table of contents...bayrak al-jerrahi, was written by c abd al qadir al-jilani (1077-1166), the...
TRANSCRIPT
TableofContents
CHAPTERONECHAPTERTWOCHAPTERTHREECHAPTERFOURCHAPTERFIVECHAPTERSIXCHAPTERSEVENCHAPTEREIGHTCHAPTERNINECHAPTERTENCHAPTERELEVENCHAPTERTWELVECHAPTERTHIRTEENCHAPTERFOURTEENCHAPTERFIFTEENCHAPTERSIXTEENCHAPTERSEVENTEENCHAPTEREIGHTEENCHAPTERNINETEENCHAPTERTWENTYCHAPTERTWENTY-ONECHAPTERTWENTY-TWOCHAPTERTWENTY-THREECHAPTERTWENTY-FOURCHAPTERONECHAPTERTWOCHAPTERTHREECHAPTERFOURCHAPTERFIVECHAPTERSIXCHAPTERSEVENCHAPTEREIGHTCHAPTERNINECHAPTERTENCHAPTERELEVEN
CHAPTERTWELVECHAPTERTHIRTEENCHAPTERFOURTEENCHAPTERFIFTEENCHAPTERSEVENTEENCHAPTEREIGHTEENCHAPTERNINETEENCHAPTERTWENTYCHAPTERTWENTY-ONECHAPTERTWENTY-TWOCHAPTERTWENTY-THREECHAPTERTWENTY-POUR
TheSecretofSecrets,consideredoneofthegreatestworksofclassicalSufi,mysticismandinterpretedhereforthe.firsttimeinEnglishbyShaykhTosunBayrakal-Jerrahi,wasWrittenbycAbdalQadiral-Jilani(1077-1166),theeponymousfounderoftheQadiriyaorder,thefirstofthegreatSufibrotherhoodswhichradiatethroughouttheIslamicworld.BornneartheCaspianSea,hewasthesonofthegreatsaintFatimabintcAbdullahal-$awmacI.AfteraperiodofintenseintellectualandmysticaltrainingcAbdal-Qadirreceivedthekhirqa>(robeofinitiation)andwassoonrecognised.4sasaintandscholar,consulted,fovedandreveredbycaliphandpauperalike.AsoneofthemostveneratedfiguresinSufismhisburialplaceinBaghdadstillattractsnumerousvisitorsfrommanycountries.
TheSecretofSecretsrevealsinabriefcompasstheveryessenceofSufism,showinghowoutwardpracticessuchasprayer,fastingandalmsgivingcontainawealthofinnerdimensionswhichmustbediscoveredandenjoyedifexternalactionsaretobeperformedinamannerpleasingtoGod.Whenthisisachievedthesoulfinds•truepeaceandthespirituallifebecomescomplete.Thebookformsabridgebetweentwooftheauthor’smorefamousworks,WealthfortheSeekers(Ghunyatal-Talibln),andhisOpeningsoftheUnseen(Futuhal-Ghayb).ItissaidthatunlessonehasdiscoveredtheSecret,onemaynotbeabletoabsorbtheimpactoftheOpenings.
TosunBayrakhasalsoprovidedanintroductiontotheworkin.thelongstandingtraditionofthosewhohaveveneratedtheShaykh,I’andattributedtohimnumerousmiracles—atraditionthatbegansoonaftercAbdal-Qadir’sdeathandhascontinuedthroughtheages.OtherworksbyTosunBayrakal-JerrahiincludeTheMostBeautifulNames,andatranslationofIbnal-Husaynal-Sulami’sWayofSiifiChivalry.
COVERILLUSTRATION:
.Ornamentfromthemarginofa30VolumeMamlukQur’an8th/14thcenturyindicatingthopointTatwhiclLprostrationisrequired.ThewordSajdah(prostration)isenclosedintheformofamosque.(London,BritishLibraryOr.48folio26).BykindpermissionoftheBritishLibrary.
i
THEISLAMICTEXTSSOCIETYCAMBRIDGE
ISBN9780946621293
www.its.org.uk
\
THESECRETOFSECRETSal-Jila
SECRETOFSECRETS
al-Jila
am
ITS
|Interpretedby
ShaykhTosunBayrakal-Jerrahial-Halveti
c
TheSecretofSecrets
TheSecretofSecrets
by
HADRATcABDUL-QADIRAL-JIlANI
(MayAllahsanctifyhissecret)interpretedby
ShaykhTosunBayrakal-Jerrahial-Halveti
THEISLAMICTEXTSSOCIETY
Copyright©TheIslamicTextsSociety1992
Firstpublishedin1992byTheIslamicTextsSocietyMiller’sHouseKingsMillLaneGreatShelfordCambridgeCB22sen,u.k.
Reprint1994,1997,1999,2002,2006,2008,
2010,2011,2012,2014
BritishLibraryCataloguing-in-PubiicationData.
AcataloguerecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary.
ISBN9780946621293paper
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybeproduced,installedinretrievalsystems,ortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronictmechanical,photocopying,recording,orotherwise,withoutthepriorwrittenpermissionofthepublishers.
Coverdesigncopyright©TheIslamicTextsSociety
Contents
Foreword/ix
Translator’sIntroduction/xmAnAddresstotheReader/xLVii
TheSecretofSecrets
Introduction/3
CHAPTERONE
Man’sReturnHometotheOriginalSource/13
CHAPTERTWO
TheDescentofMantotheLowestoftheLow/18
CHAPTERTHREE
ThePlacesoftheSoulswithintheBody/20
CHAPTERFOUR
OnKnowledge/26
CHAPTERFIVE
OnRepentanceandOnTeachingbytheWord/31
CHAPTERSIX
OnIslamicMysticismandtheSufis/40
CHAPTERSEVEN
OnRcmembrance/45
CHAPTEREIGHT
TheNecessaryConditionsforRemembrance/48
CHAPTERNINE
OntheVisionofAllah:ArrivingattheLevelofSeeingtheManifestationoftheDivineEssence/51
CHAPTERTEN
TheVeilsofLightandDarkness/55
CHAPTERELEVEN
TheJoyofBeingGoodandtheMiseryoftheRebel/58
CHAPTERTWELVE
TheDervishes/65
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
OnthePurificationoftheSelf/71
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
OntheMeaningofRitualWorshipandInnerWorship/73
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
OnthePurificationofthePerfectMan,whohasIsolatedHimselffrom,andStrippedHimselfof,AllWorldlyConcerns/76
CHAPTERSIXTEEN
OnCharity/79
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
OnPastingPrescribedbytheReligionandOnSpiritualFasting/82
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
OnthePilgrimagetoMakkaandtheInnerPilgrimagetotheEssenceoftheHeart/84
CHAPTERNINETEEN
OnWitnessingDivineTruththroughtheStateofPeaceComingfromAbandonmentoftheWorldlyandthroughEcstasy/89
CHAPTERTWENTY
OnWithdrawingfromtheWorldintoSeclusionandOnSolitude/93
CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
PrayersandRecitationsPertainingtothePathofSeclusion/98
CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO
OnDreams/108
CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE
OntheFollowersoftheMysticalPath/116
CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR
Afterword/120
Foreword
AndwhenyourLordsaidtotheangels,Iamgoingtoplaceintheearthaviceregent.,.andHetaughtAdamallthenames…AndwhenWesaidtotheangels;MakeobeisancetoAdam,theydidobeisance…(SuraBaqara,30,31,34)
WhenAllahcreatedAdamiSHemadehimsuperiortotheangelsbyendowinghimwithknowledgeoftheessenceoftheentirecreation.TheNamestaughttoAdamwereAllah’sattributesandqualities.Bachspecialdivinequalityinvolvedinthecreationofanobjectismanifestedinthatobject.WhenAdamreceivedtheNames,allthesequalitieswereimplantedwithinhisbeing,andthroughthemheunderstoodthewholeuniverse.AllahthensethimwithintheworldtoserveasHisviceregent.
ThedescendantsofAdam1inheritthisendowmentasapotentialcapacity,varyinginnaturefromindividualtoindividual.Aspeoplesgiftsdiffer,soalsodotheirrangesofaccountabilitytoAllahandtheparticularformstheirviceregencymustassume.Thisissoevenatthehighestlevels,asisillustratedinSuraKahf(60-82)bythedifferentrolesplayedbyMoses£j’,theembodimentofmoralrighteousness,andKhidr33,thedemonstratorofmysticalinsight.Butthesupremeviceregency,universalandcomprehensive,wasmanifestedintheProphetMuhammad
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Foreword
Itisnecessaryforeachindividualtounderstandthenatureandrangeofhispotentialgift.OnlythencanheknowhisactualrelationshipwiththeuniverseandhisCreatorandfulfilhistrust,thefunctionofviceregencythathehasaccepted.AndonlythencanherealizethetruemeaningandsignificanceofthedivineordinancesbroughtbytheHolyProphet
Withoutthisunderstanding,thereisadangerthattheteachingsofreligionmayremainonlyanexternaldress,tobeadheredtooutwardlybutnotactivatedinwardly.Whenthishappens,thepracticeofreligionturnsintoaruleofcustomsandconventions,andthepresenceofAllahwithintheheartisnotrealized.
ItistruethatParadiseispromisedtothosewhosimplyandsincerelyfollowAllah’scommandmentsandtheProphet’sinstructions,but77losewhoarebelieversamongyon,andthelearned‘Allahwillincreasetheirrank(SuraMujadila,11),and,Arethosewhoarelearnedequaltothosewhoareignorant?(SuraZumar,9).
SuraWaqi‘ashowsthattheultimatedivisionofhumanitywillbeintothreecategoriesandnotjusttwo—peopleboundforHell,peopleboundforParadise,and,outofthelatter,peopleclosesttoAllah(SuraWaqi‘a,7-11).
Inthefinalreckoning,thosewhohavestrivenandhavebeenblessedwithknowledgeofthemselvesandtheirLordwillhaveahigherrank.Forthisknowledgeincreasesone’sloveforAllahandtheProphet*§£,andthemoreoneloves,thecloseronecandraw.Withsuchknowledge,oneunderstandsthatthepracticesofreligionaretheformofwisdom,andthatbyacceptingtheformonerealizesthesubstance.ThewaysandmeansofrealizingthesubstancewithintheformmakeupwhatiscalledSufism.
Sinal-asrdrgives,withinitsbriefcompass,theveryessenceofSufism.ThoughmanySufishadwrittenbeforehim,itwasHadratAbdul-Qadiral-Jilani,mayAllahbepleasedwithhim,whomostclearlydefinedthepathandexplainedthetermswhich,sincethen,havebecomeacceptedusage.InthisbookhegivesaSufiexplanationofthefundamentaldutiesofIslam—prayer,fasting,almsgivingandpilgrimage.Itthusformsabridgebetweenhistwomorefamousworks,Glnmyatal-talibin,‘WealthforSeekers’,which
ismeanttoinspiremenandwomentobegoodpracticingMuslims,andFutuhal-ghayb,‘RevelationoftheUnseen’,alatecollectionoflecturesonmysticaltopics.UnlessonepassesthroughSirral-asrdr,onemaynotbeabletoappreciatealltheShaykhsaysinFutuhal-ghayb.Sirral-asrdristhegatewaytothatcityofknowledge.
BytranslatingthisbookintoEnglish,ShaykhlosunBayrakhasdoneagreatservicetothosewhodonotknowArabicorcannotfindthetextinitsoriginallanguage.IfAllahwills,thisworkwillilluminatemanysouls,andleadthosewhohavealreadyreceivedilluminationintothehigherregionsofknowledge.
MayAllahshowerblessingsonthesoulofHadratAbdul-Qadiral-J!lan!,mayAllahbepleasedwithhim,andleadallofusintothatdeeperandhigherrealmofknowledge,sothatwemayallberaisedtothestatusofthose‘closesttoAllah.’
SyedAliAshrafDirectorGeneralTheIslamicAcademyCambridge
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TranslatorsIntroduction
T‘hevenerableMuhyiddinAbuMuhammad‘Abdul-Qadiral-JTlani,mayhissoulbesanctified,isal-ghawtlial-a’zam—themanifestationofAllah’sattribute‘theAll-Powerful’,whohearsthecryforhelpandsavestheonesinneed,andal-qutbai-a’zam—thepole,thecentre,thesummitofspiritualevolution,thespiritualruleroftheworld,thesourceofwisdom,containerofallknowledge,theexampleoffaithandIslam;atrueinheritoroftheperfectionoftheProphetMuhammadaperfectman;andthefounderoftheQadiriyya,themysticalorderthathasspreadfarandwideandpreservedthetruemeaningofIslamicSufismthroughoutthesecenturiesuntilourtime.
Hewasbornin470a.h.(1077-78c.n.),intheregioncalledal-JilinwhatistodayIran.ThisdateisbasedonhisstatementtohissonthathewaseighteenwhenhewenttoBaghdad,intheyearthatthefamousscholaral-Tammndied.Thiswas488a.h.Hismother,Ummul-KhayrFatimabintal-Shaykh‘AbdullahSum!,wasfromthelineoftheProphetMuhammadthroughhisgrandson,thevenerableHusayn.
Hismotherrelates,
Myson‘Abdul-QadirwasborninthemonthofRamadan.NomatterhowhardItried,herefusedtosuckleinthedaytime.Throughouthisinfancyhewouldnevertakefoodduringthemonthoffasting.
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Translator’sIntroduction
OneRamadanduringhisinfancythestartofthemonthfellonacloudydaywhenpeoplecouldnotseethenewmoon.Notknowingifthemonthoffastinghadactuallybegunornot,theycametoUmmul-Khayrandaskedifthechildhadtakenfoodthatday.Ashehadnot,theysurmisedthatthefasthadbegun.
Thevenerable‘Abdul-Qadirrelates,
When1wasasmallchild,everydayIwasvisitedbyanangelintheshapeofabeautifulyoungman.Hewouldwalkwithmefromourhousetoschoolandmakethechildrenintheclassgivemeaplaceinthefirstrow.Hewouldstaywithmethewholedayandthenbringmebackhome.Iwouldlearninasingledaymorethantheotherstudentslearnedinaweek.Ididnotknowwhohewas.OnedayIaskedhimandhesaid,
£IamoneofAllah’sangels.Hesentmetoyouandaskedmetobewithyouaslongasyoustudy.’
Speakingagainabouthischildhood,herelates,
EachtimeIfeltadesiretogoandplaywithotherchildrenIwouldhearavoicesaying,‘CometoMeinstead,Oblessedone,cometoMe’.InterrorIwouldgoandseekthecomfortofmymother’sarms.Now,eveninmymostintensedevotionsandlongseclusions,Icannothearthatvoiceasclearly.
Whenhewasaskedbysomeonewhatbroughthimtohishighspirituallevel,hesaid,‘ThetruthfulnesswhichIpromisedtomymother.’Herelatedthefollowingstory:
Oneday,ontheeveof‘Idal-Adha,Iwenttoourfieldstohelptilltheground.As1waswalkingbehindtheox,itturneditsheadandlookedatmeandsaid,‘Youwerenotcreatedforthis!’Iwasveryafraidandranhomeandclimbeduponourflatroof.AsIlookedoutIsawthepilgrimsgatheredontheplainof‘Arafat,inArabia,rightinfrontofme.
Iwenttomymother,whowasthenawidow,andaskedher,‘SendmetothepathofTruth,givemepermission
togotoBaghdadtoacquireknowledge,tobewiththewiseandthosewhoareclosetoAllah.’Mymotheraskedmewhatwasthereasonforthissuddenrequest.Itoldherwhathadhappenedtome.Shecried,butshebroughtouteightypiecesofgold,whichwasallthatmyfatherhadleftasinheritance.Sheputasidefortypiecesformybrother.Theotherfortyshesewedintothearmpit
ofmycoat.Thenshepermittedmetoleave,butbeforesheletmegoshemademepromiseherthatIwouldtellthetruthandbetruthful,whateverhappened.Shesentmeoff’withthesewords:‘MayAllahprotectandguideyou,myson.IseparatemyselffromthatwhichisdearesttomeforAllah’ssake.Iknowthat1willnotbeabletoseeyouuntilthedayofLastJudgment.’
IjoinedasmallcaravangoingtoBaghdad.AsweleftbehindthecityofHamadan,abandofhighwaymen,sixtyhorsemenstrong,attackedus.Theytookeverythingthateveryonehad.Oneofthesecametomeandasked,‘Youngman,whatpossessionsdoyouhave?’ItoldhimthatIhadfortypiecesofgold.Hesaid,‘Where?’Itoldhim,‘Undermyarmpit’.Helaughedandleftmealone.Anotherbanditcameandaskedthesame,andItoldhimthetruth.Healsoleftmealone.Theymusthaverepeatedtheincidenttotheirleader,becausehecalledmetotheplacewheretheyweredividingthebooty.HeaskedifIhadanyvaluables.ItoldhimthatIhadfortypiecesofgoldsewninmycoatundermyarm.Hetookmycoat,torethearmpit,andfoundthegold.Thenheaskedmeinamazement,‘Whenyourmoneywassafe,whatcompelledyoutoinsistontellingusthatyouhaditandwhereitwashidden?’Ianswered,‘1musttellthetruthunderanycircumstances,asIpromisedtomymother,’Whenthechiefofthebanditsheardthisheweptandsaid,‘IrenegedonmypromisetotheOneWhocreatedme.Istoicandkilled.Whatwillhappentome?’Andtheothers,seeinghim,said,‘Youhavebeenourleaderalltheseyearsinsinning.Nowbealsoourleaderinrepenting!’Allsixtyofthemheldmy
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handandrepentedandchangedtheirways.Thosesixtyarethefirstwhotookmy
handandfoundforgivenessfortheirsins.
WhenthevenerablecAbdul-QadircametoBaghdad,hewaseighteenyearsold.Ashereachedthegatesofthecity,Khidrappearedandpreventedhimfromentering.HetoldhimthatitwasAllah’sorderthathenotenterBaghdadforanothersevenyears.
Khidrtookhimtoaruininthedesertandsaid,‘Stayhereanddonotleavethisplace’.Heremainedtherethreeyears.EveryyearKhidrwouldappeartohimandtellhimtostaywherehewas.
Thesainttellsabouttheseyears:
DuringmystayinthedesertsoutsideBaghdad,allthatappearsbeautifulbutistemporalandofthisworldcametoseduceme.Allahprotectedmefromtheirharm.TheDevil,appearingindifferentformsandshapes,keptcomingtome,temptingme,botheringme,andfightingme.Allahrenderedmevictoriousoverhim.Myegovisitedmedailyinmyownformandshape,beggingmetobeitsfriend.WhenIwouldrefuse,itwouldattackme.Allahrenderedmevictoriousinmycontinuousfightagainstit.IntimeIwasabletomakeitmyprisonerandIkeptitwithmeallthoseyears,forcingittostayintheruinsofthedesert.Awholeyear1atethegrassesandrootsIcouldfindanddidnotdrinkanywater.AnotheryearIdrankwaterbutdidn’teatamorseloffood.AnotheryearIneitherate,nordrank,norslept.AllthistimeIlivedintheruinsoftheancientkingsofPersiainKarkh.Iwalkedbarefootoverthedesertthornsanddidn’tfeelathing.WheneverIsawacliff,Iclimbedit;Ididn’tgiveaminute’srestorcomforttomyego,tothelowdesiresofmyflesh.
AttheendofsevenyearsIheardavoiceatnight:‘OcAbdul-Qadir,youarenowpermittedtoenterBaghdad’.
IcametoBaghdadandspentafewdaysthere.SoonIcouldnotstandthesedition,mischief,andintriguethatdominated
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Translator’sIntroduction
thecity.Tosavemyselffromtheharmofthisdegeneratecityandtosavemyfaith,Ileft.AllItookwithmewasmyQur’an.
AsIcametothegateofthecity,onmywaytoseclusioninthedesert,Iheardavoice.‘Whereareyougoing?’itsaid,‘Return.Youmustservethepeople.’
‘WhatdoIcareaboutthepeople?’Iprotested.‘Ihavemyfaithtosave!’
‘Return,andneverfearforyourfaith,’thevoicecontinued,‘Nothingwilleverharmyou.’Icouldnotseetheonewhospoke.
Thensomethinghappenedtome.Cutoft’fromtheoutside,Ifellintoaninnerstateofmeditation.UntilthenextdayIconcentratedonawishandprayedtoAllahthatHemightparttheveilsformesothatIknewwhatshouldbedone.
Thenextday,asIwaswanderingthroughaneighbour-hoodcalledMuzaffariyya,amanwhomIhadneverseenopenedthedoorofhishouseandcalledtome,‘Comein,cAbdul-Qadir!’AsIcametohisdoor,hesaid,‘Tellme,whatdidyouwishfromAllah?Whatdidyouprayforyesterday?’
Iwasfrozen,withamazement.Icouldnotfindwordstoanswerhim.Themanlookedatmyfaceandslammedthedoorwithsuchviolencethatthedustwasraisedallaroundmeandcoveredmefromheadtofoot.Iwalkedaway,wonderingwhatIhadaskedfromAllahthedaybefore.ThenIremembered.Iturnedbacktotelltheman,butIcouldfindneitherthehousenorhim.Iwasveryworried,asIrealizedhewasamanclosetoAllah.Infact,laterIwastolearnthathewasHammadal-Dabbas,whobecamemyshaykh.
OnacoldandrainynightaninvisiblehandledHadratcAbdul-Qadirtothetekke,themysticallodge,ofShaykhHannnadibnMuslimal-Dabbas.Theshaykh,knowingbydivineinspirationofhiscoming,hadthedoorsofthelodgeshutandthelightsputout.AscAbdul-Qadirsatatthesillofthelockeddoor,sleepcameupon
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him.Hehadanocturnalemissionandwentandbathedhimselfattheriverandtookhisablution.Hefellasleepagainandthesamethinghappened—seventimesduringthatnight.Eachtimehebathedandtookablutionintheice-coldwater.InthemorningthegateswereopenedandheenteredtheSufilodge.ShaykhHammadstooduptogreethim.Weepingwithjoy,heembracedhimandsaid,‘Omyson‘Abdul-Qadir,goodfortuneisourstoday,buttomorrowitwillbeyours.Donoteverleavethispath.’ShaykhHammadbecamehisfirstteacherinthesciencesofmysticism.ItwasbyholdinghishandthathetookhisvowsandenteredthepathoftheSufis.
Herelates:
IstudiedwithmanyteachersinBaghdad,butwheneverIcouldn’tunderstandsomethingorcameuponasecretthatIwishedtoknow,itwasShaykhal-Dabbaswhowouldenlightenme.SometimesIwouldleavehimtoseekknowledgefromothers—tolearntheology,traditions,religiouslaw,andothersciences.EachtimeIreturnedhewouldtellme,‘Wherehaveyoubeen?Wehavehadsomuchwonderfulfoodforourbodies,minds,andsoulswhileyouweregoneandwehaven’tkeptathingforyou!’Atothertimeshewouldsay,‘ForAl-lah’ssake,wheredoyougo?Isthereanyonearoundherewhoknowsmorethanyoudo?’Hisdervisheswouldteasemecontinuouslyandsay,‘Youareamanoflawandamanofletters,amanofknowledge,ascientist.Whatbusinessdoyouhaveamongus?Whydon’tyougetoutofhere?’Andtheshaykhwouldchidethemandsay,‘Shameonyou!Iswearthatthereisnonelikehimamongyou.Noneofyouwillriseabovehistoe!IfyouthinkIamharshwithhimandyouimitateme,Idoittobringhimtoperfectionandtotesthim.Iseehiminthespiritualrealmsturdyasarock,asbigasamountain.’
Hadrat‘Abdul-QadirwasthegreatestexampleofthefactthatinIslam,toseekknowledgeisasacredobligation—forallmenandwomen,fromthecradletothegrave.Hesoughtoutthegreatest
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Translator’sIntroduction
wisemenofhistime.HememorizedtheHolyQur’anandstudieditsinterpretationfrom‘AllAbul-Wafaal-Qayl,Abiil-KhattabjVlahfu?,andAbul-HasanMuhammadal-Qadl.Accordingtosomesources,hestudiedwithQadIAbuSacTdal-Mubarakibn‘Allal-Muharraml,thegreatestmanofknowledgeofhistimeinBaghdad.AlthoughHadrat‘Abdul-QadirlearnedthesciencesofthemysticpathfromShaykhHammadal-DabbasandenteredtheSufipathbyhishand,hewasgiventhedervishcloak,thesymbolofthemantleoftheProphetbyQadIAbuSaTd.ThespirituallineageofQadIAbuSaTdpassesthroughShaykhAbul-Hasan‘AllibnMuhammadal-Qurashl,Abul-Farajal-TarsusI,al-Tainiml,ShaykhAbuBakral-Shibll,Abul-Qasimal-Junayd,Sarial-Saqatl,MaYufal-Karkhl,Dawudal-Ta’I,Habibal-‘Ajaml,andHasanal-Basrl,toHadrat‘AllibnAblTalib.Hadrat‘AlltookthecloakofservicefromthehandsofMuhammadtheBelovedoftheLordoftheUniverse,andhefromthearchangelGabriel,andhefromtheDivineTruth.
SomeoneaskedShaykh‘Abdul-QadirwhathereceivedfromAllahMostHigh.Heanswered,‘Goodconductandknowledge.’QadIAbuSaTdal-Muharramlsaid,‘Indeed,‘Abdul-Qadiral-JIlanltookthedervishes’cloakfrommyhand,butIaswellreceivedmycloakofservicefromhishand.’
AbuSaTdal-MuharramltaughtataschoolofhisownatBabal-‘AzjinBaghdad.LaterhegavethatschooltoShaykh‘Abdul-Qadir,whobegantoteachthere.
Shaykh‘Abdul-Qadirwasoverfiftyyearsoldbythattime.Hiswordswereso
effectiveandmiraculousthattheytransformedtheoneswhoheardthem.Hisstudentsandcongregationincreasedinnumberveryrapidly.Soontherewasnoplaceeitherinoraroundtheschooltoaccommodatehisfollowers.
Shaykh‘Abdul-Qadirtellsaboutthebeginningofhisteaching:
OnemorningIsawtheMessengerofAllah.Heaskedme,
‘Whydoyounotspeak?’
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Isaid,‘IambutaPersian,howcanIspeakwiththebeautifulArabicofBaghdad?’
‘Openyourmouth,’Hesaid.Idid.Heblewhisbreathseventimesinmymouthandsaid,‘Go,addressmankindandinvitethemtothepathofyourLordwithwiseandbeautifulwords.’
Iperformedmynoonprayer,andturnedtoseemanypeoplewaitingformetospeak.WhenIsawthemIbecameexcitedandtongue-tied.ThenIsawtheblessedImam‘All.Hecametomeandaskedmetoopenmymouth,thenblewhisownbreathintoitsixtimes.Iasked,‘WhydidyounotblowseventimesliketheMessengerofAllah?’Hesaid,‘Becauseofmyrespectforhim,’anddisappeared.
Frommyopenmouthcamethewords,‘Themindisadiver,divingdeepintotheseaofthehearttofindthepearlsofwisdom.Whenhebringsthemtotheshoreofhisbeing,theyspilloutaswordsfromhislips,andwiththesehebuyspricelessdevotionsinAllah’smarketsofworship…’ThenIsaid,‘Inanightsuchasoneofmine,ifoneofyoushouldkillhislowdesires,thatdeathwould
tastesosweetthathewouldnotbeabletotasteanythingelseinthisworld!’
Fromthenon,whetherIwasawakeorasleepIkeptmydutyinteaching.Therewassuchanimmenseamountofknowledgeaboutfaithandreligioninme.IfIdidnottalkandpouritout,Ifeltthatitwoulddrownme.WhenIstartedteachingIhadonlytwoorthreestudents.Whentheyheardme,theirnumbersincreasedtoseventythousand.
Neitherhisschoolnoritsvicinitycouldcontainhisfollowers.Morespacehadtobefound.Richandpoorhelpedinaddingbuildings,therichaidingfinanciallyandthepoorhelpingwiththeirlabour.ThewomenofBaghdadalsoworked.Ayoungwomanwhowasworkingasalabourerwithoutpaybroughtherhusband,whowasunwillingtoworkfornothing,andpresentedhimtotheshaykh.‘Thisismyhusband,’shesaid.‘Itooktwentypiecesofgoldfromhimasdowry.Iwillgivehalfofitbacktohimfree,andforthe
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otherhalfIwishhimtoworkhere.’ShegaveHadratcAbdul-Qadirthegold,andthemanstartedworking.Hedidnotstopwhenthemoneyranout.Nonethelesstheshaykhkeptpayinghim,becauseheknewthathewasneedy.
HadratcAbdul-Qadiral-JIlanlwastheauthority,theimam,inreligiousmatters,theologyandlaw,andtheleaderoftheShafi‘1andHanballbranchesofIslam.Hewasamanofgreatwisdomandknowledge.Allmenprofitedfromhim.Hisprayerswereimmediatelyaccepted,bothwhenheprayedforgoodandwhenheprayedforpunishment.Fieperformedmanymiracles.Hewasaperfectman,ofcontinuousconsciousnessandremembranceofAllah,meditating,thinking,takingandgivinglessons.
Hehadasoftheart,agentlenatureandasmilingface.Hewassensitiveand
possessedthebestofmanners.Hewasaristocraticincharacter,generousandgivingbothofmaterialthingsandofadviceandknowledge.Helovedpeople,butespeciallythosewhowerebelieversandwhoservedandworshippedtheOneinWhomtheybelieved.
Hewashandsomeandwell-dressed.Hedidnotspeakexcessively,butwhenhedidspeak,thoughhespokefast,everysinglewordandsyllablewasclear.Hespokebeautifullyandhespokethetruth.Hespokethetruthwithoutfear,forhedidnotcarewhetherhewaspraisedorcriticizedandcondemned.
WhentheCaliphal-MuqtafTappointedYahyaibnSaTdasQadI,orChiefJustice,HadratcAbdul-Qadiraccusedhiminpublic,saying,‘Youhaveappointedtheworsttyrantasjudgeoverthebelievers.LetusseehowyouwillanswerforyourselftomorrowwhenyouwillbepresentedtotheGreatJudge,theLordoftheUniverse!’Hearingthis,thecaliphstartedtoshakeandshedtears.Thejudgewasimmediatelydismissed.
ThepopulationofthecityofBaghdadwasdegenerateinitsmoralsandbehaviour.Throughhisinfluence,mostofthecity’speoplerepented,andfollowedthegoodmoralsandprescriptionsofIslam.Hecametobelovedandrespectedbyeveryone,andhisinfluencespreadeverywhere.Astherighteouslovedhim,sotyrantsandwrongdoersfearedhim.Manypeople,including
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kings,viziers,andwisemen,cametohimtoaskquestionsandseeksolutions.ManyJewsandChristiansacceptedIslamthroughhim.
TherewasaverywiseandinfluentialpriestinBaghdadwhohadmanyfollowers.ThismanhadvastknowledgenotonlyoftheJudaicandChristiantraditionsbutalsoofIslam;HeknewIslamandtheHolyQur’anandhadgreat
loveandappreciationfortheProphetMuhammadThecaliphrespectedthepriestandhopedthatheandhisfollowerswouldbecomeMuslimsoneday.Indeed,hewasreadytoacceptthereligion,exceptforonething.Thethingthatpreventedhim,whichhecouldneitheracceptnorunderstand,wasthephysicalascensionoftheProphetMuhammad^totheheavensduringhislifetime.
TheAscensiontookplacewhenonenight,theProphetwasbroughtbodyandsoulfromMedinatoJerusalemandfromtheretothesevenheavens,wherehesawmanythings.HevisitedParadiseandHell,andwentbeyondthesetomeethisLord,Whospokeninetythousandwordswithhim.Hereturnedbeforehisbedhadcooled,andbeforealeafwhichhehadtouchedinpassinghadstoppedtrembling.
ThemindofthepriestcouldnotaccepttheascensionoftheProphetandhiscomingbacktotellaboutit.Indeed,whentheProphethimselfdeclareditthedayafterithappened,manyMuslimsdidnotbelieveandlefttheirreligion.Thisthenisatestoftruefaith,forthemindcannotconceiveofsuchathing.
Thecaliphintroducedallthewisemenandteachersofhistimetothepriestinordertoeliminatehisdoubts,butnoneofthemsucceeded.ThenoneeveninghesentwordtoHadratcAbdul-Qadir,askinghimifhecouldconvincethepriestofthetruthoftheAscension.
WhenHadratcAbdul-Qadircametothepalacehefoundthepriestandthecaliphplayingchess.Asthepriestliftedachesspiecetomoveit,hiseyesmetthoseoftheshaykh.Heblinkedhiseyes…andasheopenedthemagainhefoundhimselfdrowninginarapidlyrunningriver!Hewasshoutingforhelpwhenayoung
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shepherdjumpedintothewatertosavehim.Astheshepherdheldontohim,herealizedthathewasnakedandhadbeentransformedintoayounggirl!
Theshepherdpulledheroutofthewaterandaskedherwhosedaughtershewasandwhereshelived.WhenthepriestmentionedBaghdad,theshepherdsaidthattheywerethenatadistanceofafewmonthsjourneyfromthatcity.Theshepherdhonouredherandkeptherandprotectedher,buteventuallyasshehadnowheretogo,hemarriedher.Theyhadthreechildren,whogrewup.
Onedayasshewaswashinglaundryinthesameriverwhereshehadappearedmanyyearsbefore,sheslippedandfellin.Assheopenedhereyes…hefoundhimselfsittingacrossfromthecaliph,holdingthechesspieceandstilllookingupintotheeyesofHadratcAbdul-Qadir,whosaidtohim,‘Now,venerablepriest,doyoustilldisbelieve?’
Thepriest,unsureofwhathadhappenedtohimandthinkingthatitwasadream,respondedwiththewords,‘Whatdoyoumean?’
‘Perhapsyouwouldliketoseeyourfamily?’thesaintinquired.Asheopenedthedoor,therestoodtheshepherdandthethreechildren.
Seeingthis,thepriestbelieved.HeandhiscongregationnumberamongthefivethousandChristianswhobecameMuslimbythehandsofHadratcAbdul-Qadir.
Inhisteachingandhisservicetomankindheappliedqualitieswhichheinheritedfromthehighest.Hesaid,
Aspiritualteacherisnotatrueteacherunlesshepossessestwelvequalities.TwoofthesequalitiesarefromtheattributesofAllahMostHigh.Theyaretohidethefaultsofmanandtherestofcreation,notonlyfromothers,butevenfromthemselvesandtohavecompassionandforgivenessforeventheworstofsins.TwoqualitiesareinheritedfromtheProphetMuhammad^—loveandgentleness.FromHadratAbuBakr,thefirstofthefourCaliphs,atrueteacherinheritstruthfulness,
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honestyandsincerity,aswellasdevotionandgenerosity.FromHadrat‘Umar,justice,andimposingtherightandpreventingthewrong.FromHadrat‘Uthman,humility,andstayingawakeandprayingwhiletherestofmankindareasleep.FromHadrat‘All,knowledgeandcourage.
Hewasasdevotedasafathertoallhistensofthousandsoffollowers.Heknewthembyname,andcaredfortheirworldlyaffairsaswellastheirspiritualstate.Hehelpedthemandsavedthemfromdisasters,eveniftheywereattheotherendoftheworld.Hewasachildwiththechildren,andtreatedthemwiththeutmosttendernessandcompassion.Withthosemucholderthanhe,hebecameasifolderthanthey,andtreatedthemwithrespect.
Hekeptthecompanyofthepoorandtheweak;hedidnotseekthecompanyofthefamousandpowerful.Withsuchpeoplehebehavedasifheweretheking’sownKing.
Oneofthesonsofhisservantrelatedthathisfather,MuhammadIbnal-Khidr,servedShaykhcAbdul-Qadirforthirteenyears.Heneversawaflysitonhim,nordidheeverseehimblowhisnose.Althoughtheshaykhtreatedtheweakandthepoorwithgreatrespect,hisservantneversawhimgetupwhensultanscametovisithim,neitherdidhevisitthem,nordidheeattheirfoodexceptonce.Whenakingcametovisithimhewouldleavethereceptionroomandwouldcomebackafterthekingandhispartyweresettled,sothattheywouldgreethimbystandingup.WhenhewrotealettertothecaliphhewouldsaythatcAbdul-Qadirordershimtodothisorthat,andthatitwasanobligationforthecaliphtoobeyhim,sincehewastheirleader.Whenthecaliphreceivedsuchaletterhewouldkissitbeforehereaditandsay,‘Theshaykhisright,indeedheistellingthetruth!’
Oneofthegreatjuristsofthetime,Abu-Hasan,relates:
Iheardthecaliphal-MuqtafitellhisministerIbnHubayra,‘ShaykhcAbdul-
Qadirisridiculingme,makingitcleartothosearoundhimthathemeansme.Itwasreportedtome
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thathepointedatadate-palminhisorchardandsaid,’’You’dbetterbehave.Don’tgotoofarorIwillbeheadyou!”Gotohimandtalktohimaloneandsay,“Youshouldnotridiculeandthreatenthecaliph.Youmustknowthatthestationofthecaliphissacredandhastoberespected.”
