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TheBelovedMessenger PDF
TheBelovedMessenger PDF
MESSENGER
Irshad Soofi
Irshad Soofi Siddiqui Chishti, Rabi ul- Awwal
1421 Revised Thursday, May 06, 2010.
Inspired by an Urdu lecture Prof. Allama
Taahir -ul-Qadri called More Pritum jaisa aur
na Kohi
1
ِالزَكاة
َّ الص ََلةِ َوإِيتَاء َِّ ال َّال تُ ْل ِهي ِهم ِِتَارةٌ وَال ب يع عن ِذ ْك ِر
َّ اَّلل َوإِقَ ِام ٌ ِر َج
َ ٌ َْ َ َ ْ
Men whom neither merchandise nor selling بَيْ ٌعdiverts from
the remembrance of Allah and the keeping up of prayer
and the giving of poor-rate (Zakaat);
Also dhikr means the Holy Qur‟aan:
Allah says in the 15th Sura, al-Hijr (the Rocky tract) اْلِ ْجر
ْ in verse 9:
Iyad bin Musa القاضي عياض بن موسىwrites that, Hazrath Mujaahid , the Ta’bieen,
2
asked Hazrath Abdullah Ibn Abbas as to when the Holy Qur‟aan says in the
3
1
Faqih Abu'l-Layth al-Samarqandi (d.373 ah / 983 ce) a Hanafi Jurist and Quraan Commentator. Well known as al-Faqih (The
Judge) and Imam al-Huda (The Imam of Guidance).
2
Qadi Iyad bin Musa )) القاضي عياض بن موسىborn 1083 in Gibraltar, Spain - 1149) was the great imam of Ceuta, a city of Spain
located on the North African side of the Strait of Gibraltar and, later, a high judge (Qadi) in Granada. He was one of the most
famous scholars of Maliki Jurisprudence. He is also well known as one of the seven saints of Marrakech, Morrocco and is buried
near Bab Aïlen.
3
Ibn Abbas was born in 3 BH (618-619 CE) and his mother took him to the Holy Prophet Muhammad before he had
begun to suckle. Muhammad put some of his blessed saliva on the newborn's tongue, and that was the gifting of his extensive
knowledge. He attained that stature in virtue of the Holy Prophet ‟s prayer: "O Allah! Give him knowledge of Islam and teach
him the meaning of the Qur‟aan." [Ahmad, Musnad, Vol. 1: 266]
2
So what is the remembrance of Allah ? He answered:
„Muhammad
One of the titles of the Holy Prophet is The Remembrance of Allah
(zikrullah). Allah says in a Sacred Tradition (Hadith e Qudsi) that is in Ash-shifa
bi Ta'rif Huquq al-Mustafa, كتاب الشفاء بتعريف حقوق املصطفىof Imam al- Qadi Iyaadh
4
A foreign ambassador come into the gathering of the Holy Prophet Muhammad
and his sahaba and he didn‟t know who the Holy Prophet was because the
nur-e Muhammadi had become so inundated in all their beings. They were
illuminated people. That‟s one aspect of it but another is that he did not raise
himself up above his own companions. Some of the companions asked if they
could make a chair or raised platform for him so that people could distinguish
him. He refused. A man went to meet the Holy Prophet , he was trembling
with fear thinking that he was about to meet a king. The Holy Prophet said
to him,
4
Kitab Ash-shifa bi Ta'rif Huquq al-Mustafa, (كتاب الشفاء بتعريف حقوق املصطفى, Healing by the recognition of the Rights of the Chosen
one), of Qadi 'Iyad (d. 544H / 1149CE) is perhaps the most frequently used and commented upon handbook in which
Muhammad's life, his qualities and his miracles are described in every detail. Generally known by its short title, Ash-Shifa, this
work was so highly admired throughout the Muslim world that it soon acquired a sanctity of its own for it is said: "If Ash-Shifa is
found in a house, this house will not suffer any harm...when a sick person reads it or it is recited to him, Allah ., will restore
his health."
3
"Calm down, I am not a king, I am but the son of a Quraysh
woman who used to eat Qadid (dried meat)5
ahl refers to the people linked to the Holy Prophet through blood or a
spiritual chain (Shajrah6). It‟s an obligation to consult people whose hearts are
constantly engaged in the remembrance of Allah أ َْه َل ال ِّذ ْك ِر.
put down everybody and even refuse to revere the Holy Prophet .
