Category Archives: A. Reality of Tasawwuf

The nature, definition, goals and principles of Tasawwuf

Islah/Self-reformation

Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thaanwi (Allah have mercy on him) once mentioned the following:

In this path of tasawwuf (self-reformation, the primary effort is upon the heart, and) the heart is extremely delicate and sensitive, like a delicate flower. (Just as a delicate flower is easily damaged by the environment, similarly the heart is easily affected by the wrong environment). Hence, at all times, one should ensure that he safeguards and protects his heart from any type of evil.

(In essence, if the heart is pure and righteous, then the actions which one will carry out will also be pure and righteous, and if the heart is corrupt, then accordingly, the actions which one will carry out will also be corrupt.)

Once, Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was seen carrying a water bag on his shoulder (taking it to give people water to drink). When asked the reason for him carrying the water bag himself and providing water for the people, he replied, “Certain delegations from other lands had come to Madinah Munawwarah, and the atmosphere that was created through their presence with me was one of grandeur and glory. On account of this, I feared that self-admiration and pride should not enter my heart. Therefore, as a remedy and cure, I decided to carry the water bags and provide water to the people to prevent pride from entering my heart.”

(Malfoozaat Hakeemul Ummat 24/259-260)

Ihya ud Deen

The Criteria when selecting a Sheikh

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Hakim Al-Umma Moulana Ashraf Ali Thaanwi (Allah have mercy on him) once mentioned:

In the path of seeking self-reformation, it is obvious that a person will be in need of a sheikh (spiritual guide to guide him through the path). However, since many people are unaware of the procedure to follow and the criteria to look for when selecting a sheikh, they err in selecting the right person for their islaah (self-reformation).

Hakim Al-Umma Moulana Ashraf Ali Thaanwi (Allah have mercy on him) thereafter mentioned that the following criteria should be found in the person one wishes to take as his sheikh (spiritual guide):

1. The person should be well acquainted with the laws of shari’ah, though he may not be an aalim who is an expert in every science of deen.

2. He must have knowledge of the path of tasawwuf and sulook, though he may not be a person who experiences kashf, nor a person from whom miracles or supernatural acts are witnessed.

3. He must have spent a considerable amount of time in the company of a sheikh-e-kaamil (a pious spiritual mentor who has completed his islaah under his mashaaikh)

4. When sitting in his majlis, the general effect that one finds is that one’s love for the dunya decreases and a yearning for the Aakhirah is created (or increases) in one’s heart. Similarly, fear for getting involved in sins and the motivation to carry out good deeds is created in the heart, regardless of whether one experiences any spiritual conditions or not.

Despite the person being a sheikh-e-kaamil, if one does not perceive any benefit through remaining in his company, then one should realize that the reason for this is that one does not have compatibility with the sheikh. Therefore, one should leave this sheikh and seek another sheikh.

Nevertheless, even when one does not find compatibility with a particular sheikh, he should not show any form of disrespect to him. This can be compared to the situation where a certain doctor’s treatment is not proving effective for a person. In such a situation, one will refer to another doctor, but an intelligent person will not run-down or disrespect the first doctor.

(Malfoozaat Hakeemul Ummat 24/323)

Source: Ihyaauddeen co za

صحبت اہل اللہ

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عارف باللہ ڈاکٹر عبدالحئی عارفی رحمہ اللہ علیہ

نے فرمایا: میں تاکیدا” وصیت کرتا ہوں کہ دیندار اللہ والوں کی صحبت کا ضرور ضرور اہتمام رکھا جاۓ۔

زندگی کی حقیقت، زندگی کی صلاحیت، زندگی کی عافیت ان حضرات کے فیوض و برکات صحبت سے نصیب ہوتی ہے۔

(البلاغ عارفی رح نمبر ص۳۶)

Priorities for a Salik

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1. Learning the authentic beliefs (aqaid) as per the pious predecessors.

