From Mawlana Shaykh Nazim's Personal Notes
A`oodhu billahi ‘s Sami` al-Aleem min ash-Shaytaani 'r-rajeem.
Bismillaahi 'r-Rahmaani 'r-Raheem.
Laa hawla wa laa quwatta illa billahi 'l-`Aliyyu 'l-`Azheem.
Dastoor, yaa Sayyidi wa Mawlay, yaa Sayyidi Shaykh Nazim, madad. Madad, yaa RijaalAllah.
As-salaamu `alaykum wa rahmatullaahi ta`aala wa barakaatuh.
Sorry, we are squeezing everybody in a small spot but, inshaa-Allah, Allah (swt) will give Sadiq and Soraya a bigger house, ameen. May Allah (swt) always make them work for the love of Rasoolullah (s), inshaa-Allah, ameen. They have a bigger house in Jannah. Inshaa-Allah, all of us will have big houses in Jannah.
One Waliyullah came to an Umayyad ruler in Madinatu 'l-Munawwara, The Prophet’s (s) Holy City, and he asked, “Is there somebody that reached the time of Rasoolullah (s) that has accompanied him?” Accompanying a holy one gives you from the blessings of that holy one. If he’s a true saint, that true saint will give you from his heart to your heart. We have to believe in that. We have to believe in the Noor, the Light that is in the heart of saints. Not everything is physical, physical, physical. You have to believe in the spiritual beings, spiritual forms, spiritual lights. If you accompany a holy one who has Noor or light from a Messenger, you will get from that light.
This one was looking for someone who reached the time of the Prophet (s), a Sahaabah. They said, “There’s no Sahaabah but there’s a tabi`, a follower of a companion of the Prophet (s).” He called him and said, “Why don’t people like Akhirah, the Hereafter? People nowadays like this world and what it has to offer. Why don’t they like the Hereafter, what the Lord of Heavens has in store for us?” This ruler was asking a saint who had taken from the light of a companion of Rasoolullah (s). He said, “Because you have set up for yourselves mansions in dunya and neglected your mansions in Akhirah.”
They have not neglected their mansions in Akhirah, have they? A smart one knows what’s Eternal and what’s not Eternal. Will this world last forever? It won’t last forever, at least not for us. After 50, 60, 70 years, you’re gone. Four days ago somebody in Holland sent me a message that suddenly she is yellow, she’s not breathing well. She’s edematous, full of fluid. Yesterday night she passed away after a few days. Dunya for her is finished but she followed a saint, so Akhirah, the Hereafter, is secure for her.
He asked, “Why don’t we like Akhirah?”
“Because people nowadays are so into establishing themselves here in dunya. You have neglected the Hereafter.”
He asked, “How do I know what I have with the Lord of Heavens?”
“It’s written in Allah’s Holy Book.”
“Where is it written?”
إِنَّ ٱلْأَبْرَارَ لَفِى نَعِيمٍ وَإِنَّ ٱلْفُجَّارَ لَفِى جَحِيمٍ
As for the Righteous, they will be in bliss; And the Wicked - they will be in the Fire. (Surah al-Infitar, 82:13-14)
The good ones are happy, in bliss and the wicked ones are in Hellfire. In reality, if you look at the wicked ones, they are living Hell here. Don’t think they’re happy. The wicked ones who are running around the world, don’t think they are happy. They are burning in and out. They are in Hellfire here before there.
This saint is telling him, “You have neglected your Hereafter and you have established your world here. If you want to know what you have in store with God, God has promised for the good ones bliss, na`im, Eternal happiness. For the bad ones, Eternal fire because they have set themselves up here in fire.”
Take heed from Waliyullah. Pay attention to what Waliyullah says. That king or ruler wanted to learn. That is our problem nowadays. Our problem nowadays is that we have neglected the Hereafter. We have neglected spirituality.
They asked Sayyidina `Isa (a), “Where does the seed grow? The seed grows in the earth, in good, fertile soil. The seed of faith grows in good, fertile soil as well. It is the heart of the believer. When you plant that seed of faith in that soil in the earth, that seed will build up a tree that you can climb all the way up to Heavens.” Where is it in the Qur’an?
أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا كَلِمَةً طَيِّبَةً كَشَجَرَةٍ طَيِّبَةٍ أَصْلُهَا ثَابِتٌ وَفَرْعُهَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ
Seest thou not how Allah sets forth a parable? - A goodly word like a goodly tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches (reach) to the heavens,- of its Lord. So Allah sets forth parables for men, in order that they may receive admonition. (Surah Ibrahim, 14:24)
The example of a good word is like a good tree, its origin is in Earth but its branches reach up to the Heavens. When you plant that seed of faith, you will be able to reach the Heavens. That is the spiritual way we try to take but that spiritual way doesn’t come with boasting and pride and showing yourself as a big one, no. It’s the opposite. Why were we created from earth? Because we have to be humble like the earth. When we are humble, Allah (swt) will elevate us. When we make ourselves high, Allah (swt) will lower us. He said in Holy Qur’an:
تِلْكَ ٱلدَّارُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ نَجْعَلُهَا لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوًّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا فَسَادًا وَٱلْعَـٰقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
That Home of the Hereafter We shall give to those who intend not high- handedness or mischief on earth: and the end is (best) for the righteous. (Surah al-Qasas, 28:83)
The Hereafter will make it for the ones who do not want elevation on Earth. Don’t say, “I am a big one. I have `ilm. I have this and that,” no. Be humble like Sayyidina `Isa (a). He was indicating that if you want to reach Heavens, you have to humble yourself down. If you want to reach Akhirah, the Hereafter, you have to humble yourself down and work for Allah (swt). How do you work for Him? Prayer is the first. That’s why we keep our prayers. It’s a sign that we are asking Allah (swt) to be happy with us. It’s a simple thing. May Allah (swt) make us from the ones who understand.
We are created for Allah (swt). There was one tabi` named Ka`ab al-Ahbar (r). He was a Jew who accepted Islam at the time of Sayyidina Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (r). He said he found in the Torah (...) because the Torah is a hidden book, they don’t bring it up, but the Jewish scholars who accepted Islam because they found everything they wanted in Islam. They combined both books and found the best for themselves. They have narrated stories from the Torah.
Ka’ab al-Ahbar (r) said he found in the Torah the following and I also heard it on YouTube from Imam Sharawi, an Egyptian imam. He said, “O Children of Adam! I have created you for My service. Don’t play around. Don’t fool around. I have rationed your provision for you. I have set up your sustenance for you, so don’t get tired. If you accept what I have rationed for you, I will make your heart at ease and I will make your body in peace.”
If you accept what Allah (swt) has decreed for you of sustenance, from provisions, “I will make your heart at peace and I will make your heart at peace, not tired. If you do not accept what I have rationed for you, I will put the love of dunya in your heart. You will run in dunya everywhere like animals and still you will not get from it what I have rationed for you.”
Allah (swt) has already destined what you’re going to eat, what you’re going to drink, what you’re going to breathe in your mother’s womb. Rasoolullah (s) has given us that Hadith that when you were being created in your mother’s womb, at three or four months an angel comes and says, “O my Lord! What is his or her food, rizq? How long is this baby’s life? What will this baby eat? What will the baby’s `amal be? What will be his or her actions?” Allah (swt) has written all of this. The last thing is, “Is he or she going to be a happy one in Eternity or is he or she going to be a wicked one in Eternity?”
That is also written, but you don’t know. Don’t say, “Allah (swt) made me use drugs. It’s His fault.” You don’t know what Allah (swt) has written for you in your mother’s womb, so don’t say, “I’m doing bad because God wanted me to do bad. He has written it for me.” No, you chose it. You chose to be bad but He knows what you will choose. He knows His Creation. It is written if he will be a happy one at the end when he is leaving this world or he will be a sad one.
Sayyidina `Ibrahim ibn Adham (q) did not sit with people so his friends would ask him, “Why don’t you come sit with us?” He said, “Because I’m busy answering four questions. When I’m done with these four questions, I will sit with you.”
“What are these four questions?”
“When God Almighty was creating me in my mother’s womb and He sent that angel to ask, ‘Is he going to be a happy one or a sad one?’ What was the answer that came at that time? I’m working to find out what the answer was. I’m busy.
When I leave this world, will the Angel of Death come to me with a good image because I’m a believer or will he come to me with a bad image because I have screwed up? I’m working to find out how he will find me.
When I come out of my grave, will I come out from the people of faith or will I come out from the people of no faith? I’m working on that.
When God Almighty puts me in Jannah or in Jahannam, from which part, ‘W’amtaazu ’l-yawma ayyuha ’l-mujrimoon, O bad ones today, separate.’ I’m busy working on that. When I answer these four questions, I will come and be with you.”
That’s why so many Awliyaullah run away. The monks run away from people. The darwish run away from people. Why? Because they are busy with their Lord to secure these four questions. Are we going to leave this world with faith and good work or are we going to leave this world with no faith and bad work? If you can figure that out, good for you. If you cannot figure that out, you have work to do.
Don’t forget, O insaan, that Allah (swt) created you for His service, for His worship and he has not given you too many things to do. He has given you 24 hours to enjoy yourself. He is asking you to pray five times a day. How long does it take to pray, 5, 10 minutes? He is asking you to come to His service five times a day, let's say for 50 minutes and the rest is eating, drinking, driving on the highway in LA for four hours. Astaghfirullah. That’s how you spend your life, O insaan, O human beings!
In 24 hours, He is asking you for one hour. In 12 months, He is asking you for one month. From 100, he is asking you for two and a half. From your whole life, He is asking you to come to Hajj one time. In 24 hours, He is asking for one hour of service but we’re still not doing it. In 12 months, He is asking you to fast for one month to take you away from dunya, this world. From $100, He is asking you for $2.50 to give to charity. He said, “Keep the $97.50 for your pleasure. Do whatever you want with that but give that $2.50 to somebody in need.”
These are very simple things but nobody wants to do them. Everybody is running away. Still Allah (swt) is Forgiving. God Almighty is Forgiving. The Lord of Heavens is Forgiving. Whenever you repent from bad actions, he erases everything you have done. It’s very easy for Him. He says, “If your sins reach the clouds and you say, ‘Yaa Rabbee! Forgive me,’ all of them will go away.”
Mawlana Shaykh Nazim (q) said he heard from Grandshaykh `Abdallah (q) that if Shaytan just knew what Allah (swt) has in store for the believers, he would not bother with them anymore. He bothers with you for one, two, three, four years. You’re doing everything that is bad and you say, “O my Lord! Forgive me,” and everything is finished. Shaytan becomes very angry because all his work is for nothing.
That’s why we say, “Astaghfirullah. Alhamdulillah.” That’s why we call upon the Names of our Lord to help us be better ones, help us understand what’s important and help us understand what’s not important. The smart one builds his Akhirah. Build your Hereafter, O human being! Be like saints and grab that light that is in their hearts and water it so you can reach Heavens as Rasoolullah (s) has reached Heavens in this world.
It is said that when Rasoolullah (s) went on the Night Journey, Israa’ wa 'l-Mi`raaj, he reached a tree which was the end of Creation. After that, there is no Creation, it’s all Divine, everything belongs to the Divine. There’s no more Creation, it’s the Creator’s Domain. At that tree he saw Sayyidina `Ibrahim (a). His station was at that tree. He was sitting there looking at the Ummah of Rasoolullah (s), at all of humanity to see who would catch up to him. Sayyidina `Ibrahim (a) said, “Inna ma`iya Rabbee sayahdeen, I am going to my Lord.” Sayyidina `Ibrahim (a) has taken the way to reach his Lord. Sayyidina Muhammad (s) was following the same path because Allah (swt) told him, “Follow `Ibrahim.”
قُلْ صَدَقَ ٱللَّهُ فَٱتَّبِعُوا۟ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
Say: "(Allah) speaketh the Truth: follow the religion of Abraham, the sane in faith; he was not of the Pagans." (Surah Al-Imran, 3:95)
“We have ordered you to follow the way of `Ibrahim.” Rasoolullah (s) followed the way of Sayyidina `Ibrahim (a) until he reached that tree. That tree is the Tree of Tawheed. Sayyidina `Ibrahim (a) is the Qutb of Tawheed. He is the role model or the Pole of Oneness of Allah (swt). The end of the one who is following the Tree of Imaan will be Sidratu ‘l-Muntaha, his maqam will be that tree. After that tree, a green rug comes down, grabs you and you go up. That’s what happened to Rasoolullah (s) and raff-raff, a flying rug came down. Angels cannot pass anymore. It took the Prophet (s) up. If you are on his way, you will reach the Station of Sayyidina `Ibrahim (a).
وَإِذْ جَعَلْنَا ٱلْبَيْتَ مَثَابَةً لِّلنَّاسِ وَأَمْنًا وَٱتَّخِذُوا۟ مِن مَّقَامِ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ مُصَلًّى وَعَهِدْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلَ أَن طَهِّرَا بَيْتِىَ لِلطَّآئِفِينَ وَٱلْعَـٰكِفِينَ وَٱلرُّكَّعِ ٱلسُّجُودِ
Remember We made the House a place of assembly for men and a place of safety; and take ye the station of Abraham as a place of prayer; and We covenanted with Abraham and Isma'il, that they should sanctify My House for those who compass it round, or use it as a retreat, or bow, or prostrate themselves (therein in prayer). (Surah al-Baqarah, 2:125)
“Take from the Station of `Ibrahim a prayer.” That means pray in his station. Try to reach his station. From there with the following Rasoolullah (s), you can reach further to the Domain of the Creator. That’s what we are trying to do. In this Way we are trying to reach the Heavens. We don’t want to be stuck on earth.
