Building determination

An individual wrote in detail about his unsteady state. That is, for a period of time he becomes a good pious Muslim, praying and abstaining from all that is forbidden but after a few days or a month he slips back to the old bad ways. He requested advice on how to overcome this instability and give up sins altogether.

Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) replied, The condition you have described is not unusual. Many individuals face this problem.

The underlying reason for it is the low level of determination. Increasing the determination to a higher level can treat it.

Two things augment the growth of this determination. Firstly, the best and most effective means is to stay in the company of the Pious (ahlul Allah) for some duration following their recommendations wholeheartedly. If this is not possible then the second best option is to read (Imam Ghazali’s) Alchemy of Happiness (Keymiah Sa’adet) regularly with concentration.

And the other thing is to keep me (the Sheikh) informed of your condition at regular intervals.

Tarbiyat us Salik, volume 1, page 224   

Sunna 4

Sunna: Prior to entering the restroom recite the following,

بسم الله اللهم إني أعوذ بك من الخُبث والخبائث

(Tirmizi)

Sunna 3

Sunna: Prophet (Allah’s blessing and peace be on him) used to cover his head and put on footwear prior to entering the restroom. (Ibn S’ad)

Sunna 2: Clothing

Sunna: When putting on clothes and shoes begin with the right side first. That is, put in the right arm in the sleeve and then the left; do similarly with right leg and foot.

When removing the clothing and shoes remove the left first and right last.

(Tirmizi)


Sunna 1

On wakening up from sleep 

Sunna: Rub the face and the eyes with both hands to remove the haze of sleep.(Shamail e Tirmizi) 

Sunna: Recite الحمد لله الذي أحيانا بعدما أماتنا وإليه النشور(Shamail e Tirmizi) 

Sunna: Clean the mouth using miswak. (Abu Dawud)

This is a Sunna separate from using miswak in wudu.

News:Khutbaat Updated & Dua for Mawlana Wali Razi db

The latest bayan of Hadhrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) is now available at the Khutbaat section.  The topic of discussion is arrogance and pride (takabbur). A deadly disease itself, it also makes one susceptible to many other moral illnesses. Hence, it is called root cause of all blameworthy characteristics (umm-ul-amraz). Its treatment is the first essential step on the path (sulook). 

Another important news it that Hadhrat Mawlana Wali Razi sahib, elder brother of Hadhrat Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve them) is sick and hospitalized. Please, do try to make prayers (dua) for his speedy, complete and pur-afiyet recovery. JazakAllah.

Advice on being over zealous

Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) advised a traveler on the path (salik),

“Excessive indulgence is not required even in the rectification (islah) of volitional (ikhteyari) actions . For example, if an important act (‘amal) is missed, its compensation should be done (qadha), if a mistake is committed repentance should be made and one should then return back to his usual routine.

Do not fixate your thoughts on these particular episodes by worrying that how come I missed or committed such a thing. Sufis’ consider this to be extreme and overwhelming zeal (gulu and mubalagha) that is prohibited according to the teachings of Quran and hadith.

لا تغلو فى دينكم

من شاق شاق الله عليه

سددوا و قاربوا و استقيمو

ولن تحصو من غلبه النوم فليرقد

لا تفريظ فى النوم انما التفزيظ فى اليقظه

Hadhrat ‘Arif (Hafiz) Shirazi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,

سخت مى كرد جهان بر مردمان سخت كوش

The specific effect of this extreme and overwhelming zeal (gulu and mubalagha) on the physical and mental capabilities in our times is that hopelessness sets in, halting the traveler (salik) completely.”

Tarbiyat us Salik, volume 1, page 32

Prophet said, Follow my Sunna

 

An essential handbook by Hadhrat Mufti Abdul-Hakeem khalifa of Mufti Mohammad Shafi (may Allah have mercy on them) listing the Sunna to be followed in our daily life.

A must reading for all salikeen.

May Allah, the most merciful, make it easy for us to follow the Sunna in all aspects of our life. Ameen!

Correcting others

A mureed wrote about his excessive anger on non-Islamic actions committed by his family members. This was causing lot of frictions between the relatives.

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

“It is the responsibility of a mentor or a leader to hold those under his supervision accountable for their actions. You are currently busy in your own reformation (islah) and should not have time for all of this. It is inappropriate for you to interfere in anyone’s affairs.”

Tarbiyat us Salik, volume 1, page 57

Informing nothing significant to Sheikh

A disciple (mureed) wrote that there is nothing significant to report to you these days. 

Hakim al-Umma Hadrath Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) replied, “It is beneficial to inform this also (to the Sheikh). At times there is some information in it as well.”  Tarbiyat us Salik, volume 1, page 55

سالک

شب تاریک و بیم موج و گردبے چنیں حائل

کجا دانند حال ما سبک ساران ساحلہا

Priority of islah over bay’a

In response to an aspirant’s request for taking-pledge (bay’a), Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah sanctify his secret) said,

Rectification of actions (islah e a’mal) has priority over taking-pledge (bay’a), excessive remembrance (dhikr) and spiritual exercises (shugal).

To do this rectification it is essential to study forty or fifty of my printed discourses (mawaiz), the booklets ‘Islah ur rasoom’, ‘Adab ul masharat’ and ‘Tahzib us salikeen’. Without this essential reading all excessive remembrance (dhikir) and spiritual exercises (shugal) are useless. Therefore, complete this before proceeding.

It is best to do things in an organized way. Otherwise, if the foundations of a building are weak it is most likely to collapses easily.

Tarbiyat us Salik, volume 1, page 94

Path to success

In reply to a disciples’s letter Hakim al-Umma, Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,

 “Keep doing what has been instructed and informing me about it. This is the path to achieve success. Whoever has arrived has done so by this method. Similarly, Allah will grant you success.”

 Tarbiyat us Salik, volume 1, page 94