AL-Adiyat The Gallopers
December 7, 2018The Reality of Tasawwuf (Part Two)
December 8, 2018
The Reality of Tasawwuf (Part One)
By Mawlana Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhalawi
Translated by Ismaeel Nakhuda
An Excerpt from Shari’ah wa Tariqah ka Talazum[1]
TRANSLATOR’S FOREWORD
Questions surrounding the reality of Tasawwuf are plentiful. In this excellent treatise, one of the greatest Sufi shaykhs and hadith masters of the last century, Shaykh al-Hadith Mawlana Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhalwi, writes at length how authentic Tasawwuf is firmly rooted in the fundamentals of Islam, sitting between two extremes — the way of those who reject it on the one hand and the way of those who practise it independent of Shari’ah on the other.
It has been mentioned above that Sayyiduna Jibril (may Allah grant him peace) asked the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), “What is ihsan?” The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) replied, “Ihsan is that you worship Allah as if you are seeing him…”[2]
Tariqah in reality is another name for ihsan, or the way to acquire the quality of ihsan. It is this that is called Tasawwuf and Suluk, or name it what you wish — these are all terms.
My grandfather, Mawlana Muhammad Isma’il Kandhalwi sought a private meeting with Qutb al-Irshad Mawlana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi (may Allah sanctify his secret). Once alone he said, “I gave bay’ah to Mawlana Muhammad Ya’qub Dehlawi and received instructions from Mawlana Muzaffar Husayn Kandhalwi. Their teachings were of the Naqshbandi tariqah and having acted according to their instructions, within eight days, my Lata’if al-Sittah (Six Spiritual Faculties) began to spin in the same way that a coil spins. However, I have since the beginning been fond of following the sunnah, and I diligently recite those supplications that have been mentioned in the hadith — such as the ones recited when going to the lavatory and when coming out, and when going to the market etc. It is because of this that I have very little interest in the exercises of the mashayikh. I used to sometimes meditate etc for ten or fifteen days. This is my situation. Now I am old and weak, and I would like your respected self to instruct me.” Mawlana Gangohi asked, “Have you reached the level of ihsan in your actions?” He replied, “Yes, I have.” Mawlana Gangohi said, “Fine, you are not in need of any instruction, for preoccupying one’s self with the exercises of the Sufis after reaching the level of ihsan is like one studying the book Karima[3] after he has finished studying Ghulistan and Bustan.[4] It is clear that doing so is only a waste of time. Because of this, for you to preoccupy yourself with the exercises of the Sufis is wasting time and sinful.” (Arwah-e-Thalathah, 299)
I have also heard this story from my seniors and heard that Mawlana Gangohi said, “Its example is that of a hafiz of the Qur’an who says, ‘I haven’t studied Al-Qa’idah al-Baghdadiyyah, teach it me.’” Qutb al-Irshad Mawlana Gangohi (may Allah sanctify his secret) said in another place, “The spiritual strength of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was such that the most unruly disbeliever would reach the state of ihsan by just saying La Ilaha Illa Allah Muhammad Rasul Allah (There is no deity except Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah). An example of this is that of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) who would say to the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), ‘How can we relieve and undress ourselves in front of Allah.’ This is the final stage; they were not in need of the different types of struggles (mujahadah) and spiritual exercises (riyadah). This strength existed in the Companions on account of the Prophet’s fayd (spiritual blessings), but this was less than what the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) had. It was also in the Followers (Tabi’in), but this was less than what was in the Companions. It was also present in the Followers of the Followers (Atba’ al-Tabi’in) albeit it had become very weak. To compensate for the shortcomings, the mashayikh developed forms of mujahadah and riyadah which remained for some time as a means (wasa’il) that were not the purpose themselves. As time, however, passed from the first three generations (khayr al-qurun), the means started to become the purpose and at times, according to necessity, other things were included in them on account of which numerable innovations (bid’ahs) relating to knowledge, actions and beliefs entered the faith. The research (muhaqqiq) Sufis have striven in rectifying this corruption. However, the only outcome of their efforts has been the lessening of bid’ah and not their complete end.” Mawlana Gangohi specifically mentioned the names of Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, Shaykh Shihab al-Din al-Suhrawardi, Mujaddid al-Alf al-Thani Shaykh Ahmad Sarhindi and Sayyid Ahmad bin ‘Irfan Shahid Barelwi (may Allah sanctify their secrets) among the reformers, and said that “these respected individuals carried out much reformation. The corruption was, however, not totally uprooted.”
