Reformation of Character pdf download

Reformation of character – Sample

REFORMATION OF CHARACTER

Book Contents

• Statement of Hazrat Hakeem-ul-Ummah Thanwi  
• The Definition of Noble Character
• Taubah (repentance)
• Khauf (Fear)
• Hope (in the Mercy of Allah Ta’ala)
• Haya (Modesty)
• Shukr (Gratitude)
• Fulfilling of Promises
• Sabr (Patience)
• Five occasions of Patience:
• Ikhlas (Sincerity)
• Muraqabah (Thinking of Allah Ta’ala in the Heart)
• The Method of attaining concentration whilst reciting Qur’an Sharif  
• The Method of acquiring Concentration in Salaah
• The Methods of Attaining Allah Ta’ala’s Love
• With which Servant is Allah Ta’ala’s Love?
• Respect for Elders
• Compassionate to the Young
• Tasleem, Radha, Tafweedh and Dua’a
• Combining Tafweedh and Dua’a
• Tawakkul (Reliance on Allah Ta’ala)
• Incorrect notion regarding Tawakkul
• Reformation of Character
• Evil Character and Its Cure
• The Cure for the Sickness of Regarding Oneself as Great……
• The Cure of Pride and Vanity
• An Objection Concerning Ujub and its answer
• Destruction of the Salikeen
• The Cure of Pride
• The Difference between Riya, Ujub and Takabbur
• The Difference between Takabbur and Shyness
• Pride in the form of Humility
• The sickness of Jealousy and its Cure
• The Cure for Jealousy
• Malice and its Cure
• The Cure for Greed and Love for the World
• Inappropriate Anger and its Cure
• An Exemplary incidents of not Controlling one’s Anger
• A beautiful and Effective contemplation to cure Anger
• Evil Glances, Treachery of the Heart and Worshipping of beauty  
• Evil Glances and Illicit Love Affairs
• Reformation for Children
• Reformation for those who are Mature
• Evil Thoughts and its Cure
• Twenty Evils of the Tongue
• Cure
• Riya (Ostentation)
• Cure for Riya
• Backbiting
• Speaking Lies
• Vulgar Language
• Harshness
• Not Forgiving People’s Mistakes
• Abstaining from Speaking
• Promises and Trusts
• An Important Advice of Hazrat Hakeem-ul-Ummah Thanwi regarding one’s Shaikh

The Definition of Noble Character and the Medium of acquiring it

Taubah (repentance)

Hazrat Abdullah ibne Masood (Radhiallaho Anho) said, “Due to sin, one’s heart feels ashamed and sorrowful, and thus becomes restless.”

 This is Taubah. In short, understand it in this way that when someone does wrong to a great person, then in what way does he seek to excuse himself?

 He claps his hands, falls on the feet of that person, places his topi on his feet, speaks words of flattery and adopts a crying face.

Similarly, when seeking repentance in front of Allah Ta’ala, one should at least adopt the same behavior; Such a Taubah, according to Allah’s promise is definitely accepted! To attain the ability to repent, ponder over the punishments mentioned in the Qur’an and Hadith. Consequently, the heart will begin to dislike sin.

Today, along with verbal repentance, begin making qadha of any Salaah and fasts that were missed. After asking the Ulama, if you have not given any person his due right or any inheritor his/her inheritance, then do so. If one does not have the ability to do so, then ask those people for forgiveness.

Khauf (Fear)

It is narrated that Hazrat Mu’aaz (Radhiallaho Anho) said, “The heart of a believer cannot be without fear and his fear can never become tranquil.”

The method of acquiring this is that one should at all times remember that Allah Ta’ala knows all our actions and statements, and is fully aware of our outer and inner secrets. On the Day of Judgment, He will take our reckoning.

Hope (in the Mercy of Allah Ta’ala)

Allah Ta’ala states, “Verily, the ones who are despondent of Allah Ta’ala’s mercy are the disbelievers.” This shows that having hope in His mercy is a part of Imaan.

The  way to acquire this is that you should be obedient to Allah Ta’ala and worship Him; and using your courage, abstain from sins! It is natural that one places his hopes on the one to whom he is obedient. And one’s heart becomes afraid and despondent of the one whom he disobeys.