ThevizierIbnHubayrawenttotheshaykhandfoundhiminthecompanyofavastcrowd.Inhistalk,atonepointhesuddenlydeclared,“Indeed,Iwouldbeheadhim,too!”Thevizierfeltthattheshaykhmeanthim,andterrified,hefledandtoldwhathadhappenedtothecaliph.Thecaliphwasbroughttotearsandsaid,“Truly,theshaykhisgreat.”Hewenttoseehimhimself.Theshaykhgavehimmuchadviceandthecaliphcriedandcried.’
Althoughhewasmostcompassionateandhadthebestcharacterandmanners—gentleandloving,keepinghispromises—hewasjust,andsterninhisjustice.Henevershowedangerbecauseofanythingdonetohim,butifanywrongfulactwerecommittedagainstthefaithandthereligion,inhisangerhewouldbecomeawesomeandhispunishmentwouldbeswiftandhard.
Ashaykhofthetime,Abu-Najlbal-Suhrawardl,relates:
Intheyear523HijriIwaswithShaykhHammad,theteacherofShaykhcAbdul-Qadir,whowasalsopresent.ShaykhcAbdul-Qadirmadeagrandstatement.AtthatShaykhHammadtoldhim,‘OcAbdul-Qadir,youtalktooloftily!IfearforyouthedisapprovalofAllah.’
cAbdul-QadirputhishandonthechestofShaykhHammad.‘Lookatmypalm
withtheeyeofyourheart,’hesaid,‘andtellmewhatiswrittenonit’WhenShaykhHammadcouldnotsay,cAbdul-Qadirliftedhishandfromtheshaykh’schestandshowedthepalmtohim.Onitwasaluminouswritingsaying,‘HehasreceivedseventypromisesfromAllahthathewillneverbedisappointed’.
WhenShaykhHammadsawthis,hesaid,‘Therecouldneverbeanobjectiontoamanblessedwithsuchadivine
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promise.Noonecouldeverobjecttohim.AllahblesseswhomeverHewillsamongHisservants.’
ShaykhcAbdul-Qadirusedtosay:
Noneofmyfollowerswilldiebeforetheyrepent.TheywillalldieasfaithfulservantsofAllah.Eachofmygoodfollowerswillsavesevenofhissinfulbrothersfromhellfire.If,inthefarwest,theprivatepartsofoneofmyfollowersweretobeinadvertentlyexposed,we,althoughwewereinthefareast,wouldcoverthembeforeanyonecouldnotice.
Ihavebeengivenabook,abookaslongasanyeyecouldsee,whichcontainsallthenamesoftheoneswhowillfollowmeuntiltheendoftime.WithAllah’sblessingwewillsaveallofthem.Blessedarethosewhoseeme.Iyearnfortheoneswhowillnotseeme.
Allthosewhoattachedthemselvestohimwerealwaysatpeaceandjoyful.Someoneaskedhim,‘WeknowthestateofyourgoodfollowersandwhatawaitsthemintheHereafter.Butwhataboutthebadones?’Heanswered,‘ThegoodonesaredevotedtomeandIamdevotedtosavingthebadones.’
AyounggirlwhowasafolloweroftheshaykhlivedinCeylon.Onedayshewasattackedinalonelyplacebyamanintendingtodishonourher.Helpless,sheshouted,‘Saveme,OmyshaykhcAbdul-Qadir!’AtthatmomenttheshaykhwastakinghisablutioninBaghdad.Peoplesawhimstop,angrilygrabhiswoodenshoe,andthrowitintheair.Theydidnotseetheshoefalldown.ThatshoefellontheheadofthevillainwhowasattackingthegirlinCeylon,andkilledhim.Itissaidthattheshoeisstillthere,keptasarelic.
Sahlibn‘Abdullahal-TustaiirelatesthatonedayShaykhcAbdul-Qadir’sfollowersinBaghdadlosthim.Theylookedeverywhereforhim.SomeonetoldthemhehadbeenseengoingtowardtheTigrisRiver,andhisfollowersranthereafterhim.Whentheyarrivedattheriver,hewasinthemidstofit,walkingoverthewatertowards
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them.Allthefishwereputtingtheirheadsoutofthewaterandgivinghimgreeting.
Itwasthetimeofthenoonprayer.Theysawabovethemavastcarpetspreadovertheirheads,coveringthewholesky.Itwasagreencarpet,andonitingoldandsilverwereembroideredthewords:
IndeedforthefriendsofAllahthereistieitherfearnorsorrow.(Sura
Yunus,62)OfamilyoftheProphet,Allah’speaceandblessingsbe
uponyou.IndeedHealoneispraiseworthyandmostglorious(SuraHud,73)
ThecarpetfloatedliketheflyingcarpetoftheprophetSolomon,anddescendedtotheground.Thepeople,inspired,quietandpeaceful,walkedtowardsit.The
shaykh,cladinbeautifulclothes,steppeduponthecarpetandledtheminprayeruponit.Whenheraisedhishandsandsaid,‘Allahisgreat,’thewholeskyechoedthesamewords.Asheprayed,theangelsofthesevenheavensinchorusrepeatedhisprayers.Whenhesaid,‘AllpraiseisduetoAllah,’agreenlightemanatedfromhismouth,coveringthesky.Attheendoftheprayerheopenedhishandsandsaid,‘OLord,forthesakeofmyancestoryourbelovedMuhammad,peacebeuponhim,andforthesakeofthoseamongyourcreationwhofearandloveyou,donottakeanyofmyfollowerstoyouuntiltheyareforgivenoftheirsinsanduntiltheirfaithiscomplete.’Oneandallheardthehumoftheangelssaying,’Amin.’Followingtheangels,theytoosaid‘Amin.’Thentheyallheardavoicefrominsideofthemsaying,‘Rejoice!Ihaveacceptedyourprayers.’
TheProphetMuhammad^says,‘Theperfectshaykhislikeaprophettohispeople’.IndeedHadratcAbdul-QadirwasoneofthoseperfectshaykhswhoopenedtopeoplethegatesoffelicityinthisworldandthegatesofParadiseinthenext.
ItwasonlyafterHadratcAbdul-Qadirhadmasteredhisegoandbecomeaperfectman,andonlybytheinspiredcommandoftheHolyProphetthathebecameateacherandestablishedcontactwiththepeople.Itwasalsoatthistimethat,followingtheexample
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ofhisancestortheProphetMuhammad,hemarriedfourwives,eachamodelofvirtueanddevotedtohim.Hewasfifty-oneyearsold,Hehadforty-ninechildren:twenty-sevensonsandtwenty-twodaughters.
Onedayhiswivescametohimandsaid,‘Opossessorofthebestofcharacters,yourlittlesonhasdied,andwehaven’tseenasingletearinyoureyes,norhave
youshownanysignofsadnessorconcern.Don’tyouhaveanycompassionforsomeonewhoisapartofyou?Wearebentoverdoubleinsorrow,yetyougoaboutyourbusinessasifnothinghashappened.Youareourmaster,ourguide,ourhopeforthisworldandtheHereafter,butifyourheartishardandthereisnocompassionthere,howcanwe,whohopetoholdontoyouonthedayofLastJudgment,havefaiththatyouwillsaveus?’
Theshaykhsaid,‘Omydearfriends,donotthinkthatmyheartishard.Ipitytheunfaithfulforhisunfaithfulness,IpitythedogwhobitesmeandpraytoAllahthatitstopbitingpeople,notthatImindbeingbitten,butbecauseotherswillthrowstonesatit.Don’tyouknowthatIhaveinheritedcompassionfromtheonewhomAllahsentasmercyupontheuniverse?’
Thewomensaid,‘Indeed,ifyouhavefeelingevenforthedogwhichbitesyou,howisitthatyoudonotshowanyfeelingforyourownsonwhohasbeensmittenwiththeswordofdeath?’
Theshaykhsaid,‘Omysadcompanions,youcrybecauseyoufeelseparatedfromyoursonwhomyoulove.IamalwayswiththeoneIlove.Yousawyoursoninthedreamwhichthisworldis,andyouhavelosthiminanotherdream.Allahsays,“Thisworldisbutadream.”Itisadreamfortheoneswhoareasleep.Iamawake.Isawmysonwhenhewaswithinthecircleoftime.Nowhehaswalkedoutofthatcircle.Istillseehimandheiswithme.Heisplayingaroundmejustashedidbefore.Forwhenyouseethatwhichisrealwiththeeyeoftheheart,whetherdeadoralive,thetruthdoesnotdisappear.’
Onedaytheshaykhandsomeofhisfollowersweretravellingonfootinthedesert.ItwasthemonthofRamadanandthedesertwashot.Herelated:
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Iwasexceedinglytiredandthirsty.Myfollowerswerewalkingaheadofme.Allofasuddenacloudappearedoverhead,likeanumbrellaprotectingusfromthehotsun.Infrontofusappearedagushingspringandadate-palmladenwithripefruit.Finallytherecamearoundlight,brighterthanthesunandstandingapartfromit.Avoicecamefromitsdirection.
Itsaid,‘OpeopleofAbdul-Qadir,IamyourLord!Eatanddrink,forIhavemadelawfulforyouwhatIhavemadeunlawfulforothers!’Mypeople,whowereaheadofme,rushedtothespringtodrink,andtothedate-palmtoeatfromit.Ishoutedatthemtostop,andliftingmyheadtowardsthedirectionofthevoiceIshouted,‘ItakerefugeinAllahfromtheaccursedDevil!’
Thecloud,thelight,thespringandthedate-palmalldisappeared.TheDevilstoodinfrontofusinallhisugliness.Heasked,‘Howdidyouknowthatitwasme?’ItoldtheAccursedOnewhohasbeenthrownoutofAllah’smercythattheaddressofAllahisnotasoundheardwiththeears,nordoesitcomefromoutside.Furthermore,IknewthatAllah’slawsareconstantandaremeantforall.Heneitherchangesthem,norrendersthatwhichisunlawfullawfultotheonesHefavours.
Uponhearingthis,theDeviltriedhislasttemptationofarousingpride.‘OcAbdul-Qadir,’hesaid,‘Ihavefooledseventyprophetswiththistrick.Yourknowledgeisvast,yourwisdomisgreaterthanthatoftheprophets!’Thenpointingtomyfollowershewenton,‘Isthishandfuloffoolsyouronlyfollowing?Thewholeworldshouldfollowyou,foryouareasgoodasaprophet.’
Isaid,‘ItakerefugefromyouinmyLordWhoisAll-hearingandAll-knowing.Foritisnotmyknowledge,normywisdom,whichsavedmefromyou,butthemercyofmyLord.’
HesaweverythingasfromAllah,dideverythingforAllah’ssake,
andattributednothingtoanycreatedbeing,includinghimself.
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Whathesaid,hedid.Complimentorcriticism,benefitorloss,werethesametohim.Hisknowledgewasall-encompassingandhiswisdomsupreme.Heconsideredtheoneswhoknowanddonotapplytheirknowledgeasnobetterthandonkeyscarryingheavybooks.
Oneofthegreatshaykhsofthetime,ShaykhMuzaffarMansuribnal-Mubarakal-Wasitl,relates:
IcametovisitShaykhcAbdul-Qadirwithsomeofmystudents.Iwascarryingabookonphilosophyinmyhand.Hegreetedusandlookedatus,thensaidtome,‘Whatabadanddirtyfriendyouareholdinginyourhand!Goandwashit!’
Iwasawedbytheshaykh’sangrywords.Hecouldnothaveknownthecontentsofthebook,whichIlovedandwhich1hadalmostmemorized.
Idebatedwithmyselfwhethertogetupandhidethebooksomewhereandpickituponmydeparture.AsIwasabouttogoanddothis,hegavemeastrangelookandIcouldn’tliftmyselffrommyseat.Heorderedmetogivethebooktohim.AsIwasdoingsoIopeneditforalastlook.Isawonlyemptywhitepages!Allthatwaswrittenhaddisappeared.
1gavethebooktohim.Hetookit,browsedthroughit,andgaveitbacktome,saying,‘Hereitis,“TheWisdomoftheQur’an”byIbnDaris.’Itookitandopenedit,andindeedthebookofphilosophyhadbeentransformedintoFada’ilal-Qur’anbyIbnDaris,writteninthemostbeautifulcalligraphy.Thenhesaidtome,‘Doyouwishyourhearttorepentwhenyouvoiceyourrepentance?’Ianswered,‘IndeedIdo’.Hesaid,‘Thenstandup’.AsIrosetostand,Ifeltallofmyknowledgeofphilosophydescendfrommymindandsinktotheground.Notawordofitremainedinmymemory.
AnothertimeagreatnumberofpeoplegatheredaroundShaykhcAbdul-Qadir,hopingthathewouldspeak.Hesatforaverylongtimewithoutsayingaword;thecongregationalsosatandwaited
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silently.Afterawhileastrangeecstasyovercamethem,asiftheyhadbeenemptiedofallthoughtandimagination.Thenallofthemtogetherthoughtthesamething:‘Whatistheshaykhthinkingabout?’
Assoonasthisquestionwasraisedintheirminds,HadratcAbdul-Qadirspoke.‘JustnowamanwastransportedfromMeccatoBaghdadinaninstant,repentedinmypresence,andflewback,’hesaid.
Thecongregationthoughtasone:‘WhyshouldamanwhocouldflyinaninstantfromMeccatoBaghdadneedtorepent?’
Hesaid,‘Toflyintheairisonething,buttofeelloveissomethingelse.Itaughthimhowtolove.’
‘AbdullahZayalrelates:
Intheyear560IwasattheschoolofHadrat‘Abdul-Qadir.OnedayIsawhimleavinghishousewithhisstaffinhishand.
Isaidtomyself,‘Iwishhewouldshowmeamiraclewiththatstaff!’Helookedatmeandsmiledandstuckthestaffintothesand.Instantlyitturnedintoabeamofintenselightrisingoutofsightintothesky,illuminatingeverythingforanhour.Thenheheldthatbeamoflight.Itturnedbackintoanordinarystaff.Helookedatmeandsaid,‘OZayal,isthatallthatyouwanted?’
AthishandsmorethanfivethousandJewsandChristiansbe-cameMuslims.Morethanahundredthousandruffians,outlaws,murderers,thieves,andbanditsrepentedandbecamedevoutMuslimsandgentledervishes.Heexplainshowhe
reachedthatblessedstate.
Fortwenty-fiveyearsIwanderedinthedesertsofIraq.Isleptinruins.InaplaceatShustar,aruinedcastleinthemiddleofthedeserttwelvedays’journeyfromBaghdad,Istayedinseclusionforelevenyears.IpromisedmyLordthatIwouldneithereatnordrinkuntilIreachedspiritualperfection.Onthefortiethdayamancamewithaloafofbreadandsome
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foodandplacedtheminfrontofmeanddisappeared.Myfleshscreamed,‘Iamhungry,Iamhungry!’Myegowhispered,‘Yourpromiseisfulfilled.Whydon’tyoueat?’ButIdidnotbreakmyvowtoAllah.
BychancethescholarAbuSa‘Idal-Muharramlhappenedtobepassingby.Heheardthescreamsofhungerofmyflesh,thoughIwasdeaftothem.Hecameandsawmyemaciatedstateandsaidtome,‘WhatisthisIseeandhear,O’Abdul-Qadir?’
‘Don’tmindit,myfriend,’Isaid.‘Itisonlythevoiceofthedisobedient,unrulyego,while,Itellyou,thesoulisbowedinfrontofitsLordandishopefulandpeacefulandjoyful.’
‘PleasecometomyschoolatBabal-‘Azj,’heasked.Ididnotanswer,butinwardlyIsaid,‘Iwillnotleavethisplacewithoutdivineorder.’NotlongafterKhidrcametomeandtoldme,‘GoandjoinAbuSa‘Id’.
WhenIreceivedtheorder,IwenttoBaghdad,totheschoolofAbuSa‘Id,andfoundhimwaitingformeatthegate.‘Ibeggedyoutocome!’hesaid.Thenheinvestedmewiththecloakofthedervish.FromthattimeonIneverlefthim.
FortyyearsIneversleptatnight.ImademymorningprayerwiththeablutionIhadtakentomakemynightprayer.IreadtheQur’aneverynightsothatsleepshouldnotovertakeme.Istoodononefootandleanedagainstthewallwithonehand.IdidnotchangethispositionuntilIhadreadthewholeQur’an.
WhenIcouldnotfightsleepmyself,Iwouldhearavoicethatshookeverycellinmybody.Itwouldsay,‘O‘Abdul-Qadir,Ididnotcreateyoutosleep!Youwerenothing.Igaveyoulife.SowhileyouarealiveyouwillnotbeunawareofUs.’
Onedaysomeoneaskedhim,‘OcAbdul-Qadir,wepray,fastanddenythelowdesiresofourfleshjustlikeyou.Howisitthatwedo
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notreceivehighmysticalstatesandtheabilitytoperformmiracles,asyoudo?’
Heanswered,‘Iseethatnotonlydoyoutrytocompetewithmeinactions—thinkingthatyoudowhatIdowhileyoumerelydowhatyouseemedo—butyoureproachAllahfornotgivingyouthesamerewards!AllahismywitnessthatIhavenevereatenordrunkunlessIheardmyCreatorsay,“Hatanddrink—youoweittoMeforthebodyIhavegivenyou.”NeitherhaveIdoneasinglethingwithouttheorderofmyLord.’
Shaykh‘AllibnMusafirrelates:
Iwasamongthousandsofpeoplegatheredtohearhimintheopenair.Ashespoke,aheavyrainstartedpouringdownandsomepeoplestartedtoleave.Theskywasdarkwithcloudspromisingmorerain.HadratcAbdul-Qadirliftedhisheadandhishandsinprayerandsaid,‘OLord,ItrytogatherpeopleforYou.AreYoutryingtochasethemawayfromme?’Assoonashesaidthis,itstopped
rainingonus.Notadropfellonusuntilhefinishedspeaking,thoughitwaspouringoutsidetheplaceweweregathered.
Yahyaibnjinaal-Adlbrecalled:
ShaykhcAbdul-Qadirusedtointerjectpoetryintohistalks.Onedayhewastalkingaboutthesoulandherecitedthepoem,
Mysoul,beforeitcametobeintherealmofnothingness,lovedYou.
IfIwithdrewfromtherealmoflove,now,
Wouldmyfeetcarrymeaway?
InwardlyIsaidtomyself,‘Let’sseehowmanypoemshewillrecitetoday.’IhadapieceofthreadwithmeandIputaknotinitundermycloakeachtimeherecitedaverse.Iwassittingfarawayfromhim.Hecouldnotpossiblyhaveseenme.Helookedatmeandsaid,‘Itrytounravel,andyouseemtotieknots!’
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HisdevoutservantAbul-Ridarelates:
Oneday,whilepreaching,theshaykhstoppedinthemiddleofasentenceanddeclared,‘Iwillnotcontinueunlessyougivemeahundredpiecesofgoldrightnow!’Quicklypeoplegatheredahundreddinarsandplacedtheminmyhands.Everyonewasshocked,notknowingwhattodo,lookingathiminamazement.Ibroughthimthemoney.Hegavethehundreddinarsbacktomeandsaid,‘OAbul-Rida,gotothecemeteryofShunTziyyah.Youwillfindthereanoldmanplayingalutetothegraves.Givethisgoldtohimandbringhimtome/
Iwent,andindeed,therewasanoldmanplayinghisluteandsingingtothetombs.Iofferedhimsalutationsandgavehimthebagofgold.Hewasawestruck,gavealongscream,andfainted.
WhenherevivedIbroughthimtoShaykhcAbdul-Qadir,whoaskedhimtocomeuptothepulpit.Themanclimbedthestepswiththeluteonhisshoulders.‘Friend,tellthemyourstory/theshaykhsaid.
Thelute-playertoldusthathehadbeenapopularsingeroffameinhisyouth.Yetwhenhegrewoldnoonesoughthimorwishedtohearhimanymore.Sadandabandonedbyeverybody,thatverydayhehadvowedhewouldneversingtoanyonebutthedead.Hehadcometothecemeteryandashesattheresingingandplayinghislutethegravenearesthimsplitopen!Thedeadmanraisedhisheadandsaid,‘Allyourlifeyouhavesungforthedead.SingforoncefortheEverliving,forAllah.Hecertainlywillgiveyoumorethanyouhaveeverreceived—morethanyoueverhopedtoreceive!’Whenhesawandheardthat,hefaintedinfearandawe.Then,comingtohimself,hebegantosing:
OMyLord,onthedayImeetYouIwillhavenothingtobringbutbeggingonmylipsandhopeformercyinmyheart.
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AllwillbegatheredwithhopeinYourpresence,woetomeifIamleftempty-handed!
IfonlythegoodcomebeggingtoYourgate,towhomshouldsinnersgo,seeking?
OLord,whenIcometoYouinshameontheDayofReckoning,willYounotsavemefromtheFire?
Abul-Ridafurtherrelates:
InthemiddleoftheverseIcametohimwiththehundreddinarsfrommymasterasarewardforhisentreatiestohisLord,andinamazementhefainted.
Thelute-player,tearspouringfromhiseyes,repented.Fiethrewdownhisluteandbrokeit.Theshaykhsaid,‘IfthisisAllah’srewardforthesincerityofsomeonewhotookthislifeasagame,whatshallbetherewardoftheservantofAllahwhoistrueandsincereallofhislife?Keepsincerityinyourheart,forwithoutityouwillnotadvancetowardsyourLordevenaninch/
cAbdul-SamadibnHumamwasoneofthewealthiestmeninBaghdad.Aworldly,proud,andarrogantman,hebelievedheownedtheworldandthepeoplewhoworkedforhim.Hesupposedhecouldcontrolthem,doingwiththemwhateverhepleased.Amaterialistineverysenseoftheword,hedislikedtheshaykhprofoundlyanddeniedhismiracles.Herelates:
Asyouknow,Ineverlikedtheshaykh.AlthoughIamamanofmeansandhaveallthatIwish,Iwasnevercontent,happyoratpeace.
OneFriday,asIwaspassingbyhisschool,Iheardthecalltoprayer.Isaidtomyself,‘Let’stakeacloserlookatthismanwhoimpressesotherswithhisso-calledmiracles.I’llgoandmakemyFridayprayerinhismosque.’
Themosquewaspackedsolid.Ipushedmyselfforwardinthecrowdandfoundaplacerightatthefootofthepulpit.Theshaykhstarteddeliveringhissermonandthethingshesaidangeredme.
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AllofasuddenIhadaterribleurgentneedtorelievemyself.Therewasnowayoutofthemosque.Iwasfilledwithhorrorattheterribleshame,asIwasabouttodefecaterightthereandthen.Myangertowardtheshaykhincreased.
Atthatmomenthecalmlydescendedthestepsofthepulpitandstoodaboveme.Whilecontinuingtotalk,hecoveredmewiththeskirtofhiscloak.AllofasuddenIfoundmyselfinabeautifulgreenvalleywhereapurebrookflowed.Therewasnoonearound.Irelievedmyselfandcleansedmyselfandtookablutioninthebrook.AsIdecidedtomakemyprayer,Ifoundmyselfagainundertheshaykhscloak.Melifteditfrommeandreturnedupthestepsofthepulpit.
1wasawestruck.Notonlywasmybellycomfortablebutsowasmyheart.Allthediscontent,angerandnegativefeelinghadbeenwipedoutofit.
AftertheprayerIleftthemosqueandwalkedhome.Ontheway,IrealizedthatIhadlostthekeyofmysafe.Iwentbacktothemosqueandlookedforit,butIcouldn’tfinditanywhere.Ihadahardtimegettingthelocksmithtoopenmysafe.
ThenextdayIhadtogoonabusinesstrip.ThreedaysoutofBaghdadwepassedbyaverybeautifulvalley.Itwasasifaforcepulledustothesideofabeautifulbrook.IrealizedimmediatelythatthiswastheplaceIhadbeenandthebrookwhereIhadwashedmyself.Iwashedmyselfagainatthesameplace.ThereIfoundthelostkeytomysafe!WhenIreturnedtoBaghdadIbecameafolloweroftheshaykh.
AwomanofBaghdad,veryimpressedwiththefameandwealthoftheshaykh,decidedtoleavehersoninthecareofHadratcAbdul-Qadir.Shebroughtthechildtohimandsaid,‘Takethischildasyourown—Irenounceallrighttohim—andraisehimtobecomelikeyou’Theshaykhacceptedthechildandstartedtoteachhimpiety,asceticismanddenialoftheego’slowdesires.
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Aftersometimethemothercametoseehersonandfoundhimthinandpaleandeatingacrustofbread.Shewasangryattheshaykhandaskedtoseehim.Whenshecameuponhimshefoundhimwell-dressed,seatedinapleasantroomandeatingachicken.‘Whileyoueatyourchicken,’shereproachedhim,‘mypoorson,whomIleftinyourcare,hasnothingbutapieceofdrybread!’
Theshaykhplacedhishandoverthebonesofthechicken.‘InthenameofAllahWhorevivesbonesfromdust,rise!*Heliftedhishandandthechickenwasalive.Itranaboutthetablesay-ing,‘ThereisnogodbutAllahandMuhammadisHisMessengerandShaykh‘Abdul-QadiristhefriendofAllahandHisMessenger!’
Theshaykhturnedtothewomanandsaid,‘Whenyoursoncandothis,hecanalsoeatwhateverhewishes.’
Onenight,laterinhislife,fiftyoftheeliteofBaghdadweregatheredinhishouse.Thecompanyincludedallthegreatshaykhsofthetime,amongthemHafizAbul-cIzzcAbdul-MughIthibnHarb.Herecalls:
Thatnighttheshaykhwasinastateofinspiration.Pearlsofwisdompouredfromhismouth.Allofuswereinaperfectstateofpeaceandbliss,ofakindwehadneverexperiencedbefore.Amomentcamewhentheshaykhpointedtohisfootanddeclared,‘Thisfootisoverthenecksofallthesaints’.Nosoonerhadhesaidthisthanoneofhisstudents,ShaykhcAllibnal-HIlI,threwhimselfathismaster’sfeet.Hetooktheshaykh’sfootandplacedituponhisneck.Thenalltherestofusdidthesame.
Anotherofthosepresent,ShaykhAbuSacTdal-KaylawI,said:
Whenhesaid,‘Thisfootisoverthenecksofallthesaints,’IfeltAllah’struthmanifestinmyheart.Isawallthesaintsoftheworldstandinginhispresence,fillingmywholevision.Theoneswhowereofthisworldwerepresentbodily;thosewho
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hadpassedawaywerepresentspiritually.Theskywasfilledwithangelsandotherbeingsinvisibletotheeye.AgroupofangelsdescendedandbestoweduponthesaintthecloakoftheMessengerofAllahAsweallprostratedourselvesandstretchedournecksweheardasoundlessvoicesay‘Osultanofthetime,guideofthereligion,oftheplace,OexecutorofthewordofAllahtheCompassionate,inheritoroftheHolyBook,deputyofAllah’sMessenger,Ohetowhoseorderstheearthandtheheavensaregiven,whoseprayerisaccepted,whenheasksforraintheraincomesandmilkcomesfromdrybreasts,
Obelovedandrespectedofthewholecreation…’
AfterShaykhAbdul-Qadirpronouncedthosewords,notonlythoseinhispresence,butallthemenofreligionfeltanincreaseintheirknowledgeandtheirwisdom,inthedivinelightintheirhearts,andintheirspirituallevels.
AsthiseventbecameknownallovertheMuslimworld,alltheshaykhsandteachersputtheirheadsontheflooringreathumblenessandacceptedhisleadership.Sinnersamongthepeoplecameintohispresence,repented,andbecamepure.Bandits,thieves,outlawscametohimandbecamehisfollowers.Hebecamethecentre,thepole.
Threehundredandthirteensaintsofthetime,amongthemsev-enteenintheholycityofMecca,sixtyinIraq,fortyinIran,twentyinEgypt,thirtyinDamascus,eleveninAbyssinia,sevenfromCey-lon,twenty-sevenintheWest,forty-sevenintheinaccessiblelandsbeyondMountQaf,seveninthelandsofGogandMagog,andtwenty-fourintheislandsoftheoceans,allhearditandputtheirheadstothegroundinobedience—withtheexceptionofonePersian.
ThisPersianwasaverydevoutshaykh.Heprayedmorethananyoneandfastedcontinually.HemadenumerouspilgrimagestotheKa’bah.Hewasvery
ambitioustoobtainAllah’spleasure.Forfiftyyeaisheremainedinseclusionfromtheworldwithhisfourhundreddisciples,whomhemadeworkdayandnighttoperfect
XXXVIII
Translator’sIntroduction
themselves.Hehadgreatknowledge,andhecouldworkmiracles.WhenwordofHadrat‘Abdul-Qadir’sdeclarationreachedhim,hewasatthePilgrimagewithhisdisciples,intheholycityofMecca.EitherheunderestimatedthegreatnessofHadrat‘Abdul-Qadirorheoverestimatedhisown.Herefusedtolowerhisneckinobedienceto‘Abdul-Qadir’scall.ThatnighthedreamedthathewentfromMeccatoByzantiumandthereheworshippedanidol.DepressedbythisoppressivedreamhegatheredhisdisciplesandsaidthathemustgoatoncetoByzantium,wherehehopedtodiscoverthemeaningofthisdream.HisloyaldisciplesfollowedhimtoByzantium.Astheyenteredthecitytheshaykhcaughtsightofabeautifulgirlstandingonabalcony.Herhairwasblackasnight,hereyesweretwinmoonswitharchedbrowsliketendersicklesoverthem,herlookalureforlovers,Hermoistlips,thecolourofrubies,renderedwholookeduponthemthirsty.Hermouthwassosmallthatevenwordscouldnotpass,herslenderwaistwasclaspedbytheidolater’sbelt.Assoonastheshaykhsawherhisheartcaughtfire,hiseyesbecamefixedonher,hiswillslippedfromhishands.Ashisheartwasfilledwithloveforher,religionandfaithleftit.Forallherbeauty,thatwomanwasaharlot,atemptationoftheDevil.Theshaykhstoodatthedoorofthispaganharlot,hismouthopen,hiseyesfixedonthebalcony,hopingtoseeher.Inwardlyhewasintorment.Hethoughtthatalltheseyearshehadfasted,hadtormentedhisflesh,butneverhadhesufferedlikethis.Hesoughthisknowledge,hisreason,tomakesenseoutofthissituation,butallreasonandknowledgehadlefthim.Hiscompanionscametohiminterroranddistressandbeggedhimtocomeaway,torepent,topray.Theshaykhrepliedthatifhehadtotepentnow,hewouldrepentfortheabsurdityofgivingupthewoildandits
pleasuresforthesakeofhisfaith,andasforprayingandbegging,hewouldratherbegfromthisgirlthanfromGod.WhenhewasremindedofAllah’spunishmentandHell,hesaidthatthisseparationfromhisbelovedandthefireofloveinhisheartcouldfeedsevenHells.Hisdisciplespleadedwithhimforalongtime,butseeingthattheireffortsproducednoeffectontheshaykh,theylefthim.
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Theshaykhstayedawholemonthatthedoorofthepaganharlot.Thedustwashisbedandthedoorstephispillow.Hesleptonthestreetwiththestreetdogs.
Finallythebeautifulpagancametoherdoortomeethimandsaidtohim,‘OoldmanwhocallshimselfashaykhandaMuslim,youaresodrunkwiththewineofgivingpartnerstoGodthatyoushowyourselfinsuchastateinthispaganstreet!’Theshaykhsaid,Iwillgiveupnotonlymyreligionbutmylifeforonetouchofyou*lips.Theharlotsaid,‘Shameonyou,youoldslaveofyourpassions.Howdareyousuggestkissingmewhenyouarereadytowrapyourselfinyourshroudandgotoyourtomb.Goaway!Icannotloveyou.’
Nomatterhowsheinsultedhim,theshaykhstoodatherdoor.Thenshecamedownagainandtoldhim,‘Ifyoulovemeasyousayyoudo,thenyoumustleaveIslam,burntheQur’an,bowyourheadandprostrateyourselfbeforetheidolsanddrinkwine.’Hesaid,‘IcannotyettrulyabandonIslamnorcanIburntheQur’an,butIamwillingtodrinkwinetoyourbeauty.’Shesaid,‘Thencomeanddrinkwinewithme.YouwillsoonagreetodoalltheotherthingswhichIaskofyou.’Ashesippedthewinefromherhands,hisheartandhismindblazedwithfire.HetriedtorecalltheQur’anwhichhehadmemorized,thebookshehadreadandwrittenonIslam,buthehadforgottenthemall.Drunk,hetiiedtotouchher.Shesaid,Notuntilyoubecomeapaganlikemeandburnyour
Qur’an.’HethrewtheQur’anandhisdervishcloakintothefire,lefthisfaith,andbowedtothepagangods,andtriedagaintotouchher.Shesaid,‘Youolddweller,slaveofpassion,whopossessesneitherworldlygoodsnorfame,howcanawomanlikemebecaressedbysuchabeggar?Ineedsilverandgoldandsilk.Sinceyouhavenone,takeyouruglyselfaway!’
Moretimepassed.Thepooroldman,wasted,stoodathergate.Finally,onedayshegaveherselftohim.Thenshesaid,‘Nowformyprice,Ofilthyoldman,goandlookaftermyherdofpigsforayear.’Withoutprotesttheone-timeshaykhoftheKa’bahbecameaswineherd.
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Translator’sIntroduction
ThesadnewsoftheshaykhwhodidnotbowhisheadtoHadrat‘Abdul-Qadirspread,andhisdiscipleswhohadabandonedhimreachedBaghdad.Theyaskedtoseetheshaykh.Whentheytoldhimwhathadhappenedandthattheirshaykhhadforsakenhisreligion,becomeapaganandaswineherd,Hadrat‘Abdul-Qadirsaid,‘Ifonedoesnotsubmitandbecomealambtoashepherd,thenonebecomesashepherdtoaherdofpigs.Foreachmanhashisherdofathousandpigs,athousandidolsinhisheart,unlesshedrivesthemawaybysubmissionandrepentance.’Thenhereproachedthemforhavinglefttheirshaykhandtoldthemthattheyshouldevenhavebecomepagansforhissake!Headdedthatarealfriendisafrienduponwhomyoucanrelyinmisfortune;ingoodfortune,everyonefeignstobeyourfriend.ThentheshaykhprayedforthemisguidedshaykhandtoldthemtogobacktoByzantiumandtellhimthat‘Abdul-Qadirbidshimcomeback.
7hedisciplesatoncesetoutforByzantium.Iheyprayedfortheirshaykhalltheway.TheyfastedandaskedAllahtogivetheirrewardstotheirshaykh.TheysentnumerousblessingstotheProphetMuhammad£=£andaskedforhis
intercession.Thearrowofpiayeireacheditsmark.Whentheycameupontheshaykhtheyfoundhimradiantamongthemanypigs,andwhentheytoldhimofthecallofHadratAbdul-Qadirhetoreawaythegirdleofthepagan,shedtorrentsoftearsofremorse,liftedhishandstoheaveninthankfulness,andallthathehadforsaken—theQur’an,thedivinesecrets—camebacktohimandhewasdeliveiedfromhismiseryandfolly.1henhebathedhimselfandperformedhisablutionsandputonhisdervishcloakandsetoutforBaghdad.
Whileallthiswashappeningthepagangirlsawinadreamalightdescendinguponherandheardthesewords:‘Followyourshaykh,embracehisfaith,bethedustbeneathhisfeet.Youwhohavebeensoiledareaspureasheisnow.Youledhiminyourway.Enternowintohis.’Whensheawokeshewastransformed.Sherushedtocatchupwiththeshaykhand
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hisdisciples.Sheran,withouteatingordrinking,overmountainsandplains.Finally,inthemiddleofthedesert,shefelltotheground.Sheprayed,‘OYouWhohavecreatedme,forgiveme,donotstrikemedown.IfIrevoltedagainstYourfaithandYourways,Ididitinignorance,asmyshaykhdidinarrogance.Youforgavehim,soforgiveme.Isubmitandacceptthetruefaith.’
Allahmadetheshaykh,whowasnotfaraway,hearherwordsandheandhisdiscipleswentbacktowherethegirllay.Shesaid,‘1amconsumedwithshamebecauseofyou.InstructmeinIslam’sothatImaymeetmyLordontheway.’Astheshaykhwitnessedherfaithandhiscompanionsshedtearsofjoy,shebadethemfarewellandjoinedherLord.She,adropintheseaofillusion,returnedtothetrueoceanandtheshaykhcametoBaghdadandstretchedhisneckinhumblenessunderthefeetofHadrat’Abdul-Qadir.
AsHadiatAbdul-Qadirsinfluencespreadtoallcomersoftheworld,manyof
hisdisciplesobtainedimportantpositionsandmanyluletsofmenbecamehisdisciples.Inaccordancewiththeirabilities,innerqualitiesandspirituallevels,hechargedmanyofhisfollowerstoactashisdeputies.Somehemadespiritualteachersandotheisjurists.Someheevenappointedasgovernorsandwieldersofworldlypower.
TherewasadervishwhohadbeenwithHadrat‘Abdul-Qadirforfortyyears,whohadenteredhisserviceandhadmadealleffortstopleasehim.Liewouldseeotherdisciplesmuchyoungerthanhe,whospentmuchlesstimethanhedidwiththeshaykh,delegatedbytheshaykhtoreceiveimportantposts.OnedayhecametoHadrat‘Abdul-Qadirandmadearequest.Hehadservedhimforsomanyyearsandnowhewasgettingold.Whycouldhenotalsoreceiveanimportantandloftypostlikesomeoftheothers?
