Category Archives: T. Tarbiyet

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

Differentiate between the sinner and the sinful

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A spiritual aspirant wrote,

Nowadays my condition is that unintentionally I feel a repugnance in sinful involvement.

Moreover, when I see someone involved in sinful I feel that this individual is headed towards Hell fire  and I must try gently to persuade him to not to do so.  I try my best and with the barakah of your supplications my efforts are not wasted.

It is humbly request that whatever is best for me (in this regards) may please, be instructed.  Duas are requested.

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

‘The development of repugnance from sinful involvement is a superior state (hal).

However, feel repugnance for the sinner is dangerous thing for a novice (mubtadi) aspirant. This is because most of the time reason for this is arrogance (kibr), feeling self superiority and presumption of self piety.

(Therefore) Till the attainment of a steady spiritual state (tamkeen) consider that this individual (sinner) is superior to me. Nevertheless, his involvement in sinful is repugnant (in itself). His condition is similar to soot smeared on the face of a beautiful person.  This consideration combines the notion that the person is beautiful and the soot is black (and disfiguring). Similar consideration should be done for the sinner and sinful involvement.

Moreover, a novice aspirant should not be involved in forbidding others.

However, giving a lecture in general to the public (about prohibition of sinful involvement) is okay. This is so provided that no other preacher is available to do so. Proceeding beyond this is dangerous.

It is perplexing that in spite of staying here (khanqah, Thana Bhawan) you are unaware of these details.’

Tarbiyet us Salik, Volume 1, page 422-3

Sins: How to give up?

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A sincere reader wrote the following asking for advice,

I came back to China and I don’t know what has happened. I try to lower my gaze and I do but I still get to see faces and half naked bodies. I swear that I have never felt such attraction in my life. I cannot understand why. 

I am seen as a pious person who has a lot of control on nafs. And that was exactly what I also used to think (may Allah swt forgive my insolence). I often used to joke about that I cannot be attracted to Chinese girls. (May Allah swt forgive me). But now what I suffer from is “yellow fever”. Haram fantasizing is pretty common. Then recently, something really unfortunate has happened I am not porn addict ( May Allah swt preserve me) but somehow from one click to another click I ended up watching some explicit (faahash) videos featuring Asian/Chinese looking models. This went on for 3 days. Infact I even forgot that I was fasting and had to make qadha for  that later. (Edited)

…………….

The following response was sent. May Allah make it beneficial for me and all others,

Bismillah 

As Salamu alaykum wrwb 

JazakAllah 

Please, be reminded that the only way to stop from sinful activities  is himmat, firm determination and using self control. 

Three things help in developing this himmat. 

1. Company of the pious. If that is not possible then reading about their life, malfuzaat etc is of help. 

2. Dua. Asking Allah for help. Crying and telling Him one’s bad state and showing extreme humility and begging. Repeatedly. 

3. Setting up a penalty for involvement in sinful. Four rakat nafil salah for repentance and skipping a meal altogether and/or making charity contribution (sadaqa). 

Following steps will assist further inshaAllah, 

Be wise and stop using Internet completely in private. Use it only for essential things and that even in public or when others are around. 

Also, stay in state of wudhu all the time. 

If you have a Shaykh inform him. 

InshaAllah with these measures things will improve. 

However if you take it lightly and do not realize then remember that this sinful activity is spiritually fatal. 

Take care. 

Muhtaj e dua

(Edited)

Islah

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lamalja

An aspirant wrote inquiring about the rectification of sinful acts, like not keeping a proper beard or wearing Islamic clothing, etc. prior to commiting to islah.

The mentor replied, ‘In islah the very basic morals are rectified that lead one to commit  sinful acts like the ones you have mentioned. Therefore, do not delay islah. Start as soon as possible. In-sha-Allah things will improve as progress is made.’

Islahi correspondence (reviewed by sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve & protect him)

Intention for islah

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“Shaykh Rasheed Ahmad Gangohi (Allah have mercy on him) mentioned another (incident of a) pious sage.

