From Mawlana Shaykh Nazim's Personal Notes
A`oodhu billahi min ash-Shaytaani 'r-rajeem. Bismillaahi 'r-Rahmaani 'r-Raheem.
Yaa Sayyidee. Yaa Rahmatan lil-`Alameen.
I feel shy speaking in front of our `ulama, but I learned a few things from my teachers. I am nobody. I’m just trying to be a good Muslim, a good mu’min and to follow the Sunnah of Rasoolullah (s), to love his Ahlu ‘l-Bayt, to love Sahaabah al-kiram (r) and to love my fellow Muslims and mu’mins.
Bismillaahi 'r-Rahmaani 'r-Raheem. Dastoor, yaa Sayyidee, madad.
I’ve learned a few things from my teacher, Mawlana Shaykh Nazim al-Haqqani (q). He happens to be my grandfather too. I have also learned some things from my father, Shaykh Hisham Kabbani. He is sending salaams. Inshaa-Allah, we are in their footsteps, walking toward Jannah as Sayyidina al-Husayn (r), our imam, our beloved, our master and his companions have taught the Sunnah of Rasoolullah (s) and entered Jannah. Inshaa-Allah, we are on their path, on their footsteps.
A mu’min is somebody who tries to accept what Allah (swt) destined for him. That is a true mu’min. It is somebody who accepts from his Lord. He says, “O my Lord! This is from You. I am accepting.” That is a true mu’min, not somebody who starts questioning the Hikmah, the wisdom of Allah (swt). Us common ones are weak. We are not Awliyaullah or Sahaabah al-kiram. Astaghfirullah. Inshaa-Allah, we are considered from the family of Sayyidina al-Husayn (r). Physically we are from Ahlu ‘l-Bayt. Inshaa-Allah, spiritually we can all be from Ahlu ‘l-Bayt. Ameen.
A real believer says to his Lord, “Yaa Rabbee! Hadha minka. This is from You. Wa anaa `abduk, and I am Your servant. Wa anaa raadin, and I am accepting.” Allah (swt) loves that one because that one has accepted the Will of Allah (swt). Iraadatullah wa mashiyatullah. The Will of Allah (swt), what He wanted happens. Whether we like it or not, it happens. That is our belief.
Sayyidina Imam al-Husayn (r) said to his Lord, “Anaa raadin.” Allah (swt) loves him. Rasoolullah (s) made du`a for him. When he was holding Sayyidina al-Husayn (r) he said, “Allahumma innee uhibuhu fa ahhibak. O my Lord! I love him. Love him.”
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي يَزِيدَ، عَنْ نَافِعِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ لِلْحَسَنِ " اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُحِبُّهُ فَأَحِبَّهُ وَأَحِبَّ مَنْ يُحِبُّهُ " . قَالَ وَضَمَّهُ إِلَى صَدْرِهِ . وفي رواية عنه أنه ذكر الحسين بدل الحسن.
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (s) said to al-Hasan (a): "O Allah, I love him, so love him and love those who love him." He said: "And he hugged him to his chest." In one narration it was related as al-Husayn instead of al-Hasan. (Bukhari and Muslim)
He asked for the love of Allah (swt) to Sayyidina Imam al-Husayn (r).
The real mu’min has to follow in his footsteps and to see how Sayyidina Imam al-Husayn (r) accepted what was coming towards him; he accepted the badness of his enemies. He accepted their bad manners. They had the worst manners. He accepted the little mercy that existed with them. He accepted their akhlaaq ar-radiyya. “Radiyya'' means something that is so bad. My English is not that great. Mashaa-Allah, we have imams nowadays with English that makes you wonder, “What is meaning of that word?”
There is no need for very fancy words. What is important is to get the message across. Not everybody has a PhD or is a professor. Rasoolullah (s) advised us and I heard it from our teachers, “Speak to people according to their understanding.” Our understanding is weak.
Sayyidina Imam al-Husayn (r) knew what was coming towards him. Mawlana Shaykh Nazim (q) said, Sahaabah al-kiram (r) knew their destinies. Rasoolullah (s) reminded them of their promise to Allah (swt) on the Day of Promises. Before coming here, we promised Allah (swt).
Allah (swt) has taken us from the back of Sayyidina Adam (a) and our fathers and took us all out and said, “Alastu bi rabbikum. Qaloo balaa.”