Ashewasspeaking,agroupofemissariesfromIndiaarrived.
IheywishedHadratAbdul-Qadirtoappointamaharajahtotheirkingdom.Theshaykhlookedathisdervishandsaid,‘Wouldyoulikethispost?Doyoufeelthatyouarequalified?’Thedervishwasoveijoyed.
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Translator’sIntroduction
Aftertheemissariesleft,theshaykhsaidtothedervish,‘IfyoufeelqualifiedtoserveinmynameIwillappointyoutothatkingdominIndia.Ihaveacondition.Youmustpromisetogivemehalfofalltheprofitandgoodsyouwillreceiveduringyourreign.’Thedervishreadilyaccepted.
ThisdervishwasacookatHadrat‘Abdul-Qadir’sschool.Thatdayadessertwasbeingpreparedwhichhadtobestirredcontinuously.Afterhistalkwiththeshaykhhereturnedtothekitchentostiitheheavydessertinagiantcauldronwithawoodenspoon.Whilehewasengagedinthishewascalledtoaccompany
theemissariestoIndiaastheirking,andheleft.
Thedeivishbecameamaharajah.Hegatheredenormouswealth,builtmanypalacesforhimself,marriedandhadason.Heforgotallabouthisshaykhandabouthispromise.
ThenonedayhereceivedamessagethatShaykh‘Abdul-Qadirwascomingtovisithiskingdom.Hepreparedtoreceivehimwithgieatpomp.Afterlavishceremonies,processions,andfeasts,theywereleftalonetospeak.Theshaykhremindedthemaharajahoftheiragreement:hewastoreceivehalfofallthathehadaccumulatedduringhisreign.Themaharajahwasdispleasedatbeingremindedofhispromisebutneverthelessavowedthatbythefollowingdayhewouldprepareanaccountofallhepossessedandwouldofferhalftotheshaykh.
Hisambitionandhishungerforwealth—whichhadincreasedmanytimes,themorewealthheacquired—didnotpermithimtoaccounttiuthfullyforhispossessions.Thenextdayhebroughtalistandpresentedittotheshaykh.Althoughitenumeratedmanypalacesandmanytreasuresitrepresentedonlyafractionofwhatheactuallyowned.
Shaykh‘Abdul-Qadirseemedtobesatisfiedwithhisshare.Thenhespoke.Thearthatyoualsohaveason.’
1hemaharajahresponded,‘Yes,unfortunatelyonlyone.IfIhadtwoIwouldgladlygiveyouone.’
‘Nonetheless,bringthechild,’theshaykhreturned.‘Wecanalwayssharehim.’Theboywasbroughtintotheirpresence.The
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THESECRETOFSECRETS
shaykhunsheathedhissharpswordandhelditoverthechild’shead.‘YouwillhavehalfandIwillhavehalf1.’hedeclared.
Thefather,horrified,pulledouthisdaggerandwithhistwohandsplungeditintotheheartoftheshaykh.
Heblinkedhiseyes:asheopenedthemhefoundhimselfattheedgeofthecauldronofdessert,plungingthewoodenspoonintoit.Hadrat‘Abdul-Qadirlookedathimandsaid,‘Asyousee,youarenotyetreadytobemyrepresentative.Youhavenotyetgiveneverything,includingyourself,tome.’
HehimselfhadgivenallofhimselftoAllah.Hisnightspassedwithlittleornosleepinsecludedprayerandmeditation.HespenthisdayslikeatruefolloweroftheProphetintheserviceofhumanity.Threetimesaweekhewoulddeliverpublicsermonstothousandsofpeople.EverydayinthemorningandtheafternoonhegavelessonsinQur’aniccommentary,Prophetictraditions,theology,religiouslawandSufism.Hespentthetimeafterthemiddayprayergivingadviceandconsultationtopeople,whetherbeggarsorkings,whowouldcomefromallpartsoftheworld.Beforesunsetprayers,rainorshine,hetooktothestreetstodistributebreadamongthepoor.Ashespentallhisdaysinfastinghewouldeatonlyonceaday,afterthesunsetprayer,andneveralone.Hisservantswouldstandathisdooraskingpassers-byiftheywerehungry,sothattheycouldsharehistable.
HediedonSaturdaytheeighthdayofIIRabT’in561a.h.,1166c.e,attheageof91.Hisblessedtomb,atthemadrasaofBabal-DarajainBaghdad,hasbecomeanimportantplaceofvisitationforSufisandallMuslims.
WhenhecontractedtheillnessfromwhichhediedhissoncAbdul-cAzIzsawthathewassufferinggreatpain,tossingandturninginbed.‘Donotworryaboutme,’hesaidtohisson.‘IambeingturnedoverandoveragainintheknowledgeofAllah.’
WhenhissoncAbdul-Jabbaraskedhimwhereithurthimhesaid,‘Allofmeachesexceptformyheart.Thereisnopaininit,foritiswithAllah.’
HissoncAbdul-Wahhabsaidtohim,‘Givemesomelastadviceuponwhichtoactafteryouhaveleftthisworld.’
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Hesaid,‘FearAllahandnoneother.HopefromAllahandentrustallyourneedstoHim;hopeandwantnothingfromanyoneexceptHim.RelyonAllahandonnoneother.UnitewithHim,unitewithHim,unitewithHim.’
Beforeheleftthisworldhelookedaroundandsaidtothepeoplepresent,‘Otherswhomyoudonotseehavecometome.Makeroomandshowcourtesytothem!Iamthecorewithouttheshell.Youseemewithyou,whileIamwithsomeoneelse.Itisbestthatyouleavemenow.’Thenhesaid,‘Oangelofdeath,IdonotfearyounordoIfearanythingexceptHimWhohasbefriendedmeandhasbeengeneroustome!’
Atthelastmomentheraisedhishandsandsaid,‘ThereisnogodbutAllahandMuhammadisHisProphet.GlorybetoAllah,theExalted,theEverliving,glorybetoHim,theAll-Powerful,WhooverpowersHisservantsbydeath.’
Thenhegavealoudcryandsaid,‘Allah,Allah,Allah!’andhisblessedsoullefthisbody.
MayAllah’spleasurebeuponhissoulandmayhisspiritintercedeforthisfaqlr,thewriterofthesewords,andforthosewhoreadthem.
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AnAddresstotheReader
(FromaletterbyHadratcAbdul-Qadiral-JTlanl)
DearFriend,Yourheartisapolishedmirror.Youmustwipeitcleanoftheveilofdustwhichhasgathereduponit,becauseitisdestinedtoreflectthelightofdivinesecrets.
WhenthelightfromAllah(Who)isthelightoftheheavensandtheearth…beginstoshineupontheregionsofyourheart,thelampoftheheartwillbelit.Thelampoftheheartisinaglass,theglassisasitwereabrightlyshiningstar…Thenwithinthatheart,thelightning-shaftofdivinediscoveriesstrikes.Thislightning-shaftwillemanatefromthethundercloudsofmeaningneitheroftheEastnoroftheWest,litfromablessedolivetree…andthrowlightuponthetreeofdiscovery,sopure,sotransparentthatitshedslightthoughfredoesnottouchit.1Thenthelampofwisdomislitbyitself.HowcanitremainunlitwhenthelightofAllah’ssecretsshinesoverit?
Ifonlythelightofdivinesecretsshinesuponit,thenightskyofsecretsislitwiththousandsofstars…andbythestars(you)find(your)way…2Itisnotthestarsthatguideusbutthedivinelight.ForAllahhas…deckedthelowerheavenwithbeauty(in)thestars.3Ifonlythelampofdivinesecretsbekindledinyourinnerselftherestwillcome,eitherallatonceorlittlebylittle.Someyoualreadyknow,somewewilltellyouhere.Read,listen,trytounderstand.Thedarkskiesofunconsciousnesswillbelitbydivine
THESECRETOFSECRETS
AddresstotheReader
presenceandthepeaceandbeautyofthefullmoon,whichwillrisefromthehorizonsheddinglightuponlight*everrisinginthesky,passingthroughitsappointedstagesasAllahhas…ordainedfoiitMansions,5untilitshinesin
gloryinthecentreofthesky,dispersingthedarknessofheedlessness.(1swear)bythenightwhenitisstill6…Bythegloriousmorninglight…7yournightofunconsciousnesswillseethebrightnessoftheday.Thenyouwillinhaletheperfumeofremembranceandrepentintheearlyhoursofthemorningofunconsciousnessandregretyourlifespentinsleep.Youwillhearthesongsofthemorningnightingalesandyouwillhearthemsay
[heywereinthehabitofsleepingbutlittlebynight,andinthehoursofearlydawnthey(werefound)prayingforforgiveness?
AllahguidestoHislightwhomHepleases.10
ThenyouwillseefromthehorizonofDivineReasonthesunofinnerknowledgerising.Itisyourprivatesun,foryouaretheonewhomAllahguidesandareontherightpathandnottheoneHeleaveserror.”Andyouwillunderstandthesecretthat
Itisnotgiventothesuntocatchupwiththemoon,norcanthenightoutstriptheday.Eachswimsalongin(itsappointed)orbit.11
Finally,theknotwillbeuntiedinaccordancewiththeparableswhichAllahsetsforthformen,andAllahistheKnowerofallthings,1*andtheveilswillliftandshellswillshatter,revealingthefinebeneaththecoarse;thetruthwilluncoverherface.
Allthiswillbeginwhenthemirrorofyourheartiscleansed.ThelightofthedivinesecretswillfalluponitifyouarewillingandaskforHun,fromHim,withHim.
4SuraNur,35.
5SuraYaSin,39.
6SuraDuha,2.
7SuraDuha,1.
8SuraAl‘Imran,17.9SuraDhariyat,17-18.,0SuraNur,35.
11SuraA’raf,178.
12SuraYaSin,40.
13SuraNur,35.
NOTES
‘AlltheabovearequotedfromtheVerseofLight(SuraNuru)SuraNahl,16.
3SuraSafiat,6.
XLVIII
XI.IX
TheSecretofSecrets
INTRODUCTION
AllpraiseisduetoAllah,asHeisamunificent,graciousand.compassionateLord,WhohasgatheredallknowledgeinHisEssenceandWhoistheCreatorofallknowledgeforeternity.Thecause,thereasonofallexistenceisfromHisexistence.AllpraiseisduetoAllah,asHehassenttheGloriousQur’anthatbearsinitsessencethereasonforitsrevelation,whichistoremindmenofAllah;Hesentittotheguidewholeadsmenonthepathoftruthwiththemightiestofallreligions.AllpeaceandblessingsbeuponHisbelovedprophetMuhammad,whowasnottaughtbyman,butbyHim.HeisHislastprophet,thelastlinkinthechainofprophethoodwhowasbroughttoaworldgoneastray,themosthonouredamongHisprophets,honouredbythemosthonouredofdivinebooks.Hisprogenyareguidesforseekers,hiscompanionswerechosenamongthegoodandbenevolent.Mayabundantpeaceandblessingsbeupontheirsouls.
Certainlythemosthonourableofvaluablethings,thehighest,thepricelessjewel,themostprofitableobjectoftradeamongmen,isknowledge.OnlywithwisdomcanweattaintheunityofAllah,Lordofalltheuniverses.OnlywithwisdomcanweunderstandandfollowHismessengersandHisprophets,peaceandblessingsbeuponthem.Themenofknowledge,thewisemen,arethepure
3
THESECRETOFSECRETS
servantsofAllahwhomMehaschosentoreceivedivinemessages.HehaspreferredthemtoothermenbyvirtueofthegraceHehaspoureduponthem.TheyaretheheirsofHisprophets,theirdeputies,whomHismessengerschosetobemastersofmen.TheyareconnectedtoHisprophetswiththefinestof
feelingandwiththewisestofintelligence.
AllahMostHighpraisesthepossessorsofwisdominHisQur’an:
ThenWehavegiventheBookasaninheritancetothosewhomWehavechosenfromamongOurservants:Sosomeofthemarethosewhowrongthemselvesandsomeofthemarethosewhotakethemiddlecourse[whoseerrorsandgooddeedsareequal],andsomeofthemarethosewhoareforemostindeedsofgoodnessbyAllah’swill.Thatisthegreatestgrace.(SuraFatir,32)
ThenourMaster,theProphetofAllah(Godblesshimandgranthimpeace)praisesthem,saying,‘Theholdersofwisdomaretheheirsoftheprophets.Theinhabitantsoftheheavenslovethem,anduponthiseartheventhefishesintheseaspraisethemuntilDoomsday.’Inanotherverse,AllahMostHighcreditsthemenofknowledge,describingthemthus:
CertainlythoseofHisservantswhoarepossessedofknowledgefearHim.(SuraFatir,28)
OurMastertheProphet#,says,‘OnthedayoftheLastJudgmentAllahwillgathermentogether,thenseparatethewisemenfromamongthem,andsaytothem,“Opeopleofknowledge,IgaveyouMyknowledgebecauseIknowyou.Ididnotgiveyouwisdomtopunishyouonthisday.EnterMyParadise;Ihaveforgivenyou”.’
AllpraisebelongstoAllah,Lordoftheuniverses,forHehasgivenhighstationstoHisdevoutservantstoprotectthemfromsinandtosparethempunishment.Hehasblessedthewisebydrawingneartothem.
Someofourstudentsaskedustoprepareabookwhichwouldsufficethem.Incompliancewiththeirwishandtheirneedwehave
4
Introduction
preparedthisshortbook:mayithealandsatisfythemandothers.WenamedthisbookSirral-asrar/Tmdyahtdjuilayhial-abrar—‘TheSecretofSecretsofwhichtheRighteousareinNeed.’Inthisworktherealitieswithinourfaithandourpatharedivulged.Everyoneisinneedofthem.
Inpresentingthisworkwehavedivideditintotwenty-fourchaptersbecausetherearetwenty-fourlettersinthesacredconfessionofUnityLailahailiaLlah,MuhammadunrasuluLlah(‘ThereisnogodbutAllah;MuhammadistheMessengerofAllah’),andtherearetwenty-fourhoursinadayandanight.
ONTHEBEGINNINGOFCREATION
MayAllahaccordyousuccessinactswhichpleaseHimandmeetwithHisapproval.
Think,impressuponyourmindandunderstandwhatIsay.
AllahMostFlighfirstcreated,fromthedivinelightofHisownBeauty,thelightofMuhammadHedeclaresthisinadivinetraditionrelatedfromHimbytheProphetfifc
IhavecreatedthesoulofMuhammadfromthelightofmy
Manifestation(wajh).
ThisisdeclaredbyourMastertheMessengerofAllahinhiswords,‘Allahfirstcreatedmysoul.Hefirstcreateditasadivinelight;’‘AllahcreatedthePenfirst;’‘AllahfirstcreatedtheIntellect.’WhatismeantbyallthatismentionedashavingbeencreatedfirstisthecreationofthetruthofMuhammad,thehiddenrealityofMuhammadHeisalso[likehisLord]calledbymanybeautifulnames.HeiscalledN/7r,theDivineLight,becausehewaspurifiedofthedarknesshiddenundertheattributeofthemightandwrath(jaldl)ofAllah.AllahMostHighsaysinHisHolyQur’an:
TherehascometoyoufromAllahalightandaperspicuousBook.
(SuraMa’idah,15)
5
THESECRETOFSECRETS
HeiscalledtheTotalIntellect(caqlal-kull)becausehesawandunderstoodeverything.HeiscalledthePen(al-qalam)becausehespreadwisdomandknowledge,andhepouredknowledgeintotherealmofletters.
ThesoulofMuhammadistheessenceofallbeings,thebeginningandtherealityoftheuniverse.Heindicatesthiswiththewords,‘IamfromAllahandthebelieversarefromme’.AllahMostHighcreatedallsoulsfromhissoulintherealmofthefirstcreatedbeings,inthebestofforms.‘Muhammad’isthenameofallhumanityintherealmofsouls(‘dlamal-aiwdh).Heisthesource,thehomeofeachandeverything.
FourthousandyearsafterthecreationofthelightofMuhammad,AllahcreatedtheHeavenlyThrone(carsh)fromthelightoftheeyeofMuhammad.HecreatedtherestofcreationfromtheHeavenlyThrone.ThenHesentthesoulstodescendtothelowestlevelsofcreation,totherealmofthismaterialworld,totherealmofmatterandbodies.ThenWemakehimdescendtothelowestofthelow.(SuraTin,5).Hesentthatlightfromwhereitwascreated,fromtheUltimateRealm(‘Siamal-ldhut)—whichistherealmofthemanifestationofAllah’sEssence,ofunity,ofabsolutebeing—totherealmofthedivineNames,themanifestationofthedivineattributes,therealmofthecausalintelligenceoftheTotalSoul.ThereHedressedthesoulsinrobesoflight.Thesesoulsarecalled‘sultan-souls’.Clothedinlighttheydescendedtotherealmoftheangels.ThereHeclothedthemwiththebrilliantrobesofangels,theretheywerecalled‘spiritualsouls’.ThenHecausedthemtodescendtotheworldofmatter,ofwaterandfire,earthandether,andtheybecamehumansouls.Thenfromthis
worldHecreatedthebodiesofflesh.
FromitWecreatedyouandititoitWeshallreturnyou,andfromit
raiseyouasecondtime.(SuraTaHa,55)
Afterthesestages,Allahorderedthesoulstoenterintotheirbodies,andbyHiswilltheyentered.
6
Introduction
SowhenIhavemadehimcompleteandbreathedintohimofMySoul…(SuraSad,72)
Atimecamewhenthesesoulsstartedbindingthemselvestothefleshandforgottheirsourceandtheircovenant.TheyforgotthatwhenAllahcreatedthemintherealmofsoulsHehadaskedthemAmInotyourLord?andtheyhadanswered,Indeed!Theyforgottheirpromise,theyforgottheirsource,theirwaytoreturnhome;butAllahismerciful,thesourceofallhelpandsecurityforHiscreation.Hehadmercyuponthem,soHesentdivinebooksandmessengerstothemtoremindthemoftheirorigin.
AndcertainlyWesentMoseswithOurmessages[saying]:Bringforththepeoplefromdarknessintolight,andremindthemofthedaysofAllah…(SuraIbrahim,5)
Thatis,‘RemindthesoulsofthedayswhentheywereinunionwithAllah.’
Manymessengershavecometothisworld,fulfilledtheirduties,andpassedaway.Thepurposeofallwastobringmenthemessageandawakenpeopletoheedfulness.ButpeoplewhorememberedHim,whoturnedtowardHim,peoplewhowishedtoreturntotheirdivineorigin,peoplewhoarrivedattheirorigin,becamefewerandfewerwithtime.
TheprophetskeptcomingandthedivinemessagecontinueduntilthereappearedthegreatspiritofMuhammadjjSfc,thelastofthemessengerswhosavedpeoplefromdistraction.AllahMostHighsenthimtoopentheeyesoftheheartsoftheheedless.HispurposewastoawakenthemfromthesleepofunconsciousnessandtounitethemwiththeEternalBeauty,withtheCause,withtheEssenceofAllah.AllahsaysinHisHolyQur’an:
Say:Thisismyway.IcalltoAllahwiththecertaintyofinsight—Iandthosewhofollowme…(SuraYusuf,108)
toindicatethepathofourMastertheProphet
*
7
THESECRETOESECRETS
TheMessengerofAllah,toindicateourgoaltous,says,‘Mycompanionsarelikethestarsinthesky.Whicheverofthemyoufollow,youwillfindthetruepath.’
Thisinsightcomesfromtheeyeofthesoul.Thiseyeopensintheheart’sheartofthosewhoareclosetoAllah,whoareAllah’sfriends.Alltheknowledgeinthematerialworldwillnotprovidethisinsight:oneneedsaknowledgethatcomesfromthehiddenrealms,aknowledgewhichoverflowsfromdivineconsciousness:…whomWehadtaughtknowledgefromOurDivinePresence.(SuraKahf,65)
Whatisnecessaryformanistofindthosewhohaveinsight,whoseeyesoftheheartareopen,andtobeinspiredbythem.SuchateacherwhoinculcatesknowledgeintoonehastobeclosetoAllahandabletoseeintotheUltimateRealm.
OchildrenofAdam,brothersandsisters,wakeup,repent,forthroughrepentanceyouwillbeaskingyourLordforHiswisdom.Makeaneffortandstrive!Allahcommandsyou:
AndhastentoforgivenessfromyourLord,andaGardenaswideastheheavensandtheearth;itispreparedfortherighteous[whofearandloveAllah]:
77losewhospendineaseaswellasinadversityandthosewhorestrain[their]angerandpardonmen.AndAllahlovesthedoersofgood[toothers].(SuraAl‘Imran,133-34)
Enterthepath,jointhespiritualcaravantoreturntoyourLord.Soontheroadwillbecomeimpassable,andnotravellingcompanionwillbeleft.Wedidnotcometothisbase,minedworldtorest;wewerenotsentheretoeat,drinkanddefecate.ThespiritofourMaster,theProphetofAllah,iswatchingyou.Heispained,seeingyourstate.Lieknewwhatwouldcomewhenhesaid,‘Mypainisformybelovedpeoplewhowillcomeinlatertimes’.
Whatevercomestouscomesinoneoftwoforms,eitherevidentorhidden:evidentintheformofthepreceptsofthereligionorhiddenintheformofwisdom.AllahMostHighordersustorenderourexteriorbeingharmoniousbyfollowingthereligious
8
Introduction
preceptsandtoputourinnerbeinginorderthroughacquiringwisdom.Whentheouterandtheinnerbecomeoneandwisdomandreligionunite,onereachestheleveloftruth,likethefruittreethatfirstproducesleaves,thenbuds,andthenflowersthatbecomefruit.
Hehasmadetwoseastoflowfreely—theymeet:Betweenthemisa
barrierthattheycannotpass.(SuraRahman,19-20)
Thetwomustbecomeone.Truthcannotbeattainedonlythroughthetangibleknowledgeofthesenses,ofthematerialuniverse.Onecannotinthatwayreachthegoal,whichistheorigin,theEssence.Trueworshipnecessitatesbothreligionandwisdom.AllahMostHighsaysaboutworship:
AndIhavenotcreatedthejinnandmenexceptthattheyshould
worshipMe.(SuraDhariyat,56)
Inotherwords,‘theyarecreatedsothattheymightknowMe.’WhenonedoesnotknowHim,howcanonetrulypraiseHim,askHishelpandserveHim?
ThewisdomwhichoneneedsinordertoknowHimcanonlybeattainedbyliftingtheblackcurtaincoveringthemirrorofone’sheart,cleaningthatmirrorandshiningit.Thenthehiddentreasuresofdivinebeautymaybeginreflectinginthesecretoftheheart’smirror.
AllahMostHigh,speakingthroughHisbelovedProphet,says:‘Iwasahiddentreasure,Iwilledtobeknown,thereforeIcreatedCreation.’Consequently,thedivinepurposeinthecreationofmanisforhimtoacquirewisdom,toknowhisLord.
Therearetwolevelsofdivinewisdom.OneistoknowAl-lah’sattributesandmanifestationsandtheotheristoknowAl-lah’sEssence.InknowingAllah’s
attributesthematerialmantastesboththisworldandthehereafter.ButthewisdomwhichleadstotheknowledgeoftheEssenceofAllahisintheholyspiritinmanknowingthemysteriesofthehereafter.Allahconfirmsthis,saying:…andWestrengthenedhim[Jesus]withtheholy
9
THESECRETOFSECRETS
spirit…(SuraBaqara,87).ThosewhoknowtheEssenceofAllahfindthispowerthroughtheholyspiritthathasbeengiventothem.
Bothoftheseknowledgesareobtainedbyawisdomthatmusthavetwoaspects:theinnerspiritualwisdomandtheouterknowledgeofmanifestthings.Oneisinneedofbothtoattainthegood.TheProphetofAllahexplainsthemthus:‘Knowledgeisoftwoparts.Oneisinman’stongue,whichisaproofofAllah’sexistence.Iheotherisinman’sheart.Thisiswhatisnecessaryfortherealizationofourhopes.’
Manisfirstinneedofreligiousknowledge.ThisistheeducationinwhichoneistaughttheexteriormanifestationofAllah’sEssencereflectedinthisworldofattributesandnames.Afteronebecomesaccomplishedinthis,itistheturnoftheinnereducationinthesecretswherebyoneentersintotherealmsofdivinewisdomandcomestoknowthetruth.Atthefirststageonemustleaveeverythingthatisnotinaccordancewithreligiousprecepts.Infact,errorsmistakesingoodbehaviourandcharacter—mustbeeliminated,astheSufisrequire.Toachievethisonemustpracticedoingthingsagainstthewishesofone’sego,actswhicharedifficultforthedesiresofthefleshtoaccept.Butintheseeffortsonemustbeattentive,sothattheyarenotmadeforotherstoseeandhearabout.OnemustdothesethingsforAllah’ssake,seekingonlyHispleasure.Allahsays:
…50whoeverhopestomeethisLord,heshoulddogooddeedsand
associatenoneotherintheserviceofhisLord.(SuraKahf,no)
1herealmdescribedastherealmofwisdomisthefirst-createdUltimateRealm.Thatrealmistheorigin,thehometowhichoneaspirestoreturn.Thatiswheretheholyspiritwascreated.Whatismeantbytheholyspiritisthehumanspirit.Itwascreatedinthebestofforms.
ThattruthhasbeenplantedinthecentreoftheheartasAllah’strust,entrustedtoyouforsafekeeping.Itbecomesmanifestwithtruerepentanceandwiththetrueefforttolearnreligion.ItsbeautyshinesonthesurfacewhenoneremembersAllahcontinuously,
10
Introduction
repeatingtheConfessionofUnityLIilahailiaHah—‘ThereisnogodbutAllah’.AtthefirststageonerecitestheConfessionofUnitywithone’stongue;thenwhentheheartbecomesaliveonerecitesinternallywiththeheart.
TheSufisrefertothespiritualstatesbythenametifl,‘babe’,becausethatbabyisbornintheheartandisrearedandgrowsthere.Theheart,likeamother,givesbirth,suckles,feeds,rearsthechildoftheheart.Asworldlysciencesaretaughttochildren,thechildoftheheartistaughttheinnerwisdom.Asanordinarychildisnotyetsoiledwithworldlysins,thechildoftheheartispure,freefromheedlessness,egotismanddoubt.Thepurityofachildappearsoftenasphysicalbeauty;intheworldofdreamsthepurityoftheheart’schildappearsintheshapeofangels.OnehopestoenterParadiseasarewardforgooddeeds,butgiftsofParadisecomeherethroughthehandsofthechildoftheheart.
InGardensofbliss…roundaboutthemwillgoyouthsneveraltering
inage.(SuraWaqi‘a,12-17)
Androundthemgoboysoftheirs,asiftheywerehiddenpearls.(Sura
Tur,24)
Thesearethechildrenoftheheart,theinspiredstatesoftheSufis,called‘children’fortheirbeautyandpurity.Yettheyarebeautyandpuritypersonifiedinflesh,intheshapeofhumanbeings.Duetotheirsweetandgentlenaturetheyarethechildrenoftheheart,yetishethetruemanwhoisabletochangetheappearanceofcreationbecauseheisconnectedtotheCreator.Heisthetruerepresentativeofhumanity.Accordingtohimthereisnomatter,neitherdoesheconsiderhimselfmatter.Thereisnoveil,nohindrance,betweenhisbeingandtheEssenceofAllah.
OurMastertheProphetexplainsthisstate,‘IhaveatimewithAllah.Atthatmomentnothingcancomebetweenus,neithertheangelclosesttoHimnora
prophet.’The‘prophet’whocannotenterbetweenourMasterandAllahisthematerial,temporalexistenceoftheProphethimself.TheangelclosesttoAllahisthe
11
4
THESECRETOFSECRETS
divineLightofMuhammad,thefirstcreation.InthatinspiredstateheissoclosetohisLordthatneitherhismaterialexistencenorevenhissoulcancomebetweenthem.TheProphetdescribesthetimeofthatinspiredstate,saying,‘ThereisaparadiseofAllahwheretherearenopalaces,norgardens,norriversofhoneyandmilk,aparadisewhereonegazesonlyatthedivinecountenance.’Allahconfirmsthis:[Some]facesthatdaywillbebright,lookingtotheirLord,(SuraQiyama,22-23)andtheProphetsays,‘OnthatdayyouwillseeyourLordasclearasthefullmoon.’Butthisisastatethat,ifanycreatedbeing,evenanangel,shouldapproach,hismaterialbeingwouldburntoashes.AllahspeaksthroughHisProphet
IfIpartedtheveilsofmyattributeofMightamerecrack,allwould
burnasfarasMyeyecansee.
ThearchangelGabrielJ5j>,whoaccompaniedtheProphet^inhisAscensiontotheseventhheaven,saidthatifhetookonestepfurtherhewouldbesetaflame.
12
CHAPTERONE
MansReturnHometotheOriginalSource
Manisconsideredfromtwopointsofview:hismaterialbeingandhisspiritualbeing.Intheappearanceofmaterialbeingeveryoneismoreorlessequal.Therefore,inthisrespect,onemayapplytohumanitygenerallaws.Inhisspiritualbeing,hiddenbehindhisappearance,eachpersonisdifferent.Thereforespecialprivatelawsapplytohim.
Man,inaccordancewithgenerallaws,byfollowingcertainstepscanreturntohisorigin.Totakethesesteps,hefollowstheevidentordinancesofourreligionasaguide;followingthem,headvances.Risingfromleveltolevelhemayreachthestageofthespiritualpath,passingintotherealmofwisdom.Thatisaveryhighstate.
TheProphet^praisesthisstate,saying,‘Thereisastateinwhichallandeverythingisgathered—anditisthedivinewisdom.’
Toreachthatlevel,onefirsthastoabandonfalseappearancesandthehypocrisyofdoingthingssothatothersmightseeorhear.Thenonemustsetforoneselfthreegoals.Thesethreegoalsareactuallythreeparadises.ThefirstiscalledMa’wd—theparadiseofthesecurityofhome.Thatistheearthlyparadise.ThesecondiscalledNacTm—thegardenofthedelightofAllah’sgraceuponHis*creatures,whichistheparadisewithintheangelicrealm.ThethirdiscalledFirdaws—theheavenlyparadise.Thatistheparadiseinthe
13
THESECRETOFSECRETS
realmoftheunityofthecausalmind,homeofthesouls,ofthedivineNamesandattributes.Thesearetherewards,thebeautiesofAllahwhichthematerialmanwilltasteinhiseffortsinthethreesuccessivestagesofknowledge:effortsinfollowingthereligiousprecepts(shortca)\effortsineliminatingthemultiplicityinhimself,fightingthecauseofthismultiplicitywhichishisego,inordertoreachthestateofunityandcomeclosetohisCreator(fartqa)\andfinally,inhiseffortstoreachthestateofdivinewisdom(macrifa)wherebyhewillcometoknowhisLord.
TheProphetattheconclusionofthepreviouslymentionedtradition,‘Thereisastateinwhichallandeverythingisgatheredanditisthedivinewisdom,’says:‘Withitonelearnsthetruth,whichgatherswithinitselfallcausesandallgood.Thenonemustactuponthistruth.OnemustalsoknowfalsehoodandactuponIt,abandoningallofit.’Andhesays,‘OLord,showusthetruthandmakeitourlottofollowit,andteachusthatwhichisfalseandmakeiteasyforustoavoidit.’And,‘Hewhoknowshisselfandopposesitswrongdesirestruly,comestoknowhisLord,andfollowsHiswishes.’
Thesearethegeneralruleswhichapplytothematerialbeingofman.Thenthereisthespiritualbeingofman,orthespiritualman,whoiscalledthepureman.HisgoalistotalclosenesstoAllah.Theonlywaytothisendistheknowledgeoftruth(haqtqa).Inthefirst-createdrealmoftheabsolutebeingofoneness,thisknowledgeiscalledUnity.
Onemayhopetoreachthegoalofthispathinthisworldlylife.Inthatstatethereisnodifferencebetweenbeingawakeandbeingasleep,sinceinsleepthesoulmayfindoccasiontoescapetoitstruehome,therealmofthesouls,andcomebackandbringnews.Thiswecallthetruedream.Thiseventcanbepartial,asinthecaseofdreams;itcanalsobetotal,asinthecaseoftheAscensionoftheProphetAllahconfirmsthis:
Allahtakes(men’s)soulsatthetimeoftheirdeath,andthosethatdienot,duringtheirsleep.ThenHewithholdsthoseonwhomHehaspassedthedecreeofdeath,andsendstheothersbacktillanappointed
14
Man’sReturnHometotheOriginalSource
term.Surelytherearesigtisinthisforapeoplewhorefect.(SuraZumar,42)
IhePiophetindicatesthisstatebysaying,‘Thesleepofthewiseismoreworthythantheworshipoftheignorant.’Thewisearethosewhohaveacquiredtheknowledgeoftruththathasnoletters,nosound.ThatknowledgeisreceivedthroughthecontinuousrepetitionofthedivineNameofUnitywiththesecrettongue.Thewisearethosewhosecoreisturnedintodivinelightbythelightofunity.
AllahspeaksthroughHisProphetandsays:
ManisMysecretandIamhissecret.Theinnerknowledgeofthespiritualessence(%nal-bdtin)isasecretofMysecrets.
OnlyIputthisintotheheartofMygoodservant,andnonemayknowhisstateotherthanMe.
and:
IamasMyservantknowsMe.WhenheseeksMeandlemembersMe,Iamwithhim.Ifheseeksmeinwardly,IseekhimwithMyEssence.IfheremembersandmentionsMeingoodcompany,IrememberanddeclarehimasMygoodservantinbettercompany.
Inallthatissaidhere,theonlywaytosatisfyone’swishismeditationthatmeansofknowledgewhichthecommonman*usessoseldom.YettheProphetofAllahggsaid,‘Amoment’sreflectionisworthmorethanayearofworship’.‘Amoment’sreflectionisworthmorethanseventyyearsofworship’.‘Amoment’sreflectionisworthmorethanathousandyearsofworship.’
Thevalueofeveryactionishiddenintheessenceoftruth.Theactofa
moment’smeditationhereappearstohavethreedifferentvalues:
Whoevercontemplatesanaffairandseeksitscausefindsthateachofitspaitshasmanypartsofitsown,andfindsthateachoftheseisthecauseofmanyotherthings.Thisisacontemplationthatisworthayear’sworship.
15
THESECRETOFSECRETS
Whoevercontemplateshisdevotionsandseeksthecauseandreasonandcomestoknowit,hismeditationisworthseventyyearsofworship.
WhoevercontemplatesthedivinewisdomwithastrongwishtoknowAllahMostHigh,hismeditationisworthathousandyearsofworship,forthisisthetrueknowledge.
Trueknowledgeisthestateofunity.ThewiseloveruniteswithhisBeloved.Fromthismaterialrealm,flyingwithspiritualwingshesoarstotherealmofattainment,forthedevoutwalktoParadisewhilethewiseflytotherealmsclosetotheirLord.
Lovershaveeyesintheirhearts.
Theysee,whileothersarestaringblind.
Suchwingstheyhave,notoffleshandblood.
Theyflytowardsangels,theirLordtofind!
Thisflightoccursintheinnerworldofthewise.Theyreceivethehonourofbeingcalledtruemen,thebelovedonesofAllah,IIisintimates,Hisbrides.ThesaintBayazldal-Bistaml,mayAllahsanctityhissecret,says,Theholdersof
wisdomarethebridesofAllahMostHigh/OthersaswelldescribethembysayingthatthosewhocomeclosetoAllahbecomethebridesofAllah.
Onlythelovingpossessorsofbridesknowthemintimately.ThesewiseservantswhobecomeintimatesofAllah,thoughbeautiful,arecoveredbytheappearanceofordinarymen.AllahspeaksthroughHisProphetsaying:‘MyintimatesarehiddenunderMydomes.NonecanrecognizethembutMe/ThedomesunderwhichAllahhidesHisfriendsaretheirundistinguished,ordinaryappearances.Whenonelooksatabridecoveredbyherweddingveil,whatcanoneseebuttheveil?
YahyaibnMu‘adhal-RazI,mayAllahsanctifyhissecret,says,‘ThebelovedofAllaharetheperfumeofAllahuponthisworld,butonlythetrue,sincerebelievershavenosestosmellthem/Theysmellthatbeautifulperfume;theyfollowthatsmell.ThatperfumecreatesayearningintheirheartsfortheirLord.Eachinhisownwayincreaseshispace,hisefforts,hisdevotion.Thedegreeofhis
16
Man’sReturnHometotheOriginalSource
yearning,hiswishandthespeedofhispaceareinproportiontohislightness,tohishavingshedtheweightofhisworldlyself.Forthemoreonetakesoft’thecoarseclothingofthisworld,themoreonefeelsthewarmthofone’sCreatorandtheclosertothesurfaceinnerbeingcomes.Closenesstothetruthisinrelationtotheamountoffalsemateriallyonehasthrownaway.Ingivingawayonesmultipleaspectsonecomesclosertotheonlytruth.