 That a person stayed with him for a very long time and then complained that the state of his heart was not corrected. 

The Shaikh inquired “What do you mean by correction of the heart?” He replied, “Sir, the blessing (of nisbet) that I will receive from you, I will take it and spread it amongst the people”. 

The Shaikh said that this intention is the cause of your loss. That is, that from the start (your) intention is to become a Mentor/Shaykh. Remove this disgusting idea from your heart, and make (sincere) intention (of pleasing Allah). 

There are innumerable blessings that Allah has bestowed on us, being thankful for them and being a slave of Allah is obligatory on us. 

Thus those people who do Allah’s remembrance (dhikr) and spiritual exercises (Shughal) or offer Salah with the intention to get benefit through them, this is their foolishness, their intention is wrong (faasid). What kind of benefit, what kind of reward? This being, this body, these eyes, this nose, these ears, this tongue, these senses that Allah has given us, first we should complete our thankfulness (Shukr) for them, only later can we think of benefits or rewards. ”

Source: Tazkiratur Rasheed by Maulana Aashiq Ilahi Meerathi, Volume 2, page 31

Intekhab e Kaiseri 

‘Abdiyet: Dhikr e qalbi

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waabud2

Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve & protect him) instructed,

‘The highest level (achieveable for a human being) is to be (a true) slave of Allah. (That is, ‘abdiyet.)

May Allah bestow this to us. (Ameen).

In order to facilitate this I suggest doing this excercise.

Tell yourself

‘O Allah! I am Your slave  (abd)  and You are my Master (Rabb)‘.

Do this repeatedly. Make it a routine habit. Continue doing this excessively until it becomes a spontaneous speech of your heart (and mind).’

Waaz, 7/8/2016, Masjid, Darul Uloom Karachi, after asr

Presumptuous attitude in this path

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One who adopts a presumptuous attitude in this path (tareeq) for sure drowns in deepest sea of despair!

One who is audacious in the path of the Beloved he is a thief to others (on the path) and not (a true) human being. 
The moon of self conceited attitude causes the sun (of reality) to be eclipsed. (Remember) the audacious attitude of the Satan made him accursed (forever).  
Taleem ud Deen, page 207
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The presumptuous behavior maybe a bold statement that may lead to disbelief or it maybe a false claim or an intentional involvement in sinful activity. 

Islahi correspondence 

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Maulana Sher Mohammed Sindhi (later a khalifa) was corresponding with Hakim al Umma Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Allah have mercy on them).  He had written almost 30 letters.

On a visit of stay at khanqah Hakim al Umma reviewed them all. He disapproved of the manner it was done.  He instructed him to start over the islahi correspondence again. 

Karwan e Mujaddid Thanvi, volume, page 

            ————-

This shows that islahi correspondence has to be done in a proper systematic manner.

 This is the reason for encouraging the seekers to read the book ‘Tarbiyet us Salik’. 
Writing in a haphazard way with pointless details and random thoughts is a total waste of time. Both for the seeker and the mentor. 

If one does not know how to do this islahi correspondence then he/she should ask. 

Janglot, KKH

Relationship with Allah Post-Ramadan

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve and protect him) said,

‘The prescription for maintaining a relationship with Allah (ta’aluq ma’Allah) after Ramadan is to include in one’s daily routine supplication (dua), being thankful for all the bounties of Allah (shukr) and excessive remembrance of Allah (dhikr). At least spare half an hour daily for these activities. ‘

29 Ramadan 1437/5 July 2016 Dar Uloom Karachi 

Shaikh: image problem 

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve and protect him) said,

‘Adopting a life style and promoting an air of being a Sufi Shaikh is wrong (for those who have permission to initiate mureed). 

None of our pious predecessors (akabir) did this. They lived a simple life style (as is the Sunna of our beloved Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace). Their hallmark is the extreme humility (tawadhu). 

