Category Archives: J. Rights

Whom to love and accompany?

mawlaya_salli

Khawajah Mohammad Ma’soom Mujaddidi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘Believe it with certainty that the love (muhabba) and company (suhba) of a person who possesses millions of virtues and miracles (karamat) but is slack in following the Sunna of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) are lethal poisons.

Whereas, the love and company of an individual who holds no virtues or miracles at all but is steadfast in following the Sunna of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) are indispensable elixirs.

Tazkirah Muslih al-Umma ra, page 205

اصل مقصود و تبلیغ

 

احمد تو عاشقی بمشیخیت ترا چہ کار

دیوانہ باش سلسلہ شد شد نشد نشد

 

(مجمع بڑھانے کی کوشش) فضول تو اسی درجہ میں ہے جب کہ

 اس سےضروریات و معمولات میں خلل نہ ہو، اگر اس کی بھی نوبت

آنے لگے تو پھر سدراہ ہے۔

 

لوگ کہتے ہیں کہ ہماری نیت تو مخلوق کی ہدایت ہے،

سو یاد رکھو کہ

 اصل مقصود اپنا وصول الی اللہ ہے،

 دوسروں کا ایصال بھی اسی لئے مطلوب ہے کہ

 اس کے ذریعہ سے ہم کو بھی وصول تام ہو جاۓ،

حق تعالی راضی ہوجائیں۔

 ورنہ ایصال خلق خود بالذات مطلوب نہیں، خصوص جبکہ

مخل وصول ہونے لگے۔

 پس اصلی کوشش اپنے وصول کے لئے کرنا۔

 

البتہ بدون کاوش اور گھیر گھار کے کوئی طالب آجاۓ اور

اس کی طلب بھی محقق ہوجاۓ

 تو اس کی خدمت کردینے کا بھی مضائقہ نہیں، بلکہ طاعت ہے۔

 

باقی یہ کیا واہیات ہے کہ ساری کوشش سلسلہ بڑھانے ہی

کے لئے کی جاتی ہے اور

 اپنے وصول کی فکر نہیں۔

 

وعظ: الوصل وہلفصل، خطبات حکیم الامت رح، جلد 15/ص 192

Time to serve!

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An individual reported sudden passing away of her mother. She expressed her sorrow on the inability to provide any service to her during her life, especially that done during the old age and terminal illlness.

Shaykh al-mashaikh Nawab Eshrat Ali Khan Qaiser (Allah preserve him) consoled her and instructed,

‘The time to serve her has just started, indeed.’

That is, by making supplications (dua) and esal e thawab (i.e. forwarding the reward of good action to the deceased) .

Reported by daughter of Mrs. Sawlat S (Allah have mercy on her).

The Goal

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Grand-Shaykh Haji ‘Abd al-Rahim Wilayati Shahid (1246 H)  instructed his khalifa Mianji Nur Muhmmad Jhinjhanawi (1259 H) (may Allah have mercy on them),

‘The main purpose and goal is for one to remain steadfast on the Shari‘a — both outwardly and inwardly — at all times, and abstain from all manners of shirk and bida’. ‘

more…………….

Instructing Good/Amr bil ma’ruf

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Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Shah Ashraf Ali Thanawi ra said:

“There are two prerequesites for amr-bil ma’ruf (instructing good);

Firstly, there should be hope that the individual being spoken to will accept or at least will not harm you (in retaliation).

The other is that the individual must be unaware of that good deed.

Mostly in the cases of lack of knowledge the chance of instruction being accepted are better. Whereas, people already aware of the good deed are often annoyed if instructed to perform it.

Dawat o tablig ki sharaii hasiyat, page 26

The absolute following of the Shaykh

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The issue of complete and unquestionable following of the Shaykh is usually described in such a dreadful manner that makes most of the listeners wary of Tasawwuf in general. This is very detrimental especially in this era of religious ignorance and arrogance. Below is an extract explaining the reality of this following.

Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) wrote,

“This following is neither in beliefs (aqaid) nor in unveiling (kashafiyat), other collective issues (masail) and economic matters. It is only in methods of approach, diagnosis, instructions and treatment of spiritual diseases and issues related to spiritual reformation. Moreover,this following is further restricted to the mutual agreement of murid and the Shaykh on the permissibility of the issue. If there is a difference of opinion then it is against the way of people of the path (tareeq) to indulge in a debate with the Shaykh, when following his advice will be against the Shariah ruling. In this situation the best etiquette (adab) between the two proprieties (adab of Shariah and Shaykh) is to consult the scholars or do research of his own (if he is capable of it) and establish a ruling. He should then inform the Shaykh that I do not consider this particular action to be permissible and it is from the teaching of our path (silsila), what should I do? If the Shaykh still instructs him to do the same then it is best to abandon this Shaykh. However, if he gives the permission to forgo this action then this is also following his instruction in proxy.

