آوڈیو کتاب : شریعت و طریقت

 

شریعت و طریقت

حضرت حکیم الامت مولانا اشرف علی تھانوی قدس اللہ سرہ

 

Deen

–

Mawlana Anzar Shah son of internationally recognized scholar Shaikh Mawlana Anwar Shah Kashmiri (Allah have mercy on them) said,

‘My respected father is reported to mention this multiple times in his teaching sessions that when we came from Kashmir (to India) we found Deen at Shaikh (Mawlana Rasheed Ahmad) Gangohi’s place. Then with Shaikh al-Hind (Mawlana Mehmood al-Hasan Deobandi). Now if someone wants to see the real Deen he should visit Thana Bhawan (Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi) (Allah have mercy on them all).’

Halaat e Muslih al-Ummat ra, volume 3, page 335

How to recognize a pious Shaikh?

Shaikh Wasiullah Allahabadi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘The predecessor pious elders have documented that there are only two methods of recognizing a pious Shaikh.

The first is that the an individual is gifted by Allah with the ability of spiritual insight to do so.
The other method is that the individual is gifted by Allah with the ability to listen and accept the words of the knowledgeable and wise person.’

Halaat e Muslih al-Ummat ra, volume 3, page 323

The weakest and the most powerful individual

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Shaikh Abu ‘Amr al-Dimashiqi (Allah have mercy on him) said, when he was asked: ‘Who is the weakest of all human beings?’

“The one who is incapable of managing his nafs.“

‘And who is the most powerful of all human beings?’

“The one who is capable of mastering his passions (desires of nafs).”

Jawami ‘Adab al-Sufiyya, page 37

Takbir e tashreeq

Starting from the fajr of 9th till asr of 13th Zil-Hajj, it is essential (wajib) to recite at least once after each fardh salah. Audibly for the male.

These days are special. The Islamic day/date begins at the sunset (maghrib) of the preceding day. However, this is not the case in these dates. In these days it begins at fajr (astronomical twilight) of that day.

May Allah facilitate and accept the Hajj and udhiya (qurbani) of all Muslims. Amin!

 

Irfan

–

A spiritual aspirant wrote about the realities (haqaiq) of Tasawwuf that dawned on him after staying in the company of Hakim al-Ummah Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi(Allah have mercy on him).

Hakim al-Ummah approved of them calling it absolute (‘ain)  gnosis (irfan) and added some explanation to each of them (written here in bold).

‘1. The foremost thing is the remembrance (dhikr) of Allah. It is to be in all conditions with involvement of heart and tongue.
This seems limited to the level of superficial thinking and self conversation.  It has to be accompanied with (active) contemplation (fikr). Though in your vocabulary you may consider this to be a branch of remembrance. In Holy Quran contemplating ones (yatafakaron) are mentioned after (yatadhakaron) those who remember Allah.

2. Being honest and cognizant of Allah (taqwa) is all matters.
Both in external (dhahir) and internal (batin) matters. As it says in the Prophetic tradition that taqwa is here pointing towards his chest.

3. Being vigilant in observance of the absolute essential (faraidh) with excellence.
Accompanied with the Sunna and reward-able actions. For excellence in good actions actions can not be achieved without them.

4. Avoidance of all that is sinful. That is both major and minor sins.
This also includes the external and internal actions, as Allah says ‘leave external sinful and internal also’.

They includes from the blame worthy morlas arrogance, ostentation, love of money and fame,etc.

Repent immediately if they are committed (by mistake).

However, the rights of other individuals including the financial dues are not forgiven by repentance alone (one has to recompensate for them or ask forgiveness).

Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 3 page 31

Switch it off yourself

Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) said,

‘Giving up sin seems to be very difficult task. Sometimes the urges are so strong that it appears one will die if he/she does not indulge in sin. But this is not the reality.

Understand it by an analogy. Suppose an individual has a strong desire to see something inappropriate on television (or Internet). In spite of being aware that this is sinful and wrong not following the desire seems to be impossible. It feels that this is beyond his/ her capability to resist. Death may follow if he/she does not do it. Therefore, he makes all the arrangements to indulge in this sinful activity. However, when everything is ready and in place the supply of electricity (or Internet) is shut off (as it happens frequently these days in Pakistan).