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِنۢ بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ مِن ظُهُورِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَأَشْهَدَهُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ أَلَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ شَهِدْنَآ أَن تَقُولُوا۟ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ إِنَّا كُنَّا عَنْ هَـٰذَا غَـٰفِلِينَ
When thy Lord drew forth from the Children of Adam - from their loins - their descendants, and made them testify concerning themselves, (saying): "Am I not your Lord (who cherishes and sustains you)?"- They said: "Yea! We do testify!" (This), lest ye should say on the Day of Judgment: "Of this we were never mindful." (Surah al-A`raf, 7:172)
“Am I not your Lord?” That means, “I have destined something for you. Are you accepting to follow it? I am the Provider, the Sustainer, the Caretaker. I am the Wise One, Al-Hakeem. I am `Aleem. I am the Knowledgeable One. Do you accept what I have destined for you?” That is one of the meanings of that holy verse.
We all said, “Yes,” but we forgot. That is why we need messengers. In the old times, human beings needed prophets and messengers. We need Awliyaullah who follow Rasoolullah (s) to remind us of our Promise. Rasoolullah (s) reminded Sahaabah al-kiram (r) and his Ahlu ‘l-Bayt, his family, of their promise to Allah (swt). Allah (swt) said, “Wa radoo `anhu.” They accepted their destinies.
Sayyidina Imam al-Husayn (r) knew his destiny and he said to his Lord, “I am accepting.” He knew badness that was going to come from the land of Sham. Sham is the land of the pure, where Sayyidina `Ibrahim (a) and Sayyidina Nuh (a) went. That is the land of barakah and the land of prophets. It is not only Damascus, but all of that area, including Palestine, Jerusalem, Lebanon, north of Syria. That is all bilaadu ‘sh-Sham. But badness came from there because tyrants have taken over Sham. Zhalimeen have taken over the land of prophets. The Holy Land has been taken over by tyrants, then and now.
Sayyidina Imam al-Husayn (r) knew these tyrants would come and he was accepting his Lord’s destiny because that was mentioned in the Holy Qur’an. What would happen was mentioned in the Holy Qur’an. Everything is in the Holy Qur’an. Wa laa ratbin wa laa yaabis illa fee kitabin mubeen.
There is nothing that is moist or dry except it is in the Clear Book, the Holy Qur’an.
وَعِندَهُۥ مَفَاتِحُ ٱلْغَيْبِ لَا يَعْلَمُهَآ إِلَّا هُوَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ وَمَا تَسْقُطُ مِن وَرَقَةٍ إِلَّا يَعْلَمُهَا وَلَا حَبَّةٍ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتِ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا رَطْبٍ وَلَا يَابِسٍ إِلَّا فِى كِتَـٰبٍ مُّبِينٍ
With Him are the keys of the unseen, the treasures that none knoweth but He. He knoweth whatever there is on the earth and in the sea. Not a leaf doth fall but with His knowledge: there is not a grain in the darkness (or depths) of the earth, nor anything fresh or dry (green or withered), but is (inscribed) in a record clear (to those who can read). (Surah al-Anam, 6:59)
Mufassireen have said that the moist one is the one who has life like a human being. We have water. The dry ones are stones, rocks, mountains, and planets. They have no water but still they are from the creation. Everything that has water in it or doesn’t have water in it, that is all creation, is in the Clear Book.
Sayyidina Imam al-Husayn (r) knew the Holy Verse:
وَإِذْ نَجَّيْنَـٰكُم مِّنْ ءَالِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوٓءَ ٱلْعَذَابِ يُذَبِّحُونَ أَبْنَآءَكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَآءَكُمْ وَفِى ذَٰلِكُم بَلَآءٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌ
And remember, We delivered you from the people of Pharaoh: They set you hard tasks and punishments, slaughtered your sons and let your women-folk live; therein was a tremendous trial from your Lord. (Surah al-Baqarah, 2:49)
Wa fee dhalikum balaa’un min rabbikum`azheem. He knew what was going to happen. There is going to be a big balaa and imtihaan and test from your Lord. Sayyidina Imam al-Husayn (r)’s level is at the level of prophets. We will leave it to Allah (swt) but his level is high like the level of Sayyidina Musa (a) and the level of Sayyidina `Isa (a). When Ummatu ‘l-Habeeb (s) reach perfection, they go beyond the level of Anbiya, except Khaatamu ‘n-Nabiyyin. Why? Because mu’mins are supposed to follow where Rasoolullah (s) reached. Rasoolullah (s) crossed the Seven Heavens and he called his nation to come after him, fatabi’hum.
