Category Archives: F. Zikir & fikr

Remembrance, comtemplation and spiritual excersises

Wazdhifa / incantations to give up bad habits

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Hakim al Ummah Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) has made it repeatedly clear in his instructions to the seekers asking for help in giving up bad habits, morals and activities, that their determination and use of self discipline abilities forcefully is the only effective way to do so.

No doubt this is going to be difficult initially. However, with repeated use of determination and self-control it will gradually become easier.

Heartfelt supplications, pious company and better time management with recitations from Quran and remembrance of Allah are all helpful in facilitating this. But they can not replace the strong determination and forceful self-control.

This is a very simple basic principle that is often overlooked by seekers.
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Orlando FL

The stages of the nafs: Nafs al ammara part 1

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نفس امارہ

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

‘It is your lower self (nafs) that veils you from Allah.

The scholars of Reality (al haqiqa) have mentioned seven stages of the nafs according to its changing states, the ammara, lawamah, mulhema, mutmainah, radhiya, mardhiya and kamilah.’

Following is a summary of Shaikh’s discussion.

1. The inciting nafs (nafs-i-ammara)

إِنَّ النَّفْسَ لأَمَّارَةٌ بِالسُّوءِ إِلاَّ مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّيَ‎

Surely, man’s inner self often incites to evil, unless my Lord shows mercy.”[12:53]

In its primitive stage the nafs incites us to commit evil: this is the corrupt nafs as the lower self, the base instincts. Its characteristics include; stinginess, greed, envy, ignorance, arrogance, lust, anger, heedlessness, coveting, mad manners, involvement in useless, making others’ fun, having malice for them and harming them with speech or hand.

It becomes the instrument of Satan’s seduction (to sin). It the most lethal enemy. Therefore extreme caution is needed in not listening to its insolent commands. In Prophetic saying the struggle against it has been mentioned as highest level of righteous effort (jihad al akbar).

Being steadfast on the commandments of Shariah is essential. Keeping constant vigilance (muhasba) is required. It is imperative to have extreme humility and engagement in supererogatory deeds. This is facilitated by giving up (after consultation with Shaikh) the excessive permissible pleasures and all useless activities. By routinely crying in front of Allah asking for help and making remembrance of Allah as instructed by the Shaikh.

‘Never leave supplication because of being depressed and frustrated (by frequent slips) or lose hope by considering the goal to be unrealistic. This will severe the determination altogether.’

If one persists then Allah will spiritually enlighten the heart of the seeker that will make it possible to see the diseases that inflicts the nafs.

The comes the second stage.

continued.

Recitation vs supplication

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A seeker requested permission to recite a famous litany of a pious sufi master as a regular wird.

The Shaykh replied, ‘The litany is superb. It can be recited if your daily schedule allows.

In addition, supplicate to Allah asking for the sincerity (ikhlas), truthfulness (sidiq) and humility (tawadhu) that the pious Shaykh (Allah have mercy on him) had in his heart that made these words of supplication so effective.’

Waridaat, page 7

Abdiyet

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Imam Abdul Wahab al Sha’rani (Allah have mercy on him) quoted,

‘No level of servant hood (abdiyet) can be applied to an individual who does not consider all his good deeds to be ostentatious and all his states and conditions to be pretentious.’

Adurar al mandhood, (Hum say ‘ahd liyay giya) page 58

The curriculum of Tasawwuf

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Hakim al Ummah Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) recommended a curriculum for the seekers to develop a clear understanding of the path of Tasawwuf.

The text included are arranged in particular order. They start with the simple basic books of Hakim al Ummah and move to Imam Ghazali’s Arbaeen and then to more advanced text such as Mathnawi of Mawlana Rumi, Adaab al Uboodiyah of Imam Sharani and Akmal ush Sheyam explanation of Al Hikam of Shaikh Ibn e AtaAllah al Iskanderi (Allah have mercy on them).

In addition to clearing concepts, the reading of these texts motivates the seeker to be firm on the path and to progress further.

Senior Shuyuk of our path used to complete the reading and explanation of this curriculum in special sessions reserved only for the serious seekers.

Individual seekers must read these books diligently like textbooks. They should mark the outstanding passages and take notes for later review.

Nisab e Tasawwuf

Muraqaba: Allah loves me

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

Contemplate (make muraqaba) that I love Allah and Allah also loves me.

This muraqaba is extremely beneficial.

When an individual afflicted with extremes of worries and anxieties does this muraqaba, all of them vanish completely. This is because there is conviction that Allah loves me and therefore there must be some benefit for me in this affliction. In love, who will hurt the loved one?

Shariat wa Tariqat , page 278

Nisbet

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

‘To achieve strong nisbet (an experiential mutually friendly relationship with Allah) and perfect unison (wusool) the (the specific sufi methods of) remembrance (dhikr), spiritual exercises (ashgal) and meditation techniques (muraqabat) are needed.

It is highly recommended to acquire them.

The minimum criteria for being given ijaza and functioning as a Shaykh is acquired by achieving a strong nisbet,

Shariat wa Tariqat, page 51

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

The Loss

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Qutub e ‘alam Shaikh Rasheed Ahmad Gangohi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

The reasons for loss of (spiritually) achieved benefit include, lack of vigilance in maintaining it, entrapment in sinful activities or being careless in (permissibility of) food consumed.

Therefore, search for cause (and rectify it).
If it is the third reason then be careful (about the permissibility of food).

If it is the second issue then repentance and abandonment of the transgression is required.

If it is the first reason then intimate supplications, expression of weakness and humility in the court of Supreme Benefactor and chastisement of one’s self (nafs) heedlessness (gaflah).

In short the treatment is excessive repentance and (acknowledgment of) remorse.

Makateeb e Rasheediyah, page 39 quoted via Ifadat e wasiyah 348-9

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!