Signs of fearing Allah

Faqih [Abu Layth Samarqandi] (Rahimullah) says, the fear of Allah is shown through five things:

1. Tongue – Because of the fear of Allah it stops from lies, evil-speaking, backbiting and unnecessary talking and engages in Tilawat and Zikr.
2. Stomach – A person puts only Halal food in his stomach and saves it from Haram, and even Halal enters just as much as necessary.
3. Eye - It dislikes Haram and looks at Halal as well only for admonition, not because of desires.
4. Hand – It stops from all these actions that Allah dislikes, it’s actions are only for the sake of Allah’s pleasure.
5. Foot – It doesn’t take a step towards the things including Allah’s disobedience, but runs for the pleasure of Allah.
6. Heart – In the Allah-fearing heart in the place of hatred, envy and jealousy is love, friendliness, humanity and respect.
7. Ikhlas – Someone fearing Allah keeps on exploring Ikhlas to avoid that Ikhlas missing somewhere causes all the actions to get wasted.

Filed under: Good Qualities, Qur'an

Respect despite Differences

In a condolence meeting held in Darul Uloom Deoband at Allamah Shabbir Ahmed Usmani’s demise, Hadhrat Maulana Madani said in his speech:

“The late Maulana’s personality was unique; in knowledge and learning his rank was very high and he was one of the top-most Ulema. Political differences were indeed there between us but they are at their place. The God-given mastery in writing and speech was the late Maulana’s special feature and he was a repository of many other good qualities.”

Subhan’Allah. There are countless examples of our righteous Deobandi Ulema displaying that their political differences or differences on other matters didn’t corrupt their minds. Nothing in the world could decrease the respect and love for each other. Because at the end of the day the struggle of these illustrious personalities and highly qualified scholars was the one: To strive for the revival of Islam.

Filed under: 6. History & Biographies, Akhlaq & Adaab, Malfoozat

An Incident of Exposing Faults

Hadhrat Maulana Shah Abrarul Haq Sahab (mudda zilluhu) writes,

One day I was sitting in the haram after Maghrib and two elderly men were sitting near me. At that time many people were performing tawâf. These two men suddenly began pointing out the faults of a few of these people because they were walking very fast etc.

I went towards them and after introductions were made, I asked the one how old he was. He replied that he was 55 years old. I asked him from what age was he performing salâh, to which he replied that he was performing salâh since he had matured at the age of 15. I then asked him to mention the sunnats of salâh. He only managed to say two or three. The other person wasn’t anymore successful than his companion.

Thereafter I told them that you people are exposing the faults of these people who are performing tawâf once in a lifetime. You are performing salâh for 40 years, but you are unaware of the sunnats of salâh. Thereupon they realised their error and desisted from this act.

Filed under: Bad Qualities, Malfoozat, Salaah

To-Do’s at the Time of Anger

by Hadhrat Maulana Shah Abrarul Haq Sahab (damat barkatuhum)

One should read the following daily so many times that one remembers it at the time of Ghazab (anger).

1. To read the whole “A’uzubillah”.
2. To make Wudhu (ablution).
3. To sit down if one is standing and to lay down if one is staying.
4. To go away from the person one is angry with or to remove him.
5. To sit in the company of someone righteous.

Filed under: Akhlaq & Adaab, Bad Qualities

Objections of Faza’il-e-Amaal and their Answers

All praise is due to Allah Ta’ala who through his infinite mercy and wisdom revealed the glorious Qur’aan for the guidance of mankind. Peace and salutations be showered on Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) who was sent as a practical example of eternal success in this world as well as the hereafter.

It was always the system of Allah Ta’ala that he had chosen his special slaves in every era for the protection, spreading and upliftment of his Deen. Whilst the forces of Baatil (falsehood) would strive to mislead people, Allah Ta’ala chose the great Muhadditheen, Mufassireen and Ulama who would make an all out effort to shun away the evil of such misleading people. It is no surprise that even in our present day and age, there are many such people whose sole purpose and object is to confuse, complicate and puzzle the minds of the ordinary masses. They will make big claims and call themselves whatever they wish to, but alas! Their aim and target is to corrupt the beliefs of people, so as to leave them in utter bewilderment. Such beliefs which have been clearly and explicitly expounded by Allah Ta’ala in the Qur’aan and which have been explained to us in the Ahaadith by Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), but alas! Not only do they deny such beliefs, instead they wish to brainwash the minds of others to fall into the trap that they have been mislead into (may Allah Ta’ala guide and save us all, Aameen)

Filed under: 1. 'Aqaid, Books, Qur'an, Sunnah & Hadith

Inhabitants of the Grave

The third major belief which the objector has trounced upon is the belief that the inhabitants of the grave can see and hear the living. Thus, the objector quotes three stories from Fadhaail-e-Aamal, after which he makes the following deductions and claims:

‘These stories teach that the inhabitants of the grave can help the living. This belief forms the basis for grave worshipping. The Fadhaail-e-Aamal promotes all these erroneous beliefs under the guise of virtues and exhortation. Those who expose themselves to the teachings of Fadhaail-e-Aamal which include believing that the engraved can hear, see and help the living will undoubtedly weaken their Tawheed and establish hope in other than the one, who Alone has the power to benefit and harm.’

In essence, there are three parts to this, i.e. for the inhabitants of the grave to, a) See, b) Hear, and c) Help the living. We will discuss the first two parts here and thereafter, the third.

Filed under: 1. 'Aqaid, 6. History & Biographies, Books, Qur'an, Sunnah & Hadith

The Reality of Kashf

The second belief which the objector has trounced upon is that of Kashf and Ilhaam. Kashf refers to divine manifestation whilst Ilhaam means a divine inspiration. These are two powers given by Allah Ta’ala to whosoever he desires. This is not within the capacity, ability or choice of any individual. This deviant group of people have trounced the belief of Kashf and Ilhaam claiming that knowledge of the unseen and of future events is something that can only be attributed to Allah Ta’ala Alone, not acknowledging the fact that sometimes, Allah Ta’ala can give certain of his special servants the power of foretelling and foreseeing some future events.

Filed under: 1. 'Aqaid, 5. Tasawwuf, 6. History & Biographies, Books, Qur'an, Sunnah & Hadith

Three Practical Advices for Talib-e-’Ilm

Three practical advices from Hakeemul Ummat Mujaddid-e-Millat for all Talib-e-’Ilm. The following is an excerpt from a lecture given by Shaikhul Hadith Hadhrat Maulana Doktor Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai at Jamiatul Uloom Binori Town Karachi.

Hakeemul Ummat Hadhrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Rahimullah) said, “I guarantee, that the Talib-e-’Ilm (seeker of knowledge) who practices on three points becomes a great ‘Alim.”

Filed under: Malfoozat