Preparing for Ramadhan

vema

 

1. Ask Allah for facilitation (tawfeeq) to benefit from the blessings of Ramadan daily, from now onwards.

2. Make a firm determination to abstain from all sins. Especially those committed by the eyes, ears and tongue.

3. Try to free as much time as possible from work and other commitments for pure worship (ibadah).

4. Reschedule non essential appointmentstill after or before Ramadan. Finish with all Ramadan and Eid shopping prior to the sighting of the crescent.

5. Make special effort to follow as many as possible Sunna in daily activities.
Learn these and memorize the adiya e masnoon (dua) for particular occasions before hand. The book “Alaikum bi sunnati”by Mawlana Abdul Hakim Sukharwi ra is a good, practical and handy resource for this.

6. Review the essential fiqh (rulings) relating to fasting, taraweeh and other Ramadan related issues from “Behishti Zewar” (Heavenly Ornaments) of Hakim al-Umma Hazrat Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him).

7. To get motivated and organized, read the discourses of Hakeem al -Umma regarding Ramadan (Mawaiz-e-Ashrafiya volume : Barakat e Ramadan) and listen to the talks of Sayyidi wa sandi db on how to prepare for the holy month.

8. Practice the actions of the Heart. Do not do any action without a proper intention.Abstain from all the blame worthy morals. No anger, arrogance, belittling caustic remarks, etc. It is strange to abstain from otherwise halal (lawful food) and commit an act which is always haram (forbidden). Try to do most of the praise worthy moral actions. Having patience, humility, gratitude, sincerity, etc. Keep a tight grip. Do not slip here.

9. Make a practical and doable time table for daily activities.

The point to remember is that in Ramadan acts of primary form of worships (i.e. salah, dhikr, tilawat, etc.) are to be increased. These lead to an increasing direct relationship with Allah  (i.e. ta’luq ma’Allah).

The tawfiq is from Allah!

Tasawwuf is totally subservient to Quran and Sunna

die-before-you-die

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

‘I have made it essential to include in my speech and writings (about the path) the sayings of the scholars of the Divine law and Prophetic traditions ( that is, fuqaha and muhaditheen). This is in order to save Tasawwuf from becoming an independent discipline in itself and to keep it totally subservient to al Quran and al Sunna.

I am observing that in this era people want to make it an independent discipline. I consider this to be the source of (religious) calamities.

Therefore, in addition to my writings  I start my speeches with quotations from Quran and Sunna. Then to support them further  I mention the stories of pious precedent saints and their sayings. And this is the way Hakim al Umma (Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi, Allah have mercy on him)  did in his book ‘Masail e Sulook’.

………..

This approach has benefited me a lot and I hope that it will be beneficial for others to. The first benefit will be the awareness of knowledge of Quran and Sunna. Also, when it will be firmly established in minds that the real obedience is is that of the Prophet (Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) the desire to traverse the path in accordance with Sunna will develop. The blessings (barakah) of this mode will be axiomatic.  Finally, knowledge of those things that are against Sunna and have crept into Tasawwuf will be acquired. This will save the masses from massive misguidance.’

Halaat e Muslih al-ummat ra, volume 3, page 319

Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) has this same style.  In his weekly discourses for the seekers of islah he has given dars of Prophetic traditions from Riyadh us Saliheen of Imam Nawawi, Adabul Mufrad of Imam Bukhari, Kitab uz Zuhd of Imam Ibn al-Mubarak, Tasharuf of Hakim al Umma (Allah have mercy on all of them). MashaAllah!

Moulana Yunus Patel ra

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Death is an inevitable reality.

There is no escape.

The beloved of Allah, our master Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) tasted it to.

The news of the death of Shaikh Moulana Yunus Patel (Allah have mercy on him) is a big shock for all the spiritual aspirants. However, the circumstance under which it occurred  would make any Muslims desirous of such death. That is, in Holy city of Makkah, facing the kaba sharif, immediately after performing tawaf, etc.

May Allah make his complete magfirah and grant him jannat al-firdaus. Amin!

On 5th July 2011 he replied to an individuals request for dua and advice as follows;

‘Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

Wa alaikumus Salaam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh

Making dua for you. Download and listen to the bayans and talks on the Internet www.yunuspatel.co.za

Inshallah it will suffice for Nasihat.  I am presently in Madinah Sharif and will not be able to respond immediately to emails. Nevertheless making a lot of dua that Allah Ta’ala bless me, bless you and the Ummat at large with complete reformation and change with Afiyyat and best of dunyah and akhirah.

Was Salaamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh

Yunus Patel (Maulana)’

Please, try to make dua and esal-e-thawab for him.

JazakAllah.

Related: On Death of the Sheikh!

Time management

 

 – Go to sleep right after Isha salaat and wake up in tahajjud. Complete all your reading and writing tasks at that time. That has been the routine of our akaabireen.

