Category Archives: W. Wird & wazaif

Muraqaba e duayia

Hazrat Shaikh Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) once mentioned the following:

Muraaqabah-e-Du’aa’iyyah refers to where one, while remaining silent, closes his eyes, and turns his attention to his heart and begins making dua with his heart i.e. one does not make a verbal dua with one’s tongue. While making dua with one’s heart, one may make dua for his deen, his dunya, and for whatever needs one has.

However, one should also remember to include the ummah of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in one’s dua by asking Allah Ta‘ala to bring favourable and good conditions upon the ummah and grant them success.

On account of the ummah being linked to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), when one includes the ummah in one’s dua, then this will be a means for one’s duas gaining acceptance by Allah Ta‘ala.

Note: Just as it is permissible to make dua verbally, it is also permissible to make dua in one’s heart, as mentioned above by Hazrat Sheikhul Hadith Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya (rahmatullahi ‘alaih). However, it should be borne in mind that on those occasions where it is established that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) made a verbal dua (e.g. after salaah, after the azaan, after eating, etc.) then one should recite these masnoon duas verbally in order to practise upon the sunnah. Nevertheless, at other times, one can make dua to Allah Ta‘ala verbally or in one’s heart.

(Qutbul Aqtaab Hazrat Sheikhul Hadith Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) pg. 434)

Ihyauddeen

Priorities for a Salik

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1. Learning the authentic beliefs (aqaid) as per the pious predecessors.

2. Learning the Sunna methodology (fiqh) of performing worship.

3. Abandoning major sinful actions and repenting on minor ones.

4. Get rid of blameworthy moral characteristics (radhail), adopting praiseworthy moral characteristics (fadhail).

5. Earning & consuming a halal livelihood.

6. Getting married, establishing a home and raising children

7. Learning etiquette of financial dealings for everyday life.

8. Actively making a good intention in permissible actions.

9. Actively making an intention of pleasing Allah and following Sunna in all thoughts & actions.

10. Recitation of Sunna adhkar for different occasions (adiya e ma’sora)

11. Recitation of the litanies (adhkar & ashgaal) prescribed by the Sufi Shaykh.

Qutub al Irshad, vol 1, p 92-3

On seeing non-Muslims & non-practicing Muslims

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A seeker wrote,

Sometimes I would look at non-Muslims, or non-practising-Muslims, and the thought of Hell would cause me grief and anxiety. I would get this feeling of helplessness, that I’m not helping them despite knowing.

Ashrafiya replied,

The best help is to make dua for them and be a role model Muslim. Set two or 3 minutes daily to make dua specifically for all of them.

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Laziness or illness

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An individual inquired that how can a person convalescing from a illness differentiate that not doing his daily ma’mulaat (wird) is because of illness or due to laziness.

Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him) replied,

‘One should do the daily ma’mulaat (on trial basis) and see. If there is deterioration in his illness then it is from disease otherwise it is laziness.’

Office, Darul Uloom Karachi, 5/3/2022 after zohar

Power of dua

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Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) once mentioned the following:

Du‘aa is an extremely great ibaadah and is the essence of all other ibaadaat. (The reason is that du‘aa is an expression of humility, and this is what is desired in all ibaadaat). However, from all ibaadaat, it is witnessed that people show the least importance to making du‘aa.

Du‘aa is such a thing that even if it used as a means to beg Allah Ta‘ala to fulfil one’s worldly needs, then too, it is still an act of ibaadah (and one will receive reward for it) – on condition that the du‘aa is made for something permissible in Shari‘ah.

In regard to du‘aa, some people are under the impression that du‘aa is only an act of ibaadah when du‘aa is made for things relating to one’s deen or for works of deen, or when du‘aa is made for seeking success and salvation in the Hereafter. However, this notion is incorrect.

When some people write to me seeking assistance for certain needs or difficulties which they are experiencing, then instead of them requesting me to make du‘aa for their problem, they write, “Please give us some effective amal or some wazeefah to recite for this need or problem.” To such people, I write the following reply, “I do not have knowledge of any such amal which is so powerful that it will alleviate your problem or fulfil your need. However, you should know well that there is no wazeefah or amal that is as powerful and great as du‘aa (hence, you should engage in du‘aa, begging Allah Ta‘ala to remove your problem or fulfil your need).”

(Malfoozaat Hakeemul Ummat 22/230-231)

Source:Ihyaauddeen.co.za

Keep progressing

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A seeker must never become content at a particular spiritual state.

He must constantly desire more progress. This is by worship & spiritual efforts, maintaining focus & firm determination, and sincere humble supplications.

Usool e Tasawwuf, Muqalat e Hakimul Ummat ra, volume 14, page 100

Distraction in wird

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A seeker wrote,

While reciting the daily wird I become distracted and a feeling of completing it quickly prevails. This is causing extreme distress and apprehension.

