The best of both the worlds

Mawlana Abdul Qadir Madni a senior khalifa of Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve them) said

‘My respected Shaikh Qari Fateh Mohammad Panipati mohajir Madni (Allah have mercy on him) used to say in regards to hassanah of duniya and akhira that people consider them to be huge bank balance, cars,property  and gardens or maidens of paradise respectively. However, in reality the best of this world are the accepted good deeds and that of here-after is the pleasure (Radha) of Allah.

Masjid e nabawi, near Bab e nisa,  after asr salah, 20th June 2012

معطر روح ومنور چشم

صلی اللہ علیہ والہ وسلم صلی اللہ علیہ والہ وسلم صلی اللہ علیہ والہ وسلم

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یا اللہ جل جلالہ

کر معطر روح کو، بوۓ محمد سے مری

اورمنور چشم کر، روۓ محمد سے مری

_______________________

صلی اللہ علیہ والہ وسلم صلی اللہ علیہ والہ وسلم صلی اللہ علیہ والہ وسلم

آمیں

منظوم شجرہ سلسلہ چشتیہ امدادیہ اشرفیہ/مناجات مقبول

Following the Sunna

Grand Mufti of Pakistan, Hadhrat Mufti Mohammad Shafi’i (may Allah have mercy on him) said,

In the presence of Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) while visiting the Holy mosque at Medinah e munawwara, I felt as though the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) is saying,

“Being nearer to me is in following my sunna. It is not in coming here.

As much you follow me the nearer you come (to me).”

Ahsan us Sawanih, page 157

Sense of self grandeur

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

‘Haji Imdadullah mohajir Makki (Allah have mercy on him) used to say that an individual who maintains a sense of grandeur and hype about his personality has not even scented the smell of this path (Tasawwuf).

Hakim al-Ummah Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) used to say repeatedly that the very first and the final steps in Tasawwuf are (increasing levels of) self effacement (fana).’

Suanday waaz 17th June 2012, Dar ul Uloom, Karachi

How to gauge spitirual progress?

Imam ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Alawi al-Haddad (Allah have mercy on him) said,

Should a man wish to know whether he is rising or falling in religious terms, he should look at how his state and conduct had been a month or a year ago.

If he finds that they were better than his present state and conduct, he should know that he is descending into degradation; whereas if he finds that his present state and conduct are better, he should know that he is rising and improving.

It has been handed down that “he who finds that his (present) day resembles the previous day has been cheated, and he who finds that his (present) day is worse that the previous day is accursed. Accursed here means remote from a particular and specially accorded to mercy.

He who is not increasing is diminishing.

To explain, if when thinking about previous days, you feel that you then had no desire for the world, were eager for the Hereafter, scrupulously avoided doubtful things, were quick to good actions, quick to obedience, remote from transgressions, and by comparison are now no better or are to any extent worse, then know that you are going down, deteriorating in religion, in your aspiration for God, and in striving for the Hereafter.”

Knowledge and Wisdom

Improve our salah

One of the attendees requested for a premature departure  Shaikh Haji Shakeel Ahmed (Allah preserve him) humbly asked him to wait few minutes to listen to what he had to say. Then he briefly advised,

‘It should be crystal clear that if we do not improve our salah we will not be able to improve our (spiritual) life.

On the Day of Judgment Allah will not question us about the time spent in Tableegh, or Khanqah or education (madersa). The very first question will be regarding the salah. The foremost thing we will be accountable for will be our salah.

If we are questioned about our salah now, we will be dissatisfied ourselves. Then how could this salah please Allah.’

11/8, MC1, KKNGH, Jeddah, 02 June 2012,  after esha

Tazkiyah & Tabligh

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu `alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Muhtaram,

Tabligh is an Arabic word literally meaning “to convey”.

Contextually it refers to conveying the message of Islam. The word Tableegh is commonly used to refer to the Tableegh Jamaat movement in which people spend 3 days or 40 days or 4 months or 1 year in Tableegh.

Alhamdulillah, the Tabligh effort has been proven to be beneficial in conscientising people about their religious duties and reforming the lives of many people.

I fully support the noble effort of Tableegh.

However, it is important to note that the specific form and way of the Tabligh effort is not specifically mentioned in the Shariah. It is recommended. The actual mission of Rasullullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) was Da’wah with Ta’leem (educating) and Tazkiyah (purification of the soul). The present form of Tableegh is one form of Da’wah. It is not the only way of Da’wah. To confine the obligation of Da’wah to the Tableegh movement is erroneous.

There are innumerable ways of Da’wah and all forms of Da’wah practiced within the confines of Shariah should be supported and complimented. It is therefore incorrect for some ardent supporters of Tabligh to claim an absolute right of Da’wah through Tabligh. Such an attitude is a great injustice to the broader concept of Da’wah and is an extremist attitude.

It is even worse to claim that Tabligh is more important than Tazkiyah. Tazkiyah is Fardh. The specific form and way of Tabligh is not Fardh. It is merely recommended. How can a recommended form of Da’wah be preferred over a Fardh act?

To reform oneself and cleanse oneself from the evil instincts within ourselves is Fardh.

It is also very unfortunate that we hear of reports from some elders of Tabligh Jamaat referring to Tazkiyah as a secondary issue, not so important, e.t.c.

