Compiled by Professor Akbar Dad Translated by Muhammad Muzamil Khan Khanqah-e Fathiyya, Kotli Khanqah-e Sultaniyya, Jhelum

 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

In reply to a young Sayyid who complained about being destitute.

Hadrat Sahibs Reply

27th September 1994 Peace and blessing of Allah be upon you,

I received your letter and became aware of your circumstances. You belong to the noble family of the Prophet , who is the source of creation and who shall come to the aid of the needy on the Day of Judgement. Directly or indirectly everyone gains benefit from the Prophet . Reflect upon the importance of such a link and observe that people obtain great blessings through this noble connection. Do not despair due to your present situation as there is some wisdom in this poverty. Anyone who achieves success in this world has to go through such trials and tribulations. This humble servant shall not neglect you in his prayers. Read abundant durud sharif2 and keep your focus on Allah. As you establish a strong connection with Allah you shall witness both inner and outer change within yourself. Subsequently your cause for complaint shall diminish. Try to form a connection with Allah-in order to achieve this; sincerity and good deeds are essential. Peace be upon you

Salutations on the Prophet

2: Family Problems

A person wrote of his poverty and family problems and sought Hadrat Sahibs prayers.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply

10th September 1995 Peace and blessing of Allah be upon you,

You have mentioned numerous problems, may Allah have mercy upon you and grant you salvation from these tribulations. The world is full of grief and everyone is afflicted by some type of anxiety. A shield against these problems is to remember Allah, to pray five times daily and to remain busy in actions that are pleasing to Allah. By doing this you shall find peace of mind and Allah, the all powerful, shall also create a solution for your problems. There is no greater support than Him. Cling to Him firmly and seek solace in His remembrance. As Rasul Allah has stated, Look at people who are below you and not at those who are above you. This practice also gives a person peace of mind. Try to obtain a visa for the UK, may Allah make things easier for you. Do not despair from His mercy, a person faces trials and tribulations and Allah tests the willpower and the resolve of a believer. Peace be upon you.

3: Finance

A young man wrote a letter asking for a loan.

Hadrat Sahibs Reply

4th January 1992 Peace and blessing of Allah be upon you,

Indeed, your story is heartbreaking. I pray to Allah that he makes matters easy for you and grants a solution for your problems. Allah is unique in his Oneness and Lordship. You should focus on Him and He shall provide a better solution to your problems. When a person sincerely turns to Allah, then He never leaves that person at the mercy of others. However, His wisdom and rationale are another matter. A person must always put his trust in Allah. You have sought financial assistance, perhaps you have seen the brick built mosque in your area or some Sangi has exaggerated the presence of other mosques,

madaris3 and langar4. Due to this exaggeration, you might have

assumed that this humble servant is a wealthy individual. These mosques were not built due to the efforts of this humble servant. However, these are part of the Divine plans which manifest themselves at His appointed time. This world is the realm of means therefore actions and work within it become accredited with an individual. In reality, this humble servant has neither

3 4

Religious Schools Free Communal Food

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

An imam wrote and sought financial assistance.

Hadrat Sahibs Reply

30th January 1994 Peace and blessing of Allah be upon you,

I have received both of your letters and became aware of your predicament. May Allah look favourably upon your circumstance. Both poverty and prosperity are in Allahs hands. Every matter from Allah is based upon wisdom. One should always remain focused on Allah. How can one who is himself needy, fulfil the needs of another. Some Sangi must have over emphasised the role of this humble servant, who has no form of income. All these mosques and madaris are emerging due to the sincerity of the pious ancestors. They must have spread their hands in supplication with utmost sincerity and these mosques and madaris are the result. People wrongly attribute this work to
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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

5: Visa for Europe

A person wrote asking Hadrat Sahib Rahmatullah Alayhi to send him to Europe.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply

16th December 1993 Peace be and blessing of Allah upon you,

I received your letter and became aware of your situation. It is disbelief to despair from the mercy of Allah. Livelihood is fixed and wealth and poverty is in the hands of Allah and based on hidden wisdom. One should not despair and keep faith in Allahs mercy. Do not wander here and there and instead follow His commands as times keep changing. With regards to sending you to a foreign country, I cannot help you in this matter as I do not have any contacts there. When someone from Europe comes to visit us than I advise them to fulfil their religious obligations and pray and perform good deeds. Other than that, I have no contact with anyone. This humble servant prays that Allah takes you out of your present predicament and grant you what you desire. Peace be upon you.

