Category Archives: Z. Mustahebbat

Clarification: Bayah vs suhba

Shaikh Mufti Muhammad Shuaibullah Khan (Allah preserve him)  said,

‘It must be very clear to all of us that bayah is not synonymous with keeping pious company (suhba) of a Shaikh.

Lot of people are under the false assumption that they are both the same. They make bayah and become content. They do not  make effort to improve their spiritual condition.

The knowledge and motivation for this effort to improve is derived from the pious company of the Shaikh. One has to ask for guidance and supplications from the Shaikh whenever faced with hardships or laziness in these spiritual efforts.

Moreover, it must be understood that the pious company of the Shaikh must be with the active intention of improving one’s spiritual condition. Without such intention mere pious company is not optimally beneficial in itself. ‘

Majlis: Islah e nafs ki zarurat, part 3, 2012-11-08

Invaluable Prescription

Shaikh Dr Hafez Tanveer Ahmed Khan, a murid of Hakim al Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi and khalifa of Masih al Umma Mawlana Masihullah Khan (Allah have mercy on them) said,

‘I inform you of the recipe of alchemy (the mystical process that changes other metals to pure gold).

It is brief and only takes a few minutes.  Perform it at night before going to sleeping. Do it everyday.  By the Grace of Allah it will bring much benefit in one’s life.

Take account of all the days happenings quickly. Then,

  • Make repentance (taubah) for all sinful activities, major or minor. Ask Allah for transformation of heart (‘s priorities) as He (alone) has control over heart. Ask Allah to change these sinful habits into a life of piety as per the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunna of our Beloved Messenger Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace).
  • Do acknowledge (Muhasabah) that all all good deeds performed throughout the day were due to Allah’s benevolence (taufeeq). Ask Allah for their acceptance and the ability to perform more sincere and virtuous deeds in future.
  • Be thankful to Allah (Shukr) for blessings such as faith (eman), being a member of the Ummah of Beloved Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace), family, physical health, etc..  Acknowledge not being worthy of any of these blessings and that they are solely the Allah’s benevolence. Ask Allah to continue showering blessings upon you and to make you amongst the thankful (shakireen) servants.

Tahajjud prayers

The reviver of Sunna Shaikh Mawlana Abrarul Haqq (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘The tahajjud salah in itself has the property to make an individual righteous, pious and a friend (wali) of Allah.’

‘There are some medicines that have the property of working both at preventing the disease (prophylaxis) and eradicating it (treatment). Similar is the case of tahajjud. It  eradicates the sinful deeds and nurtures the resistance for indulgence in sinful.’

Ma’arif al Abrar ra, page 238

What is islah & how is it done?

As understood from the teachings of Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanavi (Allah have mercy on him) under Shaikh Mufti Taqi Usmani’s (Allah preserve him) guidance ,

Islah is the betterment or reformation or change of heart (dil badalna) in such a way that the commands of Shariah are followed both in external and internal acts of worship to the best of one’s ability. This is essentially accompanied with acknowledgment of one’s severe short comings in trying to do so.

The real islah is that of the actions of the heart (amal e batini) first and then the outwardly actions that are produced physically are rectified. It is usually not the other way around. This is as mention in the blessed Prophetic saying (hadith of qalb).

The initiating foundation stone of islah is a flash of Divine attraction (jazab) that is bestowed on the selected individual. Its outwardly reason maybe reading something touching, attending a pious individual or place, dua of parents, shaikh etc. In reality it is a kind gift (fadhal o karam) of Allah alone. Everyone of us has to beg for this fadhal e adheem ardently in his/her dua. If the individual is really blessed then he/she will try to safeguard the effects of this Divine attraction by reforming his/her (dhari o batini) actions. If he/she is careless then this will fade away and even might not return ever. Allah save us from this deprivation. Amin!

Tasawwuf provides a frame work for developing this islah. The components of Tasawwuf, like one-to-one mentor-ship, discipline, regular routine, wird, pious gathering and recommended readings all act as catalyst in this growth of islah. However, the real things needed to do the chemical reaction of islah are the firm determination and sincere effort of the salik him/herself.

Catalyst alone can not do the reaction.

Bayah is not essential for islah. It is highly discouraged to be hasty in selecting a Shaikh.

The special nights of Ramadan, Eid, the blessed days of Zil-Hajj, etc.  are ideal for asking for this fadhal e adheem of Allah.

Darul Uloom, Karachi

Hajj advice

An individual proceeding for Hajj requested for special instructions in this regards.

Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mawlana Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him & facilitate for us benefiting from him) said,

‘Be vigilant in effectively utilizing your time (in virtuous deeds) during these blessed days.’

7th Zil Hajj 1433, Jeddah-Mina

Hajj = Supplications

The reviver of Sunna Shaikh Mawlana Abrarul Haqq (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘Be vigilant in making supplications (dua) at Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifa.

