A Deeper Knowledge. Knowledge plays a vital role in tasawaff but unlike other forms of knowledge it is not transmitted by books only but it is instead, mainly transmitted from the chest of the pir O Murshid to the chest of the deserving mureed. This article is part 5 of “A Walk through the Shareefiya Gardens” (Lessons in Tasawaff)
With the name of Allah most Beneficient ever Merciful
Ahmed bin Hambal RA is one of the great Imams who founded the Hambali mazhab and although he had such vast knowledge from books he still sought this type of knowledge which is called “Ilme Ludini”.
This is an incident of his search of such knowledge which is related in Faridudeen Attar’s book “Muslim Saints and mystics:” Ahmed bin Hambal visited Basher Hafi frequently to such a point that his pupils protested.
They said: “today you are without rival as a scholar of traditions, the law, theology and every matter of science, yet every moment you go after that dissolute fellow. Is that seemingly?
“Indeed in all the sciences you enumerated I have better knowledge than he,” Ahmed bin Hambal replied, “But he knows God better than I.” So he would pursue Bashar Hafi saying, “Tell me about my Lord.”
This type of knowledge is also mentioned in the Holy Quran and the traditions of the Holy Prophet ﷺ.
Once our Prophet ﷺ was asked about the following verse: “Allah expands the breast for whom he wishes guidance.” 6:124.
He explained the expansion by saying that it is a kind of light. When it enters the breast it expands. He was again asked: ‘O messenger of God has it got a sign? He said yes, mind turning away from the house of deception (world) towards the everlasting abode and preparing for death before death actually comes.” Ihya Uloom id deen vol. 4 page173.
Moula e Rumi pits the man with knowledge from book (a philosopher) against the man with knowledge from chest to chest (a mystic).
“The philosopher is engaged in searching of (logical) proofs: on the other hand, the elect (mystic) is contrary (to him in this respect.) The mystic flees from the proofs and from the veil (between him and God): he has sunk his head in his bosom for the sake of (contemplation) the object of proof. If to him (the philosopher) the smoke is proof of fire, to us (mystics) its sweet (to be) in the fire without (bothering about the) smoke.” Matnawi 5:570.
Basically, while the one is engrossed in searching for proof of Allah Subhanatallah the other is in His Company. And so it was with Jalludeen Rumi (RA) too.
He too, after having learnt so much from books, pursued the simple Shams O Tabreez (RA) to learn that which comes down from chest to chest.
Our Holy Prophet ﷺ was such a person with an illuminated chest and the Holy Quran bears testimony to this “Have We not expanded (and illuminated) for you (O Prophet) your bosom,…” Al Quran 94:1
Anyone can become a molana or a hafiz but not anyone can become a person endowed with such knowledge because this is bestowed by the true Pir O Murshid with the guidance of Allah Subhanatallah to whom he chooses.
However if we possesses sincerity, dedication and love for our Pir O Murshid, without wanting anything in return, then he would, in all probability, bestow us with this blessing.
Our Pir O Murshid used to say with regards to this: “Faquir mae be hae sub kooch, magar jaach lethe paele thab deethe hae sub kooch.” (The pir has everything, but he analyses the mureed first and then (if the mureed is sincere) he gives him everything.
And from the Holy Quraan; “………..Allah knows best whom to entrust His Messengership.” Al Quran 6:124
Hazrath Sulaimaan Tosawie (RA) was known as Pir e Kalan because he was an extraordinary murshid in that sometimes even Hazrath Kizar (AS) used to visit his gatherings.
Once, one of his seemingly simple mureeds, came from a far off village to visit him. It was only his second visit in a year. As the mureed was pressing the back of his murshid, a man had come to visit and when this man left, Hazrath Sulaimaan (RA) told the gathering that the man that had just left was Hazrath Kizar (AS).
Everyone rushed out to meet Hazrath Kizar (AS) except for the simple farmer.
Hazrath Sulaimaan (RA) asked the simple mureed why he did not go as well and he replied: “You are my Kizar.” This act of sincerity stirred the pir o Murshid to ecstasy and he immediately bestowed him with the knowledge of “ilm e Ludini”.
When the other mureeds had returned he announced to them that he had given the simple man, Hazrath Shamsodeen Sialvie (RA) his “kilafath” (succession).
The gathering was astounded and they said that they were always present in their murshid’s gatherings while this person was hardly ever present yet he was made a successor.
Hazrath Sulaimaan replied; “You went after Hazrath Kizar (AS) and you got what you got from him and he stayed with me and he got what he got from me.”
There is a lot to be gained from the darbaar of a genuine Pir O Murshid. One can learn about different aspects of our religion or he can assist you with your problems or he can prescribe certain “amals” which would enable us to gain certain powers, but if we put him in our hearts then all of this and more would be ours.
A murshid’s one look is all it takes to transfer this knowledge and once a person is endowed with such knowledge then his inner vision begins to open up and he is able to see far more than what we ordinary people see.
The world would eventually be like a mustard seed in the palms of his hands and he is able to see everything and know everything.
Unlike people like us that base our knowledge on Allah from what we hear and read, these people have certainty in their knowledge because it is what they experience. People with such knowledge are special and they are the known as the saints, the friends of Allah, the martyr witnesses or the “Aulia Allah.”
“And those whom they invoke besides Allah have no power of intercession: only he who bares witness to the Truth, and with full knowledge.” Al Quran 43:86
Peace and blessings be upon Muhammad Sallallahu Allayhi Wasallam.
Published by Anjuman e Waris e Mohammedi in 2015.
The Anjuman e Waris e Mohammedi was founded by Dr/Hakim Hazrath Khwaja Sayed Shareef Ahmed Ali Shah RA (fondly known as Hazrath Poona Wale Shah Saab RA).
Author: Mohamed Hassan Gaffoor WhatsApp; +27 84 910 1486