Take one step
away from yourself
and behold!
the path awaiting
to lead you to a secret Oasis!
Welcome to the new series, In Quest of My Oasis at Inspirations and Creative Thoughts. This hopefully will turn out to be short dialogues with seekers & lovers of Sufi path. The Mystic Master Prophet Muhammad said, "at-turuqu ila 'Llahi ka-nufusi bani Adam", 'the ways to God are as numerous as the human souls'. The Quran states in the verse 2:148, "And for everyone there is a direction towards which one turn." The reason it is titled as 'My Oasis' because this will be, God willing, about inspiring personal, individual journey to the Goal.
An oasis is a lush green garden in a desert or wasteland. Here Oasis symbolizes both the sufi journey and the path. In the arid desert the oasis carries the water of life, spring gushes up from the heart of the earth that delights the soul. Rumi has hints for us:
Search, no matter what situation you are in.
O thirsty one, search for water constantly.
Finally, the time will come when you will reach
the spring.
In this series we wish to engage with contemporary seekers who are drawn to that Quest. We hope to know them, connect with them, share their beautiful journey in the spirit of what sufis call Sohbet. The first episode of In Quest of My Oasis is blessed by the presence of Amatullah Jyly Armstrong, may Beloved's graceful glace be upon her heart. Amatullah presently resides in South Africa and she frequents Zawiya Ebrahim for her access to the Oasis.
An oasis is a lush green garden in a desert or wasteland. Here Oasis symbolizes both the sufi journey and the path. In the arid desert the oasis carries the water of life, spring gushes up from the heart of the earth that delights the soul. Rumi has hints for us:
Search, no matter what situation you are in.
O thirsty one, search for water constantly.
Finally, the time will come when you will reach
the spring.
In this series we wish to engage with contemporary seekers who are drawn to that Quest. We hope to know them, connect with them, share their beautiful journey in the spirit of what sufis call Sohbet. The first episode of In Quest of My Oasis is blessed by the presence of Amatullah Jyly Armstrong, may Beloved's graceful glace be upon her heart. Amatullah presently resides in South Africa and she frequents Zawiya Ebrahim for her access to the Oasis.
Even though it’s the most illusive question for this human existence and its journey, but let us do Bismillah with this question. Who is Amatullah J. Armstrong?
Good question!! I don’t know who she is!
However, a nutshell version of who Amatullah J Armstrong is. I am Australian. Born in Sydney into a Christian family. Normal childhood, sprinkled with a dash of the poetry of Omar Khayyam whom my father always recited and loved: a lasting influence on me although it lay dormant for many years. Immersed in the hippie generation of the 60s and 70s. Trained as an Art Teacher. Married an artist, lived on our farm in northern NSW, Australia and then started travelling throughout the world, living for several years in France. Studied yoga, Zen, Essene practices. In 1981 undertook a monumental 5000km bicycle journey from Paris to Tunisia, where I initially encountered Islam. After two years of intense research into Islam and Sufism I embraced Islam in the Sahara Desert in Algeria. Entered my first Sufi tariqa in 1990 – a branch of Shadhiliyya. Wrote several books on my personal experience of the Sufi journey. Performed Haj in 1997. Lived in Pakistan 1998-2008, where I connected to Chishti tariqa. Came to live at Zawia Ebrahim in South Africa in 2008. Connected to Shadhiliyya/Darqawi tariqa through Shaykh Ebrahim Schuitema.
That is a tiny nutshell version!Tell us how you began your journey in sufi path and the circumstance of how you met your Shaykh?
During the years of study prior to embracing Islam I was drawn to Sufism. It was the writings of the Sufi Masters that inspired me to delve deeply into the inner realm of Islam. Soon after becoming Muslim I met the man who was destined to be first Shaykh five years later. I was his murid from 1990 till 1998. In 2002 in Pakistan I connected to a Chishti Shaykh who passed away in 2005. Then, in 2008 I met Shaykh Ebrahim when he was visiting Karachi. He invited me to come to Zawia Ebrahim in South Africa. I have found my true Shaykh.
Each moment is a gift, each moment is an unfolding of new, fresh experiences – the greatest gift is to know this within one’s own heart and to truly be able to “be in the now” and “live in the moment”. Because NOW is all we have. And if we can’t be in a state of amazement and awe in the moment then we have totally missed the essence of life. In actual fact, we are miraculous beings walking through THE MIRACULOUS! But generally we have our eyes closed! The greatest gift is to be in awe of the miraculous in each moment.Once someone is attracted to Islamic Spirituality, what advice would you give to westerners who due to language, cultural differences have a hard time diving deep into it? What role a living Murshid or Sufi Master can play in this regard?
