The real achievement: Leaving sinful!


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

‘It is relatively easier to make ‘itekaf (of the last ten days of Ramadan), offer numerous supererogatory (nafil) salah, recite the whole Quran daily, perform many Umrah and Hajj.

However, the real feat is when it comes to leaving the sinful activities. This is the real achievement and mark (of true religiosity). To have control over the sinful desires of nafs. To be steadfast at the time of temptation. Being cognizant of the commands of Allah.

On the Day of Judgment an individual will not be questioned about missing supererogatory worshipful acts but he certainly will be admonished for being involved in sinful activities. ‘

Ramadan 20th, 1432, 21 August 2011, Darul Uloom Karachi Mosque

Adab of guest

A senior qari and ‘alim visited sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) while he was staying in Jeddah at second floor apartment. There was no elevator in that building.

At the time of the guest’s departure just prior to iftar the  Shaikh instructed the host (his murid) to accompany him down the stairs to car and see him off. This was to show him respect and hospitality.  Moreover, to teach adab of guest to the murid.

4th Ramadan 1432/ 4thAugust 2011, MC1, KAMC, Jeddah

زيارة الرسول الاكرم صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم

الصــلاة واَلسَّلامُ عَلَيكَ يا سيدى رَسُولَ اللهِ 

 الصــلاة والسلام عليك يا سيدى نبي الله 

  الصــلاة والسَّلامُ عَلَيكَ يا سيدى مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَبدِ اللهِ 

  الصــلاة واَلسَّلامُ يا سيدى خاتَمَ النَّبِييّنَ 

 أَشهَدُ أنَّكَ قَد بَلّغتَ الرّسالَةَ ، وَأقمَتَ الصَّلاةَ وآتَيتَ الزَّكاةَ ، وَأَمَرتَ بِالمَعروُفِ ، وَنَهَيَتَ عَنِ المُنكَرِ ، وَعَبَدتَ اللهَ مُخلِصاً حَتّى أَتاكَ اليَقينُ 

 فَصَلَواتُ اللهِ عَلَيكَ وَرَحمَتُهُ وبركاته , وَعَلى أَهلِ بَيتِكَ الطّاهِرين .

Is this islahi ta’luq?

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An individual approached sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) with extreme reverence and admiration. After salutations were exchanged Shaikh inquired his purpose of visit. He replied that, ‘I have islahi ta’luq (relationship for self improvement) with you.’

Shaikh looked at him sternly and said, ” I do not recognize you at all.

What type of islahi ta’luq is this?

Is this something playful?

Whenever you feel like keeping in contact you decide to come and at other times you are absconding.

I am sorry. I can not assit in such type of relationship. Please, excuse me. Now you can go. Find someone else who agrees to this type of relationship. “

Another such scenario occurred. However, the seeker (already a murid) admitted his mistake and asked for forgiveness. After admonsihing him Shaikh instructed,

‘Attend the weekly majlis regularly. Meet me after the majlis. If you are regular and serious with this then I will consider giving you permission to restart this relationship.’

Office, Darul Uloom, Karachi after duhar, 28th Ramadan 1432/ 29August 2011

Tarbiyyah at khanqah

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An individual visiting from abroad requested to stay in Darul Uloom, Karachi to be be in close proximity to sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi usmani (Allah preserve him) for his spiritual development (islah).

He was warmly welcomed and informed about the different options for housing available. Like, guest rooms, guest house and students’ hostel. He requested that whatever was best for his islah would be the most preferable.

Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh recommended that in this case the students hostel will be the best place to stay. The conditions there are simple, ascetic and humble, more befitting a seeker. However, a personal visit should be made prior to making the final decision to ascertain that an individual will be able to handle the condition and not have excessive hardship staying there.

From time to time sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh inquired from that individual how was he doing there and if he had any problems. He also send students and other staff to check on him. In addition to the hospitality and kindness of the Shaikh this was also an exam for the seeker. That is, to see if he complains about the petty, transient and material problems. The signs of arrogance, non effacement (fana) and love of the worldly.

This is a form of the tarbiyyah that happens when a seekers stays in the company of the Shaikh.

