In the state of ihram proceeding towards Masjidul Haram, sidi wa sandi Hazrat Moulana Mohammad Taqi Usmani sahib db repeatedly recited;

لبيك اللهم لبيك لا شريك لك لبيك ان الحمد و نعمة لك و الملك لا شريك لك

and told us:
“In the state of ihram the most superior form of dhikr is this talbiyah. Reflecting on it, it is my opinion, and Allah SWT knows best, this repeated recitation is an exercise and training for us. That is it so remind us repeatedly that we are here, present and at service of Allah SWT. The result of this exercise has to appear when we return back to our routine daily life. There we have to say, ليبك: I am here, to obey each and every command of Allah SWT.”

Umrah with sidi wa sandi db

Hakeemul Ummat Hazrat Moulana Shah Ashraf Ali Thanvi ra adviced a mureed to recite the following verses sincerely with dedication seven times after each salah for fullfilment of all desired dua.
–
فسهل يا الهى كل صعب
1
بحرمة سيدالابرار سهل
–
Tarbiyatus Salik volume 1 pg 459

sallalaho alehey wa a’lehi wasalam

Hazrat Thanwi quddus sirrahu said that in our tareeq (path) the goal is achieved comparatively quickly. The reason being due to the extraordinary emphasis laid on following the Sunnah of Allah’s beloved prophet sallalaho alehey wa alehi wasalam. This makes the achievement of goal by jazb (Divine attraction/pull) rather than sulook (personal effort and toil). As it is said in the holy Quran;
(O Prophet!) Tell (them) that if you want to love Allah (swt), then you should follow me. (By this) Allah swt will love you and forgive all your sins. Indeed! Allah swt is all forgiving and merciful. (3:31)

It is therefore, very important to follow the Sunnah in all daily activities.
The whole life of Allah’s beloved sallalaho alehey wa alehi wasalam is in front of us. His personal appearance, attire and hygiene, activities from morning to dust, relationship with wives, way of worship, social interactions, manners, economic and governmental matters, and every imaginable daily activity is included in this.

It is preserved in texts like “Shamail” by Imam Tirmizi ra (Arabic, Urdu) and “Uswa-e-Rasool e Akram” by Arifbillah Dr Abdul Hayy Arifi ra (Urdu, English) and “A’laikum bisunnati” by Mufti Abdul Hakeem Sukharwi ra (father of Mufti AbdurRaouf Sukharwi dbt) (Urdu).

By following these intentionally, all daily activities become an act of worship. Thus a means of getting closer to Allah swt. It is the same personal, family, social and work life but adopting the Sunnah method changes dust to gold. Alchemy!Nothing is easy.

Every thing needs initiative and may be difficult in the beginning. But with constant practice it becomes easy and a routine. Such is the case here. After acquiring the knowledge of the Sunnah it has to be practiced in every day life thoroughly. If one faces difficulties in doing so, Sheikh needs to be consulted. He with his insight and experience will define a mode of achieving it.

Sab thay kay dehkha keyay unka kharam-e-naz
Hum thay kay unka naqsh-e-qadam choom tay rahay
(Arifi ra)

A’rifbillah Dr. Abdul Hayy quddus sirrahu used to tell his mureed how he did this;

“I practiced this for a very long period of time. That is, whatever I wanted to do, I did not do it instantaneously. I paused for a moment. Brought to my mind this knowledge that observing Sunnah is of utmost importance. Then I made an intention of following the method of Allah swt’s beloved sallalaho alehey wa alehi wasalam and did the act appropriately.For example, when I entered my house, I found one of my children playing. Feeling a rush of fatherly love and affection, I thought of picking her up and kissing her. However, I did not do it right away. I stopped myself for a moment. Brought to my mind the Sunnah of Allah swt’s beloved prophet sallalaho alehey wa alehi wasalam, that he used to love children and showed affection to them. I then made an intention (niyyah) of following him and proceeded to pick her up and kiss her.Similarly, while on dinner table, I did not start eating immediately. I brought this fact to mind that it was Sunnah of prophet sallalaho alehey wa alehi wasalam to eat. Then intending to do so, I began eating using my right hand, after reciting Bismillah and observed the Sunnah table manners throughout the dinner.”

Jigar pani keya hay mudatoon, aay A’rifi, gam ki kasha kash mein
Koiy aasan hay keya khogar e aazar ho jana(Arifi ra)
However, it is important to point out that this is not a play of words. That is, in fact I am eating because I am hungry or a very tasty platter of food is in front of me. I just recite that I eat because it is Sunnah and fulfill my own desire. This is not the message. One has to contemplate the importance of observing Sunnah at that moment and proceed with the intention to do so. Doing it in the correct Sunnah manner. This is the correct sequence of events to make it a true following of prophet sallalaho alehey wa alehi wasalam.

