07.02.09
True Love Leads to True Value
Once, a beggar came to Hazrat Nizamuddin Awliyaa (RA) asking for some financial assistance. The Shaykh replied, “I will give you whatever I receive today.” It just so happened that the Shaykh had received nothing on that day. The Shaykh then told him, “Whatever I get tomorrow will be given to you.” The next day, too, the Shaykh had nothing. So, the Shaykh then gave his shoes to the beggar.
Amir Khusro (RA), who was a student of the Shaykh, was accompanying the king when he saw the beggar somewhere on a journey. Amir Khusro (RA) noticed that the beggar was extremely happy. He asked the beggar, “Where are you coming from?” He replied, “I am coming from Dehli.” Amir Khusro (RA) then asked about his Shaykh. The beggar informed him that the Shaykh was doing well. Amir Khusro (RA) told the beggar, “I sense some fragrant smell coming from you. Did the Shaykh give you something?” The beggar replied, “I have the Shaykh’s shoes. He had given them to me out his extreme kindness.”
Amir Khusro (RA) then asked the beggar, “Would you like to sell the shoes?” The beggar replied, “I had intended to sell the shoes so that I can acquire some money.” The beggar knew how much reverence Amir Khusro (RA) had for his Shaykh. The beggar then told Amir Khusro (RA) that he would sell the shoes for 500,000 rupees.
Amir Khusro (RA) happily paid the price for the shoes. Placing the shoes with the utmost care by him, he set off for Dehli to visit his Shaykh. Sultan al Mashaaikh, Hazrat Nizamuddin (RA) saw him approaching with the shoes and commented, “Khusro! You have bought those shoes for a cheap price.” Amir Khusro (RA) replied, “Hazrat, I only paid the price the beggar asked for; otherwise, I was prepared to give all of my wealth for these shoes.”
Subhaanallah! It is indeed intriguing to see the level of love Amir Khusro (RA) had for his shaykh. The pious of the past had value for the shoes of their shaykhs. Today, we don’t have value for our shaykhs, let alone their shoes. We overlook their feelings, likes and dislikes. We disrespect them and do not even realize it.
We pray to Allah that He grant us the ability to truly appreciate our shaykhs and to value them the way they deserved to be valued and appreciated.
06.23.09
Hate Disbelief, Not the Disbeliever!
Hazratwala (DB) said:
“Mawlana Qasim Nanotwi (RA) once saw a Hindu street-cleaner that he knew, taking a stroll in Jannah in his dream. He asked him in the dream,
“O Lala Jee, how have you entered Jannah?”
The Hindu man answered, “At the time of death, I uttered that phrase…”
Notice that he is referring to the kalimah as “that phrase” due to the fact that for a Hindu, the kalimah is a phrase that must never be mentioned. But Allah granted him the tawfeeq of uttering it before his death. His whole life he had been worshipping idols and statues, but in the end, he was blessed with imaan.
This is the why having hatred in the heart for a disbeliever is haraam. Because we do not know what a person’s end will be upon.
Mawlana Rumi (RA) said,
Do not ever look at any disbeliever with hate,
Because there is still hope for him to become a believer!
Do not consider any disbeliever as low and inferior. Do not look at him with the eye of scorn. It might be that his end has been written to be amongst the believers. And in relation to oneself one should always meditate on the fact that it could possibly be that my end might be upon disbelief. We pray that Allah save us all and allow us to pass away in a state of imaan.
Hayat-e-Taqwa; pg. 24
Translator’s Note:
One of the most deadly spiritual diseases is the disease of kibr (looking down upon others and rejection of truth). Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Anyone who has an atom’s weight of kibr in his heart will not enter Jannah.”
Pondering deeply over the above mentioned utterance of Hazratwala is an excellent antidote to this deadly disease. May Allah Ta`ala save us from all spiritual diseases.
02.04.09
A Short While with the Friends of Allah
Hazrat Maulana Abrar ul Haq Sahib (RA)
Hazrat said:
“Continue benefiting from the company of the pious; friends of Allah; the Ahlullah and Saleheen. Nowadays there is a widespread misunderstanding in regards to the company of pious people. We have the notion that short visitations and just meeting them is not so beneficial. People think that gaining spiritual benefits from the Ahlullah are restricted to attending their long lectures and formal gatherings. Whereas the reality of the matter is that even simply meeting them is spiritually beneficial and uplifting. The reflection of the light in the hearts of the Ahlullah manifests itself upon those who are present around them.
