Category Archives: Q. Akabir

The reason for our poor state

 

Shaykh Mohammad Badr ‘Alam (Allah have mercy on him) [died 1385H, buried in Baqi, Medina al-munawwarah] said,

‘The main reason for our current degradation  (as a Muslim nation) in my opinion is that in our hearts the characteristic of being at ease, love, forgiveness, forbearance and having a good opinion (of other fellow individuals) have been replaced by envy, animosity, having a bad opinion and quarrelling without a reason.

Therefore, it is vital that I clarify this reality that as per Islamic teachings the characteristics of being at ease and having mutual love is not only for fellow Muslims alone. It is  a fundamental requirement for all the fellow human beings.’

Jawaher al-Hikam, page 21

Qabdh: Spiritual contraction

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An individual complained that from many days I feel as though the special relationship with Allah (nisbet) has been lifted from me. There remains no interest in the daily wird and worship.

Shaykh Sayyid Zawwar Hussain Shah (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘This is not the removal of nisbet. This state is called the spiritual contraction (qabdh).

The nisbet is removed by committing infidelity (kufr), associating partners with Allah (shirk), involvement in innovations (bida’) and major sins (kabair).

Whereas, the state of qabdh afflicts all including the novice and the advanced spiritual traveler. When it occurs the individual considers that this might be due to indulgence in sinful acts and therefore repents. In fact the repentance done in this state is much more sincere  than done in the state of spiritual expansion (bast).

Whenever afflicted by qabd one should increase in repentance, recite la hawla wa la quwwata illa biallah in abundance and continue with the daily wird and worship with extra effort. There should be no absence from these daily activities, even accomplishing a portion of them will suffice.’

Mahnama Tamir e ifkar, eshaet khas bayad Shaykh Syed Zawwar Hussain Shah (Allah have mercy on him), page 606-7

How to develop determination?

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An individual asked that the pious usually instruct their disciples to develop determination (himmat) for doing good deeds and abstaining from sinful acts. What is the method to develop this determination?

Hakim al-Umma’s khalifa Shaykh Mawlana Khair Mohammad Jalandhari (Allah have mercy on them) replied,

‘The heartfelt acknowledgment of the significance and the importance of a matter instinctively creates the determination (for action).

For example, when one has to travel for an important journey and the train leaves at midnight it is reflexively that one prepares to do so.’

Khair us Sawanih, page 308

تصوف : محبت الھی کا چشمہ

05022010069

………….

مولانا سید ابوالحسن علی ندوی رحمة اللہ علیہ نے فرمایا

اگر تصوف اپنی صحیح روح اور سلوک راہ نبوت کے مطابق ھو اور

یقین ومحبت پیدا ھونے کا باعث ھو

اس سے قوت عمل، جذبہ جھاد ، عالی ھمتی ، جفاکشی

اور شوق شہادت پیدا ھونا لازمی ھے

جب محبت الھی کا چشمہ دل سے ابلے گا

تو روئیں روئیں سے یہ صدا بلند ہو گی۔

اے آنکہ زنی دم از محبت

از ھستی خویشتن پرھیز

بر خیز وبہ تیغ تیز بنشین

یا از رہ راہ دوست برخیز

Purpose of ijazet

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Mufti Mohammad Shafi (Allah have mercy on him) wrote to Sufi Mohammad Iqbal Qureshi (Allah preserve him),

‘At the same time it came in my heart that I should give you the permission (ijazet) to take ba’yit and instruct.  So start this with an intention of self reformation (islah). This is because experience has shown that by being involved in others’ reformation one’s own islah is facilitated.

To do this work read Tarbiyet us Salik, Taleem ud Deen, Tabligh e Deen, etc.  Inform your close friends about this permission.

Khair us Sawanih, page 568

Seeker’s affliction

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Sidi Ahmad Zarruq al-Barnusi al-Fasi (Allah have mercy on him) [1442 – 1493 CE] said,

I have also seen that the seekers of this age are afflicted with five things:

1.The preference of ignorance over knowledge

2. Being deluded by every spiritual impostor

3. The inability to prioritize important matters

4. Using the spiritual path as a means to inflate the selfish soul

5. Attempting to expedite a spiritual opening without fulfilling its prerequisite conditions.

This has resulted in five other afflictions:

1. Preferring innovations as opposed to the tried and true prophetic practice (Sunna)

2. Following the people of claims and conceit as opposed to the truth

3. Acting on capricious desires in all of their affairs, even the most celestial

4. Preferring fantasies to realities

5. The manifestation of claims without sincerity.

Foundations of the Spiritual Path Translated by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf Hanson

The permissible mawlid

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Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah ahve mercy on him) said regarding this,

The first type of gathering is that which does not contain any of the prevalent and customary restrictions (quyud). Neither [does it contain] mubah (permissible) restrictions nor makruh (prohibitively disliked) ones, i.e., it is free from all [sorts of] restrictions. For instance, a few people gathered by coincidence, no one had invited them with any extraordinary effort; rather they were gathered for some other permissible event. In this gathering, either by reading from a book or by delivering a lecture, the blessed event of the birth and the characteristics, habits, miracles and virtues of our Radiant Master (Allah bless him and give him peace), the Lord of the Universe, the Source of Pride for the Prophet Adam (may Allah’s peace be upon him), were narrated based on sound sources.

