07.29.09
Why Our Dua’s Go Unanswered
Ibrahim Bin Adham (RA) was asked as to why our dua’s do not get accepted even though Allah Ta`ala has said, “And ask of me; I shall grant you…”
So Ibrahim Bin Adham (RA) answered:
Your dua’s do not get answered because your hearts are dead.
They said, ‘why are our hearts dead?’
He answered, because of 8 things….
1) You know the rights of Allah upon you but you do not fulfill them.
2) You read the Qur’an but you do not act on its commandments.
3) You claim that you love the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) but you don’t follow his way.
4) You say we fear death, but you don’t prepare for it.
5) Allah says, “Indeed shaytan is your enemy, so take him as your enemy…” but you obey him in committing sins and disobeying Allah.
6) You claim that you fear the hell fire but you have thrown yourselves therein.
7) You claim that you love paradise but you don’t make an effort for it.
8) When you get up from your beds in the morning, you throw your deficiencies behind your backs and involve yourselves with other peoples’ faults.
Thus you have angered your Lord, so why would He answer your prayers?
(Taken from: Ihya Ulum al-Din; Kitab Sharh `Aja’ib al-Qalb)
06.30.09
How Undeserving We Are!
Commenting on the lamentable condition of the scholars, Hakeem-ul-Ummah, Hazrat Thanwi (RA) said:
“Nowadays, there is nothing but pride, arrogance, and advertising knowledge and ability. There no longer remains any sign of humility, humbleness, and modesty.”
It is amazing how these words hold true of ‘Ulama even today. If an ‘alim is not addressed with whatever title they assume that they deserve, their ego becomes injured. It has become all about how well a certain scholar can deliver a lecture. The main focus no longer remains the message, rather the focus has shifted to style of delivery.
One must never forget that an ‘alim is in no way equal to a layman, but this does not entail that the ‘alim is more virtuous (afdhal) than the layman. Often times, ‘ulama get caught up in their own ranks, positions and virtues, and shaytaan takes them down the most slippery slope of vanity.
We pray to Allah that He grant us all humility and humbleness, and that He protect us from pride and arrogance.
06.23.09
Hate Disbelief, Not the Disbeliever!
Hazratwala (DB) said:
“Mawlana Qasim Nanotwi (RA) once saw a Hindu street-cleaner that he knew, taking a stroll in Jannah in his dream. He asked him in the dream,
“O Lala Jee, how have you entered Jannah?”
The Hindu man answered, “At the time of death, I uttered that phrase…”
Notice that he is referring to the kalimah as “that phrase” due to the fact that for a Hindu, the kalimah is a phrase that must never be mentioned. But Allah granted him the tawfeeq of uttering it before his death. His whole life he had been worshipping idols and statues, but in the end, he was blessed with imaan.
This is the why having hatred in the heart for a disbeliever is haraam. Because we do not know what a person’s end will be upon.
Mawlana Rumi (RA) said,
Do not ever look at any disbeliever with hate,
Because there is still hope for him to become a believer!
Do not consider any disbeliever as low and inferior. Do not look at him with the eye of scorn. It might be that his end has been written to be amongst the believers. And in relation to oneself one should always meditate on the fact that it could possibly be that my end might be upon disbelief. We pray that Allah save us all and allow us to pass away in a state of imaan.
Hayat-e-Taqwa; pg. 24
Translator’s Note:
One of the most deadly spiritual diseases is the disease of kibr (looking down upon others and rejection of truth). Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Anyone who has an atom’s weight of kibr in his heart will not enter Jannah.”
Pondering deeply over the above mentioned utterance of Hazratwala is an excellent antidote to this deadly disease. May Allah Ta`ala save us from all spiritual diseases.
01.27.09
The Cure to Evil Thoughts
By Hakim-ul-Ummah Mujaddid-ul-Millah Hazrat Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA)
“The easy remedy to evil thoughts is that when the onslaught of such thoughts overpowers the heart and mind, then one should intentionally and purposely focus one’s attention towards a good and/or positive thought. After this exercise, if these unwanted thoughts continue to linger, then undoubtedly these are unintentional thoughts (for which there is no sin). This method which I have mentioned is very simple and one should make it a routine and then rest at ease from these thoughts forever.
Many a salik, due to these types of evil thoughts and or fantasies, start to consider them self as contemptible and wicked, but this is absolutely not true. It is actually shaytaan who insinuates these types of thoughts into the heart, therefore what sin has the poor salik committed? The salik is actually so depressed and suffering due to these thoughts that in fact they are receiving great rewards from Allah Ta`ala for the internal, spiritual struggle they are undergoing…”
Hazrat continues to explain the reality of these thoughts saying, “…In actuality these evil thoughts are not even within the heart of a believer, rather they linger around the external precincts of the heart. Thus, those “evil-thoughts” which the salikeen suffer from, that loiter outside of the heart, are not really thoughts, but mere reflections or effects of those reflections, which give the impression to a person that they are actually coming from within. The only thing which is actually firmly embedded within the heart of a believer is faith, not stray thoughts. These stray thoughts are nothing but superficial and external which have no reality or substance, thus one should not be worried about them at all.
Shaytaan only insinuates such thoughts into those hearts which have the valuable treasure of faith in them. Just like a thief. A thief only goes to rob a house which has some wealth inside. Thus we should understand that stray thoughts only come about for the true believers and accepted servants of Allah, not for people that are faithless and rejected.
The question might still remain regarding the darkness and spiritual low a person might feel due to these stray thoughts entering the heart. For this I say that the feeling of “darkness” in the heart is tab`i (natural) and all types of darkness are not necessarily an obstacle in treading the path to Allah as long as a person is on the right track. Take for example a train which is headed to its destination. Does a train not travel in the darkness of the night? Don’t we close the shudders at times which block the light from outside? Does this stop the train from traveling on to its destination? All it needs is that the driver should have light and that the train should remain on track. Insha Allah, we know that this train will ultimately get to its destination.
In order to benefit from the above-mentioned advices one should not do the aforesaid exercises with the intention of averting stray thoughts. Neither should one wait for the complete disappearance of such thoughts from the mind and heart after doing it. Rather a person should merely put them to practice when needed, considering them to be an ongoing beneficial-practice without waiting for any results. The reason for this is that intending the aversion of thoughts will lead to hastiness and worry. That worry will lead to anxiety, and how can one possibly avert stray thoughts when one is worried and anxious?
(Anfaas-e-Eesa; Part 2, pgs. 445-446)
12.05.08
It is Difficult to Become a HumanBeing
Hazrat Hakim-ul-Ummah Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) said, “Nowadays people have their priorities mixed up. They consider the unnecessary to be necessary, and the necessary to be unnecessary. Likewise, in the matter of bay’ah people consider it to be in the status of a fardh or wajib thus they go to extremes to become bay’ah and become a ‘buzurg’ (saint).
But my occupation and effort is totally focused on making humans. [Here, Hazrat Thanwi is referring to the 'perfected human', who is adorned with righteous character and purified of evil characteristics].
Attainment of greatness and ‘buzurgi’ (sainthood) is very easy because this is not our department of work; it is actually related to the Lofty and Sublime power of Allah Ta’ala. We are slaves and are incapable of granting ‘greatness’ to anyone. The one, whom He wishes to elevate and grant status to, shall be granted ‘buzurgi’.
But as far becoming a true ‘human’, this is something related to us mortal beings and thus it is a very difficult thing to acquire. One poet said,
You became a shaykh, and an ascetic,
But unfortunately you failed to become a Muslim
In my opinion, to say: ‘you failed to become a Muslim’ is a bit harsh, so I modified the couplet in this manner,
You became a shaykh, and an ascetic,
But unfortunately you failed to become a true human being
Now it sounds better.
Maulana Jalaluddeen Rumi (rahimahullah) said,
The fact that you are made up flesh and bone, is not what makes you human,
Your being ‘human’ is determined by attainment of the pleasure of Allah.
(Malfuzat-e-Hakimul-Ummah; 7/201-202)
NOTE: May Allah Ta’ala enlighten Hazrat Thanwi’s grave with light! In his writings, Hazrat always reminds us to focus on our priorities on this path and saves us from falling into misunderstandings and misconceptions. This is also a great reminder for us that the purpose of tasawwuf and sulook is nothing but rectification of character and purification of the soul. The priceless gem of nisbah ma’ Allah (the connection with Allah) can never be acquired without it.
