Mathnavi of Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi (133 pages, 16/18)
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one Kingdom at your disposal but after embracing Islam, you will have two Kingdoms. The Kingdom you now possess was given to you in the time when you were rebelling against Allah. You can imagine that in your state of obedience to Him what great gifts you will receive. If you had received so much during the time when you were an unjust one against His commands, how much will be your prize for obeying Him?
The fourth thing that you will receive is that you will remain forever young and your hair will remain black. This is but an insignificant bounty in my opinion. It is granted like the promise to a small child to whom the promise is made: "If you go to the Madrassa, I will give you a walnut". In actual fact, in comparison with the knowledge that the child is to receive by going to Madrassa, the walnut is insignificant".
Listening to these promises, Fir-aun's heart became inclined to Islam to a certain extent. He said: "All right, I shall consult with my wife". ,
He then went to his house to consult with his wife Aasiya (R.A.), who gave him some sound and wonderful words of advise as Moulana Rumi (RA.) explains in the following chapter.
THE STORY OF FIR-AUN CONSULTING WITH HIS WIFE AASIYA (R.A.) OVER EMBRACING ISLAM
Fir-aun went home and told the whole story to his wife. She replied: "You should sacrifice your life for such promises".
"This conversation is the detailed description of many favours, which are like the text, So you should quickly acquire those favours and never leave them.
The crop is ready for the harvest and it is most beneficial
Up to now all the time that has passed by went by without benefit".
She said this and began to cry bitterly. Then she again was filled with vigour and said: "Be blessed, 0 bald-headed one. The Sun has become your crown. Nabi Moosa (A.S.) has hidden your evil deeds and now wishes to give you a wealth of inner treasure. The fault of a bald-headed one can be hidden by a simple hat, but your faults Allah wishes to cover through the crowl( of His Mercy. 0 Fir-aun, my advise to you is this: Do not wait for consultation. You should have accepted that invitation to embrace Islam in that very gathering. The offer that Nabi Moosa (A.S.) gave you is not of an insignificant nature, that you should search for advise. It is such a thing that if it was placed before a creature of high rank like the~ Sun, it would immediately and willingly come from the heavens to the earth to accept it. Do you realise what a promise this is and do you realise what a gift this is? 0 Fir-aun, this is such a mercy from Allah as was the mercy that came to Iblees. It is not Allah's way to treat a rebellious and unjust one like you with such kindness.
I am surprised that on seeing this kindness, you don't burst open out of pleasure and satisfaction. I am surprised that you are still intact. If your gallbladder had burst open out of pleasure and satisfaction, you would have received reward in both worlds - a good name in this world and salvation in the hereafter.
Moulana Rumi (RA.) says that whosoever's gallbladder bursts open with sorrow or pleasure and dies, is a martyr (Shaheed) and will enjoy the benefits of both worlds. Moulana Rumi (RA.) further says: "When evil ones confront saintly ones, they try to change the saintly ones to their line of thinking and ways. When the saintly ones refuse to change, they begin to cause them injury and hurt. The Angels will take up the tears of the
saints in their mouths and on their wings and Allah will weigh them in similar fashion and to the same extent as He values the blood of the martyrs.
Hazrat Aasiya (RA.) told Fir-aun:
"O Fir-aun! Do not doubt or hesitate! Give of yourself one drop And in return acquire from the Messenger of Allah a whole ocean".
(In other words, bend down your self and avoid all pride and become honoured with Allah's nearness). "Allah! Allah! Why do you delay in accepting the invitation?
This is-great sympathy for you that the sea is itself calling for you with such insistence. Quickly sell yourself into the hands of the ocean which invites you.
Quickly run and seek the ocean.
It is an ocean of Mercy and not any insignificant little stream.
If you are without hands and feet and unable to reach the ocean of your own accord,
Place yourself into the obedience of Moosa (A.S.), become a ball for Moosa (A.S.) and he will become your feet.
O Fir-aun, do not doubt the promises he made to you And do not consider them to be mere deception.
Allah! Allah! Come forward to acquire those bountiful favour quickly . And do not become destroyed through wrong conceptions.
And when Allah Himself is seeking you out, do not hesitate or delay As far as is possible, hurry up and bend your heart before Allah.
Allah! Allah! Quickly start making righteous deeds
And become happy through the glad tidings coming to you. Allah! Allah! For how much longer are you going to be rebellious? And for how long are you to keep your neck high in arrogance? Allah! Allah! When that Allah is making you ashamed of your sins Therefore give thanks to Him.
Allah! Allah! When Allah through His Grace gives you the path towards Him Then bend down your neck in submission to Him.
Allah! Allah! a Fir-aun, see how in spite of your blasphemy He still accepts you, Is this favour and gift not something to be greatly appreciated?
All Graceful favours are nothing in the face of His Grace Because an earthly being reaches up to the Seventh Heaven
And a human being can become angelic.
O Fir-aun who can get such a market,
Where in exchange for one rose a whole bed of roses is given? Who can find such a market where in exchange for one seed,
A hundred trees is given and for one seed numerous ears of corn?"
Hearing all this from Aasiya (RA.), Fir-aun said: "All right, I shall now consult with my Chief Minister, Haamaan".
Hazrat Aasiya (RA.) said to him: "Do not tell him about this. Do not consult with him because he is not fit to be consulted. How can a blind one appreciate the Royal Falcon?" But Fir-aun did not listen to her and proceeded to consult with Haamaan.
