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01-16-2012, 09:24 AM | #21 |
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do you know any shaykhs/circles in london who follow mujaddidi tariqah!! http://www.beautyofislam.org/ There were some miracles about him recently. For more , please see this link. http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/show...farooqi/page10 |
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01-17-2012, 01:17 AM | #22 |
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Sayyed Muhammad Ibn Ali al sanusi laid the foundation of his order which he (later) developed into an Islamic revivalistic movement on the religious orthodoxy of Muhammad Ibn Abdul wahab al Najdi and the purified tassawuf of Shaikh Abdul Qadir jilani and Ahmad Sarhindi.He was definitely influenced by the life of Shaikh Abdul Qadir but he might have gone through Shaikh Ahmad Sarhindi,s epistles which were not only available in Arabic but also popular in the Sufi circles of the Arab world.
Muhammad Ibn Ali al sanusi,as is well known,,had been initiated in a number of Sunni Sufi orders and thus was able to amass a wealth of principles and teachings he considered vital to his new "master order".In his book Al salasabil he looks at the salient features of these orders from a rational angle. Al salsabil al Ma'in is almost a summary of Al shmus al shariqa,a comparatively longer work,and details more than 40 Sufi orders.Both the works are valuable for the reason that one gets a detailed knowledge and and a clear idea of the influence of Sufism upon the author.He believes that difference only lies in approach or outlook,otherwise all Sufi orders are fundamentally the same,and lead to one and the same goal,viz,spiritual perfection and nearness to the Almighty. A critical study of the 'master order ' reveals,that besides incorporating some doctrines of other orders he also sufficiently enriched it with his own ideas and experiences.It was not a medley of the already existing orders nor was it an offshoot of some of them rather it was a "consistent and carefully thought out way of life" His order combined what he considered to be the best elements of the earlier Sufi writings and practices,and the aim underlying this endeavour was to evolve "The crown of Sufi thought and practice". The grand sanusi was initiated in about 65 Sufi orders which prevailed in Muslim world of that time,But the chief aim of the sanusi order always remained to make a man good Muslim rather than a good mystic or an ascetic.To the sanusis,Sufism meant orthodox Muslim faith and practices,instead of a substitute of it. The writings of the Grand Sanusi show that he closely follows the Ghazali example in his attempt to harmonise the sharia with the tariqa,both consider Sufism as the 'inwardness' of the sharia,but according to some The Grand Sanusi has an edge over Ghazali in the sense that he presents a good synthesis of the inner, and outward dimensions od Islam in his book BAGHYAH AL-MAQASID.In one place The Grand Sanusi elaborates this problem: "What we are supposed to do is to carry out the duties and obligation for which we have been created.We should constantly see if we are free from our obligations regarding matters of Allah,s worship and escape the vengeance of His displeasure.This objective can be achieved only by moulding our demeanour within the framework of the prophetic Sunna,and by submitting to Allah in all matters.This submission,which is the essence of the Prophet,s doings and sayings,can be effected in it's true sense only if we keep improving the inner working of our mind by perpetual vigilance and meditation and by remaining devoted to Allah swt in all our doings" " We should take care wether Allah is pleased with what we say or do,and leave all that in case it is otherwise.Furthermore,both our words and deeds should be free from the touch of all evil.Allah,s pleasure alone should be the focus of our care and not that of anyone else.He should always remain at the centre of our observation and vigilance.We should constantly meditate on HIM,till the seer vanishes in the person of the seen,and the created conceives the creator in his own person.And when you are blessed with the vision of the creator,all animate and inanimate things will be at your commond.The achievement of this position is contingent upon unceasing meditation and active performance of virtuous acts in the light of the Prophet,s Sunna. "Now there are two ways to attain to this 'summam bonum' 1.To enter the gate of the knowledge of the sharia through a thorough and deep study of Hadeeth,Tafsir and Fiqh as elucidated bt the salaf and inherited by the khalaf.This is the perfect way established by reasoning and observation,and hence the best. 2.To enter the gate of spiritual exercise (Mujahida).This means to brave hardships,to resist carnal desires,to experience distress and tribulations,to remain perpetually busy in Zikre,invocatory prayers and duplication and lamentation,and to send greetings to the holy prophet (PBUH) day and night.This is to be continued till the divine light illuminates the heart of the Zakir,and he strictly starts following sharia" "This is the way of illumination (ie Tariqa Al Ishraq);Now you are at liberty as to which way you adopt to achieve nearness to Allah.Both the ways are true and right.Beware that you may not give up both of them or adopt any way other than these two,and become whole heartedly dedicated to the negligent people" Cont.......("with thanks to mahmood Ahmad Ghazi"------"The Sanusi movement of north Africa") |
