To be Pearls, Not Shells

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

The following is adapted from a swuhbah from Shaykh Muhammad Nazhim Adil al-Haqqani (q.s.) on the 02^nd April 2010. 

In this worldly life, it would have been easy for Allah (s.w.t.) to imprison Shaythan, so that we would be in safety.  The Divine Wisdom in Allowing Shaythan to tempt us is because Allah (s.w.t.) Wishes to demonstrate the value and honour of humanity in the Divine Presence.  Each time Allah (s.w.t.) Bestows any goodness on any of the Children of Adam (a.s.) from His Infinite Oceans of Honour, Shaythan explodes in jealousy.  He feels intense suffering, like fire burning his body.  Each of the billions of believers is at different stations of understanding and belief.  Hence, the Paradise that each of the billions of humans will inherit are all different from one another; no two are alike.  As an example, there are millions of homes on earth, but no two are identical in what they contain.  This is a symbol of Allah’s (s.w.t.) Greatness.  He never Creates two identical creations. 

We must study Allah’s (s.w.t.) Attributes.  We must study the Qur’an for the Qur’an is not merely one Ocean; it is an infinite array of Oceans and even the prophets will never reach the shores of these Oceans, so wide and deep are they.  We can learn without technology.  We must not be dependent on technology.  Technology can appear amazing but what Allah (s.w.t.) has Given his Chosen far exceed the powers of technology.  Technology would have no value or standing when compared to what Allah (s.w.t.) has Given the Pious.  Allah (s.w.t.) Said in a hadits qudsi, “O My Servant, obey Me, and I shall Dress you in Rabbaniyyat.  And when you say ‘Be’, it shall ‘Be.’”  Rabbaniyyat means Divine Dressings of Honour. 

سُوۡرَةُ یسٓ

إِنَّمَآ أَمۡرُهُ ۥۤ إِذَآ أَرَادَ شَيۡـًٔا أَن يَقُولَ لَهُ ۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ (٨٢) 

Verily, when He Intends a thing, His Command is “Be” and it is! (Surah YaSin:82) 

These Chosen that have been Bestowed special abilities are those who have attained the highest station.  They are those who do not seek carnal pleasures of the physical body.  They seek only His Pleasure.  They are servants only to their Lord; they are not servants to other than He.  They are not slaves to Shaythan, to their egos, to their desires or to dunya.  For one who has reached that level, Allah (s.w.t.) Declares him ‘Abdi, My servant.  At that level, we are no longer in need of technology - whatever we say, occurs.  The believers should be ashamed that they have yet to attain that level of servanthood. 

The scholars should be ashamed that they have not guided their flocks to such levels.  If the scholars busy themselves quarrelling and debating with each other about what is haram, bid’ah, kufr and shirk, and which ahadits are dha’if, how are they to achieve spiritual ascension?  If they have sunk to beneath the seven layers of the earth by useless deeds, how are they to rise and take their followers to the peak of the seven layers of the Heavens?  Time is of the essence.  We must stop all this futile quarrels and petty finger-pointing.  Judgement Day is just around the corner, so we must all strive to upgrade our faith and to become servants of value. 

An example, is of an oyster containing a pearl.  Only the pearl is kept protected and extracted but the oyster shell is eventually thrown away.  If we do not attain any value through true servanthood, we will also be thrown away into Jahannam.  Only the ones of value, the pearls, will be Protected and Preserved in Paradise.  Another example to ponder; a hen may lay many eggs but not all will hatch.  One who is Guided will be like the hatched egg - it will bear results.  The misguided one will be like the unhatched egg - it will not proceed to the next stage of its development. 

People resist Divine Advice that is Designed to turn us into pearls.  A pearl cannot be formed by itself without a seed.  Similarly, a person cannot attain guidance without a master.  Allah (s.w.t.) Sent 124 000 prophets and the awliya’ today, to turn us into valuable pearls.  If we open our hearts to be Guided, Rasulullah (s.a.w.) will insert the seed of faith that grows into a pearl within our hearts.  But if we lock our hearts from our Prophet (s.a.w.), he will not insert this seed into our closed hearts,  We then remain without value; we are the oyster shell that is discarded and forgotten.