Answering a question regarding when should the ‘esha prayers be offered in Helsinki, Finland where there is no complete darkness between sunset and sunrise sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mawlana Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) said,
‘The most practical thing to do in these areas is that one should divide the interval between the sunset and sunrise into two halves. Pray ‘esha just prior to the end of the first half and fajar after the commencement of second half.’
Helsinki, ESCMID 2009
‘Beautiful manners (husun e khulq) is your disposition and interaction with others in way that makes them happy, provided that in doing so nothing is done against the Shariah.’
Ifadaat ala Takhlis tarsi’ al-jawahir al-Makkiya, page 52-3
Helsinki, ESCMID 2009
Importance of following Sunna!
Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) told us:
“Shaykh Mujaddid Alif Thani (Sheikh Ahmed Sirhindi Naqshbandi, may Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘Allah initially gave me the outward knowledge of Shariah and made me excel in it. Then I turned towards the inner wisdom Sufiya possess. All praise to Allah, He made me do extremely well in them also. And Allah bestowed all His bounties on me and eventually elevated me to such a high station that our lord, the mercy for the universe (Prophet Mohammad, Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) conferred the royal cloak of honor to me by his very noble hands.
Furthermore, made me move forward additionally to much higher stations to the level that if I speak of it, the scholars of the exoteric Shariah will give a verdict that I am a unbeliever (kafir) and Sufiya will label me to be a heretic (zindeeq). But how can I deny this? It is a fact.
However, after achieving all these exalted stations I make a prayer (dua). Whoever says ameen after it, inshaAllah he will also receive salvation (magfirah).
The dua is:
O Allah! Give me the tawfeeq to follow the example of Prophet Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him (ameen).
O Allah! Keep me (steadfast in) following the example of Prophet Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him till I die (ameen).
This is because, after all this journey I found out that it is due to this following of Sunna of Prophet (Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him), that this was achieved.’
Therefore, we should make a solemn determination from today onwards that we are going to perform all the Sunna of Prophet ( Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him). Then, inshaAllah, we will observe how bliss, clarity (noor), blessings (barakah) and luminosity is instilled in our lives.
By Allah, the delight of life is not achieved by indulging in transgressions and sins. Ask regarding this pleasure from those individuals who have molded their lives in the example of Prophet (Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him). ”
(Islahi-mawaiz 236-7)
Helsinki, ESCMID 2009
Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Moulana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him & allow us to benefit from him abundantly. Ameen) said:
“The thing to acquire from the Sheikh is the fanayiat (self-annihilation).
People consider taking wird, azkar, ashagals and litanies etc. from him, all of which can be acquired from books. The essential thing to take from him is this fanayiat. That is total effacement of self suggestions, opinions, planning, expectations and complete submission to the commands of Shariah.
This is acquired ONLY by accompanying the Sheikh for considerable duration of time.
His suhba is essential:
To observe him practicing Shariah in different settings.
To learn from his attitude & behavior. Where is he firm and when lenient.
To correct yourself by his upright way of practice and implementing Shariah.
To happily bear his chastisement, in hope for self-reformation.
To be ready for his trials and testing, in order to check your sincerity.
To submit to all of his instructions wholeheartedly.
To do each and every major action in your life with his consultation and approval. And,
Finally, to copy, imitate and absorb his all esoteric & exoteric states enthusiastically.
And if this suhba is not readily available then it is essential to correspond with him via letters, mail, phone etc. to acquire this. (As explained in earlier posts.)
Also, important and perhaps most beneficial for this is the detail and extensive study of the malfoozat (suhba talks/utterances) of Hakim al-Umma Hazrat Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanvi quddus sirrahu. Reading them regularly will allow you to absorb the style/disposition of Hakim al-Umma, who had absolute fanayiat!
Equally significant is the study of the biography of our pious elders. Books like: Ashraf us sawanih (Hakeemul Ummat ra’s biography), Tazkirat ur Rasheed (Moulana Rasheed Ahmed Gangohi ra’s bio), Tazkiratul Khalil (Moulana Khalil Ahmed ra’s bio), etc..
If all of these are done sincerely and seriously, inshaAllah, gradually this fanayiat will eventually develop and grow to the optimum level required.”
Hakim al-Umma Shaykh Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“I observe that lot of people are expecting that their self-reformation (islah) will happen by the spiritual attention (tawajjuh) of a pious person. They also expect that by reciting special litanies (wazifah) or by using an amulet (t’aweez) their lower self (nafs) will be fixed to act on Shariah, and they will not have to do anything (that is, use self determination, courage and act appropriately).
Remember! This is a very big mistake.
Your nafs and Satan are misleading you!
The islah-e-nafs (reformation) does not happen without struggling and striving (using self determination, courage and acting appropriately against one’s desires and wishes).
