Hadhrat Mawlana Abdul Ghani Phulpuri a very senior khalifa of Hakim al-Umma (may Allah have mercy on them) mentions the following first and foremost in the list of essentials for a salik,
“Following the Sunna, both in exoteric (dhahiri) and esoteric (batini) matters. ”
Usool e tasawwuf, page 15
Hadhrat Mufti Mohammad Hasan (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“There are two robbers on this path (of tasawwuf).
One of them is heedlessness:loosing focus (ghaflah), and the other is committing sin (ma’asiat).
As a safeguard from them one should sit in the company (suhba) of a pious person (Shaykh).”
Ahsan as-Sawanih, page 255
Hadhrat Mufti Mohammed Hasan (may Allah have mercy on him), Hakim al-Umma’s khalifa and founder of Jamia Ashrafia Lahore said,
“The essence of tasawwuf can be condensed in two terms, the means (tareeq) and the objective (maqsud).
The means are the acts of worship (‘amal).
And the objective is Allah’s pleasure.
That is, at all the times one should be striving to gain Allah’s pleasure.”
Ahsan as-Sawanih, page 252
And it is among His signs that He has created for you wives from among yourselves, so that you may find tranquility in them, and He has created love and kindness between you. Surely in this there are signs for a people who reflect.
Commenting on the terms mentioned Hadhrat Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) says that physical and emotional love predominates in the youth whereas kindness and caring marks the old age.
In regards to getting rid of the effects of black magic (sihr) ‘Arif-billah Dr. Abdul-Hayy ‘Arif (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“Pray two units (rakah) of salah.
In first unit recite قل اعوذ برب الفلق (chapter 113) and in second قل اعوذ رب الناس (chapter 114) after al-fatiha.
After salam recite لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله العلى العظيم five hundred times. Send salutations on the Holy Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) eleven times before and after this recitation. Then make dua, especially for removal of the sihr.
This is very effective method. Do not belittle it due to its being so simple and easy.”
From audio of weekly majlis 1980s.
Use of black magic (sihr) is rampant these days.
There are various reasons for it. Firstly, the ease of availability which is most likely due to the consumer demand. Secondly, the rise in number of individuals who can afford it. And finally the declining religious state of Muslims. This is both in external (dhahiri) and spiritual (ruhani) realms.
The external elements include lack of care about major or minor impurity states, eating what is definitively halal, not praying regularly, indulging in sins, especially the major ones and not repenting immediately. These all make one more susceptible to the effects of sihr.
The spiritually destructive (muhlekat) characteristics of anger, envy or jealousy (hasad), hatred(bugdh), lack of love for Allah and has His creation and loss of sense of accountability before Him are the real forces driving theperpetrator to use of this ulterior method to harm fellow human beings.
Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) has mentioned in Bahishti Zewar (Hanafi fiqh manual) a list of thirty three Quranic verses to be recited daily for the treatment of and propylaxsis against black magic. They have been compiled into a booklet known as manzil (online).
Finally two things need to be clarified in this regards. Firstly, not every illness, accident or unusual thing should be assumed to be a result of black magic. Common things are more common. Secondly, if black magic is suspected it must be diagnosed correctly and treated by an expert (a’amil). The things mentioned here are general measures. Specific treatment may be needed in some cases. This expert should be a pious Muslim. He should not be a person who is using black magic himself for this treatment as is very common these days.
Allah save us all from sihr. Ameen!
Citing misconceptions of pseudo-sufis Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“Another misconception is a belief that there comes a stage in the path of tasawwuf where the Shariah rulings are annulled and the sufi is exempted from their observation. This thinking is unbelief (kufr) without any doubt.
The Shariah rulings are never ever lifted from a conscious and oriented individual. However, loss of consciousness (and orientation) are a genuine reason for excuse.
A person informed Hadhrat Junaid Baghdadi (may Allah have mercy on him) that there are individuals who say that we have reached the goal (wasil). It is not necessary for us to observe the Shariah rulings anymore.
Hadhrat Junaid (may Allah have mecy on him) replied, “Yes! They have reached, indeed. But it is at the Hell they have reached and not (the ma’rifa of) Allah. A person who fornicates and steals is better then the individual who holds this belief. If I were to live for thousand years, I would not even miss my daily recitations (wird) without a genuine excuse.”
Ta’lim ud-deen, page 123
حضرت حکیم الامت مولانا اشرف علی تھانوی قدس اللہ سرہ فرماتے ہیں،
تعلیم الدین، صفحہ 130
Written correspondence between the murid and Shaykh is an essential principle of Ashrafiya tareeq.
Commonly known as islahi makatabet, it’s efficacy and importance has been extremely underestimated and neglected by us at practical level. This is specially true for the younger generation for whom writing letters is unknown.
Disregarding this effective mode of benefiting from the Shaykh has led to what we are observing these days. That is, effective islah does not take place even after years of baya and attending majalisof Shaykh for those who do not engage in islahi makatabet.
In this regards a sincere brother asked the following,
“Consider a case where a person living in the other extreme corner of the world, having never met his ‘Shaykh to be’ (his first ever shaykh of tareeq). However, he has been reading his books, articles, blogs etc. Can he still start and maintain a very effective ‘relation for islah‘ using ordinary postal mail ? (which takes 7 days to reach, then takes time to be answered due to busy schedule on the Shaykh’s part, and is then sent back, so 7 more days).
