19 July 2014 Fenton Zawiya, Michigan
A`oodhu billahi min ash-Shaytaani 'r-rajeem. Bismillaahi 'r-Rahmaani 'r-Raheem. Alhamdulillahi Rabbi 'l-`Alameen, wa ’s-salaatu wa ’s-salaamu `alaa ashrafi 'l-mursaleena Sayyidina wa Nabiyyina Muhammadin wa `alaa aalihi wa sahbihi ajma`een.
As-salaamu `alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh. We mentioned previously the qualifications or principles of the discipline of the mureed with the shaykh, how must he act in front of his teacher and what does he have to do. He is not a school teacher but the `ulama al-Ummah, the inheritors of Prophet (s).
The Prophet (s) said:
العلماء ورثة الانبياء
The (genuine) scholars are inheritors of the Prophets.
They are not only `ulama in the general meaning, but specifically, they are sincere, pious, and don't change according to politics. Some `ulama today have become politicians who change their fatwas; they give a fatwa and when the government says, “Change your fatwa,” they change it. However, Inheritors of the Prophet (s) must be on Haqq and carry the flag of Haqq. So what are the different disciplines the mureed must show?
The Requisite of Surrendering to the Shaykh
We previously explained surrendering to the teaching of the shaykh and if you have a question you may ask, but you must submit to what he tells you as he has more experience than you. If you object to what he says, it means you consider him lower in intelligence or spiritual rank than you. It means you cannot judge what he is saying based on what you think, because you have not yet reached the level of his training he achieved throughout his life, especially his training of meeting with people and learning from them their difficulties, problems, obstacles and everything needed to take care people who come to him. He can see more than us as he has more experience So if you find such a person who is always straightforward and does not cheat or lie, then he will be a good teacher for you.
Allah (swt) will guide us to such a good teacher, as He said to the Prophet (s):
إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاء وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ
It is true you (O Muhammad) you will not be able to guide every one whom you love, but Allah guides those whom He wills and He knows best those who receive guidance. (Surat al-Qasas, 28:56)
وَأْتُواْ الْبُيُوتَ مِنْ أَبْوَابِهَا
Enter houses through their doors. (Surat al-Baqara, 2:189)
When you want to enter a house, enter from the door. If you want to enter the heart of someone, enter his heart through your love to him. You cannot enter by criticizing him as then he will not be with you. Be careful how you approach such kinds of people. So first is to surrender and second is to not object. The Prophet (s) never said laa, no, in his life and he gave an answer to the one who asked.
وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَى إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَى
Nor does he say (anything) of (his own) desire. It is no less than inspiration sent down to him.
(Surat an-Najm, 53:3-4)
Sayyidina Muhammad Never Said “No” and Responded to Unbelievers
with Dignity and Good Manners
Prophet (s) does not speak from his own desires, he speaks only from wahiyy: al-nutuq, utterance, he does not say anything out of his mouth except it is wahiyy. That is why he never said laa, as you can never say no to the Revelation of Allah (swt). If anyone came to ask or if there was something that might make that person unhappy, Prophet (s) referred them to the Sahaabah (r).
Grandshaykh, may Allah bless his soul, related that one time a group of unbelievers came to see the Prophet (s), the spotlight of humanity: Prophet (s) is always shining so he attracts and he attracted these kinds of people who were unbelievers to see what kind of religion he is bringing and they said, “Yaa Muhammad!” Astaghfirullah al-`Azheem, they did not say, “Yaa Rasoolullah,” because they were not Believers yet.
It is always recommended to say “Sayyidina Muhammad,” as that is respect, rather than saying “Muhammad” alone. According to Imam Shafi`i (r), in salaat, when reciting Salawaat al-Ibrahimiyya, one says, “Allahumma salli `alaa Sayyidina Muhammad wa `alaa aali Sayyidina Ibrahim.” That is the Shafi`i school, and in the Hanafi school you recite, Allahumma salli `alaa Muhammad wa `alaa aali Ibrahim. That is to give t`azheem to the Prophet (s) as he is not like us, he was raised under the Gaze of Allah (swt) before Sayyidina Adam (a) was even created! Sayyidina Muhammad (s) is bashar, as Imam al-Busayri (r) said, “He is a human being but a subtle human being. He is a jewel and people are pebbles.” What is the benefit of pebbles? Nothing.
So that group of unbelievers came to the Prophet (s) and they said, “Yaa Muhammad! You are calling us to a new religion and we were watching your companions, the Sahaabah, and we found that when they enter in their prayer, as we asked them, they have a lot of dunya gossips in their minds. The whole dunya comes in their brain during the prayer. They don't focus well, but us, when we enter in our prayers, nothing from dunya comes to our minds. We focus on our belief in our religion. So we are wondering, of course, we will say our religion is better.”
Grandshaykh (q) said, “The Prophet (s) told Sayyidina Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (r) to answer them and Sayyidina Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (r) said, ‘O brothers,’ extending his hands towards them.” He was building bridges, interfaith, not like today’s interfaith. Today they think interfaith programs are something new, but the Prophet (s) was making interfaith to attract people to the right way, to Islam.
Sayyidina Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (r) said, “O Brothers! You are right in what you are saying, people get that gossip in their ears, but I will ask a question: if we have a palace and a shack, and a thief is coming to steal, does he go to the shack or to the palace?”
They said, “What kind of question is that, obviously he goes to the palace.”
He said, “With all my respect to you and my love for you, Shaytan will first enter the heart that is full of imaan, full of light and full of faith. He is not interested in the shack, there is nothing there. He is interested in the palace. The heart of the mu`min is a palace and that is why he says, ‘I will go to the palace first and then the shack.’ That is why Shaytan uses all his effort to mess up the prayers of Believers.”
Those unbelievers said, “Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha illa-Llah wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadu ‘r-Rasoolullah.”
Sayyidina Muhammad Never Complained and Was Infallible
The Prophet (s) never complained, `adm al-`itiraad. People today complain even when food is put on the table, saying, “We like this and we don't like that.” The Prophet (s) had the best manners. When he was invited to a dinner, he never said, "I don't like that." If he did not like it, he would not say anything. So prophets never say, "no." They are trying to show us through their experience and if we follow without complaining we will reach to the highway or the Shore of Safety, which we previously explained in detail.
We come to number three: alaa y`ataqiduu fee shaykhihi al-i`smatu. Every human being has mistakes, except the Prophet (s), even other prophets who either said or did something. Allah made them infallible because Allah made them prophets. They threw Sayyidina Yusuf (a) in the well but Allah made them prophets. There is wisdom behind that. The Prophet (s) is ma`soom and all prophets are in that state of ma`soomeen: there are no sins on them, they are infallible, even Sayyidina Ibrahim (a). When he hit the statue with an axe and cut its head, they asked him:
قَالَ بَلْ فَعَلَهُ كَبِيرُهُمْ هَذَا فَاسْأَلُوهُمْ إِن كَانُوا يَنطِقُونَ
He answered: “No, it was this one, the biggest of them that did it, but ask them provided they can speak!” (Surat al-Anbiya, 21:63)
Because of that he and all his Ummah have to go to the Prophet (s) for intercession and similarly for all other prophets. There are examples of that. The Prophet (s) never said something wrong, he is infallible, protected. That is why you have to know and many of mureeds of different Tariqahs make the same mistake, although the Naqshbandi Tariqah insists on complete Shari`ah and all other Tariqahs are the same, except for the pseudo-Sufis, who make conferences yet they have nothing to do with Tasawwuf, although they try to build their good manners. In Islamic Tasawwuf they build their manners on the basis of Shari`ah and then build up the Maqaam al-Ihsaan, not like those who have a building that is collapsing and they are decorating the walls. Islamic Shari`ah is the strong foundation, then you can decorate it.
The Shaykh is not Infallible
Never consider your shaykh ma`soom. He is not ma`soom, he is not. If you think he is infallible you are making a mistake. The shaykh does make mistakes. These are politely called zillat al-lisaan aw zillat al-aydee, slips of tongue or slips of the hands. These small things that come, entering a wrong place or wrong saying, for sure he fell in it, but he pulled himself out by repenting. Even if he has reached the highest Level of Perfection, you cannot consider the shaykh to be infallible, ma`soom. His heart is always connected with his Lord in the Divine Presence, he is busy there. So he might say things without focusing, it might be something that is not working out, if we want to say it is incorrect. As a mureed you have to give him the good thoughts and benefit of the doubt; if you don't, you are also committing a sin. If you see something that you cannot understand and you did not give the benefit of the doubt because it is something that is not working out in your mind, then go and ask him as the Sahaabah (r) asked the Prophet (s). Don't say that he knows everything. Grandshaykh (q) said that he knows everything, but he does not know anything: he knows everything when he has permission of the Prophet (s) to look and he doesn't know anything when he has no permission of the Prophet (s) to look with binoculars.
