Differentiate between needs & desires


Allah (Most Exalted) says;

‘whereas for the one who feared to stand before his Lord,

and restrained his self from the (evil) desire,[79:40]

the Paradise will be the abode.[79:41]

So, have you seen him who has taken his desires as his god, and

Allah has let him go astray, despite having knowledge, and has sealed his ear and his heart, and put a cover on his eye?

Now who will guide him after Allah? Still, do you not take lesson? (45:23)

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A need is something that is necessary for an individual to live a healthy life.

Needs are distinguished from desires because a deficiency would cause a clear negative outcome, such as dysfunction or death.

Desire is a sense of longing for a person or object or hoping for an outcome.

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These desires may be permissible or impermissible.

The Shariah decides these limits and their rulings. The way of Sunna delineates how to safeguard these limits. Finally, the tariqat ensures how these limits are effectively implemented in one’s life practically.  Hence, a faithful believer is ensured salvation from the above mentioned Quranic admonition.

 

Three basic rights of every Muslim

–

‘It is essential that you provide the following three things to every Muslim;

1. If you can not provide any benefit to him, do not harm him.

2. If you can not make him happy, do not make him sad.

3. If you can not praise him, do not condemn him.

Ahzab tahzib un nafus,  Munajat e maqbool, (zamimajat, Saeedi), page 312

Searching for a Shaikh

chirag chishtian

In his youth the renowned journalist, and scholar Maulana Abdul Majid Daryabadi [d1977] (Allah have mercy on him) had turned from a believer to a heretic, an atheist and nonbeliever  under the influence of reading books written by agnostics Philosophers. He was skeptical of religion and called himself a “rationalist”. For almost nine years, he remained away from religion.

However, later in life after reading the translation of the Holy Quran he became a practicing Muslim again.  Moreover, study of ‘Mathnawi e manawi‘ of Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi (Allah have mercy on him) had profound influence on him.

He wrote,

‘For some duration I had been searching for a Shaikh. I had devoured all the literature about Tasawwuf and sulook in Persian, Urdu and Arabic languages available to me. After reading so many books and sayings (malfuzat) of the pious the only desire I had was to meet a living saint.

In addition to the spiritual centers at major cities in Hyderabad, Delhi and Lucknow, I visited numerous centers at smaller towns like Ajmer, Kalyer, Dewa, Bansah, Radowli, Safipur, etc. in this search. I did not hesitate to visit any pious Shaikh I came to know about. I met individuals with overwhelming states (hal) and prolific orations (qal). Some of them excelled in worshipful activities while others were deep ascetics. Some of them were mere businessmen in disguise, with long hairs (& sufi attire).

In the end of this search my heart told me that the truth is limited to those of Deobandi affiliation. Therefore, you should limit your search and look specifically within them.

Furthermore, I limited this search  to those affiliated with the individual (Shaikh al-Arab wal-‘Ajam Haji Imdadullah mohajir Makki, Allah have mercy on him) who wrote the best exegesis of the most beneficial work of Tasawwuf (Mathnawi e manawi).’

Halaat e Muslih al-Ummat ra, volume 3, page 618

 

عاشقی

ھزار جامہ دری، صد ھزار بخیہ گری

تمام شورش و تمكیں نثار بے خبری

تری نگاہ كے صدقے یہ حال كیا ھے مرا

كمالِ ھوش كھوں یا كمالِ بے خبری

نہ مدعا كوئی میرا نہ كچھ ھراس مجھے

كہ عاشقی ھے فقط بے دلی و بے جگری

اصغر رح

Missing the daily wird

Spiritual seekers often complain these days about missing the daily tasbihat and recitations instructed to them. They want an easy solution.

Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani ( Allah preserve him) has repeatedly reminded us that there is no magical potion or incantation or amulet that the Shaikh can prescribe for this. One has to use his determination and do it.

Moreover, laxity in performance of daily wird is a sign of taking it lightly. An individual does not miss something that he considers to be important.

The daily wird provides the soul nutrition required for performance of good actions and staying away from all that is corrupting. Hence, the spiritual progress is dependent on it.

Missing it is spiritually detrimental.

The daily recitation prescribed these days (especially in Ashrafiya tariqa) are minimal. They are adjusted to each and every individual’s capacity, enthusiasm and time availability.

