Caution in Shariah - Salaat of Ml Rashid Ahmed Gangohi (ra)
“In his personal life, his piety and precaution was of a very high level to the extent that on matters in which there were differences of opinion, he would follow the preferred opinion which was closest to caution. He would never leave the cautious opinion even at times of need.
Here is a small example of his caution: During all his various illnesses and sicknesses, no matter how severe his illness was, he never sat and performed salāh. During his final illness, as long as he could stand and perform salāh by getting the support of two people, he would stand and perform his salāh. [This is how he used to perform it]: two or three people would carry him with much difficulty, he would stand up with two of them standing on either side with their hands around his waist. His standing, bowing and prostrating postures would all be performed by taking support from them. His attendants would constantly request him to sit and perform his salāh, but he would neither reply to them nor accede to their request.”
“Maulwī Muhammad Yahyā Sāhib rahimahullāh asked him on one occasion: “Hadrat! If it is not permissible to sit and perform salāh even in such a situation, when and in which condition is it permissible to sit and perform salāh?” He replied: “According to Imām Sāhib [Imām Abū Hanīfah rahimahullāh] a person is considered to be ‘able’ if he is able to perform an act with the support of others. Since I have friends who carry me and help me to perform salāh, how can I sit and perform salāh?”
“When he eventually became so weak that he could not perform salāh standing with the support of others, he performed a few salāh while sitting. In so doing, he demonstrated the real meaning of following the Sharī‛ah, the real definition of taqwā, and this is how one ought to choose the most cautious option [or opinion].”
Get away from Here
There are numerous evil characteristics, but the majority have restricted them to ten. The essence of all ten is said to be pride (takabbur). If this is removed, the others will automatically be removed.
A person remained in the company of Hadrat Junayd Baghdādī rahimahullāh for twenty years. He said to him one day: “Hadrat, I remained with you for so long but I did not acquire anything from you.” This person enjoyed a lofty and senior position in his family and tribe. Hadrat Junayd rahimahullāh understood that there is pride in his heart, so he said to him: “Very well, you must do one thing for me. You must fill a bowl of walnuts, sit with it at the entrance of the khānqāh, and announce: ‘Anyone who strikes me once with his shoe shall receive one walnut, the one who strikes me twice shall receive two walnuts…’ continue increasing the number in this way. Once the bowl of walnuts is empty, you must come to me.”
The person replied: “Lā ilāha illallāh Muhammadur Rasūlullāh – Hadrat, I can never do this.” Hadrat Junayd rahimahullāh said to him: “It is a blessed kalimah which, if a seventy year old kāfir reads it with sincerity, then by Allāh, he will become a believer. But by your reading it just now, you have become like a kāfir. Get away from here, you will not acquire anything from me.”
Extracted From Tadkiratur Rashid
Hazrat Shaikh’s Rahmatullah Alayh practice about the last moments of Friday
It has been customary for Hazrat Shaikh Rahmatullah Alayh to hold gatherings daily after Asr Salaah. Besides the spiritual benefit of those in attendance, other activities such as meeting new guests, having tea and going through the mail, were also carried out. Later on it became a regular practice to listen to some religious kitaab. However, these gatherings were not held on Fridays. Instead, Hazrat Rahmatullah Alayh would recite the above Durood in the Masjid after Asr. He would then return home and lock the gate which reopened only minutes before Maghrib Salaah. During the seclusion he engaged in making dua and in meditation. During the latter period of his life, when he was disabled, a servant would put a lock on the outside so that those who were unfamiliar with his practice on Fridays would not enter. On one Friday, Hazrat Rahmatullah Alayh was especially kind toward me and ordered me in and requested me to engage in Ibadat. That day I observed Hazrat’s Rahmatullah Alayh practice during seclusion. Later on, spending this period in meditation at the masjid became his routine. The masjid would fill up with Thakireen who engaged in Zikr-Jehri till the Adhaan for Maghrib. These gatherings on Fridays were wonderful and were filled with nur.
Extracted from:
QUTUB-UL-AQTAAB HAZRAT SHAIKH UL HADITH HAZRAT MAULANA MUHAMMAD ZAKARIYYA RAHMAT- ULLAH-ALAYH’S ADHERENCE TO THE SUNNAH AND LOVE FOR RASULULLAH SALLALAHU ALAYHI WASALAM
A Reward for Every Mu'min man and Mu'min woman
'Ubadah ibn Samit Radiyallahu 'anhu narrates: I heard Rasullullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam saying: He who asks forgiveness for Mu'min men and Mu'min women, Allah writes for him a virtue for every Mu'min man and Mu'min woman. (Tabarani Majma-'uz-Zawaid).
