1.Waman ahsanu deenan mimman aslama wajhahu lillahi wahuwa muhsinun waittabaAAa millata Ibraheema haneefan? Waittakhatha Allahu Ibraheema khaleelan.
Who is better in faith than the one who surrenders his entire being to God, and be of ihsan (excellence), and follows the creed of Abraham who turned away from all that was false? For God took Abraham as a friend. - The Final Testament (Chapter of Women, verse 125)
2.
The beloved Abraham, whose station is to be the intimate friend of Truth, is a bearer of divine message whose eternal presence, subsisting with and within Allah, guides the mystical return of humanity into the transcendent Heart of Reality. The special responsibility of the noble Abraham is haqiqa, the realization of Truth alone. Here the path of religious duty, the sharia, the path of contemplative practice, the tariqa, both enter the pathless field of supernal radiance, plunging like rivers of love into the Ocean of Love. The magnificent patriarch Abraham, the embodiment of true generosity and hospitality whose tent is open in all directions, is spiritual father to the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic nations, which are his seed multiplied into galaxies of souls, according to Divine Promise.
Embodying the fundamental religion of humanity, the religion of unity, the Prophet Abraham, upon him be abundant and beautiful peace, is the hanifa, the upright one. Even before the Divine Revelation of Torah, Psalms, Gospels, and Quran, he demonstrates the original nobility of the human being in direct communion with Truth, without images or mediators.
As the Light of Prophecy intensified, approaching its culmination, through this most intimate friend, Allah revealed the meditation on Ultimate Unity. This contemplation transcends the entire spectrum of Divine Attributes. The Glorious Quran discloses that while he was deep in prayer and meditation during solitary desert retreat, the noble Abraham received the direct experience of Essence, alone and perfect, needing no creation and no Creator. This Essence abides beyond the Attributes of Allah - Star of Majesty, Moon of Beauty, Sun of Power - which are mirrored in creation. The sole existence of this formless, creationless, attributeless Essence as the only Reality is the mystic teaching that beloved Abraham brought to humanity as a further evolution of the understanding of One God, which has been repeatedly revealed by Allah since the Prophet Abraham, upon him be peace.
The beloved Muhammad, the final fruitation of the evolution of humanity's understanding, the final link in the lineage of revelatory Light, calls the spirituality innate to the human soul the hanifiyya, the way of Abraham. This station of maturity is wisely tolerant of all levels and dimensions of religious understanding, manifest through Prophets who, as Quran discloses, have been sent as Divine Signs to every nation without exception, demonstrating a clear path to the One Reality. This loving tolerance of hanifiyya takes as its symbol the Tent of Abraham, open to spiritual travelers from all directions, full of abundant Generosity of Allah poured out to all seekers of truth without exception.
The holy lovers on the way of hanifiyya inherit the original friendship of Prophet Abraham with living Truth. These lovers become friends as well to all expressions of Truth, to all precious human beings. Thus the haqiqa, the realization of Truth - the pure vein of gold inside the mountain of outward appearance, the translucent pearl hidden within the rough, dark oyster shell - accepts all human beings as who they truly are. The hanifiyya bestows inconceivable spiritual wealth - the golden radiance of Truth, the Pearl beyond Price - upon every human heart, from whichever direction it approaches the Tent of Abraham.
May humanity as a whole become conscious of the hanifiyya, allowing ineffable harmony to blossom among apparently diverse cultures, sciences, and great religious traditions. The perfect reconciler of the countless stars from the Universe of Souls who have become the children of Abraham, the Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace, therefore declares: 'The religious path most beloved to Allah is the tolerant Way of Hanifiyya.'
Embodying the fundamental religion of humanity, the religion of unity, the Prophet Abraham, upon him be abundant and beautiful peace, is the hanifa, the upright one. Even before the Divine Revelation of Torah, Psalms, Gospels, and Quran, he demonstrates the original nobility of the human being in direct communion with Truth, without images or mediators.
