The

Chishti Nizami Habibi Soofie 

International Sufi Order

Pietermaritzburg

South Africa

786.

Who Are The Friends Of Allah (Aulia Allah)

Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He) teaches us a prayer for guidance in the Holy Qur’aan, the 1^st Sura, al-Fatiha, Verses 6 and 7

It is an occasion of pleasure and spiritual consolation to me to utter a few words on who are The Friends Of Allah (Aulia Allah). What are the features, qualities and characteristics to recognize them?

  I recited a portion of Sura Fatiha the first chapter of the Holy Qur’aan, which is the opening of The Holy Qur’aan and Divine Knowledge. This Sura possesses numerous secrets of guidance and divinity. Here one supplicates (dua) for the straight path or sirat ul-mustaqeem: "O Allah lead us to the straight path". Here the question arises, "What is the straight path"? Therefore the Qur’aan defines the straight path very comprehensively and practically. Allah has elaborated it. The common man, preacher and speaker of average caliber normally say, only the Holy Qur’aan and Example Of The Prophet (Sunnah). They are right but we have to see what definition and prescription the Qur’aan provides. Allah defines the path as, - The path of those on whom Allah has showered his blessings- (Siratul lazina an amta alaihim).  This is the positive portion. Then he mentions the negative aspect: "Not of those on whom your wrath has come and have gone astray." I would like to clarify these concepts. Here two categories are mentioned:

1. Those on whom Allah’s blessings are showered and
2. Those on whom Allah’s anger has come because they have gone astray.

Therefore there is not only an abstract (concepts and ideas) description of both paths but also a personification of both. Two men can debate on this topic and the two different mosques can give you their own versions (it is unfortunate that mosques have been converted into battlefields) thus the common man is left in a fix because only ideas and concepts exist.

 So Allah has not only given an abstract idea but has personified the path. Thus we come to the significance of persons in Islam. The ideas have been personified in a form that can be perceived. E.g. The Qur’aan says Establish Prayer (Aqimus salaah) in a hundred places but the companions still asked, ‘How should we pray Oh Prophet of Allah!’ (Kayfa nusalli Ya Rasulullah).  How to pray is in the Holy Qur’aan but the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions) replied He said ‘Pray as you see me praying or just look at me and follow’ (Sallu kama raitu muni nusalli).  So the method of prayer was personified. The whole Way Of Life (deen) is based on the same concept. In another Noble Tradition (Hadith) it is stated that a man came to Hazrath Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be well pleased with him) and asked him about the prayer of journey (Salaat al-Qasr). He said, "It is no problem, Allah raised the Holy Prophet in our community and we did not know any thing, except this that we just look at the Holy Prophet and we follow him."(Note - we did not know any thing (wa la nahlamu shaian)- this is in the present tense).

 The Sufis, Recognizers of Allah (Urafa) and Great Spiritual Guides (Mashaikh) who follow the path of Hazrath Shaykh Abd al-Qaadir Jilaani (Ghaws al-Azam), Mawlana Jalalluddin Rumi, Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti of Ajmer, Baba Fariduddin and the galaxy of glorious Aulia (may Allah be well pleased with them all) have personified the straight path by their blessed personalities. The Holy Qur'aan says in the 4^th Sura, an-Nisaa Verse 69:

Here four categories have been mentioned:

1.      Nabiyeen: Prophets who are blessed by Allah being pure and free of sin

2.      Siddiqin: Who have become embodiments of truth hence they testify to truth

3.      Shuhada: Those who are witnesses to the existence of Allah or Martyrs and

4.      Saliheen The Righteous Servants whom Allah befriends  (Aulia Allah).

Hazrath Abu Bakr (may Allah be well pleased with him) had complete faith (imaan) in the personality of the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions) for he knew the Holy Prophet is the Mirror That Reflects Allah (aina e khudanuma) thus he believed the events of The Prophets Ascension (Mi’raaj) without hesitation. The Holy Prophet named him The Testifier To Truth (Siddique). Allah has blessed personalities that belong to the four categories, with his recognition and knowledge of how to attain His pleasure. Their blessed company leads one to Allah . In the Quest For Allah many of the Great Imams of Islamic Law turned to Recognizers Of Allah (Urafa).

 Knowledge And Recognition

There is a difference between ‘knowing and recognizing’ (jaana aur pechaana). The Scholars (Ulama) have knowledge of Allah and His beloved Holy Prophet  (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions) that they pass on through Verbal Teaching [Ilme qaal] but the Possessors Of Recognition (urafa) have the Knowledge Of Transferring 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 (may Allah be well pleased with him) sought recognition of Allah from Shams Tabrez (May Allah be well pleased with him). Imam Abu Hanifa (may Allah be well pleased with him) regarded Behlol Majnu a.k.a. Behlol Dana (may Allah be well pleased with him) as one of his teachers since he sought recognition of Allah from his teachings. Imam Shafi'ee (may Allah be well pleased with him) sought recognition of Allah from Shaibaan Rai (may Allah be well pleased with him). Imam Hamnbal (may Allah be well pleased with him) sought recognition of Allah from Bishar Hafi (may Allah be well pleased with him).  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 Allah, whose Shariah they implement from those that had attained His recognition and proximity.

