The daily routine recitations (ma’amolaat) are the basic nutrition for the spirituality of a person.
Decreasing them repeatedly or missing them (without a genuine reason) will lead to spiritual weakness and God-forbid (Allahuma hafizna) spiritual death.
Islahi emails:TA
A seeker wrote,
When we stand up for salah and I am not asked to lead I should feel indifferent but I feel something in my heart.
Ashrafiya replied,
Ignore it.
Pray behind everyone.
Do not lead (be an Imam) until you are asked to do so.
Islahi emails
A novice seeker wrote,
In the summer time, due to the extreme times for Isha and Fajr, is it ok if I pray Maghrib with jamat, Isha at home and then Fajr with jamat or should I aim to pray all the salats with jamat.
Ashrafiya replied,
Yes.
Adjust and accommodate as the situation requires.
Do not be rigid and do not set unrealistic goals. Both of these lead to disater. Allahuma hafizna.
Jamat itself is desired. (Try to do it at home)
Make istegfar for missing the masjid.
We are weak and its is reflecteive of our slavehood(abdiyet) more to do so.
Islahi emails:TA
Grand Mufti of Pakistan Mufti Mohammed Shafi (Allah have mercy on him) writes,
Read the details of martyrdom from beginning till end, reflect on the correspondence and sermons of honorable (Imam) Hussain (Allah be pleased with him). You will find that his goals were,
1. Implementation of the rulings of Quran and Sunna in the truest sense
2. Reinstating the Islamic system of justice again
3. Continuous struggle (Jihad) against the innovation of monarchy and dictatorship which replaced Islam’s way of khilafet e nabuwat.
4. Not being intimidated by power and wealth when defending the truth (Haqq)
5. Sacrifice one’s life, family and all possessions when defending the truth (Haqq)
6. Not to be distressed in situation of fear and hardship by remembering Allah all the time, having complete trust (tawakul) in Him and being thankful to Him in all situations.
Is there anyone who listens to this message of beloved of Prophet of Allah (Allah bless him & grant him peace), the victim of Karbala, the persecuted martyr?
Is there (someone) ready to fulfill his mission? Follow his footsteps, making his noble morals and praiseworthy actions the goal of his own life?
O Allah! Grant us Your’s , Your Prophet’s (Allah bless him & grant him peace), his noble Companions’ and his perfect families’ comprehensive love and exhaustive following. Ameen!
Shaheed e Karbala, p 6-7
A seeker wrote
A year after Hajj ALLAH has blessed us with a daughter Allhamdulliah!!. Since then I really got involved with her. I tried my best to be devoted but I realized that my iman is getting weaker and weaker. I was not able to do those things which i used to do before and while taking care of her and home I get frustrated and when ever I get chance like when she sleeps or so, i use to watch drama on internet instead of doing ibadat . . my mother’s side family takes care about the farz ibadat like salat , zakat , & fasting but on my father’s side family they don’t care about the farz ibadaat i dont know about zakat whether they give zakat or not. They usually care about sunnat. My dadihaal is more like not follwing the religion. I am informing you this because i do not know why but i am like my dadihaal’s side it became part of my nature i always try not to be like them but some where inside me its persent. I do fulfill the basic farz ibadaat now Allahmdullilah & try to do nafli ibadaats but i cant do it in punctually like for example i usually recite Quran daily but at some point i do not. I used to listen islamic lectures and read islamic books but again after some time period I don’t.
Ashrafiya replied,
These days most families are like this.
We should thank Allah abundantly that He is guiding us towards Himself.
We can not judge others.
Some people who are outwardly irreligious may have strong eman internally and eventually outrun others in Here-after.
Our primary concern is salvation of ourself.
Focus on the essentials (faraiz) for now. Especially salah. Pray regularly on time. It is a must.
Keep a record of any namaz that is missed and qaza not done.
Try to read at least one page from the books of sayyidi wa sanadi Mawlana Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani sahib (Islahi majalis) or listen to the waaz online for 10 -15 mins daily.
Make dua aftet each salah in detail for whatever bothers you or you desire (3-5 minutes).
Recite kalimah tayyiba (la illaha ilAllah u) with occansiional (Muhammadur Rasool Allah, sallalaho alhe wasalam) while doing the house hold chores.
Islahi emails:MTA
A seeker wrote,
I noticed that increasingly I have begun to finish the daily tasbeehat on the go (while driving, walking etc) to save time, even when I am not really crunched by time. Would it be more recommended to try to force my self to properly sit down and do tasbeehat as much as possible.
Ashrafiya replied,
Multitasking in ma’amolat is not good. Especially for starters like me and you.
Try your best to do them properly in their allocated time.
Only if you are running late or there is an emergency you can complete them while you do other stuff.
Islahi emails:TA
A seeker wrote,
I noticed that increasingly I have begun to finish the daily tasbeehat on the go (while driving, walking etc.) to save time, even when I am not really crunched by time. Would it be more recommended to try to force my self to properly sit down and do tasbeehat as much as possible.
Ashrafiya replied,
Multitasking in ma’amolat is not good. Especially for starters like me and you.
Try your best to do them properly in their allocated time.