As the Light of Prophecy intensified, approaching its culmination, through this most intimate friend, Allah revealed the meditation on Ultimate Unity. This contemplation transcends the entire spectrum of Divine Attributes. The Glorious Quran discloses that while he was deep in prayer and meditation during solitary desert retreat, the noble Abraham received the direct experience of Essence, alone and perfect, needing no creation and no Creator. This Essence abides beyond the Attributes of Allah - Star of Majesty, Moon of Beauty, Sun of Power - which are mirrored in creation. The sole existence of this formless, creationless, attributeless Essence as the only Reality is the mystic teaching that beloved Abraham brought to humanity as a further evolution of the understanding of One God, which has been repeatedly revealed by Allah since the Prophet Abraham, upon him be peace.
The beloved Muhammad, the final fruitation of the evolution of humanity's understanding, the final link in the lineage of revelatory Light, calls the spirituality innate to the human soul the hanifiyya, the way of Abraham. This station of maturity is wisely tolerant of all levels and dimensions of religious understanding, manifest through Prophets who, as Quran discloses, have been sent as Divine Signs to every nation without exception, demonstrating a clear path to the One Reality. This loving tolerance of hanifiyya takes as its symbol the Tent of Abraham, open to spiritual travelers from all directions, full of abundant Generosity of Allah poured out to all seekers of truth without exception.
The holy lovers on the way of hanifiyya inherit the original friendship of Prophet Abraham with living Truth. These lovers become friends as well to all expressions of Truth, to all precious human beings. Thus the haqiqa, the realization of Truth - the pure vein of gold inside the mountain of outward appearance, the translucent pearl hidden within the rough, dark oyster shell - accepts all human beings as who they truly are. The hanifiyya bestows inconceivable spiritual wealth - the golden radiance of Truth, the Pearl beyond Price - upon every human heart, from whichever direction it approaches the Tent of Abraham.May humanity as a whole become conscious of the hanifiyya, allowing ineffable harmony to blossom among apparently diverse cultures, sciences, and great religious traditions. The perfect reconciler of the countless stars from the Universe of Souls who have become the children of Abraham, the Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace, therefore declares: 'The religious path most beloved to Allah is the tolerant Way of Hanifiyya.'
- from the writings of Shaykh Lex Hixon Nur al Jerrahi, may God bless his noble soul, Quoted from his beautiful Book, Atom from the Sun of Knowledge
3.
What is the millata ibraheema haneefan, the 'creed of Ibrahim the true in faith (or upright)' as is sometimes suggested in translations of this verse [4:125]?
The Qur'an often mentions this word hanif in connection with Ibrahim, and as Sayed Idries Shah points out in The Sufis, the root HNF carries the connotations of 'leaning on one side', 'doing a thing accurately' and 'straightforwardness'. He says: "Such a variety of meanings would seem baffling if it were not realized that such ideas as 'to do a thing accurately' and 'to lean on one side' can be equated within a certain system - that of the Sufis. This is not to say, of course, that the root form was invented by the Sufis; or even that the words are not in everyday use in straightforward meanings. The important thing to note is that for the Sufis certain words are chosen to describe a complex of ideas which accord with a number of Sufi ideas and practices, and build up, on close examination, a word picture."
In the use of the word Hanif the Qur'an points to the predating of historical Islam by a mystical Way identical with that of the Sufis. In this verse, it states in the strongest possible terms, that there is no more excellent form of faith than the practice of this 'antique religion' (as it is sometimes described): the millata ibraheema haneefan.
What's more, at the end of the verse, the Qur'an tells us that this is explicitly a religion of Love: waittakhatha Allahu ibraheema khaleelan, "for Allah took Ibrahim as an intimate, beloved friend."
On this question of the millat, the 'creed', of Love, Rumi writes in the Mathnawi: ""The sect [millat] of Love (of God) is distinct from all religions [dîn-hâ]; the sect [millat] and doctrine [maZhab] of the lovers is God (alone)." [Mathnawi II: 1770, translation by Dr Ibrahim Gamard].
