Category Archives: T. Tarbiyet

Contains principle and guidelines on training and disciplining of the morals (ikhlaq) of murid

Cure for love

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An individual wrote, I have fallen in love with a boy. I just want to see him all the time. My condition has deteriorated to a level that can not be verbalized. Please, help me. 

Shaikh Wasiullah Allahabadi (Allah have mercy on him) replied, 

‘The first step to cure of this ailment is to create great physical distance from the beloved (meaning no seeing or any sort of contact with him).  When you do this, inform me and I will instruct you further.’

Wasiyetul Irfan, May 1995

These days people ask for help in similar conditions but they don’t take this very first step. It must be very clear that without this essential thing nothing else will be effective. Shaikh rehmatullah would not even instruct any further without this step. 

Question 

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Shaikh Wasiullah Allahabadi (Allah have mercy on him) wrote to a disciple ,

‘You are coming (to me) for so many days now, however, neither have you become involved in (religious) work as required nor have you developed the understanding as per my standards. The reason for this is not reading the essential books of Maulana (Ashraf Ali) Thanvi (Allah have mercy on him). Why is this so? This coming (to me) is just in vain or for religious betterment (Islah). 

The (religious/Islah) work starts after acquiring knowledge. What will an individual without knowledge do?

If you have understood something from this write it (back) to me’

Maktubaat e Islahi , wasiyet al Irfan, May 1995, page 19-20

Blameworthy morals lead to loss of tawfeeq

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah protect and preserve him. Ameen!) instructed senior Mufti of Gilgit,

‘Be vigilant in protecting yourself from thoughts of self praise and arrogance. That is, I am a scholar, a Mufti, I am superior to others. Etc.

Remember that acting on blameworthy morals lead to diminishing facilitation (tawfeeq) of good deeds.

A real loss indeed.’

Office Darul Uloom Karachi, 30/4/1438: 29/1/2017, after zuhar

Instructions to a female regarding new dresses 

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A female spiritual aspirant wrote, ‘Respected sir! I have a desire to wear good, crisp and clean clothes. Allah has bestowed the capacity to do so. Moreover my intention is make my husband happy and my husband also wants this. 

The problem is that whenever I see someone wearing good clothes I deeply desire to buy the same outfit. Most of the time I remain silent, however, occasionally I make a request (to my husband) and eventually get it. 

Sir, please, let me know if this is a spiritual ailment or not. And if it is, then please, prescribe a treatment for it. ‘

Hakim al Umma Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Allah have mercy on him) replied,

‘There are levels of adornment.  The extremes are disliked and the moderate level is recommendable. 

The way of moderation in this matter is not to make similar clothes at that time. If with passage of time this desire slips away then it is well and good. If not, then when there is a need to make new dress get it. If it is unavailable (in the market now) then forget about it. However, if you feel (that by delaying the purchase) you will remain preoccupied by thinking about it then buy it but do not get it stitched. Save it till there is a need for a new dress. This will fulfill your desire without compromising the (household) finances. 

If your husband gives you pocket money in addition to the essential household running costs then add to the above regimen that you buy this dress from your own (pocket) money. This will keep the lowerself (nafs) within limits.’

Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 3, page 136

Wird: تارک الورد ملعون 

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A spiritual seeker wrote, I read in many books the saying تارک الورد ملعون (one who abandons his daily wird is cursed).  What exactly does it mean?

Hakim al Umma Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Allah have mercy on him) replied, 

‘First of all sayings like this are not an evidence without an explicit reference. 

Even if it is considered to be a testament then ‘cursed’ (here) means deprivation from the special blessings that is associated with (the recitation of) this wird. 

In addition the wisdom of wording it so (dramatic) is to state the repugnance of abandoning the daily routine wird without a genuine excuse. This practice (of abandonment of established worship) being abominable is mentioned in sahih Prophetic saying

یا عبداللہ لا تکن مثل فلان کان یصلی بالیل ثم ترکہ

O Abdullah! Do not be like XYZ who use to pray at night and then abandoned it. ‘

Tarbiyet us Salik, volume3, page 134

Anger: How to control it?

