Mathnavi of Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi (133 pages, 14/18)
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earness will be attained, the day he annihilates his 'self' completely.
Annihilation means to make all your desires subject to the pleasure of Allah. The day this rank is reached through) spiritual exercises and through a saintly spiritual guide, one will have attained the good life. A glimpse of it can be had from Khwaja
Majzoob's word:
"It is as if I am living in paradise by night and day My garden is in my heart in full blossom.
At every moment it is as if there is a flood of light upon my heart And at all times the thought of my beloved reigns.
At no moment does the remembrance of the Beloved leave me. My 'self' is drunk with the melody of Him: '1 am Near".
This Majzoob whom all consider to be of wretched state
What do they know of the pleasure state I am in, this fortunate one? Now another condition has taken hold over me day and night,
At all times I am in a state of blessed communion with Him.
Now in my heart there is continuously a remembrance of Him night and day, Even in separation 1 am in communication with Him".
THE STORY OF PROMISING TO DO SOMETHING TOMORROW
A certain man planted a thorn-tree in the path where people walked. As it grew bigger and stronger, the thorns started injuring those walking past.
The people started blaming the planter but it had no effect on him, except that he promised every time that the following day he was going to remove the tree from the path. However, nothing was done about the tree. At last the matter reached the governor of that place. The governor too ordered him to uproot the tree. The planter promised the governor that he would do so the following day, but again he failed to carry out his promise. The result was that the tree grew until it became very strong and sturdy, with its roots going very deep in the ground. Now he was unable to uproot the thorn-tree at all.
"The bad tree grew into a strong young tree While the planter became old and weak.
The thorny tree was everyday becoming healthier And the uprooter was becoming daily weaker.
O Listener, very often you have become grief-stricken over your evil deeds And very often your evil deeds brought you regret and the desire to repent.
So often you have become helpless at the hands of your evil deeds and devastated, Have you become senseless? You have become 'senseless to an overwhelming degree. O you senseless one, arise and rectify your old previous bad habits
Rise, take up an axe and attack like a man
Like Hazrat Ali who uprooted the gate of Khaybar". LESSON:
In this story Moulana gives the advise that a seeker of truth and seeker after Allah should never put off for tomorrow the rectification of evil deeds and habits. Never should they say: "[ will rectify and change my habits tomorrow" and when tomorrow comes along, then again say the same. In this way, Shaytaan causes that promise, of tomorrow to continue, until the time of death arrives. Then the intender will enter the grave without rectification and disappointed. Shaytaan will rejoice.
Just as the thorny tree which was planted could in the end not be uprooted by the planter, in the same way, the longer a person takes to discard or rectify bad habits, those bad habits will become stronger at the roots. As the days and nights pass by you will become older and weaker which will make the discarding and rectification of evil habits very difficult.
For this reason, rise up without any delay and procrastination. Grab an axe of courage and uproot the door of evils, just like Hazrat Ali uprooted the gate of Khaybar and threw it away. And just as Hazrat Ali was granted great help being in the company of Rasulullah, you also should join forces with the saints of Allah, the friends of Rasulullah. Through their company, acquire the help and bounty of Allah.
Hazrat Moulana Thanwy (R.A.) says: "Even these days no position of Wilayat (sainthood) is open and unoccupied; whether it is the rank of Qutub, Ghowth or Abdaal. All these ranks even today are filled".
These saints, who in your sight are looked upon as being of wretched condition and are considered worthless, after a hundred years of history they will be looked upon as the Junaid, Rumi (R.A.), Attaar and Shibly of this age. It is foolish to argue like this: "Where do you find saintly men today like those in the past?"
This is a Shaytaani deception which wishes to keep us deprived of the blessings of these men. Do we find anyone complaining today that for physical ailments: "Where do we find a Jalinoos or a Socrates or a Plato? No, we go to the present day doctors
for treatment."
Similarly, in the event of spiritual or internal illnesses and for their rectification, we should contact the present day followers of the Sunnah who have been granted permission by the elders to initiate others into an oath of allegiance (Bay' at). We should consult them and start our self-rectification. Neither should we delay rectification until the oath of 'Bay'at' because Bay'at is Sunnat Ghayr Muakkada, while the idea of rectification of the self is an obligatory duty.
However, after starting the process of rectification, if one finds himself agreeable to it, he should also enter into 'Bay' at' considering it a Sunnah because through 'Bay'at' a special connection is formed which increases the benefit.
THE STORY OF A MOUSE LEADING A CAMEL BY THE REINS
Once a mouse took hold of the reins of a camel and tried to run away with him. The camel seeing the foolishness of the mouse became submissive and relaxed. Wherever the mouse led him, the camel followed meekly, like. a slave obedient to his master. They went along until they came to a river where the mouse lost its presence of mind and came to a standstill. He started thinking that up to that moment he had led an. animal of great size and up to now had enjoyed the honour of having made the camel s1,1bmis.sive to him. But now that they have come to the river, how can he lead him through that? While thinking he came to a standstill.
"The mouse remained standing there and became dried up. " The camel asked him:.
"O My Companion over mountains and forests. Why this hesitation and why this perplexity?
Take courage and step into the river".
The mouse answered: "I am afraid of becoming drowned".
The camel replied: "Let me see how deep the water is and whether you will drown or not".
