Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Pir Zulfiqar Ahmed Naqshbandi (DB) Programme

Hazrat Maulana Pir Zulfiqar Ahmed Sahab Naqshbandi  (DB) shall be visiting various places in India according to the following programme in April 2011.

3 Chedda Ground,Govandi- Mumbai 
4 & 5 Khanqa Nomania,Neral,Karjat (Mumbai) 
7 Tadkeshwar -Gujarat 
8 Dabhel Gujarat 
11,12,13 Deoband  
16 & 17 Hyderabad 
19 Melvisharam - Tamilnadu 
20 & 21 Bangalore 


Sunni Forum and the last page of Roznama Rashtriya Sahara, dated March 28, 2011 also have the the mobile numbers of respective places.

There is a programme to live telecast the sittings (majalis) at tauba.org.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Guest Post : We and the Scholars

We and the Scholars 
Guest Post by Muhammad Tariq Ghazi,  Ottawa, Canada

If you're talented, be a scholar; if you don't have such talent, be a student; if you can't be a learner, love scholars. If that too is not possible, at least don't hate those who are knowledgeable.

Umar II Ibn Abdul Aziz, Reign 98-101AH  / 717-720 CE, Eighth Umayyad Ruler, Fifth Khalifah-e-Rashid, First Mujaddid-Reviver of Islamic Life in First Islamic Century

  Truly speaking, the last instruction is the most difficult one to follow in our modern society. If that is difficult to believe, just look around and start assessing opinions of those in your contact. Select ten of them and talk to them about scholars, ask their opinions about them. You will be surprised to discover that quite a few of them will be condemning the ulama.  It is not the question of one particular maulwi, or character of a particular scholar. The moot point is a societal habit of our times.

Why is it so?

One of the causes of this thankless situation is that a large number of people believe that anyone with the title of Maulana, Maulvi, Sheikh, Hazrat, Allamah, etc, is just an ignorant bumble, of course, as compared to Us, with a capital U. But, ironically, people holding such view are on the side of ignorance, for they do not know what a scholar does and can do or what did they do in the hoary past.

          I had noted one such incident in blood soaked century, my first lecture on The Sultanate Osmania, while discussing world Muslim society during the thirteenth century following the Mongol devastation. The relevant part is reproduced here:

Everywhere in the east, except India, Muslims were in total disarray and distressed. As a result of frequent defeats at the hand of the Mongols they had lost both leadership and valor. From Central Asia to West Asia every place was comatose and people began waiting for the Day of Judgment, describing the Mongols as the anticipated curse of Gog and Magog.

(Muslims resistance and efforts for rejuvenations began on two fronts.) On the first front, mysticism gained ground, especially in the Muslim East: when political power failed to deliver results, the Ulama of Islam took reins of the Ummah in their hands. Sufis and social reformers of the caliber of Farid ad-Din Attar (537-617/1142-1220), Najm ad-Din Kubra (540-617/1145-1220), Muin ad-Din Chishti (535-627/1141-1252), Ibn Arabi (560-637/1165-1240), Shams Tabrez (d.643/1245), Abu al-Hasan Shazili (571-650/1175-1252), Farid ad-Din Ganj-Shakar (571-663/1175-1265), Jalal ad-Din Rumi (604-672/1175-1252), Mahmud Shabistri (687-720/1288-1320) took upon themselves to arrest the decline, boost morale and re-organize an Ummah that had been degenerated into an aimless crowd, by re-generating its self-confidence.

Yes. That was the time when Muslim political leadership was completely wiped out from Balkh and Bukhara, Merv and Herat to Baghdad and Damascus, Aleppo and Mosul. At that time this group of people accepted the challenge in its stride as it would always come to help in time of a big crisis. Now, in the nineteenth, twentieth, twenty-first centuries, this same group of people has been demonized. Then who is going to seek their help or advise? This is a very serious situation.

This is what the Mujaddid of the First Century had feared.

How far-sighted was that Man of the Century! Allah o Akbar!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Karwaan Ba Bangala Mee Rawad

Hazrat Qari Amir Hasan Sahab (DB) has been in Anona House for last two days. Today sometime he and  Hazrat Shaikh (DB) shall be leaving for a two week tour of eastern UP, Bihar, Bangal and Orissa. As should be clear to the regular visitors that there are loads and loads of sittings (majalis) to be covered at Thus Spake Hazrat Shaikh. Kindly supplicate.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Reverence of Holy Qur'an

Two people shined brightly because of their reverence of the Holy Qur'an. One was Dr Abdul Hayee (RA), he was educated at Aligarh. Many scholars attached themselves to him. Then there was Khwaja Sahab (RA).

