Qualities of a true Pir-O-Murshid. Unlike any other calling or profession, one cannot become a pir O Murshid on one’s own accord.
With the name of Allah most Beneficient ever Merciful.
A Pir O Murshid is chosen by Allah Subhanatallah. “None shall have the power of intercession but such a one as has received permission from (Allah) most Gracious.” Al Quran 19:88
This is normally achieved by a current Pir O Murshid choosing a capable person from amongst his mureeds to take on the great responsibility of becoming a pir. This is normally done in writing and we can think of it as a certificate.
Any legitimate Pir O Murshid should therefore have such permission in writing signed by his pir O Murshid.
A pir 0 Murshid, unlike us normal people, is capable of seeing and knowing much more, for the Prophet ﷺ has said: “Fear the uncommon and unseen knowledge of a believer as he sees with the rays of God.” lyha Ulum-id-Deen.
He therefore knows the inner thoughts of his mureeds and chooses the most capable person. Our murshid has said that to a pir the world is like a mustard seed in the palm of his hands.
When Hazrath Amir Kusro (RA) was encouraged to become a mureed of Hazrath Khwaja Nizamuddin Aulia (RA) he just did not do this but instead he sat outside his kankah” and began composing a question for the great saint. He wrote the following couplet: “You are a king at the gate of whose palace Even a pigeon becomes a hawk. A poor traveler has come to your gate, Should he enter, or should he return?” Before he could complete writing down his couplet, Hazrath Khwaja Nizamuddin Aulia (RA) sent one of his servants to him to recite the following lines: “Oh you the man of reality, come inside, So you become for a while my confidant. But if the one who enters is foolish, Then he should return the way he came.” This is the vision that a Murshid has.
A murshid is one who is not just a Muslim by birth but he has studied his religion and has based his beliefs on absolute truths. His belief stems from actually experiencing Allah Subhanatallah and the following verse of the Holy Quran describes this quality of this person that has the power of intercession: “…only he who bears witness to the Truth, and with full knowledge.” Al Quran 43:86.
Such a Murshid is therefore capable of explaining all matters of religion to his disciples and be able to guide them both physically and spiritually. The following is part of a very popular Hadith that is transmitted in many Hadith kitabs such as – Abu Dawud’s book of knowledge Hadith 3634: “…The learned are the heirs of the Prophets, and the Prophets leave neither dinar nor dirham, leaving only knowledge, and he who takes it takes an abundant portion.”
Their knowledge unlike other worldly knowledge is not from any external sources but it is enlightenment from deep within themselves and it is far greater in that they would be able to do super natural things although they do not like doing such things.
Unlike normal people, they killed their baser desires and as such they do not have greed for worldly things such as the need to show off or the need to have power or the need for wealth. It is only when they are pressed into a corner or when there is much to be gained that they would do this. Moulana Rumi (RA) was a learned, proud scholar that was writing a religious book. One day he met Shams Tabrez (RA) who asked him: what is that?, pointing towards the books he was carrying. Proudly Rumi said “knowledge books which you cannot understand.” Shams Tabrez (RA) threw all his precious books into the fire and when Rumi was at his wits end about his loss, Shams Tabrez (RA) pulled them out intact. Astonished Rumi (RA) said: what was that!, to which he replied “this is knowledge which you do not understand.” A true pir O Murshid would be able to inspire you and make you feel like you never felt before.
You become Allah Conscious in their presence. Their eyes especially are different. This is the story of Hazrath Sulaimaan Tasowie (RA) and how he became a mureed. He came from a poor family and his mother could not send him to school but instead sent him to a madressa.
He became a molvie and was strict in enforcing the Sharia. At times he used to notice Hazrath Noor Mohammed Maharwie (RA) coming to his village. He used to wonder as to why people flocked to this simple person instead of flocking to the many famous molvies in his area.
This person carried no kitabs and he was poor and dressed simply. Why was everyone sitting around him with their heads bowed down so respectfully? One day he decided to go and personally see what was happening.
When Hazrath Noor Muhammed Mahawarie (RA) raised his head and took one look at him, his heart began to beat wildly. This experience had changed him and the next time he became his mureed. He learnt that people go to murshids to get that which is free ie. “dua” (Blessings) and guidance.
What we deeply want is what will determine the outcome. “man will get what he desires.” Al Quran 3:115
If we seek name and fame then we would be attracted towards an imposter posing as a Murshid. If however we sincerely seek guidance in the form of a true spiritual guide then we would be attracted to the right person.
