Difference Between Fatiha and Niyaz

Questions and answers of Madani Muzakarah

1. If parents were to pass away in the state of being displeased with their children, then?

Question: What should children do if they adopt bad conduct with their parents and abandon them, and during this time, their parents (or one of them) pass away?

Answer: In this situation, the children should perform those tasks which have been stipulated by Shari’ah. This involves arranging all aspects of their funeral, washing, shrouding, participating in their burial, making extensive supplications for their forgiveness, and conveying good deeds to their souls.^[1]

2. Oh Ghaus, how powerful is your strike!

Question: When Ghaus al-A’zam, Shaykh Abd Al-Qaadir al-Jeelani رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه said, ‘My foot is upon the necks of the Awliya (saints),’ did any of them reject this?

Answer: Yes, indeed! And those who denied it had their sainthood taken from them. Also, there are certain accounts which mention that those of them who retracted had their sainthood returned to them.^[2]

Al-Amaan qahar hay ay Ghaus woh teekha tera

Mar kay bhi chain say sota nahin mara tayra^[3]

Translation:

We take refuge in Allah! Oh Ghaus, how powerful is your strike!

The one struck by you never has comfort, even after their demise

3. How much Salat upon the Prophet should be recited daily?

Question: There is a lot of emphasis placed upon reciting Salat upon the Prophet. Please kindly explain how much Salat upon the Prophet we should recite daily?

Answer: The more Salat that is recited, the more benefit one attains. Therefore, one should develop a habit of reciting as much Salat upon the Prophet as possible. One should recite Salat upon the Prophet at least 313 times daily.^[4]

4. The difference between Fatihah and Niyaz

Question: What is the difference between Fatihah and Niyaz?

Answer: Both, Fatihah and Niyaz, have the same meaning, however, the food, etc., that is prepared in order to convey its reward to religious elders is respectfully entitled ‘Niyaz’. The food that is prepared in order to convey reward to a normal person is known as the food of ‘Fatihah’. In reality, the word Niyaz has greater connotations of respect, hence, it is utilised for religious elders. Just as those lower in rank are told to ‘Sit down’, but those higher in rank are requested to ‘Please, take a seat’. Fatihah and Niyaz are both done in order to gain the pleasure of Allah Almighty. There is also no harm in saying that it is the ‘Niyaz of Ghaus al-A’zam’.^[5]

5. Was Ghaus al-A’zam رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه a Mufti?

Question: Was Ghaus al-A’zam رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه a Mufti?

Answer: Ghaus al-A’zam رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه was a Mujtahid Mutlaq, i.e. a true Mufti.^[6] In reality, only a Mujtahid is a true Mufti. The Muftis of today are known as ‘Muftiyan-e-Naaqil’. This means that they derive Fatawa from the original work conducted by a Mujtahid.^[7]

6. A book containing the statements of Ghaus al-A’zam

Question: In today’s day and age, are there books containing the words and statements of Ghaus al-A’zam رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه? If they are available, can they be relied upon?

Answer: What is the reason for not believing it to be reliable? The book of Ghaus al-A’zam رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه, ‘فُتُوحُ الغیب’, is well known, and has been translated into many different languages. Shaykh Abd al-Haq Muhaddis Dihlawi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه has written a commentary on this book, which can also be found in Urdu. Remember! When acquiring such books, one should buy the translation which has been written by a true devotee of Ghaus al-A’zam.^[8]

7. How is it to take an image of your Murshid^[9] and place it within a frame?

Question: Are we allowed to frame a picture of our Murshid?

Answer: We seek refuge! We seek refuge! This is impermissible. By doing this, the angels of mercy do not enter the home.^[10] Some people even have so-called images of Shaykh Abd al-Qaadir Jeelani رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه, which are undoubtedly fake. This is because there was no camera in those days. Furthermore, they even illustrate his blessed beard to be short. For the sake of argument, مَعَاذَا لـلّٰـه, even if that image was true, it would still be impermissible to hang it. If one’s murshid is pious, fulfils all relevant conditions and is a scholar, it would still be sinful to hang his picture. If the Murshid himself desires his image to be framed in this way, then he shall cease being considered pious, and will fall into another category altogether.^[11]

8. Reciting the Quran for the entire night whilst standing on one leg for 15 years!

Question: It is found within the biography of Shaykh Abd al-Qaadir Jeelani رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه that for 15 years, after completing the Isha prayer, he would stand on one leg, lean against a wall, and begin reciting the Holy Quran, and would complete it by the time of Suhoor.^[12] What was the wisdom behind this?

Answer: He رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه would do this in order to extinguish the influence of the Nafs, and to show Satan that no matter how hard he tries to stop him, he رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه will proceed that much further, and no matter how hard he tries to decrease the amount of worship Ghaus al-A’zam performed, he رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه would worship Allah Almighty that much more. Whatever Ghaus al-A’zam did, our eyes are closed upon it (meaning, we accept everything without question). If our eyes are not closed upon Ghaus al-A’zam رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه, then who else will they be closed upon? ^[13]