The Dangers of Neglecting Zikr - Da'wat wa Tabligh mein Dhikr ki Ehmiyat

[seeker_ikb]

Allah swt make you reach your objective in posting this, ameen.

Soon , you will see this thread closed. The power of evil will not let u easily reach the objective.

[qibla]

ASWW
Maybe because it is an old kitaab and a lot of things have changed since in tableegh. There is a lot of emphasis on Zikr and all other a'amaals these days.

[ENIGMA]

please can we keep this thread clean. I want to read the OP posts which he is im assuming painstakingly typing out himself from the book. If you want to criticise TJ or their methodologies etc,then by all means start another thread.

[ahlezikr]

Only a minority sect, founded on Bid’at (perverse innovations) remained opposed to Tabligh. Even some of their own members did not agree with such opposition. Besides, a few misguided people could seldom harm a good cause. In fact, righteous work could gain from such an opposition. By the Grace of Allah Ta’ala, Tabligh Work h now spread far and wide. Jamats are seen in Saudi Arabia, pouring in from America, Europe, Japan and such places where previously the spread of Islam was unthinkable. Western churches were being converted into Masjids.

The Tabligh Work flourished in these remote lands so much that their people became devout Muslims. Institutions of Islamic learning and Masjids were established and the reformed Muslims embarked on pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia to perform essential Islamic obligation of Hajj. This transformation was the result of the blessed Work of Tabligh.

It is obvious that such a glorifying success shattered the evil schemes of the devil because he uses the love of wealth and hollow pride to seduce people astray. Tabligh Work on the other hand, demands sacrifice of wealth and pride. These things are already known to you. I am elaborating these to make you aware of my familiarity with them also, owing to my association with Tabligh Jamat (by the Grace of Allah Ta’ala) for the last forty years. I even found my Pir wa Murshid Hazrat Shaykh Zakariya (rah) through the blessed Work of Tabligh; I am therefore indebted all the more to the Tablighi Jamat and it has many rights on me.
In your letter you have also expressed your grief due to the discontinuation of Tabligh in your country. Well, all our Elders are deeply concerned and are sad on this account. In fact, our Elders are only those who have a deep concern for Tablighi Jamat. We, the servants of the Mashaikh are also deeply affected by their grief. Owing to ill health, this servant is not physically involved with this Work presently, but has intense love and concern for the Jamat.

Cont…

[ahlezikr]

There are no excuses in love. But the reins of my ishq are in the hands of a Shaykh who is the supreme Guardian of Tablighi Movement. According to the Imam of Tabligh, Hazrat Ilyas Dehlawi (rah), my Hazrat Shaykh (rah) is the Chief Guide of Tablighi Jamat and amongst the entire group of Elders, he is the greatest supporter of this Work. He is the most active and effective Elder in combating fitna and in answering the criticisms of opponents. Besides, my Master, Hazrat Shaykh-ul-Hadith is the present Imam of Shariat-wa-Tariqat. Since the establishment of Tablighi Jamat, he has played a fundamental and most effective role to this day. Tabligh Work has spread his Faiz (spiritual light) throughout the world. This, by the Grace of Allah Ta’ala in turn raises him to greater heights. Therefore, being attached to such a blessed Shaykh, I am satisfied with that much of physical involvement with Tabligh which is in line with the wishes and permission of my Shaykh. My grief and worry on account of the ban (imposed on Tablighi activities) is no less than others. Grief and worry invokes the Help and Mercy of Allah. At times, such grief also exposes the underlying reasons which gives rise to obstacles and also brings to light solutions for their removal. I will now outline the solution for the removal of obstacles due to which Tabligh Work has been restricted in your community. Of course Taufiq to act upon this solution is in the hands of Allah Ta’ala.

The blessed Work of Tabligh was very unpleasant for the devil. Finding all the doors closed for destroying this Work, he (the devil) allowed its apparent expansion and instead entered through the backdoor by attacking the very essence of Tablighi Movement. He did this so cunningly that even Tablighi Workers subconsciously started believing that for the expansion of their Work, the spiritual aspects of Tabligh should be put aside. Hence it was felt that time and effort spent in nourishing the Spirit and strengthening the defenses against ‘fitnas’ should instead be focused on the physical expansion of Tablighi Work. To hide this serious mistake, the effort on the ‘soul’ of Tabligh Work was retained in name only. What is this ‘soul’ of Tabligh and what is the ‘Fortress of defence against fitnas and the devil?

Cont…

[ahlezikr]

The ‘Soul of Tabligh’ and the ‘Fortress of Defence’ against Fitnas is Zikr-Allah. In fact, Zikr is the spirit of all acts of worship, such as Salat, Jihad, Tabligh based on six points etc. Besides the Tablighi Work based on six points, other forms and efforts of Tabligh also depend upon Zikr-Allah. Zikr is the means of overcoming obstacles and it invokes the Help of Allah Ta’ala and his special attention. So the devil not only made efforts to destroy the foundations and spirit of this Work, but he even succeeded in turning Tablighi Workers against Zikr in their program. To achieve success, the devil made use of cunning schemes to mislead Tablighi Workers about Zikr. The intellectual deception of the devil will be exposed first and as a proof, the sayings of the Elders of Tabligh and Shariat-wa-Tariqat such as Maulana Ilyas (rah), Maulana Haji Yusuf Saheb (rah) and Hazratji Maulana Inamul Hasan Saheb (rah) regarding the necessity of Zikr-e-Lisaani (verbal recitation of Zikr) and its need in Tabligh Work will follow. Then the devils second groundless doubt will be exposed for the benefit of those who remain opposed to Zikr-e-Lisaani even after they have read the sayings of their Elders to be quoted under the heading “Intellectual Deception”

Cont…

[ahlezikr]

PART 1

INTELLECTUAL DECEPTION

Opposing Zikr-Allah was not easy beacause it was one of the six fundamental points of Tabligh Work. The devil, therefore, took help of a true fact in decieving people.

