Category Archives: Z. Mustahebbat

Passing on rewards of good deeds to pious

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An individual wrote about his daily routine of reciting some verses of Holy Quran and passing on the reward (esal e thawab) to pious predecessors.

Hakim al Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) appreciated the practice but made it clear that this must not be with the expectation that in return there will be spiritual benefit from their souls. This would be against sincerity. The passing on of rewards must be solely for Allah’s pleasure in appreciation of the services they provided in spreading the Deen.

Paraphrased from Tarbiyet us Salik,

Moreover, some people who do esal e thawab routinely are afraid that if they stop it, even for a genuine reason (poor health or lack of finances, etc.) there will wrath of these pious predecessors and some disaster will strike them. This is shirk. May Allah protect us all from this. Amin!

Vallejo, CA

The ‘elite’ Sufis

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The second result of introduction of aristocratic class in Tasawwuf was to consider the non-goals to be the objectives (of the path) and absolute negligence of the goals. As a result, ‘the perfected sates’ (kamalat) that were the secondary offsprings of successful achievement of the objective were considered to be the goals themself. Spiritual pleasures and states, material unveiling, powers to do supernatural feats and perform miracles, spiritual ecstasy, true dreams, etc. became the sole objective of a spiritual seeker. They were considered to the salient features of piety (taqwa) and being a pious individual (buzurg).

In order to achieve these ‘perfected states’ means and methods that are not prescribed by Sunna were adopted. In doing so instructions were taken from (non-Muslim) ascetics and philosophers. As a result a complex potpourri of Indian customs and Greek philosophy was born. It was named the Islamic Tasawwuf.

The objective of this was to be an individual with spiritual powers and be able to perform super natural feats.

The purpose of having these superhuman powers could not be anything else other than to establish one’s superiority over other fellow men in order to influence and control their hearts (& minds).

How can the real Islamic Tasawwuf (as has been explained earlier), that teaches deliverance from the trap of lower self (nafs), establishing the vision of Truth (shuhood e Haqq) [ihsan], annihilation (fana) from the creation and being existent (baqa) with the Truth be compared to this pseudo Islamic Tasawwuf?’

Quran aur Tasawwuf, page 23-4

IDSA 2013, San Francisco, CA

Tasawwuf

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‘Quran and Tasawwuf’ is a famous book written by Dr Mir Waliuddin (Allah have mercy on him). In the introduction he mentions all the various definitions of Tasawwuf by the masters of this path and concludes,

‘In view of all these various definitions by the people of the path it is known that Tasawwuf is the purification of the lower self (from all that is impermissible) and acquisition of (good) morals characteristics.’

Quran and Tasawwuf, page 14

People nowadays confuse Tasawwuf with special methods of remembrance, meditations, particular garments, dancing, trance and celebrations, etc..
It has to be made vividly clear upfront to an spiritual aspirant before he embarks on this path what Tasawwuf is and what it is not.

Frankfurt airport, to IDSA 2013

Etiquette of Haramain Sharifain

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Every Muslim desires to visit the blessed and radiant cities of Makkah and Medinah (Haramain sharifain: the noble sanctuaries). At least once in his lifetime.

For many this opportunity comes with the performance of Hajj. Others get this chance when they visit for Umrah. Sometimes repeatedly.  Few individuals are blessed to get jobs in these cities and earn their living there.

All of these moments spend in the noble sanctuaries are extremely precious. A virtuous deed done in these precincts can earn a reward of 50,000 to 100,000 times performed elsewhere.  An unimaginable bonus!

Each and very second has to be utilized effectively to reap maximum benefit. A challenging task indeed. Especially, for individuals like us who are not organized and motivated. Laziness, apathy and negligence become the major barriers.  Moreover, committing sinful acts in these sanctuaries are  reciprocally or extra-reprehensible and blameworthy.

It is for these reasons some pious scholars have advised against taking permanent or prolonged residence in these noble  sanctuaries. They include our Imam Abu Hanifa (Allah have mercy on him).

Shaikh Haji Imdadullah mohajir Makki (Allah have mercy on him) advised an Indian  nawwab planning to migrate to Hijaz,

‘Staying in Hindustan and having a desire to live in noble sanctuaries is better than living here and being occupied in your stately affairs in Hindustan.’

Shaikhul Hadith Mawlana Zakariya mohajir Madani (Allah have mercy on him) use to tell those expressing their desire to migrate to Medinah e munawwarah,

‘Do not make such a decision of migration by observing my example. I have come here (towards the end of my life) to die (and be buried in Baqi).’

