Mufti Mohammad Hasan, the founder of Jamia e Ashrafia, Lahore and a senior khalifa of Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Shah Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on them) said,
‘Whenever an individual requests for supplication (dua) for himself I acknowledge that he has done a big favor to me by providing an opportunity to talk to Allah. Talking to Allah is an immense affair.’
Ahsan us Sawanih, page 185
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Shaykh al-Mashaikh Haji Imdadullah mohajir makki (Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘Keep away from the company of Sufis that act against the Shariah.
Meet other people with good manners only as required.
Consider yourself to be the lowest creature.
Do not criticize anyone.
Speak with compassion.
Love being silent and alone (khalwah).
Keep your time well planned.’
Taleem ud deen, page 227
(The edition by Maktaba e Rehmania, Lahore is the best currently available. It has explanation and translation of all Arabic and Persian quotes in footnotes.)
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Shaykh al-akbar Muhyuddin ibn ‘Arabi (Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘It is from the criterion of being a Shaykh that he takes into account each breath and every action of the murid. He puts additional pressure on the one who is more obedient and adherent. This is because this is the path of hardship. It does not have any involvement of leniency in it. The dispensations (rukhs) are for the general public because they are content that they remain faithful and Muslims by name. They fulfill the very basic requirements (faraidh) imposed on them by Allah.
However, an individual who aspires for highest levels beyond that of the general public for him it is essential to bear extra hardships.
A person who desires to wear a pearl necklace must brace the depths of the ocean and hold his breath. This is essential to dive in the ocean (and get pearls).’
Adab al-Shaykh wal-murid, via Madhmun e zikr, MTM-U, volume 3, page 25
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A person requested pledge (bay’a) from Hadhrat Mian Asghar Hussain (may Allah have mercy on him), a senior Shaykh and instructor at Darul Uloom Deoband.
Hadhrat inquired what was his purpose do so?
‘Divine union (wisal e haq)’, the individual replied.
‘ All praise is for Allah, you have very lofty aspirations’, Hadhrat cheerfully chided him.
‘My brother! The only purpose of taking the pledge should be that observance of the Sunna in all aspects of life is facilitated. That is it’, he continued.
And things like strong perpetual relationship with Allah (nisbet) and Divine union (wisal) are the states and talks of high ranking pious people (and not for ordinary sinful people like us).’
Halat Musleh ul Ummat ra, page 94
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Hakeem al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) said:
“Imam e A’zam Abu Hanif (Allah have mercy on him) used to tell that whatever blessings I have received is due to the blessing (barakh) of this dua
اللهم انا نستعينك علی طاعتك
)O Allah SWT! We seek your assistance in performance of all virtuous deeds(
(Majalis e Hakemul Ummat ra 246)
To be included in one’s daily supplications.
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Arif Billah Dr. Abdul-Hayy Arifi (Allah have mercy on him) said that while I was visiting Jama-e-Ashrafiya, Lahore, the teachers requested for some naseeha (advice). I told them,
“You people read and teach the books of great scholars of Islam daily.
However, you do it carelessly.
To truly benefit from the barakah (blessings) of these books. Make it a habit that before starting to read them, turn towards Allah. Make dua (prayer). For the scholar first. That Allah make his magfirah, be pleased with him and raise his status in paradise. Then, supplicate for yourself. That is, may Allah make this reading most beneficial for you.
Only by doing so you will really benefit from these great books and their authors’ exalted knowledge.”
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Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘Exceeding the limits in beliefs (aqaid) and worship (a’amal) is innovation (bida’t) similarly exaggeration in spiritual states (ahwal) is also an innovation.’
Basair e Hakim al-Ummat ra, page 250
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A spiritual aspirant wrote his occassional routine of distributing food to the needy and forwarding its reward (esal e thawab) to the senior Sufis of the tariqa.
Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) replied,
“This is a reward earning act. However, in doing so the intention should not be to gain spiritual benefit (faiz) from the blessed souls of these pious individuals.”
Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 1, page 436
Most likely this is because it is against sincerity (ikhlas). It is just like giving a gift to someone with the intention that he will repay in kind or more.
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Qazi Thanullah Panipati (Allah have mercy on him) writes in ‘Irshad ut-Talibeen‘,
‘Prior to annihilation of nafs (blame-worthy moral traits) excessive prayers (nawafil) and recitation of Holy Quran do not lead to proximity of Allah (i.e. spiritual progress) .’
Majmua talifat Muslih al- Ummat ra, volume 3, page 27
Durrah al-arus, Dhahban
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Shaykh Mawlana Shah Wasiullah Allahabadi (Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘A lot of people inquire regarding concentration in salah. I tell them all try to develop concentration towards Allah outside salah, when this will increase then it will persist during salah also.
The pious elders improved their salah similarly. They recited wird for the development of concentration towards Allah in their hearts.
Therefore, all of them recited the blessed kalima لا اله الاالله محمد رسول الله excessively as a wird. This renews the faith and strengthens it.
In my opinion you should also recite it abundantly. InshaAllah, concentration towards Allah will develop in your heart and eventually persist in salah also.’
Majmua talifat Muslih al- Ummat, volume 3, page 41
Medinah e munawwarah
Shaykh al-Arab wal-Ajam Hadhrat Haji Imdadullah mohajir Makki (Allah have mercy on him) instructs a seeker,
‘After fulfilling the faraidh (absolutely essential), wajibat (highly recommended) and Sunna one should occupy his time in spiritual works of rectifying the condition of his heart (remembrance and contemplation) and not spend it in offering extra (nafil) salah or recitation of litanies. Instead he should consider the rectification of his heart to be a perpetual must (fardh) and never be negligent in it.’
Dhiya al-Qulub via Taleemud-deen, page 45
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‘It must be acknowledged that the usual mode of acquiring the love of Allah is His remembrance (dhikr) and contemplation (fikr).
That is, it is the usual norm set by Allah that when a person does remembrance and contemplation in the appropriate way the love of Allah develops in his heart.
Then (be aware that this) love has two types, the passionate love (hubb-e-ishqi) and the dogmatic love (hubb-e-emani). The remembrance and contemplation to acquire either of them are different from each other.
For example, the way of acquiring dogmatic love is the recitation of Holy Quran, following Sunna (meticulously), etc. Whereas, for achieving the passionate love when a person does remembrance (as per the Sufi way) of Allah! Allah! with his tongue then the articulation of this blessed word fills his palate, mouth, tongue, ears and all other body parts with effulgence (nur), serenity (sakinah) and delectable perception (lazzet). (This happens when the audible remembrace (dhikr-e-jahr) is done as prescribed by the respectable Sufis).’
Madhmum-e-Zikr, Majmua’ Talefat e Muslih al-Ummat ra, volume 3page 10
Qutub e ‘alam Shaykh al-mashaikh Mawlana Rasheed Ahmad Gangohi (Allah have mercy on him) wrote,
‘The remembrance of Allah (dhikr) is such a thing that if done consistently even with (non-volitional) unawareness, random thoughts, stress of worldly involvements merely with the movement of tongue then also it is beneficial and illuminates the qalb (heart).’
Madhmoon e dhikr, Majmua’ Talefat e Muslih al-Ummat ra, volume 3, page 6
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A person complained that now he did not feel motivated to do good deeds. Previously he had this motivation but it has ended.
Shaykh Mawalana Rasheed Ahmad Gangohi (Allah have mercy on him) replied,
‘There are three reasons for one’s spiritual recession,
1. Corrupt companionship (suhba)
2. Suspicious food (unlawfully obtained or non-halal/dhabiha)
3. Involvement in sinful activities.
Analyze your situation and whatever the reason is from these, try your best to fix it. ‘
Sulook wa Ahsan: Irshadate Faqih al-Ummat ra, page 333
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[P.S. For us this companionship may be that of people, books, magazines, television, DVDs or Internet sites]