There is a wise saying that birds of a feather flock together. In short we have to have purity of intention and insha’Allah we would be attracted to the right people. If we are sincere people seeking knowledge and we set high moral standards for ourselves then it is very possible that our Pir O Murshid would come to us. Here is one such example.
Hazrath Habib Ali Shah (RA) was instructed by his Pir O Murshid, Hazrath Pir Hafiz (RA) to seek out a certain person who would be a person that would do a lot. He traveled between Hyderabad and Bombay for three years searching for this rare person. Our Dada Pir, Hazrath Khwaja Faquir Mohammed Ali Shah (RA) was a molvie at this stage, and was an Imaam of a mosque in Ahmed Nagar. He took no money for his services. One day his friend told him that he was going to meet his pir O Murshid and asked him to come along.
He sat at the back of the gathering and Hazrath Habib Ali Shah (RA) called him and asked him his name to which he replied Mohammed. Hazrath Khwaja Habib (RA) then asked him if it was not Sayed Mohammed and when he replied in the affirmative, he then asked if he was not the son of so and so and in this way he gave the names of seven generations of his lineage.
Our Dada pir said that on parting he felt like he was a fish out of water and wanted to become a mureed but every time he asked to become a mureed he was stalled.
When Hazrath Khwaja Habib Ali Shah (RA) finally made him a mureed three days later, he enquired as to why he did not make him a mureed on the first day. Hazrath Khwaja Habib Ali Shah (RA) replied, that I wanted you to feel what I felt for three years while I searched for you.
Our murshid said that Hazrath Khwaja Faquir Muhammad Ali Shah (RA) was able to achieve twelve years of work in just six months. From his writings one would be able to glean the in-depth knowledge that Hazrath Khwaja Faquir Mohammed Ali Shah (RA) possessed and it is partly through his hard work that we today are able to write about Tasawaff and practice the meditation rituals that has come down through him from the preceding generation of Aulia Allah.
“Na banda se alag ho mae, na kuda se juda ho mae. Kya batawo: kya hae, koon ho mae.” (I am not separate from humanity, nor am I apart from Allah: How can I say who or what I am.) A couplet, written by Hazrath Khwaja Faquir Mohammed Ali Shah (RA) found in a book he used to read.
A Murshid is very unlikely to be one conforming to what we would think is a good Muslim, especially when it comes to external actions. This is no such yard stick to gauge anyone, leave alone a Murshid.
Using our intellect to find a murshid is dangerous. “To sharpen the intelligence and wits is not the (right) way: none but the broken (in spirit) wins the favor of the King.” Matnawi 1:531.
Instead, we must think of our sins, remember our incompetence and submit to Allah Subhanatallah sincerely asking Him to guide us and He in turn would guide us to a genuine Murshid. “Become without senses and without ear and without thought, that you may hear the call (of God to the soul), “Return!” Matnawi 1:568
In the history of Tasawaff, one sometimes comes across saints that progress to quite a high stage without becoming a mureed until they receive “ilhaam” which is a type of revelation to find a Murshid. Hazrath Baba Farid ud deen (RA) is one such example. He spent many years in the jungle and when he finally hung himself upside down in a well, crows began to peck at his body. He said to them that they can eat of his flesh but they must leave his eyes so that he could see his beloved Lord. It is at this stage that he received this “ilham:” “O Farid, if you want to come to Me then come with “waseela” meaning a Murshid.
It is easy to accept Allah Subhanatallah, It is easy to accept the Prophet ﷺ, it is easy to accept the past Sahabas and saints because it is ideological and there are no tests involved. Finding and accepting a current Murshid however poses all sorts of difficulties and is extremely difficult.
Many are they who rejected the Prophets and the Saints that were amidst them. Therefore, the easiest way and most successful way of getting guidance is to pray to Allah Subhanatallah privately and to beg Him to guide us and when He does guide us to a Spiritual Master like the way He guided Hazrath Moosa (AS), then we must not allow our pride, vanity and knowledge to hinder the way.
We must grow to love our spiritual guide and become a ball of putty in his hand so that he could form whatever he wants with us. We must be like Hazrath Ishmail (AS). ready to submit ourselves even if it means the end of our lives. “Now, when that (son, Ishmiel) was (old enough) to work along with him, (his father, Abraham) said, ‘My dear son! I have seen in a dream that I sacrifice you. So consider (it and tell me) what you think (of it).’ (The son) said, ‘My dear father! do as you are commanded. If Allah wills you will find me of the calm and steadfast.”” Al Quran 37:102.
Peace and Blessings be upon Muhammad Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam.
Published by Anjuman e Waris e Mohammedi 2013.
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: Mohammad Hassan Gaffoor. WhatsApp: +27 84 910 1486