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Monthly Archives: March 2008
مواعظ اشرفیہ
Be humble ……… but not ungrateful!
Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘And now there is this malady which many people are falling into – perceiving themselves as very pious and saintly but I say who would think such a thing when they have no way of knowing what state they will find themselves in when they die? On what virtuousness do they take pride in? Allah protect us from such thinking.
What is there to be arrogant about when in all likelihood we cannot pick out one ra’kaat from our entire life that can be said to match up to the standards expected by Allah and then these paltry offerings themselves are also by dint of His favour and His blessing otherwise we could not even execute this’
(Malfooz 211, pg 169, Malfoozhat Hakeem-ul-Ummat, [Al-ifhadhat al yawmia…], Published Idara Taaleefat-e-Ashrafia)
Source: The excellent blog, Beneath the Shade
Spiritual benefit (faiz)
Hadhrat Mawlana Abdul-Ghani Phulpuri (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“Once Hadhrat Haji (Imdadullah) mohajir Makki told my blessed Shaykh (may Allah have mercy on them), ‘Dearest Ashraf Ali! Even when I am talking to others you should remain attentive towards my heart (qalb) aspiring for spiritual benefit (faiz). Do not think that when I am busy talking to others my heart becomes idle (ghafil). Even during these convesations my heart is busy with Allah most High.”
Ma’arifat e Illahiya, page364
Reading the shajara
Regarding the practice of reciting the spiritual lineage (shajara) Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“The reality of reading the shajara is making supplication (dua) through a means (tawassul). And supplication is a form of remembrance (dhikr). (Hence, reading the shajara will also be included in dhikr).
The meaning of tawassul is, O Allah! Have mercy on us due to (the status of) XYZ-pious person.”
waaz: Akbar al-‘amaal, page 5-8
Internet and haya
Respected Sahibzada Amer (may Allah grant him a long and healthy life) a very senior murid of sayyidi wa sanadi said,
“We focus on staying away from television, as most of the programming is un-Islamic. However, little if any attention is paid to the internet. Inappropriate use of internet is more rampant and morally destructive than TV. Even the most religious and pious families are suffering from its corrupt use. Homes are being destroyed by this misuse.
Watching pornographic material, chatting freely with opposite sex individuals (or even same sex but in a lewd way) and reading indecent stuff leads to loss of modesty (haya) in one’s character.
Modesty (haya) is an essential ingredient for being a true Mulsim.
The beloved Prophet (may Allah’s blessing and peace be on him) said :
“Haya’ (modesty) and Iman (faith) are two (things) that go together. If one is lifted, the other is also lifted.” [al-Hakim]
“Al-Haya’ is part of Iman.”
“Haya’ does not produce but goodness.”
[al-Bukhari and Muslim]
‘Every deen has an innate character. The character of Islam is modesty.’ (Muwatta)
“Modesty is part of faith, and faith leads to heaven; while vulgarity is part of unfaith, and unfaith leads to hell.” (Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, Ibn Majah and Al-Hakim)”
Awareness regarding this issue has to be created in all Muslims.
May Allah save us from the inappropriate use of His blessings. Amin!”
Jeddah, KKNGH, MC 1, 11#8
حضور
یا الہی!
غیر کی الفت سے کر کے مجھ کو دور
ہر دم ہر لحظہ تو رکھ اپنے حضور
(حاجی صاحب رح)
The immediate reward of good & penalty of sin
Hadhrat Mawlana Mufti Mohammad Shafii’ (may Allah have mercy on him) writes,
“The immediate reward for a good deed is the subsequent good action that its doer is blessed with. Similarly, one of the penalties of a bad action is the facilitation of the next sin.”
Ma’arif ul Quran (Urdu), volume 2, page 210
Celebrating the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم
Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah bless him) said,
In our path (tareeq) the goal is achieved comparatively quickly. The reason being the extraordinary emphasis laid on following the Sunna of Allah’s beloved prophet (may Allah bless and grant him peace). This makes the achievement of goal by Divine attraction (jazb) rather than personal effort and toil (sulook).
