Categories of love

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

‘There are two categories of love,

1. The intellectual and

2. The emotional

Of these it is essential to acquire the intellectual one. That is, being obedient in following the commands of the beloved by annihilating one’s desires and determinations by giving priority to none except them.

Whereas the emotional love, that is being attracted, having fascination and yearning is beyond one’s volition and control and therefore, not an essential requirement to be accquired.

The one that we are required to have is the intellectual love that is within our control.’

Ardha e Haqq, Mawaiz Ashrafiya, volume 15, page 62

P.S. It is essential to understand that, Hakim al-Umma is not downgrading the category of emotional love. The message is to take control and acquire what is within one’s reach. InshaAllah, eventually the blessings of obedience will bring the (true) emotional component along. Also, it is reminder to us that only emotional love without obedience is deficient and unflattering.

TV & VCR/DVD

Giving instructions to a newly appointed mujaz Hadhrat Dr. Ismail Memon (may Allah preserve him) said,

‘In the Prophetic sayings ingestion of intoxicating beverages has been pointed out to be the source of all the sins (umm al-khabayis), similar is the status of viewing television and video cassette recordings (VCR and these days DVDs). They are the root cause of most of the immoral actions (abb ul-munkerat).

Refrain from them completely.

Many individuals fail intellectually to recognize the evil effects of these things.

Even if one does not understand, it is essential to abstain from them.”

Maqalat wa shuzrat, Mawlana Yusuf Ludhyanawi shaheed (may Allah have mercy on him), page 8

Things that benefit the dead

Sayyidina Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be please with him) says, our Master the Holy Prophet (Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) said,

“A dead person in the grave is like a drowning person expecting (help in the form of) supplications (du‘aa) from his father, or mother, or son, or friend. When it (du‘aa) reaches him it will be more beloved to him than the world and what it contains. Allah transmits the du‘aas of the people of the world (in the form of rewards) that is equivalent of mountains.

The gift of the living to the dead is to seek forgiveness (maghfirah) for them.”

– Bayhaqii in Shi‘abul Imaan.

Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) says, our Master the Holy Prophet (Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) said,

“When a human passes away, his deeds come to an end, except from three things:

1. Charity that continues (sadaqah jaariyah) (like a waqf etc.); or

2.  Knowldge (‘ilm) from which benefit continues to be derived (like teaching, writing books etc.); or

3. A pious son who makes supplication (du‘aa) for him.”

– Bukhaari, Muslim, quoted in Sharhus Sudur. 

 Shouq e watan.

Safeguarding dunya & deen!

In the instructions posted for those living in his khanqah, Hadhrat Mawlana Wasiullah (may Allah have mercy on him) wrote,

“Everyone is responsible for the protection of his belongings.

If something is stolen, then both the individual who’s stuff it is and the thief will be expelled from the khanqah.

The expulsion of the aggrieved is because a person who is incapable of protecting his personal effects how is he expected to safeguard his religion.”

Hayyat e Musleh al-Umma ra, 129

Wife!

Masih al-Quloob Mawlana MasihUllah Khan (may Allah Have mercy on him) said,

“Wife is most the unpredictable relative.  A parent or a child, both of whom are closely related, will draw a line in their attitude and behaviour. But a wife draws no lines. She has no regard for any etiquette. Therefore, no matter what her attitude, no matter what words she utters, no matter what unbecoming language she uses, do not take offence. ”

For the friends

Death on friday

Our Master Holy Prophet (Allah’s blessing and peace be on him) said:

“A Muslim male or female who dies on a Friday night or the day of Friday, is safe from the punishment and trials of the grave.

He will meet Allah without giving account of his deeds.

On the day of Judgement (qiyaamah) he will come in such a state that he will either have witnesses who will give testimony for him, or he will have some sealed testimony.”

Reported by Sayyidina Ibn Umar (Allah be please with him) Tirmidhi, Baihaqi.

Recitation for the removal of hardship!

An individual informed of the hardships he was facing. He was afraid of losing his means of sustenance and professional integrity.

‘Arif-billahHadhrat Dr. Abdul Hayy ‘Arifi (may Allah have mercy on him) instructed him to recite the following 200 times daily after ‘eisha salah pre- and post-ceded by salutations (durood) on the Holy Prophet (Allah’s blessing and peace be upon him) 11 times,

لا حول ولاقوة إلا بالله

(There is no power or strength except with Allah)

Islahi khutoot.

It is most beneficial to contemplate on the meanings of it during the recitation.

In order to achieve sincerity!

Instructing us on how to achieve sincerity (ikhlas)sayyidi wa sanadi Hadhrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) said,

“It is imperative for the seeker to renew and reaffirm his intention (niyyah) prior to each and every act he performs.”

