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Masail Al-Tariqa
Masail Al-Tariqa
Pertain to Knowledge of
the Ultimate
Reality
Translated by
Abdul Aziz Suraqah
is
Godfearingness;
the
foundation
of
If you are asked What are the conditions of Iman? say: Iman
has ten conditions: fear of Allahs punishment, hope in Allahs
grace, love for Allahs friends, hatred for Allahs enemies,
yearning for Allahs beatific vision, reverence for those whom
Allah has honored, scorn for those who are indifferent to Allah,
satisfaction with Allahs preordainment, wariness of Allahs
plotting [makr], and gratitude for Allahs bounties.
If you are asked How many categories does faith have? say:
Faith is divided into five categories: [1] imprinted faith, which
is the faith of the angels (and it neither increases nor
decreases), [2] acquired faith, which is the faith of the believers
(and it increases with obedience and decreases with
disobedience), [3] infallible faith, which is the faith of the
Prophets (it neither increases nor decreases), [4] halted faith,
which is the faith of innovators from the Umma of Muhammad
s, and [5] rejected faith, which is the faith of the disbelievers
among the Jews and Christians and others.
If you are asked How many categories of hearts are there? say:
Hearts are divided into three categories: a slaughtered heart
If you are asked How many obligations are due upon the
person who reaches the age of maturity? say: There are eight
obligations: to know Allah (Exalted and Sublime is He), to
know the Messenger s, to know what he brought [of beliefs],
to have knowledge [of ones legal duties], to practice [that
knowledge], and to know Islam, certainty, and sincerity.
If you are asked What is the sunna that stands in place of the
obligation say: The wudu that is performed prior to the full
bath [ghusl].
If you are asked What are the fruits of invocation? say: Its
fruits are three things: [1] deliberateness [tahdid], affirmation of
divine unity [tawhid], and experiential affirmation of Allahs
oneness [tafrid], [2] ultimate reality, and [3] giving of ones soul
freely in obedience to Allah Most High.
Regarding the terms Nasut, Lahut, and Malakut, Sidi Ahmad b. Ibn Ajiba
If you are asked What was Allahs Name before the existence
of created beings? say: His Name was Allah, since He has
said, He is Allah, besides whom there is no other god.
to
Allahs
command,
avoidance
of
His
If you are asked What are the foundations of Islam? say: The
foundations of Islam are five: [1] maturity, [2] intellect, [3]
uttering the testimony There is no god but Allah and [4]
Muhammad is Allahs Messenger, and [5] ensuring that both
If you are asked What are the branches of Islam? say: The
branches of Islam consist of fifty issues, all of which are
encompassed by seven principles:
[1] Holding fast to the Book of Allah Most High, [2] emulating
the Sunna of Allahs Messenger s, [3] keeping ones self from
harming others, [4] consuming what is lawful [halal] and
avoiding what is unlawful [haram], [6] redressing wrongs done
to others, and [7] repentance from neglect of the Prophetic
Sunna.
And these are followed by five things: [1] knowing Allah Most
High, [2] knowing the stratagems of Satan, [3] striving against
the ego, [4] being sincere in good deeds, [5] and being in
conformity with the Prophetic Sunna.
And these are followed by five things: [1] love for ones
brethren, [2] upholding the rights of ones neighbors, [3]
shunning slander, [4] detesting the plots of Satan, [5] and
giving charity with the intention of lengthening ones life.
And these are followed by five things: [1] seeking refuge with
Allah, [2] having truthfulness with Allah, [3] relying upon
Allah, [4] fearing Allah and being grateful to Him, [5] and
sincerely obeying Allah.
[1] having pity for the poor, [2] being compassionate with those
who strive, [3] distancing ones self from those who lead others
astray, [4] yearning in the religion, [5] and keeping a firm
connection with the devout servants and righteous people who
do pious works.
If you are asked What are the rulings of Islam? say: Islam
has five rulings: [1] speaking a truthful word, [2] performing
acts of obedience, [3] keeping promises, [4] ruling with justice,
[5] and following the Prophetic Sunna.
If you are asked What are the sources of Islam? say: Islams
sources are five: [1] a source from which all other sources
originateand that is Real [Allah], Glorified and Exalted is
He; [2] a source that brings other sourcesand that is Jibril,
who would come to our master Muhammad s and all other
If you are asked What are the prerequisites for being among
the Sufis? say: The Sufi is the one whose inner-self is purified,
whose spiritual vision is illumined, whose spiritual ambition is
lofty, whose wisdom is articulated, and whose spiritual rank is
exalted. The Sufi is the one who learns sacred knowledge and
teaches it to others, and who seeks it from Allah and no one
else. The Sufi must adopt the quality of satisfaction [with the
Divine], and must tread the path and tend carefully to his travel
companion, guidance, and spiritual realization. He must do
good works and shun evil deeds. He must limit mundane
fraternization. He must exert himself in pious and elevated
deeds, and must show propriety [adab] with his Shaykh and his
If you are asked What is the path of the People of Allah? say:
It is the path that consists of preventing the self from
everything that it craves, averting ignorance by knowledge,
speaking with understanding, and seeking aid through the
remembrance of Allah, the Exalted and Sublime.
If you are asked What is love? say: Love is a seed that sprouts
from the soil of heartswere it placed in the oceans they would
boil over, and were it placed atop mountains they would vanish,
and were it placed upon trees they would become engulfed in
flames, and were it placed in hearts they would be ripped to
shreds. This seed of love is two types: a type that is for Allah
(and it is the type that is connected), and a type that is for other
than Allah (and it is the type that is disconnected).
If you are asked What is the meaning of La ilaha illa Allah? say:
It means there is nothing worshipped in truth except Allah,
who is free of needing anything other than Him, while
everything besides Him is in need of Him.
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