Blog - Khanqah Imdadia Ashrafia

Sometimes, a sickness, disease, etc. comes in the form of a blessing and sometimes in the form of an Azaab (punishment). For a Muslim (momin), it is a blessing and mercy if it causes him to turn towards Allah Ta’ala.

I will conclude with an incident that occurred a few years ago. I went to visit a person who was suffering from cancer. On entering his room, I found him surrounded by 3 television sets - one to his right, one to his left and one in front of him. This was, indeed, very surprising … a sick person in extreme pain who could well be in his last moments, in such a situation.

On inquiry, his relatives explained, that due to his being confined to bed, it became necessary to turn him in these 3 positions; sometimes left, sometimes right, otherwise flat on his back. The 3 sets were placed in such a manner so that he would not miss any part of the program being watched.

If in that sickness, which was meant to have brought us to the door of Allah Ta’ala, we continue to indulge in sins and more so, then who do we blame for the problems which we thereafter have to face?

May Allah Ta’ala protect us all from loosing trust and faith in Him.

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

Abstaining from sins and Remembering the name of Allah Ta’ala is the only way to attain peace and tranquility. So learn to make the Zikr of Allah Ta’ala and sit in the company of those Pious People (buzurgs) where the sweetness of the name of Allah is attained. They are those whom Allah Ta’ala, through his love and connection, has granted them an understanding. Go and spend some time with them, take out 40 days and then see for yourself what happens.

If someone is diagnosed with cancer of the lungs and the doctor advises him to go to the mountains of Maree (for treatment by breathing fresh air) would he not go? The Ahlullah have the remedies for spiritual diseases. One attains the love of Allah through the company of the Ahlullah. We can’t see Allah Ta’ala, but our hearts can perceive Him. That is why the special mercies of Allah Ta’ala are always descending upon the hearts of the Ambiya and Auliya.

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

Hazrat Sufyan Thawri () was asked by someone to give him advice, but to be very brief and concise. So he advised him saying,

“Make an effort for the world to the extent of your stay here. And make an effort for the hereafter to the extent of your stay there.”

Everyone knows that after leaving this world there is no return, and the life of the hereafter is everlasting. Therefore, one should make a great effort for that which is everlasting. The stay in this world is temporary. Thus, to make too much effort for it is foolishness. What a complete and comprehensive advice this is! Remember it and let it become imprinted in your heart.

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

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)

The following tutorial will guide you how to block unwanted pictures while browsing websites. It includes customization for both Internet Explorer and Firefox Users.

http://wiki.khanqah.org/How_to_block_Images

NOTE: We prefer not to use Opera as it show unwanted image at time of installation (as said by some members)

Recently published book ‘Adaab e Ishq e Rasool ()‘, by Hazrat Aqdas Maulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Sahab () is added to our online books section.

This book is a written conversion of hazrat wala’s famous bayan
Rabi Awal aur Haqiqi Ishq e Rasool ().

Kashf is not within the control of man, it is not a voluntary action, rather it is completely under the control and order of Allah Ta’ala. The example of it is similar to when Allah Ta’ala sent the fragrance of Hazrat Yusuf’s () qamees (shirt) from Egypt to his father Hazrat Ya’qub ( ) in Canaan. However, when it was not the will of Allah Ta’ala, then even when Hazrat Yusuf () was cast into the well of Canaan by his brothers, Hazrat Ya’qub () was unaware of it. If kashf was within the control of Hazrat Ya’qub () then why did he not know that his son was cast into the well, whereas he was able to smell the fragrance of Hazrat Yusuf () all the way from Egypt? Thus, we come to know that kashf is only within the control of Allah Ta’ala. We should correct our belief regarding this matter.

Source: What is the Reality of Tasawwuf

From the noble utterances of our Shaikh and Mentor, Arif Billah Hazrat-e-Aqdas Maulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Sahab ()

1. One should safe guard one’s gaze. In other words do not look at any man or woman with lustful gazes. People from all around the world are present at the Holy Sanctuaries of the Harmain Sharifain. Therefore, one should always be alert and on one’s guard not to glance at any ghair-mahram even from the corner of one’s eyes.

