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When Adam and Eve came down to the earth, their
consciousness was less as to how to exploit the resources. According to the law
of nature, the human race increased from two to four and four to eight and
exceeded to thousands the same way. Their consciousness also increased
likewise. The off-springs of Adam and Eve felt disgust in eating roots, unripened
fruit and raw meat. Their consciousness and sensibility guided then not to eat
raw meat and to bake bread after grinding wheat instead of chewing it.
According to the law, consciousness is revealed
when one focuses on one point. Among millions of people one picked up two
stones and knocked them against each other involuntarily. This collision
resulted in heat and subsequently flame was produced. The glimmer of flame made
man attentive toward the fact that it would burn grass and in no time fire
broke out.
It was man's first day on the earth when man
got distinguished from other animals. He began cooking his food by this
discovery. When man got himself distinguished from animals, new ideas began to
strike his mind and a trail of inventions ensued.
Before the arrival of Adam and Eve (A.S), the
earth existed and was inhabited by demons. Both man and demons are the inheritors
of the earth.
When demons tried their best to do bloodshed and
play havoc with the earth, nature declared the earth riots-riddled and deprived
demons of the chieftainship of the earth, and made man the chief Ironically the
sons of Adam (A, S) did the same that demons were doing. Brother was killed by
another and this continued and enlarged further.
The successors of Adam (A.S) did not follow the
social laws devised by him. After a long time, Prophet Noah (A.S) was born and
he continued preaching oneness of God for 950 years. Prophet Noah (A.S) would
praise God on each morsel and draught. In his 950 years preaching, only eighty
men and women entered the fold of faith and the rest of the nation did not act
upon his advice. As a result nemesis started and it rained so heavily to purge
the earth of perpetrators that the earth was changed into an ocean as villages,
towns and cities were inundated with rain water. His entire nation was drowned
including his own son. All the eighty people who entered the fold of faith escaped
God's wrath. The earth remained inundated with storm water for more than six
months and at the end the boat named "Jodi' stopped at a hill.
Among the believers who landed safely from the
boat could not produce posterity. From Prophet Noah's (A.S) three sons Haam,
Saam and Yaafis who also boarded the boat started the human race once again.
Haam was the youngest, Saam the younger and Yaafis the eldest. The people
regardless of colour and race in the present day world are the descendents of
those three brothers.
In order to guide His creatures, God sent
instructors and prophets, numbering 124,000 as told, in order to instruct them
in every nook and corner of the earth. The consideration of the holy life. of
these prophets makes man get acquainted with his soul. In other words,
recognize the soul which sustains and supports physical existence. Prophets
told about soul to be God's order and man has been given knowledge of this but
a little. This little knowledge is a part of the unlimited knowledge.
A drop of an ocean tough small yet it
represents the qualities of the whole when it is analyzed. The seed of peepal
(fig tree) is smaller than the tiny seed of poppy. The tree can be seen in so
tiny a seed of it under the microscope.
The teaching of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) directs
our attention to the fact that man has two dimensions: physical dimension and spiritual
dimension. Physical existence is characterized by wear and tear every moment, a
body made of clay goes mingled up with it in the end. Spiritual existence is by
the command of Allah Almighty. All physical movements are subject to spiritual
existence. If the relation between the physical and spiritual dimensions
breaks, there will be no body movement. Activities like eating, drinking,
waking, being influenced by sadness and Joy and marrying can only be possible
if spirit sustains body. Since the inception of the world thousands of years
ago, nothing was ever invented by a dead body nor did it commit any human action.
In the holy books including the Quran, it has
been clearly elaborated that the world is transitory and there is another world
where we are to live in accordance with the reward or punishment of our deeds.
Similarly, there is another world before coming to this world like the world
hereafter. This world is called the world of spirits (alam-e-arwah) where all
of us have come from.
Each of the sent Prophets preached this
commandment. Man's real legacy is the knowledge that was imparted and taught to
Adam (A.S) by Allah Almighty. The father of man, Adam's (A.S) glory lies in
possessing the knowledge that demons and angels were denied.
