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Showing posts with the label Imam ‘Ali ibn Thahir as-Sulami

Cutting Off Attachments

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بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ As translated by Dr. Alan A. Godlas, Imam ‘Ali ibn Thahir as-Sulami ( q.s. ) wrote, in Haqa’iq at-Tafsir , on the lovers of God, al-muhibbun lillah , “A certain Sufi said, ‘The lovers of God are those who cut off the attachments that cut off from God before the attachments cut them off.’”

Taswawwuf in the Languages of Law & Reality

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بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   The following was translated by Dr. Alan A. Godlas.   Imam ‘Ali ibn Thahir as-Sulami ( q.s. ) reported, in his Mahasin at-Taswawwuf , that Shaykh Abu Musa ad-Dili ( q.s. ) said that he asked Shaykh Bayazid Thayfur ibn ‘Isa al-Bisthami, ( q.s. ), “What is taswawwuf ?”   He replied, “Do you want the answer in the language of shari’ah , the language of al-haqiqah or the language of al-Haqq?”   Shaykh Abu Musa ( q.s. ) responded, “In all three.”   Shaykh Abu Yazid ( q.s. ) answered, “In the language of the law, taswawwuf is purification of hearts from impurities, using the Creation together with created nature, and following the Prophet ( s.a.w. ) in shari’ah .  In the language of al-haqiqah , taswawwuf is the absence of exertions, departing from the requirements of the qualities, and contentment with the Creator of the heavens.  In the Language of the al-Haqq, the foundation is that al-Haqq has Purified...

Recognition of Gratitude

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بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   The following was originally translated by Dr. Alan A. Godlas.   Imam ‘Ali ibn Thahir as-Sulami ( q.s. ) commented, in Haqa’iq at-Tafsir , on gratitude in the following verse:   سُوۡرَةُ لقمَان وَلَقَدۡ ءَاتَيۡنَا لُقۡمَـٰنَ ٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ أَنِ ٱشۡكُرۡ لِلَّهِ‌ۚ وَمَن يَشۡڪُرۡ فَإِنَّمَا يَشۡكُرُ لِنَفۡسِهِۦ‌ۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِىٌّ حَمِيدٌ۬ (١٢)   We Bestowed (in the past), wisdom on Luqman: “Show (your) Gratitude to Allah.”   Any who is (so) grateful does so to the profit of his own soul: but if any is ungrateful verily Allah is Free of all wants, Worthy of all praise. (Surah Luqman:12)   Shaykh Abu ‘Utsman Isma’il ibn ‘Abd ar-Rahman as-Sabuni ( q.s. ), in his kitab to Shaykh Muhammad ibn al-Fadhl ( q.s. ) wrote, “Gratitude consists of the maʿrifah of one’s incapacity to be grateful truly, because of one’s awareness of the Grandeur of God and out of the humble acknowledgment of His Awesomenes...