He placed one leg into the water and then said: "O Mouse, My Sheikh, My Guide. The water is only up to my knee. So proceed leading me through".
The mouse replied: "The water only reaches up to your knee. That is so many times over my head. There is a big difference between your leg and mine".
The camel said: "Please do not become rude and insulting. Come straight into' the water and guide me along. Up to now you used to be very proud of having led me and you acquired great honour through that. 0 you foolish one, I allowed myself to be led along by you, so that your foolishness may become so increased and manifest. "
The mouse replied: "For me to enter the water will be my destruction. I am repenting. Please pardon me. After this I shall not even think about becoming your leader and your Sheikh".
He said:
"For Allah's sake have I repented of my sins Kindly save me from the dangerous waters".
The camel, on hearing of the repentance of the mouse, felt sorry for him and said: "All right. Come and sit upon the hump of my back. Another hundred mice like yourself can sit upon my back and with safety cross over the water.
Remain a subject if Allah did not make you a ruler. And do not sail in a boat if, you did not learn sailing. And grant your copper to the men of chemistry
So that they, through your company with them, can change you to gold".
(In other words through keeping the company of the righteous saints of Allah you will derive benefit from them, bringing about changes for the better).
"If you are like a stone, senseless, deprived of the fear of the hereafter, Seek the company of a saint and become changed into a pearl. And refrain from criticising the saints and from accusing the Shah of theft, For what need has the Shah of stealing?"
LESSON:
The saints of Allah carry a precious treasure within themselves. In their sight the whole world is insignificant and worthless, because their hearts have become joined to the Creator of this world. Hence, do not underestimate them and do not compare your nights and days with theirs. Do not become deceived by your worldly dignity and honour like that mouse was deceived. If ever you should consider yourself superior to the saintly ones then, you will become humiliated and deprived of good. In the end you, like the mouse, you too will have to sit upon their backs, with the purpose of crossing over to safety,
and like the mouse you too will have to repent.
Hence, from the first day remove from your mind the love of splendour of this world, worldly honour, worldly wealth, esoteric knowledge and soulless actions. Remove these loves from your mind and form sincere contact with some saint of Allah. Within a few days you will come to know and you will swear what abundance of benefit it has brought to you. (Use worldly wealth. Do not love it more than Allah and his Rasool ).
As Hazrat Khawaja Majzoob (R.A.) said in respect of his Sheikh: .
"You effaced the effects of the idols and you enabled me to witness the grandeur of Allah
You transformed my eyes into such eyes that can see the reality and turned my heart into one that can perceive the greatness of the Creator
My heart was engulfed in negligence, when suddenly you acquainted it with Allah Ta-ala, Thus you made me unconcerned with all besides Him.
Practising on Deen seemed like a burden, while being engrossed in the world was easy,
You have now made the burden a pleasure and what seemed to be a pleasure (preoccupation with the world) has become a burden.
You have imbued me' with courage and ushered this weakling into such ranks,
The ranks of those endowed with that great responsibility (of conveying Deen)
This heart of iron you have .melted with a heart burning with The love of Allah Ta-ala, You have made restless one who had never experienced this pain (Love of Allah)
O Majzoob you are leaving this home with a great fortune, A million thanks that Allah Ta-ala sent me to your door"
THE STORY OF THE KILLING OF THE ELEPHANT CUB
In India a group of friends on a journey wandered far away from home. Along the way they experienced great difficulty and hunger, until they had become very much distressed and impatient with the pangs of hunger.
One intelligent person amongst the group advised them:
"Look, there in front of you are the cubs of an elephant. Do not hunt the cubs. The elephant has gone somewhere. If you should kill and eat his cub, he is surely not going to leave anyone of you alive thereafter. Listen carefully to my advise".
However, because of their great hunger they could not show any patience. They killed one of the cubs, roasted its meat and ate it up. The intelligent person said to them: "Alas, if only you had rather eaten the grass of the forest! If only you had taken precautions against this! Now you will have to see the result of your actions".
One man from among the group acted upon the advise of the intelligent man. He kept himself away from eating the meat. He ate grass instead and went to sleep a distance away from the rest of them. He was thinking, that remaining among the unjust ones, would make him one of them and the elephant would destroy him too, in revenge.
A short while later the elephant came along and saw the blood of his cub. He immediately understood what had happened. He was in extreme rage and anger. It appeared as if smoke and fire was coming out of his trunk. He came to where these people were lying asleep and saw one man sleeping alone some distance
away. He smelled the mouth of this one first and walked around him three times, but he did not get the smell of the meat of his
cub from his mouth. He considered him innocent of the crime and left him to go further to the others. From the mouth of the others he got the smell of the blood of his cub, so he trampled each and everyone of them to pieces. He then threw the pieces into the air by way of revenge for his cub.
Now Moulana Rumi (R.A.) says:.
"Oh Ye People! You murder people and seize their belongings, Remember Allah is well aware of your tyranny.
The odour of the mouth of an unjust one smells of injustice, An elephant recognises the smell of his cub.'.
That respected one (i.e. Rasulullah) who could smell the fragrance of Allah coming from Yemen, Do you think that he could not smell out the evil doers of his time?"
The Prophet said: "On the waves of the air I smell Allah's fragrance coming from the direction of Yemen. "
This was a reference to Hazrat Owais Qami's love for Allah and his sincerity and Imaan. "The bad smell of arrogance, greed and lustful desires comes out of conversation.