Firstly, one must differentiate between culture and Deen (the sacred way of life). There is much confusion over these distinctly different realms. One can delve deeply into Tasawwuf (Sufism) without ever knowing even one sufic term. Tasawwuf is concerned with the spiritual development of the human being. It is not cultural. It is not Arab or Pakistani or Turkish or Moroccan or whatever. Tasawwuf, in its essence, addresses the very core of being human. So, I would advise people who are attracted to the spiritual path to take one step at a time. To only do those things which enhance the sense of connectedness with the Divine. Not to overload oneself with rituals and place burdens upon oneself. The path is to bring one closer to Allah, to open the way to awe and love. It is not burdensome at all. Yet, so many people fall into the trap of thinking the path is all about rigidity and sitting for hours on end doing spiritual practices. It is not.
A living Sufi Master, man or woman, is important. But one must be aware that at this time there are many fake Sufi masters masquerading as true Shaykhs. A true Shaykh is not necessarily an “iconic” figure. I believe the time of “iconic” Shaykhs has passed. If one can benefit from the teaching and advice of a Shaykh then one should stay connected to that Shaykh. However, if one feels that there is no longer benefit in the relationship it is best to move-on. And don’t be mislead by cultural embellishments such as long robes and flowing beards, turbans and veils etc. A Sufi Master can be walking around in a three piece suit or in jeans. A Sufi Master does not necessarily live in his ivory tower dispensing wisdom. He can be involved in the doings of this world. In fact, it is desirable to have a Master who is involved with every day life, living side by side with people of all beliefs, classes, races. When you encounter a Sufi Master who does not allow himself to be put on a pedestal and be served, but actually serves the other, you can know that this is a true Sufi Shaykh.
A living Sufi Master, man or woman, is important. But one must be aware that at this time there are many fake Sufi masters masquerading as true Shaykhs. A true Shaykh is not necessarily an “iconic” figure. I believe the time of “iconic” Shaykhs has passed. If one can benefit from the teaching and advice of a Shaykh then one should stay connected to that Shaykh. However, if one feels that there is no longer benefit in the relationship it is best to move-on. And don’t be mislead by cultural embellishments such as long robes and flowing beards, turbans and veils etc. A Sufi Master can be walking around in a three piece suit or in jeans. A Sufi Master does not necessarily live in his ivory tower dispensing wisdom. He can be involved in the doings of this world. In fact, it is desirable to have a Master who is involved with every day life, living side by side with people of all beliefs, classes, races. When you encounter a Sufi Master who does not allow himself to be put on a pedestal and be served, but actually serves the other, you can know that this is a true Sufi Shaykh.
What’s your favourite and frequently practiced sufi practice?
There are many sufi practices, each tariqa having it’s own specific forms of dhikr, meditation etc. In the Darqawi we practice the Wird (dhikr) every day, we meditate every day and once a week we gather for Hadra. And we have khalwa or spiritual retreat, which certain murids undertake for specific periods of time, sitting for days in isolation to meditate. And perhaps khalwa is my favourite practice, when all agendas are shut down and one goes inwards to enter a state of connectedness.
Guest Photo Credit: Amatullah J. Armstrong
# Connections:
. Connect with Amatullah via Facebook
. Introducing Zawia Ebrahim via Youtube
. The Zawia Ebrahim Media page
. Zawia Ebrahim Facebook Group
. Afia's Blog also featured Amatullah as The Mystic from Pakpattan
. Connect with Amatullah via Facebook
. Introducing Zawia Ebrahim via Youtube
. The Zawia Ebrahim Media page
. Zawia Ebrahim Facebook Group
. Afia's Blog also featured Amatullah as The Mystic from Pakpattan
# Previous Sohbets:
With Reb Zalman Scachter Shalomi
. On Mystic Experience and Mysticism for New Humanity
. Why Renewal is Necessary
With Stewart Bitkoff
. On Traveling the Sufi Path
. On Mysticism and Mystery School
With Denise Sati
. Painting with a Sufi Master, Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
22 comments:
Bimillah irRahaman irRahim.....
an great way to start the 15th day of ramadan by reading the Sohbet with shieykha Amatullah, reading it was like giving an much needed boost to wavering mind...
And we are guided by their footprints.
QUR’ÅN
Do not take a step
on the path of love without a guide.
I have tried it
one hundred times and failed.
