Maulana Fazl ur Rahman Mahmood

About this bayan

A faith-enriching and reforming bayan on the importance of shukr, acknowledging the blessings of Allah, the reality of gratitude and its place in the life of a Muslim, by Hazrat Maulana Shah Fazlur Rahman Mahmood Sahab (DB).

Allah promises: if you are grateful, I will surely increase you.

Themes for reflection

• Recognising Allah’s blessings
• Gratitude of the heart, tongue and limbs
• Gratitude increases blessings
• Using blessings in obedience

About this bayan

Tawakkul is a vital station of faith and spiritual life. True tawakkul is that the servant adopts the means while placing the trust of his heart in Allah alone, trusting His wisdom and entrusting his affairs to Him. Hazrat Maulana Shah Fazlur Rahman Mahmood Sahab (DB) explains the station of tawakkul.

Whoever relies on Allah, He is sufficient for him.

Themes for reflection

• Using the means while relying on Allah
• Trust in Allah’s wisdom
• Freedom from anxiety
• Allah is sufficient

About this bayan

Tafweez, handing over one’s affairs entirely to Allah, is a higher stage of tawakkul. In this bayan Hazrat Maulana Shah Fazlur Rahman Mahmood Sahab (DB) explains this station.

The believer of Pharaoh’s people said: “I entrust my affair to Allah.” Tafweez brings a peace that worries cannot touch.

Themes for reflection

• From tawakkul to tafweez
• Doing one’s part, then letting go
• Peace in accepting Allah’s choice
• The example of the believer of Pharaoh’s people

About this bayan

Humility (tawazu‘) is a great quality that beautifies the inner self. In this bayan Hazrat Maulana Shah Fazlur Rahman Mahmood Sahab (DB) explains humility among the stations of sulook.

The servants of the Most Merciful walk on the earth humbly. The Prophet ﷺ taught that whoever humbles himself for Allah, Allah raises him.

Themes for reflection

• Humility as a station of the path
• Pride as the root of many diseases
• Being raised by Allah through humility
• Humility with people of every status

About this bayan

What is meant by the station of huzn (grief) on the path of sulook? Hazrat Maulana Shah Fazlur Rahman Mahmood Sahab (DB) explains this inner state in the context of tazkiya-e-nafs.

Praiseworthy grief is sorrow over one’s shortcomings and over time lost from Allah, a sorrow that drives the seeker forward rather than weakening him.

Themes for reflection

• Praiseworthy and blameworthy grief
• Grief over one’s shortcomings
• Grief that leads to effort
• Allah’s comfort for the believers

About this bayan

A faith-enriching and thought-provoking bayan on the station of hope (raja): who truly deserves the mercy of Allah? Hazrat Maulana Shah Fazlur Rahman Mahmood Sahab (DB) explains the difference between real hope and wishful thinking.

Allah forbids despair of His mercy. True hope is accompanied by effort, repentance and good deeds.

Themes for reflection

• Never despair of Allah’s mercy
• Hope versus wishful thinking
• Hope that leads to action
• Those most deserving of mercy

About this bayan

Part 2 of the thought-provoking bayan on khauf-e-ilahi by Hazrat Maulana Shah Fazlur Rahman Mahmood Sahab (DB).

This part continues to show how the fear of Allah transforms a person’s private life, his dealings and his worship, and how it is balanced with hope in His mercy.

Themes for reflection

• Fear in private and in public
• Tears from the fear of Allah
• Fear and hope as two wings
• Its fruits in daily life

About this bayan

The fear of Allah is the foundation of true iman and taqwa. In this bayan Hazrat Maulana Shah Fazlur Rahman Mahmood Sahab (DB) explains khauf-e-ilahi and how it protects the heart from sin.

The Qur’an promises Paradise to the one who feared standing before his Lord and restrained his self from desire.

Themes for reflection

• Khauf as the guardian of the heart
• Fear that leads to action, not despair
• The examples of the Prophets and the righteous
• Balancing fear with hope

About this bayan

In this faith-enriching bayan Hazrat Maulana Shah Fazlur Rahman Mahmood Sahab (DB) speaks about the station of guarding the tongue: protecting it from backbiting, tale-carrying, lies and harsh words.

Every word is recorded. A seeker who masters his tongue finds that many other sins become easy to leave, and his heart becomes lighter and nearer to Allah.

Themes for reflection

• Every word is recorded
• Backbiting, tale-carrying and lies
• Silence as worship
• Speaking only good

About this bayan

In this bayan Hazrat Maulana Shah Fazlur Rahman Mahmood Sahab (DB) explains the reality and importance of zuhd, detachment from the world, and its correct understanding.

Zuhd does not mean abandoning the world or one’s responsibilities; it means that the world stays in the hand and not in the heart.

Themes for reflection

• The correct meaning of zuhd
• The world in the hand, not in the heart
• Contentment (qana‘ah)
• Preferring the Hereafter