Category Archives: Z. Mustahebbat

Reading Dalail al Khayrat

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

“People request permission (ijaza) for reciting ‘Dalail al Khayrat’ from the piously elders (shuyukh). There is faulty intention in doing so. They beleive that reciting it without permission will be without any blessings (baraka). Most likely, the system of acquiring permission was initially developed to make sure that the wordings of the text were correctly transmitted. While giving the permission the Shaykh used to listen to the recitation and made any corrections needed.

In fact, the text that is worthy of being recited from the pulpit what has it to do with this intimate secrecy (of considering it essential to acquire an individual permission for its recitation).

If someone ask’s me regarding the recitation of ‘Dalail al Khayrat’, I tell him to (recite, but) leave the recitation of the statements that say, The Prophet said (قال النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم). This is because few of the Prophetic sayings (hadith) in it are fabricated (موضوع). Apart from this, its subject matter is completely accurate.”

Majmua e malfuzat: al-Kalam al-Hasan, 106

Progress

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Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) said,

‘In a Prophetic tradition (hadith) it is narrated that; the person whose two days are the same is in big loss.

This means that his today was spent in the same manner as yesterday and no progress occurred.

That is, no progress in being more religious, in spiritual evolution, increase in worship and improvement in obedience, following of Sunna and abundance in Allah’s remembrance.’

Jeddah, 5th February 2009

Setting Priorities

Giving initial instructions to a novice murid, sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) wrote;

For future from now on, make special effort for the following;

1. Try your best to abstain from all sins, especially those of eyes, tongue and ears/hearing.
2. Refrain from useless (fazool) and petty (laya’ni) activities.
3. Read from Hakeemul Ummat ra’s discourses (mawaiz) or instructive utterances (malfuzat) daily as per your convenience. Even if its one page daily.

With these acts, if you have enough time, add following three tasbihats to your daily routine;
1. SubhnaAllah wa bihamdhihi subhanAllah il azeem
2. Third kalimah; SubhnaAllah walhumdulillah walaillaha il Allah o wAllaho akber
3. Salutations on the Prophet (Allah blees him and give him peace) Durood shareef

All of them 100 time each. Preferentially they should be recited after fajer or (if not possible then) after isha. Otherwise, recite them whenever you get a chance.

Islahi khutoot

Prohibiting a permissible act

Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah ahve mercy on him) said,

“The Islamic jurist (fuqaha) and sufi masters have paid due attention to the principle, that if a permissible or desired (mustaheb) action becomes the source of a sin then that action itself will become impermissible.

For example, some intoxicants (like opium) in minute quantities that are non-intoxicating are not impermissible (haram). However, as small quantity can (inadvertently) increase and become intoxicating, they are prohibitted in meager amounts also.

Similarly, permissible speech, sleep and intermingling with others are not sinful in themselves. But (excessive & unrestricted involvement in) these activites eventually lead to indulgence in sin. It is for this reason Sufi Masters prohibit these also (i.e. the well known spiritual struggles (mujahidat) of the path).”

Fiqh e Hanafi kay usul wa zawabet, page 113

Imitating

In Sahih Muslim there is a saying of the Messenger of Allah (Allah’s blessing and peace be upon him) meaning that,

From the begining of the month of Dhul-Hijjah anyone who intends to sacrifice (on Eid al-Adha) should not cut his hair or trim nails until he has offered his sacrifice.

Commenting on it sayyidi wa sanadiHadhrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) said,

‘Maybe this is to immitate the Pilgrims (hujaj) (who in the state of ihram are forbidden to do these activities) and somehow participate in the blessings of the passionate worship of Hajj.’

First ten days of Zulhijjah

Sayyidi wa sanadi Hadhrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) said,

‘The first ten days of Zulhijjah are among the most magnificent days in Islamic calendar.

The Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, has said, “One fast during these days is equal to the fasting of one complete year, and the worship of one night during this period is equal to the worship in the “Lailatul-Qadr”.

Every Muslim should avail of this wonderful opportunity by performing during this period as much Iba’dah (acts of worship) to Allah as he or she can.’

Islamic Months

Benefits of tahajjud

“The seeker is steady in praying the pre-dawn (tahajjud) salah.

(In addition to being a Sunna) It is especially effective in defence against the hell-fire.

