Love, Lover and The One Worthy Of Love
www.Awliyaa.com © Copyright Protected 2010
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All praise is for Allah, Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing of Allah be upon the Best of Creation equivalent to every grain of sand, every atom in the universe and a million times more until the last day Ameen thuma Ameen I ask Allah Ta’ala for help in making this humble attempt of mine a means for us all to understand and attain the true love of His most Beloved Messenger, Our Master Muhammad SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam Ameen. This article has been written after request’s of my brothers, I don’t see myself capable of writing on such an important topic but at least my name shall be written on the list of lovers on the last day, Insha’Allah Ta’ala this humble effort shall be accepted in the merciful court of the Merciful Lord and the Merciful Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam. If anything good has come from this article then it is with the Mercy of Allah and His Rasool SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam, also through the love and dua of my Master, my Shaykh, my guide, a true Lover of the Beloved SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam, May Allah Ta’ala sanctify His secret Ameen thum Ameen… I would also like to thank to Sidi Muhammad Tamraz for his input, continuous support love and encouragement, may Allah Ta’ala elevate his ranks and make him amongst the Saliheen and Arifeen. Ameen Yaa Rabal Alameen. May the Merciful Lord shower you all with His special Mercy Ameen. “O Allah, grant us your true Love and the True Love of your Beloved SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam, let us drink from the fountain of Love. Make us among the true lovers, grant us your closeness and let us disappear in the ocean of your mercy!” Ameen Thuma Ameen A servant of Allah. Muharram 1429 AH Revised: 8th Rabi ul Thani 1431 AH 29th
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The One Worthy Of Love The fundamental belief in Islam is Tawheed1 and to firmly believe in Risalah2, not only by the tongue but to affirm it within the depths of the heart. If the former is adhered and the latter is denied or even doubted then how can one claim to be a believer? To believe in one and not the other is like that of a body without a soul. The sweetness of Imaan3 resides in the Love of the Beloved Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam; if one claims to have Love for the Beloved Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam then he must adhere and hold tight to the sacred Shariah (Islamic Law). As Gauth al Azam Sayyidinah Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA) said: “It is useless to have a learned tongue and an ignorant heart” meaning knowledge is of no avail if ones does not practice it. By implementing the Shariah then ones outer is corrected and by that our inner (Heart) is purified. Sultan ul Awliyaa Gauth al Azam (RA) said: “Your heart is a polished mirror. You must wipe it clean of the veil of dust which as gathered upon it because it is destined to reflect the light of divine secrets” The Beloved Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam said: “None of you becomes a true believer until I am dearer to him than his children, his parents and all mankind." 4 (Bukhari and Muslim) The above Hadith is self explanatory; one cannot hope to succeed in this world or the hereafter if the love of the Dunyaa5 overrides that of the love for the Best of Creation SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam. Furthermore the Qur’an testifies:
"The Prophet is closer to the believers than their own selves." [Al-Ahzab 33:6]
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Tawheed (Tawhid)- Oneness of Allah Ta’ala
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Risalah- Messenegership, Prophet hood
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Imaan- Belief, the are three stations: Islam, Imaan and Ihsan- Religion, Faith and Excellence
There are other narrations of this Hadith also- Sayyidinah Umar (R.A) once said “O Messenger of Allah I love you more then everything except myself” The Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam said: “You have not perfected you Imaan” so Sayyidinah Umar (R.A) then said: “O Messenger of Allah, I love you more then everything even myself.
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Dunyaa- World
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The above verse clearly manifest’s the closeness and love the Beloved Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam has for the believers, the Beloved Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam love is the basis of our Imaan and must be the firm foundation in-order to reach Allah Ta’ala.
Hazrat Anas (R.A) also relates that the Holy Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam said, ‘A person who possesses the following three qualities has acquired the true meaning of Imaan (faith):
1. His love for Allah and the Holy Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam is greater than his love for anyone else. 2.
His friendship with anyone is solely for Allah’s pleasure.
3. Having accepted Islam, he abhors ‘Kufr’6 as much as he would loathe burning in fire.’
The uniqueness and secret of the Beloved Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam is unknown except by Allah Ta’ala. The Merciful Lord say’s:
"Say to them: If you love Allah, follow (and love and honour) me, and Allah will love you" (3:31)
The above verse of the Holy Qur’an clearly indicates that if anyone loves Allah he should follow RasoolAllah SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam not only is it important but in actual fact it is obligatory to follow, love and honour the Blessed and Noble Prophet Sayyidinah Muhammad Al Mustafa (SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam).
