Category Archives: T. Tarbiyet

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

How to develop understanding of Deen?

malfuzatashrafiya

Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him)instructed a mureed,

‘To develop a sound understanding (fehem) of religion reading Hakim al-Ummat Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanavi ra’s discourses (mawaiz) and talks (malfoozat) is essential.”

Also, Shaykh  frequently inquires from his mureed how many of these lectures and talks have they read.

In his letter ‘instructions to the those who have authority to guide others in the spiritual path (mujazeen)‘ Shaykh highly stresses this. He instructs that these discourses, (Tarbiyat us Salik) and spiritual talks should be read daily as a routine.

Darul Uloom Karachi, August 2002

Facing antagonism

mlarazakan1

A seeker complained about the Barelvi antagonism.

Shaykh Sayyid Abdush Shakoor Tirmizi* (may Allah have mercy on him) replied,

‘I make supplication (dua in this regards).

Be patient and maintain silence.

Make supplications yourself also.

Maintain complete silence by tongue and heart in this regards.

Advice your acquaintances to do the same.

Do not even discuss these controversial issues. The truth has already been established and disseminated. God-willing (inshaAllah) it is sufficient.

(Beware!) This is the era of calamities (fitna).’

Hayat e Tirmizi, page 134

* A senior khalifaof Shaykh al-Islam Mawlana Zafar Ahmad Usmani and Mufti Mohammad Shafi (may Allah have mercy on them)

Progress: explained

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An individual inquired that after becoming aware of this progress issue I feel at loss. My religious activities in worship, wird, recitations, etc. have been at a static level for a considerable period of time.  I feel guilty.

Sayyidi wa sanadi SHaykh Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) answered as he walked towards the mataf to perform tawaf,

‘It must be remembered that there are two components involved in this advancement one is quantity and the other is quality.

There is room that the quantity remains static, but for a seeker  it is essential that the quality of his actions increases every day.

He must try to develop more sincerity, precision and concentration in his actions following and imitating the Sunna. Moreover he must be in constant contact with Allah via remembrance (dhikr) and supplications.

This progress is an imperative requirement for the seeker.’

Makkah al mukarramah, Saturday, 7th February 2009/12 Safar 1430, after esha salah

Dream

dreams

A seeker reported an unusual pleasant dream.

Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mawlana Mohammad Taqi (may Allah preserve him) told him,

‘All praise is to Allah!

خيرًا تلقاه و شرا توقاه خيرلنا و شرَ لاعداءنا

Islahi khutoot, xii/1429

The points regarding tarbiyah for the seeker in this simple answer are,

1. Good dreams are a blessing. One should thank Allah for them.
2. It is Sunna to recite this supplication when interpreting a dream.
3. Inculcating the habit of turning to Allah in all conditions.
4. Sometimes the dream does not require an explanation.
5. In spite of being a blessing a balanced approach has to be maintained regarding the dreams.  What really matters are the actions done in the wakeful state.

Taunts, allegations & name calling

 

nishan-e-haider

Remember that taunts, allegations and name calling in the path of Allah are our ‘medals’ and certificates of honor.

The best of creation, our blessed Prophet (Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) was taunted and called a magician, possessed, mentally ill and misguided. Similarly his noble Companions were humiliated and teased.

So be at ease for  sharing this prize with very noble individuals.

Motivation

motivation-circle

“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.”

– Zig Ziglar quotes (American motivational Speaker and Author. )

Source: Ibn Ayyub

For motivation (hal)in the path of Allah company of pious is essentially required.

This may be either their physical companionship or by reading their sayings, works and biographies.

A sincere seeker will obviously note the difference of doing and missing this in his daily activities.

Sunna supplications

During the weekly discourse sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) asked the audience if anyone remembered the dua that is recited when the sun arises.

There was an uneasy silence for a moment. Then a young seeker (talib) recited the dua fluently.

الحمدلله اقالانا يومنا هذا ولم يهلكنا بذنوبنا

Shaykh was obviously pleased and commended him a lot.

The objective of tasawwuf

jed-clarity

Shaykh Khalil Ahmad Siharanpuri/Madani (may Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘The aim and objective of spiritual path (sulook) is to make the heart of the seeker yearn for Allah’s pleasure  similar to the body’s demand for food. That is, the desire to worship becomes similar to the craving for food and water.

