Sulook Marifat and tasawwuf is not a joke, it is for the real men of Allah. May Allah grant us the strength and ability to live in accordance with Qibla Huzoor Daamat Barakaatuhum’s guidance, Aameen.
18th Dec, 2023
Why is Tahajjud Important?
Allah ta'ala created us with a purpose of strengthening our connection with Him. If we don't achieve this in life, we are destroyed.
Those who believe in Allah ta'ala, obey His commands and are firm upon this path, have a very strong connection of love with Allah ta'ala. Allah ta'ala loves such a person and he loves Allah ta'ala and he has fulfilled the objective of life.
To be firm upon taking the lawful and abstaining from the unlawful, is our duty no matter what.
When we are presented with Allah ta'ala's laws, we should submit ourselves to His commands without question and doubts. We should have patience upon any calamities and challenges whilst maintaining His laws. Such an implementer receives the highest bond with Allah ta'ala.
Humankind are of three categories:
1) Those who do not believe in Allah ta'ala but Allah ta'ala provides for them.
2) Those who believe in Allah ta'ala.
3) Those who believe in Allah ta'ala and obey all His commands. They are connected to Allah ta'ala and Allah ta'ala is connected to them. This is the highest grade and the highest grade in the Hereafter too.
We must attain this level. Allah ta'ala has given us different forms of worship to attain this very rank. The greatest worship which connects a person closely with Allah ta'ala is prayer. Through prayer, a person begins to obey Allah ta'ala. This is the effect of a genuine prayer. A genuine observer of prayer would not disobey Allah ta'ala.
Prayer strengthens our connection with Allah ta'ala and to help bring our prayer to that level, Allah ta'ala has assisted us with the action of dhikr. Allah ta'ala has given us dhikr to strengthen our prayer because they are both closely connected. The first effect of dhikr is that a person's prayer is improved and he reaches Allah ta'ala's nearness. This is the level of prayer we should achieve.
Prayer must be fulfilled daily and without prayer one cannot be connected to Allah ta'ala. This is why we must work hard all life-long to strengthen our prayers to a level where it distances us from evil and leads us towards good.
We must understand the essence of prayer. Our prayers may well be accepted without rendering futile. However, our prayers are often the lowest grade of prayers, hence, our focus should be laid on improving and elevating our prayers.
The pious predecessors gained the heights due to their prayers. They worked on improving their prayers. Likewise, we should constantly assess our condition and emotions during prayers. Are we praying attentively and with concentration and focus? Are we receiving Allah ta'ala's mercy through our prayers?
If we find deficiencies in our character and conduct, we experience anger, greed, malice, jealousy, depression, and we violate the rights of the creation, it is simply due to our prayers being incorrect. The conclusion of the entire deen is prayer. If our prayer is corrected and developed, then all our others matters will be rectified.
The nature of dhikr is that it holds the effect of elevating prayer to the highest grade. Dhikr is not the purpose itself. Its a resource which assists a person in attaining his purpose.
The more a person performs dhikr, the more his prayers will be improved, the more closer he will become to Allah ta'ala and the more love he will attain for Him.
Tahajjud is a prayer performed in the third part of the night. For the Naqshbandi, the prayers of Tahajjud and Ishraaq are compulsory, otherwise the student can not be spiritually enhanced and attain Allah ta'ala's nearness.
The third part of the night is the most beloved time in the eyes of Allah ta'ala. The one who desires to become close to Allah ta'ala and attain His love, should rise during this time. Allah ta'ala descends to the heavens of the world every night and questions, "Is there anyone who desires Me? Is there anyone who seeks provision, so that I may sustain for him? Is there anyone in distress so that I may relieve him from distress?"
Whoever directs himself to Allah ta'ala at this time is forgiven and his prayers are accepted. He is given provision, his calamities are lifted, and his life is improved for the Hereafter.
There is a Hadith in Tabrani shareef which states that it is compulsory to perform these prayers if one wishes to rectify himself, attain the focus and attention of Allah ta'ala, as well as the mercy of Allah ta'ala.
For the first new nights you may struggle to rise. If you have a firm intention, you will rise by yourself gradually and as a result, Allah ta'ala will make you His beloved.
Allah ta'ala never places a person in difficulty. If a person is in a habit of praying tahajjud, but feels tired, Allah ta'ala sends an angel to wake him up and also fulfils his sleep. Today we have hot water bottles, hot water, heating, lovely prayer mats to pray on, we have no excuse, yet we still don't rise for tahajjud.
There are exemptions of Tahajjud for those who are weak, sick and travelling and those who are helpless. My Hadhrat Sahib gave a prescription for this. When one awakens at night but is extremely tired, he should sit up and recite istighfar ten times, durood shareef ten times, and 'SubhaanAllah wa-alhamduillah wa laa ilaaha illallaahu wAllahu akbar' ten times. Through this action, he will gain the same reward of tahajjud.
If someone makes an intention of tahajjud after isha prayer and performs it, he also receives the reward of tahajjud. This method is for those who are struggling. Ladies have this exemption who become tired after house work or looking after their children. Such people will receive the reward of tahajjud for sure, but they'll be deprived of the special timing and gaining a connection with Allah ta'ala. A true Sufi doesn't seek the reward. He strives to attain the love of Allah ta'ala so he must rise in the night.
We should learn to crush our desires and make sacrifices. We should learn to be patient upon calamities in the path of Allah ta'ala. This is the definition of hard work. Calamities may come, but we must bear them and persevere whilst staying firm upon deen. We should strive and have hope upon every action that Allah ta'ala will grant us salvation through it.
Sulook Marifat and tasawwuf is not a joke, it is for the real men of Allah. May Allah grant us the strength and ability to live in accordance with Qibla Huzoor Daamat Barakaatuhum’s guidance, Aameen.