In Bukhari and Muslim Shareef, there is a Hadith narrated by Hadhrat Aishah رضي الله عنها which states that the action which is performed regularly and consistently is beloved to Allah ta'ala, even if it is a small action.
If a person practices upon an action which is beloved to Allah ta'ala, he also becomes beloved to Allah ta'ala. Therefore, we should adopt this practice and increase our ranks in Paradise.
Whatever Allah ta'ala and Nabi ﷺ command, it is always within our capacity. We can easily fulfil those actions, but we fail to practice them due to our lack of desire.
Its not about high quantity. Rather, every man can practice with consistency, despite their personal situations.
My Sheikh used to say, "If a person can't perform ten thousand tasbih due to some genuine Shari'ee reason, then even if he was to recite, 'Allah' thrice regularly, it would be considered as abundant Dhikr in the eyes of Allah ta'ala."
Steadfastness is the soul of Tasawwuf and this is where people fail. They begin with passion and then gradually leave the actions and become distant. Allah ta'ala dislikes this.
A person should practice regularly. The first lesson a Sheikh teaches his student is regarding regularity and consistency. In the Naqshbandi order, there are no lengthy prescriptions and prayers because the biggest achievement is consistency and a person is only prescribed litanies according to his circumstance. This is because the objective is to attain Allah ta'ala's nearness.
The biggest responsibility of a Sheikh is that when Allah ta'ala sends a person to him for rectification, it becomes his responsibility to bring him towards the correct Deen, and the correct Deen is consistency. Without this a person cannot become closer to Allah ta'ala. A lack of consistency is the biggest defect in the student.
The Tazkiyah Sheets are a fantastic system in this day and age. Even if there is a student who is a thousand miles away, he receives the company and the focus of his Sheikh, his circumstances are shared with the teacher and his rectification begins. Wherever a student may be, his connection with his Sheikh becomes strong through this system.
The reason of going to a Sheikh is to have your desires crushed and to be consistent in practice. If your Sheikh prescribes you an action to fulfil everyday, you must be regular in it.
A Sheikh prescribes something that you are capable of doing, so you must be steadfast, otherwise you won't be successful.
"Indeed those who say, 'Our Lord is Allah,' and then remain steadfast..." [41:30]
After Imaan, the first action Allah ta'ala prescribed is steadfastness. You must be steadfast upon your actions without following your own desires, otherwise you won't be successful.
For example, you must be steadfast in attending the Dhikr Gatherings. We must attend everyday, and those who cannot come daily due to a genuine reason, should attend the gatherings after every 3 days or once a week like the gathering on the night of Jumuah.
The pious predecessors mention that, "Everything can be compensated for, but not the company of the Sheikh which is missed." If you miss that Gathering, then you have lost out on the blessing and the mercies which descend upon that gathering.
It doesn't matter if we don't enjoy the Dhikr Gatherings. This is the path to Allah ta'ala. We shouldn’t be a student seeking enjoyment. Rather, we should become the student who seeks Allah ta'ala's pleasure and nearness.
If we make a habit to perform Dhikr in this world, Allah ta'ala will bless us with His vision in the Hereafter.
.."the angels descend upon them, ˹saying,˺ “Do not fear, nor grieve. Rather, rejoice in the good news of Paradise, which you have been promised." [41:30]
Those who depart the world with steadfastness upon their actions, the angels come to receive them in the Hereafter. The Quran tells us that the one who is consistent upon what his teacher prescribes him, has nothing to fear in the Hereafter. The good news of Paradise is given to him due to his consistency.
Success lies in being steadfast and consistent. If you are finding something difficult or facing a hurdle, or you have a weakness, then present your concern to your Sheikh. If you have a Shari'ee excuse, he will ease it for you, otherwise he will cure your Nafs and help you. If you avoid doing this, you will regret it greatly in the Hereafter.
Prayer is a unique form of worship and above all worship. It is a beloved action to Allah ta'ala and it was presented to Nabi ﷺ in the heavens. The element of steadfastness stands out with regards to Prayer. This is because, one is required to pray daily and for the rest of his life. Here, Allah ta'ala has granted us steadfastness naturally as he loves the quality of steadfastness.
A person never becomes bored or tired of prayers. After the compulsory prayers, he begins to perform voluntary prayers too! This is an example of consistency.
A person cannot become successful without consistency. Even if a person practices a small action, yet, is consistent, he does not fret about the quantity of the deed or whether it will be accepted, such a person is successful. A person who is steadfast, becomes promoted and beloved to Allah ta'ala.
When you go to a Sheikh, you repent at his hands and he grants you a prescription according to your personal situation. There's no strictness on this path. He will take your situation into consideration. If we are determined, Allah ta'ala will make the path easy for us and He will reduce the distance
In reality, when a person's love increases, then he advances towards the Dhikr Gatherings and the distance means nothing to him.
There are tests, challenges and sacrifices upon this path, however, through this, a person receives Allah ta'ala's love.
We make small excuses not to attend the Dhikr gatherings, yet, It is through Allah ta'ala's Grace that He has defined the straight path for us.
Our Nafs often deceives us and our heart doesn't allow us to practice. This is a great deception. It is a great Fitna that Allah ta'ala has granted us health and wellbeing, yet, we abandon the Dhikr gatherings and we abandon our own Dhikr. This is an unfortunate situation.
May Allah ta'ala protect us and allow us to remain steadfast upon those deeds which are beloved to Allah ta'ala. Ameen
3rd Jun, 2023
SubhanAllah Duaa hai Allah Hazarat Sahib ko Sahat wali lambi umer Aata farmaye