HÂFIZ
In the beginning you must do two things. One is
journeying and the other is you must take a master.
ABÛ‘L-HASAN ‘ALÎ AL-KHARAQÂNÎ
The Sufis say that you need a
teacher as a guide on the mystical
path. The teacher is someone who
is surrendered to God and is able
to help the wayfarer make the
transition from the ego to the Self.
In surrendering to the teacher, fanâ fî’l Sheikh, the disciple learns to surrender to God, fanâ fî’llâh.
All credit and Source to : TRAVELLING
THE PATH OF LOVE By Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee.
May Awliyas of Allah (swt) continue to guide us from their respective stations...
It was really beautiful reading about Amatullah's journey. Thank you for sharing.
“Yet, so many people fall into the trap of thinking the path is all about rigidity and sitting for hours on end doing spiritual practices”. And don’t be mislead by cultural embellishments such as long robes and flowing beards, turbans and veils etc. A Sufi Master can be walking around in a three piece suit or in jeans”.
I have to say that inner and outer are both important. Allah is Zahir and Batin. What good is a God how hides Himself? Some put too much emphasis on the inner and not enough on the outer. Those who do put much emphasis on the inner lack discipline to engage in the outer. They don’t walk the talk. They preach too much and practice little. The outer and inner are complimentary. They are both important on the Path. When someone talks too much about the inner, it sounds to me a lot of theory and not enough practice. Theory is important but so is practice. You can not exclude the outer from inner and vice versa. One needs to find balance. We have too many Sheikhs/Sheikhas who are great theoreticians but poor practitioners on the Path. I prefer the bare feet sufis to the three piece suits sufis. Lack of discipline leads to this too much talk about the inner. To reach the Throne of God, you need commitment, discipline, and obedience to the One.
“One can delve deeply into Tasawwuf (Sufism) without ever knowing even one sufic term”.
Tasawwuf is the fruit from Islam. Tasawwuf is one branch of Islam. To understand and to benefit from Tasawwuf, you must know its roots. You can not separate the two.
“….there have been some tendencies, gleefully picked up and blown out of all proportion by some Western observers, to belittle or discard the outward forms-the creed, the rites, the code; but they also have been few and exceptional. Those who claim “spiritual sovereignty over the logical and ritual forms of religion (Cragg: The Mind of the Qur’an, p. 180), or who would ‘repudiate pilgrimage as an unnecessary rite, when he was himself a better Ka’bah. Or…could readily identify the meticulous worshipper in this Salat as no better than an idolator clinging to the invisible and imprisoned in the tangible’ (Cragg., p. 168), were never part of the mainsream. They and those who, like Abu Said ibn Abi al-Khayr, could say:
“Not until every mosque beneath the sun
Lies ruined, will our holy work be done;
And never will true Musalman appear
Till faith and infidelity are one.”
(R.A. Nicholson, The Mystics of Islam, p. 90)
did not echo the voice of the overwhelming majority of the Sufis. Indeed almost all the leading Sufis-like Abdul Qadir Jilani, Shahabuddin Suhrawardi, Abu Ahamd Chishti, Ahmad Sirhindi – emphatically stressed the absolute need of observing the ‘outward’: without obedience one cannot get near to Allah.
…The Law without the Truth, says Hujwiri, is ostentation and the Truth without the Law is hypocrisy. Their mutual relation may be compared to that of body and spirit: when the spirit departs from the body, the living body becomes a corpse, and the spirit vanishes like the wind”. The Moslem profession of faith includes both: words, ‘there is no god but Allah’ are the Truth, and the words, ‘Mohammad is the apostle of Allah’, are the Law; anyone who denies the truth is an infidel, and anyone who rejects the law is a heretic”. (Nicholson, pp. 92-3). No other words can so succinctly sum up the mutual relation of the ‘inward’ and ‘outward’”
(From: Al Ghazali’s Inner Dimensions of Islamic Worship, translated by Muhtar Holland, The Islamic Foundation, Copyright 1983, pp. 10-11).
Tahir
USA
Dear Sadiq,
Thank you for this post about Amatullah Armstrong's journey! It is most inspiring, particularly for those of us who have come to Islamic sufism from a non-Islamic culture.
We live, in the west, in a culture based upon personality, as well as a fundamental assumption that what is of value can be bought. This all serves, in my opinion, as a sort of "guardian of the threshold" through which sincere seekers must pass to attain the real gold.
