Category Archives: N. Advice

Differentiate between the sinner and the sinful

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A spiritual aspirant wrote,

Nowadays my condition is that unintentionally I feel a repugnance in sinful involvement.

Moreover, when I see someone involved in sinful I feel that this individual is headed towards Hell fire  and I must try gently to persuade him to not to do so.  I try my best and with the barakah of your supplications my efforts are not wasted.

It is humbly request that whatever is best for me (in this regards) may please, be instructed.  Duas are requested.

Hakeem al Umma Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Allah have mercy on him) replied,

‘The development of repugnance from sinful involvement is a superior state (hal).

However, feel repugnance for the sinner is dangerous thing for a novice (mubtadi) aspirant. This is because most of the time reason for this is arrogance (kibr), feeling self superiority and presumption of self piety.

(Therefore) Till the attainment of a steady spiritual state (tamkeen) consider that this individual (sinner) is superior to me. Nevertheless, his involvement in sinful is repugnant (in itself). His condition is similar to soot smeared on the face of a beautiful person.  This consideration combines the notion that the person is beautiful and the soot is black (and disfiguring). Similar consideration should be done for the sinner and sinful involvement.

Moreover, a novice aspirant should not be involved in forbidding others.

However, giving a lecture in general to the public (about prohibition of sinful involvement) is okay. This is so provided that no other preacher is available to do so. Proceeding beyond this is dangerous.

It is perplexing that in spite of staying here (khanqah, Thana Bhawan) you are unaware of these details.’

Tarbiyet us Salik, Volume 1, page 422-3

Sins: How to give up?

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A sincere reader wrote the following asking for advice,

I came back to China and I don’t know what has happened. I try to lower my gaze and I do but I still get to see faces and half naked bodies. I swear that I have never felt such attraction in my life. I cannot understand why. 

I am seen as a pious person who has a lot of control on nafs. And that was exactly what I also used to think (may Allah swt forgive my insolence). I often used to joke about that I cannot be attracted to Chinese girls. (May Allah swt forgive me). But now what I suffer from is “yellow fever”. Haram fantasizing is pretty common. Then recently, something really unfortunate has happened I am not porn addict ( May Allah swt preserve me) but somehow from one click to another click I ended up watching some explicit (faahash) videos featuring Asian/Chinese looking models. This went on for 3 days. Infact I even forgot that I was fasting and had to make qadha for  that later. (Edited)

…………….

The following response was sent. May Allah make it beneficial for me and all others,

Bismillah 

As Salamu alaykum wrwb 

JazakAllah 

Please, be reminded that the only way to stop from sinful activities  is himmat, firm determination and using self control. 

Three things help in developing this himmat. 

1. Company of the pious. If that is not possible then reading about their life, malfuzaat etc is of help. 

2. Dua. Asking Allah for help. Crying and telling Him one’s bad state and showing extreme humility and begging. Repeatedly. 

3. Setting up a penalty for involvement in sinful. Four rakat nafil salah for repentance and skipping a meal altogether and/or making charity contribution (sadaqa). 

Following steps will assist further inshaAllah, 

Be wise and stop using Internet completely in private. Use it only for essential things and that even in public or when others are around. 

Also, stay in state of wudhu all the time. 

If you have a Shaykh inform him. 

InshaAllah with these measures things will improve. 

However if you take it lightly and do not realize then remember that this sinful activity is spiritually fatal. 

Take care. 

Muhtaj e dua

(Edited)

Intention for islah

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“Shaykh Rasheed Ahmad Gangohi (Allah have mercy on him) mentioned another (incident of a) pious sage.

 That a person stayed with him for a very long time and then complained that the state of his heart was not corrected. 

The Shaikh inquired “What do you mean by correction of the heart?” He replied, “Sir, the blessing (of nisbet) that I will receive from you, I will take it and spread it amongst the people”. 

The Shaikh said that this intention is the cause of your loss. That is, that from the start (your) intention is to become a Mentor/Shaykh. Remove this disgusting idea from your heart, and make (sincere) intention (of pleasing Allah). 

There are innumerable blessings that Allah has bestowed on us, being thankful for them and being a slave of Allah is obligatory on us. 

Thus those people who do Allah’s remembrance (dhikr) and spiritual exercises (Shughal) or offer Salah with the intention to get benefit through them, this is their foolishness, their intention is wrong (faasid). What kind of benefit, what kind of reward? This being, this body, these eyes, this nose, these ears, this tongue, these senses that Allah has given us, first we should complete our thankfulness (Shukr) for them, only later can we think of benefits or rewards. ”

Source: Tazkiratur Rasheed by Maulana Aashiq Ilahi Meerathi, Volume 2, page 31

Intekhab e Kaiseri 

‘Abdiyet: Dhikr e qalbi

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve & protect him) instructed,

‘The highest level (achieveable for a human being) is to be (a true) slave of Allah. (That is, ‘abdiyet.)

