tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87249249868661315472024-03-19T16:46:35.807+08:00A Muslim Convert Once MoreThis is a record of my journey as a Muslim. I used to be Catholic and belonged to a missionary organisation. After my conversion, I sat on the board of a Muslim converts' organisation and specialised in da'wah programmes, convert management, interfaith issues and apostasy cases. I am an initiate of a Sufi order. As such, the articles and writings tend to cover these areas.Terence Nunishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06071127118103190470noreply@blogger.comBlogger5767125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724924986866131547.post-36587414745013923202024-03-19T02:04:00.003+08:002024-03-19T02:05:22.293+08:00Quora Answer: Why Do We Celebrate Good Friday & Easter?<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a name="_Hlk56183361"></a></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55769886;"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk56183361;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">The following is my answer to a Quora question: “</span></span><a href="https://www.quora.com/Why-do-we-celebrate-Good-Friday-and-Easter/answer/Terence-Kenneth-John-Nunis"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk56183361;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Why do we
celebrate Good Friday and Easter?</span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk56183361;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk56183361;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Good Friday is the
culmination of the season of Lent in the liturgical calendar. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lent begins on Ash Wednesday for the Catholics
and many Protestant churches, or Clean Monday for the Orthodox church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It covers a period of approximately six weeks
before Easter Sunday, consisting of 40 days and 6 Sundays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ending of Lent is the Friday of Sorrows,
building up to the crucifixion on Good Friday, before becoming a joyful
celebration on Easter Sunday.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk56183361;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Good Friday is the
commemoration of the Passion of Christ, and the Crucifixion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without the Vicarious Sacrifice of Jesus (<i>a.s.</i>),
there is no basis to Trinitarian Christian theology, since there needs to be a
Vicarious Sacrifice for there to be Salvation and triumph over death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran
tradition, the Easter <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Triduum</i> is a
three-day event that begins with the entrance hymn of the Mass of the Lord’s
Supper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After this Maundy Thursday
evening celebration, the consecrated hosts are taken from the altar solemnly to
a place of reposition, where the faithful are invited to worship the “Body of
Christ”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the next day, the liturgical
commemoration of the Passion of Jesus Christ is celebrated at 1500h or later.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk56183361;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Holy Week and the season
of Lent, end with Easter Vigil at sundown on Holy Saturday or on the morning of
Easter Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is custom for some
churches to hold sunrise services, which include open air celebrations in some
places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the Roman Catholic, Lutheran,
and many Anglican churches, the priest's vestments are violet during the season
of Lent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the fourth Sunday in Lent,
pink vestments may be worn in lieu of violet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On holy days, the colour proper to the day is worn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Easter is the celebration of the
Resurrection, and triumph over death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is Easter that is the most important liturgical festival in Christianity, not
Christmas.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk56183361;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEQA-RjOi9FmzYxKWQtSZBiqTFrjaQvCcQw8XEXrBIE7vsqyHj10kaWJaIEzRUGniUqkd7Lgq2uN-0F6klb4_lmcJ2hyE11vONtdV9P_egELHA6hWPZKtiWMICt-oxJjNbYjDRcJZFI0HT0AoNmWaxrlYdGZICy6KmsicVRPtrVojlyl8ShtIw_-Byaw/s1500/BP;%20Super%20Moon%20behind%20the%20Tree.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="1412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEQA-RjOi9FmzYxKWQtSZBiqTFrjaQvCcQw8XEXrBIE7vsqyHj10kaWJaIEzRUGniUqkd7Lgq2uN-0F6klb4_lmcJ2hyE11vONtdV9P_egELHA6hWPZKtiWMICt-oxJjNbYjDRcJZFI0HT0AoNmWaxrlYdGZICy6KmsicVRPtrVojlyl8ShtIw_-Byaw/w2509-h1412/BP;%20Super%20Moon%20behind%20the%20Tree.jpg" width="2509" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>Terence Nunishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06071127118103190470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724924986866131547.post-17396169950423699202023-11-28T16:04:00.006+08:002023-11-28T16:05:13.085+08:00The Sharing Group Discussion: Why is Islam Over-Regulated?<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">بِسۡمِ
ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ</span><span dir="LTR" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Jay Adam posted,
on The Sharing Group, on the 16<sup>th</sup> January 20017, “One observation
that bugs me and should everyone else! Why
is faith over-regulated through the prism of misogyny and rituals when faith
was meant to free us from misogyny and redirect our focus to values such as
kindness, fairness, justice? It appears
the spirit of Islam died when Muhammad (<i>s.a.w.</i>) died, and what we have
had since is just a glimpse of the message and wisdom he chose to impart.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Brother Terence Helikaon Nunis:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> To understand that, we have to understand the history of the
Muslims. The time of the Salaf also
coincided with the Umayyads and the Abbasids, and while they had a handful of
good rulers, they had many terrible ones as well. This was also the time of <i>ahadits</i>
manufacture, where narrations were forged to enforce the legitimacy of rule
regardless of the fitness of the rulers, and this shaped some of our
theological positions. Despite all this,
because of the brilliance of our collective scholarship, Islam thrived.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">And then, like any civilisation, it
underwent a decline. In our case, it was
the closing of the door of <i>ijtihad</i>. Essentially, Muslims stopped thinking and
discouraged others from thinking. The
scholars became sedentary, and it was in their interest to maintain that status
quo. That is when our jurisprudence
became ossified. But that is the past,
and we are the future. One of the
reasons we have this group is to force Muslims to think, to be challenged. It is not enough to believe, but to know why
we believe. When we have that, our faith
cannot be shaken.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Consider the answer to many
questions raised, particularly on public threads. When difficult questions are asked, we get
rote answers. They would say, this <i>ayat</i>
states this or that <i>hadits</i> states that, or such and such scholar said
this or that. And then the conversation
stops. nobody asks why and how, or the circumstances and context. Those who ask are told they lack faith. Since when was ignorance ever a condition of
faith? We have a multitude of scholars
and <i>asatidzah</i> in this age who can regurgitate verses and <i>ahadits</i>
and entire passages from books, but they cannot explain why it is so. Muslims must be challenged to stand up for
their beliefs. If we cannot defend our
positions amongst ourselves, we can forget about engaging the wider world.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Brother Jay Adam:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> Comprehensive response and very true. Thanks.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Brother Nicholas Jenkins:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> I have studied physics and philosophy and am in the process of
still learning Islam. One thing that
bugged me was the concept of free will. Why
do we have it and do not have it at the same time? I believe I may have a conclusion. By saying that Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) has full
knowledge and control over the universe can be accurate as outside of this
universe, time does not move at the same speed. So, while we imagine everything from the inside
out, we often consider the things outside as working the same ways on the
inside. But they do not. So, from the outside looking in, everything is
one object relatively even as it moves through time, kind of like spewing a
movie reel on to the floor. But consider
it a mousetrap we cannot escape. According
to Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>), we were created to submit to Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>). So, I have to look at this from an external
perspective. Let us say I create an AI..
I have the ability to programme this AI
to worship me if I wish because I am the programmer. But what if I did not? What if I gave the option to the AI to decide
whether it wants to worship me or not? I
would be far more grateful if it did. So, instead of getting shaped and tooled and broken into what Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>)
wants of me, I am allotted some time here with sets of instructions and the
ability to decide for myself without the agony of getting punished for it in
the hereafter.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Our faith seems to be regulated by
other people, however that is simply our personal choice. Most people prefer not to think for themselves
but prefer others to think for them as assurance they are correct in their
thoughts. Humans are a crowd-pleasing
group and quite often seek approval from others rather than the approval of the
basics of what is right and wrong in our hearts. In no part was faith intended to give one
person power over another, yet people as competitive by nature will
persistently manipulate anything to get authority over others. The best you can do is be kind to everyone, because
everyone is on a journey and for many; it is not a pleasant one despite what
their appearances may say. It is an
image-oriented society after all.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Brother Jay Adam:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> Again, a comprehensive answer to a simple observation, both of
which I feel have merit. I am on my
morning commute, but from what I gather you mention we have free will as
individuals to use reason and not blindly follow the popularise.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Brother Nicholas Jenkins:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> Right, it is our nature to group up, and we like to feel accepted,
so when a popular person says things we consider it even if it is wrong for us.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Brother Jay Adam:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> Brother Nicholas Jenkins, so true, unfortunately, in all facets of
life.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Brother Damir Sans Souci:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> Democracy and human rights are supposed to have eradicated racism
and bigotry, yet there is still racism and bigotry.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Brother Sri Nahar:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> Democracy in itself is an amoral system – it is nothing but the
will of the masses legitimising power. For
democracy to work, it must be limited by systems which in themselves are not
democratic, such as the courts and monarchies and aristocracies.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Brother Damir Sans Souci:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> That is true for democracy, but what about human rights? Human rights are enshrined in the law of many
countries, and even make up part of the national ethos in most Western
democracies, yet there is still racism, sexism. Is that not the same as asking why is there
misogyny when faith supposed to lead us away from it?</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Brother Sri Nahar:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> I agree.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv8U3bJBdBLwDoMU3507hWR6y6NjEQO4A7_qm2fxu7Y889WhahkUcFyLxL1A6i-hn-O_Q4Fjy6opTRXtumxVECBfhb8qt-wdeWYT4PDaraAI6KvgfKEDPsN9oMQymA3OHj6LxabnCMgjyUbWcE004w6ZQ36yelG4hozYsx5YkT_r5WqcH4cvvET0cVpIo/s1600/BP;%20Super%20Moon%20behind%20the%20Mountain.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1600" height="1723" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv8U3bJBdBLwDoMU3507hWR6y6NjEQO4A7_qm2fxu7Y889WhahkUcFyLxL1A6i-hn-O_Q4Fjy6opTRXtumxVECBfhb8qt-wdeWYT4PDaraAI6KvgfKEDPsN9oMQymA3OHj6LxabnCMgjyUbWcE004w6ZQ36yelG4hozYsx5YkT_r5WqcH4cvvET0cVpIo/w2755-h1723/BP;%20Super%20Moon%20behind%20the%20Mountain.jpg" width="2755" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><br /></span><p></p>Terence Nunishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06071127118103190470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724924986866131547.post-13079389311544590212023-10-08T03:35:00.003+08:002023-10-08T03:35:59.395+08:00Against Pelagianism<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a name="_Hlk55769886"></a></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In “The Spirit & the
Letter IV”, Bishop Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis wrote, “There is an opinion
that calls for sharp and vehement resistance - I mean the belief that the power
of the human will can of itself, without the help of God, either achieve
perfect righteousness or advance steadily towards it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Pelagius was an ascetic who
opposed the idea of predestination and asserted a strong version of the
doctrine of free will. He was accused by
Bishop Augustinus and others of denying the need for Divine Aid in performing good
works. They asserted that for him, the
only grace necessary was the declaration of the law; humans were not wounded by
Adam’s (<i>a.s.</i>) sin and were perfectly
able to fulfill the law apart from any Divine Aid. He denied the more specific doctrine of Original
Sin developed by Bishop Augustine. Pelagius
was declared a heretic by the Council of Carthage. His interpretation of a doctrine of free will became
known as Pelagianism.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He was well educated,
fluent in both Greek and Latin, and learned in theology. He spent time as an ascetic. His surviving teachings clearly reflect his focus
on practical asceticism. He was well
known in Rome both for the harsh asceticism of his public life as well as his
eloquence and mastery of rhetoric. His early
reputation in Rome earned him praise even from the pillars of the Church. Bishop Augustine himself referred to him as a “saintly
man.” He was later accused of lying
about his own teachings in order to avoid public condemnation. Most of his later life was spent defending his
doctrine against Catholic theologians who held that Catholicism came from the
apostles, and that Pelagius was spreading novelties in the faith unknown to the
apostolic tradition. Due to his status
as a heretic, little of his work has come down to the present day except in the
quotes of his opponents. However, more
recently, some have defended Pelagius as a misunderstood orthodox.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Pelagianism itself is the
belief that Original Sin did not taint human nature and that mortal will is
still capable of choosing good or evil without special Divine aid. This is also sometimes called Limited
Depravity. This rejects the assertion of
Pauline Christianity, developed by Augustus himself.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 Corinthians 15:19-22<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">19</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> If the hope we have learned to repose in Christ belongs to
this world only, then we are unhappy beyond all other men. <sup>20</sup> But no, Christ has risen from
the dead, the first fruits of all those who have fallen asleep; <sup>21</sup> a
man had brought us death, and a man should bring us resurrection from the dead;
<sup>22</sup> just as all have died with Adam, so with Christ all will be
brought to life.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">19</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> εἰ ἐν τῇ ζωῇ ταύτῃ ἐν Χριστῷ ἠλπικότες ἐσμὲν μόνον,
ἐλεεινότεροι πάντων ἀνθρώπων ἐσμέν. <sup>20</sup>
Νυνὶ δὲ Χριστὸς ἐγήγερται ἐκ νεκρῶν, ἀπαρχὴ τῶν κεκοιμημένων. <sup>21</sup> ἐπειδὴ γὰρ δι' ἀνθρώπου θάνατος,
καὶ δι' ἀνθρώπου ἀνάστασις νεκρῶν: <sup>22</sup> ὥσπερ γὰρ ἐν τῷ Ἀδὰμ πάντες
ἀποθνῄσκουσιν, οὕτως καὶ ἐν τῷ Χριστῷ πάντες ζῳοποιηθήσονται.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">19</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Si in hac vita tantum in Christo sperantes sumus,
miserabiliores sumus omnibus hominibus. <sup>20</sup>
Nunc autem Christus resurrexit a mortuis primitiæ dormientium, <sup>21</sup>
quoniam quidem per hominem mors, et per hominem resurrectio mortuorum. <sup>22</sup> Et sicut in Adam omnes
moriuntur, ita et in Christo omnes vivificabuntur.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Pelangianism is of the
view that Adam’s (<i>a.s.</i>) sin set a bad
example for his progeny, but his actions did not have the other consequences
imputed to Original Sin. Pelagianism
views the role of Jesus (<i>a.s.</i>) as
setting a good example for the rest of humanity, thus counteracting Adam’s (<i>a.s.</i>) “bad example” as well as providing
an atonement for our sins. In short,
humanity has full control, and thus full responsibility, for obeying the Gospel
in addition to full responsibility for every sin. According to Pelagian doctrine, because humans
are sinners by choice, they are therefore, criminals who need the atonement of
Jesus Christ (<i>a.s.</i>). Sinners are not victims; they are criminals
who require pardon.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Many of the Church
Fathers taught that humans have the power of free will and the choice over good
and evil. In “The First Apology”, Justin
Martyr wrote, “Every created being is so constituted as to be capable of vice
and virtue. For he can do nothing
praiseworthy, if he had not the power of turning either way. Unless we suppose man has the power to choose
the good and refuse the evil, no one can be accountable for any action
whatever.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Quintus Septimius Florens
Tertullianus argued that no reward can be justly bestowed, no punishment can be
justly inflicted, upon him who is good or bad by necessity, and not by his own
choice. This was the same with Origen
Adamantius and Titus Flavius Clemens.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Justin Martyr wrote, “Let
some suppose, from what has been said by us, that we say that whatever occurs
happens by a fatal necessity, because it is foretold as known beforehand, this
too we explain. We have learned from the
prophets, and we hold it to be true, that punishments, chastisements, and good
rewards, are rendered according to the merit of each man’s actions. Now, if this is not so, but all things happen
by fate, then neither is anything at all in our own power. For if it is predetermined that this man will
be good, and this other man will be evil, neither is the first one meritorious
nor the latter man to be blamed. And
again, unless the human race has the power of avoiding evil and choosing good
by free choice, they are not accountable for their actions.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Justin Martyr also wrote,
“I have proven in what has been said that those who were foreknown to be unrighteous,
whether men or angels, are not made wicked by God’s fault. Rather, each man is
what he will appear to be through his own fault.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Tatian the Syrian wrote,
“We were not created to die. Rather, we
die by our own fault. Our free will has
destroyed us. We who were free have
become slaves. We have been sold through
sin. Nothing evil has been created by
God. We ourselves have manifested
wickedness. But we, who have manifested
it, are able again to reject it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Bishop Melito of Sardis wrote,
“There is, therefore, nothing to hinder you from changing your evil manner to
life, because you are a free man.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Patriarch Theophilus of
Antioch wrote, “If, on the other hand, he would turn to the things of death,
disobeying God, he would himself be the cause of death to himself. For God Made man free, and with power of
himself.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><a name="_Hlk147626585"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Bishop
Irenaeus of Smyrna wrote</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">, “But man, being endowed
with reason, and in this respect similar to God, having been made free in his
will, and with power over himself, is himself his own cause that sometimes he
becomes wheat, and sometimes chaff.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Tertullian said, “I find,
then, that man was constituted free by God. He was master of his own will and power.” He continued, “For a law would not be imposed
upon one who did not have it in his power to render that obedience which is due
to law. Nor again, would the penalty of
death be threatened against sin, if a contempt of the law were impossible to
man in the liberty of his will.” He concluded,
“Man is free, with a will either for obedience or resistance.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Pelagius taught, “Whenever
I have to speak on the subject of moral instruction and conduct of a holy life,
it is my practice first to demonstrate the power and quality of human nature
and to show what it is capable of achieving, and then to go on to encourage the
mind of my listener to consider the idea of different kinds of virtues, in case
it may be of little or no profit to him to be summoned to pursue ends which he
has perhaps assumed hitherto to be beyond his reach; for we can never end upon
the path of virtue unless we have hope as our guide and compassion.” He continued, “Any good of which human nature
is capable has to be revealed, since what is shown to be practicable must be
put into practice.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He wrote, “It was because
God wished to bestow on the rational creature the gift of doing good of his own
free will and the capacity to exercise free choice, by implanting in man the
possibility of choosing either alternative.
He could do either quite naturally and then bend his will in the other
direction too. He could not claim to possess the good of his own volition,
unless he was the kind of creature that could also have possessed evil. Our Most Excellent Creator wished us to be
able to do either but actually to do only one, that is, good, which he also
commanded, giving us the capacity to do evil only so that we might do His Will
by Exercising our own. That being so,
this very capacity to do evil is also good - good, I say, because it makes the
good part better by making it voluntary and independent, not bound by necessity
but free to decide for itself.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He also wrote, “Those who
are unwilling to correct their own way of life appear to want to correct nature
itself instead.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He further wrote, “And
lest, on the other hand, it should be thought to be nature's fault that some
have been unrighteous, I shall use the evidence of the scripture, which
everywhere lay upon sinners the heavy weight of the charge of having used their
own will and do not excuse them for having acted only under constraint of
nature.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He also wrote, “Yet we do
not defend the good of nature to such an extent that we claim that it cannot do
evil, since we undoubtedly declare also that it is capable of good and evil; we
merely try to protect it from an unjust charge, so that we may not seem to be
forced to do evil through a fault of our nature, when, in fact, we do neither
good nor evil without the exercise of our will and always have the freedom to
do one of the two, being always able to do either.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He also wrote, “Why do we
indulge in pointless evasions, advancing the frailty of our own nature as an
objection to the One Who Commands us? No
one knows better the true measure of our strength than He Who has Given it to
us nor does anyone understand better how much we are able to do than He Who has
Given us this very capacity of ours to be able; nor has He Who is just Wished
to Command anything impossible or He Who is Good intended to condemn a man for
doing what he could not avoid doing.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He also wrote, “Grace
indeed freely discharges sins, but with the consent and choice of the believer.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He also wrote, “Obedience
results from a decision of the mind, not the substance of the body.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Pelagianism disagreed with
Catholicism’s teachings on grace, sin and the Fall. It rejected Original Sin, because the sin of
Adam (<i>a.s.</i>) had no bearing on subsequent generations; essentially, man
was inherently good and unaffected by the Fall. This meant that anyone could come to God by
his own free will, no grace needed. Bishop
Augustine was his most vehement critic. Against
Pelagius, Bishop Augustine put it, “We for our part assert that the human will
is so Divinely Aided towards the doing of righteousness that, besides being
created with the free choice of his will, and besides the teaching which
instructs him how he ought to live, he receives also the Holy Spirit, through
which there arises in his heart a delight in and love of that supreme and
unchangeable Good which is God; and this arises even now, while he still walks
by faith and not by sight.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Pelagianism’s beliefs on human
will versus Divine Will was echoed by Islam, centuries later.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9i20w2ohuGWo7m2fx00LGRK6K69faG3EJaoQu_IIRMIFzajzNfF86fWpxgZ6ejMHpnsOECjuRwP-YAAAhye0JYGNdELvgDGlujH2LUGWRYltOEbCtwRQzN8tsy8km2SEN30f87Kp9Q9Dolh_2jZE8sA7hP3oZ4MS7TT3KWnz_qiTG02hdccvqRmNHQVI/s1104/BP;%20Sunset%20Wink.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="736" height="2448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9i20w2ohuGWo7m2fx00LGRK6K69faG3EJaoQu_IIRMIFzajzNfF86fWpxgZ6ejMHpnsOECjuRwP-YAAAhye0JYGNdELvgDGlujH2LUGWRYltOEbCtwRQzN8tsy8km2SEN30f87Kp9Q9Dolh_2jZE8sA7hP3oZ4MS7TT3KWnz_qiTG02hdccvqRmNHQVI/w1632-h2448/BP;%20Sunset%20Wink.jpg" width="1632" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>Terence Nunishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06071127118103190470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724924986866131547.post-17321629655765939982023-10-08T02:40:00.002+08:002023-10-08T02:40:36.670+08:00The Purpose of Creation<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a name="_Hlk55769886"></a></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">بِسۡمِ
ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US">The following is adapted
from a <i>swuhbah</i> from Shaykh Muhammad
Nazhim Adil al-Haqqani (<i>q.s.</i>) on the
09<sup>th</sup> April 2010.</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US">Many so-called scholars
in Islam reject <i>taswawwuf</i> and <i>thariqa’</i>. Some not only reject it, they even label it as
<i>bid’ah</i>, an innovation. We have to open our eyes and take a good look
at the world around ourselves today. We
have become restless creatures. We seek
solace and peace but cannot find it in the world of technology and
entertainment. Our souls are thirsty for
spirituality. There is an intense
craving in many hearts today for a journey of love. The world of materialistic pursuit is not one
that will ever bring happiness to our hearts. One is never contented or satisfied. It is a world of mutual boasting and petty
rivalry; it is meaningless and empty, and souls can never find rest. The world of materialism leads to <i>Jahannam</i>; it is Cursed by Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>).</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US">Today, many scholars
teach only the shell - the external practices and rituals - of Islam. They only teach the <i>shari’ah</i>, leaving out the essential spirituality, <i>thariqa’</i>, that leads to the state of <i>ihsan</i>, which is the essence of all
religious advice. There is no true Islam
without spirituality. If we just cling
to materialism, we will be humbled to dust in our graves. Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>)
has Placed before us, flowing fountains of knowledge and endless springs of
understanding. But people do not seek
understanding from Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>). Instead, they ask for <i>dunya</i> from <i>Shaythan</i> and
his representatives. We are running away
from these Divine springs and fountains.</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US">The Qur’an Contains Guidance
for every one of us. It Contains Divine Insight
and solutions for tackling all our worldly and spiritual issues. Not a single person’s guidance, and not a
single issue’s solution, is left from this Book, such is its miracle. It Opens the door for our journey to our final
destination, but humanity is clueless as to how to embark on that journey. Without a guide, he has no idea what his
destination is. Animals have no clue
about Judgement Day. We are noble
creatures; it is not befitting that we should descend to such a lowly level. When Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Announced to the angels He was Creating a <i>khalifah</i> on Earth, the angels had no
understanding as to our nature.</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 20.9pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;">سُوۡرَةُ
البَقَرَة</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 24pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 20.9pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;">وَإِذۡ قَالَ
رَبُّكَ لِلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةِ إِنِّى جَاعِلٌ۬ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ خَلِيفَةً۬ۖ قَالُوٓاْ
أَتَجۡعَلُ فِيہَا مَن يُفۡسِدُ فِيہَا وَيَسۡفِكُ ٱلدِّمَآءَ وَنَحۡنُ نُسَبِّحُ
بِحَمۡدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَۖ قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أَعۡلَمُ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ (٣٠)</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 20.9pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">Behold, your Lord Said to the angels, “I will Create a vicegerent on
earth.” They said, “Will you place
therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood? Whilst we do celebrate Your Praises and
glorify Your Holy (Name)?” He said, “I
Know what you know not.” (Surah al-Baqarah:30)</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US">Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Raised us as His <i>khalifah</i>, His vicegerent, above all Creation.
That is the position of the crown prince
to the King. That is a Gift that is <i>Azaliyyun Abadiyyun</i>, from pre-eternity,
to eternity. It is the Greatest Gift ever Bestowed on any Creation! We have been Raised to such a special
position amongst all of Creation. We
must treasure that Divine Honour, and act according to the exalted status that we
have been bestowed with.</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US">So, how should we act? How should we behave towards our Lord, Who has
Given this unmatched honour? Allah Says:</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 20.9pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;">سُوۡرَةُ
الذّاریَات</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 24pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 20.9pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;">وَمَا
خَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُونِ (٥٦)</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 20.9pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">I have only Created <i>jinn</i> and men, that they may serve Me.
(Surah adz-Dzariyat:56)</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US">We are forgetful
creature, so we must remind each other about this constantly. We have lost our way today, becoming foolish. We have abandoned the most beneficial acts in
life, and have gone in search of meaningless, temporary scraps. This religion is about advising, so we advise each
other about our responsibility to our Lord and to ourselves.</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 20.9pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;">سُوۡرَةُ
الذّاریَات</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 24pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 20.9pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;">وَذَكِّرۡ
فَإِنَّ ٱلذِّكۡرَىٰ تَنفَعُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ (٥٥)</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 20.9pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">But teach (your Message): for teaching benefits the believers.
(Surah adz-Dzariyat:55)</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US">Despite taking the <i>mimbar</i>
of <i>Juma’ah</i>, week after week, <i>a’immah</i> speak of unimportant, petty
things, instead of taking that opportunity to sow realisation amongst the
heedless. There are benefits for
believers in preaching the right things.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmAkqn5hAu6QvVl9UBI-6v5tLx4h9cs3m4twuVDBT579HJqyjTZwsmeWtzjSp8ewo7Tk-GqvAYioaKkibKQ7gWzvS2VRpP_X27q0dB-4oN5TGPEnQtAUaSawo-1lSwqcG1WLQSgKO1TxnBtJMx08VuQDv78a8DiZQhd3-kCFmC8NNLsHxyuZPOzNOspQ/s1080/BP;%20Sunset%20Waves.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="1080" height="1279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmAkqn5hAu6QvVl9UBI-6v5tLx4h9cs3m4twuVDBT579HJqyjTZwsmeWtzjSp8ewo7Tk-GqvAYioaKkibKQ7gWzvS2VRpP_X27q0dB-4oN5TGPEnQtAUaSawo-1lSwqcG1WLQSgKO1TxnBtJMx08VuQDv78a8DiZQhd3-kCFmC8NNLsHxyuZPOzNOspQ/w1656-h1279/BP;%20Sunset%20Waves.jpg" width="1656" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span><p></p>Terence Nunishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06071127118103190470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724924986866131547.post-402739693038242002023-10-08T02:13:00.005+08:002023-10-08T02:15:25.493+08:00The Qur’anic Symbolism of Water<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a name="_Hlk55769886"></a></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The following is taken from
<a href="http://www.studiesincomparativereligion.com/public/articles/The_Qoranic_Symbolism_of_Water-by_Martin_Lings.aspx">The
Qur’anic Symbolism of Water</a>, by Shaykh Siraj ad-Din Abu Bakr Martin Lings (<i>q.s.</i>).</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In the Quran, the ideas
of mercy and water, in particular rain. are in a sense inseparable. With them must be included the idea of
Revelation, <i>tanzal</i>, which means literally “a sending down.” The Revelation and the rain are both “Sent Down”
by the All-Merciful, and both are described throughout the Qur’an as “mercy,”
and both are spoken of as “life-giving.” So close is the connection of ideas that rain
might even be said to be an integral part of the Revelation which it prolongs, as
it were, in order that by penetrating the material world the Divine Mercy may
reach the uttermost confines of Creation; and to perform the rite of ablution
is to identify oneself, in the world of matter, with this wave of Mercy, and to
return with it as it ebbs back towards the Principle, for purification is a
return to our origins. Nor is Islam
literally “submission” other than non-resistance to the pull of the current of
this ebbing wave. A symbol is not a “concrete”
image arbitrarily chosen by man to illustrate some “abstract” idea; it is the
manifestation, in some lower mode, of the higher reality which it symbolises
and which stands in as close a relationship to it as root of tree to leaf. Thus, water is Mercy; and it would be true to
say that even without any understanding of symbolism and even without belief in
the Transcendent, immersion in water has an inevitable effect upon the soul in
addition to its purification of the body. In the absence of ritual intention, this
effect may be altogether momentary and superficial; it is none the less visible
on the face of almost any bather emerging from a lake or river or sea, however
quickly it may be effaced by the resumption of “ordinary life.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The Origin and End of
this wave lies in the <i>khazin</i>, Treasuries, of the water which are with Us. The Treasuries of Mercy are also spoken of in
just the same terms; and it is clear that these Treasuries are no less than the
All-Merciful Himself, ar-Rahman, the Infinite Beatitude. The Qur’an also Speaks of its own Archetype, the
Mother of the Book, which is the Divine Omniscience, nor can this Treasury be
set apart from the others, for the Beatitude is One, whether it be considered
in the aspect of Love, Treasuries of Mercy, or in its aspect of Knowledge, Mother
of the Book; and the Treasuries of Water are both aspects, for water is a
symbol of Knowledge as well as of Mercy. It, too, Belongs to ar-Rahman, Who is the
Source of the Quran:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">سُوۡرَةُ الرَّحمٰن</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ (١) عَلَّمَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ
(٢)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In
the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">(Allah)
Most Gracious! It is He Who has Taught
the Qur’an. (Surah ar-Rahman:1-2)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">سُوۡرَةُ الرّعد</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً۬
فَسَالَتۡ أَوۡدِيَةُۢ بِقَدَرِهَا فَٱحۡتَمَلَ ٱلسَّيۡلُ زَبَدً۬ا رَّابِيً۬اۚ </span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>…</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span> (١٧)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He
Sends Down water from the skies, and the channels flow, each according to its
measure: ... (Surah ar-Ra’ad:17)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.2pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Regarding this, Imam
Abu Hamid Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Ghazali (<i>r.a.</i>) wrote, in <i>Mishkat al-Anwar
fi Ghurar al-Akhbar</i>, “The commentaries tell us that the water is gnosis, and
that the valleys are hearts.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.2pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The
differentiation here is in the varying capacities of the valleys, not in the
water itself. In another passage, we
have this:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">سُوۡرَةُ البَقَرَة</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>۞ وَإِذِ ٱسۡتَسۡقَىٰ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوۡمِهِۦ
فَقُلۡنَا ٱضۡرِب بِّعَصَاكَ ٱلۡحَجَرَۖ فَٱنفَجَرَتۡ مِنۡهُ ٱثۡنَتَا عَشۡرَةَ
عَيۡنً۬اۖ قَدۡ عَلِمَ ڪُلُّ أُنَاسٍ۬ مَّشۡرَبَهُمۡۖ </span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>…</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span> (٦٠)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">And
remember Moses prayed for water for his people; We Said, “Strike the rock with your
staff.” Then gushed forth therefrom,
twelve springs. Each group knew its own
place for water. ... (Surah al-Baqarah:60)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.2pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The
differentiation is also in the springs; and the last five words are quoted
throughout Islamic literature to refer, beyond their literal meaning, to the
fact that everyone who “drinks” from the Qur’an is aware of the particular
standpoint that has been providentially allotted to him whether it be that of
ritual law, for example, dogmatic theology, or mysticism. Nor is this out of line with the literal
meaning, if one remembers that in ancient Israel, each of the twelve tribes had
its own particular function.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It follows from what has
been said that when the Qur’an Tells us that at the Creation, His Throne was
upon the water:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">سُوۡرَةُ هُود</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ
وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ۬ وَڪَانَ عَرۡشُهُ ۥ عَلَى ٱلۡمَآءِ لِيَبۡلُوَڪُمۡ
أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلاً۬ۗ وَلَٮِٕن قُلۡتَ إِنَّكُم مَّبۡعُوثُونَ مِنۢ
بَعۡدِ ٱلۡمَوۡتِ لَيَقُولَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ڪَفَرُوٓاْ إِنۡ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحۡرٌ۬
مُّبِينٌ۬ (٧)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He
it is Who Created the Heavens and the Earth, in six days, and His Throne was
over the Waters that He might try you, which of you is best in conduct. … (Surah
Hud:7)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It affirms implicitly two
waters, one above the Throne and one beneath it, since the Tenant of the Throne
is the All-Merciful with Whom are the Treasuries of Water, or rather Who Constitutes
Himself these Treasuries. This duality,
the Waters of the Unmanifest and the waters of manifestation,
is the prototype of the duality, within Creation, of the two seas which are so
often Mentioned in the Qur’an.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Genesis 1:1<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">1</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> God, at the beginning of
time, Created Heaven and Earth. <sup>2</sup>
Earth was still an empty waste, and darkness hung over the deep; but already,
over its waters, stirred the breath of God. <sup>3</sup> Then God said, “Let there be
light”; and the light began. <sup>4</sup>
God saw the light, and found it good, and He Divided the spheres of light and
darkness; <sup>5</sup> the light He Called “Day”, and the darkness “Night”. So, evening came, and morning, and one day
passed. <sup>6</sup> God Said, too, “Let
a solid vault arise amid the waters, to keep these waters apart from those”; <sup>7</sup>
a vault by which God would Separate the waters which were beneath it from the
waters above it; and so, it was done. <sup>8</sup>
This vault God Called the “Sky”. So, evening came, and morning, and a second day passed. <sup>9</sup> And now God Said, “Let the
waters below the vault collect in one place to make dry land appear.” And so, it was done; <sup>10</sup> the dry land
God Called “Earth”, and the water, where it had collected, He Called the “Sea”.