The Qur'an often mentions this word hanif in connection with Ibrahim, and as Sayed Idries Shah points out in The Sufis, the root HNF carries the connotations of 'leaning on one side', 'doing a thing accurately' and 'straightforwardness'. He says: "Such a variety of meanings would seem baffling if it were not realized that such ideas as 'to do a thing accurately' and 'to lean on one side' can be equated within a certain system - that of the Sufis. This is not to say, of course, that the root form was invented by the Sufis; or even that the words are not in everyday use in straightforward meanings. The important thing to note is that for the Sufis certain words are chosen to describe a complex of ideas which accord with a number of Sufi ideas and practices, and build up, on close examination, a word picture."
In the use of the word Hanif the Qur'an points to the predating of historical Islam by a mystical Way identical with that of the Sufis. In this verse, it states in the strongest possible terms, that there is no more excellent form of faith than the practice of this 'antique religion' (as it is sometimes described): the millata ibraheema haneefan.
What's more, at the end of the verse, the Qur'an tells us that this is explicitly a religion of Love: waittakhatha Allahu ibraheema khaleelan, "for Allah took Ibrahim as an intimate, beloved friend."
On this question of the millat, the 'creed', of Love, Rumi writes in the Mathnawi: ""The sect [millat] of Love (of God) is distinct from all religions [dîn-hâ]; the sect [millat] and doctrine [maZhab] of the lovers is God (alone)." [Mathnawi II: 1770, translation by Dr Ibrahim Gamard].
(Thanks to James for sharing)
4.
and take the station of Abraham as your station of devotion..
- The Quran 2:125
Abraham was blessed to be a blessing to others.
- Old Testament
Abraham was not a Jew nor yet a Christian; but he was true in Faith, and bowed his will to God, and he joined not duality with God. Lo! those of humanity who are nearest to Abraham are those who followed him, and this Prophet and those who believe (with him); and God is the Protecting Guardian of the believers. - 3:67-68
They say: "Become Jews or Christians if you would be guided (to salvation)." Say thou: "No way! (Ours is) the Creed of Abraham, the Hanif (pure monotheist), and he ascribed not duality with Divine Oneness."
Say: "We believe in God and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any one of them, and unto Him we have surrendered."
- 2:135-136
They say: "Become Jews or Christians if you would be guided (to salvation)." Say thou: "No way! (Ours is) the Creed of Abraham, the Hanif (pure monotheist), and he ascribed not duality with Divine Oneness."
Say: "We believe in God and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any one of them, and unto Him we have surrendered."
- 2:135-136
36 comments:
“I have turned my face earnestly toward Him who originated the heavens and the earth, and I am not of the polytheists”. (Quran 6:79) (1, p. 75). “My Salaat, and my offering and my living and my dying are all for Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. No partner has He, concerning this I have been enjoined; and I am the first to surrender to Him”. (Quran, 6:162:163) (1, p.75).
The above prayer does require commitment though.
AV
AV is hanging on Quran 18:65
AV for AQM-Sufism/Against Sufism w/o AQM
Sufism w/o AQM = Suffocationism (Death/
Spiritual Death)
1. The Prescribed Prayer Made Simple by Tajuddin B. Shu’aib, Copyright@1983 by Tajuddin B. Shu’aib., Published by Da’awah Enterprises International, Inc.
Abraham as well as each one of the enlightened beings who have ever walked on the Earth ARE the living Truth.
’The truth’ is only a way of saying; there is not something labeled ´Truth,´ that one day you will find and open the box and see the contents and say, ’Great! I have found the truth.’ There is no such box. Your existence is the truth, and when you are silent you are in truth. And if the silence is absolute then you are the ultimate truth. But don´t think of the truth as an object, it is not an object.
It is not there, it is here... Truth cannot be defined, although it can certainly be experienced.
