Sunday, November 22, 2009

Gift..

I envy the sand that met his feet
I’m jealous of honey he tasted sweet
Of birds that hovered above his head
Of spiders who spun their sacred web
To save him from his enemies
I envy clouds formed from the seas
That gave him cover from the heat
Of a sun whose light could not compete
With his, whose face did shine so bright
That all was clear in blinding night
I envy sightless trees that gazed
Upon his form completely dazed
Not knowing if the sun had risen
But felt themselves in unison
With those who prayed, and fasted too
Simply because he told them to
With truth and kindness, charity
From God who gave such clarity
His mercy comes in one He sent
To mold our hearts more heaven bent
I envy all there at his side
Who watched the turning of the tide
As truth prevailed and falsehood fled
And hope restored life to the dead
Men and Women through him found grace
To seek together God’s noble face
I envy the cup that gave him drink
His thoughts that helped us all to think
To be one thought that passed his mind
Inspiring him to act so kind
For me this world is not one jot
If I could simply be a thought
From him to God throughout the ages
As revelation came in stages
I pity all who think it odd
To hear him say there is one God
Or he was sent by God to men
To hone their spirits’ acumen
It’s pride that blinds us from the sight
That helps good men to see his light
He taught us all to be God’s slaves
And he will be the one who saves
Humanity from sinful pride
Muhammad has God on his side
So on this day be blessed and sing
For he was born to grace our Spring
With lilies, flowers, life’s rebirth
In a dome of green like his on earth
( In honour of the Prophet [pbuh] )- Hamza Yusuf

taste of Rumi...

Last night
I lost my grip on reality
and welcomed insanity.
Love saw me and said,
I showed up.
Wipe your tears
and be silent.
I said, O Love
I am frightened,
but it’s not you.
Love said to me,
there is nothing that is not me.
be silent.
I will whisper secrets in your ear
just nod yes
and be silent.
A soul moon
appeared in the path of my heart.
How precious is this journey.
I said, O Love
what kind of moon is this?
Love said to me,
this is not for you to question.
be silent.
I said, O Love
what kind of face is this,
angelic, or human?
Love said to me,this is beyond anything that you know.
Be silent.
I said, please reveal this to me
I am dying in anticipation.
Love said to me,
that is where I want you:
Always on the edge,
be silent.
You dwell in this hall of
images and illusions,
leave this house now
and be silent.
I said, O Love,
tell me this:
Does the Lord know you are
treating me this way?
Love said to me,
yes He does,
You, just be silent.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Love’s fire, for a lifetime, burned my heart and soul
until the Beloved taught me the way of the lover.
Love’s jealousy gave me no chance to cry out;
it sewed my lips to keep me from speaking.
Like a moth, out of passion I circled Him so much
that He burned like the candle, kindling me for every assembly.
He stored me for years in the heart of time
so that in this age I could amplify the whisperings of Love.
I am a slave of The Master of the DIVINE Holy Fire;
from myself He bought me.
Then sold me for the price of the tavern’s wine.
Ru-Hu with the breath of the Beloved,
drunkenly said,
“Love’s fire, for a lifetime, burned my heart and soul.”
Copyright ©2009 RU-HU( Nizhat Ansari)

Monday, November 2, 2009

MODERATION IN HOPES AND WISHES

Deficiency in the hope for Divine Forgiveness when error and sin are committedis a sign of reliance on one's virtuous deeds.

In every single act the reliance of the arifeen is only on Allah Ta'ala. They do not rely on their spiritual states, knowledge and righteous deeds.

When these Saints of Allah render virtuous deeds, their hopes do not rise. They do not feel that they have acquired elevation in their ranks on account of their pious deeds. They perpetually dwell in the hope of Allah's mercy. Their gaze is never on their righteous deeds.

On the other hand, the non- arif reposes confidence on his good acts. When he practises virtue, his hopes rise and he feels pleased with himself, thinking that he has now become deserving of Maghfirat (Forgiveness) and Jannat. When he sins, his hopes sag. Since his reliance is on his own deeds, he labours under the impression that his sins constitute an obstacle in the path of Divine Rahmat. In consequence, such a person often abandons righteous deeds and takes to the road of sin. This is plain stupidity and ignorance.


