Tag: Spirituality

Lockdown – One Man’s Blessing is Another Man’s Curse

On By splendidpearlsIn Contemporary Wrongs, Tasawwuf (Spirituality)Leave a comment
Some are looking forward to Ramadan this year. It will give them time to be secluded and just focus on their worship. But it may even turn out that they were unable to carry out their spiritual plans because of too many distractions at home.

Some may not be looking forward to it as they are “secluded” with their wife and kids; praying for someone to save them. But then they may be amongst those who wished that they had spent more time with their families.

Some are enjoying the lockdown as they are able to work-from-home. Others have been made redundant or their profession doesn’t allow them to WFH.

Some are well-off, others are not. Some are healthy while others are not. Some will live on and others may not… What may be a blessing to us, may be a curse to another.

Everything, whether good or bad, blessing or “curse” is from Allah. All that we are expected to do is be content with His Decree by showing gratitude to Him for His blessings and be patient during calamitous times. By complaining and looking at what others have and wishing we had that, too, is just an unhealthy and shortsighted way of looking at things.

What they have is chosen for them by Allah; as it has been chosen by Him for us. If they are showing gratitude for something we find difficult to deal with and have to be patient with, then there is no need to get annoyed that we are not the centre of the universe.

It’s about Him, not us.

Imams of Fiqh and Sufis Aiding Their Followers in The Afterlife

On By splendidpearlsIn Seeking Islamic Knowledge, Tasawwuf (Spirituality)Leave a comment

Imam Abdul Wahhab ash-Sha’rani says:

We have mentioned in Kitab al-Ajwibah on the authority of the Imams of the fuqaha (jurists) and the sufis that all the Imams of the fuqaha and sufis  will intercede for their followers. They (their followers) will witness the presence of each of them at the moment their soul leaves their body, at the point they are questioned by Munkar and Nakir (in the grave), when they are resurrected, when they are gathered, when they are brought to account, when their actions are weighed on the scale, and when they come to the bridge (Sirat). The Imams of the fuqaha and the sufis will not abandon them (their followers) at any stage in the stages of the afterlife.

When our Shaykh, Shaykhul-Islam, Nasir-ud-Din al-Laqqani passed away, one of the righteous people saw him in a dream and this righteous person said to him: “What has Allah done with you?” He replied: ‘When the two angels sat me up in the grave in order to ask me questions, Imam Malik came to them and said, “Does someone like him require his Iman (belief) in Allah and His Messenger ﷺ to be questioned?” Then the two angels moved away from him (Imam Malik) and moved away form me.’

If the scholars of the sufis take care of their followers and mureeds in all of their affairs and difficulties in this world and the afterlife, then how will it be with the Imams of the four schools of thought who are Awtad on the Earth, the pillars of the religion, the trustees of the Lawgiver (who are responsible) for His nation? May Allah be pleased with them all.

So, my brother, gladly follow any Imam from amongst them as you wish—all Praise belongs to Allah.

[Abdul Wahhab ash-Sha’rani, Al-Mizan al-Kubra. Tr. Mohammad Jamili]

 

 

The Saint who asked for Hell

On By splendidpearlsIn Tasawwuf (Spirituality)Leave a comment

Ja’far Khuldi has said:

“Once Shaykh Abul Hasan Nuri was making the following supplication and I overheard him.

‘O My Lord! If you have to fill Your hell with human beings whom You have created by Your knowledge, power and love, then make me large enough to fill the entire hell so that everybody else goes to Paradise.’

I was amazed to hear this and dreamt the same night that I should go and tell Abul Hassan Nuri that Allah Almighty had forgiven him for the kindness and love he had for mankind.”

In short, self-sacrifice is the keynote of Nuri’s doctrine, which is regarded as the noblest state and the highest success in the eyes of the people of spiritual insight (Ahl al-Basirah). This is because nothing is more difficult in the world than sacrificing one’s life and surrendering the objects of one’s desire. Allah Almighty has said:

“None of you [believers] will attain true piety unless you give out of what you cherish: whatever you give, Good knows about it very well.” [Surah Aali-‘Imran 3:92]

How can giving away of wealth, health, food and garments bear comparison with sacrificing one’s life?

Taken from: Al-Hajweri, Kashful Mahjūb.
Featured Image: @Masrawi