Words of Wisdom

Fragrant pieces of advice

1. Evil presumption is a worst sin

Evil presumption is a worst sin, but the majority of people neither consider it sin nor repent of it. (Saying of Sayyiduna Sahl Bin ‘Abdullah Tustari رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه)

(Hadeeqah Nadiyyah, vol. 1, pp. 489)

2. Importance of acting upon one’s knowledge

If I act upon my knowledge, I am the greatest scholar, and if I do not do so, no person in the world is more ignorant than me. (Saying of Sayyiduna Sufyan Bin ‘Uyaynah رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه)

(Al-Jami’ li Akhlaq-ir-Raawi, pp. 57)

3. Four Doors of knowledge

The first door of knowledge is silence, the second one is listening attentively, the third one is to act upon it, and the fourth door is to spread and teach it to others. (Saying of Sayyiduna Dahhaak Bin Muzahim رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه)

(Al-Jami’ li Akhlaq-ir-Raawi, pp. 129)

4. Basis for high and low rank

A person not having knowledge has a low rank even if he is older, and an ‘Aalim has a high rank even if he is young. (Saying of Sayyiduna Ibn Mu’taz رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه)

(Al-Jami’ li Akhlaqir-Raawi, pp. 214)

A’la Hadrat’s pearls of wisdom

1. Get Huqooq-ul-‘Ibaad forgiven in this world

It is easy to get Huqooq-ul-‘Ibaad [rights of people] forgiven in this world. Its forgiveness on the Day of Judgement is very difficult because every person will be worried for himself; he will be desirous of virtues and will have hatred towards sins. No one dislikes getting the reward of others, and his sins being given to others. (Fatawa Razawiyyah, vol. 24, pp. 463)

2. Importance of speaking style

A change in speaking style for mentioning the acts in which one should be modest (e.g. private matters of a husband and wife, menstruation and postnatal bleeding, matters which make Ghusl Fard, etc.) conveys different meanings. Mentioning the same ruling modestly can enable an unmarried girl to learn [without hesitation], and if it is with immodesty, a modest man cannot mention it even amongst men. (Fatawa Razawiyyah, vol. 29, pp. 60)

3. The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is aware of every Ummati’s condition

(The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم) knows his Ummah more perfectly than a person who knows those who sit with him. He صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم not only knows them, but is seeing each and every deed and action of theirs. He صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is also aware of the thoughts coming into the hearts [of people]. (Fatawa Razawiyyah, vol. 15, pp. 74)

Madani pearls of ‘Attar

1. Who should be requested to make Du’a?

The one for whom people have a good presumption that his Du’a gets accepted should be requested to make Du’a for “forgiveness without accountability”. (Madani Muzakarah, 25 Ramadan-ul-Mubarak, 1436 Hijri)

2. No goodness lies in evil presumption

There is no evil in good presumption and no goodness in evil presumption. (Madani Muzakarah, 18 Ramadan-ul-Mubarak, 1432 Hijri)

3. It is Sunnah to smile

It is Sunnah to smile. A smile attracts people. People distance themselves from those who wear sad facial expressions all the time. (Madani Muzakarah, 25 Ramadan-ul-Mubarak, 1436 Hijri)

Ghaus-e-Pak Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jeelani رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه spent his life worshipping Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and reforming people. For a long time, he kept saving people from misguidance and showing them the straight path through his blessed sayings, books and speeches. It is stated in ‘Akhbar-ul-Akhyar’, Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jeelani رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه devoted thirty-three years of his life to delivering Dars and teaching and writing Fatwa, whereas he رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه spent forty years preaching sermons to people. (Akhbar-ul-Akhyar, pp. 9)

Shaykh Abdul Haq Muhaddis Dehilvi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه has said: There would not be any gathering of Shaykh (Abdul Qadir Jeelani) رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه in which non-Muslims would not embrace Islam at the hand of Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jeelani رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه. Apart from this, the disobedient, misguided, heretic and robbers would also repent at his hand. In short, when over 500 non-Muslims embraced Islam and millions of sinful people repented at his hand and gave up their bad deeds, it is needless to comment anything in this connection (i.e., everyone would derive benefits from his blessed sayings.). (Akhbar-ul-Akhyar, pp. 13)

The blessed sayings of Ghaus-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه serve as a beacon light for everyone. Let’s read seven blessed sayings of Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jeelani رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه:

