Category Archives: E. States

Haal.

Speech of the lover!

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Replying to the lamentation of a mujaz about the inability to express his inner state clearly Hakim al-ummah Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

”Just consider the actions (of worship both esoteric/exoteric) to be the goal. Do not consider expressions and discussions (of the states) to be the objective (of this path).

The poet appropriately says,

گر چہ تفسیر زبان روشن گر است

لیک عشق بے زبان روشن تراست 

Basair Hakim al-Ummat ra, page 444

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Secret of repitition

‘Arif-billah Hadhrat Dr Abdul Hayy ‘Arifi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,

“Reading or discussing something repeatedly usually results in recalling it when its need arises.

At that moment one needs spiritual determination to act according to it.

Doing such for some time eventually leads to the creation of an instinctive inclination for acting so without effort.”

Malfoozar e Arifi 167

The Sultan!

Writing about his trip to Masjid-e-Aala, Srirangapatnam, the mosque built by  Sultan Tipu (1750-1799) (Allah have mercy on him) sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) said,

‘At the completion of this mosque it was decided that the first prayer (salah) in it will be led by a person who has never missed a single salah. That is, he must be sahib-e-tarteeb.

There were numerous scholars and pious people  present at the inauguration ceremony. However, none of them was in position to say it with certainty that he was sahib-e-tarteeb.

Eventually Sultan Tipu (Allah have mercy on him) admitted that he was  sahib-e-tarteeb and he led the prayers.

Hindustan ka taza safar, Al-Balagh, 45:12 Zil-Hajah 1431, page 32

Karachi

Asceticism

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Our master the Prophet Of Allah Jesus, Son of Mary (on whom be peace), said:

‘The world is a Bridge,

pass over it,

but build no houses upon it.

He who hopes for a day, may hope for eternity;

but the World endures but an hour.

Spend it in prayer for the rest is unseen.’

Written on Buland Darwaza, Fatehpur sikri.

وَذَرُواْ ظَاهِرَ الإِثْمِ وَبَاطِنَهُ

 

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

These days people have restricted the religion to some external things, like clothes, external appearance of religious individuals, prayers and fasting, etc.  With these they consider themselves to be perfectly religious individuals. Whereas, from within they are just like the open or closeted sinners. They have their sinful morals (ikhlaq), dealings (ma’amlaat) and corrupt life style (ma’sharet). Even then they consider themselves to be religious. This is very strange, indeed. 

It is difficult to draw the attention of individuals towards the rectification of the inner self these days.

Initially an individual tries not to reveal his inner self (batin) to his mentor (Shaykh).However, if by virtue of his intuition the Shaykh recognizes the inner self’s corruption then this individual does not acknowledge it upfront and his lower self (nafs) tries to avoid (the blame).

However, when with proofs and examples of speech and actions committed by this individual over time it is shown to him that his inner self is as the diagnosis done previously only then he acknowledges it and pays attention towards its rectification.’

Taharet e qalb, page 81

Knowledgeable hypocrite speakers

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It is narrated from Sayyidina Umar (Allah be pleased with him) that Prophet of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said,

‘The worst thing I fear for my Ummah are the hypocrites who are knowledgeable speakers.’

Allama Munawi (Allah have mercy on him) said, this is the person who is expert in knowledge and can easily speak at lengths but by his heart (qalb) and actions he is an ignorant with corrupt beliefs. However, with his cunning speech he can misguide the public.

Taharat al-Quloob, page 42-3

This is an eye opener for all of us.

[Hypocrisy: a pretense of having a virtuous character, moral or religious beliefs or principles, etc., that one does not really possess.]

We need to check ourselves first, whether we are in this category.

Also, it gives as the clear direction that we should not be misled by speeches alone. The most important thing to see is the action of the speaker.

Is it in conformity with the teachings of Quran and Sunna, as done by our pious predecessors?

If not then it must be clear that ostentatious traditional garb (beards, turban, jubba, tasbih, etc.) or verbose heartrending stories or superb vernacular or expertise in contemporary marketing techniques (like stylish and sleek power point presentations, projectors, top of the line sound system, online state of the art setup, etc.) will not be spiritually beneficial at all.

Moreover, there is a greater chance that the speaker’s hypocrisy will be transferred to us.

Allahuma hafizna!

