“The seeker is steady in praying the pre-dawn (tahajjud) salah.
(In addition to being a Sunna) It is especially effective in defence against the hell-fire.
It has other benefits, such as subjugating the inner-self (nafs), creating awe (khashiyet) of Allah and bring one closer to the Truth (haq).”
Ahadith-e-sulookiya, page 32
Allah give us the tawfiq. Amin!
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In a special ecstatic spiritual state Hadhrat Mawlana Hussain Ahmad Madni (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“We are the essence of Imam Abu Hanifa and the strength of Imam Malik.
We are the steadfastness of Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal; the purity of heart of Hadhrat Mujaddid Alf-Thani;
the insight of Hadhrat Shah Waliullah Muhaddith Dehlawi,
and we are the heirs of those people who have died and sacrificed to bring us our religion.
So you may be able to take our lives but you will never take our Islam from our hearts.”
From:at Talib
قال رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ و الہ وسلم
۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔و من احیا سنتی فقد احبنی و من احبنی کان معی فی الجنۃ
سنن الترمذی، کتاب العلم، رقم الحدیث2602
Whoever brings to life my way of doing things (Sunna) (in his daily practices) he loves me.
And whoever loves me will be with me in Paradise.
Tirmizi
Ahadith e sulookiya, page 10
Mawlana Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi said in regards to Shaykh Shah Wasiullah (may Allah have mercy on them),
“Those who attended his discourses not only felt the aroma of faith, the zest of worship and awareness of Here-after but also became aware of their own short comings and their unique personal spiritual ailments.
They left these gatherings not only with spiritual satisfaction but with a desire to change their present condition, feeling burdened with the previous mistakes and remorseful on the life already wasted.
This is the real benefit and result of being in presence (suhba) of and attending the spiritual discourses of the the pious (ahl Allah), the spiritual physicians (musliheen).
Halat e Muslih al-Ummat ra, page 6
نفس اژدہاست او کہ مردہ است
از غم بے آلتی پژمردہ است
Masih al-quloob Mawlana Masihullah Khan (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“The one who asks for and supplicates (to Allah) does not remains deprived.
And whoever is afraid (of being accountable to Allah) is protected.”
Islah afroze bayanat, page 219
Hadhrat Shah Wasiullah (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“The Shuyukh have said that a believer is always afraid of hypocrisy (nifaq) in himself, while a definite hypocrite (munafiq) feels protected from it.”
Hayat e Muslih al-Ummat ra, page 232
O Messenger of Allah!
“Allah said, ‘And when they having been unjust to their own selves and come to you and seek Allah’s forgiveness………..
O Messenger! I have come to you seeking forgiveness from Allah for my sins and seeking your intercession on my behalf, and supplications that I remain steady and die on your way (Sunna) and I am raised amongst your followers on the day of Judgement. Amin!
تشنہ از دریا جدائی مے کنی
بر سر گنجی گدائی مے کنی
سارا جہاں خلاف ہو پروا نہ چاہیۓ
مدّ نظر تو مرضی جانانہ چاہیۓ
اب اس نظر سےجانچ کےکرتو یہ فیصلہ
کیا کیا تو کرنا چاہیۓ کیا کیا نہ چاہیۓ
What does Islam say about poetry, singing, musical instruments, musicians, and the business of music? How have Muslim societies historically looked at these questions and how have their attitudes changed in the media age? Why have mosques remained music-free while churches have not? What is the truth about the much-publicized “music controversy” in Islam? Why did Sufis call sama as the slippery stone? These are some of the questions explored in-depth in Slippery Stone: An Inquiry into Islam’s Stance on Music.
Of late, increasing attempts are being made to promote “Islamic music,” and the distinction between what is allowed and what is not has become hazy and unclear for many. This book demystifies the issue of music in Islam by going to original source books in Arabic, many of them brought to light for the first time in the English language. It traces the attitudes of the Muslim society about music and the musician throughout its history and quotes extensively from the deliberations of the Qur’an and Hadith scholars and jurists from all schools of Islamic Law, both Sunni and Shi’ah. Separate chapters are devoted to a discussion of the views of Sufi masters as well as the arguments of Ibn Hazm.
It examines in considerable depth the impact of colonialism and the media revolution (beginning with the gramophone) on the attitudes of Muslim societies regarding music. It also subjects the works of Orientalists to a scrutiny that was overdue.
By referring to it as a slippery stone, Sufis vividly pointed out the dangers associated with this enterprise and emphasized the need for caution. History is filled with the corpses of those who fell off the slippery stone by ignoring this advice. Combining historic, cultural, and jurisprudential perspectives this book brings the truth of that metaphor into sharp relief.
More than six hundred references and more than a hundred twenty biographical notes on the authorities quoted add to the value of a discussion that is comprehensive without being boring, and detailed without being confusing. This book has left no stone unturned in its examination of the slippery stone.
Available at Albalagh Bookstore
Manhattan, NY
The very first advice sayyidi wa sanadi Hadhrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) gave to a murid while giving him permission to instruct others,
“Never be negligent of your own self’s reformation (islah) effort.”
Hedayat bara-ay mujazeen
That is, the first and foremost in importance is my own self-reformation. Do not be missed led by Shaytan and nafs that I have graduated and now my primary concern is to do reformation of others.
This is a very common mistake.
Readers of the biographies of piously elders are well aware of the fact that how deligent they were in keeping their own self on tract. At the slightests indication of a slip they would jump and make amendments.
May Allah give us the tawfiq to do this also. Amin!
Manhattan, New York
Sayyidi wa sanadi Hadhrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) has instructed on multiple occasions,
“Do not be trapped in the dreamworld of fulfillment of your own desires even in the sphere of religion.
Be the son of the moment (ibn al-waqt). That is, do as each and every moment demands from you. For example, if there is a blessing be thankful to Allah, if there is a mistake repent, if there is hardship be patient and if there is fear ask refuge, etc.
This is servitude (abudiyet).”
IDSA, Washington DC
A wife wrote a letter complaining that in spite of taking very good care of her monetarily and physically her husband’s attitude is dry, rough and non affectionate with her. She cited many examples of his curt, blunt and hurtful replies and behavior.
Sayyidi wa sanadi Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) had the husband read the letter (when he visited) in front of him and asked for an explanation.
The husband acknowledged his behavior and tried to make some genuine excuses, like financial stresses, psychological illness, unrealistic demands by the spouse and pressures at work.
Very gently Hadhrat advised him,
‘Her complaint is genuine. Remember that for a successful marital relationship extra effort has to be made. Try your best. The enviornment at home should be that of affection, gentleness and happiness.’
At the same time Hadhrat reassured the wife in writing that he has instructed her husband on these issues and she should be patient and undemanding.
A few days later Hadhrat inquired the husband regarding the status of this issue.
Malfuzat e Ramadhan 1429
IDSA, Washington DC
Sayyidi wa sanadi Hadhrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) read aloud an excerpt from a letter of a seeker,
‘How is it possible to achieve self annihilation (fana), especially when anger and arrogance is manifested in all daily interactions?’
And then read the answer he had written,
“As per the sayings of the elders this is only possible by being in the service of the pious with extreme humility, self-negation and readiness to perform as being instructed. That is as per Urdu proverb, being the dust under his shoe (paiymal hona).
However, when this is not possible their biographies, discourse and other works can be a substitute for this to some degree.”
Malfoozat e Kamalat e Usmani, Ramadhan 1429
New York, NY