What will he/she do now?

Accept the reality even though with grudge and still a strong desire to do otherwise. However, with means beyond his/her control there is no way to do it. It is not done. This denial of indulgence in sinful though involuntarily does not seems to be impossible or result in death.

All of that strong urge, impossibility and iminent doom on denial to act on it were a deception of lower self (nafs) and Satan.

Now take heed from this analogy.
Voluntarily switch off the means of indulgence in sinful activities yourself. There is reward from Allah on doing this. Whereas, if it happens involuntarily there is no such reward.

Take control of the switch in your hand.’

Ramadan 1432/August 2011

May Allah faciltitate this for all of us. Amin!

Tasawwuf


Professor Shaikh Mohammad Ashraf Sulemani (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘In general, prevalent Tasawwuf in Muslim communities is of three types;
1. Tasawwuf that is subservient to Shariah
2. Tasawwuf that is a philosophical theory
3. Tasawwuf that revolves around innovations (bida)

The real Islamic Tasawwuf is the one that is totally subservient to Shariah.’

Mard e Darvesh, page 186

Harnessing the thoughts: Focus

–

An individual inquired about controlling the random thoughts that pervade the mind all the time. This automatic phenomenon is perpetual and does not spare the mind free for a split of a second. These thoughts are there even while being is salah, reciting the Holy Quran and doing remembrance of Allah. What is the tip to harness them?

Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) replied,

‘This is achieved by practice.
The thoughts have to be steered repeatedly to the right direction.

This random thinking is very natural. However, as soon as one realizes the derailment come back on to the track. One has to repeatedly refocus his attention from useless thoughts. Reminding himself of their futility.

Initially the derailments will be frequent. However, with persistence in effort to refocus one’s attention eventually one will be successful. The useless random thoughts will recede and one will be able to keep his thoughts in control.

This does not happens overnight. It takes constant practice to achieve.

The thoughts have to be steered to the remembrance of Allah, His grandiosity, His benevolence, acknowledgment and thankfulness of blessings bestowed on us.

Once achieved this may be called ta’luq ma’Allah or nisbet. It does not matter what you call it. However, it will keep you focused on remembrance of Allah at all the times.’

27 Ramadan 1432/ 28 August 2011, Darul Uloom, Karachi, Hadhrat db’s residence, drawing room, after tarawih.

Tarbiyah


During the initial period of his islah, Shaikh Dr Abdul Hayy Arifi (Allah have mercy on him) prohibitted Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) from giving any lectures, talks and speech.

If anyone pressurized him to do so he was directed to get permission from Shaikh ‘Arifi. This needed lot of courage and was a very good method to excuse.

These types of methods applied in islah are the ones that bring reformation of moral characteristics and finally lead to a firm relationship with Allah.

The awrad, dhikr and wazaif assist and facilitate this process of islah.

Intention of self islah

A scholar murid inquired displaying the text of Basair al-Hakim al-Ummat that it is an absolute contraindications for a Salik to be engaged in giving lectures and instructions to others until he has acquired nisbet ( a strong, perpetual and mutually friendly relationship with Allah). Being a scholar he was involved in giving regular sessions at his local mosque. What was he supposed to do?

Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammmad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) replied,
‘These sessions should be with the intention of self rectification and mutual reminder. Only then they will not fall into the category Hakim al-Umma has restricted for the salik.’

Masjid Darul Uloom, Karachi, Ramadan 1432

Jeddah

‘

جا؁ے بزرگاں بجاے بزرگاں

Imam Sha’rani (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘The effect of the spirituality of a wali (close friend of Allah) is such that the place he enters or treads upon, its luminosity is evident to the people of the heart (arbab al-quloob) for six months. Based on this what can be said about the residence where he dwells day and night.’

Shamsul ma’arif (The biography of Shaikh Suleman Phulwari, (may Allah have mercy on him)

IDSA 2011, Boston, MA