Category Archives: C. Blame worthy Morals

The bad moral characteristics that have to be removed from within ourselves

Baba Fareed Ganjshakar: Sayings

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Baba Fareed ud Deen Masud Ganjshakar (Allah have mercy on him) (d:664H/1266CE) is one of the Masters of our path (tareeq). 

Following are some of his blessed sayings, 

1.  Do not fulfill the desires of your nafs. The more you comply greater it will still demand. 

2. Whenever an affliction strikes you consider it to be the retribution of your wrongdoings. 

3.  Groom your inner-self (batin) more than your outward appearance. 

4.  Aspire for more spiritual progress every day. 

5.  Do good to others considering that you are doing good to yourself. 

6.  Whatever your heart dislikes (in permissible things) leave it immediately. 

7. Be in search of excuses to do good actions. 

8. Be afraid of the individual who fears you. 

9. From all the spiritual struggles controlling one’s sexual desires is the most required 

10.  If you are rich then be a philanthropist

11.  There is nothing more valuable than time. 

12.  Be critical of your own deficiencies 

13. If you want to avoid humiliation then do not ask for anything 

14.  If you want to turn whole mankind against yourself then become arrogant 

15. Defeat the planning of your enemy by consulting him

Shaikh Fareedudeen Masud Ganjshakar rehmatullah: Prof Kalique Nizami, p 535-537

The signs of good overcoming the evil

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Shaykh Al-Shabrawi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

The sign that the good is overcoming the evil is that you see yourself inwardly alive with the reality of faith (eman) and outwardly alive with the sharia of Islam.  This is to have the inner certainty that everything in existence moves according to the Divine will and by the Divine ability, and yet to remain outwardly active in obedience and far removed from all major sins and most minor ones, whether when amongst people or in solitude. 

Degrees of the Soul, p40

Narcissism

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Allah says:

“(Remember the time) when your great number pleased you (instilling vanity in you).”

Our master Prophet Mohammed (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

“And the (spiritual) destroyers are: desires which are followed; stinginess which is obeyed; and a man being pleased with himself. And this. (last trait) is the worse of them (all).”

Arrogance

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Allah says:

“Verily, Allah does not love the proud ones.”

Our master Prophet Mohammed (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

“He who has (even) a grain (‘s worth) of pride in his heart will nor enter Paradise.

Dhikr without islah

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A seeker wrote, ‘Nowadays my practice is that the word ” Allah Hu” comes with each breath and in the last part of the night I recite “Allah Allah” minimum for half hour and maximum one hour. Stopping the breath (habs e damm) has become such a habit that that I can’t do away with it. The count of Supreme Name (Ism Zaat) (“Allah Allah”) is not fixed. Please advise whatever is appropriate for me and whether I should not do it at all.

Hakim al Ummah Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Allah have mercy on him) replied:

‘I do not want to listen to anything about dhikr and spiritual exercise (shugal) without (update on the effort of) reformation of morals. I bid adieu to this kind of spiritual exercise (shugal).’

 Tasheel Tarbiyatus Salik Volume 2, Page 97

Intekhabaat e Kaiseri

Greater Jihad?

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Spiritual struggle, doing good and leaving the sinful esoteric and exoteric actions, has been alluded to as greater jihad (jihad e akbar) in classical Sufi texts. 

Irrespective of the debate of it being a Prophetic quote (Hadith).  Recently I came across a beautiful explanation. 

Shaikh Sayyid Shabbir Kakakhel (Allah preserve him) said that the greatness here is due to the time involved in it. The jihad (armed struggle) with an enemy is for a restricted period of time and eventually ends. Whereas, the spiritual struggle is a lifelong, daily constant squabble. It ends only with death.  

اندریں راہ می تراش و می خراش

تا دم آخر دمےفارغ مباش

JazakAllah 

Ostentation or not?

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A senior advanced disciple wrote,

1. I was ill and not praying tahajjud. During that period two guests came to stay. They got up for tahajjud.

2. I thought to get up and pray, however another thought came not to do so as it  will be ostentatious. Eventually I didn’t pray. 

3. I thought of letting them know later that there was a reason for not offering tahajjud. 

Hakim al Ummah Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Allah have mercy on him) replied,

‘1.  This was the most appropriate ruling (in those circumstances)

2. This would had been the most appropriate action (i.e. to pray)

3.  This was pure ostentation (riya)

Imperfect individuals (like us) are instructed to act and correct the intention. Otherwise, they will find an excuse of possibility of riya in all matters (and abandon them). ‘

Al Qawl al Jaleel, page 55

Cure for love

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An individual wrote, I have fallen in love with a boy. I just want to see him all the time. My condition has deteriorated to a level that can not be verbalized. Please, help me. 

Shaikh Wasiullah Allahabadi (Allah have mercy on him) replied, 

‘The first step to cure of this ailment is to create great physical distance from the beloved (meaning no seeing or any sort of contact with him).  When you do this, inform me and I will instruct you further.’

