Category Archives: A. Reality of Tasawwuf

The nature, definition, goals and principles of Tasawwuf

The sequence of events in sulook

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Hakim al Ummah Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

The sequence of events in the suook according to the people of this path are,

Firstly, there is development of determination (to traverse the path). At this time one should entrust one’s self to a perfect (kamil) Shaykh. In our era this is described as baiyah (or islahi ta’aluq).

Then the Shaykh e kamil will train the seeker either via general or comprehensive methods. This will create nisbet (experiential strong mutually friendly relationship with Allah) to an extent.

Alternatively, the Shaykh may initially bestow and transfer the nisbet and then proceed for training.

When the heart (qalb) is emptied from all the connections then the Shaykh may give khilafa (ijaza to instruct) to the seeker or wait till the down pouring of states and marifa. If they are destined then their knowledge and affects will descend on qalb (of the seeker). Their overwhelming is known as ascension (urooj ) and their peak is manifested as a indescribable effulgence (tajjali e bay kaif).

Then some are drowned in this forever while others recuperate. This recuperation is called descending (nuzool). The perfect viceregency (khilafat) and being a advanced level Shaykh is achieved at this level. ‘

Shariat wa Tariqat, page 51-2

Seekers of today!

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Shaikh Abu Saeed Gangohi (Allah have mercy on him) came to realize his spiritual loss after the death of his Shaikh. He had not completed his spiritual training as yet. He inquired about the senior spiritual inheritors of his Shaikh. It was mentioned that Shaikh Nizamuddin Balkhi (Allah have mercy on him) was the most distinguished deputies (khulafa).

For his islah Shaikh Abu Saeed travelled from Gangoh, India to Balkh, northern Afghanistan. A distance of approximately 1700 km (1050 miles). This was by horse or camel caravans and took many months to cover.

This was reflective of his yearning (talab) for islah and spiritual betterment to gain pleasure of Allah.

Compare this to our yearning!

Today we search for a Shaikh in the immediate vicinity of our residence, province or city. We want someone who will change his schedule to accommodate our convenience.

This is is NOT talab!

This only proves that we are not true seekers and do not realize the importance of islah.

If we were seriously sick and came to know of a expert physician we would seek his consultation irrespective of the location of his clinic, timings and charges. This is because we realize the potential danger of our illness if left untreated.

However, we are content with our spiritual maladies, the anger, arrogance, impatience, love of wealth & fame, ostentatiousness, insincerity, pretentiousness, the sins of speech and eyes, etc.

May Allah open our eyes and make us aware of our mistakes. May He facilitate this for us, the undeserving servants’, by His infinite mercy, kindness and philanthropy. Amin!

Real keramat

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ایاک-نعبد-و-ایاک-نستعین

Shaikh Abdul Ghani Tarablusi al Khalwati (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘The real keramat (performance of extraordinary feats) in this world، according to the pious masters (of the path), is to be steadfast on the straight path (sirat e mustaqeem) and be content with Allah (‘s decree) in all states.

This is the station (muqam) that is comprehensive of outwardly and internal servitude (uboodiyet).

It is the highest station of all.’

Tarsih al Jawahir al Makkiyah fi Tazkiya tul Aklaq al mardhiyah, (Urdu), page 223

First thing to do

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) said,

‘The first thing to do (for a spiritual seeker) is be concerned about his self improvement (islah).’

Jawahirat e Shaikh ul Islam, page 33

This improvement is to be in all domains of Deen. That is, in beliefs, acts of worship, mutual dealings & transactions, social etiquettes and moral characteristics.

This is the basic foundation of Tasawwuf, without it spiritual development is impossible.

Ignoring this essential stepping stone and becoming engrossed in sufi methods of remembrance (dhikr), recitation of litanies and attendance of specific gatherings, etc. are all from the deceptions of the nafs and Shaytan.

Who is a sufi?

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qul rabbi zidni ilma

Shaikh Abdul Ghani Tarablusi al Khalwati (Allah have mercy on him) writes in the initial instruction for a seeker,

‘There are various categories of good deeds. They include the essentials (faraidh), the highly recommended (wajib), Sunna and desirable (mustahib). It is a must for the seeker to start with what is most important. That is, to follow the hierarchy of these actions.

The one who does not follow this hierarchy is ignorant and misguided.

For example, if an individual has fardh salah that has to be expiated and instead of doing that he is involved in offering supererogatory (nafil) salah. Similarly, an individual has to pay back his loan or fardh zakah but he is donating in supererogatory charity. Also, an individual’s parents are in need of his service but he abandons them for a desirable (mustahib) action. All of these are examples of misguided and sinful activities. They darken the heart (qalb).

However, following this hierarchy of deeds is not possible effectively without the guidance of a qualified (kamil) Shaikh or acquisition of knowledge of Shariah laws (fiqh).

It is for this reasons it is said ‘a sufi is a scholar who acts on his knowledge’.

Tarsih al Jawahir al Makkiyah fi Tazkiya tul Aklaq al mardhiyah, (Urdu), page 98-9

 

What is deen?

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new masjid e Nabawi

Shaikh Mohammad Kaleem (Allah preserve him) a senior khalifa of Arif billah Dr Abdul Hayy Arifi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘What actually is deen?

I quote from a discourse of Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him).

It is the rectification of the relationship between the slave (abd) and his Lord (Allah).

In technical terms it is described as ‘ubodiyet’, the opposite of which is arrogance (kibr).’

Shaikh Mohammad Kaleem sahib db’s residence. Darul Uloom Karachi, Sunday, noon, 18th December 2012.

