Questions & Answers

 

 

 

Q: 1

Was the word Tasawwuf used by the Holy Prophet-saws or his Companions-rau?

 

Ans: 1

“……… Tasawwuf is the translation of Tazkiyah.  Those who are allergic to the word Tasawwuf might as well leave it – the word has not been revealed by Allah; yet nobody can ever deny the importance of Tazkiyah……..”  

 

[Tazkiyah for In-depth Knowledge – A must read]

 

Purifying the believers (Tazkiyah) was one of the duties of the holy Prophet-saws, as mentioned in the Quran [Read More].  Tasawwuf is the Persian translation of the words ‘Tazkiyah’ in the Quran and ‘Ihsan’ in Hadith.  Sulook and Tariqah mean “the Path” and denote the degree of Divine nearness, achieved through spiritual purification (Tazkiyah).

 

 

Q: 2

I pray 5 times a day, Fast and pay Zakat.  Why should I do Zikr and acquire Tazkiyah?

 

Ans: 2

“…….. It has assumed an even greater significance in the commotion of the present time.  You can try it yourself.  If you start performing Zikr, you will certainly feel the difference.  Those of your friends, who may have been offering Salah since a long time, would also discern the difference of feelings in their prayers after performing Zikr.  The criterion for the delinquents like me is that, if I start committing nine sins daily instead of ten, I have started improving.  My journey towards the good has begun and I can see a ray of hope at the far end of the tunnel.  For a healthy person, a temperature of 102 degrees will signify high grade fever but for a patient who has been running 104 degrees for years, it will indicate a sure sign of recovery.  Everyone doesn’t transform into an angel overnight, a human being shall always remain a human being, ever prone to error.  The process of Tazkiyah will however, revive within him the realization of his relationship with his Creator and would inspire him from within to strive for His Pleasure…….”

 

[Tazkiyah for In-depth Knowledge]

 

Hadhrat Mujaddid Alif Sani-rau said, “Tasawwuf is the science of spiritual feelings and stages, which cannot be literally represented in overt literature or explained by word of mouth.” [Dalael us-Sulook]. How a Salat is offered is the subject of Fiqh or Jurisprudence but what must be felt during the Salat is the subject of “Tasawwuf”. Zikr enhances these feelings during Salat and fasting. Attaining these feelings is an objective in itself which the Quran points out in Surah Muzammil as “Tabatall Elaihe Tabteela”.

 

 

Q: 3

Could you please explain different types of Zikr?

 

Ans: 3

There are three types of Zikr:

 

1)   Practical, i.e. Zikr-e F‘eli (Zikr through personal action)

2)   Oral, i.e. Zikr-e Lisani (Zikr with the tongue)

3)   Secret, i.e. Zikr-e Qalbi (Zikr within the heart)

 

Practical Zikr: All actions of day-to-day life taken in accordance with the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet-saw are listed as Zikr, for instance, all physical worships, all good deeds, even the method of drinking water, the etiquettes of eating and dressing etc.  

 

Oral Zikr: Comprises loud as well as with low tone. The former comprises, Azan, Takbir (pronouncement heralding the commencement of Salat), formal sermon as on Friday and Salat-e-Eid Congregations, etc. The latter comprises Tasbihat enjoined morning and evening.

 

Wherever Zikr is enjoined in the Quran, the condition of frequency has been invariably added, for example:

 

“O you who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance. (33:41-42)

 

Ibn-e Kathir, while explaining the verse writes: “Ibn-e-‘Abbas-RAU explains that Allah has not enjoined any worship on his bondsmen of which a limit has not been prescribed and the excuse of a handicapped not accepted. The only exception to the rule where neither a limit is imposed, nor has the excuse of anyone been accepted, except that of a lunatic, is Zikr. It is enjoined under all circumstances, i.e., sitting, standing, reclining, day or night, by word of mouth or within the heart, on land or on the sea, static or in motion, in prosperity or adversity, in sickness or health irrespective of the state (eating or drinking, selling or buying, asleep or awake”. (Ibn-e Kathir vol: III, p: 495)  

 

Secret Zikr: (Zikr-e Qalbi): This has nothing to do with words of mouth, and as such, cannot even be discerned by the Kiram an-Katibin (The Recording Angels). Imam Abu Y’ala reports with reference to Hadhrat ‘Aaishah that the Holy Prophet-saw had once said:

 

Zikr-e-Khafi (the Secret Zikr) which cannot be discerned by the Kiram an-Katibin is seventy times superior to other types. On the Day of Judgement, mankind will be called to reckoning by Him and the Kiram an-Katibin directed to produce the Register of Conduct of every person. These Angels will be commanded to re-examine the records to see if any of their good deeds remained unrecorded. They would submit that everything within their reach had been duly put down. Allah shall then inform them that a good deed which they could not discern and hence were unable to record was Zikr-e Qalbi. I, the narrator, assert that Zikr-e Qalbi neither snaps, nor is liable to any interruption. Tafsir-e-Mazhari vol: III, p.41:1. 

 

 

Q: 4

Why is Zikr-e-Qalbi (Zikr within the Heart) important?

 

Ans: 4

“……..The only organ that can permanently perform Allah’s Zikr is the human heart and only Zikr-e Qalbi (Zikr by the heart) can fulfil the condition of constant Zikr. Once the heart learns Allah's Zikr, it never stops at any time, under any circumstances. During the time of the holy Prophet-saw, a moment of his company was enough to acquire this blessing. His Companions similarly blessed the Taba’in and they in turn passed these blessings to the Tab’a Taba’in. The mere company of these exalted souls was sufficient to transfer this blessing or Barakah to their visitors. No further effort was required to achieve this excellence. However, after this glorious era, the strength of the teacher and absorption of the seeker both decreased. It therefore became necessary, as determined by the Mashaikh (spiritual teachers) that the teacher and the student must sit together. The teacher should perform Zikr on his Lataif and focus the Divine lights attending him, towards the seeker. This process is known as Tawajjuh (spiritual atten­tion). The holy Prophet-saw didn't require giving special, conscious attention to any one. The sun doesn't have to make any effort to deliver its light, a person has only to come out to receive it. Similarly, the holy Prophet-saw didn't have to make any particular effort to give spiritual attention, the seeker had only to come to him to receive Prophetic Barakah. This spiritual power was retained by the Companions, the Taba’in and the Tab'a Taba’in, whereupon ended the period of automatic transfer of these blessings. Now a seeker had to strive hard to acquire them. The teacher and the seeker both engaged themselves in Zikr, the former gave spiritual attention and the latter tried to absorb the Barakah in his heart………”

 

[The Method of Zikr – for In-depth knowledge – A must read]

 

 

Q: 5

Is it necessary to take Bai’at with a Shaikh?

 

Ans: 5

Bai'at is not essential for doing Zikr but it is mandatory for getting Tawajjuh of the Shaikh and achieving Spiritual progress, including illumination of Lataaif and attaining to stages of the Path.

 

 

Q: 6

What is a Spiritual Bai’at or Ruhaani Bai’at?

 

Ans: 6

Oath of Allegiance directly at the blessed hands of the Holy Prophet Muhammad-saws.   It is a great spiritual honour bestowed upon a seeker by Almighty Allah.  The Ruh of a seeker is presented before the Holy Prophet-saws in Barzakh, where he takes this Bai'at.  This spiritual experience can only be achieved in the company of an accomplished Sufi Shaikh, who himself follows the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet-saws. Commentaries of many accomplished Sufis of the past refer to this great spiritual honour.

 

 

Q: 7

Some people say that if you need something, just go to my Peer or Murshid or Shaikh and ask him; they believe that the Shaikh can do anything. Your comments, please.

 

Ans: 7

“……….  especially due to the influence of Hindu culture in our society, the concept of Shaikh has become blurred.  For that reason, we do not have that expectation from a Shaikh which is his real objective, but expect from him something which must not be expected from anyone but Allah.  It is wrong to ascribe such expectations to anyone other than Almighty Allah.  We wrongly consider the Shaikh as someone who can remove our distress, take our worries away and fulfill our needs. ………”

 

[Expectations from the Shaikh for In-depth Knowledge – A must read]

 

 

Q: 8

How important is it in your Silsilah to follow the Shariah?

 

Ans: 8

Adherence to the Shari'ah is the base for Tariqah, Tasawwuf, Sulook or spiritual progress. There is no concept of any progress in Sulook, without following the Shari'ah. Following the Quran and the Sunnah is the purpose of this life. The greatest emphasis is laid on adherence to the Shari'ah, in our Silsilah.

