The Chishti Nizami Habibi Soofie

Sufi Order

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SALAMI

[salat o salaam]

Sura al-Ahzab 33 Verse 56

Participation of Allah with His servants

One hears this verse of the Holy Qur’aan time after time, inside the Masjid, in the homes, in the different assemblies of Meelad Shareef and lectures etc. This verse contains a STATEMENT and a COMMAND. Allah STATES here that He and His angels send salaat and salaam on the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) Therefore have we ever thought of the uniqueness of the action of sending salaat and salaam on the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)? When one offers Salaah, Allah does not offer Salaah with one. When one fasts during Ramadan or any other time, Allah does not fast with one. When one does any other act of virtue Allah does not participate with one, but when one sends salaat o salaam on the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) then one is a participant with Allah and His angels. This is the only act of virtue in which there is a participation of Allah with His servants. Remember this word ‘yusalluna’ in ‘yusalluna alan nabi’ is ‘sighah al-istimraar’ or ‘mudarriya’ it stands for a continuous action. An action that never ceases!  (Past, perfect, continuous verb)  Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He) has been sending Salaam on His beloved Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) since time immemorial and will continue to do so until their remains no creation to recite salaat-o- salaam, i.e. this creation ceases to exist.  Is this something ordinary that we can ignore or pass by, heedlessly? 

Why don’t the Muslims give proper thought to why Allah has asked us in the same verse, we His very humble creatures for our benefit and only to obtain blessings for us and not to benefit the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) in anyway.  Allah has asked us out of sheer mercy, that we may also participate in this great and noblest of acts and send salaat and Salaam.  “ Ya.... Tasleema “[1] Allah has blessed and will continue to bless His prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) abundantly.

Ceaseless flow of blessings

The flow of blessings on the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is continuous and in abundance. Sura al-Kauthar 108 Verse 1

O Beloved Prophet. We have given you good in abundance

And in Sura ad-Dhuha 93 Verse 5

Your Lord shall bless you (O! prophet) until you are pleased

 Allah has blessed him abundantly and says He will bless him until he is pleased. The flow of blessings is continuous. The Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) does not need our blessings. Allah has asked us to bless him in order to benefit us, and not the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) in any way.

Intellectual approach and Spiritual approach

Remember to follow the Qur’aan and Sunnah is an intellectual approach to the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) but to send durood or Salaam is a spiritual approach that is contained in this Spiritual exercise that Allah commands. 

In Sura Jumu`ah 62 Verse 3 Allah describes the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) as the spiritual medium through whom divine grace flows, and the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) will teach and purify those who will be born later.

(He will) confer benefit upon those who will come later

Therefore, Zikrullah is to cultivate the intense love for Allah and Salaam is to absorb the divine blessings through the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)‘s spiritual personality.  Contact with the blessings placed by Allah in the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) ‘s personality is obtained by following his Sunnah for moral purity and Salaat-us-Salaam for spiritual purity.

The Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) hears the recitation

The Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “Recite DUROOD SHARIF on Friday and in the night between Thursday and Friday excessively, because on the rest of the days (of a week), the Angels keep conveying to me your DUROOD SHARIF in my favour but (the individuals) who recite DUROOD SHARIF on Friday and (during) the night between Thursday and Friday I hear such Being’s DUROOD SHARIF by my own self (without any Angel being in-between)”. (Nuzhatul Majalis). It is also reported in Dalail-ul Khairaat that, “I myself hear the salaam of one who reads it with love”

The source of illumination and blessings

Hazrath Abu Bakr (Radiallahu anhu) has been reported to have said[2]:’ Invoking blessing on the Prophet is more effective for washing away sins than cold water is for extinguishing fire. It is the source of illumination and blessings and the key to the doors of all-good fortune and bliss. Many Spiritual Guides who were very particular in this regard have been blessed with high rewards from Allah. Some of these guides have said: When there is no perfect guide (Murshid e Kamil) available to guide him one should make it incumbent on himself to invoke blessings on the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). This is the method by which a seeker attains union with Allah. (Waasil ba Haq).  This turning to the Prophet and salaat-o- salaam will be the best guide to acquire the noble manners and customs of the Prophet, and attain the highest perfection and nearness to Allah. It will also win him the nearness of the prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). (Madarrijun Nabuwah.). Whoever invokes blessing on the Prophet extensively is blessed with the Prophets love and association, and will be blessed with the vision of the prophet both in waking and in a dream. (Sheikh Imam Ali Mutaqqi’s Dawatul Kabir.)

Benefits

When one reads Durood one speaks with Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He).  Allah forgives ten sins, raises the status ten folds and He gives ten virtues.  Therefore, Durood builds status whilst in Salaam one speaks to the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and it builds relationship.  Salaam is also Sunnat-e-ilahi (practice of Allah) whilst all Farz Ibadat is Sunnat-e-Rasul (practice of the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).

When one says ‘Ya Nabi’ one wants to see him to follow the command “ Say. My Beloved! If you (Muslims) want to become Allah’s beloved then follow me with love”[3]This is following with seeing.  During his physical presence all saw him but one needs a spiritual exercise to see him in his spiritual presence, hence, Salaam is prescribed.  Sheikh Abul Abbas Marsi (Rahmatullahi-alaihi), the Sheikh of the compiler of Qasida Burda, Imam Bosiri (Rahmatullahi alaihi) one of the great Aulia says “ Low hujbi anni Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) tar fattu ainin ma additu nafsi min zumratil muslimeen “ “ My state is such that if I don’t see the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) even for a blink of the eye I do not consider myself a Muslim. “

Standing

Seventy thousand angels come every morning and seventy thousand come every night to the green dome of Madinah to obtain light from the source of all light and a new seventy thousand come daily [4], those who have come already will stand in the queue never to return.  Is this something ordinary?  The word ‘Malai ikatuhu ‘ stands for all angels in totality in the verse of the Qur’aan; even those that are standing all the time send Salaam so standing is not only respect but also a Sunnat of angels.

Sheikh Abd al-Qadir Jilani (Rahmatullahi alaihi) says[5] it is a mark of respect to stand up for a just leader, for ones parents, for pious people and for the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) .It is reported that when the leader of the tribe of Quraiza, Saad (Radiallahu anhu) came riding on a white donkey, the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:’ Stand up, all of you, in honour of your chief.’

Hazrath Aisha (Radiallahu anha) reports: “Whenever the Prophet went to see his daughter Fatimah (Radiallahu anha), she would stand in respect. Then she would kiss his hand and make him sit on her seat. And whenever she used to visit the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) he would stand up in her honour, kiss her hand and make her sit in his own place.”

This incident shows that it is a practice of Fatimah (Radiallahu anha) and a Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) to stand and show respect.

Sura al-Mujadila 58 Verse 11

 "…When you are told to stand (in Assemblies) stand. Allah will rise your rank…"

 Irshad Soofi

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