It is thus a valid point, indeed, in my opinion, that one must watch out for what I call "look at me" behavior, i.e., talking or dressing like a "sufi." One can chew up whole lifetimes chasing after things which may be nothing but merely cultural trappings.
Just a few thoughts.
Kindest wishes,
mo'in
"""It is thus a valid point, indeed, in my opinion, that one must watch out for what I call "look at me" behavior, i.e., talking or dressing like a "sufi. One can chew up whole lifetimes chasing after things which may be nothing but merely cultural trappings." """
Mo'in Mashallah
Thank you for this wonderful interview. I am loving this longer version of my fav song " long road".
Have you heard anything by Ustad fateh ali khan, father of Nusrat. He is amazing.
can you please add few songs of " shafqat ali khan" from tilted cap album. I heard his songs on your site before. But did not downloaded those.
I cant find his songs anywhere else .
Allah Hafez
Salaam Sadiq Bhai:
What a wonderful sohbet with Sister Amatullah :) I look forward to reading many more such sohbets, inshallah :)
Ya Haqq!
Dear Sadiq,
Thank you for sharing this insightful interview with Amatullah Armstrong. It fully resonates with my own understanding. “The greatest gift is to be in awe of the miraculous in each moment”.
And each present moment is so tiny, so small that it has no space in it for any dualistic division. Inner and outer are not two, how can they be when Allah is one!
“Tasawwuf, in its essence, addresses the very core of being human. So, I would advise people who are attracted to the spiritual path to take one step at a time. To only do those things which enhance the sense of connectedness with the Divine. Not to overload oneself with rituals and place burdens upon oneself. The path is to bring one closer to Allah, to open the way to awe and love. It is not burdensome at all. Yet, so many people fall into the trap of thinking the path is all about rigidity and sitting for hours on end doing spiritual practices. It is not.”
This is it – all is about the very core of human being, not in following external rituals and “religious” showiness.
Dear Aliya,
Since most of you are committed to inner instead of both: the inner and the outer, I guess all of you would like to do away with the outer. Some of you call the outer “showiness” or “"look at me" behavior, i.e., talking or dressing like a "sufi”. All of you are not much different from people who put excessive emphasis on the outer. You are their opposites. Your excessive emphasis on the inner to complete exclusion of the outer in itself is dogmatic and “showiness”. Since all of you are so focused on the inner, I would like a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer to the following.
Is Allah Zahir and Batin or only Batin? Yes or No?
Five daily prayers of Islam would fall under your definition of outer and “showiness”. It should be abolished. Yes or No?
The ritual bath and the ablution before the prayers are mere rituals. It should be abolished. Yes or No?
Under your definition of outer and “showiness”, the annual Hajj is the greatest “showiness” show on earth. It should be abolished. Yes or No?
Slaughtering of animals during the hajj is outer, rituals, “showiness” and is cruelty to animals so it should be abolished. Yes or No?
The dress for hajj is also represents rituals, “merely cultural trappings”, and “showiness” so it should be abolished instead be replaced with three piece suites for men from top designers in the West and women will only allowed to wear skirts that are above the knees. If the hajj occurs during hotter months, men will wear shorts only and women will wear bikinis (they can go topless since this will show equality with men). This dress code be quiet an improvement since it will give everyone an opportunity to express their individuality. This will be complete repudiation of codes, dogmas, rituals, “merely cultural trappings”, and “showiness”. After all, the outer does not matter because we are going to the hajj because of our inner belief. Yes or No?
Please don’t beat around the bush but answer “Yes” or “No” to the above. If any of your sheikhs/sheikhas answer yes to any of the above, I would say he/she is not one of us. I would not consider them not even a friend but an enemy of Islam and Sufism who are working within as a fifth column to dismantle Islam and Sufism as I know it. It is true. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. These sheikhs/sheikhas are taking their followers straight to hell with their emphasis on the inner to the complete exclusion of the outer.
People who are lazy they talk a lot about the inner. It is like a guy who wants to build muscle and reads books about body building, watches exercise videos, and goes to seminars to learn more about the special techniques, but he never goes to the gym or starts exercising to put his knowledge into practice (the outer).
Since the post is too long, I have broken it into three parts. Please see the next post.
Tahir
USA
It is like a woman who wants to diet. She reads books, watches videos, and attends special seminars on successful dieting, but never commits herself to one diet (outer) and sticks to it.
I say to you: Allah is Zahir and Batin. There is place in your search for the outer and inner. If there was no need for the outer, Allah would have never called Himself
Zahir (outer). There is a message for men/women of understanding in God’s names of Zahir and Batin. Ya-Zahir, Ya-Batin.