“Kalimatu haqqin yuridu biha al-batil”

In other words,he used truthful reality for success in his evil plans. To use the words of Hazrat Ilyas Dehlawi (rah), “there is great need to remain steadfast in Zikr and in obtaining knowledge. But the reality of Zikr and Knowledge should be clearly understood. The reality of Zikr is to be in the state of awareness (Ihsan) and to observe all religious duties. This is the best form of Zikr. Therefore, to remain active in the cause of Islam by making efforts to spread Islam is the most valuable form of Zikr, with the condition that such Zikr is performed being attentive of the orders and promises of rewards from Allah Ta’ala.”
All religious Scholars agree about the truth of the above statement. Thus Salat, which is the greatest religious obligation is also regarded as Zikr of a very high order. About the best form of rememberance of Allah Ta’ala, the Qur’an says:

“Aqeemas Salaata li Zikri”

and according to a Hadith, obstacles between a man and Allah Ta’ala are lifted during Salat and man is closest to Allah Ta’ala in Sajda. Hence Salat is termed “Mi’raj ul Mu’mineen” because during Mi’raj of the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) Nearness to Allah Ta’ala was achieved. His presence was felt and communion with Him had taken place. Therefore, Salat, which is the Mi’raj for the Ummah of Hazrat Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) is the real Zikr and a state of awareness. Similarly, other acts of worship such as spreading Islam (Tabligh), etc are various forms of Zikr in varying degrees. While the fact that Salat, Tabligh etc are real Zikr, is mentioned and taught in the various programmes of the Jamat, the above underlined conditions is neglected or not fully explained.

Hazrat Ilyas Dehlawi (rah) in explaining that underlined condition said, “even of obligatory duties like Salat, Tabligh etc are performed without the awareness of the orders of Allah Ta’ala and His promises then these acts of Worship are not real Zikr. Without satisfying this condition (of awareness, viz Ihsan-wa-Yaqeen) such Worship in reality is Zikr of the body and neglect of the heart”.

Cont…

[ENIGMA]

the last post was very powerful. Looking forward to the updates.

[ahlezikr]

This servant would like to mention that although the duty of performing the Salat is fulfilled (even when the heart is neglectful), but according to the Qur’an and Hadith, such Salat has been described as being similar to the Salat of hypocrites:

“Fa wailul lil musal-leen. Allazina hum an salatihim saahoon”

In this context, the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) has said,

“They do not remember Allah but little”

Such heedless prayers take the person away from Allah Ta’ala and it leads to His displeasure:

"Lam Yazdaada biha min Allahi illa Bu'daa"

According to another Hadith, a Salat performed with a neglectful heart is thrown back at the face of the person like an old rag and it prays against him. On the other hand, if Salat is performed with an attentive heart, then due to the state of Ihsan, it will have the required sincerity, Khushu, Khuzu and it it becomes a means of Nearness to Allah Ta’ala. Only such a Salat is the most valuable and real Zikr. In a nutshell, for the mandatory physical acts of Worship to have the real quality of Zikr, the attentiveness of the heart and its engagement in Zikr is the necessary prerequisite. Therefore, reformation (Islah) of the heart comes before the reformation of the physical acts of Worship. The Holy Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) has said:

“Iza saluhath saluhal jasadu kullu”
“when the heart is reformed, the entire body is reformed”

It is this correction of the heart which is the object of emphasizing Zikr-e-Lisaani (verbal Zikr). The other imprtant natural consequence of Zikr-e-Lisaani, such as recitation of Kalima Tayyiba is to get the rewards by its recitation. So all acts and deeds emanating from the body become real Zikr once the defects of the heart have been removed by Zikr-e-Lisaani. Thereafter, performing Salat, doing the Work of Tabligh, even buying and selling and also arguments and disputes are all classified as real Zikr. All the above physical acts of Worship reach the level of real Zikr once the underlined condition has been satisfied. When the good deeds and acts of Worship are done with a reformed heart, all these actions become real Zikr because they will be carried out with sincerity and true intentions to win the Nearness and rewards of Allah Ta’ala. In summary, Zikr-e-Lisaani is the means by which the acts of Worship reach the level of real Zikr. This can be understood from the following example.

Cont…

[ahlezikr]

It is said that efforts like ploughing and watering of fertile land produces grain. To obtain crops, the only requirements commonly mentioned are the presence of fertile land and man’s effort. Some of the grain is mixed with the soil. This grain is known as seeds; however, the seeds are not even mentioned when talking about grain production, even though their presence in the soil is a necessary condition for obtaining crops. Without them (seeds) the entire effort is in vain.

However, if a lot of effort is made on the soil, such and ploughing and watering the fields, etc, but if the seeds are not mixed with the soil. It will result in the growth of “something”. This “something” is wild weeds and grass. It would be false to say that this end product is grain (of wheat, etc)

Similarly, our preoccupation with Worship such as Salat, Tabligh, etc without satisfying the underlined condition, will not be “real Zikr”, but “something” else. It is preached that Salat, Ghust etc are ‘real Zikr’ but the people are not informed of the underlined condition without satisfying which these acts of Worship are not ‘real Zikr’. The consequence of this omission and incomplete explanation is that people become careless about Zikr-e-Lisaani which is in fact the means by which these acts of Worship become ‘real Zikr’. The sad result of all this is that people achieve neither the real Zikr nor its means, namely Zikr-e-Lisaani.

Cont…