Ramadhan 1429, Daul Uloom Karachi, post-dhur dars

والدین کے حقوق اورایصال ثواب

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

‘ہم پر اللہ تعالی نے اپنے حقوق کے بعد والدین کے حقوق واجب فرماۓ ہیں۔ انہوں نے پالا پرورش کی، دعائیں کیں، راحت پہنچائی اور جب تک تم بالغ نہیں ہۓ تمہارے کفیل رہے۔

اور جب تم بالغ ہوۓ تو تم نے ان کی کیا خدمت کی ہوگی؟

دیکھو جتنا سرمایا ہے اپنے زندگی بھر کے اعمال حسنہ کا اور طاعات نافلہ کا سب نذر کر دو اپنے والدین کو، ان کا بہت بڑا حق ہے، کیونکہ والدین کو اللہ تعالی نے مظہر ربوبیت بنایا ہے۔ اس عمل خیر کا ثواب تمہیں بھی اتنا ملے گا جتنا دے رہے ہو، بلکہ اس سے بھی زیادہ کیونکہ یہ تمہارا ایثار ہے اور اس کا بہت بڑا ثواب ہے۔

میں تو اپنی ساری عمر کی تمام عبادات و طاعات نافلہ اور اعمال خیر اپنے والدین کی روح پر بخش دیتا ہوں اور سمجھتا ہوں کہ اب بھی حق ادا نہیں ہوا۔ اللہ تعالی اپنی رحمت واسعہ سے قبول فرمالیں۔

(رمضان المبارک کے انوار و برکات، ص 14)

حضرت والد رحمۃ اللہ علیہ کی وفات پر

سیدی و سندی حضرت مولانا مفتی تقی عثمانی صاحب مدظلہ کی نظم سے انتخاب

کیوں تیرہ و تاریک ہے نظروں میں جہاں آج

کیوں چھاۓ ہیں ہر سمت یہ ظلمت کے نشاں آج

کیا نخل تمنا کو میرے آگ لگی ہے؟

رہ رہ کے یہ سینےسے جو اٹھتا ہے دھواں آج

رفتار تنفس ہے کہ چلتے ہوۓ آرے

کیوں جرعئہ زہر اب ہے یہ شربت جاں آج

کیا حضرت والد کو قضا لے کے چلی ہے؟

اک قافلہ نور ہے گروں پہ رواں آج

ابا میرے جنت کے بسانے کو چلے ہیں

اے موت! ترا مرتبہ پہنچا ہے کہاں آج

دل میں وہ تلاطم ہے کہ ہلچل سی مچی ہے

اور آنکھ ہے ظالم! کہ بس خشک کنواں آج

وہ والد مشفق، وہ مرے شیخ و مربی

کس دیس کی بستی میں ہیں آرام کناں آج

کیا سچ ہے کہ اب ان کو نہ میں دیکھ سکوں گا

یا دیکھ رہا ہوں کوئی خواب گراں آج

اب کون ہے دنیا میں جو پوچھے گا تقی کو

کس فکر میں ہے؟ کیوں نہیں آیا؟ ہے کہاں آج

Becoming a murid?

A sister asked,

“Can I become a murida of Shaikh Hazrat Taqi Usmani sahib? I was previously a murida of Shaikh Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi (may Allah have mercy on him) from India.”

All praise is to Allah, as per the teachings of sayyidi wa sanadi Hadhrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) following reply was sent,

‘It is a great blessing of Allah that you are a muridah of Hadhrat Ali mian (may Allah have mercy on him).

I pray and hope that you are continuing with what Hadhrat told you to do, such as remembrance(tasbihat, dhikr), recitation of Holy Quran (tilawat), reading (mutala’), etc.

As a basic rule, it is most beneficial that after the passing away of his Shaykh the murid associates with Shaykh’s senior representatives (khulafa) to continue the journey on the same track without any interruptions.

However, if due to unavoidable circumstances you can not contact any of those khulafa then you can correspond with sayyidi wa sanadi Hadhrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) for self-reformation (islah) and bayiat.

Focus on sincerity

Instructing a former student who is now responsible for a darul uloom in NWFP, sayyidi wa sanadiHadhrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) said,

“Keep in mind that the real objective is to gain Allah’s pleasure.  Absolute sincerity is required for this.

Refrain from asking donations individually.

In our institute there is no mechanism to advertise, send representatives or contact wealthy individuals for donations. All praise is to Allah, even then all the matters are being carried out effectively.”

Ramadhan 1429

The two most prevalent sins!

Sayyidi wa sanadi Hadhrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah grant him a long, healthy and fruitful life) said,

“To preserve the benefits gained in Ramadhan abstain from sins. The two most common sins in which most of the people are involved in these days are,

1. Inappropriate use of eyes. That is, seeing unlawful things.

2. Backbiting. That is speaking of others in such a manner that if they came to know about it they will be upset. Even if the content is truth.

Make a concious effort to control yourself.”

Ramadhan bayan 1429, Darul Uloom Karachi