Knowledge is of two kinds: spiritual and
non-spiritual. The latter includes knowledge of economics and sociology and
sufism is the former kind of knowledge which started when Allah Almighty told
the angels, "I am going to make My subordinate on the earth".
Teaching names of things to Adam (A.S) falls in the type of spiritual
knowledge. Spiritual and divine knowledge is Adam's (AS) legacy which
establishes him to be the first Sufi or mystic among the humans.
Teac,4ings of prophets are to guide humans as
each of them made man aware of the concept of vice and virtue, and by
practicing the concepts themselves they gave the lesson of leading a successful
life.
According to prophets it is not at all sufism
if Allah alone is not worshipped. They say that it is only Allah Who is One and
Only to be worshipped. Allah wants fraternity among His people, He wants to see
His creatures happy, He does not like to see His creatures restless. In order
to sustain His creatures, Allah provides them with their necessities, declares
His prophets' ways to be His way. Meditation over the life of prophets provides
determination to remain steadfast on the right path and preach it. Prophets
would resort to forgiveness and advice, not encroach upon other's rights.
The prime motive behind prophets' teachings is
to believe in the oneness of God and a sufi tells and practices all these
things. The Holy Quran says:
"We adorned the skies with turrets for
those Who sec and concealed this beautiful decoration and embellishment from
Satan the cursed or outcast."
(Surah Al-hajr: Verses 16-17)
The sufi, a lover of mysticism, explains the
said verses that those who ignore or do not try to watch the beautiful turrets
in the sky are not worthy to be called the human beings. Allah
Almighty has bestowed man with mystic
capabilities and he can watch the turrets by awakening this capability.
The Quran reads:
"So there is destruction for those who say
prayers and remain ignorant of them."
(Surah Maoon: Verse 6)
In other words_. they do say prayers but they
do not say it with devotion. A sufi says that the prayers devoid of involvement
of heart and devotion is not prayers rather it is destruction for the
worshipper. A sufi believes that prayers, if said with zeal and zest and
devotion and with the thought that Allah is present, bring about presence of
heart for the prayers sayer.
Allah Almighty asks whether they have not
observed the system of the sky and the earth and have not seen with open eyes
anything created by Him (here seeing with eyes means to see something with the
eye of soul or see spiritually). Do they not think that the time allotted to
them to live runs out quickly. The story of Noah (A.S) guides us that Allah
Almighty is Omnipotent Who may honour whom He likes and abase Whoever He wants
to Allah likes humility.
Pride and vanity are some of Allah's despised
deeds. Nature eliminates the disobedient when despicable deeds exceed the limit.
Each human being is not answerable for his deed that is why father's piety
cannot redeem disobedience on the part of son nor can son's obedience replace
father's disobedience.
The story of Prophet Aad (A..S) reads:
"Did not you see how your God treated
Aad-Irum of tall buildings?"
(Surah Fajr: Verses 6-7)
And Hood, Aad's brother who was sent to him,
said:
"O nation, be obedient to God. There is
none to support you save Him. Do you not fear?"
(Surah Araaf: Verse 65)
The nation which had gone astray asked in
wonder if he came to them so that they might pray to one God and leave whom
their fathers and grandfathers worshipped. Prophet Hood (A.S) asked them why
they quarreled with him for those which were named like him by them and their
fathers and grandfathers. God has not sent any authentication for them (the
gods worshipped by them and their ancestors). Aad's nation showed averseness
toward his teaching and said:
"Equal is it for us, you advise us or
not.'
(Surah Al shuara: Verses 136)
Prophet Hood (A.S) replied them:
"Remember One Who has provided you with
what you
like. (He) provided you with animals, off
springs, gardens and trees. And you worship those with Him who could neither be
useful nor harmful. You have made multistory and grand buildings. Despite
wealth and status you lack in satisfaction at heart. The reason is that you
have taken the material world to be all and end all."