Sayyidina `Isa (a) is in the Second Heaven according to the story of the Mi`raaj. Sayyidina Musa (a) is in the Sixth Heaven. Sayyidina `Ibrahim (a) is in the Seventh Heaven, sitting with his back against Baytu ‘l-Ma’moor. But Rasoolullah (s) crossed and so the real mu’min has the potential to cross the Seven Heavens, following his beloved Prophet (s). By following our beloved Rasool (s), we have the potential to cross the Seven Heavens. We can reach higher but we are not Nabi (s). Nabi is different. Allah (swt) chose the Anbiya but for Awliyaullah the door is open.
Sayyidina Imam al-Husayn (r) is not a Nabi but he was a Waliy. A Nabi cannot become a Nabi before he becomes a Waliy. First is Maqamu ‘l-Wilayat and then Maqamu ‘n-Nubuwwat. A Nabi is a Waliy and a Nabi at the same time. That is for them. Nobody can reach that because Allah (swt) chose His Anbiya. If Rasoolullah (s) says, “I love this one,” that means he takes him like a father takes his son wherever he wants to go. Sayyidina Imam al-Husayn (r) crossed the Seven Heavens. We cannot say his level is that of Nabi. We have to make a distinction but his levels have gone beyond the Second Heaven, beyond the Sixth Heaven, and he followed his beloved grandfather (s). Jaddahu salloo `alay. Allahumma salli wa sallim wa baarik `alay. Send your blessings and salawaat on your grandfather, Rasoolullah (s).
Sayyidina Imam al-Husayn (r) had to show humanity that he is at the level of Sayyidina Musa (a) and he is at the level of Sayyidina `Isa (a). Rasoolullah (s) wanted to show that his grandson is beyond these two prophets. He endured the same difficulties that these two prophets endured. Sayyidina Musa (a) and Sayyidina `Isa (a) went through difficulties as did Sayyidina Imam al-Husayn (r) and more. Sayyidina Musa (a) was persecuted by Fir`aun. Sayyidina Musa (a) knew that Fir`aun was going to come against him and slaughter his children, Bani Isra’eel. Yudhabihoon abnaakum wa yastahyoon nisaakum, they were slaughtering the sons and they were taking as captive and slaves the women. What did they do to Sayyidina Imam al-Husayn (r)? They spared the females and they wanted to kill all of the males except for Sayyidina Zain al-`Abideen (r). It was a karama of Allah (swt) that kept him because through him came the generations of Sayyidina Imam al-Husayn (r).
Fir`aun did that to Bani Isra`eel. He cut up the males and took the females as slaves. The same thing happened to Sayyidina Imam al-Husayn (r) in that difficult battle. He received the station of Sayyidina Musa (a) right there and then. Not only that, they wanted to kill him like they killed Sayyidina `Isa (a). Because he endured that and he accepted that, Allah (swt) raised him to the level of Sayyidina `Isa (a).
The spiritual rewards were being given as he was sitting there because he was saying, “Anaa raadiy. Yaa Rabbee! Whatever You do to me, I am accepting.”
Mawlana Shaykh Nazim (q) said this and it has not been mentioned before and I don’t think you will find it in any book. This is from ghayb that Awliyaullah have seen. He said Sayyidina Imam al-Husayn (r) was lifted up before they touched him. As with Sayyidina `Isa (a), his image was put on somebody else. That one was getting the punishment for whatever he was doing.
This is ghayb. People can accept or not accept. This is iman bi ‘l-ghayb. We believe in what our shaykh has said. Sayyidina Imam al-Husayn (r) followed his grandfather, our beloved Rasoolullah (s) beyond the level of Sayyidina Musa (a), beyond the level of Sayyidina `Isa (a), all the way up to Rasoolullah’s (s) presence. He said, “ahaballaha man ahabba Husayn.” It is a Hadith Shareef.
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، عَنْ رَاشِدِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ يَعْلَى بْنِ مُرَّةَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: خَرَجْنَا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم، وَدُعِينَا إِلَى طَعَامٍ فَإِذَا حُسَيْنٌ يَلْعَبُ فِي الطَّرِيقِ، فَأَسْرَعَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَمَامَ الْقَوْمِ، ثُمَّ بَسَطَ يَدَيْهِ، فَجَعَلَ يَمُرُّ مَرَّةً هَا هُنَا وَمَرَّةً هَا هُنَا، يُضَاحِكُهُ حَتَّى أَخَذَهُ، فَجَعَلَ إِحْدَى يَدَيْهِ فِي ذَقْنِهِ وَالأُخْرَى فِي رَأْسِهِ، ثُمَّ اعْتَنَقَهُ فَقَبَّلَهُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم: حُسَيْنٌ مِنِّي وَأَنَا مِنْهُ، أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ مَنْ أَحَبَّ الْحَسَنَ وَالْحُسَيْنَ، سَبِطَانِ مِنَ الأَسْبَاطِ.