– Never attend any gatherings after 9 pm. If there is a gathering at your place, make sure its ends before 9!

– He further said that nowadays most of the gatherings are not segregated so one can easily apologise the host beforehand for not being able to attend it. Secondly, one could very well visit earlier, give a present and politely inform the host why they needed to leave.

– The biggest ‘calamity’ that has befallen the urbanites is this day and age is that they have stopped sleeping early, and the misfortune (be-barkati) this produces in one’s life, and time, is clearly evident in our messed up daily routines.’

musaafir-e dasht

عبدیت/Servitude-2

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Shah Mohammed Ahl al-Allah (Allah preserve him) a khalifa of Shaikh Masihullah Khan (Allah have mercy on him) explains the signs of servitude,

‘An individual having servitude diligently carries out all the esoteric and exoteric acts of worship considering that they can not be possibly done with his effort alone, unless the Divine help assists him to do so. That is, he attributes (all good works) to Allah (facilitating them for him). Whereas, for any short comings he blames himself.

He tries very diligently not to hurt any other individual, or to cause them any loss or sorrow.

An individual having servitude conscientiously carries out both the exoteric and esoteric acts of worship (especially his wird) irrespective of issues related to health, sickness, hunger, poverty, prosperity, affliction or other non-volitional conditions.

He is diligent in fulfilling the rights of others but does not keep a desire for his own rights.’

Malfozat Shah Mohammed Ahl al-Allah sahib db, page 1,2

عبدیت/Servitude-1

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The beloved Prophet Mohammed (Allah bless him and give him peace) is the absolute personification of humanly perfections. An epitome for all pious individuals (especially the sufiyah). There can be no superior action or state than that held by him (Allah bless him and give him peace). That is, his way (sunna), both in exoteric (dhahiri) and esoteric (batini) spheres of life.

This is a basic fundamental  of our tasawwuf.

The most outstanding characteristic of our beloved Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) is his servitude (عبدیت).

Mentioning one of the supreme gifts bestowed on him; the heavenly journey of al-Isra wal-Me’raj Allah mentions him with this characteristic (bi-‘abdhi):

Glorious is He Who made his servant travel by night from Al-Masjid-ul-Harām to Al-Masjid-ul-AqSā whose environs We have blessed, so that We let him see some of Our signs. Surely, He is the All-Hearing, the All- Seeing. [17:1]

What are the signs and symptoms of servitude?

To be contd…

Nikah

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An individual who conducted a nikah (marriage contract) for a couple (the first time in his life) in the Prophet’s (Allah’s blessings and peace be upon  him) Mosque in the illuminated city of Madinah stated his feelings,

‘It is amazing how Islam has sanctified this social contract.

Reading of a simple sermon giving advice to be vigilant in fulfilling one’s obligation for Allah’s sake is from the Prophetic example (Sunna). It is not an essential (wajib) part of nikah. The acknowledgment of the bride and groom in front of at least two (adult, sane, Muslims) witnesses with a mutually fixed dowry (mehr) are the only essentials required. Any Muslim can conducted the ritual. No priest or certified individual is required.

The simplicity is awe striking.

Without nikah a similar relationship (i.e. zinna) will be punished by lashings or stoning to death (by a Islamic State), however, this unpretentious ritual works like alchemy. Making the same relationship an act of worship.

May Allah give us the wisdom to understand and appreciate the blessing of Islam. Amin!’

Friday, 1st July 2011, after asr, Bab-Fahad, Masjid e Nabawi, Medinah e munawwarah

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Inna lillah: Shaikh Riffa’t Ahmad Khan

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Shaikh Riffa’t Ahmad Khan a murid of Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi and khalifa of Arif billah Dr Abdul Hayy Arifi (Allah have mercy on all of them) passed away earlier this year.

He was in his nineties. Like all our precedent pious personalities he lived a low profile life.

May Allah make complete magfirah and shower His blessings on him. Amin!

He narrated a saying of Arif billah,

‘Gratitude and seeking forgiveness are the basis and key to (the desired level of) servitude (abdiyet).  Asking (Allah for) forgiveness leads to (increasing) servitude and thankfulness (of Allah) to (more) gnosis (marifah).’

