Awliya Hide Behind Their Human Image

Awliya Hide Behind Their Human Image

Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Kabbani
19 August 2012    Burton, Michigan

`Asr Suhbah at As-Siddiq Mosque (2)

A`oodhu billahi min ash-Shaytaani 'r-rajeem. Bismillahi 'r-Rahmaani 'r-Raheem.
Nawaytu 'l-arba`een, nawaytu 'l-`itikaaf, nawaytu 'l-khalwah, nawaytu 'l-`uzlah,
nawaytu 'r-riyaadah, nawaytu 's-sulook, lillahi ta`alaa fee haadha 'l-masjid.

أطِيعُواْ اللّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ الرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِي الأَمْرِ مِنكُمَْ

Ati`oollaha wa ati`oo 'r-Rasoola wa ooli 'l-amri minkum.
Obey Allah, obey the Prophet, and obey those in authority among you. (Surat an-Nisa, 4:59)

Every breath we take and everything we see, everything in this universe indicates there is a Creator. Every vision we see shows us that there is a Creator. That is why you can understand and have a knowledge about Maqaam at-Tawheed, the Level of Oneness, because when you look around you see Allah’s different creation and come to an understanding that none of this could have come into existence by itself.

Each one of us indicates there is a Creator, as no two people are alike. If an artist were to make a sketch of human beings, his drawings would be very limited. But of you look at human beings, you will soon realize there are six billion people in the world, each with an entirely different shape and image!

Ma`rifatullah is the knowledge that Allah exists, and that everything exists by His Existence, as no one can exist without it. Allah created creation and made everyone know that He is Hearing, Seeing, and Knowing with His Ancient Knowledge. That is why it is said that ma`rifatullahi ta`ala and Maqaam at-Tawheed is sahlatun, easy. It is easy to say, “There is a Creator,” but to know a wali and his levels is more difficult than to know Allah (swt). This does not mean the wali is better, but that it is very difficult to understand and know a wali. When you see someone different you say, “Mashaa-Allah he is a wali, he does unusual things,” but that necessarily may not be true. Perhaps he may be a charlatan and only acting as a wali; to know a real wali is very difficult, as there are too many charlatans. Prophet (s) said:

أولياء الله تحت قبابي لا يعلمهم غيري

Awliyaa’ee tahta qibaabee, laa ya`lamuhum ghayree.

My saints are under my domes; no one knows them except me. (Hadith Qudsi)

You cannot understand or know a wali and to accept that someone is on wilayah is difficult, which is why Salafiyoon don't accept. But we have to also excuse them and criticize ourselves. People do not accept because they are seeing him from the outside, suratahu azh-zhaahir, and not from the inside, and all of your interaction with him is on the outside. He eats and drinks with you, jokes with you, plays with you, etc. And this can be seen more between the father and his children.

That is why Sayyidina Jamaluddin al-Ghumuqi al-Husayni (q) said, “Only two out of 1,000 awliya are recognized and respected by their family as a wali, 998 are not.” because every minute he is sitting and joking with them; they were born through him, so they show no reverence to him and think he is one of them. Closeness to the Shaykh destroys the respect between you and him; there is no more respect for his knowledge and his level, as the familiarity kills the respect.

They see him maghmoosan fi 'l-akhlaaq al-ghayr mardiya, “dipped in the bad characters of those around him.” Those who are very close to him fall into mistakes, and he has to cover them as Allah covers the mistakes of His Servants, He is as-Sattar, “The Veiler.” So the Shaykh is taking from that secret and covers the mistakes of his children and those who are near him, as he doesn't want to expose them. When the Shaykh covers them, the outsiders say, “Why is the Shaykh not exposing the mistakes of the family, even though he knows?” For sure he is aware of their mistakes, but that does not mean he has to expose them. The majority of those around him are not perfect like him, they are carrying many bad characteristics that reflect on the environment the Shaykh is living in. That is why Sayyidina Jamaluddin al-Ghumuqi al-Husayni (q) said, “Only two out of 1,000 awliya are recognized and respected by their family as a wali, 998 are not.”

And the example is what happened with Sayyidina Jamaluddin al-Ghumuqi al-Husayni (q), who lived 150 years ago. One day in preparation for Jumu`ah prayer, he got dressed in very nice attire, as Allah (swt) said in Holy Qur'an:

يَا بَنِي آدَمَ خُذُواْ زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ

Yaa banee Adam, khudhoo zeenatakum `inda kulli masjid.

O Children of Adam! Wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer.

(Surat al-A`raf, 7:31)

This means to dress nicely from the outside and to make istighfar, so as to clean your inner self in order to attend Jumu`ah. So as he got dressed and stepped out, he saw the bodyguard, as there were too many of them. This bodyguard, (his wife) said, “Where are you going?”

“I am going to Jumu`ah, my honorable wife,” he answered.

“You are going for Jumu`ah, why are you dressed so nicely?”

“Allah said to dress nicely when you go to the masjid,” he replied.

She listened quietly but she was tenacious. Allah said that you must listen to wives and vice versa.

She said, “Are you going to see another lady? Yes I know that is why you are dressed so nicely.”