Way to islah

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Hakim al-Ummah Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) instructed,

‘Pray two rakah salah with intention of making repentance and then supplicate as follows;

O Allah! I am Your obstinate disobedient servant.

I want to become obedient but nothing happens with my desires. However, everything is possible only with You.

I want to reform myself but I lack the determination to do so. Only You can reform me.

O Allah! I am extremely inapt, severely corrupt and very sinful. I am failing. Please, help me!

I have a weak determination to resist temptations of sinful activities. Please, give me the power to do so.

I do not have anything for salvation. Please, provide me with the means of salvation from Your hidden treasures.’

For ten or twelve minutes  make repentance arduously. Then say;

‘O Allah! Kindly forgive all the sins that I have committed till now. Though I do not say that I will not commit them again. I am aware that I will do them again. However, I will ask for forgiveness again.’

In this manner daily ask for forgiveness, acknowledge your weakness, supplicate for betterment (islah) and verbally recount your ineptness, corruption and evilness. In short, debase yourself explicitly in front of Allah daily for ten minutes.

O brothers! Neither take the medicine nor abstain from the harmful, only use small quantity of this elixir daily prior to sleep.

In few days you will observe that from Divine sources your determination will become strong without facing humility and hardships. Overall, things will happen from Divine which you can not even imagine now.’

Waaz: Milat e Ibrahim, Volume 31, page 390, quoted from Majalis e Hazrat Eshrat ra, page 13-4

 

Our purpose

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Shaikh Khawaja Mohammad Ma’soom (Allah have mercy on him) wrote,

‘The purpose of traversing the path (sulook) is not to become a Shaikh and take murids.

The goal is to fulfill the duties of being a slave of Allah without the involvement and resistance of the lower self (nafs).

Moreover, the purpose of this path is to achieve anonymity and ward off rebelliousness of the nafs and being self opinionated. This because the  acquisition of Gnosis (marifa) is dependent on these things.’

Maktoob, quoted via Tofah-tush-Shuyuk, page 49

Islahi relationship

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Shaikh Mawlana Abdul Hafiz khalifa of Shah Abdul Ghani Phulpuri (Allah have mercy on them) said,

‘Many people develop an islahi (self betterment & improvement) relationship (with a Shaikh). However, few of them fulfill its rights.

The right of this relationship is to consult the Shaikh in every issue and follow his recommendations. There are very few individuals that follow the recommendations (thoroughly). One has to stay away from self opinion (khud-raiy) and self conceit (khud-beini). Otherwise, instead of proximity and pleasure (of Allah) one is distanced (further away) from Him.

This is a very clear but subtle path.

Only the individual who follows the recommendations thoroughly will progress on this path.’

Malfuzaat e Hafiziya, (pdf online) page 50-1

 

Instruction and own islah

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The reviver of Islam Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi (Allah have mercy on him) wrote to one of his deputies (khalifa),

‘Be concerned about your own affairs (that is, your relationship with Allah), so that you leaves this world safely (with eman).

In the hereafter certificate of authorization (ijazet-nama) or (increased number of) disciples will be of no help.

Indeed! While managing your own affairs if anyone comes (asking for guidance explicitly) with sincere yearning then instruct him about the path. However, do not make the instruction about the path (tariqat) your main goal and management of your own affairs subservient to this. Doing so will be an affliction and loss for you.’

Maktoob 228, quoted via Tofah-tush-Shuyuk, page 48

Signs of love of Allah

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Hakim al-Umma Shaikh Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘The signs of genuine (perfect/kamil) love of Allah are,

1. Facilitation of obedience of Allah

2. Excessive remembrance of Allah

In absence of either of these two signs, the claim of loving Allah is a pretension.’

Waaz Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Taqi Usmani (Allah preseve him)

Clarification: Bayah vs suhba

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Shaikh Mufti Muhammad Shuaibullah Khan (Allah preserve him)  said,

‘It must be very clear to all of us that bayah is not synonymous with keeping pious company (suhba) of a Shaikh.

Lot of people are under the false assumption that they are both the same. They make bayah and become content. They do not  make effort to improve their spiritual condition.

The knowledge and motivation for this effort to improve is derived from the pious company of the Shaikh. One has to ask for guidance and supplications from the Shaikh whenever faced with hardships or laziness in these spiritual efforts.

Moreover, it must be understood that the pious company of the Shaikh must be with the active intention of improving one’s spiritual condition. Without such intention mere pious company is not optimally beneficial in itself. ‘

Majlis: Islah e nafs ki zarurat, part 3, 2012-11-08

Allah’s Prophets are infallible & Friends are protected

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

‘It is prohibited to believe that friends (awliya) of Allah are infallible. Then why should one lose conviction in them if they err. They are not flawless (ma’soom).

They can commit sins. There are many wisdoms from Allah (even) in these actions.

However, they are protected for sure. So they do not persist in their wrong doing. They immediately repent asking forgiveness from the sinful actions.

This is what I understand from ‘being protected’. That is, there should be no persistence in doing the sinful activity and (immediate) repentance is facilitated for him so that he is saved from its consequences and adverse effects.’

Ifadaat al Wasiya ala Tarse’ al Jawaher al Makkiya, page 142

 

Our main battle front!

‘These days the main battle front for our nafs is in dealings with spouse.

The closer the relationship more are the chances of blameworthy morals to be manifested in behavior and attitude.

One has to take extra-precautions to avoid this from happening.

As rule one has to suspect him/herself to be the culprit, lacking proper adab and try the best to behave.

We should never ever try to do islah of our spouse!

This is the job of their Shaikh.

We have to focus on our own islah all the time.