THE SAYINGS OF THE HOLY PROPHET (PBUH) & THE INSTANT SPIRITUAL EFFECTS
To begin with, let me quote a few examples of how our holy Prophet’s (pbuh) words, sayings and spiritual attention (tawajjuh) instantly had spiritual effect on some of his companions. The Prophet of Allah purified many of his companions instantly with such concentrated spiritual attention (tawajjuh). Once the holy Prophet (pbuh) told one of his companions, “You faith is not complete, unless you love me (the Prophet, pbuh) more than your own life, your belongings and your family.” The companion replied, “Huzur (My respected Master)! I do not find in me such a degree of faith.” The Prophet (pbuh) promptly asked, “What is it that you don’t find?” And the companion quickly replied, “ Huzur! I find it now indeed.” This instant change in spiritual state of the companion (who was Hazart Umar, May Allah be pleased with him) was the result of the concentrated spiritual attention (roohani tawajjuh) of the Prophet (pbuh).
On another occasion, the Prophet of Allah commanded one of his companions to go to a certain place and preach Islam. The companion replied that he did not find in him the ability to preach. When the Prophet (pbuh) rubbed his chest with his hands, the companion cried out, “ Huzur! I do find in the ability to preach now.” Such incidents are many and can be found in the books on traditions of the Prophet (pbuh).
Likewise, what the saints of Islam or the friends of God ( aulia Allah ) say before others ( although lesser in degree and status as compared to the holy Prophet, pbuh) carries a special kind of spiritual influence and this influence is preserved in the books containing their discourses ( malfuzaat).The discourses and utterances of the Friends of Gods ( aulia-e-karam) have a special significance in the training of spiritual aspirants, as they carry tremendous blessings and produce quick spiritual effects. Most of the Saints have laid special emphasis on the publication and dissemination of discourses. Hazrat Shaikh Farid-uddin Attar has highlighted the importance of discourses ( malfuzaat ) in the preface to his book Tazkarah-tul-Aulia ( Biographical memoirs of the Friends of God ). He has given sixteen different benefits of discourses ( malfuzaat ). Readers can refer to his book for details.
Whenever we read their ( aulia Allah ) discourses, we are bound to experience similar effects, provided we read these books according to the prescribed conditions as mentioned below.
The Mannerism and Courtesy of Reading Discourses
In order to benefit the most and take the best out of discourses, one must comply with the manners and courtesy due to them. Some of the important aspects related to courtesy are as under:
1.Firstly, the reader must perform ablution before reading and then exhibit utmost courtesy during reading.
2.Secondly, the reader must focus his attention on the author of the discourses. When he does so, the author also directs his spiritual attention towards him and purifies him or her. The author’s spiritual attention is independent of time and space of life and death.
3.Thirdly, the reader must not object to anything that he reads. If he cannot understand anything discussed in the discourses, he must consult those who understand it. He should not consult exoteric scholars, as they are likely to pollute his mind. This why Allah Almighty says, “Inquire from the men of (high) spiritual status.”
4.Fourthly, the reader must begin with the first discourse and then progress with their given sequence in this book as an example – “Vision for the seekers of Truth” -, as initial discourses are for the beginners (Mubtadi), those in the middle are for the midcourse aspirtans (Mutawassiteen) and those at the end are for the adept (Muntahi). The beginners will find it difficult to comprehend the discourses given towards the end.
I, Haji Muhammad Ghouse, who is a murid (student) of Sheikh Wahid Bakhsh Rabbani (r) belonging to the Chistiya Silsila, took baiyat (oath of allegiance) with my Sheikh on 30 June 1985 and undertook the spiritual journey under my Sheikh’s able hands during his life time till his passing away on 21 April 1995 (20 Ziqad 1417).The Sheikh, during his life time, trained, educated and guided me in the spiritual path. During this ten years period I have travelled to Pakistan to see my Sheikh to learn more directly from him on various aspects on Islamic spirituality. During this time I accompanied my Sheikh and visited several sacred places, particularly the Mazars(Shrines) of Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Shakar Ganj (r) at Patpattan Sharif, Pakistan, Uch Sharif and also the Mazar of Hazrat Syed Ali bin Uthman al-Hujweri (r) atLahore (author of world famous book Kashf-ul-Mahjub ), Pakistan. Being in the presence of my Sheikh during the visits to these sacred places, enormous spiritual blessings, inspirations and guidance I felt and enjoyed.
I also had travelled to India upon my Sheikh’s instruction to visit some of the well-known Mazars (Shrines) like the Shrine of Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Aulia (r) of Delhi, Hazrat Makhdom Alauddin Ali Ahmad Sabir (r) at Kalyar Sharif, Hazrat Khawaja Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaaki (r) at Delhi and Hazrat Khwaja Mueenuddin Hasan Sanjiri at Ajmeer Sharif, etc. Here too tremendous spiritual blessings and inspiration I felt and enjoyed. All this I did under the strict instruction, training and education imparted during the ten years of my company with my Sheikh. There I got in touch with some learned people who were also ardent lovers on Islamic spirituality!
I also assisted my Shaikh to publish his Sufi related books in proof-reading, type-setting, cover design, etc in this part of the region. The books that were published here with the help of other pir-brothers namely brother Fariz whose immense tireless, selfless effort for which the rewards is with Allah s.w.t. The books were Islamic Sufism by Wahid Bakhsh Rabbani, Kashful Mahjub by Syed Ali bin Uthman al-Hujweri (retranslated into English with first ever wonderful commentary by Wahid Bakhsh Rabbani), A guide for Spiritual Aspirant by Maulana Shah Syed Waris Hassan, Inner Aspect of Faith by Shah Shahidullah Faridi, Tarbiyatul Ushaq (Training of the Lovers) by Syed Mohammad Zauqi Shah and the Sufi Path Series (1 – 14 Series) by Wahid Bakhsh Rabbani. Our publisher is A.S.Noordeen, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
In 1987, my Sheikh assigned me the duty to conduct the halqa-i-zikr in this part of the region (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) to keep the Murids together, work together, think together, do zikr together and pray together. By the grace of Allah s.w.t I am able to carry out this sacred duty up till today. Alhamdulillah!
In 1992, my wife and I went to perform Haj. It was an indescribable moment to realize, feel and experience the enormous spiritual blessings and blissful joy in both the sacred places at Mecca Mukarammah and Medinanatul Munawarrah. Shukur Alhamdulillahi Rabbil Aalameen!
THE PURPOSE OF MY SHAIKH’S DISCOURSES
The subsequent pages will be the discourses of my Sheikh’s replies during my ten years period in his company in a Q & A FORMAT. My main purpose is to share the benefits of the discourses to those thirsty souls who may acquire some knowledge and information which they may add to their existing spiritual treasures and make further spiritual progress, InshaAllah!