Naam par Tauhid keh, inkaare tazeeme Rasul
Kya ghazab heh, kufr koh kehte heh jaahil ikhtiar
In the name of protection of tauhid, they deny reverence to
The Holy Prophet
What a pitiful state, the ignorant are calling disbelief,
caution
This is not Tauhid. The „Slave of Allah ‟ or ‘ibadullah’ as he or she draws
closer to Allah ;acquires new qualities and actualizes his or her innate
potential of being khalifatullah- fil- ard. Every ritual imposed upon us in Islam is
to institute positive change and development. Islam is a treasure house of the
blessings of Allah .We can benefit from this inexhaustible treasure house
only if we like a slave, submit to (itteba) our beloved Holy Prophet , love him
intensely and strive to imitate his nature.
5
Authentic Hadith. Narrated by Abdullah Ibn-Masoud. From "Tahdhibul-Kamal", 141/2
6
Shajrah is the record of the line of succession of a Sufi Shaykh. It traces the spiritual genealogy from the present Shaykh, back
in the line to the Holy Prophet Muhammad , who first translated the spiritual possessions.
7
Tauhid: Allah‟s Unity. The declaration of Allah‟s Unity
4
Allah has told us in the Holy Qur'aan in the 33rd Sura al-Ahzaab َحَزاب
ْ ( ْاْلthe
Confederates) in verse
21:
Our beloved Holy Prophet is the most perfect khalifatullah and is the
embodiment of what Allah says in the Holy Qur'aan, in the 45th Sura, al-
Jāthiyah (the Kneeling) in verse13:
ٍ ك َليِ ِ ِ ِ ات وما ِف ْاْلَر ِ َّ وسخَّر لَ ُكم َّما ِف
اتَ َ ض ََج ًيعا ّم ْنوُ إِ َّن ِف ذَل ْ َ َ الس َم َاو َ ََ
لََّق ْوٍم يَتَ َف َّك ُرو َن
Allah has (endowed the human beings with such powers
and) made the constitution of everything in the heavens and
the earth in such a fashion, so as to be controlled and
conquered by man. In that are signs for those who reflect (on
the nature, constitution and utility of things)
5
In our attempt to „submit our will‟ to Allah we reach conviction that none
can be like our Beloved Prophet for he is the personification of this mastery
and therefore the most perfect khalifatullah . This adoration leads to love for him
8
and aspiration to imitate him to the best of our ability. According to the Holy
Qur'aan in the 5th Sura, al-Mā’idah ( الْ َمآئِ َدةthe Table spread) in verse48, Islam is
combination of intellectually following the law and lovingly implementing it.
ِ ِ ِ ِ
ً ل ُك ٍّل َج َعلْنَا من ُك ْم ش ْر َعةً َوم ْن َه
اجا
To each among you we have prescribed a law and an open
way (of implementation).
The „law‟ is the Shariah and the methodology of implementing the law i.e.
Minhaaj or Tariqah is „love‟. The best model personifying the implementation of
the law with love is the Holy Prophet . To make the Shariah a cult is not what
Islam demands. Islam is a revolt against the concept of cult. Islam is based on
Tauhid or Unity hence the law and love should be blended with hikmah or
wisdom. If only one aspect is pursued it leads to imbalance and the production
of religiously unbalanced personalities. The law leads to academic pursuit and
contemplation on the creation (Fikr) leading to knowledge of the creator with
the „external eye‟. Love leads to Zikr (remembrance of Allah), which leads to
recognition or Marifat of Allah with the „internal eye.‟ So Zikr and Fikr take
one to ones goal and the goal is Allah. Therefore one should create unison
between love and intellect. The momentum on this journey is provided by an all-
absorbing love (ishq) for the Holy Prophet a love that acts as fuel to propel one
on this path. Allah loves the Holy Prophet and he wants the Muslims to
follow him with love, in order to obtain Allah ‟s love.
8
al-khalifah: A viceregent of Allah. Al-khalifah of Allah is the perfected human being who has fulfilled his raison d'être. He has
carried the Trust which Allah offered him, the Trust of being a locus of manifestation for the Name Allah. Al-khalifah is the
perfect man in whom Allah contemplates His own Name-derived Perfection. No-one is called khalifah except through the
perfection of the Divine Form within him.
