The Islahi Correspondence between Mureed & Sheikh

This islahi/self-reformation correspondence is the vital cornerstone of sulook in our path.
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Mureed writes about his state in regards to observance of Shariah, the wird prescribed, overwhelming thoughts and any questionable moral traits demonstrated in every day life in dealing with self and others. The Sheikh reviews it and diagnoses any ailments, if present and treats as appropriate.

To be definitely effective this has to be at regular intervals, usually once every month or fortnightly.

It is alchemy.

Recognizing its importance, nafs & shaytan try their best to put obstacles for doing it successfully. Mureed becomes lazy & slack, finding numerous excuses for not doing it. Even if he sits down to write a letter, he can not recall anything ‘significant’ to convey.

Once as similar mureed wrote to Sidi wa sandi Hazrat Moulana Mohammad Taqi Usmani sahib (Allah SWT preserve him & allow us to benefit from him a lot. Ameen!) that I can not bring to mind any thing to write in my letter.

Hazrat db replied:
“Writing even this, itself is sufficient.”

This is because; it keeps you in the habit of writing letters to the Sheikh, shows your concern and sincerity for self reformation, is an opportunity to request for dua and informs the Sheikh that at least you are not deteriorating and seeing your effort he makes special dua for you.
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Hazrat db also said;
“For mureed who do not have the opportunity to be in close direct contact with the Sheikh to discuss their states in person regularly, it is essential to have this islahi correspondence. The mureed and even the Sheikh who do not recognize this are committing a fundamental mistake in Tasawwuf (especially our tareeq/path).”

On Death of the Sheikh!

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On the death of Hazrat Moulana Shah Abrarul Haq (Allah have mercy on him) (died May 17th, 2005), the last surviving khalifa of Hakeemul Ummat, an individual inquired Sidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani sahib ( Allah preserve him and allow us to benefit from him a lot. Ameen!) regarding the attitude to be adopted by a mureed on the death of his/her Shaykh.

Shaykh replied,

“Regarding this mureedeen fall into two categories.
First are those who are mojaz (khalifa) (they have the permission to initiate others). For them it is not essential to take another Shaykh. However, it is very beneficial and advisable to take one and not leave one’s self independent.

Second category is the rest of mureedeen (disciples). It is absolutely essential for them to take another Shaykh as soon as possible.

In both the cases it is wise to select the next Shaykh from the same silsila (spiritual lineage) with the similar disposition/style (hum mazaq) in approach to Tasawwuf/islah as the recently deceased Shaykh, for uninterrupted spiritual progress.”

Jeddah, 18th May, 2005

ليبك اللهم ليبك

In the state of ihram proceeding towards Masjidul Haram, sidi wa sandi Hazrat Moulana Mohammad Taqi Usmani sahib db repeatedly recited;

لبيك اللهم لبيك لا شريك لك لبيك ان الحمد و نعمة لك و الملك لا شريك لك

and told us:
“In the state of ihram the most superior form of dhikr is this talbiyah. Reflecting on it, it is my opinion, and Allah SWT knows best, this repeated recitation is an exercise and training for us. That is it so remind us repeatedly that we are here, present and at service of Allah SWT. The result of this exercise has to appear when we return back to our routine daily life. There we have to say, ليبك: I am here, to obey each and every command of Allah SWT.”

Umrah with sidi wa sandi db

Influencing your Wife!

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Arif billah Hazrat Dr. Abdul-Hayy Arifi ra said:
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“Special effort should be made to keep a beautiful attitude towards one’s wife.
She has adopted your companionship leaving her parents, siblings and other close relatives. You have to compensate her for all these caring relationships by loving her dearly.
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If you are patient on anything hurtful from her you will be rewarded (by Allah SWT). Her inappropriate attitude can not be corrected by your anger and wrath. But the best way to achieve that is to control your anger completely at that moment. And some time later (at an appropriate occasion) gently and with compassion let her know the mistake she made. (With this approach) even if she has a grain of aptitude for correction, she will accept your counsel and reform herself.”
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Sukoon-e-qalb 46

Sheikh’s Style

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Arif billah Hazrat Dr. Abdul-Hayy Arifi ra said:
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It takes a considerable duration of time to pick up and understand the Sheikh’s style (the characteristic method, approach and its implementation in sulook). However, (once understood) one should completely adapt to it.
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Sukoon-e-qalb 80
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Each and every Sheikh has a unique style of his own.
It is essential to the understand and agree to it before becoming a mureed.
Only if this is present it is possible to benefit and progress.

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Testing our Ikhlaq

Arif-billah Hazrat Dr. Abdul-Hayy Arifi ra said:
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” Develop a habit of examining yourself.
How is my worship (‘ibadat)?
How are my dealings (muamlat)?
How is my ikhlaq (morals/behavioral characteristics)?

And to test the ikhlaq (morals/behavior) take a ride in one of the public buses in Karachi (notorious for being overcrowded with less educated & emotionaly frustrated people). You will find out the reality, where do you stand?.”

