Teachings of Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf 'Ali Thanawi & his spiritual successors, particularly 'Arifbillah Dr 'Abdul Hayy 'Arifi (may Allah bless them) and Sayyidi Mawlana Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) regarding Tasawwuf
A seeker wrote, I really want to hear things about other people. Although I tell others not to tell me but somewhere inside I want to hear it (the exact disease that is mentioned in the book).
Ashrafiya replied,
Being an unintentional desire this is not a disease by itself until some thing extra ordinary and sinful is done to achieve this.Consider it to be wrong and sinful desire and remind yourself of its uselessness.
Islahi emails:TA
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)
Can you please explain the details about “Dil se gheebat”. How to diagnose it and how to cure it if its present. A lot of the times the thoughts come to mind. I thought just keeping them to yourself and not saying to others is fine. But by this term it seems like even the thoughts are wrong.
Ashrafiya replied,
This is to intentionally think bad about some one. That is, things if he was to be informed of it he will be upset. It is an intentional action and remedy is to use one’s determination (himmat) not to do it. Also, one should develop this habit that on this thoughts one should intentionally think and remind himself of being the most lowly creature on the face of the earth. And admonish one’s self of doing this gheebat and make dua for that individual.
Islahi emails:TA
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)
I grew up in a family where unfortunately people take pride in cunning jokes and picking on one another. I got this bad habit too and although I am trying my best to avoid such behaviour but sometimes I slip (especially in front of one family of my cousins who are very keen on this and you have to do it otherwise they will pick on you). I feel really ashamed in explaining but I will cite two incidences that happened recently.
I was sitting with my cousin in a gathering. One of the persons was on the phone telling someone that I am coming with 4 people (he mistakenly said 1 extra person). I remarked addressing my cousin “bhai aap ke size ki waja se aap ko 2 count kar diya”.
The the same cousin was telling about an incident on how he got to know some person. Basically he said he slipped on the ice after Fajr prayer and broke his leg and thats how my cousin go to know him. I remarked “kya wo tooti hui taang ke sath Maghrib tak waheen paRe rahe”. My cousin went like “naheen kyun” I replied “tau aap Fajr ke waqt wahan kya kar rahe thay”
Ashrafiya replied,
Not all joking and picking is bad.
If the relationship is so close and open that the other party will not be offended at all then it is fine to do so. However, if this is not the case then this should be avoided all together. And if it is committed then one has to apologize and ask forgiveness. This is itself the treatment.
Islahi emails:TA
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)
A seeker wrote, A lot of the spiritual medicines prescribed in the recommended readings, our Hazrat (Mufti Taqi Usmani, Allah protect & preserve him)‘s book islahikhutbaat and in the correspondance with you are indeed very effective Alhamdulillah. Please suggest some techniques/course of action to remember them when they are needed. I get a feeling that I am not implementing them as properly as it should be done.
Ashrafiya replied,
MashaAllah. This question is a sign of ture talub. May Allah increase it more with afiyet (Allahumazid fa zid).
The tip is to read and re-read the prescription many times and make dua asking Allah to facilitate its recall at the appropriate time. And if one forgets it, then fix a fine (jurmana) for this failure, like two rakah salat e tauba.
Islahi emails:TA
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)
It has been a month since I wrote a proper letter, was really feeling the need. I have started to write down instances where I feel some negative traits were demonstrated by me. Especially when I am reading the prescribed readings I write down all the questions (‘ashkalat’) right away. I feel really ashamed to be writing some of the things below but I have learned from the Ashrafiya blog that one has to be very open in describing all ailments to the Shaykh.
Ashrafiya replied,
There is no reason for concern. Many times we have to tell the physician things that are embarrassing. However, we recognize that it is important to achieve cure and healthy state.
Islahi emails:TA
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)
I wish to inquire about the Mamoolat during travel. Alhamdulilllah I did not miss any salat during the 2 days but couldn’t keep up with the Mamoolat. The days were so tightly scheduled (had to drive ~1000kms on one of the days), couldn’t find the time. Alhamdulillah I did listen to our Hazrat db’s islahi khutbaat while driving. inshaAllah In a couple of weeks I am going with my family on a road trip (2 weeks long ,1000kms) All of the days will have a lot of driving/hiking/sight seeing etc. involved.
Ashrafiya replied,
It is fine to decrease the quantity of mamoolat during travel. The degree of decrease depends on your time constraints, etc. When really very busy I decrease them to half or one third.
Leaving them completely is not advisable. It is usually detrimental to do so spiritually.
The best things is to do the tasbihats while driving.
Recite surah ikhlas 50 or 100 times instead of tilawet. (Keeping a regular or electronic tasbih handy is very useful.)
Read a page or two of munajat e maqbool if easily possible.
Listening to the lectures will substitute for the reading.
Islahi emails:TA
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)
A salik wrote, I am still on Tableegh-e-Deen. MashaAllah the book is amazing. Imam Ghazali was truly a genius and translator Maulana Aashiq Elahi (Allah have mercy on them, and bless them tremendously). The book does set the bar really high. I have read almost 90 pages of the book. I think this is a book that one should refresh from time to time.
Ashrafiya replied,
Yes.
It has to be read like a textbook. Read two or three pages a day at the most. Underline, high-light and take notes. Especially, those items that are not in your knowledge and practice. Start to implement them right away. Everyday review the last section read and then to proceed to the next.