But experience is not a definition. Definition is done by the mind, experience is done by participating." - Osho
Let each one of us participate, live and experience the Truth, let each one of us become the living truth as it happened to Mohammad, Abraham, Jesus, Buddha, Kabir, Nanak and many other known and unknown beautiful beings. None of them is and will ever be the final Truth, because Truth has no beginning and no end. Truth simply is. Each human being is destined to realize the Truth inside. After all, we are all Buddhas!
O Allah, confer blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad in the manner You conferred blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Verily, You are the Praiseworthy, the Majestic. And bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad in the manner You blessed Ibrahim. Verily, You are the Praiseworthy, the Majestic.
Wassalam,
njz
AV
Hold tight,hang on.
with you,
with peace
njz
Bimillah ir Rahaman ir Rahim alhamdu li'Llahi Rabbi al 'Aalamin
"O Allah! If I worship You for fear of Hell, burn me in Hell,
and if I worship You in hope of Paradise, exclude me from Paradise.
But if I worship You for Your Own sake,
grudge me not Your everlasting Beauty.”
Rabia
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
- A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson
Source
Darvis Blog
May we are able to follow this path of love and progress as one and not be the judge of someones heart as Allah alone is the Alim ,Haqq and Khabir
Dear njz,
What does it mean "the family of Muhammad" and "the family of Ibrahim"? In the spiritual world of Utmost Reality there is no division in families, clans, and so on and so forth.
There is only one family I am where of and that is the family of God - all the seen and unseen creation of His.
Why do some people hanker so much to be the special ones?
Dear Brother Sadiq,
I will respond. I always value your comments, suggestions, and input. I may not agree with you, but I respect you. Please know this: My disagreement does not mean disrespect to you or your Sheikh.
While I am thinking about your post, I would like you to think over the poem below. I am in love with the Three! It is always the Three: the three C’s, or the three P’s, or the three I’s. What matters are the Real Three? What are the Real Three?
“Now I have known, O Lord,
What lies within my heart;
In secret, from the world apart
My tongue hath talked with my Adored.
So in a manner we
United are, and one;
Yet otherwise disunion
Is our estate eternally.
Though from my gaze profound
Deep awe hath hid Thy face
In wondrous and ecstatic Grace
I feel Thee touch my inmost ground”. (1, p. 131)
AV
AV is hanging on Quran 18:65
AV for AQM-Sufism/Against Sufism w/o AQM
Sufism w/o AQM = Suffocationism (Death/
Spiritual Death)
1. Islam edited by John Alden Williams, Copyright 1961, 1963.
Dear Sister Aliya, Salaam.
As we (muslims) pray salat five times a day, we sit in tashahhud during the salat and recite Durood e Ibrahim, as part of the Salat. I have only posted the translation of this durood. If you have any problem with it you are free not to recite this durood. There is no compulsion in religion.
Prophet Ibrahim (AS)is known as Khalilullah (Friends of Allah) He was blessed with prophets in his progeny and in their lineage, both Ishaaq RA and Ismail RA.
He is the spiritual father of the muslims, christians and jews.
Again, it is a matter of one's beleif. Not a scientific fact to be argued, discussed and proved.
Peace,
njz
Dear Sadiq,
Thank you for this post! I also thank everyone for their comments from which I learn a lot.
Kindest wishes,
mo'in
Dear njz,
Are you sure that while reciting a durood you fully understand it? Ibrahim did not have other family but God alone. And please note Ibrahim was neither Jew, nor Christian, nor muslim. He was just God lover, as Moses, as Muhammad, as Jesus, Buddha, Rumi, Kabir.... To be a God lover means you yourself to become the abode of God and his living salat, not five times a day, but every single moment.
Ms Aliya
Your comment is quite insensitive and disrespectful. Nearly one Billion muslims recite that durood as part of salat. Why are you questioning their understanding? You are not in a position to know what is in other's heart. How can this wonderful prayer of blessing bother anyone? A long line of Quranic propehts came from Abraham. Abraham is the father of this religion. We love all our propehts. Abrahm and Muhammad have special place in our heart.
thanks
Ahmed( An arabic word meaning "one who constantly thanks God")
Aliya,
The family of Muhammad implies from spiritual perspective, the blessed circle of lovers. Its not necessarily the biological family.