All this God Saw, and Found it good.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">1</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> ἐν ἀρχῇ ἐποίησεν ὁ θεὸς
τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν <sup>2</sup> ἡ δὲ γῆ ἦν ἀόρατος καὶ ἀκατασκεύαστος καὶ
σκότος ἐπάνω τῆς ἀβύσσου καὶ πνεῦμα θεοῦ ἐπεφέρετο ἐπάνω τοῦ ὕδατος <sup>3</sup>
καὶ εἶπεν ὁ θεός γενηθήτω φῶς καὶ ἐγένετο φῶς <sup>4</sup> καὶ εἶδεν ὁ θεὸς τὸ
φῶς ὅτι καλόν καὶ διεχώρισεν ὁ θεὸς ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ φωτὸς καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ
σκότους <sup>5</sup> καὶ ἐκάλεσεν ὁ θεὸς τὸ φῶς ἡμέραν καὶ τὸ σκότος ἐκάλεσεν
νύκτα καὶ ἐγένετο ἑσπέρα καὶ ἐγένετο πρωί ἡμέρα μία <sup>6</sup> καὶ εἶπεν ὁ
θεός γενηθήτω στερέωμα ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ ὕδατος καὶ ἔστω διαχωρίζον ἀνὰ μέσον ὕδατος
καὶ ὕδατος καὶ ἐγένετο οὕτως <sup>7</sup> καὶ ἐποίησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸ στερέωμα καὶ
διεχώρισεν ὁ θεὸς ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ ὕδατος ὃ ἦν ὑποκάτω τοῦ στερεώματος καὶ ἀνὰ
μέσον τοῦ ὕδατος τοῦ ἐπάνω τοῦ στερεώματος <sup>8</sup> καὶ ἐκάλεσεν ὁ θεὸς τὸ
στερέωμα οὐρανόν καὶ εἶδεν ὁ θεὸς ὅτι καλόν καὶ ἐγένετο ἑσπέρα καὶ ἐγένετο πρωί
ἡμέρα Δευτέρα <sup>9</sup> καὶ εἶπεν ὁ θεός συναχθήτω τὸ ὕδωρ τὸ ὑποκάτω τοῦ οὐρανοῦ
εἰς συναγωγὴν μίαν καὶ ὀφθήτω ἡ ξηρά καὶ ἐγένετο οὕτως καὶ συνήχθη τὸ ὕδωρ τὸ ὑποκάτω
τοῦ οὐρανοῦ εἰς τὰς συναγωγὰς αὐτῶν καὶ ὤφθη ἡ ξηρά <sup>10</sup> καὶ ἐκάλεσεν ὁ
θεὸς τὴν ξηρὰν γῆν καὶ τὰ συστήματα τῶν ὑδάτων ἐκάλεσεν θαλάσσας καὶ εἶδεν ὁ θεὸς
ὅτι καλόν</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">1</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> In principio creavit
Deus cælum et terram. <sup>2</sup> Terra
autem erat inanis et vacua, et tenebræ erant super faciem abyssi: et spiritus
Dei ferebatur super aquas. <sup>3</sup>
Dixitque Deus: Fiat lux. Et facta est lux. <sup>4</sup> Et vidit Deus lucem quod esset
bona: et divisit lucem a tenebris. <sup>5</sup>
Appellavitque lucem Diem, et tenebras Noctem: factumque est vespere et mane,
dies unus. <sup>6</sup> Dixit quoque
Deus: Fiat firmamentum in medio aquarum: et dividat aquas ab aquis. <sup>7</sup> Et fecit Deus firmamentum,
divisitque aquas, quæ erant sub firmamento, ab his, quæ erant super
firmamentum. Et factum est ita. <sup>8</sup>
Vocavitque Deus firmamentum, Cælum: et factum est vespere et mane, dies
secundus. <sup>9</sup> Dixit vero Deus:
Congregentur aquæ, quæ sub cælo sunt, in locum unum: et appareat arida. Et
factum est ita. <sup>10</sup> Et vocavit
Deus aridam Terram, congregationesque aquarum appellavit Maria. Et vidit Deus
quod esset bonum.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">These two seas, one sweet
and fresh, the other salt and bitter, are respectively Heaven and Earth which
were originally one piece:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">سُوۡرَةُ الاٴنبیَاء</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">أَوَلَمۡ يَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓاْ
أَنَّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ ڪَانَتَا رَتۡقً۬ا فَفَتَقۡنَـٰهُمَاۖ
وَجَعَلۡنَا مِنَ ٱلۡمَآءِ كُلَّ شَىۡءٍ حَىٍّۖ أَفَلَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ (٣٠)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Do
not the disbelievers see that the Heavens and the Earth were joined together
(as one unit of Creation), before We Clove them asunder? We made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe? (Surah al-Anbiya’:30)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Parallel to this, and in
a sense based on it, is the Sufi symbolism of ice, for salt water and ice, both
representing the untranscendent, are both “gross” albeit in different ways,
when compared with fresh water. It is
true that the ocean, as the vastest thing in the whole terrestrial globe, has
an altogether transcendent significance. The Qur’an Says:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">سُوۡرَةُ الکهف</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">قُل لَّوۡ كَانَ ٱلۡبَحۡرُ مِدَادً۬ا
لِّكَلِمَـٰتِ رَبِّى لَنَفِدَ ٱلۡبَحۡرُ قَبۡلَ أَن تَنفَدَ كَلِمَـٰتُ رَبِّى
وَلَوۡ جِئۡنَا بِمِثۡلِهِۦ مَدَدً۬ا (١٠٩)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Say:
“If the ocean were ink (wherewith to write out) the Words of my Lord, sooner
would the ocean be exhausted than would the Words of my Lord, even if we added
another ocean like it, for its aid.” (Surah al-Kahf:109)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It is Saying that the
symbol is not to be compared with That which it symbolises, namely the Mother
of the Book, the Sea which is in fact vast enough to contain the Words of God;
but by choosing the material seas rather than any other earthly thing for this
demonstration, the Qur’an Affirms that they are, for the Infinitude of the
Divine Wisdom, the symbol of symbols. But
they have this symbolism in virtue of their size, apart from and as it were
despite their saltness, for salt water as such is always transcended by fresh
water.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The significance of a
symbol varies according to whether it is considered as an independent entity or
in relation to some other symbol. In
relation to wine, water even fresh water may represent the untranscendent or
the less transcendent, as for example when the Qur’an Mentions that in Paradise
the elect are Given wine to drink whereas the generality of the faithful drink
from fountains of water. This
relationship between wine and water is analogous to the relationship between
the Sun and the Moon, for wine is in a sense “liquid fire” or “liquid light”;
but fire and water, inasmuch as both are elements, are on the same plane, and
it is possible to consider wine and water as equal complements. Thus, in another description of Paradise, the
Qur’an Mentions rivers of water and rivers of wine without specifying any
difference of level. Here, it may be
said that wine, being “warm,” has the “subjective” significance of Gnosis in
relation to the cold objectivity of water which represents Truth, the Object
of Gnosis. But when considered by
itself, water has a total significance which transcends the distinction between
subject and object, or which includes both subject and object, for inasmuch as
it can be drunk, water is a symbol of Truth “subjectivised,” that is, gnosis;
and water can indeed claim to be “the drink of drinks.” In any case, whatever the drink, water is
always its basis.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The following passage,
the first part of which has already been quoted in connection with gnosis, is
particularly important for its illustration of the difference between the true
and the false, or reality and illusion:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">سُوۡرَةُ الرّعد</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً۬
فَسَالَتۡ أَوۡدِيَةُۢ بِقَدَرِهَا فَٱحۡتَمَلَ ٱلسَّيۡلُ زَبَدً۬ا رَّابِيً۬اۚ
وَمِمَّا يُوقِدُونَ عَلَيۡهِ فِى ٱلنَّارِ ٱبۡتِغَآءَ حِلۡيَةٍ أَوۡ مَتَـٰعٍ۬
زَبَدٌ۬ مِّثۡلُهُ ۥۚ كَذَٲلِكَ يَضۡرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡحَقَّ وَٱلۡبَـٰطِلَۚ
فَأَمَّا ٱلزَّبَدُ فَيَذۡهَبُ جُفَآءً۬ۖ وَأَمَّا مَا يَنفَعُ ٱلنَّاسَ
فَيَمۡكُثُ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ كَذَٲلِكَ يَضۡرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡأَمۡثَالَ (١٧)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He
Sends Down water from the skies, and the channels flow, each according to its
measure: but the torrent bears away the foam that mounts up to the surface. Even so, from that (ore) which they heat in
the fire, to make ornaments or utensils therewith there is a scum likewise. Thus, does Allah (by parables) Show Forth
Truth and vanity: For the scum disappears like froth cast out; while that which
is for the good of mankind remains on the Earth. Thus, does Allah Set Forth parables. (Surah ar-Ra’ad:17)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The outward appearance is
“the scum of illusion,” whereas what escapes us in this world is the hidden “water
of reality.” We see here the
significance of the fountain which holds such an important place in Qur’anic
symbolism. The bursting forth of a
spring, that is, the reappearance of Heaven-Sent water that had become hidden,
signifies the sudden unveiling of a reality which transcends “outward
appearances,” the drinking of which is gnosis. But in addition to this objective-subjective
symbolism, the fountain has also the purely subjective significance of the
sudden opening of an eye, which is implicit in the word “<i>‘ayn</i>” which
means both “fountain” and “eye.” This
subjective symbolism is in a sense the more important, because the reason why
men see only “the scum of illusion” is that their hearts are hardened, or in
other words that “the eye of the heart” is closed, for verily it is not the
sight that is blind but the hearts that are blind:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">سُوۡرَةُ الحَجّ</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">وَيَسۡتَعۡجِلُونَكَ بِٱلۡعَذَابِ
وَلَن يُخۡلِفَ ٱللَّهُ وَعۡدَهُ ۥۚ وَإِنَّ يَوۡمًا عِندَ رَبِّكَ كَأَلۡفِ
سَنَةٍ۬ مِّمَّا تَعُدُّونَ (٤٧)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Yet
they ask you to hasten on the Punishment! But Allah will not fail in His Promise. Verily, a day in the Sight of Your Lord is
like a thousand years of your reckoning. (Surah al-Haj:47)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">And, in one highly
suggestive passage the Qur’an, compels us to envisage the possibility of a
fountain springing from the heart:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">سُوۡرَةُ البَقَرَة</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">ثُمَّ قَسَتۡ قُلُوبُكُم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ
ذَٲلِكَ فَهِىَ كَٱلۡحِجَارَةِ أَوۡ أَشَدُّ قَسۡوَةً۬ۚ وَإِنَّ مِنَ ٱلۡحِجَارَةِ
لَمَا يَتَفَجَّرُ مِنۡهُ ٱلۡأَنۡهَـٰرُۚ وَ إِنَّ مِنۡہَا لَمَا يَشَّقَّقُ
فَيَخۡرُجُ مِنۡهُ ٱلۡمَآءُۚ </span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>…</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span> (٧٤)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Thenceforth,
were your hearts hardened; they became like a rock and even worse in hardness. For among rocks there are some from which
rivers gush forth; others there are which when split asunder send forth water
... (Surah al-Baqarah:74)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The presence between the
two seas of a barrier beyond which they pass not, means that the waters of this
world are unable to overflow into the next, and that the upper waters refrain
from utterly overwhelming the lower waters and allow them to exist as a
seemingly separate domain without undue interference from above, at any rate, for
a while, to use the Qur’anic phrase which is so often repeated to denote the
impermanence of this world and everything in it. “Undue” is a necessary reservation, because
the upper waters by their very nature cannot altogether be kept out, any more
than water to revert to the Sufi symbolism can be kept out of ice. The upper waters, being the original substance
of all creation, not only surround but also penetrate this world as its secret
reality to which it will eventually return. Thus, although the rain, symbolising this
penetration, is only sent down in due measure, it is none the less a
herald or portent of the Hour, that is, the Last Day, when
the barrier will be Removed and the upper waters will flood this world, causing
the resurrection of the dead, for they are the Waters of Life.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">سُوۡرَةُ
الحَجّ</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">…</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"> وَتَرَى ٱلۡأَرۡضَ
هَامِدَةً۬ فَإِذَآ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهَا ٱلۡمَآءَ ٱهۡتَزَّتۡ وَرَبَتۡ وَأَنۢبَتَتۡ
مِن ڪُلِّ زَوۡجِۭ بَهِيجٍ۬ (٥) ذَٲلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلۡحَقُّ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ
يُحۡىِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدِيرٌ۬ (٦)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">... And (further), you
see the earth barren and lifeless, but when We Pour Down rain on it, it is
stirred (to life), it swells, and it puts forth every kind of beautiful growth
(in pairs). This is so, because Allah is
the Reality: it is He Who Gives life to the dead, and it is He Who has Power
over all things. (Surah al-Haj:5-6)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Until then, any presence
of life in this world means that a drop of these waters has passed the barrier,
but this possibility is limited:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">سُوۡرَةُ یُونس</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا
كَمَآءٍ أَنزَلۡنَـٰهُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ </span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>…</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span> (٢٤)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The
likeness of the life of the present is as the rain which We Send Down from the
skies ... (Surah Yunus:24)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Life is altogether transcendent
in relation to this world, where it exists merely as a fleeting loan, ready to “evaporate”
back whence it came as water evaporates back to the sky. Life is a passing trespass of the Beyond on
the domain of the here-below, a brief penetration of soul and body by the
Spirit; but the Spirit is not “at home” in this world hence
the extreme precariousness of life whereas it is at home in the Beyond.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">سُوۡرَةُ
العَنکبوت</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">وَمَا
هَـٰذِهِ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡيَآ إِلَّا لَهۡوٌ۬ وَلَعِبٌ۬ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلۡأَخِرَةَ
لَهِىَ ٱلۡحَيَوَانُۚ لَوۡ ڪَانُواْ يَعۡلَمُونَ (٦٤)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">What is the life of this
world but amusement and play? But verily
the Home in the Hereafter that is life indeed if they but knew. (Surah al-‘Ankabut:64)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">To speak of death as “a
giving up of the ghost” is thus altogether correct; and it is because life is a
presence of the Spirit, and therefore altogether transcendent, that it defies
any scientific analysis. The great
symbol of life is also most precarious over much of the Earth’s face,
especially in those regions where the Qur’anic Revelation was first received.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">If it be asked how this
symbolism can be reconciled with the Earth-depopulating flood, it must be
remembered that although rainfall set the flood in motion, the actual cataclysm
is represented in the Qur’an as a stormy sea. One of Noah’s (<i>a.s.</i>) sons who was
drowned is said to have been swept away by a wave, and agitated water is a
symbol of vanity and illusion, the waves being images of accident and
vicissitude, which are “unreal” in relation to the water
itself whose true nature they are powerless to affect. Ice and waves are parallel as symbols,
representing respectively the rigidity or brittleness and instability of this
form-bound world. It is significant that
in the Verse of Darkness:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">سُوۡرَةُ النُّور</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">أَوۡ كَظُلُمَـٰتٍ۬ فِى بَحۡرٍ۬
لُّجِّىٍّ۬ يَغۡشَٮٰهُ مَوۡجٌ۬ مِّن فَوۡقِهِۦ مَوۡجٌ۬ مِّن فَوۡقِهِۦ سَحَابٌ۬ۚ
ظُلُمَـٰتُۢ بَعۡضُہَا فَوۡقَ بَعۡضٍ إِذَآ أَخۡرَجَ يَدَهُ ۥ لَمۡ يَكَدۡ يَرَٮٰهَاۗ
وَمَن لَّمۡ يَجۡعَلِ ٱللَّهُ لَهُ ۥ نُورً۬ا فَمَا لَهُ ۥ مِن نُّورٍ (٤٠)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Or
(the disbelievers’ state) is like the depths of darkness in a vast deep ocean
overwhelmed with billow topped by billow, topped by (dark) clouds: depths of
darkness one above another: if a man stretches out his hand, he can hardly see
it! For any to whom Allah giveth not
light there is no light! (Surah an-Nur:40)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This follows close on the
better known Verse of Light, the works of the infidels, having just been
likened in their vanity to a mirage in the desert which the thirsty man reckons
to be water, are then immediately likened to what is indeed water but has
become “by accident” so remote from its true nature as to be comparable to a
mirage, namely a dark storm-tossed sea. This
passage may even be taken as an inexplicit description of the flood. In any
case, there is no doubt that the waves of the flood and the waves of the Red
Sea which crashed down upon the pursuers of the children of Israel represent
the passionate perversity of Noah’s (<i>a.s.</i>) contemporaries and of Pharoah
and his ministers. On the other hand, as
regards what set the flood in motion, the symbolism of rain is here tempered
and conditioned by the number forty which signifies death. The Arabic letter “<i>mim</i>” stands for “<i>mawt</i>”,
“death”, and has the numerical value of 40.
or a change of state. Thus, the
purifying aspect of water may be said to take precedence here over its
life-giving aspect. The Earth was to be
purified for a new state just as the children of Israel were to be purified by
the forty years wandering in the desert. We may compare also the purification of Lent. The waters in question were an inseparable
part of the Revelation made to Noah (<i>a.s.</i>) of a new religion, symbolised
by the Ark, and as such they were waters of Mercy. But any Manifestation of Mercy is bound to be
terrible for those who refuse it, for it serves to gauge the extreme hardness
of their hearts, while for those who hearts are not hardened the Transcendent
is always awe-inspiring, and this aspect of Mercy is expressed by the thunder
which so often precedes the rain:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">سُوۡرَةُ الرّعد</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُرِيڪُمُ ٱلۡبَرۡقَ
خَوۡفً۬ا وَطَمَعً۬ا وَيُنشِئُ ٱلسَّحَابَ ٱلثِّقَالَ (١٢) وَيُسَبِّحُ ٱلرَّعۡدُ
بِحَمۡدِهِۦ وَٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةُ مِنۡ خِيفَتِهِۦ </span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>…</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span> (١٣)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It
is He Who Does Show you the lightning, by way both of fear and of hope: it is
He Who Does Raise up the clouds, heavy with (fertilising) rain! Nay, thunder repeats His Praises and so do the
angels, with awe … (Surah ar-Ra’ad:12-13)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The awe-inspiring and
mysterious transcendence of the upper waters, as also their life-giving aspect,
is stressed in the strange and elliptical story of Moses (<i>a.s.</i>) and al-Khidhr
(<i>a.s.</i>):</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">سُوۡرَةُ الکهف</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">وَإِذۡ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِفَتَٮٰهُ لَآ
أَبۡرَحُ حَتَّىٰٓ أَبۡلُغَ مَجۡمَعَ ٱلۡبَحۡرَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَمۡضِىَ حُقُبً۬ا (٦٠) فَلَمَّا
بَلَغَا مَجۡمَعَ بَيۡنِهِمَا نَسِيَا حُوتَهُمَا فَٱتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ ۥ فِى ٱلۡبَحۡرِ
سَرَبً۬ا (٦١) فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَا قَالَ لِفَتَٮٰهُ ءَاتِنَا غَدَآءَنَا لَقَدۡ
لَقِينَا مِن سَفَرِنَا هَـٰذَا نَصَبً۬ا (٦٢) قَالَ أَرَءَيۡتَ إِذۡ أَوَيۡنَآ إِلَى
ٱلصَّخۡرَةِ فَإِنِّى نَسِيتُ ٱلۡحُوتَ وَمَآ أَنسَٮٰنِيهُ إِلَّا ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنُ
أَنۡ أَذۡكُرَهُ ۥۚ وَٱتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ ۥ فِى ٱلۡبَحۡرِ عَجَبً۬ا (٦٣) قَالَ ذَٲلِكَ
مَا كُنَّا نَبۡغِۚ فَٱرۡتَدَّا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَارِهِمَا قَصَصً۬ا (٦٤) فَوَجَدَا عَبۡدً۬ا
مِّنۡ عِبَادِنَآ ءَاتَيۡنَـٰهُ رَحۡمَةً۬ مِّنۡ عِندِنَا وَعَلَّمۡنَـٰهُ مِن لَّدُنَّا
عِلۡمً۬ا (٦٥) قَالَ لَهُ ۥ مُوسَىٰ هَلۡ أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تُعَلِّمَنِ
مِمَّا عُلِّمۡتَ رُشۡدً۬ا (٦٦) قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسۡتَطِيعَ مَعِىَ صَبۡرً۬ا (٦٧)
وَكَيۡفَ تَصۡبِرُ عَلَىٰ مَا لَمۡ تُحِطۡ بِهِۦ خُبۡرً۬ا (٦٨) قَالَ سَتَجِدُنِىٓ
إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ صَابِرً۬ا وَلَآ أَعۡصِى لَكَ أَمۡرً۬ا (٦٩) قَالَ فَإِنِ ٱتَّبَعۡتَنِى
فَلَا تَسۡـَٔلۡنِى عَن شَىۡءٍ حَتَّىٰٓ أُحۡدِثَ لَكَ مِنۡهُ ذِكۡرً۬ا (٧٠) فَٱنطَلَقَا
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا رَكِبَا فِى ٱلسَّفِينَةِ خَرَقَهَاۖ قَالَ أَخَرَقۡتَہَا
لِتُغۡرِقَ أَهۡلَهَا لَقَدۡ جِئۡتَ شَيۡـًٔا إِمۡرً۬ا (٧١) قَالَ أَلَمۡ أَقُلۡ
إِنَّكَ لَن تَسۡتَطِيعَ مَعِىَ صَبۡرً۬ا (٧٢) قَالَ لَا تُؤَاخِذۡنِى بِمَا نَسِيتُ
وَلَا تُرۡهِقۡنِى مِنۡ أَمۡرِى عُسۡرً۬ا (٧٣) فَٱنطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا لَقِيَا
غُلَـٰمً۬ا فَقَتَلَهُ ۥ قَالَ أَقَتَلۡتَ نَفۡسً۬ا زَكِيَّةَۢ بِغَيۡرِ نَفۡسٍ۬ لَّقَدۡ
جِئۡتَ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا نُّكۡرً۬ا (٧٤) ۞ قَالَ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسۡتَطِيعَ
مَعِىَ صَبۡرً۬ا (٧٥) قَالَ إِن سَأَلۡتُكَ عَن شَىۡءِۭ بَعۡدَهَا فَلَا تُصَـٰحِبۡنِىۖ
قَدۡ بَلَغۡتَ مِن لَّدُنِّى عُذۡرً۬ا (٧٦) فَٱنطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَتَيَآ
أَهۡلَ قَرۡيَةٍ ٱسۡتَطۡعَمَآ أَهۡلَهَا فَأَبَوۡاْ أَن يُضَيِّفُوهُمَا
فَوَجَدَا فِيہَا جِدَارً۬ا يُرِيدُ أَن يَنقَضَّ فَأَقَامَهُ ۥۖ قَالَ لَوۡ
شِئۡتَ لَتَّخَذۡتَ عَلَيۡهِ أَجۡرً۬ا (٧٧) قَالَ هَـٰذَا فِرَاقُ بَيۡنِى وَبَيۡنِكَۚ
سَأُنَبِّئُكَ بِتَأۡوِيلِ مَا لَمۡ تَسۡتَطِع عَّلَيۡهِ صَبۡرًا (٧٨) أَمَّا ٱلسَّفِينَةُ
فَكَانَتۡ لِمَسَـٰكِينَ يَعۡمَلُونَ فِى ٱلۡبَحۡرِ فَأَرَدتُّ أَنۡ أَعِيبَہَا
وَكَانَ وَرَآءَهُم مَّلِكٌ۬ يَأۡخُذُ كُلَّ سَفِينَةٍ غَصۡبً۬ا (٧٩) وَأَمَّا ٱلۡغُلَـٰمُ
فَكَانَ أَبَوَاهُ مُؤۡمِنَيۡنِ فَخَشِينَآ أَن يُرۡهِقَهُمَا طُغۡيَـٰنً۬ا وَڪُفۡرً۬ا
(٨٠) فَأَرَدۡنَآ أَن يُبۡدِلَهُمَا رَبُّہُمَا خَيۡرً۬ا مِّنۡهُ زَكَوٰةً۬ وَأَقۡرَبَ
رُحۡمً۬ا (٨١) وَأَمَّا ٱلۡجِدَارُ فَكَانَ لِغُلَـٰمَيۡنِ يَتِيمَيۡنِ فِى ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ
وَكَانَ تَحۡتَهُ ۥ كَنزٌ۬ لَّهُمَا وَكَانَ أَبُوهُمَا صَـٰلِحً۬ا فَأَرَادَ
رَبُّكَ أَن يَبۡلُغَآ أَشُدَّهُمَا وَيَسۡتَخۡرِجَا كَنزَهُمَا رَحۡمَةً۬ مِّن
رَّبِّكَۚ وَمَا فَعَلۡتُهُ ۥ عَنۡ أَمۡرِىۚ ذَٲلِكَ تَأۡوِيلُ مَا لَمۡ تَسۡطِع
عَّلَيۡهِ صَبۡرً۬ا (٨٢)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Behold, Moses said to his attendant, “I
will not give up until I reach the junction of the two seas or (until) I spend
years and years in travel.” (But when
they reached the junction, they forgot (about) their fish, which took its
course through the sea (straight) as in a tunnel. When they had passed on (some distance), Moses
said to his attendant, “Bring us our early meal; truly we have suffered much
fatigue at this (stage of) our journey.” He replied, “Saw you (what happened) when we
betook ourselves to the rock? I did
indeed forget (about) the fish: none but Satan made me forget to tell (you)
about it: it took its course through the sea in a marvelous way!” Moses said, “That was what we were seeking
after”: so, they went back on their footsteps, following (the path they had
come). So, they found one of Our
servants on whom We had Bestowed Mercy from Ourselves and whom We had Taught Knowledge
from Our Own Presence. Moses said to him,
“May I follow you, on the footing that you teach me something of the (Higher)
Truth which you have been Taught?” (The
other) said, “Verily you will not be able to have patience with me! And how can you have patience about things
about which thy understanding is not complete?” Moses said, “You will find me, if Allah so
will (truly) patient: nor shall I disobey you in aught.” The other said, “If then, you would follow me,
ask me no questions about anything until I myself speak to you concerning it.” So, they both proceeded: until, when they were
in the boat, he scuttled it. Said Moses,
“Have you scuttled it in order to drown those in it? Truly a strange thing have you done!” He answered, “Did I not tell you that you can
have no patience with me?” Moses said, “Rebuke
me not for forgetting, nor grieve me by raising difficulties in my case.” Then they proceeded: until, when they met a
young man, he slew him. Moses said, “Have
you slain an innocent person who had slain none? Truly a foul (unheard of) thing have you done!”
He answered, “Did I not tell you that you
can have no patience with me?” (Moses)
said, “If ever I ask you about anything after this, keep me not in your
company: then would you have received (full) excuse from my side.” Then they proceeded: until, when they came to
the inhabitants of a town, they asked them for food, but they refused them
hospitality. They found there a wall on
the point of falling down, but he set it up straight. (Moses) said, “If you had wished, surely you
could have exacted some recompense for it!” He answered, “This is the parting between me
and you: now will I tell you the interpretation of (those things) over which you
were unable to hold patience. As for the
boat, it belonged to certain men in dire want: they plied on the water: I but
wished to render it unserviceable, for there was after them a certain king who
seized on every boat by force. As for
the youth, his parents were people of faith, and we feared that he would grieve
them by obstinate rebellion and ingratitude (to Allah and man). So, we desired that their Lord would Give them,
in exchange, (a son) better in purity (of conduct) and closer in affection. As for the wall it, belonged to two youths,
orphans in the town; there was, beneath it, a buried treasure, to which they
were entitled: their father had been a righteous man: so your Lord Desired that
they should attain their age of full strength and get out their treasure ― a Mercy
(and Favour) from your Lord. I did it
not of my own accord. Such is the
interpretation of (those things) over which you were unable to hold patience.”