6
Allah says in the 3rd Sura, Aal-i- Imraan [ آل ِع ْمَرانThe Family of „Imraan] in
Verse 31:
Therefore it is said:
7
SEEING AND BELIEVING
The analysis of faith (Iman) begins in the grave.
Narrated by Hazrath Anas bin Malik9
س بْ ِن مالِ ٍ
هللا صلي هللا عليو ال َر ُس ْو ُل ا ِ ال :قَ َ ک رضي هللا عنو ،قَ َ َع ْن أَنَ ِ َ
َص َحابُوُ َو إِنَّوُ لَيَ ْس َم ُع ِ وآلو وسلم :إِ َّن الْع ْب َد إِذَا و ِ
ض َع ِف قَ ِْْبهَ ،وتَ َو َّّل َع ْنوُ أ ْ ُ َ
الر ُج ِل؟ت تَ َق ْو ُل ِف َى َذا َّ ان فيُ ْق ِع َدانِِو ،فَ يَ ُق ْوالَ ِن َ :ما ُک ْن َ ع نِعاِلِِم أَتَاهُ ملَ َک ِ
قَ ْر َ َ ْ َ
لِ ُم َح َّم ٍد صلي هللا عليو وآلو وسلم ،فَأ ََّما ال ُْم ْؤِم ُن فَ يَ ُق ْو ُل :أَ ْش َه ُد أَنَّوُ َع ْب ُد
هللا بِِو
کا ُ ک ِم َن النَّا ِر ،قَ ْد أَبْ َدلَ َ ال لَوُ :انْظُْر إِ َّل َم ْق َع ِد َ هللا َوَر ُس ْولُوُ .فيُ َق ُ
ا ِ
ال لَوُ : ال َ :وأ ََّما ال ُْمنَافِ ُق َوالْ َکافِ ُر فَ يُ َق ُ َج ْي ًعا .قَ َ َم ْق َع ًدا ِم َن ا ْْلَن َِّة ،فَ يَ َر ُ
اُهَا َِ
ت أَقُ ْو ُل َما يَ ُق ْو ُل الر ُج ِل؟ فَ يَ ُق ْو ُل َ :ال أَ ْد ِري! ُک ْن ُ ت تَ ُق ْو ُل ِف َى َذا َّ َما ُک ْن َ
ض ْربَةً،ب ِِبَطَا ِر َق ِم ْن َح ِديْ ٍد َ ض َر ُ ت ،ويُ ْ ت َوَال تَ لَْي َ ال َ :ال َد َريْ َ َّاس! فَ يُ َق ُ
الن ُ
يُ .متَّ َف ٌق َعلَْي ِو َو َى َذا اللَّ ْف ُ
ظ ص ْي َحةً يَ ْس َمعُ َها َم ْن يَلِ ْي ِو غَْي َر الثَّ َقلَ ْ ِ ِ
فَ يَص ْي ُح َ
ِ
ي . للْبُ َخا ِر ِّ
10
According to other books of Ahadith, in the grave the angels will ask three
questions i.e.
من ربّك
1. Who is your Rab?
Whether one answers this question successfully or not the
angels proceed to ask
ما دينك
2. What is your Deen?
Again, whether one answers the second question successfully
or not the angels proceed to ask the most important, primary
question:
ماكنت تقول ف ىذا الرجل ُّممد
3. Mah kunta ta kulo fi hazah rajulin Muhammad ?
What you used to say about this man, Muhammad
The first two are short questions. The third question concerning the Holy
Prophet would be a long question, because my love says that Allah loves to
lengthen the beloved's Zikr or remembrance.
The third question is not, „what do you say,‟ but „what you used to say.‟ What was
your belief (Aqaid) about this personality? What you used to say in your lectures,
on your pulpit (mimbar), in your gathering (Jamaat) and what did you write in
your books?
10
There you spoke as you willed, but now that you have seen him, bring to mind
what you said!