The spiritual attention (tawajjuh) and litanies (wazaif) are for increasing the luminosity of a reformed nafs. They open the path in forward direction. “
Mawaiz-e-Ashrafiya vol. 11: Taqwa wa Tasawwuf
Hakeem Mohammad Mustafa Bijnori, a senior khalifa of Hakeem al-Umma (Allah have mercy on them) said;
Giving a gift being a Sunna is an act of worship (ibadah). And the soul of worship is sincerity(ikhlas: doing solely for Allah’s pleasure). Therefore, one who is giving the gift should try his best to preserve this sincerity.
The best way to do so is to contemplate presenting this gift to Allah, considering the person to whom it is being handed to as a carrier or an agent. By doing so automatically all the requisite conditions and etiquettes required for giving a gift will be fulfilled. Moreover, one will never even think of boasting doing a favor. His condition will be as per the following verse
(Do not take pride in serving the King! Be content that He has tolerated your services!)
Ma’moolat e Ashrafi, page 56
Yesterday a former student asked sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) for some advice (nasiha).
The Shaykh told him:
“Recognize the importance of time. That it is an invaluable wealth. Spend it very wisely and precisely in virtuous actions.”
Next day while the Shaykh was sitting in Masjid al-Haraam facing the holy Kab’a (‘s Rukun-e-Yamani) an individual requested some elaboration on this advice. That is, as how to practically incorporate it in to one’s daily life.
Obviously pleased on the question, Shaykh replied;
“Firstly one has to recognize the importance of time per se.
Secondly, one has to organize one’s schedule to fully maximize the benefit of available time, such that not a single moment is wasted. Being wasted meaning that it is not utilized appropriately even for a worldly purpose, may it be sleeping or moderate lawful entertainment or being busy in helping another fulfill his essential obligations, etc.
Wasting time includes indulging in activities having no benefit for this life or here-after (akhira).”
The Shaykh continued:
“Develop the habit of planning.
That is, plan for the future.
If I was to get 5 or 10 minutes break between my tasks how will I spend it?
For example, while commuting to work.
Think and decide in advance.
How I am going to spend these 15 minutes besides doing the driving?
Only if one has thought of these in advance he will be able to utilize this time appropriately.
My father (Grand Mufti of Pakistan, Hazrat Mawala Mohammad Shafi’i ra) used to inform us that, “Even the time I spent in toilet I try to make use of it. If there is nothing else I scrub and clean the water jug (lota) kept in there.”
All praise to Allah, due to his training I also try to enact on this advice. When I come home from my classes I know there will be at least a 5 minute interval before the lunch is served. I have planned in advance the use of this time. Such as, to return someone’s telephone call, etc.
When a person develops this habit of utilizing the time precisely, Allah facilitates immense actions for him and also puts blessing (barakh) in time. (That is, in short duration a lot is achieved.)
Remember, heedlessness (gaflah) is a bane!”
Makkah e mukarramah, November, 7th 2005
Khawaja Mohammad Ma’soom Sirhindi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
The objective of travelling on the path (sulook) is not to become a Shaykh and accept murid. In fact its aim is to fulfil the duties of slave-hood (abdiyet) without the involvement and resistance of the lower self (nafs).
Tohfa tush Shuyukh, page 49
A senior spiritual aspirant wrote,
I was pondering how the leisure of heart (faraghet e qalbi) can be obtained. This thought came to me that whatever discussion or action is not essential to avoid looking into it, listening and thinking about it. This is irrespective of it being from the past or related to the future.
Hakim al-Umma Shaykh Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) replied,
‘May Allah give barakah in your comprehension abilities (faham). This is it.’
Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 1, page 739
Sayyidi wa sanadi Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him and allow us to benefit from him abundantly, Ameen) said:
“When in trouble or in a perplexing situation immediately repent (make tauba) before asking Allah for help & assistance.
There are definitely many sins we are not even aware of committing. Moreover, our worship itself is full of faults. Repenting from all these is a must.
An aftermath of sin (ma’seyat) is that it causes your decision making abilities to become cloudy/muddy. You forget things and make wrong judgements. Repentance will remove these and making your thinking and decision making clearer.”
Waaz 26th June 2005, Darul Uloom Karachi
A novice murid wrote his condition:
‘In namaz for khushoo I concentrate on the wordings of the recitation (as instructed). For zikr and tilawat, should I do similarly or concentrate on the meanings?’
Sayyidi wa sanadi Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him & allow us to benefit from him abundantly. Amin) replied:
“It is best on both, if possible. Otherwise which ever is achievable.”
Trying his best to do as instructed after some considerable time the same individual wrote:
‘In zikr and namaz instead of concentrating on words and meaning I get focused on a thought as though Allah is present and He is watching me. Sometimes this thought is strong and at others it is weak. Is this thinking appropriate for me? Also if I voluntary try and keep this thought I can not concentrate on words and meanings.’
Shaykh said:
“Concentrating on words and meanings are a stepping stone and are for the purpose of creating this focusing that Allah is present and He is watching. All praise is for Allah, progress up the stairs occurred. Whatever excessive thankfulness (to Allah) is done for this blessing can not be enough.
Allah increase it manifolds.”