A considerable research, companionship and sincere advice from pious knowledgeable individuals is required to ascertain the sincerity of a speaker to benefit from him spiritually.

wa tawfiqi ila billah!

Companionship of innovator (bidati)

Shaykh Mawlana Karamat Ali Jaunpuri  (Allah have mercy on him) [d.1290H/1873CE] said,

‘The calamities resulting from being in the company of an innovator (bid’ati) surpass those of being with the infidel (kuffar).

The worst factions among the innovators are those who have hatred for the blessed Companions of the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace from Allah be upon him).’

Irshad us Slaikeen,page 20

The spiritual light

In the final chapter of his primer on Hanafi fiqh Shaykh Qadi Thana’ullah Panipati (Allah have mercy on him) [d. 1225 H/1810 CE] said,

‘The spiritual light of Islam or the Messenger of Allah, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, should be sought in the breasts of the true ascetics so that that light may be kindled in your own heart.

When this light enters you, you will be able to recognise, through your faculties of discernment, all good and evil.

One becomes a stranger in this temporal world and is transported to the next world through one’s constant remembrance of Allah.

One begins to seek the company of others who cause one’s love for this world to decrease, and one’s love for Allah and the next world to increase.’

Essential Islamic Knowledge: A Handbook of Hanafi Fiqh, page 256

A pure or partial hypocrite!

 

 

عن عبد الله بن عمرو رضي الله عنهما قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : “أربع من كُنَّ فيه كان منافقاً خالصاً.  ومن كانت فيه خَصلة منهن كانت فيه خصلة من النفاق حتى يدعها: إذا ائتُمِنَ خان، وإذا حدّث كذب، وإذا عاهد غدَر، وإذا خاصم فجر” متفق عليه

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,

“Whoever has the following four (characteristics) will be a pure hypocrite and whoever has one of the following four characteristics will have characteristics of hypocrisy unless and until he gives it up.

1. Whenever he is entrusted, he betrays.

2. Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie.

3. Whenever he makes a covenant, he proves treacherous.

4. Whenever he quarrels, he behaves in a very imprudent, evil and insulting manner.”

(Sahih Bukhari & Muslim)

We have to see ours daily activities in light of this hadith and judge the stage of hypocrisy we are in.

عشق

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وصل ہو یا فراق ہو، دونوں ہیں ایک ایک ادا

عشق ہو جس کو اے جمیل ہجر میں تلملاۓ کیوں

مفتی جمیل احمد تھانوی رح

Benefitting from Shaykh’s letter

Shaykh Ahmad Ali Lahori (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘The spiritual effulgent blessings (faiz) that a disciple attains by being in the company of a perfect Shaykh can also be effectively accquired from the letter of the Shaykh. This is because when the seeker shakes hand with the Shaykh he derives blessings (tawajjuhat) through touch, when Shaykh observes him he derives benefit from the sight. And when the Shaykh responds to the disciple’s letter, the blessings from his hand, sight and mind all are concentrated in that writing.

Therefore, it is essential that the murid not only reads the letter with full concentration but he should show perfect reverence and full devotion to it in order to benefit from the three fold spiritual blessings.’

Shaykh al-Tafsir kay hairet angez waqeyat, page 277

What to ask Shaykh?

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

‘One should keep the Shaykh constantly informed about his spiritual diseases & states and follow whatever he recommends. Just continue with these two things for your whole life.

Inform Shaykh explicitly about your condition. People hide their ailments from the Shaykh. How is it possible that without telling the he will be informed of your condition?

Even if you intend initiating a new worldly endeavor ask the Shaykh would it be detrimental for your spirituality. For example, I intend doing this trade, is it appropriate for me to indulge in it. However, this should not be with the intention that by doing so the trade will be profitable. As though the Shaykh will consult Allah and confirm the success. This should not be the intention at all. This is an extremely corrupt intention.

The method should be like this; I intend to do this business, or I want to be transfered to such a position or I want to study English or medicine would it be detrimental for my spirituality.

These are the things to be asked from the Shaykh.

Nowadays people do whatever they desire. They do not inform the Shaykh. Hence, they corrupt their spirituality. They make excuse that these are worldly issue and it is not essential to inform the Shaykh about them. Whereas in reality these things have major effect on one’s spirituality.

Therefore, whenever you intend to initiate a new worldly endeavor inform the Shaykh in advance and get his advice regrading it.’

Waaz Rahat al-Quloob, page 263-4