Category Archives: N. Advice

Spiritual benefit (faiz)

Hadhrat Mawlana Abdul-Ghani Phulpuri (may Allah have mercy on him) said,

“Once Hadhrat Haji (Imdadullah) mohajir Makki told my blessed Shaykh (may Allah have mercy on them), ‘Dearest Ashraf Ali! Even when I am talking to others you should remain attentive towards my heart (qalb) aspiring for spiritual benefit (faiz). Do not think that when I am busy talking to others my heart becomes idle (ghafil). Even during these convesations my heart is busy with Allah most High.”

Ma’arifat e Illahiya, page364 

Internet and haya

Respected Sahibzada Amer (may Allah grant him a long and healthy life) a very senior murid of sayyidi wa sanadi said,

“We focus on staying away from television, as most of the programming is un-Islamic. However, little if any attention is paid to the internet. Inappropriate use of internet is more rampant and morally destructive than TV. Even the most religious and pious families are suffering from its corrupt use. Homes are being destroyed by this misuse.

Watching pornographic material, chatting freely with opposite sex individuals (or even same sex but in a lewd way) and reading indecent stuff leads to loss of modesty (haya) in one’s character. 

Modesty (haya) is an essential ingredient for being a true Mulsim.

The beloved Prophet (may Allah’s blessing and peace be on him) said :
“Haya’ (modesty) and Iman (faith) are two (things) that go together. If one is lifted, the other is also lifted.” [al-Hakim]

“Al-Haya’ is part of Iman.”
“Haya’ does not produce but goodness.”
[al-Bukhari and Muslim]

 ‘Every deen has an innate character. The character of Islam is modesty.’ (Muwatta)

“Modesty is part of faith, and faith leads to heaven; while vulgarity is part of unfaith, and unfaith leads to hell.” (Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, Ibn Majah and Al-Hakim)”

Awareness regarding this issue has to be created in all Muslims.  

May Allah save us from the inappropriate use of His blessings. Amin!”

Jeddah, KKNGH, MC 1, 11#8

Signs of false sufis

Their sufism is focused on and limited to anti-wahabi rhetoric and ritualism. Certain specific practices (rasoom) for remembrance (zikr, sama’, etc.) and celebration (hawl, milad, etc) are over emphasized. The stress on acquiring the knowledge of actions of the heart (maqamat) and the spiritual training (tarbiyet) to develop these are completely ignored. Hence, their tasawwuf does not lead to gnosis (marifah) and perfect slave-hood (‘ubodiyah). This is reflected in their noncompliance to Shariah rulings in the truest sense in all matters of their daily life.

The sulook ‘tip’

As per teachings of sayyidi wa sandi Hadhrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) following was written to a sincere brother searching for a Shaykh,

“The “tip” in sulook is yak dar geer muhkam geer or tauheed e matlab. That is after carefully selecting a Shaykh sticking to him no matter what.

People slip and fall. It is natural. They blame themselves or their shuyukh and then start doubting their selection or become shy and non-open to Shaykh. This peer-murid relationship is a very intimate relationship. To benefit you have to be very open. Not even try to hide anything. How can the Shaykh reform and do islah if he is not made aware of the short comings?

What is the purpose of bayat/islah? If murid was already perfect, what was the need to go through the Shaykh? Wird, zikr and other things are prescribed to facilitate this process. They do can not replace the main thing: the effort of reformation (islah).

Previously this was done by being in presence of Shaykh for long duration of time. That is staying in the khanqah (similar to treatment under direct observation). Now the life is more complex. Very few have this opportunity. It is for this reason that in Ashrafiya tariq correspondence is essential. It may be email, postal letter, sms or telephone conversation. But you have to be very open. Actual details of daily life incidents that are suspicious of moral short comings have to be narrated. For example, your angry attitude displayed by loud voice and sharp comments when your wife asked something mundane have to be reported.”

Amr bil ma’ruf

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

“Under certain circumstances instructing and advising others is merely a praiseworthy action (mustahib, not an absolute essential). However, if this indulgence interferes in one’s essential (wajib) activities than this praiseworthy action becomes impermissible (ghair mubah).”

Irfan e Hafiz: At-Takshshuf, page 184

Allah’s mercy

Sitting in Masjid al-Haram behind the Yemeni corner of Holy Ka’aba sayyidi wa sanadi Hadhrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) was approached by two Saudi individuals. They requested for permission to narrate the Prophetic sayings (sanad e hadith). Hadhrat inquired about their occupation. One was a teacher at Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah and the other a PhD student at the same institute.

 Hadhrat narrated the hadith musalsal bil awaliya to them through his Shuyukh and pointed out to them that the first lesson a student of Islamic sciences gets is that of Allah’s mercy. He emphasized that we should pay special attention to this and become a manifestation of this Divine mercy to the people around us.

Makkah e mukarramah, after ‘isha salah, February 19 2008

Suhba to avoid

Shaykh Sayyid Raziuddin Ahmad Fakhri (may Allah have mercy on him) instructed the travelers on the path (salikeen),

” The four imperatives for treating a medical illness are,

1. Correct diagnosis

2. Appropriate consultation and treatment

3. Healthy diet

4. Avoidance of harmful things

Similarly in treatment of the diseases of the soul (batin) these all are essential. However, most crucial in them is the fourth item. That is, avoidance of harmful things. This means to avoid inappropriate companionship (suhba).

What is inappropriate suhba?

Anything, be it an individual person, a thought, a voice, a visual scene, a speech, a written material, a sign, a statement, in summary any entity that is not compatible with the actions, thoughts, mode and method of the traveler on this path is deleterious companionship that has to be avoided.”

Ahl e sulook per achi buri sohbet kay aseraat, page 6 &14

A request

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

“Time is an invaluable and a precious source for our life’s investment.

Every second our life span is decreasing.

Hence, preparation for here-after (akhira) should not be delayed further.

I request you to start working from today.”

Ma’moolat e yoomia, page 6 

Socializing

Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) advised a muridah who complained regarding her husband’s anti-social attitude,

“In these days and times it is not advisable to have lot of social contacts. You must be selective and discreet in socializing only with those people who share the same values, thoughts and life style as yourself.”

When in trouble

A murid who was extremely disturbed by serious marital issues consulted Shaykh Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) and told in detail about his problems and asked what should he do to avoid similar mistakes in future. Shaykh adviced him,

“Hand over all your issues to Allah.

Have faith in Him.

Bury the past and  make a fresh start from today.”

Advice

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

“A dervish adviced me to be careful and not to lose my own belongings in the effort to save others stuff. Meaning that in endeavor to guide others I should not fall in to a clamity myself.”

Kaleed e masnavi, volume 21, page 118