Category Archives: N. Advice

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

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

1_time

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

Marital Relationship & Taqwa

roses1

Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) said:

“My respected father Hadhrat Mufti Mohammad Shafii’ (amy Allah have mercy on him) used to say that the healthy and happy relations between husband and wife are not at all possible unless they have taqwa: the fear of Allah, in their heart.

The degree of intimacy between them can never be found in any other relationship. Both are sharing one another’s secrets and are so close to each other that a closer relationship can never be imagined of. These relations are such that they can not be known to others in detail. Under such conditions, when they are in private and intimate, if one partner decides to hurt the other or disregard his/her rights who is going to stop him/her?

There are many rights if they are not executed, one can report to the police or claim them through the court. But most of the rights of husband and wife are such that they can not be reported to the police or be demanded via court. The judicial system at the most will make it possible to claim for wife’s monetary allowance and meher but what about the husband’s arrogant attitude and bitter speech? Which court or police is going to reimburse for these hurtful things?

There is only one thing that can prevent these hurtful things from happening. It is the fear of Allah (taqwa).

That is, when the husband realizes that Allah by uniting his wife to him (via nikah) has imposed some rights for her. These are obligations for me to fulfill. I am bound to undertake them. If I do not comply with them I will be accountable before Allah.
Until this realization arises one can not discharge other’s (marital) rights thoroughly.

(Marry but Fear Allah SWT: Islahi Khutbat 73-73 Volume 11)

Be intelligent!

alim

Shaykh Shah Wasiullah (may Allah have mercy on him) said,

Imam Abdur-Rehman Ali al-Jauzi (may Allah have mercy on him) has stated in his book ‘Kital al-azkiya’ that,

From all the bounties of Allah bestowed on human beings the most phenomenal is the intellect. This is because it is the instrument of acquiring the  knowledge of Allah (ma’arifa). It helps in the organizing the demands of religion and this world.  It enables one to focus on the eventual outcome. It leads to understanding of complicated things. It drives one to go for the the beneficial things and accumulate them.’

Mawlana Shah Ahlullah, brother of Shah Waliullah (may Allah have mercy on them) stated this in his booklet “Chahar bab’,

‘Intelligence, prudence and far-sightedness are innate qualities but they grow and improve with increase in experience, company of the wise individuals, reading of books of knowledge and listening to tales of wisdom and general advice. Therefore, one must try constantly to improve his mental capabilities.

Furthermore, physical and mental struggle must be done to establish one’s self as intelligent and not being  in the category of stupids.

Intellect is a unique entity. It must be utilized appropriately and not wasted.’

I remind you, that we do not utilize it appropriately and hence we destroy the benefits of both this world and the here-after. As though, we have kept our mental abilities on hold. This in particular I find in the religious individuals. They are totally handicapped in this regards.

Tazkira e musleh al-Umma, page 134

Be very careful of the saintly ones

Shaykh al-Hadith Mawlana Zakiriyya Kandehlawi mohajir Madani (may Allah have mercy on him) said,

اللهم انا نعوذبك من عذابك و غضب رسولك و غضب اوليائك

‘O Allah we seek refuge in You from your anger and from the anger of your Rasul and your saintly servants.’

This is something concerning which I have written many times.

Be very careful of the saintly ones.

May Allah protect us from their anger and displeasure.

Aap beeti

Tips to Alleviate Hardships

deathvalley3

Hakim al-Umma Shaykh Ashraf Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘Actions that diminish sufferings and hardships include:
– Recalling your transgressions (sin)
– Reminding yourself of the reward/compensation on hardships
– Reflecting that in hardship there is test of  faith(’eman). That is, it analyzes if there is faith present or not.
– Remembering, it causes a state of overwhelming slave-hood (abdiyat). The dirt of self-assertion, arrogance and pride is cleansed. The reality of one’s being is revealed and the person realizes not to make any boastful claims.
– Bringing to mind that it causes one to perceive the supremacy and grandeur of Allah’s actions and one’s own feebleness.

Hence, hardships result in increasing slave hood(abdiyat).
And the abdiyat is a very distinguished state (maqam).”

Ma’asir Hakeemul Ummat, page 390-1

North Myrtle Beach, SC

Two Steps to Success

success1

Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) said:

Two things are always to be done actively in every endeavor.

Firstly take the initiative and start working and secondly beseech Allah for its successful completion.

These two things are to be done for all things during your whole life and inshaAllah, you will succeed.

My Shaykh (Arifbillah Dr. Abdul Hayy Arifi ra) used to tell us, “Talk to Allah”.

Tell Him, “O Allah! I was involved in all these bad deeds, now I have taken the step to reform. Some of the sins I gave up but giving up the rest of them is becoming difficult for me due to the overpowering by my lower-self (nafs), shaytan, environment and my circumstances.

You alone can remove these overwhelming factors. It is not within my capability to do so. O Allah! Please, remove these crushing obstacles or else do not reprimand me in hereafter regarding them.”

Talk to Allah like this. Then you will find out how things work up for the best and how you are saved from the sins by Allah.

(Help comes after initiating the action: Islahi Khutbat 139-141/volume 11)

Kissimmee, FL

Committing a sin thinking

ihdinassiratalmustaqim_1

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

Committing a sin thinking it will decrease (or eliminate) the desire for that sin (in the future) is a deception of Shaytan. Yes, the desire will be decreased temporarily but the faculty and power of committing sin will be strengthened (long term) resulting in the eradication of sin becoming beyond ones power and strength.

