A Muslim Convert Once Before

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   Imam Ahmad ibn Ahmad az-Zarruq ( q.s. ) said, “The gnostics have three signs.  The first is turning away from what other than the One they recognise in every state and by every aspect.  The second is turning to Him by abandoning portions and carrying out rights.  The third is pleasure with Him in whatever He Decrees.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Shaykh Taj ad-Din Abu al-Fadhl Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Atha’illah as-Sakandari ( q.s. ) wrote, in his Hikam , “He has Illuminated the exteriors with the light of His Actions and Illuminated the interiors with the light of His Attributes.  For this reason, the external lights fade and set while the lights of the hearts and innermost beings do not set.  It is said, the Sun of the daylight sets at night but the sun of the hearts does not go away.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   Shaykh Taj ad-Din Abu al-Fadhl Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Atha’illah as-Sakandari ( q.s. ) wrote, in his Hikam , “When you see a slave whom Allah has long Established in regular worship, do not undervalue the gift his Master has Given him if you do not see on him the mark of the knowers of Allah nor the glow of the lovers of Allah.  For if it were not for Sent spiritual help, he would not have been able to worship.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   Shaykh Taj ad-Din Abu al-Fadhl Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Atha’illah as-Sakandari ( q.s. ) wrote, in his Hikam , “If you were not to reach Him until after all your bad traits vanish and your claims disappear, you would never reach Him.  Rather when He Wants you to reach Him, He Covers your traits with His Traits and Makes you reach Him with that which is from Him to you and not that which is from you to Him.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   Shaykh Taj ad-Din Abu al-Fadhl Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Atha’illah as-Sakandari ( q.s. ) wrote, in his Hikam , “The formal prayer is a place for intimate conversation, for intense purification, for expansion of the fields of innermost beings, and for the shining of bright lights.  He Knew your weakness; so, He Decreased their number.  But, He also Knew your need for them; so, He Increased their spiritual worth.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   Shaykh Taj ad-Din Abu al-Fadhl Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Atha’illah as-Sakandari ( q.s. ) wrote, in his Hikam , “The One Who Accompanies you does so knowing your faults full-well.  This is none other than your Master, the Generous.  The best companion is He Who Seeks you with His Companionship and does not seek to get something from you.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   Shaykh Taj ad-Din Abu al-Fadhl Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Atha’illah as-Sakandari ( q.s. ) wrote, in his Hikam , “Allah ( s.w.t. ) is High above that He Deals with a slave in cash and Rewards him only with a promise of credit.”