Category Archives: D. Acts of Worship

Various acts of devotion to show our servitude

Alchemy

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Arif-billah Shaykh Dr. Abdul Hayy Arifi (Allah have mercy on him) said;

‘For two minutes talk to Allah any time during the day telling Him,
“O Allah! I am inept, weak, unworthy, and unable to do any thing significant. Please, do have Your special benevolence for me.”
Say this all.

 Can’t you even do this?
You certainly have the power to articulate this.

(And if you do so,) Then you will see how your (spiritual) condition changes (for the better).
This is an alchemy prescription by our Shaykh Hakim al-Umma (Allah have mercy on him).’

(Malfoozat e Arifi 58)

Qabdh: Spiritual contraction

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An individual complained that from many days I feel as though the special relationship with Allah (nisbet) has been lifted from me. There remains no interest in the daily wird and worship.

Shaykh Sayyid Zawwar Hussain Shah (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘This is not the removal of nisbet. This state is called the spiritual contraction (qabdh).

The nisbet is removed by committing infidelity (kufr), associating partners with Allah (shirk), involvement in innovations (bida’) and major sins (kabair).

Whereas, the state of qabdh afflicts all including the novice and the advanced spiritual traveler. When it occurs the individual considers that this might be due to indulgence in sinful acts and therefore repents. In fact the repentance done in this state is much more sincere  than done in the state of spiritual expansion (bast).

Whenever afflicted by qabd one should increase in repentance, recite la hawla wa la quwwata illa biallah in abundance and continue with the daily wird and worship with extra effort. There should be no absence from these daily activities, even accomplishing a portion of them will suffice.’

Mahnama Tamir e ifkar, eshaet khas bayad Shaykh Syed Zawwar Hussain Shah (Allah have mercy on him), page 606-7

How to develop determination?

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An individual asked that the pious usually instruct their disciples to develop determination (himmat) for doing good deeds and abstaining from sinful acts. What is the method to develop this determination?

Hakim al-Umma’s khalifa Shaykh Mawlana Khair Mohammad Jalandhari (Allah have mercy on them) replied,

‘The heartfelt acknowledgment of the significance and the importance of a matter instinctively creates the determination (for action).

For example, when one has to travel for an important journey and the train leaves at midnight it is reflexively that one prepares to do so.’

Khair us Sawanih, page 308

Love of Messenger صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم

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تعصی الرسول وانت تظھرحبھ

ھذا العمری فی الفعال بدیع

لو کان حبک صادقا لاطعتھ

ان المحب لمن یحب مطیع

(ابن مبارک رح)

You disobey the Messenger صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and claim to love him,

I swear by my life, this thing is impossible,

If you were true in your claim, you would have obeyed him,

For indeed, a lover obeys the one he loves.

مواعظ اشرفیہ: شکر النعمۃ بذکرالرحمۃ/الابقاء 1981 ص141

تصوف : محبت الھی کا چشمہ

05022010069

………….

مولانا سید ابوالحسن علی ندوی رحمة اللہ علیہ نے فرمایا

اگر تصوف اپنی صحیح روح اور سلوک راہ نبوت کے مطابق ھو اور

یقین ومحبت پیدا ھونے کا باعث ھو

اس سے قوت عمل، جذبہ جھاد ، عالی ھمتی ، جفاکشی

اور شوق شہادت پیدا ھونا لازمی ھے

جب محبت الھی کا چشمہ دل سے ابلے گا

تو روئیں روئیں سے یہ صدا بلند ہو گی۔

اے آنکہ زنی دم از محبت

از ھستی خویشتن پرھیز

بر خیز وبہ تیغ تیز بنشین

یا از رہ راہ دوست برخیز

The permissible mawlid

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

The first type of gathering is that which does not contain any of the prevalent and customary restrictions (quyud). Neither [does it contain] mubah (permissible) restrictions nor makruh (prohibitively disliked) ones, i.e., it is free from all [sorts of] restrictions. For instance, a few people gathered by coincidence, no one had invited them with any extraordinary effort; rather they were gathered for some other permissible event. In this gathering, either by reading from a book or by delivering a lecture, the blessed event of the birth and the characteristics, habits, miracles and virtues of our Radiant Master (Allah bless him and give him peace), the Lord of the Universe, the Source of Pride for the Prophet Adam (may Allah’s peace be upon him), were narrated based on sound sources.

During this narration, if the need was felt to enjoin good actions and discuss religious rulings and one proceeded in doing so without hesitation or this gathering was held to listen to a religious discourse and within it these blessed events and virtues were narrated, then this is the type [of mawlid] that is permissible without any objection. Moreover, it is sunnah and mustahabb (recommended).

The Honorable Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) narrated his personal events and virtues in a similar way and later his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) narrated them, the chain of which continues through the hadith scholars of present with the blessings of Allah Most High and it will continue until the end of time.

Read the rest of article………………………Mawlid, Deoband and Hanafi fiqh

Source: Deoband.org

Vision of the Prophet

اللهم صل على حبيبك خير الخلق كلهم دائما” ابدا

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Shaykh Shah Wasiullah (may Allah have mercy on him) said,

“People yearn for vision of the Prophet (Allah’s blessing and peace be upon him) in their dream. However, this is not within our volitional achievements.  Therefore, I am telling you a method by which perpetual spiritual vision of the Prophet (Allah’s blessing and peace be upon him) can be achieved.

