Category Archives: J. Rights

Keeping track of time & company

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Khawaja Mohammed Ma’soom Sirhindi (Allah have mercy on him) instructed a senior disciple,

‘Be vigilant in keeping track of your time. Spend it in actions that are important. Do not waste it.

Save yourself from excessive mingling with other people. This is because (excessive mingling without a need) ruins the beauty of ‘nisbet e batin’.

Excessive interactions with people without a righteous intention becomes a source of disconnection with Allah.

There is saying of a pious predecessor,
‘Abstain from the bad company and keep good company to the extent that it does not disconnect you from Allah.’

Maktubaat Hazrat Khawaja Mohammed Ma’soom Sirhindi rehmatullah, talkhees wa tar juma, Maktub 13, page 23-4

Islah of spouse

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Hakim al Umma Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘I received a letter from a female. She has has written few complaints of her husband. She further wrote that if I forbid him from indulgence in wrongful acts he rebukes me excessively. She requested an amulet (ta’weez) or a recitation (wazifa) for his reform (islah).

I wrote to her in reply that if there is no fear of retaliation (to your advice) then you can do so with extreme politeness and flattery. Otherwise, you are excused. Do not say anything (to him in this regards).

(Hakim al Umma then addressed the seekers beside him) Is islah possible by amulets (ta’weez) or recitations (wazifa)?

It is difficult to reform an individual who himself does not want to improve.’

Ifadet al Yoomia, volume 4, page 249-50

Maintain severe level alert against nafs

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Hakim al Umma Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘Always remember this.

Do not provide an opportunity or the means to the lower self (nafs) to misbehave.

This is extremely important information that is being provided.
Nafs is the devil that destroyed the asceticism (zuhd), God-conscientiousness (taqwa) and sanctity of highly pious individuals in few moments.

Never consider it to be dead.

Sometimes due to unavailability of means (to disobey) it acts subdued. However, it is waiting for the opportunity and means (lurching to strike). ‘

Al Ifadet al Yoomia, volume 4, page 23

Tip to avoid burnout

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Many novice seekers remove all that is not explicitly Islamic from their life. Like permissible hobbies of reading fiction or poetry, keeping collectible items, meeting friends and relatives, interest in cars, gadgets, jewelry or clothes, traveling, dinning out, etc.

This is usually due to a burning desire to be closer to Allah.

However, the spare time they get becomes a source of boredom. This is especially so when the initial phase of overwhelming passion wanes (which is a inevitable normal phenomenon).

This boredom is dangerous and may engulf the religious activities leading to a burnout.

One has to be cautious and take advice from his/her spiritual mentor prior to removing things that are permissible.

As a principle. until a strong, overwhelming and perpetual relationship is developed with Allah one should continue with all his permissible activities. Once nisbet is established all the unnecessary or detrimental involvements will automatically cease.

Brotherly advice

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Commenting on the Prophetic saying narrated in Sahih Bukhari (#104) sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) said,

‘Sayedina Abu Shuraih (Allah be pleased with him) taught us a etiquette. That is, irrespective of how evil an individual is and how heinous actions he is committing even then advising or inviting him (to the truth) should be in a manner that does not dishearten him. Moreover, it should take into account his (social) status.’

Inamul Bari, volume 2, page 149

The most superior karamet

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It was reported that an individual walks on (flowing) water.

Shaikh Abu Mohammad Murtaish (Allah have mercy on him) replied,

‘I consider that the person who has been blessed by Allah to be steadfast against his (sinful) desires is most upright and superior to the individual who walks on water and flies in the air.

And (remember) action against one’s desire is only by asceticism (zuhud) and diverting one’s attention away from all (worldly) things.’

Eqaz al Himam, volume 1, page 369

Priorities in islah

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Hakim al Umma Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi ( Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘The pious (masters) do not focus excessively on the exoteric actions (dhahiri a’mal). This is because they can be rectified in a moment merely by changing one’s determination. That is, an individual who does not pray can (make a firm determination) in a moment and start praying, one who shaves his beard can (make a firm determination) in a moment and let it grow. Similarly, in a moment an alcoholic can repent from drinking and a transgressor (fasiq fajir) becomes God-fearing.

The important thing that the pious focus on is the rectification of the moral characteristics (ikhlaq e batinah), like arrogance (kibr) etc.. The rectification of these is very difficult.’

Husn al-Aziz, Malfuzat e Hakim al Umma ra, volume 17, page 284

نصاب تصوف

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حضرت والا رح (حکیم الامت) نے اہل تصوف اور سالکین کے لیے بھی چند کتابوں کا نصاب مقرر فرمایا ہے۔ جس کا پڑھنا اور سمجھنا اور اس کے مطابق عمل کرنا نہایت ضروری ہے۔

انشاءاللہ اس کے مطالعہ سے سالکین کو نفس و شیطان کے مکائد معلوم ہونگے اور ہر طرح کی بدعات و ضلالت باطنیہ کی ضروری اور تفصیلی معلومات حاصل ہوگی۔

اگر کسی عالم سے سمجھ کر پڑھ لیا جاۓ تو ذیادہ مناسب ہے۔ جس طرح کتابوں کی نمبروار ترتیب دی گئ ہے اسی طرح پڑھنے کی ہدایت ہے۔

ماثرحکیم الامت رحمتہ اللہ علیہ – صفحہ ۳۲۸
http://ashrafiya.org

It is essential for a seeker to read about the path he/she intends to travel.

This is to make sure he is aware of the goal, the methods to achieve this goal and be aware of the pitfalls in this endeavor.

This curriculum obviously contains many books authored by Hakim Al Umma Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Allah have mercy on him) whom we consider to be the mujaddid of the previous century.

However, in addition it has classical Tasawwuf texts by masters of this path that include Sheikh Shahab uddin Suharwardi, Imam Ghazali, Sheikh Yafai,  Sheikh Ibn e Ata-Allah Iskanderi, Maulana Jalal uddin Rumi and Sheikh Abdul Wahab Sha’rani (Allah have mercy on them all). This is to confirm that the path we follow is in accordance to the principles and practices of the masters of Tasawwuf.
Moreover, it is to keep in check the cult mentality that leads to a superiority complex and extremist attitude of shunning everyone else beside our Shuyukh.

May Allah make it beneficial for us. Amin!

Hajj & sacrifice: A Divine order

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) said,

‘It is futile to look for worldly benefits and logical explanations in Hajj and sacrifice (udhiya/qurbani).

They are a Divine orders to remind us that we have to follow them irrespective of understanding them in itself or their benefits.

The Divine order requires submission. And this is Islam as defined in Quran,

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[37:103]
So, (it was a great episode) when both of them submitted themselves (to Allah’s will), and he laid him on his forehead (to slaughter him),

Waaz: 27/9/2104, Darul Uloom Karachi

Advice: sufis do not quarrel

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What did the speaker of beautiful words, the splendid face Bhalul ( majzoob, Allah have mercy on him) say,
When he passed by a quarreling Sufi

If this claimant (lover of Allah) had truly recognized the Friend (Allah), he would not have been involved in argument with the enemy (wasting time in something other-than his love).

Shaikhul mashaikh Haji Imdadullah mohajir Makki (Allah have mercy on him) wrote these verses at the very end of his treatise Faisala e haft masala.