From: Advices of Hakim al-Umma: Part One

Company of the Pious

hamidtawaffini

It is the third thing in our list of actions leading to creation of ta’luq ma’Allah/Love of Allah swt. Most probably this is the most effective means of achieving it.

Here, pious are those who already posses this ta’luq/Love. First most in them is the Sheikh himself or whom ever he suggests and approves. The benefits of this companionship are to felt and lived. The words can not describe them in the fullest sense. Here we will mention a few.

Once a person asked Hazrat Thanvi qaddas sirrahu, that the famous verse;
Yak zamana suhbat ba awliya
Behter az sed sala ta’et e bay-riya

(Momentary companionship of Friends of Allah swt is better than hundred years of sincere worship) seems to be an exaggeration. How can this be possible?
Hazrat Thanvi ra replied that, “It was no exaggeration at all. Moreover, the message was still not completely conveyed. If the poet had said;
Yak zamana suhbat ba awliya
behter az sed lekh sala ta’et e bay-riya
(Momentary company of Friends of Allah swt is better than million years of sincere worship), it would not have been an exaggeration.”

This is because in the company of pious/awliya you get more than the sincerity. You get this ta’uluq ma’Allah/love of Allah swt. This is the master key for all further good actions.

Another benefit is that in the company of the pious one repeatedly hears useful knowledge and tips for putting this to practice in every day life. This will motivate the clumsiest of the mureed to action.

Additionally, there is the benefit of dua (prayers) of the pious. Seeing a sincere aspirant working diligently they make prayer for him. InshaAllah, there is conviction that their prayer are accepted.

Also by keeping their company, one starts to admire them and imitate them. This hastens the spiritual progress.

Essential to acknowledge is that this company needs to be for considerable duration of time (months/years), with sincerity and total obedience to bear its fruit.Being physically present in the company of the Sheikh as much as possible in different settings is needed. Corresponding with him often via mail, e-mail and telephone can be a substitute if physical presence is not possible.In the tareeq of Hazrat Hakeem ul Ummat ra regular correspondence between the Sheikh and mureed is a must cornerstone of spiritual improvement effort.

Masti kay leyay boay maay tund hay kafi
Maakhanay ka mehroom bhi mehroom nahi hay
According to Hazrat Hakeemul Ummat ra company of the pious is a compulsory obligation (fardh a’yn) in this era for each and every Muslim. It is the vital means of saving ones faith.

Our busy daily schedule and complicated lifestyle does not seem to accommodate company of the pious!It is all about our priorities. Things which we consider important are somehow adjusted in the same busy schedule.Those who are serious regarding the tareeq have to make this their number one priority.

However, the tareeq is not rigid and inadaptable. When genuine reasons for not being physically present exist, there are other means to get some similar benefit if not exactly the same.They are:

1. Reading books of the past Mashaykh of the tareeq.Most important are the sermons (mawa’iz, 30 volumes, 500 pages each) and suhba talks (malfoozat, 25 voulmes, 250 pages each) of Hakeemulummat Hazrat Thanvi ra. Also books by A’rifbillah Dr. Abdul Hayy ra (especially Basair Hakeemulummat). And finally books by Sidi wa Sanadi Moulana Mohammad Taqi Usmani sahib dbt (specifically, Islahi Khutbat 14 volumes, & Islahi Majalis 5 voulmes, 300 page each).

2. Listening to the spiritual discourses of the Sheikh. Alhumdulillah, more than five hundred such discourses delivered by Sidi wa Sanadi Moulana Mohammad Taqi Usmani sahib dbt are available both in audio cassettes and MP3 CDs. Some of them have been posted on worldwide web also.

Continuous effort and trying one’s best to be in the company of the Sheikh whenever possible, even for brief duration will, inshaAllah, lead to the development of this ta’aluq ma’Allah/Love.

Course to lafz hi sekhatay hain
Adami adami banatey hain
Justujo ham ko adami ki hay
Who kitabain abus mangatey hain
(Akbar Allahbadi ra)

Facing antagonism

mlarazakan1

A seeker complained about the Barelvi antagonism.

Shaykh Sayyid Abdush Shakoor Tirmizi* (may Allah have mercy on him) replied,

‘I make supplication (dua in this regards).

Be patient and maintain silence.

Make supplications yourself also.

Maintain complete silence by tongue and heart in this regards.

Advice your acquaintances to do the same.

Do not even discuss these controversial issues. The truth has already been established and disseminated. God-willing (inshaAllah) it is sufficient.

(Beware!) This is the era of calamities (fitna).’

Hayat e Tirmizi, page 134

* A senior khalifaof Shaykh al-Islam Mawlana Zafar Ahmad Usmani and Mufti Mohammad Shafi (may Allah have mercy on them)

Progress

profits_rising_4

Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) said,

‘In a Prophetic tradition (hadith) it is narrated that; the person whose two days are the same is in big loss.

This means that his today was spent in the same manner as yesterday and no progress occurred.

That is, no progress in being more religious, in spiritual evolution, increase in worship and improvement in obedience, following of Sunna and abundance in Allah’s remembrance.’

Jeddah, 5th February 2009