Just as "Son of God" isn't a biological son but means One who inherit the Divine qualities, which muslim call Kalifatullah or Representation of God, or in Christian term, Image of God. In Hebrew religious context, all of humanity is rightly called Son of God.
In Bible we find Jesus calling himself both Son of God and Son of Man. Son of God because he represent God (khalifa) and Son of Man because we all are children of Adam (Bani Adam).
Just as Son of God points to that reality of spiritual connection, the family of Muhammad or Family of Ibrahim has two fold meanings.
Its all about what sufis call nisbat, spiritual affinity or connection. This connection is much more real than connection established by blood and flesh alone.
"Family" taking it to spiritual meaning, refers to firstly the circle of lovers, the intimate circle of those who love them and they love in return. Sometime its called People of the house (same thing as family) because there is a common roof over the house and in spiritual sense this common connection is God.
And yes there are also holy lineage because from the seeds of Abraham came other lofty beings who guided their own community, and who were blessings to humanity. Same is true for Prophet Muhammad, his holy bloodline gave birth to lofty human beings, imams and saints and still does until today. Many saints both known and unknown are Sayids (from the holy bloodline).
They are special because they have devoted their lives for truth and not of the world. Many have given their life for truth and truth alone.
Ahmed
Aliya's point is not invalid and better be not misunderstood out of religious zeal.
What she points represent a greater reality.
"In the spiritual world of Utmost Reality there is no division in families, clans, and so on and so forth. There is only one family I am where of and that is the family of God - all the seen and unseen creation of His."
Mr Sadiq
I do not have any problem with what Aliya said about the whole
lover of God thing. We all know that. It is nothing new. But i have problem with the following line
"Are you sure that while reciting a durood you fully understand it?"
Why would she assume njz does not understand the meaning of this durood? To me it sounded like an arrogant statement. But apparently you have a different feelings about it. It is your blog.
Thanks
Ahmed
Dear Ahmed,
The only One we owe respect, love and infinite awe is God. Therefore, while reciting durood, while praying we must do it in full awareness and clear understanding of each single word we pronounce, of each feeling we have inside our hearts while pronouncing a salaat. We, ordinary human beings, have often misinterpreted enlightened beings like Ibrahim, Muhammad due to our impossibility to see yet the Utmost Reality they have seen.
My question to njz is just an invitation for each one of us, the visitors of this blog, to further spiritual quest inside of our hearts. If you are fully convinced in your own relating to God, you should not feel any disrespect in a spiritual invitation for deeper understanding of the prophets. And remember, we will be able to fully understand the enlightened beings only when we arrive at their high position. Now, we are the dark valley, they are the sunny peak. We cannot know what the peak hides.
Ahmed,
In Aliya's comment directed to njz, "Are you sure that while reciting a durood you fully understand it?" - agree with the sentiment you are coming from.
It is always more effective to direct such question to one's own self from whom such judgment arise.
Also, there is no benchmark to judge others when it comes to "fully understanding". Before we wish to check out others understanding, its recommend we question our own understanding and we will discover many lacks therein.
We can never undervalue the timeless admonition of Christ, "Why do you look at the speck of saw dust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, "Let me take the speck out of your eye, when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
may beloved save us from the lowly station of hypocrite and save us from assumption that we are free of imperfection and lack of understanding.
"Above every knowledgeable one, there is one who is even more knowledgeable." - Quran 12:76
Dear Ahmed and njz,
There is one more thing I would like to draw your attention on: the numbers do not matter in the Divine world of God. You proudly declare to pray 5 salaat a day, to be part of a majority of nearly one billion. In the Utmost Reality numbers are of no value. It is the individual human soul and the way it relates to the Beloved which is of only importance. Numbers have value in the market, not in front of God. Your individual relating to God is what matters. Majority Democracy is not a principle of God's world. Otherwise we would have had there also the same hypocrite and cunning politicians, riding on the wave of the crowd's feelings. And please, make this effort to see the reality as it is. A question is just a question, not an accusation. Please be so kind to not project on my question connotation of accusation or hypocrisy or showiness which it does not have. My question is just a question aiming at an answer inside the heart.