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

Do not even pay attention to this apprehension.

Complete the wird (whatever the feelings maybe).

Be reassured, that InshaAllah with persistent remembrance (dhikr e daim) this apprehension will fade away by itself.

Rafa adh dheeq an ahl at-tareeq, Muqalat e Hakim al Ummat, vol 14, page 72

Enthusiasm

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A seeker wrote, these days I feel completely listless. There is no enthusiasm at all for anything. This includes no eagerness to perform acts of worship.

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

Enthusiasm is not a necessary requirement. Performance of acts of worship (in itself) is an essential requirement.

Moreover, acts of worship done without enthusiasm entail hardship and hence carry more reward.

This tip is worth to be remembered forever.

Rafa adh dheeq an ahl tareeq, Muqalat e Hakim al Ummat, vol 14, page 72

Things to do After Ramadan

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For development and maintenance of  reverence of God (taqwa) in our post-Ramadan life sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) said,

1.Leave sinful activities:

Be strict on holding your lower (nafsani) desires. Make a firm determination. Do not yield to these sinful desires easily. These desires and Satan are our two arch enemies.

2. Change the thought pattern.

The mind is constantly occupied with thoughts. There is no gap or vacuum in this process. These thoughts are either of worldly matters or useless issues or sinful activities. It is essential to intervene and develop a spiritually healthy though pattern. We have to actively think about hereafter, heavens, thankfulness of Allah for the innumerable bounties and blessings bestowed upon us, asking refuge for anticipated calamities, repenting from sinful activities, etc.

3. Adopt pious company

This is the most effective way to achieve the change of thought pattern. It leads to absorption, assimilation and implementation of the Divine teachings in our life. Without the company of the the pious the Deen remains limited to superficial level.

4. Make remembrance of Allah

Set up a daily routine of making remembrance of Allah. There are three categories of remembrance of Allah. First is that it is done with the tongue without presence of mind. Second is when tongue is silent and there is mindfulness. Finally, when both tongue and mind are making the remembrance together. Do not under evaluate even the first category. It is a stepping stone for the rest of the categories. Moreover, with consistency it eventually engulfs the mind also.

Make a daily time table for this. The daily activities done in an organised method creates barakah in time. More things are done in the same period of time. Include in it these four things, recitation of Holy Quran atleast two pages daily, durood, third kalima and istegfar. Fix a specific time for them. In other times recite whatever form of remembrance comes to mind.

The remembrance of Allah (dhikr) is a form of energy and power. It assists in development of determination to fight the lower desires.

5. Make supplication (dua)

Set a specific time for this. Like prior to sleeping, after esha. For few minutes sit and supplicate.

Say, ‘O Allah I want to follow the path You are pleased with. I want to control my thoughts, aspirations and desires as per Your desires. You have repeatedly instructed us in the Holy Quran to do so. How can I do it? I am weak. My determination and effort are feeble. Provide from Your benevolence and mercy the determination, power and motivation so I can control my desires and make them totally subservient to Your commands.’

Make this supplication daily without any gap. It is impossible that Allah will reject this supplication indeed.

29th Ramadan 1432/30th August 2011, Darul Uloom masjid, after duhur bayan.

https://www.ashrafiya.com/2011/09/17/post-ramadan-effort-preserving-the-momentum-of/

Worship, spirituality & buzurgi

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A seeker wrote,

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله

Hazrat, what would you say about the subtle feeling of being some sort of unproductive during acts of worship or of spirituality?

Could it be a modern disease or at least weakness or mistuning of the heart, which needs rectification? As when the feeling grows, one becomes even lazy towards faraidh.

Or is it more of a غير اختیاری feeling like جی نہیں لگنا and thus should simply be ignored?

Or is it even helpful in order to save oneself in his youth from excessive ibaadah and nawafil and put effort into learning and earning? It might be protect from premature buzurgi.

Some guidance regarding this would be appreciated. JazakAllahu khayran.

Ashrafiya replied,

Salaam

This is reflective of poor understanding of Deen.
Works of extra worship and spirituality are done to subdue the nafs, develop a perpetual state of being cognizant that Allah is aware of what I am doing/thinking etc. and become a true Muslim up to the standard required. It has nothing to do with buzurgi.

This is one of the most common prevalent misconceptions.

It’s cause is neglecting the suhba of the pious.

It requires rectification. This is by setting a regular schedule of pious company (where the intention is nothing but self islah. No waaz, knowledge or nasihat is the objective) and a daily routine of ma’mulaat that include recitation of Quran kareem, tasbihat, adiya e masnonah and few nawafil.

I hope I answered your question.
Was salaam

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