آج لے ان کی پ ناہ آج مدد مانگ ان سے
but it will be too late. The Holy Qur‟aan says in the 14th Sura Ibrāhīm
(Abraham) إِبْ َر ِاهْيمin verse 27 that recognizing the status in this world is a
prerequisite for giving a successful answer in the grave.14
ِ
ِ الخرةِ وي ِ ِ ِ َّ ّ ت
ُاَّلل
ّ ض حل ُ َ َ آمنُواْ بِالْ َق ْوِل الثَّابِت ِف ا َْلَيَاة ال حدنْ يَا َوِف
َ ين
َ اَّللُ الذ ُ ِّيُثَب
ِ
شاء َ َاَّللُ َما ي َ الظَّال ِم
ّ ي َويَ ْف َع ُل
Allah will give stability those who believe, with the Word
that stands firm, in this world and in the Hereafter; but
13
aqā'id عقائدor aqidah عقيدةis a branch of Islamic studies regarding the beliefs associated with the Islamic faith
14. Alim computer software: Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 6.221 Narrated by al- Bara bin Azib
Allah's Apostle said, "When a Muslim is questioned in his grave, he will testify that none has the right to be worshipped but
Allah and that Muhammad is Allah 's Apostle, and that is what is meant by Allah 's Statement:
“Allah will keep firm those who believe with a Word that stands firm in this world and in the Hereafter." (14.27)
11
Allah will leave, to stray, those who do wrong: Allah
does what He wills.
All disputes regarding the Holy Prophet ‟s personality are due to not
recognizing (ma’rifa ) or not attempting to know his personality with love. It is
15
only the „intimates of Allah‟ or Aulia who have been „blessed by Allah with
true recognition‟ (Ahle Marifah) that can teach us to appreciate the personality
that they have seen. Allah gives us an example of how opinions change
after witnessing, in the Holy Qur‟aan in the narration of Yusuf and Zulaikah.
The ladies of Egypt mocked Zulaikah for falling in love with a slave i.e. Hazrath
Yusuf .
Allah says in the Holy Qur‟aan in the 12th Sura, Yusuf (Joseph) يُ ْو ُسفin verse
31:
ِ ت ُك َّل و
ٍاح َدة ْ َت َِلُ َّن ُمتَّ َكأً َوآت ْ ت إِلَْي ِه َّن َوأَ ْعتَ َد ْ َت ِِبَ ْك ِرِى َّن أ َْر َسل
ْ فَ لَ َّما ََِس َع
َ
ِ ِ ِ ِ ِ
َ ّم ْن ُه َّن س ّكينًا َوقَالَت ا ْخ ُر ْج َعلَْي ِه َّن فَ لَ َّما َرأَيْ نَوُ أَ ْكبَ ْرنَوُ َوقَطَّ ْع َن أَيْديَ ُه َّن َوقُل
ْن
ٌك َك ِري ٌ َش ًرا إِ ْن َى َذا إِالَّ َمل َ ََّلل َما َى َذا ب ِِّ حاش
َ َ
So when she (Zulaikha) heard their deceitful talk, she sent
for them and arranged a meeting for them. (She placed fruit
before them) and gave each one of them a knife and
requested (Yusuf): „Walk out before them (so that they may
realize the cause of my state of mind).‟ So, when they glanced
at Yusuf (Joseph and) saw (his dazzling beauty), they began to
15
ma'rifa: Divine knowledge. Ma'rifa is a light which Allah casts into the heart of whomsoever He Wills. This is the true
knowledge which comes through tasting (dhawq), unveiling (kashf) and witnessing (mushahadah). This knowledge is from Allah,
it is not Allah Himsellf, because He is Unknowable in His Essence. The triad on the path of return to Origin is fear (makhafah),
knowledge (ma'rifa) and love (mahabbah). Fear leads to knowledge which opens into unconditional ove of Allah.
It is said that spiritual struggle (mujahadah) is child's play whilst ma'rifa is men's work.
12
exalt (the charm of his ecstatic beauty) and (in a dazed state)
cut their hands (instead of fruits served to them). And
(having seen him) exclaimed (spontaneously): „God save us!
This is not a human being; he must be some exalted angel
(i.e. an embodiment of light descending from the
transcendent realm of divinity)!‟
They said he is“not a human being” (bashar). Allah did not rectify them in the
Qur‟aan because Allah knows when you look beyond the human status you
see much more. Therefore the Holy Prophet has a „human status‟ (bashar),
which was seen by the general population whilst the nur or light status was seen
by "some" whose love had opened their internal eye or Basirah. The Holy
Prophet said to Hazrath Abu Bakr as reported in Hadith.