Ya`la ibn Murra said, "We went out with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and we were invited to eat. Husayn was playing in the road and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, raced the people and then spread out his arms. The boy began to run this way and that and the Prophet made him laugh until he caught hold of him. He put one of his hands under his chin and the other on his head and then embraced him. Then the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'Husayn is from me and I am from Husayn. Allah loves anyone who loves al-Hasan and al-Husayn. They are two of my distinguished descendants.'" (Al-Adab al-Mufrad 364, Book 19 Hadith 3)
Allah (swt) will love the one who loves Husayn. When you love Imam al-Husayn, you will be with him. Allah (swt) loves Imam al-Husayn (r). You will be beloved and loved by Allah (swt). Our `aqeedah is to love Ahlu ‘l-Bayt, to honor Ahlu ‘l-Bayt more than anybody else. We love Sayyidina Imams al-Hassan wa ‘l-Husayn (r).
Rasoolullah (s) said, “Husayn is from me and I am from Husayn.” Physically we know that but how is Rasoolullah (s) from Husayn? It’s a spiritual connection. There is something different here. Now we are going deeper into knowledge. I heard this from my grandfather, Mawlana Shaykh Nazim (q). Open your heart and your mind and inshaa-Allah, we can believe.
Mawlana Shaykh Nazim (q) has said that Allah (swt) made clear in His Book everything. Allah (swt) mentioned Rasoolullah (s) as the shajaratu ‘l-mubaraka. The shajaratu ‘l-mubaraka in the Holy Qur’an is the spirituality of Rasoolullah (s). In Ayatu ‘n-Noor in Surah an-Noor, asta`eedhu billah, Allahu nooru ‘s-samawati wa ‘l-ard. Allah (swt) is the Light of Heavens and earth.
ٱللَّهُ نُورُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ مَثَلُ نُورِهِۦ كَمِشْكَوٰةٍ فِيهَا مِصْبَاحٌ ٱلْمِصْبَاحُ فِى زُجَاجَةٍ ٱلزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّهَا كَوْكَبٌ دُرِّىٌّ يُوقَدُ مِن شَجَرَةٍ مُّبَـٰرَكَةٍ زَيْتُونَةٍ لَّا شَرْقِيَّةٍ وَلَا غَرْبِيَّةٍ يَكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِىٓءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نَارٌ نُّورٌ عَلَىٰ نُورٍ يَهْدِى ٱللَّهُ لِنُورِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَضْرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْأَمْثَـٰلَ لِلنَّاسِ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The Parable of His Light is as if there were a Niche and within it a Lamp: the Lamp enclosed in Glass: the glass as it were a brilliant star: Lit from a blessed Tree, an Olive, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil is well-nigh luminous, though fire scarce touched it: Light upon Light! Allah doth guide whom He will to His Light: Allah doth set forth Parables for men: and Allah doth know all things. (Surah al-Noor, 24:35)
Mathala noorihi ka-mishkaatin feeha misbaah.The example of His Light is like an encasement, mishkaat. In it is misbah, a lamp. Al-misbaahu fee zujaaja. This lamp is encircled by glass. Az-zujaajatu ka anahaa kawkabu duriyy. The zujaaja is a shiny, luminous star. Yu’kadoo min shajaratin mubarakatin. That star’s light is lit from the shajaratu ‘l-mubaraka, the Holy Tree. That means the Holy Tree gives the light to the star. That is the connection.
When Rasoolullah (s) says, “Husayn is from me and I am from Husayn,” it means his light and my light are circulating between the shajaratu ‘l-mubaraka and the luminous star. Rasoolullah (s) is ash-shajaratu ‘l-mubaraka. From it you take your light. Everything in creation takes its light from that shajaratu ‘l-mubaraka, from Rasoolullah (s).
Mawlana Shaykh Nazim (q) said Sayyidina Muhiyuddin ibn al-`Arabi (r) was explaining that the shajaratu ‘l-mubaraka is the spirituality of Rasoolullah (s). Everything takes its light from there. Sayyidina Imam al-Husayn (r) is the kawkabun durriy, the luminous star. He represents ar-rooh ash-shareef. These are spiritual meanings.
Sayyidina Imam al-Husayn (r) represented the noble soul, abu ‘l-arwah ar-Rasool (s), the father of souls. The father of souls is Rasoolullah (s). Ar-rooh ash-shareef is under balaa. Your soul in your body is under balaa. From who? From Yazeed and from Fir`aun and from Nimrod. That is your ego. Your ego wants to destroy you spiritually. Your ego is after killing you, meaning subjecting you to Jahannam, Eternal punishment. It does not want you to live. Living means Eternal life in Jannah.