(Surah al-Kahf:60-82)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">These are the few
exceptional individuals who are independent of any particular religion but who
represent religion in its highest aspect, being, without any effort on their
part but by their very nature, as it were, “throwbacks” to the primordial state
of man which it is the purpose of religion to regain.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The symbolism of his
meeting with Moses (<i>a.s.</i>) is parallel to the symbolism of the meeting of
the two seas. The salt sea of this world
represents, like Moses (<i>a.s.</i>), exoteric knowledge, whereas
the Waters of Life are personified by al-Khidr (<i>a.s.</i>). The Qur’an, here, as it were extracts from
Moses (<i>a.s.</i>) one aspect only to correspond to the symbolism of the lower
waters, passing over his more exalted aspects which are the theme of other
passages. To consider this passage in
any detail would be beyond the scope of our subject; but it has at least given
us a glimpse of the deviousness of the exoteric path and the extreme nearness
of the Waters of Life. For we are
already, if only we knew it, at the meeting place of the two seas, witness the
miracle of Life which is always with us, both in us and about us, but which the
powers of illusion persuade us to take entirely for granted, through inadvertence
or distraction.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Life is one, and there is
only a difference of intensity between the elixir strong enough to quicken a dead
fish and the less strong one which suffices to enable the living to continue to
eke out for a while their precarious earthly life. The shortcomings of Moses (<i>a.s.</i>) and
Joshua (<i>a.s.</i>) may thus be taken to represent the general obtuseness of
man in his attitude towards life. That
is the point. We are there and yet we
are not there. If we were altogether
there, we would see life as the miracle that it is; this supernatural
interference would no longer be claimed by nature as a purely natural
phenomenon. In “A Moslem Saint of the
Twentieth Century: Shaykh Ahmad al-‘Alawi, His Spiritual Heritage & Legacy”,
also by Shaykh Martin Lings (<i>q.s.</i>), Shaykh Abu al-‘Abbas Ahmad ibn Muswthafa
ibn al-‘Alawi al-Mustaghanimi (<i>q.s.</i>) said, that the Divine mystery and
miracle of life eludes us because of its extreme transcendence. It is with us, and yet at the same time it is
utterly beyond us.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The spiritual path is in
one sense not so much a journey as a gradual attunement of the soul to the
presence of the Spirit, a gradual reconciliation between the natural and the
supernatural, between the lower waters and the upper waters, between mind and
intellect, between Moses (<i>a.s.</i>) and al-Khidhr (<i>a.s.</i>). But the soul must remain the soul, at any rate,
for a while, hence the refusal of aI-Khidhr (<i>a.s.</i>) to let Moses (<i>a.s.</i>)
accompany him any further.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Even more elliptical is
another relevant passage, the story of Solomon (<i>a.s.</i>) and the Queen of
Sheba:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">سُوۡرَةُ النَّمل</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">وَتَفَقَّدَ ٱلطَّيۡرَ فَقَالَ مَا
لِىَ لَآ أَرَى ٱلۡهُدۡهُدَ أَمۡ ڪَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡغَآٮِٕبِينَ (٢٠) لَأُعَذِّبَنَّهُ
ۥ عَذَابً۬ا شَدِيدًا أَوۡ لَأَاْذۡبَحَنَّهُ ۥۤ أَوۡ لَيَأۡتِيَنِّى
بِسُلۡطَـٰنٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ۬ (٢١) فَمَكَثَ غَيۡرَ بَعِيدٍ۬ فَقَالَ أَحَطتُ بِمَا لَمۡ
تُحِطۡ بِهِۦ وَجِئۡتُكَ مِن سَبَإِۭ بِنَبَإٍ۬ يَقِينٍ (٢٢) إِنِّى وَجَدتُّ ٱمۡرَأَةً۬
تَمۡلِڪُهُمۡ وَأُوتِيَتۡ مِن ڪُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ وَلَهَا عَرۡشٌ عَظِيمٌ۬ (٢٣) وَجَدتُّهَا
وَقَوۡمَهَا يَسۡجُدُونَ لِلشَّمۡسِ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنُ
أَعۡمَـٰلَهُمۡ فَصَدَّهُمۡ عَنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ فَهُمۡ لَا يَهۡتَدُونَ (٢٤) أَلَّا يَسۡجُدُواْ
لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى يُخۡرِجُ ٱلۡخَبۡءَ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَيَعۡلَمُ
مَا تُخۡفُونَ وَمَا تُعۡلِنُونَ (٢٥) ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلۡعَرۡشِ
ٱلۡعَظِيمِ ۩ (٢٦) ۞ قَالَ سَنَنظُرُ أَصَدَقۡتَ أَمۡ كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلۡكَـٰذِبِينَ (٢٧)
ٱذۡهَب بِّكِتَـٰبِى هَـٰذَا فَأَلۡقِهۡ إِلَيۡہِمۡ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّ عَنۡہُمۡ فَٱنظُرۡ
مَاذَا يَرۡجِعُونَ (٢٨) قَالَتۡ يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلۡمَلَؤُاْ إِنِّىٓ أُلۡقِىَ
إِلَىَّ كِتَـٰبٌ۬ كَرِيمٌ (٢٩) إِنَّهُ ۥ مِن سُلَيۡمَـٰنَ وَإِنَّهُ ۥ بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ
ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ (٣٠) أَلَّا تَعۡلُواْ عَلَىَّ وَأۡتُونِى مُسۡلِمِينَ (٣١)
قَالَتۡ يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلۡمَلَؤُاْ أَفۡتُونِى فِىٓ أَمۡرِى مَا ڪُنتُ قَاطِعَةً
أَمۡرًا حَتَّىٰ تَشۡہَدُونِ (٣٢) قَالُواْ نَحۡنُ أُوْلُواْ قُوَّةٍ۬ وَأُوْلُواْ
بَأۡسٍ۬ شَدِيدٍ۬ وَٱلۡأَمۡرُ إِلَيۡكِ فَٱنظُرِى مَاذَا تَأۡمُرِينَ (٣٣) قَالَتۡ
إِنَّ ٱلۡمُلُوكَ إِذَا دَخَلُواْ قَرۡيَةً أَفۡسَدُوهَا وَجَعَلُوٓاْ أَعِزَّةَ
أَهۡلِهَآ أَذِلَّةً۬ۖ وَكَذَٲلِكَ يَفۡعَلُونَ (٣٤) وَإِنِّى مُرۡسِلَةٌ إِلَيۡہِم
بِهَدِيَّةٍ۬ فَنَاظِرَةُۢ بِمَ يَرۡجِعُ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلُونَ (٣٥) فَلَمَّا جَآءَ سُلَيۡمَـٰنَ
قَالَ أَتُمِدُّونَنِ بِمَالٍ۬ فَمَآ ءَاتَٮٰنِۦَ ٱللَّهُ خَيۡرٌ۬ مِّمَّآ ءَاتَٮٰكُم
بَلۡ أَنتُم بِہَدِيَّتِكُمۡ تَفۡرَحُونَ (٣٦) ٱرۡجِعۡ إِلَيۡہِمۡ
فَلَنَأۡتِيَنَّهُم بِجُنُودٍ۬ لَّا قِبَلَ لَهُم بِہَا وَلَنُخۡرِجَنَّہُم
مِّنۡہَآ أَذِلَّةً۬ وَهُمۡ صَـٰغِرُونَ (٣٧) قَالَ يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلۡمَلَؤُاْ
أَيُّكُمۡ يَأۡتِينِى بِعَرۡشِہَا قَبۡلَ أَن يَأۡتُونِى مُسۡلِمِينَ (٣٨) قَالَ عِفۡرِيتٌ۬
مِّنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ أَنَا۟ ءَاتِيكَ بِهِۦ قَبۡلَ أَن تَقُومَ مِن مَّقَامِكَۖ
وَإِنِّى عَلَيۡهِ لَقَوِىٌّ أَمِينٌ۬ (٣٩) قَالَ ٱلَّذِى عِندَهُ ۥ عِلۡمٌ۬ مِّنَ
ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ أَنَا۟ ءَاتِيكَ بِهِۦ قَبۡلَ أَن يَرۡتَدَّ إِلَيۡكَ طَرۡفُكَۚ
فَلَمَّا رَءَاهُ مُسۡتَقِرًّا عِندَهُ ۥ قَالَ هَـٰذَا مِن فَضۡلِ رَبِّى لِيَبۡلُوَنِىٓ
ءَأَشۡكُرُ أَمۡ أَكۡفُرُۖ وَمَن شَكَرَ فَإِنَّمَا يَشۡكُرُ لِنَفۡسِهِۦۖ وَمَن
كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ رَبِّى غَنِىٌّ۬ كَرِيمٌ۬ (٤٠) قَالَ نَكِّرُواْ لَهَا عَرۡشَہَا نَنظُرۡ
أَتَہۡتَدِىٓ أَمۡ تَكُونُ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَہۡتَدُونَ (٤١) فَلَمَّا جَآءَتۡ
قِيلَ أَهَـٰكَذَا عَرۡشُكِۖ قَالَتۡ كَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَۚ وَأُوتِينَا ٱلۡعِلۡمَ
مِن قَبۡلِهَا وَكُنَّا مُسۡلِمِينَ (٤٢) وَصَدَّهَا مَا كَانَت تَّعۡبُدُ مِن دُونِ
ٱللَّهِۖ إِنَّہَا كَانَتۡ مِن قَوۡمٍ۬ كَـٰفِرِينَ (٤٣) قِيلَ لَهَا ٱدۡخُلِى ٱلصَّرۡحَۖ
فَلَمَّا رَأَتۡهُ حَسِبَتۡهُ لُجَّةً۬ وَكَشَفَتۡ عَن سَاقَيۡهَاۚ قَالَ إِنَّهُ
ۥ صَرۡحٌ۬ مُّمَرَّدٌ۬ مِّن قَوَارِيرَۗ قَالَتۡ رَبِّ إِنِّى ظَلَمۡتُ نَفۡسِى وَأَسۡلَمۡتُ
مَعَ سُلَيۡمَـٰنَ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ (٤٤)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">And
he took a muster of the birds; and he said, “Why is it I see not the Hoopoe? Or is he among the absentees? I will certainly punish him with a severe penalty,
or execute him, unless he brings me a clear reason (for absence).” But the Hoopoe tarried not far: he (came up
and) said; “I have compassed (territory) which you have not compassed, and I
have come to you from Saba with tidings true. I found (there) a woman ruling over them and
provided with every requisite; and she has a magnificent throne. I found her and her people worshipping the Sun
besides Allah: Satan has made their deeds seem pleasing in their eyes, and has
kept them away from the Path ― so they receive no guidance ― (kept them away
from the Path), that they should not worship Allah Who Brings to light what is
hidden in the Heavens and the Earth, and Knows what you hide and what you
reveal. Allah! ― there is no god but He!
― Lord of the Throne Supreme!” (Solomon)
said, “Soon shall we see whether you have told the truth or lied! Go you, with this letter of mine, and deliver
it to them: then draw back from them, and (wait to) see what answer they return”
… (The Queen) said, “You chiefs! Here is ― delivered to me, a letter worthy of
respect. It is from Solomon, and is (as
follows), ‘In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful, Be you not arrogant against me, but come to me
in submission (to the true Religion.)’” She
said, “You chiefs! Advise me in (this)
my affair: no affair have I decided except in your presence.” They said, “We are endued with strength and
given to vehement war: but the command is with you; so, consider what you will
command.” She said, “Kings, when they
enter a country, despoil it, and make the noblest of its people its meanest:
thus, do they behave. But I am going to
send him a present, and (wait) to see with what (answer) return (my)
ambassadors.” Now when (the embassy)
came to Solomon, he said, “Will you give me abundance in wealth? But that which Allah has Given me is better
than that which He has Given you! Nay,
it is you who rejoice in your gift! Go
back to them, and be sure we shall come to them with such hosts as they will
never be able to meet: we shall expel them from there in disgrace, and they
will feel humbled (indeed).” He said (to
his own men), “You chiefs! Which of you
can bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?” Said an ‘Ifrit of the <i>jinn</i>, “I will
bring it to you before you rise from your council: indeed, I have full strength
for the purpose, and may be trusted.” Said one who had knowledge of the Book, “I
will bring it to you within the twinkling of an eye!” Then when (Solomon) saw it placed firmly before
him, he said, “This is by the Grace of my Lord! ― to Test me whether I am
grateful, or ungrateful! And if any is
grateful truly his gratitude is (a gain) for his own soul; but if any is
ungrateful, truly my Lord is Free of All Needs, Supreme in Honour!” He said, “Transform her throne out of all
recognition by her: let us see whether she is guided (to the truth) or is one
of those who receive no guidance.” So,
when she arrived, she was asked, “Is this thy throne?” She said, “It was just like this; and
knowledge was bestowed on us in advance of this, and we have submitted to Allah
(in Islam).” And he diverted her from
the worship of others besides Allah: for she was (sprung) of a people that had
no faith. She was asked to enter that
lofty palace: but when she saw it, she thought it was a lake of water, and she
(tucked up her skirts), uncovering her legs. He said, “This is but a palace paved smooth
with slabs of glass.” She said, “O my
Lord! I have indeed wronged my soul: I
do (now) submit (in Islam) with Solomon to the Lord of the Worlds.” (Surah an-Naml:44)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When the Queen of Sheba
arrived, Solomon (<i>a.s.</i>) put her to two tests. She failed in both, but her failure as it were
dissolved all her resistance to the Truth. Firstly, he took her before her throne; and
now with marvelous subtlety, the Qur’an puts on, for the reader, a disguise
which is in a sense analogous to the disguise of the throne, for it is as a
veil in the text, albeit a thin one, over what is meant by the throne’s
identity. It is permissible to say, for
example, that in such a sentence as “when asked the colour of snow, the blind
man said it was black,” the word “white” is disguisedly present, because it is
forced into the mind. So, also, when the
Queen is asked, “Is your throne like this?”
And when, failing to pierce altogether through the disguise and seeing
in its undeniable familiarity only an illusion of identity, she wrongly answered,
“It is as if it were it,” the right answer is forced into our minds, namely, “it
is it”; and these words, “<i>huwa huwa</i>,” literally “he is he,” for “<i>‘arshi”</i>,
“throne”, is masculine, constitute the Arabic formula of expressing identity
and above all, liturgically,<a name="_ednref16"> </a>the Supreme Identity, the
Divine Oneness. Then, in explanation of
why she gave the wrong answer, why she did not say “<i>huwa huwa</i>,” the Qur’an
Adds, as if to give us a further key, that she was barred from it by what she
had been wont to worship apart from God, that is, by her polytheism. In other words, it was because she took
illusion, false gods, to be Reality, God, that she had taken Reality to be
illusion, that is, she had failed to see Reality when it was actually there. Having demonstrated this last error, for
although the Qur’an does not say so we must assume that Solomon tells her that
the throne is in fact hers and that what she thought to be no more than a vague
resemblance is indeed identity he proceeds to demonstrate the other error which
is its cause, and leads her into a hall paved with glass, which looks like a
pool of water. Completely deceived, she
lifted up her robes to avoid wetting them as she steps on to the glass floor. We are reminded of the already mentioned verse,
she reckoned it to be water; and it will be understood from this and the other
examples given of the symbolism of water how perfect and all-embracing Solomon’s
(<i>a.s.</i>) demonstration was as regards the Queen’s state of soul.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">سُوۡرَةُ النُّور</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">وَٱلَّذِينَ ڪَفَرُوٓاْ أَعۡمَـٰلُهُمۡ
كَسَرَابِۭ بِقِيعَةٍ۬ يَحۡسَبُهُ ٱلظَّمۡـَٔانُ مَآءً حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا
جَآءَهُ ۥ لَمۡ يَجِدۡهُ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا وَوَجَدَ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُ ۥ
فَوَفَّٮٰهُ حِسَابَهُ ۥۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَرِيعُ ٱلۡحِسَابِ (٣٩)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">But
the disbelievers, their deeds are like a mirage in sandy deserts, which the man
parched with thirst mistakes for water; until when he comes up to it, he finds
it to be nothing: but he finds Allah (ever) with him, and Allah will Pay him his
account: and Allah is Swift in Taking Account. (Surah an-Nur:39)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It is significant that
this same word is used also of the Queen: She reckoned it to be a pool, and
bared her legs. The fact of error,
already significant in itself, is infinitely aggravated by the fact that the
error is, precisely, about water; and the shock of discovering that “water” was
absent where she had thought it to be present was so great that it changed her
whole outlook in a moment and caused her to exclaim:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">سُوۡرَةُ النَّمل</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">… </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">رَبِّ
إِنِّى ظَلَمۡتُ نَفۡسِى وَأَسۡلَمۡتُ مَعَ سُلَيۡمَـٰنَ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ
(٤٤)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">…
She said, “O my Lord! I have indeed
wronged my soul: I do (now) submit (in Islam) with Solomon to the Lord of the
Worlds.” (Surah an-Naml:44)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTL_mxSAXwawedvfHTqXtoH2uvXVuY18lPhI7712HNla9hrhZN5uqcv9_aNA7JOUGjAvgqpLJrhV-ny3JGBABow06tOYXaXCm-DcGECXDDGQAvjUhUIN38jMwwcX2N94NXzQFGPgLd9_Yjv-QqWsl_tqG9W5nSXImTWdg2t6_34IgkDjmkAURk9Z7OXw/s700/BP;%20Sunset%20Waterfall.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="459" height="2144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTL_mxSAXwawedvfHTqXtoH2uvXVuY18lPhI7712HNla9hrhZN5uqcv9_aNA7JOUGjAvgqpLJrhV-ny3JGBABow06tOYXaXCm-DcGECXDDGQAvjUhUIN38jMwwcX2N94NXzQFGPgLd9_Yjv-QqWsl_tqG9W5nSXImTWdg2t6_34IgkDjmkAURk9Z7OXw/w1406-h2144/BP;%20Sunset%20Waterfall.jpg" width="1406" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>Terence Nunishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06071127118103190470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724924986866131547.post-33531010389703294802023-10-07T15:39:00.004+08:002023-10-07T15:52:17.074+08:00The Lineage of Imam Abu ‘Abdullah Malik ibn Anas (r.a.)<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a name="_Hlk55769886"></a></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Says:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: right; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">سُوۡرَةُ الحِجر</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نَزَّلۡنَا ٱلذِّكۡرَ
وَإِنَّا لَهُ ۥ لَحَـٰفِظُونَ (٩)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">We
have, without doubt, Sent Down the Message; and We will, Assuredly, Guard it
(from corruption). (Surah al-Hijr:9)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: right; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">سُوۡرَةُ النّجْم</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: right; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ (٣) إِنۡ هُوَ
إِلَّا وَحۡىٌ۬ يُوحَىٰ (٤)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Nor
does he say (aught) of (his own) Desire. It is no less than Inspiration Sent Down to
him: (Surah an-Najm:2-4)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The great scholars believed
that Imam Abu ‘Abdullah Malik ibn Anas (<i>r.a.</i>) was the one referred to in
the verses above, and following <i>ahadits</i>.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah
‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Sakhr ad-Dawsi az-Zahrani al-Azdi (<i>r.a.</i>) narrated that the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>)
said, “Very soon will people beat the flanks of camels in search of knowledge,
and they shall find no one more knowledgeable than the knowledgeable scholar of
Madina.” This is found in <i>Sunan Imam at-Tirmidzi</i>.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Sayyidina Abu Musa
‘Abdullah ibn Qays al-Ash’ari (<i>r.a.</i>) narrated that the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>)
said, “People will go out from East and West in search of knowledge, and they
shall find no one more knowledgeable than the knowledgeable scholar of Madina.”
This was narrated by Imam Abu ‘Abdullah
Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah al-Hakim an-Nishaburi (<i>r.a.</i>).</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam Malik’s (<i>r.a.</i>)
great-grandfather, Imam Malik ibn Abu ‘Amar al-Aswbahi (<i>r.a.</i>), was a
scholar in his own right. He made the <i>hijrah</i>
from the land of Yemen to the city of Madina, basing this move on the fact that
Madina was well known to the people as being the place of the greatest scholars
on Earth. He made this move during the
reign of Sayyidina Abu Hafsw ‘Umar ibn al-Khaththab al-Faruq (<i>r.a.</i>). He left behind his land and his tribe, Banu
Aswbahi, a branch of Banu Humayr, of the Banu Taym ibn Murrah al-Qurayshi.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam Abu al-Fadhl ‘Abd
ar-Rahman ibn Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuthi (<i>q.s.</i>) recorded
this in <i>Tanwir al-Hawalik ‘ala Sharh Muwaththa Malik</i>, where he wrote, “Imam
Malik’s lineage goes back to Ya’rab ibn Yashjab ibn Qahtan. His family was originally from the al-Aswbahi
tribe of Yemen, however his great-grandfather, ibn Abu ‘Amir, migrated with his
family to the city of Madina al-Munawwarah, after converting to Islam in 2 AH.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In regard to the
scholarship of Imam ibn Abu ‘Amir (<i>r.a.</i>), he was known to have loved the
science of <i>ahadits</i>. He is a
narrator of <i>ahadits</i> on the authority of some of the greatest from among
the <i>swahabah</i>, including Sayyidina ‘Umar (<i>r.a.</i>), Sayyidatina
‘Aishah bint Abu Bakr (<i>r.a.</i>), Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (<i>r.a.</i>), Sayyidina
Abu Thalhah Zayd ibn Sahl al-Khazraji (<i>r.a.</i>), and Sayyidina Hasan ibn
Tsabit (<i>r.a.</i>). He is said to have
passed away when Imam Malik (<i>r.a.</i>) was around 7 years of age.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam Malik’s (<i>r.a.</i>)
grandfather, Imam Malik ibn ‘Amir (<i>r.a.</i>) was also said to be a scholar
who was revered and respected. It is
said that he was a close companion of Sayyidina Abu ‘Amr ‘Utsman ibn ‘Affan (<i>r.a.</i>),
and one of the entrusted scribes who wrote out copies of the Qur’an for the <i>khalifah</i>
to be distributed throughout the lands. He
was also a student of <i>ahadits</i>, following in his father’s footsteps. He risked his life to rescue the body of Sayyidina
‘Utsman (<i>r.a.</i>) from his home after his tragic murder. This is how close it is said they were. Malik ibn Amir was also one of four men to
carry the body of Sayyidina ‘Utsman (<i>r.a.</i>) to his grave in Jannat al-Baqi’
for burial.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam Malik’s (<i>r.a.</i>)
father was Imam Anas ibn Malik (<i>r.a.</i>). He is not to be confused with the <i>swahabi</i>
by the same name. He heard <i>ahadits</i>
from Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (<i>r.a.</i>) and others. Imam Malik (<i>r.a.</i>) was known to have
said, “I heard from my father Anas; who heard from his father, Malik; who heard
from his father, ‘Amir; who heard from Caliph ‘Utsman …”, or some of the other
luminaries of Madina. Imam Malik (<i>r.a.</i>)
was born 79 years after the passing of the Messenger of Allah (<i>s.a.w.</i>), so
he is considered a <i>taba’ tabi’un</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggK03UnB-RN3-dhd9QkF6t3n9QnGkKGTjncSE9pnkzq4DyixVjz6ZzwDrWrz9AfSDOglD6J6bw2VllsQgxPdvEv52fY1hZZvfoOETp5FM2X-039kuJHC43ybeWfLhbHrqqFfiVMSqgBbrwKBjhyphenhyphenianDBDdla3jt43IfK8gTU8cxzwCFc0wdztI4RwIiw4/s1920/BP;%20Sunset%20Trees.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="1405" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggK03UnB-RN3-dhd9QkF6t3n9QnGkKGTjncSE9pnkzq4DyixVjz6ZzwDrWrz9AfSDOglD6J6bw2VllsQgxPdvEv52fY1hZZvfoOETp5FM2X-039kuJHC43ybeWfLhbHrqqFfiVMSqgBbrwKBjhyphenhyphenianDBDdla3jt43IfK8gTU8cxzwCFc0wdztI4RwIiw4/w2498-h1405/BP;%20Sunset%20Trees.jpg" width="2498" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>Terence Nunishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06071127118103190470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724924986866131547.post-83755407265553716222023-10-07T13:51:00.001+08:002023-10-07T13:51:34.774+08:00The Validity of Weak Ahadits<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a name="_Hlk55769886"></a></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The following is extracted
from “Validity of Weak <i>Ahadits</i>” by Dr. Jibril Fu’ad Haddad.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam Abu Zakariya Yahya
ibn Sharaf an-Nawawi (<i>r.a.</i>) wrote, in his <i>al-Adzkar</i>, “The <i>‘ulama</i>
among the experts in <i>ahadits</i> and the experts in law and others, have
said, it is permissible and recommended that the religious practice concerning
good deeds and good character, and the encouragement to good and discouragement
from evil, be based even on weak <i>ahadits</i> as long as it is not forged.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">As for legal rulings,
such as what is permitted and what is forbidden, or the modalities of trade,
marriage, divorce and other than that, one’s practice is not based upon
anything other than sound or fair <i>ahadits</i>, except as a precaution in
some matter related to one of the above, for example, if a weak <i>hadits</i>
was cited about the reprehensibility of certain kinds of sales or marriages. In such cases, what is recommended is to avoid
such sales and marriages, but it is not obligatory.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Disagreeing with this Abu
Bakr Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah ibn al-‘Arabi said, “Absolutely no practice is
based on weak <i>hadits</i>.” Shaykh
Taqi’ ad-Din Ahmad ibn ‘Abd al-Halim ibn Taymiyyah (<i>r.a.</i>) was of the
opinion that no ruling of <i>mustahabb</i> can ever be based on a weak <i>hadits</i>.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Abu Bakr ibn al-‘Arabi said,
“I have heard my <i>Shaykh</i>,” referring to Imam Shihab ad-Din Abu al-Fadhl
Ahmad ibn ‘Ali ibn Hajr al-‘Asqalani (<i>r.a.</i>), “insist on the following,
and he put it to me in writing himself, ‘The conditions for religious practice based
on weak <i>ahadits</i> are three, and this is unanimously agreed upon. That the weakness must not be very strong. This excludes those <i>ahadits</i> singly
recorded from liars or those accused of lying, and those who make gross
mistakes. That there be a general legal
basis for it. This excludes what is
invented and has no legal basis to begin with, so that one not think, while practicing on the basis of it, that it has
been established as true. This is in
order that no words which the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) did not say be attributed
to him. The last two conditions are from
ibn ‘Abd as- Salam and his companion, ibn Daqiq al-‘Iyd; Abu Sa’id al-‘Ala’i
reported unanimity over the first one.’</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I say, it has been
reported from Ahmad that one may practice on the basis of the weak <i>hadits</i>
if there is no other <i>hadits</i> to that effect and also if there is no <i>hadits</i>
that contradicts it. In one narration he
is reported to say, ‘I like weak <i>ahadits</i> better than men’s opinions.’</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">ibn Hazm has similarly
mentioned that all Hanafi scholars unanimously agree that the school of Abu
Hanifah holds that weak <i>ahadits</i> is preferable to opinion and analogy. Ahmad was asked about someone finding himself
in a country with, on the one hand, a memoriser of <i>hadits</i> who does not
know the sound from the unsound, and, on the other, an authority in opinion:
who should he consult? He replied, ‘Let
him consult the memoriser of <i>hadits</i>, and not the authority in opinion.’”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Some question the authenticity
of the above opinion of Imam Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hanbal (<i>r.a.</i>), in
the light of Shaykh ibn Taymiyyah’s (<i>r.a.</i>) assertion, as found in <i>Qa’idah
Jalilah fi at-Tawassul wa al-Wasilah</i>, “The one who relates from Ahmad that
he used to rely upon the weak <i>hadits</i>, which is not <i>swahih</i> or <i>hasan</i>,
has erred.” But this does not contradict
the opinions of Imam Ahmad (<i>r.a.</i>) quoted by Imam Shams ad-Din Muhammad
ibn ‘Abd ar-Rahman as-Sakhawi (<i>r.a.</i>) above. Even so, and even in case the above opinions
were not recognised by Shaykh ibn Taymiyyah as genuinely representative of Imam
Ahmad’s (<i>r.a.</i>) position, it is clear that Imam as-Sakhawi (<i>r.a.</i>)
did not question their authenticity.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad
ibn Ishaq ibn Mandah (<i>r.a.</i>) reported from Imam Abu Dawud Sulayman ibn
al-Ash’ats as-Sijistani (<i>r.a.</i>), a student of Imam Ahmad (<i>r.a.</i>),
that Imam Abu Dawud (<i>r.a.</i>) used to cite the chain of transmission of a
weak <i>hadits</i> if he did not find other than it under that particular
heading and that he considered it stronger evidence than authorised opinion.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">What emerges from this is
that there are three diverging views.
One is no practice is based on weak hadith whatsoever; and the other is practice
is categorically based upon it if no other evidence is found under the same
heading. - The majority of the scholars
hold that it can be used as basis for practicing good deeds and achieving good
character, but not for legal rulings.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nJHKdskMk5CzTPYdNSr8re6h7g5tZh7YuT6qE-_n7b_Z5G8tYMomXgGhEpDQtJhSUQNBuuHNzzXU32443q7zWfgCp55t-01MLhWeUwigRMOXaAUfpyKtA_rpoD8kz_5pCb-90TF641i-71pTsN3PDM6FZ2L4TfrX-AkOjioDzcMa2d7WBZwJvu_qaQs/s1000/BP;%20Sunset%20through%20the%20Trees%20by%20the%20Lake.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="1577" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nJHKdskMk5CzTPYdNSr8re6h7g5tZh7YuT6qE-_n7b_Z5G8tYMomXgGhEpDQtJhSUQNBuuHNzzXU32443q7zWfgCp55t-01MLhWeUwigRMOXaAUfpyKtA_rpoD8kz_5pCb-90TF641i-71pTsN3PDM6FZ2L4TfrX-AkOjioDzcMa2d7WBZwJvu_qaQs/w1577-h1577/BP;%20Sunset%20through%20the%20Trees%20by%20the%20Lake.jpg" width="1577" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>Terence Nunishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06071127118103190470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724924986866131547.post-65391033467067857642023-09-26T13:57:00.004+08:002023-09-26T14:01:18.219+08:00The Best of Peoples<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a name="_Hlk55769886"></a></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">بِسۡمِ
ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB">The following is
extracted from a transcript of a discourse delivered by Mawlana Wafi’ Muhammad.</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB">Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Says:</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;">سُوۡرَةُ آل
عِمرَان</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 24pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;">كُنتُمۡ
خَيۡرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخۡرِجَتۡ لِلنَّاسِ تَأۡمُرُونَ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ وَتَنۡهَوۡنَ
عَنِ ٱلۡمُنڪَرِ وَتُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِۗ </span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 24pt;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>…</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>
(١١٠)</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">You are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is
right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah. … (Surah Ali ‘Imran:110)</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB">After Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>)
sent 124,000 Messengers, after He Gave so much Tangible Care and Blessings to
the previous nations, He then Sent Prophet Muhammad (<i>s.a.w.</i>). With his coming, we no longer see any such
visible favours. Of course, generosity
flowed from his personality; but compared to how Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Treated
the Israelites, for example, He did not treat the Muslims like that. The Muslims were subjected to a lot of trials
in the early stage of Islam.</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB">In spite of it all,
Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Says we are the best of people that emerge from mankind. There are many reasons; but today we will
just touch a few. Firstly, one tangible
reason is that Muslims are the only people that have been given a piece of Paradise
on Earth. No other nation has this Great
Blessing. Prophet Muhammad (<i>s.a.w.</i>)
is reported to have said, “The area between my house and my minbar is one of
the gardens of Paradise.”</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB">Another important reason
is that Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Created Prophet Muhammad (<i>s.a.w.</i>) Specially. He was Invited to the Presence of the Lord,
on the Blessed night of the <i>Mi’raj</i>, and on our behalf, he was able to
witness all of the unseen verities. He
is our witness to those things that we cannot experience through our
senses. We cannot get surety of this
through our five senses. But we are sure
that Prophet Muhammad (<i>s.a.w.</i>) was Invited to witness all of these. Because he never told a lie, we accept his
testimony with full conviction. When
Moses (<i>a.s.</i>) delivered the Message to his people they use to question
him.</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB">Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Says:</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;">سُوۡرَةُ آل
عِمرَان</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 24pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;">شَهِدَ ٱللَّهُ
أَنَّهُ ۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةُ وَأُوْلُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ </span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 24pt;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>…</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span> (١٨)</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">There is no god but He: that is the witness of Allah, His angels and
those endued with knowledge, ... (Surah Ali ‘Imran:18)</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB">We know that Prophet
Muhammad (<i>s.a.w.</i>) never told a lie nor said anything out of his personal
desires. So if he says there is no God
but Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>), we take it.
This is another reason why we are the best of people. We have been Given first-hand knowledge of
the unseen verities through the witness of Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>).</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB">Another reason, is that
Prophet Muhammad (<i>s.a.w.</i>) was Invited in the presence of Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>),
and he was Given a Special Blessing that night which we call “<i>swalah</i>”. Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Gave him a Special Gift,
and Sent him back to Earth. He continues
to bestow this Special Blessing upon him because Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) never
changes His Nature:</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;">سُوۡرَةُ
الرُّوم</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 24pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 42.75pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 24pt;">…</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span> لَا تَبۡدِيلَ لِخَلۡقِ ٱللَّهِۚ ذَٲلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ
ٱلۡقَيِّمُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَڪۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ (٣٠)</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">… no change (let there be) in the work (wrought) by Allah: that is
the standard religion: but most among mankind understand not. (Surah ar-Rum:30)</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB">Prophet Muhammad (<i>s.a.w.</i>)
is a Real Gift to humanity because he is receiving a Special Gift from Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>)
that he distributes to mankind. This Special
Blessing is received on behalf of human beings, and anyone who attaches
themselves to him shares in it, even up to today. No other Messenger was given this Special Blessing.</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB">When Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>)
Says we are the best; this is one of the reasons why. Regardless of the time period, so long you
are one of his followers and engage in <i>swalawat</i>, we continue to get that
Special Blessings that will coming to us, because of our recitation of the <i>dzikr</i>. Perhaps, this is one of the reasons why the Prophet
(<i>s.a.w.</i>) is reported to have said, “He who reads a single <i>swalawat</i>
upon me, Almighty Allah Blesses him ten times, ten of his sins are Forgiven,
and he is increased ten times in stages.”</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB">We must understand that
we are special in the Sight of Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>), and it is important for
us to remain at our best, in this world, and in the next. One way of doing this is to send abundant <i>swalawat</i>
on the Messenger (<i>s.a.w.</i>), a simple formula that has great returns. May Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Bless us, Guide us
and Take Care of our affairs.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvHkIqhVyUsVMw0yHZcAjON66LkvyzqJOgnzlZwaQ1nbGVBWnO7ggf3wE3uppSYKJ8GzwButeVpSMuZvCqU0MV2v9xW_5SmdJGIou7SxEAJljazx7PPHYhu57WXulpeTBzCNymdr_8dqfYSnQ4PebPnkyfAV01gUyvJJNQtsKk3-iD-Lp0UzkvX5Llvc/s1600/BP;%20Sunset%20through%20the%20Tree.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1571" data-original-width="1600" height="2139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvHkIqhVyUsVMw0yHZcAjON66LkvyzqJOgnzlZwaQ1nbGVBWnO7ggf3wE3uppSYKJ8GzwButeVpSMuZvCqU0MV2v9xW_5SmdJGIou7SxEAJljazx7PPHYhu57WXulpeTBzCNymdr_8dqfYSnQ4PebPnkyfAV01gUyvJJNQtsKk3-iD-Lp0UzkvX5Llvc/w2178-h2139/BP;%20Sunset%20through%20the%20Tree.jpg" width="2178" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span><p></p>Terence Nunishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06071127118103190470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724924986866131547.post-50336651164951665512023-09-25T14:06:00.003+08:002023-09-25T14:07:58.134+08:00The Best of Helpers<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a name="_Hlk55769886"></a></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB">The following is extracted
from a transcript of discourse delivered by Mawlana Wafi’ Muhammad (<i>r.a.</i>).</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB">Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Reminds
us in so many chapters of the Qur’an of the activities of Pharaoh and Prophet
Moses (<i>a.s.</i>) and the consequences of their respective actions. These reminders are one of the qualities of
the Qur’an; that is <i>dzikr</i>. On one
hand, we gain knowledge of Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>), and on the other, we are Given
information of the past nations and the impact on our own lives if we should follow
similar courses of actions.</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB">Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Says:</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 45pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;">سُوۡرَةُ
البَقَرَة</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 24pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 45pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;">ٱللَّهُ لَآ
إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلۡحَىُّ ٱلۡقَيُّومُۚ لَا تَأۡخُذُهُ ۥ سِنَةٌ۬ وَلَا
نَوۡمٌ۬ۚ </span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 24pt;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>…</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span> (٢٥٥)</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 45pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">Allah! There is no Allah but
He ― the Living, the Self-Subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize him nor sleep. ... (Surah
al-Baqarah:255)</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB">And He has Knowledge of
every single one of us. We are in His
Divine Presence. This is something to
keep in mind all the times. Moses (<i>a.s.</i>)
and Pharaoh were, at all times, in Allah’s (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Attention, and look
at their outcomes. Moses (<i>a.s.</i>)
went one direction, and Pharaoh a totally different path. And it is the same with all human
beings. When Adam (<i>a.s.</i>) and Eve
lived on Earth, they were, at all times, in the Presence of Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>).</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB">From the very beginning,
we can see human beings behaving according to their own whims and fancies; and
according to their own plan and desires; not understanding that we are, at all
times, living in the Presence of the Divine.
