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Khanqah Ashrafia Islamia |  Sautun Noor

Islaahi Jalsa | This Week-End

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

“There is a piece of flesh in the body, if it becomes good (reformed), 

the whole body becomes good; but if it gets corrupted, the whole 

body gets corrupted – and that is the heart.”

 

[Sahih Bukhari]

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Pearls of Advice for the Seeker

Bismillahi Rahmaanir Raheem

By Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Is`haq Saheb

(Daamat Barakaatuhum)

1.) THE NEED FOR A SHEIKH

In this journey to Allah Ta’ala, the Saalik (the one seeking Allah Ta’ala) will not be able to traverse the various stages of Sulook on his own, even though he may have a wealth of knowledge, and may even be an Aalim or even a Sheikh in his own right.

It is extremely important and greatly beneficial to attach oneself to a Kaamil Sheikh; a living Sheikh - someone with whom Mashwarah can be made.

No sincere Saalik can remain independent of the guidance and direction of a spiritual guide and mentor. Without a Sheikh, the blessings of this path are not easily attained.

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2.) SIMPLE EXPLANATION OF BAY`AT

Bay'at is from the Mureed's side, and this word comes from the root words araada/yureedu - meaning to intend.

So a person really becomes a Mureed on his/her intention. Once a person has made an intention to become a Mureed, he is already one. The Sheikh accepts officially (with Bay'at), for the Barakah of fulfilling the Sunnah.

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3.) COMPATIBILITY AND APPRECIATION

To have compatibility (Munasabat) and agreement with one's Sheikh is a great ni’mat by which ifaadha and istifadha are attained, i.e. to benefit others and to derive benefit.

To appreciate, then to express that appreciation, is also a great ni’mat that will take a Saalik very far and high in this path of Sulook!

To regard the Nasihah (Advice) of the Sheikh to be particularly for oneself, is only to the benefit of the Mureed.

To inform the Sheikh of one's weaknesses, accept and follow through with his advices and prescriptions, will facilitate great success - as mentioned in the Qur`aan Sharief:

"Indeed he succeeds who purifies himself." - Surah Ash-Shams (91 : 9) 

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4.) WALKING THE PATH

Our good friend, Maulana Abdul Qadir, very nicely encapsulated Ba`yat and Sulook, saying: This path, this road is called Sulook.  Sulook is to follow (a path), to set foot (on), to walk.

The one who has become Bay’at – and enters this path – is called a Saalik, the Walker. And if the Walker does not walk; he sits down and does nothing, how will he ever reach his destination?

We have to walk this path. And it is the Sheikh who will guide on this path and assist us in overcoming the tests and encounters of the path.

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5.) THE SHEIKH’S SACRIFICE

We learnt from our Sheikh, Hadhrat Moulana Hakeem Muhamamd Akhtar Saheb (Rahmatullah ‘alayh) that a Mureed is he who is sincere, who sacrifices and gives his everything for his Sheikh.

But Hadhrat (RA) said, quoting particularly Haji Imdaadullah (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh), that when a Sheikh discerns the eagerness and keen desire in a Mureed, to learn the love of Allah Jalla Jalaaluhu, and the Sheikh recognizes the capacity in the Mureed to progress, then the Sheikh sacrifices for the Mureed and wants to give his everything for the Mureed!

To try and guide someone to Allah Jalla Jalaaluhu and make the Tarbiyah of someone who is keen and has got the capacity is better than the world and what it contains.

Temporary, like a Bubble

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

By Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Is`haq Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum)

We know that a bubble is a thin liquid film containing air. It is amazingly fragile. …And it does not last long. It bursts very soon and is then nothing. So it has no value.

...Despite this, its different colours captivate children and we see how they enjoy blowing bubbles, running after them and they even try to catch them. Even as adults, we, ourselves, are fascinated seeing the beautiful, shimmering colours of bubbles – the yellow, blue, crimson, green and other colours.

In everything, there is some lesson, and we find even in a bubble, a Muslim can take beautiful lesson. Alhamdulillah.

When a person considers a bubble, then a similarity and resemblance can be drawn to the worldly life.

Dunya is an Arabic word which literally means lower or inferior. ...In comparison to the real and everlasting life of the Hereafter, this world is inferior, superficial and contemptible. And Allah Ta’ala describes the worldly life as an illusion and deception:

“…The life of this world is nothing but an illusion.”

[Surah Al-Hadeed  57 : 20]

…Like a bubble, dunya has no value. On the outside, there is colour, there is glitter and glamour – and we are charmed by it. The gold and silver, the palatial homes, the luxury cars, and other commodities of Dunya look beautiful and striking. It not only appeals to us; it captivates us. It sometimes steals our hearts.

Allah Ta’ala informs us:

“Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire - of women and sons, heaped-up sums of gold and silver, fine branded horses, and cattle and tilled land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but Allah has with Him the best return.”

[Surah Aal-Imraan 3 : 14]

When Hubbud dunya (love for the world) settles in the heart, it diverts the attention away from Allah Ta’ala, away from the objective of this worldly life – which is to recognize Allah Ta’ala, love Allah Ta’ala and worship Allah Ta’ala, in the footsteps of our Beloved Rasul (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam).

