Hadhrat Haji Imdadullah mohajir Makki (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“Acquiring lot of knowledge is useless until you act on what you know.”
Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 3, page 271
Category Archives: N. Advice
We Muslims!
Hadhrat Mawlana Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) said,
“One should clearly distinguish between the Islamic teachings and the general practice of the Muslims. Unfortunately, we are living in an age where the vast majority of the Muslims are not aware of the noble teachings of Islam nor do they practice them in their day-to-day lives. Instead, they are mostly influenced by the different cultures in which they are/have been living. Therefore, everything the Muslims practice cannot be attributed to Islam. When one evaluates the virtues of Islam, he should not refer to the practice of the Muslims of today; rather he should turn to the principles laid down in the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah. Obviously, if the Muslims have abandoned the guidance of the Shari’ah, it cannot be seen as a defect in the Shari’ah itself. It is a defect in those who have deprived themselves of this Divine Guidance.”
From: Pearls of the Elders
What to do?
In regards to the present depressing condition of the Ummah, Hadhrat Mawlana Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) said,
“It is grossly inappropriate to waste time discussing the current situation the Muslim Ummah is in these days. The best thing is to turn towards Allah and ask for forgiveness and guidance in this regards.
Our pious elders have stated that if in a difficult situation a person’s attention towards Allah is increased then it means that these hard times are there to atone his misgivings and elevate his status in here-after. However, if he turns away from Allah then it is feared to be a punishment. May Allah save us all from it.”
Waaz 22 July 2007, Darul Uloom Karachi, after asr islahi bayan
Ignore
Hadhrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) said,
“It is not beneficial to confront and repudiate everything that is eccentric. Somethings have to be just ignored. This ignoring them is their solution.”
Islahi majalis, volume 4, page 242
Late night discussions
Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“I feel like shooting those individuals who I observe are engaged in discussions after isha salah (evening prayers).”
This is to emphasize the importance of taking means to ensure waking up for tahajjud salah, which is essential for those traveling the path.
Solitude/Khalwat
Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“Even if a person is not able to perform other works (for his spiritual progress), he should at least appoint some time daily and sit silently in solitude. Doing this, inshaAllah, will direct him to the path.”
Rehmat al Qudoos translation & commentary of Allama Ibn Abi Jumra ra’s Bahjatun nafoos, page 23
Avoiding useless
Hadhrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) instructed a spiritual aspirant,
“Avoid all useless activities. Everything that is permissible but does not have any benefit in this life or the life to come is useless. Contemplate before indulging in any activity whether this is useful for me or not. Be vigilant. Involvement in useless is a big obstacle in traversing the path (sulook).”
Turn to Allah
Hadhrat Mawlana Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) said,
“Our city (Karachi) is going through difficult times these days. Every one is worried and restless. Almost every house faces a problem either directly or indirectly. In spite of that our condition is that we only discuss the situation and comment on it. But, are there any among us who are really concerned and who turn to Allah and pray to Him to correct the situation? “O Allah! We are faced with difficulty. The consequences of our sins have overwhelmed us. O Allah! Be merciful to us and remove the worrying condition from us”
Discourses on Islamic Way of Life (Vol:10)
From at-Tazkirah
Upbringing Muslim Children
Hadhrat Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“Most of the people do not pay necessary attention required for the proper upbringing of children. They postpone accurate training in childhood saying they are just kids.
However, this is the age for establishing permanent habits. The characteristics developed at this age last for ever. This is the time to correct the morals (ikhlaq) and strengthen their thoughts (Islamicaly). (As an example of concrete learning at this age) consider this, a child stays with his parents from birth and regards them as his mother and father. Later in life even if many people were to raise suspicion about this, he would never doubt about them being his parents. The learning in childhood is so solid that it does not wear away except when Allah wants it to be erased.”
Malfoozat-e-kamalat-e-Ashrafiya #637, pg 146
Raising Muslim children is very challenging and one of the most difficult responsibilities for the parents.
Following are some essential tips to help.
They have been gathered from saying of our pious elders (akabir):
1. Set an example. Be a role model for them by doing your own self-reformation (islah) sincerely.
2. Make the environment of the home Islamic as much as possible. Television is a big obstacle in raising morally responsible, modest (ba-haya) and well disciplined children.
3. Maintain exemplary relations with your spouse. No bickering, ridicule, temper tantrums and caustic remarks. Children learn what they see and experience.
4. Give them the best of your attention, love, material resources, time and training. But set expected standards and implement them firmly.