The meaning of having hopes on Him when repenting means that one should look at Allah Ta’ala’s unlimited mercy and be convinced that one’s Taubah will be accepted. When a small dynamite can blow up a mountain into small bits, then how much power there must be in Allah Ta’ala’s mercy by which mountains of sins break up into small bits. However, to become unafraid, relying on His mercy, and to become accustomed to sinning is dangerous and a severe deception.

 Does any person place his hand in a fire, trusting on a healing lotion which is  hundred percent effective?

Haya (Modesty)

Modesty is a very beautiful quality. If one has shame from the creation, he will not do any action which they dislike. Likewise, if shame for Allah Ta’ala develops, then one will abstain from those actions which the Creator dislikes. The manner of attaining modesty is that one should stipulate a time and sit in solitude.

Then he should think of his sins and compare them against Allah Ta’ala’s favours. After a few days, shame will be inculcated in the heart and one will feel ashamed to disobey Allah Ta’ala. When this shame predominates, then one will not be able to sin.

Shukr (Gratitude)

Shukr is of two types:

1. Shukr to Allah Ta’ala
2. Shukr to the creation by means of which you have attained bounty.

Rasulullah (Sallellaho Alaihe Wasallam) said, “He who is not grateful to man, has not been grateful to Allah Ta’ala.” This teaches us that to be grateful and respectful to one’s parents, teachers, spiritual guide and all other benefactors is a part of being grateful to Allah Ta’ala.

A Hadith states, “If a person receives anything, then if he has the ability to give a gift in place of the one received, he should do so. If he does not have the ability, then he should praise the giver.” In this way, gratitude to him will be fulfilled. If he conceals it, he has been ungrateful.

 The reality of shukr is to appreciate the bounty. When one appreciates it, then he will also appreciate the giver of the bounty. In this way, gratitude to the creator and creation will be fulfilled.

More important than verbal shukr is practical shukr i.e. not to disobey your true Master who is bestowing fevours upon you, and to make a full effort to be obedient to Him. In this way, one will also fulfill the rights of one’s parents, teachers and Shaikh. The Qur’an has promised an increase in bounties for one who is thankful for them.

 However, the perfection of shukr is confined to doing good actions and abstaining from sins. Repentance and seeking forgiveness for shortcomings is also included in it. 

The crux of gratitude is to become happy on receiving the bounties of Allah Ta’ala, thus building His love in the heart.

Then by this love, enthusiasm should be created that when He grants us so many bounties, then we should worship Him in abundance. To disobey such a benefactor is a matter of great shame!

The manner of acquiring it is to think and ponder over the bounties of Allah Ta’ala. Specify a time for it daily so that you do not miss it. This is referred to as muraqabah-e-in’aamat-e-ilahiyyah (contemplation of Divine bounties). At every moment, thousands of Allah Ta’ala’s bounties are raining upon us. If any calamity befalls, then regard it as beneficial for oneself and consider it to be a bounty in disguise!

Fulfilling of Promises

Allah Ta’ala states, “O believers, fulfill your pacts, verily one will be questioned regarding his pacts.” That mean on the Day of Judgment, we will be asked, ‘did you fulfill them or not?’ Not fulfilling of pacts with others is a sign of hypocrisy as mentioned in a Hadith.

However, if one has promised something which is contrary to the Shariah, then it is not correct to fulfill it.

Sabr (Patience)

A Hadith states, “Patience is half of Imaan.” Allah Ta’ala states, “Verily Allah Ta’ala is with those who possess patience.” Man has two forces within himself. One encourages him to remain on Deen, and the other encourages him to fulfill his desires. Sabr refers to letting the first force dominate over the second.

The manner of attaining this is not to practice on the demands/desires of the Nafs.

The strength to have Sabr is created by remembrance of Allah Ta’ala, companionship of the friends of Allah Ta’ala and contemplating over death, the grave and Hell. In short, patience refers to binding the Nafs to the matters allowed in Deen and not allowing it to act contrary to them. 

Five occasions of Patience:

First

If one is wealthy, patience for him is that his mind must not become spoilt, he must not forget Allah Ta’ala, and he should bear in mind death and the loneliness of the grave. He should not despise the poor but rather should be kind and soft towards them. 

Second

The second occasion of patience is that one should not become lazy at the time of worship whether it be with regards to performing Salaah or giving of Zakaat. At such occasions, three types of patience are necessary: