Introduction

KHANQAH ASHRAFIA AKHTARIA 

 

نقش قدم نبی ﷺ کے ہیں جنت کے راستے
The footsteps of the Prophet ﷺ belong to the path to heaven

اللہ سے ملاتے ہیں سنت کے راستے
Meet the path of Sunnah with Allah

 

Undoubtedly, the secret of the well-being of the world of humanity lies in understanding and following the divine and universal teachings of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Muslims always rise in the shadow of the teachings of the Prophet. And leaving them behind, They always saw decline. If considered the teachings of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) are of two kinds from a practical point of view.

1- The first part of the teachings of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) relates to the external organs and joints, from the actions and movements of human organs and sensory matters. Such as Qayam (standing in Prayer), recitation (Reading Quran), Rakoo (bowing in Prayer), Sajood (prostration in Prayer), Tasbeh (glorification of God), invitation, jihad, etiquette, Matters between people and society matters etc. And this part is the real form of religion and the practical system of Islam.

2- The second part of the teachings of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has to do with inner states. We can interpret them sincerity and accountability, patience and trust, asceticism, selflessness and generosity, spiritual conditions, moral reform and self-purification. These inner states are necessary for outward actions. In the blessed life of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) there Qayam (standing in Prayer), and sitting in Prayer or Rakoo (bowing in Prayer) and Sajood (prostration in Prayer), have family matters or Conditions of invitation and remembrance, Be it the home environment or the field of jihad, These inner states and heart qualities are seen everywhere. The outward actions of these inner states have the same status as the human body for the soul and the heart as compared to the outward structure. The knowledge that consists of the teachings of the first part is interpreted as apparent jurisprudence and the knowledge that contains the teachings of the second part is called esoteric jurisprudence.

From time immemorial, not only outward deeds have been worked on, but also inward deeds have been reformed, and monasteries (Khanqahs) have been established for this purpose. And the work of purification and reformation which the Holy Prophet (sws) and his Companions used to do in the Prophet's Masjid, was done by the Iaemmah e Mujtahideen and Akbar in the monasteries (Khanqahs).

 

The meaning of Khanqah (monastery) and the purpose of establishing a Khanqah (monastery)

 

Khanqah (Monastery) is a Persian word whose meaning is written in Ghias-ul-Lughat “The Place of sitting of Dervishes” Wherever a few God-fearing dervishes sit, that is the monastery (Khanqah).

Regarding the purpose of the monastery, Arif Billah Hazrat Aqdas Maulana Shah Hakim Muhammad Akhtar Sahib Rahmatullah aleh says: That the monastery is a manifestation of یُزَکِّیْہِمْ The monastery is the place where the (Jeem) of (Jah) and the (baa) of (Bah) are extracted. And let the pure (ah) remain because there is no distance between (AH) and (Allah). Allah has taken our (AH) in His arms. Where the (AH) should be cleansed of pride and arrogance, that is, where pride and arrogance should be eradicated. And purify the heart from lust, arrogance, evil eye and love other than Allah. Its name is Monastery (Khanqah). Monastery is not the name of eating (Halwa) as the common people understand. I have a poem on the definition of a monastery.

 

اہلِ دل کے دل سے نکلے آہ آہ
Extracted (Ah) (Ah) from the hearts of the people

بس وہی اخترؔ ہے اصلی خانقاہ
Akhtar ! That is the real monastery (Khanqah)

 

The meanings and significance of purification.

 