Just like the bad smell exuding from the mouth of him who ate onions. O you people! you commit sinful acts and then go to sleep
And the unpleasant smell thereof reaches up to the green heaven". LESSON:
My Sheikh after relating this story used to say: "It is not so dangerous to harm an elephant, as it is to harm his cubs. For the elephant might bear harm caused to it, but if harm or injury is caused to it's cub it will take revenge and not rest until the person is destroyed. "
Then with this as a basis, Hazrat used to say, that in the case of sins. and disobedience against Allah, repentance will bring pardon, but for those who trouble and harm the saints of Allah, Allah takes revenge against them.
Thus Rasulullah is reported to have said in a Hadith Qudsi where Allah is reported as saying:
"Whoever harasses or persecutes my friends (the saints) I declare war against them". May Allah grant us all the proper respect and honour for the saints of Allah, Ameen. THE VIRTUE OF REQUESTING DUAH FROM OTHERS
"If due to the misfortune of sins, you do not possess a tongue of acceptance Go to the friends of Allah and request their duahs
Request those brothers of purity to pray on your behalf".
Once revelation came to Nabi Moosa (A.S.): "0 Moosa, call upon Me with such a tongue which has not committed any sin ".
Nabi Moosa (A.S.) replied: "0 Our Lord, None of us possess such a tongue". The reply came: "Call upon Us with the tongue of others".
(In other words, request others to make duah for you, because you did not sin through their mouths).
"When did you ever commit sins through another's tongue? So with the tongue of others call me: "0 Allah!".
NOTE:
Here Allah is giving a lesson to Nabi Moosa (A.S.)'s people through him. The Ummat (followers) are the sinful ones while the Prophet is sinless. So outwardly the command came to Nabi Moosa (A.S.) but in actual fact, the address is directed at his Ummat. .
"Or cleanse your mouth and make your lazy, negligent soul alert and wide awake". This address is also directed at Nabi Moosa's (A.S.) Ummat:
"The name of Allah is pure. When you will take His name, your mouth too will become clean. The impurity will pick up its bedding and depart.
Every opposite will run away from its opposite, as night flees when the day breaks forth with its light And so the purity of Allah's Name dispels your impurity.
When the name of Allah comes onto the tongue
The impurity and darkness of sin cannot remain there" LESSON:
In this story there is a great lesson for the seekers of Allah Taala. No matter in what they may be and no matter how much involved in sin, they should not delay in making Zikrullah due to their impurities. Do not delay in making Zikrullah, awaiting first the fruits of rectification of the self. In fact rectification (islaah) will through the blessings of Zikrullah become easy. It is through the no or of Zikr that one becomes aware of the darkness of sins, due to the fact that things are easily recognised through their opposites.
Hence, it is proven by experience that when a Zaakir (one performing Zikr) commits a sin, he is quickly granted the grace to repent, because in the noor of Zikr, the darkness of sins and evil are quickly perceived. And after the fragrant perfume of Zikr, the evil smell of sin is strongly perceived, causing one to quickly make towbah and cleanse the heart. It is just like a person who is used' to wearing clean clothes. Such a person will not
. tolerate a dirty spot on it and he will not rest until the dirty spot is washed away. One used to being dressed in dirty clothes, will not even see a new dirty spot on his clothes, because his clothes are full of dirty spots. And even if he does become aware of a dirty spot, there will be no urgency in the heart to cleanse that spot and remove it.
In view of the above, the saints first inculcate into their novices to start Zikr right from the beginning. And in this way slowly and gradually all other rectification becomes accomplished.
THE STORY THAT OUR SAYINO 'YA ALLAH' IS HIS REPLY
A certain devotee was one night making the Zikr of Allah's name in complete sincerity so much so that from this Zikr his saliva too was tasting sweet. Shaytaan said to him: "0 Sufi, be silent. Why are you reciting this Zikr so profusely? It is of no benefit.
After all, you do not get any reply from Allah's side. So what benefit is there in one sided love?"
Hearing these words of deceit from Shaytaan, the Sufi became broken-hearted and depressed. He postponed the rest of his Zikr and went to sleep.
That night he saw in a dream that Hazrat Khidr (A.S.) came to him asking him: "Why were you negligent of Zikr this night?"
The Sufi replied: "From Allah's side there was no reply of "Labbaik". From this I got the impression that my Zikr was not accepted by Him".
Hazrat Khidr (A.S.) said: "Allah has sent a message to you. He has said: Tell this servant of mine:
"O My servant, Your saying: "Allah" is My reply of 'Labbaik' (I am present)"
(In other words, when your first" Allah" is accepted by Allah, then only you are granted the ability to say "Allah" a second time. Thus this second "Allah" is a Labbaik from My side)
And O My Bondsman, this offering of yours and this burning pain and love for Me All these are My messages to you".
"O My bondsma1!, these efforts of yours out of love for Me, your Zikr and your spiritual struggles Are from My side a reflection of attraction towards Me".
Someone else put it quite nicely:
"My search for you too is as a result of someone's kindness. These feet do not lift up they are lifted up.
O My Bondsmen, Your fear and Your love of Me is a gift from My side
It is the attraction of My Grace and Mercy, and in your every 'Ya Rab, Ya Allah' My Labbaik is included. "I am present".