This is the meaning of absolute following (itiba’ e kamil).

That is, complete following (of the Shaykh) must be done in whatever diseases of the lower self (nafs) he has diagnosed, the prescription he has provided and the permissible actions he has instructed to carry out, the permissibility of which Shaykh and murid agree mutually upon. Murid should not interfere in these issues at all with his opinions. It does not entail following in matters beside these issues.

Mawlana Abdul Majid Dayabadi ra’s book, Hakim al-Umma ra, page 304, quote taken from Al-‘Itedal fi matba’t ar-Rijal

Concern for others

alaikum

An individual wrote:

Now the only source of misery at home is the condition of younger brother.  It is the same as it was previously.  I pray for him daily, asking Allah that he gives up the habit of lying and embezzlement. These two problems are usually the cause of most of the suffering.  He is destroying both, his religion and worldly life. I request you to pray (make dua) for him and advice any practical solution to achieve this.

Hakim al-UmmatMawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi(Allah have mercy on him)  replied:

‘I have no hesitation in making dua for him.

However, as far as the request for practical solution is concerned, for inept like us it is best to be concerned with our self rather than for others.

That is,
“فکر خود کن، فکر بیگانہ مکن “
(Be worried about yourself; do not be anxious regarding others’ condition.)

Moreover, there comes a time when even for the best and perfect individuals (kamileen) it is advisable:

عليكم انفسكم لا يضركم من ضل اذا اهتديتم

And that happens when even after substantial efforts other do not pay heed.”

Tarbiyatus Salik, volume 3 page 190

Repentance

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Shaykh Abd al-Ghani al-Rifai’ (Allah have mercy on him) instructed the novice disciples,

‘The rights of other that are due must be fulfilled or forgiveness sought for them.

If one finds himself  unable to do this now, then he should make a firm determination to do so whenever it is possible for him.

In the mean time he should continuously make supplications for the aggrieved individual and ask forgiveness for himself.

For example, he should says hundred times daily, ‘O Allah! I seek forgiveness in matters related to rights of other individuals (huqooq al-ibad).’  This recitation should continue till he fulfills these obligations as outlined above.

This is because repentance (tawbah) is the reality and foundation of this path (tareeq). In fact it is the very first station of the path.

Takhlees Tarsi’ al-Jawahir al-Makkiyah fi tazkiya tal-ikhlaq al-mardhiyah, page 78

Related: Clearing financial matters first!

The thing to take from The Sheikh

tasbih

Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Moulana Mohammad Taqi Usmani  (Allah preserve him & allow us to benefit from him abundantly. Ameen) said:

“The thing to acquire from the Sheikh is the fanayiat (self-annihilation).

People consider taking wird, azkar, ashagals and litanies etc. from him, all of which can be acquired from books. The essential thing to take from him is this fanayiat. That is total effacement of self suggestions, opinions, planning, expectations and complete submission to the commands of Shariah.

This is acquired ONLY by accompanying the Sheikh for considerable duration of time.
His suhba is essential:
To observe him practicing Shariah in different settings.
To learn from his attitude & behavior. Where is he firm and when lenient.
To correct yourself by his upright way of practice and implementing Shariah.
To happily bear his chastisement, in hope for self-reformation.
To be ready for his trials and testing, in order to check your sincerity.
To submit to all of his instructions wholeheartedly.
To do each and every major action in your life with his consultation and approval. And,
Finally, to copy, imitate and absorb his all esoteric & exoteric states enthusiastically.

And if this suhba is not readily available then it is essential to correspond with him via letters, mail, phone etc. to acquire this. (As explained in earlier posts.)

Also, important and perhaps most beneficial for this is the detail and extensive study of the malfoozat (suhba talks/utterances) of Hakim al-Umma Hazrat Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanvi quddus sirrahu. Reading them regularly will allow you to absorb the style/disposition of Hakim al-Umma, who had absolute fanayiat!