This is why He Says:</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 45pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;">سُوۡرَةُ
المؤمن / غَافر</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 24pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 45pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;">وَقَالَ رَبُّڪُمُ
ٱدۡعُونِىٓ أَسۡتَجِبۡ لَكُمۡۚ </span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 24pt;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>…</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span> (٦٠)</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 45pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">And your Lord Says, “Call on Me; I will Answer your (prayer): …” (Surah
Ghafir:60)</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB">In another place, He Says:</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 45pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;">سُوۡرَةُ
المجَادلة</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 24pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 45pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 24pt;">…</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span> مَا يَڪُونُ مِن نَّجۡوَىٰ ثَلَـٰثَةٍ
إِلَّا هُوَ رَابِعُهُمۡ وَلَا خَمۡسَةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ سَادِسُہُمۡ وَلَآ أَدۡنَىٰ
مِن ذَٲلِكَ وَلَآ أَڪۡثَرَ إِلَّا هُوَ مَعَهُمۡ أَيۡنَ مَا كَانُواْۖ </span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 24pt;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>…</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span> (٧)</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 45pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">… There is not a secret consultation between three, but He Makes the
fourth among them, nor between five but He is the sixth nor between fewer nor
more, but He is with them, ... (Surah al-Mujadilah:7)</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB">If that is the case and Allah
is All-Powerful, Knowing and Wise; in addition to all the other attributes, can
He not do anything He Wants? And He does
not have to account for His Actions. When we understand this, we understand that
all Power truly Belongs to Him. We have nothing. What we do have is a sacred trust that He has
Given us. He Tests us on that sacred
trust. If we sincerely put our trust in Allah
(<i>s.w.t.</i>), He Says:</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 45pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;">سُوۡرَةُ
الطّلاَق</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 24pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 45pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;">وَيَرۡزُقۡهُ
مِنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا يَحۡتَسِبُۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلۡ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسۡبُهُ ۥۤۚ</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 24pt;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>…</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span> (٣)</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 45pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">And He Provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine. And if anyone puts his trust in Allah, Sufficient
is (Allah) for him. ... (Surah ath-Thalaq:3)</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB">Some believe that if we
you cannot find a way out of a predicament, then there is no way out. On the other hand, there are some who treat
trust in God as the last resort; when everything else fails then they go to
Him. They do not realise that Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>)
is All-Powerful and Finds ways from sources we can never imagine. That is why He Says:</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 45pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;">سُوۡرَةُ
المؤمن / غَافر</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 24pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 45pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;">وَقَالَ رَبُّڪُمُ
ٱدۡعُونِىٓ أَسۡتَجِبۡ لَكُمۡۚ </span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 24pt;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>…</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span> (٦٠)</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 45pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">And your Lord Says, “Call on Me; I will Answer your (prayer): …” (Surah
Ghafir:60)</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB">Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Gives
us formulae whereby we can get extra blessings in all that we do. He Makes it available to all. For example, it is recommended by the <i>‘arifin</i>,
if you find yourself in any difficulty you should recite abundant <i>swalawat</i>. We should not however treat it like a bargain.
Some believe that if we want help with
this or that, we recite this amount alone.
That is the philosophy of Hinduism.
This is not the way with Islam. We
do it out of sheer love.</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB">Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>)
has opened this special avenue of sending Blessings on the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>)
all the time. If we connect to His
Beloved (<i>s.a.w.</i>), we share in the Blessings Sent. Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Makes this avenue the
vehicle for us to benefit. Any difficulty
we face, we should turn to Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) and His Rasul (<i>s.a.w.</i>). We are going to Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>)
utilising that special path that He Created through the status of Prophet
Muhammad (<i>s.a.w.</i>).</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB">We cannot phantom the Greatness
of Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>). He Sends <i>swalawat</i>
on His Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) and He Commands us to do the same. We must make the best use of it while we can,
and <i>insha’Allah</i>, we will have no regrets.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDbchpBhV1QI2p5SgRY1N5b8vaGPtn0WLC3WO2vsWH2wXfIZZpjE1IyPhvhLU9r5oh7lngX13GfYH2IwUs4mmnT29k0uYjdUV9Iyj2SkzmlXKqu7XTlb3aY3zNDgpe4uqIBJQAFmov8_rFTj4921SvXZjnzeZTSi_XCVsaKdm1s7Fc7Fqvbtj-NCI7Rc/s1390/BP;%20Sunset%20through%20the%20Oak%20Tree.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="1390" height="1098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDbchpBhV1QI2p5SgRY1N5b8vaGPtn0WLC3WO2vsWH2wXfIZZpjE1IyPhvhLU9r5oh7lngX13GfYH2IwUs4mmnT29k0uYjdUV9Iyj2SkzmlXKqu7XTlb3aY3zNDgpe4uqIBJQAFmov8_rFTj4921SvXZjnzeZTSi_XCVsaKdm1s7Fc7Fqvbtj-NCI7Rc/w1969-h1098/BP;%20Sunset%20through%20the%20Oak%20Tree.jpg" width="1969" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span><p></p>Terence Nunishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06071127118103190470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724924986866131547.post-45858722785312087852023-09-25T05:45:00.002+08:002023-09-25T05:45:37.222+08:00The Wali & the Mughal Emperor<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a name="_Hlk55769886"></a></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">After
coming to power, the Mughal ruler, Emperor Alamgir, immediately paid a visit to
pay homage to Khwaja Mu’in ad-Din Hasan Shishty (<i>q.s.</i>), at Ajmer. It was his routine to give <i>salaam</i> at
the resting place a saint. If a reply to
his salutation came from the concerned grave, he would believe that the real <i>maqam</i>
was located there. Otherwise, he would
order the shrine to be demolished. When
he approached the shrine of Khwaja Mu’in ad-Din Hasan Shishty (<i>q.s.</i>), he
gave the <i>salaam</i>. There was no
reply. He did so, again, after a few
moments, but again there was no response. He said that if his salutations were not
answered one more time, he would demolish the shrine.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">After
a pause, a reply came from the maqam, returning his <i>salaam</i>: “<i>Wa ‘Alaykum
as-Salaam</i>, <i>Ya</i> Alamgir. Is a
reply essential when the <i>wali</i> is busy in his prayer with Allah?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shocked,
Alamgir prostrated, and begged forgiveness.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4tvukbsqenNMbFxKc74fbxJiGCE46vbP-mw_uZjtKbj7nTK7M1pARjLYgXqpDF5sT3y7lav-AGhJSMqNns4hUmGbAxmtX7yvG5ky-6rAlo7nRkOKfeQ3RYJaLJKirSQDDu0-wiIG2jE7bqoWFoZDkjm5v4Dj7rNul4A8v-SBQl_7s81rH2EBkoZNMyQ/s960/BP;%20Sunset%20Steps%20by%20the%20Beach.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" height="1833" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4tvukbsqenNMbFxKc74fbxJiGCE46vbP-mw_uZjtKbj7nTK7M1pARjLYgXqpDF5sT3y7lav-AGhJSMqNns4hUmGbAxmtX7yvG5ky-6rAlo7nRkOKfeQ3RYJaLJKirSQDDu0-wiIG2jE7bqoWFoZDkjm5v4Dj7rNul4A8v-SBQl_7s81rH2EBkoZNMyQ/w1222-h1833/BP;%20Sunset%20Steps%20by%20the%20Beach.jpg" width="1222" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p>Terence Nunishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06071127118103190470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724924986866131547.post-75302629745640359812023-09-25T05:25:00.006+08:002023-09-25T05:26:02.131+08:00The Wisdom of Imam Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Idris ash-Shafi’i (r.a.)<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a name="_Hlk146509874"></a></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam
Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Idris ash-Shafi’i (<i>r.a.</i>) was born in Gaza,
and moved to Makkah when he was two years old. He went to Madina, and was as a student of Imam
Abu ‘Abdullah Malik ibn Anas (<i>r.a.</i>), who was very impressed with this
young student. He was also known for
writing poetry.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam
ash-Shafi’i (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “When my heart was hardened, and my courses
constrained; I made my hope a stairway to Your Forgiveness. My sins burdened me heavily, but when I
measured it by Your Forgiveness, Lord, Your Forgiveness was Greater.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam
ash-Shafi’i (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “Whoever slanders to you about others, will
slander about you. And whoever reports
to you, will soon report about you.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam
ash-Shafi’i (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “Knowledge is that which benefits, not that
which is memorised.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam
ash-Shafi’i (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “Let not your tongue mention the shame of
another, for you yourself are covered in shame and all men have tongues. If your eye falls upon the sins of your
brother, shield them and say, ‘O my eye! All men have eyes!’”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam
ash-Shafi’i (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “I wish that people learnt this knowledge from
me without ascribing one letter of it to me.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam
ash-Shafi’i (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “Whoever wishes that Allah Illuminate him, let
him leave that which does not concern him.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam
ash-Shafi’i (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “When the foolish one speaks, do not reply to
him. For better than a response is
silence. And if you speak to him, you
have aided him; and if you leave him in extreme sadness he dies.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam
ash-Shafi’i (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “Support me with your advice in private, and
avoid advising me in public. Surely
giving advice among the people is a kind of reproach, which I would rather not
listen to. If you disobey and ignore my
wish, do not be saddened if you are not obeyed.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam
ash-Shafi’i (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “To admonish your brother in private is to
advise him and improve him. But to
admonish him publicly is to disgrace and shame him.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam
ash-Shafi’i (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “Three things will increase your intellect:
sitting with the scholars, sitting with righteous people, and leaving off
speech that does not concern you.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam
ash-Shafi’i (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “Intercession is only sought by one of a lower
status before a superior and no one is superior to Allah.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam
ash-Shafi’i (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “All humans are dead except those who have
knowledge. And all those who have
knowledge are asleep, except those who do good deeds. And those who do good deeds are deceived,
except those who are sincere. And those
who are sincere are always in a state of worry.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam
ash-Shafi’i (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “Whoever recites Qur’an, his value is
amplified. Whoever records <i>hadits</i>,
his proof is strengthened. Whoever
learns jurisprudence, his status is ennobled. Whoever learns Arabic, his disposition becomes
gentle. Whoever learns mathematics, his
opinion will be copious. And whoever fails
to defend his honor will not benefit from his knowledge.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam
ash-Shafi’i (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “I have never debated with a knowledgeable
person, except that I won the debate, and I have never debated with an ignorant
person, except that I lost.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam
ash-Shafi’i (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “I never once argued with anyone hoping to win
the debate; rather I always wished that the truth would come from his side.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam
ash-Shafi’i (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “The foolish one addresses me with words of
disgrace, but I hate to respond to him in a similar manner. The more ignorant he proves, the more patient
I become. Just like the incense, the
more it is burnt, the more it releases its fragrance.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam
ash-Shafi’i (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “When it comes to my provisions, I rely upon
Allah, my Creator. And I know with
certainty that He will no doubt Provide for me. Whatever is in my due, will not pass me by, even
if it were to be in the depths of the sea. Allah the Exalted will Bring it Forth by His
Grace, even if I were to remain silent over it. So, what can a soul feel sorrow over, when the
Most Merciful has Set the Provisions of Creation?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam
Abu al-Hasan ‘Ali ibn ‘Abd ar-Rahman as-Sadafi (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “I have
never seen a wiser man than ash-Shafi’i. I was arguing with him once about an issue and
I left him. Then one day, he met me,
held my hand and said, ‘Can we not be brothers, even if we disagree about
something?’”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam
ash-Shafi’i (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “O my soul! It is not, except a few days of patience; as
if the extent were but a few dreams. O
my soul! Pass quickly on through this
world; and leave it, for indeed life lies ahead of it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam
ash-Shafi’i (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “I complained to Imam Waqi’ of my weak memory;
he advised me to abstain from sins; for, verily, knowledge is a light from
Allah; and this light of Allah is not awarded to sinners.” He was referring to Imam Abu Sufyan Waki’ ibn
al-Jarraḥ al-Kufi (<i>r.a.</i>), his teacher.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam
ash-Shafi’i (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “When I see a man from the adherents of <i>ahadits</i>,
it is as if I have seen the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) alive.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam
ash-Shafi’i (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “Be aware of your tongue; it is dangerous! It is like a snake and so many people have
been killed by their tongues.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam
Abu Ya’qub Yusuf ibn Yahya al-Buwayti (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “I heard ash-Shafi’i say,
“A man does not become complete in this life except when he has four:
religiousness, trustworthiness, scrupulosity, and sobriety.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam
ash-Shafi’i (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “Be hard on yourself; easy on others.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam
ash-Shafi’i (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “Do you mock the supplication and belittle it? While you do not know what it has the power
to do! The arrows of the night do not
miss target. But they have a set limit,
which shall come to end. So, if my Lord Wishes,
He Holds it back. And if the Decree is
to be Fulfilled, He Sets it forth.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam
ash-Shafi’i (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “Were this world to be sold on the market, I
would not buy it for a loaf of bread, for all the troubles it contains.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam
ash-Shafi’i (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “Sciences worth studying are only two: the
science of <i>fiqh</i> to do with religion and the science of medicine to do
with the body.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam
ash-Shafi’i (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “Knowledge without action is arrogance.”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgif4kQdQE_Ct_XDBPQoiyGszQ3Dn8km17msCeESM5wBNRnQS16BLxEZ8yzEsMBJQdwzkIvoUMVJQofGxSAb8cjH9optiStzeCNzxaRb_FfQ0fHRSak3kLDUjAJPlWUXEIQU1J_rIDfg8hCW7wAhhK6SYNWjsuQSDD4G3T5oemjkSVrKDhdVgmQlBoZxvw/s1280/BP;%20Sunset%20Spectacular.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1280" height="764" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgif4kQdQE_Ct_XDBPQoiyGszQ3Dn8km17msCeESM5wBNRnQS16BLxEZ8yzEsMBJQdwzkIvoUMVJQofGxSAb8cjH9optiStzeCNzxaRb_FfQ0fHRSak3kLDUjAJPlWUXEIQU1J_rIDfg8hCW7wAhhK6SYNWjsuQSDD4G3T5oemjkSVrKDhdVgmQlBoZxvw/w1223-h764/BP;%20Sunset%20Spectacular.jpg" width="1223" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>Terence Nunishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06071127118103190470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724924986866131547.post-65778465272530643802023-09-25T04:26:00.002+08:002023-09-25T04:27:16.778+08:00 Secrets of the Love of Allah (s.w.t.)<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a name="_Hlk55769886"></a></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">A Sufi poem goes:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“That which one yearns for, he loves,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">And this yearning makes him great,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">By transforming the depth of poverty,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In the yearning of His slave,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">His need and his longing to give Him everything,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">What his heart truly desires.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This <i>himmah</i>, yearning,
is oil in the fire of God’s Passion which makes this fire in the heart of the
lover grow very hot and strong and bright. Sparks fly as the lover turns to the right and
left, cooking in the fire of love, and becoming more and more tender and ready
to be consumed. The quality of Love of
which we speak is such that both lover and Beloved are consumed by a single
flame and whether by union or by seeming separation, by presence or absence,
the flame is fanned. The lover kills
himself to live in his Beloved and destroys all his qualities; he empties the
cup of his existence so that it may be filled entirely with the Qualities and
Presence of his Lord.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Why does Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>)
Name this quality of love “<i>mahabbah</i>”, “gift of love”? This is because this fire purifies the heart
of everything but al-Mahbub, the Beloved, and al-Mahbub is One Who Puts the
lover’s neck on the doorsill of his Beloved and whose heart is inseparable from
his Beloved, breath to breath, moment to moment; and his heart is eaten by the Fire
of the Beloved; yet this Fire is not fire, but Light upon Light. Then when he speaks, he speaks with his Lord;
and when he walks, he walks with his Lord; and when he sleeps, he sleeps with
his Lord. As Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Says
to His prophet, David (<i>a.s.</i>), “I forbid the hearts of My lovers any love
except My Love.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">But the Love of Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>)
has two sides: the love of the Truth for the human being and the love of the
human being for truth. When Truth loves
a person, the truth of love within him moves him to love whatever he loves. Not understanding what is inspiring him to
love, he attaches the energy of his feeling to what appears to him without as
the object of his love. For example,
when the love moves a man to love a woman and he stops with her body, the very
body he thinks he loves becomes a strong veil to the essence of the love which
is moving him. Then, he is moving as an
animal moves and loving as an animal loves. In this, he touches only some of the love, the
smell of the love, and the heat of the fire, but this is not enough for him to
taste the fullness of the truth of the love which is moving him.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When the fire of his love
touches the essence of the love of the soul of the woman he loves, then the
sparks and the waves of flame flash out and return to their source in the blaze
of <i>‘Ishq</i> Divine Passion, and his body disappears; her body also
disappears. All the veils, all the
fascination of coming and going between them disappears in the experience of
their indivisible Unity and God Returns to love Himself Alone. But He Creates these people and the fire
between them to realise the Essence of His Love. Whereas in the beginning, the man thought he
loved a woman, when he comes to realise the essence of the fire, he sees that
he himself is the Beloved and she is also the Beloved and in this; Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>)
Alone is the Beloved and no other Exists.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">As Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Says,
“I was a Hidden Treasure that Desired to be known. So, I Manifested all Creation to reveal the
essence of the deep secret Knowing of Myself. He who I Created to Reveal the Treasure carries,
within himself, this Treasure, but he must explode the mountain of his
existence to discover the Treasure which is Hidden within.” When man thinks he loves the body of the
woman, the body is a veil to his true Love; then the body of his entire existence
is a veil, like a mountain in which the Treasure is Concealed. Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Created this mountain of
His water and clay exactly in order that He could Bury His Treasure within.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This is the first side of
the love in which Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Breathes all the creation into
existence, and the second part of the Love is the return in which the creature
breathes his existence back into his Lord. But how do we explode the mountain of our
entire being? We plant the flaming seed
of our yearning in our own earth. When
the man loves the woman, it is to know her as himself, to love her, to enter
her as himself, as Adam (<i>a.s.</i>) entered Eve who was of his own substance
and truth, to penetrate her body as a veil and touch the essence within her,
within himself. When we use the fire of our
passion to open ourselves, to know ourselves, and to know the Treasure which is
hidden within us, the fire of our yearning explodes in the depth of our own
substance, creating an opening within, a space within.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Before, when the fire
went outside, the earth within was dense and obscure, but now the density
breaks open inside after this holy fire of Love cleans the inner earth. Then, we plant our tree; put the seed back
into our earth, water it with the living water, the essence of love; fertilise
it with all the accumulated compost of our mind and self and let it grow up in
the Light of Knowing and keep the breath of <i>dzikr</i> moving around it so
that the garden of the soul does not stagnate, and the tree always has space to
grow. When the tree is grown, we keep
this tree inside us. Then, we sit under
it, and take a branch in our hand and take, from the branch, the fruit of the
milk of the essence of the love. By
eating this, we begin to live and in so giving birth to ourselves, you unearth
the Holy Treasure which He Created us to bear. Then, when we look into the Treasure with the
eye of our soul, we see one Who Sees us Looking into the essence of the jewel. Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Sees us as you see Him. When we look again, we see there is no us,
only He; it is He Who Sees Himself in the mirror of our soul, as it remembers
itself in the Treasure of His Essence. Then, in truth, we live in the garden of love
and the breath of love has two dimensions; breathe fully in and out, to embrace
the full circle of the love, without losing any breath, any side or dimension,
to experience the creation and recreation of ourselves by the Mercy of Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>),
and His Desire to be known. And with all
this, return.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Love is eternal between
Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) and His Creation and the circuitry of His Love Flows
through everything. If not for this,
nothing would move that moves; nothing would live that lives. Because every planet in its orbit and every
cell in its course is a witness to the Love of Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) and a Sign
of His Wisdom. We keep this love inside us
and live with it all the time, because the moment we lose it, we lose ourselves; we
lose Him. This is the Message from Allah
(<i>s.w.t.</i>): “I am the Love. I am the Wine. Drink this Wine to know Me well.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">As we drink, Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>)
Tells us to listen with the spiritual ear of the presence of the Prophet Muhammad
(<i>s.a.w.</i>) within us; we are one of his people. We are with Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) in all our
senses, and prepare to receive wisdom from within our heart which is bound to the
Prophet’s (<i>s.a.w.</i>) heart, having been annihilated in the overwhelming
Love of Divine Essence. The language of
speaking is inadequate to reveal this teaching and the language of body, heart
and soul. We must listen to the tongue
of Allah’s (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Caring because if He did not care, He would not be
calling us. For that reason, He Speaks
to us by means of the tongue of His Love for is, Addressing us in the Qur’an.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When one is in this state,
he is prostrate before his Beloved in the <i>qiblah</i> of Love; he is
annihilated in his Beloved so as to remain beloved by Him. This is the meaning of the term of absolute
eternal life. The two are annihilated in
each other so that both will remain Beloved of the other. It is here that the Sufis say:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“He who loves Me, knows Me,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">And He who knows Me, finds Me,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">And He who finds Me, becomes inflamed by My Passion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I have Killed him, so that I may Bring him back to
Life<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">And he whom I have Killed, I Owe him,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">And to the one that is Owed,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I become That which is Owed,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">There is no difference between Me and him,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Because I am he and he is I.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">For the one who loves Allah
(<i>s.w.t.</i>) in this fashion, it is imperative he truly taste the fire of Divine
Passion. This fire is not a fire of the
senses; it is light upon light; light issuing like the fire of Moses (<i>a.s.</i>)
when he stopped on the Mountain of <i>Tajalli</i>. It is the same fire which issues from the
Light of Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) to all His lovers and through the <i>Insan
al-Kamal</i>, who carry the Presence of the Reality of the love of the Essence
which is inherent in everything.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Regarding the station of
descent, it is not descending; its possessor stands on the summit of Divine
Existence. One who is inflamed in
passion and slain by the One in Whose Passion he is inflamed, becomes the One
Who Owes, and he becomes that which is Owed.
Therefore, the station of ascension teaches him about existence and the
station of descent causes him to realise he is existence and none other. There is nothing contained in existence except
Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>). The station of
ascension is a path that has two dimensions: the human being and God, and each
of these is distinguishable. As for the
station of descent, it is Absolute Truth. When all the senses disappear from a person,
and he is Slain by the One in Whose Passion he is inflamed, he is finished with
all the worlds. The image of the human
being disappears from him and he reverts to his initial reality. He returns to where he was in pre-eternity without
method or dimension, without colour or form. That his reality is the Reality of God. For this reason:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“He who loves Me by means of the veil
of My Image,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Knows Me by means of My Knowledge that is My Image.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">And he who knows Me by means of My Knowledge that it
is My Image,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Finds Me in his image by means of My Image.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Then, he who finds Me in his image by means of My Image,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Becomes inflamed in My Passion by means of My Reality.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">And he who becomes inflamed in My Passion by means of
My Reality,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Is Slain by My Reality.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">And whoever is Slain by My Reality,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">My Reality is that which Owes him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Whomever My Reality Owes,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">There is no difference between him and My
Reality.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This is <i>talawwuh</i>,
consumption in the fire of Divine Reality, because when one has become inflamed
in Divine Passion in this station, he becomes light upon light; a guiding light
that reveals the way to people, outwardly to those who look without, and
inwardly to those who look within.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMaScmOPnVPFhStRX0xhZmX50U2zyS0-pYFcXYyaLDW79zO23KWHaA0HVpKGe3QaZwhSzxuaE6zzLK0PaMP6gv1avkfIyz2TK-1msvnysheE6q_CtSn_q0KIFSEqYsr-nZRs7gLCn7X7i3dj9gpAfE6vh00kchkufDkJOaMY1Pcwwp9Nx2sAhoK52zf8k/s1280/BP;%20Sunset%20Sky%20with%20Cumulous%20Clouds.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="1365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMaScmOPnVPFhStRX0xhZmX50U2zyS0-pYFcXYyaLDW79zO23KWHaA0HVpKGe3QaZwhSzxuaE6zzLK0PaMP6gv1avkfIyz2TK-1msvnysheE6q_CtSn_q0KIFSEqYsr-nZRs7gLCn7X7i3dj9gpAfE6vh00kchkufDkJOaMY1Pcwwp9Nx2sAhoK52zf8k/w2049-h1365/BP;%20Sunset%20Sky%20with%20Cumulous%20Clouds.jpg" width="2049" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>Terence Nunishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06071127118103190470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724924986866131547.post-83151423177802590682023-09-20T15:45:00.004+08:002024-03-17T13:25:40.313+08:00Meeting with the Minister<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a name="_Hlk55769886"></a></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The following is adapted from </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/SignsOnTheHorizons">Signs on the Horizons</a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> by Shaykh
Harun Michael Sugich.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“At that time the summer
capital of Saudi Arabia was in Tha’if and all the government was in the
mountain city. My brother-in-law had a
friend from Tha’if who offered to help get me to the Minister. The friend was Bukhari, a Saudi of Central
Asian extraction. He was very friendly
and well-meaning but also a little crazy, and I was completely at his mercy. By this time, it was Ramadhan, the month of
fasting, and during the day my new friend regaled me with stories about his
sexual fantasies until I had to ask him to stop. When we would get to his house in the
afternoons, he would light up a cigarette and eat - just being in his company
made me feel like I was breaking my fast.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">A kindly Indian professor
I met in Jiddah had generously lent me his car to use while he was away on his
summer break, and my helper from Tha’if insisted on driving me around the city
in it. His driving was as reckless as
the rest of his behaviour, but there was little I could do but ask him to slow
down and drive more carefully. We
discovered that the Minister received petitions at a weekly <i>majlis</i>, gathering,
held at the government palace in Tha’if. We arranged to attend. On the eve of the <i>majlis</i>, my Tha’ifi
friend took my borrowed car out on an errand … and wrecked it. The whole front end of the Japanese car was
smashed in. I had been trying to resolve
our marriage situation for months by this time; I was running out of money and
had one setback after another, but this was the last straw. I had this ominous feeling that I was in the
wrong company, in the wrong place, at the wrong time and that I was never going
to succeed. I normally do not give up
easily, and am rarely prone to gloom, but this episode took all the wind out of
my sails. I became utterly and quite
openly depressed and discouraged. All I
wanted to do was to get out of that place. My guilty friend from Tha’if tried to cheer me
up, but I was inconsolable. He insisted I
come with him to an <i>ifthar</i>, break fast, at the home of one of his
friends. It was the last thing I felt
like doing, but I was staying at his house and could not refuse.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">We arrived just before
the sunset prayer at the gathering of young Saudi men. I was lost in my thoughts. How was I going to explain the car to the
Indian professor? How was I going to pay
for the repairs, if the car even could be repaired? What if, once again, we could not get my
petition to the Minister? How much
longer was this excruciating process going to take? My wife was stuck in California with our two
babies and having a hard time coping. I
was not earning. How was I going to be
able to support them? All these thoughts
were running through my head at the fast-breaking. I was oblivious to everything around me.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When the meal was
finished, our young host asked me to come with him, for what reason I did not
know. He took me into another room in
the house. Here, his father was sitting
alone. He held prayer beads, which he
was working. His face was serene and
luminous. His presence was healing. I realised immediately I was in the presence
of one of God’s <i>swalihin</i>, Rightly-Guided servant. He said to me, ‘My son has told me about your
predicament. Your affair is in the hands
of your Lord. Remember, these princes,
these men are slaves of God. They have
no real power. They can only do what God
Decrees. Put your trust in God and He
will Take Care of you.’ He then
instructed me to recite the formula, ‘<i>Ya al-‘Ali, al-Khabir</i>’, ‘O the
Exalted, the Aware’ ceaselessly, and to recite Sura YaSin forty times during
the night. When I left his presence, my
heart had calmed, and my spirits had lifted.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I immediately began
repeating the invocation he recommended and, when I was alone at night, recited
Sura YaSin. My recitation was slow and
halting, so I only managed to recite Surah YaSin half the number he prescribed
before setting off for the Ministry of Interior to attend the <i>majlis</i> of
Prince Na’if.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">On the way, I continued
repeating the invocation silently and praying for success. As my wife’s official guardian, my
brother-in-law accompanied me to present the petition for our marriage. On the ride over to the Ministry, he was
laughing and joking, but when we reached the <i>majlis</i> hall he discovered that
what we were doing was no laughing matter.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Petitioners were pushed
roughly into a long line. As each
petitioner reached the front of the line, two very large and powerful <i>muwalid</i>,
mixed blood – half Arab-half African – guards in white robes carrying holstered
guns and bandoliers stepped forward on each side and grabbed his arms so he
could not move.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Less than a year earlier,
the Holy Mosque in Makkah had been seized by fanatics and turned into an armed
fortress in an attempt to overthrow the Saudi government. A bloody two-week siege left hundreds dead, and
the Saudi government badly shaken. Security
had been intensified.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">My brother-in-law was not
ready for this degrading procedure and became highly agitated. But I had been reciting Qur’an and invocation
all night long, and my heart was absolutely tranquil by this time. I was like a dead body in the hands of the
guards.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When our turn came, my
brother-in-law, his arms pinned to his sides, approached the Minister. I stood two paces behind him, similarly
constrained. He handed over the petition
to an aide, who handed it to Prince Na’if. My brother-in-law blurted out our situation:
that I was an American and married his sister, and that we had two children. The Minister looked up puzzled and said, ‘So,
what’s the problem?’</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">My brother-in-law said, ‘They
didn’t have official permission.’ Prince
Naif nodded in recognition and looked past my brother-in-law and into my eyes.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Desert <i>shuyukh</i> and
princes raised to rule are taught from an early age to read petitioners’ faces.