TheintimateofAllahishewhohasbroughthimselftonothingness.Onlythencanheseetheexistenceofthetruth.Thereisnowillleftinhimtochoose.Thereisno‘I’leftotherthantheonlyexistence,whichisthetruth.Althoughallmannerofmiracleshavecomethroughhimtoprovethisstate,hehasnothingtodowiththem.Inhisstatethereisnodisclosureofsecrets,becausedivulgingthe
secretofdivinityisinfidelity.
InabookcalledMirsaditiswritten,‘Allmenthroughwhommiraclesappearareveiledfromandunconcernedabouttheirstates.Forthem,thetimeswhenmiraclesappearareconsideredtobeliketheperiodsofmenstruationforwomen.SaintswhoareintimatewithAllahhavetotravelthroughatleastathousandstages,thefirstofwhichisthedoorofmiracles.Onlythosewhoareabletopassthroughthisdoorunharmedcanreachtheotherstages.Iftheybecomeinvolved,theywillgetnowhere/
i7
CHAPTERTWO
TheDescentofMantotheLowestoftheLow
AllahMostHighcreatedtheholyspiritasthemostperfect.creationinthefirst-createdrealmoftheabsolutebeingofHisEssence;thenHewilledtosendittolowerrealms.HisreasoninthatwastoteachtheholyspirittoseekthewaybacktothetruthontheleveloftheAll-Powerful,toseekitspreviousclosenessandintimacywithAllah.HesenttheholyspirittothestationofHismessengersandsaintsandloversandfriends.OnitswayAllahsentitfirsttotherealmoftheCausalMind,ofunity,oftheTotalSoul,therealmofHisdivineNamesandattributes,therealmofthetruthofMuhammadTheholyspirithadwithittheseedofunity.Asitpassedthroughthisrealmitwasgiventheclothingofdivinelightandwasnamedthesultan-soul.Asitpassedthroughtherealmofangels,whichisthemediumofdreams,itreceivedthename‘movingsoul*.WhenitfinallydescendedtothisworldofmatteritwasdressedintheclothingoffleshthatAllahcreatedtofititsbeing.Itwasclothedwithcoarsematterinordertosavethisworld,becausethematerialworld,ifithaddirectcontactwiththeholyspirit,wouldburntoashes.Inrelationtothisworld,itcametobeknownaslife,thehumansoul.
Thepurposeofthespirit’scomingtothislowestofcreatedrealmsisthatitshouldseektoreturntoitspreviousclosenesswhileinits
18
TheDescentofMantotheLowestoftheLow
actualformoffleshandbone:thatitshouldcometothisrealmofcoarsematterand,bymeansoftheheartwhichisinsidethiscorpse,planttheseedofunityandgrowthetreeofunitytherein.(Therootsofthattreearewheretheyhavealways
been;itsbranchesfillthevoidofbliss,andthere,forthepleasureofAllah,bearthefruitsofunity.)Thenintheearthoftheheartthespiritplantedtheseedofreligionandwishedtogrowthetreeofreligion,inordertoobtainfruits,eachofwhichwouldraiseittolevelsclosertoAllah.
Allahmadebodiesforthesoulstoenter,andforthesesouls,eachofwhichhasadifferentname,Hebuiltfittingspaceswithinthebodies.Heplacedthehumansoul,thesouloflife,betweenthefleshandtheblood.Heplacedtheholyspiritwithinthecentreoftheheart,wherehebuiltaspaceoffinemattertokeepthatsecretbetweenAllahandHisservant.Thesesoulsareindifferentpartsofthebody,withdifferentduties,withdifferentbusinesses;each,asifbybuyingandsellingdifferentgoods,obtainsdifferentbenefits.TheirbusinessalwaysbringsthemplentyintheformofAllah’sbountyandblessings.
OutofwhatWehaveprovidedforthem,secretlyandopenly,(they)hopeforcommercethatwillneverfail.(SuraFatir,29)
Itbefitseveryhumanbeingtoknowhisbusinesswithinthisuniverseofhisownexistence,andtounderstanditspurpose.Hemustunderstandthathecannotchangewhateverisjudgedrightforhimandhungaroundhisneck.Oftheonewhowishestochangehislot,whoistiedtothisworldandambitiousforit,Allahasks:
Knowshenotwhenthatwhichisinthegravesisraised\andthatwhichisinthebreastsismademanifest?(SuracAdiyat,9-10)
AndWehavemadeeveryman’sactionstoclingtohisneck…(SuraBan!Isra’Il,13)
19
CHAPTERTHREE
ThePlacesoftheSoulswithintheBody
Theplaceofthehumansoul,thesouloflife,withinthebodyisthebreast.Thatplaceisconnectedtothesenses.Itsbusinessisreligion;itsworkistofollowAllah’sprecepts.WiththesepreceptsAllahkeepsthevisibleworldinharmonyandorder.Thatsoul,actingupontheobligationssetbyAllah,doesnotclaimitsactionsasitsown,foritisnotseparatefromAllah,itsactionsarefromAllah:thereisnoseparationbetweenitandAllahinitsactionsanddevotions.
TomeethisLordlethimworkrighteousnessandintheworshipofhisLordadmitnooneaspartner.(SuraKahf,iio)
AllahisOneandHelovesthatwhichisunitedandone.Hewantsallworshipandallrighteousacts,whichHeconsidersasdevotion,tobelongtoHimselfalone.Thereforeamanshouldnottakeotherpeople’sapprovalorrejectionintoconsiderationinhisactions;neithershouldhisactionsbeforworldlybenefit.TheyshouldbesolelyforAllah’ssake.InspiredstatessuchasseeinginthisvisibleworldtheproofofAllah’sexistence—manifestationofHisattributes,theunitywithinthemultiplicity,thetruthbehindappearances—andclosenesstoone’sCreator,aretherewardsfortheseselflessrighteousactsanddevotions.Yetallthesestillbelong
20
‘ThePlacesoftheSoulswithintheBody
*
tothisworldofmatter,fromthegroundunderone’sfeetuptotheheavens.Soalsotothisworldbelongthemiraclesthatmayappearthroughone:walkingonwater,flyingintheair,travellinggreatdistancesinaveryshorttime,hearingsounds,seeingimagesfromfarawayplaces,knowinghiddenthoughts.Asarewardforrighteousactions,onemayalsohopetofindrewardsinthehereafter—palacesofParadise,youngmanservants,eternalvirginsascompanions,milk,honey,wineandalltheotherbenefitsofParadise.YetallthesearebountiesofthefirstlevelofParadise,theearthlyparadise.
Theplaceofthe‘movingsoul’isintheheart;itsbusinessiswiththeknowledgeofthespiritualpath.ItsworkdealswiththefirstfouroftheBeautifulNamesoftheEssenceofAllah.AsintherestofthetwelveNamesoftheEssence,thesefourNameshaveneithersoundnorletters—thustheycannotbepronounced.AllahMostHighindicatesthis:
Say:CallonAllahorcallontheBeneficent.Bywhatever(name)
youcallonHim,HehastheMostBeautifulNames.(SuraBan!
Isra’Il,iio)
AndAllah’saretheMostBeautifulNames,socallonHim
thereby…(SuraA‘raf,180)
Allah’sverywordspointtowhatshouldbeman’sprincipaloccupation:toknowthedivineNames.Thisistheknowledgeofone’sinnerbeing.Ifoneobtainedthatknowledge,onewouldreachthelevelofdivinewisdom.ThatiswheretheknowledgeoftheNameofUnityiscomplete.
OurMastertheProphetsaysofthedivineNames,‘AllahMostHighhasninety-nineNames.WhoeverlearnsthementersParadise’.Healsosays,‘Knowledgeisone.Thenmenofknowledgemadeitathousand.’ThismeansthattheNamewhichbelongstotheEssenceisonlyone;itisreflectedasathousandattributesinthosewhoreceiveit.
ThetwelvedivineNamesarewithintheoriginoftheConfessionofUnity,La
ildhailiaLlah,‘ThereisnogodbutAllah’.Eachofthem
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THESECRETOFSECRETS
isinoneofthetwelvelettersinthisphrase.AllahMostIIighhasgivenanindividualNametoeachletterinthedevelopmentoftheheart.EachofthefourrealmsthroughwhichthesoulpassesalsohasthreedifferentNames.AllahMostHighinthiswayholdstheheartsoftheloversfirmlyinlove.Hesays:
Allahwillestablishinstrength(thehearts)ofthosewhobelievewiththewordthatstandsfirminthisworldandintheHereafter.(SuraIbrahim,27)
ThenHegivesthemthegiftofHisintimacy.Hesetsthetreeofunityintheirhearts,thattreewhoserootsdescendtotheseventhLevelbeneathusandwhosebranchesspreadtothesevenheavensaboveusuptothedivineThroneandperhapsstillhigher.Allahsays:
SeestthounothowAllahsetsforthaparableofagoodwordasagoodtree,whoserootisfirmandwhosebranchesarehigh?(SuraIbrahim,
24)
Theplaceofthe‘movingsoul’iswithinthelifeoftheheart.Theangelicrealmisconstantlywithinitsview.Itcanseetheparadisesofthatrealm,itsinhabitants,itslight,andalltheangelswithinit.Thespeechofthe‘movingsoul’isthespeechoftheinnerworld,withoutwords,withoutsound.Itsthoughtsconstantlyconcernthesecretsofthehiddenmeanings.ItsplaceintheHereafter,uponitsreturn,istheparadiseofNa‘Tm,thegardenofthedelightsofAllah’sgrace.
Theplaceofthesultan-soul,whereitreigns,isthecentreoftheheart,theheartoftheheart.Thebusinessofthissoulisdivinewisdom.Itsworkistoknowallofdivineknowledge,whichisthemediumoftruedevotionrecitedinthelanguageoftheheart.TheProphet^explainsthis.‘Knowledgeisintwosections.Oneisinman’stongue,whichistheconfirmationofAllah’sexistence.Theotherisinman’sheart.Thatistheonenecessaryfortherealizationofman’sgoal.’Thetrulybeneficialknowledgeisonlywithintheframeworkoftheheart’sactivity.AstheProphet££says,‘TheHolyQur’anhasanoutermeaningandaninnermeaning.’AllahMost
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ThePlacesoftheSoulswithintheBody
HighrevealedtheHolyQur’anintenlayersofhiddenmeaning.Eachsuccessivemeaningismorebeneficialthantheonebefore,becauseitisclosertothesourceoftruth.ThetwelvedivineNamesbelongingtotheEssenceofAllaharelikethetwelvefountainswhichgushedforthfromthestonewhentheprophetMoses(peacebeuponhim)hititwithhisstaff’
AndwhenMosesprayedforwaterforhispeople,Wesaid:Strikeitwiththystaff.Sothereflowedfromittwelvesprings.Eachtribeknewitsdrinkingplace…(SiiraBaqara,60)
Theouterknowledgeofappearancesislikerainwater,whichcomesandgoes,whiletheinnerknowledgeislikeafountainwhosesourceneverdriesup.Allahsays:
Andasigntothemisthedeadearth:Wegivelifetoitandbringforthfromitgrain50theyeatofit.(SuraYaSin,33)
Allahhascreatedagrain,aseedintheskies.Thatseedbecamethestrengthoftheanimalinman.AndHehascreatedaseedintherealmofthesouls(cdlamal-anfus):thatisthesourceofstrength,thefoodofthesoul.Ihatgrainiswateredbythesourceofwisdom.AstheProphetsays,‘Ifsomeonespendsfortydaysinsincerityandpurity,thesourceofwisdomwillgushfromhishearttohistongue.’Thebenefitofthesultan-soulistheraptureandlovethatitfeelswatchingthemanifestationofAllah’sbeauty,grace,andperfection.AsAllahconfirms:
OneMightyinPowerhastaughthim,
TheLordofStrength.Soheattainedperfection,
Andheisinthehighestpartofthehorizon.
Thenhedrewnear,drewyetnearer,
SothathewasthemeasureoftwobowsorcloserstillSoHerevealedtoHisservantwhatHerevealed.
Theheartwasnotuntrueinseeingwhathesaw.
(SuraNajm,5-11)
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1heProphet^describesthisstateinanotherway:‘Thefaithfulisthemirrorofthefaithful’.Inthisphrase,thefirst‘faithful’istheheartoftheperfectbeliever,andthesecond‘faithful’,whichisreflectedupontheheartofthebeliever,isAllahMostHighHimself.AllahgivesHimselftheNameof‘Faithful’inHisQur’an:
HeisAllahbesideswhomthereisnogod…TheFaithful,[Guardian
oftheFaith],theGuardianoverall.(SuraHashr,23)
Thehomeofthesultan-soulinthehereafterisFirdaws—theheavenlyparadise.
1hestationwheretheholyspiritreignsisthesecretplacethatAllahmadeforHimselfinthecentreoftheheartwhereHedepositedHisSecret(sirr)forsafekeeping.ThestateofthissoulisdescribedbyAllahspeakingthroughHisProphet#:‘ManisMysecretandIamthesecretofman.’Itsbusinessisthetruthwhichisobtainedbyachievingunity;thatisitswork.Itbringsmultiplicityintounitybycontinuouslyrecitingthenamesofunityinthelanguageofthedivinesecret.Thisisnotanaudibleexteriorlanguage.
Andifyouutterthesayingaloud,surelyHeknowsthesecretand
whatisyetmorehidden.(SuraTaHa,7)
OnlyAllahhearsthelanguageoftheholyspirit,onlyAllahknowsitsstate.
Thebenefitofthissoulisthevisionofthefirst-createdcreation.WhatitseesisAllahsbeauty.Toitbelongsthesecretvision.Seeingandhearingbecomeone.Thereisnocomparison,thereisnoresemblancetoanythinginwhatitsees.ItseesAllah’sattributesofmightandwrathasonewithHisattributesofbeauty,graceandmercy.
Whenmanfindshisgoal,hishome,ashefindsthecausalintelligence,hisworldlymindthatledhimuntilthencomesunderitscommand,hisheartisinawe,histongueistied.FiehasnopowertogivethenewsofthesestatesbecauseAllahisexemptfromanyresemblancetoanythingconceivable.
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ThePlacesoftheSoulswithintheBody
Whenwhatissaidherereachestheearsoftheoneswhoknow,letthemfirsttrytounderstandtheleveloftheirknowledge.Letthembringalltheirattentiontothetruerealityofthethingstheyknowbeforetheyraisetheireyestothefurtherhorizons,beforetheyseektoreachnewheights,thattheymayreachtheleveloftheknowledgeofdivineprovidence.Maytheynotdenywhathasbeensaid,butseekthewisdomtofindunity,oneness.Fhatisessential.
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CHAPTERFOUR
OnKnowledge
Outerknowledgeofthingsthatareself-evidentisdividedintotwelvesections,andinnerknowledgeisalsointwelvesections.Theseportionsaredividedamongthecommonpeopleandthespecial,pureservantsofAllahinproportiontotheirpotential.
Forourpurposesthesesciencesareinfoursections.Thefirstconcernsthepreceptsofthereligionregardingobligationsandinterdictionsrelatedtothingsandactionsofthisworld.Thesecondconcernstheinnermeaningandreasonfortheseprecepts,andiscalledthescienceoftheconceptualknowledgeofthingsthatarenotself-evident,themysticalsciences.Thethirdconcernsthehiddenspiritualessenceitself,whichiscalledwisdom.Thefourthconcernstheinneressenceofthisessence,whichisthetruth.Theperfectmanmustlearnandknowalloftheseandfindpathsleadingtothem.
OurMastertheProphetsaid,‘Thereligionisatree:mysticismisitsbranches,wisdomisitsfoliage,truthisitsfruit.TheHolyQur’an,withitscommentaries,explanations,interpretationsandanalogies,containsthemall/InthebookaLMajmacthewordstafsir,‘commentary’,andta’wtl,‘interpretationthroughanalogies’,aredefinedthus:‘CommentaryontheQur’anisclarificationandelaborationfortheunderstandingofthecommonpeople,whileinterpretationthroughanalogyisclarificationoftheinnermeaning
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OnKnowledge
throughinspiredreflectionsexperiencedbythetruebeliever.SuchinterpretationisforthosespecialservantsofAllahwhoarefirmlyestablished,constantintheirspiritualstateandwell-groundedintheknowledgethatenablesthemtoformtruejudgments.Likethedate-treewhoserootsarefirmintheground,theirfeetarefirminthismaterialworld;andagainlikethedate-tree,whosefrondsreachhighintothesky,theirheartsandmindsareraisedtoheavenlyknowledge.’BythegraceofAllahthisconstancythatcontainsnodoubtsisplacedinthecentreoftheirhearts.TheheartfirminthisstateislikenedtothesecondhalfoftheConfessionofUnityLailahailiaLldh,‘ThereisnogodbutAllah’—iliaLldh,‘onlyAllah’,isthefinalconfirmationofunity.
HeitisWhohasrevealedtheBooktothee;someofitsversesaredecisive—theyarethebasisoftheBook—andothersareallegorical.Thenthoseinwhoseheartsisperversityfollowthepartofitwhichisallegorical,seekingtomislead,andseekingtogiveit(theirown)interpretation.AndnoneknowsitsinterpretationsaveAllahandthosefirmlyrootedinknowledge(al-rasikhun).Theysay:Webelieveinit,itisallfromourLord.Andnonearemindfulexceptmenofunderstanding.(SuraAlcImran,7)
ThewriterofagreatcommentaryontheQur’ansaysaboutthisverse,‘Ifthedoorinthisversewouldopen,allthedoorsoftheinnersecretrealmwouldopentoo’.
ThetrueservantofAllahisobligedtofulfillAllah’sordersandtoabstainfromwhatHeforbids.Heisalsoobligedtoopposehisegoandthelowerdictatesofhisflesh.Thebasicoppositionoftheegotoreligionisintheformofimaginationandillusionscontrarytoreality.Onthelevelofmysticism,thetreacherousegoencouragesonetoagreewithandtofollowcausesandpropositionsthatareonlyclosetotruth,eventofollowpropheticmessagesanddeclarationsofsaintsthathavebeendistortedandtofollowfalseteachersandideas.Onthelevelofwisdom,theegotriestopushonetoclaimsainthood,evendivinity—theworstsinofsettingoneselfupasapartnertoAllah.Allahsays:Seestthousuchaone
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OnKnowledge
T
astakethforhisgodhisownpassion(orimpulse)...(SuraFurqan
43).
Buttheleveloftruthisdifferent.NeithertheegonortheDevilcanreachthere—noteventheangelssetfootthere.AnyonebutAllahwhoapproachedtherewouldburntoashes,astheangelGabrielsaidtotheProphetattheedgeofthatlevel,whenhedeclared‘IfItakeanotherstep,Iwillburntoashes’.
ThetrueservantofAllahisfreefromtheoppositionofhisegoandtheDevil,becauseheisprotectedbyashieldofsincerityandpurity.
He[theaccursedDevil]said:ThenbyThyMight!Iwillsurelyleadthemastray,exceptThyservantsfromamongthemwhoaresincereandpure.(SuraSad,82-83)
Mancannotattainthetruthunlessheispure,becausehisworldlyattributeswillnotleavehimuntiltheessenceismanifestedinhim.Thisistruesincerity.HisignorancewillonlyleavehimwhenhereceivestheknowledgeofAllah’sEssence.Onecannotobtainthiswitheducation;onlyAllah,withoutintermediaries,canteachit.WhenAllahMostHighisHimselftheteacher,He
givesoneknowledgefromHimself,asHedidfortheprophetKhidr.Thenman,withtheconsciousnessofwhathehasreceived,reachesthelevelofdivinewisdom,whereheknowshisLordandworshipsHimWhomheknows.
OnewhoreachesthisstatehasthevisionoftheholyspiritandcomestoseetheBelovedofAllah,MuhammadHetalkswithhimaboutallandeverythingfromthebeginningtotheend,andalltheotherprophetsgivehimthegoodtidingsofthepromiseofunionwiththeBeloved.Allahdescribesthisstate:
AndwhoeverobeysAllahandtheMessenger,theyarewiththoseuponwhomAllahhasbestowedfavoursfromamongtheprophetsandthetruthfulandthefaithfulandtherighteous,andagoodlycompanyarethey!(SuraNisa’,69)
Onewhocannotfindthisknowledgeinhisbeingwillnotbecomewiseevenifhereadsamillionbooks.Thebenefitforwhichone
28
mayhopeinacquiringtheouterknowledgeofself-evidentthingsisperhapsParadise:thereallthatwillbeseenisthemanifestation0fdivineattributesinshapesoflight.Nomatterhowperfecthisknowledgeofthevisibleandconceivablemaybe,itwillnothelpmantoenterintothesanctityofthesacredplace,theplaceclosetoAllah,foronehastoflytothatplaceandtoflyoneneedstwowings.ThetrueservantofAllahistheonewhofliestothatrealmwiththewingsoftheouterandtheinnerknowledge,neverstoppingontheway,neverbeingdistractedbyanythinginhisflight.Allah,speakingthroughHisProphetsays:
Myservant,ifyouwishtoenterthesanctuaryofMyintimacy,donotpayattentioneithertothisworldortothehigherworldoftheangels,noteventothehigherrealmswhereyoumayreceiveMydivineattributes.
Thismaterialworldisthetemptation,thedevil,ofthemanofknowledge.Theangelicrealmisthetemptationofthewise,andtherealmofthedivineattributesisthetemptationoftheonewhoiscognizantofthetruth.Whoeverissatisfied
withoneofthemisrejectedfromAllah’sgraceofbringinghimclosetoHisEssence.Iftheygiveintothesetemptations,theystop,theydonotadvance,theysoarnohigher.ThoughtheirgoalwastobeclosetotheirCreator,theycannotreachthereanylonger.Theybecomedistracted;theyaretheoneswithasinglewing.
Theonewhobecomesawareoftruthreceivessuchgrace,suchgiftsfromAllahthatnoworldlyeyehasseenthelike,noranyworldlyearheardit,norworldlyheartknownitsnames.Thisistheparadiseofintimacy.Thereareneitherpalacesofjewels,norever-beautifulmaidensascompanionsthere.Maymanknowhisownworthandnotwantnorclaimthatwhichisnothisdue!Hadrat‘All,mayAllahbepleasedwithhim,says:‘MayAllahshowerHisBeneficenceupontheonewhoknowshisworth,whoknowstostaywithinhisbounds,whowatcheshistongue,whodoesnotspendthislifeinidleness.’
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THESECRETOFSECRETS
r
Themanwhoknowsmustbeawarethatthechildofthespiritwhichisborninhisheartisthemeaningoftruehumanity:thatisthetruehumanbeing.Heshouldeducatethechildoftheheartteachingunitythroughconstantlybeingawareofunity—leavingthisworldofmatterandofmultiplicity,seekingthespiritualworldtheworldofmysteries,wherethereisnoneotherthantheEssenceofAllah.Inrealitythereisnootherplacebutthatplace,whichhasnoend,nobeginning.Thechildofth!8heartsoarsoverthatinfinitefieldseeingthingsthatnonehaveseenbefore,nonecouldtellof,nonecoulddescribe.ThatplaceisthehomeofthosewholeftthemselvesbehindandfoundunitywiththeirLord,whosawwhattheysawwiththesameeyeastheirLord,theeyeofunity
WhentheyseethebeautyandthegraceoftheirLordthereisnothingoftheirtemporalbeingleftinthem.Ifonelooksatthesunonecanseenothingelse,neithercanoneseeoneself.WhenAllah’sbeautyandgracearemanifest,whatcouldbeleftofoneself?Nothing.
Jesussaid,‘Manhastobeborntwicetoreachtherealmoftheangels,likethebirdswhoareborntwice.’Itisthebirthofthemeaningfromtheact,thebirthofthespiritfromtheflesh.Thatpossibilityisinman.Thatisthemystery,thesecretofman.Itisbornoftheintercourseofman’sknowledgeofthereligionandman’sawarenessofthetruth,asallchildrenarebornoftheunionoftwodropsofwater.
VerilyWecreatedmanfromadropofseminalfluid,inordertotry
him.SoWegavehim(thegifts)ofhearingandsight.(SuraInsan,
2)
Whenmeaningbecomesmanifestinbeing,itbecomeseasytopassthroughtheshallowsintotheseaofcreationandtoimmerseoneselfinthedepthofAllah’scommandments.Allofthematerialuniversesarebutadropincomparisontotheseaofthespiritualworld.Itisonlywhenallthisisunderstoodthatthespiritualpowerandlightofthemysteriesofdivinenature,therealtruth,emanateintotheworldwithoutwordsandwithoutsound.
CHAPTERFIVE
OnRepentanceandOnTeachingbytheWord
Certainlevelsandstagesinman’sspiritualevolutionhavebeenmentioned:letitbeknownthateachoftheselevelsisobtainedprimarilythroughrepentance.Thewaytorepentcanonlybelearnedfromsomeonewhoknowshowtorepentandwhohashimselfrepented.Trueandtotalrepentanceisthefirststep.
Whenthosewhodisbelievedharboureddisdainintheirhearts,thedisdainofignorance,AllahsentdownHistratiquillityonHisMessengerandonthebelieversandmadethemkeepthewordofthefearofAllah(repentance).Andthentheywereentitledtoandworthyofit,andAllahisfullknowerofallthings.(SuraFath,26)
ThestateofthefearofAllahhasthesamemeaningasLaildhailiaUdh:thereisnogod,thereisnothing—butAllah.FortheonewhoknowsthishasthefearoflosingHim,losingHisbeneficence,Hislove,Hismercy;hefearsandisashamedtodowrongunderHisveryeyeandfearsHispunishment.Ifoneisnotoneselfsuchaperson,onemustfindsomeonewhoisandreceivethisfearofAllahfromhim.
ThesourcefromwhichthiswordisreceivedhastobepurifiedandcleansedofeverythingotherthanAllah,andwhoeverreceivesitshouldhavetheabilitytodifferentiatebetweenthewordsofone
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3i
THESECRETOFSECRETS
withapurifiedheartandthosepronouncedbythetongueofthecommonman.Thereceivershouldalsobeawareofthewayjnwhichthewordispronounced,forwordsthatsoundthesamemaymeantotallydifferentthings.Itisimpossiblethatthewordcomingfromapuresourcebethesameasthewgrdcomingfromelsewhere.
Iheheartisenlivenedonlywhenitreceivestheseedofunityfromalivingheart,becausesuchaseedisahealthy,livingseedNothinggrowsfromaseedthatisdryandlifeless.Thesacredword
uil«lMill“mentionedintwoplacesintheHolyQur’anisaproof:
Theyindeedwerearrogantwhenitwassaidtothem,(ThereisnogodbutAllah’}andtheysaid,(Shallwegiveupourgods?’(SuraSaftat
35-36)
Thisisthestateofthecommonman,forwhomouterappearances,includinghisownouterexistence,aregods.
SoknowthatthereisnogodbutAllah,andaskforgivenessforyoursinandforthebelievingmanandbelievingwoman,forAllahknowswhatyoudowhereveryougoandhowyoulivein[thesecrecyof]yourhouses.(SuraMuhammad,19)
ThesewordsofAllaharetheguideforthosepurebelieverswhofearAllah.
Hadrat‘All,mayAllahbepleasedwithhim,askedourMastertheProphetA.toteachhimtheeasiest,themostvaluable,themostimmediatewaytohissalvation.OurMastertheProphetwaitedfortheangelGabriel2DtobringtheanswerfromtheDivineSource.HecameandtaughtourMastertosayLailaha—‘Thereisnogod’whileturninghisblessedfacetotheright,andtosayiliaLlahbutAllahalone’whileturninghisfacetotheleft,towardshisblessedpureheart.Herepeatedthisthreetimes;ourMaster^himselfrepeateditthreetimes
andthentaughtittoHadrat‘All,mayAllahbepleasedwithhim,makinghimrepeatitthreetimes.ThenhetaughtthedivineConfessionofUnityinthesamemanner
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OnRepentanceandOnTeachingbytheWord
t0hisCompanions.Hadrat‘Allwasthefirsttoaskforitandwasthefirsttobetaught.
Thenoneday,whentheyhadjustreturnedfromagreatbattle,theProphet^saidtohisfollowers,‘Wehavereturnedfromasmallbattletowagethegreatwar,’indicatingthestrugglewithone’sownego,one’slowerself,whichisthemeaningoftheConfessionofUnity.‘Yourgreatestenemy’,hesaid,‘isunderyourribs’.
Thedivinelovewillnotcomealiveinyouuntiltheenemy,thedesiresofyourflesh,diesandleavesyou.
Firstyoumustbecleansedofthategothatcommandsyourwholebeingtoevil:thenyouwillhaveapartialconscience,althoughcontinuingtosin.Youwillhaveafeelingofself-reproach—butthisisnotenough.Youmustpassbeyondthatstagetothelevelwherethetruthwillberevealedtoyou,thetruthoftherightandthewrong.Thenyouwillstopdoingwronganddothatwhichisright;thusyourbeingwillbecleansed.Opposingyourflesh,youmustfightagainstitsanimaldesires—gluttony,excessivesleep,idleoccupations—andagainstthecharacteristicsofthewildbeastinyou:negativity,anger,fighting,aggressiveness.Thenyoumustworktoridyourselfoftheevilhabitsoftheego:arrogance,pride,envy,vengeance,greedandalltheotherafflictionsandsicknessesofthebodyandoftheheart.Onlythosewhoareabletodothesethingsaretrulyrepentantandarecleansedandpure.
ForAllahlovesthosewhoturntoHimconstantly(inrepentance),
andHelovesthosewhokeepthemselvespureandclean.(Sura
Baqara,222)
Inone’srepentanceonemustbeheedfulthatone’sregretisnotabstractandgeneral,sothatitdoesnotfallunderthethreatofAllah’sdeclaration,Nomatterhowmuchtheyrepent,theyarenottrulypenitent,andTheirrepentanceisnotaccepted.Thisreferstothosewhohavemerelypronouncedthewordsofregret,butneitherknowtheextentoftheirsin,norhavevowednottosinagain,norhavetakenanyaction.Thatisordinaryrepentance,theouterrepentan-33
THESECRETOFSECRETS
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OnRepentanceandOnTeachingbytheWord
ce,whichdoesnotpenetratetothecauseofthesin.Itisasifsuchpeoplearetryingtogetridofgrassbycuttingitoft’atthegroundratherthandiggingoutitsroots.Indoingthis,theyonlyhelpittogrowbetter.Theonewhorepentsknowinghisfairttandthecauseofhisfaultandwishingtoridhimselfofthisfault,digsouttherootsofthisperniciousplant.Whenitisdugout,itdries,anditdoesnotcomebackagain.Thetrowelusedindiggingtheroots,thecausesofone’ssins,isthespiritualteachingonereceivesfromatrueteacher.Onemustclearthegroundbeforeonecanplantonesorchard.
AndWesetforththeparablestomanthathemayreflect.(SuraHashr,21)
HeistheonewhoacceptsrepentancefromHisservantsandforgivessins,andHeknowsallthatyoudo.(SuraShura,25)
Andwhoeverrepentsandbelievesandworksrighteousdeeds,Allahchangeshisevildeedsintogoodones,andAllahisEver-Forgiving,Merciful.(SuraFurqan,70)
Knowthatthesignthatrepentanceisacceptedisthatthesinneveroccursinoneagain.
Therearetwokindsofrepentance,therepentanceofthecom-monmanandtherepentanceofthepurebeliever.ThecommonmanhopestopassfromevildeedstorighteousnessthroughrememberingAllahandexercisingseriouseffort,leavingthedesiresandcomfortofhisfleshandforcingdifficultiesuponhisego.HemustpassfromegotisticalrevoltagainstAllah’spreceptstoobedience.Thatishisrepentance,whichmaybringhimfromhellfireintoParadise.
Thepurebelievers,thetrueservantsofAllah,areinaltogetheradifferentstate.Theyareatthelevelofdivinewisdom,whichisfarhigherthanthebeststateoftheordinaryman.Infact,forthemtherearenolongerstepstoclimb:theyhavereachedtheproximityofAllah.Theyhaveleftthepleasuresandbenefitsofthisworldandaretastingthedelightfulflavourofthespiritualrealm—thetasteof
theintimacyofAllah,thepleasureofseeingHisEssencewiththeeyeofcertitude.
Theperceptionofcommonmenisthecommonworld,andtheirpleasureisintastingthematerialbenefitsofmaterialexistence.Yetwhiletheveryexistenceofthematerialmanandthematerialworldisanerror,sotooarethebestbenefitsandpleasuresofit.Asthegreatsayinggoes,‘Yourexistenceissuchasinthatallothersinsaresmallincomparisonwithit.’ThewisehaveoftenclaimedthatmanygooddeedsdonebygoodmenwhohavenotreachedthelevelofAllah’sintimacyarenobetterthantheerrorsofthosewhohavecomeclosetoAllah.Thusinordertoteachustoaskforgivenessforthehiddenerrorsthatwethinkofasgooddeeds,ourProphetwhowassinless,usedtoseekforgivenessonehundredtimesaday.AllahMostHighaskedhimtoaskforgivenessforyoursinsandforthebelievingmenandbelievingwomen(SuraMuhammad,19).HesetthepureProphetasanexampleofhowtorepent—bybeggingAllahtoeraseone’sego,one’spersonality,one’sindividuality,allofoneself,totakeaway
one’sveryexistence.Thisistruerepentance.
PenitencemeanstorenounceeverythingwiththeexceptionofAllah’sEssence,andtowishtoreturntoHim,toreturntothehomeofHisintimacy,toseetheDivineFace.OurMaster,theBelovedofAllah,describedsuchpenitents,saying,‘TherearesometrueservantsofAllahwhosebodiesareherebutwhoseheartsareupundertheThroneofAllah.’Theirheartsareintheninthheaven,undertheThroneofAllah,becausethedivinevisionofHisEssenceisimpossibleintheworldbelow.
HereonlythemanifestationofHisdivineattributescanbeviewed,reflecteduponthepuremirrorsofpurehearts:asHadrat‘Umar(mayGodbepleasedwithhim)said,‘MyheartsawmyLordwiththelightofmyLord’.Thepureheartisamirrorwherethebeauty,grace,andperfectionofAllahisreflected.Anothernamegiventothisstateis‘revelation’,beholdingthedivineattributes.
Toreachthatstate,tocleanandshinethatheart,oneneedsateacherwhoismature,whoisinunionwithAllah,andwhois
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THESECRETOPSECRETS
esteemedbyall,pastandpresent.ThatteacherhastohavereachedastageclosetoAllahandtohavebeensentbacktothislowerrealmbyAllahtoperfectthosewhoareworthy,butlacking.
IntheircomingdownforthistasksuchsaintlymenofAllahmusttravelthewayoftheProphetandfollowhisexample,yettheirfunctionisdistinctfromthe
functionoftheProphet.Whileprophetsaresentforthesalvationofcommonpeopleaswellaspurebelievers,theseteachersarenotsenttoteacheverybody,butonlyaselectnumber.Whileprophetsaregiventotalindependenceincarryingouttheirduties,thesesaintlyteachersarenotindependent,butmustfollowthewayandexampleoftheProphet.
Itissaidthataspiritualteacherwhodeclareshimselfindependentwishestolikenhimselftoaprophet,whichwillleadhimtoblasphemyandinfidelity.WhenourProphet^statedthathiswisecompanionsareliketheprophetsoftheIsraelites,hismeaningwasotherthanthis—fortheprophetswhocameafterMosesSjallfollowedthereligiousprinciplesthatMosesaobrought.Theydidnotbringnewprecepts.Theyfollowedthesamelaws.Likethem,thewiseamongthepeopleofMuhammad,whosefunctionistoteachtheselectfewamongthepure,followthewisdomoftheProphetyetpresenttheordinancesandthatwhichisforbiddeninadifferentandnewway,openandclear,showingtheirstudentsgooddeedswiththeexampleoftheirownrighteousactsperformedatadifferenttimeandindifferentcircumstances.Theyencouragetheirfollowersbypointingoutthejoyandbeautyoftheprinciplesofthereligion.Theiraimistohelptheirfollowerstocleartheirhearts,whicharesitesforbuildingthemonumentofwisdom.
InallthistheyfollowtheexampleofthosedisciplesoftheProphet^whowerecalled‘thepeopleofthewoollengarb’,whohadabandonedallworldlyactivitytostandatthegateoftheProphet<5^1andbeclosetohim.Thosedisciplesgavenewsastheyreceivedit,directlyfromthemouthoftheProphetIntheirclosenesstotheProphettheyreachedsuchalevelthattheywereabletotalkaboutthemysteriesoftheascensionoftheProphet^evenbeforeherevealedthesesecretstohisCompanions.
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OnRepentanceandOnleachingbytheWord
ThesesaintlyteacherspossessaclosenesssimilartothatoftheProphettohis
Lord:asimilartrustandguardianshipofdivineknowledgeisbestoweduponthem.Theyarethebearersofapartofprophethood,andtheirinnerbeingissecureundertheguardianshipoftheProphet^himself.
Noteveryonewhopossessesknowledgeisinsuchastate.TheoneswhohavereacheditareclosertotheProphet^thantotheirownsonsandfamilyandarelikehisspiritualsonswithanaffinitycloserthanmerebloodrelationship.TheyarethetrueinheritorsoftheProphetAtruesonpossesseshisfather’sessenceandsecretbothinhisexteriorappearanceandinhisinnerbeing.TheProphet££explainsthissecretas‘…aspecialknowledgelikeahiddentreasurethatonlythosewhoknowtheEssenceofAllahcanfind.Yetwhenthemysteryisrevealed,noonewhoisconsciousandsincerecandenyit.’
