Blog :: Khanqah Imdadia Ashrafia

A book titled ‘What is the Reality of Tasawwuf’ has recently been added in book section of khanqah website.

In this book, Hazratwala clarifies the misunderstandings and misconceptions surrounding TASAWWUF, commonly known in the Indo/Pak subcontinent as Peeri-Mureedi. He vividly exposes the innovations of fake “Peers” or Shaikhs and guides his readers to follow the pure and prestine path of Shariah and Sunnah. Many people due to incorrect motives and ignorance have taken TASAWWUF/PEERI-MUREEDI to be a combination of weird rituals and made-up innovations. Whereas the whole purpose of TASAWWUF is to gain the love of Allah Ta’ala through complete adherence to the teachings of Shariah and Sunnah. This love, however, must be attained from one who has tread this path and learned it from someone before him. Similarly that person must have attain knowledge from one who has qualified in that particular field under the supervision of qualified teachers. Take the example of medicine. Just as a self-taught doctor is not reliable in the medical field, similarly, the one who has not attained spirituality from a qualified and reliable Shaikh or Peer is not a genuine Peer, rather he is a fake Peer. The sign and distinguishing quality of a TRUE Shaikh or Peer is his complete adherence to the Shariah and Sunnah.

May Allah Ta’ala make this booklet a means of guidance for the entire Ummah and may He make it a means of eternal reward for our Shaikh, Hazratwala (db) and all those who made an effort in its publication. May He accept it out of His sheer mercy. Aameen

To access this book, please visit the following link:
http://www.khanqah.org/books/show/reality-of-tasawwuf

Allah Ta`ala grants His chosen servants such honor and dignity that even the hearts of the kings and emperors tremble in awe of them. But this greatness is only attained when Allah Ta’ala has entered the heart. It should not be like the example of a sign on the outside of a tent, upon which is written, “This is Laila’s tent.” However, when one peaks inside, one realizes that instead of Laila, there is a dog tied up in that tent. This is exactly the example of a person who adopts the garb of the pious and in spite of this, he does not abstain from sins and evil deeds. He is wearing the title of a “Maula-Wala¹” with a full shar’i beard and a round cap, but if one happens to peak into his heart then he will find it filled with the filth and defilement of ghairullah².

If he has Maula in his heart then his face will interpret that which is within it. This is because the face is a reflection and an interpreter of what is in the heart. If there is the love of Allah Ta`ala in the heart then this love will become manifest on the face.

This is in fact, the explanation of a Hadith Shareef in which Rasulullah () has said:

“The friends of Allah are those who when they are seen, Allah is remembered.”
(Majma’uz Zawaid; Vol. 10, Pg. 78, Bazzaar)

Thus, he who has attained Allah Ta’ala in his heart has in fact purified his heart from ghairullah. On one occasion someone had come to Hazrat Uthman () after casting evil glances. Hazrat Uthman () said to him:

“What is the condition of such a people from whose eyes zina (fornication) is dripping!?”
(Tafseer Qurtubi; Vol. 10, Pg. 44)

The brilliant rays of Allah’s love shine from the eyes of the friends of Allah, and the stench of dead corpses come from the lovers of ghairullah.

Source: What is the Reality of Tasawwuf - By Maulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Sahab (damat barkatuhum)

¹ One who has attained a special connection with Allah Ta’ala.
² Anything which takes one away from the remembrance and obedience of Allah Ta’ala. In this case referring to all Haraam (unlawful) pleasures and desires.

Hazrat Hakeem ul Ummah Mujaddid ul Millah, Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi Saheb (Rahmatullah alaihi) has said, “The only reliable and accepted path for attaining the love of Allah Ta’ala and the love of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) is the path of Sunnat. If, for example, this love is acquired through a way that opposes the Sunnah of the Messenger (sallallahu alaihe wasallam) such as expressing one’s love through drums, guitar, Qawale, music, etc., then this expression of love is unacceptable. (Because it is not in accordance to the Sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihe wasallam). Allah Ta’ala has commanded His Messenger to announce:

قل ان كنتم تحبون الله فاتبعوني

“If you love Allah, then follow (obey) me.. then Allah will love you”

يحببكم الله

“Then Allah will love you.”

Hazrat Maulana Fadhle Rahman Ganj Muradabadi (rahmatullah alaihe) would translate it in the following manner, “Allah has announced through His Beloved Messenger that if you want to become the beloved of Allah, then walk my walk. My Messenger is so beloved and dear to Me, that whoever even walks his walk will also become beloved and dear to Me.” Understand this through a worldly love. A person only has one son. If he sees anyone resemble his son or even walk like his son, then his father will also have love for that person. Therefore, Rasulullah (salallahu alaihe wasallam) is so beloved in the sight of Allah Ta’ala that anyone who adopts his lifestyle will also become the beloved of Allah Ta’ala.

Unfortunately, what is our condition today? We have forsaken the Sunnah and yet claim to have love for the Messenger!

The companions of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihe wasallam) lead their entire life in following the footsteps of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihe wasallam). How reliable was their path that they were bestowed with the crown of

“Allah Ta’ala is pleased with them and they are pleased with Allah Ta’ala”

From this we can understand that the claim of love contrary to the method of the Sahabah is unreliable and unauthentic. A poet says so beautifully,

مستند رستے وہی مانے گئے

جن سے ہو کر تیرے دیوانے گئے

Only those paths have been accepted as authentic
Upon which Your extreme lovers have gone
All have returned who were those possessed by intellect
Only extreme lovers have reached their destination

Source: Urdu book Ishq-e-risalat-ka-sahi-mafhum (by hazrat wala)

Tarbiyat-e-’Aashiqaan-e-Khuda

Our beloved shaykh and spiritual guide, the Knower of Allah, Maulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Sahib (DB) has given replies and remedies to every spiritual disease and in particular the epidemic of our times; lustful glances and infatuations and its’ evil effects. Hazrat (DB) has given such rare pearls of wisdom regarding this destructful disease which are not to be found and are unprecedented in the history of Tasawwuf.

The reason behind this is that this problem was not as widespread before as it is now. The work being taken from Hazrat in this field is without doubt the work that Allah takes from a reviver of the century. The reason being, that the concept of lowering the gaze has been so overlooked that people do not even consider lustful glances to be a sin anymore. Hazrat has taken this task upon himself to alert and inform the Ummah of its harms.

It is for this very reason that senior scholars acknowledge that Hazrat is the reviver of guarding the gaze and the reviver of tasawwuf for this century. This statement is not yours or mine, but I have heard this from senior scholars of Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, England, South Africa and many others. Hazrat (DB)’s own achievements prove that he is the reviver of the 15th century. Also, the depth and detail by which Hazrat has explained the tricks and treacherous tactics of the nafs in regards to illicit infatuations and lustful glances and its cures and remedies, is not even found in the works of our pious predecessors because this is the epidemic of our times. Allah has, is, and Insha Allah will continue to benefit the Ummah through Hazrat (DB)’s work in this field. May Allah prolong Hazrat (DB)’s shadow of benefit over us continue his blessing till the Day of Judgment. Aameen!

The book which can be downloaded from the Khanqah’s website is a published version of what has been gathered from Al-Abrar with the same name. I pray that Allah accept this work from the compilers, and anyone who has contributed in any way, shape or form. Aameen!