Tawheed - Solution of Life: Part II

Imam Gazzali (R) has explained the concept of Tawheed with an example. He told that a man blamed the sword - you have killed me. Sword replied - What had I to do? I was in the hand. Blame the hand. Then the man told the hand (which was holding the sword), you have killed me. Hand exclaimed and said - How can I do so? I had no strength! It was the willingness who controlled me and directed me to fight. The man then accused willingness. Willingness defended by saying, I was instigated and ispired by the Heart. The heart told the man that I am in the control of someone else.

"The Heart of man is between the Two Fingers of Allah Tala (is contolled by Him)"

This is the reality, which is the purpose of Tawheed in terms of good deed. Whan someone achieves this level of Tawheed, neither does he dare to flatter others, nor does he care other people. He doesn't fear anyone except Allah Tala. The greed of wealth cannot influence him. He doesn't even fear death. Sheykh Sadi (R) has explained in this way:

"Under the foot of Mua'h-hid (One who as achieved Tawheed to satisfactory level)

Let go abundance of wealth;

Or let he be crowned with humiliation & disgrace

He will never - in any condition expect from man;

Do never ever forget this piece of teaching of Tawheed"

The one who attains the Makam (level) of Tawheed will not only comprehend, rather with his very naked eyes he will see that if the whole world wants to provide help to me, without Allah Tala's command that is NOT possible. On the other hand, if the whole world intends to harm me, without Allah Tala's wish it is NOT possible. Therefore, why should I be afraid of anyone? Why should I flatter others? Why should I be greedy? Therefore his fear is to none but Allah Tala. He never bestow his head in front of any being or thing, but Allah Tala. He excepts from none, but Allah Tala. He therefore is busy how to develop a strong bond with Allah Tala. And his slogan is:

"Know Allah Tala One, Read Him One, See Him One and Search Him One and only One."

Now the question comes, how will this level be attained(?)

In belief, all Muslims do posses the concept of Tawheed. However, as the sight is on the things, which outwardly express reasons, there is doubt in the belief mixed. Imam Gazzali (R) has provided an example of this suspension. About a dead body everyone knows and believes that it has nothing to do, completely incapable to do anything. People firmly belief that it cannot move its limbs. However, people fear to sleep with the dead body on the same bed. This fear doesn't imply that they don't believe in the death or incapability of the corpse. But an inner suspension fetch worries in them. In this way Muslims who haven't attained the level of Tawheed, admits the incapablity of things. But their hearts don't have the strength to completely and definitely defend the suspensions surrounding regarding 'doing of the matter'. Because eyes view 'things doing'. Heart is not strong enough to make understand - Doer is NOT the thing. If someone can attain this strength that things don't possess power, he will attain the level of Tawheed which is the discussion point.

The strength of Heart can be attained by various deep meditation. When man rests his eyes on the happening of this world, he can veiw how the plans and programs of men shatter. Gradually, the cloud of suspension drives away from the heart. The Aqida (Belief & Concept) of Tawheed takes place in heart and it finally becomes a habit. However, if this deep meditation is accomplished by the guide of a Spiritual Mentor then the later can save the person from all sorts of violation in works and thoughts.

Violation in the concept of Tawheed needs to be explained within two points.

First point is, though the Creator of all good and evil is none, but Allah Tala, and though all the happiness and sorrow both are from Allah Tala, still there is a conduct of approach while referring to these. The smallest of good should be related to Allah Tala, while the smallest of bad should not be related to Allah Tala.

Allah Tala states: "The door of Rahmah (Bounty) which Allah Tala opens for someone, others are incapable of closing it; the thing which He closes, without Him, none is its Opener." Sura Fatir: 2

In this Verse, there is a noticable point. It is, with 'opening' - the word Rahmah has been mentioned. However, with 'closing' - only 'the thing' has been mentioned, without any further explanation. Here in this Verse is a teaching, i.e. it is not the conduct to relate Allah Tala with closing of Rahmah. In addition, there is information that if anything in this universe apparantly seems contrary to Rahmah, it will be for good for all.

Hazrat Ibrahim (AM) has followed the mentioned conduct. He used to relate all the goods with Allah Tala. For instance, he used to say, Allah Tala has provided Hidayat to me. He is the One who provides food and clothing to me. He also says: "When I become ill, he recovers me from illness." Sura Ash-Shuwara: 80

Ibrahim (AM) has clearly related 'being ill' to ownself. But related Allah Tala whicle talking of recovery.