Her husband was 70 years old, how was he going to see another lady? But she said that anyway and unlike us, where we instantly begin to fight, he kept quiet. She didn’t know that he is a wali from the Naqshbandi Golden Chain becausethey hide themselves and act as normal people.

Another example is that of Sayyida `Ayesha (r). As Prophet (s) was preparing his clothes, she said, “Are you going to see another wife?” She was young at the time and said that out of her love, so she is excused, and we must keep in mind that she is our mother. If not for that hadith, we would not have learned. She looked at him and saw herself, as Prophet (s) said:

المؤمن مرآة أخيه

Al-mu’min mi'rraat akheehi.

The believer is the mirror of his brother (or sister).

So Sayyidina Jamaluddin al-Ghumuqi al-Husayni (q) left quietly and patiently, saying, “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji`oon.” His wife was washing the children’s clothes, including diapers, in a tub filled with dirty water. She waited for him to go down the stairs and pass by the window, then she took the whole pot and dumped it on him, and this is a wali of Naqshbandi Golden Chain! So you don’t give an excuse of another wali of the Golden Chain to be tortured by two people, Iblees and Ibleesa. Anyhow, he said, “Laa hawla wa laa quwatta illa billahi 'l-`Aliyyu 'l-`Azheem,” and went to the masjid with dirty clothes, took a shower and changed into new clothes. Then he went home and didn't mention anything to his wife. She thought he was afraid of her, but he did not say anything because it would be similar to the wrestler in Sayyidina `Ali’s (r) story.

During a battle, Sayyidina `Ali (r) put down his opponent who was a wrestler, and that man spat in his face. The rules of war were when you put someone down you were required to kill them. The wrestler said, “Go ahead, kill me now!” but Sayyidina `Ali (r) said, “No, I will not kill you now because I am angry and doing so will satisfy my ego; therefore, I release you.” That man was surprised and said, “If that is the religion of Muhammad (s), then I accept Islam as my religion.” So surrender and do not argue, like Sayyidina Jamaluddin (q).

Once, one wife of Grandshaykh `Abdullah (q) was arguing with him and poured hot water on his feet, causing them to burn. However, he did not say anything and kept quiet, although it was a major injury that the doctor had to wrap and prescribe antibiotics. Mawlana Shaykh Nazim (q) is 90 years old now, may Allah (swt) grant him long life and inshaa-Allah may he reach 191 years! He is surrendering completely to the Will of Allah. I used to see him giving orders, opinions, and offering his advice, but now he says nothing, tajree ar-riyaah bi malaa tashtahis-suffunu, “The ship sails as the wind blows.” He is the ship but the winds bother him, yet he keeps quiet and goes wherever the winds take him, as he is surrendering to Allah (swt). 

Awliyaullah are mirror images of the Reality of Prophet (s). What did Allah say about the munaafiqeen and kuffaar?

وَقَالُوا مَالِ هَذَا الرَّسُولِ يَأْكُلُ الطَّعَامَ وَيَمْشِي فِي الْأَسْوَاقِ لَوْلَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مَلَكٌ فَيَكُونَ مَعَهُ نَذِيرًا

Wa qaaloo maali hadha a’r-rasooli y’aakulu ’t-ta`aama wa yamshee fi ’l-aswaaqi law laa unzila ilayhi malakun fayakoona ma`ahu nadheera.

And they say, “What sort of an apostle is this, who eats food, and walks through the streets? Why has not an angel been sent down to him to give admonition with him?” (Surat al-Furqan, 25:7)

What they are saying here is that the Prophet (s) is nothing but a postman, as they cannot see more than that! And Allah (swt) said that the kuffaar are saying, “How did he go to Qaaba Qawsayni aw Adnaa and receive Revelation when we see him walking in the streets and eating food?”

As we previously mentioned, it is more difficult to know a wali as compared to knowing Allah (swt). Similarly, it is more difficult to know Prophet (s) than to know Allah. You know Allah, as you say “Allahu Akbar,” He is al-`Azhamatullah, “The Absolute Power,” and there is no comparison as He is the Creator and it is known. Therefore, Christians and Jews alike recognize Allah as the Creator, but demean the level of Prophet (s) and every other Prophet. In every nation where Allah sent Prophets, some believed and some did not. Similarly, there are those who do not know or recognize awliyaullah, and thus treat them in a way that is not befitting to the respect of the Shaykh.

This is what we see in various Sufi Orders or a group of people such as in the Naqshbandi Sufi Order, who come together out of love to their Shaykh and respect him, but there are those who demean them, so Shaytan comes immediately wherever there is haqq in order to kill it, but Allah (swt) said:

وَقُلْ جَاء الْحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ الْبَاطِلُ إِنَّ الْبَاطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقًا

Wa qul: ja'a al-haqq wa zahaq al-baatil inna 'l-baatila kaana zahooqa.

Say (O Muhammad), "Haqq (Truth) has come and baatil (falsehood) has perished.”

