Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Introduction These letters (Makatib al-Firdous, Volume One, 2000) of Hadrat Sahib Rahmatullah Alayhi were collected by Professor Akbar Dad and published in Urdu. I have selected and translated into English forty letters from the original compilation for the benefit of those Sangis1 who cannot read Urdu. As the letters are about personal matters I have not disclosed the identity of the sender. In addition, for the ease of the reader I have not translated what people wrote to Hadrat Sahib Rahmatullah Alayhi and have instead provided a brief outline of the letter. I hope that these letters provide an insight of Hadrat Sahibs worldview.
Companions
1: Destitution
2: Family Problems
A person wrote of his poverty and family problems and sought Hadrat Sahibs prayers.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply
3: Finance
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wealth nor love for wealth, and as such, Zakah5 is not due upon him. The humble servants elixir is to be independent of creation and totally reliant upon Allah. I have closed both hands from the world and I advise others to do the same and place their complete trust upon Allah. You may try this remedy and indeed, Allah shall improve your situation. Peace be upon you.
4: Financial Help
Alms
this humble servant. My role is merely to pass the offerings on to the people who are in charge of the construction work. Even if I was to send you some money, would it be sufficient for your needs? Instead, I thought it would be better if I give you an invaluable advice. If you act upon this sincerely, your fortunes would change for the better, Insha Allah6. Turn away from dunya7 to Allah and beseech Him for all of your needs. Follow the teachings of the saints with whom you are linked and be steadfast upon the awrad8 they gave you. In addition, seek Allahs help through them. It is possible that it might take some time but ultimately, Insha Allah, you shall be successful. The condition is that you become independent of all else but Allah. Rasul Allah state: When a person arises in the
morning and worldly matters are foremost on ones mind, then Allah makes his matters complicated and destroys his source of income and makes him face adverse poverty. Indeed, he does not earn more than what was destined for him. However, if one wakes up and the hereafter is foremost in ones mind, then Allah make his matters easy, safeguards his livelihood, and makes his heart content and the world comes to him with humility. Peace
be upon you.
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If God wills The world/anything that becomes an obstacle to the Truth 8 Daily Litanies
A person wrote asking Hadrat Sahib Rahmatullah Alayhi to send him to Europe.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply
6: Various Matters
A person from Lahore wrote and sought prayers for various matters.
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7: Endless Problems
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8: Unfair Treatment
A person wrote and complained that he and his father did not get a fair treatment when they visited Hadrat Sahib Rahmatullah Alayhi.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply
9: Wayward Son
A person wrote about his disobedient son who has wasted a lot of his wealth.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply
A person wrote that some were preparing a false case against him and sought Hadrat Sahibs prayers.
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Non-obligatory prayers
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The principal of a Madrasa wrote informing him that some students had been expelled because of fighting.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply
us. We do not condone such behaviour from the students and abhor such acts. We consider this as a consequence of our misdeeds. These days students are not reliable and cannot be trusted. This is why when Mawlana Shafi Sahib alluded to this matter (enrolment) we had stated that the situation has changed. By nature students are reckless and we try to discipline them but perhaps we lack sincerity. Otherwise due to sincerity even difficult matters are resolved. We pray that Allah Almighty grants blessing in our love and help us to guide other people.
12: Illness
beginning and at the end and also surah Yasin. Only in the
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Islamic Law "Peace!" - a word (of salutation) from a Lord Most Merciful! (36:58)
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be upon you.
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means and they are also under obligation to please Him. The essential thing is to seek Allahs pleasure. This humble servant advises you to cut off from all else and turn to Allah. Try to connect with Him, which means to obey His command and remain focused upon Him. Recite durud sharif abundantly. Read the five daily prayers. If possible recite the Holy Quran. Keep a good opinion of pious people but only seek your needs from Allah. Dont waste your wealth and energies on futile matters. Stay at home or at the mosque and spend time in matters that please Allah, He is the One who removes difficulties. Peace be upon you.
