Remembrance of Allah and Gratitude for His Blessings: A Call to Sincerity Beyond Worldly Distractions

Address of Hazor Wala Shan Pir Sahib (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) Dated: 13 February 1985

Speech No 3

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

فَنِعۡمَ الۡمَوۡلٰی وَ نِعۡمَ النَّصِیۡرُ

رَبِِّ اشۡرَحۡ لِیۡ صَدۡرِیۡ وَیَسِّرۡ لِیۡۤ اَمۡرِیۡ وَ احۡلُلۡ عُقۡدَۃً مِّنۡ لِّسَانِیۡ یَفۡقَہُوۡاقَوۡلِیۡ

اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰی سَیِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰی اٰلِ سَیِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰی اَصْحَابِہٖ وَعَلٰی اَزْوَاجِہٖ اَجْمَعِیْنَ وَبَارِکْ وَسَلِّمْ وَصَلِّ عَلَیْہِ

Alhamdulillah.

All praise for Allah, Glorious and Exalted, countless thanks to the Master of all sovereignty who has once again granted us the opportunity and ability to gather here for His pleasure, in His remembrance, and in His love. Millions and billions of blessings and salutations be upon the Leader of the Prophets, the Beloved of Allah, Muhammad ﷺ, through whose mediation this grace has been bestowed upon us.

Respected listeners! As is customary, we shall begin the recitation of the sacred awrad. Before that, it is necessary to understand a few important matters. This gathering is held to present our humility before Allah, to seek forgiveness by presenting the intercession of His Blessed Names—which are the cure for all illnesses—and by expressing our devotion and love for His Beloved ﷺ. It is a gathering to ask forgiveness, to express gratitude to Allah, to collectively seek deliverance from religious and worldly difficulties, and to be saved from disgrace in the Hereafter.

Respected listeners! It is strange that a person does not properly give thanks for Allah’s blessings, yet constantly complains. He spends all his time striving for temporary things that hold no more reality than a mirage.

Friends, this is a matter that requires understanding:

( آیت نمبر 8 : سورۃ الجمعہ )

قُلْ اِنَّ الْمَوْتَ الَّذِيْ تَفِرُّوْنَ مِنْهُ فَاِنَّهٗ مُلٰقِيْكُمْ ثُمَّ تُرَدُّوْنَ اِلٰى عٰلِمِ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُوْنَ

Allah the Most Holy states in His Pure Word that the death from which you flee will surely meet you. Then you will be returned to the Knower of the unseen and the seen, from whom nothing is hidden. He will inform you of all that you used to do. On that Day, Allah will first question mankind about all the blessings that were granted to them—how much gratitude they expressed for them.

( آیت نمبر 8 : سورۃ التکاثر )

ثُمَّ لَتُسْـَٔــلُنَّ يَوْمَىِٕذٍ عَنِ النَّعِيْمِ

When this verse was revealed, the noble companions (رضوان اللہ علیہم اجمعین) submitted: “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, we eat dry bread and dates, and we travel day and night with swords hanging from our shoulders. Will we also be questioned about blessings?” The Prophet ﷺ replied: “Did Allah not grant you cool water? Did He not grant you refreshing air? Did He not make the earth a resting place for you? Did He not create the sky and all within it for your benefit?” All these are blessings of Allah, and it is regarding these blessings that you will be questioned.

Allah’s blessings are so abundant upon every individual that none is deprived. How can we show gratitude for them? The way to show gratitude is to restrain our worldly desires and remain engaged in the remembrance of Allah, thus practically demonstrating love for Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.

Allah is independent and not in need of anyone’s actions, while man is needy. Allah created the servant for worship and desires that he remain engaged in His servitude. One may use the world and all within it, but while remembering the Owner, thereby expressing gratitude for His blessings.

That which is accepted in the Court of Allah, which removes veils and brings joy amidst sorrow, is the remembrance of Allah. The most excellent remembrance is that which is performed after sacrificing worldly desires.

It is written about a pious elder that while returning from Hajj, he saw a man weeping bitterly in the middle of the night. He asked him what troubled him. The man replied, “I longed to behold the Ka‘bah and to present myself at the blessed feet of the Prophet ﷺ, but I was not granted Hajj. I weep over this sorrow.” The elder said, “O man, I have performed four Hajj. For Allah’s sake, take my four Hajj and give me this heartfelt yearning of yours.” This is something to reflect upon.

It is Allah’s favor that He has granted us the ability to leave worldly pleasures and necessities and gather here for His remembrance and gratitude. If, even at such a great opportunity, we allow our attention to remain fixed on worldly matters and forget the sincerity and focus that are the foremost requirements of this blessed gathering, then what great misfortune it is.

Remember! When two desires arise in the heart—one to endure hardship for the remembrance of Allah, and the other to attend to worldly matters—it becomes obligatory upon a person to leave worldly engagement and turn toward Allah’s remembrance. Otherwise, he falls into shirk, and in reality this is a form of shirk, because at that moment he has not regarded Allah as the All-Powerful and Fully Capable over all things.

When a person sits for the remembrance of Allah, Shaytan and the lower self attempt to distract him so that he may be deprived of the true reward. Thoughts of work, friends, home—every kind of worldly thought will certainly arise. But one must remember Allah’s command:

( آیت نمبر 11 : سورۃ الجمعہ )

قُلْ مَا عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ خَيْرٌ مِّنَ اللَّهْوِ وَمِنَ التِّجَارَةِ ۭ وَاللّٰهُ خَيْرُ الرّٰزِقِيْنَ

Allah says: Tell them that what is with Allah is far superior to worldly amusement and trade, and Allah is the Best of Providers.

Respected listeners! Therefore, with utmost humility and sincerity, with full attention and awareness, let us begin the recitation of the sacred awrad.

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

Awrad-e-Naziriyyah Sharif was recited and supplication was made.