The Shaykh does not Use His Spiritual Power to Know Every Matter
In 1967, Syria, Egypt, Jordan and Palestine were at war with Israel. He said, “Go quickly and open the radio,” as there was nothing more at that time.
We looked at Mawlana and said, “You know everything, what is the radio for then?”
He said, “I know everything and I know nothing. I am not going to use a rocket to kill a worm. I will kill a worm by pressing on it and it will die. Why should I use a rocket, why should I use my spiritual power to look at what is happening next door?”
So awliyaullah don’t look at every matter with their spiritual powers, they use normal ways.
In another incident Grandshaykh (q) said, “Go get the newspaper.”
We thought to ourselves, “Why does Mawlana have to get a newspaper? He knows everything.”
They don’t use their power, they save it for the Day of Judgment. Both of Shah Baha’uddin Naqshband’s eyes rotated, the pupil over the white and the white over the pupil, like a windmill turning and turning non-stop. Why were his eyes turning? Through his spiritual power he was turning so that he kept his spiritual power for his students in Akhirah and not to use it in dunya.
Intercession of the Shaykh
Grandshaykh (q) said that every Ummah will come to the Prophet (s) for intercession and the Prophet (s) is interceding for his Ummah first. Also, different shuyookh will come to the Prophet (s) with their mureeds. he said that on the Day of Judgment, the Prophet (s) will give permission to release that power Shah Baha’uddin Naqshband (q) has accumulated in dunya. He will send that light that he has acquired like a laser beam, on Yawm al-Mahshar, and it will go out from his eyes and go left then right and make a rectangle and anyone under that light will be sent to Paradise, as the Prophet (s) will accept the intercession of the shaykh that, “These are my mureeds so send them to Paradise.” The shuyookh will come in groups, ask shafa`ah and that will be granted, but not for the groups who are doing plastic meditation, who don't follow Shari`ah.
So don’t think that the shaykh is infallible, they do make mistakes. If one thinks his shaykh is infallible, then if he sees any mistake he might lose his faith completely. Therefore, he must know that the shaykh can make a mistake, but as the Prophet (s) said:
إِذَا حَكَمَ الْحَاكِمُ فَاجْتَهَدَ فَأَصَابَ فَلَهُ أَجْرَانِ وَإِذَا حَكَمَ فَأَخْطَأَ فَلَهُ أَجْرٌ وَاحِدٌ
When the judge passes a judgment in which he strived and was correct, then he receives two rewards and when he judges and is mistaken, then he receives one reward. (Tirmidhi)
And they asked the Prophet (s), “How does he get rewarded for a mistake?” The Prophet (s) said, “Because of his intention.”
انما الاعمال بالنيات و انما لكل امرئ ما نوي
Deeds are only by intentions, for each man is only for which he has intended. (Bukhari and Muslim)
Be Like the Sahaabah: Always Seek More Knowledge and Closer Proximity to Allah
Ask the Shaykh for More Knowledge
Sahaabah (r) used to ask the Prophet (s), as they felt that they need more. Likewise, the shaykh will ask his shaykh and his shaykh will ask his shaykh. Just as Sayyidina Imam al-Bukhari used to ask the Prophet (s) about the hadith he collects to ask if it is correct or not. The Prophet (s) would inform him in a dream, even telling him which chapter (heading) to put the hadith under. Imam Bukhari is not infallible, but he is sincere. So Sahaabah (r) used to ask the Prophet (s) something in order to benefit them and those who come later.
One time Sayyidina `Ali (r) asked the Prophet (s), dullanee `alaa aqrab at-turuq il-Allah wa asra`iha, “Show me the fastest and easiest way to Allah.” The Prophet (s) said, `alayka bi dawaamatu dhikrullah ... “Keep dhikrullah loudly and silently,” that was his answer. Sayyidina `Ali (r) said, kullu naas dhaakiroon fa dullunee `alaa shay, “Everyone makes dhikrullah, but give something special for me,” he can ask as he is Ahlu ’l-Bayt and the son-in-law of the Prophet (s). The Prophet (s) said, afdal maa aqool wa an-nabiyyeen min qablee, laa ilaaha illa-Llah, “The best thing I was given and all prophets before me is ‘Laa ilaaha illa-Llah,’” and we add “Muhammadun Rasoolullah.”
When we put Laa ilaaha illa-Llah on the Scale on the Day of Judgement, it will be heavier than all of the sins we are are doing!