A person wrote and threatened to bring all his family to Hadrat Sahib Rahmatullah Alayhi unless his daughter was miraculously cured.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply
this viewpoint and neither did our masters approve of such matters. Our masters always kept a clear distinction between man and God and always remained in the state of servant hood. Their relationship with Allah was that of creation with the Creator. As He is
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life for others. He is the self existing and source of all existence. We humble creatures have been created only for His pleasure and we have boundaries of Shariah set around us. It is not befitting us to cross these boundaries. Your daughters cure is in the hands of Allah who is fully aware of His acts and wisdom. This humble servants role is to merely supplicate to Allah and this he does not neglect. Hopefully this humble servants cosmology is clear to you. In future please avoid such writings that are against our disposition and that which weigh heavily on our soul. Peace be
upon you.
A person from the UK wrote about his wifes mental illness and taking care of his three young daughters.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply
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I received your letter and became aware of your problems. May Allah have mercy upon you and grant you release from such tribulations. This humble servant prays for you. You have mentioned your problems in great detail. As prayer is an obligation hence it has to be performed. If your situation permits then pray in the mosque, otherwise at home. Your domestic responsibilities are such that you cannot neglect them. Allah does not burden anyone beyond their capacity. However the right of people takes precedence. Focus on obligatory prayers and fulfilling the rights of your family. If your in-laws are able to offer assistance, that would make matters easy for you. As far as your obligation to your parents in Pakistan is concerned, make them aware of your difficulties, earn their trust and seek their prayers. The prayers of the parents for their children are priceless. In the present circumstances your financial assistance to your parents is sufficient. Peace be upon you.
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I received your letter and became aware of your situation. This humble servant prays for your father, Sufi Sahib, may Allah grant him health and a long life. The presence of parents is a gift for the children especially if those parents are the ones who have spent all their life pleasing Allah. They are a source of blessing and good fortune for the children. Now is the time that you earn your parents blessings. Consider this opportunity as precious, and busy yourself in their service. 200 rupees are enclosed; use it in a time of emergency care for them. This humble servant also seeks their prayers. As regards to fasting, that depends upon your fathers condition. If health and strength permit then he may keep the fast otherwise he can keep them when he becomes well. There are medical as well as spiritual benefits in fasting. Indeed, some patients benefit by keeping the fast. Peace be upon you.
and when you reach one hundred and twenty five thousand, then hold a simple khatam17 and keep your problems in mind. If it is possible to come here then there is no restriction. We pray Allah concludes these matters according to your wishes. Give our regards to your husband. Peace be upon you.
A lady wrote that she could not find a suitable match for her daughter.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply
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Gathering for the deceased Call to prayer 19 Prayer is better than sleep
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A person wrote asking Hadrat Sahib Rahmatullah Alayhi to set a date for his daughters wedding and also asking whether he should invite his estranged wife and children to the wedding.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply
Your heartrending letter has been received. Be patient. This humble servant also prays that Allah makes matters easy for you and changes your husbands heart so that he shows compassion towards you. Read Ya Wadud 1000 times daily and remember your problems and keep your husband in mind. There is great blessing in Allahs name. This name al-Wadud20 has a powerful impact on the heart. Peace be upon you.
A person wrote that he had his son marry a Pakistani girl but he lives with an English girl.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply
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of your son and his first wife. Insha Allah the results shall be positive. Peace be upon you.
A Lady from Australia wrote about her son who has lost faith in God.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply
that a mighty force is in charge of the universe; Allah. One cannot escape from Him by rebellion. Therefore the wise thing is to obey Him and follow His commands and gain peace, comfort and security. All these problems are due to the rebellion against His decree. You should pray regularly. The prayer of a mother for her children is very beneficial. The pious people have stated that people in difficulty and distress should recite ayat-e karima as it is extremely useful. Start reading ayat-e karima and when you reach one hundred and twenty five thousand then focus on your problem and supplicate to Allah. Insha Allah things shall get better. Keep this letter safe and read it sometimes, and when your sons condition improves then read it to him as well. Peace
be upon you.