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01-17-2012, 02:44 AM | #23 |
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01-17-2012, 07:48 AM | #24 |
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01-17-2012, 11:48 AM | #25 |
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01-18-2012, 12:35 AM | #26 |
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The avowed aim of the sanusi was to restore the prestine beauty of Islam,as enshrined in the holy Quran and the prophetic sunnah;they prohibited music,dancing,singing,tobacco and even coffee.Yet like other Sufi orders it had certain devotional peculiarities.For instance in Dhikr (innovation of God,s name),they had certain formulae to be repeated upto a given number for different categories of the 'Ikhwan'.It would be interesting to note here that the adherents of the sanusiyyah order were divided into three categories:
1.AHL AL TABARRUK (people seeking spiritual blessings):These people were not formal members of the sanusiyyah order but attended the zawiyahs to tend only tabarruk or spiritual blessings.They used to repeat the given formulae three hundred times. 2.AHL AL IRADAH (People of devotion) : They were formal members of the sanusiyyah order and would repeat the given formulae twelve thousand times. 3.AHL AL TAJRID (people of abstraction): They were the people who had moulded their lives according to the Divine pleasure and scaled the heights of spiritual self-satisfaction.They repeated the formulae twenty- four thousand times. (ref:Al Anwar al qudsiyyah) Muhammaad Ibne Ali Ali al Sanusi and his followers never levelled heretic charges against other schools of thoughts or Sufi orders,rather they viewed the difference of opinion from a rational angle.For instance,criticising the "Uwaysiyyah order",the grand sanusi says: "Some groups of this order have gone wrong in matters of behaviour because of their limited knowledge of 'Hal' (intense feeling of ecstacy).They follow their own desires with no learned people and spiritual guides to educate them on proper lines.They are like the man who enters a dark room without a lamp.May God protect them and lead them on the straight path." Similarly he differs with the followers of the 'Qalandariyyah' order who believes that to undergo austerities and to practises the precepts of the sharia is not necessary for religious experience.Disagreeing with this point of view,The Grand Sanusi remarks: "This Tariqa or order can hardly lead to salvation,because Satan has too many devices by dint of which he seduces the followers of this Tariqa...." Besides the rational criticism on the points of difference,he totally rejected all the self-torturing practices of some medieval mystics such as swallowing glass pieces and hanging in wells while doing Dhikr (salate maakoos). Cont.....(with thanks to Mahmood Ahmad Ghazi....the sanusiyyah movement of north Africa") |
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01-18-2012, 02:10 AM | #27 |
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Besides the systematic elucidation of their mystic ideology,the Sanusi leaders also dealt with some fundamental problems dominating the medieval Sufi thought :
1.WAHDAH AL WUJUD: Ontological monism or ' Unity of all being' is the topic which topped the Islamic religio-mystic literature of medieval ages.Ibne Arabi was the first Sufi thinker to formulate "Wahdah al Wujud" on solid philosophical grounds; The Grand Sanusi throws ample light on it in a letter written to his son Sayyed al Mahdi al Sanusi;he says: "You will have to exert your fullest energies on achieving nearness to God and make both your mental and physical behaviour completely God-oriented,so much so that you witness,hear or visualise none other than HIM.You should immerse yourself in HIS person and even loss the consciousness of this immersion.While doing this you should ensure-- as goes a tradition--what is due to any body in a big or small way.Your outward self should smack of God,s vision;You should integrate yourself into the ultimate Reality;and defend His Sharia soliciting His help in doing the obligations enjoined by Him." This is a typical passage from his writings on the dimensions of mystic experience.He does not argue philosophically but his interpretations do throw sufficient light on it. 2.IKHLAS FIL AMAL,(Sincerity in actions): The concept of Ikhlas forms the nucleus of the mystic philosophy as the Quran itself speaks of : ** * * *"And they are commanded naught else than to serve Allah keeping the 'din'* ** * * * Pure for Him" The Grand Sanusi also laid too much stress on Ikhlas,devotion and selflessness.What is more,he discouraged even the help of any reward or compensation for any good deed in this world or hereafter .Discussing the issue ge says:"You should not expect any immediate or future reward for any of your actions;If you do so,your trust and belief in Allah would be weakened.Further,you should never claim that you have the power or ability to perform good deeds,lest you indulge in covert polytheism (shirke khafi).Be certain that all the faculties,powers,fate and destiny emerges from God alone.You should also know that 'ikhlas' has some categories: 1.Ikhlas al awam: or Ikhlas of the common folk.It means they must not seek publicity or appreciation for their virtuous deeds. 