6: Various Matters

A person from Lahore wrote and sought prayers for various matters.
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Hadrat Sahibs Reply

22nd August 1993 Peace and blessing of Allah be upon you,

I have received your letter and learned about your problems. The cure for all these problems is the remembrance of Allah. Express your humility and needs to Him. He alone knows the wisdom behind His actions. This humble servant shall offer his prayers for you. Read Salah9 regularly and also pray tahajjud10 and if possible recite ayat-e karima11 abundantly. The stronger your faith and conviction upon Allah, the less bitter shall be your tribulations. No place is void of holy people. Find someone in your vicinity. The great masters who have passed away, their resting places are also full of blessings, therefore visit Data Darbar. Peace be upon you.

7: Endless Problems

A person from the UK wrote complaining about his problems.

Hadrat Sahibs Reply

10th February 1992

9

10 11

Daily prayers Pre-dawn prayers

thee: I was indeed wrong!")(21-87)

"( There is no god but thou: glory to

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Peace and blessing of Allah be upon you,

I have received your letter and became aware of your situation. In despair you have written a lot of things. Our masters have trained us to be patient in times of difficulty, to thank Allah for His favours and be content with His decree. Trials and tribulations are not a permanent part of life. They are merely there to awaken us from negligence, to make us reflect upon our actions and to seek forgiveness from Allah for our sins. How can one complain to Him who is the fulfiller of our needs and who is closer to us than our jugular veins. Leave these matters to Allah and sincerely focus upon His remembrance. Read Salah regluraly. As for magic, I do not know and have no interest in this matter. In my humble view, the dos and donts of Shariah are the essence of religion and fulfilling these obligations leads to contentment of the heart. A copy of 33 Quranic verses is sent to you, read it with sincerity after Fajr and Isha and present your needs humbly before Allah. Allah only accepts sincerity and He does not care for pride and arrogance. May Allah save you from bad actions. Steadfastness and sincerity are primary conditions. If you deem appropriate, then keep this letter safe and from time to time read it again. Peace be upon you.

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

15th November 1994 Peace and blessing of Allah be upon you,

I have received your letter. You have written in great detail to prove your point. However, you forgot one major thing: that this humble servant is merely a servant of Allah who is worried about his own salvation. This humble servant makes no claims of sainthood. People come to visit us on the basis that they have a good opinion of our masters. We try to help people in light of their instructions. We do not neglect you in our prayers, but acceptance is in Allahs hands. Prayer is equally effective whether from near or far as it has no barriers of time and space. When you came here and prayed and we saw one another, then this indeed constitutes a meeting, and the reward is with Allah. I pray that Allah grants you peace and contentment and that you do not get upset over trivial matters. The remedy that the Holy Quran, the pious people and the experiences of such people have mentioned to obtain peace and contentment is that one must be engaged in the remembrance of Allah. This type of peace cannot be found in wealth, power, or rule. Guru Nanak states;

There is no peace in horse and carriage, There is no peace in governance or education

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If there is peace it is either in company of the good, Or in singing Gods praise.

9: Wayward Son

A person wrote about his disobedient son who has wasted a lot of his wealth.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply

25th July 1991 Peace be and blessing of Allah upon you,

I became aware of your situation and pray for your welfare. If possible, offer some nafals12 after midnight and express your helplessness and humility before Allah. In addition read abundant durud sharif. The prayer of the parents for their children is very effective. Pray for their guidance and welfare. We shall pray to Allah and you should also turn to Him. A copy of durud sharif is attached, read it 1100 times and do not talk during it and focus on your problems. Peace be upon you.

10: False Allegations

A person wrote that some were preparing a false case against him and sought Hadrat Sahibs prayers.

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Non-obligatory prayers

11

Hadrat Sahibs Reply

3rd August 1991 Peace be and blessing of Allah upon you,

I received your letter and was pleased to know that you are steadfast upon your awrad. Keep yourself busy in matters relating to Allah. A believer never harms anyone even if they are against him. Be content and fulfil your duty and do not worry about other peoples opposition. In this world people always fight for their desires and interests. Those people who stay focused on Allah. He grants them help and support. Keep this letter safe and read it from time to time. Peace be upon you.

11: Student Issues

The principal of a Madrasa wrote informing him that some students had been expelled because of fighting.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply

7th August 1991 Peace be and blessing of Allah upon you,

Hadrat Mawlana Shaykh al-Hadith Sahib (May Allah prolong your life). Please accept our greetings. I have received your letter via Hajji Pir Sahib and I became aware of the incident. It greatly saddened me that our students caused you so much pain. You are an esteemed personality who deserves nothing but respect from
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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.

Peace be upon you.

12: Illness

A person wrote about his illness and other problems.

