Bad Opinion about others

An aspirant wrote:

1. I get numerous bad-opinion thoughts (budgumani) regarding other people frequently.
2. I try to get rid of them and start thinking something nice about these people.
Is this appropriate?

Sayyidi wa sanadi Hazrat Moualan Mohammad Taqi Usmani sahib (Allah SWT preserve him and allow us to benefit from him abundantly. Ameen!) replied;

“1. There is no accountability for involuntary thoughts.
2. Indeed, this is its treatment.
Add to it a thought about any of the bad things regarding yourself.”

Islahi khutoot

Diagnosis of blame worthy moral trait

An aspirant wrote:

In the last weekly majlis (suhba) you spoke regarding hubb-e-jah (love of status & fame). I have this disease. I have started the treatment you had prescribed (to get rid of it).

Sayyidi wa sanadi Hazrat Moualan Mohammad Taqi Usmani sahib (Allah SWT preserve him and allow us to benefit from him abundantly. Ameen!) replied;

“How did you make this diagnosis yourself?
What are those specific things that you have thought to be of hubb-e-jah in yourself?”

Islahi khutoot

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This is a common mistake!
Only the Sheikh can make the diagnosis.
Mureed has to inform him about the signs and symptoms which are suspicious.
That are, the incidents involving specific behavioral and diseased thought processes which might be a manifestation of a blame worthy moral trait.
Based on these occurrences Sheikh makes the decision and prescribes a treatment.

Riya?

A spiritual aspirant wrote;

While reciting my tasbeehat (wird) I make sure no one sees me. I worry what they might start thinking of me as being devout. Is this riya (ostentation)?

Sayyidi wa sandi Hazrat Moulana Mohammad Taqi Usmani sahib (Allah SWT preserve him and allow us to benefit from him abundantly. Ameen) replied:

“If you abandoned the recitation of the tasbeehat based on these thoughts, it will be riya. However, if you continue the recitation despite these (involuntary) feelings then there is no wrongdoing.

The treatment of these thoughts is not to pay any attention to them and focus on your recitation.”

Islahi Khutoot

Please, guide me!

Where do I stand?

Take heed!
Mere lip service does not help.
It is the actions according to the commands of Allah SWT & His beloved prophet salallaho alehey wa alehey wasalam that count.

Take a moment to reflect!
How are my beliefs?
What deficiencies exist in my worship?
How much unIslamic behavior is exhibited in my social dealings?
What about my day to day dealings with fellow Muslims?
What about my irreligious home & family environment?

Remember, we have to fulfill the commands of all the five subdivisions of Shariah to be a Muslim.That are;
1. Aqaid/beliefs
2. ‘Ibadaat/Worship
3. Ma’asherat/Social etiquettes
4. Ma’amlaat/Mutual dealings
5. Ikhlaq/Moral etiquettes

Surely I will find huge mitakes, large gaps and open disobedience.
For slavation take the next step.

Sit down before Allah SWT by yourself.
Tell Him your plight.
These gross deficiencies and blatant negligence you commit.
Acknowledge them.
Show Him your pathetic condition and how much in need of His guidance you are.
Ask His help!
Cry, supplicate, request and beseech like a child requesting for a fancy toy.
If not possible genuinely, then be an actor.
Tell Him that you want to change.
And without His help you do not have the courage, means and strength to do so.

Do your part, at least.

Leave the rest and results to Allah SWT.

It is impossible if some one does so and is not guided!

(Theme from Arif Billah Dr. Abdul Hayy Arifi ra’s malfuzat)

(Rp)The thing to take from The Pious

Sayyidi wa sanadi Hazrat Moulana Mohammad Taqi Usmani sahib (Allah SWT preserve him & allow us to benefit from him abundantly. Ameen!) said:

“The thing to acquire from the pious (buzurg) is the fanayiat (annihilation of self-suggestions/desires/expectations). People consider taking wird, azkar, ashagals and litanies etc from them. But the essential thing to take is this fanayiat. That is total effacement of self suggestions, opinions, expectations and complete submission to the commands of Shariah.

