The

Chishti Nizami Habibi Soofie 

International Sufi Order

Pietermaritzburg

South Africa

786/92

The Hand Of Allah: Mureed

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’. Remember, ‘guide us’ (ihdinaa) does not only mean pointing out the way but also to guide us on the path to enable us to reach the goal. Here the question arises, ‘What is the straight path that leads to the goal’’? Therefore the Qur’aan defines the straight path and the goal, 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.

 Personified The Path

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 personifications of truth in thought, word and deed. Hence they are embodiments of truth

3.      Shuhada: Those who are witnesses to the existence of Allah or Martyrs since they have sacrificed themselves for the sake of truth out of the love of Allah

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. The experience of Allah is the ultimate goal of every Muslim. The Holy Qur'aan says in the 53^rd Sura, an-Najm, Verse 42

Knowledge And Recognition

In the Quest For Allah many of the Great Imams of Islamic Law turned to Recognizers Of Allah (Urafa). 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.

Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He) asks His Beloved to tell us, in the Holy Qur'aan in the 3^rd Sura, al-i-Imraan: Verse31

The Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions) has been asked to tell us to fix our gaze, attention, heart, emotions and feelings to imitate him. The result of this will be that Allah will love us. The verse speaks of love by a Muslim for Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He) and it speaks of love by Allah for Muslims. What does it mean? It means that if we believe in Allah we can form contact with Him. We don’t believe in something from which we cannot obtain blessings or reward. Neither do we believe in something that is just a distant force or power that has no concern for us.

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 behavior 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 Jalalluddin 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.

 Qur’aan And Sunnah

Many people say that they don’t need a guide because Islam is the Book Of Allah (Qur’aan) and the Example Of His Messenger (Sunnah). Undoubtedly, Islam is based on principles of the Book Of Allah (Qur’aan) and the Example Of Allah’s Messenger (Sunnah) but the Sufi’s say that beneath the words of the Holy Qur'aan and Hadith there is wisdom, too subtle to be grasped by the farthest reaches of sound intelligence. Sufi’s realize as humble pursuers of knowledge that knowledge has different levels.  Everybody 's level of knowledge is not the same whether he maybe called a Scholar of Islam (Aalime – Deen) or whatever.  The comprehension of facts through knowledge varies from person to person.  These problems arise because those who come forward to understand the problem view it with their subjective limitations. Akbar Ilaahabaadi said about the status of the human being,

For example:

1.      People read the same book but some recognize the Alphabets and some the words. Others will read sentences and paragraphs. Those with higher education will know the language in which it is written, the Subject, Theme, Sub Theme and Inter related Subjects. Therefore knowledge is either of a higher order or lower order.  Those who can see as far as there nose, they can see that far and no further.

2.      A person views a landscape from the foot of the hill, another a few meters higher, a third goes further up and another stands on top. The view of the person at the bottom cannot be the same as the person on top.

The Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions) has said, ‘Knowledge of the inward is one of the Secrets of Allah. It is wisdom from the treasury of Allah’s Wisdom and He puts it into the heart of whom He wills from His slaves.’[6] This shows that there is a branch of knowledge beyond commonly held knowledge, that Allah blesses His special servants with. Abu Hurraira (may Allah be well pleased with him) said, ‘I received two branches of knowledge from the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions). One I have disclosed to you but if I divulge the other you would cut my throat.’[7] Therefore if one says that Islam is the Book Of Allah (Qur’aan) and the Example Of His Messenger (Sunnah), then one is in actual fact saying that, Islam is what I understand of Book Of Allah (Qur’aan) and the Example Of His Messenger (Sunnah) and nothing more.’ This would mean that we set our innermost perceptions on a level with the innermost perceptions of the Blessed Intimates Of Allah.

Allah says in the Holy Qur'aan in Sura Luqmaan, Verse 15:

 Yusuf Ali comments on this verse saying, ‘that is the way of those who love Allah’. Shaykh Abd al-Qaadir Jilaani (may Allah be well pleased with him) says, ‘ The heart (qalb) and brain (aql) of a wali of Allah are the repositories of Divine Knowledge and Grace. Allah has expanded his breast for the understanding of meaning of the Holy Qur'aan. Allah reveals to him the inner meanings and realities of the verses so that he may guide mankind and cure their maladies.’