Hadrat Sahibs Reply

14th August 1993, Peace and blessing of Allah be upon you,

I received your letter and became aware of your situation. We humble people pray that Allah keeps you safe in His protection. Be mindful of dos and donts of Shariah13. Pray regularly in your homes. If possible then appoint a time to recite
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, 500 times with durud sharif 100 times in the

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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remembrance of Allah is the proper cure for all illnesses. Peace

be upon you.

13: Serious Illness

A person wrote about his prolonged illness.

Hadrat Sahibs Reply

16th January 1992 Peace and blessing of Allah be upon you,

I received your letter and became aware of your tragic circumstances. I pray to Allah that He removes your difficulties. A human being is always undergoing change and he must not despair and become stressful. Always remain positive and face every situation with patience and steadfastness. When the time is right, Allah shall turn matters in accordance with your wishes. An impatient person wants his wish to be granted immediately. As flowers blossom in their particular season, in the same way, wishes are granted at an appropriate time. Have complete trust in Allah and dont give into despair as it is a sign of weak faith. You have mentioned a list of holy people that you visited for a solution to your predicament. You should know that everyone, whether great or small, is nonetheless needy, and that only Allah is the fulfiller of needs. The holy people are merely a

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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.

14: Miracle Cure?

A person wrote and threatened to bring all his family to Hadrat Sahib Rahmatullah Alayhi unless his daughter was miraculously cured.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply

31st March 1993 Peace and blessing of Allah be upon you,

I received your letter. Your letter is an indication of the people you have associated with. Those peoples influence is apparent on your personality. Some people do have such views (about miraculous cures) which they propagate amongst their followers. It would be better for you to seek such a miracle performing master. However, this humble servant does not share
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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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and 16: Allah is living and source of

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.

15: Mental Illness

A person from the UK wrote about his wifes mental illness and taking care of his three young daughters.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply

2nd July 1993 Peace be and blessing of Allah upon you,

15 16

The Everlasting The Sustainer of Life

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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.

16: Fathers Illness

A person wrote about his fathers illness.

Hadrat Sahibs Reply

Not dated Peace be and blessing of Allah 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.

17: Marriage Proposal

A lady wrote about lack of marriage proposals for her daughters.

Hadrat Sahibs Reply

8th August 1991 Peace and blessing of Allah be upon you,

I received your letter and became aware of your situation. May Allah keep you in His protection. Always focus on Allah; He has complete control over everything. Recite ayat-e karima 18

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.

18: A Suitable Boy

A lady wrote that she could not find a suitable match for her daughter.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply

4th September 1994 Peace and blessing of Allah be upon you,

This humble servant is praying for your progress and you should expect goodness from Allah. Do not despair, a believer puts his trust in Allah and busies himself in carrying out His commands. Recite surah Yasin after Fajr and before sunrise. When you reach the word Mubin, read it eleven times. There are seven mubins and you should read adhan18 of Fajr which has the extra words:
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at every Mubin. Then pray to Allah with

complete humility to achieve your needs. Peace be upon you.

17 18

Gathering for the deceased Call to prayer 19 Prayer is better than sleep

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19: Conflict or Reconciliation?

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

1st August 1991 Peace be and blessing of Allah upon you,

I received your letter and became aware of your situation. I am setting the date for the wedding on Friday 19th Safar/ 30th August. You are free to change this date. With regards to the second matter, we Darwish people are people of conciliation. We teach to forgive and forget, and consider forgiveness as a victory. For your better future we advise you that you do not make it an issue of the ego, and try to reconcile with your wife and children so that you have a peaceful future, reflect on this matter. Remember Allah and be steadfast on prayers as this is the only means of contentment. Peace be upon you. Note: Keep this letter safe and from time to time read it again.

20: Domestic Violence

A Wife complained of an abusive husband

Hadrat Sahibs Reply

14th September 1995 Peace and blessing of Allah be upon you,

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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.

21: East is East and West is West

A person wrote that he had his son marry a Pakistani girl but he lives with an English girl.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply

30th June 1993 Peace be and blessing of Allah upon you,

I have received your letter and became aware of your problem. This is the period of waywardness and, as such, most people are distressed due to its negative effect. This situation has arisen due to the clash of two cultures. There is no point worrying and instead use wisdom. Be steadfast on Salah and plead to your Lord who is the Changer of hearts. He can change hearts and this humble servant also prays for your welfare. If possible then read Ya Wadud 1000 times with focus, read durud sharif 100 times in the beginning and at the end. Keep the image
20

The Most Loving

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of your son and his first wife. Insha Allah the results shall be positive. Peace be upon you.