To the One it is uttered, He understands. It reminds me of the story about Moses and the
Shepherd. That is all it matters. He understands. It is up to Him. Yes, the one who is uttering has some understanding of what he/she is uttering. Behind his/her uttering is deep faith, trust, hope, love, sincerity, and respect. What price would you put on these values, O Sufi? If Moses was rebuked, a sheikh will be rebuked for passing judgments on devout believers’ prayers. Ultimately, it is up to One to Whom it is uttered!
AV
AV is hanging on Quran 18:65
AV for AQM-Sufism/Against Sufism w/o AQM
Sufism w/o AQM = Suffocationism (Death/
Spiritual Death)
We should be very careful while using the term "holy bloodline" or to say it in other words biological lineage. Enlightenment cannot be inherited through matter neither it can be derived from a certain "blue" bloodline. The laws of the material world do not apply to the world of God. Enlightenment is a flourishing of the being and it is actually the greatest miracle of miracles that the Divine Light descends in a material body. The body is not of importance neither its blood circulation. The unique human innermost being is important and his realization of God inside. Remember that Ibrahim himself renounced his own family in the search of God and sacrificed his own biological son for God. There is no other family, no other lineage but God alone. All human relationships fail apart where one realizes God inside.
James, I find the deeply reflective and generous nature of your on-going contributions to this site is profoundly inspiring ~ Thank You.
I also consider Alyia's question to njz to be not only valid but pregnant with offering.
O Sufi,
How do you know what is in their hearts when they pray?
AV
AV is hanging on Quran 18:65
AV for AQM-Sufism/Against Sufism w/o AQM
Sufism w/o AQM = Suffocationism (Death/
Spiritual Death)
So very beautifully said james. Thank you again.
Prayer
is the flowering
of a silent heart
and Love
its fragrance
James,
“Or felt yourself to be a better, more 'special' person”
I got news for you. I always think I am very special. I say I am somebody. I am a child of God. God created me. God is sustaining me. God is protecting me. God is guiding me on “The Straight Path” to higher and higher station every day and in every way. God is my Friend. God is my Sheikh. I think very highly of myself. I believe in myself because God created me and believes in me. God does not create junk. I hold my head high and never, never, never carry my hat in my hand.
“Not more praying. Because there is no guarantee that the more you do something, the better you become at it”.
I say really to the above. I am surprised by your above statement. Some activities are made perfect because of practice. Did you ever play tennis, golf, rugby? Do you have a life? What do you do for fun?
The Prophet (pbuh) said, “The best (act of worship) in the sight of Allâh is which is done regularly.”
“is well understood and practiced among the Sufis”.
All Sufis don’t say the above. Idreis Shah mentioned it in his books!
Remember! Ethics matter. Integrity pays. I don’t have to repeat myself what I think of Idreis Shah. Don’t attribute things to all Sufis if only Idreis Shah has said it.
AV
AV is hanging on Quran 18:65
AV for AQM-Sufism/Against Sufism w/o AQM
Sufism w/o AQM = Suffocationism (Death/
Spiritual Death)
Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
The problem with debate between AV and Aliya also AV and James is their landscape of understanding, their landscape of language and terminology and obviously their spiritual reality unique to them are so of different level that often time its becoming dialogue of self-boasting (at least inciting one to do so) and dialogue of "i am not ready to listen whatever come from you because i am so superior to you that i have already decided that all you say is rubbish."