He also said, “The Most High revealed to these respected individuals the way of the pure sunnah.” He then said, “From among the blessings of the noble Sunnah is that Satan has very little opportunity to cut off the salik’s path. It is clear that if a person was to diligently perform those actions that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) did, such as offering salah with congregation etc., and if a person was to stringently offer the fard, wajib and the al-sunnah al-mu’akkadah (emphasized sunnah) prayers then he would not experience waswasah (devilish insinuations) that he has become a wali and nor will people believe that he is from among the perfect (kamil) walis. However, if a person was to stringently perform those actions that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) did not stringently perform, such as the prayers of Duha,[5] Ishraq and the nafl prayers[6] after Maghrib prayers etc., then he would consider himself to be a wali and others would look to him as such.” Also among those things that he said was: “The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) made ihsan the purpose. The Sufis, however, made istighraq (immersion or absorption in ecstatic contemplation) the purpose instead.”
Hakim al-Ummah Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi writes in the footnotes to this: “Regarding his speech about the Companions — Imam Al-Bukhari has narrated in Kitab al-Tafsir (The Chapter of Exegesis) from Sayyiduna ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) who said: ‘There was a group of people who were ashamed of relieving themselves and thus be exposed to the sky and [were ashamed of] going to their women due to fear of being exposed towards the sky. So this verse was revealed.’ In other words the verse: ‘Beware, they bend their chests to hide from Him. Beware, when they cover up themselves with their clothes, He knows what they hide and what they expose. Surely, He is All Aware of what lies in the hearts. [11:5]’ [Hakim al-Ummah continues:] “Regarding his saying, ‘However, the Sufis made…’ it is the non-research (ghayr-muhaqqiq) Sufis who are being referred to.” (Arwah-e-Thalathah, page 297)
I have already written that according to my seniors, Tasawwuf and ihsan are one and part of the pure Shari’ah. The writings of my seniors are filled with this. Mujaddid Alf al-Thani has stressed this greatly in his Maktubat. I have also published three of his letters — the first of them was written to the Sahibzadghan, the sons of Mujaddid Alf al-Thani’s shaykh and murshid, Khawaja Baqi billah. This is a very long and important letter that is worth reading. Mujaddid Alf al-Thani writes: “The acquisition of tasfiyah and tazkiyah (spiritual purification) are connected to completing righteous actions which are for the pleasure of Allah Most High. This is also dependent on the sending of the prophets. Hence, without their sending, the acquisition of the reality of tasfiyah and tazkiyah is not possible. As to that purification (safa) which is acquired by the unrighteous (ahl al-fisq) and disbelievers, then this is in reality purification of the soul and not the purification of the heart; the purification of the soul only leads to deviancy and loss. The unveilings (kashf) of some unseen matters that are experienced by the disbelievers and unrighteous in the state of purifying the soul is istidraj[7]…”
After stressing the need to correct beliefs (‘aqa’id), he writes, “Then, after correcting the beliefs, there is no escape from learning fiqh rules. It is necessary to learn the fard, the wajib, the halal, the haram, the sunnah, the mandub (preferable), the mushtabah (doubtful) and the makruh (disliked). It is likewise necessary to act according to the demands of fiqh. After having acquired the two wings of correct beliefs and actions, then — if a person has divine accordance (tawfiq) — the next step is traversing (suluk) the Path of the Sufis. This traversing is not to acquire something that is extra or new in beliefs and actions. Its purpose, rather, is to gain such firm conviction and assurance in those beliefs that the firm conviction and assurance do not disappear if a person was to place a doubt in it, and nor become obsolete by the coming of a doubt.
