Category Archives: J. Rights

Harnessing the thoughts: Focus

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An individual inquired about controlling the random thoughts that pervade the mind all the time. This automatic phenomenon is perpetual and does not spare the mind free for a split of a second. These thoughts are there even while being is salah, reciting the Holy Quran and doing remembrance of Allah. What is the tip to harness them?

Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) replied,

‘This is achieved by practice.
The thoughts have to be steered repeatedly to the right direction.

This random thinking is very natural. However, as soon as one realizes the derailment come back on to the track. One has to repeatedly refocus his attention from useless thoughts. Reminding himself of their futility.

Initially the derailments will be frequent. However, with persistence in effort to refocus one’s attention eventually one will be successful. The useless random thoughts will recede and one will be able to keep his thoughts in control.

This does not happens overnight. It takes constant practice to achieve.

The thoughts have to be steered to the remembrance of Allah, His grandiosity, His benevolence, acknowledgment and thankfulness of blessings bestowed on us.

Once achieved this may be called ta’luq ma’Allah or nisbet. It does not matter what you call it. However, it will keep you focused on remembrance of Allah at all the times.’

27 Ramadan 1432/ 28 August 2011, Darul Uloom, Karachi, Hadhrat db’s residence, drawing room, after tarawih.

Tarbiyah


During the initial period of his islah, Shaikh Dr Abdul Hayy Arifi (Allah have mercy on him) prohibitted Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) from giving any lectures, talks and speech.

If anyone pressurized him to do so he was directed to get permission from Shaikh ‘Arifi. This needed lot of courage and was a very good method to excuse.

These types of methods applied in islah are the ones that bring reformation of moral characteristics and finally lead to a firm relationship with Allah.

The awrad, dhikr and wazaif assist and facilitate this process of islah.

Intention of self islah

A scholar murid inquired displaying the text of Basair al-Hakim al-Ummat that it is an absolute contraindications for a Salik to be engaged in giving lectures and instructions to others until he has acquired nisbet ( a strong, perpetual and mutually friendly relationship with Allah). Being a scholar he was involved in giving regular sessions at his local mosque. What was he supposed to do?

Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammmad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) replied,
‘These sessions should be with the intention of self rectification and mutual reminder. Only then they will not fall into the category Hakim al-Umma has restricted for the salik.’

Masjid Darul Uloom, Karachi, Ramadan 1432

Jeddah

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Supplicating for the philanthropist

An individual reported that he read that a pious precedent Shaikh use to recite the name of the grand Shaikh of his tariqa eleven times each day in the morning. Most likely this was in a form of supplication which the narrator accidentally omitted to mention. Since then that individual made a routine to supplicate every day mentioning the name of sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) eleven times. It was like this,

1. O Allah! Protect Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani db.

2. O Allah! Give Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Usmani db a long, healthy and productive life.

3. O Allah! Give barakah in Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani db’s time, work and effort.

4. O Allah! Safe guard Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani db and his family, especially from terrorism.

5. O Allah! Forgive the parents of Mufti Mohammad Usmani db and raise their status in hereafter.

6. O Allah! Forgive the Shuyukh and teachers of Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani db and raise their status in hereafter.

7. O Allah! Under the guidance of Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani safeguard Darul Uloom Karachi from all internal and external strifes and let it flourish abundantly.

8. O Allah! Protect and help the relatives, disciples and admirers of Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani db.

9. O Allah! Give me absolute congeniality (munasbet), reverence and love of Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani db both intelectually (aqli) and emotionally (taba’i).

10. O Allah! You have made Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani db to be the manifestation of Your attribute ‘The Guide’ (al-Hadi) for me. Please, facilitate for me benefiting from him spiritually to the maximum.

11. O Allah! Please, lift me up to the standards of an ideal & perfect murid of Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani db.

Amin!

Sayyidi wa sandi Shaikh Mufti Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) replied,

‘May Allah reward you for making these precious supplications routinely for this lowly person. Please, add to it that Allah facilitates with ‘afiyet the completion of my esoteric and exoteric reformation (islah).’

Islahi khutoot (qalmi)

Dover, New Hampshire

Educating self & others

Shaikh Sari Saqati (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘He who is incapable of educating himself is even more incapable of educating others.’

Jawami’ Adab al-Sufiya, page 32

Educating here means to act on the knowledge acquired not mere awareness of the text and information alone.

North Crawford Notch, New Hampshire

Adab

 

An individual inquired what was the reason that fajr adhan was delayed till approximately fifteen minutes after the appearance of astronomical twilight (end of sehri) in Darul Uloom Karachi’s mosque.

Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) replied,

‘Our respected teacher and past chief mufti at Darul Uloom Karachi Mufti Rasheed Ahmad (Allah have mercy on him) considered fajr timing to start when sun was 15 degrees below the horizon. However, the authentic ruling is that it starts when it is 18 degrees below and praying after that is permissible. It is only in respect of him that the adhan is said at the this later timings.’

Ramadan 1432/August 2011

Mount Washington, NH

Intention of islah

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

‘It is essential to have the intention of islah while visiting the pious to benefit spiritually.

My respected teacher Mufti Rasheed Ludhyanawi (Allah have mercy on him) one day instructed me that your father is a very pious individual (Shaikh) however to benefit from him spiritually  make an intention of islah while visiting him instead of keeping the usual son-father relationship.

All praise is for Allah. After this He gave me the tawfiq to do this and the results were amazing.’

Waaz: Sunday 25th September 2011

Encouragement for bayah

 

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Hakim al-Ummah Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘Encouraging others for bayah (by a Shaikh himself) is against the way of our pious elders.

The acceptance and repudiation is from Allah. Means and effort (to acquire or remove them) do not play an active role in this regards.’

Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 3, page 27

Tarbiyah with affection

A seeker from Iran visited sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) in Ramadan. After office hours at ‘asr salah he informed the Shaikh that he intended to stay in Darul Uloom for few days to be in his company.

The Shaikh was obviously displeased by this casual attitude. He was severely reprimanded for not providing this vital information during the working hours so that the arrangements for his stay and food could be made accordingly with ease. Now after-hours this was a difficult task to perform. He was sternly counseled for this inappropriate behavior.

Shaikh’s personal assistant went out of the way and made these arrangements. JazakAllah.

Next day in office Shaikh sat beside this seeker on the chairs reserved for visitors and explained to him gently and affectionately the importance of proper timely communications to avoid discomfort to other individuals. Shaikh made sure he understood his mistake. The love, affection and sincerity in Shaikh’s demeanor was striking to all those present.

Moreover for heartening the seeker’s spirit the Shaikh presented him a gift and made arrangements for his journey back home to be with his family at Eid in a timely manner.

28th Ramadan 1432/29th August 2011, Office, Darul Uloom Karachi.