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.

Change for better!

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Advicing a couple going through a tough marital conflict sayyidi wa sanadi 

Mawlana Mohammmad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) said,

“You both need to change for better.

Do not be discouraged by past experiences.

Consider that you are starting a new life together again from scratch.

Pay close attention to each other’s rights and your own obligations.

Keep the envoirnment at home relaxed,  pleasant and lively.

Allocate some special quality time daily for each other.”

January, 2nd  2008

Companionship to be avoided

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Shaykh-e-kamil Arifbillah Dr. Abdul Hayy Arifi (Allah have mercy on him) said;

“The companionships (suhba) that do not make one remember Allah or His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), reflect on one’s own debilitated condition and perceive one’s filthy inner-self and lead to increased involvement in dispensable (ghair-maqsood) and increasing desire of fame (hubb e jah) are to be shunned.

Otherwise, tell me what will be the advantage of such supercilious suhba?

A companionship is only useful if it has the property of changing our life for better. It cures our spiritual aliments and makes evident to us our moral deficiencies and spiritual shallowness. “

Sawanih wa ta’lemat e Hazrat Arifi ra pg 584

Salah with congregation

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) encourages us to read the biographies of our elders (akabir).

One of the benefits of doing this is to get the motivation (hal) for our own reformation (islah).

Following incident has a great lesson for all of us.

‘Shaykh Syed Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi (Allah have mercy on him) [d.1999] was very particular about performing salâh with congregation from a young age together with waking up for the night salâh (tahajjud), reciting the Qur’ân and daily remembrance of Allâh . This continued during his old age and time of weakness as well.

On one occasion (in the forties) he went on foot from Nadwatul ‘Ulamâ’ to his house in Lucknow with this in mind that he will perform the ‘ishâ salâh at the musjid near his house. When he reached there, the salâh was already over. So he went to another musjid and found that the people had completed their salâh there as well. He was most disturbed by this until someone informed him that a third musjid has the ‘ishâ congregation a bit later. He reached this musjid and joined the congregation. He experienced unexplainable joy at this.’

Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi: Al Alimul Murrabi Wa Daiyutul Hakeem

Results of involvement in useless activities

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Shaykh Mawlana Karamat Ali Jaunpuri (Allah have mercy on him) said,

This lowly speaker has experienced it well that when an individual is engrossed in useless activities his/her previous piety wanes away. Therefore, one should repent immediately if he/she becomes involved in anything useless and not return to that activity again.

Irshad us Salikeen/Aqwal e Sufiya, page 36

Buhtan

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Hakim al-Umma Shaykh Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

 ‘Attributing a statement or an action to any individual, especially a believer (momin) without an explicit proof as per the ruling of Shariah is the clear sin of false allegation (buhtan) . This is especially so if this is in relation to a an esoteric issue, like intention (niyyah), etc.’

Risala shiq al-gain an Ali wa Hussain (Allah be pleased with them), page 8

Karachi

Precious advice

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Shaykh Syed Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi (Allah have mercy on him) said the following addressing the students of Medina (al-munawwarah) University,

‘A scholar should be more pious and congnizant (of Allah).

Being excessively involved in contraversial issues makes one negligent of his/her own personal improvement.

Focus more on practice of issues that are  held unanimous. For example, khushu in salah. Do not be involved in peripheral minor issues.

You are aware of the scholarly acheivements of Imam Ahmad and Hafiz Ibn Taymiyyah (Allah have mercy on them). However, you are not aware of their high moral character, humility, fear of Allah and being busy in night crying.

It was the practice of Hafiz Ibn Taymiyyah (Allah have mercy on him) that whenever, he faced a difficulty he would go to an isolated mosque, cry and make the following supplication repeatedly,

Ya mu’alim al Ibrahim ‘alimni, ya mufham al Suleman fahimni

The greed and desire of the worldly has made the scholars worthless.

Be an example for others.’

Tazkirah wa sawanih Mawlana Hasan Jan shaheed ra, page 43

Advice to reader of Sufi works!

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him and allow us to benefit from him a lot. Ameen!) gives the following invaluable advice to those interested in classic Sufi works:

“A point never to be forgotten when reading the books of venerable Sufi masters is that the things to acquire from them are;

– the special relationship with Allah (ta’aluq ma’Allah),

– remembrance and contemplation of hereafter,

– turning to Allah with humility (inabat),

– recognizing the plots & deceptions of nafs and methods to prevent them,

– methods of cleansing the heart and

– love of Allah and His messenger صلی اللہ علیہ و الہ وسلم.

As far as the fiqh (Shariah juristic rulings) and kalam (science of logic and art of reasoning) issues, historic events and narrations (rewayat) are concerned these are neither their (i.e. Sufi masters) field of specialization nor one can rely on them solely in these matters.

لکل فن رجال”

Tabseray 476

Fundraising!

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Commenting on verse 29 of surah al-Hud (And, O my people, I do not demand from you any wealth for it) Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) said:

“Spiritual leaders (Shuyukh) should adopt the same demeanor.

Seeking monetary gain is one of the strongest impediments in imparting religious instructions. In my opinion, it is grossly inappropriate for the Shuyukh to raise charitable funds by asking for donations.

(In general) intelligence is scarce (among people). Stinginess and greed overwhelms (most individuals). They become distrustful (of the individual raising funds) of love of the worldly (hubb-e-duniya) by slightest suspicion. And (it must be remembered that) Allah is the sponsor of (all) charities (in reality). They are not dependent on our appeals of donation and fund raising.”

Masail e sulook min Kalam Malik ul mulook, page 259, Idara-e-Islamiyat, Lahore

فنائیت

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عارف باللہ حضرت ڈاکٹر عبدالحئی عارفی رحمۃ اللہ علیہ نے فرمایا کہ

فنائیت کا مطلب ہے ترک اعتراض۔

یعنی کسی پر اعتراض نہ کرو۔

ناگوار امر پر صبر کرو اور ضبط سے کام لو۔

اس ترک اعتراض کا آخری مقام یہ ہوگا کہ ہر ناگوار امر کو مشیت ایزدی پر محمول کرتے ہوۓ ناگواری نہیں ہوگی۔

جو کام بھی ہوگا اور جس طرح ہوگا اس کو منجانب اللہ تصور کرتے ہوۓ خوش طبعی کے ساتھ قبول کرلوگے۔

اور یہی مقام فنائیت ہے۔ 

اصلاح حال و سکون قلب، ص 35

Busy life!

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

‘People often complain that there is no free time and no tranquility in life because of the increasing commitments (at offices and businesses).

I ask them,

 If you get this free time and opportunity what are you going to do with it?  Have you ever thought about this?

If you waste this free time in inappropriate things and sink more deep into immorality then this being busy is best for you.

When this is the case then continue with your work (in present conditions).’

Islah e Hal o sukoon e qalb, page 45

Fast of ‘Ashura

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah presrve him) writes,

Abdullah ibn Musa, (Allah be pleased with him), reports that the Holy Prophet, (Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him), preferred the fast of ‘Ashura’ (10th Muharram) on the fasts of other days and preferred the fasts of Ramadhaan on the fast of ‘Ashura’. (Bukhari and Muslim)

Muharram:Albalagh