A seeker requested for a meditation (muraqaba).
Hakim al Umma Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Allah have mercy on him) replied,
‘Meditations (muraqabaat) are less beneficial these days. Remembrance with contemplation, either verbally or by reading books is more suitable for the nature of people these days.’
Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 1, page 473
In the Prophet’s mosque (Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve & protect him) instructed a murid who was reciting the blessed Quran from his mobile phone,
‘In a place where a mushaf (printed text of Quran) is available it is best to read from it.
Reading Quran from a mobile application is permissible. However, the blessings of reading from a mushaf are more. The Quranic picture in mobile are the reflection of the text (not the original text).
Moreover, in reading from the mushaf an individual is more cautious and observant of the proper etiquettes (adaab). He should try to do this even when he is reading from mobile (when mushaf is not available).
Qari Rahim Baksh (Allah have mercy on him) was a great haafiz and teacher of Quranic recitations (qiraat). He tutored thousands of students. However, in spite of memorizing the whole Quran he use to do his regular daily recitation by reading from a mushaf and placing his finger on each single word. This was to get the maximum blessings possible. ‘
Masjid e Nabaawi, behind Riyadhul jannah, after maghrib/awaabeen, Friday 19 February 2016
Hakim al Umma Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Allah have mercy on him) mentioned,
‘It has been an experience of an individual that when disturbing and worldly thoughts plagued his mind and no remedy seemed to be effective, the recitation of Shajara (the spiritual chain listing all the masters of this path) was beneficial. (Immediately) An aversion was felt for the worldly.’
Khutbaat e Hakimul Ummat
Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve & protect him) stresses the need for being consistent with the daily recitations (wird) as instructed. To do so effectively, he advises that one should have a practical daily schedule. The time and place for routine practices should be fixed. Both of these have spiritual benefit (barakah) of their own.
The failure do so results in missing the wird. This is unacceptable for a seeker.
It must be remembered that consistency in daily practices is the path to spiritual progress.
May Allah grant us the tawfeeq. Amin!
An individual inquired, ‘I’m being told that going out in the path of Allah (with Tablighi jamat) is sufficient for islah. There is no need for contacting a musleh (Shaikh). Is this correct?’
Another individual told that many years back he made bayiah to a Shaikh. At that time he was instructed to make daily dhikr which he is still doing. However, he never consulted the respected Shaykh for any islah related issue. Is dhikr sufficient for islah?
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As explained before islah and tazkiya are active processes. How can they be expected to occur passively?
Steps required for them are,
1. Intention,
2. Awareness of one’s deficiencies,
3. Consulting a spiritual physician,
4. Concurring with his diagnosis,
5. Meticulously following his instructions and then
6. Providing feedback on improvement of the condition
7. Being watchful for relapse
Accepted good actions, like going out in the path of Allah and remembering Allah (dhikr), provide illumination (nur). This illumination must reveal to us the real inner condition of ourselves. This should provide us the insight to correct our deficiencies : Islah. However, if this is not happening then we should be very much concerned and look for the reason behind it.
This leads to confusion and major blunders. Some of them if not corrected via consultation with a qualified scholar may lead to Hajj being void.
2. Not asking qualified scholars (mufti) if a mistake is suspected.
Mobile contact of a pious and reliable mufti who is well aware of the rulings of Hajj is essential.
3. Fear of dum (penalty).
Due to the financial burden individuals are afraid to ask a mufti if a mistake is suspected.
It must be clear that dum is there to rectify the mistake and make Hajj acceptable. Compared to the cost of repeating the Hajj next year its cost is minimal.
4. A very commonly observed gaffe is that individuals label themselves as travelers (musafir) and then leave all the Sunna and nafil worships (‘ibadah). In fact, in this once a lifetime journey, one should try to reap maximum benefit of the stay in the boundaries of Haram al sharif, where one good action is rewarded hundred thousand times.
This does not mean that if they are technically musafir they are exempted from qasr of fardh salah.
Sheikh Dr Hafeezullah Sukkharwi (Allah have mercy on him) recommended that one performs extra recitations (in addition to his routine wird) and salah tu Tasbih everyday in the five days of Hajj.
5. Wasting time in useless activities.
Some are busy shopping for the gifts for their loved ones back home.
Yuppies are busy posting selfies of each and every movement on twitter or Facebook.
Others are searching for their next door neighbor from back home or close relative.
The religious minded are arguing the issues of following a madhab or not.
Those associated with Tasawwuf & islah are rushing to visit the lectures and halqa e dhikr of each and every sheikh and scholar present.