Those people who have spiritual perception can sense this benefit, not only in meeting the people of Allah, but they experience benefit even in a single glance of the Ahlullah. Take a physical example to understand this point. If a person does not feel the heat or cold of another’s hand at the time of shaking hands, then we say that this person’s hand has become paralyzed. We benefit from electricity through the light that emanates from a light bulb and the cool air given off by the fan even though they utter no words. We benefit from the beautiful fragrance of the flower even though it does not speak. Likewise, the company of the righteous servants of Allah is beneficial even if they may not speak and give long lectures and advices.
One person who had a temper problem came to Hazrat Thanwi (RA) and complained of his condition. Hazrat Thanwi (RA) replied to him that he should daily sit for a while in the company of Mawlana Muhammad Hasan Sahib. So this person did as prescribed and would sit in Mawlana Muhammad Hasan’s shop for a short while every day. After some time he wrote back to Hazrat Thanwi that his temper problem had dramatically decreased from what it used to be.
So what was the mystery behind this? It was the fact that Mawlana Muhammad Hasan Sahib was an incredibly patient and forbearing person in disposition and the reflection of this inner quality manifested itself upon that man. Slowly, slowly the condition of his heart began to change due to this accompaniment. Mawlana Sahib did not give any lengthy talks regarding patience and forbearance. From this we clearly see that accompaniment of the righteous servants of Allah is beneficial even without the lectures and talks. For this reason there should definitely be visitations and meetings with the Ahlullah even if it might for a short while.
(Majalis-e-Abrar; 433)
12.05.08
It is Difficult to Become a HumanBeing
Hazrat Hakim-ul-Ummah Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) said, “Nowadays people have their priorities mixed up. They consider the unnecessary to be necessary, and the necessary to be unnecessary. Likewise, in the matter of bay’ah people consider it to be in the status of a fardh or wajib thus they go to extremes to become bay’ah and become a ‘buzurg’ (saint).
But my occupation and effort is totally focused on making humans. [Here, Hazrat Thanwi is referring to the 'perfected human', who is adorned with righteous character and purified of evil characteristics].
Attainment of greatness and ‘buzurgi’ (sainthood) is very easy because this is not our department of work; it is actually related to the Lofty and Sublime power of Allah Ta’ala. We are slaves and are incapable of granting ‘greatness’ to anyone. The one, whom He wishes to elevate and grant status to, shall be granted ‘buzurgi’.
But as far becoming a true ‘human’, this is something related to us mortal beings and thus it is a very difficult thing to acquire. One poet said,
You became a shaykh, and an ascetic,
But unfortunately you failed to become a Muslim
In my opinion, to say: ‘you failed to become a Muslim’ is a bit harsh, so I modified the couplet in this manner,
You became a shaykh, and an ascetic,
But unfortunately you failed to become a true human being
Now it sounds better.
Maulana Jalaluddeen Rumi (rahimahullah) said,
The fact that you are made up flesh and bone, is not what makes you human,
Your being ‘human’ is determined by attainment of the pleasure of Allah.
(Malfuzat-e-Hakimul-Ummah; 7/201-202)
NOTE: May Allah Ta’ala enlighten Hazrat Thanwi’s grave with light! In his writings, Hazrat always reminds us to focus on our priorities on this path and saves us from falling into misunderstandings and misconceptions. This is also a great reminder for us that the purpose of tasawwuf and sulook is nothing but rectification of character and purification of the soul. The priceless gem of nisbah ma’ Allah (the connection with Allah) can never be acquired without it.
06.14.08
Good Akhlaaq
Allah Ta’ala has said:
“Most certainly, you (O Muhammad!) have been created on a great character.”
Below is a list of praiseworthy chracteristics and attributes that all Muslims should try to adopt:
1. To believe oneself to be the most inferior. Its’ opposite is takabbur (pride).
2. Kindness to creation and to tolerate the difficulties and inconveniences they cause one.
3. Tenderness and cheerfulness and to abandon anger.
4. Sympathy for others and to give preference to them. This implies priority to the rights of others over one’s pleasures.
5. To be generous.
6. To overlook the wrongs of others and to forgive them.
7. To abstain from pretence.
8. To spend in moderation, without being miserly or wasteful.
9. To have trust in Allah.
10. To be contented with little worldly possessions.
11. To adopt piety.
12. To refrain from arguing, quarreling and being wrathful except for the truth.
13. To abstain from malice and envy.
14. To abstain from the desire of respect and fame.
15. To fulfill promises.
16. To be tolerant, far-sighted and supportive of brothers.
17. Gratitude to the benefactor.
18. To sacrifice reputation for the sake of Muslims.
- Mashaakih e Chist; pgs. 255-256