16
Muhammad al-Mahdi al-Fasi also known as Abu Isa Abu Abdullah Muhammad al-Mahdi ibn Ahmad ibn Ali ibn Yusuf al-Fihri al-Fasi was a well-known Sufi,
biographer and historian from Fes. He was born in Ksar al-Kebir on May 17, 1624 and died 20 February 1698. He was buried in the mausoleum of his great
grandfather Abu l-Mahasin Yusuf al-Fasi. He was the author of the many works on Sufism including three commentaries on the Dala'il al-Khayrat the most famous
being مطالع املسرات جبالء دالئل اخلريات
17
Dala'il al-Khayrat or Dalaail u'l Khayraat Wa Shawaariq u'l Anwaar Fee Zikri's Salaat Alan Nabiyyi'l Mukhtaar (The Waymarks of
Benefits and the Brilliant Burst of Sunshine in the Remembrance of Blessings on the Chosen Prophet) is a famous collection of
prayers for Islamic prophet Muhammad, which was written by the Moroccan Sunni Sufi and Islamic Scholar Muhammad al-Jazuli
(died 1465). It is popular in parts of the Islamic world amongst traditional Muslims - specifically North Africa, the Levant,
Turkey, the Caucasus and the South Asia and is divided into sections for daily recitation.
13
.ريب يا أبابکر! والذي بعثين باَلق! مل يعلمين حقيقة غري
O Abu Bakr ! I swear by that Being who sent me with the
truth. My Reality is known to none besides my Lord.
Thus the Reality of his status or haqiqat (truth), only Allah knows. All saw the
„Human Status‟ or bashariat; some saw the „Light Status‟ or nuraaniat, whilst
Allah alone knows „the Reality‟ or Haqiqat.
UNKNOWABLE STATUS
After the passing of the Holy Prophet the beloved Sahaba, on the instruction
of the Holy Prophet issued before his passing into the realm of Divine Beauty,
visited Hazrath Uwais Qarni who asked them many questions about the
Holy Prophet since he had never seen him in person. Amidst these questions,
in a state of love and yearning he asked
“Did you see my Rasul” or “did you see his reality?”
There is a Hadith quoted by Great Aarifeen including Ghawth al-Azam Shaykh
Abd al-Qadir Jilaani in Sirr al-Asraar18; it is accepted by the entire Ulama in
which he says:
18 The Book of the Secret of Secrets: Shaykh Abd al-Qadir Jilani: al-Baz Publishing Fort Lauderdale, Florida Section Fifteen, page
76
14
near and no Prophet sent as a Divine Messenger could even
witness it as to what it is. It transcends everybody.”
“Ham waha heh jaha hom koh bi, kuch hamari kabar nahi
ati”
I was at that level and in that state where all thoughts of me are annihilated.
The report which stands behind the saying of the Holy Prophet is from his
beloved wife Hazrath Aisha Sidduiqa who says:
“One day I went into the room of the Holy Prophet where he was
sitting. I went inside and I said, „Salutations to you My Beloved ( „as
salaam mu alaikum - Ya Habibi‟.) The Holy Prophet raised his eyes
towards her and asked, „who are you‟? (“Man anti”). He is asking his
own beloved wife as to whom she was! She says she replied, „I am Aisha,
daughter of Abu Bakr‟ (Aisha binti Abu Bakr). The Holy Prophet
said, „who is Abu Bakr? (Man Abu Bakr). His closest, beloved friend is
Hazrath Abu Bakr but he is asking, “Who is Abu Bakr?” „The
Mother of the Believers‟ says that she replied‟ Abu Bakr, the son of
Kahafa (Abu Bakr ibn Kahafa). The Holy Prophet asked, „Who is
Kahafa‟? (Man Kahafa). Hazrath Aisha Sidduiqa says,”I shivered and
trembled and immediately left.” She says that when she met the Holy
Prophet again she said, “Sir, do you remember I met you at such
and such a place at such and such an hour? Then you asked me “who
am I?” Startled! I replied that I am the daughter of Abu Bakr and then
you asked me “man Abu Bakr” why did you ask me that?” The Holy
Prophet replied,
“Ya Aisha!