Verbally we claim presence before Allah,
However, in reality we are absent.
Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve and protect him) accepted a seeker’s request for baiyah. This individual has a islahi relationship with one of the mojazeen of sayyidi for the previous few and was proceeding for Hajj this year.
Prior to the ceremony sayyidi wa sanadi clarified,
‘There are two types of baiyah. First is that in which an individual pledges to do his islah (under the supervision of this specific Shaykh). It is baiyah as sulook. The other is for barakah and blessing (of being included into the Sufi silsila/order). It is baiyah tabarruk. This is the one we are doing.’
After the spiritual ceremony sayyidi instructed,
‘Continue with the recitations (ma’moolat) as recommended by your mentor. However, it must be clear that the main task is rectification of morals (islah ikhlaq). Read about them and ask your mentor whenever there is a suspicion.’
Baiyet e Kaiser, Study, Residence, Darul uloom Karachi, 23 Shawwal 1436/9 August 2015
In the last ten days of Ramadan he salikeen were all gathered around their Sheikh in the office. It was a khanqah.
Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve and protect him) read aloud from a letter of a seeker,
‘He writes: I am lazy in performance of the daily recitations (wird/ma’moolat) instructed to me.’
Addressing the audience sayyidi disapprovingly asked,
‘What can be done for this?’
Ramadan 1436/July 2015, Office, Daul Uloom Karachi
It means, that a seeker who has not recognized the importance of being punctual in his/her daily spiritual work is a hopeless case. No one else can help him do what he/she is supposed to do him/her self.
Moreover, it is reflective of his poor decision making in prioritizing daily actions and having a practical daily schedule.
May Allah give us the insight of recognizing the importance of the daily routine spiritual works, etc. instructed to us. Amin!
Steadfastness in them is the way towards success on this path.
Few suggestions to-do,
1. Read Quran
2. Pray Salat tu tasbih
3. Make heartfelt dua
4. Dhikr of Allah, at least istegfar, third kalima & durood sharif 100 times each
5. Avoid all useless activities
A seeker inquired,
In Ramadan I recite the dowazdah tasbih as per my regular routine after fajar/tahajjud. Is it okay to do so? The restrictions of not doing it on a full stomach or after drinking cold water (for an hour prior) do they apply here also?
Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve and protect him) replied,
‘No they do not apply here. Do as your regular routine.’
Office, Darul uloom Karachi 10 Ramadan 1436/28 June 2015. After zohar.
A seeker inquired,
If in Ramadan I change my daily schedule of recitations and dhikr to include excessive recitation of Quran e Kareem everything becomes messed up. So I usually follow my daily schedule of recitations etc and after its completion I try to read excessively from Quran. Is this okay?
Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Taqi Usmani (Allah protect him & allow us to benefit from him excessively) replied,
‘Yes. First you have to complete your regular daily recitations and then do the extra good deeds.’
Office, after zuhar. Sunday 10 Ramadan 1436/28 June 2015
New posts are not planned in Ramadan.
Please, search for Ramadan related posts for information on how to maximize the benefit of this blessed month.
May Allah facilitate it for us. Amin!
A seeker living in USA for his training wrote,
I do not prefer socializing with others. I want to spend my free time at home. Moreover, in socializing caution has to be taken to make sure that we share the same concepts, are careful with diet (halal) and observe the segregation of the sexes. For all these reasons our social circle is very limited. This is not a problem for me. However, my wife feels isolated and this issue becomes a source of contention between us. Her suggestion is that we should be more flexible.
Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah protect and preserve him) replied,
‘I mention some principles in this regards. Keep them in mind.
1. Avoid making your self excessively dry (khushek). And with an intention to please your spouse do whatever is within the limits of being permissible.
2. Do not be pressurized by anyone for things that are overtly impermissible.
3. Be vigilant in finding individuals who relatively share the same thoughts. Socializing with them will decrease the feeling of isolation.
4. Keep the environment at home pleasant. Allocate some time for general talking, laughter and entertainment.
If even after following all of the above issues diligently your spouse remains upset than handle it with wisdom. Do not do anything impermissible. However, instead of being upset yourself put off the issue lightheartedly. Except in cases where showing your being upset is absolutely necessary.’
Islahi Khatoot
We have to remind ourself that consistency of daily ma’molaat (wird) is the way to spiritual progress.
Being lax in performing them usually results in deterioration.
At any given moment there is either increase or decrease in one’s spirituality. There is no steady or stationary state that one may become content with. No just hanging around!
The pious masters of the path have said that death is better for a salik who is not progressing.