 The Slave Of Allah

Islam did not come to have followers who are Muslims only in name or ritualistically, or just to hold certain Principles Of Belief (aqaaid) without practicing them. Islam came to transform human beings into recipients of Allah’s gifts.  To become the abd or ‘slave of Allah’ is to become a king, not to be emotion-less and turned into an unbalanced human being.  Some of our people believe this, they say that if you want to protect Tauhid then degrade everybody and even insult the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions).  I don't know what this Tauhid is.  This is a hard-hearted, lifeless idea.  Allama Iqbal has stated:

If by becoming a slave of God, I cannot develop myself in stature, I don't need to become His slave. Every human being does something for benefit.  This is human nature.  What is this God of these people that you become Allah’s slave and you continually become debased? I place before you a Hadith from the Sahih of Bukhari.  This is a Sacred Hadith (Qudsi) or Allah’s Sacred Saying, reported by the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions) Allah says:

As Maulana Jalalluddin Rumi (may Allah be well pleased with him) has stated:

The Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions) has commanded us ,

Nothing would be hidden from that being about whom Allah says, ‘I have become his sight’; No sound is hidden from him whose hearing Allah becomes. No place in the universe is far from that being whose feet Allah becomes. That tongue about which Allah says, ‘I have become his tongue’, whatever that tongue utters is bound to happen.

This is the goal of Islam, which has been set out for us. Don't think there is any vestiges of shirk - for the human remains human and God remains God. Nothing is detracted from the personality of God. Here is an illustration. The convex lens has neither light nor heat and is a dead, dark thing. Focus the convex lens before the sun, and a small sun will appear on the palm of your hand, and burn your hand. This small sun that is created is the image of the real sun, dazzlingly bright in its form and function, but in its nature is not. It is only an image that has been built up on the surface of your hand. This small sun has light and heat but is not self-existent. It remains at the will of the real sun. As long as the real sun remains and feeds the convex lens, the created sun will remain. If the convex lens is removed, the created sun will disappear.

This convex lens is like our spiritual heart. Through the love of Allah, the convex lens's focus and projection is increased through the zikr of ‘la ilaaha illal-laah’. It gradually acquires radiation from Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He) and absorbs it. As it has been said by the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions)

It is the Throne Of God and should be actively made the throne of God. This is the goal of Islam. When these qualities are gradually absorbed through the process Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He) has taught to in the Holy Qur'aan, in the 20^th Sura, Ta Ha, Verse 14

And, in the 2^nd Sura, al-Baqarah, Verse 152:

Love is mutual, reciprocal, and interdependent and it is out of Allah's intense love for us that He said to the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions) to teach us:

This is Real Love and He does love us. Of course, most of us are unworthy of His love. We don't know how to love Him and we don't want to love Him. That is our greatest loss, for we cannot do any harm to Him nor take anything from His glory nor add anything to His glory. That is why the path that has been prescribed by the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions) is:

This is not shirk but real tauhid and requires proper understanding. This is the function of khalifat-Allah just like the convex lens is the khalifah of the sun! When man becomes khalifat-Allah  he realizes his potential status. In botany, every seed contains the plant that grows out of it, potentially. Similarly, every human being is khalifat-Allah potentially. He or she has to develop himself or herself in accordance with that code of Islamic guidance to become khalifat-Allah

Islam is a treasure house of the blessings of Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He). We can benefit from this inexhaustible treasure house only if we follow the model of our beloved Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions), love him intensely and to become like him in his nature. Actually, a Muslim in the real sense of the word is to become Muhammad rasulullah in nature. What else then? Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He) says in the Holy Qur’aan in the 33^rd Sura, al-Ahzaab: Verse21:

A model is that which is imitated, with the spirit to become, like that model. When a model is given to the factory for mass production to be reproduced and if that is not adhered to, then the factory has not done its job. The Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions) is the model and the Muslim should try his or her best to change according to that model.

What were the qualities that Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He) placed in that model? He could order the sun to stop; the moon to split into two or he could order space to give way in order to reach his Lord. Our Beloved Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions) was the most perfect khalifat - Allah and was the embodiment of what the Qur’aan says in the 45^th Sura, al-Jaathiya: Verse13:

He was the personification of this mastery and therefore khalifat-Allah "par excellence" and the perfect model for anybody who wants to become khalifat-Allah.

But, we Muslims have become like a small worm that crawls in underground channels and we think we are doing good by leading this life of ignorance and heedlessness. Remember, the duty is not to God or the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions) but towards ourselves. This is what Islam has come to teach and what our forefathers believed and practiced.