Wasiyetul Irfan, May 1995

These days people ask for help in similar conditions but they don’t take this very first step. It must be very clear that without this essential thing nothing else will be effective. Shaikh rehmatullah would not even instruct any further without this step. 

Blameworthy morals lead to loss of tawfeeq

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah protect and preserve him. Ameen!) instructed senior Mufti of Gilgit,

‘Be vigilant in protecting yourself from thoughts of self praise and arrogance. That is, I am a scholar, a Mufti, I am superior to others. Etc.

Remember that acting on blameworthy morals lead to diminishing facilitation (tawfeeq) of good deeds.

A real loss indeed.’

Office Darul Uloom Karachi, 30/4/1438: 29/1/2017, after zuhar

Instructions to a female regarding new dresses 

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A female spiritual aspirant wrote, ‘Respected sir! I have a desire to wear good, crisp and clean clothes. Allah has bestowed the capacity to do so. Moreover my intention is make my husband happy and my husband also wants this. 

The problem is that whenever I see someone wearing good clothes I deeply desire to buy the same outfit. Most of the time I remain silent, however, occasionally I make a request (to my husband) and eventually get it. 

Sir, please, let me know if this is a spiritual ailment or not. And if it is, then please, prescribe a treatment for it. ‘

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

‘There are levels of adornment.  The extremes are disliked and the moderate level is recommendable. 

The way of moderation in this matter is not to make similar clothes at that time. If with passage of time this desire slips away then it is well and good. If not, then when there is a need to make new dress get it. If it is unavailable (in the market now) then forget about it. However, if you feel (that by delaying the purchase) you will remain preoccupied by thinking about it then buy it but do not get it stitched. Save it till there is a need for a new dress. This will fulfill your desire without compromising the (household) finances. 

If your husband gives you pocket money in addition to the essential household running costs then add to the above regimen that you buy this dress from your own (pocket) money. This will keep the lowerself (nafs) within limits.’

Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 3, page 136

Anger: How to control it?

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  1. ‘To use will power and determination to stop (display of anger)
  2. If one succumbs (and displays anger) then to repent and
  3.  Ask forgives (from the victim)
  4. To ponder before speaking on the evil and good results it will lead to
  5. To intentionally keep one’s tone mellow (at the time of feeling angry)
  6. To move away from the individual on whom one is feeling angry
  7. To supplicate for Allah’s protection
  8. To recall one’s own sinful actions (and feel ashamed for censuring another for some minor faults)
  9. To recall the possibility of wrath of Allah (on displaying anger) and His love of forgiving
  10. To recall that I am more disobedient of Allah and if similar display of anger is done with me what will I do.
  11. To recall that if I forgive than I will be also forgiven (by Allah)
  12. Drink water
  13. Make wudhu
  14. To become busy in some other activity
  15. To remember that even the display of anger to correct someone else is detrimental for a  novice (spiritual seeker)’

Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 2, page133

Know your worth!

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Shaikh Mirza Mazhar Jan-e-Janaa shaheed (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘An individual must be aware of his own real worth. This is necessary so that he is not elated by someone’s praise or disappointed by another’s criticism. 

The cause of an individual’s resentment and displeasure is most of the time being unaware of his own real worth and status. ‘

Meerza Mazhar Jan-e-Janaa aur unka Urdu kalam, p 163

Mercy of Allah: Sinner’s resort

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

‘The sinners are to an extent cognizant of the mercy of Allah. Whereas the pious worshippers do not even get a random thought of Allah’s mercy. They assume and focus that they will enter the Paradise by their own efforts. 

The poor sinner thinks what (efforts) do I have? I rely solely on the Mercy and the beneficence of Allah. And this (in realty) facilitates his dealing (with Allah). 

And the issue with the (self sufficient) pious becomes difficult.

Respected Haji (Imdadullah mohajir Makki, Allah have mercy on him) said,

ہے عبادت کا سہارا عابدوں کے واسطے

اور عصائے آہ مجھ بے دست و پا کے واسطے’

Majales Muleh al Ummat, volume 6, page 159

Khushu’ in salah

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A disciple of Sufi Hameed ud Deen Nagori (Allah have mercy on him) approached him and complained about the overwhelming (thoughts) by Satan (Iblees). That is, he does not allow me to pray two units of salah without causing distress and excessive random thoughts. Please, instruct him not bother me. 

The Shaikh replied,

‘My son! 

He (Satan) came to me before you came. He was complaining about your condition. 

He told me to tell you to abandon the (involvement in unnecessary) worldly affairs.  Only then He will not bother you. Moreover he added that if you do not abandon this and continue to desire worldly involvements then you will have to pay as he did himself. That is with his Deen.’

Suroor as sudoor wa noor al badur (Urdu translation), page 323