Category Archives: N. Advice

Achieving real prosperity

Mawlana Qamar uz Zaman Allahabadi (Allah preserve him) said,

‘To achieve real prosperity (sa’adet) three things are required,

1. To protect one’s heart from involvement in things that result in wasting time and corruption of the heart itself.

2. Following Sunna meticulously in all matters.

3. To acquire the ‘nur‘ of ‘following the Sunna’.

——The initial two are achievable by effort (ikhteyari), whereas the last one can not be achieved by effort alone (ghair ikhteyari). It is a gift bestowed by Allah.’

Al-Ifadat al-Ahsaniya, page 254

*P.S. Photo:The mata’af expansion 2012.

Respected readers!

 

‘Arif-billah Hadhrat Dr. Abdul Hayy ‘Arifi (Allah have mercy on him) used to ask this question repeatedly from those who use to attend his weekly talks on spiritual improvement (islah),

“All praise is for Allah. I appreciate your effort in taking out time from your busy schedule and attend this gathering. However, I put forward this question to you,
‘What change has happened in yourself since you started attending these gathering?’

Contemplate.

These gatherings are meant to bring about a change in ourselves. They are not formal speeches or academic lectures.”

Friday, weekly majalis e ‘Arifi ra

P.S. Same question may be put to the readers of this blog!

حضرت تھانوی قدس سرہ کا انداز تربیت اور تقوی کا حصول

سیدی و سندی حضرت مولانا مفتی محمد تقی عثمانی صاحب مدظلھم العالی

وعظ

حضرت تھانوی قدس سرہ کا انداز تربیت اور تقوی کا حصول

Supplicate for true yearning

Shaikh Mawlana Qamar uz Zaman Allahabadi (Allah preserve him) said,

‘Special supplications (dua) should be made for the development of true desire (talub).

In particular the (following) supplication prescribed by the Naqshbandi saints. Allah will surely develop true yearning.

O Allah!

You are my goal and I seek Your pleasure!

(Therefore) Bless me with Your love and marifa.’

Amin!

al Ifadhat al Ahsaniya, page 146-7

True knowledge

Arif-billah Dr. Abdul Hayy ‘Arifi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘In reality the true knowledge is that which is incorporated practically into one’s life bringing about a better change.

Otherwise, there are many other pleasurable activities (and acquiring knowledge or information is one of them).

Sawanih o talimaat e Hazrat Arifi ra, page 637

Reality of being religious

Hakim al Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘I swear by Allah and say this under an oath that if a drop of Allah’s love is acquired then the whole world will become bitter and detestable to that individual.

This is a the reality of being religious!’

Mazeedul Majeed, page 30

Advice

Addressing a gathering of female seekers Hakim al Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) said (from behind a barrier),

‘Being submissive to husband is considered to be a shameful thing.

Yo do not consider this to be from the rulings of Shariah.

If anyone of you gets enthusiastic about religion then she will recite litanies and award in huge numbers. I tell you that the level of these award (that are supererogatory,i.e.nafil) is (spiritually) far below in (religious quest). The most superior thing is to act against one’s (nafs) desires. Having reverence and respect for and being submissive to husband is against one’s desire and therefore more superior (mujahida:spiritual struggle).

Tohfa-e-zojain, page 51

Signs of opening of heart

Once Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) read the verse of Holy Quran:

“So, whomsoever Allah wills to guide, He makes his heart wide open for Islam,….”

[Surah- An’aam : [6:125]

Thereafter, Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “When the Light of Islam enters a person’s heart, it opens up for it.”

Someone said: “O Prophet! Is there a sign which indicates this opening of the heart?”

Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

‘The aversion of this pretentious worldly life,

the fondness of the everlasting life (Here-after) and

preparation before the coming of death.”‘

[Mishkaat] Maut ki Yaad Hazrat Shaikhul Hadith ra

اصل مزار

بعد از وفات تربتِ ما در زمیں مَجو
در سینہ ہائے مردمِ عارف مزارِ ما

(سعدی شیرازی)

وفات کے بعد میری قبر زمین میں تلاش مت کرنا، کہ عارف لوگوں کہ سینوں میں میرا مزار ہے۔

Obeying the biggest enemy!

Shaikh Qari Amir Hasan (Allah have mercy on him) said,

Nowadays we do not listen to and obey anyone. Neither to our father nor mother nor our spiritual mentor.

We only listen to and obey our nafs who is our biggest enemy.

Shaikh Haji Imdadullah muhajir Makki (Allah have mercy on him) used to say,

‘The thing I fear the most is my nafs.’

O spiritual aspirant: Be a mullah!

و الذ کر اسم ربک و تبتل الیہ تبتیلا۔مزمل۔۸

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

‘In brief it is essential to disassociate completely from all that is created and focus towards the Creator.

It is clear that thorough disassociation is not at all possible without limiting the relations (with others) (Obviously non-wajib).

The Shuyukh and salikeen should be vigilant in decreasing these associations. They should be perturbed by the gathering of people around them and the respect they show, etc..

Develop this disposition, because the achievement of perfect state of harmony (with the Divine:wusool) is not possible without it.

Based on experience my opinion is that one must live like a blunt mullah. There should not be expression of overwhelming emotions or distribution of amulets & charms (ta’weez, ganday). Do not emulate the lifestyle of the (contemporary) dervishes. All these thing lead to gathering of people.

Live like a mullah, so that others get an impression that you are a vapid mullah.

Instruct your associated to do the same. Bestow them spiritually whatever you want to confidentially in such a manner that none is suspicious that you possess something (spiritual wealth). Keep the external means afar and hide yourself as much as possible.’

Waaz: al-wasal al-fasal,Tasleem o raza, Khutbaat e Hakimul Ummat ra, volume 15, page 203

The most difficult task!

Shaikh Mawlana Shah Wasiullah Allahabadi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘The most difficult task is to follow (itiba’) someone.

This is not possible without,

1. Cognizance of the knowledge and Gnosis (ma’arifa) held by the one who is being followed,

2. Annihilation (fana) of the self (nafs), moreover absolute annihilation (fana e taam). (That is, abrogation of self direction, opinion, assumptions and expectations.)

Nowadays this type of following is becoming extinct.

Individuals feel repugnance and humiliation in following someone.’

Halaat e Muslih al-Ummat ra, volume 4, page 103

Differentiate between needs & desires


Allah (Most Exalted) says;

‘whereas for the one who feared to stand before his Lord,

and restrained his self from the (evil) desire,[79:40]

the Paradise will be the abode.[79:41]

So, have you seen him who has taken his desires as his god, and

Allah has let him go astray, despite having knowledge, and has sealed his ear and his heart, and put a cover on his eye?

Now who will guide him after Allah? Still, do you not take lesson? (45:23)

———————————————————————-

A need is something that is necessary for an individual to live a healthy life.

Needs are distinguished from desires because a deficiency would cause a clear negative outcome, such as dysfunction or death.

Desire is a sense of longing for a person or object or hoping for an outcome.

—————————————————————————

These desires may be permissible or impermissible.

The Shariah decides these limits and their rulings. The way of Sunna delineates how to safeguard these limits. Finally, the tariqat ensures how these limits are effectively implemented in one’s life practically.  Hence, a faithful believer is ensured salvation from the above mentioned Quranic admonition.

 

Three basic rights of every Muslim

–

‘It is essential that you provide the following three things to every Muslim;

1. If you can not provide any benefit to him, do not harm him.

2. If you can not make him happy, do not make him sad.

3. If you can not praise him, do not condemn him.

Ahzab tahzib un nafus,  Munajat e maqbool, (zamimajat, Saeedi), page 312