In short, the etiquette of the noble sanctuaries are significant and have to be taken very seriously.

The interview: Medinah e munawwarah 19th Ziqada 1434

 

Freedom from hypocrisy

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حدثنا عبد الله حدثني أبي ثنا الحكم بن موسى قال أبو عبد الرحمن عبد الله وسمعته أنا من الحكم بن موسى ثنا عبد الرحمن بن أبي الرجال عن نبيط بن عمرو عن أنس بن مالك عن النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم انه قال :
من صلى في مسجدي أربعين صلاة لا يفوته صلاة كتبت له براءة من النار ونجاة من العذاب وبريء من النفاق
تعليق شعيب الأرنؤوط : إسناده ضعيف لجهالة نبيط بن عمر

Anas ibn Malik (Allah be pleased with him) says that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
Whoever prays forty salah in my mosque (Masjid an-Nabawi) without missing a salah in between them, then freedom from the hellfire, escape from punishment, and freedom from hypocrisy will be written for him”

(Musnad Ahmed)

The chain of this Hadith has been classified as weak by Muhaddithun.
Nevertheless, it is considered mustahab to offer the forty prayers in Masjid an-Nabawi.

Arif billah Dr Abdul Hayy ‘Arifi (Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘Acting on mustahibat is a calling of love (muhabbat).’

Love of Prophet

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Sayyidina Abdur Rehman bin abi Qerad (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that one day the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) performed wudhu. The blessed Companions (Allah be pleased with them) took that water and rubbed it on their body and faces.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) inquired, ‘What makes you do this and what emotion drives it?’

They replied,’The love of Allah and His Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).’

On hearing this answer the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, ‘An individual who desires and aspires to really love Allah and His Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) and that Allah and His Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) love him then he should always speak the truth, safely return the things placed in his trust without a bit of embezzlement and treat his neighbor kindly.’

Sh’ubul eman, via Uswa e Rasool e Akram (Allah bless him and give him peace), page 608

For those visiting Medinah e munawwarah

book1It is highly recommended that those individuals who are proceeding to the radiant blessed city of Medinah have this book with them.

Thorough reading with intention to follow each and every Sunna must be done. The reading should be organized in such a manner that whole book is completed in their stay. It will bring much blessings and save them from wasting time in idle talk and involvement in suspicious or sinful activity.

As per sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) the memorization of the Prophetic prayer wordings in Arabic must be done. These wordings have their own barakah and radiance.

Insha Allah, this will increase the chances of their visitation to be accepted.

wa ma taufiqi illah billah!

When in Medinah e Munawwarah

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Shaikh Abdul Qadir khalifa of sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve them) usually sits in The Prophet’s mosque (Allah bless him and give him peace) in the first row on the extreme left near the mawajjah sharif between maghrib and esha salah. His time there is very well structured with various acts of worship. After a lengthy awabeen salah he makes supplication (dua) for approximately 20 minutes and then is busy in recitation of Holy Quran. He is observed to be sitting with extreme adab (do zanu) as in salah and never crossed legged.

He instructed an individual,

‘Make sure your stay here is with proper etiquette (adab).

Be vigilant in reciting excessive salutations (durood) on the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).

May Allah facilitate the stay and make it beneficial. Amin!’

Masjid e nabawwi, after maghrib salah, 4th September 2013

Suhba of Shaikh & correspondence

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Shaikh Khawaja Alauddin Attar (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘It is a highly recommended practice (similar to the status of sunnat e muakkidah) to keep company (suhba) of the Shaikh. If not possible daily then it should be twice or thrice per month. If even this is not possible then there should be regular correspondence with the Shaikh so that one is not included in those who are totally absent (from the Shaikh’s suhba).’

Sawanih Mawlana Abdullah Shah rehmatullah aleh, page x

Get organized

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Towards the end of Ramadan a seeker called and lamented about not being able to utilize the precious moments effectively.

Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him and allow us to benefit from him immensely, Amin!) was obviously annoyed. He replied,

‘For a long duration you have lamented about the same problem.
That is, not being able to do what is instructed and required for a seeker. Until and unless you organize yourself and manage time properly you will continue to do so.

Make a decision. Either you plan and get organized or leave this path (of islah).

Do not lament!’

Ramadan 1434, after dhur, office.

