Category Archives: H. Whispering & random thoughts
Dealing with criticism constructively
Back biting (ghiba) is a major sin (gunah e kabira). In Qur’an it is described as eating the flesh of ones’ dead brother.
It is mentioning in front of others something (true) about an absent fellow Muslim that would be unpleasant to him if he were to be aware of it.
It is from the category of rights of the fellow Muslims (huquq al ibad). Repentance from it requires asking forgiveness from the aggrieved individual.
It was a habit of Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) to ask the individual who approached him to apologize for back biting him,
‘I forgive you but, please, let me know what did you say about me.’
To his disciples he explained that I do so to find out that if he had criticized me genuinely. If it was the case then I will make effort to amend those mistakes.
Hakim al-Umma had a permanent feature in the monthly publication of his Khanqah, al Noor, regarding this issue. It was to acknowledge his errors and slips. He even hired scholars to vet his works.
One who is seeking Allah’s pleasure and acceptance is never hesitant to acknowledge his own mistakes and repent. Each and every criticism, however acrid it maybe provides an opportunity to do so. It is a blessing in disguise.
wa ma tawfiqi illa billah
Warning regarding Sufism
Speaking in United Kingdom sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) said,
I would warn the younger Muslim generation about the wrong interpretation of Sufism.
It has been widely propagated in the Western world by non-Muslims. They coined the term Sufism. They praise Sufism. They preach sufism. They propagate Sufism. One may think that they do this in service to Islam. However, the reality is that the Sufism propagated by Western writers is quite contradictory to the Shariah. It is quite contradictory to the real essence of Tasawwuf and tariqat.
A high ranking western offical visited the Darul Uloom, Karachi. After having a detailed tour observing the teaching activities he commented that he did not see anything about Sufism being taught.
It was inquired that what did he mean by Sufism.
He replied that Sufism is something related to one’s soul and what pleases one’s soul. For example, playing music, dancing, having ectasy (wajd) and qawwali,etc..
The poor individual restricted Sufism to these kinds of activities.
The real problem is that when Western world speaks of soul as against the physical life they assume that they are speaking of the spirit or spiritual things. There is a big difference between soul and spirit.
In fact soul is what is called the nafs in Tasawwuf. That is the (lower) desires of the heart. Tasawwuf does not have realtion to soul in that meaning.
Tasawwuf realtes to the spiritual qualities- the human instincts (reforma tion of the moral characteristics – thus becoming a better human being & Real Muslim).
Turath lecture, 23rd June 2012
Dubai, UAE
The pleasure of intimate conversation
Haji Shakeel Ahmad (Allah preserve him) mentioned a very important thing in his talks that affects us all. A summary of it is posted here,
The pious said that the first and foremost sign of displeasure of Allah is that the afflicted individual lose interest in supplication (dua) and presence of mind in worship.
This is because of his disobedience. And it is the displeasure and turning away of Allah’s attention from him that he does not find pleasure in the intimate conversation of dua, salah, etc.
We should check ourselves and find out if we are from the afflicted one’s. If so, then we should be vigilant in correcting our mistake, repenting and pleasing our Lord.
Wa ma tawfiqi ila billah
Abu Dhabi,UAE
الم يعلم بان الله يري
How to gauge spitirual progress?
Imam ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Alawi al-Haddad (Allah have mercy on him) said,
Should a man wish to know whether he is rising or falling in religious terms, he should look at how his state and conduct had been a month or a year ago.
If he finds that they were better than his present state and conduct, he should know that he is descending into degradation; whereas if he finds that his present state and conduct are better, he should know that he is rising and improving.
It has been handed down that “he who finds that his (present) day resembles the previous day has been cheated, and he who finds that his (present) day is worse that the previous day is accursed. Accursed here means remote from a particular and specially accorded to mercy.
He who is not increasing is diminishing.
To explain, if when thinking about previous days, you feel that you then had no desire for the world, were eager for the Hereafter, scrupulously avoided doubtful things, were quick to good actions, quick to obedience, remote from transgressions, and by comparison are now no better or are to any extent worse, then know that you are going down, deteriorating in religion, in your aspiration for God, and in striving for the Hereafter.”
Knowledge and Wisdom
Improve our salah
One of the attendees requested for a premature departure Shaikh Haji Shakeel Ahmed (Allah preserve him) humbly asked him to wait few minutes to listen to what he had to say. Then he briefly advised,
‘It should be crystal clear that if we do not improve our salah we will not be able to improve our (spiritual) life.
On the Day of Judgment Allah will not question us about the time spent in Tableegh, or Khanqah or education (madersa). The very first question will be regarding the salah. The foremost thing we will be accountable for will be our salah.
If we are questioned about our salah now, we will be dissatisfied ourselves. Then how could this salah please Allah.’
11/8, MC1, KKNGH, Jeddah, 02 June 2012, after esha
Tazkiyah & Tabligh
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu `alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Muhtaram,
Tabligh is an Arabic word literally meaning “to convey”.
Contextually it refers to conveying the message of Islam. The word Tableegh is commonly used to refer to the Tableegh Jamaat movement in which people spend 3 days or 40 days or 4 months or 1 year in Tableegh.
Alhamdulillah, the Tabligh effort has been proven to be beneficial in conscientising people about their religious duties and reforming the lives of many people.
I fully support the noble effort of Tableegh.
However, it is important to note that the specific form and way of the Tabligh effort is not specifically mentioned in the Shariah. It is recommended. The actual mission of Rasullullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) was Da’wah with Ta’leem (educating) and Tazkiyah (purification of the soul). The present form of Tableegh is one form of Da’wah. It is not the only way of Da’wah. To confine the obligation of Da’wah to the Tableegh movement is erroneous.