Hazrat Khijir (AM) has followed the same rule. He says, "And Allah Tala wished they reach their youth and retain the treasure." Sura Kahf: 82

He has related the good to Allah Tala.

However, when Hazrat Khijir (AM) made hole under the boat of the orphans, he stated, "I wished to damage the boat." Sura Kahf: 79

He related damage to himself.

For this reason, the Fuqaha has written a Ruling - if someone calls Allah Tala only the Creator of dogs and swines, the individual will become a kafir (nonbeliever).

Second point is, though the Doer of every activity in this universe is solely Allah Tala, still the Shariah hasn't completely ignored the discussion of things and means. Allah Tala has affixed some responsiblities to those. Because, definitely Allah Tala is the Doer and the Doer has set the thing to accomplish a task. For this reason if someone is providing support then it is mandetory that the one getting service and support should express gratitude towards the first. Ulama for this reason advise to preserve and take care of the papers, because papers are means to Knowledge.

To what extent should we keep notice to these means and in which cases there should not be any sort of noticing things, the difference between these need to be observed carefully by the Seeker, who wants to attain Tawheed in terms of deed. Practically a Spiritual Mentor will guide the Seeker along this path.

Tawheed - Solution of Life: Part I

Mufti Shafi Saheb (R) - A Star indeed. Allah Tala has blessed us through his works. This extract is one very valuable piece from 'Dil ki Dunya' a must read book for the Seeker of Right Path.

(Note: Anyone reading this part must not miss Part II for clear understanding of Tawheed. Any question regarding such matter must be clarified from Spiritual Mentor or Ulama)

"Know Allah Tala One, Read Him One, See Him One and Search Him One and only One..."

The inner values of man, which have been prescribed essential, amongst those - Tawheed is a major one. To believe in One Allah Tala and match nothing to Him is the foundation of Iman (belief). In Ilm-e Tasawuf, Tawheed has been elaborated much more deeply. It states that the Tawheed which had been achieved conceptually or at a level of belief must be practiced in good deeds in such manner that it becomes human habit. It means, when the believer views the happening of this world he firmly believes that whatever is happening is by the command of Allah Tala. Without His command not a single molecule can turn. At the level of belief every Muslim knows and accepts it. However, in every situation of life where will and woe comes by turn, this very belief doesn't seem to be arouse in mind always. For this reason, when there is means through which happiness or sorrow enters in life, man seem to relate that means with the happiness or sorrow coming. But reality of Tawheed (which is Tawheed in terms of good deed) is - always wake up in heart the actual cause of happenings (i.e. Only Allah Tala's command is the source of all happenings), as if you are seeing it. A devout says in this regard,

"Through your heart if you see the doing of Allah Tala that is Tawheed, only the bearing of witness through tongue is not sufficient."

When man views that behind every occurrence of this world there is One Allah Tala's Hand, man doesn't care to become friendly or inimical to others. Because his firm belief is happiness or sorrow whatever is coming in my life is from Allah Tala. The thing which can be seen as cause is only the means.

"Animosity of enemies and intimacy of friends all are from Allah Tala
Indeed the hearts are in the Hand of Allah Tala."

In Hadit it is stated, when something occurred which was against will, instead of expressing any sort of complain, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam just used to say, "What Allah Tala desired has happened, what He won't desire will not happen."

Fact is that, to relieve the heart at the moment of sorrow and pain, this is indeed the best treatment ever found!

To be continued Inshallah

The First Step toward Self Rectification

Even if hundred times you break off Tawba - still make a Comeback!

If an individual wants that his inward remains pure, i.e. free from all spiritual diseases; if he wishes that consequently he may achieve the Satisfaction of Allah Tala, then the first step for him is Tawba. For this reason today I discuss about Tawba.

Generally people think that Tawba is to utter the words: Astagfirullaha Rabbi min kulli.....However, this is a very big mistake. The real meaning of Tawba is: Repent for past sins and be ashamed; compensate as much as possible and to make firm intention not to commit the sin again in future.