The soul of an ignorant one is deprived of this Zikr. and duah And he is not blessed towards saying 'Ya Rab, Ya Rab".
LESSON:
For those who are involved in making Zikr, there is in this story good news. Hence at the time of making Zikr, this should be borne in mind that it is when our first "Allah" is accepted then only the second Zikr of "Allah" follows. And this second Zikr must be accepted before the third one follows, while the uttering' of the third "Allah" is a clear sign of the acceptance of the second one.
Blessed is this gift for the Zaakireen. May Allah grant us the ability to make Zikr up to the last breath of our lives, Ameen.
THE STORY OF MAJNOON LOVING THE DOGS FROM LAVLA'S STREET
Moulana Rumi (R.A.) says: "Once Majnoon saw the dog of Lay la's street going somewhere. He recognised it, started kissing its feet and exhibiting his love for it. Some people saw this and said to him: "O you mad one, what is this that you are doing? Why do you show love for such a dirty animal, full of impurities?"
Majnoon replied:
"0 you who possess a mere outer form and body; 0 You who are deprived of the true taste of love, acquire awareness of the condition of my heart and see it through my eyes.
This dog is the creation of my Lord It is a guard over the street of Layla.
In my sight, the dust from the feet of the dog living in the street of Layla Is better than huge lions.
The dog living in the street of Layla in my view is so precious,
That I am not prepared to exchange even one hair of its body for many lions. Many a lion has become a slave to the dogs of Layla's street,
Since these secrets cannot be explained in words, I remain silent. and bid you salaam.
O People, if you proceed beyond your worship of outer form and develop contact with the Creator, who is the fountain-head of all beauty,
Then in this world you will start enjoying the blessings of paradise and you will see a rose-garden everywhere".
LESSON:
In his love for Layla, Majnoon finds the dogs of Layla's street worthy of love. How is it that the Lovers of Allah go to Makkah Shareef and Madina Shareef but have no love for the inhabitants of these cities?
When they return from Haj you hear their complaints against the inhabitants of these cities. They relate all the problems they experienced over there. Regarding such people, one has the fear that their Haj was not accepted (maqbool).
In Madina Shareef, a certain man once bought some sour milk (dahi). He said: "This 'dahi' is too sour. The 'dahi' in India is better than this". That night he saw Rasulullah in a dream. The Rasul said to him: "O you disrespectful one, O you who are deprived of love, leave this city. You are not fit to live here"
May Allah save us all from showing disrespect and keep us safe from harm.
In a Hadith we are told: "0 people, love the Arabs". It is a great pity that these days we show no regard for this injunction. My friends, if we intend to give them a word of advise or something which is in their interest and welfare, it is well and good, but it is something different if we in our gatherings continuously backbite and slander them. We should consider it our good fortune to be able to pray for their success and welfare, with prayers
from our hearts.
Similarly, this story teaches us to fulfil the rights of the Dlama, the saintly ones and especially him who is our spiritual guide. Also the rights which their family members and children have on us and the correct manners we should have towards them. It also teaches us the proper respect and honour we should show towards the Imams and the muezzins of mosques, because these persons are the keepers and custodians of the Lord's Houses. For this reason, we should love them and consider service to them as a means towards acquiring the pleasure of Allah.
Just imagine, we fear troubling and harassing the dog of the District Commissioner. In fact this fear, is fear of the Commissioner himself. Similarly, whoever has any kind of general or special contact with Him should in a similar manner be honoured according to their degree of connection with Him.
However, these things are not understood by those people who are deprived of proper understanding, as Moulana Rumi (RA.) says:
"O Allah, we seek from you the ability to show correct Adaab (manners) Because the one devoid of Adaab is he who is deprived of Your Grace. O Allah, grant us the ability to show correct Adaab, Ameen."
THE STORY OF LAYLA AND THE CALIPH OF BAGHDAD
Once the Caliph of Baghdad told Layla: "You are so very dark and ugly
But yet Majnoon is so madly in love with you.
You have no special beauty beyond other beautiful women So why is this Majnoon so mad about you?"
Lalyla replied:
"O Caliph, if you also possessed the eyes of Majnoon, You too would have become oblivious to both worlds. o Caliph, you are involved with your self-centredness
His love for me has made him (Majnoon) unconscious of himself And this unconsciousness in the path of love is beneficial
While consciousness is harmful".
(In other words, it is a sign of true love when a person is only
aware and conscious of the existence of a beloved, while being unconscious and unaware of anyone else).
LESSON:
In this story the following advises are found:
1)Hajee Imdadullah Muhajir Makki (RA.), used to say:
"O Lord, Make me unaware of all others
And let me remain conscious only of Your existence".
This does not mean that he prays to become negligent and unmindful of relatives, wife, children and other loved ones. But what he means is that let my care over them also be for Allah's sake, not just being good to them by way of recompense, or expecting something in return. In this way contact with Allah's creation through the sincerity of intention becomes contact with Creator.
2)The second point of advise is this that one should, through the company of the saintly ones, endeavour to acquire a sight of respect for the Sahabah, the Walis of Allah, the Kaaba, Madina Shareef, the Hajar-e-Aswad, Safa, Marwa, Mina, Arafaat, Muzdalifah, all the mosques of the world, and the servants of these mosques.