Although A'maal-e-Saalihah are commanded and A'maal-e-Baatilah (sins) are forbidden, they do not constitute the basis of Maghfirat. The basis is solely Allah's Mercy. Thus, the sinner should not despair. He should advance along the spiritual path and turn the gaze of his heart away from his deeds, relying solely on the Mercy of Allah.

The aforementioned explanation should not be misconstrued. It should not be understood to mean abstention from regret and repentance after commission of sin. Regret and repentance are essential. The Mu'min will most assuredly repent. However, he will not despair of Allah's mercy.


If Allah Ta'ala returns you to your nafs, then your misfortune is limitless. If He reveals His grace and kindness to you, then there is no limit to your fortune.

The natural propensity of the nafs is evil and vice. Whatever virtue emanates from it, is purely the fadhl of Allah Ta'ala. If Allah Ta'ala allows you to remain enslaved to your nafs, and withholds His grace and kindness from you then there will be no end to your evil because the nafs is the abode of all evils and mischief.


On the other hand, if Allah Ta'ala directs His grace and kindness to you, then your virtues will be limitless on account of His grace being limitless.


Thus, when goodness emanates from the bandah, he should contemplate on the grace of Allah and refrain from attributing the virtue to his nafs. But if he perpetrates transgression, he should know that it is from his nafs.


Whoever has the notion of his good speech being the product of his virtuous deeds, will be silenced by his sinful acts on account of shame and embarrassment. Whoever speaks, bearing in mind the kindness of Allah Ta'ala, his sins will not silence him.

If the propagator of Naseehat to people or the one who expounds spiritual realities and subtleties labours under the impression that the knowledge which he is expounding is the consequence of his uprighteousness and good deeds, then he will be silenced if he commits a sin. Since his gaze is riveted on his uprighteousness, shame will overwhelm him. He will feel his discourses to be hypocritical, hence abandon his duty of propagating the truth.


But, this is not the state of the arif who believes that whatever knowledge and virtue he possesses are the fadhl of Allah Ta'ala. Since this is his constant perception, he never attributes anything of his excellences to his nafs. Should he commit a sin, he will not abandon the duty of proclaiming Allah's Law. He will continue to proclaim the Law with the same confidence and eloquence with which he rendered his duty before the sin.

When you wish the Door of Hope to open for you, then contemplate on Your True Master's kindness and bounties. When you wish the Door of Fear to open, then contemplate on the sins and transgression you had committed.


The state of his nafs and the evils perpetrated by him are kept in view by the Saalik. As a result, his heart suffers grief and despondency. Sometimes he is overwhelmed by despair and he loses hope in the mercy of Allah, which is, in fact, kufr. At times when the despair becomes excessive, the Saalik will abandon even Namaaz, Roza, etc. It is, therefore, essential that the aspect of Divine Mercy be kept in view.

When despair sets in, the Saalik should employ his intelligence. He should bring into contemplation all the bounties and favours which Allah Ta'ala has conferred on him. He should then convince himself that if it was Allah's desire to destroy him, He would not have blessed him with so many zaahiri and baatini favours. He should meditate for a considerable time on this aspect. Allah Ta'ala will hopefully open the door of hope for the Saalik and the state of despair will be dispelled.

Sometimes the opposite condition settles over the Saalik. Perceiving his good deeds, he develops vanity and self-esteem. On such occasions the Saalik should call to memory his acts of disobedience and transgression. This contemplation will engender fear in him.

Neither should the Saalik permit despair to overwhelm him nor excessive hope which will render him audacious. He should adopt moderation.

True rajaa (hope) is that which accompanies righteous deeds otherwise it is false hope.

The rajaa which is genuine is the hope which the Saalik entertains when practising righteousness. Along with his practice of virtue he hopes for the mercy of Allah Ta'ala. The man who has hope of reaping the fruits of his farm, will expend full effort in ploughing and caring for his fields. Similarly, the Saalik who has hope of acquiring Allah's mercy, will diligently involve himself in practising virtuous deeds. His hope will then be justified and be true.

If he acts in conflict with the Shariah and refrains from A'maal-e-Saalihah, his hope for Divine mercy and Jannat will be vain and false. It is false to describe such vain hope as rajaa. Such a person is like one who does not plough his land, but expects to reap a crop.