In “Dasturul amal baraay talibeen e islah” it has been made very clear that if an individual is willing to spare the time and follow the instructions (including the daily recommeded recitation, etc.) only then he should commit and proceed for islah. Committing and then being lazy results in great loss of blessings. Also, it wastes time, especially for the Shaikh.

Rules for the Shaikh

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

‘Even the Shaikh should not sit idle. He should keep progressing in excellence.
Allah says,

‘and say, “My Lord, improve me in knowledge.” ‘[20:114]

He should not make a claim of excellence. However, there is no problem in mentioning the blessings (of Allah bestowed on him).

Allah says,

‘So, do not claim purity (from faults) for your selves.’ [53:32]

And

‘And about the bounty of your Lord, do talk.’ [93:11]

He should be eager on spreading the tariqa
Allah says,

‘who is very anxious for your welfare, [9:128]

He should be very kind and loving with the disciples.
Allah says,
‘and for the believers he is very kind, very merciful.’ [9:128]

He should forgive their shortcomings and mistakes.
Allah says,
‘Had you been rough and hard-hearted, they would have dispersed from around you. So, pardon them, and seek Forgiveness for them.’ [3:159]

He should not ignore them for the the sake of (wealthy or famous) worldly individuals.
Allah says,
Do not expel those who call out to their Lord morning and evening seeking His pleasure. You are not responsible for anything in their account, and they are not responsible for anything in your account, that you should expel them, and thus become one of the unjust. [6:52]

He should not expect any worldly benefit from the disciples.
Allah says,

‘Keep yourself content with those who call their Lord morning and evening, seeking His pleasure, and let not your eyes overlook them, seeking the splendor of the worldly life. And do not obey the one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance,’ [18:28]
And,
‘ I did not demand any reward from you. My reward is with none except Allah,’ [10:72]

He should remain patient on the afflictions caused by fellow men.
Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,
‘May Allah have mercy on my brother Musa, who was afflicted more than this (by his Umma) but he remained patient.’

He should maintain serenity and dignity. Otherwise disciple will consider him to be paltry and will not benefit from him (spiritually).
As is said regarding our Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) that whoever saw him from far away was intimated and whoever saw him from close by loved him.

He should not give preference to a disciple over others.
Allah says, ‘He (the Prophet) frowned and turned his face,’ [80:1]
However, if a disciple has more yearning of Allah(‘s pleasure) than it is fine to give preference to him.

He should not do anything that will make people have a bad opinion about him. As this will close the path (tareeq) of seeking instructions and benefiting (irshad).
Allah says,
‘the one who calls (people) towards Allah,’ [33:46]

Taleemud Deen, page 129-31

Permissible & impermissible acts regarding graves of awliya

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

‘Making elevated graves, constructing domes over them, observing death anniversaries (urs) with pomp and festivities, using excessive illumination (in these places and gatherings) as is the custom these days, and prostrating to dead or alive are all impermissible actions.

However, to visit (the graves of awliya), to forward the reward of good deeds to them and derive benefit (fayuz) from them (or their graves) if one is sahib e nisbet are all fine things. ‘

Taleemud Deen, page 129

Eid: An unimaginable joy!

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The Prophet of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,

“On the day of eid (when people gather to offer eid prayers)
Allah says to the Angels,
‘Have these people fulfilled the obligation (of fasting)
and are now gathered for prayers?

I swear by My pride, magnificence, majesty, mercy and elevated status that I will fulfill their prayers.

Tell them to return,
I have forgiven them all
and furthermore
I have replaced their sins with virtuous deeds.

Hence they return completely forgiven.

(Mishkat/Bahaiqi)

On our eid visit to Sayyidi wa sanadi Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) we always found him to be extremely happy and cheerful, repeatedly telling usArifbillah Dr Abdul Hayy Arifi (Allah have mercy on him)’s saying regarding Eidul fitr

“We are excessively blessed individuals today.

All our sins have been forgiven.

They have been bartered with good deeds.

We are completely clean and tidy.”

An unimaginable joy!

Repentance in Ramadan is essential

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him and allow us to benefit from him abundantly, Amin!) said,

‘It is absolutely essential (fardh e ‘ain) that we make genuine repentance for all our sins during this month.

This is to avoid being the subject of the supplication made by Sayyidna Jibrael (Allah’s peace be on him) that destruction is for the person who finds Ramadan but does not have himself forgiven and our master Prophet Muhammad (Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) saying ‘Amin!’ on it.’

Ramadan 1434 after dhuhar majlis, Darul Uloom