ThatknowledgewasplacedinourMaster^duringtheNightVoyage,hisascensiontohisLord.Thatmysterywashiddeninhimbehindthirtythousandveils.Hedidnotrevealitssecretexcepttothoseamonghisdiscipleswhowereclosesttohim.ItisbythepropagationandblessingofthissecretthatIslamwillcontinuetoreignuntilthelastdayoftheworlds.
Itistheinnerknowledgeofwhatishiddenthatleadsonetothatsecret.Theworldlysciences,artsandskillsareastheshellofthatinnerknowledge,yettheoneswhoareskilledinthesemayhopeonedaytopossesswhatisinthatshell.Someofthesemenofknowledgepossessonlywhatitisobligatoryforahumanbeingtopossessandothersbecomemastersandpreserveknowledgefrombeinglost.YetotherscallhumanitytoAllahwithgoodadvice.SomeofthemfollowthewayofMuhammadandareledtoHadrat‘All,whoisthegatetoknowledgethroughwhichenterthosewhoareinvitedbydivineinvitation.
InvitetothewayofthyLordwithwisdomandgoodpreachingand
arguewiththeminwaysthatarebestandmostgracious.(SuraNahl,
125)
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Whattheymeanintheirwordsisthesame.Itsappearanceofdifferenceisonlyamatterofdetailsandmannerofexpression.
Actually,therearethreemeaningsthatappearasthreedifferentkindsofknowledge—actedupondifferently,butconvergingjntooneinthetraditionofourMastertheProphetKnowledgejsdividedintothree,fornosinglepersoncancarrythatwholeloadofknowledge,norisabletoactuponit.
Thefirstpartoftheverse,InvitetothewayofthyLordwithwisdomcorrespondstothedivinewisdom,theessenceandbeginningofallandeverything.Itspossessormust,liketheProphetactinaccordancewithit.Itisonlygiventothetrueandbraveman,thespiritualwarriorwhowilldefendhispositionandfighttopreservethatknowledge.OurMasterdescribeshimthus:‘Thezealouseffortofthetruemancanshakethemountains’—the‘mountain’meaningtheheavinessoftheheartsofsome.Theprayersofthesemenareaccepted.Whentheywishforsomething,ithappens;whentheywishsomethingtodisappear,itevaporates.
HegrantswisdomtowhomHepleases,andhetowhomwisdomis
grantedreceivesindeedabenefitoverflowing.
(SuraBaqara,269)
ThesecondistheouterknowledgeindicatedintheQur’anicverseas‘goodpreaching’.Itistheshellofinnerwisdom.TheoneswhopossessitpreachthegoodandteachgoodactionandforbidmanwhatAllahhasforbidden.TheProphetpraisesthem.Themanofknowledgepreacheswithkindnessandgentleness,whiletheignorantmanteacheswithharshnessandanger.
Thethirdknowledgeisconcernedwithregulatingworldlyhu-manaffairs.Itisthehuskoverreligiousknowledge,whichistheshelloverdivinewisdom.Itistheknowledgedestinedforthosewhorulemen:man’sjusticeoverman,man’sgovernmentofman.ThelastpartoftheQur’anicversepreviouslymentioned
describestheirfunction:andarguewiththeminwaysthatarebestandmostgracious.SuchpeoplearethemanifestationofAllah’sattributeofal-Qahlidr,theOverpoweringDominator.Theirfunctionisthemain-tenanceoforderamongmeninaccordancewithDivineLaw,asthe
OnRepentanceandOnTeachingbytheWord
luiskprotectstheshell—whiletheouterknowledge,whichistheshell,protectstheinnerknowledge,whichistheseed.
TheProphetadvises,‘Frequentthecompanyofwisemen,obeyyourjustrulers.AllahMostHighrevivesdeadheartswithwisdomasHemakesthedeadearthcomealivewithvegetationbymeansofHisrain.’Healsosays,‘Wisdomisthelostpropertyofthebeliever.Hepicksitupwhereverhefindsit.’
EventhewordspronouncedbyordinarymenhavedescendedfromthePreservedTabletofAllah’sdecreesconcerningallthingshappeningfromthebeginninguntiltheend.ThatTabletiskeptinthehighrealmofcausalintelligence,yetwordsarepronouncedinaccordancewithone’slevel.Thewordsofthosewhohavereachedtheleveloftrutharedirectlyfromthatrealm,therealmofAllah’sintimacy.Thereisnointermediarythere.
Knowthatallwillreturntoitsorigin.Theheart,theessence,hastobeawakened,madealive,tofinditswaybacktoitsdivineorigin.Ithastohearthecall.Onehastofindtheonethroughwhomthecallwillcome,thetrueteacher.Thatisanobligationuponone.TheProphetsays.‘KnowledgeisanobligationuponeveryMuslim,womanandman.’Thatknowledgeisthefinalstageofallknowledge,thedivinewisdom,theknowledgewhichwillleadonetoone’sorigin,tothetruth.Therestofknowledgeisnecessaryonlytotheextentthatitisuseful.Yetforthesakeofone’sego,oneisambitiousforworldlyknowledge.Allahispleasedwiththosewholeaveambitionforworldlyhonoursandfame,fortheseworldlybenefitsarewhathinderoneinone’svoyagetoHim.
Suy:Iaskofyounothinginreturnforthisbutloveandattachmenttothosenearofkin.(SuraShura,23)
Accordingtotradition,themeaningofthewords‘whatisclosetoyou’istocomeclosetotruth.
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CHAPTERSIX
OnIslamicMysticismandtheSufis
ThenamesujtisanexpressionderivedfromtheArabicwordsaf\‘pure’.ThereasonthattheSufisarecalledbythisnameisthattheirinnerworldispurifiedandenlightenedwiththelightofwisdom,unityandoneness.
AnothermeaningforthisappellationisthattheyarespirituallyconnectedwiththeconstantcompanionsoftheProphetwhowerecalled‘thecompanionswiththewoollengarb’.
Theymayalsohavewornthecustomarygarbofrough-wovensheep’swool(suf)whentheywerenovices,andhavespenttheirlifeinoldpatchedclothes.
Astheirexteriorispoorandhumble,soistheirworldlylife.Theyarefrugalineating,drinkingandotherpleasuresofthisworld.Inthebookcalledal-Majmacitissaid,‘Whatisbecomingtothepiousasceticisthemostordinaryandhumbleclothingandwayofliving.’Althoughtheymayappearunattractivetotheworldly,theirwisdomismanifestedintheirgentlenessanddelicatemanner,whichmakethemattractivetothosewhoknow.Inrealitytheyareanexampletomankind.Theyfollowdivineprescriptions.Theyare,inthesightoftheirLord,inthefirstrankofhumanity;intheeyesofthosewhoseektheirLordtheyarebeautifuldespitetheirhumbleappearance.Theymustbedistinguishedanddistinguishableandtheymustbethatwayoneandall,fortheyareallonthelevelofunityandonenessandmustappearasone.
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InArabicthewordtasawwufIslamicmysticism,consistsoffourconsonants,t,s,wandfThefirstletter,f,standsfortawba,repentance.Thisisthefirststeptobetakenonthepath.Itisasifitwereadoublestep,oneoutwardandoneinward.Theoutwardstepinrepentanceisinwordsanddeedsandfeelings:tokeepone’slifefreefromsinandfromwrongdoingandtoinclinetowardsobedience;tofleefromrevoltandopposition,toseekagreementandharmony.Theinnerstepofrepentanceistakenbytheheart.Itisthecleansingoftheheartfromconflictingworldlydesiresandtheheart’stotalaffirmationofthewishforthedivine.Repentance—tobeawareofthewrongandtoabandonit,tobeconsciousoftherightandtostriveforit—bringsonetothesecondstep.
Thesecondstageisthestateofpeaceandjoy,safd\Thelettersisitssymbol.Inthisstagetherearesimilarlytwostepstotake:thefirstistowardspurityinheartandthesecondtowardsitssecretcentre.
Peaceofheartcomesofaheartfreeofanxiety.Anxietyiscausedbytheweightofallthatismaterial—theweightoffood,ofdrink,ofsleep,ofidletalk.Allthis,likethegravityoftheearth,pullstheetherealheartdownwards,andtofreeitselffromthisweighttirestheheart.Thenthereareties—desire,possessions,loveoffamilyandchildren—whichbindtheetherealhearttotheearthandkeepitfromsoaring.
Thewaytofreetheheart,topurifyit,istorememberAllah.Atthebeginningthisremembrancecanonlybedoneoutwardly,byrepeatingHisdivineNames,pronouncingthemaloudsothatyouyourselfandotherscanhearandremember.AsthememoryofHimbecomesconstant,remembrancesinkstotheheartandbecomesinward,silent.Allahsays:
Believersarethosewho,whenAllahismentioned,feelatremorin
theirhearts,andwhenthey[seeand]hearHismanifestationstheir
faithisstrengthened.(SuraAnfal,2)
‘Tremor’meanstheawe,fear,andloveofAllah.WiththisremembranceandrecitationofAllah’sNamestheheartwakesupfrom
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thesleepofheedlessness,iscleansed,isshined.Thenformsandshapesfromthehiddenunseenrealmarereflectedinthatheart.TheProphet<§£says,‘Themenofknowledgeoutwardlyvisitandinspectthingswiththeirminds,whilethewiseareinwardlybusycleaningandshiningtheirhearts.’
ThepeaceofthesecretcentreoftheheartisachievedbycleansingtheheartofeachandeverythingandpreparingittoreceiveAllah’sEssencealone,whichenterstheheartwhenthatheartisbeautifiedwiththeloveofthedivine.ThemeansofthiscleansingistheconstantinwardremembranceandrecitalwiththesecrettongueofthedivineConfessionofUnityIdildhailiaLlah—‘thereisnogodbutAllah’.Whentheheartanditscentreareinastateofpeaceandjoy,thenthesecondstage,representedbytheletter5,iscomplete.
Thethirdletter,w,standsforwilaya,whichisthestateofsanctityoftheloversandfriendsofAllah.Thisstatedependsuponinnerpurity.AllahmentionsHisfriendsintheHolyQur’an:
Beheedful;verilyuponthefriendsofAllahthereisnofear,nordotheygrieve.
Forthemtherearegladtidingsinthislifeandinthehereafter…(SuraYunus,62and64)
Theoneinthisstateofsanctityistotallyconsciousof,inlovewithandconnectedtoAllah.Asaresultheisbeautifiedwiththebestofcharacter,moralsandmanners.Thisisadivinegiftbestoweduponhim.OurMastertheProphetsaid,‘Observedivinemoralsandbehaveinaccordancewiththem’.Atthatstagetheconsciousmanshedshisworldly,temporalcharacteristicsandappearscladindivineattributes.AllahsaysthroughHisProphet4K:
WhenIloveMyservantIbecomehiseyes,hisears,histongue,hishandsandhisfeet.HeseesthroughMe,hehearsthroughMe,hespeaksinMyname,hishandsbecomeMineandhewalkswithMe.
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OnIslamicMysticismandtheSufs
CleanseyourselfofeverythingandkeeponlyAllah’sEssenceinyou,for:
theTruthhascomeandfalsehoodvanished.Surelyfalsehoodisever
boundtovanish.(SuraBan!Isra’Il,81)
Whenthetruthcomesandfalsehoodhasvanished,thelevelofwilayaiscomplete.
Thefourthletter,/standsforfand*theannihilationofself,thestateofnothingness.Thefalseselfmeltsandevaporateswhendivineattributesenterone’sbeing,andwhenthemultiplicityofworldlyattributesandpersonalitiesleave,theirplaceistakenbythesingleattributeofunity.
Inreality,thetruthisalwayspresent.Itneitherdisappearsnordeclines.Whathappensisthatthebelieverrealizesandbecomesonewiththatwhichhascreatedhim.InbeingwithHim,thebelieverreceivesHispleasure:thetemporalbeingfindsitstrueexistencebyrealizingtheeternalsecret.F.verythingwillperishbutHisCountenance…(SuraQasas,88)
ThewaytorealizeHistruthisthroughHispleasure,throughHisagreement.WhenyoudodeedsforHissakewhichmeetwithHisapprovalyoucomeclosetoHistruth,HisEssence.ThenalldisappearsexcepttheOneWhoispleasedandtheonewithwhomHeispleased,united.Gooddeedsarethemotherthatbearsthechildoftruth:theconsciouslifeofatruehumanbeing.ThegoodwordsandthegooddeedsrisetoAllah.(SuraFatir,10).IfoneactsandexistsforanythingbutAllah’ssakealone,oneissettinguppartnerstoAllah,puttingoneselfor
othersintheplaceofAllah—theunforgivablesinthatsoonerorlaterdestroysone.Butwhentheselfandselfishnessareannihilated,onereachesthestageofunionwithAllah.ThelevelofunionisintherealmofAllah’sproximity.Allahdescribesthisrealmthus:
Surelytherighteouswillbe…intheplaceoftruth,inthepresenceof
aSovereignOmnipotent.
(SuraQamar,54-55)
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Thatplaceistheplaceoftheessentialtruth,thetruthofalltruths,theplaceofunityandoneness.Itistheplacereservedforprophets,fortheoneswhoarelovedbyAllah,forHisfriends.Allahiswiththosewhoaretrue.Whenacreatedexistenceisunitedwiththeeternalexistence,itcannotbeconceivedasaseparateexistence.WhenallearthlytiesareabandonedandoneisinunionwithAllah,withthedivinetruth,onereceiveseternalpurity,nevertobeblemished,andbecomesoneofthecompanionsofthegarden,thereintodwell(forever).(SuraAcraf,42).Theyare:Thosewhobelieveandworkrighteousness,(SuraAcraf,42).However,noburdendoWeplaceonanysoul,butthatwhichitcanbear.(SuraATaf,42)Butoneneedsagreatdealofpatience.AndAllahiswiththosewhopatientlypersevere.(SuraAnfal,66)
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CHAPTERSEVEN
OnRemembrance
AllahMostHighHimselfshowsthewaytothosewhoseek.torememberHim.RememberAllahasHehasguidedyou…(SuraBaqara,198).ThismeanstorememberthatyourCreatorhasbroughtyoutoacertainlevelofconsciousnessandfaithandthatyoucanonlyrememberHiminaccordancewiththisability.OurMastertheProphet$ays,‘ThebestdeclarationofremembranceistheonewhichIandalltheprophetsbeforemerecite.ItisinthedivinephraseLaildhailiaLlah—“thereisnogodbutAllah”.’
Therearedifferentlevelsofremembranceandeachhasdifferentways.Someareexpressedoutwardlywithaudiblevoice,somefeltinwardly,silently,fromthecentreoftheheart.Atthebeginningoneshoulddeclareinwordswhatoneremembers.Thenstagebystagetheremembrancespreadsthroughoutone’sbeing—descendingtotheheart,thenrisingtothesoul;thenstillfurtheritreachestherealmofthesecrets;furthertothehidden;tothemosthiddenofthehidden.Howfartheremembrancepenetrates,thelevelitreaches,dependssolelyontheextenttowhichAllahinHisbountyhasguidedone.
RemembrancepronouncedinwordsisbutadeclarationthatthehearthasnotforgottenAllah.Theinwardsilentremembranceisamovementoftheemotions.TheremembranceoftheheartisthroughfeelinginoneselfthemanifestationofAllah’smightand
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THliSECRETOFSECRETS
beauty,whiletheremembranceofthesoulisthroughtheenlightenmentofthedivinelightgeneratedbyAllah’smightandbeauty.Theremembranceofthelevelofthesecretrealmisthroughtheecstasyreceivedfrombeholdingthedivinesecrets.Theremembranceofthehiddenrealmbringsoneto:theplaceoftruthinthepresenceofaSovereignOmnipotent.(SuraQamar,55)Theremembranceatthefinallevelthatiscalledkhajtal-akhfa’—‘themosthiddenofthehidden’—bringsonetoastateofannihilationoftheselfandunificationwiththetruth.InrealitynoneotherthanAllahknowsthestateoftheonewhohaspenetratedintothatrealmcontainingallknowledge,whichistheendofallandeverything.SurelyHeknowsthesecretandwhatisyetmorehidden.(SuraTaHa,7)
Whenonehaspassedthroughthesestagesofremembrance,adifferentstateofspirit,asifadifferentsoul,isborninone.Thatsoulispurerandfinerthanallothersouls.Itisthechildoftheheart,thechildoftruth.Whileintheformofseed,thischildinvitesandattractsmantoseekandfindthetruth;andafteritisbornthischildwillurgemantoseektheEssenceofAllahMostHigh.Neitherthisnewsoulcalledthechildoftheheart,noritsseedandpotential,isineveryman.Itisfoundonlyinthepurebeliever:HeplacesthesoulwithHisdecreeintheheartsofthosewhomHechooses.(SuraMumin,
15)
ThissoulissentfromtherealmoftheAll-powerfulandisplacedintheuniverseofthevisibleworldswheretheattributesoftheCreatoraremanifestinthecreation,butitbelongstotherealmoftruth.ItdoesnotfavournorpayanyattentiontoanythingbuttheEssenceofAllah.OurMastertheProphetexplains:‘Thisworldisundesirableandunlawfulforthosewhowishforthehereafter.Thehereafterisundesirableforthosewhowishforthisworld,anditwillnotbegiventothem.ButforthesoulswhoseekAllah’sEssence,neitherthisworldnorthehereafterhasanyattraction.’Thissoulisthechildoftruth.Itisthatwithinonewhichwillseek,findandbewithitsLord.
Overandaboveanythingyoudo,thematerialbeinginyoumustfollowthe
straightpath.Thatisonlypossiblethroughpreservingandfollowingthepreceptsofreligion.Todothisonehasto
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OnRemembrance
beconscious,toremember—torememberAllah,nightandday,inwardlyandoutwardly,continuously.Forthosewhoseethetruth,torememberAllahisanobligation.AsAllahorders:
RememberAllahstandingandsittingandlyingdown.(SuraNisa’,
103)
…thosewhorememberAllahstandingandsittingandlyingontheirsides,andwhoreflectonthecreationoftheheavensandtheearth.OurLord,Thouhastnotcreatedthisinvain!Glorybetothee…(SuraAl‘Imran,191)
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TheNecessaryConditionsforRemembrance
CHAPTEREIGHT
TheNecessaryConditionsforRemembrance
Oneoftheconditionsthatpreparesonetorememberistobeinastateofablution;washedandcleansedbodilyandpurifiedinwardly.Atthebeginning,aconditionfortheeffectivenessofremembranceistopronouncealoudthewordsandphrasesofwhatistoberemembered-—theConfessionofUnity,theattributesofAllah,Whenthesewordsarerecited,oneshoulduseallone’sefforttobeinaconsciousstate.Inthiswaythehearthearsthewordandisenlightenedwiththelightofthatwhichisremembered.Itreceivesenergyandbecomesalive—notonlyaliveinthisworld,butaliveforeverinthehereafter.AllahMostHighdescribesthiseternallife:Vieytastenotthereindeath,exceptthefirstdeath…(SuraDukhan,56)
OurMastertheProphetdescribingthestateofthebelieverwhoachievestruththroughremembrance,says,‘Believersdonotdie.Theyonlypassfromthistemporallifetotheeverlastinglife’.Andtheydotherewhattheydidhere.Ashesays,‘TheprophetsandtheonesclosetoAllahcontinuetheirworshipintheirgravesastheydidintheirhouses.’TheworshiphementionsisinwardsupplicationofAllah,nottheprayerobligatoryfivetimesadayinthisworld,withitsstanding,bowingandprostration.Inwardsilentsupplicationisoneoftheprincipalqualitiesidentifyingthetruebeliever.
Wisdomisnotobtainedbyman,butisgiventohimbyAllah.Afterhavingbeenelevatedtothatstate,thewisebecomeintimatewiththesecretsofAllah.AllahbringsonetoHissecretsonlyifone’sheartisaliveandconsciouswiththeremembranceofHim,andifthatconscioushearthasthewishtoreceivethetruth.AsourMastertheProphet££says,‘Myeyessleep,butmyheartiseverawake’.
Theimportanceofwishinginobtainingwisdomandtruthisexplainedinthe
wordsofourProphet<&,‘Ifapersonwishestolearnandactsuponhiswishandstudies,butdiesbeforeattaininghisgoal,AllahassignshimtwoangelsasteacherswhoteachhimdivinewisdomuntiltheDayofJudgment.Thatpersonisraisedfromhisgraveasawisemanwhohasobtainedthetruth.’ThetwoangelshererepresentthespiritofourProphetandthelightofloveandsanctitywhichconnectsmanwithAllah.TheimportanceofwishandintentionisfurthermentionedbytheProphet‘Manywhowishtoknowdieignorant,buttheyareraisedfromtheirgravesontheDayofJudgmentaswise;andmanyamanofknowledgeisraisedonthatdaydepraved,havinglosteverything,andtotallyignorant.’Thosemenwhoareproudoftheirknowledge,whoseekknowledgeinordertoobtainthegoodsoftheworldandtosin,arewarned:
Youreceivedyourgoodthingsinthelifeoftheworldandyoutookyourpleasurefromthem,buttodayshallyouberecompensedwithapenaltyofhumiliation,forthatyouwerearrogantonearthwithoutjustcauseatidthatyou(even)transgressed.(SuraAhqaf,
20)
TheProphet^says,‘Actionsareconditionedbyandtiedtointentions.ThewishandintentionofthefaithfularebetterandmoreworthyinthesightofAllahthanarehisactions.Theintentionoftheunfaithfulisworsethanwhatappearsinhisactions.ForAllah,thegoodintentionofthebelieverismoreworthythanthebestdeedoftheunfaithful.’Intentionisthefoundationofaction.OurMastertheProphet<£§£says,‘Itisgoodtobuildagood
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THESECRETOFSECRETS
deeduponagoodfoundation,andasinisadeedbuiltuponbadintentions/
WhosodesiresthecultivationofthehereafterWegivehimincreaseinhiscultivation,andwhosodesiresthecultivationofthisworldWegivehimthereofandhehasnoportioninthehereafter.(SuraShura,20)
Thebestcourseistofindatruespiritualteacherwhowillbringyourhearttolife.Thiswillsecureyoutheeternallifeofthehereafter.Thisisurgent;ithastobedoneimmediatelyinthislifebeforethetimeisspent.Thisworldisthefieldofthehereafter.Hewhodoesnotplantherewillnotreapthere.Soplantyourfielduponthisearthwithboththesubjectiveseedsofagoodlifehereandtheobjectiveseedsthatwillyieldagoodharvestinthehereafter.
CHAPTERNINE
OntheVisionofAllah:ArrivingattheLevelofSeeingtheManifestationoftheDivineEssence
ThevisionofAllahisoftwokinds:oneisseeingthemanifestationofAllah’sattributeofPerfectBeautydirectlyinthehereafter,andtheotherisseeingthemanifestationofthedivineattributesreflectedupontheclearmirrorofthepureheart,inthislife,inthisworld.InsuchacasethevisionappearsasthemanifestationoflightemanatingfromthePerfectBeautyofAllahandisseenbytheeyeoftheessenceoftheheart.
Allahdescribesthevisionseenbytheeyeoftheheart:Theheartdidnotdenywhatitsaw.(SuraNajm,11)
OnseeingthemanifestationofthedivinethroughanintermediarytheProphet^says,‘Thefaithfulisthemirrorofthefaithful’.Whatismeantbythefirst‘faithful’,themirrorinthisphrase,isthepureheartofthebeliever,whilethesecond‘faithful’WhoseesHisreflectioninthatmirrorisAllahMostHigh.WhoeverarrivesatthelevelofseeingthemanifestationsofAllah’sattributesintheworldwillcertainlyseetheEssenceofAllahinthehereafterwithoutshapeorform.
TherealityofthishasbeenconfirmedbymanyofthebelovedandtheloversofAllah.Hadrat‘Umar,mayAllahbepleasedwithhim,said,‘MyheartsawmyLordbytheLightofmyLord’.AndHadrat‘All,mayAllahbepleasedwithhim,said,‘Iwillnotprayto
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THESECRETOESECRETS
AllahunlessIseeHim’.Theybothmusthaveseenthemanifestationofdivineattributes.Ifsomeoneseessunlightcomingthroughthewindowsandsays,‘Iseethesun!5heistellingthetruth.
AllahgivesthemostbeautifulexampleofthemanifestationofHisattributes.
AllahistheLightoftheheavensandtheearth.TheparableofHislightisasiftherewereanicheandwithinitalamp,thetampenclosedinglass,theglassasitwereabrilliantstarlitfromablessedtree,anoliveneitheroftheEastnoroftheWest,whoseoiliswell-nighluminous,thoughfirescarcetouchesit;lightuponlight!AllahdothguidewhomHewilltoHislight.(SuraNui\35)
Themeaningofthenicheisthefaithfulheartofthebeliever.Thelampenlighteningthenicheoftheheartistheessenceoftheheart,whilethelightthatitshedsisthedivinesecret,thesultan-soul.Theglassistransparentanddoesnotkeepthelightwithin,butprotectsitandallowsittospread,whichiswhyitislikenedtoastar.Thesourceofthelightisadivinetree.Thattreeisthestateofunityreachingoutwithitsbranchesanditsroots,inculcatingtheprinciplesoffaith,communicatingwithoutanyintermediaryinthelanguageofpurity.
ItisdirectlyinthislanguageofpuritythatourMastertheProphet■*§£receivedtheQur’anicrevelations.Inreality,theangelGabrielbroughtthedivinemessagesonlyaftertheyhadalreadybeenreceived—-thisforourbenefit,sothatwemighthearinhumanlanguage.Thisalsomadeclearwhowerethehypocritesandnonbelieversbygivingthemtheoccasiontodeny,astheywouldnotbelieveinangels.
TheproofthattheHolyQur’anwasrevealeddirectlytotheProphet*§£isintheQur’anitself.
AndthouartsurelymadetoreceivetheQur’anfromtheAILWise,theAILKnowing,(SuraNaml,6)
SincetheProphet^receivedrevelationbeforetheangelGabrielbroughtittohim,eachtimeGabrieldeliveredtheholyverses,
OntheVisionofGod
theProphetfoundtheminhisheartandrecitedthembeforetheyweregiven.Thatisthereasonfortheverse:
AndmakenothastewiththeQur’anbeforeitsrevelationismade
completetothee…(SuraTaHa,114)
ThissituationismadeclearbythefactthatwhenGabriel3d-accompaniedtheProphet^onthenightofhisascension,hecouldnotgoanyfurtherthantheseventhheaven,andsaying,‘IfItakeanotherstepIwillburntoashes’,heleftourMaster<§£tocontinueonhisown.
Allahdescribestheblessedolivetree,thetreeofunity,asbeingneitheroftheEastnoroftheWest.Inotherwords,ithasneitherabeginningnoranend,andthelightofwhichitisthesourcehasnorisingorsetting.Itiseternalinthepastandnever-endinginthefuture.BothAllah’sEssenceandHisattributesareever-existent,becauseHisattributesarelightgeneratedfromHisEssence.BoththemanifestationofHisEssenceandthemanifestationofHisattributesaredependentonHisEssence.
Trueworshipcanonlybeperformedwhentheveilshidingtheheartareliftedsothatthateternallightshinesuponit.Itisonlythenthattheheartisenlightenedbythedivinelight.Itisonlythenthatthesoulseesthetruththroughthatcelestialniche.
Thepurposeofthecreationofthisuniverseistodiscover,toseethathiddentreasure.AllahsaysthroughHisProphet‘Iwasahiddentreasure,Iwilledtobeknown.IcreatedthecreationsothatIwouldbeknown.’Thatistosay,thatHewouldbeknowninthismaterialworldthroughHisattributesmanifestedinHiscreation.ButtoseeHisveryEssenceislefttothehereafter.There,thevisionofAllahwillbedirect,asHewills,anditwillbetheeyeofthechildoftheheartthatseesHim.
Onthatdaysomefaceswillbeam(withjoyandbeauty),lookingat
theirLord.(SuraQiyama,22-3)
OurMastertheProphetsays,‘IhaveseenmyLordintheshapeofabeautifulyouth.’Perhapsthisisthemanifestationofthe
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childoftheheart.Theimageisthemirror.Itbecomesameans,renderingvisiblethatwhichisinvisible.ThetruthofAllahMostHighisexemptfromandfreeofanykindofdescriptionoranykindofimageorform.Theimageisthemirror,thoughwhatisseenisneitherthemirrornortheonewhoislookingintothemirror.Ponderonthatandtrytounderstand,becausethatistheessenceoftherealmofsecrets.
Yetallthisishappeninginthisworldofattributes.IntherealmoftheEssenceallmeansdisappear,burnintothinair.TheonesinthatrealmofEssencethemselvesdonotexist,buttheyfeeltheEssenceandnothingelse.HowwelltheProphet^explainsthiswhenhesays,‘IknewmyLordbymyLord\InHisLight,byHisLight!Thetruthofmanisthesecretofthatlight,asAllahsaysthroughHisProphet:‘ManisMysecretandIamhissecret’.
TheplaceoftheProphetMuhammadwhoselightisthefirstofAllah’screation,isdescribedinhisownwords,‘IamfromAllahandthebelieversarefromme’.AndAllah,speakingthroughHisProphetsays:‘IhavecreatedthelightofMuhammadfromthelightofmyownexistence’.ThemeaningofAllah’sownexistenceisHisdivineEssencemanifestedinHisattributeoftheMostCompassionate.ThisHedeclaresthroughHisProphet^,saying:‘My
compassionfarsurpassesMypunishment’.ThebelovedMessengerofAllahisthelightoftheTruth,forAllahsays,Wesenttheenotbutasamercytothewholecreation.(SuraAnbiya’,107)and
IndeedOurMessengerhascometoyou,makingcleartoyoumuchofthatwhichyouconcealedoftheBookandpassingovermuch.Indeed,therehascometoyoufromAllahalight…(SuraMa’ida,15)
TheimportanceofthebelovedProphetofAllahismadeclearwhenAllahspeakstohimandsays:‘Butforyou,Iwouldnothavecreatedcreation’.
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CHAPTERTEN
TheVeilsofLightandDarkness
Allahsays:Whoeverisblindinthisworld,hewillbeblindinthe.hereafter.(SuraBan!Isra’Tl,72)itisnottheblindnessoftheeyesinone’sheadbuttheblindnessoftheeyesofone’sheartthatwillpreventonefromseeingthelightofthehereafter.AsAllahsays:Forsurelyitisnottheireyesthatareblind,buttheirheartswhichareintheirbreasts.(SuraHajj,46)Theonlycauseoftheheartbecomingblindisheedlessness,whichmakesoneforgetAllahandone’sfunction,one’spurpose,one’spromisetoHim,whileoneisinthisworld.Theprincipalcauseofheedlessnessisignoranceoftherealityofthedivinelawsandorders.Whatkeepsoneinthisstageofignoranceisadarknessthatcompletelycoversonefromtheoutsideandfullyinvadesone’sinnerbeing.Someofthepropertiesofthisdarknessarearrogance,pride,envy,miserliness,vengeance,lying,gossiping,backbitingandsomanyotherhatefultraits.ItisthesetraitsthatreducethebestcreationofAllahtothelowestofthelow.
Toridoneselfoftheseevilsonehastocleanseandshinethemirroroftheheart.Thiscleansingisdonebyacquiringknowledge,byactinguponthisknowledge,byeffortandvalour,fightingagainstone’segowithinandwithoutoneself,byriddingoneselfofone’smultiplicityofbeing,byachievingunity.Thisstrugglewillcontinueuntiltheheartbecomesalivewiththelightofunity—andwiththatlightofunity,theeyeofthecleanheartwillseetherealityofAllah’sattributesaroundandinit.
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VieVeilsofLightandDarkness
Onlythenwillyourememberthetruehomefromwhichyoucome.Thenyouwillhavetheyearningandlongingtoreturntothetruehome,andwhenthetimecomes,withthehelpoftheMostCompassionate,thatspiritwhichispureinyouwillgotojoinHim.
Whentheattributesofdarknesslift,lighttakesitsplace,andtheonewiththeeyeofthesoulsees.HerecognizeswhatheseeswiththelightoftheNamesofdivineattributes.Thenhehimselfisfloodedbylightandbecomeslight.TheselightsarestillveilshidingthelightofthedivineEssence,butthetimecomeswhentheytooaredrawnback,leavingonlythelightofthedivineEssenceitself
Thehearthastwoeyes,onelesser,theothergreater.WiththelessereyeonemaybeabletoseethemanifestationofAllah’sattributesandNames.Thisvisioncontinuesallthroughone’sspiritualevolution.Thegreatereyeseesonlythatwhichisrenderedvisiblebythelightofunityandoneness.OnlywhenonecomestotheregionsofAllah’sintimacydoesitsee,intheultimaterealmofthemanifestationofAllah’sEssence,theunityoftheAbsolute.
Inordertoreachtheselevelsonthisearthinthislifeyoumustcleanseyourselffromyourworldlyattributes,whichareegoisticandegotistical.Thedistanceyoumusttravelinyourascenttowardstheselevelsdependsonthedistancethatyouhaveputbetweenyourselfandthelowdesiresofyourfleshandyourego.
Yourattainmentofthegoalyouwishforisnotlikeamaterialthing’sarrivingatamaterialplace.Neitherisitlikeknowledgeleadingonetoathingthatbecomesknown,norlikereasonobtainingthatwhichisrational,norliketheimaginationjoiningwiththatwhichitfancies.ThegoalthatyouwishtoattainistherealizationofyouremptinessofallelseexcepttheEssenceofAllah.Thisattainmentisabecoming.Thereisnodistance,norclosenessnorfarness,norreaching,normeasure,nordirection,nordimension.
HeisAll-glorious,allpraiseisduetoHim,HeisMostMerciful.HebecomesvisibleinwhatHehidesfromyou.HemanifestsHimselfasHeputsveilsbetweenHimselfandyou.HisbeingknownishiddeninHisnotbeingknown.
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Ifanyofyoureachthatlightwhichissuggestedinthisbookwhileyouarehereinthisworld,trytobalanceyourbookofdeeds.Itisonlyunderlightthatyoucanseewhatyouhavedone,whatyouaredoing;doyouraccounting,makeitbalance.YouwillhavetoreadyourbookinfrontofyourLordonthedayofLastJudgment.Thatisfinal.Youwillnotthenhavethechancetobalanceit.Ifyoudothathere,whileyouhavethetime,youwillbeofthosewhoaresaved.Otherwisepainanddisasterisyourlotinthisworldandinthehereafter.Thislifewillend.Thereisthepainofthegrave,thereisthedayofLastJudgment,thereisthebalancethatwillweighthesmallestsinandthetiniestofgooddeeds.Thenthereisthetestofthatbridge,thinnerthanahairandsharperthanasword,attheendofwhichistheGarden,underwhichistheFireandsomuchhardship,andforsolong,whenthisshortlifeends.
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CHAPTERELEVEN
TheJoyofBeingGoodandtheMiseryoftheRebel
Youshouldknowthatallmenareincludedinoneoranotheroftwoclasses:theclassofpeoplewhoareatpeace,contentandhappy,doinggooddeedsinastateofobediencetoAllah,andthosewhoareinastateofinsecurity,doubtandmiseryintheirrebellionagainsttheprescriptionsofAllah.Boththequalityofobedienceandthatofrebelliousnessarepresentineachhumanbeing.Ifthepurity,thesincerityandthegoodinonearedominant,one’sselfishcharacteristicsaretransformedintospiritualstatesandone’srebellioussideisovercomebyone’sgoodside.Ontheotherhand,ifonefollowsthelowdesiresofone’sfleshandthetendenciesofone’sego,one’srebelliouscharacterdominatesthatwhichisselflessandobedientinone,andonebecomesarebel.Ifbothofthesecontrarycharacteristicsareequal,thehopeisthatthegoodwillovercome,asispromised:Hethatdoethgoodshallhavetentimesasmuchtohiscredit…(SuraAn‘am,160)AndifAllahsowishes,HemayevenfurtherincreaseHisfavours.
YetthatpersoninwhomevilandgoodareequalwillstillhavetopasstheterribletrialofthedayoftheLastJudgment,whilefortheonewhowasabletotransformhisselfishnessintoselflessness,thelowdesiresofhisfleshintospiritualaspirations,therewillbe
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notrial,thereisnoaccountingtobegiven.HewillenterParadisewithout
passingthroughtheterrorsoftheLastDay.
‘Thenhewhosebalance(ofgooddeeds)willbefoundheavywillbe
inalifeofgoodpleasureandsatisfaction.(SuraQari’a,6-7)
Fortheonewhoseerrorsareheavierthanhisgooddeedstherewillbepunishmentinproportiontotheamountofhiscrimes,afterwhichhewillbetakenoutofhellfireand,ifhehasfaith,willenterParadise.
Obedienceandrebelliousnessmeangoodandevil.Thesearepresentineveryman,yettheydonotstayastheyare.Thegoodmayturnintoevilandtheevilintogood,asourMastertheProphet££says:‘Whiletheoneinwhomgoodisdominantfindssalvation,peaceandjoy,andbecomesgood,andtheoneinwhomevilismorethangoodrebelsandbecomesevil,theonewhorecognizeshiserrorsandrepentsandchangeshiswayswillhavehisstateofrebelliousnesstransformedintoobedienceanddevotion.’