(Surah Al shuara: V_erses 132-135)
Prophet Saleh (A.S) addressed his nation as:
"You
people have backed out of your ·promise (the promise your souls made with Allah
on the day of beginning. You admitted by saying that God is the Creator). Anger
and passion to revenge have made you blind and you disobeyed God's commandment
overtly."
(Surah Araaf: Verses 76-77)
Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) got averse to his idol
maker father and idol worshipper nation. He desired to recognize God and become
aware of Him. One day he asked his mother, "O mother who is your
god?" "Son, my god is your father who fulfills my needs." He
then asked his mother, "Mother, who is my father's god?" Mother
replied that the shining stars in the sky were his father's gods. Being
unsatisfied with the answer, he got restless by his inner light in order to
search God. When it was pitch dark, he saw a star and said it was his god, when
it set he said he did not like those which set. On seeing the moon shining, he
declared it to be his god but when it set he said that he would have been among
those who have gone astray if his God had not guided him. Then on seeing the
shining sun, he said that it was his god! As it was the largest. But when it
set, he said that he was, no doubt, averse to his nation's infidelity and
changed his direction towards the One Who created the skies and the earth. And
he was not among the infidels.
Allah has got him associated towards Him
through the display of nature. Allah Almighty says:
"Then we let Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) see
wonders in the skies and the earth so that he may become the believer."
(Surah Anaam: Verse 75)
It is mentioned in the Holy Quran;
"And remember Ismael (A.S) who was true to
his promise, who was a prophet and messenger, who ordered his people to say
prayers. He was lovable to his God."
(Surah Maryam: Verses 54-55)
Among the incidents with Moses (A.S) one is
about his meeting with a spiritual personality (Sufi). Allah Almighty said,
"O Moses, where there combine two oceans is our man." Prophet Moses
(AS) said respectfully, "What is the means to reaching that man?"
Allah Almighty asked him to keep fish in his food keeper or box and he would
see the man where his fish disappeared. Reaching the place where that man was,
Moses (AS) greeted him and told his name. The man asked him whether he was
Moses, the son of Israel. Moses (AS) replied in affirmative and told that he
had come there to seek the knowledge Allah had bestowed on him. He told Moses
(AS) that he would lose patience in those matters while living with him. Moses
(A.S) promised that he would be patient by the grace of Allah Almighty. He let
Moses (A.S) to stay with him on the condition if he did not question him in any
matter as long as both stayed together. Both boarded a boat. The man, whom the
sufis call Khizer (A.S) the sufi, made a hole in the boat. Moses (A.S) wondered
that the boatmen did not get fare and he made a hole in it. Khizer (A.S)
repeated his stance that he would not be patient. As the boat reached the bank,
both got off it and reached the plain where children were playing. Khizer (A.S)
killed one of the children. Moses (AS) declared it very bad to kill an innocent
child unjustly. Khizer (A.S) told him that he had already told him that he would
not remain patient and calm. Moses (A.S) begged pardon that time and asked to
overlook his act and promised that he would not let him excuse him if he made
another mistake and would not mind his leaving him.
Travelling together, they reached a village
where a wall of a house was going to collapse. Khizer (A.S) erected it. On this
he inquired Khizer (AS) why he had made their wall though the inhabitants
neither showed any hospitality nor let them have any place to live in.
Surah Kahf relates this incident as;
"So this is time to separate from you and
to tell you the reality of the things you failed to remain patient."
(Surah Kahaf: Verses 78)
The Moses-Khizer (A.S) incident reveals that
there are people who are under the kingship of Allah though they are not
prophets. All of them believe in the oneness of Allah ·and worship none but
Allah. Their spirits are aware of Allah and those things that these people are
the representatives or subordinates of Allah.
Maryam (A.S) is one of those high ranking
people. When angels told her that surely she has been given saintly grandeur,
and has been chastised and preferred other women of the world. They asked her
to kneel before Him to say prayers with those who say it.