“In addition, the other benefit of Suluk is that it makes the performance of actions easy, and removes the laziness and rebelliousness which results from a soul that enjoins evils (al-nafs al-ammarah bi ‘l-suw). The purpose of treading the Path of the Sufis is not to view unseen images and forms, and lights (anwar) and colours; these are all useless play and entertainment (lahw and la’ib). What are the shortcomings of tangible forms and colours that one leaves them and undertakes mujahadah and riyadah with the hope of seeing unseen forms and lights? This is because these tangible forms and those unseen forms, and these lights and those lights are all created; they are signs bearing witness to Allah Most High’s existence.”
This lowly one has written at the beginning that the first lesson that Sayyiduna Jibril (may Allah bless him) taught was iman i.e. beliefs, the second lesson was Islam i.e. actions of Shari‘ah, and the third was ihsan i.e. Suluk. Mujaddid Alf al-Thani has mentioned this sequence with much detail in his letter.
In another letter he writes: “Shari’ah guarantees all worldly and heavenly happiness, and Tariqah and Haqiqah are the servants of the Shari’ah.” He writes further: “Shari’ah is composed of three parts: knowledge, actions and sincerity. As long as these three parts do not materialise, Shari’ah will not materialise. When Shari’ah materialises, the pleasure of Allah Most High will be earned, and this is the pleasure of the Creator, it is loftier and above all worldly and heavenly happiness — “And the pleasure of Allah is the greatest” (Qur’an 9:72). The Shari’ah is therefore the guarantor of all of the happiness of both worlds. There now remains no purpose that one would be in need of something other than the Shari’ah [in order to acquire it]. Tariqah and Haqiqah, qualities with which the Sufis are distinguished, are both the third part of Shari’ah, i.e. they serve to complete the quality of sincerity. Hence, the purpose of acquiring them both is perfecting Shari’ah, not something other than Shari’ah. The hals(spiritual states), wajd (ecstasy), knowledge and gnosis (ma’arif) that the Sufis experience during their journey are not the purpose, their status is, rather, that of those thoughts with which the beginners of Tariqah are developed. One should move beyond all these things and reach the station (maqam) of rida(Allah’s pleasure). This is because this is the station in which the stations of ecstasy and suluk end, as the purpose of crossing the stations of Tariqah and Haqiqah is nothing except the acquisition of sincerity, and sincerity is a requirement for the happiness of the Creator Most High.
“From among thousands, there are few who pass the divine revelations (tajalliyah) and gnostic (‘arifi) visions (mushahid) to reach the wealth of sincerity and the station of pleasure (rida). The short-sighted consider hal and wajd to be among the goals [of Tasawwuf], and visions and divine revelations among those things that are to be acquired [in Tasawwuf]. It is on account of this that they remain captive in the prison of delusion and fantasy, and deprived of the perfections of Shari’ah. Yes, it is correct that the acquisition of the station of sincerity and the status of rida is connected to the materialisation of those states, wajd, and knowledge and gnosis. Hence, those states and wajd are preludes to [acquiring] the purpose and not the [actual] purpose. This reality became clear to me on account of his (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) blessings (barakah) after traversing this Path a complete ten years; and [it was then that] the Shari’ah appeared to me in a form befitting it. This in spite of me, all praise to Allah, not being — from the beginning — a prisoner to hals and wajd; there was no goal before my eyes except realising the reality of Shari’ah. However, after ten complete years, the reality became completely clear — Al-hamdu li Allah ‘ala dhalik hamdan kathiran tayyiban mubarakan fihi, mubarakan ‘alayhi.” (Tajalliyat-e-Rabbani, volume 1, page 53)
It is thanks to Allah that when Mawlana Habib al-Rahman Ludhyanwi, head of the Al-Ahrar group, asked this lowly one regarding the reality of Tasawwuf, I answered, “Tasawwuf is the name given to correcting intentions,” as has been mentioned in detail at the beginning of my autobiography, Aap Biti(volume 2). Many other stories relating to this subject have been mentioned in Aap Biti.