Itisindeeddecreedthatbothgoodandevil,boththeblissfullifeoftheobedientbelieverandthemiserablelifeoftherebel,arestatesthatpeoplearebornwith.Botharehiddeninthepotentialofeveryman.OurMastertheProphet#says,‘Theonewhoisfortunateenoughtobegoodisgoodinhismother’swomb,andthewretchedsinnerisasinneralreadyinhismother’swomb.’Thatisthewayitis,andnoonehastherighttodiscussit.Thematterofdestinyisnottobediscussed,forifoneisledtosuchdiscussiononeisledtoheresyanddisbelief.
Furthermore,noonehastherighttousedestinyasanargumenttoabandonalleffort,allgooddeeds.Onemaynotsay,‘Ifmydestinyistobeoneofthegood,whyshouldItiremyselftryingtodogooddeeds,asIamalreadyblessed?’or,‘Ifitismydestinytobeevil,whatgoodwillitdotobegood?’Obviouslythisisnotright.Itisnotpropertosay,‘Ifmystateisfixedfrommypast,whatbenefitorlosscanIhopeforwithmyeffortsinthepresent?’Thebestexamplegiventousisthecomparisonofthefirstmanandprophet,Adam£>withtheaccursedDevil.TheDevilputtheblameforhisrevoltonhisdestinyandbecameaninfidelandwasrejected
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fromthemercyandpresenceofHisLord.Adam^admittedhisfault.Assumingtheresponsibilityforhiserror,heaskedforgiveness,receivedAllah’smercy,andwassaved.
ItisincumbentuponallbelieversandallMuslimsnottotrytounderstandthecausesoftheunfoldingofdestiny.Whoeverdoesthiswillbecomeconfusedandwillgainnothingbutdoubt.Hemayevenlosehisfaith.ThefaithfulmustbelieveinAllah’sabsolutewisdom.Everythingthatmanseeshappeninginhimselfandinthisworldcertainlyhasacause,butthatcauseisnottobeunderstoodbyhumanlogic,asitisbasedondivinewisdom.Inthelifeofthisworld,whenyouencounterblasphemy,hypocrisy,duplicityandallotherthingsthatseemtobeevil,letthesethingsnotshakeyourfaith.KnowthatAllahMostHighinHisabsolutewisdomisresponsibleforallandeverything,andHedoeswhatappearstobenegativeinordertoexpressHisinfinitepower.Manifestationofsuchoverwhelmingpowermayseemtosomeunbearable,andthereforenegative,butthereisgreatmysteryinthisthatnooneotherthanourProphetcouldknow.
ThereisastoryofawisemanwhoprayedtohisLord,saying,‘ODivineOne,allispreordainedbyYou.MyfateisYours,thewillisYours,thewisdomwhichYouputinmeisYourcreation!’
Asheprayed,heheardaresponsewithoutsound,withoutwords,comingfrominsidehim,whichsaid,‘OMyservant,allthatyousaybelongstotheOneWhoisuniqueandunited.Itdoesnotbelongtotheservant.’
Thebelievingservantsaid,‘OmyLord,Ihavetyrannizedmyself,Iaminerror,Ihavesinned!’
Afterthatconfessionheagainheardthevoicefromwithinhim:‘AndIhavehadmercyuponyou,Ihaveerasedyourfaults,Ihaveforgivenyou.’
Lettheoneswhohavefaithknowandbethankfulthatallthegoodtheydoisnot
fromthembutthroughthem.SuccesscomesfromtheCreator.Whentheyerr,letthemknowthattheirmistakesandtheirsinsbelongtothem,thattheymayrepent.Wrongcomesfromtheunjustifiedambitionsoftheiregos.Ifyouunderstandthis
TheJoyofBeingGood
andfollowit,youbelongtotheoneswhoarementionedbyAllahas:
‘Thosewho,havingdonesomethingtobeashamedoforwhohavewrongedtheirownsouls,earnestlybringAllahtomindandaskforforgivenessfortheirsins—andwhocanforgivesinsexceptAllah?—andareneverobstinateinpersistingknowinglyin(thewrong)theyhavedone,forsuchtherewardisforgivenessfromtheirLordandgardenswithriversflowingunderneath—aneternaldwelling…(SuraA1‘Imran,135-136)
Itisbetterforthebelievertoacceptthathehimselfisthesourceofallofhisownfaults.Thatiswhatwillsavehim.ItindeedismuchbetterthanattributinghisfaultstotheAlmightyandPowerful,theOnewhocreatedall.
WhenourMastersaid,‘Itisalreadyknownwhenoneisinthemother’swombwhetheronewillbeasinnerorberighteous,’hemeantby‘themother’swomb’thefourelementsthatgivebirthtoallmaterialforcesandfaculties.Twoofthesefourelementsareearthandwater,whichareresponsibleforthegrowthoffaithandofknowledge,givelifetotheliving,andappearintheheartashumbleness,forearthishumble.Theothertwoelementsarefireandether.Theyaretheoppositeofearthandwater.Theyburn,destroy,kill.ItistheDivinethatunitestheseoppositesinonebeing.Howdowaterandfirecoexist?Howarelightanddarknesscontainedwithintheclouds?
ItisHeWhoshowsyoulightning,causingbothfearandhope;itisHeWhoraisesupthecloudsheavywithrain.
Nay,thunderrepeatsHispraisesandsodotheangels,withawe.Heflingstheloud-voicedthunderboltsandtherewithstrikeswhomsoeverHewill…(SuraRa‘d,12,13)
OnedaysomeoneaskedthesaintYahyaibnMu‘adhal-RazI,‘MowdidyoucometoknowAllah?’Heanswered,‘Bytheunionofopposites.’
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Theoppositespertainto,andinfactarearequirementfor,theunderstandingofAllah’sattributes.Facingthedivinetruthmanbecomesthemirrorinwhichthetruthisreflected,butalsoinwhichtheattributeofMightisreflected,Mancontainsthewholeuniverseinhisbeing:thatiswhyheiscalledtheunifierofmultiplicity,themacrocosm.AllahhascreatedhimwithHistwohands,HishandofgraceandHishandofall-compelling,crushingpowerandwrath.Thereforeheisamirrorthatshowsbothsides,boththatwhichiscoarseanddenseandthatwhichisfineandexquisite.
WhileallthedivineNamesaremanifestedinman,allothercreationsareonlyone-sided.AllahcreatedtheaccursedDevilandhisprogenyfromHisattributeofall-compellingwrath.HecreatedtheangelsfromHisattributeofgrace.Thequalitiesofsanctityandcontinuousworshiparecontainedintheangels,whiletheDevilandhisfollowers,createdfromAllah’sattributeofcrushingwrath,havethequalityoftyranny.ThatiswhytheDevilbecamearrogantand,whenorderedbyAllahtoprostratehimselftoAdam,refused.
Asmancontainsinhimselfboththehighandlowcharacteristicsoftheuniverse,
andasAllahhaschosenHismessengersandsaintsfromamongmen,thesemessengersarenotfreefromerroreither.Prophetswhentheyreceivethemissionofprophethoodaremadeinnocentofgreatsins,butthesmallsinsanderrorsmaystillbemanifestedinthem.Thesaints,ontheotherhand,arenotrenderedincapableofsins.YetitissaidthatwhensaintswhocomeclosetoAllahreachperfection,theycomeunderdivineprotectionagainstcommittinggreatsins.
Shaqlqal-Balkhl,mayAllahsanctifyhissecret,says,‘Therearefivesignsofrighteousness:agentledispositionandasoftheart,sheddingtearsofregret,asceticismandnotcaringabouttheworld,beingunambitious,andhavingaconscience.Thesignsofasinnerarealsofive:tobehard-hearted,tohaveeyesthatnevercry,tolovetheworldandtheworldly,tobeambitious,andtobewithoutconscienceandshame/
TheProphetattributesfourqualitiestotherighteousperson:‘Heisdependableandsafeguardsthatwhichisgivenintohiscare,
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andreturnsit.Hekeepshispromises.Heistruthfulandneverlies.Heisnotharshindiscussionanddoesnotbreakhearts/Healsomentionsfoursignsofthesinner:‘Heisunfaithfulandun-dependableandcarelesswiththingsentrustedtohiscare.Hedoesnotkeephispromises.Helies.Hefightsandcursesashediscussesandhebreakshearts/Moreover,thesinnerisunabletoforgivetheerrorsofhisfriends.Thisisasignoffaithlessness,justastoforgiveisthegreatestsignofthebeliever,forAllahMostHighHimselforderedHisbelovedProphetHoldtoforgiveness,commandwhatisright,butturnawayfromtheignorant.(SuraATaf,
199)
Theorder,‘Holdtoforgiveness’isnotgivenonlytoourMastertheProphet.It
addresseseveryone,andcertainlyallpeoplewhobelieveinMuhammadIfakingordershisgovernortodoacertainthing,abidingwiththatorderbecomesincumbentuponeveryoneunderthatgovernor,eventhoughtheorderitselfwasgivenonlytohim.
Intheorder,‘Holdtoforgiveness/theword‘hold’means‘Makeitahabit,makeitapartofyournature,apartofyourself/WhoeverhasaforgivingnaturereceivesoneofAllah’sNames,theNameoftheForgiver.Allahpromises,Ifapersonforgivesandmakesreconciliation,hisrewardisduefromAllah…(SuraShura,40)KnowthatrighteousnessturnsintorebellionagainstAllah,andrebellionandsinintorighteousness,notbythemselves,butthroughinfluencesandbyone’sowndoingandeffort.AsourProphetsays,‘AllchildrenarebornasMuslims.ItistheirmothersandfathersthatturnthemintoJews,ChristiansorMagianfire-worshippers.’Everyonehasthepotentialofbeinggoodandofbeingbad.Thereforeisitwrongtojudgesomeoneorsomethingastotallygoodortotallybad.Itisrighttothinkthatifsomeonehasmoregoodinhimthanhehasbad,heisrighteous,andifhisbadfeaturesaremorethanthegood,thereverse.
ThisdoesnotmeanthatmangainsParadisewithoutgooddeeds,nordoesitmeanthatheisthrownintohellfirewithoutsins.TothinkthiswayisinoppositiontotheprinciplesofIslam.AllahhaspromisedParadisetoHisbelievingservantswhodogooddeeds,and
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haswarnedtherebelling,nonbelievingsinnerswhosetthemselvesupaspartnerstoHimwiththepunishmentofhellfire.Hesaid,
Whoeverdoesgood,itisforhimselfandwhoeverdoesevil,itisagaittsthimselfThentoyourLordyouwillbebroughtback.(SuraJathiya,15)
7hisdayeveryoneisrewardedwithwhathehasearned.Noinjusticethisday!SurelyAllahisswiftinreckoning.(SuraMu’min,17)
Mancanhavenothingbutwhathestrivesfor.(SuraNajm,39)
Andwhatevergoodyousendbeforeforyourselves,youwillfinditwithAllah.(SuraBaqara,no)
CHAPTERTWELVE
TheDervishes
ThereisagroupofpeoplecalledtheSufis.Fourinterpretationsaregivenforthisname.Somesee,lookingattheirexterior,thattheywearroughwoollengarb.InArabicthewordforwoolissilfiandtheycallthemSufisfromthis.Others,lookingattheirwayoflifefreefromtheanxietiesofthisworld,andattheireaseandatpeace,whichinArabicissqfatcallthemSufisonthataccount.Yetothers,seeingdeeper,lookattheirhearts,whicharepurifiedofeverythingotherthantheEssenceofAllah.Becauseofthepurityofthosehearts,inArabicsafi,theytermthemSufis.OtherswhoknowcallthemSufisbecausetheyareclosetoAllahandwillstandinthefirstrow,inArabicsafi]beforeAllahonthedayoftheLastJudgment.
Therearealsofourrealms,fourworlds.Thefirstistheworldofmatter,ofearth,water,fireandether.Thesecondistheworldofspiritualbeings,oftheangels,ofjinnsanddreamsanddeath,oftherewardsofAllah—theeightparadises,andthejusticeofAllah—thesevenhells.ThethirdistheworldoftheWord,theBeautifulNamesofAllah’sattributes,andtheHiddenTabletwhichisthesourceofallofAllah’smessages.ThefourthistherealmofAllah’spureEssence,arealmindescribablebecauseatthatleveltherearenowords,names,attributesorlikenesses.NoneexceptAllahknowsit.
Therearealsofourkindsofknowledge.ThefirstisknowledgeofAllah’sprecepts,andisconcernedwiththeouteraspectsofthe
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TheDervishes
lifeofthisworld.Thesecondismysticalknowledge,theinnerknowledgeofcausesandeffects.Thethirdistheknowledgeofthespirit,self-knowledge,andthroughit,knowledgeofthedivine.Finally,thereistheknowledgeofthetruth.
Thesoulsarealsooffourkinds:thematerialsoul,theenlightenedsoul,thesultan-soulandthedivinesoul.
Appearances,themanifestationsoftheCreator,arealsooffourkinds.Thefirstisthemanifestationinformsandshapesandcolour,asifinHisartwork.Thesecondmanifestationisinactionsandinteractions,inthingsthathappen.ThethirdisHismanifestationinattributes,qualities,thecharacterofthings.FinallythereisthemanifestationofMisEssence.
Theintellect,orreasoningpower,isalsooffourkinds:theintelligencewhichdealswithworldlyaffairsofthislife;theintelligencewhichconsidersandthinksofthehereafter;theintelligenceofthesoul,spiritualwisdom;andfinallythetotalCausalMind.
Thesubjectsjustdiscussedarealsofour:thefourkindsofknowledge,thefoursouls,thefourkindsofmanifestationandthefourintellects.Somemenstayatthefirstlevelofknowledge,soul,manifestationandintellect.Theyaretheinhabitantsofthefirstparadisecalled‘theparadiseofthesecurityofhome’,thatis,theearthlyparadise.Thosewhoareatthesecondlevelofknowledge,soul,manifestationandintellectbelongtoahigherlevelofParadise,thegardenofthedelightofAllah’sgraceuponHiscreatures,whichistheparadisewithintheangelicrealm.Thoseamongmenwhohavereachedthethirdlevelofknowledge,soul,manifestationandwisdomareinthethirdlevelofParadise,theheavenlyparadise,theparadiseofthedivineNamesandattributesintherealmofunity.
YetthosewhoseekandattachthemselvestotherewardsofAllah,eveniftheyareinParadise,cannotseethetruerealitywithinthemselvesandwithinthethingsaroundthem.Thosemenofwisdomwhoseekthetruth,thosewhohaveachievedthetruestateofthedervish,thestateoftotalneed—nottheneedofanythingbut
Allah,theneedofAllahalone—leaveeverythingandseeknothingbuttruth.Theyfindwhattheyseekandentertherealmoftruth,therealmwhichisclosesttoAllah,andlivefornothingexcepttheEssenceofAllah.
Theseabidewiththedivineorder,‘TakerefugeinAllah’,andfollowtheadviceoftheProphet4S,‘BoththisworldandthehereafterareunlawfulfortheonewhoseeksAllah’.OurMasterdoesnotmeanthattheworldandthehereafterareunlawful.HemeansthattheoneswhowishforandseekAllah’sEssencedeprivetheirfleshandtheiregosoftheirneeds,lovesanddemandsoftheworldandtheworldly.
Theseekersoftruthreasonthisway:thisworldisacreatedbeing;wearealsocreatedbeings,wearebothinneedofaCreator,ofanOwner.Howcouldoneinneedaskforwhatheneedsfromanotherwhoisinneedhimself?WhatwayisthereforacreatedbeingotherthanseekinghisCreator?
AllahsaysthroughthelipsofHisbelovedProphet£§£,‘Mylove,MyexistenceistheirloveforMe’.
OurMastertheProphet£§£says:‘Mystateofutterneed,mypoverty,ismypride.’TheutterneedandloveofAllahisthebasisforthesearchofthedervish.ThestateofpovertywhichistheprideofourMasterisnotthepovertyofthelackoftheworldly.ItistheabandonmentofeverythingbutthewishfortheEssenceofAllah.Itistoleaveallthegoods—notonlythoseofthisworld,butthosepromisedinthehereafter—andthusintotalneedtopresentoneselftoone’sLord.
Thisisastateofbringingoneselftonothingness,ofdisappearingintheEssenceofAllah.Itistoemptyone’sbeingofeverythingwhichisforone’sbeingandto
emptyone’sheartofeverythingbutHislove.ThenthatheartbecomesworthytoreceivethepromiseofAllah,‘1donotfitintoMyheavensnorMyearths,butIfitintotheheartofmyfaithfulservant’.
ThefaithfulservantishewhoexcludesallotherthantheOnefromhisheart.Whenaheartisthuspurified,AllahenlargesitandfitsHimselfintoit.HadratBayazldal-Bistaml,mayAllahsanctityhissecret,describesthegreatnessofsuchaheart,saying,‘Ifallthat
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TheDervishes
existsinandaroundtheThroneofAllah,thatvastestofallofAllah’screations,weretobeplacedinacoineroftheperfectman’sheart,hewouldnotevenfeeltheweightofit.’
SuchasthesearethebelovedofAllah.Lovethemandbearoundthem,forthosewhotrulylovewillbewiththeirbelovedinthehereafter.Thesignofthisloveistoseektheircompany,towishtoheartheirwords,andwiththeirsightandtheirwordstofeellongingforAllahMostHigh.
Allah,speakingthroughthelipsofHisProphetsays:‘Ifeeltheyearningofthefaithful,oftherighteous,ofthetrueservants,forMe,andItoolongforthem.’
TheseloversofAllahappeardifferentfromothers,andtheiractionsaredifferentfromthoseofothers.Atthebeginning,whentheyarenovices,theiractionsappearbalancedbetweengoodandbad.Whentheyareadvancedandreachthemedianleveltheiractionsarefullofbeneficence.InallcasesthegoodwhichcomesthroughthemisnotonlyintheirfollowingthepreceptsofAllahandofthereligion,butinactionswhichcontainbeatitudeandshinewiththelightofthemeaningwithinappearances.
Theyareasifcladinclothingofcolouredlightwhichgeneratesfromtheminaccordancewiththeirlevels.
Astheyovercometheiregosandthetyrannyofthelowerdesiresoftheirfleshwiththeblessingofthedivinephraselailahaillallah—thereisnogodbutAllah—andreachthelevelofbeingswhocandiscriminatebetweenrightandwrong,condemnthewrongwithinthemselvesandwishfortheright,asky-bluelightemanatesfromthem.
When,fromthatstate,withthehelpandinspirationofallahtheyoptforthegoodandleavethebad,aredcolourengulfsthem.
WiththeblessingcomingfromtheNameofAllah,hu,thatNamewhichnoneotherthantheTruthcandescribe,theyreachthelevelthatiscleansedofallharmfulattributesandbadactionsandfindastateofpeaceandserenity.Thenagreenlightemanatesfromthem.
Whenallegoanditswishes,whenallpersonalwillisleftbehindthroughtheblessingofhaqq,theTruth,andwhentheysubmittheirwillstothewillofAllahandarepleasedwithallthatcomesfromAllah,theircolourturnstowhitelight.
Thesearethedescriptionsofdervishesfromtheirnovitiateatthebeginningofthepathuntiltheyreachamedianstage.Buttheonewhoreachesthelimitsofthispathhasneitherformnorshapenorcolour.Hebecomesasifarayofsunshine.Thesunshineiscolourless.Itslightdoesnotresembleanycolour.Thedervishwhohasreachedthehighestlevelhasnobeingtoreflectlightorcolour.Ifanything,hiscolourwouldbeblack,whichabsorbsalllight.Thisisthesignofthestateofannihilation.
Forotherswholookathim,thiscolourless,darkappearancebecomesaveiloverthelightofwisdomwhichhepossesses,justasthenightisaveiloverthesunshine.AllahsaysthatHe
madethenightasacovering,andmadethedayasameansofsubsistence.(SuraNaba5,io-ii)
Forthosewhohavereachedtheessenceofthemindandofknowledge,thereisasigninthisverse.
Thosepeoplewhohavecomeclosetotruthinthelifeofthisworldfeelasiftheyareimprisonedhereinadarkdungeon.Theyspendtheirlifeinpainandmisery.Theysuffergreathardships,pres-sureofcircumstances,inaworldoftotaldarkness.TheProphetsays,‘Thisworldisadungeonforthefaithful’.Ashepointsout,calamitiesfallfirstupontheprophets,thenuponthosewhoaretheclosesttoAllah,thenindescendingscaleuponthosewhoarctryingtocomeclosetoHim,Thereforeitisappropriateforthedervishtowearblackandtotietheblackturbanaroundhishead,foritistheclothingoftheonewhoispreparedtosufferthepainsofthispath.
Inreality,blackistheappropriateclothingforthosewhoshouldmournforhavinglosttheirhumanityandtheirpossibility.Manymencarelesslylosethatgreatgift,properonlytomankind,ofbeingconscious,ofbeingabletoseethetruth,thuskillingwiththeirownhandstheireternallife.Puttingoutthedivineloveyearning
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intheirhearts,separatingthemselvesfromtheholyspirit,theylosethepossibilityofreturningtotheorigin,tothecause.Althoughtheydonotknowit,theyarctheoneswhosufferthegreatestofcalamities.Iftheywereawarethattheyhadlostallthebenefitsofthehereafter,theeternallife,theywouldindeedweartheclothingofmourning.Awidowwhohaslostherhusbandmournsforfourmonthsandtendays.Thisisamourningforthelossofthatwhichbelongstothisworld.Themourningfortheonewhohaslostthegoodoftheeternallifeshouldbeeternal.
OurMastertheProphetsays:Thosewhoaresincerearealwaysattheedgeofagreatdanger’.Howwellthisdescriptionfitstheonewhohastowalkontiptoewiththegreatestofcare!Butthisisthestateofthedervishwhohaslefthisbeingandisintherealmofannihilation.HispovertyofthisworldwhichhehasleftbehindandhistotalneedforAllahisgreat,andheloomsasagreatbeautyoverandabovehumankind.
OurMastersays,‘Povertyisablackenedfaceinbothworlds’.Hemeansthattheonewhohaspurposefullychosentobepoorinthisworld,disappearingtothisworld,doesnotreflectanyofthecoloursofthisworld,butabsorbsonlythelightofthedivinetruth.Thedarkofhisfaceislikeabeautyspotwhichfurtherenhanceshisbeauty.
Thosewhohavecomeinsightofthetruth,afterbeholdingthebeautyofthetruth,donotcaretoseeanythingelse.Theycannotlookwithloveandyearningatanythingelse.ForthemAllahbecomestheonlybeloved,theonlythingthatexists.Thatistheirstateinbothworlds.Thatistheironlypurpose.Finally,theyhavebecomeMen,andAllahhascreatedManinorderthatheknowHim,inorderthathereachHisEssence.
Itbehovesallmentoseekandknowthereasonfortheircreationandtofeelthemeaningofthisreason,thedutieswhichbefalltheminthisworldandinthehereafter,sothattheydonotspendtheirlifehereinvain,sothattheydonotregretforeverinthehereafter—engulfed,drownedintheyearningwhichtheywillfinallyrealizeineternalremorse.
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
OnthePurificationoftheSelf
Purificationiscleansingoneself.Therearetwokindsofcleanliness.One,exterior,isordainedbythepreceptsofthereligionandiscarriedoutbywashingone’sbodywithpurewater.Theother,innerpurification,isobtainedthroughtherealizationofthedirtinone’sbeing,beingawareofone’ssinsandsincerelyrepentingforthem.Thisinnerpurificationnecessitatestakingaspiritualpathandistaughtbyaspiritualteacher.
Accordingtothereligiousrulesandprecepts,onebecomesimpureandone’sablutionisbrokenwhencertainbodilymattersuchasfaeces,urine,vomit,pus,blood,semen,etc.,isexpelled.Thisnecessitatestherenewaloftheablution.Inthecaseofsemenandmenstrualbleedingatotalwashingofthebodyisnecessary.Inothercasestheexposedextremitiesofthebody—thehandsandforearms,thefaceandfeet—mustbewashed.Concerningrenewingone’sablutionourMastertheProphetsaid:‘AteachrenewalofablutionAllahrenewsthebeliefofHisservantwhoselightoffaithisrepolishedandshinesbrighter,’and‘Repeatedpurificationbyablutionislightuponlight’.
Innerpuritycanalsobelost,perhapsmoreoftenthanouterpurity,bybadcharacter,lowbehaviour,harmfulactsandattitudessuchaspride,arrogance,lying,gossiping,slandering,envyandanger.Consciousandunconsciousactsbyone’ssensessoilthespirit:themouthwhicheatsunlawfulfood,thelipswhichlieandcurse,
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theearwhichlistenstogossipandslander,thehandwhichstrikes,thefeetwhichfollowthetyrant.Adultery,whichisalsoasin,isnotperformedonlyinbed;astheProphetsays,‘Theeyesalsocommitadultery*.
Wheninnerpurityisthussoiledandspiritualablutionbroken,therenewalofablutionisbysincererepentance,whichisperformedbyrealizingone*sfault,bypainfulregretaccompaniedbytears(whicharethewaterwashingthedirtfromthespirit),byintendingnevertorepeatthisfault,bywishingtoleaveallfaults,byaskingtheforgivenessofAllah,andbyprayingthatHepreventonefromcommittingsuchasinagain.
Toprayistopresentoneselfinfrontofone’sLord.Tohaveablution,tobeinapurifiedstate,isaprerequisiteforprayer.Thewiseknowthatthecleanlinessofone’sexteriorbeingisnotsufficient,forAllahseesdeepintoone’sheart,whichhastobegiventheablutionofrepentance.Onlythenisprayeraccepted.Allahsays
77/15iswhatwaspromisedforyou—foreveryonewhoturned(to
Allah)insincererepentance,ivhokept(Hislaw).(SuraQaf,32)
Thepurificationofthebodyandexteriorablutioninaccordancewithreligiouspreceptsisalsoboundbytime,forsleepcancelsablutionaswell.Thiscleanlinessistiedtothedayandthenightofthelifeofthisworld.Thecleanlinessoftheinnerworld,theablutionoftheinvisibleself,isnotlimitedbytime.Itisforthewholeoflife—notonlyforthetemporallifeofthisworld,butalsofortheeternallifeofthehereafter.
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
OntheMeaningofRitualWorshipandInnerWorship
Fivetimesaday,atspecifictimes,prayerisordainedforeveryadultandableMuslim.ThisisorderedbyAllah:Guardtheprayers,especiallythemiddleprayer…(SuraBaqara,238)Ritualworshipconsistsofstanding,recitingfromtheQur’an,bowing,prostrating,kneelingandaudiblyrepeatingcertainprayers.Thesemovementsandactionsinvolvingthemembersofthebody,recitationsspelledoutandheardinvolvingthesenses,aretheworshipofthematerialselfBecausetheseactionsofthematerialselfaremultipleandarerepeatedmanytimesineachofthefiveprayersduringtheday,thefirstpartoftheorderofAllah,Guardtheprayers,isintheplural.
ThesecondpartofAllah’sorder,especiallythemiddleprayer,referstotheprayeroftheheart,becausetheheartisinthemiddle,inthecentreofthebeing.Thepurposeofthatworshipistoobtainpeaceofheart.Theheartisinthemiddlebetweentherightandtheleft,betweenthefrontandtheback,betweentheupperandthelower,andbetweenrighteousnessandrebellion.Theheartisthecentre,thepointofbalance,themedian.OurMastertheProphetsaid,‘TheheartsofthechildrenofAdamarebetweenthetwofingersoftheAll-Merciful.HeturnsthemwhicheverwayHewills.’ThetwofingersofAllahareHisattributesoftheirresistiblepowerofpunishmentandthelovinganddelicatebeautyofbeneficence.
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Trueworshipistheworshipoftheheart.Ifone’sheartisheedlessoftrueworship,theritualprayerofthematerialselfisindisorder.Whenthishappens,thepeaceofthematerialselfthatonehopestoobtainfromritualprayerisnotrealized.ThatiswhytheProphet^says,‘Ritualworshipisonlypossiblewithaquietheart’.
PrayeristhesupplicationofthecreatedtotheCreator.ItisameetingoftheservantandtheLord.Theplaceofthismeetingistheheart.Iftheheartisclosed,heedless,anddead,soisthemeaningofworship.Nogoodcomestothematerialbeingfromsuchaprayer.Fortheheartistheessenceofthebody;therestisdependentuponit.AstheProphet*§£says,‘Thereisapieceofmeatinman’sbody—whenitisinagoodstate,thewholebeingimproves,andwhenitisinabadstate,thewholebeingfallsapart.Beware,thatpieceofmeatistheheart.’
Prayerprescribedbythereligionistobeperformedatspecifictimes.Withinadayandanighttherearefivesuchspecifictimesofprayer.Thebestwayofdoingthemistoperformtheminamosque,incongregation,turningtowardthedirectionofthecityofMakka,followingtheonewholeadstheprayerwithouthypocrisy,notfortheapprovalofothers,andwithoutostentation.
Thetimeforinnerworshipistimelessandendless,forthewholelifehereandinthehereafter.Themosqueforthisprayeristheheart.Thecongregationistheinnerfaculties,whichrememberandrecitetheNamesoftheunityofAllahinthelanguageoftheinnerworld.Theleaderofthisprayeristheirresistiblewish.ThedirectionofprayeristowardtheonenessofAllah—whichiseverywhere—andHiseternalnatureandHisbeauty.
Thetrueheartistheonewhichcanperformsuchaprayer.Aheartlikethisneithersleepsnordies.Aheartandsoullikethisareincontinuousworship,andabeingwithsuchaheart,whetherheappearawakeorasleep,isinconstantservice.Theinnerworshipoftheheartishiswholelife.Thereisnolongerthesoundofrecitationnorstanding,bowing,prostratingorsitting.Hisguide,theleaderofhisprayer,istheProphethimself.HespeakswithAllahMostHigh,saying,TheedoweserveandTheedowebeseechforhelp.(SuraFatiha,4)
Thesedivinewordsareinterpretedasasignofthestate
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OntheMeaningofRitualWorshipandInnerWorship
oftheperfectman,whopassesfrombeingnothing,beinglosttomaterialthings,intoastateofoneness.Suchaperfectheartreceivesgreatblessingsfromthedivine.OneoftheseblessingsismentionedbyourMastertheProphet<§£:‘TheprophetsandthosewhoarebelovedbyAllahcontinuetheirworshipintheirgravesastheydidintheirhouseswhiletheywereofthisworld.’I11otherwords,theeternallifeoftheheartcontinuesitssupplicationstoAllahMostHigh.
Whentheritualworshipofthematerialbeingandtheinnerworshipoftheheartunite,theprayeriscomplete.Itisperfectworship,anditsrewardsaregreat.ItbringsonespirituallytotherealmsoftheproximityofAllah,andphysicallytothehighestlevelofone’spossibility.IntheworldofappearancesonebecomesthedevoutservantofAllah.InwardlyonebecomesthewiseonewhohasattainedthetrueknowledgeofAllah.Ifritualworshipdoesnotunitewiththeinnerworshipoftheheart,itislacking.Itsrewardisonlyadvancinginrank.Itwillnotbringoneanyclosertotherealmofthedivine.
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CHAPTERFIFTEEN
OnthePurificationofthePerfectMan,whohasIsolatedHimselffrom,andStrippedHimselfof,
AllWorldlyConcerns
Thepurposeofthispurificationisoftwokinds;oneistogainaccesstothedivineattributes,andtheotheristoreachtherealmoftheEssence.
PurificationtogainaccesstodivineattributesnecessitatesateachingthatwillinstructoneintheprocessofcleansingthemirroroftheheartfromanimalandhumanimagesbytheinvocationofthedivineNames.Thisinvocationbecomesthekey,thepasswordopeningtheeyeoftheheart.OnlywhenthateyeisopenedcanoneseethetrueattributesofAllahMostHigh.Thenthateyeseesthereflectionofthedivinemercy,grace,beautyandkindnessonthepurifiedmirroroftheheart.TheProphetofAllah££says,‘ThefaithfulseesbythelightofAllah’,and‘Thefaithfulisthemirrorofthefaithful’.Healsosays,‘Themanofknowledgemakesimageswhilethewisemanpolishesthemirroruponwhichtruthisreflected’.WhenthemirroroftheheartiscompletelycleansedbybeingpolishedwithcontinuousinvocationofthedivineNames,onehasaccesstoandknowledgeofthedivineattributes.Thewitnessingofthisvisionisonlypossibleinthemirroroftheheart.
PurificationforthepurposeofattainingthedivineEssenceisthroughcontinuousremembranceandtheinvocationofthe
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ConfessionofUnity.TherearethreeNamesofUnity,thelastthreeofthetwelvedivineNames.Theyare:
lailaiiaillallah—ThereisnogodbutAllah
allah—ThepropernameofGod
hu—ThetranscendentAllah
haqq—TheTruth
hayy—TheeverlivingdivineLife
qayyum—TheSelf-existingOneuponWhomallexistencedepends
qahhar—-TheAll-compellerWhooverwhelmsall
waiihab—ThelimitlessDonorofall
fattah—TheOpener
wahid—TheOne
ahad—TheUnique
samad—TheSource
TheseNamesmustbeinvokednotbytheordinarytongue,butwiththesecrettongueoftheheart.Itisonlythenthattheeyeoftheheartseesthelightofunity.WhenthesacredlightofthedivineEssencebecomesmanifest,allmaterialqualitiesdisappear,allthingsbecomenothing.Thisisthestateoftotalconsumptionofallandeverything,avoidbeyondallvoids.Themanifestationofdivinelightextinguishesallotherlights.
EverythingwillperishbutHim.(SuraQasas,88)
AllaheffaceswhatHepleasesandestablisheswhatHepleases,andHisistheessenceoftheBook.(SuraRa‘d,39)
Whenallisgone,whatisleftforeveristheholyspirit.Itseeswiththelightof
Allah.ItseesHim,Heseesit.ItseesbyHim;itseesinHim;itseesforHim.Therearenoimages,nolikenessesinHisseeing.NothingislikeHim,andHeistheHearingandtheSeeing.(SuraShura,n)
Whatisleftisapureandabsolutelight.Thereisnothingtoknowbeyondit.Thatistherealmofself-annihilation.Thereisnolongeramindtogiveanynews.ThereisnooneelsebutAllahtowhomtogivenews.OurMastertheProphet*§£describesit,saying,‘Ihavea
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timewhenIamsoclosetoAllahthatnoone,neitheranangelnoramessengernoraprophet,cancomebetweenus/Thatisthestateofisolation,whereonehasstrippedoneselfofeverythingexceptAllah’sEssence.Thatisthestateofunion,asAllahordainsfromthelipsofHisProphet‘isolateyourselffromallandfindunion*.
Theisolationproceedsfromallthatisworldlybecomingnothing.
Itisonlythenthatyouwillreceivethedivineattributes.That
iswhatourMastertheProphetmeanswhenhesays,‘Adornchaptersixteen
yourselfwiththedivinedisposition’.Purifyyourself,submerging
yourselfinthedivineattributes.OilCharity
Therearetwokindsofcharity:thatcharitywhichisprescribedbythereligion,
andspiritualcharity,whichisofadifferentnature.Thedonationsprescribedbythereligionarefromthelawfullygainedgoodsofthisworld.Afterthedeductionofacertainamountallocatedfortheuseofone’sfamily,aspecificpercentageoftheexcessisdistributedtothosewhoareinneed.Spiritualcharity,however,istakenfromthatwhichonehasobtainedofthegoodsofthehereafter.Italsoisgiventotheoneswhoareinneedofit,tothespirituallypoor.
Charityisgivingalmstothepoor.Allahordainsthis,saying,Charityisforthepoorandtheneedy…(SuraTawba,60)WhateverisgivenforthispurposepassesthroughthehandsofAllahMostHighbeforeitreachestheoneinneed.Thereforethepurposeofcharityisnotsomuchtohelptheneedy,forAllahistheSatisfierofallneeds,buttoletthedonor’sintentionsbeacceptabletoAllah.
ThosewhoareclosetoAllahdevotethespiritualrewardsoftheirgooddeedstosinners.AllahMostHighmanifestsHismercy,pardoningsinners,inproportiontotheprayers,thepraises,thefasts,thealmsandthepilgrimagesofHisservantswhointendtosacrificethespiritualrewardstheymayhopeforasaresultoftheirworshipanddevotions.AllahinHismercycoversandhidesthesinsofsinnersasarewardforthedevotionofhisgoodservants.
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Thegenerosityofthesefaithfulonesissuchthattheykeepnothingforthemselves*neitherthereputationofbeinggoodnorthehopeofarewardinthehereafter.Fortheonewhotakesthispathhaslostevenhisownexistence.Heisinthestateoftotalbankruptcy,becauseheistrulygenerous.Allahlovesthosewhoaregenerousuptothepointofbeingtotallybankrupttothisworld.OurMastertheProphetsays,‘TheonewhohasspentallhehasanddoesnothopetohaveanythingisinthecareofAllahinthisworldandinthehereafter*
ThegreatladyRabi’aal-‘Adawiyya,mayGodbepleasedwithher,usedtopray,beggingAllah,‘OLord,giveallmyshareofthisworldtothenonbelievers,andifIhaveanyshareofthehereafter,distributeitamongYourfaithfulservants.AlllwishforinthisworldistoyearnforYou,andall1wishforinthehereafteristobewithYou;forbothmanandwhatconiestohishandsforashortwhilebelongonlytotheOwnerofboth.*
Allahrepaysatleasttentimestotheoneswhogive.Hewhodoesgoodshallhavetentimesasmuchinreturn…(SuraAn’am,160)
Anotherbenefitofcharityisitscleansingeffect.Itcleansesone’spropertyanditcleansesone’sbeing.Ifone’sbeingiscleansedofegotisticalattributes,thespiritualpurposeofcharityisaccomplished.