They see so many people, they have to
gauge character in a glance in order to make snap decisions. I learned this from a friend of mine who had
been a ruler in Southern Arabia. Our
eyes met.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">My heart was serene. I looked at him calmly with no fear or emotion
of any kind, nodded respectfully and smiled. He ‘read’ me. He smiled back. He then looked to my brother-in-law, gestured
to the side, and said, ‘<i>Istirih</i>’, ‘Take your ease’, which meant that we
were to sit to the side and wait. He
read the petition carefully and signed it. Our marriage was approved.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">A few days later, my
crazy helper delivered my borrowed car completely repaired, as if nothing had
happened. God is the most Generous of
the Generous and the Most Merciful of the Merciful.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">My brief Ramadhan
encounter with a simple man of God the night before had turned the tide and
transformed what seemed like a hopeless ordeal into an unexpected success. I lived for twenty-three years in the sacred
precincts of Makkah, and my compassionate benefactor who came to my rescue and
gave me good counsel and a remedy for my disconsolate heart was a pivotal
instrument of this incredible blessing. May
God Reward him and Cover him with Mercy.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitiVv8TRqG77JYnrZZumHXX-4ZEDT7AJFAHeZc41-mh6pf1-zigebCxlvl4HAwxOcbFx0meKBBtfbD_4xus1p8odEGemIL47tPbtdISUhGWTZxrVTiK9Iqgqv1AxsEBYiRszqUE4XEai2O_fH9eto1hnRZ3dGSMiJDzrA_Fj7eOmbc-6o8vmtioI5fZOU/s640/BP;%20Sunset%20Shore.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="640" height="764" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitiVv8TRqG77JYnrZZumHXX-4ZEDT7AJFAHeZc41-mh6pf1-zigebCxlvl4HAwxOcbFx0meKBBtfbD_4xus1p8odEGemIL47tPbtdISUhGWTZxrVTiK9Iqgqv1AxsEBYiRszqUE4XEai2O_fH9eto1hnRZ3dGSMiJDzrA_Fj7eOmbc-6o8vmtioI5fZOU/w1222-h764/BP;%20Sunset%20Shore.jpg" width="1222" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>Terence Nunishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06071127118103190470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724924986866131547.post-36754374557332488272023-09-20T15:12:00.006+08:002023-09-24T21:53:42.615+08:00Shaykh Muhammad al-Hafizh ibn al-Mukhtar ash-Shinqithi (q.s.)<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a name="_Hlk55769886"></a></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a name="_Hlk55769886"></a><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">بِسۡمِ
ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The following is a
biography of Shaykh Muhammad al-Hafizh ibn al-Mukhtar ash-Shinqithi (</span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">q.s.</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">),
by </span>Ustadz Zakariya Zachary Wright<span style="font-size: 12pt;">.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh Muhammad al-Hafizh
ash-Shinqithi (<i>q.s.</i>) is credited with first introducing the <i>Thariqa’
Tijaniyyah</i> in Mauritania, whereby it was introduced into sub-Saharan West
Africa. He became the preeminent <i>muqaddam</i>
of the <i>Tijaniyyah</i> in Mauritania after spending years in the company of Shaykh
Abu al-‘Abbas Ahmad ibn Muhammad at-Tijani (<i>q.s.</i>) in Fas. Besides his mastery of Sufism, he was a jurist
and <i>hadits</i> scholar of great renown.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh Muhammad al-Hafizh
ash-Shinqithi (<i>q.s.</i>) hailed from the noble Idaw ‘Ali people in
Mauritania, who trace descent from Shaykh Muhammad ibn Hanafiyyah (<i>r.a.</i>),
a son of Sayyidina ‘Ali ibn Abu Thalib (<i>k.w.</i>). His father, Shaykh Mukhtar ibn Habib (<i>r.a.</i>)
was also a Islamic scholar, and particularly distinguished for his mastery of
the art of calligraphy. His grandfather
on his mother’s side, Qadhi Muhammad al-‘Alawi (<i>r.a.</i>), was the chief <i>qadhi</i>
among the important Trarza region of Mauritania in the mid-1700s. Shaykh Muhammad al-Hafizh ash-Shinqithi (<i>q.s.</i>)
was not the only scholar among his siblings, and two brothers, Shaykh Muhammad
Sa’id (<i>r.a.</i>) and Shaykh Muhammad al-Amin (<i>r.a.</i>) were also famous
scholars. The same was true of his
brother-in-law, Shaykh Muhamdi ibn ‘Abdullah al-‘Alawi (<i>r.a.</i>), known as
“Baddi,” who authored the most complete biography of Shaykh Muhammad al-Hafizh
ash-Shinqithi (<i>q.s.</i>), <i>Nuzhat al-Mustam’ wa al-Lafiz fi Manaqib ash-Shaykh
Muhammad al-Hafizh</i>.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh Muhammad al-Hafizh
ash-Shinqithi (<i>q.s.</i>) began his Islamic education with the Qur’an, and
memorised the entire Book by the age of seven. Following the death of his grandfather, he
continued his studies in <i>fiqh</i>, jurisprudence, with his grandmother –
herself a learned scholar who taught him <i>al-Khulaswat al-Alfiyyah</i> of Shaykh
Jamal ad-Din Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Malik ath-Tha’i
al-Jayyani (<i>r.a.</i>), <i>ar-Risalah al-Fiqhiyyah</i> of Shaykh Abu Muhammad
‘Abdullah ibn Abu Zayd ‘Abd ar-Rahman an-Nafzawi (<i>r.a.</i>), and <i>Mukhtaswar
al-Khalil</i> of Shaykh Khalil ibn Ishaq al-Jundi (<i>r.a.</i>). After the death of his grandmother, he travelled
to study <i>nahw</i>, grammar, among other sciences with the learned <i>faqih</i>,
Shaykh ‘Abdullah ibn Ahmaddan (<i>r.a.</i>). Shaykh Ahmaddan (<i>r.a.</i>) was also a <i>shaykh</i>
of the <i>Shadziliyyah Naswiriyyah</i>, but there is no evidence that Shaykh Muhammad
al-Hafizh ash-Shinqithi (<i>q.s.</i>) took the Shadzili <i>wird</i> at this
time. He next studied the Qur’anic
sciences; <i>manthiq</i>, logic; and <i>‘aqidah</i>, theology, with Shaykh Hurma
ibn ‘Abd al-Jalil (<i>r.a.</i>), and then completed his study of <i>fiqh</i>, jurisprudence,
with Shaykh ‘Abdullah ibn Ahmad ibn Mahham (<i>r.a.</i>). Continuing in the tradition of a travelling
student in search of sacred knowledge, he next went to study with Shaykh ‘Abdullah
ibn Ibrahim (<i>r.a.</i>), a celebrated scholar in Mauritania who had studied
in Fas, and who had become a friend of the Moroccan Sultan, Mawlay Muhammad ibn
‘Abdullah (<i>r.a.</i>). Shaykh Muhammad
al-Hafizh ash-Shinqithi (<i>q.s.</i>) spent six years with Shaykh ‘Abdullah (<i>r.a.</i>),
studying <i>ahadits</i>, Prophetic traditions; <i>uswul al-fiqh</i>, legal
principles; and <i>‘ilm al-bayan</i>, rhetoric. He also married his teacher’s daughter. The companions of Shaykh Ahmad at-Tijani (<i>q.s.</i>)
in Fas remarked that even after his submission to Shaykh Ahmad at-Tijani (<i>q.s.</i>),
Shaykh Muhammad al-Hafizh ash-Shinqithi (<i>q.s.</i>) maintained the utmost
respect for his previous teachers; and for Shaykh ‘Abdullah (<i>r.a.</i>) in
particular.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Indeed, it was following Shaykh
‘Abdullah’s (<i>r.a.</i>) example that Shaykh Muhammad al-Hafizh ash-Shinqithi (<i>q.s.</i>)
embarked on his journey seeking knowledge in Fas. But there was also a more immediate reason for
his journey to Fas. Shaykh Muhammad
al-Hafizh ash-Shinqithi (<i>q.s.</i>) had made persistent supplication while
performing <i>haj</i> to be united with a perfected spiritual master. As he was circumambulating the Holy House in Makkah,
an unknown man approached him to tell him that Shaykh Ahmad at-Tijani (<i>q.s.</i>)
was to be his spiritual master. After
learning the identity of this mysterious <i>shaykh</i> from a group of Moroccan
pilgrims, Shaykh Muhammad al-Hafizh ash-Shinqithi (<i>q.s.</i>) travelled to Fas
to meet him. He spent four years with Shaykh
Ahmad at-Tijani (<i>q.s.</i>) in Fas, from 1800-1804/5. The <i>ijazah</i> he received, still preserved
among his descendents in Mauritania, was dictated by Shaykh Ahmad at-Tijani (<i>q.s.</i>)
and written in the hand of Shaykh Muhammad al-Mishry ibn ‘Abdullah al-‘Alawi
at-Tijani (<i>r.a.</i>), the close companion of Shaykh Ahmad at-Tijani (<i>q.s.</i>),
and author of <i>Kitab al-Jami’</i>.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Before leaving to return
home, Shaykh Ahmad at-Tijani (<i>q.s.</i>) advised him, “Do not seek to appear
until Allah Makes you appear.” For the
first year after his return, Shaykh Muhammad al-Hafizh ash-Shinqithi (<i>q.s.</i>)
thus practiced the <i>thariqa’</i> with great discretion as he taught the
Islamic sciences, neither informing others of the <i>thariqa’</i> nor of his
appointment as <i>muqaddam</i>. Then, he
received a surprise visit from an ascetic famous for his visionary encounters
with Khidhr (<i>a.s.</i>), the mystical instructor of Moses (<i>a.s.</i>) as Mentioned
in the Qur’an. The ascetic told him to
give him the <i>wird</i> he was hiding. With
this sign, Shaykh Muhammad al-Hafizh ash-Shinqithi (<i>q.s.</i>) began to speak
openly of the <i>Thariqa’ Tijaniyyah</i> even as he continued teaching the
classical Islamic sciences. His
teachings attracted a great many students and, besides his credentials as a
Sufi <i>shaykh</i>, he particularly renowned as a distinguished scholar of <i>ahadits</i>,
possessing a highly desirable <i>isnad</i>, chain, of transmission through Imam
Swalih ibn Muhammad al-Fulani (<i>r.a.</i>) in Madina. He wrote a commentary on the <i>Alfiyyah</i>, discussing
the rules of <i>ahadits</i> transmission. He was also known for his teaching of
jurisprudence and grammar. His
instruction in <i>taswawwuf</i> emphasised the <i>al-Hikam</i> of Shaykh Taj
ad-Din Abu al-Fadhl Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Atha’illah as-Sakandari (<i>r.a.</i>),
in addition to Tijani sources. Shaykh Muhammad
al-Hafizh ash-Shinqithi (<i>q.s.</i>) discouraged conflict between Sufi orders
and advised his disciples not to disrespect the followers of other Sufi paths,
saying “Do not ask him who follows another Sufi order to abandon his litany and
do not seek to dampen his enthusiasm for it. Tell him instead that all the litanies are
paths that lead to Allah.” Following the
advice of Shaykh Ahmad at-Tijani (<i>q.s.</i>), Shaykh Muhammad al-Hafizh
ash-Shinqithi’s (<i>q.s.</i>) own Sufi instruction differed from existing Sufi
practice in Mauritania by its absence of <i>khalwah</i> and a deemphasis of
talismanic sciences.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Through Shaykh Muhammad
al-Hafizh ash-Shinqithi (<i>q.s.</i>), the Idaw ‘Ali quickly became the
principle propagators of the <i>Tijaniyyah</i> in West Africa. The <i>Hafizhiyyah</i> tradition was marked by
many great scholars after the passing of Shaykh Muhammad al-Hafizh
ash-Shinqithi (<i>q.s.</i>). The book of
Imam ‘Ubaydah ibn Muhammad as-Saghir at-Tashit (<i>r.a.</i>), <i>Mizab ar-Rahmah
ar-Rabbaniyyah fi at-Tarbiyyah bi ath-Thariqa’ at-Tijaniyyah</i>, is considered
a masterful synthesis of the Tijani legacy left by Shaykh Muhammad al-Hafizh
ash-Shinqithi (<i>q.s.</i>). It described
the essence of the <i>thariqa’</i> as <i>shukr</i>, gratitude, to Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>),
and details a methodology of <i>tarbiyyah</i>, spiritual training, through the
three stages of Islam; <i>iman</i>, and <i>ihsan</i>.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The most famous disciple
of Shaykh Muhammad al-Hafizh ash-Shinqithi (<i>q.s.</i>) was Shaykh Muhammad
Mawlud ibn Ahmad Fal al-Musawi al-Ya’qubi (<i>r.a.</i>), who is credited with
the expansion of Shaykh Muhammad al-Hafizh ash-Shinqithi’s (<i>q.s.</i>)
teachings outside of the Idaw ‘Ali. Shaykh Mawlud Fal (<i>r.a.</i>) was from the ‘Id-Ayqub,
a people of Mauritania famous for their expertise in jurisprudence. He became a close disciple of Shaykh Muhammad
al-Hafizh ash-Shinqithi (<i>q.s.</i>), and eventually married his sister. He left for Fas in 1815, hoping to meet Shaykh
Ahmad at-Tijani (<i>q.s.</i>) in person, but arrived just after his passing. The Tijani notables of Fas nonetheless renewed
his <i>ijazah</i> originally given him by Shaykh Muhammad al-Hafizh
ash-Shinqithi (<i>q.s.</i>). He studied
closely with the son of Shaykh Abu al-Hasan ‘Ali Isma’il al-Harazim (<i>r.a.</i>),
who instructed him in the practice of <i>khalwah</i> and other supererogatory
litanies not transmitted to him by Shaykh Muhammad al-Hafizh ash-Shinqithi (<i>q.s.</i>).
After his study in Fas, Shaykh Mawlud
Fal (<i>r.a.</i>) traveled widely throughout West Africa. During his travels, he appointed many teachers
who themselves helped spread the <i>thariqa’</i> all over Africa. Thus, Shaykh ‘Abd al-Karim ibn Ahmad an-Naqil
(<i>r.a.</i>), the first <i>shaykh</i> of Shaykh ‘Umar ibn Sa’id al-Futi Thal (<i>r.a.</i>)
became one of his important <i>muqaddamat</i> in Futa Jallun; Mudibu Ahmad Raji
(<i>r.a.</i>) received an <i>ijazah</i> from Shaykh Mawlud Fal (<i>r.a.</i>) to
spread the <i>thariqa’</i> in Northern Nigeria; and Shaykh Wad Dulayb (<i>r.a.</i>)
spread the <i>thariqa’</i> in the Sudan under the <i>silsilah</i> of Shaykh Mawlud
Fal (<i>r.a.</i>).</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The <i>Hafizhiyyah</i>
branch of the <i>Tijaniyyah</i> also played an important role in securing
support for the <i>jihad</i> of Shaykh ‘Umar al-Futi Thal (<i>r.a.</i>) among
the Moroccan Tijani scholars. Shaykh
‘Umar al-Futi Thal (<i>r.a.</i>) kept in close contact with the <i>Hafizhiyyah</i>
<i>zawiyah</i> in Mauritania even after his training with Shaykh Muhammad ibn
Abu Thalib al-Ghali ash-Sharif (<i>r.a.</i>). Once, when the Sokoto Sultan Muhammad Billu,
requested permission from him for the prayer, <i>hizb al-bahr</i> and the book,
<i>Jawahir al-Khamsa</i>, Shaykh ‘Umar al-Futi Thal (<i>r.a.</i>) responded
that he himself could not give such permission, but that he would request it
from the <i>Hafizhiyyah zawiyah</i> in Mauritania. To this end, Shaykh ‘Umar al-Futi Thal (<i>r.a.</i>)
sent his elder brother, Alfa Ahmad, who had his own <i>ijazah</i> renewed by
the <i>Hafizhiyyah zawiyah</i>.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Even in the twentieth
century, the <i>Hafizhiyyah</i> tradition played a large role in shaping the
careers of Tijani scholars. One of Imam
Malik Sy’s (<i>r.a.</i>) most important initiations into the <i>thariqa’</i>
was through the son of Shaykh Mawlud Fal (<i>r.a.</i>), known as al-Shaykh. Shaykh Ibrahim ibn ‘Abdullah Niyas al-Kawlakhi
(<i>q.s.</i>), a renowned representative of the <i>Hafizhiyyah</i> tradition,
who had been seeking the spiritual flood, <i>faydhah</i>, of Shaykh Ahmad
Tijani (<i>q.s.</i>) for many years before recognising it in the person of
Shaykh Ibrahim Niyas (<i>q.s.</i>).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVd2sZfsDQuntwvo5pU3uNjYqdj7Ol6KlG1b86Ebl1qLIwav46jZxVLAJnt1sL6kM-GlkET9guiVAyNgYJ_ZP6v4KvHCy06QPx-u--rEPwXHMHcWQGzWRzCwNtEwa7KZH_tdeKa6oTf-xcPdu4rwNHhVLbCZAx996LJyrk5Kf69dNsH5vCbQWLu0If3E/s1410/BP;%20Sunset%20in%20French%20Polynesia.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="1410" height="1108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVd2sZfsDQuntwvo5pU3uNjYqdj7Ol6KlG1b86Ebl1qLIwav46jZxVLAJnt1sL6kM-GlkET9guiVAyNgYJ_ZP6v4KvHCy06QPx-u--rEPwXHMHcWQGzWRzCwNtEwa7KZH_tdeKa6oTf-xcPdu4rwNHhVLbCZAx996LJyrk5Kf69dNsH5vCbQWLu0If3E/w1990-h1108/BP;%20Sunset%20in%20French%20Polynesia.jpg" width="1990" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>Terence Nunishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06071127118103190470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724924986866131547.post-89004784662125280712023-09-20T01:33:00.002+08:002023-09-20T01:33:45.619+08:00On Revelation & the “Vital Lie”: A Beckerian Approach to Prophethood<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a name="_Hlk55769886"></a></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Dr. Colin Turner wrote, “I
cannot pretend that this is an academic paper, although at some point it may
grow into one. At the moment it is
merely an exercise in thinking aloud, so please bear with me.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In a sense, this paper
represents the confluence of two streams of thought. The first stream, the smaller of the two,
concerns the notion of <i>uswatun hasanah</i> or the ‘excellent pattern’, which is an epithet
given to both the Prophet Muhammad (<i>s.a.w.</i>) and the Prophet Abraham (<i>a.s.</i>),
in the Qur’an. The second stream, and
the more substantial one, concerns an on-going research interest of mine in the
concept of the ‘vital lie’, popularised by Ernest Becker, a cultural
anthropologist who died some forty years ago now and whose main claim to fame
is the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, ‘The Denial of Death’.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Let me start with the
first stream of thought, which concerns this notion of <i>uswatun hasanah</i> –
the notion of the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) as a ‘beautiful pattern’. The term, ‘<i>uswatun hasanah</i>’, connotes
the idea of role model, of someone whose behaviours and approaches deserve to
be studied and, if accepted and internalised, are worth emulating. Someone with the epithet, <i>uswatun hasanah</i>,
is clearly possessed of values, virtues and ways of dealing with the problems
and challenges of life which are worth following, not least because his or her
path is a tried and tested one. The fact
that the term, <i>uswatun hasanah</i>, has its origins in the Qur’an convinces
us of the weight that such a role carries. When one looks at the missions of prophets
such as Abraham (<i>a.s.</i>) and Muhammad (<i>s.a.w.</i>) as portrayed by the
Qur’an, and as one reads in and between the lines of the revelation of the
heavy burden of responsibility that these men carried, it becomes clear that
not only is living as a role model a matter of great import and seriousness,
but that emulating that role model is by no means a trivial or easy task. Nor, it would seem, is emulation avoidable,
for on a number of occasions the Qur’an Exhorts its listeners not only to
follow the teachings Revealed by Muhammad (<i>s.a.w.</i>), but also to follow
the example of the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) as reflected in his role as Divine Messenger,
with all that it entailed.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This issue of emulating
the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>), of taking him as a role model – an <i>uswatun
hasanah</i> – and following his example is, of course, deeply problematic and
the subject of much debate. It is a debate which, in its misrepresented and
misunderstood form, is purported to be between the conservative guardians of
so-called Islamic orthodoxy and those reforming liberals who, it is claimed,
wish to refashion Islam in a manner that dovetails more neatly with their
postmodern concerns and their self-professed progressive values. If it has not already become obvious, we are
talking here about the problem of the <i>sunnah</i> and <i>hadits</i>, Prophetic
tradition, which constitute one of the battlegrounds on which the
aforementioned, diametrically opposed groups, are engaged in combat.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The basic argument
between these two groups concerns the role played by the <i>hadits</i>, Prophetic
tradition and, by extension, the <i>sunnah</i> of the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>). Muslim orthodoxy holds that the <i>hadits</i>
play a foundational part in the formulation of Muslim law and the codification
of the <i>shari’ah</i>, while emulation of the Prophet’s (<i>s.a.w.</i>) <i>sunnah</i>,
is the only appropriate response to the Qur’an’s Exhortation that its listeners
should ‘obey the Prophet’. Furthermore,
this group holds that the <i>hadits</i> are there to complement and explain the
Qur’an, and that without the <i>hadits</i>, the Qur’an remains, to an extent,
inaccessible. The second group is one
which claims that since the Qur’an is complete, it is misguidance to believe
that the <i>hadits</i>, Prophetic tradition can play an expository role as a
body of inspired teachings that is there to somehow the complement the Qur’an. After all, the Qur’an is complete: why, then,
should it need something that is non-Divine to ‘perfect’ it.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I do not want to digress
here by exploring the arguments of these two groups in detail. My personal view is that the wholesale
rejection of the <i>hadits</i> as both a source of guidance and a source of law
is extreme and untenable. At the same
time, as far as the <i>hadits</i> are concerned, there is no avoiding the fact
that there are serious issues of authenticity, authority, soundness and
applicability which are still unresolved. We can leave aside the questions of
authenticity, authority and soundness here, for they do not concern us. Let us assume, for argument’s sake, that the
corpus of traditions which exist in the six canonical books of <i>hadits</i>
are authentic, sound and possessed of legal authority. Our focus here must be on applicability,
particularly in the context of the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) as <i>uswatun hasanah</i>.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Now the traditional
understanding of the <i>sunnah</i> is that it relates to the words, acts,
statements and decisions of Muhammad (<i>s.a.w.</i>), as they appear in the <i>hadits</i>.
Traditional understanding has it that
Muslims should emulate the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) as thoroughly and rigidly as
possible in their daily conduct. Traditional
understanding interprets <i>uswatun hasanah</i> almost exclusively in this way.
Traditional understanding defines
Muhammad’s (<i>s.a.w.</i>) being a role model in terms of how Muslims should
dress, eat, drink, sleep, talk and so on. While scriptural sources clearly do not
indicate that emulation of the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) is confined only to the <i>sunnah</i>
of his which emerges from the <i>hadits</i>, traditionally it has been the acts
and utterances of the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) which have informed the
‘beautiful pattern’ that is to serve as an example. In short, when one thinks of the Prophetic <i>sunnah</i>,
one thinks almost automatically of the Prophet’s (<i>s.a.w.</i>) behaviours as
reflected in the Traditions. And while
technically speaking the Traditions are not synonymous with the Prophetic <i>sunnah</i>,
it is more often than not this vast corpus of sayings which people turn to for
information on what and how to emulate.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Now for some there can be
no doubt that the <i>sunnah</i> is the basis upon which this notion of <i>uswatun
hasanah</i>, a righteous pattern worthy of emulation, has been founded. Yet to confine the notion of the <i>uswatun
hasanah</i> to the <i>sunnah</i>, and to see the ‘beautiful example’ as
inhering solely in the behaviours of the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) as recorded in
the Traditions is, I believe, to overlook a far richer and, from the point of
view of authenticity, a far less contentious source of information, namely the
Qur’an Itself. The notion of <i>uswatun
hasanah</i> is, of course, Qur’anic, and the verses in which it appears are,
like all other verses, best seen through the hermeneutical prism of the Qur’an Itself.
Furthermore, I believe there is a
serious mismatch between the notion of <i>uswatun hasanah</i>, as Expounded in
the Qur’an, and the idea that by emulating the mundane, quotidian behaviours of
the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>), one is actually living up to the Qur’anic Ideal. In short, it seems highly improbable in my
opinion that when the Qur’an Talks about <i>uswatun hasanah</i>, It is Talking
about emulation of the Prophet’s (<i>s.a.w.</i>) day-to-day behaviours – how he
walked, talked, ate, bathed, sat, slept and so on.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The reasons why I find
this improbable will hopefully become clear shortly. But first, I propose that we embark on a
thought experiment and imagine that the <i>hadits</i> do not exist. Let us imagine that we know nothing about the
trivial details of Muhammad’s (<i>s.a.w.</i>) life, about how he dressed, ate,
drank, slept, bathed or talked. How
would the complete absence of information regarding his day-to-day life impact
on our understanding of the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) as <i>uswatun hasanah</i>. an
exemplar? Would it make him any less a
role model without the <i>hadits</i> than he is with them? To understand who the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>)
was, and what he did, without relying on the <i>hadits</i>, is not as
unrealistic a proposition as it may sound. We must remember that the books of <i>hadits</i>
did not appear until the middle of the 9<sup>th</sup> century, and that for
many people in the first two centuries after the Prophet’s (<i>s.a.w.</i>)
death who were living in the furthest corners of the growing Muslim world, the
Qur’an would have been their main and possibly only source of information about
the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) and the prophetic mission. How, then, are we to understand, without the
secondary source of the Traditions, what the Qur’an means by <i>uswatun hasanah</i>?</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To answer this, I believe
we need to look at exactly what a prophet does and what a prophetic mission
entails. I will take it as given that
the main duty of the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) is to deliver the overarching
message of Divine Unity. To understand
what this means on a practical level, and why in this context the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>)
is an <i>uswatun hasanah</i>, a ‘beautiful pattern’, a role model – to
understand this we need to look at the communities into which the prophets were
born, and to which they directed the messages they received.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This is where Ernest
Becker comes in. The central theory
expounded by Becker in his work is that all human endeavour – be it social,
cultural, economic, political, religious, emotional and so on – is underpinned
by man’s acute awareness of his own mortality and the death anxiety that
accompanies it. All of human culture,
Becker believes, is driven by a collective attempt on the part of mankind to
deny death through the continuous pursuit of self-affirming, death-denying
acts, behaviours and projects that perpetuate the illusion of immortality – the
‘vital lie’, so to speak.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Until relatively
recently, this terror of mortality and the avoidance of the inevitable has been
a largely unexamined element of human psychology and cultural meaning. Even among those who believe that ‘death is
not the end’, direct engagement with death is for the most part avoided. The fact is that death is taboo. In his book, ‘Denial of Death’, Becker
contended that mortality terror is informed mainly by the symbolisation of our
childhood fears. These fears become any
number of representations that mask their origins. Symbolisation is a mystifying process: one
thing - unconsciously - comes to stand for another thing, but we take that
thing as the true object and have no idea we have fooled ourselves. Those infantile fears become components of
transference: they are disguised and projected upon the present, which means
people do not understand what or why they really fear.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Becker describes the
existential anxieties that mask deeper psychological phenomena, undermining any
conscious and subjective knowledge of what we fear. Part of this symbolising process involves the ‘self’
that develops with the unconsciously aim to deny manifestations of mortality,
such as physical weakness, decay, finitude, creatureliness and, of course,
death itself. For Becker, fear of death
is more than the loss of the actual self; it also focusses on the loss of the
symbolic self. In this regard, fear of
mortality is also a fear of death in life, a fear of loss of self-esteem,
reputation, social standing, loss of one’s own sense of power and
meaningfulness.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Our natural survival
instincts, our natural, animal sense of separation anxiety, joined with the
symbolisation of infantile fears and the childhood knowledge of mortality,
means that in seriously contemplating death we feel terrified by it. This terror is characterised by the Becker as
death anxiety.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Death anxiety is key to
Becker’s overall theory of how the awareness of mortality impacts the
psychology and culture of the living. For Becker, the unbearable terror of death
that self-aware mortal beings would normally experience in understanding death
is ‘managed by the construction and maintenance of cultural worldviews: humanly
constructed beliefs about the nature of reality that infuse individuals with a
sense that they are persons of value in a world of meaning, different than and
superior to corporeal and mortal nature, and thus capable of transcending the
natural boundaries of time and space, and in so doing, elude death.’</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But, Becker said, it is
not sufficient simply to maintain a worldview: that worldview must also
succeed and be seen to succeed. The most
obvious results of success are the feelings of self-esteem and self-worth. Esteem is accorded to individuals as a result
of success within the culture by attaining expected goals, by structuring their
lives around cultural values, by upholding the prescribed world-view – usually
the dominant worldview of the culture within which they are embedded - and so on. Esteem provides an individual with a sense of
personal attainment, self-worth and value within a system of shared meaning,
which is essential to individual health and psychological well-being.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">These shared meanings are
not actually experienced or articulated explicitly as ways of suppressing death
anxiety; rather, they have a mundane, real-life significance for people who
accept them and live in accordance with them. Because cultural meaning is so important for
reducing anxiety – remember, it banishes the terror of death – then one can
understand why investment in particular worldviews are usually so great. Consequently, group values are often asserted
to the detriment of outsiders, whose alien worldviews offer the threat of
contradiction and critique. If an
individual's worldview – his method of controlling and understanding existence
- is shown to be flawed, then a pointless life and meaningless death will
threaten the individual with existential angst, feelings of utter impotence and
absolute, despair-inducing powerlessness.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This is why cultural
meanings and beliefs are defended zealously by the those who sustain them. As Becker put it. ‘No wonder men go into a
rage over fine points of belief: if your adversary wins the argument about
truth, you die. Your immortality system
has been shown to be fallible, your life becomes fallible.’ The personal investment that individuals make
in their group’s cultural values can be so all-consuming that they are willing
to sacrifice their lives to preserve the world-view – the ‘vital lie’ - that
sustains their meaning in life. And yes,
to be ready to embrace death in order to preserve those values which seek
actively to deny death is, indeed, the ultimate irony. But then there is much that is ironic about
the ‘vital lie’, not least the fact that it is cherished as the absolute truth
by those who are in active denial of the truth.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Okay, so now the question
is this: how is the ‘vital lie’ paradigm related to prophethood, and in
particular the Qur’anic narratives which concern the delivery of Divine Messages
by human Messengers? While a detailed
exposition of the links between Becker’s theory of dominant immortality
ideologies is beyond the scope of this paper, even a cursory look at the
‘prophetic mission narratives’ in the Qur’an Reveals what I believe is a very
strong connection between the notions surrounding Becker’s ‘vital lie’ and the
missions undertaken by the various messengers in question.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If we look at the
passages in the Qur’an which Talk about how the prophets were treated by their
communities, the nature of the challenges they faced becomes clear immediately.
The overarching ‘vital lie’ which the
Qur’an challenges is, of course, the illusion that God has partners: the Qur’an
was Revealed not to establish the Existence of God but, rather, the Oneness of
God, and all of the prophetic missions focus on the need that man has to affirm
Divine Unity rather than bow down to innumerable ‘gods’ and thus compromise his
own position as <i>khalifah</i>, vicegerent of God on Earth. All of the prophets Mentioned in the Qur’an
come to challenge the henotheistic claims of their addressee communities. You know the examples better than I do: the
blatant idolatry of the community of Abraham (<i>a.s.</i>), challenged by a man
who was not willing to love ‘those things which set’; the cult of the god-king
in Pharaonic Egypt, where the ‘vital lie’ of human self-sufficiency was propped
up by magicians – in much the same way, one might add, that post-Enlightenment
secular humanism has been propped up by scientific materialists; and the crude
tribal humanism of the desert Arabs to whom Muhammad (<i>s.a.w.</i>) was Sent
with his iconoclastic message. Each
prophet, then, faced the most intractable of problems in his prophetic mission:
the problem posed by the ‘vital lie’ dominant in his community.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It is clear, then, that
at the heart of the mission of each prophet lay the imperative to challenge the
status quo, to expose the ‘vital lie’ that propped up his community for what it
was: a trick of the mind, a deception, an enduring, convenient falsehood. The bigger the lie, it would seem, the more
it will be believed. Whole communities,
whole societies, even, had bought themselves into these vital lies with such
dedicated and sincere self-deception, that to strike at the vital lie was to
strike at the very lifeblood of the community. And to challenge someone’s vital lie was to
attempt to drive a stake through the heart of that person’s identity. We can see in the responses of the recipient
communities the sheer terror that such challenges must have posed. Prophets were mocked, harassed, oppressed and
marginalised. Muhammad (<i>s.a.w.</i>)
was called a madman, a poet and a liar, and his followers faced all manner of
vilification and persecution. To
challenge the ‘way of the forefathers’ was to call into question the ‘dominant
immortality ideology’ of the group; it was to expose the ‘vital lie’ for what
it was. Little wonder that Muhammad (<i>s.a.w.</i>)
was often on the point of despair. He
had come not to change the way people ate or drank, dressed, bathed, walked or
talked; he had come to challenge the very <i>raison d’etre</i> of his community’s
values and belief system. Little wonder
that he and his message were met with such vituperation and hostility.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To launch such
challenges, then, as would strike at the very heart of the ‘vital lie’ clearly
calls for very special individuals, with clearly delineated strategies and
methodologies and objectives, with firm belief, patience, perseverance and
hope.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To challenge the vital
lie which feeds our own societies and communities, we stand in need of people
who can do today what the prophets of the past did then. The vital lies which support our societies are
no less pernicious, no less of a challenge than the vital lies which supported
the societies of Abraham (<i>a.s.</i>), of Moses (<i>a.s.</i>), of Muhammad (<i>s.a.w.</i>).
And these vital lies are not something
that can be combatted simply by eating, dressing, sleeping or walking in the
same way that Muhammad (<i>s.a.w.</i>) ate, dressed, slept and walked. While there is undoubtedly much to be admired
in the everyday behaviours of the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) as described in the <i>hadits</i>,
his being a ‘beautiful pattern’ cannot surely be reduced to these trivial
details of his day-to-day life – details which reflect the fact that he was an
Arab living at a particular juncture in time, a man who, in his words, ‘was the
son of a woman from the Quraysh who ate dried meat’ – presumably like everyone
else. To follow the ‘beautiful’ pattern
of Abraham (<i>a.s.</i>) and Muhammad (<i>s.a.w.</i>), we need to increase our
own awareness of the seriousness and significance of their missions, to
understand as we read the Qur’anic accounts of their careers the enormity of
the challenges they faced and the kind of values and character traits they
needed to nurture within themselves in order to face those challenges. They were tasked with the incredibly difficult
goal of subjecting to rigorous scrutiny and questioning the very foundations of
their host communities. Emulation of
such ‘beautiful patterns’, then, surely cannot be reduced to copying the
Prophet’s (<i>s.a.w.</i>) day to day life habits.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Again, my intention here
is not to cast doubt on the Traditions per se. What I feel is open to doubt is the efficacy
of the approach to the issue of <i>uswatun hasanah</i> that sees ‘following the
Prophet’ as consisting for the most part in emulating his dress sense, how long
he kept his beard or whether he urinated standing up or sitting down. Firstly, none of these behaviours is binding
on us, and secondly, emulation of these behaviours will not contribute in any
way, shape or form to the mission that believers are entrusted with, namely the
imperative to challenge and expose the vital lies which we have woven around
ourselves like a thick cocoon to shield ourselves from the terror of finitude,
of mortality, of ultimate accountability.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhnjCV1kEfOUJCFAz9KhG09tsnmjBcyv9Jfb555XrH4nUmt0JVbBZsJ3rgU75CI-W5ech_64zQh3VXaQfzV66d-xkfF-vUNYwSvXTQXJ20bMbx-de8NLjhHXwYhhZ07KnmAmDC68CmLPzfZYWSSQyfErry9tMs0aFw9vJ-8ADdDHttNDUFjjMZ8_2hTs/s3888/BP;%20Sunset%20Peeking%20beneath%20the%20Clouds.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3888" height="2976" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhnjCV1kEfOUJCFAz9KhG09tsnmjBcyv9Jfb555XrH4nUmt0JVbBZsJ3rgU75CI-W5ech_64zQh3VXaQfzV66d-xkfF-vUNYwSvXTQXJ20bMbx-de8NLjhHXwYhhZ07KnmAmDC68CmLPzfZYWSSQyfErry9tMs0aFw9vJ-8ADdDHttNDUFjjMZ8_2hTs/w4464-h2976/BP;%20Sunset%20Peeking%20beneath%20the%20Clouds.JPG" width="4464" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><p></p>Terence Nunishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06071127118103190470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724924986866131547.post-30394691863124434742023-09-20T00:51:00.004+08:002023-09-20T01:23:03.722+08:00The Taswawwuf Debate<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><a name="_Hlk55769886"></a></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">One of the great Sufi <i>a’immah</i>
who was also known as a <i>muhaddits</i>, preacher, and Maliki jurist, Shaykh
Taj ad-Din Abu al-Fadhl Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Atha’illah as-Sakandari (<i>q.s.</i>)
is the author of <i>al-Hikam</i>, <i>Miftah al-Falah</i>, <i>Qaswd al-Mujarrad
fi Ma’rifat al-Ism al-Mufrad</i>, <i>Taj al-‘Arus al-Hawi li Tadzhib an-Nufus</i>,
<i>‘Unwan at-Tawfiq fi Adab ath-Thariq</i>, the biographical <i>Latha’if fi Manaqib
Abu al-‘Abbas al-Mursi wa Shaykhihi Abu al-Hasan</i>, and others. He was Shaykh Shahab ad-Din Abu al-‘Abbas
Ahmad ibn ‘Umar al-Mursi’s (<i>q.s.</i>) student and the second successor of
the Sufi founder, Imam Abu al-Hasan ‘Ali ibn ‘Abdullah ash-Shadzili (<i>q.s.</i>).</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh ibn ‘Atha’illah
as-Sakandari (<i>q.s.</i>) was one of those who confronted Shaykh Taqi’ ad-Din
Ahmad ibn ‘Abd al-Halim ibn Taymiyyah (<i>r.a.</i>) for his excesses in
attacking those of the Sufis with whom he disagreed. Shaykh ibn ‘Atha’illah as-Sakandari (<i>q.s.</i>)
never referred to Shaykh ibn Taymiyyah (<i>r.a.</i>) by name in his works, but
it is clearly of him that he speaks when he says, in his <i>Latha’if</i>, that
Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) put the Sufis to the test through what he termed “the
scholars of external learning.” This is
found on the margins of Shaykh ‘Abd al-Wahhab ibn Ahmad ash-Sha’rani’s (<i>r.a.</i>)
<i>Latha’if al-Minan wa al-Akhlaq fi bayan Wujub at-Taḥadduts bi-Ni’mat Allah
‘ala al-Ithlaq al-Ma’ruf bi al-Minan al-Kubra</i>.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh ibn Taymiyyah (<i>r.a.</i>)
had been imprisoned in Alexandria. When
the Sultan pardoned him, he came back to Cairo. At the time of the evening prayer, he went to
al-Azhar Mosque, where <i>swalat al-maghrib</i> was being led by Shaykh ibn ‘Atha’illah
as-Sakandari (<i>q.s.</i>). Following
the prayer, Shaykh ibn ‘Atha’illah as-Sakandari (<i>q.s.</i>) was surprised to
discover that Shaykh ibn Taymiyyah (<i>r.a.</i>) had been praying behind him. Greeting him with a smile, the Sufi <i>shaykh</i>
cordially welcomed Shaykh ibn Taymiyyah’s (<i>r.a.</i>) arrival to Cairo,
saying, “<i>as-Salaamu ‘Alaykum</i>”. Then, Shaykh ibn ‘Atha’illah as-Sakandari
(<i>q.s.</i>) started to talk with the learned visitor.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh ibn ‘Atha’illah
as-Sakandari (<i>q.s.</i>) said, “Ordinarily, I pray the evening prayer in the
Mosque of Imam Husayn and the night prayer here. But look how the Divine Plan Works Itself out!