Khawaja Muhammad Ma’sum Naqshbandi (may Allah mercy him) has also greatly stressed this in his letters. He writes in an epistle (60), “Perfect saintliness (wilayah)[8] is the outcome of [adhering to] the surah of Shari’ah and perfect prophethood (nubuwwah) is the outcome of adhering to the haqiqah of Shari’ah. Hence, there is no perfect trait from the perfect traits of both wilayah and nubuwwah that is outside the perimeters of Shari’ah and independent of it.”
In another letter he writes, “After correcting one’s beliefs, it is extremely necessary to agree with the correct opinion of the Ahl al-Sunnah wa ‘l-Jama’ah (which is derived from the Qur’an and sunnah). There is no escape from not performing the fard and wajib acts, and abstaining from what is haram. The foundation of Islam is on five (which have been mentioned in the hadith of Sayyiduna Jibril); if there is an absence of even one of these five, then the faith would be empty and incomplete. After correcting beliefs and [performing] actions, treading the Sufi Path is also necessary so that the realisation (ma’rifah) of the Truth (Allah) can be acquired, and one can be saved from the dangers of the carnal desires. I cannot understand how the slave who is void of the m’arifah of his Master (i.e. Allah Most High) and does not recognise him is able to live his life and be pleased with other things.”
He writes in another correspondence, “My brother Mulla Hasan ‘Ali has written an objection regarding one of my letters to ‘Ubayd Allah Bayg and asked for a reply. The objection is that the distinction of what is good and what is bad is mentioned in Shari’ah, and that he has read in some book that ‘in Tariqah there is reconciliation with all and friendship with everyone, whereas in Shari’ah there is [discourse relating to] warring with enemies and reconciling with friends…’ It is a strange and absurd objection. What is the comparison between Shari’ah and Tariqah? Where has the equal footing come between the two [that they can be compared]? Shari’ah has been established through such absolute divine revelation (wahy) that leaves absolutely no possibility for doubt and uncertainty. Its rulings cannot be abrogated or changed. These rulings will continue till the Day of Reckoning. Acting on the requirements of Shari’ah is compulsory and mandatory on all of the lay-masses and the elite. Tariqah does not have the ability to remove the rulings of Shari’ah and free the Sufis from the requirements of Shari’ah. From among the absolute beliefs (‘aqaid) of the Ahl al-Sunnah wa ‘l-Jama’ah is also this belief that an aware and conscious slave will never reach a state in which he is annulled from [adhering to] the requirements of Shari’ah. Whoever entertains a belief apart from this is outside the pale of Islam. Friendship and fidelity with that group which Allah Most High declares as his enemies and orders [to treat] severely and harshly is outside the base of Islam. This and the claim of loving Allah Most High and the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) cannot amalgamate in one place. This is because obedience of the Beloved, showing friendship to the friends of the Beloved and showing displeasure to His enemies are the requirements of love. Yes, it is true that some of the salikssometimes perform such actions that outwardly seem to be in opposition to the Quran and sunnah. At such times, the salik should not let the rope of Shari’ah slip from his hand, he should cling on to it firmly, and — contrary to his kashf and ecstasy — while adhering to the Ahl al-Sunnah wa ‘l-Jama’ah opt to follow its beliefs and actions. At times, the rubbish on the Path of Suluk tries to move the poor salikaway from the lofty objective and invite to his worship by crying out, ‘Indeed, I am Allah.’ At such times, the upright salik should say as Sayyiduna Ibrahim al-Khalil (peace be upon him) said, ‘I do not like those who disappear,’ (Qur’an 6:76) and, according to the demands of ‘I have turned my face…’ (Qur’an 6:79), run in the field of the unseen and completely follow the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) so he does not become a prisoner to looking at that apart from Allah.” (Maktub Khawaja Muhammad Ma’sum, letter 73, page 121).