حضرت حکیم الامت مولانا اشرف علی تھانوی قدس اللہ سرہ فرماتے ہیں،
اب پیر کا ادب خدا تعالی کے برابر کرتے ہیں کہ اگر سجدہ کا بھی حکم کرے تو شاید کرلیں اور استدلال میں حضرت حافظ رحمۃ اللہ علیہ کا شعر پڑھتے ہیں،
بمے سجادہ رنگیں گرت پیر مغاں گوید
کہ سالک بے خبر نہ بود ز راہ و رسم منزلہا
اور یہ معنی سجھتے ہیں کہ اگر پیر شراب خوری کا بھی حکم کرے تو بجا لاؤ کیونکہ وہ منزل سےواقف ہے، تمہارے حق میں بھی مفید ہوگا۔ استغفراللہ! حضرت حافظ رحمۃ اللہ علیہ کا یہ مطلب ہرگز نہیں۔ بلکہ مئے سے مراد طریق عشق ہے۔ اور سجادہ سے مراد قلب ہے۔ مطلب یہ ہے کہ سلوک میں ایک طریق اعمال کا ہے اور ایک طریق محبت و جذب کا ہے۔ پس اگر شیخ نے تمہارے لئےطریق محبت و جذب تجویز کیا ہو اور تمہاری راۓ میں طریقہ عمل مناسب ہو تو اس کو دل میں جگہ دو اور اپنی تجویز کو چھوڑو۔ کیونکہ عارف سالک اس منزل کی راہ و رسم سےنا واقف نہیں ہوتا۔
اور جو معنی مشہور ہیں وہ بالکل غلط ہے کیونکہ ہم نے تو پیر اس واسطے بنایا ہے کہ خدا تعالی کی رضامندی کا راستہ بتادے۔ اگر وہ راستہ نہ بتاوے۔ بلکہ راہ سے بٹادے تو اس کی پیروی ہرگز جائز نہیں ہے۔
واعظ: وحدۃ الحب، تسلیم و رضا،خطبات حکیم الامت رح، جلد 15، ص169-170
Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) said:
“My respected father Hadhrat Mufti Mohammad Shafii’ (amy Allah have mercy on him) used to say that the healthy and happy relations between husband and wife are not at all possible unless they have taqwa: the fear of Allah, in their heart.
The degree of intimacy between them can never be found in any other relationship. Both are sharing one another’s secrets and are so close to each other that a closer relationship can never be imagined of. These relations are such that they can not be known to others in detail. Under such conditions, when they are in private and intimate, if one partner decides to hurt the other or disregard his/her rights who is going to stop him/her?
There are many rights if they are not executed, one can report to the police or claim them through the court. But most of the rights of husband and wife are such that they can not be reported to the police or be demanded via court. The judicial system at the most will make it possible to claim for wife’s monetary allowance and meher but what about the husband’s arrogant attitude and bitter speech? Which court or police is going to reimburse for these hurtful things?
There is only one thing that can prevent these hurtful things from happening. It is the fear of Allah (taqwa).
That is, when the husband realizes that Allah by uniting his wife to him (via nikah) has imposed some rights for her. These are obligations for me to fulfill. I am bound to undertake them. If I do not comply with them I will be accountable before Allah.
Until this realization arises one can not discharge other’s (marital) rights thoroughly.
(Marry but Fear Allah SWT: Islahi Khutbat 73-73 Volume 11)
Shaykh Shah Wasiullah (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
Imam Abdur-Rehman Ali al-Jauzi (may Allah have mercy on him) has stated in his book ‘Kital al-azkiya’ that,
From all the bounties of Allah bestowed on human beings the most phenomenal is the intellect. This is because it is the instrument of acquiring the knowledge of Allah (ma’arifa). It helps in the organizing the demands of religion and this world. It enables one to focus on the eventual outcome. It leads to understanding of complicated things. It drives one to go for the the beneficial things and accumulate them.’
Mawlana Shah Ahlullah, brother of Shah Waliullah (may Allah have mercy on them) stated this in his booklet “Chahar bab’,
‘Intelligence, prudence and far-sightedness are innate qualities but they grow and improve with increase in experience, company of the wise individuals, reading of books of knowledge and listening to tales of wisdom and general advice. Therefore, one must try constantly to improve his mental capabilities.
Furthermore, physical and mental struggle must be done to establish one’s self as intelligent and not being in the category of stupids.
Intellect is a unique entity. It must be utilized appropriately and not wasted.’
I remind you, that we do not utilize it appropriately and hence we destroy the benefits of both this world and the here-after. As though, we have kept our mental abilities on hold. This in particular I find in the religious individuals. They are totally handicapped in this regards.
Tazkira e musleh al-Umma, page 134
یاالہی!
دور کر دل سے نفاق و کبر و طغیان و غرور
کر عطا عشق و وفا صدق و صفا اخلاص و نور
شہ وصی اللہ رح شیخ با صفا کے واسطے
آمین!