To claim to love the Beloved Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam is not sufficient nor of any use unless accompanied with the Qur’an and Hadith in the Heart; Meaning that one
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Kufr- disbelief,
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must understand and act upon that which is given by Allah Ta’ala and His Beloved Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam. The Merciful Lord says in the Holy Qur’an:
"So it is those who believe in him, honour him, help him and follow the light which is sent down with him - it is they who will prosper" al-A'araf Ayat 157
Note, the word Honour has been used, what better way to Honour the Beloved SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam then to follow what He SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam has left us with together with praising Him SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam.
Furthermore the Beloved Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam said:
“Love Allah because he nourishes and sustains you. Love me because Allah loves me” (Tirmidhi)
Furthermore, in today’s time we here many people say that they only follow the Qur’an and nothing else, I would like to say to these people what do you say about the following verse?
“He who obeys the Prophet (SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam), Has obeyed Allah Ta’ala”Surah Nisaa
Hence, anyone who has obeyed the Beloved Prophet has indeed obeyed Allah Ta’ala. How can one make such a statement, as in the Qur’an the Merciful Lord orders us to do Wudu, but we are not told how to, therefore the logical and methodical step would be to turn to the Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam, hence we must follow the Hadith7 as 7
Hadith- saying and actions of the Beloved Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam
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well as the Qur’an. The Hadith is an explanation of the Holy Verses, unfortunately in today’s time there are many who fall into the trap of “Ijtihaad8” when they are not qualified to do any such thing. Simply put these people seem to think they are more knowledgeable then the Scholars and start to interpret the Holy Verses according to their desires. The above is summed up beautifully by Our Master, Gauth al Azam (RA)
“How can you guide others when you are blind yourself? Only a man with spiritual insight can guide others”
The love for the Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam that the companions had cannot be described in human language. The entire creation of Allah Ta’ala praises the Beloved SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam, weather it is on the peek on a mountain or in the depths of the ocean.
Before the Mimbar9 was made the blessed Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam used to rest against a tree trunk, when the pulpit was made the sound of crying came from the tree trunk. The Blessed Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam kneeled down next to it and asked what the matter was. The tree expressed it sadness of not being able to touch the Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam anymore. The Mercy for the Universe SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam said to it “do you want dar ul baqa 10or dar ul fana11? The tree requested Jannah with the Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam. SubhanAllahu we see that even tree’s are in love with the Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam.
“lost is that soul which does not shine in your remembrance, cursed be that heart which has no love for you, blind is that eye which does not desire your vision, useless is that tongue which is not moist in your praises and foolish is that person who seems to think he understands your secret”
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Ijtihaad is when a person makes his own judgement on certain matters using the Holy Qur’an and Hadith; a person who does this is known as a MujtahidThe masses are Muqqalids of one of the four Imam’s namely: Imam al Azam Abu Hanifa (R.A), Imam Ash Shaf’I (R.A), Imam Malik (R.A) and Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal (R.A)
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Mimbar- Pulpit- which the Imam sits/stands on when delivering the Kutba
10 Dar ul Baqa- Eternal abode- the Blessed Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam asked the tree trunk weather it wanted a place in Jannah by the Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam 11
Dar Ul Fanaa- Temporary abode- Ie: the tree trunk had the choice of being replanted and becoming green/ living again
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A person who is indulged in the Love of the Beloved SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam shall have many tests from the Merciful Lord. A man came to the Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam and said “Yaa RasoolAllah (SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam) I love you” the Beloved SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam said “Think again”. The man repeated this three times and each time the Beloved told him “Think again”. Finally the man said “Yaa RasoolAllah (SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam) I have thought and I love you” The Beloved Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam said “Be prepared for hardship”.
The closer you get to Allah Ta’ala the more tests one shall have, when a person detaches himself from the world and gives himself totally to the Beloved SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam then he attains the Maqam12 of Fana Fe Rasool 13SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam. Reading books and attaining knowledge is good but of no avail if it is not put into practice, as a Sufi once said, “A donkey carrying books of knowledge is still that, a donkey”
Sayyidinah Abu Bakr (R.A) was the greatest of lovers of the Beloved Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam. It is reported that in the morning the roof of Sayyidinah Abu Bakr (R.A) would be burnt in agony of being away from the Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam. It is reported by Sayyidah Aaisha (R.A) that her father, Sayyidinah Abu Bakr (R.A) would toss and turn all night, waiting for dawn so that he could see the Beloved Prophet SalAllahu Alayahi Wassalam, such love for the Beloved SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam.
