Summary & Main Points of talk by Shaykh Abdul Mueed (Hafizahullah) of Sukkur – Pakistan – Saturday, 24 February 2018 – After Asar Salaah, Musalla Anwaarul Abraar, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
1. As per our ma’mool (regular practice), after Asar we continue studying the works of Hadhrat Hakimul Ummat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Rahimahullah). The benefit of these works are such that complicated matters are simplified for the seeker. The words and writings of our pious have great effect. Today, people find difficulty in undergoing the process of rectification as this is heavy on the heart. It places a strain on the inner-self to challenge one’s ego and passions – but this is what will bring purification and success.
2. Hadhrat Hakimul Ummat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Rahimahullah) has mentioned that he has endeavoured to remove common ambiguities, misunderstandings and false notions from this path for the seeker on the road to Allah Ta’ala in a manner that no Shaykh or mentor can deceive a seeker. The main objective is the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala – if one is in search of ecstatic feelings from this path, he will not achieve the goal as he is not seeking Allah – he is seeking good feelings and ecstasy which is not the objective – the objective is the Creator – today we are here to achieve this reality.
3. Our condition is such that if something gives us a good feeling we persevere upon it because we get joy from it – and if not, we leave it. An example of this is the gathering of poetry – we find a lot of people throng to these functions as it gives the heart a good feeling. On the other hand we find in the talks of Islaah and reformation very few are inclined – Surely to recite poetry that brings one close to Allah Ta’ala is permissible as such poetry has barkat and goodness, but it is not from the maqasid (purpose) – the purpose is Islaah nafs (purification of the heart) – since people are not really inclined to change themselves, they find the talks of Islaah heavy on the heart – these discourses are an exposure of the inner state which a person does not really want to address.
4. Today, we blame a lot on others – rather, blame should be directed to oneself. If you want to blame anyone, blame yourself – remain occupied in your reformation – Allah’s mercy will guide you to rectification.
5. All actions, good and bad have effect – whether we can feel this effect or not – Salaah produces noor (spiritual light) in the heart – the one who does not perform Salaah generates darkness in the heart and this spiritual dullness is evident on the face. The ‘smoke’ of the ‘fire of sin’ kindled in the heart by non performance of Salaah shows up on the face.
6. Developing a habit of good deeds causes Anwaar (spiritual light) to accumulate in the heart and the effect of this good shows up in one’s actions and mannerisms – a good person develops the courage and strength to persevere on good – he acquires an inner strength that helps him to recognise the harms of sin and abstain from it – just as a person who eats well and is satiated – the effect of being satiated is apparent on his face. Another person is starving – the effect of starvation is evident on his face. So the one who is malnourished and starving becomes susceptible to illnesses and his immunity remains low – he becomes prone to illnesses – but one nourished well is able to have strong immunity and avoids spiritual maladies – he has courage & strength and wants to do good and avoid evil – this strength is established within him through inner nourishment.
7. When a person deprives his souls of nourishment by staying away from good deeds he spiritually damages the heart – there then remains no inner strength to defend his passions from evil temptations. When there is no inner ability to withstand wrong then the soul is not affected any longer by sin – the soul does not see evil as evil – he then does as he pleases – All sense of sin is muted and neutralised.
8. Today, every person wants to express his opinion – how can we rely on our mind – waswasa (whispers) of shaytan is always there and disrupts the mind – a person now says things that are incorrect, undesirable or even unlawful. On social media people forward things impulsively without authentication – a Hadith advises us that it is sufficient for a person to be regarded a liar if he says/forwards whatever he hears (or info he receives) – especially attributing words to Nabi (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) that are incorrect – warning of the fire has been sounded for such a person.
9. Have a good opinion of others – don’t ever think bad of others – one will be accountable about harbouring evil thoughts about another person – such a thought could even be untrue – and even if true, we are not allowed to have bad thoughts about others – this heart is not to be filled with hatred, bad thoughts, filth, etc. – adorn this heart with good qualities – the gateway or passage of our actions to Allah is the heart – purify the filter of the heart so our actions reach Allah in a pure condition. We will be accountable for harbouring a bad opinion about someone and will need to provide evidence for it, whereas we will not be questioned for having a good opinion.
10. People come to Masjid, perform Salaah, do good deeds and take all the trouble to do so but are not dressed appropriately – at times the satr and body is exposed – this can nullify the Salaah.
11. In a similar way people are performing Salaah, but involved in bribery, fraud, not paying back loans and other wrongs. These acts contaminate the good deeds of a person. People usurp the shares of others – rights of others are not fulfilled. The quality of actions are being diminished by the contamination of the heart.
12. Once a person asked Hadhrat Shafiqul Ummat (Rahimahullah) to guide him on his father’s demise and related matters. When Hadhrat advised the person on the estate distribution, the man’s family became upset saying their father has just passed away and Maulana is concerned about distribution, they accused Hadhrat of causing a family rift. Hadhrat responded to them by advising them that, I am not causing any family disunity but rather showing them the way for long term family unity – if this estate is not resolved now it will become a source of division in a short time – as we see happening so often. So the estate must be distributed as soon as possible.
13. Usage of the eyes must be monitored – eyes are a trust – purity of the eyes is to look at what is pure – a person who misuses his eyes becomes prone to look at everything wrong thereafter- he loses control over the use of his eyes. Shaytaan whispers, ‘look nicely for once and then don’t look again’ – Hakimul Ummat Hadhrat Thanwi (Rahimahullah) says that wrong cannot be countered with wrong – by increasing wrong one strengthens the roots of wrongdoing within – don’t look – this is mujahada (the effort of striving) and in this is the attainment of the closeness of Allah Ta’ala.
Muslims First 