يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ - 3:102 Malfoozat- Hakim-ul-Ummah Asharaf Ali Thanvi Rahimahullah "It is a philosophical fact that strength is added…
Excerpts taken from Hazrat Shaykh Talha Qasmi Naqshbandi Damat Barkatuhum’s discourses( Continuation –Part-2)
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
This servant of Allah was disappointed in the Ummah after making every effort expressing his state (Quranic verse) “now it is time to save one’s ownself”, bid goodbye to India and moved to Madina. This I narrate the history of Hazrat Maulana Ilyas Saahab (RA). Maulana Ilyas Saahab (RA) is not a strange personality for this weak self to say the least. The childhood of this weak self is spent such that we used to study in the Madarsa of a small village, all we knew was Delhi’s headquarters was Nizamuddin and nothing other than that until such time from when we can remember we did not know (anything else about Delhi). Once an Aa’lim (Islamic Scholar) came to our village, having heard that he has come from Delhi I went to meet him with reverence. I asked him, “You have come from Delhi? You must be meeting Maulana Inamul Hasan Saahab (RA), Hazrat Maulana Umar Saahab Palanpuri (RA)?”. To this he replied I am very busy and do not get time to visit Nizamuddin Markaz (headquarter). I responded with surprise, “You stay in Delhi and you do not get time to visit Nizamuddin Markaz then why do you stay in Delhi?”.
Excerpts taken from Hazrat Shaykh Talha Qasmi Naqshbandi Damat Barkatuhum’s discourses
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Before beginning to mention the actual talk it feels necessary to draw attention towards a very important point. Dawah (calling towards Allah), Taalim (knowledge) and Tazkiya (spiritual reformation) are three basic pillars of the deen (Islamic way of life). The Ambiya (عليه السلام) arrived to bring life to each pillar. None of these can be detached from the other. The objective of Sayyidna Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم)’s birth was described by Allah (Quranic verse), (they) read (from the Quran) and tell the signs of Allah – this is Dawah (Tabligh); Educate (people) with Quran’s wisdom and knowledge – this is Madarsa (Islamic school); Cleanse (people’s) spiritual heart – This is Khanqah (place for spiritual reformation). (more…)
The following are brief notes prepared for a lecture about the month of Ramadhan. It is a summary of a lecture given by Shaykh Hakeem Akthar sab (ra) titled, “Tuhfah-e-Maah-e-Ramadhan” The ending of it are some tips to help us all spend our time wisely. “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun [the pious].” (Surah Baqara; Ayah 183)
The nature and mandate of fasting is beautifully described in the Qur’an. Instead of just commanding us to fast, Allah addressed us as ‘mu’mineen’ to kindle the spark of iman within us to make us realize our intention–everything is for Allah. The primary purpose of why we fast is because we have this belief that Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is our Maalik and He knows what is best for us.
“And if you do fast, know that it is better for you, if only you knew” (Surah Baqara; Ayah 184)
Alhamdulillah, we all are blessed once again to see the arrival of the great month of Ramadan(InshaaAllah). The next 29 or 30 days are very precious. One needs to try their best to make the most of this blessed month. To do that, here are fifteen points that one can keep in mind for this month…
1. Remove any and all distractions that distract one from worshipping Allah, so that one can worship Allah properly.
2. Learn the fiqh of fasting. One should know what does break and what doesn’t break ones’ fast etc.
3. Whatever bad habits that you have, get rid of them and do not develop new ones. In order to make this work one should inflict pain on their nafs. So for example, the nafs is greedy and it loves money. For every sin you commit, give a certain amount of money in sadaqah. Do not inflict physical pain on your body, but rather, inflict pain on your nafs.
4. Extra Salah – Pray however many nawafil (optional) prayers that you can pray. Before this make qada of all your previously missed prayers. Qada takes precedence over nafl prayers. Tahajjud also falls under the category of nafl. You can pray both the qada and tahajjud.
5. Minimum at least one Qu’ran should be recited in Ramadan.
1. Rasulullah said: “The sleep of a fasting person is regarded as an act of ibaadah, his remaining silent is regarded as a tasbeeh, the reward for his good deeds is multiplied, his duas are accepted, and his sins are forgiven.”
2. It is mentioned in a Hadith that fasting is a shield and a strong fortress in order to save oneself from hell. In other words, just as a person seeks refuge in a strong fortress or by means of a shield from an enemy, in the same way, one gets salvation from hell by fasting. By fasting, a person’s power of committing sins gets weak, and his power to do good gets stronger. When a person fasts in the proper manner and implements all the etiquette of fasting, he will free himself of sins and gain salvation from hell.
3. It is mentioned in a Hadith that fasting is a shield as long as it is not destroyed by lies and backbiting. In other words, fasting works as a shield as explained above. But this is on the condition that the person abstains from sinning. If a person fasts and still speaks lies, backbites, and commits other sins, then although he will be absolved of the fard of fasting, he will be committing a major sin. Furthermore, he will be deprived of the barakah of fasting.