If two person speak different language, their dialogue is not going to be successful even if they are trying to reach the same goal. The blind men visiting an elephant which none of them seen ever, is a fitting story to remind us of this phenomena.
no dialogue is dialogue except both have space to listen, ponder and respect what message comes from the Unseen through the other party. else we remain as blind as we ever.
if there is no mutual respect for the other then its better that we dont use the excuse of debate to turn ourselves into someone arrogant and boastful. in that case i am afraid this is not the ideal place to do so.
as far as i know sadiq (and i hv known him for quiet sometime, hv exchanged thoughts with him about this blog on many occasions), his subject matter of this effort is about love of God (in whatever path and form invites that into the heart of human being), not about personal self-righteousness or religious bickering where every one try to accuse the other of going astray. like him we are after truth and beauty, because they both are from and of God.
there are far too many forums in the internet where such bickering goes on and on and on and anybody who been there knows how much darkness and ugliness covers there.
can we request those of better understanding to have compassion for those who are still to understand what it means to be inclusive, a quality of divine Who gives light upon all without discrimination.
may we fear God to whom we will return and stand one day to answer every single action, speech we have done here and on that day there will be no help and no other to call upon. Only God one shall face. those who proclaim self-righteousness / only i am good here / does or say things only show people, God warns them that they will have what they ask for in this world and will have no share in the next world as they will be told that "what you was looking for (showiness to people and honor from people) you have already got that in your earthly life, there is nothing with Me for you since your sincerity was for people to see, not for Me."
may we be conscious of God,
may we have holy fear of Him Who is Majestic, Avenger, Terrible in Retribution and Who Divine Wrath is Overwhelming.
Astaghfirullah!
Astaghfirullah!
Astaghfirullah!
Sadiq Bhai
I have been a regular visitor to this blog for several years. I have always found this site to be inspiring, informative and uplifting,even ocassional responses from other readers. I have also learned about other wonderful sites from your blog. I would name two of those blog, one is by sufiyya and other one is by lisanaldin. I follow those sites regularly now, thanks to you.It seems like some people are using this blog as a playground of EGO.
There is major lack of Adab on their part. I think it is more logical to have my own blog if i have urge to write long responses on my own view, everyday. We can all visit their sites and learn about their opinion if we want to.
I hope this blog restore its previous state of peace and light.
There are not many places left where one can find Peace.
Allah Hafez
Ahmed
I should appreciate if friend of truth and Ahmed do not label the sincere sharing of authentic and compassionate beings with untrue and meant to harm labels neither reduce words of deep understanding to a mere debate with AV. Neither my words nor the words of James nor the words of some of the other visitors of this blog who responded to AV's ugly accusations in lying and who took a stand against his threatening with mass destruction, can in any way be compared with the restless parrot like repeating of long messages without substantial essence. After all, a blog of religiousness is a place for heart - to - heart spiritual sharing.
James,
“And now we are getting somewhere. Yes, activities can be made perfect because of practice”
Good. You are beginning to see the light. You were not admitting that even before. James, the problem with you is that you are wanderer. Wanderers never think straight or have clear minds. One thing they lack the most is: Commitment. For them, anything goes. You can ask your significant other (girlfriend or wife or whatever) whether she woul approve if you had “wandering eyes”. You have no coherent understanding of the Sufi Path. You have no center. That is your problem. You have no compass. If you have a compass, you will always find your North. You will never get lost. Without compass, you are heading South (down). Stay with me. Be open. I am going to give you the compass.
This is what you wrote: “Not more praying. Because there is no guarantee that the more you do something, the better you become at it”.
The Prophet (pbuh) said, “The best (act of worship) in the sight of Allâh is which is done regularly.” When the Prophet advised his followers to do things regularly he was asking them to make commitment. Some “rascal sheikhs” have gone to say that the five daily prayers are not important. They want to dismantle the very foundation of Islam. The daily five prayers are one of the pillars of Islam. Doing things regularly help on the Sufi Path be it the daily prayers or dhikr on regular basis. Why pray without ceasing?
How do explain your statement: “Not more praying. Because there is no guarantee that the more you do something, the better you become at it” in light of what I mentioned above on doing things on regular basis.
