Category Archives: J. Rights

How to Remembering the spiritual medicine when its needed

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A seeker wrote,
A lot of the spiritual medicines prescribed in the recommended readings, our Hazrat (Mufti Taqi Usmani, Allah protect & preserve him)‘s book islahi khutbaat and in the correspondance with you are indeed very effective Alhamdulillah. Please suggest some techniques/course of action to remember them when they are needed.
I get a feeling that I am not implementing them as properly as it should be done.

Ashrafiya replied,

MashaAllah.
This question is a sign of ture talub. May Allah increase it more with afiyet (Allahuma zid fa zid).

The tip is to read and re-read the prescription many times and
make dua asking Allah to facilitate its recall at the appropriate time.
And if one forgets it, then fix a fine (jurmana) for this failure, like two rakah salat e tauba.

Islahi emails:TA

Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)

Exposing the shameful

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A seeker wrote,

It has been a month since I wrote a proper letter, was really feeling the need. I have started to write down instances where I feel some negative traits were demonstrated by me. Especially when I am reading the prescribed readings I write down all the questions (‘ashkalat’) right away. I feel really ashamed to be writing some of the things below but I have learned from the Ashrafiya blog that one has to be very open in describing all ailments to the Shaykh.

Ashrafiya replied,

There is no reason for concern. Many times we have to tell the physician things that are embarrassing. However, we recognize that it is important to achieve cure and healthy state.

Islahi emails:TA

Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)

Mamoolaat during travel

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A seeker wrote,

I wish to inquire about the Mamoolat during travel. Alhamdulilllah I did not miss any salat during the 2 days but couldn’t keep up with the Mamoolat. The days were so tightly scheduled (had to drive ~1000kms on one of the days), couldn’t find the time. Alhamdulillah I did listen to our Hazrat db’s islahi khutbaat while driving. inshaAllah In a couple of weeks I am going with my family on a road trip (2 weeks long ,1000kms) All of the days will have a lot of driving/hiking/sight seeing etc. involved.

Ashrafiya replied,

It is fine to decrease the quantity of mamoolat during travel. The degree of decrease depends on your time constraints, etc. When really very busy I decrease them to half or one third.

Leaving them completely is not advisable. It is usually detrimental to do so spiritually.

The best things is to do the tasbihats while driving.

Recite surah ikhlas 50 or 100 times instead of tilawet. (Keeping a regular or electronic tasbih handy is very useful.)

Read a page or two of munajat e maqbool if easily possible.

Listening to the lectures will substitute for the reading.

Islahi emails:TA

Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)

The timing of daily mamoolaat

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A seeker inquired,

Should I do the daily mamoolat spread over the day? I try to do them first thing in the morning so that I don’t miss them.

Ashrafiya replied,

The best is to do them first thing is the morning. Spreading them over a day can be done in special circumstances, like travelling etc.

Islahi emails:TA

Islahi Resdings

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A salik wrote, I am still on Tableegh-e-Deen. MashaAllah the book is amazing. Imam Ghazali was truly a genius and translator Maulana Aashiq Elahi (Allah have mercy on them, and bless them tremendously). The book does set the bar really high. I have read almost 90 pages of the book. I think this is a book that one should refresh from time to time.

Ashrafiya replied,

Yes.

It has to be read like a textbook. Read two or three pages a day at the most. Underline, high-light and take notes. Especially, those items that are not in your knowledge and practice. Start to implement them right away. Everyday review the last section read and then to proceed to the next.

Islahi emails:TA

Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)

Restricting dietary intake

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A seeker wrote, In regards to Eating. The chapter on eating less (in the book Tabligh e Deen of Imam Ghazali, Allah have mercy on him) did mention the benefits and harms clearly. But in terms of what to achieve I wish to ask some
questions.
When to eat:
The best is to remain hungry for atleast 3 days and eat on the 4th day. The lowest level is to eat once a day.
How much to eat:
I couldn’t relate to the amounts mentioned here. What I understood better over here is to eat only when really hungry and stop eating
before completely satisfied.
What to eat:
Couldn’t understand in terms of the contemporary Pakistani diet.

Ashrafiya replied,

Hakim al-Ummat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Allah have mercy on him) has mentioned that for us it is not recommended to restrict diet as it was done by sufiya previously. However, balance has to be maintained.The most important things in this regards are,

1. One’s mind is not occupied with thoughts and plans of eating specific items most of the time.

2. During each meal a moment comes when one hesitates to eat more or stop. At this moment one should stop eating.

3. Continue with your meals as usual. Do not make any drastic changes. However, be health conscious and eat whatever is good for you.

4. At dinner parties eat as usual. Making more shukr of Allah for all the bounties and variety of flavors, etc. However, stop as mentioned in #2.

Islahi emails:TA

Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)

Listening to many bayan

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A novice seeker wrote, I noticed a new link being added to Ashrafiya website. Would it be recommended for me to listen to these lectures?

Ashrafiya replied,
No.
Each Shaykh has his own disposition and style of approaching islah. Mixing to many styles leads to confusion. The mawaiz of Hazrat Hakim Akhtar (Allah have mercy on him) and our Shaikh Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him) are quite enough and beneficial, inshaAllah.