Th Holy Quran tells about what angels told Mary
(A.S)
"O Maryam, Allah gives you the good news
of his commandment, his name would be Masih (Christ) son of Maryam (A.S). He
would be among the men of dignity and those who are close to Him."
(Surah Al-Imran; Verse 45)
"He would speak in his mother's lap (as
infant) and would be among the righteous."
(Surah Al-Imran: Verse 46)
Maryam (A.S) said:
"How could she beget a son as no man has
touched her?" The angel replied:
"Allah creates what He desires. When He
orders something He just orders it to take place."
(Surah Al-Imran: Verse 47)
People surrounded Maryam(A.S) as she entered
the city holding a baby in her lap and said:
"Maryam, what an act of calumny have you
done? O Haroon's (A.S) sister neither was your father a bad man nor was your
mother a whore, what have you done?"
(Surah Maryam; Verses 27-28)
Complying with Allah's orders, Maryam (A.S)
beckoning to the baby asked them to question him as she was fasting that day.
From this incident, it becomes clear that women were also granted spiritual
capabilities equal to men by Allah Almighty.
Allah Almighty says in Surah Al-Rehman:
"O group-of demons and men, try to go out
of the limits of the earth and sky, you cannot but with the will of the
Sovereign (Allah)."
(Surah Al-Rehman: Verse 33)
Sufi’ism involves mastering six senses. Anyone can transcend the earthly consciousness by mastering the six senses while living in the consciousness of the earth. Each sky is a kind of sense. The acquaintance with condition in the world of sky is essential to reach it by dominating the six senses. Man can be able to see the highest of skies if he possesses the perception of seven senses.
There is shown a watch having numbers from one
to twelve with the needles. The point where numbers are written is space and
their movement is time. If the pace of the needle is at such a speed as it
reaches number twelve from number six before twinkling of an eye, sense would
remain behind and the sense, which is present while the needle moves from one
to two and then to six passing the regular intervals between each number, would
go off. In other words the speed of mind would increase so greatly that the
gaps in spaces would be overlooked. And when the needle revolves at such speed
that it reaches the number twelve in no time, the speed of mind would be so
fast to cover the gaps between the numbers.
There are two types of sights working in man:
one works in gaps and the other sees farther ahead ignoring the gaps.
In reverse movement from twelve to eleven and
ten and then so on to number one, one reaches the sense one has at time of
birth. If the needle comes back direct from number twelve to ten, man gains
that sense which enables him to dream. If the needle leaps from number twelve
to nine suddenly, he gets that sense to contemplate. If the needle reaches
number eight, he gets that sense which is called divine revelation the same
about which Allah said that He descended divine revelation at the bee. If the
needle at number twelve with a sudden movement comes down to number seven, man
undergoes the state of divine inspiration. If the needle comes to number six,
it produces that capability in man which the Holy Quran terms as Sovereign
meaning that now man could transcend the limits of the earth.
A devotee who could see beyond the limits of
the earth possesses the ability to produce
the sense of first sky.
KHWAJA SHAMS-UD-DEEN AZEEMI
Many a scholar has written a lot about
spiritualism and pantheism. One school of thought is of the view that as saints
often used to wear wooly dresses therefore people would call them sufis. Wool
is called sauf in Arabic. They used to wear such a dress, for it had been the
habit of many a prophet, saints and pious people. According to some people, as
they have been associated with the Ashaab-e-suffa that is why they are called sufis;
whereas according to yet another school of thought the word sufi is linked with
suf a.... but all these explanations are not satisfactory.
In fact, the terminological meaning of Sufi'ism
(tasawaf) is self cleansing. It is the name of a true spirit that is related
to conscience and the light of conscience is always inherent. A sufi always
thinks in the context of Allah. His talk moves around Allah. He lives with
Allah and dies in the name of Allah. He recites His words and always praises
Him and remains enmeshed in His love. He sacrifices everything in order to see
and meet Allah.
