Category Archives: Practice

June 13, 2011   Article, English, English, Kalaam, Practice, Rajab, Sacramento, Sacramento, Sharaaz Qadri, Spirituality, Stories, Translation   1 Comment

Being the First to Greet — from the Malfuzat of Khwaja Uthman Haruni (ra)

The following is an excerpt taken from Session 12 of the Anees ul-Arwah–The Malfuzat of Khwaja Uthman Haruni (rehmatullahi alyhe)–as recorded by Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (rehmatullahi alayhe):

He said, “On the topic of greeting (saying assalam alaikum), the Blessed Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said, “When one of you takes leave of a gathering then greet. Greeting is an expiation for past sins. Angels desire forgiveness (with their Lord) for the one who greets. The one who greets after rising from a gathering has the Mercy of God upon him. His good deeds and lifespan are increased.”

“Upon the tongue of Khwaja Yusuf Chishti (may Allah shower His mercy on him), I heard that he who greets when departing from a gathering earns the reward of one thousand virtuous acts, one thousand of his needs are fulfilled and he is cleansed from sin to such a degree as the day he was delivered from his mother’ s womb. A year of his sins are forgiven and a year of virtuous acts are written to his book of deeds. Additionally the reward of one hundred greater and minor pilgrimages (Hajj and Umrah) are recorded for him and one hundred trays of mercy are showered upon him.”

“Hazrat Ali (may Allah ennoble his face) always wished to be the first to greet the gathering of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when joining or leaving but the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) would always out do him in it (he would greet first). Greeting is the way (sunnah) of the Prophets (may peace be upon them all), but all of them were first to greet others.”

At this, the master completed his words of wisdom and became engrossed in his dhikr with the people and the one in need of his prayers having left–all praises to God for that (lesson).

Translated by Sharaaz Khan
11 Rajab 1432 Hijri

Read More
June 9, 2011   Article, English, English, Islam, Kalaam, Practice, Rajab, Sacramento, Sacramento, Sharaaz Qadri, Spirituality, Translation   No comments

The Prayer of the Aspirant

The following is taken from the Anees ul-Arwah–The Malfuzat of Khwaja Uthman Haruni (rehmatullahi alyhe)–as recorded by of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (rehmatullahi alayhe)

 

He (Khwaja Uthman Haruni rehmatullahi akyhe) once said, “O Seeker!  Call out the takbeer (Allahu Akbar) in the same manner as I have, as its place is between the two eyebrows and the chest and have certainty that God is watching you and that both my feet are on the Siraat (the bridge over which each human being must successfully cross to enter Heaven). On my right side is Heaven and on my left the fire of Hell. Then call out Allahu Akbar and with complete concentration and presence of mind, recite the the Quran al-Hakeem. Enter into the position of bowing (ruku’) with absolute submission and presence of heart. In prostration (sajud) lose yourself in (Allah)–the state of Istighraaq–then sit (in juloos) and recite the greetings (atahiyyaat).  As long as you remain in this state until you complete (with salaam), the angels will seek forgiveness for you from Allah–Most High.”
He then said, “Then eat from lawful food and lawful earnings and wear of lawful clothing. Make tauba (pleading to God for the forgiveness of past wrong and evil deeds) your second nature . And when you do so, the seven doors of Heaven will be opened for you. Your prayer will be accepted.”
Then he said, “Reciting the Qur’an oft and repeatedly is what washes sins (kaffara or expiation) and there is a veil between the Fire and the one who recites. For such a reciter, the door of Heaven is opened  and from every letter (of every word) he recites, an angel is born. When this angel recites the Quran this person will receive its reward. The closeness to God is achieved through recitation and teaching of the Holy Qur’an.
It is incumbent upon you to recite the Qur’an, so learn. The Messenger of God (upon him be peace and blessings) said, “The one who recites one verse of the Qur’an, in his book of deeds is written the reward of all deeds. The one who dies loving the recitation and teaching of the Qur’an is presented by an angel  the gift of a pear from his Lord. The fire of the grave nor the fire on the Day of Standing will touch the one who recites the Qur’an from its beginning to end. He will be the neighbor of the Prophets (upon them all be peace) in Heaven.
At this he ended his words and all the people left and all praise belongs to Allah.
Translated by Sharaaz Khan.
8 Rajab 1432 Hijri
Read More
October 8, 2010   Ahl us-Sunnah, Announcements, Practice, Social Work, Spirituality   1 Comment

Pakistan Flood Relief Project

In the Name of Allah, The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful

Prayers and Salutations upon the Holy Prophet Muhammad

 [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL2b1t-2cKc]

As part of the international effort to provide relief to those affected by the recent floods in Pakistan, the Islamic Educational and Cultural Research Center USA and Canada (IECRC), initiated by donations from the Kingdom of Bahrain and Pakistan, launched the Ghareeb Nawaz Package Distribution during the Eid-ul-Fitr season of 2010. The packages, which were made locally in Karachi by dedicated IECRC volunteers, contained varying combinations of Flour (Aataa), Rice, Sugar, Oil, Ghee, Chanaa Daal, Moong Daal, Besan, Masoor Daal, Sufayd Chanaa, Kaalaa Chanaa, Tea, Sharbat, Red Chillies, Dhania Powder, Salt, Dates, Vermicelli and Custard Powder. Different size packages were distributed to families with varying number of members at the Sheebi Goth Flood Relief Camp in Malir District east of Karachi under the supervision of camp leader Mr. Sagher. He is well know for his honesty and hard work in the area.

Mr. Sagher was very grateful for the receipt of these humanitarian aid packages which were distributed individually by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ahmed Qadri, the Founding Director of IECRC to  the 64 families (317 individuals) who are under the jurisdiction of Mr. Sagher’s camp. Mr. Sagher thanked Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ahmed Qadri and his laborious team which included Mr. Muhammad Tahir Qadri of the IECRC and DSP Arshad Tanoli. The entire entourage was accompanied by police escort from Karachi which oversaw the distribution process. Under the unsafe conditions that distributions such as these are faced with, such police escort was necessary.

At this occasion Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ahmed Qadri, a world renowned Islamic scholar, noted that the reason humanity faces such kinds of challenges is because we have turned away from the Path of Allah – the Path that calls towards His Worship and the unconditional service of His creation. He exhorted all Pakistanis and people around the world to become exemplars of patience and steadfastness during this and all adversities and to obey the verse of the Holy Quran where Allah Almighty says:

“O Believers! Seek help with patience and prayer; no doubt, Allah is with the patient ones.”

[The Holy Quran, Chapter Al-Baqarah, 2:153]

 

He further exhorted that when a believer prostrates in front of Allah Almighty, his difficulties are eased by the blessings and power of supplication. He thanked all the people who donated towards this noble project proving the Prophetic Hadeeth that when one part of the Muslim Ummah is in pain, the other part feels it. It is this feeling that was impetus for all the donors proving that we are truly one body. It doesn’t matter if we are in the USA, Canada, or Bahrain, our hearts are with our suffering brothers and sisters no matter which part of the world they are in. Dr. Qadri ended with a prayer for all.

Included in this report are some photos and a video clip which were created with the intent to show testimony of those who have received the packages. Although it is better to carry out such efforts without any exhibits, such display was necessary in the current circumstances where there is much distrust associated with donations reaching the deserving recipients.

[slideshow]

Read More
« Older posts
Newer posts »