Sayyidina Imam al-Husayn (r) was showing you the example of what’s happening between your soul and your nafs, the ego that does not submit to the orders of Allah (swt) , that does not accept Rasoolullah’s (s) message. Why didn’t the Quraysh accept the message of Rasoolullah (s)? Because of their egos. They rejected the message. You have the same being inside of you that rejects the message of Islam, O human being. Not everybody accepts Islam. That thing inside of you is after killing you and killing your children who are as-sifaat ar-roohaniyya, the spiritual characteristics of karam, hilm, `ilm, iraada, and qudra. Allah (swt) has given you these siffat al-hameeda, praiseworthy characteristics. Sayyidina Imam al-Husayn (r) represented these praiseworthy characteristics.
The pure soul represents as-siffat al-hameeda, the praiseworthy characteristics, a human being’s perfection in taking over these praiseworthy characteristics from himself and leaving the akhlaaq ar-radiyya, the bad characteristics and manners that the ego has.
Yazid and his soldiers represented an-nafsu ‘l-ammaara, the kafir ego and his soldiers represented the kafir army. They were after the mu’min which is the soul that has given its promise to Allah (swt) that, “You are my Lord” and it’s a mu’min. A kafir is always after the mu’min as Fir`aun the kafir was after Sayyidina Musa (a), the mu’min, as the people were after Sayyidina Musa (a). What were they running after them for? To kill them.
Sayyidina Imam al-Husayn (r) was first showing his levels and second, he was showing what happens inside of you. This army that is in Sham, the Holy Land, where is the holy land inside of you? It’s your heart. Qalb al-mu’min. The heart of the believer is the holy land, that land that has nothing in it except Allah (swt)’s remembrance and the praise of Rasoolullah (s). He is telling you to beware. Somebody has taken over the holy land in your heart and is going to come after you to kill you and your siffat al-hameeda, your praiseworthy characteristics.
Look at the people outside. Do they have hilm, tolerance, patience, generosity, love and mercy? Or do they have hatred, enmity, jealousy, greed, and revenge? What do they have? They have the same thing that Yazid and his people had. They’re coming to human beings to destroy them.
Sayyidina Imam al-Husayn (r) was showing us that we have to ask for najaat. Sayyidina Musa (a) asked his Lord for najaat. Allah (swt) says: “Wa idh anjaynakum, We have saved you.”
You turn back to your Lord. “O my Lord! This ego and the characteristics of my ego. Yesterday I was angry. The day before I was gossipping. The day before I was jealous. The day before I was greedy.” All of us can say that. “Yaa Rabbee! This ego and its characteristics are going to destroy me. If you don’t save me, O my Lord, I will never be able to enter Jannah.” Rasoolullah (s) has said that nobody will be saved by their amal, their actions. Only if Allah (swt) accepts us with His Rahmah and Fadl can we enter Jannah.
Inshaa-Allah, all of us can learn and understand the danger we are in. Yaumu ‘l-Ashura is the day when the mu’min is saved. Sayyidina `Ibrahim (a) was saved from the fire of Nimrood. Nimrod is inside of you too. The other day we called the ego Nimrood, the one that claims, “Anaa rabbukumu ‘l-`alaa,” like Fir`aun. The ego claims to be god, saying, “Obey me. Don’t obey your Lord. I am also a lord or I am the lord.” That’s what the ego says to each one of us. “Obey me. Don’t obey anybody else. No message, no nothing. Leave that alone. Haram or halal, I don’t know. If I like this, you do it for me.” This is the one that is trying to make you obey it.
Sayyidina `Ibrahim (a) was saved from Nimrood on this day. It is also said that Sayyidina Yusuf (a) came back to his father on this day. It is said that Sayyidina Adam’s (a) repentance was accepted on this day. Sayyidina Ayub (a) was cured from his diseases on this day. Sayyidina Sulayman (a) regained his kingdom on this day. Sayyidina Dawud’s (a) tawbah was also accepted on this day, Ashura, the 10th of Muharram. It is said that Sayyidina Yunus (a) was spit out of the whale’s body on this day. Sayyidina Musa (a) was saved from Fir`aun on this day. Sayyidina `Isa (a) was raised up to the Heavens on this day.