Moulana Rumi (RA.) says: "The consultant of an unsuitable one is himself unsuitable". For this reason Rasulullah used to consult with Hazrat Abu Bakr who was a suitable consultant while Abu Jabl used to consult with Abu Lahab. Every person consults with someone similar to himself.
So when Haamaan heard the story from Fir-aun, he leaped, jumped about and in sorrow he tore his garment to pieces. He made a big noise, and starting to cry aloud, throwing his turban on the ground he said: "Alas, Moosa (A.S.) has insulted you, my sire. You are after all such that the whole universe is submissive to you. From the East and the West everybody brings their tribute to you. Kings and Rulers willingly kiss the dust of your house. He has degraded you greatly. You are the one to whom the whole world prostrates and whom they all worship. And yet you want to listen to him and become an ordinary slave. You being Lord, now want to consult with me about becoming a slave of another slave. In my opinion it is better for you to be burnt in a thousand fires than to be insulted and degraded like this. If you are going to accept the invitation to embrace Islam, then kill me first, so that I do not see this insult to you with my eyes. Strike my neck quickly so that I do not see that sight, that heaven should become earth or that a God should become a slave. In other words, that our slave should become our Master and we become his slave",
Moulana Rumi (RA.) at this stage rebukes Haamaan saying: "O Haamaan, You rejected one, how many governments were there not in this world, stretching from east to west, but today there is no sign of them left on this earth? It seems today, as if they never existed. Even the east and the west will not remain forever. So how can they
keep others to remain?"
"This pride and arrogance in Haamaan was a poisonous killer
And from such poisonous drink he was drunk and became foolish".
Through this advise of Haamaan, Fir-aun declined to accept the truth and thereby handed himself over to everlasting disgrace and punishment. May Allah save us all from arrogance and pride and the rejection of truth, Ameen.
When Fir-aun came under the influence of Haamaan's misleading deceit and rejected Nabi Moosa's (A.S.) invitation, Nabi Moosa (A..S.) said to him: "We have been very generous and graceful to you, but it is not in your good fortune to accept it. So what is there that we can do?"
THE STORY OF MAJNOON AND HIS CAMEL
Once Majnoon was sitting on his camel going towards the house of Layla. But as he became drowned in thoughts about Layla, in this state of being besides himself - absent in mind the reins of the camel became loose in his hand. The camel then instead of going towards the house of Layla, turned his direction towards home, where the camel had a little one for which it was besides itself with love.
When Majnoon recovered from his state of absent mindedness, he became quite distressed and perplexed. The camel had gone back to where it had set out from. He again forced the camel to take the route towards Layla's house. But it happened quite a few times that after traveling for a short while,
thoughts about Layla would occupy his mind and while he was in an absent-minded state the camel would turn back. In the end
Majnoon became angry and he said: "My Layla is in front and this, camel's Layla is at the back of us". Its little one makes it turn back. For this reason, this path of love cannot be traversed. And during this whole life of mine, I will not be able to reach my Beloved"
Hence he jumped from the top of the camel. He fell and broke his one leg. ,Moulana Rumi (RA.) now says:
"Life is starving through being separated from the Lord of the 'Throne, Who is the truly Beloved.
But the body in search of means of livelihood, like the camel, goes in an opposite direction".
Then Majnoon said:
"Now I have become a ball
And I roll along, as the bats of Layla's love drives me along".
Moulana Rumi (RA.) now gives the advise from this story: For the love of Layla who is a mere corpse that will become rotten, Majnoon makes so much effort. But we who are supposed to be the Lovers of the Lord, how can our love be any less. It is more fitting that we should for the sake of His love become like a ball to be driven about.
LESSON
At this time the reason for our negligence and unmindfulness of the hereafter is that our soul and mind want to move in the direction of Allah, but our 'nafs' and desires are inclined towards the greed and love of the world and hence moving in that direction. At all times we have this struggle with our 'nafs' while we get to do with the world and its Layla. So what we should do is to accept that Layla which is everlasting and to be patient with regard to that Layla which is of temporary nature. This does not mean that we should discard this world completely and go into the forests. That would be a foolish line of action. What is suitable is to make one's love of the hereafter overwhelm one's love of
the world. That is sufficient. But the courage for this is only acquired through love and contact with a saintly figure and being like a slave to him.
THE STORY OF THE PERSON WALKING WITH A LAMP BY DAY .
One day a certain person took a burning lamp in his hand during the light of day as he "proceeded to the market. Someone said to him: "What is wrong with you? What need is there for a lamp during the light of day?"
He replied: "I am searching for man everywhere. I do not see even one man".
The person said: "But this market is filled with men".
He replied: "No there is no man in this market, only the outer forms of men.
These are only bread-eaters and persons involved with their desires.
All the persons you see in this market are all carriers of attributes contrary to the true manhood. They are not men but persons dressed in the outer forms of men.
For a man the attributes of manhood are necessary.
If aloe wood which has a fragrance, does not possess fragrance, Then what is the difference between it and other timber?
Manhood and humanity is not the name for flesh, fat and skin. Manhood is the name given to those attributes, character and deeds Through which Allah's pleasure is attained.
If manhood is only for those in manly form,
Then Ahmad and Abu Jahl would be equal, yet we know it is not so".
