Category Archives: Q. Akabir

Spiritual involvement

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Shaykh Jalaluddin Thanesari (Allah have mercy on him d.989 Hijra) said,

‘The seeker of truth suffices in the spiritual involvement (shugal e batini, i.e. methods of developing remembrance, concentration and awareness) after fulfilling the essential (faraidh) and Sunna actions. He does not stress on physical worship and supererogatory (nawafil) actions like the ascetics.’

Irshad ut Talibeen, page 11

Essential advice for salik

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Shaykh al-Mashaikh Haji Imdadullah mohajir makki (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘Keep away from the company of Sufis that act against the Shariah.

Meet other people with good manners only as required.

Consider yourself to be the lowest creature.

Do not criticize anyone.

Speak with compassion.

Love being silent and alone (khalwah).

Keep your time well planned.’

Taleem ud deen, page 227

(The edition by Maktaba e Rehmania, Lahore is the best currently available. It has explanation and translation of all Arabic and Persian quotes in footnotes.)

This path: diving for pearls

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Shaykh al-akbar Muhyuddin ibn ‘Arabi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘It is from the criterion of being a Shaykh that he takes into account each breath and every action of the murid.  He puts additional pressure on the one who is more obedient and adherent. This is because this is the path of hardship. It does not have any involvement of leniency in it. The dispensations (rukhs) are for the general public because they are content that they remain faithful and Muslims by name. They fulfill the very basic requirements (faraidh) imposed on them by Allah.

However, an individual who aspires for highest levels beyond that of the general public for him it is essential to bear extra hardships.

A person who desires to wear a pearl necklace must brace the depths of the ocean and hold his breath. This is essential to dive in the ocean (and get pearls).’

Adab al-Shaykh wal-murid, via Madhmun e zikr, MTM-U, volume 3, page 25

 

Purpose of bay’a: Observance of Sunna

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A person requested pledge (bay’a) from Hadhrat Mian Asghar Hussain (may Allah have mercy on him), a senior Shaykh and instructor at Darul Uloom Deoband.

Hadhrat inquired what was his purpose do so?

‘Divine union (wisal e haq)’, the individual replied.

‘ All praise is for Allah, you have very lofty aspirations’, Hadhrat cheerfully chided him.

‘My brother! The only purpose of taking the pledge should be that observance of the Sunna in all aspects of life is facilitated. That is it’, he continued.

And things like strong perpetual relationship with Allah (nisbet) and Divine union (wisal) are the states and talks of high ranking pious people (and not for ordinary sinful people like us).’

Halat Musleh ul Ummat ra, page 94

A Special Dua

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Hakeem al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) said:

 

“Imam e A’zam Abu Hanif (Allah have mercy on him) used to tell that whatever blessings I have received is due to the blessing (barakh) of this dua

اللهم انا نستعينك علی طاعتك

)O Allah SWT! We seek your assistance in performance of all virtuous deeds(

(Majalis e Hakemul Ummat ra 246)

To be included in one’s daily supplications.

Passing on the reward to Akabir

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A spiritual aspirant wrote his occassional routine of distributing food to the needy and forwarding its reward (esal e thawab) to the senior Sufis of the tariqa.

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

“This is a reward earning act. However, in doing so the intention should not be to gain spiritual benefit (faiz) from the blessed souls of these pious individuals.”

Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 1, page 436

Most likely this is because it is against sincerity (ikhlas). It is just like giving a gift to someone with the intention that he will repay in kind or more.

Remembrance of Allah

Qutub e ‘alam Shaykh al-mashaikh Mawlana Rasheed Ahmad Gangohi (Allah have mercy on him) wrote,

‘The remembrance of Allah (dhikr) is such a thing that if done consistently even with (non-volitional) unawareness, random thoughts, stress of worldly involvements merely with the movement of tongue then also it is beneficial and illuminates the qalb (heart).’

Madhmoon e dhikr, Majmua’ Talefat e Muslih al-Ummat ra, volume 3, page 6

Spiritual recession

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A person complained that now he did not feel motivated to do good deeds. Previously he had this motivation but it has ended.

Shaykh Mawalana Rasheed Ahmad Gangohi (Allah have mercy on him) replied,

‘There are three reasons for one’s spiritual recession,

1. Corrupt companionship (suhba)

2. Suspicious food (unlawfully obtained or non-halal/dhabiha)

3. Involvement in sinful activities.

Analyze your situation and whatever the reason is from these, try your best to fix it. ‘

Sulook wa Ahsan: Irshadate Faqih al-Ummat ra, page 333

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[P.S. For us this companionship may be that of people, books, magazines, television, DVDs or Internet sites]

Good of this world?

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

‘The author of Ruh al-Ma’ani has explained the meaning of ‘good of this world’ as sound health and serenity (‘afiyet).’

What is ‘afiyet?

Our master Shaykh Ahmad Kabir Rifai (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘Be considerate of the blessing of serenity. The reality of which is that the process of breathing continues without discomfort, the daily sustains is achieved without (much) hardship and the good actions are done without ostentation.”

Mujmua e talifat e Muslih al-ummat ra, volume 2, page 12-13

Fearing the fearless!

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It is reported that when Imam Hasan Basri (Allah have mercy on him) was informed of the death of Hajjaj bin Yousef he fell into prostration and said,

اللھم انی اخافك و اخاف من لا یخافك

‘O Allah! I fear You and the one who does not fear You!’

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From malfuzat of Shaykh Hameed-ud-din Nagori (Allah have mercy on him) as quoted in Tarikh Mashaikh e Chisht, volume 1, page 94

Supplication:مخ العبادة

Standing at the Mount Marwa at the completion of Sa’i and Umrah sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) made supplication for very long duration.

One was,

‘O Allah!

Make our stay in Haramain (Holy Makkah & Blessed Medinah) beneficial for us.

Allow us to use our time wisely in deeds that bring proximity to You.

Facilitate these for us.

Amin!’

Umrah,  Wednesday, 02nd March 2011, after esha.

Sufi litanies

An individual inquired regarding the litanies and supplication that pious Sufi Shuyukh compiled, for example hizb al-bahr. That is, in presence of excellent, comprehensive and unparalleled litanies and supplications from Quran and Hadith what was the reason to do so.

Sitting in matawaf behind rukun-e-yamani surrounded by several Indian, Pakistani and local pilgrims, sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) replied,

‘There is no doubt that the supplications  from Quran and Hadith are superior and most effective then others. However, supplication can be done in other ways also. We do them in our dua everyday. Moreover, some of these were  Divinely inspired (ilqa)  to the pious Shuyukh. This is the case of hizb al-bahr.’

Makkah e mukaramah, 4th March 2011, after esha

The objective

Shaykh Abdul Qudoos Gangohi (Allah have mercy on him) advised,

‘It must be understood very clearly  that the objective of acquiring knowledge is to act accordingly.

On the Day of Judgement  the inquiry will be about  the actions performed not regarding the extent of one’s knowledge.

The aim of these actions is to acquire sincerity and love of Allah.’

Maktubat e Qudoosi, via Tareekh Mashaikh e Chisht, volume 1, page 259