Those who have actualized this function of khalifat-Allah, become mirrors wherein Allah’s attributes are reflected.  The Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions) is and would always remain the greatest khalifat-Allah. He is the means to connect to Allah and the greatest reflector of Allah’s attributes. In the Battle of Badr, when the kuffar were more powerful, the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions) picked up dust and threw it at them. Referring to this incident Allah says in the Holy Qur'aan in the 8^th Sura, al-Anfaal: Verse 17:

 "Pact Of Divine Pleasure" (Bay ‘ah ar-Ridwaan)

In 6 A.H, the Holy Prophet with 1400 believers from Madinah journeyed almost unarmed to Makkah to perform the lesser pilgrimage (Umra). The Holy Prophet and his companions camped at a place called Hudaibiya, outside Makkah. The Muslims were anxious to enter the Holy City and see the Kaaba that they had not seen for 6 years. Since a state of war still existed with the Makkans, and the envoy, Hazrath Uthman, sent by the Prophet to obtain a safe passage for the believers, inside the city had not yet returned, the situation appeared dangerous. To deal with this sensitive situation that could have had an emotional reaction and required a disciplined response the Noble Prophet whilst seated below an acacia tree took an oath from every one of his companions that they would stand up for Allah and His Prophet to the death. Referring to this incident Allah, says in the Holy Qur'aan, in the 48^th Sura, al-Fath, Verse 10:

This pledge is the prototype of the Sufi rite of initiation and these words of the Holy Qur'aan are used to this day when a novice in a tariqah takes the hand of his Spiritual Master and pledges allegiance to him. The Spiritual Guides hand is that hand, about which Allah says, ‘I have become his hand’. The bay ‘ah is (pledge) is given to Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He). The Perfectly Submitted Guide (Murshid e Kaamil) places the pledge in the ‘hands’ of Almighty Allah, because ‘guidance’ (hidaayah) is only in the ‘hands’ of Allah. This hidaayah flows according to the Sufi methodology from Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He) to the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions) and from his hands through the chain (silsila) of spiritual luminaries.  The Spiritual Tree (Shajra) is the conduit through which hidaayah flows. All divine blessings are given to the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions) and the work of distributing them has been given to the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions). We read the Shajra to remain in touch with this chain or channel of guidance that Allah formed for us and we establish our connection with the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions). This is the spiritual way of connecting with Almighty Allah for special favors to obtain His proximity. This channel runs through the Spiritual Luminaries for spirituality. For other functions there are other channels that run through angels.

To progress spiritually we have to maintain the contact in our consciousness all the time through the chain. The necessity of a spiritual connection can also be evaluated by examining an incident that took place at the National Aeronautic Space Agency NASA. Apollo ten lost contact with the scientists guiding the mission, at Kennedy Space Center for a while and the flight was doomed. It failed to reach its destination and was lost in space.

 Why Should I Become A Disciple (Mureed)?

It is not essential to become a Disciple (Mureed) in the sense that it is an order of the Sacred Law (shariah), or that it has been prescribed as an indispensable condition for salvation in the Hereafter. In the same way it may be asked if it is absolutely necessary to educate ones children?  Here again the answer will be that it is not absolutely necessary for an uneducated person will remain alive in this world and would be able to lead the life of a good citizen. But it certainly is essential in the sense that without it many undeveloped qualities of the children will never be developed and they will never bloom into that perfection of which they are truly capable. They will be human beings, maybe worthy in their own way, but they will be deprived of the countless virtues and blessings of knowledge which was their birthright and which their God given nature demanded. They will be like stunted trees, still deserving, no doubt, the name of a tree, but lacking the joy of harmonious expansion and displaying themselves in the grand apparel, which is their gift from The Court Of Divine Beauty. Likewise the believer who does not set foot on the path which leads to nearness of Allah, or does not derive some encouragement and inspiration from others who do so, still remains a believer but is deprived of the priceless benefit of that closer intimacy with his Maker and the deeper understanding and more excellent performance of His commands which lies potentially within him. The beauty and perfection of which his soul is capable remains like the rosebud which never opens, and which falls to the ground with its dream of becoming a flower forever unfulfilled.

Theoretical knowledge derived from reading books including the Qur'aan and Hadith can never be a substitute for suhbat or association with those experienced travelers who have completed their journey along the road, reached their goal and have now returned to guide others on the same. The Book of Allah was not sent alone, it was sent through the medium of the Holy Prophet who was at the same time its transmitter, its commentator and its living interpretation. It was through his training and instruction, in the light of the book that purified his companions and elevated them to the heights of Godliness. It is belief in the Messenger that has been made obligatory in the Declaration Of The Faith (Kalimah) after the belief in the Unity Of Allah. Thus Belief In The Book is corollary to Belief In The Man and not the other way around. This is the principle that is followed in the teachings of the Sufis; theoretical knowledge has to be quickened to life by association with the man of God and the road ahead cannot be traversed without the guide.  

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 (Nuraaniat).

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.                       

Irshad Soofi

Chishti Nizami Habibi

June 24, 2004

6 Jamaad al-Aulaa 1425