15
level where no angel brought near and no Prophet sent as a Divine
Messenger could even witness it as to what it is. It transcends
everybody.”
How can I explain this status of the Holy Prophet ? How could Hazrath Abu
Bakr ? So great, greatest among the Sahaba! How could Hazrath Ali ? Yet
you see little, little Molvi's, walking on their two legs, opening their mouths that
the Holy Prophet is just like our elder brother. What are you talking about?
He is just our elder brother. It is an insult to human reason, it is an insult to the
Holy Qur‟aan, it is an insult to your Iman, and it is to lay eggs at your feet. You
cannot damage the Holy Prophet and his status but you are going to damage
yourself. Beware of it! Allama Iqbal says
ُ ب
مصطف ٰی برساه خویش را کہ دیں ہمہ اوست
ُ
تمام بولہبی است،اگر نہ او برسندی
Seeing and believing is a lower level of belief than accepting without seeing. To
expound what I am saying I will narrate a story to you,
Once the Caliph, Harun ar-Rashid and his wife Zubaida Khatoon
were walking along the riverbank when they saw the Madjzoub19 Saint
Bahlul Dana making little clay houses, by poking his foot into the
clay. These Madjzoub hide their intelligence behind acts of insanity
and it is only a few that recognize them. Some reports say that
Bahlul, who always taught the Caliph some lesson, was the half-
brother of Harun Rashid. Zubaida asked Bahlul what he was doing
and he replied that he was making houses for Heaven. She asked him
if she may purchase one and he said it would cost her ten dinars. She
promptly gave him the money, which he threw into the river. He told
her that she might leave since she has acquired her house in heaven
(Jannah). As they walked home Harun laughed and said that she had
been fooled. That evening Harun dreamt that he was in heaven. In
19majdhub: He is the one who is under the influence of Divine Attraction(jadhba). The power of this Attraction brings about
spiritual intoxication (sukr) and indifference to all that is other-than-Allah (masiwa--Allah). In being drawn towards Allah the
majdhub experiences excessive ecstasy. The Divine Attraction can descend with great force during the "spiritual audition" (sama ')
when the hearer becomes thoroughly intoxicated by his yearning and love of Allah.
17
front of a house with a sign saying that this was Zubaida‟s House. As
he tried to enter the house the angels stopped him. He told them that
this was his wives house but they protested saying that only in the
earthly life the husband can utilize the wife‟s house. They said that in
heaven each one gets what he earned in the earthly life. He awoke in
a cold sweat and he told his wife that he had to see Bahlul first
thing in the morning. They found Bahlul at the same place that
morning, doing exactly what he did the previous day. Harun told him
that he wished to purchase a house. Bahlul told Harun that it
would cost him ten thousand dinars. Harun asked him why the price
had escalated since yesterday and he replied that yesterday's customers
had bought without seeing.
ASSOCIATE WITH LOVERS
The Holy Qur‟aan wants us to learn ishq (true love) and directs us to associate
with those who have this love, which is an infectious love.
قریب جلتے ہوے د لکے اینا دل کر دے
یہ آگ لگتی نہتی ہے لگائ جا تی ہے
عند الرؤوف صوفی
Qareeb jalte huwe dil keh, apna dil kar deh
Yeh aag lagti nahi, lagayi jahti heh.
Associate with those who have a heart burning with love
This fire of love cannot be ignited on its own. Those who
possess the fire light it.
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Nor do I seek one
I desire hearts ablaze with love
I seek a heart ablaze to set me alight
Coming back to the Hadith that I quoted at the very beginning, it says the person
depending on how successful one is on answering the questions will be shown
his place in heaven or hell. Therefore the acquisition of heaven is dependent on
having the right belief concerning the Holy Prophet .
us close to Allah. All those that have a relationship and association with the
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nlsba: Relationship. Lordship is the relationship (nisba) of the "He-ness" to the entity. The "He-ness" (huwiyyah) in Itself does not
require such a relationship, but it is the entities that demand it. Allah has placed the Divine Names between Himself and the cos-
mos, and from this connection relationships (nisab) are formed. Each Name is a relationship, not an entity. Each existent thing
has a specific relationship with one particular Divine Name. That Name will exert a stronger effect and a greater power over the
existent thing than any of the other Names. .