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  1. ‘To use will power and determination to stop (display of anger)
  2. If one succumbs (and displays anger) then to repent and
  3.  Ask forgives (from the victim)
  4. To ponder before speaking on the evil and good results it will lead to
  5. To intentionally keep one’s tone mellow (at the time of feeling angry)
  6. To move away from the individual on whom one is feeling angry
  7. To supplicate for Allah’s protection
  8. To recall one’s own sinful actions (and feel ashamed for censuring another for some minor faults)
  9. To recall the possibility of wrath of Allah (on displaying anger) and His love of forgiving
  10. To recall that I am more disobedient of Allah and if similar display of anger is done with me what will I do.
  11. To recall that if I forgive than I will be also forgiven (by Allah)
  12. Drink water
  13. Make wudhu
  14. To become busy in some other activity
  15. To remember that even the display of anger to correct someone else is detrimental for a  novice (spiritual seeker)’

Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 2, page133

Repentance: It is now!

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A letter and it’s reply,

بِسْــــــــــــــــــمِ اﷲِالرَّحْمَنِ اارَّحِيم

السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ

Dear Sheikh,

The Incident involving crash of PIA including have left a grief and sorrow. 

I am not aware, how should I express my feelings but especially these death seems to be a shock and horror for me.

Moreover after the confirmation death news of brother Junaid Jamshed (Allah have mercy on him), it seemed to me an unbelievable fact.

His voice expressed the my emotions. 

The feelings of emotions are getting overwhelmed to me. 

Please advise and make dua for me.

Requesting dua’s for the people in the Incident involving crash of PIA.

Reply

Bismillah 

As salaamu alaykum wrwb 

JazakAllah 

Please remind yourself that this can happen to me also. That is, sudden death. Then analyze if I’m prepared for it or not?

If yes. Then accept congratulations. 

If not. Then ask yourself why and for what I’m waiting? 

Start now. 

Set up a well planned, organized and practical daily schedule in consultation with a spiritual mentor. 

May Allah have mercy on the departed ones and all of us. Ameen!

—————-

These moments of genuine sadness are very precious. One should utilize them by turning sincerely to Allah and making heartfelt supplications especially,for his/her own spiritual betterment.  

Not utilizing this saddens for turning to Allah usually results in depression and despair. May Allah save us all from these.  Ameen!

Moreover this is the message of brother Junaid Jamshed’s life. Repent now!

Khushu’ in salah

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A disciple of Sufi Hameed ud Deen Nagori (Allah have mercy on him) approached him and complained about the overwhelming (thoughts) by Satan (Iblees). That is, he does not allow me to pray two units of salah without causing distress and excessive random thoughts. Please, instruct him not bother me. 

The Shaikh replied,

‘My son! 

He (Satan) came to me before you came. He was complaining about your condition. 

He told me to tell you to abandon the (involvement in unnecessary) worldly affairs.  Only then He will not bother you. Moreover he added that if you do not abandon this and continue to desire worldly involvements then you will have to pay as he did himself. That is with his Deen.’

Suroor as sudoor wa noor al badur (Urdu translation), page 323

Seclusion

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Hakim al Umma Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Allah have mercy on him) once mentioned:

‘Nowadays, salvation lies in keeping to oneself and associating less with people. (In this way, one will be able to concentrate on one’s self reformation and be safeguarded from the wrongs of association and company.) 

I came across the statement of a pious predecessor in a book wherein he stated that when remaining in seclusion, one should not make the intention that he is doing so in order to be saved from the harms of people. Rather, he should remind himself, “I am like a snake or scorpion that can harm people and therefore I should not associate with them in order to protect them from my harm.”

