ummitaalib

SHAYKH DR MUHAMMAD ‘ABDUL HAYY ‘AARIFI ra
Khalifah of Hakeemul Ummat, Shaykh Ashraf ‘Ali Thanwi ra

Dr ‘Abdul Hayy ‘Aarifi was a homeopathic doctor who helped people with physical ailments, however according to Mufti Taqi Uthmaani Sahib (Khalifah of Dr ‘Abdul Hayy ‘Aarifi), “In reality the spiritual ailments that plague hearts and souls were cured in that surgery of his”!

I am insha Allah going to present a few examples of his wisdom and beautiful character.

He said he made a concerted effort for years to develop correct intention of obedience to the Sunnah. For instance if delicious food was placed in front of him and even though he was extremely hungry, he would control his desire and withhold from eating until he spent a few moments to ponder on the bounty and gift from Allah and then he would say to himself that it was the practice of Allah’s beloved Messenger sallallaahu ‘aayhi wasallam to express gratitude on the bounties of Allah. Dr Sahib would then say to himself that I will now eat in keeping with the Sunnah.

In the same way on coming home his gaze would lovingly settle on his child and his heart’s desire was to take the child lovingly on his lap. He would pause and meditate for a few moments that Allah’s beloved Messenger sallallaahu ‘aayhi wasallam used to love children and in keeping with this Sunnah he would then allow himself to pick up the child and play with him.

Even in intense thirst when a glass of cold water was placed in front of him and he desired to gulp it down and quench his thirst, he says he would not allow himself to do this until he ponders over the fact that cold water was extremely beloved to Allah’s Messenger sallallaahu ‘aayhi wasallam and it will be in keeping with this Sunnah that I will drink this water.

In short, for a lengthy period of time he practised this form of meditation to make an intention to act upon every Sunnah from morning till night. The result was reaching a stage where an intention automatically came to mind.

He used to say that Deen is in reality the changing of one’s point of view. Acts which we consider worldly remain the same but they are converted to acts of worship and essential parts of Deen.