We should through the saintly ones and their company acquire that attitude of glance and honour, because without the company of those saintly ones, this sort of
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earness will be attained, the day he annihilates his 'self' completely.
Annihilation means to make all your desires subject to the pleasure of Allah. The day this rank is reached through) spiritual exercises and through a saintly spiritual guide, one will have attained the good life. A glimpse of it can be had from Khwaja
Majzoob's word:
"It is as if I am living in paradise by night and day My garden is in my heart in full blossom.
At every moment it is as if there is a flood of light upon my heart And at all times the thought of my beloved reigns.
At no moment does the remembrance of the Beloved leave me. My 'self' is drunk with the melody of Him: '1 am Near".
This Majzoob whom all consider to be of wretched state
What do they know of the pleasure state I am in, this fortunate one? Now another condition has taken hold over me day and night,
At all times I am in a state of blessed communion with Him.
Now in my heart there is continuously a remembrance of Him night and day, Even in separation 1 am in communication with Him".
THE STORY OF PROMISING TO DO SOMETHING TOMORROW
A certain man planted a thorn-tree in the path where people walked. As it grew bigger and stronger, the thorns started injuring those walking past.
The people started blaming the planter but it had no effect on him, except that he promised every time that the following day he was going to remove the tree from the path. However, nothing was done about the tree. At last the matter reached the governor of that place. The governor too ordered him to uproot the tree. The planter promised the governor that he would do so the following day, but again he failed to carry out his promise. The result was that the tree grew until it became very strong and sturdy, with its roots going very deep in the ground. Now he was unable to uproot the thorn-tree at all.
"The bad tree grew into a strong young tree While the planter became old and weak.
The thorny tree was everyday becoming healthier And the uprooter was becoming daily weaker.
O Listener, very often you have become grief-stricken over your evil deeds And very often your evil deeds brought you regret and the desire to repent.
So often you have become helpless at the hands of your evil deeds and devastated, Have you become senseless? You have become 'senseless to an overwhelming degree. O you senseless one, arise and rectify your old previous bad habits
Rise, take up an axe and attack like a man
Like Hazrat Ali who uprooted the gate of Khaybar". LESSON:
In this story Moulana gives the advise that a seeker of truth and seeker after Allah should never put off for tomorrow the rectification of evil deeds and habits. Never should they say: "[ will rectify and change my habits tomorrow" and when tomorrow comes along, then again say the same. In this way, Shaytaan causes that promise, of tomorrow to continue, until the time of death arrives. Then the intender will enter the grave without rectification and disappointed. Shaytaan will rejoice.
Just as the thorny tree which was planted could in the end not be uprooted by the planter, in the same way, the longer a person takes to discard or rectify bad habits, those bad habits will become stronger at the roots. As the days and nights pass by you will become older and weaker which will make the discarding and rectification of evil habits very difficult.
For this reason, rise up without any delay and procrastination. Grab an axe of courage and uproot the door of evils, just like Hazrat Ali uprooted the gate of Khaybar and threw it away. And just as Hazrat Ali was granted great help being in the company of Rasulullah, you also should join forces with the saints of Allah, the friends of Rasulullah. Through their company, acquire the help and bounty of Allah.
Hazrat Moulana Thanwy (R.A.) says: "Even these days no position of Wilayat (sainthood) is open and unoccupied; whether it is the rank of Qutub, Ghowth or Abdaal. All these ranks even today are filled".
These saints, who in your sight are looked upon as being of wretched condition and are considered worthless, after a hundred years of history they will be looked upon as the Junaid, Rumi (R.A.), Attaar and Shibly of this age. It is foolish to argue like this: "Where do you find saintly men today like those in the past?"
This is a Shaytaani deception which wishes to keep us deprived of the blessings of these men. Do we find anyone complaining today that for physical ailments: "Where do we find a Jalinoos or a Socrates or a Plato? No, we go to the present day doctors
for treatment."
Similarly, in the event of spiritual or internal illnesses and for their rectification, we should contact the present day followers of the Sunnah who have been granted permission by the elders to initiate others into an oath of allegiance (Bay' at). We should consult them and start our self-rectification. Neither should we delay rectification until the oath of 'Bay'at' because Bay'at is Sunnat Ghayr Muakkada, while the idea of rectification of the self is an obligatory duty.
However, after starting the process of rectification, if one finds himself agreeable to it, he should also enter into 'Bay' at' considering it a Sunnah because through 'Bay'at' a special connection is formed which increases the benefit.
THE STORY OF A MOUSE LEADING A CAMEL BY THE REINS
Once a mouse took hold of the reins of a camel and tried to run away with him. The camel seeing the foolishness of the mouse became submissive and relaxed. Wherever the mouse led him, the camel followed meekly, like. a slave obedient to his master. They went along until they came to a river where the mouse lost its presence of mind and came to a standstill. He started thinking that up to that moment he had led an. animal of great size and up to now had enjoyed the honour of having made the camel s1,1bmis.sive to him. But now that they have come to the river, how can he lead him through that? While thinking he came to a standstill.
"The mouse remained standing there and became dried up. " The camel asked him:.
"O My Companion over mountains and forests. Why this hesitation and why this perplexity?
Take courage and step into the river".
The mouse answered: "I am afraid of becoming drowned".
The camel replied: "Let me see how deep the water is and whether you will drown or not".
He placed one leg into the water and then said: "O Mouse, My Sheikh, My Guide. The water is only up to my knee. So proceed leading me through".