That method is, to be vigilant in keeping in mind and putting into action the Sunna of each occasion and activity. By doing so the impression and reflection of Prophet (Allah’s blessing and peace be upon him) will dominate your thoughts. And this is a magnanimous blessing!’

It is easy to say this.

In reality, in spite of being easy, recalling them (at the appropriate time) and acting on them is solely depended on facilitation (tawfiq) from Allah, Most High. In practical life usually we forget and action on Sunna is missed.  Therefore, we should (make it a habit to) supplicate, ‘O Allah! By Your mercy facilitate for us thorough following of the Sunna of your Beloved Prophet (Allah’s blessing and peace be upon him)’. ذالك فضل الله يوتيه من يشاء

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Tazkira Musleh al-Ummat ra, page 99 – 100

Spiritual graduation and awareness of deficencies

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Shaykh Shah Wasiullah (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘For successful spiritual graduation it is essential that an individual is aware of his/her deficiencies.

Remember, for a person who has acknowledged his short comings there remains no barrier in proceeding towards success . (That is, by effectively correcting these faults).’

Shaykhain, page 36

Levels of following Sunna

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Shaykh Sayyid Zawwar Hussain Shah (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘Shaykh Mujaddid Alif Thani (Allah have mercy on him) has described seven levels of following the Sunna. (It is in his  maktubat, letter number 54, volume 2).

What the general public and scholars of the outward (ashab e zawahir)consider following of the Sunna is the very first level.’

 

Mahnama Tamir e ifkar, eshaet khas bayad Shaykh Syed Zawwar Hussain Shah (Allah have mercy on him), page 608

 

Allah’s love

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Sayyidi wa sanadiShaykh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) said,

‘The people living in the vicinity of the House of Allah (Ka’ba) have a greater responsibility of following the Shariah commandments. To do so they must develop a strong relationship with Allah.

As per the teachings of my Shaykh Hadrat ‘Arifi (Allah have mercy on him) following three things are helpful in developing this relationship and love of Allah,

1. Recitation of the Sunna prayers (azkar) for the different occasions in once daily life.

2. Making supplications for each and everything.

3. Being abunbdantly thankful of all the blessings Allah has bestowed on us.’

Bayan, Jeddah 16th February 2010, after ‘Asr

Teaching by example

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Sayyidi wa sanadiShaykh Mufti Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) is in the blessed Medinah these days.

With the Saudi school mid year vacations there is a huge crowd of pilgrims.

Going for the Friday prayers an individual inquired the Shaykh where could he find him in the Haram.  The Shaykh replied that  usually he tries to be in the first row of the mosque.  To do so he left two and half hours before the juma salah time.

This apparently ‘ordinary thing’ is a teaching for all of us who are trying to improve their condition.

The excellence of praying in the first row, coming early for Friday prayers, sitting with the intention of e’itkaf, reading Holy Quran, reciting tasbih & salawat, offering salat at-tasbih, waiting for salah, etc. are things with numerous rewards mentioned in the Prophetic sayings.

Setting our priorities appropriately and useful utilization of time is the key to implementing these things in our practical life.

May Allah facilitate this for us. Amin!

Friday, 12th Feburary 2010, Medinah e munawwarah

The daily wird & Sunna!

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Stepping out of Masjid al-Haram, Makkah sayyidi wa sanadi  Shaykh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) replied to an individual’s question regarding the daily wird,

‘Keep the amount of the daily wird at the level which you can complete easily.  However, if on some day you have extra time and desire then go ahead and do more. ‘

He further instructed,

‘Read the book ‘Uswa e Rasool e Akram’ conscientiously and check which Sunna actions you are missing and then include them in your life.’

After esha, Monday 8 Feb 2010

Bab Abdul-Aziz, Masjid al-Haraam, Makkah e mukarramah

Love of the Prophet: Following his example!

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Imam Abdallah ibn Alawi al-Haddad (Allah have mercy on him) (d.1132 Hijri) said,

And know that the loftiest of models, the most noble and the greatest and the most binding to all Muslims is the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace: verily he is by unanimous agreement the Greatest Exemplar.

And the obligation due to him is the greatest after that of Allah; and the adab with him the most emphasized of the aadab and obediences.

For whosoever loves him and immensely esteems him, he has indeed loved Allah and whosoever obeys him has indeed obeyed Allah. Says Allah, the Exalted: “Say, if ye do love Allah, follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. For Allah is the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” (âl-‘Imran: 31).

And says the Exalted: “He who obeys the Apostle, obeys Allah” (an-Nisaa: 80).

And says the Exalted: “So take what the Apostle assigns to you, and deny yourselves that which he withholds from you. And fear Allah; for Allah is strict in punishment” (al-Hashr: 7).

And says the Exalted: “Then let those beware who withstand the Apostle’s order, lest some trial befall them, or a grievous Penalty be inflicted on them” (an-Nur: 63).

Ad-dawa-tut-Taammah

Visit Darul Mustafa, Friday,  5th February 2010

The aim and spirit of awrād

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Imam Abdallah ibn Alawi al-Haddad (Allah have mercy on him) (d.1132 Hijri) said,

‘The aim and spirit of awrād is presence with Allah.

Aim for it; you will reach it only if you travel the road that leads to it, which is performing the external activities and striving to be present with Allah during them. When you persevere in this you become immersed in the lights of Proximity, and the sciences of gnosis emanate upon you, at which your heart becomes wholly intent on God and presence becomes its nature and well-established quality.’

Risalat ul-Mu‘awanah

Tarim, Hadramaut, Yemen