The famous Hadith of Sayyidinah Abu Bakr and RasoolAllah SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam gives us a glimpse of Love the Sahaba (RA) had for RasoolAllah SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam. When Sayyidinah Abu Bakr and RasoolAllah SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam where in the cave and the Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam was resting, a snake appeared form a hole in the cave and immediately Sayyidinah Abu Bakr put his foot there so as to push the snake away. The snake then said to Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique move your foot I am poisonous, however in the face of such danger, He (RA) still did not move his feet and hence the snake bit him at which point the Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam got up and saw that the snake had bit Sayyidinah Abu Bakr (RA). When the Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam asked the snake, why he bit Hazrat Abu Bakr, the snake replied “Oh Prophet! I have been waiting for over 2000 years to see you and 12
Maqam- Station, you get many stations of Awliyaa eg: Awliyaa, Akhyaar, Abdaals, Autaads, Noqabah and Gauth or Qutab etc…
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Fanaa Fe Rasool SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam- This is a state when one has totally become the Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam. No desire is left in Him and he is lost in His SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam love.
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Hazrat Abu Bark was stopping me from doing your Ziyara. The story continues but the reason that I quoted this Hadith briefly here is to show not only the love that the Sahaba (RA) had but also the love that even the animals have.
The Sahaba (R.A) often used to say to Sayyidinah Abu Bakr (R.A) that take all our Ibaadah, Zakaat and Hajj and give us the three nights you spent with the Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam; Sayyidinah Abu Bakr (R.A) said “if the whole world was given to me and all their Ibaadat I would not exchange it with even a single moment of them three days”
Sa’ad bin Abi Waqas related: “When my mother heard the news of my embracing Islam, she flew into a rage. She came up to me and said: “O Sa’ad! What is this religion that you have embraced which has taken you away from the religion of your mother and father…? By God, either you forsake your new religion or I would not eat or drink until I die. Your heart would be broken with grief for me and remorse would consume you on account of the deed which you have done and people would censure you forever more. ‘Don’t do (such a thing), my mother,’ I said, ‘for I would not give up my religion for anything.’ However, she went on with her threat… For days she neither ate nor drank. She became emaciated and weak. Hour after hour, I went to her asking whether I should bring her some food or something to drink but she persistently refused, insisting that she would neither eat nor drink until she died or I abandoned my religion. I said to her: ‘O Mother! In spite of my strong love for you, my love for Allah and His Messenger is indeed stronger. By Allah, if you had a thousand souls and one soul after another were to depart, I would not abandon my religion for anything.’ When she saw that I was determined she relented unwillingly and ate and drank.”
Narrated Hazrat An’as: When it was the day of Uhud14, the people left the Prophet (SalAllahu Alayhi wassalam), while Abu Talha was in front of the Prophet (SalAllahu Alayhi wassalam), shielding him with his leather shield…The Prophet (SalAllahu Alayhi wassalam), would raise his head to look at the enemy, whereupon Abu Talha15 would say, “Let my father and mother be sacrificed for you! Do not raise your head, lest an arrow of the enemy should hit you. (Let) my neck (be struck) rather than your neck.”
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Uhud- Battle of Uhud
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It is narrated in Seerat un Nabi by ibn Kathir that a arrow hit Sayyinah Abu Talha and he said “Ouch” the Beloved Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam said to him, “had you said Bismillah, the angels would have lifted you so that you would have been visible to everyone”
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It is reported By Sayyidinah An’as ibn Malik (R.A): "The Messenger of Allah said to me, 'My son, if you can be without any grudge in your heart against anyone in the morning and evening, be like that.' Then He SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam added, 'My son that is part of my Sunnah. Whoever gives life to my Sunnah has loved me and whoever loves me is with me in the Garden.'"
“O Believers! Respond to the calling of Allah Almighty (Azorwajal) and the Messenger, when the Messenger calls you for a thing that will give you life.”