The mouse replied: "The water only reaches up to your knee. That is so many times over my head. There is a big difference between your leg and mine".
The camel said: "Please do not become rude and insulting. Come straight into' the water and guide me along. Up to now you used to be very proud of having led me and you acquired great honour through that. 0 you foolish one, I allowed myself to be led along by you, so that your foolishness may become so increased and manifest. "
The mouse replied: "For me to enter the water will be my destruction. I am repenting. Please pardon me. After this I shall not even think about becoming your leader and your Sheikh".
He said:
"For Allah's sake have I repented of my sins Kindly save me from the dangerous waters".
The camel, on hearing of the repentance of the mouse, felt sorry for him and said: "All right. Come and sit upon the hump of my back. Another hundred mice like yourself can sit upon my back and with safety cross over the water.
Remain a subject if Allah did not make you a ruler. And do not sail in a boat if, you did not learn sailing. And grant your copper to the men of chemistry
So that they, through your company with them, can change you to gold".
(In other words through keeping the company of the righteous saints of Allah you will derive benefit from them, bringing about changes for the better).
"If you are like a stone, senseless, deprived of the fear of the hereafter, Seek the company of a saint and become changed into a pearl. And refrain from criticising the saints and from accusing the Shah of theft, For what need has the Shah of stealing?"
LESSON:
The saints of Allah carry a precious treasure within themselves. In their sight the whole world is insignificant and worthless, because their hearts have become joined to the Creator of this world. Hence, do not underestimate them and do not compare your nights and days with theirs. Do not become deceived by your worldly dignity and honour like that mouse was deceived. If ever you should consider yourself superior to the saintly ones then, you will become humiliated and deprived of good. In the end you, like the mouse, you too will have to sit upon their backs, with the purpose of crossing over to safety,
and like the mouse you too will have to repent.
Hence, from the first day remove from your mind the love of splendour of this world, worldly honour, worldly wealth, esoteric knowledge and soulless actions. Remove these loves from your mind and form sincere contact with some saint of Allah. Within a few days you will come to know and you will swear what abundance of benefit it has brought to you. (Use worldly wealth. Do not love it more than Allah and his Rasool ).
As Hazrat Khawaja Majzoob (R.A.) said in respect of his Sheikh: .
"You effaced the effects of the idols and you enabled me to witness the grandeur of Allah
You transformed my eyes into such eyes that can see the reality and turned my heart into one that can perceive the greatness of the Creator
My heart was engulfed in negligence, when suddenly you acquainted it with Allah Ta-ala, Thus you made me unconcerned with all besides Him.
Practising on Deen seemed like a burden, while being engrossed in the world was easy,
You have now made the burden a pleasure and what seemed to be a pleasure (preoccupation with the world) has become a burden.
You have imbued me' with courage and ushered this weakling into such ranks,
The ranks of those endowed with that great responsibility (of conveying Deen)
This heart of iron you have .melted with a heart burning with The love of Allah Ta-ala, You have made restless one who had never experienced this pain (Love of Allah)
O Majzoob you are leaving this home with a great fortune, A million thanks that Allah Ta-ala sent me to your door"
THE STORY OF THE KILLING OF THE ELEPHANT CUB
In India a group of friends on a journey wandered far away from home. Along the way they experienced great difficulty and hunger, until they had become very much distressed and impatient with the pangs of hunger.
One intelligent person amongst the group advised them:
"Look, there in front of you are the cubs of an elephant. Do not hunt the cubs. The elephant has gone somewhere. If you should kill and eat his cub, he is surely not going to leave anyone of you alive thereafter. Listen carefully to my advise".
However, because of their great hunger they could not show any patience. They killed one of the cubs, roasted its meat and ate it up. The intelligent person said to them: "Alas, if only you had rather eaten the grass of the forest! If only you had taken precautions against this! Now you will have to see the result of your actions".
One man from among the group acted upon the advise of the intelligent man. He kept himself away from eating the meat. He ate grass instead and went to sleep a distance away from the rest of them. He was thinking, that remaining among the unjust ones, would make him one of them and the elephant would destroy him too, in revenge.
A short while later the elephant came along and saw the blood of his cub. He immediately understood what had happened. He was in extreme rage and anger. It appeared as if smoke and fire was coming out of his trunk. He came to where these people were lying asleep and saw one man sleeping alone some distance
away. He smelled the mouth of this one first and walked around him three times, but he did not get the smell of the meat of his
cub from his mouth. He considered him innocent of the crime and left him to go further to the others. From the mouth of the others he got the smell of the blood of his cub, so he trampled each and everyone of them to pieces. He then threw the pieces into the air by way of revenge for his cub.
Now Moulana Rumi (R.A.) says:.
"Oh Ye People! You murder people and seize their belongings, Remember Allah is well aware of your tyranny.
The odour of the mouth of an unjust one smells of injustice, An elephant recognises the smell of his cub.'.
That respected one (i.e. Rasulullah) who could smell the fragrance of Allah coming from Yemen, Do you think that he could not smell out the evil doers of his time?"
The Prophet said: "On the waves of the air I smell Allah's fragrance coming from the direction of Yemen. "
This was a reference to Hazrat Owais Qami's love for Allah and his sincerity and Imaan. "The bad smell of arrogance, greed and lustful desires comes out of conversation.