22: Loss of Faith

A Lady from Australia wrote about her son who has lost faith in God.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply

11th September 1995 Peace and blessing of Allah be upon you,

I have received your letter. Someone has misinformed you about this humble servant or has mentioned things that are based on his devotion or hearsay and encouraged you to write to me. This humble servant is busy seeking to correct himself and so how can he guide others. The problem you have mentioned concerning your son is due to lack of knowledge on his part and his love and association with people who are rebelling against their faith. Do not be harsh with him, lest it makes matters worse. Use wisdom and kindness. Make him understand that none has lived forever in this world. Every person has a fixed time and that when their time expires, the person departs. No prophet, saint, sage or physician can extend this life span. This is a Divine decree for every living being that cannot be postponed. Remind him that everybody is helpless when it comes to the matter of death, which suggests
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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.

23: Seeking Guidance

A person wrote seeking prayers to stay on the straight path.

Hadrat Sahibs Reply

8th September 1995 Peace and blessing of Allah be upon you,

I am pleased to know that that you are content with your work. Give thanks to Allah. You have asked this humble servant

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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.

24: Seeking Enlightenment

A person from UK wrote seeking guidance

Hadrat Sahibs Reply

7th September 1995 Peace and blessing of Allah be upon you,

Dear Respected Qadi Sahib, I have received your letter and became aware of your situation. It is encouraging to know that your outlook on life has changed. When a Muslims viewpoint begins to change for the
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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.

25: Seeking Prayers

A person wrote after a long absence and sought prayers.

Hadrat Sahibs Reply

No date Peace and blessing of Allah be upon you,

I received your letter and became aware of your situation. This humble servant prays to Allah to grant you ease in both 26

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.

21

Faith/religion

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Hadrat Sahibs Reply

12th January 1995 Peace and blessing of Allah be upon you,

I received your letter. The real purpose of life is to remember Allah, one must focus on Allah. The pious peoples role is to remind you to do so. Keep love for your din and remain on the beliefs of the pious people. Act upon the dos of Shariah and avoid the donts. If it is possible then visit us, but do not go through hardship in the process. Instead remember the earlier meeting and focus on the lessons that were given to you. These lessons are enough for your guidance. One cannot rely on life and time is constantly slipping away. Value time and busy yourself with actions that really matter. Do not run after worldly desires as there is an end to them, subsequently tomorrow you shall face remorse before Allah. Peace be upon you.

27: Baya

A person wrote to express his desire to meet and take baya22 from Hadrat Sahib Rahmatullah Alayhi.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply

14th September 1995 Peace and blessing of Allah be upon you,

22

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.

28: Always on My Mind

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

29th July 1991 Peace be and blessing of Allah upon you,

I am deeply touched by your sentiments that you remembered us constantly in those holy places. May Allah Almighty reward you for this act of kindness. I was saddened to hear of your pain. Some colleagues state that if you eat two dates with black tea at night before going to sleep Allah grants you a cure. You may try this remedy for two to four weeks. Peace be

upon you.
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29: Zombie State

A person wrote that he had lost his passion for prayer and awrads.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply

19th September 1993 Peace be and blessing of Allah upon you,

I have received your letter. You complain that you have lost all passion for worship. You should reflect upon your present situation and ask yourself: is it possible that love for the world has settled in my heart? The thirst for the world is such a cruel craving that it can never be satisfied. At every moment it makes new demands. This situation arises when one is not in control of his ego. Anyway, only Allah does not alter and everything beside Him changes. One day it is hardship and the next ease. Allah Almighty states, Verily We have created man into toil and struggle, (90:4). Indeed, a person has to struggle throughout his life. A believer, however, does not despair whether it is hardship or prosperity. He attributes it to Allah Almightys wisdom and always stays focused on Allah. The responsibility of a person is to try his best and be content whether he is successful or not. Look after your health as often ill health can affect ones passion for worship. Consult some Herbalist and eat some jams. This humble servant shall pray for your worldly and spiritual benefit.

Peace be upon you.

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30: The Four Rightly Guided Caliphs

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

26th September 1993 Peace be and blessing of Allah upon you,

May Allah forgive all our faults and mistakes. This humble servant is grateful for your counsel in this matter and

Insha Allah shall do his utmost to implement this practice. Peace be upon you.

31: Peace of Mind

A student wrote requesting something to read that would give him peace of mind.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply

25th July 1991 Peace be and blessing of Allah upon you,

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Friday or Eid sermon

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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

Allahu Akbar 34 times and durud sharif 11 times. Insha Allah

you shall feel at peace. Keep this letter safe and read it again after a week or ten days. Moreover, follow the guidelines of the institution where you are studying. Peace be upon you.