How can a Fardh act not be of any importance at all? Such statements are incorrect and misleading. It is expected of the Ulama engaged in Tabligh and Tazkiyah to encourage people to do both, Tazkiyah and Tabligh.

If one does not go out for 3 days, 40 days or 4 months in Jamaat, he is not sinful and will not be answerable in the court of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala). However, if one does not reform himself from pride, jealousy, ostentation, e.t.c, he will be sinful and answerable to Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala).

People actively engaged in Tabligh should realize this and adjust accordingly. One can never attain the Maqam (position) of Ihsaan by merely going out in Tabligh without reforming oneself. The singular approach of Tabligh whilst sidestepping the importance of Tazkiyah is an incorrect view and erroneous. It is misleading.

Tazkiyah is Fardh. The specific form of Tabligh is not Fardh. It is recommended. It is an effort we too support.

And Allah knows best.

Mufti Ebrahim Desai

Dar al- Mahmood

Source : http://tasawwuf.daralmahmood.org/muf…tabligh-jamaat

Advice to the graduating scholars: Necessity of moral discipline

Addressing the final session of the Hadith text Sahih al Bukhari sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) emphasized on the necessity of moral discipline. This is essential to make our actions worthy of reward as Imam Bukhari (Allah have mercy on him) has alluded to in the closing chapter on his book. He said,

‘The acquistion of the fine equilibrium required for moral characteristics of an individual as recommended by the standards of Quran and Sunna is possible (only) by being in the company of the pious (ahlul Allah) (for this specific purpose) and effacing one’s self (nafs, eccentric ideas, impermissible desires, boastful expectations, etc.)  in front of them.’

Khatam e Bukhari sharif 1433, Darul Uloom Karachi approx 43mins onwards

Ijazah

Shaikh Haji Shakeel Ahmed (Allah preserve him) very humbly acknowledged that he has ijazah from five shuyukh to accept and instruct spiritual seekers. However, initially he was very reluctant to accept this responsibility. He even held the feet of one of his Shaikh crying and begging him to be exempted from this responsibility. He was absolutely sure that he was incapable and unqualified for this position. Moreover, he was afraid that his popularity as Shaikh will only bring bad opinion of the Tasawwuf and (this specific) silsila from the public.

The shuyukh insisted and instructed him to do as he was told.

Later he admitted to his Shaikh, ‘May Allah reward you abundantly. The bestowal of ijazah has benefited me immensely.‘

The Shaikh asked for an explanation.

Haji sahib replied, ‘Acknowledgement of it acts as a deterrent for involvement in sinful activities. At those moments I address myself and ask:

‘Even now!

Are you going to be involved in these kind of activities?’

The Shaikh was very much  pleased with the reply.

11/8, MC1, KKNGH, Jeddah, 02 June 2012,  after esha

A tip to improve salah!

Shaikh Haji Shakeel Ahmed (Allah preserve him) said in regards to praying with concentration that Allah is watching me,

‘A tip to improve one’s salah is to offer two rakat daily with intention of forwarding its reward (esal e thawab) to our master Prophet Muhammed (Allah bless him and grant him peace).

This noble association (nisbet) will make one strive more for perfection in salah.

All praise is to Allah. Many individuals have tried this and found it to be very beneficial in improving their salah.’

Madarsa Sayyidena Maaz bin Jabal (Allah be pleased with him), Jeddah, 07 June 2012,  after maghrib

The obstacles to ta’aluq ma’Allah

Shaikh Haji Shakeel Ahmed (Allah preserve him) said,

‘The two most common reasons for not being able to develop a strong personal relationship with Allah for those who are apparently trying to do this are;

1. Inadvertent consumption of impermissible (haram) food, and

2. Persistence in sinful activities.  That are not followed by sincere repentance.

Special care has to be taken regarding meat. It must be assured that it is properly slaughtered (dhabiha).’

Maderasa Sayyidena Maaz bin Jabal, Jeddah, 07 June 2012,  after maghrib

Improving salah

Shaikh Haji Shakeel Ahmed (Allah preserve him) said,

‘A very senior pious individual instructed me that if I was seriously interested in becoming religious than I should be vigilant about improving my salah. That is, praying salah as per Sunna with contemplation that Allah is watching me. He added that if I did not do this than in spite of praying punctually I will be simultaneously doing all the undesirable worldly stuff.

Haji sahib instructed to those present to not to take this lightly. Improving salah should be our topmost priority.

Moreover, he emphasized reading the booklet ‘Namazain Sunnat kay mutabeq parhyay’ by sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) carefully and meticulously implementing each and every step as instructed. ’

11/8, MC1, KKNGH, Jeddah, 02 June 2012,  after esha

Alive or dead?

Shaikh Haji Shakeel Ahmed (Allah preserve him) said,

‘Alive person feels the pain of a pinprick and reacts.  Whereas a dead body will never feel or react even if a nail is driven into it.

Similarly, a faithful individual feels the undesirable effects of sinful activity. It makes him uncomfortable. If this does not happen than one should worry about the presence of faith (eman). It is the (spiritual) life/soul of an individual.’

Jeddah, 30th May 2012, bayan after maghrib