‘These days the main battle front for our nafs is in dealings with spouse.
The closer the relationship more are the chances of blameworthy morals to be manifested in behavior and attitude.
One has to take extra-precautions to avoid this from happening.
As rule one has to suspect him/herself to be the culprit, lacking proper adab and try the best to behave.
We should never ever try to do islah of our spouse!
This is the job of their Shaikh.
We have to focus on our own islah all the time.
Shaykh al-Hadith Qutub al-aqtab Mawlana Zakarriya Kandhelawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“…there is one very important fact to which I wish to draw attention.
When the Elders passed away many people desired to see those special qualities which were part of their Shaykh (in those who succeeded them). But it is clear that all those who follow the Elders and are in their footsteps will be less gifted than the Shaykh, except in few cases, as Allah pleases.
Those people who do not see the qualities of the Elder in his successors and turn away from their Shaykh’s path of Tasawwuf, are only doing themselves great harm.
I began to see this very clearly since the time of Hazrat (Rasheed Ahmad) Gangohi (may Allah have mercy on him). During the era of the most prominent deputies of Hazrat, I saw many of their contemporaries, who were also attached to Hazrat through Bay’at. They saw that some of the special qualities which Hazrat had were no longer present in these deputies so they did not approach these deputies for spiritual guidance. This caused me a great pain and sorrow because these deputies (khulafa) were near to Allah and possessed ‘nisbet‘ (the perpetual, close and mutually favorable relationship with Allah). If indeed these people had become connected to one of these deputies (khalifa), they would have progressed greatly.
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As understood from the teachings of Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanavi (Allah have mercy on him) under Shaikh Mufti Taqi Usmani’s (Allah preserve him) guidance ,
Islah is the betterment or reformation or change of heart (dil badalna) in such a way that the commands of Shariah are followed both in external and internal acts of worship to the best of one’s ability. This is essentially accompanied with acknowledgment of one’s severe short comings in trying to do so.
The real islah is that of the actions of the heart (amal e batini) first and then the outwardly actions that are produced physically are rectified. It is usually not the other way around. This is as mention in the blessed Prophetic saying (hadith of qalb).
The initiating foundation stone of islah is a flash of Divine attraction (jazab) that is bestowed on the selected individual. Its outwardly reason maybe reading something touching, attending a pious individual or place, dua of parents, shaikh etc. In reality it is a kind gift (fadhal o karam) of Allah alone. Everyone of us has to beg for this fadhal e adheem ardently in his/her dua. If the individual is really blessed then he/she will try to safeguard the effects of this Divine attraction by reforming his/her (dhari o batini) actions. If he/she is careless then this will fade away and even might not return ever. Allah save us from this deprivation. Amin!
Tasawwuf provides a frame work for developing this islah. The components of Tasawwuf, like one-to-one mentor-ship, discipline, regular routine, wird, pious gathering and recommended readings all act as catalyst in this growth of islah. However, the real things needed to do the chemical reaction of islah are the firm determination and sincere effort of the salik him/herself.
Catalyst alone can not do the reaction.
Bayah is not essential for islah. It is highly discouraged to be hasty in selecting a Shaikh.
The special nights of Ramadan, Eid, the blessed days of Zil-Hajj, etc. are ideal for asking for this fadhal e adheem of Allah.
Darul Uloom, Karachi
An individual proceeding for Hajj requested for special instructions in this regards.
Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mawlana Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him & facilitate for us benefiting from him) said,
‘Be vigilant in effectively utilizing your time (in virtuous deeds) during these blessed days.’
7th Zil Hajj 1433, Jeddah-Mina
The reviver of Sunna Shaikh Mawlana Abrarul Haqq (Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘Be vigilant in making supplications (dua) at Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifa.
Supplicate excessively. Cry. If you can not cry then make facial expressions of a crying individual.
Learn to ask from children. How they ask for a thing repeatedly and eventually succeed. Learn it from the beggars who plead with tongue and their poor state. They have learned the art of asking. They are confident and content on their asking skills. Whereas, in reality asking from other fellowmen without a genuine reason is a fault.
But asking from Allah is a sign of submission and servitude. And not supplicating to Him is a fault.
So keep knocking on the door. Do not give up.
كھولیں وہ یا نہ كھولیں در، اس پہ ھو كیوں تیری نظر
تو تو بس اپنا كام كر، یعنی صدا لگاے جا
It is in biography of some of the pious predecessors that in Arafat they continuously made supplications from the zawal till sunset.
This is extremely precious time period. Do not waste it.’