Toseparateoneselffromalittleportionofwhatonethinksisone’sownbringsmanifoldrewardsinthehereafter.Allahpromises:
WhoishewhowillgivetoAllahabeautifulgift?ForAllahwillincreaseitmanifoldtohiscredit,andhewillhavebesidesaliberalreward.(SuraHadtd,n)
andTrulyhefindssalvationwhopurifies(hissoul).(SuraShams,9)Charity,the‘beautifulgift,’isagooddeed,aportionofwhatyouhavereceived,bothmaterialandspiritual.Giveit,forAllah’ssake,toAllah’sservants.Eventhoughmanifoldrewardsarepromised,donotdoitforthereturn.Giveallgiftsandcharityaccompaniedbycare,love,andcompassionandnotasafavour,expectingthanks,makingtherecipientfeelunderobligation,indebtedorgrateful.ForAllahsays:
OnCharity
Oyouwhobelieve,makenotyourcharityworthlessbyremindersofyourgenerosity,andbycausingvexation…(SuraBaqara,264)
Donotasknorexpectanyworldlybenefitforyourgooddeeds.DothemforAllah’ssake.Allahsays.
Bynomeansshallyouattainrighteousnessunlessyougive(freely)ofthatwhichyoulove;andwhateveryougive,intruthAllahknowsitwell(SuraAl‘Imran,92)
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OnFasting
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
OnFastingPrescribedbytheReligionandOnSpiritualFasting
Thefastingprescribedbythereligionistoabstainfromeatinganddrinkingandsexualintercoursefromdawntosunset,whilespiritualfastingis,inaddition,toprotectallthesensesandthoughtsfromallthatisunlawful.Itistoabandonallthatisdisharmonious,inwardlyaswellasoutwardly.Theslightestbreachofthatintentionbreaksthefast.Religiousfastingislimitedbytime,whilespiritualfastingisforeverandlaststhroughoutone’stemporalandeternallife.Thisistruefasting.
OurMastertheProphetsays,‘Therearemanyofthosewhofastwhogetonlyhungerandthirstfortheireffortsandnootherbenefit’.Therearealsothosewhobreaktheirfastwhentheyeat,andthosewhosefastcontinuesevenaftertheyhaveeaten.Thesearetheoneswhokeeptheirsensesandtheirthoughtsfreeofevilandtheirhandsandtheirtonguesfromhurtingothers.ItisforthesethatAllahMostHighpromises,TastingisadeeddoneforMysake,andIamtheonewhogivesitsreward.’AboutthetwokindsoffastingourMastertheProphetsays,‘Theonewhofastshastwosatisfactions.Oneiswhenhebreakshisfastattheendoftheday.Theotheriswhenhesees.’
Thosewhoknowtheouterformofthereligionsaythatthefirstsatisfactionoftheonewhofastsisthepleasureofeatingafteradayoffasting,andthemeaningofthesatisfaction‘whenhesees’is
whensomeonewhofastedthewholemonthofRamadanseesthenewmoonmarkingtheendofthefastandbeginningthefestivitiesoftheholiday.TheoneswhoknowtheinnermeaningoffastingsaythatthejoyofbreakingthefastisthedaywhenthebelieverwillenterParadiseandpartakeofthedelightstherein,andthemeaningofthegreaterjoyofseeingiswhenthefaithfulseesthetruthofAllahwiththesecreteyeofhisheart.
Worthierthanthesetwokindsoffastingisthefastoftruth,whichisinpreventingtheheartfromworshippinganyotherthantheEssenceofAllah.Itis
performedbyrenderingtheeyeoftheheartblindtoallthatexists,eveninthesecretrealmsoutsideofthisworld,excepttheloveofAllah.ForalthoughAllahhascreatedallandeverythingforman,HehascreatedmanonlyforHimself,andHesays‘ManisMysecretand1amhissecret’.ThatsecretisalightfromthedivinelightofAllah.Itisthecentreoftheheart,madeoutofthefinestofmatter.Itisthesoulwhichknowsallthesecrettruths;itisthesecretconnectionbetweenthecreatedoneandhisCreator.ThatsecretdoesnotlovenorleantowardsanythingotherthanAllah.
Thereisnothingworthytowishfor,thereisnoothergoal,nootherbelovedinthisworldandinthehereafter,exceptAllah.IfanatomofanythingotherthantheloveofAllahenterstheheart,thefastoftruth,thetruefast,isbroken.Thenonehastomakeitup,torevivethatwishandintention,toreturnbacktoHislove,hereandinthehereafter.ForAllahsays:TastingisonlyforMe,andonlyIgiveitsreward’.
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OnthePilgrimage
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
OnthePilgrimagetoMakkaandtheInnerPilgrimagetotheEssenceoftheHeart
PilgrimageaccordingtoreligiouspreceptsisthevisitationoftheKa‘bainthecityofMakka.TherearecertainrequirementsconnectedwiththisPilgrimage:towearthepilgrim’sgarb—twowrappersofseamlesswhiteclothwhichrepresenttheleavingbehindofallworldlyties;toarriveinMakkainastateofablution;toperformsevencircumambulationsaroundtheKa‘ba—asignofcompletesurrender;torunseventimesbetweenSafaandMarwa;togototheplainof‘Arafatandstandwaitinguntilsunset;tospendthenightinMuzdalifa;tomakeasacrificeatMina;tomakeanothersevencircumambulationsaroundtheKa‘ba;todrinkfromthewellofZatnzam;andtomaketwocyclesofprayerneartheplacewheretheprophetAbrahamstoodneartheKa‘ba.Whenthesearedone,thePilgrimageiscompleteanditsrewardgranted,andifanythingislackinginthisritualitsrewardiscancelled.AllahMostHighsays:AndcompletethepilgrimageandthevisitationforAllah.(SuraBaqara,196)Whenallthisiscomplete,manyconnectionswiththeworldthatwereunlawfulduringtheritualbecomelawfulagain.Inone’snormalstateonemakesalastcircumambulation,andreturnstodailylife.TherewardofthepilgrimageisannouncedbyAllah:
Andwhoeverentersitissafe,andthePilgrimagetotheHouseisadutythatmenowetoAllah,whoevercanfndawaytoit.(SuraA1‘Imran,97)
WhoevercanperformthePilgrimagewillfindsafetyfromhellfire.Thatishisreward.
TheinnerPilgrimagenecessitatesagreatdealofpreparationandgatheringofprovisionspriortoundertakingthevoyage.Thefirstthingistofindaguide,ateacher,whomonelovesandrespects,onwhomonedependsandwhomoneobeys.Itishewhowillfurnishthepilgrimwiththeprovisionsheneeds.
Thenonemustprepareone’sheart.TowakeituponerecitesthesacredphraseLailahailiaLlah—ThereisnogodbutAllah’—andremembersAllahin
contemplatingthemeaningofthatphrase.Withthistheheartawakens,becomesalive.ItalsoremembersAllah,andkeepsrememberingAllahuntilthewholeinnerbeingispurifiedandcleansedofallelsebutHim.
Aftertheinnerpurification,onemustrecitetheNamesoftheattributesofAllah,whichwillkindlethelightofAllah’sbeautyandgrace.ItisinthatlightthatonehopestoseetheKa‘baofthesecretessence.AllahorderedHisprophetsAbrahamandIshmaeltothispurificationinsaying:
AssociatenotanythingwithMe,andpurifyMyHouseforthosewho
circumambulateit.(SuraHajj,26)
IndeedthematerialKa‘bainthecityofMakkaiskeptcleanforthepilgrims.HowmuchcleanershouldonekeeptheinnerKa‘bauponwhichTruthwillgaze!
Afterthesepreparationstheinnerpilgrimwrapshimselfinthelightoftheholyspirit,transforminghismaterialshapeintotheinneressence,andcircumambulatestheKa‘baoftheheart,inwardlyrecitingtheseconddivineName—allah,thepropernameofGod.Hemovesincirclesbecausethepathoftheessenceisnotstraightbutcircular.Itsendisitsbeginning.
Thenhegoestothe‘Arafatoftheheart,thatinnerplaceofsupplication,thatplacewhereonehopestoknowthesecretof‘ThereisnogodbutHe,WhoisOneandWhohasnopartners’.TherehestandsrecitingthethirdName,hu—notalone,butwithHim,forAllahsaysAndHeiswithyouwhereveryouare.(SuraHadld,4)ThenherecitesthefourthName—haqq,theTruth,the
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nameofthelightofAllah’sEssence—andthenthefifthName,hayy—thedivinelife,eternal,fromwhichalltemporallifederives.ThenhejoinsthedivineNameoftheEverlivingwiththesixthName—qayyum,theSelf-existingOneuponwhomallexistencedepends.ThisbringshimtotheMuzdalifaofthecentreoftheheart.
ThenheisbroughttotheMinaofthesacredsecret,theessence,whereherecitestheseventhName—qahhar,HeWhooverwhelmsall,theAll-compeller,WiththepowerofthatNametheselfandselfishnessaresacrificed.Theveilsofdisbeliefareblownawayandthegatesofthevoidflyopen.
ConcerningtheveilsseparatingthecreatedfromtheCreator,theProphetsays:‘FaithandfaithlessnessexistataplacebeyondAllah’sThrone.TheyareveilsseparatingtheLordfromtheviewofHisservants.Oneisblackandtheotherwhite.’
Thentheheadoftheholyspiritisshavedofallthematerialattributes.
RecitingtheeighthdivineName,waiihab—theDonorofAll,withoutlimits,withoutconditions—heentersthesacredareaoftheEssence.ThereherecitestheninthName—fattah,theOpenerofallthatisclosed.
EnteringtheplaceofassiduousnesswherehestaysinretreatclosetoAllah,inintimacywithHimandawayfromeverythingelse,herecitesthetenthName,waiiid—AllahtheOneWhohasnoequal,nonelikeHim.TherehebeginstoseethemanifestationofAllah’sattributesamad,theSource.Heseesthebeginningofthisinexhaustibletreasure.Itisasightwithoutformorshape,resemblingnothing.
Thenthelastcircumambulationstarts:sevencircuitsduringwhichherecitesthelastsixNamesandaddstheeleventhName,ahad—theUniqueOne,theOnlyOne.ThenhedrinksfromthehandoftheintimacyofAllah.AndtheirLordmakesthemdrinkapuredrink.(SuraInsan,21)ThecupinwhichthisdrinkisofferedisthetwelfthdivineName,samad—theSource,theSatisfierofall
needs,theSoleRecourse.
OnthePilgrimage
IndrinkingfromthisSourceoneseesalltheveilsliftingfromtheeternalface.OnelooksuponitwiththelightcomingfromIt.Thatworldhasnolikeness,noshape,noform.Itisindescribable,unassociable,thatworld‘whichnoeyeshaveseen,noearshavehearditsdescription,thatnoman’sheartremembers’.ThewordsofAllaharenotheardbysoundnorseenasthewrittenword.Thedelightthatnoman’sheartcantasteisthedelightinseeingthetruthofAllahMostHigh,andhearingHimspeak.
AfterthePilgrimageallwrongturnsintoright.DuringthePilgrimageallthatisunlawfulistransformedintolawfulthings,andallthisiswithinthenowattainedunity,whichiscontinuous.Allahsays,
Hewhorepentsandbelievesanddoesrighteousdeeds,forhimAllah
willchangehisevildeedstogood,(SuraFurqan,70)
ThenthatpilgrimwillbefreedofallactionsthatarefromhimselfandfreedfromallfearandgriefAllahsays:NowsurelytbefriendsofAllah,theyhavenofear;nordotheygrieve.(SuraYunus,62)FinallythefarewellcircumambulationisperformedwiththerecitationofallthedivineNames.
Thenthepilgrimreturnshome,tothehomeofhisorigin,thatholylandwhereAllahcreatedmaninthebestandmostbeautifulpattern.InreturningherecitesthetwelfthdivineName,samad,theSource,thetreasurefromwhichtheneedsofallcreationaresatisfied.ThatistheworldofAllah’sproximity,thatiswherethehomeoftheinnerpilgrimis,andthatiswherehereturns.
Thisisallthatcanbeexplained,asmuchasthetonguecansayandthemindgrasp.Beyondthisnonewscanbegiven,forbeyondistheunperceivable,inconceivable,indescribable.AstheProphetsays,‘Thereisaknowledgethatstaysintactlikeburiedtreasure.Nonecanknowitandnonecanfinditexceptthosewhoaregiventhedivineknowledge,’Butwhentheyhearoftheexistenceofsuchknowledge,thesinceredonotdenyit.
Themanofordinaryknowledgegatherswhathegathersfromthesurface.Theonewhopossessesdivinewisdomdrawsfromthedepths.ThewisdomofthewiseistheverysecretofAllahMost
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High.NoneknowswhatHeknowsotherthanHehimself.Allahsays:
AndtheyencompassnothingofHisknowledgeexceptwhatHepleases.HisknowledgeextendsovertheheavensandtheearthandthepreservationofbothtireHimnot.(SuraBaqara,255)
ThoseblessedoneswithwhomHesharesHisknowledgeareHisprophetsandHisbelovedoneswhostrivetocomeclosetoHim.
Heknowsthesecretandwhatisyetmorehidden.(SuraTaHa,7)
Allah,thereisnogodbutHe,HisaretheMostBeautifulNames.(SuraTaHa,8)
AndAllahknowsbest.
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OnWitnessingDivineTruththroughtheStateofPeaceComingfromAbandonmentoftheWorldlyandthroughEcstasy
ManyversesintheQur’anandmanydeclarationsoftheProphetandthesaintsdescribethesestates.Tociteafew:AllahsaysinHisQur’an,
77/ebodiesofthosewho[loveand]feartheirLordtremble,thentheirbodiessoftenastheirheartsrememberAllah.ThisisAllah’sguidance,HeguidestherewithwhomHepleases,(SuraZumar,23)and
IsonewhoseheartAllahhasopenedtothesubmissionofIslam,sothathefollowsalightfromhisLord(nobetterthanonehard-hearted)?WoetothosewhoseheartsarehardenedagainsttheremembranceofAllah.(SuraZumar,22)
TheProphetsays,‘Asingledivineinspirationwhichcutsoneofffromtheworldandbestowsupononethereflectionofdivineattributes,showingonethesignsofthedivineUnity,isworththeexperienceofbothworlds.’And‘Theonewhohasnotexperiencedecstasyandtherebyreceivedthemanifestationofdivinewisdomandtruthhasnotlived.’
HadratJunayd,mayAllahbepleasedwithhim,said,‘Whenecstasymeetsthedivinemanifestationsinsideone,oneiseitherinastateofthehighestjoyorthedeepestsorrow’
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Therearetwokindsofecstasy:physicalecstasyandspiritualecstasy.Physicalecstasyisaproductoftheego.Itdoesnotgiveoneanyspiritualsatisfaction.Itisundertheinfluenceofthesenses.Oftenitishypocritical,occurringsothatothersseeorhearaboutit.Thiskindofecstasyistotallydevoidofvaluebecauseitispurposeful,itiswilled:theonewhoexperiencesitstillthinksthathecando,thathecanchoose.Itisnotgoodtogiveanyimportancetosuchexperiences.
Spiritualecstasy,however,isatotallydifferentstate,astatecausedbytheoverflowofspiritualenergy.Ordinarily,exteriorinfluences-—-suchasabeautifullyrecitedpoem,ortheQur’anchantedbyabeautifulvoice,ortheexcitementbroughtonbytheceremonyofremembranceoftheSufis—-maycausethisspiritualelevation.Thishappensbecauseatsuchmomentsthephysicalresistanceofthebeingisobliterated.Thewill,theabilityofthemindtochooseandtodecide,isovercome.Whenthepowersofboththebodyandthemindareundermined,theecstaticstateispurelyspiritual.Togoalongwiththatkindofexperienceisbeneficialtoone.
AllahMostHighsays:
SogivethegoodnewstoMyservantswholistentotheword(ofAllah),thenfollowthebeautyinit.SucharetheywhomAllahhasguided.Andsucharethemenofunderstanding.(SuraZumar,17-18)
Thesweetsingingofthebirds,thesighingoflovers,areamongthoseexteriorcauseswhichmovethespiritualenergy.Inthisstateofspiritualenergyevilandtheegohavenoshare;theDeviloperateswithinthedarkrealmsofthedoingsoftheegoandhasnosayintheilluminatedrealmofmercy.IntherealmofAllah’smercyandcompassionevilmeltslikesaltinwater,justasitevaporateswhenonereciteswithfaiththedivinephraseLdhawlawaldquwwatailiabi-Lldhil-Altil-‘AzTm—‘ThereisneitherforcenorpowerexceptinAllahtheGloriousandExalted’.TheinfluenceswhichincitespiritualecstasyaredescribedinthewordsoftheProphet‘TheversesoftheQur’an,thewiseandwondrouspoemsof
OnWitnessingDivineTruth
loveandsoundsandvoicesofyearningilluminatethefaceofthesoul*.
Trueecstasyistheconjunctionoflightwithlight,whenthesoulofmanmeetsthedivinelight.Allahsays,Thepureareforthepure.(SuraNur,26)IfecstasycomesthroughtheinfluenceoftheegoandoftheDevil,thereisnolightthere.Thereisonlydisbelief,doubt,denialandconfusion.Darknessbegetsdarkness.Thatistheego’sportion.Inthatportionthesoulandthespirithavenoshare.Allahsays,Theimpurearefortheimpure(SuraNur,26)
Themanifestationofthestateofecstasyisalsooftwokinds-—themanifestationofphysicalecstasyissubjecttoone’sownwillwhilethemanifestationofspiritualecstasyisbeyondone’schoiceandvolition;inthefirstcasetheapparentsignsarevoluntary.Ifoneshakesandtremblesandmoanseventhoughnotundertheinfluenceofanypainordisturbanceinthebody,itisnotconsideredlegitimate.Whatislegitimateisvisiblechangesinone’sphysicalconditionthatareinvoluntaryandcausedbyone’sinnerstate.
Theseinvoluntarymanifestationsaretheresultofaspiritualforceoverwhichonehasnocontrol.Thesoulinecstasyoverwhelmsthesenses.Itislikethestateofdeliriumcausedbyahighfever:itishardlypossibletopreventoneselffromshakingandtremblingandstiffeningindeliriumbecauseonehasnopoweroveranyoftheseexteriormanifestations.Similarlywhenexpandedspiritualenergyovercomesthewillofthemindandthebody,ecstasyistrue,sincereandspiritual.
Suchspiritualecstaticstates,whichtheintimatesofAllahenterinperformingthemovementsandwhirlingoftheirrituals,aremeanstoexciteandimpeltheirhearts.ThisisthefoodofthosewholoveAllah:itgivesthemenergyintheirhardvoyageinsearchofthetruth.OurMastertheProphet$£says,‘TheecstaticritualoftheloversofAllah,theirwhirlingandchanting,isanobligatoryformofworshipforsome,andforothersasupererogatoryactofworship—andyetforothersstillitisheresy.Itisobligatoryfortheperfectman,itissupererogatoryfortheloversandfortheheedlessitisheresy.’And‘Heisill-naturedwhotakesnopleasurebeingwith
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loversofAllah:thepoemsofthewisewhichtheychant,theseasonofspring,thecolourandperfumeofitsflowersandtheluteanditssong.’
Theheedlessforwhomtheseekingofspiritualecstasyisaheresy,andtheill-naturedoneswhotakenopleasureinbeauty,aresickandthereisnoremedyforthatsickness.Theyarelowerthanthebirdsandthebeasts,lowereventhantheass,becauseeventheanimaltakespleasureinatune.WhentheProphetDavid(peacebeuponhim)sang,allthebirdsgatheredaroundhimtolistentohisbeautifulvoice.TheProphetsays,‘Theonewhohasnotexperiencedecstasydoesnothavethetasteofhisreligion’.
Therearetenstatesofecstasy.Someoftheseareapparentandtheirsignsvisible,andsomearehiddenandunobservablebyothers,liketheinnerconsciousnessandremembranceofAllah,orasilentreadingoftheHolyQur’an.Toshedtears,tohavedeepfeelingsofregret,fearofAllah’spunishment,longingandsorrow,shameforone’smomentsofunconsciousness;whenonegrowspale,orthefaceflusheswithexcitementfromstateswithinandfromeventsaroundone,burningwiththeyearningforAllah—theseandallphysicalandspiritualanomaliescausedbysuchthingsaresignsofecstasy.
CHAPTERTWENTY
OnWithdrawingfromtheWorldintoSeclusionandOnSolitude
Seclusionandsolitudeshouldbeviewedasstatesofbothexteriorandinteriorwithdrawal.
Theexteriorstateofseclusioniswhenamandecidestowithdrawhimselffromtheworld,imprisoninghimselfinaspaceawayfromotherpeople,sothatpeopleintheworldaresavedfromhisundesirablecharacterandexistence.Healsohopesthatinsodoingthesourceofhisundesirableexistence,hisegoandthebasedesiresofhisflesh,willbeseparatedfromtheirdailynourishmentandthesatisfactionofthingstheyareusedto.Further,hehopesthatthisisolationwilleducatehisegoandhisappetites,permittingthedevelopmentofhisinnerspiritualbeing.
Whenonedecidesthis,one’sintentionmustbesincere.Inawayitislikewilfullyputtingoneselfinagrave,inastateofdeath,hopingaboveallfortheagreementandpleasureofAllah,wishinginone’shearttoridthepureandthefaithfulofone’suglypresence.TheProphetsays,‘Thefaithfulishefromwhosehandandtonguetheotherfaithfularesafe’.
Indeed,helockshistonguefromidletalk,forastheProphetsays,‘Thesalvationofmancomesfromhistongue.Hisvillainyanddisgracecomealsofromhistongue’.Heshutshiseyestotheunlawfulsothattheirtreacherous,deceitfulsightdoesnotfallon
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OnWithdrawingfromtheWorld
whatbelongstoothers.Hestopshisearsfromhearingliesandevil,andtieshisfeet,preventingthemfromcarryinghimtosin.
OurMastertheProphet^pointsoutthatmembersofthebodycansinbythemselves:‘Theeyescancommitadultery’.Whenoneofyoursensesoroneofyourmemberssins,anuglyblackcreatureiscreatedoutofitonthedayoftheLastJudgmentanditwitnessesagainstyouforthesinitcommitted.Thenitiscastintohellfire.’Godpraisestheonewhopreventshimselffromwrongdoing,becausethisistruepenitence,activerepentance.Hesays,
AndasforhewhofearstostandbeforehisLordandwhorestrainshimselffrombasedesires,theGardenissurelytheabode.(SuraNazi‘at,40-41)
HewhofearshisLordandrepents,withdrawinghisuglyexistencefromamongthefaithfulandwithdrawinghisuglinessfromhisownfaithfulness,istransformedinhisisolationintoabeautifulyoungman.HebecomestheservantoftheinhabitantsofParadise.
Seclusionisacastleagainsttheenemyofone’sownsinsanderrors.Withinit,alone,oneiskeptclean,Godsays,
SowhoeverhopestomeethisLord,heshoulddogooddeedsandjoinnooneintheserviceofhisLord.(SuraKahf,no)
Allthathasbeentolduptonowisonlytheoutermeaningofthestateofseclusion.Theinnermeaningofseclusionistheexclusionfromtheheartofeventhethoughtofanythingthatbelongsintherealmoftheworldly,ofevilandoftheego,leavingfoodanddrinkandbelongings,family,wife,childrenandthecareandloveofall.
Thethoughtofothersseeingorhearingmustnotenterthatseclusion.TheProphet££says,‘Fameandthatwhichitbringsisacalamity,andtoturnawayfromfameandseekingapprovalfromothersandthatwhichtheybringisacomfort.’Hewhointendstoenterintoinnerseclusionhastolockoutofhisheartallpride,arrogance,vengeance,tyranny,anger,envy,intolerance,slanderandtheirlike.Ifanysuchfeelingenterstheoneinseclusion,hisheart
becomessoiled.Itisnolongerwithdrawnfromtheworld,andsuchseclusionisworthless.Oncedirtenterstheheartitlosesitspurityandallgoodiscancelled.Godsays,
Whatyouhavebroughtisdeception.SurelyGodmakesallyour
workscometonothing.(SuraYunus,81)
Evenifone’sactionsappeargoodtootherpeople,whennegativecharacteristicsenterintothemoneisconsideredamischiefmakerwhodeceiveshimselfandothers.TheProphetsays:‘Prideandarrogancecorruptfaith.Slanderandbackbitingareworsesinsthanadultery5;‘Asfireburnsfirewood,vengeanceburnsandconsumesallone’sgooddeeds.’‘Intriguesleeps;acursebeupontheonewhowakesitup,’‘ThemiserwillneverenterParadise,evenifhespendhiswholelifepraying.5‘HypocrisyisahiddenformofsettingupothersandoneselfaspartnerstoAllah.’‘Paradisewillrejecttheonewhorejectsothers.’
TherearemanymoresignsofbadcharactercondemnedbytheMessengerofAllah.Thosementionedsufficetoshowusthatthisworldisaplacewhichrequiresconstantprudenceandprecaution,thatonehastowalkthroughitwithextremecareandattention.Thefirstgoalofthemysticpathisthecleansingoftheheart,andthefirstactionnecessarytoachievethisistodenytheegoandthefleshtheirfutileandvaindesires.Inseclusion,withsilence,meditationandcontinuousremembrance,one’segoisreformed.ThenAllahMostHighrendersone’sheartenlightened.
Nothingthathappensinseclusionshouldbedonewilfullyandpurposefully.Thatwhichisnecessaryislove,sincerityandtruefaith.Thewayisnotone’sownway.OneisfollowingthewayoftheblessedCompanionsoftheProphet,
thewayofthosewhofollowedthem,andthewayofthosewhoknowtheirwayandwhofollowit.
Whenthefaithfuloneinthiswayfollowsthepathofrepentanceandinspirationandcleanseshisheart,AllahMostHighwithdrawsfromhimallthatisharmfulandevilandkeepshimsecurefromtheirreturning.Hisappearancebecomesbeautiful;hisfeelings,whethercontainedorexpressed,becomepure.Allthathedoesisdonein
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reverence,forheisinthedivinepresence.‘Allahhearstheonewhogivesgratefulpraise.5ThusAllahwatchesoverhim,Allahacceptshisprayersandhisyearningsandhisgratefulpraiseandgrantshimallhewishes.Allahsays,
Ifanydoseekgloryandpower—toAllahbelongallgloryandpower.
ToHimascend(all)wordsofpurity.ItisHeWhoexaltseachdeed
ofrighteousness…(SuraFatir,io)
Wordsofpuritysafeguardthetonguefromheedlesswords.ThetongueisabeautifulinstrumenttopraisetheLord,torepeatHisBeautifulNames,toconfirmHisUnity.Allahwarnsagainstheedlesstalk.
Secureindeedarethebelieverswhoarehumbleintheirprayersand
whoshunvaintalk.(SuraMu’minun,i“3)
AllahMostHighbestowsHismercy,compassion,andgraceupontheonewholearnsandactswithgoodintention.Hebringshimclosebyraisinghislevel.Heispleasedwithhim;Heforgiveshisfaults.
Whenoneisliftedtothatlevel,one’sheartbecomeslikeanocean.Theshapeandcolourofthatoceandonotchangewiththelittlecrueltyandtormentthatmendropintoit.TheblessedProphet££says,‘Belikeanoceanwhoseappearancedoesnotchange,butinwhichthedarksoldiersofyouregodrown5—asthePharaohandhisarmiesdrownedintheRedSea,Onthatocean,theshipofreligionfloatssafeandsound;itsailsuponthatgreatocean.Thespiritoftheoneinseclusiondivesintoitsdepthstofindthepearloftruth,bringstothesurfacepearlsofwisdomandcoralofgrace,andspreadsthemabroad.Allahsays,Outofthemcomepearlsandcoral(SuraRahman,22)
locontainsuchanocean,yourappearancemustbethesameasyourbeing;whatyouaremustbethesameaswhatyouappeartobe.Yourexteriorandinteriorstatesmustbeone.Whenthishappens,thereisnoduplicity,seditionordisorderintheoceanoftheheart.Nostormofmischiefcanbrewinthatcalmsea.The
onewhoattainsthatstateisinastateofcompleterepentance;hisknowledgeisvastandbeneficent,hisactsareallservicetoothers,hisheartdoesnotflowtoevil.Ifheerrsorforgets,heisforgiven,forherememberswhenheforgetsandrepentswhenheerrs.HeisintheproximityofhisLordandofhimself.
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PrayersandRecitationsPertainingtothePathofSeclusion
WhosoeverhaschosentowithdrawhimselffromtheworldinordertocomeclosetoGodmustknowtheappropriateprayersandrecitations.Performingtheseprayersrequiresthatonebeinastateofpurityandasmuchaspossibleinastateoffasting.Thespacewithinwhichthesecludedonecloseshimselfisusuallyinorinthenearvicinityofamosque,foritisaconditionofseclusiontoleaveone’scellfivetimesadaytoperformcongregationalprayers,allthewhileremainingimpersonalandhiddenandnotspeakingaword.Whoeverisinseclusionmustmakeaspecialefforttobemoreconsciousofandabidewiththeprinciples,fundamentalsandconditionsofcongregationalprayer.
Everynightinthemiddleofthenightthesecludedpersonmustwakeuptoperformtheprayercalledtahajjud,meaningthestateofwakefulnessinthemiddleofsleep.Thetahajjudprayerbearsthesymbolismofresurrectionafterdeath.Whenonewakesupforthisprayeroneistheownerofone’sheartandone’sthoughtsareclear.Inordernottospoilthisconsciousstateoneshouldnotthenparticipateinordinaryactivitiesoflifesuchaseatinganddrinking.
Immediatelyonawakening,withtherealizationofresurrectedconsciousness,recite:al-hamduli-’Llahi}lladlnahydntba’damdamdtamwa-ilayhitumtshur—‘AllpraisetoAllahWhohasresur-
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rectedmeafterhavingtakenmylife.Afterdeath,allwillreviveandgotoHim’,ThenrecitethelasttenversesoftheSuraAlcImran:
Behold!Inthecreationoftheheavensandtheearth,andthealternationofnightanddaythereareindeedsignsformenofunderstanding—
MenwhocelebratethepraisesofGodstanding,sitting,andlyingdownontheirsides,andcontemplatethe(wondersof)creationintheheavensandtheearth(withthethought):fOurLord!NotfornaughthastThoucreated(all)this!GlorytoThee!GiveussalvationfromthepenaltyoftheFire/
OurLord!anywhomThoudostadmittotheFire,trulyThoucoverestwithshame,andnevermilwrongdoersfindanyhelpers!
OurLord!wehaveheardthecallofonecalling(us)tofaith,‘BelieveyeintheLord’,andwehavebelieved.OurLord!Forgiveusoursins,blotoutfromusouriniquities,andtaketoThyselfoursoulsinthecompanyoftherighteous.
OurLord!GrantuswhatThoudidstpromiseuntousthrough‘ThineApostles,andsaveusfromshameontheDayofJudgment,forThouneverbreakestIhypromise.
AndtheirLordhathacceptedofthem,andansweredthem:{NeverwillIsuffertobelosttheworkofanyofyou,behemaleorfemale:
Yearemembers,oneofanother:Thosewhohavelefttheirhomes,orbeendrivenouttherefrom,orsufferedharminMycause,orfoughtorbeenslain—verily1willblotoutfromthemtheiriniquitiesandadmitthemintoGardenswithriversflowingbeneath;—arewardfromthePresenceofAllah,andfromHisPresenceisthebestofrewards’
Letnotthestruttingaboutoftheunbelieversthroughthelanddeceivethee.
Littleisitforenjoyment:77teirultimateabodeisHell:whatanevilbed(tolieon)/
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Ontheotherhand,forthosewhofeartheirLord,areGardenswithriversflowingbeneath;thereinaretheytodwell(forever)—agiftfromthePresenceofAllah;andthatwhichisinthePresenceofAllahisthebest(bliss)fortherighteous.
Andthereare,certainly;amongthePeopleoftheBook(theChristiansandjews)thosewhobelieveinAllah,intherevelationtoyou,andintherevelationtothem,bowinginhumilitytoAl-lah:77\eywillnotsellthesignsofAllahforamiserablegain!ForthemisarewardwiththeirLord,andAllahisswiftinaccount.
Oyewhobelieve!Persevereinpatienceandconstancy;vieinsuchperseverance;strengtheneachother;andfearAllah;thatyemayprosper.(SuraAlcImran,190-200)
Followingthisonetakesablutionandprays:‘GlorytoAllah-allpraiseisduetoYou.NoneotherthanYouisworthytoreceiveprayer,Irepentformysins.Forgivemysins,forgivemyveryexistence.Acceptmyrepentance.YouaretheMerciful,Youliketoforgive.OLord,placemeamongthosewhorealizetheirwrongdoingsandincludemeamongYourpureservantswhohavepatience,whoarethankful,whorememberYouandwhopraiseYounightandday/
Thenraisingone’seyestothenightskyoneconfirms,‘IwitnessthatthereisnogodbutAllah,alone,withoutapartner,andIwitnessthatMuhammadisAllah’sservantandHisMessenger/
‘ItakerefugeinYourmercyfromYourpunishment.ItakerefugeinYourpleasureandapprovalfromYourwrath.ItakerefugeinYoufromYou.IcannotknowYouasYouknowYourself.IcannotpraiseYouenough.IamYourservant,IamthesonofYourservant.Myforehead,uponwhichYouhavewrittenmydestiny,isinYourhand.Yourdecreerunsthroughme.WhatYouhaveordainedformeisrightforme.IsetbeforeYoumyhandsandthebounties
Youhaveplacedinthem.IopenmyselfinfrontofYou,exposingallofmysins.ThereisnogodbutYou,andYou
PrayersandRecitations
aremercifulandIamatyrant.Iamadoerofwrong,Ihavetyrannizedmyself.Formysake,becauseIamYourservant,forgivemygreatsins.YouaremyLord,Youaretheonlyonewhocanforgive/
Thenturninginthedirectionoftheqibla,say:‘Allahisthemostgreat.AllpraiseisduetoHim.1rememberandglorifyHimnightandday’.Thenrepeattentimes:‘AllgloryistoAllah’,thententimes:‘AllpraiseandthanksaretoAllah’,thententimes:‘ThereisnogodbutAllah’.
Nextoneperformstwelvecyclesofprayer.Onegivestheclosinggreetingofpeaceaftereverytwocycles,becauseourMastertheProphetsaid,‘Thenightprayersaredonetwobytwo’.
AllahMostHighpraisesthosewhooffertheprayerofwakefulness:
Andduringapartofthenightkeepawakeandpraybeyondwhatisincumbentuponyou.MaybeyourLordwillraiseyoutoastateofgreatglory.(SuraBan!IsraTl,79)
Theyforsaketheirbeds,callingontheirLordinfearandinhope,andspendoutofwhatWehavegiventhem.Sonosoulknowswhatrefreshmentoftheeyesishiddenforthem,arewardforwhattheydid.(SuraSajda,16-17)
Laterinthenight,onewakesupagaintoperformthethreecyclesofwitrprayerthatsealtheprayersoftheday.Inthethirdcycle,afterrecitingtheFatiha—theOpening:
InthenameofAllah,theBeneficent,theMercifulPraisebetoAllah,theLordoftheworlds,
TheBeneficent,theMerciful,
MasteroftheDayofJudgment
YoudoweserveandYoudowebeseechforhelp
Guideu$onthestraightpath
ThepathofthoseuponwhomYouhavebestowedfavoursNotofthoseuponwhomwrathisbroughtdownnorofthosewhogoastray.
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PrayersandRecitations
andoneotherchapterfromtheQur’an,oneraisesone’shandsasatthebeginningoftheprayer,saysAllahuakbar—‘Allahismostgreat’—andrecitesthequtnit,theprayerofreverence:‘OAllah,weaskYourhelpandweaskYourforgivenessandYourguidance.WearefaithfultoYouandweturntoYouandwetrustinYouandwepraiseYouforallgood.WearethankfultoYouandwearenotungratefultoYou,andwerenounceandabandontheonewhooffendsYouwithsins.OAllah,YouweserveandtoYouweprayandprostrateourselvesandtoYouwehaverecourse.WehopeforYourmercyandfearYourpunishment.SurelyYourpunishmentwillovertakethosewhodisbelieve.’
Theprayeristhenfinishedintheusualway.
