Wasting time

Arif billah Dr. Abdul Hayy Arifi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘Wasting time in the hobby of reading newspaper & unimportant books, attending ceremonious gatherings,  or participating in useless entertainments results in failure to accomplish the essential things to be done. This (eventually) creates commotion and anxiety in one’s mind.’

Talemaat e Arifi ki roshini mein: Islah e haal aur Sukoon e qalb, page 41

Beware of imposters

Unfortunately we live in an era where the distinction between real and fake is sometimes very difficult to make. Even in religious issues. Marketing tactics, boastful false claims, slick presentation skills and mass propaganda can be misleading.

We often fall prey to these schemes. This is mainly because we are not aware of the gold standard to assess these issues. Making the correct decision is almost impossible.

Similar is the case in selecting a Shaikh for spiritual improvement.

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

‘I can not claim any perfections for myself.

All praise is to Allah. I have seen the real perfect men (the pious predecessors Shuyukh and scholars). No imposter can fool me by claiming to be human whereas in reality he is a buffalo.’

Malfuzat e Ashrafiya

The gold standard to make this distinction is the meticulous following of Sunna. This following should be comprehensive and perpetual in outward appearance, morals, behavior and dealings.

Proximity of Allah

‘Arif-billah Dr Abdul Hayy ‘Arifi (Allah Have mercy on him) said,

‘People wrongly assume that by observance of excessive worship, like supererogatory salah, excessive remembrance or recitation of Holy Quran,  they will gain pleasure and proximity of Allah.

In our everyday life the pleasure and proximity of Allah is obtained by being patient and responding with humility and good character when unexpected comes from those who are dear and near.

The real examination is when the curt comments and the sarcastic attitude of friends and family break your heart or make your blood boil.

Being patient, controlling one’s anger and responding with humility and good character will make you move closer to pleasure of Allah.

Only an individual who is cognizant that he/she will be accountable before Allah for his/her actions can do this.

This is taqwa.’

Audio:Mp3 CD # 2

Goal of remembrance:Ehsan

Qutub e ‘Alam Shaikh Rasheed Ahmad Gangohi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘The end result of all forms of remembrances (adhkar), spiritual exercises (ashgal) and meditations (muraqabat) is awareness of being in the presence of Allah all the time.’

Aap beeti via Zaad us Salikeen, page 803

It is essential to appreciate that this is not the creation of an abstract idle thought but an actual experience that brings a change in the behavior and actions of the individual.

That is, ehsan as mentioned in Hadith e Jibraeel (Allah’s peace be upon him)

Abstinence from sins

A seeker was under treatment for inappropriate use of sight. That is, looking at the unlawful things lustfully. A short duration into this treatment he consulted for treatment of another blameworthy  moral.

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

‘Has the spiritual aliment of inappropriate use of sight been successfully treated?’

The seeker replied, ‘Yes. At most occasions I am able to control myself and abstain from lustful glances, however, rarely there are few slips.’

Hakim al Umma replied,

‘This is similar to a person claiming sobriety from alcohol but admitting few rare sips.’

Malfuzat

Time management tip

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

‘Time can only be managed effectively by doing everything as scheduled and not being overwhelmed by indulgent kind and polite behavior (ikhlaq & murawwat).’

Ashraf us Sawanih as quoted in Zaad us Salikeen, page 757

That is, not following one’s schedule by trying to please and fulfill the non-urgent impositions of family, friends and others.

Sometimes overwhelming humility, politeness and kindness leads to this entrapment. (How insignificant I am? And how worthless my schedule is, as compared to pleasing a fellow Muslim?)

اصول فقہ

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

‘In regards to the issue of mawlid there is a delicate discussion that need not be mentioned to lay public (for it is difficult for them to comprehend it). It is that, people do it (mawlid) considering it to be an act of worship (ibadah). For it (mawlid) to be so (an act of worship) requires documentation (from Sunna, Fiqh). This documentation has not yet been established. Those who advice against it do so based on this.

The lay people do not understand this and subsequently conclude that these people stop them from remembering the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).

(To elucidate further) Hakim al Umma gave the example that suppose if someone was to recite ‘Mohammed’ ‘Mohammed’ (Allah bless him and give him peace). Then it has to be investigated that is this (recitation) considered to be a act of worship or not? (If he considers it to be an act of worship) Then there is no proof of it.

Mazeed al-Majeed, page 13

This delicate point is indeed seldom appreciated, even by scholars.

The crux of all discussion to proof the validity of celebrating mawlid is on historic incidents. That is, such and such major Shaikh, grand Mufti or erudite scholar did it. These only establish the cultural events observed at that time.

Shaikh al Hadith’s autograph

Shaikh al Hadith Mawalna Zakariya Kandehlavi mohajir Madani was requested for an autograph by Shaikh Jameel Ahmad Hyderabadi (Allah have mercy on them).

Shaikh al Hadith inquired, ‘What is an autograph?’

It was explained that it would be an advice written by his blessed pen (in the autograph book).

Instantaneously he wrote;

Translation:

Be in intimate contact (with the Divine) inwardly and appear aloof outwardly.

(Heed) This beautiful characteristic is scarce in this world!

Tazkirat al Jameel, page 483

The goal of path

 

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

‘The goal of this path (of Tasawwuf) is cleansing (tazkiya) of the lower self (nafs).

This cleansing is done for two things (in particular): lust and arrogance.

The cleansing is done by being in the company (suhba) of a perfect Shaikh (for this purpose). This is because he has gone through this process himself before (and therefore, knows how to do this).

Ma’asir page 287

Dubai airport

Signs of special relationship with Allah

Shaikh Dhunun al Misri (Allah have mercy on him) said,

Three things are sign of having a (special & close) relationship with Allah. They are;

1.Turning to Him all the matters

2. Asking everything from Him

3. Trying to get close to Him all the time.

Urdu translation of al Kaukab al duriyu fi manaqib Dhunun al Misri, by Ibn al Arabi (Allah have mercy on them), page 79

Achieving real prosperity

Mawlana Qamar uz Zaman Allahabadi (Allah preserve him) said,

‘To achieve real prosperity (sa’adet) three things are required,

1. To protect one’s heart from involvement in things that result in wasting time and corruption of the heart itself.

2. Following Sunna meticulously in all matters.

3. To acquire the ‘nur‘ of ‘following the Sunna’.

——The initial two are achievable by effort (ikhteyari), whereas the last one can not be achieved by effort alone (ghair ikhteyari). It is a gift bestowed by Allah.’

Al-Ifadat al-Ahsaniya, page 254

*P.S. Photo:The mata’af expansion 2012.