LESSON
If we should on the above criteria take stock of our manhood and humanity, then on the whole surface of the earth the only real men will be the saintly ones. The rest of those who are supposed to be human beings are only eating and defecating ones, who- are busy with their objectives and what is connected to them.
The best example of this is the machine grinding flour. At the one side the corn is entered into it and at the other end the flour comes out. Similarly, the human body of those who only eat and defecate is also a machine, where on the one side bread is entered into it and at the other side the faeces are coming out of it. It is thus a machine producing faeces and excreta. So those who only look upon their aims in life as eating and defecating are actually calling their bodies a machine producing excreta. May Allah save us from this stupid theory.
Moulana Rumi's (R.A.) other theme that man is not a name for flesh and fat, covered in human skin but it is a name for him who does that which pleases Allah. The signs of it 15eing so is that the person becomes adorned with deeds and character which lead to His pleasure. Such a person undoubtedly is fit being called a man. He has the contact of 'nisbat' within him. Nabi Adam's (A.S.) special description is this that he uttered the cry: "Rabbanaa Zalamnaa Anfusanaa wa Illam tagh fir lanaa wa tarhamnaa
lana koonanna minul khausireen" meaning "O Our Lord, we have been unjust to our own selves. And if You do not forgive us and have Mercy on us, we shall be of the losers".
He cried thus for a lifetime so much so that from the tears he shed, small fountains started flowing and from them fragrant flowers, roses and jasmine were created (as is mentioned in the Tafseer Maha-imy).
Hence Moulana Rumi (R.A.) says:
"Those people who are the special children of Adam, will like their father Cry: Rabbanaa Zalamnaa, over their sins, begging His pardon".
Through this theory of Moulana Rumi (R.A.) many an owner of huge mansions and motorcars but who do not possess the attributes of true servants of Allah Taala, should pass judgement over themselves as to whether they are great men or small men. In fact there is the doubt as to whether they are men at all. Great men ate those who have kept Allah pleased with them. On the plain of the Reckoning, on the day of Qiyamat, every one will be brought to his correct level. If in this world it is said that this is a great man, because he owns a mansion stretching over 2 000 yards, or that he has three motorcars and is the owner of three factories, of what use is it going to be to him, when in the hereafter he will be looked upon as if he was just a sweeper.
Rasulullah once asked: "O people, do you know who is a great man?"
He then informed them that a great man is one who is known as the "As-haabu-Layl" and "Hamalatul- Quran". That is, he is one of those who stand up during the night to recite tuhajjad prayers and secondly he is one of those who not only recite the Quran but has made the Quranic lifestyle his habit. If he had been only a reciter of the Quran, Rasulullah ~ would have said "Hafathatul-Quran".
May Allah make us the true exponents of manhood and humanity, Ameen. And may He enter into us the correct relationship with our father, Hazrat Adam (A.S.) and may He cause the true soul to enter our bodies, Ameen!
THE STORY OF THE SLAVE WHO DID NOT COME OUT OF THE MOSQUE
A certain rich man had a very religious-minded slave called Sanqar. One day this rich man and his slave were going somewhere. On the way they passed a Musjid and heard the Azaan being sounded from there. Sanqar said to his master:
"Please wait for me. I am going to perform Salaah".
Sanqar went to the Musjid while his master, being overcome by his own pride and arrogance, went to sit down by a shop to wait for his slave.
"When the Imam and the congregation had performed the Salaah And recited the after-salaah wazeefas,
And they came out, Sanqar remained in the mosque".
The master called out to him.
"0 Sanqar, why do you not come out Who has kept you there in the Musjid?" Sanqar replied:
"O proud one, the One who did not allow you to come in, Is the One who now does not allow me to come outside".
Sanqar who was experiencing Allah Taala's nearness, being engaged in zikr and prayers said "O Master!, he who is not allowing you to come in, keeping you waiting for me outside by the shop, is not allowing me to come out of the Musjid."
EXPLANATION
He whom Allah wishes to make His own favourite ones, this is the sign thereof. "He does not allow the fish permission to come out of the water
And He does not allow the earthly being to dwell in the water.
The origins of fish is in the water and the origins of earthly beings is the earth. So how can water accept other than fish to dwell therein?
No deceit or contrivance can be useful.
The lock towards misguidance is solid. However the opener of the door of guidance is Allah. Acquire the bounty of pleasure and submission for which humility and lamentation are required, Through pride and contrivance this door is not opened.
If every atom of this world becomes a key
Still will the doors of guidance not be opened by anyone except Allah”.
LESSON
The conclusion of this story is this that the ability and guidance towards doing righteous deeds lies in the hands of Allah. This door is not opened through knowledge, planning and use of the intellect, or pride over these things. This is only acquired through
Allah's bounty and Divine Mercy. To acquire it, one has to lower himself before Allah by crying, begging and praying to Him.
THE STORY OF NABI ESA (A.S.) RUNNING AWAY FROM A FOOL
Once Nabi Esa (A.S.) was running towards the mountain. One of his followers shouted at him in a loud voice: "0 Rasul of Allah! whither are you going in this manner? What is the cause of your fear? I do not see any enemy following you".
Nabi Esa (A.S.) replied:
"I am fleeing from a fool. You go and do your own work.
I desire to grant myself safety from the company of a fool. Do not
interrupt my fleeing".
The follower said:
"O Messenger of Allah, Are you not that Messiah
Through whom the blind and the deaf were healed of their ailments?" Hazrat Esa (A.S.) replied:
"The illness of foolishness is the wrath of Allah.