Only if you are running late or there is an emergency you can complete them while you do other stuff.
Islahi emails:TA
Hakim al Umma Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Allah have mercy on him) once mentioned:
One method which I prescribe to people for leaving out sins, is that every night before sleeping, one should seclude oneself in a room and sincerely supplicate to Allah to forgive him for his sins. One should make du’aa to Allah in the following manner: “O Allah! I am an extremely sinful servant! I am not worthy of any good and I am full of weaknesses!” Through these words, one should express one’s true condition of sinfulness before Allah. Thereafter, one should say, “O Allah! I do not have the courage and resolve to leave out these sins! It is only You who can assist and help me to leave out these sins!”
If one adopts this method, then insha Allah, in a week or two, he will be blessed with the facilitation (taufeeq) and ability to leave out these sins. However, very few people are willing to sincerely repent to Allah in this manner.
(Malfoozaat Husn-ul-Azeez pg. 226)
In his biweekly progress report a seeker reported missing fajr salah multiple times.
Ashrafiya replied,
More effort needs to be done for this.
However, do not be disappointed.
InshaAllah, there is some Divine wisdom in our mistakes. They up root the self admiration (ujub), arrogance (kibr) and show us our true face.
May Allah SWT make them a learning lesson for us. Amin!
Islahi emails:TA
A seeker wrote
One area that is going weak lately is making up the missed salats. Perhaps any goal in this regard would be helpful inshaAllah. Please make special dua for me in this regard.
Ashrafiya replied,
Yes. It is essential to complete the missed salah as soon as possible. Try to pray one qaza salah with each daily salah.
Substitute ishraq, awabeen and tahajud (four rakah between sunna and witr at esha) with qaza salah.
InshaAllah, it will be facilitated by Allah’s mercy.
Islahi emails:TA
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)
A seeker inquired,
Once you have earned a livelihood the next step is how to spend it. A portion is basic necessities. One should definitely make sure that no portion is spent on any outright haram activity.What portion of the leftover (after necessities and the not so necessary expenditures like better clothes, A/C, trip to Pakistan) should one donate? (Besides Zakat)
Ashrafiya replied,
Depends on your financial condition. 1/10th or 1/20th of the income should be allocated for good word (masaref e khair) and kept aside. Whenever there is an opportunity for good it can be spend.
Presents for the family, relatives, donations. etc. can be made from it.
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)
Alhamdulillah I got the Aasan Tarjumae Quran (MashaAllah what a beautiful print) and Ashrafus Sawaneh (the new computer composed edition). Besides this (I just can’t control myself at that bookstore mainly because the shipping cost of the books is so high, might as well get what I like) I got 9 volumes of Hazrat Hakeem ul Ummah RA’s khutbaat (selected topics) and first 10 volumes of Hazrat RA’s Malfoozats. A few books by Hazrat Abdul Hai Aarifi RA (Ma’asir-e-Hakeem ul ummah), Hazrat Hakeem Akhtar db and Hazrat Mufti Shafi RA (Majalis-e-Hakeem ul Ummah and Makateeb e Hakeem ul ummah).
Ashrafiya replied,
Books by all of our akabir are very beneficial. However, one has to exercise balance by giving priority to the essentials and making sure that other wajib activities are not affected by it.
Islahi emails:TA
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)
A seeker wrote,
I wish to inquire about the Mamoolat during travel. Alhamdulilllah I did not miss any salat during the 2 days but couldn’t keep up with the Mamoolat. The days were so tightly scheduled (had to drive ~1000kms on one of the days), couldn’t find the time. Alhamdulillah I did listen to our Hazrat db’s islahi khutbaat while driving. inshaAllah In a couple of weeks I am going with my family on a road trip (2 weeks long ,1000kms) All of the days will have a lot of driving/hiking/sight seeing etc. involved.
Ashrafiya replied,
It is fine to decrease the quantity of mamoolat during travel. The degree of decrease depends on your time constraints, etc. When really very busy I decrease them to half or one third.
Leaving them completely is not advisable. It is usually detrimental to do so spiritually.
The best things is to do the tasbihats while driving.
Recite surah ikhlas 50 or 100 times instead of tilawet. (Keeping a regular or electronic tasbih handy is very useful.)
Read a page or two of munajat e maqbool if easily possible.
Listening to the lectures will substitute for the reading.
Islahi emails:TA
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)
A seeker inquired,
Should I do the daily mamoolat spread over the day? I try to do them first thing in the morning so that I don’t miss them.
Ashrafiya replied,
The best is to do them first thing is the morning. Spreading them over a day can be done in special circumstances, like travelling etc.
Islahi emails:TA
A seeker wrote,
Alhamdulillah the I am trying to act on the Faraidh and Mamoolat. Waise sacchi baat tau ye he ke band eke a’amaal intihai naqis hain, Allah SWT ma’af farmaaen.
Ashrafiya replied,
MashaAllah. apnay a’mal kay nuqus ka ahsas kamal aur kamyabi ki tarf safar ki a’lamet hay. Jaisa bun pa raha hay us pay shukr aur kotahi par istegfar kartey rahna hay.
Islahi emails:TA
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)