The following narrations shows the demeanor of the pious elders in this regards.

Shaikh Fazal ur Rehman Ganjmuradabadi writes about the daily wird of his Shaikh Shah Mohammad Afaq (Allah have mercy on them),

‘Every day he used to recite salutations (durood) on the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) 10,000 times, tahleel (kalimah e taiyaba) 50,000 time and read ten juz of Holy Quran. The recitation of these ten juz was completed in an interval of time that appeared to an unaware observer to be suitable for a single juz’s recitation. Moreover, with all the five fardh salah he used to offer salah at-tasbih.’ Tazkirah, page 198

In recent past repetition of ism e dhat (Allah!) 24,000 times a day was a normal routine for  most of the spiritual seekers.

If we can not be consistent with the minimum wird prescribed, then how can we expect for spiritual progress?

Munasbet

Shaikh Sharf-uddin Ahmed Yayha al-Muneri (d:786 Hijri/1384CE) in his search for a Shaikh visited Shaikh Nizam uddin Auliya (d:1325CE) (Allah have mercy on them) in Delhi. He was the most famous Shaikh of India at that time and people from all over the Islamic world came to benefit from him. He was known as Mehboob-e-Ilahi, the beloved of Allah. However, Shaikh al-Muneri did not find munasbet with this great wali and continued his search.

Eventually he found munasbet with a less famous al Suharwardi-al Kubrawi Shaikh Najib-uddin al-Firdausi (Allah have mercy on him) and became his disciple.

Maktubaat e Sadi: Introduction

It is from the basic principles of the tariq that munasbet with Shaikh is essential for spiritual benefit.

A common mistake is to overlook this principle and be hasty, go for famous Shuyukh and give in to peer-pressure.

 

Silence

The blessed Companion Jabir bin Samrah (Allah be pleased with him) narrated that,

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to remain silent most of the time.

It means that talking less was a prominent feature of his character. If something important and beneficial was needed only then he would speak otherwise he remained silent.

It is reported in Shahih al-Bukhari, al-Muslim and other books of Hadith: ‘Whoever believes in in Allah and the Here-after he should either speak good or remain quite.’

Our master the leader of the believers Abu Bakr Siddiq ( Allah be pleased with him) said,

‘I wish I was (partially) inarticulate and only had the power of speech to make remembrance of Allah.’

Mazahir al-Haq, sharh Mishkat, volume 5, page 352

Related

Path to Allah

Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Rafi’ Usmani (Allah preserve him) said,

‘I received a letter from a medical student regarding the fiqhi ruling of a dilemma he was facing.

He wrote that previously he had been a carefree youth, however, in medical college he met some individuals active in the work of Dawah & Tabligh. He benefited a lot from their company and became very active in the work himself. For the previous few years he participated in the taleem everyday, made the weekly gasht, spend the Friday night at the markaz, went out for 3 days each month and forty days a year meticulously. However, the schedule, curriculum and activities at the medical college were always an obstacle in doing all these works in the path of Allah. He had been using excuses to be absent from the college to do all these activities and his learning was being neglected. He wanted to know if it was permissible as per Shariah rulings to do so.

It was explained to him that lies and fraud are impermissible in Islamic Shariah.

It is to be understood that the working on a path to Allah in not restricted to the work of Dawah & Tabligh per se. The studying to adopt a profession with an intention to earn lawful income, sustain a family and help the needy in also working on a path to Allah.  With this intention your medical studies will also become an act of worship.

On admission to the medical college you made a contract that you will abide by the rules and regulations of the institute. They included that sufficient attendance to learning activities is essential.  This contract is morally and legally (as per Shariah) binding. Breaching it will be sinful. The lies and deception to do so will further increase the severity of sin.

Moreover, without thorough knowledge, supervised training and extensive practice of medical sciences it will be impermissible for you to treat patients. It will be tantamount to playing with an individual’s life.

(Addressing the audience Mufti sahib added:)

We must not restrict Deen to certain activities according to our perceptions.

Also, it must be clear that I am not against the movement of Dawah & Tabligh. None can depreciate the significant work being done by this movement worldwide.

It is necessary that we have clear understanding: How to practice and implement the Deen in our life?

