A student asks regarding the lack of experiencing ḥalāwat (sweetness) when reciting the Qurʾān.
Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve & protect him) advises to continue with the recitation, as experiencing sweetness is in itself not an objective, the objective is to please Allah Almighty. If sweetness is experienced then it is welcome, otherwise, it should not deter a person from continuing to recite.
Hakim al Umma Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Allah have mercy on him) once mentioned:
When a person takes someone as his Shaykh or religious guide, then in order for him to benefit from the Shaykh, he will have to fulfil three essential requirements. These three requirements are among the rights which he owes to the Shaykh and should be borne in mind at all times. These requirements are:
(Malfoozaat Hakeemul Ummat 23/77)
Source:ihyaauddeen.co.za
ECCMID2019, Amsterdam, NL
A Darwesh said,
‘Everyday I come closer and closer to my death.’
Nukat-e-Ehsani, p20
2. Repentance from all previous sinful activities
3. Completion of repentance. That is, compensating (qaza) the lapsed essential (fardh) and recommendable (wajibaat).
4. Steadfastness in essential (fardh), recommendable (wajibaat) and Sunna action from now onwards
5. Abandonment of all that is useless and sinful
6. Adopting a daily routine of extra good actions (wird) as instructed by the Shaikh. They include,
a. Excessive remembrance of Allah (dhikr)
b. Muraqaba and/ashgal
c. Tilawet
d. Dua
7. Rectifying the blameworthy morals traits by consulting the Shaikh regularly
It is essential to follow this order.
Haphazard activities usually results in waste of time and effort.
May Allah facilitate it for all of us. Ameen!
While performing tawaf Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve & protect him) shared with us,
‘By Allah’s tawfeeq during tawaf I ask Allah that He accepts for us from all the supplication made here by the Prophets (Allah’s peace & blessings be upon them all), their (families &) Companions (Allah be pleased with them) , the elite chosen friends (awliya) and all the Muslims (Allah have mercy on them all) whatever is most appropriate for us. Ameen!’
Masjid al Haraam, Makkah e mukarramah. Mataf, as he passed by muqam-e-Sayyidina Ibraheem (peace be upon him). After esah. 9th January 2019
Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve & protect him) said in reply to the complaint of a seeker feeling dejected,
‘Dear brother, keep up with your daily (good) activities irrespective of feeling any spiritual results or affects. These activities themselves are the goal.
In Urdu verses I have conveyed this
قدم ہیں راہ الفت میں تو منزل کی ہوس کیسی
یہاں تو عین منزل ہے تھکن سے چُور ہوجانا
(When traveling on the path of love why lust for the destination,
Here exhaustion from tiredness is the destination itself).
One who continues to work diligently is eventually bestowed with Divinely grace (Allah’s fazal). ‘
As Salaam Holiday Inn, Jeddah, 7/1/2019, after esha
One fortunate day, I was blessed with the opportunity to accompany Shaykh Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani on a Nikah ceremony that was to be conducted in a vicinity near Darul’Uloom Karachi (1).
To obtain his permission for accompanying him, I was waiting for him outside his residence. His car was parked at his doorstep and in its direction, his driver had opened a car door in anticipation of his arrival.
When he stepped out of of his home, l quickly moved towards him to seek his permission. As soon as he saw me approaching towards the car, he moved around the car while leaving the opened door for me. Seeing this, I was absolutely dumbfounded and I tried to gather my confidence to utter ‘Hazrat can I accompany you?’. He plainly replied ‘Yes, sure!’, while indicating towards the opened door. While I was still gazing at him in amazement, he casually opened the door on his side and got in to the car. Feeling immensely humbled, I too followed the suit by using the door that had originally been opened for him.
Thus I sat with the Shaykh on the back seat of the car (Alhamdulillāh for such a privilege). I had planned to consult him regarding a personal matter in brief but I thought to wait for him to settle well in the car before beginning to talk. Meanwhile, I was hoping that my amazement and excitement will also settle, allowing me to start the talk.
However, I noticed that as soon as the Shaykh entered the car, he didn’t let a minute of his to go in vain. He quickly started reading out some Du’aas (for protection) from a booklet. Immediately afterwards, he took out his smart phone and started reciting Qur’an on it! Since my matter wasn’t urgent, I thought to wait for him to get free.
When we reached the Masjid, where the Nikah was to be held, the Shaykh was welcomed by a crowd (which appeared large in that congested locality). He led the ‘Asr Salāh which was followed by the Nikāh. Thereafter, the same crowd accompanied him towards the car.
In a zigzag fashion, I too navigated my way through the crowd to reach the car, eager to find the Shaykh available to talk this time. Interestingly, but no longer surprisingly, he resumed his recitation as soon as he reentered the car.