(Surat al-Israa, 17:81)

Shaytan runs after those who are on haqq and not after those who are on baatil, as he does not need them. Who are those on haqq? Who are praising and respecting their Master as much as they can, learning discipline and knowledge, whereas those who are physically near him and have no knowledge of anything are trying to force the Shaykh to listen to their opinions and ideas. On the Internet, they post what is wrong and contrary to the facts because they do not realize what they are doing as Shaytan is playing with them, like in the story of the wife of Sayyidina Jamaluddin al-Ghumuqi al-Husayni (q)! She threw filthy water on him which symbolizes the bad behavior of followers towards the Shaykh. Not one of the followers love them or even like them because of the character they are trying to force on the mureeds! If a mureed says, “I have come all the way from China to visit the Shaykh out of love and respect,” they do not allow it and prevent him because they do not like that mureed. They are changing everything and upsetting protocols, which is why the Prophet (s) said:

أولياء الله تحت قبابي لا يعلمهم غيري

Awliyaa’ee tahta qibaabee, laa ya`lamuhum ghayree.

My saints are under my domes; no one knows them except me. (Hadith Qudsi)

Allah (swt) is saying, “How can you know the level of the wali when no one knows their discipline and character except Me?” The unbelievers asked, “What sort of Prophet is this, who walks in the streets and eats food?” They were not aware that without even saying “Kun fayakoon,” Allah can make the Prophet (s) be in His Presence!

Allah (swt) gave awliyaullah six powers: Haqiqat at-Tayy, “Reality of Folding Time and Space,” with the power of Bismillahi 'r-Rahmani 'r-Raheem they can go from one place to another in an instant; Haqiqat al-Jazbah, “Reality of Attraction,” as when they attract, people come (although some interfere and prevent people from entering the majlis of awliyaullah because of their bad character); Haqiqat al-Fayd, “Reality of Inspiration,” Haqitat at-Tawassul, “Reality of Intercession,” Haqiqat at-Tawajjuh, “Reality of Sending Light,” and Haqiqat al-Irshad, “Reality of Guidance.”

People do not know saints because they have awsaafa humu ’l-bashariyya, human image. People see awliyaullah as normal people and say, “How is he a wali when he speaks on history and politics, when he eats, sleeps and gets tired just like the rest of us?” Prophet (s) brought politics: he called on all krulers of his time to become Muslim and change their leadership to come under the Prophet (s). Some of them accepted, while others did not.

The pious and respected wali needs everything a normal human being needs and you cannot say otherwise because Allah (swt) created them as human beings. That is why when the kuffaar said Sayyidina `Isa (a) is the son of God, Allah (swt) said, “How is that possible?

كَانَا يَأْكُلاَنِ الطَّعَامَ

Kaana yaakuloona ’t-ta`am.

They had both to eat their (daily) food. (Surat al-Ma’ida, 5:75)

“He and his mother ate food!” which means they also needed to use the restroom! Can you imagine, astaghfirullah al-`azheem, astaghfirullah al-`azheem, astaghfirullah al-`azheem, haasha, a “son of God” sitting on the toilet? How can they accept that? Sayyidina `Isa (a) ate food and he was a Prophet. Allah (swt) wants to show, “I am The One Who is not in need of anything, while everyone else is in need for even the smallest thing!”

There was once a majdhoub, a sincere, pious servant of Allah (swt) who, out of his love, is attracted beyond control to the Divine Presence by the Power of Attraction. Each of them have something special in their appearance; they might have big eyes, their eyes might turn, or they may speak in a different way. They are similar to awliyaullah, but on the first level. This story is about one such majdhoub who used to always visit the king and the king was happy with him.

One time the king asked him a question to humiliate him, “What is the biggest favor that Allah gave to human beings?”

That wali said, “If you give me safety and a protection from my neck being cut, I will tell you.” The king agreed, so he said, “O my king! I think the best favor we have been granted is to be able to go to the restroom.”

The king became furious and said, “You dare to say this to me? I will teach you a lesson!”

The wali said, “You gave me your word of safety,” but the king continued his order and sentenced him to prison. Then that wali made a du`a, “O Allah! Prevent that king from using the restroom!”

The first day passed, then the second, and by the third day the king felt extremely uncomfortable and bloated, as he had not been able to use the restroom. They called ministers and doctors, and even with syringes and other treatments, they were not able to cure him. So then the king’s minister advised him to go to the wali, who was brought from the prison.

The king asked, “What happened, why did you do that?”

The wali answered, “Because the king was upset and did not listen to me when I said the biggest favor we have been granted is to go to the restroom.” Then the wali said, “Bismillahi 'r-Rahmani 'r-Raheem” and made du`a, and the king was instantly relieved. He said, “O my king! Didn’t I tell you the truth, that Allah (swt) granted us a big favor to be able to use the restroom?”

Allah is showing us that Prophets need to use the restroom, which indicates, “I am The Only One Who is Above everything.”

We will continue later inshaa-Allah. May Allah (swt) forgive us and relieve Mawlana Shaykh Nazim (q) from the hands of oppressors!

Wa min Allahi 't-tawfeeq, bi hurmati 'l-habeeb, bi hurmati 'l-Fatihah.

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