Teachings of Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf 'Ali Thanawi & his spiritual successors, particularly 'Arifbillah Dr 'Abdul Hayy 'Arifi (may Allah bless them) and Sayyidi Mawlana Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) regarding Tasawwuf
This is something that I wanted to write about for a while. I am continuing to struggle with dirty thoughts. Many thanks to Allah SWT that controlling the gaze has improved a lot.
Ashrafiya replied, MashaAllah. May Allah give strength in your determination and make it practical for you to use your will power to stop this activity.
Make dua a lot for Allah SWT’s help in this regards.
Fix penalty for each mistake. Like 4 nafil rakat or skipping a meal.
After each namaz for one minute close your eyes and imagine ,”I’m in front of Allah and He is watching me.” A pratical way is to recite this sentence 33 times in your imagination. It will be approximately 1 minute duration.
I am also making dua especially in this regards.
Also, it will be advisable to increase the intimacy with your spouse.
I wish to inquire about involvement in the local Islamic association. As I mentioned earlier the local association in our split into two groups due to internal differences. Unfortunately egos were flying high on both sides and a lot of actions were done in the ‘zid’ of the other party. e.g. One side opened up a musalla and the other bought a house for mosque purpose 1km away. The two sides were also planning to conduct taraweeh literally across the street from each other (which is sad since the resources could have been allocated to help out muslims on other parts of the city). Alhamdulillah a member of our community worked very hard to unite them and convince for one taraweeh salat during this blessed month. I was helping him out too.
I have noticed that in these situations, conflicts, politics, argumentation and other negative characters do arise (even if you try your best to steer away, people will oppose). But on the other hand I feel that if one leaves this completely either things won’t be done or others will get things done their way.
Please suggest a course of action.
Ashrafiya replied,
It is best to keep a low profile.
This does not mean to be totally passive. The correct view/truth should be stated in a firm and explicit way. One should personally stick to it. If people ask his opinion specifically he should tell it point blank.
However, this should not become an agitation movement. This ruins ones spirituality. Instead one should make lot of dua, salat hajjat, etc. for haqq to prevail.
Continue with your present way. Make lot of dua asking Allah for guidance at each and every step. (A concise istekhara dua is: Allahahuma khirli wakhtarli).
However, whenever you feel that this involvement is damaging your spirituality withdraw and help by dua only.
This question is regarding the spiritual ailments for which a course of action and consequentially a penalty has been precribed e.g. Offering a number of nafl salat. Should I be informing the spiritual mentor (Hazrat) 1) if unfortunately an action was done so that a penalty was applicable and 2) If the penalty was offered.
Ashrafiya replied,
Not all the time.
Inform only if after a considerable period of time there is no change in frequency of these incident. It is a sign that present treatment in not working something else has to be used.
A seeker wrote, I wish to get more detail on one of the reasons “making explanations for one’s mistakes”. Does this refer to explanation in islahi makatib? e.g. if the salik explains why he thinks a certain shortcoming is occurring. Please explain.
Ashrafiya replied, Blame worthy thing is to create an excuse for one’s mistake. The mistakes should be acknowledged and full responsibilty taken. If there are genuine circumstance that led to it they can be mentioned as a matter of fact. The same is true for islahi corrspondence also.
One area that is going weak lately is making up the missed salats. Perhaps any goal in this regard would be helpful inshaAllah. Please make special dua for me in this regard.
Ashrafiya replied, Yes. It is essential to complete the missed salah as soon as possible. Try to pray one qaza salah with each daily salah.
Substitute ishraq, awabeen and tahajud (four rakah between sunna and witr at esha) with qaza salah.
InshaAllah, it will be facilitated by Allah’s mercy.
Islahi emails:TA
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)
The book (Imam Ghazali’s Tabligh e Deen/Arbain) has criticised saving money too. The point against is very weighty that if a calamity is destined to come, it will come. Saving money can’t change destiny. And that we should expect the best from Allah SWT. So should we not save anything at all?
Ashrafiya replied, This has also changed a little bit since Imam sahib ra’s times. As was the eating issue.
In these days and times it is necessary to have some savings after paying the zakah and some voluntary charity (naflisadqa). Otherwise, in face of a clamity the first thing a person will let go is his deen.
Islahi emails:TA
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)
Once you have earned a livelihood the next step is how to spend it. A portion is basic necessities. One should definitely make sure that no portion is spent on any outright haram activity.What portion of the leftover (after necessities and the not so necessary expenditures like better clothes, A/C, trip to Pakistan) should one donate? (Besides Zakat)
Ashrafiya replied,
Depends on your financial condition. 1/10th or 1/20th of the income should be allocated for good word (masaref e khair) and kept aside. Whenever there is an opportunity for good it can be spend.
Presents for the family, relatives, donations. etc. can be made from it.
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)
One thought that comes to my mind is that when you have more money you can give more too for the betterment of humanity and muslims in particular. Please comment.
Ashrafiya replied,
Not necessarily. Many become more miserly and some waste their money on haram.
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)
Some questions that come to my mind are as follows: How should it translate into the effort that I put into my job. One behaviour that I see people adopting is that they become workaholics, put extra hours, sacrifice their life, family etc. just to go up the ladder. The conclusion that I came to is to work with due diligence from 9 to 5 (because I am atleast accountable in the herafter for this time that I am getting paid for). Please suggest the correct behaviour here.
Ashrafiya replied,
This is correct.
Going out of the way to earn more money or status by comprising one’s deen (taking care of family is wajib) will be blameworthy love of the worldly wealth and status (hubb e maal/jah).
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)