It was when we entered Darul’Uloom again (and thus were about to reach Shaykh’s residence in a minute), the Shaykh finally kept his cell phone back in his pocket. Fearing that he might engage in another form of Zikr (remembrance of Allah), I took a quick breath, gathered my strength and and spoke up to put forth my query to him, while gasping between my broken words. He listened patiently and then replied to me in a polite and satisfactory manner.
Alhamdulillāh, thus I was able to experience a brief, yet an immensely lesson full, meeting with Shaykh Mufti Taqi Usmani (may Allah Ta’ālā preserve him and allow us to benefit from him).
Dr Sayyid Talhah is a mujaz e baiyet of Hazrat Syed Ishrat Jameel Meer sahib (Allah have mercy on him). Now he has islahi ta’luq with sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve & protect him).
Hakim al Umma Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Allah have mercy on him) once mentioned:
The purpose of self-reformation is to acquire the pleasure of Allah. In order for one to gain self-reformation, one requires two things; knowledge of the path and correct application of this knowledge. Self-reformation will be obtained through one adhering to the laws of Shariah in accordance to the Sunnah, regardless of whether the laws pertain to our external actions or internal.
In acquiring self-reformation, there are two things that will assist one greatly; remaining in zikr at all times, and remaining in the company of the pious servants of Allah as much as one is able to. If it is difficult for one to remain in the company of the pious all the time, then the substitute is for one to study the lives of our pious predecessors and their advices.
One should refrain from two things as they are the cause of impeding one’s progress; falling into sins and becoming involved in futile activities.
Together with the above, one will only be able to derive full benefit if one regularly reports his condition to his spiritual guide and sheikh (person under whose supervision he is carrying out his self-reformation).
After adopting the necessary procedures in self-reformation, each person will progress and receive blessings from Allah in accordance to his capacity and the level of commitment and dedication he shows. This is the essence of the path of self-reformation.
(Malfoozaat Hakeemul Ummat 23/56)
Via:Ihyauddeen.co.za
Hey, Abdallah ! Do not be like a man who used to get up for the night vigil and then he left it.
Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve & protect him) said,
‘Based on this Prophetic saying (hadith) scholars have said that one should not leave the supererogatory (nafil) acts of worship that has been included in his/her daily routine.
However, the meaning of leaving, as I have heard from my Shaykh Dr Abdul Hayy Arifi with reference to Hakim al Umma (Maulana Ashraf Ali) Thanvi (Allah sanctify their secret), is to make an intention to abandon them (altogether and forever).
If there is no intent to abandon them (altogether and forever) but they are skipped for a duration, however, there is an intention that I will continue them (whenever the circumstances are suitable) then inshaAllah it will be not included in this admonishing. ‘
Ina’m al Bari, volume 4, p 320
Shaykh Khalid Kurdi (Allah have mercy on him) said that in the blessed city of Madinah he requested a Yemeni Shaykh for dua and advice prior to departing for Makkah mukarramah.
The Yemeni Shaykh made dua for him and instructed,
‘Do not waste time there.
Use it effectively in tawaf, supererogatory salah, recitation of Holy Quran, remembrance of Allah (dhikr) or performing your missed (qaza) salah.
Moreover, under all circumstances avoid all (even in your thoughts), criticism of, and argumentation with, anyone in the Holy precinct of Makkah.
Be busy with your own work. ‘
Khutbat e Mashaheer , volume 2, p 77
Shaikh Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya (Allah have mercy on him) once advised a person:
In order for you to acquire focus and remain composed at all times, it will be necessary for you to make a timetable, allocating time for each responsibility. Thereafter, if you adhere strictly to your timetable, you will be able to easily complete all your various works with complete ease and undivided attention. Over time, working in this manner will become your second nature.
(Qutbul Aqtaab Hazrat Sheikhul Hadith Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) pg. 387)
Airport
Karachi-Jeddah
Hakim al Umma Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Allah have mercy on him) once mentioned:
People regard different things to be the sign of a person’s perfection. Some people base perfection on one’s excessive ‘ibaadah (worship), while others base perfection on one’s level of taqwa (piety and abstinence). However, according to the ‘Ulama, the person who has truly acquired perfection is he who, with possessing the qualities of perfection, always keeps his weaknesses and faults before him at all times.
(Malfoozaat Hakeemul Ummat 3/321)
Source:
Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve & protect him) instructed brothers proceeding for Hajj with their parents,
‘You will get reward for two Hajj. One for your’s and the other for facilitating the Hajj of your respected parents.
Remember that serving your parents on this blessed journey is most meritorious. The service you provide to them will compensate for all extra worship, like nafil tawaf, etc.
(Therefore, consider yourself to be fortunate and avail this opportunity to the best of your ability.)
Office Darul Uloom Karachi, 28/7/2018, after zohar