To be. blind is not a punishment, but a trial from His side. A trial is such a sickness which brings Allah's Mercy.
While foolishness is such an ailment which brings wounds of His wrath. Flee from fools and like Nabi Esa (A.S.) prefer to run away.
The friendship of fools has caused much bloodshed Both the blood of Deen and Dunya has flowed.
Just as air evaporates water slowly and gradually
So the fool takes away the light of your intelligence slowly and gradually. Nabi Esa's (A.S.) running away was not out of fear,
For through the Grace of Allah,
He was sinless and protected, but he fled in order to teach his Ummat a lesson.
Even if the whole world becomes covered with intense cold, What sorrow will there be for the sun which shines brightly?"
(Even if the whole world becomes filled with stupid fools, What harm could that do to Allah's Rasool?)
LESSON
This story teaches us to remain far removed from the company of the foolish ones. A fool in the technical language of the Quran is that person who jeers and scoffs at Allah and His Rasool ~ and their injunctions. As Allah points out in the Quran: "Verily they are the fools, but they know not (that they are fools)". - (Para 1, Ruku 2)
Because of the unperceived foolishness these people consider themselves to be the rational ones of this age, the knowledgeable ones and the thinkers and philosophers of the era. But the international definition of a rational being is to keep your mind on the end result of your action. In this they fail badly, as they have no thoughts for what is to happen after death.
For this reason, Allah describes them as follows:
"They only know the pomp and splendour of this worldly life. And regarding the hereafter, they are unmindful and neglectful".
So this world is the sum total of their knowledge and one
should avoid their company. One should only meet with them if there is a need for it, just as it sometimes becomes necessary to visit a dirty toilet. In such a case the person closes his nose and sits in it out of necessity. However, he does not allow his heart to be attracted to the toilet. Just like that a person should not allow his heart to become attached to the dunya and the people of the 'Dunya'.
"Live in this world like a ship on water, Water causes the ship to sail,
As long as the water is outside the ship. But as soon as the water enters the ship, It is the cause of its destruction".
In similar way one should keep the dunya underneath the hereafter. The main objective is to attain the hereafter. Consider the world a&' a helping hand towards the hereafter. But if the dunya becomes in your mind superior to the hereafter and overwhelms it, then you should know that instead of being a help towards the hereafter, it is the beginning of one's destruction. And if one does not check this, he will soon see the day of complete destruction.
May Allah protect us from the company of foolish ones and from the love of this world overwhelming us.
"O Allah, do not make this world our greatest objective. Make it not the sum total of our knowledge. Make it not the end of our desires. Place not rulers over us, who show no Mercy to us.
O Allah, make Your Love more beloved to me than my self, my family and cold water", Ameen.
In the above first duah, there is a special connection between the first few things we ask and the last one. We ask Allah not to make this world our greatest object of our lives, and not to make it the sum total of our knowledge or the end of our desires. If
any of these things do happen, then the reaction is this, that unmerciful ones will be granted to rule over us harshly. Hence we ask Allah not to let that happen to us.
THE STORY OF A TWO-MONTH OLD BABE CONVERSING WITH RASULULLAH
A non-Muslim woman once, with a two month old baby, came to Rasulullah to test the Prophet of Allah Before the Mother could even put a question to him
The small two month old baby said to Rasulullah "O Messenger of Allah, peace be upon you!
We have come into your presence".
The mother of the child became angry and said to the child:
"Beware and remain silent
Who has put this testimony into your ears, for you to utter?" The child replied:
"O My Mother, do you not see above your head? Look above your head and see.
O Mother, above your head is Angel Jibreel (AS.) He is to me the embodiment of numerous proofs. Do you see him? Quickly say: Yes!
There above your head is the angel like the moon in its fullness. The angel is teaching me the attributes of the Rasool ,
And he is protecting me and freeing me from the unclean knowledge of Kufr and Shirk (disbelief and polytheism)
Then Rasulullah said:
"O milk suckling babe, tell me what is your name? And obey my commands".
The child replied:
"My name in Allah's sight is Abdul Aziz,
However, these disgraceful polytheists have named me Abdul Uzzah. But I do not believe in the idol Uzza. I have no connection with him,
Through the blessings of that Being, who sent you as a messenger. At that time such a fragrance was released from paradise,
Which filled the minds of the mother and child.
He whose guardian is Allah, even the birds and fishes will protect him".
Together with the child even the mother embraced Islam. The mother recited the Kalima (creed of faith) and became a Muslim.
THE STORY OF AN EAGLE TAKING RASULULLAH'S SOCKS
Once Rasulullah after performing wudhu wanted to put on his leather socks. An eagle came along, took one of the socks in its mouth and flew away. Rasulullah was quite surprised at this and quite distressed. However, after a short while, the eagle came back, turned the sock upside down towards the ground and a black snake fell out of it. Then the eagle presented the sock to Rasulullah and said:
"O Messenger of Allah, the reason for this flying with the sock was that a snake was hidden inside it; This was the cause of my insulting behaviour.
Allah ordered me to protect you, otherwise I had no other duty
Than to be submissive and utterly respectful towards you. " Rasulullah expressed his gratitude to Allah and said:
"The incident which I considered a sad affair Was actually a case of loyalty and mercy.
