Blog :: Khanqah Imdadia Ashrafia

Imaan will not be tested in the Masjid because a Masjid is not a place for the testing of Imaan. It would obviously be very easy to be pious and abstain from sins therein. The testing grounds of Imaan are the streets, universities, bazaars and businesses.

What kind of Imaan do we display, if we indulge in illicit relationships at the high schools, universities, etc., if we cast lustful glances at every woman who passes by us on the streets and if we cheat our customers, commit fraud and employ semi-nude women to work along side us in our businesses, believing that by employing them we will be saving on salary?

Know that at such places our Imaan will definitely be tested. At such times we have to project and assert our Imaan and Islam. If the person passes the tests here, then indeed this person has tasted of the sweetness of Imaan.

Source: Cure for Depression - by Hazrat Maulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Sahab (damat barkatuhum)

Mulla Ali Qari lived in Hirat and then emigrated to Makkah. His grave is in Jannatul Ma’la. He writes in the explanation of this hadith that whoever is granted the sweetness of Iman will most certainly die with Iman because Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’la will not grant the sweetness of Iman to one and then snatch it away. This is the third reward for protecting the gaze. Therefore, do a transaction of a good ending with Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’la by protecting your gaze wherever there are women eg. on the streets, airports, railway stations, shopping malls, etc. When the sweetness of Iman enters the heart, it never comes out again.

Mulla Ali Qari (Rahimahullah) states that this hadith contains an indication to a good ending - a life that ends on Iman. Today the sweetness of Iman is being distributed in all places like the streets, airports and shopping malls. The condition is that one must not stare at the shops for these sweets, namely ghair mahram forms. If someones’s sugar is over the limit and he looks at a sweet shop, his sugar will not increase by merely looking but one’s gaze is such a dangerous thing that by merely looking, the poison enters one.

Rasûlullah Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said that the one who merely looks at strange women; he does not use her or speak to her has committed adultery of the eyes. This is a hadith of Sahih Bukhari. I request the Ulama to have a look at this hadith in Sahih Bukhari (vol.2 Kitabul Istizan). An evil glance is the adultery of the eyes. This includes staring at beardless youth.

Therefore, those who commit adultery of the eyes and see dreams of becoming a saint should beat their heads. Is this the way to become a saint?

Source: Purpose of Life - by Hazrat Maulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Sahab (damat barkatuhum)

Maulana Jalaluddeen Rumi () says that the light of the ‘lamp of life’ is very weak and dim. Along with this, the “winds of death” are constantly blowing and could extinguish the ‘lamp of life’ at any time.

In the violent storm of death,
The lamp of life burns away.

Therefore, make an effort to attain the lamp of the love of Allah in your heart so that when the lamp of this temporary life is extinguished, the everlasting, emergency lights of Allah Ta’ala ignite from within. The example of this is like the electricity that went off a minute ago and the generator caused the lights to turn on.

The winds are strong and the lamp is weak,
Quickly we must find another lamp.

The lamp is weak and the winds are blowing furiously. O people of the world! Quickly make an effort in lighting another lamp. Jalaludeen is not a fool! Through the blessing of Shaikh Shamsudeen Tabrezi (), I have lit the lamp of Allah’s Nisbah¹ by adopting the Sunnah and by abstaining from sins. Maulana Rumi () says that when death approaches and the eyes close, the divine lamp of Allah’s love is immediately set alight in the hearts of the Auliya² just as the generator turned on, and the lights immediately came back. When the eyes close from this temporary life then all the buildings, bungalows, luxurious cars, business dealings and beautiful women will come to an end. We will all have to leave this world one day.

While in Hardoi, India, I had composed a couplet regarding the instability of this temporary world. Hazrat Mufti Mahmood Hasan Gangohi and I were traveling on a riksha at that time. I told him, “Hazrat, I have composed a couplet…” When Mufti Sahebheard the couplet he said, “Do present this couplet of yours to your Shaikh, Maulana Shah Abrarul Haq Saheb ( ).” This couplet, which the Grand Mufti of India approved of, is as follows:

This garden will one day become a desert, tell this to the nightingale,
So that it may think before sacrificing its life.

To serve the Auliya and to adopt their company does not mean that you continue to have your eyes fixed on their wealthy mureeds. Therefore, I urge you to attain the love of Allah from the Auliya. I take an oath by Allah Ta’ala that the people of the world will rush to serve you. Do not become like the grape worm, which went to eat the grapes but was deceived by the green leaves of the grape. Thinking a leaf to be the grape, it spent its whole life on the leaf and died on that very leaf and was deprived of the actual enjoyment of the grape. Similarly, many mureeds come to attain the love of Allah Ta’ala but become lost in the glamour and glitter of the world. In this way they leave the world deprived of Allah’s love. May Allah Ta’ala save us all. Ameen.

¹ The strong connection with Allah Ta’ala which is attained through adopting the company of a friend of Allah Ta’ala and abstaining from all sins and punctuality in zikr.
² Those pious, Allah-fearing individuals who have attained a special connection with Allah Ta’ala.

Source: What is the 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.