A Muslim Convert Once Before

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ There is a story from the Qadiri thariqa’ of Shah Baha’ ad-Din Muhammad an-Naqshband ( q.s. ).   It is said that 150 years after the death of Shaykh Muhyi ad-Din Abu Muhammad ibn Abu Swalih ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani ( q.s. ), people asked Shah an-Naqshband ( q.s. ), “Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir said, ‘My foot is on the shoulders of all the saints’, what do you think about this?”   Shah an-Naqshband ( q.s. ) replied, “May Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir ’ s foot be upon my eyes and my vision.”   One day, Shah an-Naqshband ( q.s. ) was travelling in the desert when he met Khidhr ( a.s. ), who transported him to the spiritual presence of Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani ( q.s. ).   This was before he had earned the title, “ an-Naqshband ”.   Shah an-Naqshband ( q.s. ) said, “O one who holds hands in the universe, hold my hand so they will be your holder of hands.”   Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani ( q.s. ) put his hand on Shaykh an-Naqs...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Imam Ahmad al-Faruqi ibn ‘Abd al-Ahad as-Sirhindi ( q.s. ) said, “I accompanied, today, one who has reached the End of Ends, the Quthb of all Creatures, the Perfect Man, Shaykh Muhammad al-Baqi’.  Through him, I received incredible Blessings, and by his blessing, I was granted a power of attraction that allowed me to reach every human being that Allah had Created.  I was honoured to attain a station that combines the state of the Ending with the state of the Beginning.  I achieved all the states of Seeking and I reached the Ending, which is the meaning of ‘Reaching the Name of ar-Rabb’, by the support of Asadullah , ‘Ali ibn Abu Thalib.  I was Raised up to the state of the ‘Arsh , which is the haqiqat of Muhammad ( s.a.w. ), by the support of Shah Baha’ ad-Din an-Naqshband.  Then I was Lifted even higher, to the state of Jamal , which is the state of the Haqiqah of the Muhammadan aqthab , by the madad of the Prophetic H...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The history of Muslim resistance against the Czarists, the Soviets and their successors is inextricably the history of the Sufi orders and their muridun .  And the most prominent order in the region until today is the Naqshbandi, including the Naqshbandi Haqqani, followed closely by the Qadiri.  If we had to fight to believe, would we take your religion for granted?   Much of Central Asia is the heartland of the Naqshbandi.  This was the land of Shah Baha’ ad-Din Muhammad an-Naqshband al-Bukhari ( q.s. ), the Imam of the Thariqa’ and the Ghawts al-Khaliqah .  The Naqshbandi shuyukh of Central Asia from the 10 th to 16 th century were known as the Khwajanagan or Khwajagan .  It is for this reason that the dzikr of the Naqshbandi is known as the Khatm Khwajanagan - it is the completion of the wisdom of the Masters.  “ Khwaja ” itself is a Persian title meaning “Master”.  Other prominent Masters of the...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Imam Ahmad al-Faruqi ibn ‘Abd al-Ahad as-Sirhindi ( q.s. )  was the Pearl of the Crown of the Knowledgeable Saints.   He was the Treasure of Those who Came Before and of Those who Came After.   In him were combined all their favours and generosity.   He was the Sinai of Divine Manifestation, the Furthermost Lote Tree of the Unique Knowledge, and the Fountain of the Hidden Prophetic Knowledge.   He was the Genius of Scholar,s and he was the Sulthan of the Earth, which smiled when he was born and was honoured by his existence.   He was the perfect Perfected Guide.   He was the Caller to Allah’s ( s.w.t. ) presence, the One Quthb and the Unique Heavenly Imam .   He was the Reviver of the Second Millennium.   Sayyidina wa Mawlana , our Leader and Master.   Imam Ahmad al-Faruqi as-Sirhindi ( q.s. ), ibn Shaykh ‘Abd al-Ahad ( q.s. ), ibn Shaykh Zayn al-‘Abidin ( q.s. ), ibn Shaykh ‘Abd al-Hayy ( r.a. ),...