O Eagle you carried my sock away and I became displeased You made me sad and I considered it a case of gri
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one Kingdom at your disposal but after embracing Islam, you will have two Kingdoms. The Kingdom you now possess was given to you in the time when you were rebelling against Allah. You can imagine that in your state of obedience to Him what great gifts you will receive. If you had received so much during the time when you were an unjust one against His commands, how much will be your prize for obeying Him?
The fourth thing that you will receive is that you will remain forever young and your hair will remain black. This is but an insignificant bounty in my opinion. It is granted like the promise to a small child to whom the promise is made: "If you go to the Madrassa, I will give you a walnut". In actual fact, in comparison with the knowledge that the child is to receive by going to Madrassa, the walnut is insignificant".
Listening to these promises, Fir-aun's heart became inclined to Islam to a certain extent. He said: "All right, I shall consult with my wife". ,
He then went to his house to consult with his wife Aasiya (R.A.), who gave him some sound and wonderful words of advise as Moulana Rumi (RA.) explains in the following chapter.
THE STORY OF FIR-AUN CONSULTING WITH HIS WIFE AASIYA (R.A.) OVER EMBRACING ISLAM
Fir-aun went home and told the whole story to his wife. She replied: "You should sacrifice your life for such promises".
"This conversation is the detailed description of many favours, which are like the text, So you should quickly acquire those favours and never leave them.
The crop is ready for the harvest and it is most beneficial
Up to now all the time that has passed by went by without benefit".
She said this and began to cry bitterly. Then she again was filled with vigour and said: "Be blessed, 0 bald-headed one. The Sun has become your crown. Nabi Moosa (A.S.) has hidden your evil deeds and now wishes to give you a wealth of inner treasure. The fault of a bald-headed one can be hidden by a simple hat, but your faults Allah wishes to cover through the crowl( of His Mercy. 0 Fir-aun, my advise to you is this: Do not wait for consultation. You should have accepted that invitation to embrace Islam in that very gathering. The offer that Nabi Moosa (A.S.) gave you is not of an insignificant nature, that you should search for advise. It is such a thing that if it was placed before a creature of high rank like the~ Sun, it would immediately and willingly come from the heavens to the earth to accept it. Do you realise what a promise this is and do you realise what a gift this is? 0 Fir-aun, this is such a mercy from Allah as was the mercy that came to Iblees. It is not Allah's way to treat a rebellious and unjust one like you with such kindness.
I am surprised that on seeing this kindness, you don't burst open out of pleasure and satisfaction. I am surprised that you are still intact. If your gallbladder had burst open out of pleasure and satisfaction, you would have received reward in both worlds - a good name in this world and salvation in the hereafter.
Moulana Rumi (RA.) says that whosoever's gallbladder bursts open with sorrow or pleasure and dies, is a martyr (Shaheed) and will enjoy the benefits of both worlds. Moulana Rumi (RA.) further says: "When evil ones confront saintly ones, they try to change the saintly ones to their line of thinking and ways. When the saintly ones refuse to change, they begin to cause them injury and hurt. The Angels will take up the tears of the
saints in their mouths and on their wings and Allah will weigh them in similar fashion and to the same extent as He values the blood of the martyrs.
Hazrat Aasiya (RA.) told Fir-aun:
"O Fir-aun! Do not doubt or hesitate! Give of yourself one drop And in return acquire from the Messenger of Allah a whole ocean".
(In other words, bend down your self and avoid all pride and become honoured with Allah's nearness). "Allah! Allah! Why do you delay in accepting the invitation?
This is-great sympathy for you that the sea is itself calling for you with such insistence. Quickly sell yourself into the hands of the ocean which invites you.
Quickly run and seek the ocean.
It is an ocean of Mercy and not any insignificant little stream.
If you are without hands and feet and unable to reach the ocean of your own accord,
Place yourself into the obedience of Moosa (A.S.), become a ball for Moosa (A.S.) and he will become your feet.
O Fir-aun, do not doubt the promises he made to you And do not consider them to be mere deception.
Allah! Allah! Come forward to acquire those bountiful favour quickly . And do not become destroyed through wrong conceptions.
And when Allah Himself is seeking you out, do not hesitate or delay As far as is possible, hurry up and bend your heart before Allah.
Allah! Allah! Quickly start making righteous deeds
And become happy through the glad tidings coming to you. Allah! Allah! For how much longer are you going to be rebellious? And for how long are you to keep your neck high in arrogance? Allah! Allah! When that Allah is making you ashamed of your sins Therefore give thanks to Him.
Allah! Allah! When Allah through His Grace gives you the path towards Him Then bend down your neck in submission to Him.
Allah! Allah! a Fir-aun, see how in spite of your blasphemy He still accepts you, Is this favour and gift not something to be greatly appreciated?
All Graceful favours are nothing in the face of His Grace Because an earthly being reaches up to the Seventh Heaven
And a human being can become angelic.
O Fir-aun who can get such a market,
Where in exchange for one rose a whole bed of roses is given? Who can find such a market where in exchange for one seed,
A hundred trees is given and for one seed numerous ears of corn?"
Hearing all this from Aasiya (RA.), Fir-aun said: "All right, I shall now consult with my Chief Minister, Haamaan".
Hazrat Aasiya (RA.) said to him: "Do not tell him about this. Do not consult with him because he is not fit to be consulted. How can a blind one appreciate the Royal Falcon?" But Fir-aun did not listen to her and proceeded to consult with Haamaan.