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to pray that you stay on the straight path; I offer this prayer for everyone and also advise them to stay on the right path. Try to follow the path of the Shariah in your life. This life of few days is not pointless that one should waste it for a few coins. Every moment of ones life should be spent remembering Allah. Allah states, Surely he attained to his goal who purified
his soul. And surely he but failed who buried it in sin (91:9-10).
There is nothing better than Allahs remembrance to purify the heart. Always keep a connection with Allah and this way even your work shall become a form of remembrance. This humble servant also prays for your colleagues who are in prison or in other difficulty. Peace be upon you.
better and his likes and dislikes are based on an Islamic perspective, and one focuses on good ethics, then one should see this as the beginning of good fortune. This is a sign that things are moving in the right direction. Hence one should try harder to gradually achieve ones goal, so that the process of purification is completed and ones domain of the heart is solely under Allahs will. In order to achieve this goal one needs a guide. The guide is necessary for a healthy heart as a doctor is necessary for the wellbeing of the physical body. May Allah have mercy on you. Keep on seeking a complete guide, as no period is devoid of pious people. With regards to this humble servant, you must realise that the present time is a period of extremes. It is a common practice nowadays for people to exaggerate things. Indeed, this illness is very apparent especially amongst the devotees of a Sufi master. As such some devotee has instructed you (based upon his own opinion of us) and has perhaps exaggerated matters. In reality this humble servant does not possess any kind of perfection. Indeed, I am constantly worried about my own salvation and often implore our companions to pray for me. With regards to the lack of meeting of which most people complain. This practice is not based on the view that I consider myself a saint, the claim of perfection, or even the desire to
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perform litanies and seclusion. For some time my health has become unstable (I am now over seventy years old). My condition can deteriorate at any given moment therefore it is not possible to meet people. I still wish to meet people and there was a time in the past when I met people in two or three daily gatherings. I would sit and converse with people for many hours. Nowadays those people who wish to see me can do so at daily prayers and on Friday depending on my health. The humble servant still has the blessing of attending the communal supplication of Juma. In the Sufi path association is essential. Afterwards, it is necessary for you to attach yourself to some complete guide so this progress can continue. This humble servant prays that Allah increases your passion and desire in this matter. The Masters have stated that if a person does not have a guide then he should recite abundant durud sharif as this act shall suffice in the absence of a master. Peace be upon you.
matters of the world and in din21, and to deliver you from your present difficulty. Dearest, your esteemed father had lots of love and devotion for his masters residence. He never did anything without first informing and consulting us. And it is our obligation that we desire betterment and pray for our Sangis. I did not imagine that the children of such a beloved Sangi would lose contact with us so soon. I received your letter after a long time and after reading it I was even more astonished that you have written a great detail about your worldly activities. You have stated that you are so busy with your business that you do not have any free time. However, you have not mentioned a word about the life in the hereafter. Had you written that you pray regularly then that would have pleased this humble servant. Our link with you is solely based upon love for Allahs sake. With regards to worldly power and position, may Allah grant you that what you seek. Due to your fathers connection with us, I consider it my duty to remind you that you remember the hereafter as well. Peace be
upon you.
26: Seeking Counsel
An Army Officer wrote that he met Hadrat Sahib Rahmatullah Alayhi in 1974 and unfortunately had not met since and requested prayers.
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Faith/religion
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27: Baya
A person wrote to express his desire to meet and take baya22 from Hadrat Sahib Rahmatullah Alayhi.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply
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Spiritual initiation
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I received your letter, taking baya is not as important as performing good deeds. Continue performing good deeds to please Allah. What Allah has ordered, act upon those actions and refrain from the actions He has forbidden. Take baya from someone in Rawalpindi or its surrounding areas. Hence, you shall not find it difficult to visit your master. If, however, you are intent on following us, then that shall happen at an appropriate time. The purpose of having a guide is to structure your life. Otherwise, as far as actions are concerned one has to carry them out themselves. Peace upon you.