32: Bereavement

A person wrote regarding the demise of his mother.

Hadrat Sahibs Reply

2nd March 1992 Peace and blessing of Allah be upon you,

Through your letter I became aware of your mothers demise and I am deeply saddened by her loss. Everything shall perish and only Allah shall remain forever. There is no other option other
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Remembrance of God There is no power or might without Allah

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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.

33: Death of a Son

An imam wrote to inform Hadrat Sahib Rahmatullah Alayhi of his sons death.
Hadrat Sahibs Reply

11th January 1995 Peace and blessing of Allah be upon you,

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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.

34: Life of Sin

A person wrote that he wanted to leave his life of sin.

Hadrat Sahibs Reply

7th March 1993 Peace and blessing of Allah be upon you,

Your thoughts are noble. Hadrat Abu Said Abu al-Khayr Rahmatullah Alayhi states,

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

A lady wrote complaining about her bitter divorce.

Hadrat Sahibs Reply

27th September 1994 Peace and blessing of Allah be upon you,

I have received your letter and became aware of your situation. I recall that in your previous letter you had mentioned that people were trying to prevent you from praying and that you were so distressed that you contemplated suicide. If Allah has saved you from such a critical situation than it would be more appropriate to give thanks to Allah. However, as usual, your letter is full of anguish and complaints. Without doubt a person faces difficulties in this life and experiences both happiness and sadness. Only the friends of Allah are at peace. They do not seek any financial remuneration from people and only act for Allahs pleasure. They keep themselves busy in His remembrance and when they face any difficulty they view it as a divine decree and do not worry about it. You have seen different facets of this world and there is no peace in any one of those situations. So if you have more desire

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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

No date Peace and blessing of Allah be upon you,

This humble servant agrees with the decision you have made in light of your present circumstances. However the anxiety you have expressed regarding your future is merely suspicion. For Him is the creation and the matter. We have been created by Him and it is He who takes care of our affairs. Therefore we should place our trust upon Him. He guides people, as required. Sometimes Allah grants a person wisdom and understanding and sometimes He elevates someone by His subtle wisdom. However, with regards to happiness and sadness in life Allah has outlined a method for people. If a person follows this method then one is successful. In times of joy one should give thanks and in times of discomfort one should be patient. Beyond this is the stage when one continues to carry out acts with pleasure and happiness that pleases his beloved (Allah) regardless of joy or discomfort. To accept all that comes from Him with submission is called taslim and this is the highest state. From now on continue with those actions that are pleasing to Allah
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and you shall experience peace and contentment. Peace be upon

you.
37: Exam and Education

A student wrote requesting prayers for an upcoming exam.

Hadrat Sahibs Reply

22nd April 1995 Peace and blessing of Allah be upon you,

I received your letter in which you have asked for prayers for your examinations. This humble servant prays for everyone and we pray that you are successful in your objectives. Dearest, do not just rely on prayers but also work hard. It is through hard work that people reach their goal. The famous personalities whose teachings and saying are the basis of knowledge achieved this rank due to great effort. For your guidance we are relating a few examples so that you understand that only through hard work does one achieve greatness. A person enquired from Imam Tabarani Rahmatullah Alayhi how he had gathered such vast amount of knowledge. Imam Tabarani Rahmatullah Alayhi replied, My dearest, by not using anything but a sack cloth for my bed for thirty years. Imam Razi Rahmatullah Alayhi used to regret the fact that time is wasted due to eating and that this time could have been spent on study. He stated, By Allah I regret the fact that during eating I cannot study, as time is precious.

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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.

Hadrat Sahibs Reply

25th July 1991 Peace be and blessing of Allah upon you,

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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.

39: Love or Lust?

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

12th September 1994 Peace and blessing of Allah be upon you,

I have received both of your letters. This letter in particular sheds light on your thoughts. This humble servants role is merely to supplicate for your wellbeing. Only Allah knows what the future holds. The love you have mentioned in
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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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40: Whats the Point?

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

24th January 1992 Peace be and blessing of Allah upon you,

I have received your letter and became aware of your situation. You have mentioned your problems and mentioned that you give Zakah and charity. A persons criterion is different to Allahs criteria. Allah alone knows the wisdom behind His decisions. A person is merely affected by his environment and makes up theories. Allah has granted you the ability to serve your parents and other charitable acts. This is not your greatness but His grace. Pray regluraly and focus on Allah always and only He can ease your problems. His remembrance is the source of contentment. Do not use your service and charity as an excuse, as only humility is accepted in His court. Note: Be mindful of the five pillars of Islam: Shahadah,

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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Janab Qibla Hadrat Sahib

( 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