Mawlana Shaykh Nazim al-Haqqani
12 June 2011 Lefke, Cyprus
The whole world is a picture-like appearance; its existence and non-existence are the same but its reality is from pre-Eternal to Eternal.
Forty years ago, my master ordered me into seclusion in Rajab and Sha`ban, at the maqaam of Sayyidina al-Baz, “the Red Hawk,” Sayyidina Abdul Qadir Jilani (q), in Baghdad. My master was invited to Madinatu 'l-Munawwara, may the most excellent blessings and peace be upon its inhabitants, and from there he ordered me into seclusion.
The day I arrived at that maqaam, some Jilani brothers from Kurdistan were there to visit Mawlana Shaykh al-Baz. That night I slept with the group, who said, “We are here to visit Sayyidina al-Baz for a few days and in the morning, inshaa-Allah, with his permission we will take leave to our country.” In the morning I came down to enter and I reached the middle of the open area. A man came to me. There was nothing on his head and he wore common people’s dress; he was not dressed like a dervish, and his height was the same as Shaykh Murad but he was stout.
He came to me from the side and said, “As-salaamu `alaykum, O Shaykh.”
I replied, “Wa `alaykum as-salaam.”
He asked, “Are you Shaykh Nazim?”
“Yes.”
“And you came from Damascus, Sham, for seclusion here?”
“Yes.”
“Last night in the gathering, my master signaled me, saying, ‘This is my son coming from Sham for seclusion in my maqaam; he is ordered and permitted to do seclusion here for forty days. He should not go outside and his every need should be fulfilled here in this maqaam only.’ O Shaykh Nazim! I am ordered and permitted to serve you for the duration of your stay here. While you are in your room, whatever you need I am here for you because you cannot speak to anyone.”
I was in seclusion for forty days, and doing sulook, spiritual discipline or “wayfaring” for fifty days. When I completed what I was ordered, I sent a message to my master requesting to return to Sham.
Every day that one brought me what I needed. He brought bread with lentil soup. Daily I came down at suhoor time, when one-third of the night remains. They had constructed a new building behind the maqaam of the Sultan. There I sat at the place of his feet from morning until `Isha, and no one was there. We completed it because of Allah’s favor on us.
I am ashamed to say this, but you have opened this topic. When the order was fulfilled, I asked to return to Sham and that same man came to me on the last day.
I said, “O my master, my shaykh! My job is done and I ask your permission to return from where I came.”
He said, “Yes, you are permitted to go, but I have a request. I only request from you the abaa, cloak, on which you used to pray and do worship.”
I had brought it from Damascus for 120 Syrian dinars; it was an abaa for dervishes.
He asked, “I want this cloth from you,” so I gave it to him.
He took it and saluted me, then took one step back, then a second and third step back, and vanished. This was from sultan; it was a great honor to be called by him as “my son,” although how can I be his son? (Mawlana Shaykh laughs)