It has other benefits, such as subjugating the inner-self (nafs), creating awe (khashiyet) of Allah and bring one closer to the Truth (haq).”

Ahadith-e-sulookiya, page 32

Allah give us the tawfiq. Amin!

Related posts:

1. Tahajjud salah

2. Tahajjud prayers

3. Disregarding Shakh’s advice

4. The real task

5. Late night discussions

Death on friday

Our Master Holy Prophet (Allah’s blessing and peace be on him) said:

“A Muslim male or female who dies on a Friday night or the day of Friday, is safe from the punishment and trials of the grave.

He will meet Allah without giving account of his deeds.

On the day of Judgement (qiyaamah) he will come in such a state that he will either have witnesses who will give testimony for him, or he will have some sealed testimony.”

Reported by Sayyidina Ibn Umar (Allah be please with him) Tirmidhi, Baihaqi.

صلوة بئر

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اللهم صل على

 سيدنا و مولانا محمد و على ال سيدنا و مولانا محمد

 صلوة دائمة مقبولة تؤدّى بها عنّا حقّه العظيم

 دلائل الخيرات, المنزل السابع

This is the salutation & blessings recited by that girl, who spat in to the well so water rose up until it overflowed and spilled across the ground and Imam Jazuli (may Allah have mercy on him)  made his ablution (wudhu).

Amr bil ma’ruf

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

“Under certain circumstances instructing and advising others is merely a praiseworthy action (mustahib, not an absolute essential). However, if this indulgence interferes in one’s essential (wajib) activities than this praiseworthy action becomes impermissible (ghair mubah).”

Irfan e Hafiz: At-Takshshuf, page 184

Friday: Salutations on the Prophet

Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates,

Whoever recites this salutations on the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) on Friday, immediately following the ‘Asr salah before standing up from his place eighty times, sins equivalent to those done in 80 years of life will be forgiven and a reward of 80 years of worship will be written for him.

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Salat ut Tasbih

salatuttasbih.jpg Among the optional (nafl) prayers, this prayer is of great magnitude.

Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said to his uncle Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib (may Allah be pleased with him),

“Shall I not give you a gift?

Shall I grant you a blessing?

Shall I inform you of a great benefit?

Shall I give you something, which if you do, Allah will forgive you all your sins, old and past and new, committed by mistake or knowingly, small and big, committed in secret or openly?

It is that you have to offer four unit (rak’ah) of optional prayers in this way: in every unit (rak’ah) after the Al-Hamd and Surah and while yet standing, recite the third kalimah

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fifteen times, then in the bowing (ruku), ten times, then standing up after the bow (qoma), ten times, then in each prostration ten times and in between the two prostrations ten times, and sitting up after the second prostration, ten times; seventy-five times per unit (rak’ah), three-hundred times in all.

Then, He said, “If possible, offer this prayer once every day; if you cannot, offer it once on Fridays, if this is not possible, offer it once a month, if this too is not possible, offer it once a year, and if even this is not possible, offer it once in your lifetime.”

(Ibn Maja, Tirmizi, Abu Daud)

Hazrat Abbas (Radhiallaahu Anhu) used to offer this prayer every Friday.

Another way of offering this prayers (may be easier for Hanafis) has been reported by Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (may Allah have mercy on him). It is to recite the kalima fifteen times after opening praise (thana) but before al-fathiha (and in all raka’h). The ten times after al-fathiha and a Surah. The rest as stated above, except that there will be no need to recite these kalimat after the second prostration (sujud, in sitting position) in any rak’ah.

Etiquettes of being a Civilized Individual

The rulings of Shariah have been broadly classified into five categories. They are:
1. those related to the beliefs (‘aqaid)
2. those pertaining to the forms of worship (‘ibadaat)
3. those related to the mutual financial transactions (ma’amlaat)
4. those associated with manners of civilized living (ma’ashrat) and
5. finally, those dealing with the inner morals (ikhlaq)

It is sad to see that most of us, Muslims, only consider a’qaid and ‘ibadaat to be the components of deen and are completely ignorant of the rest.

Few select practicing ones include ma’amlaat to be deen also.

Ikhlaq, all praise to Allah SWT is practiced by those involved in tasawwuf.

