Teachings of Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf 'Ali Thanawi & his spiritual successors, particularly 'Arifbillah Dr 'Abdul Hayy 'Arifi (may Allah bless them) and Sayyidi Mawlana Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) regarding Tasawwuf
Category Archives: T. Tarbiyet
Contains principle and guidelines on training and disciplining of the morals (ikhlaq) of murid
A novice seeker wrote, I noticed a new link being added to Ashrafiya website. Would it be recommended for me to listen to these lectures?
Ashrafiya replied, No. Each Shaykh has his own disposition and style of approaching islah. Mixing to many styles leads to confusion. The mawaiz of Hazrat Hakim Akhtar (Allah have mercy on him) and our Shaikh Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him) are quite enough and beneficial, inshaAllah.
Islahi emails: TA
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)
A seeker wrote, – I try to focus on the words and meanings in Salah but the train of thought derails very frequently. Please recommend something in this regard.
Ashrafiya replied,
No problem at all. Invoulantary derailment does not cause damage to khushu. Whenever, you recognize the derailment come back on the track. InshaAllah, with persisitence and practice the frequency of this will decrease.
Islahi emails:TA
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)
– Fajr salah is going very weak, may Allah forgive me. I haven’t prayed with Jamah in ages and even at home I am missing some of them in the past 2 weeks. One thing or the other delays going to bed and even though I put an alarm, sometimes I just can’t wake up in time. I should make more effort to correct this laziness (“susti”). Yes something needs to be done for this right away.
Ashrafiya replied,
Praying fajr on time is essential. Moreover, eventually one has to aim for tahajjud prior to fajr.
3. Make dua prior to going to sleep for waking up at fajr
4. Make a firm determination. Tell yourself in a audible voice to wake up at ____am
5. Recite the last 4 ayah of sura kahaf (18th sura)
6. Set two or three alarms. (I usually use 2- 3 alarms on my mobile phone and one on a clock kept at a far distance from the bed, so I have to get up and switch it off.)
7. Ask a family member or a friend who gets up regularly to wake you up or call you to do so.
8. Even after these measures if salah is missed then skip breakfast for that day. (Only take tea, coffee or milk)
Islahi emails:TA
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)
I tried to search for proper etiquettes of writing islahi email (khutoot) to one’s Shaykh (especially in English). Please do forgive my shortcomings and reprimand me for lack of adab, for my own good. As I have read that surely one can not travel any distance in this path without adab.
Ashrafiya replied,
If the need so arises be reassured that attention will be drawn to it. For now be at ease.
Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him) tells us repeatedly that not correcting the faults of an individual who has associated for his Islah is a betrayal (khiyanet) of the trust of Shaykh-seeker relationship.
Islahi emails:TA
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)
I would like to seek for permission for Tablighi Jama’at activity.
Ashrafiya replied,
For time being postpone this for a while.
It is essential to firmly root yourself in the daily ma’moolat, reading, islah,etc. before you proceed to activities that are going to change your routine drastically.
Do assist them (nusrat) for few hours and sit in their book–reading sessions (ta’leem only. Not lectures) for the time being.
My close friends and family members (whom I consult for my major decisions) are aware of my pursuing this path. I get a feeling that they expect more as if I am going to change overnight (perhaps it was a mistake to let some people know about this effort). Subsequently I get a feeling that I am trying to improve myself to show off in front of others. And it makes me really doubt the ikhlas that is a pre-requisite for all a’mal to be accepted i.e. they should be solely for pleasing Allah SWT. Please advise.
Ashrafiya replied,
1. The details of the islah are individualized. They are personal and private. It is inappropriate to share the details with others. Even if they were to ask the details answer very humbly that I have been asked not to tell others. I am doing whatever is being instructed.
2. There is no problem in informing them in general that you are trying to establish a islahi ta’luq.
3. Be aware that islah is a life long process. The change is gradual. Our akabir compare it to the growing of a child.
4. The blame-worthy moral trait of show-off or riya is a ikhteyari action. That is, you have to have an intention and then do it. It does not happen by itself without your control.
