A walk through the Shareefiya Garden, Lessons in Tasawaff one. Looking at the concept of pledging of allegiance (‘baith’) or becoming a disciple (“mureed”) of a Spiritual Guide (“Pir O Murshid).
With the name of Allah, most Beneficient, ever Merciful
Sufism is a practice which entails a person holding the hands of a spiritual guide and seeking forgiveness and making a pledge to follow an Islamic way of life.
When a person does this then he has become a “mureed” or a disciple of that spiritual guide. The spiritual guide is called a “Pir O Murshid,” or “Shayk” and collectively, they are referred to as saints or the “aulia Allah” which means the friends of Allah.
This process of becoming a disciple is called taking “Baith“. In this first part of “lessons in Tasawaff”, we take a look at tasawaff or Sufism in the light of the Holy Quraan and the traditions of our Grand Master, the Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhe Wasallam.
The First Rose:
Finding guidance in the form of a Spiritual guide is so important that this is the dua that we are taught by Allah Subhanatallah to ask for in every rakaath of every prayer. This dua is found in sura Al Fathia which is wajib to read in every rakaat of every Namaaz.
Sura Al Fathia is so important that the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alayhe Wasallam has described it as “the essence of the Holy Quraan” and “The Mother of the Book”. By essence, he means that this sura is the summary of the holy Quraan or it is the Holy Quraan in a nutshell.
This most important dua that we make in this sura is: “Guide us on the Straightway, the way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace…” Sura Fathia 6. Allah Subhanatallah could have said: “Guide us on the straight path that is described to us in the Holy Quraan” or He could have said “Guide us on the path of the Holy Prophet Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam”, but instead, He said: Guide us on the straightway, the way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace,”
It is presence tense, and we have to find such people to guide us in our life. Spiritual guidance is such that it cannot be learnt from books but it can only be gained from a Spiritual guide because words and books simply cannot teach love.
Spiritual guidance can only be gained by first submitting to a Spiritual Guide. How often in the Holy Quraan we are extolled to keep the company of the righteous eg. “And keep yourself content with those who call on their Lord morning and evening, seeking His Face…” Al Quraan 18:28
The Second Rose:
Five days before the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alayhe Wasallam could pass away he sat on the mimbar and said: “as for a servant– Allah gave him choice either that he should have whatever he wished for when it comes to the fineries of this world, or he could have that which is near to Him. He chooses which is near to Him.” (Bukarie, Muslim.)
When Hazrath Abu Bakar (RA) heard this he began to cry, because he realized that the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhe Wasallam had chosen to leave this physical world.
The verse that the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alayhe Wasallam often repeated at the time of his passing away a few days later was: “In the company of those on whom is the Grace of Allah.” 4:69 and he prayed “Rabb grant me pardon: and join me to the companionship on high.” So what did he mean by “that which is near to Allah,” and “the companionship on high?”
Allah Subhanatallah states in the Holy Quraan: “And those who believe and work righteous deeds—them shall we admit to the company of the Righteous.” Al Quraan 29:9 and in another verse, Allah lists those people that make up these righteous company. “All who obey Allah and the messenger are in the company of those on whom is the Grace of Allah– of the Prophets (who teach), the sincere (lovers of Truth), the martyrs, and the righteous (who do good):” Basically these are the Prophets and the friends of Allah (Aulia Allah). In continuing Allah exclaims “Ah how beautiful is their company. Such is the Bounty of Allah: and sufficient is it that Allah knows all.” Al Quraan 4:69
Imagine the greatness of such company which even the Prophet Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam sought? Imagine the greatness of such company which Allah (SWT) describes as beautiful. If their company is beautiful in the hereafter then it is just as beautiful in this world.
Being in the presence of such people in this world is also such a great pleasure and we must seek such companionship in this world. Hazrath Essa (AS) “shall be of (the company) of the righteous.” 3:46
The Third Rose
Omar (RA) reports that the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhe wasallam said: “There will be some amongst the servants of Allah, some who are neither prophets nor martyrs, but the prophets and martyrs will envy them on resurrection day on account of their rank to Allah. They enquired. Inform us who they are. He replied: They are a people who love one another for the pleasure of Allah without having blood connections among them or property connections: and they make presents to one another. By Allah, their faces will certainly be lit up. They do not fear when the people fear, and they do not grieve when the people grieve. Then he read the verse: Behold, as for the friends of Allah, there is no fear for them, nor shall they grieve 10:62.“ AL Hadis section love and hatred for Allah.
