Dua for Night of 15th Shaban

Leave a reply

20130623-180248.jpg

Following supplications has been reported from the Prophetic sayings,

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِعَفْوِكَ مِنْ عِقَابِكَ , وَأَعُوذُ بِرِضَاكَ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ , وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْكَ , لا أُحْصِي ثَنَاءً عَلَيْكَ أَنْتَ كَمَا أَثْنَيْتَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ

The following supplication has been recited by the pious elders on this occasion. Surah Yaseen (chapter 36) is recited three times. Each time it is followed by this supplication.

20130623-174512.jpg

Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) wrote the following regarding the worship in the night of 15th of Sha’ban,

“This night is meant for worshiping Allah in solitude.
It is the time to enjoy the direct contact with the Lord of the Universe, and to devote one’s attention to Him and Him alone.
These are the precious hours of the night in which nobody should intervene between one and his Lord, and one should turn to Allah with total concentration, not disturbed or interrupted by any one else.”

Doubts & questions

Leave a reply

20130621-225204.jpg

A scholar approached Hakim al Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him). He stated that he had some questions and doubts about the belief of pre-determination of affairs (taqdeer). He added that he had done extensive research about this topic and read almost all the major texts regarding this issue. However, he still remained unsatisfied.

Hakim al Umma replied that this was not the way to approach the matter of doubts and questions.

A thorough reply may for the time being provide a satisfying answer. However, this is usually for a short duration. The lower self (nafs) comes up with an antithesis or another more powerful question or doubt. Thus, it becomes a vicious cycle. Answers leading to more questions and doubts.

The need is to cease this random whispering of nafs and Satan that created this problem in the first place.

The most effective way to do so if to stay in the company of a perfect (kamil) Shaikh for some duration.

This pious company will create deep love and strong connection with Allah. This in turn will remove all doubts and questions.

Malfuz paraphrased

Saudi Arabia asks pilgrims to postpone Hajj this year

Leave a reply

20130618-205112.jpg

In an unprecedented move aimed at preventing congestion and stampedes and ensuring safety of the guests of God, Saudi authorities have urged domestic and foreign pilgrims to postpone their Haj plans for this year if possible due to ongoing expansion work at Makkah’s Grand Mosque.

The call follows the government’s decision to reduce the number of foreign pilgrims by 20 percent and domestic pilgrims 50 percent this year.

Arab news

The company of pious

Leave a reply

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

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

‘I consider that in this era keeping company of the pious (ahl Allah) is an absolute essential (fardh e ‘ain).

Moreover, my fatwa is that in these times keeping the company of and having close contact with the pious and elite (friends of Allah) is absolutely essential.

This is because, there can not be any doubts about taking the means of safeguarding one’s faith being essential.

And it has been established by experience that in these times safeguarding one’s faith (eman) is only possible by keeping company of the pious.  No spell works, with the blessings of Allah, after this relationship.’

Fayuz ar Rahman, page 123

On Death of the Shaikh!

Leave a reply

zaiqatulmaut-300x225

On the death of  Mawlana Shah Abrarul Haq (Allah have mercy on him) (died May 17th, 2005), the last surviving khalifa of Hakim al Umma, an individual inquired sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani sahib ( Allah preserve him and allow us to benefit from him a lot. Ameen!) regarding the attitude to be adopted by a murid on the death of his/her Shaikh.

Shaikh replied,

“Regarding this murideen fall into two categories.
First are those who are mojaz (have permission to initiate and guide others). For them it is not essential to take another Shaikh. However, it is very beneficial and advisable to take one and not leave one’s self independent.

Second category is the rest of murideen (disciples). It is absolutely essential for them to take another Shaikh as soon as possible.

In both the cases it is wise to select the next Shaikh from the same silsila (spiritual lineage) with the similar disposition and style (hum mazaq) in approach to Tasawwuf/islah as the recently deceased Shaikh, for uninterrupted spiritual progress.”

Jeddah, 18th May, 2005

إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ

2 Replies

sabr ‘Arif billah Shaikh Hakeem Mohammad Akhtar sahib passed away in Karachi today. He had been in critical condition for the previous several days. He had suffered a stroke in 2000 and had been partially paralyzed. However, he continued the spiritual beneficence till his last days. In the recent years many individuals benefited from him all over the world. Especially, from his advice on controlling one’s gaze. A essential timely reminder in this era of wide spread obscenity and exposure of what Shariah has commanded to be veiled.

Allah  have mercy on him, raise his status in here-after manifolds and give sabr to all of us. Amin!

 He was a khalifah of Shaikh Mawlana Shah Abrarul Haq,  (khalifah of Hakim al Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi) and Shaikh Shah Mohammad Ahmad Partabgarhi from the silsila of Shah Fazal ur Rehman Ganjmuradabadi (Allah have mercy on them all).