This can only happen when the his heart is,

–  filled to the brim by the majesty and love of Allah and

– empty from the desires of all that is other-than-Allah (ma-siwa Allah)

Until this love of other-than Allah exists, to the extent that it resists the love and awe of Allah, one  can not be true in his search for the Divine pleasure and be able to abstain from all sinful activities thoroughly.

In summary, two things are essential. Firstly,  cleansing the heart (takhliya) from all that is ‘other’ (-than-Allah) and finally adorning (tajeliya) it with the  love and awe of Allah.

Successful accomplishment of these two things results in bestowment of (spiritual) illuminations and other honors from Allah. This is known as taheliya.

Tadhikara tul Khalil, as quoted in Akes e Jamil, page 188

Muraqaba e ehsan

الإحسان :

أن تعبد الله كأنك تراه ،

فإن لم تكن تراه فإنه يراك

Shaykh Shah Mohammad Asadullah (may Allah have mercy on him) instructed his senior murid,

‘After every salah perform the muraqaba that Allah is watching me (and is aware of  all my outer and inner thoughts and activities).

Do this for one minute.

Try to bring this to mind at other times also.’

Akes e Jamil, page 218, (220)

The fundamental principles

 

pillars

 

Understanding these principles thoroughly will remove all the confusion, doubts and abstruseness regarding the spiritual path.

1.  The demands of the religion should be given preference over worldly benefits.

2. The intellect should always remain subservient to the Divine Law (Shariah).

3.  Do not to be negligent in volitional (ikhteyari) actions (that is, within one’s determination and control)[e.g. essential daily worship, recitations, wird, etc.]. Similarly, do not be in pursuit of things that are beyond one’s control (ghair-ikhteyari)[e.g. spiritual states, dreams, uneveiling, etc.].

4.  Abandon all your own planning and schemes (tajwiz), delegate (tafwidh) all this to Allah.

5.  Keep focused on the goals of Shariah and not to be distracted by other things.

6. Consider spiritual states (kayfiyat-e-batiniyah) to be a good and desired phenomenon but do not regard them as the primary goal and objective  of the path.

7.  Do not to be overwhelmed by emotional factors and desires. Act as per the verdict of intellect and remember to keep it subservient to Shariah at all the times.

Ma-asir e Hakim al-Umma ra, page 166

Become blind, deaf, mute and paralyzed!

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Baba Fariduddin Masood Ganj Shakar (may Allah have mercy on him)(d. 5th Muharram 611H/1262CE) said,

“A spiritual aspirant must do the following four things,

1. Become blind from seeing anyones’ mistakes.

2. Become deaf from hearing anything useless and petty.

3. Become mute, so there is no idle talking and his speech remains pure.

4. Paralyze his legs, so that he does not walk towards anything that is impermissible.

Only if these qualities are found in an individual then he is eligible to be called an aspirant otherwise he is a liar and a boastful charlatan. ”

Baba Farid ra ka roznamcha, page 11-12

Keeping the heart occupied!

rubb-al-khali

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

“The quarters of the heart should not be left vacant.

If they are not occupied with Allah’s remembrance(dhikr) fill them with something else that is permissible (mubah).

Otherwise, seeing them vacant Satan will move into them and take hold (of the heart).”

Waaz: Arza al-Haqq, Khutbat e Hakim al-Ummat, volume 15, page95

Setting Priorities

Giving initial instructions to a novice murid, sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) wrote;

For future from now on, make special effort for the following;

1. Try your best to abstain from all sins, especially those of eyes, tongue and ears/hearing.
2. Refrain from useless (fazool) and petty (laya’ni) activities.
3. Read from Hakeemul Ummat ra’s discourses (mawaiz) or instructive utterances (malfuzat) daily as per your convenience. Even if its one page daily.

With these acts, if you have enough time, add following three tasbihats to your daily routine;
1. SubhnaAllah wa bihamdhihi subhanAllah il azeem
2. Third kalimah; SubhnaAllah walhumdulillah walaillaha il Allah o wAllaho akber
3. Salutations on the Prophet (Allah blees him and give him peace) Durood shareef

All of them 100 time each. Preferentially they should be recited after fajer or (if not possible then) after isha. Otherwise, recite them whenever you get a chance.

Islahi khutoot

Secret of Repetition

‘Arif-billah Hadhrat Dr Abdul Hayy ‘Arifi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,

“Reading or discussing something repeatedly usually results in recalling it when its need arises.

At that moment one needs spiritual determination to act according to it.

Doing such for some time eventually leads to the creation of an instinctive inclination for acting so without effort.”

Malfoozar e Arifi 167