There are innumerable ways of Da’wah and all forms of Da’wah practiced within the confines of Shariah should be supported and complimented. It is therefore incorrect for some ardent supporters of Tabligh to claim an absolute right of Da’wah through Tabligh. Such an attitude is a great injustice to the broader concept of Da’wah and is an extremist attitude.
It is even worse to claim that Tabligh is more important than Tazkiyah. Tazkiyah is Fardh. The specific form and way of Tabligh is not Fardh. It is merely recommended. How can a recommended form of Da’wah be preferred over a Fardh act?
To reform oneself and cleanse oneself from the evil instincts within ourselves is Fardh.
It is also very unfortunate that we hear of reports from some elders of Tabligh Jamaat referring to Tazkiyah as a secondary issue, not so important, e.t.c.
How can a Fardh act not be of any importance at all? Such statements are incorrect and misleading. It is expected of the Ulama engaged in Tabligh and Tazkiyah to encourage people to do both, Tazkiyah and Tabligh.
If one does not go out for 3 days, 40 days or 4 months in Jamaat, he is not sinful and will not be answerable in the court of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala). However, if one does not reform himself from pride, jealousy, ostentation, e.t.c, he will be sinful and answerable to Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala).
People actively engaged in Tabligh should realize this and adjust accordingly. One can never attain the Maqam (position) of Ihsaan by merely going out in Tabligh without reforming oneself. The singular approach of Tabligh whilst sidestepping the importance of Tazkiyah is an incorrect view and erroneous. It is misleading.
Tazkiyah is Fardh. The specific form of Tabligh is not Fardh. It is recommended. It is an effort we too support.
And Allah knows best.
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Dar al- Mahmood
Source : http://tasawwuf.daralmahmood.org/muf…tabligh-jamaat
A tip to improve salah!
Shaikh Haji Shakeel Ahmed (Allah preserve him) said in regards to praying with concentration that Allah is watching me,
‘A tip to improve one’s salah is to offer two rakat daily with intention of forwarding its reward (esal e thawab) to our master Prophet Muhammed (Allah bless him and grant him peace).
This noble association (nisbet) will make one strive more for perfection in salah.
All praise is to Allah. Many individuals have tried this and found it to be very beneficial in improving their salah.’
Madarsa Sayyidena Maaz bin Jabal (Allah be pleased with him), Jeddah, 07 June 2012, after maghrib
The obstacles to ta’aluq ma’Allah
Shaikh Haji Shakeel Ahmed (Allah preserve him) said,
‘The two most common reasons for not being able to develop a strong personal relationship with Allah for those who are apparently trying to do this are;
1. Inadvertent consumption of impermissible (haram) food, and
2. Persistence in sinful activities. That are not followed by sincere repentance.
Special care has to be taken regarding meat. It must be assured that it is properly slaughtered (dhabiha).’
Maderasa Sayyidena Maaz bin Jabal, Jeddah, 07 June 2012, after maghrib
ام الامراض : تکبر
Alive or dead?
Shaikh Haji Shakeel Ahmed (Allah preserve him) said,
‘Alive person feels the pain of a pinprick and reacts. Whereas a dead body will never feel or react even if a nail is driven into it.
Similarly, a faithful individual feels the undesirable effects of sinful activity. It makes him uncomfortable. If this does not happen than one should worry about the presence of faith (eman). It is the (spiritual) life/soul of an individual.’
Jeddah, 30th May 2012, bayan after maghrib
Stop watering it!
In Mathnawi Mawlana Jalal uddin Rumi (Allah have mercy on him) gives an excellent example to encourage us to give up all that is sinful right now.
The sinful desires are like seeds of a humongous, foul smelling, full of thorns and fruitless tree. If one follows them and commits the sin it is like watering the seed. It germinates and grows in the middle of a path. If one continues to follow his desires the seedling gets nutrition. It becomes a sapling and eventually a tree.
The leaves, branches and roots spread. And the tree is firmly ‘rooted’.
Being in the middle of a path it is a major obstacle.
Removing it now is not easy. It requires special equipment and expertise.
It would have been very easy to remove the seedling.
The roots sink deep in to the ground. They engulf or entrap the things around making the removal even more difficult and messy.
Similarly, by giving into sinful desires we nurtures the lower self (nafs) and it becomes stronger each day. We may fool himself ourselves with lame excuses, like it is lesser of the two evils, or it is a norm to do these things nowadays, or it is a phase it will pass, or I will give it up after I graduate or get married or have children, etc.
We procrastinate.
With each passing day the tree of sinful desires (nafs) grows strong, whereas as the sinful individual gets older, loosing the mental sharpness, the emotional vigor and the physical strength as part of the natural aging process..
We have to be wise and not delay. It is easier to give up sins right now.
Which step have you reached today?
Why recent pious?
In the “Introduction” of Malfuzat e kamalat e Ashrafiya it is stated;
‘The sayings of the recent pious predecessors are most beneficial in reformation of heart (qalb) and cleansing of the lower self (nafs). This is because of the peculiar conditions, temperaments, preferences and capabilities of these recent pious being relatively familiar to the reader.
Ma’arif al-Akabir, page 47
Perfection?
Hakim al Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘Torch your desires!
Burn your opinions!
Adopt absolute annihilation. And consign your affairs to Allah completely.
Try your best to please Allah.
Who are you to aspire for perfection?
I swear by Allah. If an individual is aware of his own reality than all claims of aspiring self perfection would collapse and flee from his mind.’
Waaz: al Wael wal Fazel, Khutbat e Hakim al Ummat ra, volume 15, page 204