That is where the nasr of Allah (swt) to His believing servant comes, on this day of Ashura. That is why it is an important day. We are asking Allah (swt) for nasr for Muslims, nasr for mu’mins internally and externally. This day is coming and we are expecting that. Our teacher has told us that on Ashura Sayyidina Mahdi will appear. Every year we wait for that day to find and to be with the grandson of Rasoolullah (s). The grandson is Sayyidina Imam al-Husayn (r). We are waiting for that. Our belief is that he will rescue the Ummah from the calamities that have overtaken it. That comes from the nasr of Sayyidina Imam al-Husayn (r) and Sayyidina Zain al-`Abideen (r).
How do you fight the one coming against you inside of you? Again, the story of Sayyidina Musa (a). What happened when Sayyidina Musa (a) ran away from Fir`aun? Running away meaning he was moving towards Allah (swt). Each one of us tries to move towards our Lord but who is behind you trying to pull you back? Shaytan and its helper, the nafs, ego. Sayyidina Yusuf (a) said and this is in the Holy Qur’an:
وَمَآ أُبَرِّئُ نَفْسِىٓ إِنَّ ٱلنَّفْسَ لَأَمَّارَةٌۢ بِٱلسُّوٓءِ إِلَّا مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّىٓ إِنَّ رَبِّى غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
"Nor do I absolve my own self (of blame): the (human) soul is certainly prone to evil, unless my Lord do bestow His Mercy: but surely my Lord is Oft- forgiving, Most Merciful." (Surah Yusuf, 12:53)
Innan nafsa la-ammaaratum bi ’s-suw. Allah (swt) is confirming in the Holy Qur’an what Sayyidin Yusuf (a) has said. The nafs that is inside of each of us orders, ammara, too much, what? Suu. What does Shaytan do? Innamaa yaamurukum bi’s-sooiy wa ’l-fahshaa. Shaytan also orders you with soo. Soo is badness, sins, disobedience, indecency, evil. Shaytan and nafs are both working together to destroy you, O human being, and to kill you. To kill you means to make you be in Jahannam by taking away your Eternal life in Jannah. Shaytan has put in his head, “I will destroy Adam and his children. I will take them to wherever I am going.” He is going to la`natullah. Where is he going to go? Allah (swt) has sent la`na on him. Whoever is with Shaytan will get la`na too because he is befriending the one who is la`eem, rajeem, mal`oom.
Sayyidina Musa (a) moved with his people, running away from Fir`aun physically. Sayyidina Musa represents the heart and its characteristics and its people, which is worshiping, humbleness, humility, `uboodiyya to Allah (swt). It’s moving away from Fir`aun, running away. “We don’t want to be with you.” Fir`aun says, “No, you are my servants. I will get you.” They come to the sea and they cannot move to the other side except by crossing the sea. What sea is inside of you, O human being? You are running away from your bad ego. You are like Musa (a) running away from Fir`aun. All of that is happening inside of you.
That is called baseera. Basr is this. Baseera is to see what’s happening inside, internally. Only Awliyaullah can show that. Sayyidina Musa (a) reached the sea. His people said, “Yaa Musa! You promised that we would be rescued. What is this? We hit a big sea. If we go in it, we will drown. If we don’t go in, Fir`aun will catch us and kill us.” He said:
قَالَ كَلَّآ إِنَّ مَعِىَ رَبِّى سَيَهْدِينِ
(Moses) said: "By no means! my Lord is with me! Soon will He guide me!" (Surah ash-Shuara, 26:62)
Inna ma`eeya Rabbee sa-yahdeen. “With me is my Lord. He will guide me.” He waited. It is said there were hundreds of thousands of them and Fir`aun was multiple times their number with his army. He reached and said, inna haoolaa’i shirdimatoon qaleelun, “These ones are few.” He demeaned them, calling them a little group. Wa innahum lana yughadi’oon. “They have surely angered us.”
Your ego is angry at you. When you pray, your ego is angry at you. When you fast, your ego is angry at you. Why? “You deprived me of my food. You deprived me of my rest. You deprived me of my pleasures.” It’s angry.
What happened to Sayyidina Musa (a)? Allah (swt) said, “Hit that sea with your stick. Don’t be afraid of the huge sea in front of you. You are with Allah (swt). You said, ‘My Lord is with me.’ Hit it!”
فَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنِ ٱضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ ٱلْبَحْرَ فَٱنفَلَقَ فَكَانَ كُلُّ فِرْقٍ كَٱلطَّوْدِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ
Then We told Moses by inspiration: "Strike the sea with thy rod." So it divided, and each separate part became like the huge, firm mass of a mountain. (Surah ash-Shuarah, 26:63)
He hit the sea and out of that, the sea split. Fa kaana koolu firqin ka’altudi ‘l-adheem. Every split was like a huge mountain. He hit it with a stick but Who was with that stick and with him? By Allah (swt)’s Power it split. Allah (swt) sent the sun and the wind to dry up the bottom of the sea because you cannot walk on the bottom of the sea. It’s all algae and moss and whatever because it’s wet. Allah (swt) sent the wind and the sun to dry it up for people to walk. Fadrib lahum tareeqan fi ‘l-bahri ya’basa laa takhafu darakan wa laa takhsha.
وَلَقَدْ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنْ أَسْرِ بِعِبَادِى فَٱضْرِبْ لَهُمْ طَرِيقًا فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ يَبَسًا لَّا تَخَـٰفُ دَرَكًا وَلَا تَخْشَىٰ
We sent an inspiration to Moses: "Travel by night with My servants, and strike a dry path for them through the sea, without fear of being overtaken (by Pharaoh) and without (any other) fear." (Surah Ta-Ha, 20:77)
Yabasa means the bottom of the sea has to dry up. How does it dry up? How do you dry your hair or your beard? Hair dryer. Now they have hair dryers that dry your hair in one minute. It’s called Dyson.
“Don’t be afraid. I am with you.” Who was with Sayyidina Imam al-Husayn (r)? Why are you afraid? Why is the mu’min afraid? Because he is not with Allah (swt) anymore. Not the mu’min, the fake “Muslim.” Don’t be afraid. Say, innamaa Rabbee sa yahdeen, “My Lord is with me.” He will guide you. Sayyidina `Ibrahim (a) said, alladhee khalaqanee ... “I am not afraid. He created me. He will guide me.”
ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَنِى فَهُوَ يَهْدِينِ
"Who created me, and it is He Who guides me. (Surah ash-Shu`ara, 26:78)
That sun and wind came and dried up the bottom of the sea and he walked with his feet. Awliyaullah have said that Fir`aun came and said, “Oh this sea has split from my majesty so I can catch my slaves.” He was still proud. His people said, “If you are brave, enter the sea like Musa entered. If you are god, enter that sea.” His people didn’t want to enter. They saw that Sayyidina Musa (a) had something different. Fir`aun had nothing. He was ‘hot air’ as they say. So many people nowadays are only ‘hot air’. They cannot do anything.
He was afraid to enter but Allah (swt) saved Sayyidina Musa (a) and his people. Mufassiroon have said and this is also mentioned by Imam Tabarani that Sayyidina Jibreel (a) came on a female horse. All of Fir`aun’s army had male horses. Sayyidina Jibreel (a) came with a female horse and entered the sea. The horse of Fir`aun ran after it. Fir`aun did not know what was happening. He couldn’t see Jibreel (a). His horse saw the female horse. When Fir`aun’s horse went, all of the army’s horses went after him. Yuhlika `adoowakum.
قَالُوٓا۟ أُوذِينَا مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَأْتِيَنَا وَمِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جِئْتَنَا قَالَ عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ أَن يُهْلِكَ عَدُوَّكُمْ وَيَسْتَخْلِفَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرَ كَيْفَ تَعْمَلُونَ
They said: "We have had (nothing but) trouble, both before and after thou camest to us." He said: "It may be that your Lord will destroy your enemy and make you inheritors in the earth; that so He may try you by your deeds." (Surat al-A`raf, 7:129)
Allah (swt) will destroy your enemy. Allah (swt) will eventually destroy your enemy. He has promised that to His people. Allah (swt) doesn’t make His mu’min believer a liar. He sent Jibreel to destroy his enemy as Sayyidina Musa (a) promised his people. Wa yastakhfilakum mim ba`dee. “And He will make you khalifah to see what you do.” What did they do after that? They worshiped the statue of the golden calf.
Yaa Rabbee, astaghfirullah. Audhoo bika min ash-shirki, yaa Rabbee. Make us only worship You alone, yaa Rabbi ‘l-`Alameen and follow the footsteps of Ahlu ‘l-Bayti Rasoolullah (s).
All the horses went in and Sayyidina Mika’eel (a) came from the back and started pushing the horses. Sometimes they have cowboys, one in the back and one in the front or the shepherd. All of them went in. Sayyidina Musa (a) came out and Allah (swt) ordered the sea, “Take them!”
Be careful. Allah (swt) can say to anything, “Take them.” He will take the tyrants and take them very quickly. Don’t despair of Allah (swt)’s Rahmah. Allah (swt) knows whatever is happening to our Muslim brothers and sisters. Inshaa-Allah, in due time He will rescue them. This is `Ashura. It is the time when mu’mins are rescued. Inshaa-Allah, Allah (swt) will send them a rescuer. Yaa Allah (swt), rescue our mu’min brothers and sisters.