Islahi emails: TA

Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)

Khushu in Salah

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A seeker wrote,
– I try to focus on the words and meanings in Salah but the train of thought derails very frequently. Please recommend something in this regard.

Ashrafiya replied,

No problem at all.
Invoulantary derailment does not cause damage to khushu.
Whenever, you recognize the derailment come back on the track.
InshaAllah, with persisitence and practice the frequency of this will decrease.

Islahi emails:TA

Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)

How not to miss Fajr?

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A seeker wrote,

– Fajr salah is going very weak, may Allah forgive me. I haven’t prayed with Jamah in ages and even at home I am missing some of them in the past 2 weeks. One thing or the other delays going to bed and even though I put an alarm, sometimes I just can’t wake up in time. I should make more effort to correct this laziness (“susti”). Yes something needs to be done for this right away.

Ashrafiya replied,

Praying fajr on time is essential. Moreover, eventually one has to aim for tahajjud prior to fajr.

Read thoroughly the book: Namaz e fajr aur hamari kotahi, on this topic. Then do the following,


1. Go to sleep early.

2.Eat dinner early.

3. Make dua prior to going to sleep for waking up at fajr

4. Make a firm determination. Tell yourself in a audible voice to wake up at ____am

5. Recite the last 4 ayah of sura kahaf (18th sura)

6. Set two or three alarms. (I usually use 2- 3 alarms on my mobile phone and one on a clock kept at a far distance from the bed, so I have to get up and switch it off.)

7. Ask a family member or a friend who gets up regularly to wake you up or call you to do so.

8. Even after these measures if salah is missed then skip breakfast for that day. (Only take tea, coffee or milk)

Islahi emails:TA

Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)

Islahi adab

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A seeker wrote,

I tried to search for proper etiquettes of writing islahi email (khutoot) to one’s Shaykh (especially in English). Please do forgive my shortcomings and reprimand me for lack of adab, for my own good. As I have read that surely one can not travel any distance in this path without adab.

Ashrafiya replied,

If the need so arises be reassured that attention will be drawn to it. For now be at ease.

Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him) tells us repeatedly that not correcting the faults of an individual who has associated for his Islah is a betrayal (khiyanet) of the trust of Shaykh-seeker relationship.

Islahi emails:TA

Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)

Postpone Tablighi excursion

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A novice seeker wrote,

I would like to seek for permission for Tablighi Jama’at activity.

Ashrafiya replied,

For time being postpone this for a while.

It is essential to firmly root yourself in the daily ma’moolat, reading, islah,etc. before you proceed to activities that are going to change your routine drastically.

Do assist them (nusrat) for few hours and sit in their book–reading sessions (ta’leem only. Not lectures) for the time being.

Islahi emails:TA

Islahi details

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A seeker wrote,

My close friends and family members (whom I consult for my major decisions) are aware of my pursuing this path. I get a feeling that they expect more as if I am going to change overnight (perhaps it was a mistake to let some people know about this effort). Subsequently I get a feeling that I am trying to improve myself to show off in front of others. And it makes me really doubt the ikhlas that is a pre-requisite for all a’mal to be accepted i.e. they should be solely for pleasing Allah SWT. Please advise.

Ashrafiya replied,

1. The details of the islah are individualized. They are personal and private. It is inappropriate to share the details with others. Even if they were to ask the details answer very humbly that I have been asked not to tell others. I am doing whatever is being instructed.

2. There is no problem in informing them in general that you are trying to establish a islahi ta’luq.

3. Be aware that islah is a life long process. The change is gradual. Our akabir compare it to the growing of a child.

4. The blame-worthy moral trait of show-off or riya is a ikhteyari action. That is, you have to have an intention and then do it. It does not happen by itself without your control.

5. Also, as a established principle it is stated that the real show-off never ever doubts his own ikhlas and mukhlis is always in doubt. So do not worry. Continue what you are doing. MashaAllah, you are travelling and distance is being covered.

Islahi emails:TA

Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)

Quality Family Time

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The following is in response to a novice seeker’s many religious daily activities.

‘MashaAllah.

It is great to know about your activities. They are all fine.

However, I want to stress the importance of giving daily quality time to your spouse, daughter, parents and other very close relatives. This is essential and more beneficial then all other nafil activities.

Also, it must be clear that the knowledge of religion that you require for daily practice is essential and a must. Beyond this religious education is not for all. It is for scholars. For lay people like me it is more necessary to be involved in my own islah.

Also, a general advice akabir give to novice in religion is that,

“Walk slow and steady. Do not rush and run.”

Otherwise soon the enthusiasm will be over and a ‘burnt out state’ will come.
It is for this reason having a Shaykh is essential. He directs and tells how much to do

Ishai emails:TA

Dhikr

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Abū Bakr al-Kattānī (Allah have mercy on him) said, “were it not that recollection of Him was required of me as a religious duty, I could not mention Him out of awe for Him. How can one like me recollect Him without washing out his mouth a thousand times as a required penance, so great is His recollection and so awesome His name!

The Principles of Tasawwuf, p 83