If you do not have a high opinion of your True Master by virtue of His Attributes of Excellence, then at least establish a good opinion of Him by virtue of the beautiful treatment He accords you. Has He not showered His Kindness on you? Has He not conferred His Bounties on you?

A true Mu'min is he who holds a high opinion of His Rabb. He understands that whatever treatment his Creator metes out is for his own benefit and welfare regardless of it being pleasing or displeasing. Since all attributes of Allah Ta'ala are only of excellence and nothing else, whatever is decreed by Him will be for the benefit of the Mu'min.

Although His attributes of excellence and perfection demand that the Mu'min holds the highest esteem for Allah Ta'ala (i.e. with regard to His attributes of perfection), nevertheless, if you lack this ability, then at least ponder on the treatment which you have received from Allah Ta'ala to this day. Do you not acknowledge His boundless favours upon you? He created you in perfect form. He bestowed a variety of innumerable bounties to you. You are, in fact, drowned in the abundance of favours. This wonderful relationship which Allah Ta'ala has with you should be sufficient to induce in you a good opinion of Him.

The high esteem on account of Allah's attributes of excellence is the rank of Allah's selected servants. Those who lack this rank should contemplate on the bounties of Allah Ta'ala for the cultivation of a beautiful comprehension of Allah Ta'ala.

He who thinks it amazing and difficult that Allah Ta'ala will release him (the Saalik) from the grip of nafsaani desires and from the prison of ghaflat, casts the blemish of inability (Ijz) against the infinite power of Allah. But, Allah has power over all things.Sometimes people lost in worldly affairs and forgetful of Allah Ta'ala, on seeing a pious man, yearn to be like him. They momentarily yearn to be free from worldly encumbrances so that they too could take to the path of piety. But, the nafs immediately raises its head and neutralises their eagerness for piety. The nafs leads them to believe that on account of their numerous mundane involvements, it is not possible for them to adopt piety. Their initial idea appears extremely far-fetched and impossible of realisation.

Similarly, some Thaakireen despite their Thikr and Mujahadah do not discern any improvement in their moral and spiritual condition. They then labour under the notion of the impossibility of their reformation.

There are also such Thaakireen in whose hearts Thikr has taken effect, but has not become entrenched. They, therefore, sometimes experience ghaflat and sometimes kayfiyat (the spiritual effect of Thikr). This fluctuating state remains for even years. They, therefore, begin to believe that it is impossible to eliminate their ghaflat and improve their condition.

For such people the Shaikh (rahmatullah alayh) says that those who feel that it is difficult for Allah Ta'ala to extricate them from the grip of their nafs, are in reality attributing weakness to Allah Ta'ala. They are implying by their attitude that the infinite Qudrat (Power) of Allah Ta'ala is defective – Na-uthubillah!

It is within Allah's power to deliver you from the grip of your nafs and bless you with His remembrance. There is, therefore, no need for despair. Many Auliya were involved in sin and transgression in their initial stage, but later Allah Ta'ala elevated them to the rank of Auliya and Masha-ikh. He bestowed elevated ranks to them.

There is nothing but Khauf (fear) or intense Shauq (eagerness) which can prevent and expel the lustful desires of the nafs. Khauf is cultivated by meditation on the Fiery Attributes (Sifaat-e-Jalaal) of Allah or on the terror of the Day of Qiyaamah. Shauq is acquired by contemplating on the Beautiful Attributes (Sifaat-e-Jamaal) of Allah Ta'ala or on Jannat and its pleasures.

It was explained earlier that when a nafsaani desire becomes grounded in the heart, it is most difficult to remedy it. The Shaikh (rahmatullah alayh) informs of its remedy. There are two treatments for such a severe disease: Khauf and Shauq.

Khauf (Fear) is either of the terrifying episodes of Qiyaamat or of the Fiery Attributes of Allah Ta'ala. The former is for the masses. The second kind of Khauf for His Sifaat-e-Jalaal such as Him being Qahhaar (Wrathful), Jabbaar (Powerful in Punishment), Muntaqim (Vengeful), etc., is for the elite (i.e. the select ones striving to attain His Proximity).

By meditating on these issues for some time, Khauf will be cultivated. Gradually it will permeate the heart and eliminate the domination of emotional desires.