2.Ikhlas al khawasr Ikhlas of the spiritual elite.It means that they should not pin hopes on any reward or spiritual dignity/ranks for their virtuous acts. 3.Ikhlas khawas al khawas: or Ikhlas of *elect of the elect.It means to abstain from acquiring any spiritual strength and power by renouncing all strength and power.( meaning of "la hola wa la quwata illa *billah") 3.TAQWA: The Grand Sanusi gives special consideration to the concept of Taqwa and repeated emphasises that it should be observed in all actions.In one of his writings he says:"The only thing for which I urge myself as well as my Ikhwan is Taqwa" Cont.....(with thanks to Mahmood Ahmad Ghazi) |
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01-18-2012, 02:21 AM | #28 |
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01-18-2012, 02:47 AM | #29 |
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But it may be pointed out that the Sufi practices and spiritual experiences were never taken by Sanusi,s to be the real goal of a believer.Sufism,according to them,is only an add to the realisation of the real objective.This is clear from the emphasis laid by the founder and his grandson,syed Ahmad Al Sharif,on the spiritual identification of a salik with the personality of the Holy Prophet sallallaho alaihe wa sallam.This identification can be attained by mulling over the essence of the Prophet sallallho alaihe wa sallam and by gaining an inner knowledge of him that results from following in his footprints and seeking Divine blessings for him.The contemplation should be so intense that the veneration of the Prophet sallallho alaihe wa sallam pervades the seeker,s heart and soul and he ultimately reaches the stage where he hears only the prophet,s name and has only his form in his inward eye.When he reaches that stage the image of the Prophet sallaho Alaihe wa sallam becomes his sole guide in spiritual matters.Sayyed Ahmad always stressed that 'liqa al Rasul' ie communion with the prophet was the seeker,s pre-requisite before he embarked upon the process of 'Liqa Allah'....and received spiritual perfection.
Another salient aspect of Sanusi Sufism was that the Grand Sanusi and his successors vehemently disapproved of the practices popularly taken to be helpful in realising a communion with Allah but which were alien to it in nature.Therefore they strictly prohibited devices like processions,music,various movements of the body inducing ecstacy and convulsions,hurting the body with sharp items and such other practices which were indeed of a non-Muslim origin.Likewise the sanusi discouraged epicurianism and its methods.Even at the time of Dhikr they avoided bodily movements as well as the use of musical instruments to experience spiritual ecstacy. The sanusis,no doubt,had simple habits but they were certainly not ascetics.They were Sufi,s but not mystics.Theirs was a prototypal spiritualism,both in its internal and external dimensions and message.They ate good food available to them;They wore good and decent garments and led a life of happiness and satisfaction in this world and yearned for a better one in the hereafter. (with thanks to Mahmood Ahmad ghazi--- The sanusi movement of north Africa) |
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01-18-2012, 07:16 AM | #30 |
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01-18-2012, 08:56 AM | #31 |
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As-salamu Žalaykum,
May Allah bless you brother Fani for taking the time to write this out. Two points: 1. According to the Sanusiyya, liqa Ar-Rasoul starts by, or rather its pre-requisite is, interacting with him (salla'Llahu Žalayhi wa alihi wa sallam) through the Ahadith, and directly applying and acting upon them in your life. The reason for being against extremism in taqleed is just that, as Sayyidi Shaykh al-Akbar (qaddasa'Llahu sirrahu) puts it; it becomes a barrier between man and the Prophet (salla Llahu Žalayhi wa alihi wa sallam), and the Žulama who obligate that all laymen go through them for the smallest of issues are setting themselves up as prophets in practice. The ayah of taking their Rabbis and Monks as lords besides Allah therefore becomes applicable. This is not to say that laymen should not turn to Žulama for guidance in religious matters. 2. As for bodily movements in Dhikr, the Sanusiyya, like the Murshid of al-Imam al-Kabir, Sayyidi Ahmad bin Idris, have the Hadrah (including swaying etc). wa'Llahu a'lam |
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01-18-2012, 11:26 AM | #32 |
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MashaAllah,jazakAllah Rifai,I don,t have any direct contact with Sanusi tariqa,unfortunately,and as you know,in bookish knowledge mistakes and misunderstandings both may occur,for which I apologise;I have great respect and love for this tariqa,you are lucky to be blessed with it's baraka,please keep me in your prayers.
