A Black Rose (intentions). In Islam, especially in Tasawaff or Sufism, intentions play a vital role in determining whether a deed is good or bad. We could do good deeds all our life and instead of being rewarded for them we could be punished because we did them for the wrong reasons.
With the name of Allah most Beneficient ever Merciful
Our intentions are therefore like the foundation of a building. If this foundation is weak or non-existent then, all that we do, would be laid to waste when the building of our good deeds is put to test.
In Tasawaff, intentions for doing good deeds such as praying five times a day, giving charity, going for Hajj etc. or becoming a mureed or hafiz or molana, is classified according to three categories.
The first category is called “Isme” (for name) and this word is derived from the Arabic word which means “name”. People in this category do good deeds for the sake of getting recognition and a name.
By behaving in this manner we are striving to glorify our “Nafs” or egos instead of praising or serving Allah Subhanatallah and this amounts to worshipping ourselves and therefore committing shirk.
“Shaddad b Masud (RA) reports that he once saw the Prophet ﷺ weeping. On him enquiring, the Prophet ﷺ said: I fear shirk most for my followers. Beware they will not worship idols, sun, moon and stones, but they will do divine service for show.” Ihya Uloom id Din.
“Have you considered (over the plight of) one who has taken his own low desires for his deity (god)?….” Al Quran 25:43.
Such verses about following and pursuing our low desires are found throughout the Holy Quran. Of all sins, doing things pertaining to religion so that people will think us pious is the worst.
Now the Prophets and the Aulia Allah always sought to hide their piety. The Aulia Allah will never perform miracles unless it is what Allah Subhanatallah naturally brings about.
Hazrath Ebrahim Bin Adham (RA), a king who had given up his kingdom to seek Allah had spent fourteen years crossing the desert towards Mecca. He humbled himself and prayed all the way.
People began to recognize him for his piety and his fame. spread across the continent. As he grew closer to Mecca, he overheard that the elders of the city were coming towards the caravan to meet him.
He ran towards the front of the caravan to be with the servants because it was the norm at that time for the servants to always walk in front of a caravan. As he walked past the elders of Mecca, he heard them excitedly say that they were close to meeting the great Sufi saint Ebrahim.
Hazrath Ebrahim bin Adham (RA) commented: “What do you want with that heretic?” They thought that he was a servant and they caught hold of him and beat him up while saying: “the elders of Mecca come out to meet him and you call him a heretic?”
As soon as they left him, Ebrahim bin Adham (RA) thought to himself: “You wanted the elders of Mecca to come out to meet you. Well you have collected a few punches from them. Praise be to Allah that I have seen you get your wish.” He was actually talking to his “nafs” or ego which desired to be recognised and he instead saw to it that his ego was disgraced instead of praised. From – Muslim Saints & Mystics.
If we do not fall into this category of doing things for name then we probably fall into the second category of doing things because of tradition. The Tasawaff term used to describe this category is “rusmie” which means “traditional”.
People in this category do good deeds because it is a tradition in their families or community. Our parents and grandparents did these things and we simply follow the traditions. In this way we reduce our good deeds to mere acts of rituals which have no meaning and these deeds have no effect on us.
We do not ponder about why we are doing it. We do what everyone is doing just so that we could appease our conscience and fit in with everyone else. Our attitude is: “I have read my prayer now I can do what I want.” If we are such people then there is no passion, fervour and commitment in our religious activities. We do things for the sake of doing things.
Our religion means little to us and it does not mold us to be better people. If we read through the history of the Prophet ﷺ, his companions and the Aulia Allah then we would notice the passion with which they did things.
As an example; the Prophet ﷺ never refused anyone charity even if it meant giving something he needs or even going to the extent of getting into debts to give.
Although not as bad as the first category, being traditional in our approach to our religion could make us more prone to be modernised and we could lose our religion in successive generations.