Ramadan 1432/August 2011

 

Post Ramadan effort: preserving the momentum

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For development and maintenance of  reverence of God (taqwa) in our post-Ramadan life sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) said,

1.Leave sinful activities:

Be strict on holding your lower (nafsani) desires. Make a firm determination. Do not yield to these sinful desires easily. These desires and Satan are our two arch enemies.

2. Change the thought pattern.

The mind is constantly occupied with thoughts. There is no gap or vacuum in this process. These thoughts are either of worldly matters or useless issues or sinful activities. It is essential to intervene and develop a spiritually healthy though pattern. We have to actively think about hereafter, heavens, thankfulness of Allah for the innumerable bounties and blessings bestowed upon us, asking refuge for anticipated calamities, repenting from sinful activities, etc.

3. Adopt pious company

This is the most effective way to achieve the change of thought pattern. It leads to absorption, assimilation and implementation of the Divine teachings in our life. Without the company of the the pious the Deen remains limited to superficial level.

4. Make remembrance of Allah

Set up a daily routine of making remembrance of Allah. There are three categories of remembrance of Allah. First is that it is done with the tongue without presence of mind. Second is when tongue is silent and there is mindfulness. Finally, when both tongue and mind are making the remembrance together. Do not under evaluate even the first category. It is a stepping stone for the rest of the categories. Moreover, with consistency it eventually engulfs the mind also.

Make a daily time table for this. The daily activities done in an organised method creates barakah in time. More things are done in the same period of time. Include in it these four things, recitation of Holy Quran atleast two pages daily, durood, third kalima and istegfar. Fix a specific time for them. In other times recite whatever form of remembrance comes to mind.

The remembrance of Allah (dhikr) is a form of energy and power. It assists in development of determination to fight the lower desires.

5. Make supplication (dua)

Set a specific time for this. Like prior to sleeping, after esha. For few minutes sit and supplicate.

Say, ‘O Allah I want to follow the path You are pleased with. I want to control my thoughts, aspirations and desires as per Your desires. You have repeatedly instructed us in the Holy Quran to do so. How can I do it? I am weak. My determination and effort are feeble. Provide from Your benevolence and mercy the determination, power and motivation so I can control my desires and make them totally subservient to Your commands.’

Make this supplication daily without any gap. It is impossible that Allah will reject this supplication indeed.

29th Ramadan 1432/30th August 2011, Darul Uloom masjid, after duhur bayan.

Tarbiyah: No familial succession in deen!

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

‘My late father (Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Shafi, Allah have mercy on him) use to deliver the morning lecture during the month of Ramadan and had a islahi majlis on Sunday mornings throughout the year. After his death people requested that these lectures should continue. My Shaikh Dr Abdul Hayy ‘Arifi (Allah have mercy on him) instructed us not to do so.

Further more, a few days after the demise of our father Hadhrat ‘Arifi instructed us (Mufti Rafi & sayyidi Mufti Taqi Usmani) to submit our resignations from our post as deputy administrator (naib muhtamim) of Darul Uloom, Karachi. He added that there is no familial succession in holding religious posts and offices. These positions requires a specific acumen, whenever you develop that then only it will be permissible for you to hold them. For now wait and make effort to develop this.

We submitted our resignations.

The rector of Darul Uloom Mawlana Sehban Mehmood (Allah have mercy on him) was baffled by this information. Contemplating the difficulties in running the day to day activities of the Darul Uloom without us he made a special visit to Hadhrat ‘Arfi at his home. Hadhrat refused to discuss this issue at all and instructed him to bring this up in the official administrative meeting of Darul Uloom.

After resigning we could not even attend the administrative meeting.

However, in the administrative meeting the new designations of president and deputy president were created and Hadhrat ‘Arifi nominated us for these posts.’

Shaikh Mufti Mehmood Usmani (Allah preserve him) listened to this with amazement and commented on the tarbiyyah aspect of Hadhrat Arifi’s approach (to eliminate the love of fame and position from an aspirant’s heart).

Eidul fitr, Hadhrat’s drawing room, Darul Uloom, Karachi, pre-duhur, 31 August 2011

Zikr e qalbi

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

‘Zikr e qalbi (the remembrance of the heart) is that at all the times, while standing, sitting, talking, trading, listening, telling, writing, reading etc. the thought that Allah is watching me prevails.