(Sitting (majlis) on Saturday,  March 19, 2011AC)

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Innovation, Innovation

This is the event from those days when the extension of the Prophetic Mosque had not taken place, it was only beginning. There were some people who were kissing the metallic lattice work (jaali). The guard discouraged them by shouting innovation-innovation (bid'at-bid'at). These people shouted back, "What innovation? We have come from so far and you are not allowing us to do this?" It was asked where they came from. India. Where from in India? UP. Where from in UP? Sultanpur. It was explained to them (by Hazrat Shaikh (DB)) softly that after coming here it is better to recite Darood. And it is not a good thing to do peeping inside the lattice work.

(Sitting (majlis) on Tuesday,  March 15, 2011AC)

Audit of Day's Work

Look over your actions from morning till evening. How many of them were done for the pleasure of Allah? What is the authority of a believer? It is to do actions for the pleasure of Allah. Some actions please Allah and some displease. To make that clear and obvious Allah sent the Prophets (AS).

(Sitting (majlis) on Tuesday,  March 15, 2011AC)

Monday, March 14, 2011

The Guest

Hazrat Shaikh (DB) : Has Maulana So and So got his train?
Maulvi Abdul Muqsit : He left quite early, might have got by now.
Hazrat Shaikh (DB) : Make a phone call.
Maulvi Abdul Muqsit: (After the call) He says that the train is being progressively delayed and has not come yet.

Hazrat Shaikh (DB) : Tell him I am praying for him.

(Because of a political agitation the train services are badly affected.)

(Sitting (majlis) on Monday,  March 14, 2011AC)

Was it Wrath?

A person asked about the recent earthquake and all, whether it was a wrath or some such thing. Hazrat Shaikh (DB) said that we can not say for sure. Such things can not be ascertained. But the thing to notice is that this happened at a place where all of science and technology was there and their were claims about superiors designs and all that. One must receive admonition from it. Only believers receive admonitions from such things, not the people who deny.

(Sitting (majlis) on Monday,  March 14, 2011AC)

How to Hate Sins?

More excessively you indulge in Asking for Forgiveness (astaghfar) more hatred you'll develop for sins.

(Sitting (majlis) on Monday,  March 14, 2011AC)

Padding of Sunnah

If you'll follow Sunnah earnestly then it will become easy to give up sins.

(Sitting (majlis) on Monday,  March 14, 2011AC)

The Sound of Prayer Call

At the sound of Prayer Call Ali Miyan (NM) used to get scared if something drastic is going to happen.

(Sitting (majlis) on Monday,  March 14, 2011AC)


The Round of Fatimah

The round of Fatimah (tasbeeh-e-Fatimah) is meant for the night but Masha-ikh use it in the day time also when they are tired and want some rest. (Dr Nadir Ali Khan Sahab (DB) once told this in reference to the instructions of his Shaikh Hazrat Qari Amir Hasan Sahab (DB) that to make the Round of Fatimah effective it should be recited with very slow speed like Alhamdulillah............Alhamdulillah............Alhamdulillah............)

(Sitting (majlis) on Monday,  March 14, 2011AC)

Sacrifices Required

(With lots of pain) you think that we'll get the Heavens just like that? Some things have to be sacrificed for that.

(Sitting (majlis) on Monday,  March 14, 2011AC)

Freedom of Remembrance

There is no restriction on Remembrance, you can do it sitting, standing, with Ablution, without ablution. But the Elders advise that it is better to do it with Ablution. (Remembrance, nevertheless, must be done under guidance of a complete Shaikh.)

(Sitting (majlis) on Monday,  March 14, 2011AC)

What is Express Need?

As far as possible keep yourself alone. It is reminded that make your house extended. This means that do not leave your house without express need. Now what is express need? take the example of visiting the toilet. When goes there only when it is really required. And once one is done nobody stays there. This is the meaning of express need. Same is true for going out from home.

(Sitting (majlis) on Monday,  March 14, 2011AC)

How to Avoid Back-Biting?

A Scholar asked Hazrat Abdul Qadir Raipuri (RA) about the method to give up back biting. Now this is compared with eating of dead brother's meat but even then it was not going away. Moreover the person asking was a Scholar! Hazrat Raipuri (RA) said keep silent, He is listening.

(Sitting (majlis) on Monday,  March 14, 2011AC)

Directly to the Heart

High Hazrat (Shah Hardoi (RA)) (in later times) used to make very short Sermons. But the style was such that the admonition will directly go to the heart.