Shaikh Shah Abdul Ghani Phulpuri (Allah have mercy on him) was his first Shaikh and step-father.

His spiritual beneficence continues after his passing away. His books and recorded & published discourses continue to change the life of hundreds of individuals. Moreover, he leaves behind approximately three hundred khulafa who will, insha Allah continue in his footsteps.

Please, make dua and esal e thawab for him.

raheywafa

I want to change for better but…………

Leave a reply

magic-wand

All of the spiritual seekers aspire to do good and abstain from sinful actions.

However, most of us harbor a misconception regarding the means to achieve this goal.

We wish for a overpowering and overwhelming state that facilitates this for us by itself. Automatically. A kind of fairy tale magic spell.

Moreover, we assume that making supplications or reciting a particular litany (wadhifa) or associating with a pious individual or a group or reading classical spiritual text or visiting a holy site (like the revered Makkah and radiant Medinah) or worshiping in the blessed times (like the night of power) will create this ‘state’ for us.

This will never happen!

Hakim al Ummah Mujaddid Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) has repeatedly made this very clear in his works.

Self determination, self restraint and earnest hard work is needed to do good and abstain from sinful actions.

There is no other way around.

It is not easy.

Initially it is tough. This is the spiritual struggle (mujahida ). It brings the reward and its blessings in the here-after.

This is the norm in all the things we aspire to achieve. No school or work  project is successfully completed just by supplicating, reading or associating with the experts. One has to toil and labor sincerely and put up his best effort in an organized manner to do it.

Therefore, praying the salah on time with the congregation, especially Fajr or having khushoo in salah or controlling anger or quit listening to music or watching the obscene on internet  or ending free intermingling with opposite sex , etc. will never ever be achieved until we make a firm resolve to do so and use the self determination and restraint  powers, bestowed to us by Allah, earnestly.

May Allah make this clear to us. Amin!

The purpose of Tasawwuf

Leave a reply

islamic-6

Shaikh Shah Wasiullah Allahabadi (Allah have mercy on him) quotes many predecessor masters of the path (of Tasawwuf). In conclusion he writes,

‘It is evident from these quotes that the goals of these masters were reformation of the lower-self (islah e nafs), performance of the commandments of Shariah with sincerity and abstention from the prohibited.’

Tarbiyet us Salik, The Introduction, volume 1, page

Dealing with lustful thoughts

Leave a reply

20130523-143259.jpg

An individual (blind, physically weak and financially challenged) complained about the (lustful) attraction towards women and young men that was driving him crazy. He elaborated that this engrossment is to the extent that I am negligent of food consumption. I pray but sometimes I’m unaware of what was recited in prayers. I am very much afraid of this condition. I request a remedy for it.

Hakim al Ummah Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) replied,
There are two levels of being attracted towards something.
One is mere attention towards it and the second is love that is attention accompanied with a desire.

The first level is a natural thing. Allah has placed (sexual) attraction in men (for women). It can neither be eliminated by any means nor it is required from us to do so.
The second level is within one’s control (ikhteyar). It means that one has control to some extent in keeping it or annihilating it. An individual can increase his involvement in a thing to such an extent that that he is engrossed in it completely all the time. On the other hand he can avoid a thing to the extent that he no more desires it. Hence being volitional it is binding (to be acquired).

First treatment is use of determination (himmat). Allah has placed the performance of volitional acts on the determination of an individual. He has promised assistance after determination.

The second treatment is diverting thoughts. The attention has to be diverted away when there are overwhelming thoughts (of this nature). It is an axiom that lower-self (nafs) can not be attentive towards two things at one time. Therefore, at times of excessive desires be busy with something else. This may be religious activity like offering prayers, making remembrance or reciting Holy Quran, or it may be worldly activity like visiting someone, etc, etc..

The third treatment is to ignore these overwhelming desires completely. This is with the understanding that these feelings are not going to harm me at all. This is the most effective treatment.
The individual said that how was it possible to ignore these thoughts. They have spoiled my prayers, dhikr and shugul. Not for a moment these thoughts leave me.

Hakim al Ummah replied,
These thoughts are from the first level. They are not sinful. You are responsible for your actions. You are responsible for implementing these thoughts into action. Until then it is neither sinful nor are you accountable for them. These thoughts are not going to harm you even if they continue for your whole life.

The fourth treatment is to make supplication.
The individual requested for some special prayer formula recitation (wazdhifa) to ward away this calamity.

Hakim al Ummah replied,
Wazdhifa can not do this. The treatment is as mentioned above. Instead to wazdhifa make supplications (dua).

(In summary) use your determination, become busy in something else, cry and make heartfelt supplications showing extreme neediness that O Allah! Save me from these calamities.

Indeed supplication is effective and leads to facilitation in difficulties.

Malfuzat e Hakimul Ummat, volume 29, page 131