An individual inquired if it was permissible to wish non-Muslims on their religious holidays. For example, saying mubarak ho, etc.
Sayyidi wa sanadi Hazrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani sahib db said;
“To make dua for barakah for them (on these occasions) is impermissible. However, wishing them prosperity and well being is fine. The word “congratulations” implies this second meanings and not the first. So it is permissible to congratulate them.”
Islahi khutoot
Sayyidi wa sanadi Hazrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani sahib db instructed an individual who was being pressurized by his wife to get a dining table;
“To dine on a table is permissible.
Eating seated on floor is superior.
To accommodate for the convenience of guests and fulfilling the desire of one’s spouse one can opt for a permissible act leaving the superior one.
Keeping this principle in mind, do whatever suits you the most.”
Islahi khutoot
هر كه خواهد همنشنى با خدا
او نشيند در حضور اولياء
Hakeemul Ummat Hazrat Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi ra said commenting on the verse 12 of surah al-Mumtahana🙁 then accept their allegiance and ask Allah to forgive them)
“It is from the rights of the mureed to make dua for him.”
Masail us Sulook min Kalam Malik ul Mulook, page 509
An individual inquired regarding performing nafil hajj without a tasreh (a permit issued by Saudi government to expatriates performing hajj. This is to keep a track of individuals arriving for hajj, make sure they have transport and residence arrangements pre-planned, etc. to avoid confusion, stampede and other safety hazards. )
Sayyidi wa sanadi Hazrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani sahib db advised him not to perform nafil hajj without a genuine tasreh. Trespassing government regulations is grossly inappropriate and sinful.
زنقص تشنہ لبی داں بہ عقل خویش مناز
دلت فریب گر از جلوہء سراب نخورد
Consider it to be due to absence of real thirst and not intelligence,
if you are not deceived by the shinning mirage in reality.
Sheikh Ahmed Abul Abbas Mar’ashi ra said:
“Do not demand that the Sheikh keeps you in his heart.
But you should ask your heart to lodge the Sheikh in it.
As much as you keep the Sheikh in your heart, similarly
the Sheikh will accommodate you in his heart.”
Rooh e Tasawwuf, page 129
Commenting on Sheikh Abu Madyan maghrabi ra’s instruction to his mureed on muraqaba (meditation) that “Allah SWT is watching me”, Hakeemul Ummat Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi ra said that this contemplation is quickest way to fana (annihilation).
Hazrat Mufti Mohammad Shafii ra adds, when this thinking that Allah SWT is watching me, is firmly established in an individual’s mind then his desires, aspirations and even his own being will be obliterated. This is station of fana (annihilation), the highest position on the path of Tasawwuf.
Rooh e Tasawwuf*, page 109.
*A compilation of sayings of sufi sages by Hakeemul Ummat Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi ra, translated into Urdu with brief commentary by Mufti Mohammed Shafii ra.
Sayyidi wa sanadi Hazrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani sahib db instructed an individual to do this muraqaba,
“I am in front of Allah SWT and He is watching me”,
for 5 minutes daily when starting the wird.
نعرہ مستانہ خوش می آیدم
تا ابد جا نا ں چنیں با یدم
مجھ کو نعرہ مستانہ خوش معلوم ہوتا ہے
اے جاناں مجھ کو ابد تک ایسا ہی مطلوب ہے۔
کلید مثنوی، دفتر ششم، جلد 21-22
Hazrat Baba Najam Ahsan sahib ra, khalifa (mojaz e sohbat) of Hazrat Hakeemul Ummat ra said;
“Love is not to have any self opinion.”
That is, to have absolute submission!
Zikir e Ahsan ra, page 180-1
حضرت حاجی امداداللہ صاحب مہاجر مکی رحمۃ اللہ علیہ نے
رسالہ “فیصلہ ہفت مسئلہ” کو اس شعر پر ختم کیہ ہے
گرایں مدعی دوست بشناختے
بہ پیکار دشمن نہ پرداختے
(اگر یہ محبت الہی کا دعوادار دوست کو پہنچان لیتا تو دشمن سے جھگڑنے میں مشغول نہ ہوتا۔)
Hazrat Mufti Mohammad Shafii’ ra, senior khalifa of Hakeemul Ummat ra, said;
“Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Wahab Sha’rani ra has written in “Lataifil minan wa ikhlaq” that, most effective practical thing to do for islah (betterment) of children is that the parents make dua (prayers) for their religious improvement diligently.”
Ma’arif ul Quran (Urdu), volume 7, page 726
Hazrat Haji Imdadullah mohajir makki ra said;
“Heart is a like a mirror so protect it from reflecting on any thing other than Allah SWT.”
That is because these useless reflections will waste your time and if you develop a habit of thinking about them all the time they will become permenant dwellers of your heart. Allah SWT save us all from this. Ameen, bijah e Sayyidul mursaleen.
Qutube ‘alam Hazrat Mawlana Rasheed Ahmed Gangohi ra said;
“A person’s nearness to Allah SWT is propotional to his distance from his ego and self (nafs)”
That is, from acting on the selfish and sinful desires of one’s ego.
Source: Advice for the Seeker, Sayings of Shaykh Rasheed Ahmed Gangohi ra by Mr. Altaf Mian sahib