Allah has Ordained that I should be the
first one to greet you. Tell me, O <i>faqih</i>,
do you blame me for what happened?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh ibn Taymiyyah (<i>r.a.</i>)
replied, “I know you intended me no harm, but our differences of opinion still
stand. In any case, whoever has harmed
me in any way, from this day on I hereby exonerate and free him from any blame
in the matter.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh ibn ‘Atha’illah
as-Sakandari (<i>q.s.</i>) said, “What is it you know about me, ibn Taymiyyah?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh ibn Taymiyyah (<i>r.a.</i>)
replied, “I know you to be a man of scrupulous piety, abundant learning,
integrity and truthfulness in speech. I
bear witness that I have seen no one like you either in Egypt or Syria who
loves Allah more nor who is more self-effacing in Him nor who is more obedient
in carrying out what He has Commanded and in refraining from what He has Forbidden.
Nevertheless, we have our differences. What do you know about me? Are you claiming that I am misguided when I
deny the validity of calling on anyone save Allah for aid?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh ibn ‘Atha’illah
as-Sakandari (<i>q.s.</i>) replied, “Surely, my dear colleague, you know that calling
for help is the same as seeking a means and asking for intercession; and that
the Messenger is the one whose help is sought since he is our means and he the
one whose intercession we seek.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh ibn Taymiyyah (<i>r.a.</i>)
said, “In this matter, I follow what the Prophet’s (<i>s.a.w.</i>) <i>sunnah</i>
has laid down in the <i>shari’ah</i>, for it has been transmitted in a sound <i>hadits</i>,
‘I have been Granted the power of intercession.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He was quoting a nation found
in <i>ash-Shaykhayn</i>, the <i>hadits</i> of Sayyidina Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah
al-Answari (<i>r.a.</i>), where the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) said, “I have been
given five things which no prophet was given before me ...</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh ibn Taymiyyah (<i>r.a.</i>)
continued, “I have also collected the sayings on the Qur’an:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: right; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">سُوۡرَةُ بنیٓ اسرآئیل / الإسرَاء</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">…</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span> أَن يَبۡعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامً۬ا مَّحۡمُودً۬ا (٧٩)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">…
soon will your Lord Raise you to a station of Praise and Glory! (Surah al-Isra’:79)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I concluded to the effect
that the ‘praised estate’ is intercession. Moreover, when the mother of the Commander of
the Faithful, ‘Ali died, the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) prayed to Allah at her
grave and said, ‘O Allah Who Lives and never dies, Who Quickens and Puts to
death, Forgive the sins of my mother, Fathimah bint Asad, Make wide the place
wherein she enters through the intercession of me, Your prophet, and the prophets
who came before me. For You are the most
merciful of those capable of having mercy.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam Abu al-Qasim
Sulayman ibn Ayyub ath-Thabarani (<i>r.a.</i>) related this <i>hadits</i> in his
<i>Mu’jam al-Kabir</i>. Imam Abu Hatim
Muhammad ibn Fayswal at-Tamimi ibn Hibban (<i>r.a.</i>) and Imam Abu ‘Abdullah
Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah al-Hakim an-Nishaburi (<i>r.a.</i>) declared it sound. Imam Abu Bakr ‘Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Abu
Shaybah (<i>r.a.</i>), on the authority of Sayyidina Jabir (<i>r.a.</i>) related
a similar narration. Similar, also, is
what Imam Abu ‘Umar Yusuf ibn ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abd al-Barr (<i>r.a.</i>) on the
authority of Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (<i>r.a.</i>); and Imam Abu Nu’aym
Ahmad ibn ‘Abdullah al-Aswbahani (<i>r.a.</i>) in his <i>Hilyat al-Awliya</i>,
on the authority of Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (<i>r.a.</i>) relate; as Imam Abu
al-Fadhl ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuthi (<i>q.s.</i>)
mentioned in the <i>Jami’ al-Kabir</i>. Imam
Shibab ad-Din Abu al-‘Abbas Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hajr al-Haytsami (<i>r.a.</i>)
wrote, in <i>Majmu’ az-Zawa’id wa Manba’ al-Fawa’id</i>, “ath-Thabarani’s chain
contains Rawh ibn Swalah, who has some weakness but ibn Hibban and al-Hakim
declared him trustworthy. The rest of
its sub-narrators are the men of sound <i>hadits</i>.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh ibn Taymiyyah (<i>r.a.</i>)
said, “This is the intercession that belongs to the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>). As for seeking the help of someone other than
Allah, it smacks of idolatry; for the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) commanded his
cousin, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas, not to ask of anyone to help him other than
Allah.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He was referring to the <i>hadits</i>
found in Imam Abu ‘Isa Muhammad ibn ‘Isa as-Sulami at-Tirmidzi’s (<i>r.a.</i>) <i>Jami’</i>,
Imam Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn Husayn al-Bayhaqi’s (<i>r.a.</i>) <i>Asma’ wa asw-Swifat</i>
and <i>Shu’ab al-Iman</i>, and by Imam Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hanbal (<i>r.a.</i>),
Imam ath-Tabarani (<i>r.a.</i>), Imam ibn Hibban (<i>r.a.</i>), Imam Abu Dawud
Sulayman ibn al-Ash’ats as-Sijistani (<i>r.a.</i>), Imam al-Hakim (<i>r.a.</i>). Imam Abu Zakariya Yahya ibn Sharaf an-Nawawi
included it in his <i>Hadits al-Arba’in</i>, but Imam Abu al-Faraj ‘Abd
ar-Rahman ibn ‘Ali ibn al-Jawzy (<i>r.a.</i>) placed it among the forgeries.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh ibn ‘Atha’illah
as-Sakandari (<i>q.s.</i>) said, “May Allah cause you to prosper, O <i>faqih</i>!
As for the advice which the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>)
gave to his cousin, ibn ‘Abbas, he wanted him to draw near to Allah not through
his familial relationship to the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) but through his
knowledge. With regard to your
understanding of <i>istighatha’</i> as being seeking the aid of someone other
than Allah (<i>s.a.w.</i>) which is idolatry, I ask you, is there any Muslim
possessed of real faith and believing in Allah and His Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>)
who thinks there is someone other than Allah Who has Autonomous Power over
events and Who is Able to Carry Out what He has Willed with regard to them? Is there any true believer who believes that
there is someone who can reward him for his good deeds and punish him for his
bad ones other than Allah?</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Besides this, we must
consider that there are expressions which should not be taken just in their
literal sense. This is not because of
fear of associating a partner with Allah and in order to block the means to
idolatry. For whoever seeks help from
the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) only seeks his power of intercession with Allah as
when you yourself say, ‘This food satisfies my appetite.’ Does the food itself satisfy your appetite? Or is it the case that it is Allah Who Satisfies
your appetite through the food?</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">As for your statement
that Allah has Forbidden Muslims to call upon anyone other than Himself in
seeking help, have you actually seen any Muslim calling on someone other than
Allah? The verse you cite from the Qur’an
was Revealed concerning the idolaters and those who used to call on their false
gods and ignore Allah. Whereas, the only
way Muslims seek the help of the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) is in the sense of seeking
a means, by virtue of the privilege he has received from Allah, and seeking
intercession, by virtue of the power of intercession which Allah has Bestowed
on him.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">As for your pronouncement
that seeking help is forbidden in the <i>shari’ah</i> because it can lead to
idolatry, if this is the case, then we ought also to prohibit grapes because
they are means to making wine, and to castrate unmarried men because not to do
so leaves in the world a means to commit fornication and adultery.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">At the latter comment,
both the <i>shuyukh</i> laughed. Shaykh
ibn ‘Atha’illah as-Sakandari (<i>q.s.</i>) continued, “I am acquainted with the
all-inclusiveness and foresight of the legal school founded by your <i>shaykh</i>,
Imam Ahmad, and know the comprehensiveness of your own legal theory and about
its principle of blocking the means to evil, as well as the sense of moral
obligation a man of your proficiency in Islamic jurisprudence and integrity
must feel. But I realise, also, that
your knowledge of language demands that you search out the hidden meanings of
words which are often shrouded behind their obvious senses. As for the Sufis, meaning for them is like a
spirit, and the words themselves are like its body. You must penetrate deeply into what is behind
the verbal body in order to seize the deeper reality of the word’s spirit.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Now you have found a
basis in your ruling against ibn ‘Arabi in the <i>Fuswusw al-Hikam</i>, the
text of which has been tampered with by his opponents, not only with things he
did not say, but with statements he could not even have intended saying. When Shaykh al-Islam al-‘Izz ibn ‘Abd as-Salam
understood what Shaykh ibn ‘Arabi had actually said and analysed, grasped and
comprehended the real meaning of his symbolic utterances, he asked Allah’s Pardon
for his former opinion about the <i>Shaykh</i> and acknowledged that Muhyi ad-Din
ibn ‘Arabi was an <i>imam</i> of Islam.”
This is found in Imam ‘Izz ad-Din ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn ‘Abd as-Salam
ash-Shafi’i’s (<i>r.a.</i>) <i>Zabad Khulaswat at-Taswawwuf</i>.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh ibn ‘Atha’illah
as-Sakandari (<i>q.s.</i>) continued, “As for the statement of ash-Shadzili
against ibn ‘Arabi, you should know that Abu al-Hasan ash-Shadzili is not the
person who said it, but one of the students of the <i>Shadziliyyah</i>. Furthermore, in making this statement, that
student was talking about some of the followers of ash-Shadzili. Thus, his words were taken in a fashion he
himself never intended.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">What do you think about
the Commander of the Faithful, Sayyidina ‘Ali ibn Abu Thali (<i>k.w.</i>)?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh ibn Taymiyyah (<i>r.a.</i>)
said, “In the <i>hadits</i>, the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) said, ‘I am the city
of knowledge and ‘Ali is its door.’”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This is found in Imam
Shihab ad-Din Abu al-‘Abbas Ahmad ibn an-Naqib al-Miswri’s (<i>r.a.</i>) <i>‘Umdat
as-Salik wa ‘Uddat an-Nasik</i>. In it, Mulla
Nur ad-Din Abu al-Hasan ‘Ali ibn Sulthan Muhammad al-Hirawi al-Qari (<i>r.a.</i>)
is quoted as saying that the <i>hadits</i>, “I am the city of knowledge and ‘Ali
is its gate” was mentioned by Imam at-Tirmidzi (<i>r.a.</i>), who said it was
unacknowledgeable. Imam Abu ‘Abdullah
Muhammad ibn Isma’il al-Bukhari (<i>r.a.</i>) also said this, and that it was
without legitimate claim to authenticity. Imam Yahya ibn Ma’in (<i>r.a.</i>) said that
it was a baseless lie, as did Imam Abu Hatim Muhammad ibn Fayswal at-Tamimi ibn
Hibban (<i>r.a.</i>) and Imam Yahya ibn Sa’id al-Answari (<i>r.a.</i>). Imam ibn al-Jawzy (<i>r.a.</i>) recorded it in
his book of <i>hadits</i> forgeries, and was confirmed by Imam Shams ad-Din Abu
‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ahmad adz-Dzahabi (<i>r.a.</i>), and others in this.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Imam Taqi’ ad-Din
Muhammad ibn ‘Ali ibn Daqiq al-‘Iyd, (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “This <i>hadits</i> is
not confirmed by scholars, and is held by some to be spurious.” Imam Abu Hasan ‘Ali ibn ‘Umar ad-Daraquthni (<i>r.a.</i>)
stated that it was uncorroborated. Imam
Shihab ad-Din Abu al-Fadhl Ahmad ibn ‘Ali ibn Hajr al-‘</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">Asqalani</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 1cm;"> (<i>r.a.</i>) was asked
about it and answered that it was well authenticated, not rigorously
authenticated, as Imam Hakim (<i>r.a.</i>) had said, but not a forgery, as Imam
ibn al-Jawzy (<i>r.a.</i>) had said. This
was mentioned by Imam as-Suyuthi (<i>q.s.</i>).</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The <i>hafizh</i>, Imam Swalah
ad-Din Abu Sa’id Khalil ibn Kaykaldi al-‘Ala’i (<i>r.a.</i>), said, in <i>Risalah
al-Mawdu’at</i>, “The truth is that the <i>hadits</i> is well authenticated, in
view of its multiple means of transmission, being neither rigorously
authenticated nor weak, much less a forgery.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh ibn Taymiyyah (<i>r.a.</i>)
continued, “Sayyidina ‘Ali is the one <i>mujahid</i> who never went out to
battle except to return victoriously. What scholar or jurist who came after him
struggled for the sake of Allah using tongue, pen and sword at the same time? He was a most accomplished Companion of the
Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>). His words are a
radiant lamp which have illumined me during the entire course of my life after
the Qur’an and <i>sunnah</i>. Ah! One who is ever short of provision and long in
his journeying.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh ibn ‘Atha’illah
as-Sakandari (<i>q.s.</i>) said, “Now, did ‘Ali ask anyone to take his side in
a faction? For this faction has claimed
that the angel, Gabriel, made a mistake and delivered Revelation to Muhammad (<i>s.a.w.</i>)
instead of ‘Ali! Or, did he ask them to
claim that Allah had become incarnate in his body and the <i>Imam</i> had
become divine? Or, did he not fight and
slay them and give a legal opinion that they should be killed wherever they
were found?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh ibn Taymiyyah (<i>r.a.</i>)
said, “On the basis of this very <i>fatwa</i>, I went out to fight them in the
mountains of Syria for more than ten years.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh ibn ‘Atha’illah
as-Sakandari (<i>q.s.</i>) said, “And Imam Ahmad (<i>r.a.</i>) questioned the
actions of some of his followers who were in the habit of going on patrols,
breaking open casks of wine, spilling their contents on the floor, beating up
singing girls, and confronting people in the street. All of this they did in the name of enjoining
good and prohibiting what is forbidden. However,
the <i>Imam</i> had not given any fatwa that they should censure or rebuke all
those people. Consequently, these
followers of his were flogged, thrown into jail, and paraded mounted on assback
facing the tail. Now, is Imam Ahmad
himself responsible for the bad behavior which the worst and most vicious <i>Hanabilah</i>
continue to perpetrate right down to our own day, in the name of enjoining good
and prohibiting what is forbidden?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">All this is to say that
Shaykh Muhyi ad-Din ibn ‘Arabi is innocent with respect to what those of his
followers do who absolve people of legal and moral obligations set down by the
religion and from committing deeds that are prohibited. Do you not see this?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh ibn Taymiyyah (<i>r.a.</i>)
said, “But where do they stand with respect to Allah? Among you Sufis are those who assert that when
the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) gave glad tidings to the poor and said that they
would enter Paradise before the rich, the poor fell into ecstasy and began to
tear their garments into pieces; that at that moment the angel, Gabriel
descended from Heaven and said to the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) that Allah had
sought his rightful portion from among these torn garments; and that the angel Gabriel
carried one of them and hung it on Allah’s Throne. For this reason, they claim, Sufis wear
patchworked garments and call themselves ‘the poor’!”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh ibn ‘Atha’illah
as-Sakandari (<i>q.s.</i>) said, “Not all Sufis wear patchworked vests and
clothing. Here I am before you: what do
you disapprove of in my appearance?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh ibn Taymiyyah (<i>r.a.</i>)
said, “You are from the men of <i>shari’ah</i> and teach in al-Azhar.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh ibn ‘Atha’illah
as-Sakandari (<i>q.s.</i>) said, “al-Ghazali was equally an <i>Imam</i> both in
<i>shari’ah</i> and <i>taswawwuf</i>. He
treated legal rulings, the <i>sunnah</i>, and the <i>shari’ah</i> with the
spirit of the Sufi. And by applying this
method, he was able to revive the religious sciences. We know that <i>taswawwuf</i> recognises that
what is sullied has no part in religion and that cleanliness has the character
of faith. The true and sincere Sufi must
cultivate in his heart the faith recognised by the <i>Ahl as-Sunnah</i>.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Two centuries ago, the
very phenomena of pseudo-Sufis appeared, which you yourself criticise and
reject. There were persons who sought to
diminish the performance of worship and religious obligations, lighten fasting
and belittle the five daily prayers. They ran wild into the vast arenas of sloth
and heedlessness, claiming that they had been liberated from the shackles of
the slavery of divine worship. Not
satisfied with their own vile deeds until they have claimed intimations of the
most extravagant realities and mystical states just as Imam al-Qushayri himself
described in his well-known, <i>Risalah</i>, which he directed against them. He also set down, in detail, what constituted
the true path to Allah, which consists in taking a firm hold upon the Qur’an
and the <i>sunnah</i>. The <i>a’immah</i>
of <i>taswawwuf</i> desire to arrive at the true reality not only by means of
rational evidence thought up by the human mind which are capable of being
false as well as true, but by means of purifying the heart and purging the ego
through a course of spiritual exercises. They cast aside concerns for the life of this
world inasmuch as the true servant of Allah does not busy himself with anything
else except love of Allah and His Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>). This is a high order of business and one which
makes a servant pious and healthy and prosperous. It is an occupation that reforms those things
that corrupt the human creature, such as love of money and ambition for
personal standing in society. However,
it is an order of business which is constituted by nothing less than spiritual
warfare for the sake of Allah.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">My learned friend,
interpreting texts according to their literal meanings can sometimes land a
person in error. Literalism is what has
caused your judgements about ibn ‘Arabi who is one of the <i>a’immah</i> of our
faith known for his scrupulous piety. You have understood what he wrote in a
superficial fashion; whereas Sufis are masters of literary figures which
intimate much deeper meanings, hyperbolic language that indicates heightened
spiritual awareness and words which convey secrets concerning the realm of the
unseen.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh ibn Taymiyyah (<i>r.a.</i>)
said, “This argument is against you, not in your favour. For when Imam al-Qushayri saw his followers
deviating from the path to Allah, he took steps to improve them. What do the Sufi <i>shuyukh</i> in our day do?
I only ask that Sufis follow the path of
the <i>sunnah</i> of these great and pious ancestors of our faith, the ascetics
among the Companions, the generation which succeeded them, and the generation
that followed in their footsteps to their best! Whoever acts in this way, I esteem him highly
and consider him to be an <i>imam</i> of the religion. As for unwarranted innovation and the
insertion of the ideas of idolaters such as the Greek philosophers and the
Indian Buddhists, or like the idea that man can incarnate Allah or attain unity
with Him, or the theory that all existence is one in being, and other such
things to which your <i>shaykh</i> summons people: this is clearly godlessness
and unbelief.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh ibn ‘Atha’illah
as-Sakandari (<i>q.s.</i>) said, “ibn ‘Arabi was one of the greatest of the
jurists who followed the school of Dawud az-Zahiri after ibn Hazm al-Andalusi,
who is close to your methodology in Islamic law, O <i>Hanabilah</i>! But although ibn ‘Arabi was a Zhahiri, the
method he applied to understand ultimate reality was to search out the hidden,
spiritual meaning, that is, to purify the inward self.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This is a key equivalence
in Shaykh ibn ‘Atha’illah as-Sakandari’s (<i>q.s.</i>) <i>Hikam</i>, for
example, “Sometimes lights come upon you and find the heart stuffed with forms
of created things, so they go back from whence they descended.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh ibn ‘Atha’illah
as-Sakandari (<i>q.s.</i>) continued, “However, not all followers of the hidden
are alike. In order that you not err or
forget, repeat your reading of ibn ‘Arabi with fresh understanding of his
symbols and inspirations. You will find
him to be very much like al-Qushayri. He
has taken his path in <i>taswawwuf</i> under the umbrella of the Qur’an and <i>sunnah</i>
just like the Proof of Islam, Imam al-Ghazali, who carried on debates about
doctrinal differences in matters of creed and issues of worship but considered
them occupations lacking in real value and benefit. He invited people to see that the Love of
Allah is the way of a proper servant of Allah with respect to faith.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Do you have anything to
object to in this, O <i>faqih</i>? Or,
do you love the disputations of Islamic jurists? Imam Malik (<i>r.a.</i>) exercised extreme
caution about such wrangling in matters of creed and used to say, ‘Whenever a
man enters into arguing about issues of creed it diminishes his faith.’</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Similarly, al-Ghazali
said, ‘The quickest means of drawing near to Allah is through the heart, not
the body. I do not mean by heart this
fleshy thing palpable to seeing, hearing, sight and touch. Rather, I have in mind the inner most secret
of Allah Himself, which is imperceptible to sight or touch. Indeed, the <i>Ahl as-Sunnah</i> are the very
ones who named the Sufi Shaykh al-Ghazali, ‘the Proof of Islam.’”<a name="9"> </a>This is as illustrated by Imam Swalah
ad-Din Abu asw-Swafa’ Khalil ibn Aybak asw-Swafadi (<i>r.a.</i>) for Imam Abu
Hamid Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Ghazali’s (<i>r.a.</i>) entry in his al-Wafi bi
al-Wafayat, “Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmad, the Proof of Islam,
the Ornament of the Faith, Abu Hamid ath-Thusi ...”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh ibn ‘Atha’illah
as-Sakandari (<i>q.s.</i>) continued, “The carrying out of religious obligation
in the view of ibn ‘Arabi and ibn al-Farid is a worship whose prayer-niche
indicating the orientation of prayer, is its inward aspect, not merely its
external ritual. For what is the good of
you standing and sitting in prayer if your heart is preoccupied with something
other than Allah. Allah Praises people
when He Says, in the Qur’an:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: right; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">سُوۡرَةُ المؤمنون</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: right; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ فِى صَلَاتِہِمۡ
خَـٰشِعُونَ (</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">٢</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Those
who humble themselves in their prayers; (Surah al-Mu’minun:2)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">And He Blames peoples
when He Says:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: right; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">سُوۡرَةُ المَاعون</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: right; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عَن صَلَاتِہِمۡ
سَاهُونَ (</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">٥</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Who
are neglectful of their Prayers, (Surah al-Ma’un:5)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This is what ibn ‘Arabi
means when he says, ‘Worship is the <i>mihrab</i> of the heart, that is, the
inward aspect of prayer not the outward.’</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The Muslim is unable to
arrive at the knowledge of certitude, nor at certitude itself, of which the Qur’an
Speaks unless he evacuates his heart from whatever distracts it in the way of
worldly cravings and centre himself on inward contemplation. Then, the outpourings of Divine Reality will
fill his heart, and from there will spring his sustenance. The real Sufi is not the one who derives his
sustenance from asking and begging people for alms. The only one who is sincere is he who rouses
his heart and spirit to self-obliteration in Allah by obedience to Allah. Perhaps, ibn ‘Arabi caused the jurists to rise
up against him because of his contempt of their preoccupation with arguing and
wrangling about credal matters, actual legal cases, and hypothetical legal
situations, since he saw how much it distracted them from purifying the heart. He named them ‘the jurists of women’s menses’.
May Allah Grant you Refuge from being
among them! Have you read ibn ‘Arabi’s
statement, ‘Whoever builds his faith exclusively on demonstrative proofs and
deductive arguments, builds a faith on which it is impossible to rely. For he is affected by the negativities of
constant objections. Certainty does not
derive from the evidence of the mind but pours out from the depths of the
heart.’ Have you ever read talk as pure
and sweet as this?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh ibn Taymiyyah (<i>r.a.</i>)
said, “You have spoken well if only your master were as you say, for he would
then be as far as possible from unbelief. But what he has said cannot sustain the
meanings that you have given in my view.”
This is found in in Shaykh Muhammad Zaki Ibrahim ibn Katsir al-Azhari ash-Shadzili’s
(<i>r.a.</i>) <i>Uswul al-Wuswul</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJodmlky1TIUpybQfueCJpV1Io-MwwaDH_s6QY_KXjsbjx0ahNv2iIJqoeifDAoWBqszQdT3siJjn6C3UUcXZc5cSi3hzDdP4VfQ0bTZiQWzEOV2qWXP1FYgGn_lW8VTMPjUMuksmQTwr-7V2dBfL-92xBDmxgOGK0n8Ui6pcz6XjgfplaDFn4Mnq7Sc/s2000/BP;%20Sunset%20over%20Tulip%20Field.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="1643" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJodmlky1TIUpybQfueCJpV1Io-MwwaDH_s6QY_KXjsbjx0ahNv2iIJqoeifDAoWBqszQdT3siJjn6C3UUcXZc5cSi3hzDdP4VfQ0bTZiQWzEOV2qWXP1FYgGn_lW8VTMPjUMuksmQTwr-7V2dBfL-92xBDmxgOGK0n8Ui6pcz6XjgfplaDFn4Mnq7Sc/w2465-h1643/BP;%20Sunset%20over%20Tulip%20Field.jpg" width="2465" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>Terence Nunishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06071127118103190470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724924986866131547.post-89519351659640035002023-09-17T19:44:00.005+08:002023-09-17T19:46:59.987+08:00The Circumcellions: The Christian Suicide Cult<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-right: -2.3pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Christianity, like any old
religion, has had its share of extremists, and few comes as extreme as their own suicide fighters, the Circumcellions.
The Circumcellions roamed Northern Africa, killing people, torturing
them, and pillaging, in the name of Christianity, until they were killed. They were bands of Roman Christian radicals
in Numidia and nearby regions of North Africa in the early to mid-4<sup>th</sup>
century. They were considered heretical
by the Catholic Church. They condemned
poverty and slavery, and advocated canceling debt and freeing slaves. They started out as a movement to fight
oppression.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The origin of the term “Circumcellions”
is uncertain. It<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> may have been coined as a mockery</span> name by their critics who referred to them as “circum cellas euntes”, “they go
around larders”. This referred to their
habit of moving about among the peasants, living on those they sought to
indoctrinate. They were viewed as
parasites of the poor. They preferred to
be known as ἀγωνιστικι Χρίστος (<i>agonistici Christos</i>), “fighters"
for Christ”. “Agonistici” are not to be
confused with “agnostic”; the former is from “ἀγων” (<i>agon</i>), “to contest”,
and latter is from “γνῶσις” (<i>gnosis</i>), “knowledge”.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The Circumcellions first
appeared around 317 CE. They were primarily
active in Numidia, and Mauretania Sitifensis. They promoted social reform along with an eschatological
doctrine that became progressively more radical. Biship Optatus, the Bishop of Milevis, in
Numidia, then, is remembered for his writings against Donatism. However, he did write that around 340 CE, the
Circumcellions started an uprising directed at creditors and slave owners. They regarded as martyrs those among them
killed when the disturbance was put down. Bishop Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis likened
them to a rustic mob encouraging violence against landlords.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">They considered martyrdom
the true Christian virtue, and disagreed with the Episcopal See of Carthage on
the primacy of chastity, sobriety, humility, and charity. They sought death by conflict. Members would assault Roman legionaries or
armed travellers with simple wooden clubs to provoke them into martyring them. Other members interrupted courts of law and would
verbally provoke the judge to order their immediate execution, a normal
punishment for contempt of court.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">They avoided the use of blades
because of a literalist understanding of this passage:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">John
18:11<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">11</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
Whereupon Jesus said to Peter, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Put thy sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink that cup which my Father
himself has appointed for me?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">11</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
εἶπεν οὖν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῷ Πέτρῳ: βάλε τὴν μάχαιραν εἰς τὴν θήκην: τὸ ποτήριον ὃ
δέδωκέν μοι ὁ πατὴρ, οὐ μὴ πίω αὐτό;</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">11</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
Dixit ergo Jesus Petro: Mitte gladium tuum in vaginam. Calicem, quem dedit mihi
Pater, non bibam illum?</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The Circumcellions used
clubs, which they called “Israelites”. Using
their “Israelites”, the Circumcellions would attack random travellers, shouting
“Laudate Deum!”, “Praise God!”. The
motive behind these random beatings was to provoke the victims into killing
them, so they would die a martyr's death.
Other members of the sect had other ways of committing suicide, from drowning
to jumping from heights, to even self-immolation at the stake. The one method that was completely off limits
was hanging, because that was how Judas Iscariot killed himself.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">They were popular when
they started freeing slaves and turning them on their former masters. There was sympathy among the masses. This dissipated when they got out of hand, and
in their lust for violence, started attacking the peasantry, engaging in
torture, rape, arson, and worse, fueled by alcohol and other forms of
intoxicants. They formed bands that
roamed the land armed with all manner of weapons, including, in the end, bladed
weapons. They started attacking anyone
that did not belong to their cult. They
robbed, they blinded scribes, and desecrated places of worship, while claiming
to be the real Christians.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The other Donatist sects,
themselves declared heretical by the Catholic Church, condemned the Circumcellions. The entire movement was outlawed by 411 CE. It would be another 20 years before the movement
faded into history.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9zYdpRp-8082ErHOau8lof6Fwng0ZA7PiV7o6Z78goq8TBWIy3m2wHMBG89SqRzZCk4z1yr0KbbKmhou9etdzUWzyq8SmKPOh2qT2R3ZP6qDAq7obKjOX-3y4r29R1HjpXsY-Qidm1EdRlbWr3Q_DPiYR4Z6Nex2ooZz3h0JMMTDOS1kWJ_ur9018Eg/s1390/BP;%20Sunset%20over%20the%20Surface%20of%20Lake%20with%20Floating%20Birds.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="1390" height="1097" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9zYdpRp-8082ErHOau8lof6Fwng0ZA7PiV7o6Z78goq8TBWIy3m2wHMBG89SqRzZCk4z1yr0KbbKmhou9etdzUWzyq8SmKPOh2qT2R3ZP6qDAq7obKjOX-3y4r29R1HjpXsY-Qidm1EdRlbWr3Q_DPiYR4Z6Nex2ooZz3h0JMMTDOS1kWJ_ur9018Eg/w1973-h1097/BP;%20Sunset%20over%20the%20Surface%20of%20Lake%20with%20Floating%20Birds.jpg" width="1973" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>Terence Nunishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06071127118103190470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724924986866131547.post-36188506130416985802023-09-17T18:24:00.004+08:002023-09-17T18:25:30.158+08:00The Key to Unlocking the Powers of Our Souls<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">بِسۡمِ
ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US">The following is taken
from the <i>swuhbah</i> by Shaykh Muhammad Nazhim Adil al-Haqqani (<i>q.s.</i>),
from the 02<sup>nd</sup> March 2023.</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US">We live in a world of
possibilities, a world where everything occurs for an <i>asbab</i>, a reason. That is a characteristic of this worldly life,
not the characteristics of the Divine realm.
In life, what Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) places before us choices. We have to make the right choice in order to
benefit. It is like a huge table filled
with all kinds of food, and we are free to pick and choose what we want to eat. On one side of the table, there is Divine
food, food for the soul, every single nourishment needed by our spiritual
selves; nothing is missing. The prophets
and saints beckon us to this side of the table. However, many reject the invitation because
the journey to that side of the table is arduous. There are many qualifications to be met before
we can get the food. If we wish to
achieve goodness, we must be prepared to take the difficult route.</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US">The other side of the
table is filled with worldly food, and <i>Shaythan</i> calls to this side of
the table. The journey to this side is easy,
so it is favoured by most. People are impatient.
