Quenching A Future Imam's Learning Aspiration
Imam Tirmidhī rahimahullah establishes a chapter titled “Chapter in Regards to Abhorrence of Lying, Falsification etc.” in his monumental “Sunan”. Under this chapter Imām Tirmidhī rahimahullah mentions the following hadīth: It is reported on the authority of Anas radiallahu anhu from Nabī salallahu ῾alayhi wasallam with regards to “Major sins” that He (salallahu ῾alayhi wasallam) …
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ مُجَالِدٍ، عَنْ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنْ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «الحَلَالُ بَيِّنٌ وَالحَرَامُ بَيِّنٌ، وَبَيْنَ ذَلِكَ أُمُورٌ مُشْتَبِهَاتٌ، لَا يَدْرِي كَثِيرٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ أَمِنَ الحَلَالِ هِيَ أَمْ مِنَ الحَرَامِ، فَمَنْ تَرَكَهَا اسْتِبْرَاءً لِدِينِهِ وَعِرْضِهِ فَقَدْ سَلِمَ، وَمَنْ وَاقَعَ شَيْئًا …
In a discourse Maulāna Ashraf Ali Thānvi rehmatullāhi alayh said,
One person has sent a letter that he is indebted and needs an effective wazīfa. I replied that there is no better wazīfa in effect than Dua’.
[quran_taharah] People have stopped asking Allāh. The connection between the slave and Allāh has weakened a lot. The perception of people in this matter is very corrupt, and one thing which is even more harmful than this is when the wazīfa does not work, they start to doubt the ability of the verses of Allāh. This further corrupts ones belief.
In an answer to one Maulāna Saheb, Maulāna Ashraf Ali Thānvi rehmatullāhi alayh said that it is not from amongst the statements of Muhaqiqīn (those with the insight) that one should first rid his heart from Mā Siwā’ Allāh (all that is besides Allāh) and thereafter instill Allāh’s remembrance in it. Whosoever believes this is greatly deceived. It is extremely difficult for a heart to be empty of Mā Siwā’ Allāh, and to think otherwise is a grave error.
Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi rehmatullah alayh says,
“Some people increase their bad deeds in this month (Ramadhaan). This is perhaps due to unawareness, or due to deficient understanding, or perhaps they know it yet do not practice caution. This is indeed a very strange matter that in this month, Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala has even prohibited those things which were permissible in normal months. Isn’t this an indication that those actions which were already impermissible are now prohibited to a greater degree?