 The Spiritual Guide

The Spiritual Guide is the inheritor of The Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions) in his inner Spiritual State, in their outward behaviour and in their roles as guides and protectors within their communities. Their Spiritual Hearts (qalb)^[1] are capable of receiving light and love from Allah and radiating it to those that are in their attendance. A person may acquire any amount of external knowledge (ilm) but he cannot reach reality (haqiqah)^[2] until he connects himself to a Silsila ^[3] via a physical present Guide of the Silsila, who has the powerful transference or overflow from the Great Heart (qalb) of the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions) down the unbroken chain of recipients.

 Maulana Jallaluddin Rumi (may Allah be well pleased with him) says:

 Remember in the choice of a Spiritual Guide; ensure that the guide follows the authentic ‘People of Sunnah[4] and the Community’ (Ahl as- Sunnah wa’l Jamaa a). He must also belong to The Recognized Schools Of Sufism. His link to the Shajra[5] must be through masters who follow the original teachings and practices of the ahle Sunnah. Whilst we ordinary mortals are desirous of Heaven, the Aulia seek only the pleasure of Allah. The Aulia have cleansed themselves of greed, jealousy, pride and arrogance and only seek Allah's pleasure. Allah says follow the path of My Friends because their path leads to the Prophets. The Wali leads to Prophet and Prophet leads to Allah.

 The Paths Of "The Blessed And Astray"

Where did this division start? This division began from the beginning of the creation of the human race. Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He) explains the creation of man in the 15th Sura, Al-Hijr:  Verse 29,

Here two aspects are mentioned:

1. The Physical Aspect (Bashariat) and
2. The Spiritual Aspect (Nuraniat).

After Allah had created the first man Hazrath Adam (may Allah bless him with peace) in the heavenly realm, He commanded the angels and spiritual beings to prostrate to Adam. All the angels complied with the Divine Command and prostrated except Iblis, the Jinn, who was not Shaitaan at that time. The angels ‘complied’ and Iblis ‘defied’. When Allah asked him why he had abstained, he replied as recorded in the Holy Qur'aan, the 7^th Sura, al-Araaf: Verse 12

  ‘I am better than he’                                                         

 Iblis became "disobedient to Allah and disrespectful to the Prophet of Allah" hence he incurred the wrath of Allah and he became Shaitaan (the accursed Satan or the Devil). The angels became "obedient to Allah and respectful to Prophet" hence they became the recipients of Allah’s blessings. Iblis did not disobey regarding the Unity of Allah (Tauhid) and Worship of Allah (Ibaadat), but was disrespectful in regard to respect to the Prophet (tazeem e rasul); therefore Allah expelled him and made him Shaitaan. Two groups now emerged, ‘The Blessed’ or Friends of Allah and ‘The Cursed’ or Enemies of Allah who incurred the wrath of Allah. Iblis asked Allah to give him life till the Day of Judgment. Allah granted his request and he swore to use the same method to lead people astray till the Day of Judgment; i.e. to infuse in them disobedience to Allah in connection with respect to Prophet. Those who accept this philosophy become astray. Allah told Iblis that he would not be able to mislead the ‘Mukhliseen’(The blessed purified servants of Allah). As mentioned in the Holy Qur'aan in Holy Qur'aan, the 15^th Sura, al-Hijr: Verses39 and 40:

Therefore associate with the truthful in word and deed, the Aulia Allah. Allah has not allowed Satan to mislead them.

 Attributes Of The Friends Of Allah

What are the attributes by which one recognizes the Friends of Allah?

            1. Taqwa: They are Allah Conscious, pious and sincere in their submission.

            2. Abdiat: They are sincere in their service to mankind and Allah.

            3. Tazeem: They are respectful to the Prophet.

            4. Itteba: They sincere follow and imitate of The Prophet out of love for him

 These Muttaqi or God-fearing servants are the followers of Islamic Law (Shariah) and Exemplary Example of the Holy Prophet (Sunnah). Those persons who perform miracles but don’t follow the Shariah are misguided and Allah’s enemies. E.g. Shaitaan appeared in front of Hazrath Ghaws Paak (may Allah be well pleased with him)  and said, ‘as of today Islamic Law (Shariah) is not compulsory (farz) on you." Hazrath replied, ‘if Shariah was followed by my master, the Holy Prophet, then how can i be exempt?’ Shaitaan told him, ‘Your knowledge saved you.’  Hazrath Ghaws Paak replied, ‘No! Allah saved me.’ This is how shaitaan operates on the Straight Path.

These enlightened and illuminating beings are the Aulia who spread the light of love wherever they are found. This same light is shining brightly in Baghdad, Ajmer, Durban and every place where the Friends of Allah are found.                       

 Inspired by a lecture delivered by Prof. Taahir al-Qadri