Hakim al-Umma Shaykh Mawlana Shah Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) used to repeatedly emphasize that one must complete his daily ma’moolat (wird) regularly.
In case of a genuine excuse this may be even without wudhu’ (ablution) or while doing the daily chores . This is because that being absent after fixing a ma’mool (wird) causes loss of barakah (Divinely blessings) excessively.
Maasir e Hakeemul Ummat 233
Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Moulana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him & allow us to benefit from him abundantly. Ameen) said:
“The thing to acquire from the Sheikh is the fanayiat (self-annihilation).
People consider taking wird, azkar, ashagals and litanies etc. from him, all of which can be acquired from books. The essential thing to take from him is this fanayiat. That is total effacement of self suggestions, opinions, planning, expectations and complete submission to the commands of Shariah.
This is acquired ONLY by accompanying the Sheikh for considerable duration of time.
His suhba is essential:
To observe him practicing Shariah in different settings.
To learn from his attitude & behavior. Where is he firm and when lenient.
To correct yourself by his upright way of practice and implementing Shariah.
To happily bear his chastisement, in hope for self-reformation.
To be ready for his trials and testing, in order to check your sincerity.
To submit to all of his instructions wholeheartedly.
To do each and every major action in your life with his consultation and approval. And,
Finally, to copy, imitate and absorb his all esoteric & exoteric states enthusiastically.
And if this suhba is not readily available then it is essential to correspond with him via letters, mail, phone etc. to acquire this. (As explained in earlier posts.)
Also, important and perhaps most beneficial for this is the detail and extensive study of the malfoozat (suhba talks/utterances) of Hakim al-Umma Hazrat Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanvi quddus sirrahu. Reading them regularly will allow you to absorb the style/disposition of Hakim al-Umma, who had absolute fanayiat!
Equally significant is the study of the biography of our pious elders. Books like: Ashraf us sawanih (Hakeemul Ummat ra’s biography), Tazkirat ur Rasheed (Moulana Rasheed Ahmed Gangohi ra’s bio), Tazkiratul Khalil (Moulana Khalil Ahmed ra’s bio), etc..
If all of these are done sincerely and seriously, inshaAllah, gradually this fanayiat will eventually develop and grow to the optimum level required.”
Yesterday a former student asked sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) for some advice (nasiha).
The Shaykh told him:
“Recognize the importance of time. That it is an invaluable wealth. Spend it very wisely and precisely in virtuous actions.”
Next day while the Shaykh was sitting in Masjid al-Haraam facing the holy Kab’a (‘s Rukun-e-Yamani) an individual requested some elaboration on this advice. That is, as how to practically incorporate it in to one’s daily life.
Obviously pleased on the question, Shaykh replied;
“Firstly one has to recognize the importance of time per se.
Secondly, one has to organize one’s schedule to fully maximize the benefit of available time, such that not a single moment is wasted. Being wasted meaning that it is not utilized appropriately even for a worldly purpose, may it be sleeping or moderate lawful entertainment or being busy in helping another fulfill his essential obligations, etc.
Wasting time includes indulging in activities having no benefit for this life or here-after (akhira).”
The Shaykh continued:
“Develop the habit of planning.
That is, plan for the future.
If I was to get 5 or 10 minutes break between my tasks how will I spend it?
For example, while commuting to work.
Think and decide in advance.
How I am going to spend these 15 minutes besides doing the driving?
Only if one has thought of these in advance he will be able to utilize this time appropriately.
My father (Grand Mufti of Pakistan, Hazrat Mawala Mohammad Shafi’i ra) used to inform us that, “Even the time I spent in toilet I try to make use of it. If there is nothing else I scrub and clean the water jug (lota) kept in there.”
All praise to Allah, due to his training I also try to enact on this advice. When I come home from my classes I know there will be at least a 5 minute interval before the lunch is served. I have planned in advance the use of this time. Such as, to return someone’s telephone call, etc.
When a person develops this habit of utilizing the time precisely, Allah facilitates immense actions for him and also puts blessing (barakh) in time. (That is, in short duration a lot is achieved.)
Remember, heedlessness (gaflah) is a bane!”
Makkah e mukarramah, November, 7th 2005
A senior spiritual aspirant wrote,
I was pondering how the leisure of heart (faraghet e qalbi) can be obtained. This thought came to me that whatever discussion or action is not essential to avoid looking into it, listening and thinking about it. This is irrespective of it being from the past or related to the future.
Hakim al-Umma Shaykh Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) replied,
‘May Allah give barakah in your comprehension abilities (faham). This is it.’
Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 1, page 739
A novice murid wrote his condition:
‘In namaz for khushoo I concentrate on the wordings of the recitation (as instructed). For zikr and tilawat, should I do similarly or concentrate on the meanings?’
Sayyidi wa sanadi Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him & allow us to benefit from him abundantly. Amin) replied:
“It is best on both, if possible. Otherwise which ever is achievable.”
Trying his best to do as instructed after some considerable time the same individual wrote:
‘In zikr and namaz instead of concentrating on words and meaning I get focused on a thought as though Allah is present and He is watching me. Sometimes this thought is strong and at others it is weak. Is this thinking appropriate for me? Also if I voluntary try and keep this thought I can not concentrate on words and meanings.’
Shaykh said:
“Concentrating on words and meanings are a stepping stone and are for the purpose of creating this focusing that Allah is present and He is watching. All praise is for Allah, progress up the stairs occurred. Whatever excessive thankfulness (to Allah) is done for this blessing can not be enough.