Further, everything has price. There is a price on this path too. What is the price? It is: Commitment, Discipline, Obedience or the 3cs (Commitment, Communication, and Contentment). Allah promises this: As for those who strive in Us, surely We will guide them to Our paths; And verily Allah is with those who excel. (Quran 29:69) (1). You can fanâ fî’l Sheikh or fanâ fî’llâh. The Choice is yours. I say fire your sheikh and surrender to Allah (fana fi’llah).
The Sufi of Sufis, the Sheik of Sheikhs, etc. prayed also the below.
“O Allah, I beg You for the good: its beginnings and endings, its most comprehensive forms, its first and its last, and its outward and inward manifestations. O Allah, I beg You for the good of my accomplishments, my deeds, and my actions. The good of that which is hidden and that which is exposed”. Prophet prayed this prayer. He acknowledges the inner and outer. Let your sheikh/sheikha now disputes the inner and outer. (2, p. 58)
I also want to share the below with you too. It deals with the inner and outer.
“…In the words of my first Sufi teacher, Muzaffer Ozak, “Sufism without Islam is like a candle burning in the open without a lantern. There are winds which may blow that candle out. But if you have a lantern with glass protecting the flame, the candle will continue to burn safely”. (3, p. 4).
“There are three great blessings given to those who love God. They are islam (submission), iman (faith), and ihsan (awareness of God). These are three signs of progress on the spiritual path. Islam is the complete surrender of the individual to God’s will and total acceptance of the teachings of the Koran. Iman is the inner aspect of Islam. Ihsan means “to act beautifully”. It is generally explained “to worship God as if you see Him.” The person who fully develops ihsan is aware of God at all times and has reached
Please note: see next post for the continuation of this.
Tahir
USa
the goal of Sufim. This state is possible through Sufism, that is, through carrying out spiritual practice and discipline. The dervish has to work hard and with sincerity.
If God wills, these efforts will bear fruit. This is true both spiritually and materially. Many people work diligently, but not everyone who works becomes a millionaire. But some do, if God wills. By the same token, some people do become successful on the spiritual path and reach the level of constant awareness of God. The end result is in the hands of God. Some people reach final spiritual state in forty days, others in forty years. And for some, a whole lifetime of effort is not enough. The best path is to let go and surrender to God’s will”. (3, pp. 9-10).
I would say: Do your best and leave the rest to God. You do the preparation, He does choosing. You cannot hurry His Grace. However, you can strive! You do have control over your strivings. It requires: Commitment, Discipline, and Obedience (or 3Cs). If you are willing to pay the price, you will not be disappointed. Let His generosity comfort you. He is generous. His generosities are both: inner and outer. Do you really think He will turn you away from His Door empty handed? He has price though! His price is: Commitment (inner and outer). Please note: the idea of generosity and His Door came to be from a poem which I read in a book on Islam. The poem is long so I don’t want to quote it here because the post is becoming too long, and the Sadiq (the author) may not allow it. The book title is: Islam – Edited by John Alden Williams, Copyright 1961, P. 156.
1. Yusuf Ali’s Quran Translation. This quote is also displayed on a website which you may want to visit. www.tasawwuf.org
2. The Accepted Whispers (Mujat-e-Maqbul), Over 200 Duas from the Quran and Hadith for daily reading by Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi with Translation and Commentary by Khalid Baig.
3. Essential Sufism edited by James Fadiman & Robert Frager, forward by Huston Smith.
I got to go into The Presence now so I will not be responding to any more posts on this topic, but I will read your responses so you will know I am not ignoring you and don’t take it as if I am disrespecting you by not responding.
Allah says, Follow those who ask you for no payment or reward, they are the ones on the right course. (Qur’an 36:21) www.jerrahi.org
All the best and respectfully yours,
Tahir
USA
Dear Tahir,
However long your post may be, I see from the very beginning of your writing a very clear distinction you draw between “you” as not one of “we”. Here the problem arises because this distinction is defined by you, only.
For me “you” and ‘we” are not different, the same way as inner and outer are not different. Allah is one, we are in Allah and Allah is in us.
The many questions you have asked in your post are questions raised by your own conditioned mind. They are not existential questions. Only mind can ask such questions because mind itself is not existential.
These questions have never arisen for me. They are not my questions. I have never tried to name Allah, to define him with different names, because how can you define the infinite, the ultimate? Each language falls short for it. Neither have I needed any sheikh or other object between me and Allah.