It is said that when the Mevlevis used to whirl, they would elevate above the ground because their souls had taken over their bodies. Their spirituality took over their physicality. Their physicality had become the letter in the envelope. Now it’s the opposite. Now your body is the envelope and your spirit is the letter. Awliyaullah turn that around. Their spirit becomes the envelope and the body becomes the letter, inside. That’s how they elevate. A true saint can elevate and I heard that from Mawlana Shaykh Nazim (q).
This is for the people who believe. This is all belief. You cannot see it. If you see it, you will become from the People of Certainty. Sometimes Awliyaullah tell us.
Sayyidina Ahmad as-Sughuri (q) took one of the mureeds in khalwah. He said, “O my son, come with me.” Sayyidina Ahmad as-Sughuri (q), one of the grandshaykhs of Naqshbandiyya, went to the seclusion room of one of his mureeds and said, “O my son! Follow me for one night and keep your eyes down. Hold my jubba and follow me.” The mureed kept his eyes down and held the jubba. He noticed that they were elevating. I believe in that. Inshaa-Allah you can believe in that. The ones who believe will see. That’s what Mawlana Shaykh Nazim (q) has promised. He was elevating with his shaykh until they reached a level that Grandshaykh Abu Ahmad as-Sughuri put down a prayer carpet and said, “O my son! Step on this carpet and pray two raka`ats. On his Mi`raj Rasoolullah (s) prayed two raka`ats here.”
This mureed wanted to step up on the carpet but he got scared. His tawwakul, his yaqeen, his trust went down, “I am going to fall.” The shaykh jumped on the carpet and started to use it like a trampoline. He said, “It’s not going to fall. It’s steady but your heart is weak. Your heart still believes in the others,” so he took him down. When it’s time, Awliyaullah will take their mureeds into Heavens. Tariqah is the way to spirituality, into Heavens. When it’s time, you will reach. Until now we are down.
One time Mawlana Shaykh Nazim (q), my grandfather, told me, “Wait for the buraaq to come and get you.” Where will the buraaq come and get you from and take you to where? It is said that when Jibreel (a) went to Jannah to take the buraaq, he saw millions and millions and millions of buraaqs. I heard it from my father also, Mawlana Shaykh Hisham. He looked and he was told, “Go pick up the buraaq that is crying.” One was crying. He found him. His tears were from pearls or diamonds as Mawlana Shaykh Hisham has said. He asked, “Why are you crying?”
“I have been crying from the day I was created because I heard the name Muhammad (s). I was created for him. I have been crying since that day. I asked my Lord to make me the one that Muhammad (s) rides,” and he took him.
Buraaq is an animal that is bigger than a donkey but smaller than a mule. Everybody that is the Ummah of Rasoolullah (s) because he said, “Yaa Rabbee! Anything that You give me, is there some for my Ummah?” Rasoolullah (s) never asked anything for himself only. He said, “Is there something for my Nation?” These buraaqs are waiting for you. When the time comes, that heavenly horse will come down and say, “It’s your turn. You are being called. Come.”
وَٱللَّهُ يَدْعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ دَارِ ٱلسَّلَـٰمِ وَيَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
But Allah doth call to the Home of Peace: He doth guide whom He pleaseth to a way that is straight. (Surah Yunus, 10:25)
Allah (swt) is inviting His servants to Paradise. That buraaq will come and get you when it’s your turn.
When it’s not your turn, you still have to work and you wait on Earth. Do your service to Allah (swt) and inshaa-Allah, with the barakah of our shuyookh we can get to our stations in Malakoot. You have a station in Malakoot and you have a station in Mulk. We have a station here on earth. You have a house on earth and you have a house in Heavens. The keys of the house in Heavens are in the hands of saints. The keys of the houses on earth are in the hands of realtors. Find a heavenly realtor to take you up to your heavenly home. You have a station up there. You have a soul. The soul doesn’t belong to the earth. The soul belongs to spiritual realms. Your body goes back to earth but your soul is taken up either to Eternal bliss or to Eternal fire.
May Allah (swt) forgive us. May Allah (swt) guide all humanity to that Eternal bliss, make them turn back from their badness. Even when bad ones are doing bad, you should not curse them. You should ask that Allah (swt) turns their hearts to goodness. Yaa Rabbee, we are asking that You turn the hearts of bad ones to goodness and reward the good ones for what they have endured from the bad ones. We are asking for Your victory, yaa Rabbee, and we are asking for Your opening for them and for us. As You have opened for Rasoolullah (s) the doors of Heavens, open to us also the doors of Heavens, yaa Rabbi ’l-`Alameen.
Bi hurmati 'l-habeeb, wa bi hurmati 'l-Fatihah.
https://sufilive.com/-The-Seed-of-Faith-Requires-Tending-8189.html
© Copyright 2024 Sufilive. All rights reserved. This transcript is protected. by international copyright law. Please attribute Sufilive when sharing it. JazakAllahu khayr.