Category Archives: D. Acts of Worship

Various acts of devotion to show our servitude

Paying financial dues: A priority!

 

Sayyidi wa sanadi Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) instructs those approaching him for reformation (islah), 

‘If there are pending financial obligations prompt arrangement must be made to pay these  dues.

If the payment is not possible immediately then one should inform the owner and request for a grace period.

Then one should really strive meticulously to repay. This must be considered the topmost priority.’

Dastur al-amal baraay talibeen e islah, page 5-6

Dhikr

The reward of remembrance of Allah (dhikr) is the facilitation (tawfiq) of dhikr itself.  And Allah, most High, acknowledges this action of of His slave.

Dhikr removes heedlessness.

The method of dhikr for the novice seeker is the vocal repetition of the Holy-name (ism-e-dhat). For the moderately advanced (mutawassit) it is the contemplation (tasawwur) of this by heart (qalb). And for the graduate (muntahi) seeker it is the perpetual following of the commands of Shariah as though they are his instinctive nature.

Ahzab tahzib un nafus,  Munajat e maqbool, ((zamimajat, Saeedi)) page 308

Example of husun e khuluq!

A solidier  slapped Shaykh Ibrahim ibne Adham (Allah have mercy on him) mistakenly.  On recognizing his error he returned to apologize.

Shaykh Ibne Adham (Allah have mercy on him) told him that when you slapped me I supplicated to Allah to grant you paradise (jannah).  The shocked soldier requested an explanation for this extraordinary behaviour.

Shaykh explained that I was certain that I will be rewarded (by Allah) for this slapping and it made me uncomfortable that you cause me reward and good and in return you get sin and punishment (in here-after). Therefore I supplicated for you.

Ahzab tahzib un nafus,  Munajat e maqbool, ((zamimajat, Saeedi)) page 305

Jihad al-Akbar

There is a consensus among all the well established Sufi masters that the foundation stone of Tasawwuf and spiritual path (sulook) is to cleanse the nafs (lower self) of the blame worthy moral traits (razail).

This is achieved by the aspirant using his determination (himmat) to act against the desires of his nafs.

This acting against the nafs is called the spiritual struggle (mujahidah), endeavor (riyadah) and jihad al-akbar.

Neither excessive remembrance (dhikr), offering supererogatory salah, recitation of litanies and Holy Quran nor even the observance of the essentials (faraiz) disciplines the nafs. This is because the role of these things in removal of blame worthy characteristics is that of secondary assistance and not primary treatment. The individual will receive their reward and merits respectively. However, it is against the norms set by Allah that  the nafs be disciplined without meticulous  spiritual struggle (mujahidah).

This is the reason we observe that most of the religious individuals are inflicted with blame worthy moral characteristics in spite of their extra worship.

Ahzab tahzib un nafus,  Munajat e maqbool, (zamimajat, Saeedi) page 301

Real Message of Seerah

Sayyid wa sanadi Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) wrote:

“What really is important with regard to the Holy Prophet, (Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) is,

first to follow his teachings,

and second to make his pious Seerah available to every Muslim,

to preserve it in the hearts of the Muslims from the very childhood,

to educate the family members to run their lives according to it and

to hold it as the most glorious example of the human conduct the universe has ever witnessed.

To do all this with utmost love and reverence, not manifested by some formal activities only, but also through actual behavior of following the Sunnah.

This cannot be done by merely holding processions and illuminating the walls.

This requires constant and consistent efforts and a meaningful program of education and training.”

Islamic Months: Rabiul Awal

The Prophetic advice

 

إذا قمت في صلواتك فصل صلاة مودع 

 ولا تتكلم بكلام تعتذر منه

 واجمع الإياس مما في أيدي الناس

An individual approached Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) and requested for some concise advice.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,

At the time of offering salat, pray as if this is your last prayer.

And

Do not speak anything for which you will have to apologize later.

And

Do not have any desire for what other people possess.

Ahamd via Jawahar al-Hikam, page 23

The reason for our poor state

 

Shaykh Mohammad Badr ‘Alam (Allah have mercy on him) [died 1385H, buried in Baqi, Medina al-munawwarah] said,

‘The main reason for our current degradation  (as a Muslim nation) in my opinion is that in our hearts the characteristic of being at ease, love, forgiveness, forbearance and having a good opinion (of other fellow individuals) have been replaced by envy, animosity, having a bad opinion and quarrelling without a reason.

Therefore, it is vital that I clarify this reality that as per Islamic teachings the characteristics of being at ease and having mutual love is not only for fellow Muslims alone. It is  a fundamental requirement for all the fellow human beings.’

Jawaher al-Hikam, page 21