حکیم الامت مجدد الملت حضرت مولانا شاہ اشرف علی تھانوی رحمہ اللہ فرماتے تھے کہ،
اس اجازت کی نظیر ایسی ہے جیسے علوم درسیہ میں جو سند دی جاتی ہے۔
اسی طرح جو کسی کو بیعت کی اجازت دی جاتی ہے اس کا یہ مطلب نہیں ہوتا کہ فی الحال ہی اس کو ان اوصاف میں کمال کا درجہ حاصل ہوگیا ہے۔
Serenity of heart (jamiat e qalb) is very much valued thing in this path. Try your best to safe guard it. Anything; an article or a comment, an image, a thought or speech if it disturbs your heart’s serenity it is detrimental for your sulook.
Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) advised a seeker,
“Keep busy (in what has been instructed to you). A person who is walking on the correct path for sure reaches the destination.”
Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 2, page 1116
The Grand Mufti of Pakistan Hadhrat Mufti Mohammad Shafi’ (may Allah have mercy on him) used to say that,
“People complain that we can not find good company. If you can not ‘find’ good company then go and sit with the prayer-caller (muadhin) in your local mosque. This muadhin has definitely been blessed with one good quality. And that is that he prays all his daily prayers (salah).”
From:In Shaykh’s Company
Hadhrat Mawlana Abdul-Ghani Phulpuri (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“Once Hadhrat Haji (Imdadullah) mohajir Makki told my blessed Shaykh (may Allah have mercy on them), ‘Dearest Ashraf Ali! Even when I am talking to others you should remain attentive towards my heart (qalb) aspiring for spiritual benefit (faiz). Do not think that when I am busy talking to others my heart becomes idle (ghafil). Even during these convesations my heart is busy with Allah most High.”
Ma’arifat e Illahiya, page364
Respected Sahibzada Amer (may Allah grant him a long and healthy life) a very senior murid of sayyidi wa sanadi said,
“We focus on staying away from television, as most of the programming is un-Islamic. However, little if any attention is paid to the internet. Inappropriate use of internet is more rampant and morally destructive than TV. Even the most religious and pious families are suffering from its corrupt use. Homes are being destroyed by this misuse.
Watching pornographic material, chatting freely with opposite sex individuals (or even same sex but in a lewd way) and reading indecent stuff leads to loss of modesty (haya) in one’s character.
Modesty (haya) is an essential ingredient for being a true Mulsim.
The beloved Prophet (may Allah’s blessing and peace be on him) said :
“Haya’ (modesty) and Iman (faith) are two (things) that go together. If one is lifted, the other is also lifted.” [al-Hakim]
“Al-Haya’ is part of Iman.”
“Haya’ does not produce but goodness.”
[al-Bukhari and Muslim]
‘Every deen has an innate character. The character of Islam is modesty.’ (Muwatta)
“Modesty is part of faith, and faith leads to heaven; while vulgarity is part of unfaith, and unfaith leads to hell.” (Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, Ibn Majah and Al-Hakim)”
Awareness regarding this issue has to be created in all Muslims.
May Allah save us from the inappropriate use of His blessings. Amin!”
Jeddah, KKNGH, MC 1, 11#8
Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanavi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“Facing hardships in most of their states is practically essential for those traversing the path (sulook).”
Ashraf us Sawanih, volume 1, page 425
A very important advice to remember for each and every traveller on this path.
Be ready!
Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“Occasionally these unintentional bad thoughts (khatarat) are due to an extra sensitive psyche and personality. Some times they are due to medical reasons. At other times they are due to acts of blame worthy moral traits. On other ocasions it may be secondary to some evil (Satanic) intervention or sins. Also it may be a test of one’s yearning and desire for Allah’s pleasure. And some times more than one of these may combine.
In a case where a specific reason can not be ascertained it is best to combine all the possible treatments (that are: repentance, firm reslove of being upright in future, treatment for medical, psychological and magic/evil-eye illnesses, excessive supplication and turning to Allah).
However, in all cases in addition to the specific treatment the common remedy for all cases is not to pay any attention to these thoughts. Do not contemplate on the nature or the reason for these bad thoughts.”
Ashraf us Sawnih, volume 1, page 434
کبھی خطرات کا سبب لطافت طبع اور ذکاوت حس ہوتی ہے،
اشرف سوانح، جلد 1، ص 434
Hakim la-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said that in tasawwuf parlance,
“The reality of danger (khatra) is that involuntarily one’s self (nafs) becomes attentive towards some thing bad (i.e against Shariah).”
