Category Archives: N. Advice

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

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

Khushu: Presence of mind in salah

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

It is recommendable that while reciting sura al-Fatiha in salah to stop at each verse for few seconds and bring to mind the response Allah gives to the the praying individuals as it has been reported in the text Sahih al-Muslim. l

Allah the Exalted had said: I have divided the prayer into two halves between Me and My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks.i

When the servant says: Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the universe, Allah the Most High says: My servant has praised Me.i

And when he (the servant) says: The Most Compassionate, the Merciful, Allah the Most High says: My servant has lauded Me.o

And when he (the servant) says: Master of the Day of judgment, He remarks: My servant has glorified Me. and sometimes He would say: My servant entrusted (his affairs) to Me.u

And when he (the worshiper) says: Thee do we worship and of Thee do we ask help, He (Allah) says: This is between Me and My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for.i

Then, when he (the worshiper) says: Guide us to the straight path, the path of those to whom Thou hast been Gracious not of those who have incurred Thy displeasure, nor of those who have gone astray, He (Allah) says: This is for My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for.i

قال رسول الله صلى الله علیه وسلم :قال الله تعالى : قسمت الصلاة بینی وبین عبدی نصفین ، ولعبدی ما سأل ،

فإذا قال العبد:{الحمد لله رب العالمین}، قال الله:حمدنی عبدی .

فإذا قال:{الرحمن الرحیم}، قال:اثنى علی عبدی.

فإذا قال:{مالک یوم الدین}،قال :مجدنی عبدی.

وإذا قال:{إیاک نعبد وإیاک نستعین}، قال:هذا بینی وبین عبدی ، ولعبدی ما سأل.

فإذا قال :{اهدنا الصراط المستقیم.صراط الذین أنعمت علیهم غیر المغضوب علیهم ولا الضالین}، قال:هذا لعبدی .ولعبدی ما سأل.

حدیث صحیح امام مسلم

Dars Tafseer -e-Quran, (Being recorded at al-Hira School audio room, Darul Uloom Karachi) Ramadan 1432/August 2011. Please, make dua that this mega project is completed with ‘afiyet. JazakAllah.e

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.

 

رمضان المبارك ١٤٣٢ بیان :١

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

وعظ

رمضان المبارك ١٤٣٢ بیان :١

Post Ramadan effort: preserving the momentum

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For development and maintenance of  reverence of God (taqwa) in our post-Ramadan life sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) said,

1.Leave sinful activities:

Be strict on holding your lower (nafsani) desires. Make a firm determination. Do not yield to these sinful desires easily. These desires and Satan are our two arch enemies.

2. Change the thought pattern.

The mind is constantly occupied with thoughts. There is no gap or vacuum in this process. These thoughts are either of worldly matters or useless issues or sinful activities. It is essential to intervene and develop a spiritually healthy though pattern. We have to actively think about hereafter, heavens, thankfulness of Allah for the innumerable bounties and blessings bestowed upon us, asking refuge for anticipated calamities, repenting from sinful activities, etc.

3. Adopt pious company

This is the most effective way to achieve the change of thought pattern. It leads to absorption, assimilation and implementation of the Divine teachings in our life. Without the company of the the pious the Deen remains limited to superficial level.

4. Make remembrance of Allah

Set up a daily routine of making remembrance of Allah. There are three categories of remembrance of Allah. First is that it is done with the tongue without presence of mind. Second is when tongue is silent and there is mindfulness. Finally, when both tongue and mind are making the remembrance together. Do not under evaluate even the first category. It is a stepping stone for the rest of the categories. Moreover, with consistency it eventually engulfs the mind also.

Make a daily time table for this. The daily activities done in an organised method creates barakah in time. More things are done in the same period of time. Include in it these four things, recitation of Holy Quran atleast two pages daily, durood, third kalima and istegfar. Fix a specific time for them. In other times recite whatever form of remembrance comes to mind.

The remembrance of Allah (dhikr) is a form of energy and power. It assists in development of determination to fight the lower desires.

5. Make supplication (dua)

Set a specific time for this. Like prior to sleeping, after esha. For few minutes sit and supplicate.

Say, ‘O Allah I want to follow the path You are pleased with. I want to control my thoughts, aspirations and desires as per Your desires. You have repeatedly instructed us in the Holy Quran to do so. How can I do it? I am weak. My determination and effort are feeble. Provide from Your benevolence and mercy the determination, power and motivation so I can control my desires and make them totally subservient to Your commands.’

Make this supplication daily without any gap. It is impossible that Allah will reject this supplication indeed.

29th Ramadan 1432/30th August 2011, Darul Uloom masjid, after duhur bayan.

Two rules of success

An individual who was opening an Islamic school requested for advice and dua.

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

‘Make sure that whatever you do is with sincerity. That is, to please Allah alone.

Develop the habit of turning to and supplicating to Allah (ruju ila Allah) in all the matters.

Theses two things are the most important rules for success in all the matters of life.

Furthermore, do not make extensive plans for future.

Stick to your principles as per Shariah all the times.’

Then he raised his hands and instructed all present to make dua. A succinct heartfelt dua was made.

Office, 8th Shawwal 1432/7th September 2011

Eid & the right of the family

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) inquired a seeker visiting from Iran towards the very end of Ramadan,

‘Why are you not planning to celebrate Eid with your family?

He was not able to provide a satisfactory answer.

Shaikh added,

‘Celebrating eid with the family is their right.

Go ahead immediately and arrange for your trip home to be with them for eid.’

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