SubhanAllah we see that no matter what we are doing if the Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam called us would have had to go to the Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam; this again is expressing our Love. Hazrat Sayyidinah Saeed bin Ma’la (Radi Allah Ta’ala Anhu) that: “I was reading prayer in the mosque and the Holy Prophet (SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam) called me. I gave no reply and afterwards went to the Holy Prophet (SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam) and respectfully said: “O! Messenger of Allah Almighty (Azorwajal) (SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam) I was reading prayer. The Holy Prophet (SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam) said: “Have you not heard Allah Almighty (Azorwajal) declare that you should respond to the call of Allah Almighty (Azorwajal) and the Messenger.”
In-order to Love the Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam and the Merciful Lord the love for all thing must diminish to such an extent as to deem it nonexistent. A lovers heart should ache in the remembrance of the Lord (Exalted is He!), the Sufi’s say “When will we realise that the Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam is not with us”? When we have realised that we are not with Him SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam then a person’s heart shall realise what love is. The doors of love shall open, he will remain restless and agitated; he will experience problems and things shall be made difficult in order to diminish the Love of the dunyaa and lead him to the Haqiqah16.
Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (R.A) said;
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Haqiqah- Reality; this is again unknown to the layman; to have this a person needs to be a Akabir Wali (A Wali of a high station)
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How often the believer will say: "So and so is brought near to the Lord, while I am kept at a distance; so and so receives gifts, while I am deprived; so and so is enriched, while I am impoverished; so and so is granted good health, while I am plagued with illness; so and so is honoured, while I am despised; so and so is praised, while I am blamed; so and so is believed, while I am called a liar." Does he not know that He is One, and that the One loves oneness in love, and loves one who is single in his love for Him? If He drew you near to Him by means of any other, your love for Him (Almighty and Glorious is He) might be diminished and dispersed. Perhaps you would develop an affection for the one at whose hands you experienced the connection and the blessing, so that the love for Allah in your heart would decrease.
It is narrated that Hazrat Junaid Baghdaadi (R.A) became ill. A sample of his urine was taken to a physician for testing. At the sight of the urine that physician recited the Shahdah17 and embraced Islam, when asked why he embraced Islam by looking at the urine of Hazrat Junaid Baghdaadi (R.A) he replied as follows: “I have never seen anyone’s liver burn like this in the remembrance of the Lord”
And yet there are some people, who replace God with rivals, loving them as God is loved. But the believers love God more intensely" (2:165)
"You will not attain righteousness, unless you give of that which you love" (3:92)
"Where are those who love each other for the sake of My glory? Today I will shelter them with My shade, as there is no shade today except My shade"." (narrated by Muslim)
"A man came to the Prophet (may God's peace and blessings be upon him) and asked him "O God's Messenger, tell me of something I do to win God's love and people's love". The Prophet answered "Do not love this world, God would love you and do not have a longing for whatever people have, people would love you". 17
Shahdah- Testification of Faith- ie: I testify there is no God but Allah and I Testify that Muhammad (S) is His servant and Messenger, not only saying it but to affirm it in the heart.
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(narrated by Ibn-Majah)
"There are seven whom God will shade with His shade on the Day when there is no shade except His; a just ruler, a youth who grew up in the worship of His Lord, a man whose heart is attached to mosques, two men who love each other only for God's sake, meeting and parting for that love, a man who resists the call of a woman of noble birth and beauty to commit fornication, but he refuses and says "I fear God", a man who gives charity secretly so that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given and a man whose eyes flood with tears whenever he remembers God in private." (narrated by Bukhari)
We so often here of the great maqam’s that the saints have achieved, the question is then put to our hearts as to how do they attain that? The answer is given in the following statement of, the great Gauth Sayyidinah Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (R.A) “A 'Siddiq' is one who has the true love for ALLAH” Further the great saint said:” Divorce the world from the heart and place it upon your hands i.e. acquire the riches of the world but let that not overpower or affect the heart: wealth can come and go but its acquisition, accumulation and safeguard should not become the supreme purpose or essence of our lives”
Dear reader, our master’s, the great Sufi’s have told us constantly to renounce the world; we have failed to understand the greatness of the Merciful Lord. That is not to say that one must stay in seclusion in-order to truly love the Beloved SalAllahu Alayhi wassalam but rather to remove the Love of the dunyaa from the heart and in-still the true love of the Most Beloved. Every cell in your body should be filled with the love of the Beloved SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam to such an extent that there is no room to love another; and this is true love.