Unfortunately, we become so enamoured, we forget there is another life which is yet to come, and which we have to prepare for. We become obsessed with all the artificial and superficial enjoyments of this world. However, the enjoyment is short lived - and like bubbles, the things of Dunya also dissipate and disappear.

Like little children who try to catch the colourful bubbles - to no avail, we run after material commodities, trying to acquire them – but for how long do we enjoy them? …The bubble of Dunya is fragile and temporal like a soap bubble and it too, inevitably bursts and is no more.

We become so blinded by our love for material things that we, ourselves, end up living in bubbles.

Sometimes the bubble bursts in our lifetime, right before our eyes: The wife or husband is involved in an extra-marital relationship, gambling or other vices which inevitably cause the bubble to burst. Or the son is caught up in drugs or drink, or the daughter eloped with some disreputable character, etc. …May Allah Ta’ala protect us all; but these are frequent incidents and happenings.

…In English, a very well-known idiom is used: ‘(I don’t want to) burst your bubble.’ – that is to say that like how quickly a bubble bursts, so too, our enjoyments can abruptly come to an end, our hopes can suddenly be dashed and our “dreams” and plans can be shattered. This is sometimes the consequences of our own heedlessness and even indulgences in sins.

If not, then the bubble bursts in the form of death and a person realises at this point that this world was just a dream. The world has disappeared like a bubble which is no more. It was there and now it is not. We were in the world, but now there is no world. We have entered into the realm of the Aakhirah.

This reminds me of a verse of poetry by our Sheikh, Hadhrat Moulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Rahmatullahi 'alayh):

"The world appeared to be so glamorous.

Its reality dawned upon me only when I went to the grave;

That what I had seen all along was but a dream,

What I had heard all along was but a tale."

How beautifully Allah Ta’ala reminds and cautions us:

“You prefer the worldly life (to the Hereafter), whereas the hereafter is best and ever-lasting.”

[Surah al-A'la : 16-17]

“O mankind, indeed the promise of Allah is truth, so let not the worldly life delude you and be not deceived about Allah by the Deceiver.”

 [Surah Faatir 35 :5]

The easiest way to remedy the heart of the sickness of “Hubbud-Dunya” and the Ghaflat which follows hubbud-Dunya is to keep the company of the Ahlullah. Their hearts have been purified of the vestiges of this lowly world and it is only the Love of Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) which occupy their hearts. Their connection is with the heavens, even though they are on earth.

Their condition has been beautifully encapsulated in the following words:

"In this World they resided - yet devoid of worldly ties.

In its Oceans they have been submerged - yet no wetness touched their clothes."

It is in their Suhbat, that our connection with Dunya will wane and our connection with Aakhirah will be established, Insha-Allah. We will then understand the beautiful Hadith of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam): “Verily, the world has been created for you and you have been created for the Hereafter.”

We will then make use of the worldly commodities, but will not give our hearts to them; rather we will use them to acquire the best of the Hereafter.

May Allah Ta’ala grant us the understanding of this worldly life and the Taufeeq of preparing for the Hereafter.

Khutbah Hameediyyah on the Honour of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

Alhamdulillahi munshi'il khalqi min adami

All praise is due to Allah Who has created the creation from nothing; 

Thummas salaatu ‘alal mukhtaari fil qidami.

Then Salaat on the Chosen one since ever.

Moulaa ya salli wa sallim daaiman abadan alaa Habibika, ‘alaa Rasulika khairil khalqi kullihimi

O Allah, send Durood and Salaam for ever and ever on Your Beloved, on Your Rasul, the best of all the creation.

Ya Rabbi salli wa sallim daaiman abadan alaa basheerin nazeerin Muhammada 

O Allah send Durood and Salaam for ever and ever on the 

Giver of glad tidings (of Jannah) and Warner (of the Fire of Jahannum): Muhammad (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam).

Moulaaya salli wa sallim daaiman abadan alaa Taahaa Sayyidil Mursalien

O Allah send Durood and Salaam for ever and ever on TaaHaa, 

The Master of all Messengers.

Balligh Salaami Raudhatan fihan Nabiul Muhtaram

Convey my salaams to the Roudha in which rests the Honourable Nabi.

[A Bedouin came to Madina Munawwarah and recited these couplets at the Roudha-e-Mubarak, which are now engraved on the frame of the Roudha-e-Mubarak]

Ya khaira man dufinat bilqaa’i a'zhumuhu

O You, The Best, whose (blessed) body has been buried in this plain (sand)…

'Fa Taaba min teebihinna al qaa'u wal akamu

Due to the fragrance of the blessed body of Rasulullah 
(Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) – the surrounding sand (touching 
his kafan) and the hillocks have become fragrant.

Nafsil fidhaa li qabrin anta saakinuhu

My soul is sacrificed for the mausoleum you are in.

feehil afaafu wa feehil judu wal karamu

In it is purity, generosity and compassion.

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Huwal Habibullazhi turjaa shafaa'atuhu li kulli hawlin minal ahwaali muqtahimi

He is that beloved whose intercession we hope for; from all problems and difficulties of the future (of the day of Qiyaamah).

Ya Rabbi balligh bil Mustapha maqaasidanaa, waghfir lanaa ma madhaa Ya Wasi'al Karami

O Allah grant us our objectives by the Wasiela of The Chosen One, 
and forgive us all our previous sins, O Most Generous.