Allah increase it manifolds.”
Hakim al-Umma Shaykh Ashraf Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘Actions that diminish sufferings and hardships include:
– Recalling your transgressions (sin)
– Reminding yourself of the reward/compensation on hardships
– Reflecting that in hardship there is test of faith(’eman). That is, it analyzes if there is faith present or not.
– Remembering, it causes a state of overwhelming slave-hood (abdiyat). The dirt of self-assertion, arrogance and pride is cleansed. The reality of one’s being is revealed and the person realizes not to make any boastful claims.
– Bringing to mind that it causes one to perceive the supremacy and grandeur of Allah’s actions and one’s own feebleness.
Hence, hardships result in increasing slave hood(abdiyat).
And the abdiyat is a very distinguished state (maqam).”
Ma’asir Hakeemul Ummat, page 390-1
North Myrtle Beach, SC
Hakim al-Umma Shaykh Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“People request permission (ijaza) for reciting ‘Dalail al Khayrat’ from the piously elders (shuyukh). There is faulty intention in doing so. They beleive that reciting it without permission will be without any blessings (baraka). Most likely, the system of acquiring permission was initially developed to make sure that the wordings of the text were correctly transmitted. While giving the permission the Shaykh used to listen to the recitation and made any corrections needed.
In fact, the text that is worthy of being recited from the pulpit what has it to do with this intimate secrecy (of considering it essential to acquire an individual permission for its recitation).
If someone ask’s me regarding the recitation of ‘Dalail al Khayrat’, I tell him to (recite, but) leave the recitation of the statements that say, The Prophet said (قال النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم). This is because few of the Prophetic sayings (hadith) in it are fabricated (موضوع). Apart from this, its subject matter is completely accurate.”
Majmua e malfuzat: al-Kalam al-Hasan, 106
Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) said:
Two things are always to be done actively in every endeavor.
Firstly take the initiative and start working and secondly beseech Allah for its successful completion.
These two things are to be done for all things during your whole life and inshaAllah, you will succeed.
My Shaykh (Arifbillah Dr. Abdul Hayy Arifi ra) used to tell us, “Talk to Allah”.
Tell Him, “O Allah! I was involved in all these bad deeds, now I have taken the step to reform. Some of the sins I gave up but giving up the rest of them is becoming difficult for me due to the overpowering by my lower-self (nafs), shaytan, environment and my circumstances.
You alone can remove these overwhelming factors. It is not within my capability to do so. O Allah! Please, remove these crushing obstacles or else do not reprimand me in hereafter regarding them.”
Talk to Allah like this. Then you will find out how things work up for the best and how you are saved from the sins by Allah.
(Help comes after initiating the action: Islahi Khutbat 139-141/volume 11)
Kissimmee, FL
Hakim al-Umma Shaykh Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (may Allah ahve mercy on him) said:
Committing a sin is a very wretched, ghastly and fatal thing.
It is essential to abstain from it completely.
That very moment when a slave in acting against his Lord’s command, is a very ominous and detesting. If he had the capabilities for differentiating between various feelings, he could have felt the darkening effect of sin.
Some wrong actions have the effect of causing the capability of performing good works in future to be taken away. This is a thing to be dreaded.
Another effect of sin is that the individuals under your command start disobeying your instructions.
The worst effect of committing sin is that due to the casual and careless attitude (of a sinner) a minor (saghirah) sin leads to a major (kabirah) sin and eventually to rejecting the truth (kufr).
Thus an individual should never become carefree after committing a sin. He should repent and make amendments.
Basa’ir-e-Hakeemul Ummat 532
Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah SWT preserve him and allow us to benefit from him abundantly. Ameen!) said,
‘If due to genuine reasons limited time is available the components of the wird may be decreased in quantity.
For example instead of reciting the tasbeehat 100 times each do it 33 times or 11 times or even 3 times if the restraints are such great.
Do not abandon the wird all together.
Abandoning it will cause loss of great barakah (blessings).’
Allah give us the tawfeeq. Ameen
Shaykh Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘In Prophetic tradition (hadith) supplication has been called مخ العبادة (soul of worship).
When Allah, Most High wants to bestow someone (with His special favors) He inspires in him the art of supplication (dua).
This supplication is from the depth of his heart and intellect. Moreover, it seems to emanate from each and every cell of his body.
This supplication gives him the courage to face the hardships of this worldly life.
It instills in him new hope and aspiration.
It increases his trust in Allah.
And (most importantly) it stirs awake his determination to act appropriately.”
Muqadamah:Tasali ka saman, page 9
Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) said,
‘In a Prophetic tradition (hadith) it is narrated that; the person whose two days are the same is in big loss.
This means that his today was spent in the same manner as yesterday and no progress occurred.
That is, no progress in being more religious, in spiritual evolution, increase in worship and improvement in obedience, following of Sunna and abundance in Allah’s remembrance.’
Jeddah, 5th February 2009
Shaykh al-Islam Mawlana Zafar Ahmed Usmani (may Allah have mercy on him) instructed his murid,
“Set aside a specific time daily for seclusion (khalwa). In it your heart should have nothing except the reflection of the Beloved in it.”
Hayyat e Trimizi ra
Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) has repeatedly instructed spirtual seekers that,
‘Small persistent actions, wird and recitations are much more beneficial then large inconsistent and haphazard ones.’