Then Sayyidina `Ali (r) said, wa la taqoom al-qiyama `alaa wajhilard man yaqoolu laa ilaaha illa-Llah, “Judgment Day will not take place until there is no one left on Earth saying, ‘Laa ilaaha illa-Llah.’”
That is one of the big signs and there are two kinds of Signs of the Last Days; now we are still in the small signs, not in the big signs as mentioned in Sahih Muslim and Sahih Bukhari to know which of those have already occurred.
Prophet Said ‘Close Your Eyes’ (Meditate) when Reciting Tahleel
Then Sayyidina `Ali (r) said, “How do I have to recite it?” The Prophet (s) said, ghammid `aynayk wa asma` minnee, “Close your eyes and listen from me.”
Why did he ask him to close his eyes? When you close your eyes, you disconnect yourself from dunya completely, I am repeating this because it is important. The Prophet (s) is explaining to Sayyidina `Ali (r) how to make meditation. When you make meditation, do you keep your eyes open? No, you close them. Also, put your head down and consider that you are on your highway to reach to the Prophet (s) through your shaykh. That is why Allah said:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُبَايِعُونَكَ إِنَّمَا يُبَايِعُونَ اللَّهَ يَدُ اللَّهِ فَوْقَ أَيْدِيهِمْ فَمَن نَّكَثَ فَإِنَّمَا يَنكُثُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ وَمَنْ أَوْفَى بِمَا عَاهَدَ عَلَيْهُ اللَّهَ فَسَيُؤْتِيهِ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
Verily, those who swear allegiance to you (Muhammad) swear allegiance only to Allah. The Hand of Allah is above their hands, so whoever breaks his oath does so only to his soul's injury, while whoever keeps his covenant with Allah, on him will He bestow immense reward. (Surat al-Fath, 48:10)
So that baya` goes to Allah (swt). That is talqeen: the Prophet (s) is putting words on the tongue of Sayyidina `Ali (r). Usually we say, “Don’t put words in my mouth,” but here the Prophet (s) is putting words on the mouth of Sahaabah (r), especially Sayyidina `Ali (r).
He said, “Close your eyes and hear from me.” It means, “Listen from me how I am going to put these words on your tongue.” He then said in a loud voice, “Laa ilaaha illa-Llah” three times.
Sayyidina `Ali (r) listened and said, “The Prophet (s) said it three times and I was listening with my eyes closed and then I said it, not silently, but raising my voice.” So he showed him the way of meditation and said to him, “This is the way that can take you through this path to me and then to Allah.”
That is why the Prophet (s) said in his hadith:
تفكر ساعة خير من عبادة سبعين سنة
To remember Allah (swt) (contemplate or meditate) for one hour is better than seventy years of worship [or in another narration, one year of worship]. (Al-Bazzaar; At-Tabaranee as hasan.)
The Naqshbandi Way of Meditation with Tahleel
It means that whoever sits and meditates will be rewarded for more than 70 years of worship. So the shaykh reached that level of meditation by following that way; therefore, when people see his sincerity they think he is ma`soom. Don’t put in your mind that he is perfect, even though he may be, but you must be careful as there may be charlatans who use the name of their shaykh to raise their own name. They use their shaykh’s name to raise themselves. May Allah (swt) keep protecting us from this kind of afflictions and keep us always in the state of humbleness to Allah (swt), to His Prophet and to awliyaullah.
Yes, for sure awliyaullah will take all their followers to their levels, but you will get it in Akhirah, not in dunya. If you are following the footsteps of your shaykh, you will find that in dunya, but if you are alright one day and not alright another, then Allah will give it to you in the Next Life. If you ask Allah (swt), He will give you to see the Prophet (s). Disconnect yourself from dunya and ask! When you are reciting “Laa ilaaha illa-Llah,” you have to see it like sword of “Laa” coming out from the belly and to the right shoulder with all that power “ilaaha,” Creator or God, and then to the heart “illa-Llah.” There is no God except Allah (swt)!
When you begin to focus on Laa ilaaha illa-Llah, some Tariqats use different movements. From the belly and up you say “Laa,” then move head towards the right shoulder with “ilaaha,” and then “illa-Llah” towards the heart on the left. That is why we use such movements, as that gives wajd, intoxication. Please forgive my English. We hope Allah will support all awliyaullah in front of the Prophet (s) and in dunya and Akhirah.
Wa min Allahi 't-tawfeeq, bi hurmati 'l-habeeb, bi hurmati 'l-Fatihah.
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