Shaykh Mawlana Karamat Ali Jaunpuri (Allah have mercy on him) said,
This lowly speaker has experienced it well that when an individual is engrossed in useless activities his/her previous piety wanes away. Therefore, one should repent immediately if he/she becomes involved in anything useless and not return to that activity again.
Irshad us Salikeen/Aqwal e Sufiya, page 36
Sayyidi wa sanadi Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him and allow us to benefit from him a lot. Ameen!) gives the following invaluable advice to those interested in classic Sufi works:
“A point never to be forgotten when reading the books of venerable Sufi masters is that the things to acquire from them are;
– the special relationship with Allah (ta’aluq ma’Allah),
– remembrance and contemplation of hereafter,
– turning to Allah with humility (inabat),
– recognizing the plots & deceptions of nafs and methods to prevent them,
– methods of cleansing the heart and
– love of Allah and His messenger صلی اللہ علیہ و الہ وسلم.
As far as the fiqh (Shariah juristic rulings) and kalam (science of logic and art of reasoning) issues, historic events and narrations (rewayat) are concerned these are neither their (i.e. Sufi masters) field of specialization nor one can rely on them solely in these matters.
لکل فن رجال”
Tabseray 476
اصلاح حال و سکون قلب، ص 35
Arif-billah Dr. Abdul Hayy Arifi (Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘People often complain that there is no free time and no tranquility in life because of the increasing commitments (at offices and businesses).
I ask them,
If you get this free time and opportunity what are you going to do with it? Have you ever thought about this?
If you waste this free time in inappropriate things and sink more deep into immorality then this being busy is best for you.
When this is the case then continue with your work (in present conditions).’
Islah e Hal o sukoon e qalb, page 45
Our master Shahr bin Jaushab (Allah be pleased with him) says:
“I asked Umme Salma (The Mother of the Believers, Allah be pleased with her) ‘What was the supplication (dua) most often made by the Prophet of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in his house?’
She replied that Prophet of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to recite,
O the Controller of hearts! Make my heart firm on Your Deen.
(Tirmizi)
Shaykh Mohammad Abdullah Gangohi (Allah have mercy on him) said,
A humble man is not a person who regards himself above the act of humility he is displaying. A humble man is a person who considers himself below the act of humility he is doing.
Masih al-quloob Mawlana Masihullah Khan (Allah have mercy on him) said,
Stay among people, but remain aloof.
Your body should be among creation, but your heart with the Creator. This will ensure that negligence does not overtake you. Beware of such negligence lest you conform with people in a way which entails opposition to Allah and His displeasure.
The Path to Perfection, page 130
Hakeem ul Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) tells an anecdote in one of his discourses:
A sufi aspirant busy with his islah (reformation) was overwhelmed with a thought of abandoning his spiritual struggle and to enlist in the Muslim Army engaged in Jihad. Being sincere he consulted his Shaykh before embarking on this holy journey.
Sheikh admonished him saying that this was the conspiracy of his nafs (lower self) to escape.
The nafs was tired of the daily jihad (struggle). That is, struggle of withholding it self from all the haram (forbidden) activities and engaging in extra (nafil) worship. For example, avoiding lustful glances, backbiting, anger, self-pride etc. and being humble, patient, pious, etc.. Tired of this daily struggle it wanted to escape by dying fighting in Jihad.
This might be the reason of calling the daily struggle of self-reformation (islah) Jihad e Akbar (The greater struggle) as compared to the holy war, Jihad e Asghar (The lesser struggle) in one of the Prophetic narrations (dha’eef).
At this point it is most appropriate to clear any misconception about Jihad in our days.
Sayyidi wa sanadi Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani sahib (Allah preserve him) explains:
“Jihad is, no doubt one of the intuitions enshrined by Islam. But it does not mean a war to compel people to accept Islam, as the Holy Quran has declared that there is no compulsion in religion. Nor does it mean to occupy lands and extend territory of a Muslim state without a just cause.
Jihad is in fact means a well disciplined struggle against aggression and oppression. The struggle of jihad may be with or without arms. Armed struggle is allowed only when peaceful means have totally failed.
Apart from a just and rightful cause it is necessary that it is carried out under a competent Amir or leader in strict compliance with dictates of Shariah.
This armed struggle can never target innocent persons.
It is always a legitimate struggle against an oppressor or a tyrant and his warriors.
It has, therefore, nothing to do with terrorist activities which target innocent people and have been termed by the Quran as ‘Fasad fil-ard’ (spreading disorder in the land).”
Source:Usmani M T, Albalagh International: Vol 16 No. 8/September 2005 “Islamic vision on interfaith cooperation for peace”
حضرت خالد اقبال تائب مدظلہ
Shaykh Abu Taleb Makki (Allah have mercy on him) reported this in Quwwat al-Quloob,
A seeker approached a Gnostic of Allah (‘arif billah) and said,
‘ I am heedless of Allah’s remembrance, usually procrastinating good deeds and extremely lazy. Please, advice me on how can I overcome these things.
The Gnostic replied,
‘O brother!
If it is possible for you to love the friends of Allah (awliya) and keep their close company then immediately do so.
Perhaps they will keep you in their heart. And remember every day seventy times Allah’s special mercy is focused on these hearts. Maybe someday because of the love you have for them this mercy of Allah will be focused on you to. This will indeed take care of all your problems of this world and here-after.’
Ahl-e-sulook par achi buri Sohbet kay asaraat, page10
Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) said something smilar to the following in one of his discourses,
The minimum benefits of maintaining regular correspondence with a Shaykh ( in form of islahi-ta’luq) is that it makes an individual a cognizant sinner (baydar gunahgar).
That is, if God-forbid he commits a sin he will be aware of this mistake. He will have remorse. This will evetually lead him to turn to Allah in form of repentance and supplication for forgiveness, protection and improvement.
Hadhrat Hakim al-Ummah Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (may Allah sanctify his secret) said,
“Since I now consider the knowledge derived from kashf unworthy of notice, I forbid people from discussing this with me, either orally or by way of writing. Although there was a time when I was engrossed in this knowledge, [so much so that] I would remain absorbed in this night and day, I now consider it (the knowledge derived from kashf) to be an impediment in reaching the goal.”
Bawadir al-Nawadir, page 589.
This is a salient feature of tarbiyet in the Ashrafiya path.
(Translation & editing by Shaykh Mawlana Ismaeel Nakhuda db.)