(Sitting (majlis) on Monday,  March 14, 2011AC)

A Parable for Masha-ikh

The direction you'll turn the desert cooler to, it will start cooling that direction. But this will happen only if the internals of the cooler are alright. Similarly the Masha-ikh disperse guidance around them. They can do this only after their internal self has been reformed. This is done in the company of the Masha-ikh.

(Sitting (majlis) on Monday,  March 14, 2011AC)

Desires of the Masha-ikh

A Shaikh wants that they way he obeyed his Shaikh the same thing should be communicated to the disciples. This is the chain coming from the Prophet (PBUH) himself.

(Sitting (majlis) on Monday,  March 14, 2011AC)

A Peculiar Judge

This is an incident from Aligarh itself. An invigilator saw one of  examinees copying. He warned him. This person did not pay any heed. On second reminder he said that I am a judge. The invigilator too was a tough one. He wrote a note then and there on the answer book. Very soon there was a news on All India Radio that a judge has been caught cheating in the examination. He brought so much of disrepute on himself.

(Sitting (majlis) on Monday,  March 14, 2011AC)

Character of a Believer

A believer will be scared of sins. Even if one can fool and cheat in this world it will not be so in the next.

(Sitting (majlis) on Monday,  March 14, 2011AC)

Remembrance by Maulana Gangohi (RA)

The best Remembrance of Allah is the Recitation of the Holy Qur'an. Maulana Gangohi (RA) used to indulge in lots of Remembrance. If somebody will ask a question then he'd answer it and then resume is Remembrance.

(Sitting (majlis) on Monday,  March 14, 2011AC)

Listen Carefully

When you point out the mistakes of Recitation to any body then first listen very attentively to the Recitation. High Hazrat (RA) used to listen to Recitation very attentively. (Even Qari Ilyas Sahab (DB) bends forward towards the reciter when he is listening to the people coming to him for correction of their Recitation.)

(Sitting (majlis) on Monday,  March 14, 2011AC)

Deeds Recorded

It is told in Surah Infitar thar the record of your deeds will be spread out. Check out for yourself whether everything is correctly recorded. Now it all has been recorded by the angels. Can it be wrong. In earlier times it was said that these are just the words of warning, once a thing is said it disappears and can not be recreated. When tape recorder came to the market then Maulana Wasillah Sahab (RA) said in the sitting (majlis) that this is an evidence to the effect that old things can be recreated. Whatever we are saying that can be recorded. He also said that there is an important difference between a tape recorder and the recording by the angels-a tape recorder records even the useless things like yawning and sneezing, not the angels.

(Sitting (majlis) on Monday,  March 14, 2011AC)

Scientifically Trained


Scientific training creates barrier in absorbing spiritual things. One stumbling stone is the cause and effect theory. Getting caught in this one sometimes finds it difficult to proceed to the Cause of the causes. A possible way to break this impasse will be to spend some time on the fact that it the Glory of Lord Almighty that when He wishes something to be He simply say "Be" and it happens. Repeat this again and again and you shall come out of the deepest cause and effect hole, sooner or later, Lord Most High willing.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Dear Japanese Readers

Dear Japanese Readers,

Supplications of Thus Spake Hazrat Shaikh are with you in general and in particular with those of you who have been affected by the recent triple disaster of earthquake, tsunami and reactor meltdowns, in any way. May Lord Most High make it is for you in these trying times. May He guide us all on the right path.

More Thirsty Than Water Available

This is recurring theme in the sayings of Hazrat Shaikh (DB) that the people of Allah have become rare (kamyaab) though they are not extinct (nayaab).

But there is another aspect that is becoming increasingly clear. The thirst people have for Allah Almighty is enormous and it manifests itself in various ways. When any significant Shaikh visits a city, or even a town, the crowed becomes impossible to manage. Now this is certainly a heartening sign. May be we need more Masha-ikh.

Friday, March 11, 2011

"I Ate an Egg"

An action by a young associate has found frequent mention in the sittings nowadays, including today. This person is working towards his doctorate degree in a difficult subject. He got a call from his father to attend a marriage ceremony that he was reluctant to do because of the obvious fanfare planned for the marriage. To be obedient he was advised to attend the marriage but not to eat there. He did the same but was also aware that he will be asked about the meal. So he came out and bought a boiled egg and ate it. In conversation with his father he was asked where he ate some thing. "Yes, I ate an egg," he replied.