May Allah bestow this to us. (Ameen).

In order to facilitate this I suggest doing this excercise.

Tell yourself

‘O Allah! I am Your slave  (abd)  and You are my Master (Rabb)‘.

Do this repeatedly. Make it a routine habit. Continue doing this excessively until it becomes a spontaneous speech of your heart (and mind).’

Waaz, 7/8/2016, Masjid, Darul Uloom Karachi, after asr

Presumptuous attitude in this path

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One who adopts a presumptuous attitude in this path (tareeq) for sure drowns in deepest sea of despair!

One who is audacious in the path of the Beloved he is a thief to others (on the path) and not (a true) human being. 
The moon of self conceited attitude causes the sun (of reality) to be eclipsed. (Remember) the audacious attitude of the Satan made him accursed (forever).  
Taleem ud Deen, page 207
——————
The presumptuous behavior maybe a bold statement that may lead to disbelief or it maybe a false claim or an intentional involvement in sinful activity. 

Relationship with Allah Post-Ramadan

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

‘The prescription for maintaining a relationship with Allah (ta’aluq ma’Allah) after Ramadan is to include in one’s daily routine supplication (dua), being thankful for all the bounties of Allah (shukr) and excessive remembrance of Allah (dhikr). At least spare half an hour daily for these activities. ‘

29 Ramadan 1437/5 July 2016 Dar Uloom Karachi 

Shaikh: image problem 

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

‘Adopting a life style and promoting an air of being a Sufi Shaikh is wrong (for those who have permission to initiate mureed). 

None of our pious predecessors (akabir) did this. They lived a simple life style (as is the Sunna of our beloved Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace). Their hallmark is the extreme humility (tawadhu). 

Moreover, it is dangerous as it leads to extreme attitudes of reverence by their followers.  (Sometimes excuses are made for noncompliance to Shariah.)’

1st Shawwal 1437/6 July 2016 Wednesday, residence, Darul Uloom Karachi, pre-zuhar 

In his instructions to whom he gave permission to initiate mureed (mojaaz) Sayyidi wa sanadi said,

۔ کبھی مخدومیت، یا مروجہ پیری مریدی کی شان بنانے کی کوشش نہ کریں، بلکہ اس کو اپنے لیۓ زھر قاتل سمجھیں

Never try to adopt the lifestyle of being someone senior and superior or that of contemporary Sufi Shuyukh.  In fact, consider this to be the most potent poison (for your spirituality). 

Islahi khutoot (qalmi)

Reminder: red flag!

Islah: Tip to develop spiritual strength 

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

‘The biggest obstacle in one’s islah are the sinful desires of nafs. 

One has to force himself to fight these desires. 

This is a difficult task.  Firm determination and spiritual strength are required to do so. 

There is a tip to facilitate the development of spiritual strength. It is that every day you intentionally give up one or two permissible desires. For example you have a desire to eat a particular food today, however, you make an intention that in order to train my nafs and not listen to whatever it tells me to do I will not eat this food today. 

By doing this exercise one will develop the spiritual strength and stamina required to give up sinful desires.’

Majlis, 27 Ramadan 1437/ 3 July 2016, Darul Uloom Karachi, post zuhar

Is Internet Haraam for me?

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

‘One of the major sinful involvement of our era is viewing the sexually explicit material online. 

May Allah protect us all from it. Amin!

It is haraam (impermissible) for a person to have an Internet connection and computer devices if he can not control himself from viewing these.

Throw them away!

This is an essential spiritual struggle (mujahida) to gain Allah’s pleasure. ‘

Majlis post-zuhar, 26 Ramadan 1437/2 July 2016, masjid Dar ul Uloom Karachi 

Madrassa for girls

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Addressing an administrator of a girls madrassa Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve and protect him) said,

‘The number of madrassa (traditional Islamic teaching institution) for girls is now exceeding that for boys (in Pakistan).   I fail to understand the emphasis been given to this phenomenon. 

Are there any precedents for this from our earlier pious predecessors, the Blessed Companions, the Ta’baeen, the one who came after them or even our elders of Deoband?

I fear these institutions, especially those with residential hostels for possible inappropriate mishaps. 

The admintrator replied that even at Dar ul Uloom Karachi there is a girls madrassa. 

Sayyidi wa sanadi clarified, ‘This was started in an era when there were no such institutions. Moreover, we try our best that all teaching is via female instructors.’

Another scholar commented that the duration of the course for females has now been extended to 8 years. 

Sayyidi replied,

‘It is 6 years for the expedited track. I agree with this. Previously the 4 years course was severely deficient.  The graduates were deemed alimah (scholars) whereas in fact they remained jahilah (grossly ignorant). ‘

Office, Darul Uloom Karachi 

21 Ramadan 1437/ 27 June 2017 post zuhar

Refuge from calamities 

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Shaykh MansurAli Khansb Ali Khan (Allah protect & preserve him) said,

‘In this day and age where there are colossal calamities even in religious affairs around us we should ask Allah excessively for refuge. 