5. Make a routine of reading regularly from the books of our mashaykh with them. Select simple books, like Bashiti zewar, Hayyutul Muslimeen, Asan nakiyan. Read one or two pages daily. At the most 10-15 minutes. This is the most stressed and most beneficial. Do not worry if they seem too young to understand. Develop a habit. InshaAllah, it will illuminate their heart and make it receptive of good later in life.
6. Remember making them truly religious is more important than making them hafiz and alim. A non-practicing scholar (hafiz/alim) is worse than a practicing lay person (jahil).
7. Take them regularly to visit mashaykh and to get their dua.
8. Select a pious Shaykh/scholar who is steadfast in following Shariah & Sunna in your locality and visit his lectures and discourses regularly.
9. Seek families who share the same Islamic values as yours as friends. Special effort has to be made for this.
10. Make lot of supplications (dua) for them. Make it for their efficient religious upbringing and also sufficient worldly progress. Mufti-e-Azam Pakistan Hadhrat Mufti Mohammed Shafi’ (may Allah have mercy on him) has mentioned in Mariful Quran that the most effective thing in proper upbringing (tarbiyat) of children is parents’ supplication (dua) for them in this regards.
And the success is from Allah.
Irritating spouse
An individual requested special prayers (dua) complaining that his wife was irritating him a lot.
Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) replied,
“Do not be distrubed by wife’s pestering. This is also a spiritual struggle (mujahida). You will be rewarded for it*. Let her annoy you.”
Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 1, page 432
*(Especially, if you handle the situation correctly with the patience, wisdom and kind & caring attitude in return.)
Lack of importance
Hadhrat Mawlana Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) said,
“Once my respected teacher Mufti Rasheed Ahmad visited Mawlana Khair Mohammad Jahlinderi (may Allah have mercy on them) a senior khalifa of Hadhrat Thanawi and founder of Khairul Madaris Multan, after a considerable period of time.
Hadhrat Mawlana complained that it had been a very long time since he last visited. Mufti Rasheed excused that it was becuase of being very busy that he could not come. Hadhrat Mawlana lovingly chided him that the excuse of not having time for something is evident of lack of importance of that thing.”
Hadhrat Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah allow us to benefit from him abundantly) added,
“These days people often write to me that we are unable to complete our daily recitations (wird) because of our hectic schedule. This is evident of their priorities. Things less important are neglected. How can these people traverse the path?”
Waaz 4/2007
Essentials of a Salik’s routine
20th Ramadhan 1427
(Before going for Asr)
On my first day, when Hadhrat Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) was going for asr prayer, I asked Hadhrat what should I do while being there (staying in Darul Uloom to be in the company of the Sheikh)?
Hadhrat db told me to do the following:
1. Excessive recitation of the Holy Quran
2. Performance of Tahajjud salah
3. Dhikir of dowazdah tasbeeh (zikir of our tareeqa)
Meraj us Salikeen: Malfoozat Ramadhan 1427
Building determination
An individual wrote in detail about his unsteady state. That is, for a period of time he becomes a good pious Muslim, praying and abstaining from all that is forbidden but after a few days or a month he slips back to the old bad ways. He requested advice on how to overcome this instability and give up sins altogether.
Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) replied, The condition you have described is not unusual. Many individuals face this problem.
The underlying reason for it is the low level of determination. Increasing the determination to a higher level can treat it.
Two things augment the growth of this determination. Firstly, the best and most effective means is to stay in the company of the Pious (ahlul Allah) for some duration following their recommendations wholeheartedly. If this is not possible then the second best option is to read (Imam Ghazali’s) Alchemy of Happiness (Keymiah Sa’adet) regularly with concentration.
And the other thing is to keep me (the Sheikh) informed of your condition at regular intervals.
Tarbiyat us Salik, volume 1, page 224
How to bring a change?
Hadhrat Mawlana Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) speaking on the present condition of the Muslim Umma said,
“For the time being forget about others.
Focus on yourself.
Rectify and reform your condition.
Look at your own deficiencies, not at the faults of others.
Practice Islam completely. Do not limit it to worships (ibadaat) alone. Your social, financial dealings and moral characteristics should be in compliance with Shariah rulings.
To do so, select a guide. Inform him about your deficiencies and ask for guidance.
If each and every individuals starts doing like this the whole community and eventually the Ummah will improve.”
Talk at Masjid Abu Bakar Siddiq ra,
A unique way of self reform
Hadhrat Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him said,
“Whenever I find the need of reforming myself, I speak on that specific shortcoming of mine (in a public lecture). This is a very beneficial. My speech entitled Ghadab (Anger) is an example of this.”