Being Fully Present

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The following is adapted from a swuhbah from Shaykh Muhammad Nazhim Adil al-Haqqani (q.s.). on the 01^st October 1979.  It is found in Mercy Oceans, Book Two. 

Our Grand Shaykh, Shaykh ‘Abdullah Fa’iz ad-Daghistani (q.s.) said that if we seek benefit from listening or attending a majlis, we must be present in body and heart.  But so many people are just like empty jars, sitting there with no presence.  Divine Knowledge pours out when the heart is present.  It means listening with the ears of our heart.  Shaykh ‘Abdullah ad-Daghistani (q.s.) said that if one person in a meeting is scratching his head, the one speaking must come down seven degrees.  He may lose that Divine outpouring.  But some people are speaking with each other, some watching the door to see who is coming and going, some looking at the clock, and that Divine outpouring is diminished.  Shaykh ‘Abdullah ad-Daghistani (q.s.) was always annoyed about this.  If we care, our heart is in his hands, and he is in a direct relationship with the Prophet (s.a.w.), and the Prophet (s.a.w.) is in the Divine Presence. 

Shaykh ‘Abdullah ad-Daghistani (q.s.) told of two muridun in his homeland.  One was in seclusion for spiritual practice.  The second came one day by order of their shaykh to take the brother for a walk outside of the village.  As they walked down the road, they got into a conversation about important spiritual instructions when they reached the fields of the one in seclusion.  As they approached, his eyes wandered to those fields.  The other said, “O my brother, turn back to your seclusion; you are leaving pearls and turning to fields.” 

Our attention span is very short.  Psychologists say that for the first fifteen minutes, there is keen attention.  And then it decreases afterwards.  Shaykh ‘Abdullah ad-Daghistani (q.s.) advised us not to make any meeting more than three hours, even though the people may be strong of will and interested.  As much as we can, we should make it shorter so that more benefit comes in that time.