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01-18-2012, 11:44 AM | #33 |
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brother Rifai since you are part of the tariqa could you mention the awrad of the sanusis and how a mureed is supposed to progress and your personal experience with the tariqa and it's teachings. Brother Fani Mashallah I found the posts very interesting. The Sanusis and other reformist sufis are thoroughly impressive and it is always good to get a perspective outside of the indopak subcontinent sometimes.
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01-18-2012, 12:27 PM | #34 |
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As-salamu Žalaykum,
MashaAllah,jazakAllah Rifai,I don,t have any direct contact with Sanusi tariqa,unfortunately,and as you know,in bookish knowledge mistakes and misunderstandings both may occur,for which I apologise;I have great respect and love for this tariqa,you are lucky to be blessed with it's baraka,please keep me in your prayers. brother Rifai since you are part of the tariqa could you mention the awrad of the sanusis and how a mureed is supposed to progress and your personal experience with the tariqa and it's teachings. Brother Fani Mashallah I found the posts very interesting. The Sanusis and other reformist sufis are thoroughly impressive and it is always good to get a perspective outside of the indopak subcontinent sometimes. The principle awrad were granted from the Prophet (salla'Llahu Žalayhi wa alihi wa sallam) through Sayyidina al-Khadir (Žalayhi as-salam) directly, and they include: 1. The famous Idrisi Tahleel 2. Salat al-Adheemiyya 3. Istighfar al-Kabeer 4. Salat al-Nariyah (more specific to the branch coming through Sayyidi al-Sanusi). |
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01-18-2012, 07:27 PM | #35 |
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Assalamu alaykum If your close to Central then I would advise you to come and visit Hazrat Sheikh Mumtaz Ul Haq (db), speaks english and urdu/punjabi very fluently alhumdulilah. From any Central London station its MAX a 30 Min train or tube ride usually about 20/25mins to any of the closest stations. He's based at Streatham Masjid / South London Islamic Centre, the closest tube station would be Tooting Bec which is northern line from here it's a 10min bus ride to the Masjid, closest train station is Streatham Station although Streatham Common and Streatham Hill are not too far as well. There is a Bus Stop right opposite the entrance to the Masjid with buses coming from Tooting/Balham, Brixton and Streatham Hill if you cross the green park area then buses come from Croydon as well. Our silsila is the Naqshbandi Mujaddidi tariqah and Hazrat has khilafat from Hazrat Maulana Naemullah Farooqui (db) who is a khalifa of Hazrat Sheikh Mumtaz Ul Haq db's first Sheikh, Hazrat Murshid-e-Alam Maulana Ghulam Habib sahib (ra). Every Monday after Isha salah (7:15pm) there is a bayaan followed by some dhikr/muraqabah, and if your interested every Friday after Isha (7:15pm) there is a dars on a specific topic, currently its the beginning of a 3-4 week Seerah course. The full address of the Masjid is: Streatham Masjid 8 Mitcham Lane Streatham London SW16 6NN If your interested there are some dars recordings of Hazrat on youtube at the following channels - http://www.youtube.com/user/inkofscholars and http://www.youtube.com/user/hanafifiqh There are some tazkiya related recordings on the streatham masjid website at http://www.streathammosque.org/default.asp?ID=77 towards the bottom there is talks titled Dhikrullah, The Nafs and the Soul and Tazkiya and the Heart. If you have any questions fire away or if you need some directions ask the mods to pass on my details. |
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01-18-2012, 10:04 PM | #36 |
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jazak Allah khairan for the information and links unfortunately i work late on mondays and i dont have a holiday for a couple months. can the moderators pass ghuraba3 email to me jazak Allah khairan |
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01-18-2012, 11:07 PM | #37 |
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Assalamu alaykum No problem, well why don't you visit on a friday and listen to the dars? You could also ask any questions that you may have. If one day you finish early then come down |
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01-18-2012, 11:14 PM | #38 |
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inshAllah i will come down soon bithnillahi ta'ala. i would love to come but i have a tafseer class at 8.30pm on fridays if it gets cancelled i could come. one question is about the dhikr majlis!! do i just walk in and sit down with the group??? can you explain please jazak Allah khair |
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01-19-2012, 12:13 AM | #39 |
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Assalamu alaykum yes no problem, after isha salah there is usually a lecture/bayaan for about 45mins-1hour then after we do muraqabah for about 10-15mins, Hazrat db explains the method of doing it before we do it, whoever wants to participate does and whoever does not doesn't. We have a variety of brothers that come, some young, some old, some asians, some somalians and some arabs |
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