(Sitting (majlis) on Friday March 11, 2011AC).

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Fire Won't Burn It

A relative of ours taught Qur'an to one of our countrymen. He had not disclosed his faith and belief. After his death, according to his family tradition, his body was consigned to fire. It turned out that his heart was npt consumed by the flames. Finally his family wrapped it up in cloth and dropped into the Ganges.

 (Sitting (majlis) on Wednesday, March 2, 2011AC).

Monday, March 7, 2011

Signs of Allah : Latest Journey of India

People of Allah are those who remind you of Allah. They are Signs of Allah. One of them is Mufti Muhammed Taqi Usmani Sahab (DB). The context that has brought up his name at the moment is his travelogue Latest Journey of India (Hindustan ka Taza Safar). Though serialized in Urdu Al-Balagh from Karachi the travelogue has become available only now in India. It has been printed by at least two firms Wasif Computers, Near Chhatta Masjid and Dar-ul-Kitab of Maulana Nadeem-ul-Wajidi, both in Deoband. As has been mentioned earlier at Thus Spake Hazrat Shaikh the travelogues of Mufti Sahab (DB) are ecstatic to read. So is this one. Read it to know what we mean. You finish this document with increased faith and belief.

Spying on Them

On Sunni Forum somebody asked a user whether a particular Shaikh (DB) is with him. The user replied that the Shaikh has gone for a Umra. Then you have a post right from the multazim. Home Work (1) Where was the Mufti Muhammed Taqi Usmani Sahab (DB) on Friday, March 4, 2011 after Isha Prayers?(3) Where was the Shaikh (DB) on Friday, March 4, 2011 after Isha Prayers?

Saturday, March 5, 2011

A Washing Machine

Today's sitting was like going through the washing machine. The topic was focussed on taking and paying debt.

(Sitting (majlis) on Saturday, March 5, 2011AC)

Friday, March 4, 2011

Urdu Ashrafia

Famous Islamic Spirituality blog Ashrafia now has a Urdu version too. In all probability Urdu is the biggest Islamic language. It is also amongst least represented major language on the internet. English Wikipedia and some other have few lakh pages while Urdu is struggling with thousands only. Part of the difficulty is the script. Main Urdu script is Nastaliq. And it is not the most mechanization friendly language. If you can do something about then, alright, go ahead and help Urdu and Urdu users.

Here is the link to Urdu Ashrafia.

Hazrat Shaikh(DB)'s Sister-in-Law

Hazrat Shaikh(DB)'s Sister-in-Law, daughter of late Professor Anwar-ul-Haq Haqqi, wife of Dr Mohsin Raza expired yesterday in Aligarh. Her funeral prayer was lead by Hazrat Shaikh (DB) after Juma Prayers today. After today's sitting (majlis) Hazrat Shaikh (DB) asked for transfer of reward by reciting Surah Ikhlas three times.

Verily we are for our Lord and unto Him is our return.

(Sitting (majlis) on Friday March 4, 2011AC).

A Practical Tip

Brothers at Sunni Forum, among other things, are discussing beard. A brother has given a very practical tip to save us from a possible nasty surprise. The brother says:
Do not trust barbers, even Muslims, with your beard unless a) they have a beard them selves or b) you've explained it to them thoroughly - but it is unlikely they will understand how long you want your beard to be unless you give them a fixed length. Once I just asked an Arab barber to tidy up the sides of my beard (just straighten it a bit) and well my beard went from practically a fist length to about a a centimeter.....I was dumbfounded and well, if you go through the effort to keep a beard and it takes 1 1/2 year to achieve the length, this type of experience is a complete nightmare.

A Joyful Evening

Mufti Saeed-ur-Rehman Sahab Bastwi was in Anona House on Thursday, March 3, 2011. It was a very joyful evening because with him you can discuss most intricate spiritual matters without getting overwhelmed by the seniority-he is a relatively young Shaikh, a caliph of Muhi-us-Sunnah.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Professor Abul Kalam Encircled by Divine Mercy

Noted dermatologist of AMU Dr Abul Kalam expired today.
Verily we are for our Lord and unto Him is our return.
He was keeping ill health for quite some time and there used to be occasional requests for his recovery during the sittings (majalis). He was a man with properties of People of Allah. May Lord Most High have Mercy on him and grant him a high place in the heavens and beautiful patience to the grieved family.
The funeral prayer was lead by Hazrat Shaikh Hakim Kalimullah Sahab (DB) outside  the Sir Syed Nagar main mosque after Maghrib prayers today, on March 2, 2011.