In case this person feels that the desires of the nafs still rule a lot of his daily routine and there is nobody around him to physically or verbally instruct him, would an islahi letter (which takes a long round time) be as thoroughly instructive to cater for this amateur’s Islahi need?
The following response was sent,
Your question is excellent and reflective of true desire (talab).
The ideal thing in tasawwuf for islah is blessed company (suhba)of the Shaykh. This is not only limited to attending the darsor visiting him occasionally. It should be staying at length close to him. This is to observe and learn from his behavior in different situations and allow the Shaykh to observe and make islahof your behavior in regular every day settings. For this previous day Shuyukh had live-in khanqahs. This is still very much desired and encouraged. However, during these days of busy life and many economical, educational or family commitments it is very difficult to squeeze out time for this. It for this reason a substitute by writing letters has been arranged. However, this can take any form of communication like e-mail, postal mail or contact via fax, etc.
A very essential point to remember in this substituted form of islahi ta’luq, is that one has to be very candid, explicit and truthful in telling his condition to the Shaykh. This islahi relationship is absolutely for gaining Allah’s pleasure. Shaykh is like a doctor if a patient hides important information, for example not being compliant in taking the medicine, or indulging in prohibited eating or physical activities or not following other recommendation, etc. from him it will lead to deterioration of the illness and cure will never be achieved. This is a very common pitfall we all encounter.
The scenario you describe is a common everyday reality for those involved in their islah. Even living in Karachi it may take up to 14 – 21 days for the letter’s reply. InshaAllah, email will soon facilitate this also.
It should be very clear upfront that Shaykh is going to give you advice and instructions to do what is the best for your settings. He will also prescribe some award and make dua for its facilitation. But it is YOU who has to take the bold step of crushing the desires of nafs and DO what is instructed. If you do not or can not or fail for some reason to do it, inform this to the Shaykh OPENLY. Do not be shy. Shyness here is HARAM. Shaykh may use some other method for your islah.
I hope I made my point clear.
Be aware that our nafs and shaytan are very knowledgeable and expert in misguiding us via genuine, logical and seemingly sound religious argumentation. You need an equally learned expert to counter their attack. He is the Shaykh.
Islahi makatabet is very effective, easy and practical means of benefiting from the Shaykh where ever you might be. Millions have and are profiting from it.
Try it on a trial basis!
Sayyidi wa sanadi Hadhrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) said,
“In unfavorable conditions the Ummah is facing these days most of us usually waste time discussing, reading or listening to the news and commentaries about the current affairs.
We forget the most important thing to do.
That is, to turn to Allah.
It is for sure that these adverse conditions are the effects of our own wrong doings. Hence, the best recourse is to accept our short comings, repent, make a strong determination to act correctly now onwards and ask Allah for His mercy, help and guidance in doing so. Admit our feebleness and lack of courage to deal with these hardships and request them to be safely removed from us.”
Hadhrat Mawlana Masihullah Khan (may Allah ahve mercy on him) said,
“Always fear that your present condition might change (for worse). This thought uproots arrogance very effectively.”
Isalah afroze bayanat, page 582
Hadhrat Hakim la-Umma hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“Ponder prior to correcting a fellow Muslim that if my child had been in this situarion how would I deal with him. Then adpot the same demeanor in delaing with this fellow Muslim that you would have used for your child.”
al-Rafeeq fi sawa e tariq, Malfoozat e Hakim al-Umma, volume 27-28, page 13
After the passing away (wisal) of Hadhrat Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) his close disciples (murideen) and representatives (khulafa) had gathered at khanqah in Thana-bhawan. Hadhrat’s widow, Choti pirani sahiba (may Allah have mercy on her) was distributing items from Hakim al-Umma’s personal use, like caps (kufi), turban (‘amamah), shirts, etc. amongest them.
Hadhrat Nawab Jamshid Ali Khan of Baghpat (may Allah have mercy on him) was also present. In spite of being a person of wealth and prominence (nawab) and former member of Indian Legislative Assembly, he was a very pious, close and devoted murid of Hahdrat Hakim al-Umma.
It was inquired if he wanted anything special form these blessed relics. He requested for woolen socks that had been in use of Hadhrat Hakim al-Umma.
After acquiring the blessed gift, he had them un-knitted and used the wool extracted to make a cap (kufi). He wore this special cap at tahajjud prayers every day.
Halat e Eshrat: biography of Hadhrat Nawab Eshrat ‘Ali Khan Qaiser (may Allah preserve him), page 33.
Hadhrat Hakim al-umma Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah ahve mercy on him) said,
“Hardship persists in performance of good deeds. It is because these actions are against the desires of the lower self (nafs). The lower self essentially tries to fight them off. This may be a minor or a major battle. Hence, it remains essential to act against the desires of the lower self by doing spiritual struggle (mujahida) life long.
This is true both for the novice (mubtadi) and the one who has arrived (muntahi). Both of them have to face the opposition of the lower self some time or another, either in form of laziness in performance of good deeds or indulgence in a sin. Novice gets into it a lot and the muntahi a little. In order to prevail in this battle it is essential for both of them to engage in spiritual struggle (mujahida). ”
Basair al-Hakim al-Umma, page 164-5
Related: Spiritual struggle
Hadhrat Mawlana Masihullah Khan (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
The reality of spiritual struggle (mujahada) consists in the habitual practice of opposing the lower self (nafs).
In other words, it is to check and control the physical, pecuniary, egotistical, and mundane desires, delights and preferences of the lower self in persuit of the obedience and the good pleasure of Allah Most High.”
The Path to Perfection, page 36