Shauq (Eagerness, Yearning) is achieved by contemplating the pleasures of Jannat. This kind of Shauq is for laymen who strive to gain piety. The second kind of Shauq is achieved by meditating on Allah's attributes of Beauty such as Him being Rahmaan (Most Merciful), Ghafoor (Most Forgiving), etc. This kind of Shauq is for the elite.

It should, however, be understood that Khauf and Shauq of an inferior degree will not eradicate lust from the heart. To eliminate the entrenched disease of shahwat (lust), a strong state of either Khauf or Shauq is essential. In view of the essentiality of a high degree of these states, the Shaikh (rahmatullah alayh) qualifies Khauf with the adjective, ‘preventive' and Shauq with ‘intense'.

Do not despair of the acceptance of an act in which you do not experience the pleasure of concentration. In most cases acts, the worldly fruits of which you do not experience, are accepted. (Worldly fruits: sweetness, pleasure and concentration in ibaadat).

Hudhoor-e-Kaamil (Perfect Concentration) is to perform ibaadat with such concentration of mind and heart as if you are seeing Allah Ta'ala. Not a vestige of shaitaani and nafsaani thoughts remains to distract the heart from Allah Ta'ala. The pleasure of such Hudhoor permeates the entire being of the bandah. If by the fadhl(blessing) of Allah Ta'ala the bandah(person) has gained such a high degree of concentration, it indicates that his ibaadat is accepted by Allah Ta'ala.

If the bandah(Person) fails to attain this high degree of concentration, he should not despair nor interpret it as rejection of his ibaadat. While Hudhoori is the sign of acceptance, it is not conditional for acceptance of ibaadat. Thus, the absence of a sign does not indicate rejection of the act. It frequently happens that despite acceptance by Allah Ta'ala, the effects of the ibaadat are withheld here on earth. The reward is reserved for the Hereafter.

‘Ilm (Divine Knowledge)

Hazrat Ali (RTA) narrated from The Prophet (SAW)[ peace be upon him]: The Arch Angel Gabriel said to me: “Love whom you would for you shall part with him, and do as you would for you shall meet with it (for judgment or reward or you will meet Hu) and live as you would for you shall die surely.”
You loved her or him and no matter how hard you tried, when s/he was placed under the dust you could not go with the person! And when your turn arrives you shall not be able to take her or him with you, for you are now alone within the constriction of your grave.

“When the scholar dies Allah fashions/shapes his ‘Ilm (Divine Knowledge) (into some creature) within his grave, to keep him company till the Day of Judgment and it wards him off all vermin of the earth” said the Prophet (SAW),[ peace be upon him].
Often Allah takes away someone you dearly loved, and no matter how dearly you loved yet you kept your Adab (Etiquette) being mindful of Allah’s Presence by being patient, and soon you find yourself drawn to ‘Ilm (Divine Knowledge), not a moment is to waste, busied with nothing else but any and all acquisition of knowledge.

Your books as your pillow, night after night you fall asleep, tearful, begging Allah: O Allah this night every soul on this earth has a soulmate but me, where is mine my dear Lord? Soon in a dream, as vivid as the daylight, you find someone of immense beauty and tranquility, mistakenly your Nafs (Self) may place some familiar face on this graceful creature, but be aware that in this moment of temporal death you have met none other than your own ‘Ilm (Divine Knowledge).

And so will be that day when everyone deliberately shall forsake you underneath the dust, except for this Divine Companion fashioned/shaped from your ‘Ilm (Divine Knowledge), that this eager creature is to keep you company in the grave and to protect you against all harm and pain.

So this night be sleepless my studious love, that you may cry to Allah begging for a soulmate, but that day shall soon arrive when every dead in their grave sorrow within their eternal loneliness, yet you shall be joyous and festive with your grave companion, your own ‘Ilm (Divine Knowledge)

“If someone memorized something of the Qur’an (some Zikr) and died before the completion, Allah shall raise angels within his grave to make him memorize the remaining and they shall stand upright (unwavering) to teach him” Said the Prophet.

Now do you want to learn the knowledge for the sake of people’s recognition? So they may say s/he is so great knowing all this! Or writing this poem, book or giving that lecture, or my love you may study to have a soulmate in your grave!