Just like the bad smell exuding from the mouth of him who ate onions. O you people! you commit sinful acts and then go to sleep
And the unpleasant smell thereof reaches up to the green heaven". LESSON:
My Sheikh after relating this story used to say: "It is not so dangerous to harm an elephant, as it is to harm his cubs. For the elephant might bear harm caused to it, but if harm or injury is caused to it's cub it will take revenge and not rest until the person is destroyed. "
Then with this as a basis, Hazrat used to say, that in the case of sins. and disobedience against Allah, repentance will bring pardon, but for those who trouble and harm the saints of Allah, Allah takes revenge against them.
Thus Rasulullah is reported to have said in a Hadith Qudsi where Allah is reported as saying:
"Whoever harasses or persecutes my friends (the saints) I declare war against them". May Allah grant us all the proper respect and honour for the saints of Allah, Ameen. THE VIRTUE OF REQUESTING DUAH FROM OTHERS
"If due to the misfortune of sins, you do not possess a tongue of acceptance Go to the friends of Allah and request their duahs
Request those brothers of purity to pray on your behalf".
Once revelation came to Nabi Moosa (A.S.): "0 Moosa, call upon Me with such a tongue which has not committed any sin ".
Nabi Moosa (A.S.) replied: "0 Our Lord, None of us possess such a tongue". The reply came: "Call upon Us with the tongue of others".
(In other words, request others to make duah for you, because you did not sin through their mouths).
"When did you ever commit sins through another's tongue? So with the tongue of others call me: "0 Allah!".
NOTE:
Here Allah is giving a lesson to Nabi Moosa (A.S.)'s people through him. The Ummat (followers) are the sinful ones while the Prophet is sinless. So outwardly the command came to Nabi Moosa (A.S.) but in actual fact, the address is directed at his Ummat. .
"Or cleanse your mouth and make your lazy, negligent soul alert and wide awake". This address is also directed at Nabi Moosa's (A.S.) Ummat:
"The name of Allah is pure. When you will take His name, your mouth too will become clean. The impurity will pick up its bedding and depart.
Every opposite will run away from its opposite, as night flees when the day breaks forth with its light And so the purity of Allah's Name dispels your impurity.
When the name of Allah comes onto the tongue
The impurity and darkness of sin cannot remain there" LESSON:
In this story there is a great lesson for the seekers of Allah Taala. No matter in what they may be and no matter how much involved in sin, they should not delay in making Zikrullah due to their impurities. Do not delay in making Zikrullah, awaiting first the fruits of rectification of the self. In fact rectification (islaah) will through the blessings of Zikrullah become easy. It is through the no or of Zikr that one becomes aware of the darkness of sins, due to the fact that things are easily recognised through their opposites.
Hence, it is proven by experience that when a Zaakir (one performing Zikr) commits a sin, he is quickly granted the grace to repent, because in the noor of Zikr, the darkness of sins and evil are quickly perceived. And after the fragrant perfume of Zikr, the evil smell of sin is strongly perceived, causing one to quickly make towbah and cleanse the heart. It is just like a person who is used' to wearing clean clothes. Such a person will not
. tolerate a dirty spot on it and he will not rest until the dirty spot is washed away. One used to being dressed in dirty clothes, will not even see a new dirty spot on his clothes, because his clothes are full of dirty spots. And even if he does become aware of a dirty spot, there will be no urgency in the heart to cleanse that spot and remove it.
In view of the above, the saints first inculcate into their novices to start Zikr right from the beginning. And in this way slowly and gradually all other rectification becomes accomplished.
THE STORY THAT OUR SAYINO 'YA ALLAH' IS HIS REPLY
A certain devotee was one night making the Zikr of Allah's name in complete sincerity so much so that from this Zikr his saliva too was tasting sweet. Shaytaan said to him: "0 Sufi, be silent. Why are you reciting this Zikr so profusely? It is of no benefit.
After all, you do not get any reply from Allah's side. So what benefit is there in one sided love?"
Hearing these words of deceit from Shaytaan, the Sufi became broken-hearted and depressed. He postponed the rest of his Zikr and went to sleep.
That night he saw in a dream that Hazrat Khidr (A.S.) came to him asking him: "Why were you negligent of Zikr this night?"
The Sufi replied: "From Allah's side there was no reply of "Labbaik". From this I got the impression that my Zikr was not accepted by Him".
Hazrat Khidr (A.S.) said: "Allah has sent a message to you. He has said: Tell this servant of mine:
"O My servant, Your saying: "Allah" is My reply of 'Labbaik' (I am present)"
(In other words, when your first" Allah" is accepted by Allah, then only you are granted the ability to say "Allah" a second time. Thus this second "Allah" is a Labbaik from My side)
And O My Bondsman, this offering of yours and this burning pain and love for Me All these are My messages to you".
"O My bondsma1!, these efforts of yours out of love for Me, your Zikr and your spiritual struggles Are from My side a reflection of attraction towards Me".
Someone else put it quite nicely:
"My search for you too is as a result of someone's kindness. These feet do not lift up they are lifted up.
O My Bondsmen, Your fear and Your love of Me is a gift from My side
It is the attraction of My Grace and Mercy, and in your every 'Ya Rab, Ya Allah' My Labbaik is included. "I am present".