 

 

Q: 9

In some Tariqahs or Salasil it is taught that Salah (praying 5 times) is not important. Your comments please.

 

Ans: 9

“………An illuminated heart always turns towards Allah, whether He accepts or rejects. But a gloomy heart declines His call for prayers five times every day. That indeed is a great dif­ference. We hear His call, accept it mentally but do not answer it on one pretext or the other. At times we claim that we have more important business to attend or that our clothes are not clean for the prayers or that we feel indisposed. But when the heart is alive, Allah Himself grants it the strength to worship. Then He proudly presents such slaves before the angels who have said that man would work corruption on the earth. "Look at My slaves!" He says, "If there are corrupt ones, well there are good ones like these too! Where can the devil take them? Even when I reproach them, they do not leave My door." He had similarly addressed Satan on the First Day, Lo! As for My slaves, thou have no power over any of them - 15:42. That is, ‘You have no power over those who become My slaves but if anyone chooses to be your minion, I do not care about him.’…………”

 

[The Need for Zikr – for In-depth knowledge – A must read]

 

 

Q: 10

Are there any Waza’if taught in your Silsilah?

 

Ans:10

Along with Zikr-e Qalbi, all Salikeen are advised to recite the Holy Quran, Kalimah Tayyebah, Istighfaar and Darood Shareef everyday.

 

 

Q: 11

I am rather confused after looking at the Chain of Transmission.  How is it that there are only 11 Mashaikh in the chain, after the Holy Prophet-saws?  Up to Hadhrat Junaid Baghdadi-rau, it seems fine, and then there is Hadhrat Ubaid Ullah Ahrar-rua who passed away 600 years after Junaid Baghdadi-rua.  Please explain.

 

Ans:11

This is the distinction of Nisbat-e Owaisiah that one can give spiritual beneficence to someone in Barzakh and can also take beneficence from him. Some of the Mashaikh in the Chain of Transmission obtained spiritual guidance and attention from Saints who had passed away hundreds of years before them.

 

 

Q: 12

With reference to your answer above, won’t it give a chance to thugs to claim Wilayah?

 

Ans:12

Wilayah is a reflection of adherence to Risalat (Prophethood). A Prophet is the sole witness for his Prophethood. His claim is corroborated by the purity of his belief and conduct, rather his whole life. The Holy Quran mentions the pure life of the holy Prophet-saws as evidence to his claim of Prophethood. Similarly, if some Wali makes a claim that is difficult to verify normally, then his conduct would be examined as the first witness to corroborate his claim. The second proof of the veracity of his claim would be his associates. If his Nisbat initiates a visible positive change in his students, in all fairness, his claim should be considered as correct.

 

As far the apprehension that some thugs may also claim Wilayah under similar pretext, one may like to recall that greater thugs have already claimed Prophethood and even Divinity for themselves in all times. Even today, many such false sects exist in our society. Then, leaders of some Sufi Orders take Bai'at from their associates without any Nisbat with any Shaikh, alive or in Barzakh. Declaration of Owaisi Nisbat by an Owaisi Shaikh shouldn’t raise any eyebrows either. If Tasawwuf is a part of Deen, it must be declared publicly so that Muslims can benefit from it. And if it is something outside the fold of religion, it should be renounced as heresy and forsaken immediately.

 

 

Q: 13

Can women do Zikr?

 

Ans:13

Yes, women can do Zikr throughout the month, without break.

 

 

Q: 14

Do men and women do Zikr together in your Silsilah ??

 

Ans:14

No. Women should do Zikr separately. If they have to attend a Zikr session conducted by a senior member appointed by the Shaikh, they should sit in another room or behind a curtain, where they can hear his voice.

 

“Zikr session for women should be arranged separately. The instructions of Shari‘ah regarding Purdah (Hijab) should be observed.  Women should sit behind a curtain where they can hear the voice only.  They may hear directly or through a loud speaker………”

 

[Parameters of the Silsilah – for In-depth Knowledge – A must read]

 

 

 

Note:  Please read the Translated Speeches of our Shaikh to learn more about Tazkiyah and Zikr.  [English Articles]

 

 

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