And this is as per holy Quran; (O Prophet!) Tell (them) that if you want to love Allah, then you should follow me. (By this) Allah will love you and forgive all your sins. Indeed! Allah is all forgiving and merciful. (3:31)
Ghair muqallid murid
Any seeker, even if he was a ahle-hadith, provided he did not consider following the Imams’ (taqlid) impermissible (haram) and did not speak bad or held ill thoughts for the jurist (fuqha) Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) would not refuse to instruct him (in the spiritual path) or pass on the (sufi) dhikr or even accept him into the silsila (as a murid).
Ashraf us Sawanih, volume 2 269
طلب
دست از طلب ندارم تا کار من برآید
Signs of false sufis
Their sufism is focused on and limited to anti-wahabi rhetoric and ritualism. Certain specific practices (rasoom) for remembrance (zikr, sama’, etc.) and celebration (hawl, milad, etc) are over emphasized. The stress on acquiring the knowledge of actions of the heart (maqamat) and the spiritual training (tarbiyet) to develop these are completely ignored. Hence, their tasawwuf does not lead to gnosis (marifah) and perfect slave-hood (‘ubodiyah). This is reflected in their noncompliance to Shariah rulings in the truest sense in all matters of their daily life.
Deobandi Shaykh are qalander
Following was written in response to a brother’s comment. He felt a rigidity in the maslak of Deobandi Shuyukh in regards to the following of Sunna and avoidance of innovation (bidah).
“You may not be aware that in general Deobandis mashaykhs are qalanders*. Their spirituality is hidden beneath their apparent scholarly demeanor (‘ilmiyet). People see them as molvi, mulla and mufti. Seldom do they conform to the prevalent sufi facade.
I am not aware that any of the senior Shuyukh discuss these controversial issues per se. However, if these topics do come up in their discussion they clarify their stance. In general, their talks are usually free from these issues.
Other unique thing you will notice is their emphasis on Sunna. People nowadays do whatever is permissible (jaiz/mubah). Our mashaykh still insist on Sunna. This is more reflective of their being really the true sufis. Sufis do not look for dispensation. They go the best method possible. Steadfastness (‘azimat) on Sunna is their way.
*In sufi terminology qalander is a person who’s outward appearance does not display his inner spirituality.
The sulook ‘tip’
As per teachings of sayyidi wa sandi Hadhrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) following was written to a sincere brother searching for a Shaykh,
“The “tip” in sulook is yak dar geer muhkam geer or tauheed e matlab. That is after carefully selecting a Shaykh sticking to him no matter what.
People slip and fall. It is natural. They blame themselves or their shuyukh and then start doubting their selection or become shy and non-open to Shaykh. This peer-murid relationship is a very intimate relationship. To benefit you have to be very open. Not even try to hide anything. How can the Shaykh reform and do islah if he is not made aware of the short comings?
What is the purpose of bayat/islah? If murid was already perfect, what was the need to go through the Shaykh? Wird, zikr and other things are prescribed to facilitate this process. They do can not replace the main thing: the effort of reformation (islah).
Previously this was done by being in presence of Shaykh for long duration of time. That is staying in the khanqah (similar to treatment under direct observation). Now the life is more complex. Very few have this opportunity. It is for this reason that in Ashrafiya tariq correspondence is essential. It may be email, postal letter, sms or telephone conversation. But you have to be very open. Actual details of daily life incidents that are suspicious of moral short comings have to be narrated. For example, your angry attitude displayed by loud voice and sharp comments when your wife asked something mundane have to be reported.”
Allah’s marifah
Hadhrat Shaykh Wasiullah Khan (may Allah have mercy on him) said,
“Once Hadhrat Mawlana (Thanawi) was telling us very fine subtleties regarding the gnosis (marifah).
Mawlana Abdul Ghani (may Allah have mercy on him) humbly commented, “When the understanding of the mystical secrets (marifah) of the friends of Allah (awliya-Allah) is so difficult than how much more demanding it would be to achieve Allah’s marifah.”
Hadhrat Hakim al-Umma (may Allah have mercy on him) appreciated and acknowledged this comment.”
Halate Musleh al-Ummat, page 115