Equally significant is the study of the biography of our pious elders. Books like: Ashraf us sawanih (Hakeemul Ummat ra’s biography), Tazkirat ur Rasheed (Moulana Rasheed Ahmed Gangohi ra’s bio), Tazkiratul Khalil (Moulana Khalil Ahmed ra’s bio), etc..

If all of these are done sincerely and seriously, inshaAllah, gradually this fanayiat will eventually develop and grow to the optimum level required.”

Helsinki, ECCMID, 2009

Islah by Tawajjuh, Wazifah & T’aweez?

success

Hakim al-Umma Shaykh Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

“I observe that lot of people are expecting that their self-reformation (islah) will happen by the spiritual attention (tawajjuh) of a pious person. They also expect that by reciting special litanies (wazifah) or by using an amulet (t’aweez) their lower self (nafs) will be fixed to act on Shariah, and they will not have to do anything (that is, use self determination, courage and act appropriately).

Remember! This is a very big mistake.

Your nafs and Satan are misleading you!

The islah-e-nafs (reformation) does not happen without struggling and striving (using self determination, courage and acting appropriately against one’s desires and wishes).

The spiritual attention (tawajjuh) and litanies (wazaif) are for increasing the luminosity of a reformed nafs. They open the path in forward direction. “

Mawaiz-e-Ashrafiya vol. 11: Taqwa wa Tasawwuf

The art of giving a gift

gifts

Hakeem Mohammad Mustafa Bijnori, a senior khalifa of Hakeem al-Umma (Allah have mercy on them) said;

Giving a gift being a Sunna is an act of worship  (ibadah). And the soul of worship is sincerity(ikhlas: doing solely for Allah’s pleasure). Therefore, one who is giving the gift should try his best to preserve this sincerity.

The best way to do so is to contemplate presenting this gift to Allah, considering the person to whom it is being handed to as a carrier or an agent.  By doing so automatically all the requisite conditions and etiquettes required for giving a gift will be fulfilled.  Moreover, one will never even think of boasting doing a favor. His condition will be as per the following verse

منت منہ کہ خدمت سلطان ہمی کنی
منت شناس از و کہ بخدمت بداشتت

(Do not take pride in serving the King! Be content that He has tolerated your services!)

Ma’moolat e Ashrafi,  page 56

Using Time appropriately

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Yesterday a former student asked sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) for some advice (nasiha). 

The Shaykh told him:

“Recognize the importance of time.  That it is an invaluable wealth.  Spend it very wisely and precisely in virtuous actions.”

Next day while the Shaykh was sitting in Masjid al-Haraam facing the holy Kab’a (‘s Rukun-e-Yamani) an individual requested some elaboration on this advice. That is, as how to practically incorporate it in to one’s daily life.

Obviously pleased on the question, Shaykh replied;

“Firstly one has to recognize the importance of time per se.

Secondly, one has to organize one’s schedule to fully maximize the benefit of available time, such that not a single moment is wasted. Being wasted meaning that it is not utilized appropriately even for a worldly purpose, may it be sleeping or moderate lawful entertainment or being busy in helping another fulfill his essential obligations, etc.

Wasting time includes indulging in activities having no benefit for this life or here-after (akhira).”

The Shaykh continued:

“Develop the habit of planning.

That is, plan for the future.

If I was to get 5 or 10 minutes break between my tasks how will I spend it?

For example, while commuting to work.

Think and decide in advance.

How I am going to spend these 15 minutes besides doing the driving?

Only if one has thought of these in advance he will be able to utilize this time appropriately.

My father (Grand Mufti of Pakistan, Hazrat Mawala Mohammad Shafi’i ra) used to inform us that, “Even the time I spent in toilet I try to make use of it. If there is nothing else I scrub and clean the water jug (lota) kept in there.”

All praise to Allah, due to his training I also try to enact on this advice. When I come home from my classes I know there will be at least a 5 minute interval before the lunch is served. I have planned in advance the use of this time. Such as, to return someone’s telephone call, etc.

When a person develops this habit of utilizing the time precisely, Allah facilitates immense actions for him and also puts blessing (barakh) in time. (That is, in short duration a lot is achieved.)

Remember, heedlessness (gaflah) is a bane!”

Makkah e mukarramah, November, 7th 2005

The objective of sulook

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Khawaja Mohammad Ma’soom Sirhindi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,

The objective of travelling on the path (sulook) is not to become a Shaykh and accept murid.  In fact its aim is to fulfil the duties of slave-hood (abdiyet) without the involvement and resistance of the lower self (nafs).

Tohfa tush Shuyukh, page 49