A person wrote that he performed Umra and remembered Hadrat Sahib Rahmatullah Alayhi at the holy places and sought a cure for pain in his joints.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply
upon you.
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A person wrote that he had lost his passion for prayer and awrads.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply
A Hafiz wrote quoting Imam-e Rabbani Rahmatullah Alayhi that although it was not a condition of Khutba23, nonetheless mentioning the four rightly guided caliphs was a feature of the Ahl-e Sunnah wa-al-Jamaah and requested Hadrat Sahib Rahmatullah Alayhi to implement this practice in the mosques of Azad Kashmir.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply
Insha Allah shall do his utmost to implement this practice. Peace be upon you.
A student wrote requesting something to read that would give him peace of mind.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply
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You might be aware of the dhikr24 of the breath upon the heart. When people enter our spiritual order they are instructed to perform this. After fajr and isha fix a few minutes for this practice and focus on the Masters. In addition read the Khatam of Hadrat Mujaddid Rahmatullah Alayhi: durud sharif 100 times, la
hawla wala quwata illa billah25 500 times, and durud sharif 100
times and send the merit to him. Read this khatam sitting on your knees and do not talk during it. Also after every prayer recite Subhan Allah 33 times, Alhamdu lillah 33 times, and
32: Bereavement
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than to be patient. May Allah grant the deceased a place in paradise and grant abundant patience to the grieving family. Indeed, you have been deprived of a great blessing. Islam gives a special rank to a mother, as heaven lies beneath her feet. Fortunate are those children who have obeyed and served their mothers. You have written that you want to come at the end of Ramadan. It would be better if you came before Ramadan and brought your family with you as well and this matter would please us. However, if it is not possible to come before Ramadan then come with your family after Ramadan. Travelling during Ramadan is not advised except in the case of an emergency. The journey is long and although one can postpone the fast during travel it is best if one can avoid a harsh journey and if possible one should do so. If you are able to, recite the durud sharif which is attached to this letter 1100 times daily. Peace be upon you.
An imam wrote to inform Hadrat Sahib Rahmatullah Alayhi of his sons death.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply
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I was very saddened to hear the death of your son. We are all helpless before Allah. No one can alter or postpone His decree. There is nothing but submission and acceptance of His will. Every incident is known to Allah before it happens. When the incident takes place it is termed as an accident or illness. Peace
be Upon You.
Come whoever you are come, Even if a disbeliever, Zoroastrian or idol worshiper, Our court is not a place of despair, Even if you have broken repentance hundred times, come.
One should not despair of Allahs mercy. When someone sincerely repents and turns towards Allah, He creates a means of guidance for that person. It is the duty of the person to reflect upon the wonders of His creation and marvel upon the precision of His system. This humble servant shall pray for you. Be
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steadfast upon prayer and hope for His blessing. Peace be upon
you.
35: Bitter Divorce
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for this world then no one can guarantee your success in the future. You have two options: a) marriage, if you have someone in mind then fine otherwise this humble servant shall keep this matter in mind and if any opportunity arises then I shall inform you and b) To dedicate your life solely in Allahs remembrance. You have read in the biographies of pious people that some chose to remain unmarried so that they could dedicate their lives to Allah. They chose this method as they felt that married life would be detrimental to their religious obligations. You have tasted the bitter fruit of married life so it would be better for you to dedicate your life in the way of Allah so that you can taste the sweet fruit of His remembrance. If you like this suggestion then go to Dangari Sharif, the environment there is peaceful and you shall be guided onto the spiritual path. If for some reason you cannot go there, then you are welcome to the Gulhar (Darsgah Sharif). But as you have read a booklet on Mai Sahiba (d.1993), you would have to adopt such a way of life which you will find difficult. Therefore the decision with regards to your future is in your hands. Nevertheless, this humble servant advises you not to worry about your circumstances, as every type of success and failure is in the hands of Allah. Have complete faith in Him; that is the cure for all your problems. A strong connection with Him frees you from worries. Dedicate yourself to Him with utmost sincerity. Peace be upon you.