Your analogy of tennis coach is way off. Why? Tennis players do not surrender to their coaches. The players respect them; they appreciate them; they learn from them, but the coach does not become their God. In your case, you are saying surrender to a sheikh. It is much different from the tennis coach analogy.
If you say, you believe that one does not have to surrender to a sheikh to be on the Sufi Path then we are in agreement. In my case, I never surrender any sheikh. I learned from different sheikhs mostly through books. I respect them. I sometime disagree with them respectfully. I have gone to few lectures that were given by Sufi Sheikhs, but I never, never, and never thought of surrendering to them. I never kissed their feet. I never prostrated before a sheikh. I only prostrate before God.
Please note: This is the continuation of the above post.
It does not matter how many thousand analogies like the helicopter, tennis coach, etc. you put forward. It will not convince me to surrender to a sheikh.
I have done it without surrendering to a sheikh. You don’t have to surrender to a sheikh to be on the Sufi path. You can learn from them. If I have to say it thousand times, I will say: Quran is my compass. Muhammad is my model. Allah is my goal. Allah is the Guide. Allah is my Sheikh. I surrender to no one, but Allah. Say it after me: Allah-hu, Allah-hu, Allah-hu. Practice does make perfect. The Prophet was right. Do things regularly. Since you agree with the Prophet, commit yourself to the below. If you commit to the below, you don’t need me; you don’t need a sheikh! If I can do it, anybody can do it. Yes, I believe in you that you can do it too.
“No soul can believe, except by the will of Allah, and He will place doubt (or obscurity) on those who will not understand”. (Quran 10:100) (1).
“In the end We deliver Our messengers and those who believe: Thus is it on Our part that We should deliver those who believe!” (Quran 10:103) (1)
“The Emissary of God (may God bless him and grant him peace) said, “If a man says every morning, “I am content (radiu) with God as my Lord, Islam as my Religion, the Quran as my Guide, and Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace) as my Prophet and Emissary”, then God must give him contentment on the Day of Resurrection. In another tradition, “With him who says this, God is well pleased”. (2, p. 21).
“I have turned my face earnestly toward Him who originated the heavens and the earth, and I am not of the polytheists”. (Quran 6:79) (1, p. 75). “My Salaat, and my offering and my living and my dying are all for Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. No partner has He, concerning this I have been enjoined; and I am the first to surrender to Him”. (Quran, 6:162:163) (3, p.75).
James, that is all I can do for you. I can lead you to the life giving water, but I can not make you drink it. The above hadiths and verses from the Quran are life giving water. It will give you eternal life. It will stop you from wandering. It leads you to the life of truth, peace, beauty, faith, love, hope, patience, and gratitude. It leads to salvation. Why don’t you make commitment to the God of Abraham now? Forget the sheikhs. Don’t put too much stock in the sheikhs. They are human being just like you and I. If God wants it, He can make you their sheikh! Believe in yourself. Count on Allah instead of your sheikh. Believe in the Promises of Allah. Sheikhs’ promises are limited, but Allah’s promises are infinite. If someone offered you two glasses of Wine, one half full and the other over-flowing. Which glass will you grab? The choice is yours. I can not make that choice for you. However, I will tell you that I made a choice to grab the Wine glass that is over-flowing. I don’t regret it. I am at peace. The over-flowing glass of Wine represents the Promises of Allah. The half full glass represents sheikhs.
May it all be yours,
AV
AV is hanging on Quran 18:65
AV for AQM-Sufism/Against Sufism w/o AQM
Sufism w/o AQM = Suffocationism (Death/
Spiritual Death)
1. The Meaning of The Holy Quran, Abdullah Yusuf Ali, New Edition with Revised Translation and Commentary, Published by Amana Corporation.
2. Al-Ghazali Invocations and Supplications: The Revival of the Religious Sciences, Translated with an Introduction and Notes by K. Nakamura, Copyright 1973.
3. The Prescribed Prayer Made Simple by Tajuddin B. Shu’aib, Copyright@1983 by Tajuddin B. Shu’aib., Published by Da’awah Enterprises International, Inc.
What a great resource!
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