They want instant results, they want
quick gratification, they want the maximum pleasure, from the minimum of
effort. The reason is because each
generation becomes more and more dependent on technology, and lose the
treasures of their Divine Gifts because they do not exercise them. Technology can make things easy for our
physical bodies, but it cannot raise the spirituality of the soul. We must develop our spiritual being, in order
to rise to the Divine Presence.</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US">We are special. We carry Allah’s (<i>s.w.t.</i>) secret. We have one foot on Earth and one foot in the Heavens;
we are both a physical creature needing worldly nourishment and endowed with
earthly strengths, and a spiritual being, needing spiritual nourishment and
gifted with spiritual powers in his soul, the magnitude of which far exceeds
his physical strengths. We are always invited
to the table of spiritual food; we are never cut off from it. Daily, Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) adds new food to
that table, more invigorating and refreshing. We must have faith in the spiritual powers of
our souls, and are never heedless of our needs.</span><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 35.1pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: right; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;">سُوۡرَةُ المَائدة</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 24pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 35.1pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-size: 24pt;">قَالَ عِيسَى ٱبۡنُ
مَرۡيَمَ ٱللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَآ أَنزِلۡ عَلَيۡنَا مَآٮِٕدَةً۬ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ
تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيدً۬ا لِّأَوَّلِنَا وَءَاخِرِنَا وَءَايَةً۬ مِّنكَۖ وَٱرۡزُقۡنَا
وَأَنتَ خَيۡرُ ٱلرَّٲزِقِينَ (١١٤) قَالَ ٱللَّهُ إِنِّى مُنَزِّلُهَا عَلَيۡكُمۡۖ
فَمَن يَكۡفُرۡ بَعۡدُ مِنكُمۡ فَإِنِّىٓ أُعَذِّبُهُ ۥ عَذَابً۬ا لَّآ
أُعَذِّبُهُ ۥۤ أَحَدً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ (١١٥)</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 35.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">Said Jesus the son of Mary, “O Allah our Lord! Send us, from Heaven, a table set (with
viands), that there may be for us ― for the first and the last of us a solemn
festival and a Sign from You; and Provide for our sustenance, for You are the Best
Sustainer (of our needs)”. Allah Says, “I
will Send it down unto you: but if any of you after that resists faith, I will Punish
him with a penalty such as I have not Inflicted on anyone among all the
peoples.” (Surah al-Ma’idah:114-115)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 35.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdhzPE78H9GUZP18xSHVGjJyDb8m1AQvwEMpXUuNBgXMkqFjsh4rZGybsXxpWdf46_XM4-eJRhx7mrYIdw6vzKhpOLw1QOVmfelw3db51xAc_EsTUOBnKdK8fXlIQZKkVo8-yC4TT7B1JXwNBeH5Y0EsYKrU0GW27lkx0I6inF2rL59us8j7VuX1pxEs/s1170/BP;%20Sunset%20over%20the%20Lighthouse.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="819" data-original-width="1170" height="1224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdhzPE78H9GUZP18xSHVGjJyDb8m1AQvwEMpXUuNBgXMkqFjsh4rZGybsXxpWdf46_XM4-eJRhx7mrYIdw6vzKhpOLw1QOVmfelw3db51xAc_EsTUOBnKdK8fXlIQZKkVo8-yC4TT7B1JXwNBeH5Y0EsYKrU0GW27lkx0I6inF2rL59us8j7VuX1pxEs/w1749-h1224/BP;%20Sunset%20over%20the%20Lighthouse.jpg" width="1749" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span><p></p>Terence Nunishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06071127118103190470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724924986866131547.post-71677891528097358802023-09-17T17:39:00.004+08:002023-09-17T17:41:41.418+08:00The Names of the Books of the Torah<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 115%;">بِسۡمِ
ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Torah comprises the
books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. This is a brief explanation of the origin of
the names of these books.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The word “genesis” has
come into the English lexicon, and means “beginning”. However, the word “genesis” itself comes into
English via the Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible, from the Greek
translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint. The original, Latin transliteration of “Γένεσις”
(<i>Genesis</i>), means “origin”. In
turn, it is from the Biblical Hebrew “</span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-language: HE;">בְּרֵאשִׁית</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>”, (<i>B’rishit</i>) literally meaning, “In
the beginning”. “B-” is a preposition in
Hebrew meaning “in.” “R’shit” means
“beginning.” Therefore, the Book of
Genesis takes its name from its opening words:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Gensis
1:1<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
God, at the beginning of time, created Heaven and Earth.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
ἐν ἀρχῇ ἐποίησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
In principio creavit Deus cælum et terram.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Exodus gets its name from
the book title from the Latin Vulgate, from the Greek Septuagint, although the
ending of the word is modified - the Latin “<i>Exodus</i>” is derived from “<i>Exodos</i>”
in Greek. When a word is brought into
Latin from Greek, this happens. In the
English language, the word “exodus” essentially means “departure,” or “emigration.” The English name Exodus comes from the
Ancient Greek “ἔξοδος” (<i>exodos</i>), which is derived from the preposition “ἐξ-”
(<i>ek</i>), meaning “out”; and “ὁδός” (<i>hodos</i>), which means “path”, or “road”.
However, in Hebrew, the book is titled “</span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-language: HE;">שְׁמוֹת</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>” (<i>shemut</i>), which means “Names”. This is taken from the first line:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Exodus
1:1<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
Here are the names of Israel’s sons; these were the men who betook themselves
to Egypt, each with his family, when Jacob went there;</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
ταῦτα τὰ ὀνόματα τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ τῶν εἰσπεπορευμένων εἰς Αἴγυπτον ἅμα Ιακωβ τῷ
πατρὶ αὐτῶν ἕκαστος πανοικίᾳ αὐτῶν εἰσήλθοσαν</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
Hæc sunt nomina filiorum Israël qui ingressi sunt in Ægyptum cum Jacob: singuli
cum domibus suis introierunt:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Leviticus” comes directly
from the Latin word, which is from the Ancient Greek: “Λευιτικόν” (<i>Leuitikon</i>).
It is in reference to the tribe of Levi.
The Greek word is a variant of the
rabbinic Hebrew “</span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-language: HE;">תורת
כהנים</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>” (<i>torat kohanim</i>), the law of
priests. In Hebrew, however, the book is
“</span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-language: HE;">וַיִּקְרָא</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>” (<i>Vayikra</i>) from the first line:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Numbers
1: 1<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
The Lord summoned Moses, and, from the tabernacle that bore record of him made
known his will.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
καὶ ἀνεκάλεσεν Μωυσῆν καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος αὐτῷ ἐκ τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου
λέγων</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
Vocavit autem Moysen, et locutus est ei Dominus de tabernaculo testimonii,
dicens:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Numbers” is the English
name, a translation of the Latin “Numeri”, which is a translation of the Greek “Ἀριθμοί”
(<i>Arithmoi</i>). It refers to the
census of the tribes. In Hebrew, however,
the name of the book is “</span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-language: HE;">בְּמִדְבַּר</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>” (<i>Bəmidbar</i>), meaning “… in the desert of …”. Again, this is taken from the verse:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Numbers
1:1<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
In the second year after the escape from Egypt, on the first day of the second
month, the Lord spoke to Moses in the tabernacle which attested His Covenant,
there in the desert of Sinai, Giving him this Message:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ τῇ Σινα ἐν τῇ σκηνῇ τοῦ μαρτυρίου ἐν
μιᾷ τοῦ μηνὸς τοῦ δευτέρου ἔτους δευτέρου ἐξελθόντων αὐτῶν ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου
λέγων</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
Locutusque est Dominus ad Moysen in deserto Sinai in tabernaculo fœderis, prima
die mensis secundi, anno altero egressionis eorum ex Ægypto, dicens:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Deuteronomy” is from
Latin “Deuteronomium”, from Greek “Δευτερονόμιον” (<i>Deuteronomion</i>). It is derived from “δεύτερος” (<i>deuteros</i>),
meaning “second”; and “νόμος” (<i>nomos</i>), meaning “law” or “custom”. The Hebrew title is “</span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-language: HE;">דְּבָרִים</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">” (<i>Dəbarim</i>),
meaning “Words”. This is from the
opening words in Hebrew:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Deuteronomy
1:1<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
It was thus Moses spoke to the people of Israel while they were still on the
other side of Jordan, in the desert plain that looks towards the Red Sea, with
Pharan and Thophel and Laban and Haseroth, a country where gold abounds, for
its frontiers;</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
οὗτοι οἱ λόγοι οὓς ἐλάλησεν Μωυσῆς παντὶ Ισραηλ πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ
πρὸς δυσμαῖς πλησίον τῆς ἐρυθρᾶς ἀνὰ μέσον Φαραν Τοφολ καὶ Λοβον καὶ Αυλων καὶ
καταχρύσεα</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 42.75pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
Hæc sunt verba quæ locutus est Moyses ad omnem Israël trans Jordanem in
solitudine campestri, contra mare Rubrum, inter Pharan et Tophel et Laban et
Haseroth, ubi auri est plurimum:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In summary, Genesis is a
summary of the beginning of the Israelite mythos, from the creation of the
world to how the Israelites ended in Pharaonic Egypt to the time of Moses. Exodus is about the events leading to their exile
and migration to the Promised Land.
Leviticus is about the rabbinic law that was passed down. Numbers is the census before the invasion of
Canaan. Finally, in Deuteronomy, Moses (<i>a.s.</i>)
delivered the law to the Children of Israel for the second time. In addition to the Ten Commandments, there was
a much broader body of jurisprudential legislation. The generation that originally received the
Law ended up dying in the wilderness, as Divine Punishment. It was their children that entered the
Promised Land, and thus completed the exodus from Egypt. Moses (<i>a.s.</i>) summarised for them the Revelation
God Sent. Hence, this was a second
giving of the Law. Moses (<i>a.s.</i>)
passed away after this, and did not enter the Promised Land.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA43rEqrEP4RrkO31-x46GZTGG2FlT61mXg42T5m42q560xaS3HcpBWSOQ-81D7-2gzaQS2GXog8nAIGq_zVbr7oRttYp8aNqu9OqxeO0ZoeNBbhrJm4prDiXlc9OUP9n3FD4uSnp_DoqJzxqkYC4jo2gDO2YtRVyzSU4AIH60ZbDFHOT29R1Px4hu_K8/s1680/BP;%20Sunset%20over%20the%20Flowers%20&%20Stones.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="1680" height="1410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA43rEqrEP4RrkO31-x46GZTGG2FlT61mXg42T5m42q560xaS3HcpBWSOQ-81D7-2gzaQS2GXog8nAIGq_zVbr7oRttYp8aNqu9OqxeO0ZoeNBbhrJm4prDiXlc9OUP9n3FD4uSnp_DoqJzxqkYC4jo2gDO2YtRVyzSU4AIH60ZbDFHOT29R1Px4hu_K8/w2255-h1410/BP;%20Sunset%20over%20the%20Flowers%20&%20Stones.jpg" width="2255" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><p></p>Terence Nunishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06071127118103190470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724924986866131547.post-5621372001708397122023-09-02T05:09:00.002+08:002023-09-02T05:09:20.911+08:00Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghali Abu Thalib at-Tijani al-Hassani (q.s.)<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">بِسۡمِ
ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The following is
extracted from Shaykh Abu al-‘Abbas Ahmad ibn al-Iyyashi as-Sukayrij’s (<i>q.s.</i>)
<i>Kashf al-Hijab</i></span><i><span lang="EN-US"> </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">‘Amman
Talaqa ma’a ash-Shaykh at-Tijani min al-Aswḥab</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">;
and Shaykh ‘Umar ibn Sa’id al-Futi Thal’s (<i>r.a.</i>) <i>Kitab ar-Rimah Hizb
ar-Rahim</i>.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh Abu Thalib Muhammad
al-Ghali at-Tijani al-Hassani (<i>q.s.</i>) was one of the elite companions of Shaykh
Abu al-‘Abbas Ahmad ibn Muhammad at-Tijani (<i>q.s.</i>). According to Shaykh as-Sukayrij (<i>q.s.</i>),
Shaykh al-Ghali (<i>q.s.</i>) was one of ten companions of Shaykh at-Tijani (<i>q.s.</i>)
whom Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Blessed with <i>fath al-akbar</i>, grand
illumination, at the hand of the Prophet Muhammad (<i>s.a.w.</i>). Shaykh at-Tijani (<i>q.s.</i>) was very fond
of Shaykh al-Ghali (<i>q.s.</i>), and it was him whom he called to pronounce
the famous words, “These two feet of mine are on the shoulders of every saint
of Allah.” Shaykh at-Tijani (<i>q.s.</i>)
also let it be known that it would be Shaykh al-Ghali (<i>q.s.</i>) to perform
the funeral prayer over him when he passed. At the time of Shaykh at-Tijani’s (<i>q.s.</i>)
passing, however, Shaykh al-Ghali (<i>q.s.</i>) was traveling. Upon burial, the children of Shaykh at-Tijani
(<i>q.s.</i>) dug up the body of their father to take it back to Algeria. When the disciples in Fas prevailed upon the family
of Shaykh at-Tijani (<i>q.s.</i>) to let the body be reburied in the <i>zawiyah</i>
in Fas, Shaykh al-Ghali (<i>q.s.</i>) was there to perform the final funerary
rites, fulfilling the prediction of Shaykh at-Tijani (<i>q.s.</i>).</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh al-Ghali (<i>q.s.</i>)
was endowed with immense spiritual zeal and concentration. He used to spend hours in his prayers and remembrances;
and it is reported he used to glorify Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) twenty-seven times
in a single prostration. He once was so
deep in concentration during his litany that he failed to notice his own
daughter fall off the roof of his house in front of him. Once, one of his disciples happened to visit
him after he had just finished his remembrances. The disciple noticed Shaykh al-Ghali’s (<i>q.s.</i>)
body was strangely hot, as if he was in the midst of a steam bath. When he touched his hand, the disciple felt
his hand burned as if he were touching hot coals. Shaykh as-Sukayrij (<i>q.s.</i>) explained,
“Such a phenomenon is not uncommon among the people of <i>Haq</i>, considering
what they are authorised to recite. Some
may burn their tongue uttering the Magnificent Name.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Among his visionary
encounters was a meeting with the Prophet Muhammad (<i>s.a.w.</i>), who told
him, “You are the son of the Beloved of Allah, and you take the spiritual path
of the Beloved of Allah.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He also met Shaykh at-Tijani
(<i>q.s.</i>) after his passing and asked him, “O <i>Shaykh</i>! You went away and left us alone!”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shaykh at-Tijani (<i>q.s.</i>)
replied, “I am not distant from you, and I did not leave you; I have only moved
from an earthly dwelling place to an abode of light.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">After his training with Shaykh
at-Tijani (<i>q.s.</i>), Shaykh al-Ghali (<i>q.s.</i>) went to the Hijaz to
propagate the <i>thariqa’</i>. There, he
met Shaykh ‘Umar al-Futi Thal (<i>r.a.</i>), trained him and granted him
license to spread the <i>Thariqa’ Tijaniyyah</i> in West Africa. Shaykh ‘Umar al-Futi Thal’s (<i>r.a.</i>) <i>Kitab
al-Rimah</i> described Shaykh al-Ghali (<i>q.s.</i>) as being in frequent
visionary contact with the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) and Shaykh at-Tijani (<i>q.s.</i>);
and travelling often between Makkah and Madina.
Shaykh al-Ghali (<i>q.s.</i>) passed away in 1244 (1829) in Makkah, and
was buried in the same graveyard as Sayyidatina Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (<i>r.a.</i>).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RL6N2I_Tyva6UB1sBUsYY9JqxSf2nRWBy8bRXKFy9slOCrFGKIb27wXreqa3qx-Tc05AKvWC_QXYEMBblGPdJEU1q35727PnKm-H3SEffxHOPtyYoo_mV8ffCpZRArjOaBPGwGwWyplpNilE6fLTzev2pJ9qywsQQfaMuUyL_zWJtrCQDapSLsZcP5A/s1366/BP;%20Sunset%20over%20Purple%20Lake.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="1245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RL6N2I_Tyva6UB1sBUsYY9JqxSf2nRWBy8bRXKFy9slOCrFGKIb27wXreqa3qx-Tc05AKvWC_QXYEMBblGPdJEU1q35727PnKm-H3SEffxHOPtyYoo_mV8ffCpZRArjOaBPGwGwWyplpNilE6fLTzev2pJ9qywsQQfaMuUyL_zWJtrCQDapSLsZcP5A/w2213-h1245/BP;%20Sunset%20over%20Purple%20Lake.jpg" width="2213" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>Terence Nunishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06071127118103190470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724924986866131547.post-57073057896516003062023-08-07T23:20:00.002+08:002023-08-07T23:21:09.921+08:00Regarding the Verse on Not Ascribing Equivalents to Allah (s.w.t.)<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">بِسۡمِ
ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The
following was extracted from “The Meadows of <i>Tafsir</i> for the Noble Qur’an”
by Shaykh Ibrahim ibn ‘Abdullah Niyas al-Kawlakhi (<i>q.s.</i>). It was translated into English by Ustadz Mukhtar
Babakir.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Regarding the following verse:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: right; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">سُوۡرَةُ البَقَرَة</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">…</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>
فَلَا تَجۡعَلُواْ لِلَّهِ أَندَادً۬ا وَأَنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ (٢٢)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">…
then set not up rivals unto Allah when you know (the truth). (Surah al-Baqarah:22)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The ascribed partners are
of several types. There is the obvious <i>shirk</i>
which is the worship of idols that the idolators are involved in. There is also the hidden <i>shirk</i>, which
is to perform actions with <i>riya’</i>, ostentation or pretense; and to
perform them with <i>sum’ah</i>, a desire to be known. Furthermore, there is the most hidden <i>shirk</i>,
which is for one to see other than Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>).</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) has
Delegated seven angels to watch over the actions of His servant. When he performs an action, the angels raise
it to the lowest sky and the angels of the sky call out, “Throw this action
back to the face of its owner because he is either an envious individual or a
backbiter.” If it reaches the second sky
they will say, “Because he is either a proud person, one fond of himself, envious,
shows-off or seeks to be known.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When it has passed over
all the skies, it then reaches Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Who Says, “This person has
kept that which is in himself hidden from you while nothing can remain hidden
from Me. He did not seek My Countenance,
send this action back to the face of the one performing it because he sought other
than Me through his actions.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">For this reason, it has
been narrated from the Rasul (<i>s.a.w.</i>), “People are doomed except for the
believers and the believers are all doomed except the knowledgeable and the
knowledgeable are all doomed except for those who practice upon their knowledge
and the ones practicing are all doomed except for those who are sincere; and
those who are sincere are in the most danger.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The
following was extracted from</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <i>Mi’raj at-Tashawwuf
ila Haqa’iq at-Taswawwuf</i>, by Shaykh Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Ajibah (<i>r.a.</i>),
and translated by Ustadz Muhammad Fu’ad and Ustadz Michael ‘Abu ar-Rahman.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Swidq</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">,
sincerity, is to remove all egoistic designs from our relationship with Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>),
based on the coolness of certitude, or it is to be outwardly and inwardly the
same in speech, words, and states. In a
word, it is to purify ourselves inwardly from all other preoccupations. The difference between <i>ikhlasw</i> and <i>swidq</i>
is that the latter concerns being free of both evident and hidden <i>shirk</i>,
while the former concerns being totally free of hypocrisy and duplicity. A person may possess <i>ikhlasw</i> and still
be vulnerable to duplicity and finding excuses for the egoistic passions, while
the one who possess <i>swidq</i> is free from both. No one who is still subject to duplicity,
either towards himself or others, in small matters or great ones, can smell the
perfume of sincerity. Sincerity is to be
at the station of <i>swidiqiyyah</i> or to be an <i>‘arif</i>, gnostic.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFF0_n7sEsbD_08NydlEhFELafjijnr9P58xZNsf6VyVlBiD-N-6tYg3ty0UBDmPZinF7IZpCzEs3KHeUbpbtDZvDO80oHay6AyvkKGXaO-P4Gonz-hJTUJlR6COuLpKyxv7syxP2qiuyNinUgr8-kV63fwi4uB59ikEn5FGOd8GE6vMS0tpIrx0qIHQ/s1600/BP;%20Sunset%20over%20Glencoe,%20The%20Highlands,%20Scotland.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="1636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFF0_n7sEsbD_08NydlEhFELafjijnr9P58xZNsf6VyVlBiD-N-6tYg3ty0UBDmPZinF7IZpCzEs3KHeUbpbtDZvDO80oHay6AyvkKGXaO-P4Gonz-hJTUJlR6COuLpKyxv7syxP2qiuyNinUgr8-kV63fwi4uB59ikEn5FGOd8GE6vMS0tpIrx0qIHQ/w2181-h1636/BP;%20Sunset%20over%20Glencoe,%20The%20Highlands,%20Scotland.jpg" width="2181" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>Terence Nunishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06071127118103190470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724924986866131547.post-16100434112208384582023-08-07T15:17:00.003+08:002023-08-07T15:18:45.059+08:00The Names of the Qur’an<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">بِسۡمِ
ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The
following was extracted from “The Meadows of <i>Tafsir</i> for the Noble Qur’an”
by Shaykh Ibrahim ibn ‘Abdullah Niyas al-Kawlakhi (<i>q.s.</i>). It was translated into English by Ustadz Mukhtar
Babakir.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The
Qur’an has numerous names, and the multitude of names is a hint to the nobleness
of the one bearing those names. Fifty-five
names for the Qur’an have been related in the Qur’an Itself. It is adz-Dzkir, The Reminder; al-Ayat
al-Bayyinat, the Clear Signs. However,
if one ponders over it, all the names gogoack to two names; they are al-Qur’an
and al-Furqan. Just the same as the Names
of Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>), if one ponders over them, one will find that they all
go back to Jalal, Majesty; and Jamal, Beauty.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The
word “<i>qur’an</i>” originates from “<i>qar’</i>”, which means “collecting”;
and “<i>al-furqan</i>” originates from “<i>al-farq”</i>, which means “to
separate”. The one who has no separation
has no <i>‘ubudiyyah</i>, servitude; and the one who has no collection of all
in his heart, has no <i>ma’rifah</i>, true recognition of Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>).
Separation is of two types: the first is
a separation which consist of being separated from the Creator through Creation;
this is a <i>hijab</i>, a veil from the recognition of the Creator. While the second type of separation is knowing
the Creator through Creation.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: right; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">سُوۡرَةُ
الجَاثیَة</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">وَخَلَقَ
ٱللَّهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ </span></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span dir="LTR" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span> </span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">…</span></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>(٢٢)</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Allah Created the Heavens
and the Earth by Truth … (Surah al-Jatsiyah:22)</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This
state of separation which returns to the servant’s mindset after he has gone
through the process of <i>fana’</i>, is what is considered <i>kamal</i>, perfection
in piety. <i>Fana’</i> is to be
completely absorbed in Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) to the point of forgetting
oneself, one’s spiritual states, stations, one’s attributes; one’s entire zeal
becomes absorbed in the Loved One. This
is because the servant in this state gives everyone his due right and everyone
their deserved portion of anything. His
state of separation does not hide his state of collection and his state of
collection in return does not hide his state of separation.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">For
this reason, we have kept to the explanation of two names for the Qur’an, “al-Qur’an”
and “al-Furqan”. al-Qur’an is the Court
of Unity, which is the court of the Oneness of Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>); there is
nothing except Him. al-Furqan is the Court
of Separation.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: right; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">سُوۡرَةُ
الشّوریٰ</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: right; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">…</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">ۚ لَيۡسَ كَمِثۡلِهِۦ
شَىۡءٌ۬ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡبَصِيرُ (١١)</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">… there is nothing
whatever like unto Him, and He is the One that Hears and Sees (all things). (Surah
ash-Shura’:11)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-converted-space"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgt4Txshg6AwNdJJ5NFQOd4FE94qrLet7j5AwqlKlSiOvNRTlNWYgkzYwRb15F7g5S-2NwKQ63HvODQYL7xWMM_UiwsMdOsYKjkKN7tjWNy18m_9jolmj0CqUBht7q4A1WQ4vjgtHlosdy4C9UEvqJbm8PrLCWlzB36PsnJb__iZ01G6_wQIN-Z-7lmQ/s1420/BP;%20Sunset%20over%20Foggy%20Forest.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="790" data-original-width="1420" height="1115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgt4Txshg6AwNdJJ5NFQOd4FE94qrLet7j5AwqlKlSiOvNRTlNWYgkzYwRb15F7g5S-2NwKQ63HvODQYL7xWMM_UiwsMdOsYKjkKN7tjWNy18m_9jolmj0CqUBht7q4A1WQ4vjgtHlosdy4C9UEvqJbm8PrLCWlzB36PsnJb__iZ01G6_wQIN-Z-7lmQ/w2003-h1115/BP;%20Sunset%20over%20Foggy%20Forest.jpg" width="2003" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>Terence Nunishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06071127118103190470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724924986866131547.post-2818760723186557282023-07-23T14:03:00.002+08:002023-07-23T14:12:19.805+08:00The Poisons of the Heart in Company & Actions<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 115%;">بِسۡمِ
ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The following is
extracted from “The Purification of the Soul”, compiled from the works of Imam
Zayn ad-Din Abu al-Faraj ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Ahmad ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (<i>r.a.</i>),
Imam Shams ad-Din Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr ibn al-Qayyim
al-Jawziyyah (<i>r.a.</i>), and Imam Abu Hamid Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Ghazali
(<i>r.a.</i>).</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;">We should know that all
acts of disobedience are poison to the heart and cause its sickness and ruin. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;">They result in its will running off course,
against that of Allah (</span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;">s.w.t.</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;">), and so its sickness festers and
increases. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;">Imam Abu ‘Abd ar-Rahman
‘Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak (</span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;">r.a.</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;">) said, “I have seen wrong actions killing
hearts. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;">And their degradation may lead
to their becoming addicted to them. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;">Turning
away from wrong actions gives life to the hearts, and opposing your self is
best for it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Whoever is concerned with
the health and life of his heart, must rid it of the effects of such poisons,
and then protect it by avoiding new ones. If he takes any by mistake, then he should
hasten to wipe out their effect by turning in repentance and seeking Forgiveness
from Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>), as well as by doing good deeds that will wipe out
his wrong actions.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">By the four poisons we
mean unnecessary talking, unrestrained glances, too much food, and keeping bad
company. Of all the poisons, these are
the most widespread and have the greatest effect on a heart's wellbeing.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It is reported in <i>al-Musnad</i>,
on the authority of Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (<i>r.a.</i>), that the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>)
said, “The faith of a servant is not put right until his heart is put right,
and his heart is not put right until his tongue is put right.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This shows that the
Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) has made the purification of faith conditional on the
purification of the heart, and the purification of the heart conditional on the
purification of the tongue.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Imam Abu ‘Isa Muhammad
ibn ‘Isa as-Sulami at-Tirmidzi (<i>r.a.</i>) related, in a <i>hadits</i> on the
authority of Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (<i>r.a.</i>), “Do not talk
excessively without remembering Allah, because such excessive talk without the
mention of Allah causes the heart to harden, and the person furthest from Allah
is a person with a hard heart.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sayyidina Abu Hafsw ‘Umar
ibn al-Khaththab al-Faruq (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “A person who talks too much is a
person who often makes mistakes, and someone who often makes mistakes, often
has wrong actions. The Fire has a
priority over such a frequent sinner.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In a <i>hadits</i>
related on the authority of Sayyidina Mu’adz ibn Jabal (<i>r.a.</i>), the
Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) told Sayyidina Mu’adz (<i>r.a.</i>), “Shall I not tell
you how to control all that?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sayyidina Mu’adz (<i>r.a.</i>)
replied, “Yes do, O Messenger of Allah.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So, he held his tongue
between his fingers, and then he said, “Restrain this.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sayyidina Mu’adz (<i>r.a.</i>)
asked, “O Prophet of Allah, are we accountable for what we say?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He said, “May your mother
be bereft by your loss! Is there
anything more than the harvest of the tongues that throws people on their faces
into the Fire?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What is meant here by “the
harvest of the tongues” is the punishment for saying forbidden things. A man, through his actions and words, sows the
seeds of either good or evil. On the Day
of Resurrection he harvests their fruits. Those who sow the seeds of good words and
deeds harvest honour and blessings; those who sow the seeds of evil words and
deeds reap only regret and remorse.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A <i>hadits</i> related
by Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Sakhr ad-Dawsi az-Zahrani al-Azdi
(<i>r.a.</i>) is that what mostly causes people to be Sent to the Fire are the
two openings: the mouth and the private parts.
Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (<i>r.a.</i>) also related that the Messenger of
Allah (<i>s.a.w.</i>) said, “The servant speaks words, the consequences of
which he does not realise, and for which he is Sent down into the depths of the
Fire further than the distance between the east and the west.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The same <i>hadits</i> was
transmitted by Imam at-Tirmidzi (<i>r.a.</i>) with slight variations: “The
servant says something that he thinks is harmless, and for which he will be
plunged into the depths of the Fire as far as seventy autumns.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sayyidina ‘Uqbah ibn A’amir
(<i>r.a.</i>) related, “I asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what is our best way of
surviving?’</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He replied, ‘Guard your
tongue, make your house suffice for sheltering your privacy, and weep for your
wrong actions.’”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It has been related on
the authority of Sayyidina Abu al-‘Abbas Sahl ibn Sa’d (<i>r.a.</i>) that the
Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) said, “Whoever can guarantee what is between his jaws
and what is between his legs I guarantee him the Garden.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It has also been related
by Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (<i>r.a.</i>) that the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) said, “Let
whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day either speak good or remain silent.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Thus, talking can either
be good, in which case it is commendable, or bad, in which case it is
forbidden.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>)
said, “Everything the children of Adam say goes against them, except for their
enjoining good and forbidding evil, and remembering Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>).” This was reported by Imam at-Tirmidzi (<i>r.a.</i>)
and Imam Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Yazid ibn Majah (<i>r.a.</i>) on the
authority of Sayyidatina Umm Habibah Ramlah bint Abu Sufyan (<i>r.a.</i>).</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sayyidina ‘Umar (<i>r.a.</i>)
visited Sayyidina Abu Bakr ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Utsman asw-Swiddiq (<i>r.a.</i>), and
found him pulling his tongue with his fingers. Sayyidina ‘Umar (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “Stop! may Allah Forgive you!”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sayyidina Abu Bakr (<i>r.a.</i>)
replied, “This tongue has brought me to dangerous places.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sayyidina Abu ‘Abd
ar-Rahman ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “By Allah, besides Whom no
god exists, nothing deserves a long prison sentence more than my tongue.” He also used to say, “O tongue, say good and
you will profit; desist from saying evil things and you will be safe; otherwise, you will find only regret.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (<i>r.a.</i>)
reported that Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “A person will
not feel greater fury or anger for any part of his body on the Day of Judgement
more than what he will feel for his tongue, unless he only used it for saying
or enjoining good.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sayyidina Hasan ibn ‘Ali
(<i>r.a.</i>) said, “Whoever does not hold his tongue cannot understand his <i>diyn</i>.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The least harmful of a
tongue’s faults is talking about whatever does not concern it. The following <i>hadits</i> of the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>)
is enough to indicate the harm of this fault: “One of the merits of a person’s
Islam is his abandoning what does not concern him.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sayyidina Abu ‘Ubaydah
‘Aamir ibn ‘Abdullah ibn al-Jarrah (<i>r.a.</i>) related that Sayyidina Hasan (<i>r.a.</i>)
said, “One of the signs of Allah’s abandoning a servant is His Making him
preoccupied with what does not concern him.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sayyidina Sahl (<i>r.a.</i>)
said, “Whoever talks about what does not concern him is deprived of
truthfulness.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As we have already
mentioned above, this is the least harmful of the tongue’s faults. There are far worse things, like backbiting,
gossiping, obscene and misleading talk, two-faced and hypocritical talk,
showing off, quarrelling, bickering, singing, lying, mockery, derision and
falsehood; and there are many more faults which can affect a servant’s tongue,
ruining his heart and causing him to lose both his happiness and pleasure in
this life, and his success and profit in the next life. Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) is the One to Whom we
turn for Assistance.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The unrestrained glance
results in the one who looks becoming attracted to what he sees, and in the
imprinting of an image of what he sees in his heart. This can result in several kinds of corruption
in the servant. The following are a
number of them.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It has been related that
the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) once said words to the effect, “The glance is a
poisoned arrow of Satan. Whoever lowers
his gaze for Allah, He will Bestow upon him a refreshing sweetness which he
will find in his heart on the day that he meets Him.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Satan enters with the
glance, for he travels with it, faster than the wind blowing through an empty
place. He makes what is seen appear more
beautiful than it really is, and transforms it into an idol for the heart to
worship. Then he promises it false
rewards, lights the fire of desires within it, and fuels it with the wood of
forbidden actions, which the servant would not have committed had it not been
for this distorted image. This distracts
the heart and makes it forget its more important concerns. It stands between it
and them; and so, the heart loses its straight path and falls into the pit of
desire and ignorance. Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>)
Says:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%;">سُوۡرَةُ الکهف</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%;">…</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>
وَلَا تُطِعۡ مَنۡ أَغۡفَلۡنَا قَلۡبَهُ ۥ عَن ذِكۡرِنَا وَٱتَّبَعَ هَوَٮٰهُ وَكَانَ
أَمۡرُهُ ۥ فُرُطً۬ا (٢٨)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">…
nor obey any whose heart We have Permitted to neglect the remembrance of Us,
one who follows his own desires, whose case has gone beyond all bounds. (Surah al-Kahf:28)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The unrestrained gaze
causes all three afflictions. It has
been said that between the eye and the heart is an immediate connection; if the
eyes are corrupted, then the heart follows. It becomes like a rubbish heap where all the
dirt and filth and rottenness collect, and so there is no room for love for
Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>), relating all matters to Him, awareness of being in His Presence,
and feeling joy at His proximity-only the opposite of these things can inhabit
such a heart.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Staring and gazing
without restraint is disobedience to Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>):</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%;">سُوۡرَةُ النُّور</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%;">قُل لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ يَغُضُّواْ مِنۡ
أَبۡصَـٰرِهِمۡ وَيَحۡفَظُواْ فُرُوجَهُمۡۚ ذَٲلِكَ أَزۡكَىٰ لَهُمۡۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ
خَبِيرُۢ بِمَا يَصۡنَعُونَ (٣٠)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Say
to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty:
that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is Well Acquainted with
all that they do. (Surah an-Nur:30)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Only the one who obeys
Allah’s (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Commands is content in this world, and only the servant
who obeys Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) will survive in the next world. Furthermore, letting the gaze roam free
cloaks the heart with darkness, just as lowering the gaze for Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>)
clothes it in light. After the above
ayah, Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) says in the same <i>surah</i> of the Qur’an:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%;">سُوۡرَةُ النُّور</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>۞ ٱللَّهُ نُورُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ
مَثَلُ نُورِهِۦ كَمِشۡكَوٰةٍ۬ فِيہَا مِصۡبَاحٌۖ ٱلۡمِصۡبَاحُ فِى زُجَاجَةٍۖ ٱلزُّجَاجَةُ
كَأَنَّہَا كَوۡكَبٌ۬ دُرِّىٌّ۬ يُوقَدُ مِن شَجَرَةٍ۬ مُّبَـٰرَڪَةٍ۬
زَيۡتُونَةٍ۬ لَّا شَرۡقِيَّةٍ۬ وَلَا غَرۡبِيَّةٍ۬ يَكَادُ زَيۡتُہَا يُضِىٓءُ
وَلَوۡ لَمۡ تَمۡسَسۡهُ نَارٌ۬ۚ نُّورٌ عَلَىٰ نُورٍ۬ۗ يَہۡدِى ٱللَّهُ
لِنُورِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُۚ وَيَضۡرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡأَمۡثَـٰلَ لِلنَّاسِۗ وَٱللَّهُ
بِكُلِّ شَىۡءٍ عَلِيمٌ۬ (٣٥)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">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 does Guide whom He Will
to His Light: Allah does set forth parables for men: and Allah does Know all
things. (Surah an-Nur:35)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When the heart is a
light, countless good comes to it from all directions. If it is dark, then clouds of evil and
afflictions come from all directions to cover it up. Letting the gaze run loose also makes the
heart blind to distinguishing between truth and falsehood, between the <i>sunnah</i>
and innovation; while lowering it for Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) gives it a
penetrating, true and distinguishing insight.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A righteous man once said,
“Whoever enriches his outward behaviour by following the <i>sunnah</i>, and
makes his inward soul wealthy through contemplation, and averts his gaze away
from looking at what is forbidden, and avoids anything of a doubtful nature,
and feeds solely on what is halal - his inner sight will never falter.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Rewards for actions come
in kind. Whoever lowers his gaze from
what Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) has forbidden, Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) will Give his
inner sight abundant light.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The consumption of small
amounts of food guarantees tenderness of the heart, strength of the intellect,
humility of the self, weakness of desires, and gentleness of temperament.