During this narration, if the need was felt to enjoin good actions and discuss religious rulings and one proceeded in doing so without hesitation or this gathering was held to listen to a religious discourse and within it these blessed events and virtues were narrated, then this is the type [of mawlid] that is permissible without any objection. Moreover, it is sunnah and mustahabb (recommended).

The Honorable Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) narrated his personal events and virtues in a similar way and later his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) narrated them, the chain of which continues through the hadith scholars of present with the blessings of Allah Most High and it will continue until the end of time.

Read the rest of article………………………Mawlid, Deoband and Hanafi fiqh

Source: Deoband.org

Spiritual progress

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Shaykh Sayyid Zawwar Hussain Shah (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘The progress in spiritual path (sulook) is not sudden.  It is gradual and therefore, not appreciated by the spiritual traveller.

For example, if someone has hundred rupees in his pocket the addition of one more does not draw any attention and is, therefore, most of the time  not appreciated.  However, when this addition increases to two hundred then the increase is evidently appreciated.

In most of the instances the spiritual aspirant can not gauge his own progress. The Shaykh, however, assesses this by various signs and symptoms and leads him further on the path. ‘

Mahnama Tamir e ifkar, eshaet khas bayad Shaykh Syed Zawwar Hussain Shah (Allah have mercy on him), page 596

Shaykh Syed Zawwar Hussain Shah (Allah have mercy on him) was born in a Shiafamily. It was after correspondence with Hakim al-Umma Shaykh Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) he became a Sunni.

Levels of following Sunna

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Shaykh Sayyid Zawwar Hussain Shah (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘Shaykh Mujaddid Alif Thani (Allah have mercy on him) has described seven levels of following the Sunna. (It is in his  maktubat, letter number 54, volume 2).

What the general public and scholars of the outward (ashab e zawahir)consider following of the Sunna is the very first level.’

 

Mahnama Tamir e ifkar, eshaet khas bayad Shaykh Syed Zawwar Hussain Shah (Allah have mercy on him), page 608

 

Following Sunna:Fana fi Rasul

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Shaykh Fazlur-Rehman Ganjmuradabadi (Allah have mercy on him) replied to a question regarding this,

‘When the following of Sunna beomes an instinct then it is the condition of annihilation in the blessed Prophet (Allah’s blessing and peace be upon him), i.e. fana fi Rasul.’

Mahnama Tamir e ifkar, eshaet khas bayad Shaykh Syed Zawwar Hussain Shah (Allah have mercy on him), page 608

Teaching by example

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Sayyidi wa sanadiShaykh Mufti Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) is in the blessed Medinah these days.

With the Saudi school mid year vacations there is a huge crowd of pilgrims.

Going for the Friday prayers an individual inquired the Shaykh where could he find him in the Haram.  The Shaykh replied that  usually he tries to be in the first row of the mosque.  To do so he left two and half hours before the juma salah time.

This apparently ‘ordinary thing’ is a teaching for all of us who are trying to improve their condition.

The excellence of praying in the first row, coming early for Friday prayers, sitting with the intention of e’itkaf, reading Holy Quran, reciting tasbih & salawat, offering salat at-tasbih, waiting for salah, etc. are things with numerous rewards mentioned in the Prophetic sayings.

Setting our priorities appropriately and useful utilization of time is the key to implementing these things in our practical life.

May Allah facilitate this for us. Amin!

Friday, 12th Feburary 2010, Medinah e munawwarah

Dua requested

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Shaykh-al-’Arab wa -al-’Ajam ‘Arif Billah Hazrat Mawlana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Sahib (Allah preserve him) is very ill. Hazratwala (DB) is in critical condition for the last few days.

Please, make supplication (dua) for complete recovery with ‘afiyet.

JazakAllah!

Teachings of Awliya

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Grand Mufti of Pakistan, Mufti Mohammad Shafii’, senior khalifa of Hakeem al-Umma (Allah have mercy on them) writes:

“The narratives regarding the senior Awliya Allah fall under three categories;

  1. Those regarding their kashaf & karamat (unveiling and miracles)
  2. Those related to their higher levels of ibadah (worship) and piety.
  3. Finally, their advice and instruction for improvement to general Muslims.

From all these it is this third thing that the general Muslims have to read and learn with utmost emphasis. This is because it is essence of the teachings of Awliya. It is the most effective medicine for betterment of Muslims.”

Preface, Nuzhatul Basateen (Translation of Imam Yafai’i ra’s Rawdh ur Reyaheen+) page 6. Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) supervised the translation of this book and recommended its reading for salikeen to develop and increase the love of Allah.

It is published by HM Saeed Co., Karachi, Pakistan. It is freely available at major Islamic bookstores.