The Awliya of Allah

salamu` alaykum

My eyes gaze upon them in splendid awe,

How rarely does one witness such a site,

Seeing their nur brings to light all of my flaws,

And annihilates the selfs might. (Ibn Ahmad)

 

(courtesy of Al Kashif)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shuyukh of the Shadhili Darqawi Order:

Starting from left to right grouped in bunches:

One:
1. Shaykh Ahmad `Alawi 2. al-Arif al-Shaikh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghuri 3. Shaikh Abdul Qardir Hayani (Halab) 4. al-Arif al-Shaikh Abdul QadirIsa’
5. Shaikh Ahmad al-Murad 6. Shaikh Ahmad Karasi (Halab) 7. Shaikh Bakri Hayani

Two:
1. Shaikh Bakri Hayani (again) 2. Shaikh Ahmad al-Habbal 3. Shaikh Fadil al-Kurkur 4. al-Shaikh Muhammad al-Hashimi 5. Shaikh Hazim Nayif Abu Ghazalah 6. Shaikh Muhammad al-Murad 7. Shaikh Muhammad Ali al-Murad

Three:
1. al-Shaikh al-Kurdi 2. Shaikh Nur ad-Din Azizi 3. Shaikh Sa’id Burhani
4. Shaikh Sajid Abdul Qadir (Baghdad) 5. Shaikh Salih al-Furfur 6. Shaikh Ali Abdul Rahman 7. Shaikh Abul Hasan al-Tarabulusi

Four:
1. Shaikh Sidi Azreqi 2. Shaikh Sidi Hajj Quwdir 3. Shaikh Muhammad al-Hashimi 4. Shaikh Muhammad al-Madani 5. Shaikh Muhammad Bel Hajj
6. Shaikh Sidi Muhammad Sharif

Five:
1. al-Arif Shaikh Ahmad al-Alawi 2. al-Arif Shaikh Ahmad al-Alawi 3. Shaikh Shamil al-Murad 4. Shaikh Hilal al-Yemani 5. Shaikh Sidi Sharif Oul Hasan
6. Shaikh Muhammad al-Ya’qubi 7. Shaikh Ahmad Jami

Wasalam

al `abd al faqir Salman Al Husayni

Coming Soon…

salamu `alaykum

Please look forward to English translations of the following, which will be provided on this blog, God willing:

(1) Title

“The obligations required of one on the Ashrafiyya path”

Description

A brief work by Maulana Ashraf `Ali Thanawi, originally entitled Haqiqat al Tariqat, wherein he lists the duties to be performed on entering the spiritual path and also the practices that are to be left.

(2) Title

“Gathering the words of the righteous regarding the permissibility of loud dhikr”

Description

A translation of the legal verdicts of Maulana Ashraf `Ali Thanawi, Maulana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi, and Maulana Khalil Ahmad Saharanfuri on the permissibility of making dhikr outloud – whether individually or in a group.

(3) Title

“The manifest discourse on the permissibility of the dhikr ‘Allah! Allah!”

Description

A detailed reply by Maulana Zakariyya Khandihlawi to a questioner on the permissibility of the dhikr “Allah! Allah!”.

(4) Title

“An introduction to the Qur’an: Part 1”

Description

A translation of the first part of Mufti Taqi `Uthman’s `Ulum al Qur’an, by far one of the most authoritative works on the issue. Topics include the meaning of the word Qur’an, types of revelation, how revelation was sent to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), the difference between revelation (wahy) and unveiling (kashf), and a look at some of the major works of exegesis.

Also, look out for, in the future:

(5) Title

“The splendid pearls in explanation of Hafiz”

Description

Maulana Ashraf `Ali Thanawi’s commentary on the poetic verses of Hafiz, which give deep insights into matters of tasawwuf. This will be done with the assistance of Sidi Yaser Rad (his blog). Very insightful and a pleasure for all to read.

Wasalam

Salman

Union

She came at dawn – that heart-taker of fevered lovers.

She said, “Oh heavy load on my thoughts!

Shame on you! I look in your direction,

but you’ve turned your eyes toward others!”

We’ve run in love’s path all our life,

we’ve tried hard for union all our life.

A glimpse of Your image is better for the gaze

than the beauty of all beauties all our life.