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36: Future?
She then replied to the letter and informed Hadrat Sahib Rahmatullah Alayhi what decision she had made.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply
you.
37: Exam and Education
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Hadrat Yahya Rahmatullah Alayhi the narrator of Muwwata one day attended the dars of Imam Malik Rahmatullah Alayhi in Madinah Sharif and there was an uproar that an elephant had arrived in Madinah. As most Arabs had never seen an elephant all the students except Yahya rushed out to see it. Imam Malik Rahmatullah Alayhi enquired, Yahya, there are no elephants in your country Andalusia (Spain) so go and see the elephant. But Yahya had other things on his mind and he replied that, I came from Andalusia to visit you and to learn knowledge, not to see an elephant. Abu Nasr Farabi Rahmatullah Alayhi came across a copy of Aristotles book entitled An-Nafs and read it a hundred times. He wrote on the book that, I have read it one hundred times. These stories are from that time when there no technological facilities and although with the passage of time people have progressed yet the likes of Farabi and Razi are nowhere to be seen as people lack their passion and commitment. Peace be upon
you.
38: Willpower?
A Hafiz wrote and mentioned he could not study Dars-e Nizami as he was not educated in Urdu.
Through your letter I have found out about your inability and defence. The solution to every difficulty is passion and hard work. If you can memorise thirty chapters of the Holy Quran, is Urdu more difficult? There are many examples of people who not only learned Urdu but also became scholars: Hafiz Qari Fadal Husayn, Qari Muhammad Bashir, Maulvi Akbar Husayn and Maulvi Fath Alam. It seems you are more interested in gaining employment than education. Learn the proper way of reciting the Holy Quran; pass the middle class so that you can be appointed. If you try then learning Urdu is not impossible. Think again, as you might live to regret this decision in later life. We pray that Allah have mercy upon you. Peace be upon you.
A young woman wrote about being madly in love with a young man and sought Hadrat Sahibs support to get married to him.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply
your letter should be reserved for Allah and His Prophet Prophet
. If
you had shown such longing and passion for Allah and His then the riches of both worlds would be at your feet. frees a person from all else. Love for Allah and His Prophet
By contrast worldly love is a mere deception and is a by-product of hormones. When a person realises the truth then one faces despair. The wise have said youth is crazy. In this state one cannot discern what is harmful or what is beneficial. The words of counsel seem like poison. Without a doubt it is natural to have such feelings and during such situations a person should seek guidance from Allah, pray the five daily prayers and recite ayat-e
karima daily.
About a year and a half ago a similar thing happened to another girl but her parents married her off to a relative in the UK despite her protests. After the marriage her passion for her previous lover subsided and now she is happily married and does not even remember him. This suggests that all relationships in this world are temporary. As the world itself is temporary. Know that a person cannot do as he/she pleases instead one has to accept the will of Allah which always prevails. Pray to Allah and be content with His decree as no one can postpone or change it. In the face of failure, respect the wishes of your parents. Peace be
upon you.
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A person from the UK wrote and complained that although he is wealthy and makes large donations to charities and serves his parents yet his problems do not seem to go away.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply
Salah, fasting, Hajj and Zakah. It is more important to give Zakah first and then it is the turn of charity. Keep the letter safe
and read it from time to time. Peace be upon you.
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( 1921-2008)
Published on the occasion of Hadrat Sahibs Fifth Urs Sharif, 31st December 2013 Khanqah-e Fathiyya, Gulhar Sharif, Kotli, AJK. Free download available on www.noorulislam.org