Arif Billah Hazrat Aqdas Maulana Shah Hakim Muhammad Akhtar Sahib Rahmatullah aleh said that Hazrat Maulana Shah Abrar-ul-Haq (may Allah have mercy on him) said that deeds come from madrassas and Tableeg (preaching). And blessed deeds of sincerity come from monasteries. All three things are necessary. Madrassas are also necessary, Tableeg (preaching) is also necessary and purification is also necessary. Self-purification is a branch of Prophet Hood. Some ignorant people say that purification is the work of saints. I said:  یُزَکِّیْہِمْ  is the work of saints Purification is one of the most important purposes of (Purpose of Prophet Hood). Allah Said  یُزَکِّیْہِمْ Our Prophet purifies and purification means purification of heart, purification of soul and purification of body. That is why Allama Alusi (may Allah have mercy on him) has interpreted یُزَکِّیْہِمْ in his commentary on Ruh al-Ma'ani. أَیْ یُطَھِّرُ قُلُوْبَھُمْ وَ نُفُوْسَھُمْ وَ أَبْدَانَھُم۔ قُلُوْبَھُمْ مِنَ الْاِشْتِغَالِ بِغَیْرِ اللہِ وَ نُفُوْسَھُمْ مِنَ الْاَخْلَاقِ الرَّذِیْلَۃِ وَ أَبْدَانَھُمْ مِنَ الْأَنْجَاسِ وَ الْاَعْمَالِ الْقَبِیْحَۃِ That is, the Prophet purifies the hearts of the Companions and their souls and their Bodies. He purifies their hearts by employment of other than Allah. And purifies the soul from vile morals and purifies the body from impurities and evil deeds. This is the result of purification. When the heart is purified, the soul is purified and the body is purified, then the fragrance of nearness to Allah is felt more. As if pure Oud is applied after bathing, the fragrance of Oud is felt. And if you apply Oud on the stench of sweat and dirt and impurity, where will the fragrance be felt? Similarly, those who do not forsake sins do not purify their souls; do not have a proper understanding of the pleasure of nearness to Allah. And acceptance of deeds without purification is in danger. As in the hadith of (Riya), a reader, a Mujahid and a rich man will be thrown into hell because sincerity cannot be obtained without purification that is why purification is obligatory. And the act of purification is contagious. So in order to be purified, one needs Purified, so for purification, it is necessary to have a relationship with a perfect Sheikh.

 

Madrassas make us worldly destinations, monasteries and God's people make us adult destinations

 

Arif Billah Hazrat Aqdas Maulana Shah Hakim Muhammad Akhtar Sahib Rahmatullah aleh said that my Sheikh Hazrat Maulana Shah Abdul Ghani Sahib Phoolpuri (may Allah have mercy on him) used to say that Allah meets from the people of Allah. Had it not been for this, Maulana Qasim Nanotavi, Maulana Ganguhi and the great scholars and Sheikhs would not have decide to bowed down. Sheikh Abdul Haq Dehlavi, the commentator of Mashkaat Sharif, was also hesitant, he did not swear allegiance. Then his father wrote him a letter, look at the life of Abdul Haq, I have read it myself. Was written “My son, do not be a dry and awkward mullah”. O Sheikh Abdul Haq, the narrator of Muhaddith and Mashkaat Sharif. Don't be dry Mullah, don't be uneven, go and catch someone of people of Allah and be his companion. Lovers of Allah become lovers, Madrassas make us worldly destinations, monasteries and God's people make us adult destinations. The knowledge of destination is another and puberty of destination is another. The knowledge of the destination is to tell him only the way and leave him. Like this, that it is the way of village you can see. It’s visible; this is the knowledge of destination. But take him by the hand and lead him to this village. This is puberty of destination. Get knowledge of destination from madrassas but adult destination will be the same as holding the hand of an adult destination.

 

Establishment of Khanqah Ashrafia Akhtaria

 

Arif Billah Hazrat Mulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar (RA) visited Bahawalnagar himself in  1997 and laid the foundation of Khanqah Ashrafia Akhtaria. Today the work of spiritual guidance and teaching of Islamic ethics is being performed on a great level.

With the special attention and supplications of Arif Billah Hazrat Mulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar (RA) a great work of purification of souls, teaching the love of Allah and ethics is being performed by Hazratwala on international level as well.

Hazratwala has laid the foundation of khanqah Jalilia in Multan, Pakistan. He is the head of “Dar-ul-Islah International” in Australia, England, Dubai, Zambia and Bangladesh .  Dar ul Islah International   where the work of Islah (Teaching love of Allah, Ethics and Soul Purification) is being performed on regular basis.

May Allah protect Hazratwala from all evil and evil designs. May Allah grant him a long life of 130 years with health and Afiyah. May Allah spread the faiz of Arif Billah Hazrat Mulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar (RA) through Hazratwala in the whole world. Ameen

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