Teray habib ki ya Rabb shabahat lay key aya houn
Haqiqat is ko tu kardey mein sorat ley kay aya houn

عارف باللہ حضرت ڈاکٹرعبدالحئ عارفی رحمہ اللہ علیہ نے فرمایا؛

تمام مسلمانوں کی تین عبادت گاہیں ہیں
ایک عبادت گاہ مسجدہے، جہاں اللہ کے فرائض و واجبات ادا ہوتے ہیں
دوسری عبادت گاہ ہمارا گھر ہے
تیسری عبادت گاہ ہمارے کام کرنے کی جگہ

تو جس طرح پہلی عبادت گاہ مسجد سبق آموز ہے، اس میں ہمارے لیے استقامت کا سبق ہے۔ کبھی کھڑے ہو جاتے ہیں، کبھی جھک جاتے ہیں، کبھی بالکل تواضع کرتے ہوۓ سجدے میں چلے جاتے ہیں۔

اب یہ تینوں چزیں آپ کو گھر کی عبادت گاہ میں ادا کرنی پڑیں گی۔ سب سے پہلے اس میں آپ کو صبر و تحمل اور استقامت سے کام لینا ہوگا۔ اور جس طرح جہاں جھک جانے کا موقع ہوگا وہاں جھکنا پڑے گا۔ کبھی ان (اہلیہ) کی ناگواریوں کو سہہ کر عجز و نیاز کی باتیں کرنی ہوں گی۔ کہیں طبیعت کو نرم کرنا پڑے گا، کبھی لہجہ بدلنا پڑے گا اور ———کسی وقت بےبسی کا عالم ہو تو للہ رب العالمین پڑھتے ہوۓ سجدے میں چلے جاؤ اور کہو یا اللہ یہ معاملہ ایسا ہے جس میں آپ کی مدد کی ضرورت ہے، میں آپ کا بندہ ہوں آپ سے مدد چاہتا ہوں۔

اسی طرح تیسری عبادت گاہ (دفتر) میں ایک ذوق اور جذبہ لے کر بیٹھو۔
وہ جذبہ کیا ہے؟
اخلاص نیت اور جذبہ ایثار۔ کہ اللہ تعالی نے مجھے اس وقت اس کام پر لگایا ہے، مجھے خلوص و ایثار کے ساتھـ کام کرنا چاہیے، شیطان کو قریب نہ آنے دو۔ جہاں کہیں مخلوق سے واسطہ پڑتا ہو تو وہاں انتہاتی تواضع سے کام لو، جھک جاؤ، جذبات کو انتہاتی قابو میں رکھو، اگر جذبات بے قابو ہو جائیں تو اس کی تلافی کر لو۔

ملفوظات عارفی 217

Hazrat Hakeemul Ummat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi ra recommended following tips for waking up early;

1. Eating less at dinner
2. Eating dinner earlier (ideally before esha)
3. Drinking less water (in evening)
4. Reciting the last 4 veses of surah Kahaf (18:107-110) once (at bed-time).

Basair Hakeemul Ummat page 562

Also, to have a sincere intention for this and make dua (prayer) asking for Allah swt’s help to arise at the specific intended time.

wAllah-ul musta’an

Sidi wa sanadi hazrat Moulana Mohammad Taqi Usmani sahib db said;

Religion (Deen) is following the commandments of Allah swt and His messenger sallalaho alehey wa alehi wasallem in one’s everyday life.

People prefer doing those religious acts which are pleasing to their desires. Irrespective, if they are the call of the moment from Shariah. For example, some youngsters develop a desire to become an ‘alim(religious scholar) or go for jihad. They pursue this aim regardless of their parent’s genuine needs and instructions. Similarly, some people develop a taste for tabligh missions and are ever ready to go out for 3,10 or 40 days trip. Earning a halal livelihood, taking care of the family and other moral obligations becomes secondary to them. Some are ever ready to perform nafil Hajj and Umrah, with thousands of qaza salat outstanding. Etcetera, etc.
This is not deen.
This is following one’s own desires undercover of deen.

Acknowledge what the call of the moment is from Shariah and act accordingly.
This is Deen.
Initially this is quite difficult for a novice. Hence, the help and guidance froma Sheikh is essential to do this.”

Mufti e azam Pakistan Mufti Mohammad Shafi’i ra khalifa of Hazrat Hakeeul Ummat ra said;

“There are numerous minor (sagerah) sins.
All actions performed against the Sunnah method are minor (sagerah) sins.
For example, one drinks water without reciting ‘bismillah’, this is a minor sin. Also, if one eats or drinks using the left hand, this is a minor sin.”

Majalis Mufti-e-azam Albalagh J1,1410 pg 294

Hazrat Arifbillah Dr. Abdul Hayy Arifi ra said;

First and foremost I request you to make a realistic and stable time table for your daily activities. Working on such a scheduled routine has lot of barakah (blessings). By it a lot of work can be done in short duration. And also by its barakah difficult task become easy.
(Ma’moolat-e-yoomiyah pg 7)