Islahi emails:TA
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)
– I wish to ask about polemical debate. As our elders stress a lot about the harms of debating and you can also feel a sudden negative effect after debating with someone even though you feel you were on haq. Should one completely abstrain from discussing anything at all. Normally a debate starts off as a simple innocent conversation. I used to think the point at which one should pull out from the debate is when arguments begin to repeat. But now I feel that by that time the spiritual harm is already done. What should be the course of action in this. e.g. In my community, our Islamic organization split into two groups. As I understand both sides have respectable people and no one is completely wrong. There were weaknesses on both sides. Today at prayer someone started taking the side of one of the groups and criticizing the other. I tried to explain the point of view of the other side but it turned into a debate and I still feel the negative effect on my heart. Should one completely stay out of controversial issues even though you feel you have a valid point and you should convey it to the other person.
Ashrafiya replied,
Indeed. Involvement in polemical debates is always spiritually detrimental. There are many reasons for it, including,1. it directs one’s attention from Allah2. one tries to defend his opinion and nafsaniyet comes in3. specially for people like us, blameworthy character traits like, anger, hasad, arrogance, etc. come into play. and many others. All of them cause this negative effect on one’s heart. It is best to avoid it upfront. Moreover, if one is stable enough to control his nafs (beyond our status) the negativity of other’s heart is reflected and carried over to his own heart ruining it’s serenity.
Islahi emails:TA
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)
Alhamdulillah the I am trying to act on the Faraidh and Mamoolat. Waise sacchi baat tau ye he ke band eke a’amaal intihai naqis hain, Allah SWT ma’af farmaaen.
Ashrafiya replied,
MashaAllah. apnay a’mal kay nuqus ka ahsas kamal aur kamyabi ki tarf safar ki a’lamet hay. Jaisa bun pa raha hay us pay shukr aur kotahi par istegfar kartey rahna hay.
Islahi emails:TA
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)
A seeker wrote, In regards to Eating. The chapter on eating less (in the book Tabligh e Deen of Imam Ghazali, Allah have mercy on him) did mention the benefits and harms clearly. But in terms of what to achieve I wish to ask some questions. When to eat: The best is to remain hungry for atleast 3 days and eat on the 4th day. The lowest level is to eat once a day. How much to eat: I couldn’t relate to the amounts mentioned here. What I understood better over here is to eat only when really hungry and stop eating before completely satisfied. What to eat: Couldn’t understand in terms of the contemporary Pakistani diet.
Ashrafiya replied,
Hakim al-Ummat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Allah have mercy on him) has mentioned that for us it is not recommended to restrict diet as it was done by sufiya previously. However, balance has to be maintained.The most important things in this regards are,
1. One’s mind is not occupied with thoughts and plans of eating specific items most of the time.
2. During each meal a moment comes when one hesitates to eat more or stop. At this moment one should stop eating.
3. Continue with your meals as usual. Do not make any drastic changes. However, be health conscious and eat whatever is good for you.
4. At dinner parties eat as usual. Making more shukr of Allah for all the bounties and variety of flavors, etc. However, stop as mentioned in #2.
Islahi emails:TA
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)
A novice seeker wrote, I noticed a new link being added to Ashrafiya website. Would it be recommended for me to listen to these lectures?
Ashrafiya replied, No. Each Shaykh has his own disposition and style of approaching islah. Mixing to many styles leads to confusion. The mawaiz of Hazrat Hakim Akhtar (Allah have mercy on him) and our Shaikh Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him) are quite enough and beneficial, inshaAllah.
Islahi emails: TA
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)
A seeker wrote, – I try to focus on the words and meanings in Salah but the train of thought derails very frequently. Please recommend something in this regard.
Ashrafiya replied,
No problem at all. Invoulantary derailment does not cause damage to khushu. Whenever, you recognize the derailment come back on the track. InshaAllah, with persisitence and practice the frequency of this will decrease.
Islahi emails:TA
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)
– Fajr salah is going very weak, may Allah forgive me. I haven’t prayed with Jamah in ages and even at home I am missing some of them in the past 2 weeks. One thing or the other delays going to bed and even though I put an alarm, sometimes I just can’t wake up in time. I should make more effort to correct this laziness (“susti”). Yes something needs to be done for this right away.
Ashrafiya replied,
Praying fajr on time is essential. Moreover, eventually one has to aim for tahajjud prior to fajr.
3. Make dua prior to going to sleep for waking up at fajr
4. Make a firm determination. Tell yourself in a audible voice to wake up at ____am
5. Recite the last 4 ayah of sura kahaf (18th sura)
6. Set two or three alarms. (I usually use 2- 3 alarms on my mobile phone and one on a clock kept at a far distance from the bed, so I have to get up and switch it off.)
7. Ask a family member or a friend who gets up regularly to wake you up or call you to do so.
8. Even after these measures if salah is missed then skip breakfast for that day. (Only take tea, coffee or milk)
Islahi emails:TA
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)
I tried to search for proper etiquettes of writing islahi email (khutoot) to one’s Shaykh (especially in English). Please do forgive my shortcomings and reprimand me for lack of adab, for my own good. As I have read that surely one can not travel any distance in this path without adab.
Ashrafiya replied,
If the need so arises be reassured that attention will be drawn to it. For now be at ease.
Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him) tells us repeatedly that not correcting the faults of an individual who has associated for his Islah is a betrayal (khiyanet) of the trust of Shaykh-seeker relationship.
Islahi emails:TA
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)
