Short Advices – The Counsel Of Hājī Imdādullāh Muhājir Makkī Rahmatullahi Alayhi – Part 1

Sheikh Hāji Imdādullāh Muhājir was a great ascetic and scrupulous scholar. He was a descendant of Umar (Allah be well pleased with him). Born in North India, he migrated to Makkah after the Indian Mutiny in 1857. His counsel is re-produced hereunder in English to benefit one and all. Allah alone gives success. (A translation by: Sheikh Shazad Khan, As-Suffa Institute, Birmingham)

– You should learn sacred law so that you can fulfill your obligation to your Lord and other human beings.

– You should follow the Qurān and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad [Allah bless you and give you peace] and his Companions [Allah be well pleased with them].

– You should abandon blameworthy traits. They are, greed [ḥirṣ], fallacious hope [ṭūl al-amal], anger [ghaḍab], lying [kidhb], backbiting [ghībah], stinginess [bukhl], envy [ḥasad], ostentation [riyā], pride [kibr] and rancour [ḥiqd].

– You should adopt the praiseworthy traits. They are, patience [ṣabr], gratitude [shukr], contentment [qanā‘ah], knowledge [‘ilm], certitude [yaqīn], entrustment to Allah [tafwīḍ], reliance on Allah [tawakkul], satisfaction with Allah’s decree [riḍā] and accepting fate [taslīm].

– You should be steadfast in following the Sharī‘ah and abstain from all unlawfulness [harām].

– You should adopt taqwā and abstinence.

– You should adopt the sunnah at all times and avoid all prohibited and doubtful items.

– If you sin, you should repent immediately, and should compensate the action with good works and penitence. Never should you delay repentance.

– You should perform all five daily prayers with congregation.

– After performing the fard, wájib, sunnah and nafl works, you should occupy yourself with what the shaykh has prescribed.

– You should not hanker after excess in litanies but rather concentrate on occupying the heart with Allah’s remembrance and love.

– When you feel pleasure in His remembrance you should be grateful.

– All works should be done solely for divine pleasure.

– You should not seek inspiration [kashf] or miracles [karámat].

– When you experience expansion [basṭ] you should adopt gratitude and be mindful of the boundaries of divine law.

– When you experience constriction [qabḍ] you should not despair but continue in ardour.

– You should consider yourself below your works, and regard yourself as blameworthy in their performance.

– You should not disclose the secrets of the esoteric sciences to the unacquainted.

– You should not disclose your own experiences to anyone other than your Shaykh.

– You should shun the world and all that it contains; otherwise a thousand years of spiritual works will be of no avail.

– The heart is a mirror; so protect it from the gleam of other than Him.