– Jami` in his Lawa’ih

The Reality of Istiqama

salamu `alaykum

Hakim al Ummat Maulana Ashraf `Ali Thanawi (Allah be well-pleased with him) related in Maqalat Sufiyah the statement of Sayyidi Shibil (Allah sanctify his secret) that:

“Istiqamat is to conceptualize every (present) moment as that of Qiyamat, meaning that thinking of each moment as such will bring about steadfastness (istiqama) in ones state and actions.” (Pg 37, Ed: Dar al Isha`at, Karachi)

It is interesting to note that the Day of Resurrection (qiyama) is one wherein everyone will have certainty of the truth of Allah’s religion, so much so that Maulana Rumi stated very beautifully and insightfully that “No kafir will enter Hell” i.e. since everyone will technically be a “believer” in Allah at that point.

There are two further points of importance in using the allegory of “Qiyama“, which is that it is the day wherein:

(a) All will be actualized in their knowledge that Allah is watching over us (muraqabah), and,

(b) From among all such people, specific ones (namely the believers) will be granted the Beatific Vision of God (mushahada), which is the ultimate reward of the believer.

Both these realizations will be eternal and endless on the Day of Return and so by alluding to Qiyama the author is stating that istiqama within this world is both in (1) Our knowledge of Allah’s witnessing that will lead to (2) Our witnessing of Allah in this world bi `ayn al qalb.

(1) without (2) is only walking halfway to Allah, and (2) cannot arise unless one is firmly footed in state (1).

Wasalam

Salman

The Level of the `Arif (Knower of Allah)

salamu `alaykum

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:

“Do not curse my companions. If any of you were to spend the weight of Uhud in gold, it still would not reach the measure (mudd) of one of them nor even one-half of it.”

(Bukhari, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah from Abi Sa`id, Muslim from Abu Hurayra, Bazzar from Jabir with the wording ‘If any of you were to spend all the wealth of the earth’)

Qutb al `Alam wal Shaykh al Akbar Maulana `Ashraf `Ali Thanawi (Allah be well-pleased with him) stated, while explaining this narration:

“Within the books of this science (s: of tasawwuf), it is mentioned that the action (`amal) of the `arif is increased manifold in reward and degree over that of the ghayr `arif (s: the one who does not ‘know’ Allah) – so much so that it was heard from Shaykh Murshidi (Allah have mercy on him) that two cycles of prayer by the `arif are more superior than a thousand cycles of prayer by the ghayr `arif. This narration is a proof for this, for even though it is regarding the companions the underlying reasoning between the two are shared, which is their distinct level of sincerity (s: from others) …”

(Al Takashaf, Pg 357 Ed. Kutub Khana Mazhari)

It should be noted here that an `arif is not merely a person who knows that God exists. He is not merely someone who is a “good muslim” or a “pious” one. Rather, he is a person who has actualized the very definition of Ihsan, which is to “Worship Allah as if you see Him”, also known as the level of mushahada, and stays firm (istiqamat) on this state. This is a key point to understand since many seemingly confuse the distinction.

From the above, it also becomes quite necessary to understand that respecting, following, and loving such people is wherein our success lies. Opposing them will lead to our destruction. It is our duty to realize their immense rank, to realize their inheriting of the propehtic states, and to realize that they are our door to Allah and the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace).

May Allah grant us true knowledge of Him, and grant us sincere following and actualization of the state of His greatest creation, the cause of our salvation, the reason for our existence, Muhammad, for whom we would sacrifice our lives over and over just to get a glimpse of his face… Nay! even the sandals that touched his feet! The dust of those sandals!

And Allah Alone gives success.

Salman

A Gathering In Remembrance of the Prophet in Jeddah

salamu `alaykum

Courtesy of our dear Br. Amir (www.mujahideenryder.net) :

Also:

Finally:

Wasalam

Salman

Shaykh Shukri

salamu `alaykum

 

Whenever I would ask someone regarding Shaykh Shukri of Damascus the reply I would recieve almost immediately and foremost was that “He is one of the biggest awliya alive.” I do not recall a single person stating otherwise when I inquired about him. He took over from the late Shaykh Moustafa al Turkmani (Allah be well pleased with him). May Allah continue to bless us through his presence. Amin.

Wasalam

Salman al Husayni