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President cannot enter his Office or private chamber until they are invited. It
sometimes happens that whilst waiting for an audience the ministers notice that
a shabbily dressed individual, with ruffled hair, riding a bicycle is allowed into
the private presidential chamber, without any delay. On enquiry they learn that
this is the Presidents barber for whom the President has been waiting. The peep
into the room and are surprised to see the President allowing this man to hold a
jack-razor to his neck. They hear the President asking him why he was late and
him explaining that he was facing eviction from his council home due to certain
difficulties. They hear the President telling him that since he is one who serves
him he will resolve the problem with the council. He then tells the President
that he is not alone in this plight since seventy of his neighbors also have the
same problem. The President tells him not to worry since he will sort all those
people‟s problems on account of them being his barbers neighbors. Therefore it
is those that serve or make khidmat that have a very intimate relationship or
Nisbah.
21 ta'alluq: Connection or firm adherence. Ta'alluq signifies a relationship, such as that which exists between an attribute and its
object, or a name and its effect. When considering "Self-annihilation"(fana') as three distinct stages, ta'alluq occupies the third
stage. This indicates that the knower of Allah remains firmly attached to the essential property of sainthood (wilayah) and is never
separated from it in any situation. The first and second stages of fana' are takhalluq and tahaqquq.
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progresses into irfaan, which in turn leads to Ta’alluq. Khidmat or service of Sahibe
Irfaan develops Ta’alluq and Nisbat.
There is a Hadith [Sahih Muslim Hadith 990] in which it is stated that Hazrath
Rab‟iah bin Ka‟b used to serve the Holy Prophet . Once the Holy Prophet
asked him to ask for whatever he wanted [sal Rabbiya].
Narrated by Hazrath Rab‟iah ibn Ka'b
I was with Allah ‟s Messenger one night, and I brought him water
and what he required. He said to me: Ask me (salni) anything you
like. I said: I ask your company in Paradise. He (the Prophet) said: or
anything else besides it. I said: That is all (what I require). He said:
Then help me to achieve this for you by devoting yourself often to
prostration.
The report that stands behind this Hadith is as follows. Hazrath Rab‟iah ibn
Ka'b says:
“At that time, I was a young man and poor. I had neither family, nor
wealth, nor place of abode. I used to shelter in the Veranda (Suffah)
of the mosque with other poor Muslims like myself. I thought
carefully as to what I should ask. O! Messenger of God ,' I said, 'I
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ask you to implore Allah on my behalf to make me your
companion in Paradise.'
He in effect said, “Ya Rasulallah I want to serve you in the next world as I am
serving you now.” The Holy Prophet Muhammad remained silent for a long
while and then asked:
'Any other request, besides that, Rab‟iah?' 'No, O Messenger of Allah
, Nothing can match what I have asked you.' 'Then, in that case,
assist me for your sake by performing much prostration to God.'
Imam Abd al-Wahhab al-Sharani (d. 973 ah) states the Holy Prophet said
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salni (ask me). This reveals that only he, who could deliver on such a request,
could say, „ask me anything‟.
KNOWLEDGE AND RECOGNITION
There is a difference between „knowing and recognizing‟ (jaan aur pechaan). The
Ulama have knowledge of Allah and His beloved Messenger that they pass
on verbally [Ilme qaal] but the „possessors of recognition‟ (aarifs) recognize their
state [Ilme haal]. Therefore one has to establish a relationship (ta’alluq) with the
Aulia Allah who are „possessors of Allah 's recognition‟ [Sahibe Irfaan] E.g.
Maulana Rumi sought recognition of Allah from Hazrath Shams Tabrez .
Hazrath Abu Hanifa counts Hazrath Bahlul Majnu a.k.a. Bahlul Dana ,
as one of his teachers since he sought recognition of Allah from his teachings.
Imam Shafi sought recognition of Allah from Hazrath Shaibaan Rai .