The Shariah ruling regarding how to live a civilized life is abandoned by most of us.
However, it is ironic that we brothers/sister who are involved in discussions of higher & lofty realities of Tasawwuf are disregarding the rights of fellow individuals. The fact remains true that the rights of fellow human beings (haqqul ‘abd) can not be forgiven by repentance alone. It require asking forgiveness from the aggrieved individual. Most of us are totally unaware of the rulings of Shariah pertaining to the etiquettes of civilized living. The extent of this ignorance is so great that enemies of Muslims regard Islam to be incompatible with the civilized world life. Post 9/11 western strategy is to modify Islam to make it civilized.Hakeem ul Ummat Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi ra being the mujaddid high lighted the importance of these rulings in most of his discourses and writings. The most beneficial of these is a concise treatise “Aadab ul Ma’ashrat” (Etiquettes of Civilized living).
The importance of this book is evident by the fact that it is the first reading in the nisab e Tasawwuf (curriculum for salikeen) recommended by Hakeemul Ummat ra.
The basic principle underlying the rulings of civilized living is,
“My words, actions and attitude should not be the source of any discomfort or annoyance for fellow human beings at all.”
InshaAllah, quotes from this book regarding some important and common lapses in our every day (uncivilized) life will be posted here.
Allah SWT give us the tawfeeq. Ameen!

RAMADAN SCHEDULE

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Make a practical and doable time table for daily activities.

The point to remember is that in Ramadan acts of primary form of worship are to be increased. These lead to an increasing direct relationship with Allah SWT (i.e. ta’luq ma’Allah).

This must include the following:

Tahajjud Salah: Easier than usual as one has to get up for suhoor. Preferably 8 rakah.

Dowazdah tasbeeh & zikr Ism e zaat
As instructed by the Sayyidi wa sanadi Hazrat Sheikh db.

At tahajjud real, sincere dua and begging for Allah SWT’s mercy, love, guidance, strong relationship, true knowledge & understanding of deen, observance of Sunnah and a’fiyah in this world and the after-life
Munajat e maqbool: Daily manzil (hizb).

Al fathiha: Recite سورة الفاتحة 41 times, preceded and followed with durood درود شريف 11 times between the Sunnah and faraz of fajar.

Recite Shajarah daily and make esal-e-sawab for theses pious predecessors.

Recite سورة يس after fajar.

Tasbehat: Hundred times each as instructed by Sayyidi wa sanadi Hazrat Sheikh db.

1)سبحان الله و بحمده سبحان الله العظيم

2) سبحان الله والحمد لله و لا اله الالله و الله اكبر

3) استغفار

4) درود شريف

5) لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله العلى العظيم

Tilawat Quran majeed: At least one parah (hizb) daily. This is the basic essential. Increase it as much as possible depending on your schedule. 

Ishraq salah: Approximately twelve minutes after sunrise pray 2 rakah.

Chaast salah: Around 10 AM 2-4 rakah

Awabeen salah: 6 rakah after maghrib

(PS: Nawafil are for those who do not have any qaza salah pending.)

Recite سورة واقعه after zuhar

Reciteمزمل سورة after maghrib

Recite سورة سجده and سورة ملك after e’sha & taraweeh 

Taraweeh:
Twenty rakah in jama’h.

In each taraweeah (i.e. resting between each 4 rakah) Hazrat Thanvi ra

used to recite درود شريف25 times.

Kalimah e tayyabah:
لا اله الالله with occasional محمد رسول الله , 500 times after taraweeh and in all other
spare times while doing the daily chores.

Muraqaba:
Try to concentrate on: “I am in front of Allah SWT and He is watching me.”
Five minutes, immediately following asr prayers.

This is the soul and essence of fasting. Try and extend it to other daily activities.

Excessive dua/prayers:
Any time you get a chance.
Especially prior to the iftar. Reserve 10 to 15 minutes for this alone.

Ask above all for Allah SWT’s pleasure, acceptance, jannah, refuge from His displeasure and hellfire.
All other minute and big things desired.
Most importantly to be included in His awliya (special friends).
Pray for the Muslims suffering around the world and betterment of the Ummah’s condition.

P.S. Each individual should do in consultation with his/her Shiekh what is practical for him her.

Also, it is essential to remember faraiz and wajibat (work,study & taking care of family) have priority over nawafil.