Gauth al Azam (R.A) said “Do not harbour the hopes of becoming wealthy.” We should not desire the world or the wealth in it; remove this cancer from the heart before it is too late. Realise that everything is at the door of the Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi wassalam and do not turn your attention to this temporary world. Imam Ash Shaf’I (R.A) used the walk with a staff (Walking stick) when asked why he did so even though he was well, he replied: “I am reminding myself that I am a traveller”
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As is narrated “live in this world as a traveller, for one day your journey shall end.” Everything is left behind except the deeds one has done. Prepare yourself with the best of all weapons and that is the Love of the Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam.
Gauth Al Azam (R.A) said: It is only Allah who elevates and honours with respectability, and it is Allah alone who demotes and degrades a person from his rank. He it is who appoints someone to a notable position whilst dismissing and removing another. He grants to some Life and Death to others, He makes some rich and other poor; He gives to some what He withholds from others. It is Allah alone who alters the conditions of His creations”
Know dear reader that everything has Hiqma18 behind it, there are divine secrets which we do not understand. Do not question the Lord for He is the best of all planners. Do not chase the dunyaa (World) for it is useless and of no use to you, never relax in the Love for the Beloved SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam; Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (R.A) said: “Whilst you are chasing after the world to accept what it offers, the world is pursuing the pious” know dear reader’s we run after the dunyaa and the dunyaa runs after the pious; do we not realise that the pious Love the Beloved SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam, and both the Arsh19 and Farsh20 is under the feet of the Beloved SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam? Ask, and ask from the Beloved SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam. Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (R.A) said: “Adopt the company of the pious.” Remember dear reader that if you sit with the pious you shall become pious and if you still with the ignorant then you shall become ignorant; as Gauth Al Azam (R.A) said: “if you sit with the ignorant then their ignorance shall envelope you” similarly if you sit with the Lovers of the Beloved SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam then Insha’Allah you shall become a lover. Know the sad state of affairs of our Muslims dear readers, we associate with the rich and keep away from the poor; meaning we love people for their wealth or we want to know them so that we shall benefit from them in some way, do you not fear Allah? Do you not fear the Last Day? Sayyidinah Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (R.A) said: “Do not discriminate between the rich and the poor” a person who loves his fellow for some worldly benefit should realise that one day he shall return to his Lord. Have we failed to 18 Hiqma- Wisdom; this wisdom is unknown to the lay man. The Ambiyaa (Prophets) Awliyaa Allah (Fiends of Allah) have been bestowed with this special knowledge. The Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi wassalam, when going on Mijra heard the scratching of quills on the Lo-he Mahfuz (Preserved Tablets); this is where everything is written. 19 Arsh- heavens- There are seven Heavens, the highest of which is al Firdoos. There is a place is Al Jannah called Maqam e Mahmood which is for the Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam. The water of the heavens is Zamzam. Is has four main rivers of honey, wine, water and milk. 20
Farsh- Earth- This temporary abode, is shall disappear on the last day. The last person the leave the fire of hell and enter Jannah shall have a place in Jannah 10 times the size of the earth.