Supplicate excessively. Cry. If you can not cry then make facial expressions of a crying individual.

Learn to ask from children. How they ask for a thing repeatedly and eventually succeed. Learn it from the beggars who plead with tongue and their poor state. They have learned the art of asking. They are confident and content on their asking skills. Whereas, in reality asking from other fellowmen without a genuine reason is a fault.

But asking from Allah is a sign of submission and servitude. And not supplicating to Him is a fault.

So keep knocking on the door. Do not give up.

كھولیں وہ یا نہ كھولیں در، اس پہ ھو كیوں تیری نظر

تو تو بس اپنا كام كر، یعنی صدا لگاے جا

It is in biography of some of the pious predecessors that in Arafat they continuously made supplications from the zawal till sunset.

This is extremely precious time period. Do not waste it.’

Ma’arif al Abrar ra, page 226-7

Hajj: Excessive talbiyah

The reviver of Sunna Shaikh Mawlana Abrarul Haqq (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘In the state of ihram one should recite talbiyah excessively.

Lot of people are negligent about this.

It should be recited when meeting someone, or bidding farewell to him, on getting on the ride or stepping down from it, on walking uphill or downhill, after the fardh and nafil salah. In the days of tashreeq recite takbeer first and then the talbiyah.

Recite it excessively all the times while walking and doing other stuff. Say it in a low tone. The prevalent way of reciting it in chorus collectively is incorrect.

In Islam there are supplications prescribed to be recited at various occasions. However, in the state of ihram there should be vigilance in recitation of talbiyah at all the times and transitions.

This (ihram) is the dress of lovers. Hence, when dressed like a lover an individual should act like one. Roaming around repeatedly reciting that ‘I am present’, ‘O my Lord! I am at your service’.

This recitation of talbiyah should continue till the stoning (rami) on 10th of Zil Hajj.’

Ma’arif al Abrar ra, page 222

ذکر و لطائف کی تفصیل

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حضرت حکیم الامت مولانا اشرف علی تھانوی قدس اللہ سرہ نے فرمایا

چونکہ تصور (ذکر) کے دراجات مختلف ھیں اس لئے تقریب و تسھیل فی الجملہ و تعین دراجات کے واسطے میں ایک تمثیل میں پانچ درجے بیان کرتا ھوں

1۔ محبوب موجود و حاضر نہ ھو بلکہ غائب و غیر موجود ھو اس کو یاد کیا جاۓ ۔

2۔ وہ شخص سامنے موجود ھو لیکن مسافتہ بعیدہ پر جس سے خدوخال اچھی طرح نظر نہ آسکیں اس کا تصور کیا جاۓ۔

3۔ وہ شخص سامنے مسافت قریبہ پر موجود ھو جس سے خدوخال اچھی طرح نظر آسکیں اس کا تصور کیا جاۓ۔

4۔ وہ شخص بالکل قریب موجود ھو، اس کے تصور و دیدار میں اسقدر محویت ھو جاۓ کہ فرط عشق و محبت سے اپنی بھی خبر نہ رھے

5۔ وہ محویت یھاں تک ترقی کرے کہ بیخبری کی بھی خبر نہ رھے۔

–                           – – – – –

اب ھم ان دراجات کے اصطلاحی اور منقول نام بتلاتے ہیں۔

1۔ درجہ اول کا نام ذکر ھے کیونکہ اس میں محض یاد ھے۔

2۔ درجہ ثانی کا نام حضور ھے کیونکہ اس میں متصور و مرئی سامنے حاضر ھوتا ہے۔

3۔ درجہ ثالث کا نام مکاشفہ ھے کیونکہ مرئی کے غابت قرب کی وجہ سے حضور تام اور خال وخط کا کامل انکشاف ھوتا ھے۔

4۔ درجہ رابع کا نام شھود و مشاھدہ ھے کیونکہ اصطاحا” شھود و مشاھدہ حضور اتم و اکمل کو کھتے ہیں اور اس درجہ میں حضور اتم و اکمل سے غایت شیفتگی و فریفتگی و وفور ولولہ ھوتا ھے۔ نیز اس کا نام فناء بھی ھے کیونکہ محوبت کی وجہ سے اپنی ھستی کا علم نھیں ھوتا۔

5۔ درجہ خامسہ کا نام معائنہ ھے کیونکہ معائنہ سے مراد وہ حضور و معائنہ ھے جو شھود اصطلاحی سے زائد ھو۔ اس درجہ میں  معائنہ شھود اصطلاحی سے زائد ھوتا ھے کیونکہ لا علمی سے بھی لا علمی ھوتی ھے۔ اسی وجہ سے اس کا نام فناءالفناء بھی ھے۔