“Whether one be slow or speedy (in movement), he that is a seeker will find. Always apply yourself with both hands (with all your might) to seeking, for search is an excellent guide on the way. (Though you be) lame and limping and bent in figure and unmannerly, ever creep towards Him and be in quest of Him. Now by speech and now by silence and now by smelling, catch in every quarter the scent of the King.” Mathnawi 3:978
If we want to be good Muslims then we need to be of the third type which is called “jisme” which means “bodily”. Such people do good deeds from the bottom of their hearts and souls. They put everything into following their religion.
They are always searching and seeking the truth. They are sincere and they strive and earnestly seek to better themselves so as to gain the pleasure of Allah Subhanatallah. Finding the Truth & Allah Subhanatallah is their sole focus.
“And he who resigns himself wholly and solely to the will of Allah and is a doer of good to others has indeed a hold on a support, firm and strong. And the end of all matters rests with Allah.” Al Quran 31:22.
The Prophets and the Aulia Allah are such people and they live their lives in such a manner that everything they do revolves around their Maker. Just as wrong intentions can defile good deeds so too can good intentions make ordinary actions sacred.
The pious people’s intentions behind their eating, working and sleeping are such that it converts these mundane everyday tasks, into acts of worship. As an example: A pious person would sleep with the intention that when he gets up he would be fresh to do Divine service.
After knowing all of this, it is still extremely difficult for one to know exactly into which group we fall. It is difficult to figure out our intentions, especially if they fall into the first two categories. Here are some quotations of the Holy Quran which teach this.
“…some who say, “We believe in Allah and the last day, but they believe not….they deceive no one except themselves and they realize it not.” Al Quran 2:8.
There are many more verses in the Holy Qur’an which convey the same message: “It is they who are corrupters, but they realize it not.” 2:12 and elsewhere they are “deluded” 63:4 and “they do not understand” 63:3 etc.
In describing how difficult it is to know our intentions, the Prophet ﷺ has said that our need to show off “is more secret than the movement of black ants on a smooth stone in the darkest night.”
It therefore makes perfect sense that we should know ourselves and ponder over why we are doing things because this is the underlying factor that will determine the success or failure of our actions. This is being true to ourselves.
Contemplation is therefore far more important than actually doing good deeds such as praying and giving charity because this process affords us the opportunity to reflect over why we do things. It affords us the opportunity to gain insight as to where we want to go and how to get there instead of just aimlessly walking.
“Abu Hurairah RA reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Pondering for an hour is better than Divine service for a year. Al Hadis 1:4:44:201w.
We must make time every day to ponder and contemplate over the things we did. We must not allow ourselves to be pleased with our good actions but instead we must search for our shortcomings and mentally prepare ourselves to do better in future.
When we do this then we would realise just how wrongly we think and as we correct ourselves we would begin to realise even more deeper ways that we are wrong.
We should therefore contemplate always. Although we do not see Allah Subhanatallah, He certainly sees us, hears us and knows our deepest innermost thoughts.
So instead of asking Him for wealth or passing us through our exams etc. we should instead sincerely ask Him to guide us because a great part of our “namaaz” is a prayer for guidance.
There should be nothing in our hearts except this desire to seek and please Him and Insha Allah, Allah Subhanatallah will help us and guide us to Him and ultimate success.
Our prayers for guidance will lead us towards love.
“For His lovers, He (Alone) is (all their) joy and sorrow. He Alone is their wages and hire for service. If there be any spectacle (object of regard for them) except the beloved, it is not love: it is idle passion. Love is that flame, when it blazes up, consumes everything else but the beloved. He (the lover) drives home the sword of “la” in order to kill all other than God: thereupon consider what remains after ‘not’. There remains except God: all the rest is gone. Hail O mighty love, destroyer of polytheism.” Matnawi 5:586.
Moulana Jallalludeen Rumi (RA) is saying so much, if only we could understand. End.
Peace and blessings be upon Muhammad Sallallahu Allayhi Wasallam.
Published by Anjuman e Waris e Mohammedi.
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 Saab RA).
Author: Mohamed Hassan Gaffoor WhatsApp; +27 84 910 1486