This contemplation (if it is genuinely acquired) should hold one from committing sins and make steadfast on good works.’

Mard-e-Darvesh, page 28

Allah’s mercy in His displeaure!

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Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Hasan (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘By committing sinful activities an individual harms himself alone. This is the reason for Allah being displeased with these transgression.

There is mercy in Allah’s displeasure for what is harmful for an individual.

Acknowledgment and contemplation of Allah’s mercy creates His love. This love facilitates activities that please Him. This leads to the blessings of His pleasure and proximity.’

Al-qawl al-Aziz, page 25

Jeddah

Two rules of success

An individual who was opening an Islamic school requested for advice and dua.

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

‘Make sure that whatever you do is with sincerity. That is, to please Allah alone.

Develop the habit of turning to and supplicating to Allah (ruju ila Allah) in all the matters.

Theses two things are the most important rules for success in all the matters of life.

Furthermore, do not make extensive plans for future.

Stick to your principles as per Shariah all the times.’

Then he raised his hands and instructed all present to make dua. A succinct heartfelt dua was made.

Office, 8th Shawwal 1432/7th September 2011

Excessive remembrance of Allah

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

‘I saw my paternal grand mother and remember her vividly. She was a disciple (muridah) of Shaikh (Rashid Ahmad) Gangohi (Allah have mercy on him). You could clearly hear the dhikr Allah! Allah! coming from her chest with every breath all the time.

This was a feature of Shaikh Gangohi’s teaching of excessive remembrance of Allah for the seekers.’

After tarawih at Hadhrat’s drawing room, Darul Uloom Karachi, 27th Ramadan 1423/28th August 2011

Eid & the right of the family

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) inquired a seeker visiting from Iran towards the very end of Ramadan,

‘Why are you not planning to celebrate Eid with your family?

He was not able to provide a satisfactory answer.

Shaikh added,

‘Celebrating eid with the family is their right.

Go ahead immediately and arrange for your trip home to be with them for eid.’

Office, Darul Uloom, Karachi, 28th Ramadan 1432/29th August 2011.

Khanqah at Darul Uloom Karachi

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Staying in the company of the Shaikh is essential component of the spiritual training and development (tarbiyah) of a seeker.

Special lodgings called khanqah (zawiya) are used for this purpose. Here the seekers (murideen) stay to be in company of their Shaikh. This is their private time in seclusion from all that is worldly. They attend the daily discourses, keep themselves vigilant in worship and make excessive remembrance of Allah as instructed by their Shaikh .

In addition, this provided an opportunity to see the Shaikh closely, learn from his attitude and behavior and absorb his spiritual states.  It also gives the Shaikh a chance to analyze each and every murid individually and closely.

In short, staying in khanqah is extremely beneficial for spiritual growth.

During the blessed month of Ramadan a lot of seekers spare time to do so.

Alhumdulillah, at Darul Uloom Karachi there are arrangements for this. Permission has to be obtained from the Shaikh. This year there were approximately 300 mutakifeen in the mosque. There were other seekers living in the guest house, guest rooms and students’ hostel. Few had come from other countries such as USA, Saudi Arabia, Iran and UAE. There were regular sessions for their spiritual training.

During the last 10 ten days the daily schedule was like this; after fajr prayers, tafsir of Holy Quran was done by Shaikh Mufti Mehmood Ashraf Usmani (Allah preserve him). Around 10 AM there was a session by Shaikh Mufti Abdur Raouf Sukkharavi (Allah preserve him). It included reading from the essential text and its explanation. After dohur sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) spoke. This was about tazkiyah & tarbiyah. It was the crux of all the activities. After ‘asr and ‘esha Shaikh Mufti Abdur Raouf Sukkharavi (Allah preserve him) had sessions.

In addition the Shaikh provided opportunity to the seekers for private meetings.

Overall, the blessed moments of Ramadan, the gathering of sincere seekers and company of pious Shuyukh was extremely conducive to awareness of spiritual betterment.

مستی كے لیے بو؁ے مے تند ھے كافی

مے خانہ كا محروم بھی محروم نھیں ھے

Room # 141, Darul Usman ra, Darul Uloom, Karachi, 20th- 23rd & 26th – 29th Ramadan 1432, 21st – 24th & 27th – 30th August 2011