Aftersunrisetheoneinseclusionperformstheishraqprayer,theprayerof
illumination,whichisoftwocycles,andafterwardstwocyclesoftheisti’adhaprayerthatseeksrefugeandprotectionfromevil.Duringthefirstcycle,aftertheFatiha,onerecitestheSuraFalaq,theDawn:
Sny:IseekrefugewiththeLordoftheDawn
Fromthemischiefofcreatedthings
FromthemischiefofDarknessasitoverspreadsfromthemischiefofthosewhopracticesecretarts
Andfromthemischiefoftheenviousoneashepractisesenvy,
Inthesecondcycle,aftertheFatiha,onerecitestheSuraNas,Mankind:
Say:IseekrefugewiththeLordandCherisherofMankind
VieKing(orRuler)ofMankind}
VieGod(orjudge)ofMankind—
FromthemischiefoftheWhisperer(ofevil)whowithdraws(afterhiswhisper)—
(Thesame)whowhispersintotheheartsofmankind—Amongjinnsandamongmen.
Preparingoneselffortheday,onenextpraystwocyclesofistikhara,prayerseekingAllah’sguidanceforrightdecisionsduring
theday.IneachofthetwocyclesofistikharatheFatihaisfollowedbytheThroneVerse,dyatal-kurst:
Allah!ThereisnogodbutHe-—theLiving,theSelf-subsisting,Eternal.NoslumbercanseizeHimnorsleep.Hisareallthingsintheheavensandonearth,WhoistherewhocanintercedeinHispresenceexceptasHepermitteth?Heknowethwhat(appearethtoHiscreaturesas)beforeorbehindthem.Norshall
theycompassaughtofhisknowledgeexceptasHewilleth.HisThronedothextendovertheheavensandtheearth,andHefeelethnofatigueinguardingandpreservingthem,forHeistheMostHigh,theSupreme(inglory).
ThenonerecitesseventimestheSuraIkhlas,Sincerity:
Say;HeisGod,theOneandOnlyGodtheEternal,AbsoluteHebegettethnot,norisHebegottenAndthereinnonelikeuntoHim.
Laterinthemorning,theoneinseclusionperformstheDuhdprayerofpietyandpeaceofheart.Itisperformedinsixcycles,witharecitationofversesfromtheSuraShams,theSun,andtheSuraDuha,theBrightnessofDay:
Bythesunandhis(glorious)splendour;
Bythemoonasshefollowshim;
Bythedayasitshowsup(thesun’s)glory;
Bythenightasitconcealsit;
Bythefirmamentandits(wonderful)structure;
Bytheearthandits(wide)expanse;
Bythesoulandtheproportionandordergiventoit;
Anditsenlightenmentastoitswronganditsright;—
Trulyhesucceedsthatpurifiesit,
Andhefailsthatcorruptsit!
TheThanutd(people)rejected(theirprophet)throughtheirinordinatewrongdoing,
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Behold,themostwickedmanamongthemwasdeputed(forimpiety).
ButtheApostleofAllahsaidtothem:7risashe-camelofAllah!
And(barhernotfrom)havingherdrinkV
Thentheyrejectedhim(asafalseprophet),andtheyhamstrungherSotheirLord,onaccountoftheircrime,obliteratedtheirtracesandmadethemequal(indestruction,highandlow!)
AndforHimisnofearofitsconsequences.
*
Bythegloriousmorninglight,
Andbythenightwhenitisstill—
ThyGuardian—Lordhathnotforsakenthee}norisHedispleased.
Andverilythehereafterwillhebetterfortheethanthepresent,
AndsoonwillthyGuardian-Lordgivethee(thatwherewith)thoushaltbewell-pleased.
DidHenotfindtheeanorphanandgivetheeshelter(andcare)?
AndHefoundtheewandering,andHegavetheeguidance.
AndHefoundtheeinneed,andmadetheeindependent.
Thereforetreatnottheorphanwithharshness,
Norrepulsethepetitioner(unheard);
ButthebountyofthyLord—rehearseandproclaim!
Theduhdprayerisfollowedbytwocyclesofkaffara,aprayerofexpiationfordirtthatmayhavetouchedoneunavoidablyorwithoutone’sbeingaware.Forcontactwithfilth,evenwheninadvertent,isnonethelessasin,acauseofpunishment.Thismayhappeneveninseclusion,forinstance,throughone’sphysiologicalneeds.TheProphetsays,‘Bewareofdirt—evenwhenyouurinate,thatadropshouldnotsplashonyou—becauseitisasignofthesufferingofthegrave/Ineachcycle,aftertheFatihaonerepeatstheSuraKawtharseventimes:
InthenameofAllahtheBeneficentandMerciful.
ToyouhaveWegrantedthefountain(ofabundance),
IhereforetoyourLordturninprayerandsacrifice.
Forhewhohatesyou,hewillbecutof}’(fromfuturehope).
PrayersandRecitations
Anotherprayer—long,thoughitisonlyfourcycles—shouldbeperformedinthecourseofadayinseclusion.Thisisthetasbth,glorification,prayer.IfthebelieverbelongstotheHanafischoolhewillgivethegreetingofpeaceandfinishonlyafterallfourcycles;ifheisoftheShafi‘Ischoolhewillofferitastwosetsoftwocycles.(ThisruleappliestoprayerdoneduringthedayIfitisdoneatnight,boththeHanafiyyaandtheShaffiyyaperformtheprayerintwosetsoftwocycles.)
TheProphetdescribedthisprayertohisuncle,Ibn‘Abbas,thus:
‘O‘Abbas,mybeloveduncle,beheedful,Iwillgiveyouagift.Beheedful,Iamgoingtotransmittoyousomethinggood;beheedful,Iamgoingtogiveyounewlifeandhope;beheedful,Iamgoingtogiveyousomethingworthtenofthegreatestgoods.IfyoudowhatItellyou,Allahwillforgiveyoursins—thoseyoucommittedbeforeandthoseyouwillcommitafter,oldones,newones,smallones,largeones,madeknowinglyorunknowinglysecretlyoropenly
‘Youwillperformfourcyclesofprayer.Ineachcycle,aftertheFatiha,youwillreciteanotherchapterfromtheQur’an.Whileyouarestanding,youwillrepeatfifteentimes:SubhanaLldhi,il-hamduh-Lldhi,lailahailiaLldhuwa-Lldhuakbar,u>a-ldhawlawa-taquwwatailiabi-Lldhil-(Altl-Azmi—“GlorytoAllah,allpraisebelongstoAllah,thereisnogodbutAllah,andAllahisMostGreat.ThereisnopowerorstrengthexceptinAllah,theExalted,theMagnificent”/
‘Whenyoubowfromthewaist,handsonknees,youwillrepeatthistenmoretimes.Thenstandandrepeatittenmoretimes;thenprostrateandrepeatittenmoretimes.Risingfromtheprostration,sittinguponyourknees,repeatittenmoretimes.Prostrateyourselfagainandrepeatittenmoretimes.Sitagainonyourkneesandrepeatittenmoretimes,thenstandforthesecondcycle.Dothesameduringtherestofthefourcycles.
‘Ifyoucan,dothisprayereverydayIfyoucannot,doiteveryFridayIfyoucannot,doiteverymonth.Ifyoucannot,doitonceayear;ifyoucannotdothiseither,doitatleastonceinyourlifetime/
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Thusinthefourcycles.Theprayerofpraiseisrepeatedthreehundredtimes.AstheProphet££suggestedtheexerciseofthisprayertohisuncle,Ibn‘Abbas,mayAllahbepleasedwithhim,itissuggestedthattheoneinseclusionalsoperformit.
InadditiontothesedutiesthesecludedpersonshouldreadatleasttwohundredversesfromtheHolyQur’aneachday.
HeshouldalsorememberAllahcontinuouslyand,accordingtohisinnerstate,eitherproclaimHisBeautifulNamesaloudorinwardlyinhisheart.Theinnersilentremembrancebeginsonlywhentheheartregainsconsciousnessandlife.Thelanguageofthisremembranceisthehiddensecretword.
EveryoneremembersAllahandrecitesHisNamesinaccordancewithhisownability.Allahsays:AndrememberHiminthewayHehasguidedyou.(SuraBaqara,198)Inotherwords,rememberHimaccordingtoyourability.Ateveryspiritualleveltheremembranceisdifferent.Ithasanothername;ithasanothercharacter,anotherwayOnlytheoneswhoareateachlevelknowitsproperremembrance.
TheoneinseclusionalsorecitesthechapterofSincerityandUnity,theSuraIkhlas,ahundredtimeseveryday.
HealsopraysforourMastertheProphet££,recitingonehundredtimes:AUShummasalli‘aidSayyidinaMuhammddinwa-‘alddliMuhammddinwa-sahbihiwa-sallim—‘OGod,pourblessingsuponourMasterMuhammadanduponthefamilyofMuhammadandhisCompanions,andpeace.’
Heshouldalsorecitethefollowingprayeronehundredtimes:
astaghfiruLinkaUAztmIdildhailiaHuwal-Hayyul-Qayyum—mimdqaddamtuwa-mdakhkhartuwa-md4dlantuwa-maasrartuwa-mdasraftuwa-mdantaa7amubihimitun.Antal-Muqaddimuwa-antaPMu’akhkhiruwa-anta‘alakullishay1inQadir
‘IbegforgivenessfromAllahtheEverliving,theSelf-Existing,theMagnificent—thereisnogodbutHe.Iaskforgivenessformysinsofthepastandofthefuture,thewrongsIhavedoneopenlyandsecretly,andformylifewhichIhave
squandered.Youknowme
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betterthanIdomyself.Youbringthingsforthandleavethembehind,andYouhavepowerovereverything,’
ThetimeleftafterallofthisiscompletedisspentreadingfromtheQur’anandinfurtherworshipandprayer.
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CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO
OnDreams
Thedreamsthataredreamtbetweenthetimejustbeforeonefallsasleepanddeepsleeparetrueandbeneficent.Thesedreamsareoftenbearersofrevelationsandthemediumofmiracles.Theyaretheimagesthatfallontheeyeoftheheart.TheproofofthetruthofdreamsisinthewordsofAllah:
Allahindeedfulfilledthedreamofhismessengerwithtruth:youshallcertainlyenterthesacredmosque,ifAllahplease,insecurity.(SuraFath,27)
AndindeedtheProphetdidentertheholymosqueinMakka,whichwasheldbyhisenemies,theyearafterthisdream.AnotherexampleisinthedreamoftheprophetJoseph(peacebeuponhim):
WhenJosephsaidtohisfather;Omyfather,Idreamtofelevenstarsandthesunandthemoon,Isawthemmakingobeisancetome.(SuraYusuf,4)
TheProphet^said,‘Nootherprophetswillcomeafterme,yettheremaycomeotherrevelations.Thebelieverswillseetheserevelationsintheirdreams,ortherevelationswillbeshowntothemintheirdreams.’Allahconfirmsthis:
Forthemistherevelationofgoodnewsinthelifeofthisworldandinthehereafter.(SuraYunus,64)
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DreamscomefromAllah,butsometimesalsofromtheaccursedDevil.
TheProphetsays,‘Theonewhoseesmeinhisdreamscertainlyseesme,becausetheDevilcannottakemyshape/NeithercantheDevilappearintheformofthosewhofollowthefaith,thepath,thewisdom,thetruthandthelightoftheProphetTheoneswhoknowinterpretthesewordsoftheProphetsayingthatnotonlycantheDevilnottaketheformoftheProphethecannotpretendtobeanyoneoranythingwhichhasthecharacterofmercyandbeneficence,orcompassionandgraceandfaith.Indeed,alltheprophetsandthesaintsandtheangels,theholymosqueoftheKa‘ba,thesun,themoon,thewhiteclouds,theHolyQur’an,areentitiesintowhichtheDevilcannotenter,norcanhetaketheirshape.ThisisbecausetheDevilistheplaceandconditionofthemanifestationofwrathandpunishmentandgrief.Hecanonlyrepresentconfusionanddoubt.WhensomeonehasinhimthemanifestationofAllah’sName,the‘UltimateGuidetoTruth’,howcouldtheattributeoftheOneWhoLeadsAstraybemanifestinhim?Attributeswhichareinoppositiontoeachothercannevertakeeachother’splace,likewaterandfire.Wrathcannotassumetheshapeofmercy,neithercanfireappearaswater.Theyrepeleachother,theystayawayfromeachother,theybelongtodifferentspaces.ThusAllahseparatestruthfromfalsehood,‘rimsdoesAllahmanifesttruthandfalsehood…withparablesandexamples.(SuraRa‘d,
17)
Ontheotherhand,theDevilcanpretendtobeAllahandtemptpeople,leadingthemastray.ThishecandoonlywiththepermissionofAllah.Allahhasmanyattributeswhichappeartobecontrarytoeachother.Forinstance,Hisattributeofmightandangerappearstobetheoppositeofhisattributeofbeautyandgentleness.TheaccursedDevilcanonlypretendtoassumethecharacterofangerandmightbecauseheisinessencetheobjectofAllah’swrath.AllahalsohasboththeattributesoftheUltimateGuidetoTruthandtheOneWhoLeadsAstray.TheDevilcannotappearwiththecharacterofanydivineattributeinwhichthereisatraceofguidance.
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OnDreams
IftheDevilpretendstorepresentanyoftheattributesofAllah,hedoesthisthroughAllah’swill,inordertoleadthebelievertogoodbyopposingbad,toleadhimtotruthbyopposingfalsehood.InrealitytheDevildoesnothavethepowertotakeawaythefaithofthefaithful;hecanonlypickitupifthebelieverhimselfthrowsitaway.
AllahaskshisProphetto:
Say:‘Thisismyway.IcalltoAllahwiththeknowledgeofcertainty
(obtainedbyinsight),/andtheoneswhofollowme,andglorybeto
Allah;andIamnotoftheoneswhoattributepartnerstoHim.(Sura
Yusuf,108)
Inthisverse,‘theoneswhofollowme’aretheperfectmen,thetruespiritualteacherswhowillcomeaftertheProphetwhowillhavehisinnerknowledgeandinsightandwhowillbeclosetoAllah.Suchapersonisdescribedasprotectorandtrueguide.(SuraKahf,i7)
Therearetwokindsofdreams,subjectiveandobjective,andeachisitselfdividedintotwokinds.
Thefirstkindofsubjectivedreamisthereflectionofahighspiritualstateandaresultingvirtue,andappearsinimagessuchasthesun,themoon,thestars,white
desertscenesbathedinlight,gardensofParadise,palaces,beautifulspiritsinangelicformandsoon.Thesearetheattributesofapureheart.Thesecondkindofsubjectivedreamcontainsimagesthatcorrespondtothestateoftheonewhoisfreefromanxietyandwhohascometoknowhimselfandfoundpeaceofmind.TheseimagesarethedelightswhichhewillfindinParadise—thetasteofheavenlynourishment,theperfumeandsoundsofParadise.
Hewilldreamofsomeanimalsandbirdsthatresemblethemostbeautifuloftheircounterpartsinthisworld.TheanimalsseeninsuchdreamsareindeedfromParadise.Forinstance,thecamelisananimalofParadise.Thehorseissentasananimalofburdentocarrytheholywarriorinhisbattlewiththenonbelieveraroundhimandwithinhim.TheoxwassenttotheprophetAdamtotillthegroundtogrowwheat.Thelambcomesfromthehoney
ofParadise,thecameliscreatedfromthelightofParadise,thehorsefromthesweetbasilofParadise,theoxfromthesaffronofParadise.
Themulerepresentstheloweststateoftheonewhohasfoundpeaceofheartandmind.Whenhedreamsofamule,itisasignthatheisnegligentandlazyinhisworshipbecausethedesiresofhisfleshandegopreventhim,andhisspiritualeffortsarewithoutbenefit.Thenheshouldrepentandbeconstantinhisgooddeedssothathewillobtainaresult.
TheasswascreatedfromthestoneofParadiseandisgiventotheserviceofAdamSandhisprogeny.Theassisthesymbolofthefleshanditsmaterialneeds,theegoanditsselfishness.Thefleshisananimalofburdentocarrythesoul.Ifmanisaslavetohisflesh,heislikeamancarryinganassonhisshoulders,butthetruemanridestheassofhismaterialbeing.Thustheassrepresentsthemeansbywhichhedirectstheaffairsofthehereafterinthisworld.
Tospeakwithabeautifulyouthwithapureandspiritualcountenanceisasignthatdivinemanifestationsarereachingone,becausethosewhohavereachedtheenlightenmentofdivinemanifestationsinParadisewillappearinthisbeautifulform.OurMastertheProphetdescribesthemasbeingwell-proportioned,gracefulwithbeautifuldarkeyes.Heevensaid,‘IhaveseenmyLordinthe
shapeofamostbeautifulyouth’.AsAllahisbeyondallshapeandform,thisstatementisinterpretedasthemanifestationoftheLord’sbeautifulattributesreflecteduponthemirrorofthepuresoul.Thisreflectioniscalledthechildoftheheart.Thematerialappearance,thebody,isthemirrorforthedivineintelligencewhicheducatesandformsus.ThisreflectedimageisalsotheconnectionbetweentheservantandhisLord.Hadrat‘All,mayAllahbepleasedwithhim,said,‘IfIwerenotformedbymyLordIwouldnothavecometoknowHim’.
Forspiritualformationoneneedstheinstructionandexampleofaguideintheformofalivingteacher.TheseteachersaretheprophetsandtheonesclosetoAllahwhoinherittheirwisdom.ItisOnlythroughtheirteachingthattheheartandthebeingare
no
in
THESECRETOFSECRETS
OnDreams
illuminated,sheddinglightontheirpath.Onefindstheinspiredsoulinoneselfthroughthem.Allahsays:
HeistheRaiseroflevels,theLordoftheThroneofPower.ByHis
orderdoesHesendthe(inspired)soultoanyofhisservantsHe
pleases,thathemaywarn(men)ofthedayofmeeting(theirLord).
(SuraMu’min,15)
Forthesalvationofyourheartyoumustfindateacherwhowillinspireyouwiththissoul.
ImamGhazall,mayAllahsanctifyhissecret,says,‘ItislawfultoseeAllahMostHighinone’sdreamsasabeautifulimage.1hatimageisasymbolinaccordancewithone’sspirituallevel.ThatwhichisseeniscertainlynotthedivineEssence,becauseAllahisbeyondallshapeandform.NeithercanourMastertheProphetbeseenindreamsinhistrueappearance,exceptbythosewhoaretheinheritorsofhiswisdom,knowledgeandactionsandwhofollowhimtotally.Others,whentheydreamofhim,dreamofsymbolsinaccordancewiththeirpotentialandstate,buttheydonottrulyseehim.’
InthecommentaryofMuslim’scollectionoftraditionsoftheProphetthereisastatementwhichsays,‘ItislawfultodreamofAllahMostHigheitheraslightorinhumanform’.HemanifestsHimselfintheformsofHisattributes.TotheProphetMoses35Heappearedasfireinaburningjujubetree.ThatwastheapparitionofthedivineWordwhichtheProphetMosesheardastheBurningBush,sayingOMoses,whatisthatinthyrighthand?(SuraTaHa,ll)
WhatappearedtoMosesasfireinrealitywasthedivinelight.Hesawitasfireinaccordancewithhislevelandhiswish,forhewasseekingfire.Formanthelowestdegreeofbeingisthatofvegetation,thetree,andthenthelevelofanimalinhim.Isthereanywonderiftheonewhohaspurifiedhimselfoftheselowerlevelsofbeingandbecomeaperfectmanseesthedivinetruthmanifestedasaburningbush?TootherperfectmenAllahmanifestedHiswordsastheirown,issuingfromtheirownlips,HadratBayazidal-Bistaml,mayAllahsanctifyhissecret,insuch
astateofdivineinspirationpronouncedthewords,‘MyessenceistheGloriousOne.Howgreatismyhonour!’ThedivinewordcamefromthelipsofHadratJunaydal-Baghdadi,mayAllahbepleasedwithhim,‘ThereisnoneotherthanAllahundermycloak.’Therearegreatsecretsinlevelssuchasthesewhich
perfectmenhavereached.Theyaretoodifficulttocomprehendandtoolongtoexplainhere.Theyconcernonlythosewhodedicatetheirlivestothepursuitofinnerknowledge.
TobearecipientofdivinemanifestationandtohavecontactwiththespiritofourMastertheProphet^onemustbetaughtandeducatedandbroughttoacertainspirituallevel.TheseekerwhohasjustenteredthespiritualpathcannothopetobeabletorelatetoAllahMostHighortoHisProphetwithoutanintermediaryHemustfirstbepreparedandeducatedbyateacherwhoisclosetothem.BetweenapureteacherwhoisclosetoAllahandourMastertheProphet^thereisarelationshipwhichtranscendsthephysical.IftheProphet^werealiveonecouldtakeknowledgedirectlyfromhimandtherewouldbenoneedofanintermediary.Butashehaspassedtothehereafter,heisseparatedfromtheworldlyandinanimmaterialstate.Thereforeonecannothavedirectcontactwithhim.Thesameistrueofthetrueteachers.Whentheyleavethisworldonecannolongerlearnfromthem.
Youwillunderstandifyouareperceptive;ifyouarenot,seektobe.Seektofindthisunderstandingwithcontemplationsothatyouwillovercomethedarknessoftheegowiththelightofillumination.Youneedlighttosee,tounderstand:youcannotseeinthedark.Thelightfallsonlyonplacesthathavebeenputinorderandcleansed,onhonouredplaces.Thebeginnerbyhimselfcannotputhimselfinorderandthereforeisinneedofateacher.
AlivingteachermusthaveconnectionwithourMastertheProphetofAllahgg—thatis,ifheistrulytheinheritorofthestateoftheProphet.InhisteachinghereceivesguidancefromtheProphetandistaughttobeatrueservantofAllah.Withthishelphebecomesthemeansofcontinuationoftheinnerpath.Therestisasecret.Onlytheonesfittorealizemayrealize.
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OnDreams
Viemight,(thetruevictoryandhonour),belongstoAllahandtoHisMessengerandtothebelievers(uponwhomHehasbestowedit).(SuraMunafiqun,8)
Thisstateofhonouristhesecret.
Spiritualeducationisnotaneasymatter.Thematerialsoulisinthebodyandiseducatedwithit.Theplaceofthespiritualsoulistheheart.Theplaceofthesultan-soulisthecentreoftheheart.Theplaceoftheholyspiritisthesecret.Thatsecretisameansofrelatingthetruthtothebeliever.Itisaninterpreter,translatingthetruthtotheseeker,becausethatsecretbelongstoAllah,isclosetoHimandisHisconfidant.
Therearealsodreamswhicharetheresultofbadcharacter.Theyshowtheattributesoftheoverpoweringegoortherealizationofone’swrongdoings,yetoneisunabletostopthem.
Eveninabetterstate,whenoneisremindedbyAllahofone’ssinsanderrors,onedreamsofwildanimals,oflionsandtigers,wolvesandbears,dogsandboarsandsmallerbeasts—foxes,hares,cats,snakes,scorpionsandcarnivorousorpoisonous,harmfulanimals.
Tomentionafewoftheviceswhichtheseimagesrepresent:ThetigeristhesymbolofprideandegocentrismtothedegreethatoneisarroganttoAllahHimself.
TothosewhorejectOurwordsandturnawayfromthemwitharrogance,noopeningwilltherebeofthegatesofheaven,norwilltheyentertheGardenuntilthecamelcanpassthroughtheeyeoftheneedle…(SuraATaf,40)
Thesamepunishmentisalsoduetothosewhoarearroganttopeople.
Thelionisasymbolofexcessiveloveofoneselfandofself-praise.Thebearrepresentsangerandrageandtyrannytowardthoseunderone’scontrol.Thewolfrepresentsgluttonywithoutanyregardforlawfulnessorunlawfulnessorcleanlinessorfilth.Thedogisthesymboloftheloveofthisworldanditstroublesanditsnegativities.Swinearethesymbolofenvy,ambition,vengefulnessandlust.Thefoxisthesymboloflying,cheatingandswindlingintheaffairs
ofthisworld.Thehareisthesymbolofthesameactions,exceptdoneheedlesslyandunconsciously.Todreamofaleopardisasignofeffortspentsenselesslyandirrationally,alsoofthedesiretobeprominent.‘Thecatisasymbolofmiserlinessandduplicity.Thesnakerepresentslying,gossiping,makingfalseaccusationsandtyrannizingpeoplewithone’swords.Thescorpionisthesignofnegativecriticism,makingfunofpeopleandrejectingthem.Thehornetrepresentssubversivelanguagethathurtspeople.
Ifonedreamsoffightingwithoneofthesebeastsbutnotovercomingit,oneneedstostrengthenone’sefforts,worship,andconsciousremembrance,untilatastrokethoseanimalsareobliterated,Ifonedreamsofkillingthesebeasts,itmeansthatonehasstoppederringorcausingharmtoanyone.Allahmentionsthis:Hewillremovetheirillsfromthemandimprovetheircondition.(SuraMuhammad,2)
Ifonedreamsofoneoftheseanimalsturningintoahumanbeingitisasignthatone’spreviouswrongstatehasbeenturnedrightandthatone’srepentanceisaccepted,becausethetruesignofone’srepentancebeingacceptedisone’sinabilitytodothesamewrongagain.
Accepthimwhorepentsandbelievesanddoesgooddeeds;forsuch,
Allahchangestheirevildeedstogoodones,..(SuraFurqan,70)
Whenoneissavedfromwrongandevil,onemusttakeallduecarenottofeelsecure,forthefleshandtheegoregaintheirstrengthwiththeslightestreminder
ofdisobedience,revoltandvice,andcastonebacktoone’soldways.Thestateofthesoulatpeacecaneasilybelost.ThereasonAllahhasorderedHisservantstoabstainfromthatwhichisunlawfulistocreateacontinuouswarningtokeeponeever-vigilant.
Theevil-commandingegosometimesappearsinone’sdreamsasanonbeliever;theself-criticizingselfmayappearasaJew,andtheinspiredselfsometimesappearsintheformofaChristian.
OntheFollowersoftheMysticalPath
CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE
OntheFollowersoftheMysticalPath
hepeopleofthemysticalpatharedividedintotwosections.ThefirstgrouparetheSunnis:theyfollowthepreceptsoftheHolyQur’anandthepracticesandrulesderivedfromthebehaviourandwordsoftheProphetTheyfollowthisguidanceintheirwords,intheiractions,intheirthoughtsandfeelings,andtheyfollowtheinnermeaningofthereligion—thatis,theyunderstandanddonotfollowblindlyTheyactuponandliveinaccordancewiththereligiousprecepts,tastingthemandenjoyingthem,notmerelyenduringsomethingforceduponthem.Thisisthemysticpathwhichtheyfollow.ThisisthebrotherhoodofthelovingservantsofAllah.SomeamongstthemarepromisedParadisewithouthavingtogiveanaccountonthedayoftheLastJudgment,andotherswillsufferalittleoftheterroroftheLastDayandthenentertheGarden.YetotherswillhavetopassforashortwhilethroughhellfiretobepurifiedoftheirsinsbeforeenteringParadise.Nonewilltastetheeternalfire.Theeternalfireisforinfidelsandhypocrites.
Thesecondgroupiscomposedofheretics.TheProphet<§£warnedus,‘You,liketheChildrenofIsraelbeforeyou,likethecommunityofJesussonofMary,willbedividedandseparatedfromeachother,Astheyhaveinventedanddistorted,youtoowill
createheresies.Withtime,inheresy,oppositionandsin,youwillbelikethemanddothesamethings.Iftheywentintothelairofapoisonousreptile,youwouldfollowthemdown.YoushouldknowthattheChildrenofIsraelsplitintoseventy-onedivisions.Theyareallinerrorexceptone.AndtheChristianssplitintoseventy-twodivisions,andtheytooareallinerrorexceptone.Ifearthatmypeoplewillbedividedintoseventy-threesections.Thiswillbecausedbytheirturningrightintowrongandtheunlawfulintothelawfulaccordingtotheirownjudgment,fortheirownadvantageandpurposes.Withtheexceptionofone,all
ofthesedivisionsareHell-bound,andthatonegroupissaved.5Whenaskedwhothesavedoneswere,heanswered,‘Theoneswhofollowmybeliefsandactionsandthoseofmycompanions5.
Thefollowingaresomeofthehereticalpathsthatcallthemselvesmystics.
TheHululiyya,Incarnationists,claimthatitislawfultolookatabeautifulbodyorabeautifulface,whetherofawomanoraman,whoeveritis,whethertheyarewivesorhusbands,daughtersorsistersofothers.Theyalsointermingleanddancetogether.ThisisclearlyagainstthepreceptsofIslamandthepreservationofhonouranddecencyinitslaws.
TherearethosewhoarecalledHaliyyawhoseektobeecstaticallyentrancedbysingingandmovingandshoutingandclappinghands.Theyclaimthattheirshaykhsareinsuchastatethattheyareoverandabovethejurisdictionofreligiouslaw.ThiscertainlydoesnotcorrespondtothebehaviouroftheMostBelovedofAllah,whoineverywayabidedbyreligiouslaws.
TheAwliya’iyyaclaimtobeintheproximityofAllahandsaythatwhentheservantcomesclosetoAllah,allreligiousobligationsareliftedfromhim.Theyfurtherclaimthatawait,theoneclosetoAllah,becomesHisfriendandisthereforesuperiortoaprophet.TheysaythatknowledgecametotheMessengerofAllahthroughGabriel2D,whiletothewalldivineknowledgecomesdirect.Theirfalseviewoftheirstateandwhattheyattributetothemselvesistheirgreatestsin,whichdestroysthemandbringsthemtoheresyandinfidelity.
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OntheFollowersoftheMysticalPath
TheShamuraniyyabelievethatthewordiseternal,andthatwhoeverpronouncestheeternalwordisnotboundbyreligiousobligations;forthemthereisnoconsiderationoflawfulandunlawful.Theyusemusicalinstrumentsintheirrituals.Theydonotseparatemenfromwomen.Theydonotseeanydifferencebetweenthetwosexes.Theyarebutanincorrigiblegangofinfidels.
TheHubbiyyasaythatwhenmencometothestageoflovetheyarefreedofallreligiousobligations.Theydonotconcealtheirprivateparts.
TheHuriyya,liketheHaliyya,byshoutingandsingingandclappingofhandsseekastateoftrance,andinthattrancetheyclaimtohaveintercoursewiththehouris;whentheyleavetheirtrancetheytaketotalablution.Theyaredestroyedbytheirownlies.
TheIbahiyyarefusetoproposegooddeedsandtoforbidevilones.Onthecontrary,theyconsidertheunlawfullawful.Theyapplythisideatowomen.Forthem,allwomenarelawfultoallmen.
TheMutakasiliyyamakeaprincipleoutoflazinessandbegfromdoortodoorfortheirsustenance.Theyclaimthattheyarethusleavingtheworldlyandtheyrotintheirlaziness.
TheMutajahiliyyafeignignoranceandpurposelydressimmod-estly,tryingtolookandbehavelikenonbelievers,whileAllahsaysDonotinclinetowardsthewrongdoers…(SuraHud,113)AndtheProphetsays,‘Whoevertriestoappearlikeapeopleisconsideredtobeoneofthem’.
TheWafiqiyyaclaimthatonlyAllahisabletoknowAllah,Thereforetheyabandonthepathofseekingtruth,andtheirpurposefulignoranceleadsthemtodestruction.
TheIlhamiyyacountoninspiration,abandonknowledge,forbidstudy,andsaythattheQur’anisaveilforthemandthatthepoeticmuseistheirQur’an.TheyabandontheQur’anandprayersandteachtheirchildrenpoetryinstead.
TheleadersandteachersoftheSunnipathsaythattheCompanions,withtheblessingofthewordsandpresenceoftheProphetwereinahighstateofspiritualecstasyandrapture.Inlatertimesthis
118
spiritualleveldissipated.Itpassedtothespiritualinheritorsofthedivinepathtotruth,whichinturndividedintomanybranches.Itwasdividedintosomanysectionsthatthewisdomandtheenergythinnedanddispersed.Inmanycasesallthatwasleftwasonlyanappearancewrappedintheclothingofaspiritualteacherwithoutanymeaningbeneathit.Eveninthatemptystateitkeptmultiply-inganddividing,turningintoheresy.SomebecameQalandarT—wanderingbeggars.OthersbecameHaydaffandpretendedtobeheroes.StillotherscalledthemselvesAdhamIandpretendedtofol-lowFladratIbrahimAdham’sabandonmentofthesultanateofthisworld.Therearesomanymore.
Inourtime,thosewhofollowthepathoftruthinaccordancewiththereligiouslawarefewerthanfew.Thetruefollowersofthispathareknownbytwowitnesses.Oneistheexteriorwitness,whichshowsthattheseeker’sdailylifeisreinforcedbyreligiousordinancesandpractices.Thesecond,theinnerwitness,istheexampletheseekerfollowsandemulatesandbywhichheisguided.Indeed,thereisnoneothertofollowthantheProphetofAllahwhoisthemeans,thebridge,andatonetimetheseekerandthetruthheseeks.Withoutdoubthisdivinespiritistheonlyintermediary.Thatisthelawwhichmustbefollowedforthecontinuationofreligiousorderinthelifeofarealbeliever.AlternativelyasaintlybeingwhoembodiestheinheritanceoftheProphet’sspiritualitymayblesstheseekerwithhismaterialpresence.Indeed,theDevilcannotassumetheshapeofourProphet
Beware,Otravelleronthepathtotruth,thattheblinddonotleadtheblind.Yoursightshouldbesokeenthatyouareabletodistinguishthesmallestparticleofgoodfromthesmallestparticleofevil.
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Afterword
CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR
Afterword
Thetravelleronthepathtotruthmusthaveintelligence,understandingandinsight.Thesearehisprerequisites.
AllahcreatedservantswiseandunderstandingWholeavetheworld,theabodeofafflictions.
Theytaketotheseawherewavesaretheironlytrial,
Wheregooddeedsareshipsonwhichtoridethewaves.
Thetravellerisonthepathbecausethereisaplacetowhichhewishestogo.Hisattentionisfixedprincipallyuponthatgoal,yethecannotignoretheimportanceofthepreparationforthisvoyage.Whenheprepareshemusttakeheednottobefooledbytheattractionofappearances,andhemustnotloadhimselfwithluggagenortakethestopsandstationsashisfinalgoal.
ThepeopleofthemysticpathsaythatdeedsbelongtotheOnewhocreatedthem.Manisnotfullyresponsible:inhishandsdeedsmayappearotherthanwhattheyare.Allahsays
…noneissecurefromAllah’sschemeexceptthepeoplewhohavelosteverything[andareintotalwant].(SuraATaf,99)
Thisisfundamentalonthispath:toleaveallluggagebehindanddependonAllah,undistractedbythetemptationsofthestationsonthepath.InadivinetraditionAllahsays:
OMuhammad,givethegoodnewstothesinnersthatIamAll-Forgiving.ButtelltheoneswhoaretrulyMineandsincereintheirwishforMethatIamMost
Jealous(ofanythingthattheymaywishforbesidesMe).
ThemiraclesthatappearthroughthoseclosetoGodandthespiritualstationsinwhichtheyappeararetrue.YetevensuchpeoplearenotsafefromAllah’sschemesandHistestsincitingthemtosin—sometimestheyareevengrantedSuccesswhentheybegintosin,sotheymaythinkthattheirstatesbelongtothemandthatthemiraclesaretheirs.Itisonlytheprophetsandtheirmiraclesthatarcfreefromsuchtests.Itissaidthatthefearoflosingonesfaithatone’slastbreathistheonlysafeguardthatwillgrantfaithatone’slastmoment.
HadratHasanal-Basri,mayAllahsanctifyhissecret,usedtosaythattheonesclosetoAllahsucceedthroughtheirfearofAllah.Inthem,fearwellexceedshopebecausetheyknowthedangerofbeingfooledbyhumannature.Thesedelusionsdriveoneoutofthepathwithoutoneevenknowingit.Healsosaidthatthehealthypersonfearssicknessandhishopesarefew,whilethesickpersonnolongerfearsfallingsick,andhishopeforhealthgrows.
TheProphet£§£says,‘Ifoneweighedthefearandthehopeofthefaithful,onewouldfindthemequal’.ByAllah’sgrace,atourlastbreath,Allahincreasesourhopeoverourfear.InthewordsofourProphet‘AllmypeoplewilltaketheirlastbreathswithtrustandhopeinAllah’smercy’.ForAllahpromises:Mymercyencompassesallthings…(SuraA‘raf,156)and,‘MymercyfarsurpassesMywrath’.
AllahistheMostCompassionateandtheMostMercifuloftheMerciful,andonemaycertainlydependonthat.YetthetravelleronthepathoftruthmustfearandescapefromAllah’swrath.ForthisitisnecessarythathepresenttoHimallthathepossesses—hisverybeing,hisexistence—placeeverythingatHisfeetandtakerefugefromHiminHim.
Oseeker,fallonyourkneesinfrontofyourLord!Stripyourselfofyourmaterialbeing!Confessandrepentforyourpasterrorsand
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waitatthegateofhismercywithoutanything,incompletewant!Ifyoudothis,youwillcertainlyreceiveHisgrace,Hisblessings,Hisenlightenment,Hisloveandcompassion;andallyoursinsandimpuritieswillmeltawayfromyou.ForHeistheBeneficent,theMostCompassionateandGenerous,theEternalLord,theAll-powerful.
WebegforpeaceandblessingsuponourMastertheProphetandhisprogeny,companionsandfollowers.AllgraceandthanksbelongtoAllah;weleaveallinHishands.
Amin