A Muslim Convert Once Before

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   Imam Mahmud ibn ‘Ali al-Qashani ( q.s. ) wrote, in Miswbah al-Hidayah wa Miftah al-Kifayah , “The Lamp of Right Guidance & the Key to What is Sufficient,” that the murid should recognise the right moment to speak.   In case the murid would like to discuss important religious or worldly things, then he should first ascertain whether the shaykh is willing to use his own time in such a way, is willing to listen to him or not.   We should not be in a hurry to talk to our shaykh .   We begin by concentrating on the Almighty and asking Him for His Grace and Help from His Divine Glory, so that we may not make any mistakes in regard to the proper rules of behaviour.   It is also proper, when coming thus near to Allah ( s.w.t. ), to give something away in charity.   This is just like what the companions of the Messenger of Allah ( s.a.w. ) had to do if they wanted to speak with him, as is Said by Allah ( s.w.t. ) th...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Imam Mahmud ibn ‘Ali al-Qashani ( q.s. ) wrote, in Miswbah al-Hidayah wa Miftah al-Kifayah , “The Lamp of Right Guidance & the Key to What is Sufficient,” that the murid should give an attentive ear to the words of his shaykh .   The murid should wait and be attentive in regard to everything that comes from the lips of his shaykh.   He should see his tongue as a means of expression of the Speech of Allah ( s.w.t. ) and be convinced that his shaykh speaks by means of Allah ( s.w.t. ) and that his speech does not stem from his own desire and that he has reached the station of “He is Speaking by Me.”   We should see his heart as a boisterous sea, filled with all kinds of pearls of knowledge and precious gems of gnosis, a sea which every now and then - because of the blowing of the winds of pre-eternal providence - may cast some of these pearls and precious stones on the shore of the tongue.   We should, therefore, take care...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   Imam Mahmud ibn ‘Ali al-Qashani ( q.s. ) wrote, in Miswbah al-Hidayah wa Miftah al-Kifayah , “The Lamp of Right Guidance & the Key to What is Sufficient,” that the murid should not show negligence in his behaviour.   A too free type of behaviour in the contact with our shaykh is not allowed, neither in words nor in deeds, because if we just let it all go, then the veil of modesty and the dress of worthy behaviour are Taken Away and the flow of Mercy then gets Interrupted.   We should use respectful terms when addressing him.   In the beginning, the companions of the Prophet ( s.a.w. ) did not use respectful terms when using his name.   They said, “Muhammad” and “Ahmad” until this was Disallowed in the Words of Allah ( s.w.t. ) that was Sent Down:   سُوۡرَةُ الحُجرَات … وَلَا تَجۡهَرُواْ لَهُ ۥ بِٱلۡقَوۡلِ كَجَهۡرِ بَعۡضِڪُمۡ لِبَعۡضٍ أَن تَحۡبَطَ أَعۡمَـٰلُكُمۡ وَأَنتُمۡ لَا تَشۡعُرُونَ (٢)   ...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   Imam Mahmud ibn ‘Ali al-Qashani ( q.s. ) wrote, in Miswbah al-Hidayah wa Miftah al-Kifayah , “The Lamp of Right Guidance & the Key to What is Sufficient,” that the murid should decline from making his own choices.   The murid is not allowed to undertake anything - neither religious nor worldly, universal or particular - without finding out what the shaykh wants and chooses.   We should not eat nor drink, nor dress ourselves, nor give presents, nor sleep, nor take, nor give but with the permission of the shaykh .   We should not perform any religious practices without the permission and the specification of our shaykh , like for instance fasting or taking food, voluntary devotional practices or limiting ourselves to those practices which are obligatory or the remembrance of Allah ( s.w.t. ), the recitation of the Qur’an and being absorbed in something.   It so happened, one night, that the Messenger ( s.a.w. ) pa...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   Imam Mahmud ibn ‘Ali al-Qashani ( q.s. ) wrote, in Miswbah al-Hidayah wa Miftah al-Kifayah , “The Lamp of Right Guidance & the Key to What is Sufficient,” that the murid should have the fixed decision to persevere in the obedience towards his shaykh .   We should know that the door of Divine Mercy will only open because of our constancy in obedience and service.   Either we give our life at his doorstep or we will reach our goal.   A sign hereof is that we do not turn away, when our shaykh says no to us and when he keeps us at a distance, because a shaykh often tests us when he scans our spiritual states.   Shaykh Abu ‘Utsman Sa’di ibn Isma’il al-Hiri ( q.s. ) had been of prime importance in the Sufism of Khurasan.   He came to Nishapur, obeying his shaykh , Sayyid Nur al-Haq Wa’ ad-Din Ni’matullah Shah al-Kirmani ( q.s. ).   Sayyid Shah al-Karmani ( q.s. ) was a murid of Shaykh Abu Turab Muhammad ibn...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Imam Mahmud ibn ‘Ali al-Qashani ( q.s. ) wrote, in Miswbah al-Hidayah wa Miftah al-Kifayah , “The Lamp of Right Guidance & the Key to What is Sufficient,” that the murid should guard the boundaries of his own spiritual station.   The murid should, when asking questions to the shaykh , preserve the limits of his or her own station.   Only when something is hidden to ourselves concerning our own spiritual state, should we ask for an explanation.   We do not ask questions about other things, and this is also true regarding things not related to our station nor to our state.   So, we do not speak about these things, as it is not useful to do so and possibly even harmful.   We ask about those things which are necessary because of your spiritual state.   The Qur’an, while Forbidding superfluous questions, Gave the following advice:   سُوۡرَةُ المَائدة يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَسۡـَٔلُواْ عَنۡ...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Imam al-Qashani ( q.s. ) wrote, in Miswbah al-Hidayah wa Miftah al-Kifayah , “The Lamp of Right Guidance & the Key to What is Sufficient,” that the murid should lower his voice.   When we are together with our shaykh , we should not speak with a loud voice, as it is not courteous.   It is as if we put down the robe of dignity.   In order to teach something, the following verse in the Qur’an had been Revealed:   سُوۡرَةُ الحُجرَات يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَرۡفَعُوٓاْ أَصۡوَٲتَكُمۡ فَوۡقَ صَوۡتِ ٱلنَّبِىِّ … (٢)   O you who believe!   Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet ... (Surah al-Hujraat:2)   Thereafter, their words were difficult to understand as they were lowering their voices too much.   That is why the following verse from the Qur’an was then Revealed:   سُوۡرَةُ الحُجرَات إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَغُضُّونَ أَصۡوَٲتَهُمۡ عِندَ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُوْلَـٰٓٮٕ...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Imam Mahmud ibn ‘Ali al-Qashani ( q.s. ) wrote, in Miswbah al-Hidayah wa Miftah al-Kifayah , “The Lamp of Right Guidance & the Key to What is Sufficient,” that the murid should never criticise his shaykh .   The murid should never occupy himself, neither inwardly nor outwardly, with criticising the choices and decisions of his shaykh .   Each time, when something is unclear regarding the behaviour of our shaykh , then we should think of the story of Moses ( a.s. ) and Khidhr ( a.s. ) in Surah al-Kahf, wherein Moses ( a.s. ), in spite of being a prophet, his great knowledge and his passionate devotion to Khidhr ( a.s. ), criticised several of the acts of Khidhr ( a.s. ), but he changed his ideas after hearing an explanation of their inner meanings.   If our shaykh does something which we cannot understand, then we should say that it is because of our limited understanding and knowledge and in no way, has it to do with a wrong ...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   Imam Mahmud ibn ‘Ali al-Qashani ( q.s. ) wrote, in Miswbah al-Hidayah wa Miftah al-Kifayah , “The Lamp of Right Guidance & the Key to What is Sufficient,” that the murid should submit himself to the choices of his shaykh .   As a murid , we should accept every decision of our shaykh dealing with our person or with our possessions and we should obey every decision being submitted and content.   This is the only way that we can win the jewel of his attention and his love.   Only by this measuring rod the quality of our sincerity can be determined according to the advice present in the following Words:   سُوۡرَةُ النِّسَاء فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ حَتَّىٰ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيۡنَهُمۡ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُواْ فِىٓ أَنفُسِہِمۡ حَرَجً۬ا مِّمَّا قَضَيۡتَ وَيُسَلِّمُواْ تَسۡلِيمً۬ا (٦٥)   But no, by your Lord, they can have no (real) faith, until they make you judge in all disputes between them, and f...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   Imam Mahmud ibn ‘Ali al-Qashani ( q.s. ) wrote, in Miswbah al-Hidayah wa Miftah al-Kifayah , “The Lamp of Right Guidance & the Key to What is Sufficient”, that the murid should keep silent about the secrets of his shaykh .   Supernatural powers, visions and other things, concealed by the shaykh , for its divulging we should not ask permission.   Because in concealing it, our shaykh has seen a religious or worldly advantage and we are not always able to be aware thereof.   In divulging the same damage may be caused.   This rule also implies that the secrets of the murid , which are known by the shaykh , belong to the secrets of the shaykh .   The following lines describe his situation:   “There are many sincere and noble people, Whose secrets I conceal from others, As I hide them all in myself. In every heart there is a corner, which is free, A realm for intimate conversations, And their reveal...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Imam Mahmud ibn ‘Ali al-Qashani ( q.s. ) wrote, in Miswbah al-Hidayah wa Miftah al-Kifayah , “The Lamp of Right Guidance & the Key to What is Sufficient,” that the murid should have the conviction that only his shaykh should take care of his education, guidance, training and teaching.  If we should look towards someone else as being comparable to him or even more perfect than him, then our connection with our shaykh , based on love and inclination, is weak and because of that the words, and the spiritual states, of our shaykh will have little effect on us.  The way by means of which words get through to us, and give us a connection with the states of our shaykh , is love.  If our love is more perfect, then the more our disposition will be open to be educated by our shaykh .