Imam Gazzali (R) has explained the matter very effectively. He said that, in this world good and evil are mixed. As there are factors which inspire toward Taqwa, there are also things which attract toward sins. There are things which attract you toward good deeds and there are opposite things which attract toward wrongdoings. Your task is to defeat the desire of committing sin and make the enthusiasm of accomplishing good deed the winner. He adds, take for example the gold in which there is some impurity - some impure materials are mixed in the some gold. The way to make such gold pure is to burn it in fire. If such impure gold is burnt in fire, only then it is freed from its baser metal. This is the only way to purify the impure gold. Just in similar way, to free man from sins - burn is a requirement. The burn which can free human from unwanted things (sins) is of two kinds: One is the fire of Jahannam. Because, if a believer is put in Hell-fire, it is to purify him - not only for punishing. Rather the main reason behind burning him there is to take him to Jannah. On the other hand, the non-believers are taken into the Jahannam forever for punishment. The other burn, which wipes out sins and purify is the burn i.e. the repentance and remorse. This is such a burning mean, which in this very world - burns the adulterated materials and purify a human.
Imaam Gazzali (R) said, to purify oneself, one has to burn in either of the two (stated above). Now it is up to him - through which mean does he wants himself to purify. If one feels that it is going to be very hard to be purified through Hell-fire, he may in this world burn his heart in the fire of Repentance. This repentance is Tawba. Just as it is in the Hadith: "Being regretful is Tawba."

From 'Dil ki Dunya' - Mufti Shafi Saheb R

Pitfall of Satan

From Arba'yeen (Tableege Deen) of Imam Gazzali (Rah)

Sometimes some people falsely believe: "Though our limbs are engaged in worldly affairs, our soul is not engaged in the world; always our mind is attentive towards Allah Ta’la."

This state is often a pitfall of Satan. Question to them: Without wetting your toes how can one walk through the water?

Remember, once if you become dedicated to this world, there is no way to survive. If you run after redundant things of this world, you will become busy and your religious life would suffer loss. Moreover remember, just as more you drink salt water from sea, your thirst will keep on increasing; the attraction of this world is quite similar. The more one attains assets of this world – the more ones desires keep on extending. Addiction of drugs has hardly any remedy; the obsession with worldly objects also increases day by day. This world is similar to a black poisonous snake. The covering of a snake is soft and good looking too; however, beneath such covering there is dangerous poison, which would take away life in a moment. The state of this world – duniya is such.

The Heart is for none, but Allah Ta'la

Once Hazrat Thanvi R was going to his house from his Khanqah. I (Hazrat R’s famous Apostle Mufti Muhammad Shafi R) was along with him as I had some works with him. Suddenly Hazrat Thavi R stopped and took out a pen and paper. He wrote down something on the piece of paper and kept it back into his pocket. Then he himself told me: “Did you understand anything (what I did)?” I answered, “No”. He explained, “I’ve loaded the paper with the words, which were in my heart. I remembered that I have a task on hand to be accomplished after returning to Khanqah. If I had not written it down, it would repeatedly disturb my heart. After writing it down my heart is free from it”. Then he said, “The heart has been created for Allah Ta’la”.

Therefore, the heart must be mainly engaged in remembrance of Allah Ta’la. For necessity one may bear other things in heart; however, this should be limited to an extent. To fill the heart with secular love and thoughts is a great mischief. The difference between the Ambiya AM, Awliaya R and us is both were in engaged in worldly affairs; however, the previous were the perfect example of: “Hand is at work, but the heart completely absorbed in the remembrance of Allah Ta’la”.

From Dil ki Dunya, Mufti Shafi R

Wipe out the aversions

Allah Ta’la states:
Forgive (people), command (them) towards righteous and stay apart from the unwise.

Rasulullah Sallallahualaiyhiwasallam informed:
Don’t possess aversion against each other.

Ques: What is aversion?

Ans: If you become very angry against someone and cannot take revenge, a sort of dirt spoils your heart. This is because you become vindictive and the dirt is called ‘keena’ – aversion.

Treatment of aversion:
Pardon the individual and start behaving well with him; inshallah after some days the aversion will erase.

From Talimuddeen, Hazrat Thanvi R

The Gist of Tasawuf

Hazrat Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanvi R defines Tasawuf:

If laziness is felt to perform any good deed, drive it away and execute it. On the other hand, if intention of committing sin instigates, fight back against the evil and refrain from it. If one achieves up this state, one needs nothing else. Because, this is the means to establish relation with Allah Ta’la.

Dirts of the Soul

According to Imam Gazzali’s famous book Tablige Deen (Indeed a very renowned book, one of the favorites of Great Ulamas today too*) below are the ‘Junks of heart’ – thus, should be eradicated:

1. Greed
2. Misusing the tongue
3. Anger
4. Jealousy
5. Stinginess
6. Craving worldly honor and seeking name/fame
7. Loving the secular life
8. Arrogance
9. Yearning self aspiration
10. To show off/Flaunt good deeds

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*Hazrat Ashraf Ali Thanvi highly praised it