Immoderate eating brings about the opposite of these praiseworthy qualities.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sayyidina Abu Karimah al-Miqdam
ibn Ma’d al-Yakrib (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah (<i>s.a.w.</i>)
say, ‘The son of Adam fills no vessel more displeasing to Allah than his
stomach. A few morsels should be enough
for him to preserve his strength. If he
must fill it, then he should allow a third for his food, a third for his drink
and leave a third empty for easy breathing.’”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Excessive eating induces
many kinds of harm. It makes the body
incline towards disobedience to Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>), and makes worship and
obedience seem laborious-such evils are bad enough in themselves. A full stomache and excessive eating have
caused many a wrong action and inhibited much worship. Whoever safeguards against the evils of
overfilling his stomache has prevented great evil. It is easier for <i>Shaythan</i> to control a
person who has filled his stomache with food and drink, which is why it has
often been said, “Restrict the pathways of <i>Shaythan</i> by fasting.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It has been reported that
when a group of young men from the Tribe of Israel were worshipping, and it was
time for them to break their fast, a man stood up and said, “Do not eat too
much, otherwise you will drink too much, and then you will end up sleeping too
much, and then you will lose too much.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>)
and his companions used to go hungry quite frequently. Although this was often due to a shortage of
food, Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Decreed the best and most favourable conditions for
His Messenger (<i>s.a.w.</i>). This is
why Sayyidina ibn ‘Umar (<i>r.a.</i>) and his father before him-in spite of the
abundance of food available to them-modelled their eating habits on those of
the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>).</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It has been reported that
Sayyidina ‘Aishah (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “From the time of their arrival in Madina
up until his death, the family of Muhammad never ate their fill of bread made
from wheat three nights in a row.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Shaykh Abu Ishaq Ibrahim
ibn Adham (<i>r.a.</i>) said, “Anyone who controls his stomache is in control
of his religion, and anyone who controls his hunger is in control of good
behaviour. Disobedience towards Allah is
nearest to a person who is satiated with a full stomach, and furthest away from
a person who is hungry.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Unnecessary companionship
is a chronic disease that causes much harm. How often have the wrong kind of companionship
and intermixing deprived people of Allah’s (<i>s.w.t.</i>) generosity, planting
discord in their hearts which even the passage of time-even if it were long
enough for mountains to be worn away-has been unable to dispel. In keeping such company, one can find the
roots of loss, both in this life and in the next life.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A servant should benefit
from companionship. In order to do so,
he should divide people into four categories, and be careful not to get them
mixed up, for once one of them is mixed with another, then evil can find its
way through to him.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The first category are
those people whose company is like food: it is indispensable, night or day. Once a servant has taken his need from it, he
leaves it be until he requires it again, and so on. These are the people with knowledge of Allah’s
(<i>s.w.t.</i>) His Commands, of the scheming of His enemies, and of the
diseases of the heart and their remedies - who wish well for Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>),
His Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>) and His servants. Associating with this type of person is an
achievement in itself.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The second category are
those people whose company is like a medicine. They are only required when a disease sets in.
When you are healthy, you have no need
of them. However, mixing with them is
sometimes necessary for your livelihood, businesses, consultation and the like.
Once what you need from them has been
fulfilled, mixing with them should be avoided.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The third category are
those people whose company is harmful. Mixing
with this type of person is like a disease, in all its variety and degrees and
strengths and weaknesses. Associating
with one or some of them is like an incurable chronic disease. You will never profit either in this life or
in the next life if you have them for company, and you will surely lose either
one or both of your religion and your livelihood because of them. If their companionship has taken hold of you
and is established, then it becomes a fatal, terrifying sickness.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Amongst such people are
those who neither speak any good that might benefit you, nor listen closely to
you so that they might benefit from you. They do not know their souls and consequently
put their selves in their rightful place. If they speak, their words fall on their
listeners’ hearts like the lashes of a cane, while all the while they are full
of admiration for and delight in their own words. They cause distress to those in their
company, while believing that they are the sweet scent of the gathering. If they are silent, they are heavier than a
massive millstone-too heavy to carry or even drag across the floor.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">All in all, mixing with
anyone who is bad for the soul will not last, even if it is unavoidable. It can be one of the most distressing aspects
of a servant's life that he is plagued by such person, with whom it may be
necessary to associate. In such a
relationship, a servant should cling to good behaviour, only presenting him
with his outward appearance, while disguising his inner soul, until Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>)
Offers him a way out of his affliction and the means of escape from this
situation.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The fourth category are
those people whose company is doom itself. It is like taking poison: its victim either
finds an antidote or perishes. Many
people belong to this category. They are
the people of religious innovation and misguidance, those who abandon the <i>sunnah</i>
of the Messenger of Allah (<i>s.a.w.</i>) and advocate other beliefs. They call what is the <i>sunnah</i> a <i>bid’ah</i>,
and vice-versa. A man with any intellect
should not sit in their assemblies nor mix with them. The result of doing so will either be the
death of his heart or, at the very best, is falling seriously ill.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We should know that acts
of obedience are essential to the wellbeing of the servant’s heart, just in
the same way that food and drink are to that of the body. All wrong actions are the same as poisonous
foods, and they inevitably harm the heart.
The servant feels the need to worship his Lord, for he is naturally in
constant need of His Help and Assistance.
In order to maintain the wellbeing of his body, the servant carefully
follows a strict diet. He habitually and
constantly eats good food at regular intervals, and is quick to free his
stomache of harmful elements if he happens to eat bad food by mistake.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The wellbeing of the
servant’s heart, however, is far more important than that of his body, for
while the wellbeing of his body enables him to lead a life that is free from
illnesses in this world, that of the heart ensures him both a fortunate life in
this world and eternal bliss in the next.
In the same way, while the death of the body cuts the servant off from
this world, the death of the heart results in everlasting anguish. A righteous man once said, “How odd, that some
people mourn for the one whose body has died, but never mourn for the one whose
heart has died-and yet the death of the heart is far more serious!”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Thus, acts of obedience
are indispensable to the wellbeing of the heart. It is worthwhile mentioning the following acts
of obedience here, since they are very necessary and essential for the servant’s
heart: <i>Dzikr</i> of Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>), recitation of the Qur’an, seeking
Allah’s (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Forgiveness, making <i>du’a</i>, invoking Allah’s (<i>s.w.t.</i>)
Blessings and Peace on the Prophet (<i>s.a.w.</i>), and praying at night.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholexSZWh9miJCHpgeQOynWt-Gk-Hyu9j_ZvbwMjYKTEIOsRUO09qfKDbkCmBK27YcEsDekbt6EdEa5zH3adfxCuQIknmm4yAUxGKDjRDLeAWfUuwiBLixOG1AeffWqFqdlqWDoVAwU6bpMKpafg7F8U2jtfvqY4oaENMmKu164upI-9euGDJQlFilQfI/s1344/BP;%20Sun%20over%20the%20Wheat%20Field.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="1344" height="1201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholexSZWh9miJCHpgeQOynWt-Gk-Hyu9j_ZvbwMjYKTEIOsRUO09qfKDbkCmBK27YcEsDekbt6EdEa5zH3adfxCuQIknmm4yAUxGKDjRDLeAWfUuwiBLixOG1AeffWqFqdlqWDoVAwU6bpMKpafg7F8U2jtfvqY4oaENMmKu164upI-9euGDJQlFilQfI/w1922-h1201/BP;%20Sun%20over%20the%20Wheat%20Field.jpg" width="1922" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><p></p>Terence Nunishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06071127118103190470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724924986866131547.post-31286525398340911812023-07-21T05:30:00.002+08:002023-07-21T05:33:51.539+08:00The Muslim Family<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 115%;">بِسۡمِ
ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
following is a transcript of a talk by Mawlana Wafi’ Muhammad.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Islam,
the last of the Revealed religions, gave to the world a concept of a family,
which was either not known or practiced before. It informs us that the family began with the
entry of the human species on earth, as Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Created Eve out
of Adam (<i>a.s.</i>) and from both of them, He Caused the entire human family
to grow. He Tells us:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; line-height: normal; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">سُوۡرَةُ
النِّسَاء</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; line-height: normal; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">بِسۡمِ
ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; line-height: normal; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا
ٱلنَّاسُ ٱتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفۡسٍ۬ وَٲحِدَةٍ۬
وَخَلَقَ مِنۡہَا زَوۡجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنۡہُمَا رِجَالاً۬ كَثِيرً۬ا وَنِسَآءً۬ۚ </span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>…</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>
(١)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the Name of Allah, the
Beneficent, the Merciful<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">O mankind! Reverence your Guardian-Lord Who Created you
from a single person, Created, of like nature, his mate and from them twain
scattered (like seeds) countless men and women ... (Surah an-Nisa’:1)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Just
as how the children of a husband and a wife vary in colour, size, and so forth;
so too, the children of Adam (<i>a.s.</i>) and Eve varied in colour, size and
tribes as they were scattered all over the earth. Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Says:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; line-height: normal; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">سُوۡرَةُ
الحُجرَات</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; line-height: normal; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا
ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقۡنَـٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ۬ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلۡنَـٰكُمۡ شُعُوبً۬ا
وَقَبَآٮِٕلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓاْۚ </span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>…</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span> (١٣)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">O mankind! We Created you from a single (pair) of a male
and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each
other (not that you may despise each other) ... (Surah al-Hujraat:13)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Merciful Lord Gave every human being a body, a soul and a free will,
conditioned by an intention. He Gave
guidelines for interaction with one another; whether it be the immediate family
members or others. The common principles
are supposed to be upheld at all times in all places and under all conditions.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So
important are these qualities which every human being is supposed to develop,
that the <i>a’immah</i> in many mosques all over the world conclude their
Friday sermons with reminders to their congregations of the common universal
principles for a good and healthy family life. When observed, it will result in a
co-operative and productive community for each one of them. Some of the verses of the Qur’an advising the
believers of living a purposeful and united life are:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; line-height: normal; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">سُوۡرَةُ
النّحل</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; line-height: normal; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>۞
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأۡمُرُ بِٱلۡعَدۡلِ وَٱلۡإِحۡسَـٰنِ وَإِيتَآىِٕ ذِى ٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ
وَيَنۡهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلۡفَحۡشَآءِ وَٱلۡمُنڪَرِ وَٱلۡبَغۡىِۚ يَعِظُكُمۡ لَعَلَّڪُمۡ
تَذَكَّرُونَ (٩٠)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Allah Commands justice, the doing of
good, and liberty to kith and kin, and He Forbids all shameful deeds, and
injustice and rebellion: He Instructs you, that you may receive admonition.
(Surah an-Nahl:90)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; line-height: normal; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">سُوۡرَةُ
القَصَص</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; line-height: normal; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">…</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">وَأَحۡسِن
ڪَمَآ أَحۡسَنَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيۡكَۖ </span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>…</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span> (٧٧)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“… but do you good, as Allah has
been Good to you ...” (Surah al-Qaswasw:77)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; line-height: normal; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">سُوۡرَةُ
البَقَرَة</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; line-height: normal; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">…</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>
لَا تَظۡلِمُونَ وَلَا تُظۡلَمُونَ (٢٧٩)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">… deal not unjustly and you shall
not be dealt with unjustly. (Surah al-Baqarah:279)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When
these principles are practiced the family as a unit, and society at large, they
will develop a special outlook of life and a unique lifestyle. They will allow themselves to be bound
together as with a rope, and will not be separated; they will be helpful to one
another, and will generally make life much easier in the neighbourhood.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Qur’an Gives us a beautiful example of the negative impact on society when the
family, or the members of the community, do not uphold the principles that bind
them together; and the positive result of prosperity when a people live like a
united body. All these are found in the story
of Joseph (<i>a.s.</i>) in the Qur’an. In
the beginning the brothers of Joseph (<i>a.s.</i>) were a selfish people
desiring only their material benefits. In
the process of achieving their goal, they did not mind causing hurt and harm to
their loving brother, Joseph (<i>a.s.</i>) and did not estimate the impact that
harming him was to have had on the father.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">They
thought that material strength was the only ingredient necessary for success in
life; they never stopped for one moment to ponder on the fact that life is not
just for one day, and no one knows what is in store for him or her in the days
ahead. They never realised that
circumstances could reduce a person from abundant wealth to destitution. The brothers of Joseph (<i>a.s.</i>) did not
take note of a very important principle regarding the daily activities of every
human being, i.e. it is very difficult to climb anywhere but it is very easy to
slip and fall back to the ground.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">On
the other hand, the outlook of Joseph (<i>a.s.</i>), was totally different from
that of his brothers. He was kind,
polite, respectful to his parents, and was a very righteous son who was not
selfish. This story brings out two
important principles that are extremely necessary in creating unity and harmony
in the family and in the society. Islam
teaches that there must be co-operation with one another in doing good and
resisting evil. Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Says:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; line-height: normal; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">سُوۡرَةُ
المَائدة</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; line-height: normal; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">…</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ۘ
وَتَعَاوَنُواْ عَلَى ٱلۡبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقۡوَىٰۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُواْ عَلَى
ٱلۡإِثۡمِ وَٱلۡعُدۡوَٲنِۚ </span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>…</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span> (٢)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">… Help you one another in
righteousness and piety, but help you not one another in sin and rancour ...
(Surah al-Ma’idah:2)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Every
single believer in Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) has his or her individual
responsibilities, as a unit in the family, and as a unit in society. Regarding
one’s attitude towards family members, Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Says:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; line-height: normal; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">سُوۡرَةُ
الشُّعَرَاء</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; line-height: normal; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">وَأَنذِرۡ
عَشِيرَتَكَ ٱلۡأَقۡرَبِينَ (٢١٤)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And admonish your nearest kinsmen ―
(Surah ash-Shu’ara:214)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There
are many people even in Muslim society who are prepared to preach to the world,
and are quick to condemn others, but their own near and dear ones are living
like the brothers of Joseph (<i>a.s.</i>) instead of the loving and kind, submissive
brother of Benjamin. Because the
principles for a healthy united family and by extension the society, are
Qur’anic Injunctions, they are universal and become part of the Islamic culture
which is universal and are based on Divine Revelation. As such they remain constant and are binding
on everyone.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Every
parent is expected to transmit the basic fundamentals of this beautiful way of
life to their dependants. It begins with
total expression of love and compassion for the younger ones and a similar pattern
of conduct towards the elders, when the child grows up. This is manifested in the prayer which the
adult is taught to supplicate for parents. Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Says:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; line-height: normal; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">سُوۡرَةُ
بنیٓ اسرآئیل / الإسرَاء</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; line-height: normal; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>۞
وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوٓاْ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلۡوَٲلِدَيۡنِ
إِحۡسَـٰنًاۚ إِمَّا يَبۡلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلۡڪِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوۡ كِلَاهُمَا
فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّ۬ وَلَا تَنۡہَرۡهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوۡلاً۬ ڪَرِيمً۬ا
(٢٣) وَٱخۡفِضۡ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ ٱلذُّلِّ مِنَ ٱلرَّحۡمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱرۡحَمۡهُمَا
كَمَا رَبَّيَانِى صَغِيرً۬ا (٢٤)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Your Lord has Decreed that you
worship none but Him, and that you be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in your
life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in
terms of honour. And, out of kindness,
lower to them the wing of humility, and say, “My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy even as they
cherished me in childhood.” (Surah al-Isra’:23-24)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">One
of the ways in which Islam brought out universal brotherhood is by inclusion of
every believer, irrespective of race or color, into becoming a member of the
family of believers. This is based on
the Qur’anic Injunction in which Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Commands them:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; line-height: normal; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">سُوۡرَةُ
آل عِمرَان</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; line-height: normal; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِۦ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا
وَأَنتُم مُّسۡلِمُونَ (١٠٢) وَٱعۡتَصِمُواْ بِحَبۡلِ ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعً۬ا وَلَا
تَفَرَّقُواْۚ وَٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيۡكُمۡ إِذۡ كُنتُمۡ
أَعۡدَآءً۬ فَأَلَّفَ بَيۡنَ قُلُوبِكُمۡ فَأَصۡبَحۡتُم بِنِعۡمَتِهِۦۤ إِخۡوَٲنً۬ا
وَكُنتُمۡ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفۡرَةٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنۡہَاۗ كَذَٲلِكَ
يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَہۡتَدُونَ (١٠٣)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">O you who believe! Recognise Allah as He should be recognised,
and die not except in a state of Islam. And
hold fast, all together by the rope which Allah (Stretches Out for you), and be
not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah’s Favour on
you; for you were enemies and He joined your hearts in love so that by His
Grace, you became brethren; and you were on the brink of the pit of fire, and
He Saved you from it. Thus does Allah Make
His Signs clear to you: that you may be Guided. (Surah Ali ‘Imran:102-103)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Allah
(<i>s.w.t.</i>) made it known to Muslims that situations can arise in families
which may cause disunity; and when removed the family can become, once again, a
beautiful unit. Such situations form
part of the Message contained in the story of Joseph (<i>a.s.</i>) in the
Qur’an.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Through
perseverance with patience, Jacob (<i>a.s.</i>) was finally able to get the ten
sons to admit that they were wrong, and Joseph (<i>a.s.</i>) finally got them
to seek forgiveness from him and from Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) for their treachery
against him. Islam came to unite mankind
into one community, irrespective of race and color. Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Says:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; line-height: normal; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">سُوۡرَةُ
الاٴنبیَاء</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; line-height: normal; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">إِنَّ
هَـٰذِهِۦۤ أُمَّتُكُمۡ أُمَّةً۬ وَٲحِدَةً۬ وَأَنَا۟ رَبُّڪُمۡ فَٱعۡبُدُونِ (٩٢)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Verily, this brotherhood of yours is
a single brotherhood and I am your Lord and Cherisher: therefore, serve Me (and
no other). (Surah al-Anbiya’:92)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As
a perfect way of life, Islam established, among other principles, the following
beliefs: In the Oneness of the Creator of the universe, that no creature can be
like the Creator, a Divinely Revealed Code of Life applicable to all and not
subject to change, and a Messenger who is a universal model.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In
the fact that the goal of every individual should be similar as was ultimately
demonstrated by Jacob (<i>a.s.</i>) and his family, when they acknowledged
Jacob’s (<i>a.s.</i>) leadership over them. Even then, Joseph (<i>a.s.</i>) himself
acknowledged that power and position are Gifts from Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) and
He may Bestow them on whoever He Pleases.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">While
the Qur’an Enjoins upon us to try our best to live like one big Muslim family,
enjoining good and avoiding evil, Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>) Makes it Clear that
whoever should deviate from this principle, it will be to his or her own peril.
He Says:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; line-height: normal; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">سُوۡرَةُ
الاٴنعَام</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; line-height: normal; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">قُلۡ
أَغَيۡرَ ٱللَّهِ أَبۡغِى رَبًّ۬ا وَهُوَ رَبُّ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ۚ وَلَا تَكۡسِبُ ڪُلُّ
نَفۡسٍ إِلَّا عَلَيۡہَاۚ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ۬ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰۚ ثُمَّ
إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُم مَّرۡجِعُكُمۡ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ فِيهِ تَخۡتَلِفُونَ
(١٦٤)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Say: “Shall I seek for (my) cherisher
other than Allah when He is the Cherisher of all things (that exist)?” Every soul draws the meed of its acts on none
but itself: no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another. Your goal in the end is toward Allah: He will Tell
you the truth of the things wherein you disputed. (Surah al-An’am:164)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
way to success is selfless love, total resignation and sincere dedication; as
our beloved Messenger (<i>s.a.w.</i>), demonstrated in his own life, as Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>)
Tells us about him in the Qur’an. He Says:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; line-height: normal; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">سُوۡرَةُ
النّجْم</span><span dir="LTR" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; line-height: normal; margin-left: 28.55pt; margin-right: 1cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">مَا
ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمۡ وَمَا غَوَىٰ (٢) وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ (٣)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 28.55pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Your companion is neither astray nor
being misled, nor does he say (aught) of (his own) desire. (Surah an-Najm:2-3)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We
should try our best to avoid the negatives and uphold the positives if we are
to live like one big happy family.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhteALmiYut62IAAV_T4bW5ERWmhVAn7Z1FgGny_nJTz6bSPigSuvggAyoM2w--Ldb3aDgm-MpQKYogEWkryS12_SBpmpDMuPilDBiCu-w1qMpU3kYF1Yo4EIzA1DhiiPn3o6seQBM-EKhCi-mSn40MwuadqofXWY1U_9Olltzwrj-S_SSiWxSSGM6qRE/s850/BP;%20Sun%20over%20the%20Dunes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="567" height="1782" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhteALmiYut62IAAV_T4bW5ERWmhVAn7Z1FgGny_nJTz6bSPigSuvggAyoM2w--Ldb3aDgm-MpQKYogEWkryS12_SBpmpDMuPilDBiCu-w1qMpU3kYF1Yo4EIzA1DhiiPn3o6seQBM-EKhCi-mSn40MwuadqofXWY1U_9Olltzwrj-S_SSiWxSSGM6qRE/w1188-h1782/BP;%20Sun%20over%20the%20Dunes.jpg" width="1188" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><p></p>Terence Nunishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06071127118103190470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724924986866131547.post-36458183913676128752023-07-21T03:43:00.002+08:002023-07-21T03:44:22.386+08:00Shaykh Abu al-‘Abbas Ahmad ibn al-Iyyashi as-Sukayrij (q.s.)<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 115%;">بِسۡمِ
ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The following is a
biography of Shaykh Abu al-‘Abbas Ahmad ibn al-Iyyashi as-Sukayrij (<i>q.s.</i>)
by</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ustadz Fakhr ad-Din
Uwaysi al-Madani and Ustadz Zakariya Valentine Wright.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Shaykh Abu al-‘Abbas
Ahmad ibn al-Iyyashi as-Sukayrij (<i>q.s.</i>), who lived from 1878 to 1944,
was born in Fas, and educated in the Islamic sciences at the prestigious
Qarawiyyin University. He was a prolific
author and a renowned scholar throughout North Africa. His expertise in Islamic law earned him
appointments from the Moroccan government as supervisor of <i>waqf</i> property
in Fas, <i>qadhi</i> of Wajdah, <i>qadhi</i> of al-Jadidah, and <i>qadhi</i> of
Siththat. On account of such broad
scholarly expertise, the Egyptian <i>ahadits</i> scholar and Tijani <i>shaykh</i>,
Shaykh Muhammad al-Hafizh ibn ‘Abd al-Lathif al-Miswri (<i>r.a.</i>), in the
introduction of his work on Shaykh ‘Umar ibn Sa’id al-Futi Thal (<i>q.s.</i>),
referred to Shaykh Sukayrij (<i>q.s.</i>) as “the most knowledgeable person of
our time.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He was also a consummate
gnostic who had studied under some of the more illustrious scholars of the <i>Tijaniyyah</i>
in the nineteenth century, such as Shaykh Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Abdalawi (<i>q.s.</i>)
and Shaykh ‘Abd al-Karim Bannis (<i>q.s.</i>), the latter who authored the
central work on Tijani practice, <i>Durrat at-Taj</i>. He was known for his sobriety in Sufi
practice, and it is said that he disapproved of excessive emotional displays
during <i>dzikr</i>. In his defense of
the <i>Tijaniyyah</i> from its detractors, he emphasised the humility and
orthodoxy of its leading scholars. In
the book, <i>Swirath al-Mustaqim</i>, he was famous for asserting that the
spiritual positions belonging to Shaykh Abu al-‘Abbas Ahmad ibn Muhammad
at-Tijani (<i>q.s.</i>) and his followers were a distinction from Allah (<i>s.w.t.</i>),
but not necessarily a mark of superiority.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The personal saintliness
of Shaykh Sukayrij (<i>q.s.</i>) attained wide renown. Shaykh Hasan ibn ‘Ali Sisi (<i>r.a.</i>), who
recently met with his descendants in Marrakish, where he received the walking
stick, fez and ring of Shaykh Sukayrij (<i>q.s.</i>), related a story of Shaykh
Sukayrij (<i>q.s.</i>) being questioned about his activities as a <i>qadhi</i>.
Accused of accepting the judgeships for
the government stipend, Shaykh Sukayrij (<i>q.s.</i>) lifted the pillow on
which he was reclining and shook it in front of the questioner. Money started to fall from the pillow onto the
floor, upon which Shaykh Sukayrij (<i>q.s.</i>) simply said that it was God who
provided his needs; he was only working for the sake of Islam.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Among those who took the <i>Thariqa’
Tijaniyyah</i> from him was, Mawlay ‘Abd al-Hafizh, the Sulthan of Morocco from
1908 to 1912), who was exiled to France upon the French occupation of Morocco. The Sulthan had previously been an enemy of
the <i>Tijaniyyah</i>, and had cooperated with the Moroccan <i>Salafiyyah</i>
movement in its polemic against the Sufi orders. After his exile, Sulthan ‘Abd al-Hafizh became
better acquainted with the <i>thariqa’</i>, and after taking the Tijani wird,
became one of its chief advocates. He
later wrote <i>Jami’ah al-‘Irfaniyyah al-Wafiyyah bi Shurut wa Jul Fadha’il Ahl
ath-Thariqa’ at-Tijaniyyah</i>, published in Tunis in 1930, relating the
history of the <i>Tijaniyyah</i>, explaining its practices and praising its
distinguished scholars, especially his teacher, Shaykh Sukayrij (<i>q.s.</i>).</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Shaykh Sukayrij (<i>q.s.</i>)
himself authored about 160 works on all aspects of Islamic knowledge, among
which are a 20,000 line <i>nazhm</i> version of Imam Abu al-Fadhl ‘Abd
ar-Rahman ibn Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuthi’s (<i>q.s.</i>)
Khaswa’isw al-Kubra’; a 500 line <i>nazhm</i> version of Qadhi Abu al-Fadhl
‘Iyadh ibn ‘Amr al-Yahsubi’s (<i>r.a.</i>) <i>Shifa’</i></span><i><span lang="EN-US"> </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">bi Ta’rif Huquq al-Muswthafa</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">;
a commentary on <i>Qaswidah al-Burdah</i>; the renowned <i>Kashf al-Hijab ‘Amman
Talaqa’ ma’a ash-Shaykh at-Tijani min al-Aswhab</i>, a giant encyclopedia of
the disciples of Shaykh Ahmad at-Tijani (<i>q.s.</i>); and the comprehensive
book of Tijani doctrine, <i>Kawkab al-Wahhaj li Tawdih al-Minhaj</i>, written
as a commentary to <i>Durrat at-Taj</i>.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Shaykh Sukayrij (<i>q.s.</i>)
possessed more than 600 <i>ijazat</i>, in various Islamic sciences, which he
transcribed in his seminal work, <i>Qadam ar-Rusukh fima li Mu’allifihi min ash-Shuyukh</i>.
In the same book, Shaykh Sukayrij (<i>q.s.</i>)
wrote, “The first one to whom I gave authorisation in all these chains of
transmission was the <i>Khalifah al-Haj</i> Ibrahim Niyas.” He also said to him, “You are the <i>‘alim</i>
of Black Africa.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For his part, Shaykh
Ibrahim ibn ‘Abdullah Niyas al-Kawlakhi (<i>q.s.</i>) addressed Shaykh Sukayrij
(<i>q.s.</i>) in a letter dated 1932 CE / 1352 AH, and reprinted in <i>Jawahir
ar-Rasa’il</i>, as follows: “Our greatest love, the esteemed <i>shaykh</i>, the
most famous scholar, the full moon in efflorescent radiance, the proof of this path,
and the assistance of this company, the one who has spread the knowledge of it by
his accomplishment: the emblem of Divine gnosis, the owner of the spiritual
medicine, the upright state and the eternal secret; the adept among adepts …
Sidi Ahmad ibn al-Haj al-‘Ayyashi Sukayrij.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Although Shaykh Ibrahim Niyas
(<i>q.s.</i>) had numerous <i>ijazat</i> in the <i>Tijaniyyah</i>, he would
always use that given to him by Shaykh Sukayrij (<i>q.s.</i>) during their
meeting in Morocco in 1937, when initiating others into the <i>thariqa’</i>. The <i>silsilah</i> passing through Shaykh Sukayrij
(<i>q.s.</i>) was the shortest to Shaykh Ahmad at-Tijani (<i>q.s.</i>) of any
scholar in the twentieth century.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 1cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Before he passed away, Shaykh
Sukayrij (<i>q.s.</i>) had a dream in which he was in the company of Qadi ‘Iyadh
ibn Musa (<i>q.s.</i>). Then it so
happened that he passed away while he was in Marrakesh in 1944, and was indeed
buried in the Mausoleum of Qadi ‘Iyadh (<i>q.s.</i>).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mU_OU3o4-58xNvXdCMrcWOHcojU4flxb9f4_VRK09oXrklr7gabjobnyUdO6QIwRpA-dWw0-S5Ech1by07bb4ngcbsnqX-q2HMhMHguJeDywbKCgqkIUq4pU4O0Xj8UwmYPgRHHtlUxgLAj_UfwY0jH4QlT7aBGcy9col8HV04NLdtmLnrnNGF3WGKM/s2048/BP;%20Sun%20Eye.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2048" height="1738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mU_OU3o4-58xNvXdCMrcWOHcojU4flxb9f4_VRK09oXrklr7gabjobnyUdO6QIwRpA-dWw0-S5Ech1by07bb4ngcbsnqX-q2HMhMHguJeDywbKCgqkIUq4pU4O0Xj8UwmYPgRHHtlUxgLAj_UfwY0jH4QlT7aBGcy9col8HV04NLdtmLnrnNGF3WGKM/w2625-h1738/BP;%20Sun%20Eye.jpg" width="2625" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><p></p>Terence Nunishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06071127118103190470noreply@blogger.com0