The relationship between a pir and a mureed is all about loving one another for the sake of Allah. Our murshid Hazrath Poona Wale Shah Saib (RA) always said: “Pir dill me uterna – ye sab se barie baath” (put your pir into your heart—this is the greatest thing.)
The Forth Rose:
Sufism and tasawaff existed throughout human history. The Prophet Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam himself lived the life of a Sufi. In the time of the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhe Wasallam, his companions placed their hands in his hands and they pledged allegiance to him on many occasions.
The Prophet Sallallahu Alayhe Wasallam was their spiritual guide and they were his disciples. The famous Baitul Ridwaan was one such occasion when his companions took “baith” to him and this extraordinary event is recorded in the Holy Quraan chapter 48 verse 18:
“Verily, those that pledge their allegiance to you, pledge their allegiance in truth to Allah:…” 48:10 and
“Allah’s good pleasure was on the believers when they swore fealty (Took baith) to thee under the tree.”
After the Prophet Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam, permission to make mureeds was given. Hazrath Ali (RA) from which the Quadria, Chistia and the Shorwardia chain of Sufi saints started.
Hazrath Abu Bakar Siddique (RA) also made mureeds and from him the Naqshabandi chain of saints started off.
The ‘Ashabe Suffa’ where those companions of the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhe Wasallam that dedicated their entire lives to the study of Sufism and its practices. They sat on a raised platform near the home of the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhe Wasallam.
Throughout Islamic history, people took baith. Study the history of any great Islamic personality since the time of the Prophet Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam till now, and you would learn that they had a Pir O murshid to guide them spiritually.
Divine knowledge always comes to humanity in the form of inspiration to Allah’s chosen servants.
The fact that knowledge lies within a learned man and not in books is further strengthened by the following hadith which is related in Sahih Bukharie and Sahih Muslim: “The Prophet Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam is reported to have said: “Verily Allah does not take away knowledge by snatching it from the people, but he takes away knowledge by decreasing the scholars so that when he leaves no scholar, people turn to ignorant leaders who, when they are asked to deliver religious verdicts, deliver them without knowledge. They would go astray and they would lead others astray.
The First Thorn in the Garden
If submitting to and kissing the feet of a perfect murshid like the way the angles bowed down to Hazrath Adam (AS) is making shirk then shaitaan is a true believer for he did not bow down to anyone else but Allah. “(Iblis) said: “I am not one to prostrate myself to man….” 15:33
He only outwardly or physically prostrated to Allah, but when Allah Subhanatallah put him to the test by asking him to bow down to a perfect man he showed that he inwardly did not submit to Allah because he could not follow His Command.
The Wine bar in the Garden
This bar, unlike the wine bars where alcohol is served, serves halaal wine for it is made from the nectar of the roses in the garden. They call it the “wine of love“, and sometimes, they call it “Sharabe Tabaura”. Love is intoxicating.
When you grow to love your Pir O Murshid then you are perpetually intoxicated. He is the wine steward and through his eyes flow the wine of love.
The Prophet Sallallahu Alayhe Wasallam said to his disciples: “You would not believe until you love me more than your parents, your children and the whole of humanity.”
Although this wine is amazingly expensive, and the patrons sacrifice their entire lives for it, they still feel it a bargain. If they had to give their lives a million times over for just one draught of it, they would gladly give it over and still think it a bargain. To be continued….
Peace and Salutations be upon Muhammad Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam.
Published by Anjuman e Waris e Mohammedi in 2011
Anjuman e Waris e Mohammedi was founded by Dr/Hakim Hazrath Khwaja Sayed Shareef Ahmed Ali Shah RA, (lovingly known as Hazrath Poona Wale Shah Saib RA).
Author: Mohammed Hassan Gaffoor (WhatsApp +27 84 910 1486)