Your questions are a product of the unconscious state you are living in. It does not matter what rituals you follow if you follow them in such an unconscious and unaware state of your being. All you need is to become more and more aware of yourself. Then the rituals and the questions and their answers will drop by themselves.
If you listen to your own heart you will understand that there is need neither of any question nor of any answer. All you need is to go back to your heart and from there to your inner core being where only Allah resides. And remember, your inner being is in no way separated or isolated from the outer world:)
Bismillah
People who are inside this world are just like three butterflies around a candle.
-The first butterfly came over and said:
" I know love"
- The second one reached a little and touched the flame and said:
" I know the heat of love"
- The thrid throwed himself to the heart of the flame and was demolitioned by the flame.
He is the only one who knows what real love is...
*********************************
Ever blow is for the sake of fondness; every complaint makes (you) aware of gratitude (due for benefits received)
Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi ( k.s )
I pull the ear of the mind and say "Oh mind , Get out!". I get rid of you today. Oh mind leave me alone, today I reach being mindlessness, and I am bound it.
Hz.Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi ( k.s )
.
Salaams to all...
I can only speak for myself, as others will have their own understanding. Let me state clearly that, when I referred to "look at me" behavior, I was not, in any way, referring to sharia. So this should answer your listed questions, at least from me.
I sense that it is useful here to reflect on where things begin, and the direction toward which things emanate to manifestation. The ego is a master of trying to falsely depict this order, with a missing piece.
It is said that not everyone who puts on a crown knows how to be a king.
Kindest wishes,
mo'in
Going by d various comments n discussions, it only furthers me on d way to practice n practice more to b able to feed d internal. its actually thus that d religious practices of islam are beneficial to d soul, a person has no problem eating for d body, it gets its nourishment from food; similarly the importance of external practices since its for the internal nourishment. And who would say its a hassle gathering, cooking,eating?
And then yes! sufi practice has to b in accordance with shariah.
-Farheen.
ONE can be obsessed with external religious practices. And obsession is the problem: you were obsessed with money and now you are obsessed with external religious practices. Money is not the problem, obsession is the problem, You were obsessed with the market, now you are obsessed with God. The market is not the problem but obsession. One should be loose and natural and not obsessed with anything, neither mind nor religious practices. Only then, unoccupied, unobsessed, when you are simply flowing,simply enjoying the present moment, simply being in the present, without any urge for achieving, any urge for doing, only then the Ultimate happens to you.
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“Allah (mighty and sublime be He) said:
Whosoever shows enmity to someone devoted to Me, I shall be at war with him. My servant draws not near to Me with anything more loved by Me than the "RELIGIOUS DUTIES" I have enjoined upon him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with SUPEREROGATORY WORKS so that I shall love him. When I love him I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him, and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it. I do not hesitate about anything as much as I hesitate about [seizing] the soul of My faithful servant: he hates death and I hate hurting him.”
It was related by al-Bukhari.
--Farheen.
http://thegoodgarment.wordpress.com/2009/08/23/mastery-of-the-internal-and-external/
(loads of wisdom)
for the ones really interested in the internal external debate,
-farheen.
Dear Farheen,
The only religious duty I am aware of, is to live your life gifted to you by Allah, in a sincere and authentic way. That means you will have to transform all your duties into love. 'Duty' is a dirty word; of course, a four-letter word. Duty is nothing but an imposition on people’s free will, an imposed distraction, which aims at taking people away of their authentic self, where Allah resides.
Once you get identified with a certain idea, does not matter how religious and holy it may seem, then you are sick.
All identification is mental sickness. In fact, mind is your sickness.
And to put the mind aside and just to see silently, without any thought, without any prejudice into reality is a healthy way of being acquainted with reality and its Supreme Truth.
If you are following scriptures you are following named rivers. If you are following a certain religion, a sect, a church, then you have a map – and there cannot be any map for the truth. There cannot be any map because truth is private and not public. Maps become public; they are needed so that others can also follow. On the map, superhighways are shown, not small footpaths; and religion is a footpath, not a superhighway. You cannot reach existence as a Christian or a Hindu. You reach as you, authentically you, and you cannot follow anybody's path.-Osho
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Alhamdulillah, Bro Sadiq... u've done a wonderful job.... a great interview.
Certainly wanna know more abt sis Amatullah.
Thank u for sharing these with all of us here.
Barakallahum Feek
Wassalam
Well said Aaliya. Inner experiences are far superior to the outer imitations because they have can reform you unlike the imitation which simply relies on repetition.
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