Ta’mir e seerat, page 14

Madina al-munawwara

سرکار دوعالم حضرت محمد صلی اللہ علیہ و الہ وسلم

سیدی و سندی قطب الارشاد حضرت مولانا ‏محمد تقی عثمانی صاحب مدظلہ نے فرمایا
مشھور جملہ ‘لو لاک لما خلقت الافلاک’ اگرآپ صلی اللہ علیہ و الہ وسلم آنے والے نہ-ہوتے تو عالم کی پیدآءش نہ ہوتی، گو لفظا” موضوع ہے، البتہ اس بات پر تمام علماءمتفق ہیں کہ معنا” یہ درست ہے۔

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اور پھر آپ نے شاعرمشرق ڈاکٹراقبال مرحوم کے مندرجہ زیل اشعارسناۓ
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ہو نہ یہ – نام تو– کلیوں– کا تبسم– بھی نہ— ہو

چمن – دھر– میں بلبل – کا ترنم– بھی – نہ ہو

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یہ نہ ساقی ہو تو مے بھی نہ ہو، خم بھی نہ ہو
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بزم توحید بھی دنیا– میں نہ ہو، تم بھی– نہ ہو

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نبض ہستی تپش آمادہ – اسی نام – سے – ہے

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خیمہ افلاک – کا استادہ – اسی نام – سے ہے

وعظ سیرت النبی صلی اللہ علیہ و الہ وسلم

Signs of humility

Shaikh Dhul-Nun al-Misri (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘There are three signs of humility:

1. Considering one’s self (nafs) to be the lowest of all the creatures. This is in order to find out its faults.

2. For the sanctity of Oneness of Allah (tawhid) respect and serve other people.

3. Accepting the truth and beneficial advice from any one (irrespective of his piety, faith, status, etc.)’

Awarif al-Ma’arif, page 415

Shara’iah, Makkah al-mukarramah

 

Beware before bay’ah!

 

In reply to an aspirant’s request to be accepted as a murid Hakim al-Umma Shaikh Mawalan Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) wrote,

‘1. In this path (tariq) the demeanor of every Shaikh is unique.

2. The essential criteria to benefit is the mutual compatibility with this demeanor (i.e.  between Shaikh & murid).

3. Rushing to select a Shaikh is a (major) contraindication in this path.

4. The demeanor of an individual can only be ascertained by keeping his company for a considerable duration, (…..) or by visiting him repeatedly and corresponding with him for a long period.’

Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 1, page 37

Rusty Heart

Noble Prophet (Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) said,

“Listen carefully! There is a piece of flesh in man’s body, if it is healthy then the whole being is healthy and if it is corrupted then the whole being is corrupted. Beware! That piece of flesh is the heart (qalb).” (Bukhari)

He also said,

“Just as iron catches rust on contact with water, so are the hearts rusted.”

People asked, “How to remove the rust of the heart?”

The Noble Prophet (Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) said, “By remembering death and by reciting the Qur’an.” (Baihaqi)

Living a heedless life in an un-Islamic environment makes our heart rusty. Parts of the machinery inside clank, crank and move grudgingly. Acting on Shariah laws seems extremely difficult. The heart mechanic (Shaikh) using the Prophetic medicines removes this rust by prescribing contemplation of death and here-after (muraqaba e maut) and oils it with the of remembrance of Allah. (This is in a systematic and individualized manner. The daily compliance is an essential component for the aspirant’s success.)   Once this rust is removed and the parts well lubricated the machinery of the qalb starts to function properly. Then there are no hardships in observing the laws of Shariah. Actually it becomes an innate calling.

May Allah facilitate this for us. Amin!

Archetype: Our akabir

Hafiz Mohammad Iqbal writes about his Shaikh Mawlana Manzur Nomani (Allah have mercy on him),

‘An overwhelming condition of negating his own self (i.e. good qualities and perfections) and veiling his states permeated his demeanor and spiritual tone. Till the very end of his life he firmly acknowledged himself to be from the juniors and completely deficient. It was for this reason that his spiritual grandeur was recognized by very few individuals.

However, ordinary people like us observed during his whole life the levels of servant-hood (abdiyet)  and slavery (bandegi) that engulfed him.’

Shajraat e Nomaniya, page 5

A good state

 

A spiritual aspirant wrote his condition to Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him),

‘These days this lowly individual recites ten thousand times ‘istegfar‘ and 24,000 times ‘ism e dhat’ daily.  Occasionally there is deficiency or excess in these amounts secondary to  impromptu demanding circumstances.

However, my condition is that after any virtuous deed I feel extreme degree of shame, similar to that felt on committing sins. The reason for this is that in all the virtuous deed performed I recognise many shortcomings and deficiencies. Moreover, I am cognizant of the multitude of blessings of Allah showering on myself all the time.

If a mistake is committed then the only respite is to cry, repent and beg.  Additionally, it leads to extreme humiliation in front of Allah.  

From few days I feel this condition of aloofness from all that is worldly in my heart. …………….

Hakim al-Umma replied,

‘It extremely delighted my heart. May Allah give multiple folds increase in blessings and progress.  Moreover, by the grace of pious associates (like yourself) may He grant a pleasant end to this invalid writer. I expect this supplication from my friends also.’

Tarbiyat us Salik, volume 1, page 761-3