1. Be content with pleasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ

A Muslim should remain content with the pleasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and keep in mind that the blessings he has, in fact, are the bestowal of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and the trials are also from Allah Almighty. Human beings remain content with the pleasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ when they enjoy blessings, but when they face difficulties they start complaining. About contentment in the pleasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, Sayyiduna Ghaus-e-A’zam Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jeelani رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه has said: ‘(O bondmen of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ!) Do not try to get blessings and avoid troubles and sufferings. If a blessing has been written in your destiny, you will surely get it whether you ask for it or not. Similarly, if a trouble has been written in your destiny and it has been decided for you, you will face it whether you dislike facing it or make Du’a to remain safe from it. So, leave all your affairs to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. If you get blessings, give thanks and if you face troubles, have patience. (Derived from: Futuh-ul-Ghayb ma’ Qala`id-ul-Jawahir, pp. 24)

2. Fear of Allah

Dear Islamic brothers!  Fear of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is essential for refraining from sins and performing virtuous deeds. As long as we have no fear of Allah Almighty, it is extremely difficult for us to stay safe from sins and perform virtuous deeds.

Sayyiduna Ghaus-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه has said: (O the bondmen of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ!) Do not be fearless of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, but rather do have fear. If Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ had not created Paradise and Hell, even then He عَزَّوَجَلَّ deserves the right that His creation should fear him, hope to Him, obey him, carry out His commands, refrain from what He has forbidden, repent in His court, become very humble and weep in His court. When you show repentance with sincerity of the heart and perform virtuous deeds with consistency, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ will benefit you. (Al-Fath-ul-Rabbani, pp. 75; summarised)

3. Preacher should be practicing

If the one who enjoins to do good and forbids from evil is practicing, his words will also have impact on others. So, we will have to correct our practical life for making our words effective.  Sayyiduna Ghaus-e-Pak Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jeelani رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه has said: Advising others without practising yourself is of no importance. It is like a house without any door and without any household goods, it is like the treasure from which nothing is spent, and it is like such a claim that has no witness. (Al-Fath-ul-Rabbani, pp. 78, summarised)

4. How to stay safe from the attacks of Nafs

Mentioning the method of staying safe from the attacks of Nafs, Sayyiduna Ghaus-e-A’zam Pak رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه has said: Nafs suggests only committing evil because it is in its nature. It will get reformed after a long time. It is obligatory for you to always oppose Nafs. Always say to your Nafs: ‘Your virtuous deeds will benefit you and your bad deeds will harm you. No one else will neither join you nor will give you anything from his deeds.’

It is very necessary to keep performing virtuous deeds and striving against Nafs. Your friend is the one who prevents you from evils and your enemy is the one who misguides you. How can a Nafs attain the closeness to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ as long as it is not safe from evils and bad desires? Your Nafs will obey you when you eliminate the desires and hopes of your Nafs. (Derived from: Al-Fath-ul-Rabbani, pp. 139, 140)

5. Wake up to the fact

There are people who are heedless of death and have high hopes. Making such people wake up to the fact Sayyiduna Ghaus-e-Pak Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jeelani رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه has said: O the bondman of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! Abandon your hopes! Get rid of your greed! Offer every Salah in a way as if it is your last Salah. Remember! It is not appropriate for a believer to sleep in the state that he does not have his will in writing beside him. O dear bondman! Your way of eating, drinking, living with family, meeting with friends etc., should be like a dying man because the person whose life and all powers [and affairs] are in someone’s hands should live like this in the world. (Al-Fath-ul-Rabbani, pp. 220; summarised)

6. Pondering over Hereafter

Urging the people who are heedless of the Hereafter Sayyiduna Ghaus-e-Pak رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه has said: (O the unwise human!) Just ponder! When worldly pleasure of this mortal life is not possible without efforts and struggle, how is it possible to get the thing that is with Allah Almighty (and will last forever) without efforts and spiritual exercises? (Al-Fath-ul-Rabbani, pp. 222; summarised)

7. Repentance

Surely human beings commit sins even after they try hard to refrain from them, but a great misfortune is that when they commit sins consistently and completely forget repentance. Sayyiduna Ghaus-e-Pak رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه has said: O Muslims! As long as you are alive, consider it to be a blessing because you will soon die. As long as you have the power to perform virtuous deeds, consider it to be a blessing and as long as you have time to repent, consider it to be a blessing and show repentance. (Al-Fath-ul-Rabbani, pp. 29, summarised)

May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ grant us Taufiq so that we can improve our world and Hereafter by acting upon the blessed sayings of Sayyiduna Ghaus-e-Pak رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه.

 صَلَّى  اللّٰهُ  عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّماٰمِيۡن   بِجَاهِ   النَّبِيِّ  الۡاَمِيۡن