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Extracts from THE MAJLIS Volume 12, Issue number 11. As time permits, more
articles will be added, Insha'Allah.
IMAAN
BETWEEN HOPE AND FEAR
The
renowned Buzrug, Hadhrat Sufyaan Thauri (rahmatullah alayh) had become
hunched-back at a young age. People would ask him for the reason of his
bent-back. Since he was always in a state of Istighraaq (contemplation and lost
in concern) he would not reply. One day when his close associates pressed him
for an answer, he said:
"I
had three Ustaadhs from whom I had acquired knowledge. One died a Jew, one
died a Christian and one died a fire worshipper. When I saw this, fear bent my
back.”
Explaining the state of one of these Ustaadh, Hadhrat
Sufyaan Thauri (rahmatullah alayh) said:
"One
of my Ustaadh from whom I had gained knowledge and whom I had served was on
his deathbed. I was sitting in his presence during this state when he suddenly
opened his eyes and said:
“O
Sufyaan, do you see what is being done to me? I have taught and called
people to Allah for the past fifty years. Now I have being told that I am
unfit and there is no need for me. I am being shunned.”
Sufyaan continues:
"I
instructed him to read the Kalimah, but he refused. And said: “When I desire
to recite the Kalimah a wall of fire rushes at me.” Thus he died without
reciting the Kalimah. When I observed this and realised the total independence
of Allah Ta’ala, fear bent my back.”
May Allah Ta’ala grant us all Imaan and a beautiful
Maut, Aameen.
SHUKR
HADHRAT ISAA (ALAYHIS SALAAM) passed by a blind man whose body was
rotting with leprosy. The leper was saying: "I express my gratitude (Shukr)
to Allah Who has saved me from many diseases afflicting others". Hadhrat
lsaa (alayhis salaam) asked him:
'Tell me which calamity do you not suffer
from?" The leper replied: "O Roohullaah. I am better than the person
whose heart is devoid of Ma'rifat which Allah Ta'ala has bestowed to me.
Hadhrat lsaa (alayhis salaam) said: "You
have spoken the truth. Give me your hand." The moment Hadhrat Isaa (alayhis
salaam) held the leper's hand, immediately he was cured of all his ailments. The
cured leper spent the rest of his days thereafter in the company of Hadhrat Isaa
(alayhis salaam).
MUJAAHADAH
ONCE SOMEONE ASKED Hadhrat Bayazid Bustaanii
(rahmatullah alayh) to describe the Mushaahadah of Allah which he experiences
Hadhrat Bayazid let out a scream and said. "It is not befitting for you to
know this (because of your inability to comprehend)." He was then asked:
"Describe the severest mujaahadah (struggle against the nafs) which you had
engaged in against your nafs." He replied: "It is not permissible to
apprize you of it." The enquirer then said: "At least tell us of the
mujaahadah in the very initial stage when you entered this path (of
Tasawwuf)." Bayazid said: "Yes, this I shall tell you. I invited my
nafs towards Allah Ta'ala. It rebelled. I then imposed on it the punishment of
abstaining from drinking water for one year and from refraining from sleep for
one year.
This was his mujaahadah in the initial stage.
From this, one can imagine the severity of the struggles of the Auliya against
their nafs in their desire to gain the Proximity of Allah Ta 'ala.
THIKR
OF ALLAH
“Whenever people sit to engage in the thikr
of Allah, the Malaaikah settle over them and the Rahmat of Allah enshrouds
them. Peace settles over them and Allah mentions them to
those (Angels) by Him.”
(Hadith - Muslim Shareef)
The simplest form of ibaadat is the Thikr of
Allah Ta’ala. Thikr does not require any particular time or venue. At all
times and in all conditions and circumstances, thikr is valid. When the servant
engages in thikr the Angels of Mercy accompany him and Allah's special mercies
descend on him. On the contrary when he becomes forgetful of the thikr of Allah,
shaitaan become his constant companion as long as his forgetfulness endures. As
soon as be remembers and engages in thikr, shaitaan flees.
"The best Sadqah (charity) is what the poor man gives
out of his little earnings."
(Hadith)
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