2. Learning the Sunna methodology (fiqh) of performing worship.

3. Abandoning major sinful actions and repenting on minor ones.

4. Get rid of blameworthy moral characteristics (radhail), adopting praiseworthy moral characteristics (fadhail).

5. Earning & consuming a halal livelihood.

6. Getting married, establishing a home and raising children

7. Learning etiquette of financial dealings for everyday life.

8. Actively making a good intention in permissible actions.

9. Actively making an intention of pleasing Allah and following Sunna in all thoughts & actions.

10. Recitation of Sunna adhkar for different occasions (adiya e ma’sora)

11. Recitation of the litanies (adhkar & ashgaal) prescribed by the Sufi Shaykh.

Qutub al Irshad, vol 1, p 92-3

اصلاح اخلاق

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سیدی و سندی حضرت مفتی تقی عثمانی صاحب مدظلہ نے فرمایا،
اصلاح اخلاق کے صرف دو راستے ہیں:
۱۔ صحبت اہل اللہ۔ وہ لوگ جنہوں نے کثرت مجاہدات سے اپنے اخلاق کو معتدل بنالیا ان کی صحبت کی کثرت۔
۲۔ توفیق الہی۔ اس کے لئے دعا کرتے رہنا چاہیے۔ جیسا کے احادیث میں تعلیم کیا گیا ہے۔ (اسئلک خلقا” مستقیما)

درس مناجات مقبول۔ ۷ اگست ۲۰۲۲

Tasawwuf: فرض عین

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Proof-of-Islam Imam Ghazali (Allah have mercy on him) said,

Tasawwuf is an essential obligation (فرض عین)۔’

Shaikh Abul Hasan Al Shazli (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘An individual who does not acquire Tasawwuf dies persisting on major sinful activities (گناہ کبیرہ) but is unaware of it.’

Eqaz Al Himam, p 35

Fiqh & Tasawwuf: Inseparable

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Our master Imam Malik (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘An individual who practices Tasawwuf without acquiring fiqh (knowledge of Shariah rulings), becomes a heretic (zindeeq).

Whereas the individual who acquires fiqh but abandons Tasawwuf becomes a transgressor (fasiq).

He who acquires both, fiqh and Tasawwuf is successful in reaching the reality (haqiqa).’

Eqaz Al Himam, p30

طلب صادق کیا ہے؟

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حضرت شیخ عبد الحق صاحب محدث دھلوی رحمہ اللہ علیہ فرماتے ہیں،

طلب کی یہ شان ہوتی ہے کہ وہ طالب کی جان پر اس طرح غالب آجاتی ہے اور اس طور پر استیلا ہوجاتا ہے کہ مطلوب کے حصول میں کوئی اور شے یا اور آرزو یا خیال رکاوٹ نہیں ڈال سکتا اور شوق کا غلبہ اور حصول مطلوب کی پیاس اس قدر بڑھ جاتی ہے کہ اگر تمام دنیا کے عقلاء مل کر یہ حکم کریں کہ ارے میاں ! تمھار مطلوب حاصل ہونا محال ہے اور بلکل متعذر (ناممکن) ہے تو ان کی بات کی طرف یہ طالب کان بھی نہ لگاۓ (اور اپنی دھن میں لگا رہے۔ اس کا نام طلب صادق ہے)۔

حالات مصلح الامت رح ج ۲ص۱۳

How Islah is done?

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Hakim al Umma Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

The treatment of spiritual ailments (blameworthy moral characteristics) is not possible without disclosing information about them. Some of them are so hidden and complicated that the one who is seeking the remedy is unaware of them. This is can be seen in books about the path (Sulook) and Moral reformation. 

Therefore’ an individual is needed to diagnose and discern about these spiritual ailments. He is the Perfect Spiritual mentor (Shakyh e kamil).  Most of the time for a Shaykh e kamil to make a diagnosis it is required that the patient himself informs him about the illness as much as possible and does not hide any information.

This is exactly like the medical Doctor (-patient encounter).  Some information for diagnosing the illness he gets from pulse, appearance (physical examination), urine (laboratory test) and for the rest it is necessary that the patient himself gives him information (history).

In this special situation sometimes the (patient’s) nafs dislikes disclosing his spiritual illness to the (spiritual doctor). ………..

However, one should not be ashamed of telling him.

In this world this disclosure is to a single individual, in Here-after everyone will know it.

Here this single disclosure is beneficial in all aspects that it will lead to a cure, whereas the public disclosure in Hereafter will be nothing but explicit humility.

Kaleed e masnavi, volume 2, page 192-3