A Seeker’s Dream

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

It is written in Qala’id al-Jawahir that Shaykh Abu Bakr ibn Huwarah al-Bata’ihi (q.s.) had a dream-conversation with the Prophet (s.a.w.).  He had a dream in which he saw Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.) and Sayyidina Abu Bakr ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Utsman asw-Swiddiq (r.a.). 

“O Messenger,” he said, “invest me with a khirqah.”  The khirqah is the tattered cloak worm by Sufi shuyukh. 

“O ibn Huwarah,” the Messenger (s.a.w.) replied, “I am your Prophet, and this is your shaykh.”  He pointed towards Sayyidina Abu Bakr (r.a.).  He turned to Sayyidina Abu Bakr (r.a.) and said to him, “Invest ibn Huwarah with your two emblems.” 

Sayyidina Abu Bakr (r.a.) responded by investing him with a gown and the taqiyyah, a cotton skullcap.  Then he passed his hand over his head, stroked his forelock, and said, “May Allah Bless you.” 

Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “O Abu Bakr,” referring to Shaykh Abu Bakr ibn Huwarah (q.s.), “you will revive the sunan of those members of my ummah who follow the thariqa’ in Iraq, after those practices have died out.  From this point on, the arbab al-haqa’iq, those beloved friends of Allah, will appear anew, after their obliteration.  The office of mashyakhah in Iraq will henceforth reside in you, until Yawn al-Qiyamah. The sweet breezes of Allah will Blow to celebrate your appearance on the scene.”  The Arbab al-Haqa’iq, masters of realities, refer to shuyukh who have arrive at the Divine Presence.