It is acquired by accompanying the pious.
Their suhba is essential:
To observe them practicing Shariah in different settings.
To learn from their attitude & behavior.
To correct yourself by their way of practice and implementing Shariah.
To uphold to their chastisement.
To be ready for trials and testing by them, in order to test your sincerity.
To submit to their instructions wholeheartedly.
To do each and every major action in your life with their consultation and approval.

And if this suhba is not readily available then it is essential to correspond with them via letters, mail, phone etc. (As explained in earlier posts.)

Also, important and perhaps most beneficial for this is the study of the malfoozat (suhba talks/utterances) of Hakeemul Ummat Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi quddus sirrahu. Reading them regularly will allow you to absorb the style/disposition of Hakeemul Ummat ra.

Equally significant is the study of the biography of our pious elders (buzurg) in acquiring it. Books like: Ashraf us sawanih (Hakeemul Ummat ra’s biography), Tazkirat ur Rasheed (Moulana Rasheed Ahmed Gangohi ra’s bio), Tazkiratul Khalil (Moulana Khalil Ahmed ra’s bio).

If all of these are done sincerely and seriously, inshaAllah, gradually this fanayiat will eventually develop and grow to the optimum level required.”

Filling Station for Allah SWT’s Love

Sayyidi wa sanadi Hazrat Moulana Taqi Usmani saheb (Allah SWT preserve him and allow us to benefit from him abundantly. Ameen!) while delivering a talk on Allah SWT’s love told us the following incident;

“Once Hazrat Hakeemul Ummat ra was talking about this same very topic, that is love of Allah SWT. Such motivating, aspiring and enchanting was the speech that the mureeds in presence felt extreme desire to achieve this blessing.

Hazrat Azizul Hasan Majzoob ra, the most prominent khalifa of Hakeemul Ummat ra could not resist and asked, “Sir, please, for God’s sake pour this love of Allah SWT and fill our hearts.”

Hazrat Hakeemul Ummat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi quddus sirahu immediately replied, “what else have I been doing? It is this love of Allah SWT that that I have been distributing throughout this talk.”

Waaz 24th July 2005, Masjid Darul Uloom, Karachi.

Challenging the aspirant

A young gentleman approached Sayyidi wa sanadi Hazrat Moulana Mohammad Taqi Usmani sahib (may Allah SWT preserve him and allow us to benefit from him abundantly.Ameen!) and requested to be accepted as a mureed to establish the islahi ta’aluq (relationship for self reformation).

Hazrat db replied, “I am the most destitute in these matters. There are many other proficient people in the Darul Uloom (Karachi) to be taken as a Sheikh. Please, approach them.”

The aspirant was not disappointed by this tawadhu’ (humility) and politely insisted on his requested.

Hazrat db eventually told him to attend the weekly majlis (gathering) for the spiritual aspirants regularly.

It is quite common and appropriate to test the genuineness of the aspirant’s desire by our Shuyukh.

This is to ascertain their sincerity and commitment for taking the tareeq (path).

What to tell the Shaykh?

Hakeemul Ummat Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi ra’s very special khalifa Moulana Shah Wasiullah ra said:

I do not look for how many raka’t of tahajjud you pray?
I am looking for how many of your blame worthy moral traits have been successfully treated.

People keep telling me regarding their virtuous acts.
As for the the blame worthy moral traits they acquire the following attitude:

وہ الگ باندھ کر رکھا ہےجو مال اچھا ہے
(The real stuff I have kept separately hidden)

Meaning they never mention any thing regarding these filthy moral traits, hypocritical attitudes (acting to be pious but in reality not being so ) and improper trust (on Shaykh. That is, hiding things from him).
Whereas, these are the very thing I need information about.
Because, your relationship with me is for islah (reformation). And islah (reformation) is done of these blame worthy moral characteristics. Hence, it is most beneficial to inform me regarding them.

Nevertheless, you mashaAllah, may also have few virtuous qualities. This is very good. But even if you do not mention them to me what will you lose. Indeed, hearing good things regarding you will make me happy and motivate me to make (special) dua for you. But remember this part is a secondary thing and not the original aim and objective (of islahi ta’luq).

Halat-e-muslihul Ummat page 310-11