Sukoon-e-qalb 47

It is under stressful condition that the praise-worthy and blame worthy moral characteristic, (that are: patience, humility, giving preference to others, love & sympathy, etc. and anger, envy, arrogance, etc.) are shown in one’s behavior. Under normal circumstances most of us act and consider ourselves to be the perfect model of good morals. But the our reality will appear when others are rude and obnoxious, they do not give us the ‘status’ we deserve and ignore us.

The emotions which emerge in these circumstances show our reality. And if we act on the commands of these emotions, it shows the extent of the diseased heart we have!
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These are the things to be reported to the Sheikh. He after diagnosing the problem will advice a treatment. We use the therapy and then report back to him again for the sucess or failure of treatment.
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This is the real Tasawwuf and Peeri-mureedi.

Special Dua!

Hakeemul Ummat Hazrat Moulana Shah Ashraf Ali Thanvi ra adviced a mureed to recite the following verses sincerely with dedication seven times after each salah for fullfilment of all desired dua.
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فسهل يا الهى كل صعب
1
بحرمة سيدالابرار سهل
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Tarbiyatus Salik volume 1 pg 459

Useful Obnoxious Talk!

Arif-billah Hazrat Dr. Abdul Hayy ra said:
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If someone talks obnoxiously to us, it becomes a therapy for the reformation of nafs. And when people call our names respectfully with grand titles attached it causes this nafs to grow fat (heedless). The obnoxious talk becomes a treatment for this fattening.

Sukoon-e-qalb 44

Neither Scholars nor gnostics. We want to be sincere lovers of Allah SWT

Arif billah Hazrat Dr. Abdul-Hayy Arifi ra said:

“Shaytan has three ‘ع’ (the Arabic letter ‘ain ).
Meaning that;
1. He is a devout worshipper (‘abid/ عابد ) [prayed for thousands of years prior to slipping]
2. He is a tremendous scholar (‘alim/ عالم ) [Former teacher/instructor of other angles]
3. He is a great Gnostic (‘arif/عارف) [Evident by his attitude at the time of Allah SWT’s wrath. He knew that if he makes a request even at this moment of fall it will be accepted.]

But he lacks the fourth ‘ain ع’. That is, he is not a true lover (عاشق). If he had been a true lover he would have surely prostrated (to Hazrat Adam alehes salaam, on Allah SWT’s order without any reservations. For lover does as the Beloved commands!)

Brothers! We neither want to be mere worshippers nor only Gnostics.
We only want to be sincere lovers.

We want to be true lovers; because it is due to this that our bond and relationship with Allah SWT can never be cut off.

And for this, Allah SWT has told us to follow the example of His beloved messenger salallaho alehey wa ‘alehi wasalam. For whoever follows his noble example he becomes Allah SWT’s beloved.
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(Malfoozat e Arifi ra 178)

Chisti asbaq/lessons

The famous scholar, historian, linguist and author Moulana Syed Suleman Nadwi ra was in search of a Sheikh. He visited Hazrat Hakeemul Ummat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi ra for the first time. While departing he requested Hazrat Thanvi ra for some general advice (nasiha).

Hazrat Thanvi ra later told his mureedeen that I felt perplexed for a second. I was thinking what advice would be suitable for such a high ranking scholar? I turned my attention towards Allah SWT and requested Him for guidance in this matter.

Hazrat Thanvi ra replied, the first and also the last thing in our tareeq (path) is annihilation (fana).

Hearing this Moulana Syed Suleman Nadwi ra started to cry.
He became a mureed and later a khalifa of Hazrat Hakeemul Ummat ra.

This annihilation is that of self-suggestion, planning, expectations & of blame worthy traits۔ And acting as being told by the Sheikh.

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سوختن – و آفروختن – و جامہ دریدن
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شمع زمن پروانہ زمن گل زمن آموخت

خلوت

حجروں – میں لاکھ بیٹھۓ خلوت – مگر کہاں
جب تک کہ جان و دل میں بسا تو ہی تو نہ ہو
مجذوب رح

Unity

Sidi wa sanadi Hazrat Moulana Mohammad Taqi Usmani sahib db has related to us the following statements of Sayyid-ut-taifa Hazrat Haji Imdadullah mohajir-Makki ra & Hakeemul Ummat ra many times;

People call for unity again and again.
But they do not unite.

Do we know: What are the fundamental ingredients to make unity?

They are humility (tawa’duh) and giving preference to others over one’s self (‘esar).

There can never be unity between two arrogant (mutakabir) individuals.
Also, it can never be imagined until one is willing to sacrifice his own benefit, be it physical like money, property and position or whimsical like fame, stature and public appeal.

Without these two essential components talking of unity is mere lips service and diplomacy to gain some quick benefit. And once this benefit is achieved the factions disunite to be mortal enemies again.

wa ma taufiqi ila billahe