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recognise the greatness of the Lord? Gauth Al Azam (R.A) said: “Do not employ deen (Religion) as the means of earning your livelihood” dear reader when will we realise the world is a lie? When will we learn that we shall drink from the couplet of death someday? When will we realise we shall walk through the one way door of death? Wake up before it’s too late. In-order to establish true love for the Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam we must sit in the company of the pious and learn from the true scholars. Gauth Al Azam (R.A) said: “how can the blind guide the blind? Only a man with spiritual insight can guide others” Further “It is not appropriate or befitting for any person to assume the role of a Deeni Lecturer unless the heart has been cleansed of all evil tendencies” I ask how many of us have a cleansed heart? Dear readers keep away from the evil people and those who love the dunyaa. If you sit with a man of dunyaa then their cancer shall spread to you and shall lead you to your destruction. Do not under-estimate the influence that people have on you, know that if you sit in filth and you shall rise with filth on you; as the famous saying goes “You are who your with” The Hadith of the Beloved Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam clearly states “You shall be with those whom you love” Allah Ta’ala say’s in the Holy Qur’an: “O You who Believe! Lo! Among your wives and your children there are enemies for you, therefore beware of them. And if you efface and overlook and forgive, then lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. Your wealth and your children are only a temptation, whereas Allah, with Him is an immense reward” The above ayah warns us of our wives, children and wealth. In this ayah we are warned of the temptation of the above named. Let not their love blind you of the Love for Allah Ta’ala and His Rasool SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam. Don’t be a fool, realise that nobody is your and you are nobody’s except for Allah Ta’ala and His Rasool SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam. If your wife, child, mother, father and everything you hold dear is lost what do you have left? Only Allah Ta’ala and His Rasool SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam are left! Allah is ever living, the eternal, the absolute! Gauth Al Azam (R.A) said: “It is your duty to make efforts and strive in the Path of Allah, and to support you in this task is the responsibility of Allah. Dive confidently into the ocean of struggle, spread your feet and manoeuvre your arms and the waves will carry you to the shore”
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Dear readers once you have Dhawk21 of the Love for Allah Ta’ala and His Rasool SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam then Insha’Allah it shall only grow. Let not the desires and world blind you of what is to come. Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (R.A) said: “There is no gift worth regarding as equal to that of Faqr22 , Sabr23 and Salamti24 so in your poverty remain rich in Allah Ta’ala” It is sad to say we have failed to see the beauty of all three, especially poverty. Why is it that we have failed to recognise the beauty of Haqiqah? It is because our hearts have been sealed to reality, we have dived into the fancy dogmas of this materialist world. Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (R.A) said: “So hard and unsympathetic your hearts have grown that love, mercy and compassion exists no more between you. The orders of Shariah were an Amanat25 with you but you have neglected everything” Know dear reader every action should be for the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala not for pleasing anybody. Gauth Al Azam (R.A) said: “Whosoever does any action to please some other being besides ALLAH, has in reality, done no good action at all” Dear reader don’t forget you final destination. You shall return to your Creator, there is no doubting it. Death is one of the very few things which all agree on, be a person Atheist, Jew, Christian, Buddhist or Hindu; all agree on death. It is unavoidable; you are a mere blur away from death. Don’t make plans for the dunyaa least you shall become dust before they become a reality, spend your time wisely for once it has gone there is no coming back. As I write this article my time is passing, ever closer I am edging to the unavoidable death, my brothers and sisters prepare yourself for your last breath least you waste away and you have not recognised the importance of Love for RasoolAllah SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam. I have seen many who claim to love their wives, children and family; and I stay back and look simply saying “fools”. What do you know of Love? True love should burn through the heart, glint through the eyes and shine through the heart of a lover; and this love can only be achieved for Allah Ta’ala and His Rasool SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam. Don’t be foolish and claim love for anyone except for the one worthy of it. Love the Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam and Allah Ta’ala shall love you. Don’t waste your time, have you not reflected on how quick time goes? Your days pass like water in cupped hands; o fool wake up! 21
Dhawk- Taste also pronounced Zawk- this taste has many meaning, i.e: the taste of the sweetness of Imaan, love, Noor, Awaar etc… If once a person takes this sweetness then he craves for more and more until he reaches his Lord Most Merciful. 22
Faqr- Poverty – Not to crave the world, to be content with what the Merciful Lord gives you
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Sabr –patience; To be patient in all matters whether ease or hardship for Allah Ta’ala says in the Holy Qur’an “Allah is with those who are patient”