Sayyidina Musa (a) moved and Fir`aun died. Awliyaullah have said the way you will save yourself from the bad ego that is trying to destroy you is by hitting the stick on that sea. That sea is bahru ‘d-dunya. That sea that you are living in is dunya. You are moving towards Allah (swt) but you have to cross over the sea of dunya. You can only cross over the see of dunya with `asaa ad-dhikr, Laa ilaaha illa-Llah. You have to hit that dunya with, Laa ilaaha illa-Llah.” Whenever dunya seduces you, say, “Laa ilaaha illa-Llah.” Whenever dunya gives you choices and options and whatever you want but it’s only haraam, say, “Laa ilaaha illa-Llah.” the only way you can cross that sea is with `asaa, the stick of Laa ilaaha illa-Llah and not by anybody. It has to be in the hand of Musa, yadahu ’l-bayda. He has a pure, luminous hand like Sayyidina Husayn (r) was a luminous star. You have to have the light.
Only in the hand of Sayyidina Musa (a) can the stick split the sea. That means your murshid has to split the sea for you. When we go to our pir, he gives us talqeen. Allahu Allahu Allahu Haqq. The murshid has a pure heart and he has light. With that power he can split dunya, he can split the sea and he can split this water. What is this water? The water of that sea is the desires and the pleasures of dunya. He will split it right and left by saying, “Laa ilaaha illa-Llah.” When you do this, Allah (swt) will send the wind of inayaah on you and the sun of hidayah to you. You will see your way and Allah (swt) will dry it up so you don’t slide off Siratu ‘l-Mustaqeem.
So many people slide off Siratu ‘l-Mustaqeem because of the wet floor. Awliyaullah have said it is from shirk, making the ego a partner with Allah (swt). The one who has lost the way has lost the way. They have split from Siratu ‘l-Mustaqeem. You need inayaah. Allah (swt) has to take care of you. It has to become dry so you don’t slide off Siratu ‘l-Mustaqeem. You need the sun of hidayah, the light to see where to go.
When you find a pir or murshid and he gives you that `aasa, the stick of, “Laa ilaaha illa-Llah,” your heart is saying, “Laa ilaaha illa-Llah.” No matter how much your ego wants to entice you with dunya, it won’t reach you. You are saved and out of dunya, out of the pleasures of dunya. That Fir`aun, that ego’s badness will drown in the dunya and they will enter the Fire. Don’t enter the Fire with them.
Sayyidina Imam al-Husayn (r) has taught us many lessons. He has given himself to the Way of Allah (swt) as He wanted it to happen. That is why whoever fasts on Ashura, whoever prays extra prayers, Allah (swt) will forgive his sins. It is in the Hadith that whoever fasts on the day of Ashura, Allah (swt) will forgive the sins of the past year and more. Allah (swt) is not saying, “I can only forgive you one year.” Allah (swt) is Kareem. He can forgive you, your father, grandfather and your great grandparents because you’re from them. He can forgive all of your ancestors. Before you make iftar and ask, “O my Lord! Forgive me and all of my ancestors,” Allah (swt) says He accepts the du`a of the fasting one.
Try to do extra worship on this day but don’t be like the Yahood and the Christians, joining with another day. Inshaa-Allah that Allah (swt) will make you victorious over your internal enemies and your external enemies. May Allah (swt) make us from among those who love Ahlu ‘l-Bayt, who love Anbiya and Awliya and learn from them. Take a Waliyullah as your pir. Find a Waliyullah and stay with him. He will teach you how to leave dunya and turn yourself to Mawla.
Sayyidina Imam al-Husayn (r) turned his face to Mawla. He was not afraid that, “I will die now, I will die tomorrow, I will die one year later or ten years later. My face already turned towards my Lord. It does not matter if I stay longer or shorter in dunya.” Turn your face to Mawla always. Only a pir murshid, a true Waliyullah that follows the Sunnah of Rasoolullah (s) can do that, not fake ones. Leave the fake ones. Try to find a real one.
May Allah (swt) make us find one. Ameen. Inshaa-Allah, we can remember what we have said and May Allah (swt) always keep us together as strong mu’mins, supporting each other and send victory to Ummatu ‘l-Muhammad (s), to Ummatu ‘l-Islam. Inshaa-Allah a near victory is coming.
Wa min Allahi 't-tawfeeq, bi hurmati 'l-habeeb, wa bi sirri Surat al-Fatihah.
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