The story to which Khawaja Muhammad Ma’sum has indicated toward in this letter has been mentioned in Aap Biti (volume 5, page 197) from Qasim al-‘Ulum Mawlana Qasim Nanawtwi from Arwah-e-Thalatha: “A woman brought her blind son to one of the saints, Khawaja Ahmad Jam, regarding whom it was popular that he was someone whose supplications would be accepted (mustajab al-d’awah), and asked he wipes his hand over her son’s face so he may be cured. At that time the situation of servitude (‘ubudiyyah) had overcome him and so, with much humbleness, he said, ‘I do not have the ability.’ The woman insisted and Khawaja Ahmad Jam answered the same. The exchange continued three to four times and when he saw that the woman was not accepting what he was saying, he stood up saying, ‘This work is that of Sayyiduna ‘Isa (peace be upon him), he would cure the blind and the lepers. As to me, I don’t have the ability.’ The shaykh had only walked a little when it was revealed (ilham) to him, ‘Who are you? Who is ‘Isa and who is Musa? Turn around and wipe your hand over his face. You are not able to cure and nor is ‘Isa. We do it (mami kunyam).’ On hearing this, Khawaja Ahmad Jam turned around and saying mami kunyam, mami kunyam wiped his hands over the boy’s face and he was cured.
After narrating this story, Mawlana Qasim Nanawtwi (may Allah sanctify his secret) said, “Foolish people think that he is saying mami kunyam from himself. This is not, however, his speech, but the speech of the Almighty. When one hears a beautiful poem, then one repeats it and takes pleasure from it. Likewise, he was repeating the Almighty’s word mami kunyam on account of the pleasure of that ilham.” Hakim al-Ummah Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi writes in the footnotes: “Regarding his saying, ‘But the speech of the Almighty…’ I say that this is the best interpretation of Mansur al-Hallaj’s saying, ‘I am the truth.’” (Aap Biti, page 197, volume 5)
I have mentioned in volume five of Aap Biti similar utterances of many mashayikh and written afterwards: “The purpose of all these writings is that a person should always preoccupy himself in examining his conscience and rectifying himself. He should not indulge in criticising and finding the faults of others, especially the seniors who are reliable and leading ‘ulama; one should not criticise their speech and actions. There is no following of anyone in matters that are contrary to Shari’ah. Their speech and actions, however, are not your responsibility.”
Khawaja Muhammad Ma’sum writes in another letter: “Make firm pledge to fulfil the rulings of Shari’ah. Make enjoining good and forbidding evil one’s practice and conduct. Consider reviving those sunnahsthat are no longer practiced a mighty work. Strive to conceal each oncoming (warid) that comes to the heart. Do not rely on dreams and visions. If a person was to see in a dream that he has become a king or the qutb of his era, then what is the benefit? A king or qutb is he who reaches the status of being a monarch or a qutb in reality. And if it was assumed that the person has became a king and the world had come under his control, then what piety has he attained? Will it save him from the punishment of the grave and the Day of Reckoning?
“Those with lofty aims do not pay attention to such issues, and always strive to attain the pleasure of Allah Most High. They endeavour to annihilate their carnal desires (nufus) and veil unseen oncomings (warid). I hope friends such as you do not forget this sinner and seek mercy and forgiveness for this lowly one from Allah Most High.” (Maktubat-e-Khawaja Muhammad Ma’sum, letter 174).