Moulana Rumi (RA.) says: "The consultant of an unsuitable one is himself unsuitable". For this reason Rasulullah used to consult with Hazrat Abu Bakr who was a suitable consultant while Abu Jabl used to consult with Abu Lahab. Every person consults with someone similar to himself.
So when Haamaan heard the story from Fir-aun, he leaped, jumped about and in sorrow he tore his garment to pieces. He made a big noise, and starting to cry aloud, throwing his turban on the ground he said: "Alas, Moosa (A.S.) has insulted you, my sire. You are after all such that the whole universe is submissive to you. From the East and the West everybody brings their tribute to you. Kings and Rulers willingly kiss the dust of your house. He has degraded you greatly. You are the one to whom the whole world prostrates and whom they all worship. And yet you want to listen to him and become an ordinary slave. You being Lord, now want to consult with me about becoming a slave of another slave. In my opinion it is better for you to be burnt in a thousand fires than to be insulted and degraded like this. If you are going to accept the invitation to embrace Islam, then kill me first, so that I do not see this insult to you with my eyes. Strike my neck quickly so that I do not see that sight, that heaven should become earth or that a God should become a slave. In other words, that our slave should become our Master and we become his slave",
Moulana Rumi (RA.) at this stage rebukes Haamaan saying: "O Haamaan, You rejected one, how many governments were there not in this world, stretching from east to west, but today there is no sign of them left on this earth? It seems today, as if they never existed. Even the east and the west will not remain forever. So how can they
keep others to remain?"
"This pride and arrogance in Haamaan was a poisonous killer
And from such poisonous drink he was drunk and became foolish".
Through this advise of Haamaan, Fir-aun declined to accept the truth and thereby handed himself over to everlasting disgrace and punishment. May Allah save us all from arrogance and pride and the rejection of truth, Ameen.
When Fir-aun came under the influence of Haamaan's misleading deceit and rejected Nabi Moosa's (A.S.) invitation, Nabi Moosa (A..S.) said to him: "We have been very generous and graceful to you, but it is not in your good fortune to accept it. So what is there that we can do?"
THE STORY OF MAJNOON AND HIS CAMEL
Once Majnoon was sitting on his camel going towards the house of Layla. But as he became drowned in thoughts about Layla, in this state of being besides himself - absent in mind the reins of the camel became loose in his hand. The camel then instead of going towards the house of Layla, turned his direction towards home, where the camel had a little one for which it was besides itself with love.
When Majnoon recovered from his state of absent mindedness, he became quite distressed and perplexed. The camel had gone back to where it had set out from. He again forced the camel to take the route towards Layla's house. But it happened quite a few times that after traveling for a short while,
thoughts about Layla would occupy his mind and while he was in an absent-minded state the camel would turn back. In the end
Majnoon became angry and he said: "My Layla is in front and this, camel's Layla is at the back of us". Its little one makes it turn back. For this reason, this path of love cannot be traversed. And during this whole life of mine, I will not be able to reach my Beloved"
Hence he jumped from the top of the camel. He fell and broke his one leg. ,Moulana Rumi (RA.) now says:
"Life is starving through being separated from the Lord of the 'Throne, Who is the truly Beloved.
But the body in search of means of livelihood, like the camel, goes in an opposite direction".
Then Majnoon said:
"Now I have become a ball
And I roll along, as the bats of Layla's love drives me along".
Moulana Rumi (RA.) now gives the advise from this story: For the love of Layla who is a mere corpse that will become rotten, Majnoon makes so much effort. But we who are supposed to be the Lovers of the Lord, how can our love be any less. It is more fitting that we should for the sake of His love become like a ball to be driven about.
LESSON
At this time the reason for our negligence and unmindfulness of the hereafter is that our soul and mind want to move in the direction of Allah, but our 'nafs' and desires are inclined towards the greed and love of the world and hence moving in that direction. At all times we have this struggle with our 'nafs' while we get to do with the world and its Layla. So what we should do is to accept that Layla which is everlasting and to be patient with regard to that Layla which is of temporary nature. This does not mean that we should discard this world completely and go into the forests. That would be a foolish line of action. What is suitable is to make one's love of the hereafter overwhelm one's love of
the world. That is sufficient. But the courage for this is only acquired through love and contact with a saintly figure and being like a slave to him.
THE STORY OF THE PERSON WALKING WITH A LAMP BY DAY .
One day a certain person took a burning lamp in his hand during the light of day as he "proceeded to the market. Someone said to him: "What is wrong with you? What need is there for a lamp during the light of day?"
He replied: "I am searching for man everywhere. I do not see even one man".
The person said: "But this market is filled with men".
He replied: "No there is no man in this market, only the outer forms of men.
These are only bread-eaters and persons involved with their desires.
All the persons you see in this market are all carriers of attributes contrary to the true manhood. They are not men but persons dressed in the outer forms of men.
For a man the attributes of manhood are necessary.
If aloe wood which has a fragrance, does not possess fragrance, Then what is the difference between it and other timber?
Manhood and humanity is not the name for flesh, fat and skin. Manhood is the name given to those attributes, character and deeds Through which Allah's pleasure is attained.
If manhood is only for those in manly form,
Then Ahmad and Abu Jahl would be equal, yet we know it is not so".