Ma’arif al Abrar ra, page 226-7
۔
Allamah Ibn Hajr Asqalani (Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘There are two types of love of Allah, the requisite (fardh) and the desirable (mustaheb).
The requisite love of Allah is that which makes an individual follow the commandments of Allah, abstain from whatever displeases Him and accept His decree (taqdeer).
From this it can be deduced that the reason for an individual to commit a sinful activity either by committing the impermissible or by abandoning a required task is the deficiency of the love of Allah. That is, he gave preference to the following of his own lower desires than to the obedience of Allah.’
Fath ul-Bari fi Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari volume 1, page 46 via Majmua’ talifat e Muslih al Ummat ra, volume 5, page 80
Arif-billah Dr Abdul Hayy Arifi (Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘Time management is part of the Shariah.
The manner in which Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to divide his time is explicitly reported in a tradition quoted in (the book) Shamail e Tirmizi.
That is, when at home Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to divide his time into three parts. The first one was for worship of Allah. The second for his wives (and other household members). The third for his special Companions.’
Shu’b al Eman via Isha al Muslimeen, page 411
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) once said,
“Near the time of Qiyamah the rich people from my Ummah will perform Hajj for the sake of travel and holiday (like having a holiday in Hijaaz instead of one in London or Paris).
The middle class will perform Hajj for commercial purposes, thereby transporting goods from here to there while bringing commercial goods from there to here.
The scholars will perform Hajj for the sake of show and fame; (to outdo and surpass so and so scholar, or any rival shaykh who had performed Hajj a certain number of times).
The poor will perform Hajj for the purpose of begging.” (Kanzul Ummaal)
Virtues of Hajj, page 7
Hakim al Umma Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘Time management and planning how to to do so are a great things.
It should not be the way to do something in the time allocated for another thing and do that particular thing in some other time slot.
Everything should be done in the time set for it.
This brings great blessings (barakah) in time (more things are done with ease in same duration) and comfort (to all).’
Husn al Aziz, volume 2, page 412
Allama Sayyid Suleman Nadwi Saheb (Allah have mercy on him) was renowned for his academics among the Indian scholars.
He requested Hakim al-Umma Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) for bai’at. Hakim al-Umma instructed him to review some of his (eccentric) views and publish the correct version (admitting his mistakes).
Allamah prepared a draft of the reviewed views and presented them to Hakim al-Umma and also published the retraction.
It is upon this that Hakim al-Umma Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) commented:
از سلیمان كَیراخلاص عمل
“Learn sincerity from Suleman”
It really takes courage for a great scholar and academic of Allama Sayyid Suleman Nadwi’s status to review his views and even publish the retractions admitting his mistakes openly.
A sincere person places Allah’s pleasure in front of him. He does not worry about his status.
Almost four years ago a young gentleman from North America contacted this site requesting facilitation in establishing a islahi relationship with Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him). He was directed accordingly.
Sayyidi wa sanadi instructed him to get in contact with one of his mojaz whom he knew from before and could communicate effectively via email and telephone. The sincere brother did meticluously as he was told. He wrote regularly about his religious affairs and sought counsel in improving them.
All praise is for Allah. This summer he travelled from North Americla to spend the last days of Ramadhan in the blessed company of sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) at Darul Uloom Karachi.
The stay at Darul Uloom was very beneficial. The ascetic living conditions of the hostel, the post dhuhar discourses in mosque, the tafsir sessions at Hira Foundation’s recording room and blessed company of sayyidi wa sanadi db in his office were invigorating spiritual elixirs.
He requested for bayiah. Sayyidi wa sanadi reviewed the Islahi correspondence he had done with the mojaz in detail. Being satisfied the request was accepted and actualized.
Sayyidi db made sure that it was clear to the seeker that the main thing is the islah (reformation and rectification) of one’s spiritual condition. The bayiah is a blessing (Barakah) and to a limited degree an act of Sunna.
The bayiah was made into the silsila of Hakim al Ummah Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi’s Shaikh Haji Imdaullah mohajir makki via Arifbillah Dr Abdul Hayy Arifi, Mawlana Masihullah Khan and Mufti Mohammad Shafi (Allah have mercy on them all).
A detailed dua was made asking Allah for assistance in being steadfast on this allegiance and safeguard from bringing bad name to these pious elders of the silsila.
Instructions for future were given.
The main point sayyid wa sanadi stressed upon was to have this ongoing sense (fikr) of improving one’s condition by recognizing the shortcomings and trying to rectify them.
The blessed brother returns to his hometown tomorrow.
Futuhat-e-Taemoori: prior to maghrib, Friday, 31st August 2012/12th Shawwal 1433. Bait-ul-abd, DHA, Karachi