In another epistle he writes: “At this juncture in time bid’ah is becoming prevalent and its darkness is encompassing the world on account of the distance from the time of Prophethood (Nubuwwah) and proximity to the Day of Reckoning. The sunnah has become strange and scarce, and its radiances (anwar) have become veiled. Strive hard to revive the abandoned sunnahs and propagate knowledge of Shari’ah. Take this issue as the greatest means of acquiring the pleasure of the Almighty. Also seek proximity to the Muhammadi Court through this work. It has been mentioned in a hadith, ‘Whoever adheres to my Sunnah when corruption prevails in my Ummah, then he will be awarded the reward of a hundred martyrs.’ The first stage of reviving a Sunnah is for one to act upon it oneself, and the loftiest stage lies in its promotion and advocation, and encouragement of others to act upon it.” (Maktubat-e-Khawaja Muhammad Ma’sum, letter 290).
Hakim al-Ummah Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah enlighten his grave) writes in Ta’lim al-Din(page 182): “With regards to rectifying the mistake that there is no need to adhere to the Shari’ah in Tasawwuf, it is mentioned in Al-Futuhat: ‘The Haqiqah (Tasawwuf) that is against the Shari’ah is irreligious and rejected.’ It is also mentioned in there: ‘Whoever says that here is a path to Allah different to what the Shari’ah has outlined, then he has lied. Hence, a shaykh should not be made of that person who has no adab (manners).’ It is also in there: ‘We have no path to Allah except that which has come by way of His Shari’ah, and we have no path to Allah except that which the Shari’ah has shown. Sayyiduna Bayazid al-Bustami (may Allah mercy him) said, “If you see a man who has been given the ability to perform miracles (karamat), so much so that he flies in the air, then do not be deceived by him until you see his state with regards to [his observance of Shari’ah] injunctions (amr) and prohibitions (nahi), safeguarding of limits and adherence of Shari’ah.” Sayyiduna Junayd (may Allah mercy him) said, “All paths are closed on the entire creation, except that path which follows the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) step by step.”‘ It is also mentioned in Al-Futuhat: ‘The one who does not know the injunctions of Allah has no standing in the eye’s of Allah, for Allah does not take an ignorant as a friend.’ It is also in Al-Futuhat that: ‘Acting wrong in spite of knowledge is better than acting with ignorance.’” Hakim al-Ummah explains this saying: “This is because if an ‘alim was to do something wrong then it would not be so wrong or bad that it reaches the level of disbelief (kufr) and shirk, and because he understands its sinfulness there is hope of repentance. This is different from an ignorant person whose necessary actions, such as prayer and fasting, are at times performed incorrectly; because of a lack of knowledge, he commits disbelief and shirk, and due to not being aware of its sinfulness there is no chance of repentance.” Hakim al-Ummah has written a very lengthy piece in Ta’lim al-Din.
My father (may Allah mercy him) was once performing ghusl in the summer months and he had two or three strong and ready students filling buckets and bringing to him. There was a man sitting there who said, “Oh respected one, is this not waste?” My father replied, “For you it is waste and for me it isn’t.” He then asked him, “And why is that?” He replied, “Because I am an ‘alim and you are ignorant (jahil).” The man said, “This is just like what is said that the mawlawi makes permissible for himself whatever he wishes.” My father replied, “Yes, this is completely true. These types of utterances perturb the mawlawis. One action, if an ignorant was to do it then, on account of ignorance, he would do it in an impermissible way. If an ‘alim was to carry out the same action then he would do it in a permissible way.”
Sayyiduna Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: “Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) brought Burny dates to the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), so the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, ‘Where are these from?’ He replied, ‘I had some cheap dates, and I sold two sa’ (a measure) for one sa’.’ The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, ‘O, this is precisely usury. Don’t do this. When you want to buy, then sell the dates for something then buy with that something.” (Muttafaqun ‘Alayh)
It is clear that the ignorant would not be able to differentiate between the two scenarios. He will simply think that one sa’ of Burny dates has been acquired in exchange of two sa’ of cheap dates. The ‘alim, however, will buy it in the correct Shari’ah way in that he will first sell his dates for two rupees and then purchase the one sa’ of Burny with those two rupees.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Update: Part Two.
_____________________________