LESSON
If we should on the above criteria take stock of our manhood and humanity, then on the whole surface of the earth the only real men will be the saintly ones. The rest of those who are supposed to be human beings are only eating and defecating ones, who- are busy with their objectives and what is connected to them.
The best example of this is the machine grinding flour. At the one side the corn is entered into it and at the other end the flour comes out. Similarly, the human body of those who only eat and defecate is also a machine, where on the one side bread is entered into it and at the other side the faeces are coming out of it. It is thus a machine producing faeces and excreta. So those who only look upon their aims in life as eating and defecating are actually calling their bodies a machine producing excreta. May Allah save us from this stupid theory.
Moulana Rumi's (R.A.) other theme that man is not a name for flesh and fat, covered in human skin but it is a name for him who does that which pleases Allah. The signs of it 15eing so is that the person becomes adorned with deeds and character which lead to His pleasure. Such a person undoubtedly is fit being called a man. He has the contact of 'nisbat' within him. Nabi Adam's (A.S.) special description is this that he uttered the cry: "Rabbanaa Zalamnaa Anfusanaa wa Illam tagh fir lanaa wa tarhamnaa
lana koonanna minul khausireen" meaning "O Our Lord, we have been unjust to our own selves. And if You do not forgive us and have Mercy on us, we shall be of the losers".
He cried thus for a lifetime so much so that from the tears he shed, small fountains started flowing and from them fragrant flowers, roses and jasmine were created (as is mentioned in the Tafseer Maha-imy).
Hence Moulana Rumi (R.A.) says:
"Those people who are the special children of Adam, will like their father Cry: Rabbanaa Zalamnaa, over their sins, begging His pardon".
Through this theory of Moulana Rumi (R.A.) many an owner of huge mansions and motorcars but who do not possess the attributes of true servants of Allah Taala, should pass judgement over themselves as to whether they are great men or small men. In fact there is the doubt as to whether they are men at all. Great men ate those who have kept Allah pleased with them. On the plain of the Reckoning, on the day of Qiyamat, every one will be brought to his correct level. If in this world it is said that this is a great man, because he owns a mansion stretching over 2 000 yards, or that he has three motorcars and is the owner of three factories, of what use is it going to be to him, when in the hereafter he will be looked upon as if he was just a sweeper.
Rasulullah once asked: "O people, do you know who is a great man?"
He then informed them that a great man is one who is known as the "As-haabu-Layl" and "Hamalatul- Quran". That is, he is one of those who stand up during the night to recite tuhajjad prayers and secondly he is one of those who not only recite the Quran but has made the Quranic lifestyle his habit. If he had been only a reciter of the Quran, Rasulullah ~ would have said "Hafathatul-Quran".
May Allah make us the true exponents of manhood and humanity, Ameen. And may He enter into us the correct relationship with our father, Hazrat Adam (A.S.) and may He cause the true soul to enter our bodies, Ameen!
THE STORY OF THE SLAVE WHO DID NOT COME OUT OF THE MOSQUE
A certain rich man had a very religious-minded slave called Sanqar. One day this rich man and his slave were going somewhere. On the way they passed a Musjid and heard the Azaan being sounded from there. Sanqar said to his master:
"Please wait for me. I am going to perform Salaah".
Sanqar went to the Musjid while his master, being overcome by his own pride and arrogance, went to sit down by a shop to wait for his slave.
"When the Imam and the congregation had performed the Salaah And recited the after-salaah wazeefas,
And they came out, Sanqar remained in the mosque".
The master called out to him.
"0 Sanqar, why do you not come out Who has kept you there in the Musjid?" Sanqar replied:
"O proud one, the One who did not allow you to come in, Is the One who now does not allow me to come outside".
Sanqar who was experiencing Allah Taala's nearness, being engaged in zikr and prayers said "O Master!, he who is not allowing you to come in, keeping you waiting for me outside by the shop, is not allowing me to come out of the Musjid."
EXPLANATION
He whom Allah wishes to make His own favourite ones, this is the sign thereof. "He does not allow the fish permission to come out of the water
And He does not allow the earthly being to dwell in the water.
The origins of fish is in the water and the origins of earthly beings is the earth. So how can water accept other than fish to dwell therein?
No deceit or contrivance can be useful.
The lock towards misguidance is solid. However the opener of the door of guidance is Allah. Acquire the bounty of pleasure and submission for which humility and lamentation are required, Through pride and contrivance this door is not opened.
If every atom of this world becomes a key
Still will the doors of guidance not be opened by anyone except Allah”.
LESSON
The conclusion of this story is this that the ability and guidance towards doing righteous deeds lies in the hands of Allah. This door is not opened through knowledge, planning and use of the intellect, or pride over these things. This is only acquired through
Allah's bounty and Divine Mercy. To acquire it, one has to lower himself before Allah by crying, begging and praying to Him.
THE STORY OF NABI ESA (A.S.) RUNNING AWAY FROM A FOOL
Once Nabi Esa (A.S.) was running towards the mountain. One of his followers shouted at him in a loud voice: "0 Rasul of Allah! whither are you going in this manner? What is the cause of your fear? I do not see any enemy following you".
Nabi Esa (A.S.) replied:
"I am fleeing from a fool. You go and do your own work.
I desire to grant myself safety from the company of a fool. Do not
interrupt my fleeing".
The follower said:
"O Messenger of Allah, Are you not that Messiah
Through whom the blind and the deaf were healed of their ailments?" Hazrat Esa (A.S.) replied:
"The illness of foolishness is the wrath of Allah.