Ashraf us Sawanih, volume 1, page 430
Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) use to instruct the seeker afflicted by something unfavorable that he should contemplate (muraqaba) on the Divine names al-Hakim and al-Hakeem.
Allah, Most High being the Sovereign authority in charge (al-Hakim) has all the right to do with us as He wants. No one can question it. We being His slaves have to accept it. However, at the same time we must remember that He is Wise (al-Hakeem) and whatever He does certainly has something beneficial for us. We may not be able to acknowledge this right away but this is for sure.
Thinking on these lines decreases the apprehensions and sufferings associated with the affliction. Also it increases one’s love and trust on Allah at the same time.
Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said, “It is an obstacle in this path (tareeq) to pay attention to and be engrossed in answering any criticism.”
‘Irfan e Hafiz, At-Takashuf, page 129
A senior spiritual aspirant wrote,
‘Most of the time I am attentive (of Allah). However, a doubt pesters me all the time. That is, with this attention (towards Allah) spontaneouly my thoughts are directed (upwards) towards the sky. I understand that I am exempted for such an unintentional thought, but its presence bothers me. May be it is from a (hidden) sub-section of unbelief (kufr). Please, prescribe some treatment for it if necessary.’
Hakim al-Umma Shaykh Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) replied,
“Peace and blessing be on you.
Allah, Most High is free from been given a direction.
However, His most selected effulgences (tajeliyat) have a special relationship with His Throne (‘arsh). It is for this reason thoughts of Him direct one’s attention insticntively upwards. This is based on a reality and there is nothing of unbelief (kufr) in it.”
Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 2, page 1126
It is quite a task to get baya in Ashrafiya tariqa.
Until and unless the Shaykh is sure that there exists a mutual congeniality (munasbet) between him and the potential murid, baya is postponed.
Why?
Baya is not something trivial. It is an immense responsibility. Some compare it to marriage. So until one is absolutely sure to the best of his abilities that this is the right Shaykh and he himself is ready to take the responsibility it is best to maintain a relationship with a Shaykh for one’s religious betterment (islahi ta’luq) and wait on the baya.
This is a principle of Ashrafiya tariqa.
Violating principles always results in problems.
It is for this purpose Hadhrat Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) used to tell his disciples,
“Here we spray a repellent to cast away the pests. Only the sincere can remain here.
Whats the use of gathering a crowd? Do I need to enlist an army?
Few able murids are better than hundreds of inept ones.”
Hadhrat Mufti Rasheed Ahmad Ludhyanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) had announced that,
“If a person is able to break away any of my murids’ I will award him fifty rupees and if that murid is a scholar (‘alim) the reward will be five hundred.”
Similarly, Qutub e ‘Alam Hadhrat Mawlana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi (may Allah have mercy on him) had made a similar statement.
Shaykh is in no need of the murid’s devotion. To him Allah who is Besought of all, needing none is enough. It is the murid who is completely dependent on the Shaykh for his religious betterment.
It must be clear to the murid who secedes that in reality it is not him but the maShaykh of the tariqa who have turned away from him. This may be because of his callousness to Shariah rulings, involvement in innovations (bida) or unhealthy company of pseudo-sufis/anti-sufi individuals.
May Allah save us from this!
Hadhrat Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“Do not assume that we are devoid of inner states (kaifiyat e batinah) and spiritual stations (muqamat e ruhaniya). The praise is for Allah, all of these entities, like unveiling (kashaf), miracles (karamah) and spiritual interventions (tasarrufat) are manifested at their appropriate place. However, (the thing to understand is that) in fact all these are still material entities.
Allah has gifted the people of truth (ahl e haq) with something better and more potent. That is, spirituality (ruhaniyat). (It belongs to the non-material world.) It has various degrees in excellence and magnitude. But its progress is totally contingent on following the teachings of Shariah. The inner states and unveilings have no role whatsoever in this (progress).
The ultimate secret of all Tassawuf (tariqat) and spiritual path (sulook) is incorporated in the following verse,
اياك نعبد و اياك نستعين
اهدنا الصراط المستقيم
صراط الذين انعت عليهم
[1:5]
You alone do we worship, and from You alone do we seek help.
[1:6]
Take us on the straight path.
[1:7]
the path of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace”
(Maasir Hakim al-Umma, page 151)
Arif billah Hadhrat Dr. Abdul Hayy ‘Arifi (may Allah have mercy on him) use to tell us that it is very difficult trying to appreciate and experience a non-material, spiritual entity with our material senses, intellect and mind.