Moreover, it is dangerous as it leads to extreme attitudes of reverence by their followers.  (Sometimes excuses are made for noncompliance to Shariah.)’

1st Shawwal 1437/6 July 2016 Wednesday, residence, Darul Uloom Karachi, pre-zuhar 

In his instructions to whom he gave permission to initiate mureed (mojaaz) Sayyidi wa sanadi said,

۔ کبھی مخدومیت، یا مروجہ پیری مریدی کی شان بنانے کی کوشش نہ کریں، بلکہ اس کو اپنے لیۓ زھر قاتل سمجھیں

Never try to adopt the lifestyle of being someone senior and superior or that of contemporary Sufi Shuyukh.  In fact, consider this to be the most potent poison (for your spirituality). 

Islahi khutoot (qalmi)

Reminder: red flag!

Islah:Self improvement

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve and protect him) said,

‘The prescription for an individual’s islah has 3 components,

1.  Turning to Allah (inabet illa Allah). This is by repentance from transgressions done in the past and asking assistance in doing good actions in the present and future. 

2. Removing one’s self from places, conditions and situations where the likelihood of falling into sinful is possible based on past experience. 

3. Developing spiritual strength to resist the temptations of nafs by having a daily routine for remembrance of Allah. 

Majlis, 28 Ramadan 1437/ 4 July 2016, post Zohar, Darul Uloom Karachi 

Islah: Tip to develop spiritual strength 

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve and protect him) said,

‘The biggest obstacle in one’s islah are the sinful desires of nafs. 

One has to force himself to fight these desires. 

This is a difficult task.  Firm determination and spiritual strength are required to do so. 

There is a tip to facilitate the development of spiritual strength. It is that every day you intentionally give up one or two permissible desires. For example you have a desire to eat a particular food today, however, you make an intention that in order to train my nafs and not listen to whatever it tells me to do I will not eat this food today. 

By doing this exercise one will develop the spiritual strength and stamina required to give up sinful desires.’

Majlis, 27 Ramadan 1437/ 3 July 2016, Darul Uloom Karachi, post zuhar

Is Internet Haraam for me?

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect and preserve him) said, 

‘One of the major sinful involvement of our era is viewing the sexually explicit material online. 

May Allah protect us all from it. Amin!

It is haraam (impermissible) for a person to have an Internet connection and computer devices if he can not control himself from viewing these.

Throw them away!

This is an essential spiritual struggle (mujahida) to gain Allah’s pleasure. ‘

Majlis post-zuhar, 26 Ramadan 1437/2 July 2016, masjid Dar ul Uloom Karachi 

Dowazdah tasbih

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Demonstrating the method of dowazdah tasbih (Sufi dhikr of the Chishtiya) to a group of seekers sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve & protect him) reiterated about the jaher (audibly) and zarb (beat) that,

‘It must be clear upfront that these methods in remembrance of Allah are neither Sunnah nor more meritorious than those mentioned in Quran and Hadith. These methods have been found by experience to create a desire (shauq) of remembrance of Allah. This desire is beneficial in facilitation of pious actions. 

Even without these jaher and zarb the mere recitation of Allah’s name has a effect on an individual. 

Maulana Gangohi (Allah have mercy on him) use to say that the remembrance of Allah has its effect even if it done without full concentration. ‘

Office Darul Uloom Karachi, pre-asr majlis

24 Ramadan 1437/30 June 2016

Shaykh’s job

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Musleh al Umma Maulana Shah Wasiullah Allahabadi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘A genuine (muhaqqiq) Spiritual mentor’s  (Shaykh) job is to inform the disciple of his shortcomings.

That is what I (personally) practice.  And then I evaluate how much sinful involvement has he (the disciple) abandoned.

I do not inquire about the litanies (wird) recited.  Brother! If you recite the wird you will for sure get inspiration (warid). This is an affair between you and Allah. Your reward will be according to the effort you put in. ‘

Majales Musleh al Umma ra, volume 6, page 129