine help assists him to do so. That is, he attributes (all good works) to Allah (facilitating them for him). Whereas, for any short comings he blames himself.

He tries very diligently not to hurt any other individual, or to cause them any loss or sorrow.

An individual having servitude conscientiously carries out both the exoteric and esoteric acts of worship (especially his wird) irrespective of issues related to health, sickness, hunger, poverty, prosperity, affliction or other non-volitional conditions.

He is diligent in fulfilling the rights of others but does not keep a desire for his own rights.’

Malfozat Shah Mohammed Ahl al-Allah sahib db, page 1,2

عبدیت/Servitude-1

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The beloved Prophet Mohammed (Allah bless him and give him peace) is the absolute personification of humanly perfections. An epitome for all pious individuals (especially the sufiyah). There can be no superior action or state than that held by him (Allah bless him and give him peace). That is, his way (sunna), both in exoteric (dhahiri) and esoteric (batini) spheres of life.

This is a basic fundamental  of our tasawwuf.

The most outstanding characteristic of our beloved Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) is his servitude (عبدیت).

Mentioning one of the supreme gifts bestowed on him; the heavenly journey of al-Isra wal-Me’raj Allah mentions him with this characteristic (bi-‘abdhi):

Glorious is He Who made his servant travel by night from Al-Masjid-ul-Harām to Al-Masjid-ul-AqSā whose environs We have blessed, so that We let him see some of Our signs. Surely, He is the All-Hearing, the All- Seeing. [17:1]

What are the signs and symptoms of servitude?

To be contd…

Nikah

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An individual who conducted a nikah (marriage contract) for a couple (the first time in his life) in the Prophet’s (Allah’s blessings and peace be upon  him) Mosque in the illuminated city of Madinah stated his feelings,

‘It is amazing how Islam has sanctified this social contract.

Reading of a simple sermon giving advice to be vigilant in fulfilling one’s obligation for Allah’s sake is from the Prophetic example (Sunna). It is not an essential (wajib) part of nikah. The acknowledgment of the bride and groom in front of at least two (adult, sane, Muslims) witnesses with a mutually fixed dowry (mehr) are the only essentials required. Any Muslim can conducted the ritual. No priest or certified individual is required.

The simplicity is awe striking.

Without nikah a similar relationship (i.e. zinna) will be punished by lashings or stoning to death (by a Islamic State), however, this unpretentious ritual works like alchemy. Making the same relationship an act of worship.

May Allah give us the wisdom to understand and appreciate the blessing of Islam. Amin!’

Friday, 1st July 2011, after asr, Bab-Fahad, Masjid e Nabawi, Medinah e munawwarah

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Signs of humility

Shaikh Dhul-Nun al-Misri (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘There are three signs of humility:

1. Considering one’s self (nafs) to be the lowest of all the creatures. This is in order to find out its faults.

2. For the sanctity of Oneness of Allah (tawhid) respect and serve other people.

3. Accepting the truth and beneficial advice from any one (irrespective of his piety, faith, status, etc.)’

Awarif al-Ma’arif, page 415

Shara’iah, Makkah al-mukarramah

 

Rusty Heart

Noble Prophet (Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) said,

“Listen carefully! There is a piece of flesh in man’s body, if it is healthy then the whole being is healthy and if it is corrupted then the whole being is corrupted. Beware! That piece of flesh is the heart (qalb).” (Bukhari)

He also said,

“Just as iron catches rust on contact with water, so are the hearts rusted.”

People asked, “How to remove the rust of the heart?”

The Noble Prophet (Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) said, “By remembering death and by reciting the Qur’an.” (Baihaqi)

Living a heedless life in an un-Islamic environment makes our heart rusty. Parts of the machinery inside clank, crank and move grudgingly. Acting on Shariah laws seems extremely difficult. The heart mechanic (Shaikh) using the Prophetic medicines removes this rust by prescribing contemplation of death and here-after (muraqaba e maut) and oils it with the of remembrance of Allah. (This is in a systematic and individualized manner. The daily compliance is an essential component for the aspirant’s success.)   Once this rust is removed and the parts well lubricated the machinery of the qalb starts to function properly. Then there are no hardships in observing the laws of Shariah. Actually it becomes an innate calling.

May Allah facilitate this for us. Amin!

A good state

 

A spiritual aspirant wrote his condition to Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him),

‘These days this lowly individual recites ten thousand times ‘istegfar‘ and 24,000 times ‘ism e dhat’ daily.  Occasionally there is deficiency or excess in these amounts secondary to  impromptu demanding circumstances.

However, my condition is that after any virtuous deed I feel extreme degree of shame, similar to that felt on committing sins. The reason for this is that in all the virtuous deed performed I recognise many shortcomings and deficiencies. Moreover, I am cognizant of the multitude of blessings of Allah showering on myself all the time.

If a mistake is committed then the only respite is to cry, repent and beg.  Additionally, it leads to extreme humiliation in front of Allah.  

From few days I feel this condition of aloofness from all that is worldly in my heart. …………….

Hakim al-Umma replied,

‘It extremely delighted my heart. May Allah give multiple folds increase in blessings and progress.  Moreover, by the grace of pious associates (like yourself) may He grant a pleasant end to this invalid writer. I expect this supplication from my friends also.’

Tarbiyat us Salik, volume 1, page 761-3 

An important advice: How to be tolerant?

Shaikh Hafiz Hakim Fakhruddin Allahabadi (Allah have mercy on him) instructed his disciples,

‘Be steadfast on Religion (ad-Deen).

Do not create dissensions.

Hold fast to the principles (usool) and do not denigrate each other for the peripheral disagreements.

Consider this disagreement amongst the truthful scholars to be a mercy.

In regards to those who consider themselves to be mujtahid and disagree with the precedent Imams, scholars, pious saints and concoct meanings of the Holy Quran in a manner that was never done by the blessed Companions, their associates (taba’i & tab’ taba’i), well established scholars and Imams : consider them to be astray. It is essential to stay away from them. However, do not quarrel with them or call bad names. To answer and argue with them is the duty of the pious scholars. Not any or everyone can do this job.

It is essential for an individual to be always cognizant of his actions. Stay away from sins and transgressing your Lord. If by chance a sin is committed immediately repent in front of Allah. This will wipe away the sin.’

Majmua’h award wa wazaif, page 4

Food: Don’t waste

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

‘There is an incident reported about a friend and gnostic (of Allah). One day while eating he removed the blackened upper portion of the bread and discarded it aside. On this action he was reprimanded and questioned via Divinely inspiration (ilham).

Why (did you do this)?

Wasn’t it for this discarded piece of bread  that the Sky moved (i.e. seasons changed) and Earth expended its wealth  (to grow the grain)? Moreover, then it was ground and baked for you. Now you discard it. Was all this system designed in vain?

The gnostic understood and ate that piece of bread.’

Muqalaat-e-hikmat, #20, Dawat-e-abdiyet, page 187.

We should contemplate how many blessings of Allah do we waste daily. And how can we improve.