The soul of an ignorant one is deprived of this Zikr. and duah And he is not blessed towards saying 'Ya Rab, Ya Rab".
LESSON:
For those who are involved in making Zikr, there is in this story good news. Hence at the time of making Zikr, this should be borne in mind that it is when our first "Allah" is accepted then only the second Zikr of "Allah" follows. And this second Zikr must be accepted before the third one follows, while the uttering' of the third "Allah" is a clear sign of the acceptance of the second one.
Blessed is this gift for the Zaakireen. May Allah grant us the ability to make Zikr up to the last breath of our lives, Ameen.
THE STORY OF MAJNOON LOVING THE DOGS FROM LAVLA'S STREET
Moulana Rumi (R.A.) says: "Once Majnoon saw the dog of Lay la's street going somewhere. He recognised it, started kissing its feet and exhibiting his love for it. Some people saw this and said to him: "O you mad one, what is this that you are doing? Why do you show love for such a dirty animal, full of impurities?"
Majnoon replied:
"0 you who possess a mere outer form and body; 0 You who are deprived of the true taste of love, acquire awareness of the condition of my heart and see it through my eyes.
This dog is the creation of my Lord It is a guard over the street of Layla.
In my sight, the dust from the feet of the dog living in the street of Layla Is better than huge lions.
The dog living in the street of Layla in my view is so precious,
That I am not prepared to exchange even one hair of its body for many lions. Many a lion has become a slave to the dogs of Layla's street,
Since these secrets cannot be explained in words, I remain silent. and bid you salaam.
O People, if you proceed beyond your worship of outer form and develop contact with the Creator, who is the fountain-head of all beauty,
Then in this world you will start enjoying the blessings of paradise and you will see a rose-garden everywhere".
LESSON:
In his love for Layla, Majnoon finds the dogs of Layla's street worthy of love. How is it that the Lovers of Allah go to Makkah Shareef and Madina Shareef but have no love for the inhabitants of these cities?
When they return from Haj you hear their complaints against the inhabitants of these cities. They relate all the problems they experienced over there. Regarding such people, one has the fear that their Haj was not accepted (maqbool).
In Madina Shareef, a certain man once bought some sour milk (dahi). He said: "This 'dahi' is too sour. The 'dahi' in India is better than this". That night he saw Rasulullah in a dream. The Rasul said to him: "O you disrespectful one, O you who are deprived of love, leave this city. You are not fit to live here"
May Allah save us all from showing disrespect and keep us safe from harm.
In a Hadith we are told: "0 people, love the Arabs". It is a great pity that these days we show no regard for this injunction. My friends, if we intend to give them a word of advise or something which is in their interest and welfare, it is well and good, but it is something different if we in our gatherings continuously backbite and slander them. We should consider it our good fortune to be able to pray for their success and welfare, with prayers
from our hearts.
Similarly, this story teaches us to fulfil the rights of the Dlama, the saintly ones and especially him who is our spiritual guide. Also the rights which their family members and children have on us and the correct manners we should have towards them. It also teaches us the proper respect and honour we should show towards the Imams and the muezzins of mosques, because these persons are the keepers and custodians of the Lord's Houses. For this reason, we should love them and consider service to them as a means towards acquiring the pleasure of Allah.
Just imagine, we fear troubling and harassing the dog of the District Commissioner. In fact this fear, is fear of the Commissioner himself. Similarly, whoever has any kind of general or special contact with Him should in a similar manner be honoured according to their degree of connection with Him.
However, these things are not understood by those people who are deprived of proper understanding, as Moulana Rumi (RA.) says:
"O Allah, we seek from you the ability to show correct Adaab (manners) Because the one devoid of Adaab is he who is deprived of Your Grace. O Allah, grant us the ability to show correct Adaab, Ameen."
THE STORY OF LAYLA AND THE CALIPH OF BAGHDAD
Once the Caliph of Baghdad told Layla: "You are so very dark and ugly
But yet Majnoon is so madly in love with you.
You have no special beauty beyond other beautiful women So why is this Majnoon so mad about you?"
Lalyla replied:
"O Caliph, if you also possessed the eyes of Majnoon, You too would have become oblivious to both worlds. o Caliph, you are involved with your self-centredness
His love for me has made him (Majnoon) unconscious of himself And this unconsciousness in the path of love is beneficial
While consciousness is harmful".
(In other words, it is a sign of true love when a person is only
aware and conscious of the existence of a beloved, while being unconscious and unaware of anyone else).
LESSON:
In this story the following advises are found:
1)Hajee Imdadullah Muhajir Makki (RA.), used to say:
"O Lord, Make me unaware of all others
And let me remain conscious only of Your existence".
This does not mean that he prays to become negligent and unmindful of relatives, wife, children and other loved ones. But what he means is that let my care over them also be for Allah's sake, not just being good to them by way of recompense, or expecting something in return. In this way contact with Allah's creation through the sincerity of intention becomes contact with Creator.
2)The second point of advise is this that one should, through the company of the saintly ones, endeavour to acquire a sight of respect for the Sahabah, the Walis of Allah, the Kaaba, Madina Shareef, the Hajar-e-Aswad, Safa, Marwa, Mina, Arafaat, Muzdalifah, all the mosques of the world, and the servants of these mosques.
We should through the saintly ones and their company acquire that attitude of glance and honour, because without the company of those saintly ones, this sort of
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