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Salamti –peace; this is inner peace when one is satisfied with Allah Ta’ala and His Rasool SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam
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Amanat- Trust; this is the trust of the deen which was given to us, we broke that trust by moving away from the truth and the reality of our mere existence
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My Mater, Gauth al Azam (R.A) said: “The hypocrite and show-off endeavours to attract material wealth by using deen as his medium. Though lacking in piety and righteousness, he presents himself as one of the pious, speaking the language of the pious but his unworthy deeds betray his pretence” This statement speaks for itself. Don’t become a victim of falsehood; you can only protect yourself with the Love of the Beloved SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam. Know if you do not have true love then the pangs of death are very difficult. Your death is around you dear reader look and you shall see, ask and you shall get love and you shall attain the Beloved SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam. Reflect dear reader on the following statement of Gauth Al Azam (R.A): Vanquish your desire with the dagger of Tawheed, securing it with the armour of Towfeeq (inclination towards good actions), and arm it with the Javelin and Spear of sacrifice, the Shield of Piety and the Sword of Yaqeen (firm faith and conviction). Now, use the sword and javelin unceasingly until such time that your Nafs26 and lower desires are completely subdued and you have overpowered it like a rider mounted upon his charge with the reins firmly in his grip” Remember that the Awliya-Allah are the deputies of the Ambiya (prophets).So accept all the orders they issue for their commands are the injunctions of ALLAH, and similarly, they forbid only that which ALLAH has prohibited, and their personal whims or desires have no place in the DEEN of ALLAH. They have accepted the Qura’nic command: “and whatever the Prophet gives you accept it and whatever He forbids you, abstain from it” It is sad to say that we associate with Jahil people; one who does not even know the difference between falsehood and reality. The great saint Gauth Al Azam (R.A) said: How can that person be a teacher to others, When he is not able to teach (control) his nafs” Dear reader, don’t fall into the trap of trying to teach others when you are the slave of your nafs least you fall into unforeseen difficulties and are swayed away from the straight path. We have again failed to see that there is no “pick and mix” in deen; either you have reached the Lord or have become the friend of the devil; Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (R.A) said: “The state of your affair is either that you are not in the nearness of Allah or you are close to Him” Dear reader, we must look deep within us where we are? It is said there are 70,000 steps of Walayah (Friendship); do we exist on such a plane? It is very simple to recognise where you are, either you have attained the closeness of the Merciful Lord or you are far away from the truth. Once again dear friend, divorce the world as the Awliyaa tell us and hold tight to the love for the Beloved SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam. 26
Nafs- Ego or animal self; there are three types of Nafs, the first is Nafs-e-Amarah this is the worst of Nafs; when the person is the slave of the nafs, he does as the Nafs instructs. The second is Nafs-e-Lawama, this is the Neutral Nafs, when a person commits a sin this Nafs leaves the body and re-enters once the sin has been committed this is why one feels guilty. The final Nafs is Nafs-e-Mutmainnah; i.e: The Nafs is your slave and you do not have desires, this is what the Awliyaa have; May Allah Ta’ala take away the lust of our hearts AmeenNOTE: the lusts and desires being referred to here are the animal desires which do not befit a Lover and pure person.
~ 15 ~
Reflect on the creation in the hope that you may attain the creator. Reflection is a path to attain Qurb27. Gauth Al Azam (R.A) said: “the mind is a diver diving deep into the sea of the heart to find pearls of wisdom when he brings them to the shore of his being, they spill out as words from his lips and with these be buys priceless devotion in Allah's market of worship” Take no pleasure in this world, keep your eyes fixed firmly on the last day. It is sad to see that many in today’s time claim sainthood but only a handful have it, My Master Gauth Al Azam (R.A) said: “On the level of wisdom, the ego tries to push one to claim sainthood” Wisdom is a gift and many abuse this to claim sainthood, to be a saint it does not mean you predict the future or else you fly over the mountains but in reality true sainthood lies in the Love of the Beloved SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam. Turn away from the world dear friend for it is a poison ready to enter you blood stream and kill you with your own desires. Let not the world lure you under false hope and pertness, it is indeed an illusion. Don’t forget everything will come to pass nothing shall remain of this materialistic world. Take out the whispers of the devil28 and your ego and renounce the world, seek the Merciful Lord and never question His plans. Gauth Al Azam (R.A) said: “You see this world in the hands of those who keep it going, with its ornaments and vanities, its deceptions and snares, and its lethal poisons. Its surface is so smooth to the touch, while the inside is rapacious, quick to bring ruin and death to those who touch it and fall under its delusion, forgetting its evil motives, its fickleness and breach of promise. When you see all this, you must behave like someone who sees a man in the act of defecating, with his private parts exposed and causing an unpleasant odour. Just as you would avert your gaze from his nakedness, and hold your nose against the stinking smell, so must you behave towards the world: When you see it, look away from its charms and hold your nose against the stench emitted by its lechery and lust. Thus you may escape the worlds corrupting influence, yet still receive your allotted share of worldly goods, yours to enjoy” Become the Lover of the Beloved SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam and everything shall become yours. Shaqiq al Balkhi, may Allah sanctify his secret, says, 'There are five signs of righteousness: a gentle disposition and a soft heart, shedding tears of regret, asceticism and not caring about the world, being un-ambitious, and having a conscience” Dear reader, a true Wali has no love for this world, the Waliullah (Friend of Allah) have no care for worldly possessions. They look from far and turn away; the mere sight of it is distasteful to them. Know dear reader, as I write this article I speak to