Now I appreciate Arif billah Dr Abdul Hayy’s (Allah have mercy on him) inclusion of asking refuge (istea’za) in the four priceless spiritual actions (char beshbaha mahasen) he so often recommended. This is something outstanding. 

Hakim al Umma Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Allah have mercy on him) included a section of Prophetic supplications of asking refuge in every day recitation of Munajat e Maqbool. 

Once Mufti Mohammed Shafi (Allah have mercy on him) instructed me that if you are unable to ask Allah by reciting all the supplications in Munajat e Maqbool in lail al-qadr (the night of Power) then select the sections of asking Allah’s refuge. ‘

Jeddah 28 Sha’baan 1437/4 June 2016

Shaykh’s job

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Musleh al Umma Maulana Shah Wasiullah Allahabadi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘A genuine (muhaqqiq) Spiritual mentor’s  (Shaykh) job is to inform the disciple of his shortcomings.

That is what I (personally) practice.  And then I evaluate how much sinful involvement has he (the disciple) abandoned.

I do not inquire about the litanies (wird) recited.  Brother! If you recite the wird you will for sure get inspiration (warid). This is an affair between you and Allah. Your reward will be according to the effort you put in. ‘

Majales Musleh al Umma ra, volume 6, page 129

Nafl: pray at home

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makkah_madinah

Mufti Rashid Ahmad al-Ludhyanwi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

—————-it is more meritorious and rewarding to perform nafl salat (supererogatory prayers) and recitation of Holy Quran (tilawah) at home.

In fact, there is even more reward to perform these acts of worship at home than in the Masjid Haram (Makkah Mukarramah) and in the Masjid Nabawi (upon him blessings and peace).

In this regard, it is stated in a hadith from Zayd bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (upon him blessings and peace) said, ‘The (nafl) salat of a person in his home is more rewarding than his salat in my (this) masjid, except the obligatory prayers.’” (Abu Dawud)

Gathering in the Masjids on Auspicious Nights (A Hanafi Viewpoint)

Tasawwur e Shaikh: Ashrafiya Approach 1

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Tasawwur001

Mufti of Kazakhstan  inquired, ‘The inclination towards purification (tazkiya) of soul and moral characteristics (ikhlaq) is arising in our youth. However, the mentors they approach (for this) instruct them  ‘tasawwur e Shaikh‘ with much emphasis. This is to the extent that they are told to contemplate all the time that I am seeing the Shaikh. Please, guide us on this. Isn’t this  an  overstatement (gulu)?’

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

‘Tasawwur e Shaikh’ was a form of (spiritual) treatment used by some of the ancient master of Tasawwuf. Its was for the the individual’s who found it difficult to keep the contemplation of Allah (‘s presence, especially) initially. For them some masters prescribed as a form of treatment (of this difficulty) to contemplate about their mentor (Shaikh). This is because the relationship, love and reverence for Shaikh is solely to gain Allah’s pleasure and it easier to imagine an entity one has seen than what he has not seen. Then gradually the masters will guide him to the real objective, that is, contemplation of Allah. Hence, tasawwur e shaikh is not an objective in itself. (It is a stepping stone to the real objective.)

The pious righteously-guided masters (ahle-haqq) who did use this did not make it an integral part of their path. They instructed it individually as needed for a disciple for whom it was suitable paying due considerations to its  conditions and limitations.

Even so, the masters of our path, the pious-predecessors of Deoband did not encourage ‘tasawwur e Shaikh’. This is because sometimes its limits are not maintained and it leads to shirk (associating partners with Allah). However, at the same time they do not castigate the rightly guided masters who did instruct it with its conditions and limitations.

Once Sayyid Ahmed shaheed prescribed ‘tasawwur e shaikh’ for Shah Ismaeel shaheed (Allah have mercy on them).  Shah Ismaeel apologized saying that if I was ordered to do something  even inappropriate (sinful) I would have done it and then repented. But in ‘tasawwur e shaikh‘ I smell shirk. Therefore, I will not do this.

The way of our pious predecessors of Deoband (akabir e Deoband) was that the contemplation of Allah that develops by observing the Sunna practices is sufficient (for a seeker). This is because following the Sunna is the most effective way of gaining Allah’s proximity (acceptance & pleasure).

These days the problem has developed that some mentors consider ‘tasawwur e shaikh’ an essential part of their path (tareeq). They instruct this to all the disciples uniformly even if there is no need for it.  Similar is the story in all of the Tasawwuf. In some quarters the method of treatment (of spiritual maladies) has  been made a goal in itself.

This is the case of gathering of remembrance (ijtemai majalis e dhikr bil jaher)………..’

to be continued

Albalagh,Urdu, volume 51, publication 6-7, (April 2017) page 70-1