How cautious indeed were our predecessors and seniors in ensuring that they did not fall into self admiration and other similar sins! ‘

(Malfoozaat Husnul Azeez pg.116 Ihyaauddeen.co.za:Saying of the pious#110)

Easy Good Deeds: Book of Sulook

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him) gave this book to an individual who had islahi relationship with him and said, 

‘This compilation is for my friends who seek islah (betterment of their religious condition). 

It summarizes the spiritual path (sulook).

Read it thoroughly and try to incorporate it into your daily life.’

Office, Darul Uloom Karachi 1991

———–

Houston, TX

Paas anfaas پاس انفاس 

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Diaphragmatic_breathing

Hakim al Ummah Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Allah have mercy on him) instructed a very close murid,

‘Start doing ‘paas anfaas‘ and never abandon it.  Try your best that not a single breath escapes without it. Initially, before it becomes a habit set a time period like quarter or half an hour for doing it. You have the choice of selecting لا الہ الا اللہ or any other form. ‘

The murid adds, that previously Hakim al Ummah told me,

‘It is summer these days I will instruct you a paas anfaas that has cooling effect and so it will not cause distress in hot weather.

The method of doing it is to attach your tongue to the palate and recite mentally as you inhale (the line in bold)

And (the line in lighter shade) as you exhale.

Keep your breathing normal while doing so. Intentionally increasing the breathing effort while doing so leads to development of diseases. ‘

Murid further adds, Hakim al Ummah used to say that,’I have been specifically instructed regarding (deligence in performance of) paas anfaas. That is, via a warid. ‘

Mubadi at Tasawwuf, published with Bunyan al Mushayed, Maktaba e Thanvi, page 314

Shogal e unhad/شغل انحد

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INFINITY

Hakim al Umma Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Allah have mercy on him) instructed,

‘If after a considerable period of time consolidation of thoughts (yak suiy) during remembrance of Allah (dhikr) does not develop then it is appropriate to do a shogal (spiritual exercise for developing concentration).

There are many of them but in my opinion the most beneficial and straightforward is shogal e unhad. The best time to do it is late night after dowazdah tasbeeh. However, do not hold the breath in it. These days doing this leads to weakening of heart and mind. Only close the eyes and plug both the ears tightly with the index fingers. This will create a noise in the ears that feels limitless and incessant. That is the reason for calling shogal unhad so, In Hindi (language) un means without and had means limit. Thus unhad means limitless.

One should concentrate on this noise and recite ‘Allah’ ‘Allah’ with tongue or in heart/mind as to make sure that this time is not spend in heedlessness. Mere concentration on this noise is not a form of dhikr. This is because this noise in neither an attribute (siffet) of Allah as many have been deceived nor is it from any creature from the unseen world (alem e ghayb). It is only the trapping of air in the skull (auditory canals) that creates it. In spite of this, concentration towards it is done because it is from the perceived senses (hearing) and it is pleasant to listen to. Sometimes in this activity such noises are heard that one is spiritually overwhelmed and passes into (spiritual) ecstasy.

It is logical that a thing that is perceivable by senses like ears, eyes etc., is pleasing to do and involvement in it removes other (unnecessary) thoughts, establishes the habit of consolidation of thoughts in one direction.  Once this habit is firmly rooted this shogal is abandoned and instructions are given to concentrate towards Allah.’

Tahseel qasdus sabeel (Shah Lutuf Rasool rehmatullah aleh), page 24

Companionships to avoid 

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Our master Shaykh Haji Imdadullah mohajir Makki (Allah have mercy on him) instructed,
‘Avoid the companionship of,

1. One who contravenes the ruling of Shariah. 

2. One who rejects Tasawwuf. 

3. Innovator (in Religious affairs ). 

4. A Sufi who opposes the Sunna:the way of Prophet (Allah bless him & grant him peace) even though he can perform supernatural feats others can’t do or even he is able to fly in the sky.’ 

Tahseel qasdus sabeel (Shah Lutuf Rasool rehmatullah aleh), page 46