Category Archives: W. Wird & wazaif

Remembrance of Allah

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

‘This is the action that stops the random thoughts and whisperings (wasawes). It keeps the lower self (nafs) involved in something (beneficial). If it was to be left on its own it would get into something (spiritually) detrimental.

It is acknowledged that this action is the remembrance (of Allah) by heart (dhikr e qalbi).

This can be done at all the times.

Therefore, involve your nafs in this action. By doing so it will not get into detrimental things and heedlessness (gaflah).’

Jawahirat e Hakim al Ummat ra, volume 3, page 68

معطر روح ومنور چشم

صلی اللہ علیہ والہ وسلم صلی اللہ علیہ والہ وسلم صلی اللہ علیہ والہ وسلم

—————————

یا اللہ جل جلالہ

کر معطر روح کو، بوۓ محمد سے مری

اورمنور چشم کر، روۓ محمد سے مری

_______________________

صلی اللہ علیہ والہ وسلم صلی اللہ علیہ والہ وسلم صلی اللہ علیہ والہ وسلم

آمیں

منظوم شجرہ سلسلہ چشتیہ امدادیہ اشرفیہ/مناجات مقبول

How to gauge spitirual progress?

Imam ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Alawi al-Haddad (Allah have mercy on him) said,

Should a man wish to know whether he is rising or falling in religious terms, he should look at how his state and conduct had been a month or a year ago.

If he finds that they were better than his present state and conduct, he should know that he is descending into degradation; whereas if he finds that his present state and conduct are better, he should know that he is rising and improving.

It has been handed down that “he who finds that his (present) day resembles the previous day has been cheated, and he who finds that his (present) day is worse that the previous day is accursed. Accursed here means remote from a particular and specially accorded to mercy.

He who is not increasing is diminishing.

To explain, if when thinking about previous days, you feel that you then had no desire for the world, were eager for the Hereafter, scrupulously avoided doubtful things, were quick to good actions, quick to obedience, remote from transgressions, and by comparison are now no better or are to any extent worse, then know that you are going down, deteriorating in religion, in your aspiration for God, and in striving for the Hereafter.”

Knowledge and Wisdom

Reminder: Allah is watching me!

Shaikh Haji Shakeel Ahmed (Allah preserve him) said,

‘Develop the habit of reminding yourself every now and then that Allah is watching me.  Say in an audible voice ‘Allah! Allah! Allah!’.

It is to firmly establish and cultivate this state that Allah made it essential (wajib) for us to visit His house (masjid) five times a day and practice it in salah.

We should strife to establish this in our daily life. An easy way is to set a reminder in our mobile phone that alerts us every 15 minutes that Allah is watching me.’

Jeddah, al-Azizia 30th May 2012, bayan after maghrib

What to do in free time?

A seeker informed sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) about the extra time he had available daily and requested for advice on how to utilize it appropriately.

Sayyidi wa sanadi said,

‘Do two things in this time.

Firstly, perform excessive remembrance of Allah.

On request for further elaboration on what specific form of remembrance would be appropriate for him.  Sayyidi said,

‘Perform the ‘dowazdah tasbih‘. And if you already do this in morning (as the usual daily routine prescribed for seekers) then repeat it again in this spare time.’

The second thing to do is to read the biographies of the pious predecessors meticulously. High light and mark the beneficial passages for future review.

Start with the Sawanih e Qasimi of Shaikh Mawlana Qasim Nanotawi  written by Professor Mawalan Anwarul Hasan Sheirkoti (Allah have mercy on them) if you can get hold of it. It is difficult to keep focused in the one written by Mawlana Manazir Hasan Gillani (Allah have mercy on him).  Then read Tazkirat ur Raheed, Tazkirat ul Khalil,  Ashraf us sawanih and Arwah e salasa.’

Holiday Inn Salam, Jeddah, 15th May 2012, after esha

Proximity of Allah

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

‘People wrongly assume that by observance of excessive worship, like supererogatory salah, excessive remembrance or recitation of Holy Quran,  they will gain pleasure and proximity of Allah.

In our everyday life the pleasure and proximity of Allah is obtained by being patient and responding with humility and good character when unexpected comes from those who are dear and near.

The real examination is when the curt comments and the sarcastic attitude of friends and family break your heart or make your blood boil.

Being patient, controlling one’s anger and responding with humility and good character will make you move closer to pleasure of Allah.

Only an individual who is cognizant that he/she will be accountable before Allah for his/her actions can do this.

This is taqwa.’

Audio:Mp3 CD # 2

Goal of remembrance:Ehsan

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

‘The end result of all forms of remembrances (adhkar), spiritual exercises (ashgal) and meditations (muraqabat) is awareness of being in the presence of Allah all the time.’

Aap beeti via Zaad us Salikeen, page 803

It is essential to appreciate that this is not the creation of an abstract idle thought but an actual experience that brings a change in the behavior and actions of the individual.

That is, ehsan as mentioned in Hadith e Jibraeel (Allah’s peace be upon him)

Practice makes perfect?

Then why do we see otherwise in ourselves?

That is, in spite of performing religious actions ( e.g. salah, tilawat, dhikr, etc) for so many years the same mistakes are repeated,  the outward beauty and inward concentration does not increase. Perfection remains a mirage.

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

‘An action has to be done properly to be beneficial in this world and in hereafter.’

Majmua’ talefat e Mulih al-Ummat ra, volume 2, Sa’adet e haqiqi, page 323,

Foremost , what is going to be practiced must be established properly. The method must be correct.

It is futile to expect perfection when the thing initiated is done incorrectly and then repeated similarly manifolds. The obvious result of this mistake would be perfection in repeating the the mistake itself.

It for this reason our shuyukh stress on learning the basic religious (fiqhi) text (Bashishti Zewar/Thamar) thoroughly upfront on the path of sulook.

Arif billah Dr Abdul Hayy Arifi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘Read the book: Uswa e Rasool e Akram (sallalaho aleh e wasalam). It is a manual for your daily life.’

Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) reinforces this in his instruction to the spiritual seekers.

The ease & comfort in religious works

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

‘Even in religious endeavors (daily actions/commandments/prohibitions. etc.) people seek ease and comfort.

(No doubt) Ease and comfort is achieved in these issues (eventually) but after accomplishment of these endeavors. People seek it early on.

It can be understood by this example;

A sick person complains about his imperfect health, aversion and difficulty in swallowing the medicine. (Whereas in reality) the perfect health will not be achieved until the illness is eradicated. And the illness will not be eradicated without the medicine.

God only knows why their intellect has been corrupted in religious issues.’

Mazeed al Majeed, page 42

حضرت تھانوی قدس سرہ کا انداز تربیت اور تقوی کا حصول

سیدی و سندی حضرت مولانا مفتی محمد تقی عثمانی صاحب مدظلھم العالی

وعظ

حضرت تھانوی قدس سرہ کا انداز تربیت اور تقوی کا حصول

Supplicate for true yearning

Shaikh Mawlana Qamar uz Zaman Allahabadi (Allah preserve him) said,

‘Special supplications (dua) should be made for the development of true desire (talub).

In particular the (following) supplication prescribed by the Naqshbandi saints. Allah will surely develop true yearning.

O Allah!

You are my goal and I seek Your pleasure!

(Therefore) Bless me with Your love and marifa.’

Amin!

al Ifadhat al Ahsaniya, page 146-7