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Imam Mahmud ibn ‘Ali al-Qashani ( q.s. ) wrote, in Miswbah al-Hidayah wa Miftah al-Kifayah , “The Lamp of Right Guidance & the Key to What is Sufficient,” that the murid should reveal his own secrets to his shaykh .  It is not permitted for the murid to hide his secrets from the shaykh .  Every gift of grace, and each other gift, as has been Willed to be ours by Allah ( s.w.t. ), should be shown in clear language or explanations to the shaykh , so that he can be the judge thereof.   It is like this, that when in our consciousness a personal secrets remains hidden, then in our inner being a knot may form itself, which may make it impossible to receive advice and help from the shaykh .  When we present it to our shaykh , then the knot opens up, and the impediment is removed.

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Imam Mahmud ibn ‘Ali al-Qashani ( q.s. ) wrote, in Miswbah al-Hidayah wa Miftah al-Kifayah , “The Lamp of Right Guidance & the Key to What is Sufficient”, that what we tell about our shaykh , or when we tell something that comes from our shaykh , it should be compatible with the understanding of the one we tell it to.  We do not pass on those things, which are unclear or very subtle, as the one who listens to us cannot understand the same.  A speech, from which the listener cannot derive what the one who has been speaking has meant, is useless and can be harmful.  The one listening could form a bad opinion about our shaykh .

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Imam Mahmud ibn ‘Ali al-Qashani (q.s.) wrote, in Miswbah al-Hidayah wa Miftah al-Kifayah , “The Lamp of Right Guidance & the Key to What is Sufficient”, that the murid should ask his shaykh to give an explanation of his visions.  The murid should depend on his shaykh in regard to the explanation of visions, no matter if they come in our sleep or during our wakefulness.  We should not independently decide on our own that there is no harm in them.  It is namely possible that such visions come about because of secret desires in our soul, but that we are not able to see them as such and that they are judged to be harmless, which may not be the case.  When we, however, speak about it with our shaykh and our shaykh by his rich knowledge gets really acquainted with it, then we have the opinion of our shaykh to help you to realise it in a practical way when it is harmless.  When it may mean an injury, then this has also be...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Imam Mahmud ibn ‘Ali al-Qashani ( q.s. ) wrote, in Miswbah al-Hidayah wa Miftah al-Kifayah , “The Lamp of Right Guidance & the Key to What is Sufficient”, that the murid should observe the thoughts of his shaykh .   The murid is not allowed to undertake anything, which rejects the thoughts of one’s shaykh .   We should not consider them to be of little importance, because we rely on the kindness, the perfect clemency, the friendliness and the forgiveness of our shaykh .   What enters the consciousness of shuyukh because of rejection or acceptance has a very strong influence on the person of the disciple.

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   Imam Mahmud ibn ‘Ali al-Qashani ( q.s. ) is the author of the Persian handbook of the Sufis, Miswbah al-Hidayah wa Miftah al-Kifayah , “The Lamp of Right Guidance & the Key to What is Sufficient.”   To the muridun of the Suhrawardi, its contents is, perhaps, known to them as ‘Aw’arif al-Ma’arif .   This extract is adapted from the chapter on how a murid should behave before the shaykh .   We must know this.   It belongs to the most important rules of the murid that she or he takes care of behaving properly towards her or his shaykh , because of the fact that the guarding of the ways of behaviour creates love in the heart.   It so happens that the beauty of our spirit and the perfection of our intelligence can only be seen in the shape of the beauty of our way of behaviour.   If we are always courteous towards our shaykh , then because of the love that is created, we will win a place in the heart of our...