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Qur’b- Closeness of Allah Ta’ala, Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (R.A) said: “To be intimate with Allah, one has to travel through a thousand (1000) doors; the first of which is the door of Miracles”
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Shah Waliullah Muhaddith Dehlvi (R.A) said: Shaytan (Devil) appears in the form of a mosquito and sits on you left shoulder blade, the devil then places it snout into a vein which leads directly into the heart and starts to whispers in our heart! May the Merciful Lord save us from the devil and his whispers Ameen thum Ameen
~ 16 ~
myself first, we have lost our sense of direction to the Lord, our cure is to turn towards the Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam and sit with the pious. The Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam is reported as having said: “The harshest punishment Allah inflicts on his servant is the quest for what has not been destined for him” People run after the world and its wealth not knowing it is not destined for them and if it is then it consumes them into a twilight of filth. Be content with what the Lord gives you; be thankful to the Lord for His favours upon you and never complain to Him about anything, He is Most Merciful, The All Knowing, The All Wise. It is sad that people run after wealth like dogs and those who love the dunyaa then further die like dogs; dear reader know I am not saying to not earn a living but don’t crave it nor have love for it and be content with what the Lord has bestowed on you. One of the wise is reported as having said:” The real meaning of pious devotion (taqwa) is that if you were to gather up everything that is in your heart, set it on an uncovered tray, and then walk all around the market with it, there would be nothing there to make you feel in any way embarrassed” I ask how many of us can do the said? If indeed we had true love then all things would diminish and nothing shall be left except the Love of Allah Ta’ala and His Beloved SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam. The true Awliya have many hardship and problems yet they conceal them, and this is a sign of a true Waliullah. The true Awliyaa will act normal and to the outsider it seems they are content and have no problems; indeed they are happy with what their Lord has given them whether it be happiness or hardship, the Awliyaa are people of secrets this is why Gauth al Azam (R.A) said “Conceal hardship because you can achieve proximity (closeness) to Allah by it”; May Allah Ta’ala sanctify their secret and allow us to benefit from them all Ameen Thuma Ameen. Dear reader know when Allah Ta’ala blesses someone He blesses him with the company of the pious so that he may attain perfection; yet those who seek the dunyaa or have angered the Lord then know for him is a severe punishment in this world and the next, the pious turn away from him and the Saliheen29 keep away from him; and this is indeed a severe punishment, for in reality who do you have? As mentioned earlier, if Your family shall die and you will lose your wealth what do you have left? What use is your family whether living or dead? Nothing is of benefit except Allah Ta’ala and His Rasool SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam; Gauth Al Azam (R.A) said: “The faithful servant is he who excludes all other than the One from his heart” Don’t be a fool and think this article is talking about Awliyaa, no dear reader; know this is being said so we achieve the true Love, what the Awliyaa have we cannot imagine, it is indeed beyond comprehension.
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Saliheen- Pure people, these are the people who have pure hearts and minds. Their hearts are indulged in the Love of the Merciful Lord and His Beloved SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam.
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The wise say: “He, who has no love for the Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam, has no heart; ask Allah Ta’ala for one” How true are the words:? The heart was made to Love you, The eyes were given light to see you, and The tongue was given speech to praise you... Insha’Allah I intend to conclude here this brief article into the Love of the Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam. I pray this was of benefit to all Insha’Allah Ta’ala. May Allah Ta’ala grant us His true Love and the true love of RasoolAllah SalAllahu Alayhi Wassalam Ameen Thuma Ameen. May Allah Ta’ala grant us the ability to sit with the pious Awliyaa, as Gauth Al Azam (R.A) said: Seek the fellowship of those who enjoy fellowship with the Lord of Truth (Almighty and Glorious is He)” I end with a dua of Gauth Al Azam: “O Allah, bring us back to you, keep us stationed at your door, let us be yours. Let us rejoice in serving you. Let our taking and giving be for your sake. Purify our inner beings of everything but you. May you not see us where you have forbidden us to be and may you not fail to find us where you have commanded us to be..” Ameen thum Ameen Yaa Rabal Alameen.
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