Quenching A Future Imam's Learning Aspiration
I wrote a letter to a certain Maulana Saheb that in this path af’āl (actions) are intended and not Infi’āl (self occurrence)*. In these two terms I have summed up the whole spirit of Tasawwuf and explained it. But Maulana Saheb did not pay heed.
Perhaps some people may be thinking that we also give talks, and that fulfills the obligation of Tableegh. Just as I am giving this talk, I know the reality of the speech. No one just goes to a place and start giving a talk. One has to place a request, and then face a trail of excuses; sometimes it is a headache, sometimes the nose is hurting. I say that these excuses may be acceptable for a long speech, but what hindrance does a headache have with saying two statements (so that one can say a couple of sentences informing of deen, hence fulfilling the obligation)?
Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi rehmatullahi alayh mentioned that once Jahangeer (the mughal king) came to meet Sheikh Saleem Chishti rehmatullahi alayh. (At that time) Sheikh had given his rags to one of his Mureed to look for lice. During this time Sheikh went into his quarters and closed the doors.
While asking a question to an Alim some people put a condition that the proof should be referenced from Qur’an. Ulama also try to fulfill this request and struggle to establish their answer from Qur’an. However, when the Usool (Sources of Proof) in Shariah are four, Qur’an, Hadeeth, Ijmaa’ Ummah and Qiyas, then every Alim has a right to establish his answer either from Qur’an or from Hadeeth etc. How far would one go to establish proof from Qur’an? If all the masa’il (juristic problems) could be deduced from the Qur’an alone, then what would be the need for the remaining sources?…
“Acceptance of supplication (Dua’) is not a karamat because the supplications of laymen as well as kuffar (disbelievers) also get accepted. Look at اكفر الكفرة افجرالفجرة (most disbelieving of the disbelievers and most sinning of the sinful), i.e Shaytaan’s dua’ was accepted. Moreover, (look at) his Dua’ which was accepted was also an abnormal one and is considered bad manners according to the Fuqaha’ (Jurists)….
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?
[Continuing from the talk of “Obligation of Tableegh”, Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi r.a says] “…(Our condition is such that When) men come home, they have no concern except getting angry at their wives either due to food or for (not) ironing ones clothes (etc.). They will not say a single religious thing to their families. …