The pious expert tell us that the most effective way of doing this is to have a islahi relationship with a pious Shaikh. One has to consult him for all his religious issues, ask for guidance and supplications and do what he prescribes. Only then true Deen comes into one’s life. ‘

Qari Rafeeq’s residence, Safa distt, Jeddah, bayan after maghrib, 20th January 2012

Islam is not a religion!

Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Rafi’ Usmani (Allah preserve him) said,

‘It must be explicitly clear that Islam is not merely a religion.

This is especially so as the religion is defined as a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values.

Islam is a Dīn.  That is, religion PLUS a complete way of life. It provides guidance for each and every aspect of human life.

The Holy Quran and the blessed sayings of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace)  repeatedly mention that Islam is a Dīn and not merely a religion (madhab).

‘Today, I have perfected your Dīn (religion and a way of life) for you, and have completed My blessing upon you, and chosen Islam as Dīn (religion and a way of life) for you.[5:3]

‘Whoever seeks a Dīn (religion and a way of life) other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers. [3:85]

Struggle for (seeking the pleasure of) Allah, a struggle that is owed to Him. He has chosen you and did not impose any hardship on you in the Dīn, the  faith (religion and a way) of life of your father Ibrāhīm. He (Allah) named you as Muslims earlier and also in this (Qur’ān), so that the Messenger becomes a witness to you, and you become witnesses to (other) people. So establish Salāh, pay Zakāh and hold fast to Allah. He is your patron. So, how excellent He is as a patron, and how excellent as a supporter![22:78]

Dīn is the exact correlate of Shari’a.

Therefore we as a Muslim have to live a life following the ways prescribed by Shari’a.

Shari’a rulings have been categorized in five subsections,

1. The article of belief (‘aqaid),

2. The methods of worship (‘ibadaat),

3. The social dealings (ma’asherat),

4. The financial & business dealings (ma’amlaat) and

5. The moral values (‘ikhlaqiyat, including siyasah).

To be a true Muslim we have to follow all these rulings in our life.’

Qari Rafeeq’s residence, Safa distt, Jeddah, bayan after maghrib, 20th January 2012

Misconception: Asceticism

Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Rafi’ Usmani (Allah preserve him) said,

‘A friend of mine consulted me regarding a marital dispute. He told me that his wife wanted many stylish and good quality (obviously modest) dresses for her daily use. He disagreed claiming that this was wasteful (israf) and three dresses per a year should be suffice.  That is one for summer, another for winter and the third one for Eid (& special occasions). The wife would not agree to this and this discussion was deteriorating their marital relationship. He requested for a solution?

I (Mufti sahib) told him that him that his stand was incorrect. In matters like this, one has to look at the common practice prevalent (‘urf) in the society he is living in. Based on this principle he has to take in to account his social, professional and financial status, place of residence, the standards of the community he socializes with and then decide what is the decent quality, style and number of dresses required by his wife.

Furthermore, one should be reminded that our beloved Prophet Mohammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) told us that the best philanthropy (sadqa) done is that on one’s wife and children.

These are the principles and practices that have to be actively learned from a Sahikh by having an effective islahi relationship.

Without such a relationship practicing real Deen remains elusive. Moreover, close relationships become sour and marital life becomes miserable. ‘

Qari Rafeeq’s residence, Safa distt, Jeddah, bayan after maghrib, 20th January 2012

Misconception: Limited paths to Allah

Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Rafi Usmani (Allah preserve him) said,

‘A very dangerous misconception that has crept into our thinking these days is that we limit the path to Allah in the following three things,

1. Religious studies at madersa

2. Tabligh

3. Jihad

This is incorrect thinking. Limiting the Deen to these three things is very dangerous and its consequences are devastating.

A Muslim’s whole life is in the path of Allah, if he/she is following the rulings of Shariah in whatever field he/she is working or studying.

Moreover, it is fardh-e-kafayah (obligatory for some individuals to do, otherwise the whole community will be sinful of negligence) for Muslims to be involved and excel in the fields like medicine, engineering, research, education, technology, agriculture, trading, etc. This is so that they stand strong in all aspects of life and decide their own destiny. Abandoning progress in these fields has left us at the mercy of Non-Muslim domination and their manipulations of our affairs in their own best interest. .’

Qari Rafeeq’s residence, Safa distt, Jeddah, bayan after maghrib, 20th January 2012