Hazrath Imam Hambal sought recognition of Allah from Hazrath Bishar
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Imam Ash-Sha'rani is a Classical scholar born in 898 Hijri, from the point of theory, philosophy and practice was a Sufi of the
first class, at the same time being one of the original and authentic writers of Fiqh and it's principles. A Hanafi scholar of
comparative fiqh and author of numerous works on Law and tasawwuf, among which al-Tabaqat al-kubra a collection of Sufi
biographies containing the numerous miracles reported from the Awliya. He authored of numerous works on Law and tasawwuf,
among which al-Tabaqat al-Kubra. His introduction and exposure to Islamic learning was concerned with the 'ulum al-wahb
(“gifted knowledge of the Sufi”), as opposed to a traditional and rigorous study of Islamic sciences. One of his ancestors, Musâ
Abu „Emrân, was the disciple of the great Sufi Shaykh Abu Madyan Ghaus al-Maghribi .
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Hafi . Why did all the great Imams of Islamic Law seek out these Intimates of
Allah? They could never have been seeking advise on the Shariah. They were
definitely seeking that Supreme Being who‟s Shariah they implement from those
that had attained His recognition and proximity.
To attain Allah ‟s Forgiveness the Holy Qur‟aan says in the 4th Sura, an-Nisaa
(Women) النِّ َسآءin Verse 64:
َّ ِ
ول
ُ الر ُس
َّ استَ غْ َف َر َِلُ ُم
ْ اَّللَ َو
ّ ْاستَ غْ َف ُروا
ْ َوك ف َ س ُه ْم َجآ ُؤَ َولَ ْو أَنَّ ُه ْم إذ ظلَ ُمواْ أَن ُف
يما ِ
ً اَّللَ تَ َّوابًا َّرح
ّ ْلََو َج ُدوا
“If these people who transgress the divine law and damage their
personalities, come to you, (My Beloved Messenger), and ask
Allah 's forgiveness, and you intercede and ask forgiveness for
them, they will find me ready to forgive again and again.”
To pledge allegiance to Allah, the Holy Qur‟aan says in 48th Sura, al-Fath
(Victory) الْ َفْتحin Verse10:
َِّ اَّلل ي ُد
اَّلل فَ ْو َق أَيْ ِدي ِه ْم ِ َّ
َ ََّ ك إِ ََّّنَا يُبَايِعُو َن
َ َين يُبَايِعُون
َ إِ َّن الذ
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(O Beloved!) Indeed those who pledge allegiance to you in fact pledge
allegiance to Allah alone. Allah ‟s hand is over their hands (in
the form of your hand).
The Holy Qur‟aan says regarding obedience in the 4th Sura, an-Nisaa (Women)
النِّ َسآءin Verse 80:
َاَّلل
ّ اع َ َول فَ َق ْد أَط َّ َّم ْن يُ ِط ِع
َ الر ُس
He who obeys the Messenger of Allah has only obeyed Allah
Allah says in the 3rd Sura, Aal-i- Imraan [ آل ِع ْمَرانThe Family of „Imraan] in Verse
31, how to obtain Allah ‟s love:
ّ ت َولَ ِك َّن
اَّللَ َرَمى َ ت إِ ْذ َرَم ْي
َ َوَما َرَم ْي
When you threw (a handful of dust), it was not your act, but
Allah‟s.
The Holy Qur'aan has made it clear in the 4th Sura, an-Nisaa (Women) النِّ َسآءin
Verse 150:
ِّ أَن ي َف ِرقُواْ ب ي
اَّلل َوُر ُسلِ ِو ََْ ّ ُ
"Do not separate Allah from His Messengers"
Ala Hazrath, Imame Ahle Sunnat, Maulana Shah Ahmad Rida Khan , of Barailly
says in a poem:
میں نو ما لک ہی کہو گا کہ ہو مالک کے حب یب
یعتی مح بوب و محب میں نہیں منرا تنرا
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Meh toh Malik hi kahuga keh hoh Malik keh Habib
Ya‟ni Mahboob o Muhib meh nahi mera tera
I will call him my Master, because he is the Master's Beloved
Implying that betwixt the Beloved and the Lover there is no mine
and yours
This concept is elaborated by Ibn-i-Taimiyyah, a renowned Muslim scholar
followed by the Wahabbi School of Thought says: 26
عددت نفسی
ُ لو حجب عنی رسول اهللا صلی اهللا عليو وسلم طرفة عي ما
.من املُسلمي
)63 : 22 ،(روح املعانی
ُ
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