While leaving home, one should leave with this firm intension that, “I will not cast evil glances at anyone”. Over and over again one should renew this intension in one’s heart or else the Nafs will involve one in casting evil glances.

2. One should safeguard one’s heart. Meaning one should not entertain evil thoughts in the heart. Neither should one derive unlawful pleasure from fantasizing about unlawful beauties. Similarly, one should not recall and reminisce past sins and derive pleasure there from. If, however, evil thoughts do come into the heart and mind then one should remember one important point:

IF THOUGHTS COME ON THEIR OWN, THEN THERE IS NO SIN IN THIS, HOWEVER, IF ONE INTENTIONALLY FANTACIZES AND BRING EVIL THOUGHT INTO THE HEART THEN THIS IS A SIN. OCCUPYING ONE SELF IN EVIL THOUGHTS AND FANTACIES IS A SIN.

3. Physically, one should not come close to ghair-mahram or handsome young lads (such lads who are beardless and one is sexually attracted to them).

4. One should abstain from unnecessary conversation. Bust oneself with useful and beneficial activities such as Tawaaf, Tilawat, Durood Shareef. If one feel tired them one should look at the Ka’aba Shareef. (This is also an ibaadat and means of attaining spiritual reward)

5. One should not debate over controversial issues neither should one get in unnecessary arguments.

6. During Tawaaf one should not look at the Ka’aba Shareef. When addressing the King, it is disrespectful to stare at him.

7. If one’s glances unintentionally falls upon a ghair-mahram woman and the heart becomes attracted to her the meditate upon the fact that she is a guest of Allah Ta’ala and due to this she is more worthy of respect then one’s own mother. If one’s gaze unintentionally falls upon her in Madina Munawwarah then meditate that she is the guest of Allah Ta’ala as well as the guest of Rasulullah (). Similarly if one’s gaze unintentionally falls upon a young lad and the heart become attracted towards him then one should meditate that he is more worthy of respect than even your father. This is because in Makkah Mukarramah, those who are there are the special guests of Allah Ta’ala and in Madina Munawwarah they are the special guests of Allah Ta’ala as well as Rasulullah ().

8. If one becomes inconvenienced in any way in the Harmain Shareefain then one should never complain. Imagine that those are in Haramain are princes and royalty. All they have to do is perform one Tawaaf and ask for forgiveness from Allah Ta’ala. We are not even equal to the dust which settles upon their feet.

9. If the food is not to one’s liking then one should not complain about it. One person had complained saying, “The yogurt of Madina Munawwarah is too sour, whereas the yogurt of India is sweet”. He saw Rasulullah () in this dream telling him to immediately leave Madina. One should perceive everything of Haramain with the eye of respect, reverence and love. One should not find faults.

10. One should consider himself a servant and not one who deserves to be served. One should be a means of giving comfort to others and consider serving them one’s honor.

11. When the gaze falls upon Ka’aba Shareef for the first time, then one should ask Allah Ta’ala to grant you His Sublime being. Ask Allah Ta’ala to grant you Himself. Supplicate Allah Ta’ala saying: “O Allah Ta’ala! I am unworthy and undeserving but You are Kareem, You are One who grants even the unworthy”.

12. If anyone happens to see a dream then one should not mention it to anyone other than one’s Shaikh. If one’s Shaikh is not there then one should mention it to a caring friend who has understanding of Deen. One should not mention one’s dream to just anybody.

13. Those who are performing Hajj and Umrah should take great care that even one breath should not be taken in the disobedience of Allah Ta’ala.

May Allah Ta’ala grant us all the ability to practice upon the above-mentioned guidelines.

Source: Guidelines for those performing Hajj and Umrah by Hazrat Wala ()

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