To be. blind is not a punishment, but a trial from His side. A trial is such a sickness which brings Allah's Mercy.
While foolishness is such an ailment which brings wounds of His wrath. Flee from fools and like Nabi Esa (A.S.) prefer to run away.
The friendship of fools has caused much bloodshed Both the blood of Deen and Dunya has flowed.
Just as air evaporates water slowly and gradually
So the fool takes away the light of your intelligence slowly and gradually. Nabi Esa's (A.S.) running away was not out of fear,
For through the Grace of Allah,
He was sinless and protected, but he fled in order to teach his Ummat a lesson.
Even if the whole world becomes covered with intense cold, What sorrow will there be for the sun which shines brightly?"
(Even if the whole world becomes filled with stupid fools, What harm could that do to Allah's Rasool?)
LESSON
This story teaches us to remain far removed from the company of the foolish ones. A fool in the technical language of the Quran is that person who jeers and scoffs at Allah and His Rasool ~ and their injunctions. As Allah points out in the Quran: "Verily they are the fools, but they know not (that they are fools)". - (Para 1, Ruku 2)
Because of the unperceived foolishness these people consider themselves to be the rational ones of this age, the knowledgeable ones and the thinkers and philosophers of the era. But the international definition of a rational being is to keep your mind on the end result of your action. In this they fail badly, as they have no thoughts for what is to happen after death.
For this reason, Allah describes them as follows:
"They only know the pomp and splendour of this worldly life. And regarding the hereafter, they are unmindful and neglectful".
So this world is the sum total of their knowledge and one
should avoid their company. One should only meet with them if there is a need for it, just as it sometimes becomes necessary to visit a dirty toilet. In such a case the person closes his nose and sits in it out of necessity. However, he does not allow his heart to be attracted to the toilet. Just like that a person should not allow his heart to become attached to the dunya and the people of the 'Dunya'.
"Live in this world like a ship on water, Water causes the ship to sail,
As long as the water is outside the ship. But as soon as the water enters the ship, It is the cause of its destruction".
In similar way one should keep the dunya underneath the hereafter. The main objective is to attain the hereafter. Consider the world a&' a helping hand towards the hereafter. But if the dunya becomes in your mind superior to the hereafter and overwhelms it, then you should know that instead of being a help towards the hereafter, it is the beginning of one's destruction. And if one does not check this, he will soon see the day of complete destruction.
May Allah protect us from the company of foolish ones and from the love of this world overwhelming us.
"O Allah, do not make this world our greatest objective. Make it not the sum total of our knowledge. Make it not the end of our desires. Place not rulers over us, who show no Mercy to us.
O Allah, make Your Love more beloved to me than my self, my family and cold water", Ameen.
In the above first duah, there is a special connection between the first few things we ask and the last one. We ask Allah not to make this world our greatest object of our lives, and not to make it the sum total of our knowledge or the end of our desires. If
any of these things do happen, then the reaction is this, that unmerciful ones will be granted to rule over us harshly. Hence we ask Allah not to let that happen to us.
THE STORY OF A TWO-MONTH OLD BABE CONVERSING WITH RASULULLAH
A non-Muslim woman once, with a two month old baby, came to Rasulullah to test the Prophet of Allah Before the Mother could even put a question to him
The small two month old baby said to Rasulullah "O Messenger of Allah, peace be upon you!
We have come into your presence".
The mother of the child became angry and said to the child:
"Beware and remain silent
Who has put this testimony into your ears, for you to utter?" The child replied:
"O My Mother, do you not see above your head? Look above your head and see.
O Mother, above your head is Angel Jibreel (AS.) He is to me the embodiment of numerous proofs. Do you see him? Quickly say: Yes!
There above your head is the angel like the moon in its fullness. The angel is teaching me the attributes of the Rasool ,
And he is protecting me and freeing me from the unclean knowledge of Kufr and Shirk (disbelief and polytheism)
Then Rasulullah said:
"O milk suckling babe, tell me what is your name? And obey my commands".
The child replied:
"My name in Allah's sight is Abdul Aziz,
However, these disgraceful polytheists have named me Abdul Uzzah. But I do not believe in the idol Uzza. I have no connection with him,
Through the blessings of that Being, who sent you as a messenger. At that time such a fragrance was released from paradise,
Which filled the minds of the mother and child.
He whose guardian is Allah, even the birds and fishes will protect him".
Together with the child even the mother embraced Islam. The mother recited the Kalima (creed of faith) and became a Muslim.
THE STORY OF AN EAGLE TAKING RASULULLAH'S SOCKS
Once Rasulullah after performing wudhu wanted to put on his leather socks. An eagle came along, took one of the socks in its mouth and flew away. Rasulullah was quite surprised at this and quite distressed. However, after a short while, the eagle came back, turned the sock upside down towards the ground and a black snake fell out of it. Then the eagle presented the sock to Rasulullah and said:
"O Messenger of Allah, the reason for this flying with the sock was that a snake was hidden inside it; This was the cause of my insulting behaviour.
Allah ordered me to protect you, otherwise I had no other duty
Than to be submissive and utterly respectful towards you. " Rasulullah expressed his gratitude to Allah and said:
"The incident which I considered a sad affair Was actually a case of loyalty and mercy.
O Eagle you carried my sock away and I became displeased You made me sad and I considered it a case of gri
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