5. Also, as a established principle it is stated that the real show-off never ever doubts his own ikhlas and mukhlis is always in doubt. So do not worry. Continue what you are doing. MashaAllah, you are travelling and distance is being covered.
Islahi emails:TA
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)
I read about the zikr of the chishti tareeqa i.e. the dowazdah tasbeeh. I have doubts in my mind regarding this. The thought comes to my mind that this is not established by sunnah. I have tried to read many books to clarify this but am not satisfied yet. Although I am ashamed to even think about the likes of Hakeem ul ummah RA or Mufti Taqi Usmani DB involved in any bidah. But I guess the very non-sufi environment that I have been in, gives me these doubts. Any clarification regarding this would be sincerely appreciated. Please forgive me if I offended with this question.
Ashrafiya replied,
There is no offence at all in asking this question.
However, there is a misunderstanding that needs to be clarified.
That is, every one acknowledges that dowazadeh tashib is not a masnun zikr, but it is a prelude or an excercise to develop interest, concentration and sincerity in the real zikr. This is by experience of the past mashaykh. Just like the physicians treating with different medicine. Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him) tells us that, ‘is is medicine’, ‘you do not need a proof from Quran and hadith to use Tylenol for headche’,.
Similarly the sufic zikr is a medicine.This is clarified to each and every murid at the time of instruction of this tasbih. Not all murid or talibs are instructed to do it.
Also, the daily masnun tasbihat are in addition to this zikr.
A spiritual aspirant wrote: “I try to perform the fardh salah and mostly with jamat Allhamdullilah. However, sometime I miss the jamat or qadah salah and then I try to perform that as soon as possible. The question is in such case, I feel bad for a very short moment and then move on to other things very quickly. I believe the lose is much more than feeling bad for a very short time. Should I do something specific at such time? Please advise.”
Shaykh (Allah SWT preserve him and allow us to benefit from him abundantly. Ameen) response: “It fine to acknowledge the mistake, make correction and move on. Holding on to a loss and grieving for long duration are distraction. Each moment has a right that needs to be fulfilled. It will be wasting another moment for a past loss. Be reassured.”
A spiritual aspirant who is a medical student wrote, Lastly I wanted to inform that I also took admission in online alim course, after having mashwara with my father, he said ضرور کرو اگر آسانی کر ساتھ کرسکتے ہو بس اپنے اوپر بوجھ نہ ڈالنا So I will be doing darja aula for trail and if I am able to do then I will continue Inshaa Allah.
Following reply was sent
Wa alaykum as salaam wrwb
JazakAllah
MashaAllah. May Allah give isteqamet & facilitate all with afiyet. Ameen!
We have been instructed to achieve ahsaan (الاحسان) in our life. One interpretation of this is to achieve perfection in whatever we do. It will be best to focus on your studies seriously and become an outstanding physician.
There are many mediocre doctors and many more non-practicing (bay-amal) alims.
One does not have to be a full fledged alim to be a practicing pious Muslim.
A lot of time the Devil (Shaitan) deceives by getting us involved in some nonessential good work.
Ahsaan (الاحسان) in anything requires lots of mujahidda.
A sincere brother emailed regarding the quest for a spiritual mentor (Shaykh) in United Kingdom.
Following reply was sent.
It was a pleasure to read your email. MashaAllah. Allah has granted you with balanced understanding, a true yearning (talub) And desire to progress in Deen. May Allah increase them with afiyet. Ameen!
The first thing is to not to make any hasty decisions. Make Dua a lot, mashwara (consultation) with pious repeatedly and istekhara before making any decisions in this regards.
The basic principle is to find a Shaykh you have munasbet (spiritual congeniality).
That is, on hearing Sheikh’s advice the aspirant readily accepts it and feels as though the words are pouring directly into his heart. The advice seems to be aimed directly at him. It appears to address his own spiritual ailments. Most importantly it does not stir any significant negative thoughts and criticism.
Below I’m mentioning few names of reliable and pious Shuyukh. It will be best to contact them, visit them repeatedly and comfortably detect the Munasbet.