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1۔ لطیفہ قلب کا فعل ذکر ھے۔

2۔ لطیفہ روح کا فعل حضور ۔

3۔ لطیفہ سر کا فعل مکاشفہ  ۔

4۔ لطیف خفی کا فعل شھود و مشاھدہ و فناء۔۔

5۔ لطیفہ اخفی’ کا فعل  معائنہ و فناءالفناء  ھے۔

بعض حضرات مشائخ کی راۓ ھے کہ ذکر کی بطرز معھود و مخصوص اس قدر مشق کی جاۓ کہ یہ لطائف خمسہ علیحدہ ذاکر ھو جائیں یعنی یہ سب افعال صادر ھونے لگیں۔

بعض حضرات کی راۓ یہ ھے کہ صرف قلب سے ذکر کی مشق کی جاۓ جس سے ان سب افعال کا صدور ھونے لگے اور اس کی باکل ضرورت نھیں کہ یہ بتابا جاۓ کہ یہ فعل کس لطیفہ کا ھے۔ بہ حضرات لطائف کی طرف توجہ تفصیلی کو حجاب سمجھتے ھیں۔ حدیث شریف میں بھی ایسے امور میں صرف قلب ھی کہ ذکر وارد ھوا ھے۔

اور چونکہ مشغولین بالطائف کے نزدیک بھی ان لطائف خمسہ میں باھم اتصال ھے۔ اس لئے صرف ذکر قلب سے بھی بقیہ لطائف میں آثار و افعال مذکورہ سرایت کرتے جاتے ھیں، کیونکہ یہ لطائف مرایا متعاکسہ کی طرح ھیں۔

بوادر النوادر، صفحہ 565-6

A supplication

O my Lord!

By Your stature and esteemed respect!

I did not indulge in sin to rebel against You!

When I was disobeying I was neither unaware of Your position (as our Lord), nor did I deny Your retribution,  nor did I consider Your watching me to be something minor.

However, my nafs incited and assisted me in indulging in these wretched acts.

The veil of Your concealment (as Sattar) made me pretentious.

I disobeyed You because of my ignorance. I disobeyed You by my actions.

Now who is going to save me from Your punishment?

If You excise the lifeline (of mercy and forgiveness) to me then what am I to grab (for my salvation)?

al-Murshid al Amin page 493-4

‘Ujub-Self admiration

The Prophet (Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) said:

“And the destroyers are: desires which are followed; stinginess which is obeyed; and a man being pleased with himself, and this. (last trait) is the worse of them (of the things which spiritually wrought destruction to one).”

Ujub is to attribute one’s excellence to oneself while being oblivious of the possibility of such excellences being snatched away by Allah. Ujub is a concealed and subtle trick of the nafs which always desires to occupy a distinguished rank (above others). The nafs obtains pleasure in this desire (of ujub). Allah detests one who considers himself to he distinguished, laudable and the receptacle of excellences.

Delight over the bounties granted by Allah is not ujub. Such true delight is not unrestricted and does not produce vanity since the fear of the elimination of the bounties is ever present in the heart. One realizes that the excellence or bounty which one has gained is purely a gift from Allah Who has awarded it because of some act or knowledge (which is also the favor of Allah), and one further realizes that Allah has the full power of snatching away the bounty at any time He desires. This experience of delight is therefore not ujub.

On the other hand, a person suffering from the ailment of ujub becomes neglectful and fails to recognize that the bounty in his possession is in fact a gift from Allah. One afflicted with ujub considers himself to be entitled to the bounties.

THE REMEDY
Always regard excellences and virtues which one possesses to be the bestowal of Allah. Contemplate on the power of Allah and fear the possibility of the gifts being snatched away. Ponder about your faults, both internal and external so that the notion of perfection and holiness is annihilated.

Path to Perfection, Mawlana Masihullah Khan (Allah have mercy on him)

Managing time

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

‘Time management and planning how to to do so are a great things.

It should not be the way to do something in the time allocated for another thing and do that particular thing in some other time slot.

Everything should be done in the time set for it.

This brings great blessings (barakah) in time (more things are done with ease in same duration) and comfort (to all).’

Husn al Aziz, volume 2, page 412

Muraqaba e Ihsan: Developing taqwa

Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) said,

‘Sit in solitude. Close your eyes. Contemplate (do muraqaba). Repeatedly remind yourself either by saying it or thinking that, ‘I am in front of Allah’, ‘I am in front of Allah! Allah is watching me! Allah is watching me! I am in front of Allah! Allah is watching me’

Do this daily for some (fixed) duration of time.

As a result of this activity, by the kind bestowal of Allah, this awareness will gradually and progressively increase.

This contemplation is known as muraqaba e Ihsan.

Allah provides assistance to the one who does this activity (punctually). A awareness develops in this individual prior to all actions and verbal sayings that makes him ponder about the permissibility and accountability (in front of Allah) about that actions or sayings he is going to do.

This is a recommendable state.

It changes the heedless lifestyle into a cautious and caring one.’

Sunday waaz, Sept 2nd, 2012, Daruloom Karachi mosque, after asr.