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Loh-o-Qalum (Pen and the Scripturum)
Management of the monthly Roohani Digest has taken a very timely and
commendable decision of publishing the wonderful work of Qalander Baba Auliya; Loh-o-Qalum,
in monthly installments, once again. The readers that have studies these remarkable
series of articles with interest, know it well that this is not an ordinary work
on spiritualism or spiritual teachings, but its contents help the readers to
open up their minds besides acquainting them with the secrets and mysteries of
nature and that have been remained obscure from the modern sciences. This
treasure, which Qalander Baba Auliya has left behind, will prove to be a beacon
of light for the times to come.
There will be a time when the people would be familiar with the
mysteries and secrets that have been expounded in Loh-o-Qalum, and that would
be the time when the revolution would dawn upon the world and man's heart and
mind would be blessed with enlightenment to form that system where the evils
and selfishness of present age would not have any place.
This age, in which every one of us is suffering from stress and
strain, anxiety and disquiet and materialism is reaching its peak. The bright
light of materialism might be able to dazzle the sight buy it has no solace for
the soul. Matter is not stable similar is the fate of the materialism, this is the
law of nature and there is no exception to it.
Qalander Baba Auliya was 85 years of this world and most horrifying
and destructive incidents happened before his eyes. He witnessed the force of
materialism progressing and saw how ruthlessly humanity is trodden down. Under
the decorated veil of comforts and luxuries man is being crushed by
restlessness, discomfort and mental tortures.
Qalander Baba Auliya used to mention the ever deteriorating state of
the people of present age and of Muslims in particular. He was of the opinion
that the main reason of the worse state is their ignorance and having no
nucleus. He also insisted, rather it was his mission, and that Muslims must not
spare any effort to excel in every field of art and science but with that they
must also remember that the material prosperity and progress should not become their
aim and objective of their life. They should also be paying attention to
develop their insight and vision.
In this age of machines one side man is progressing materially but
on the other side he is suffering degradation in his spiritual life. If his
head is touching the skies, his feet are . not rising up the dust. Head is
swollen from his material advancement but feet are trapped in the deep quagmire
of destruction, insecurity and uncertainties. In such tormented state Qalander
Baba Auliya is a great blessing. If we didn't enlightened our hearts by his teachings
we would certainly be amongst the people who won't be having the right even to
feel sorry for their loss.
The biggest source of his teaching is his most remarkable book,
Loh-o-Qalum, which we are required to study it thoroughly and make it a source
of our inspirations to enlighten our hearts, minds and soul an know the secrets
of spiritualism to enter the realm of divinity and to command the forces of
nature.
Qalander Baba Auliya started to dictate the initial manuscript of
this book in 1957 and it complete in about two years. Khwaja Shamsuddin Azeemi
was made to pen down the contents of this book. Once he told the writer about
his honor of writing this work. Qalander Baba Auliya resided in those days in
Khwaja Sahib's house in Nazimabad. Almost every day in the evening some people
would gather there and had a sitting with Qalander Baba Auliya. In those
sittings he would listen to the problems of people and suggested them their solutions
and sometime when someone would ask a question, he would explain many things
about spiritualism. Sometimes in those sittings he would express his concern
over the degradation of the Muslim world. After the fall of Muslim states Muslims
of subcontinent were feeling depressed whereas, others were busy in
constructing their future by developing their resources of knowledge and
practice. Those amongst Muslims, who were concerned about this situation, took
refuge in monasteries and sought shelter of mysticism. Public in general could
not find any way out in the financial and intellectual crises. Failure of
Independence war in 1857 proved to be a great blow and the Muslims of Subcontinent
slid deeper into their miseries.
We do want to discuss the historical factors here but cannot refuse
the fact that in those disheartening situation if there was any ray of hope it
was from these very monasteries and the people of wisdom and knowledge who were
running these institutions. But, due to lack of organization these didn't prove
to be of any use because it was mostly traditional things or the knowledge that
was supposed to be transferred only in disciplic succession. Sources of Sufism
and spiritualism were mostly in the form of the sayings of the saints and most
of them pertained to the teachings of the articles of Islam and in that too
stories and biographical were predominating. The path that was made available
by the physical sciences was only guiding towards the material knowledge and material
progress.
Islam being a complete code of conduct is not against the material
advancement nor does it shun the material progress. Islam actually teaches that
worldly prosperity and comforts are the means of the completion of life but at
the same time it also demands that Muslims should not become the slaves of
these comforts and luxuries but they should also be striving for their personal
well being and spiritual development. And, this is the real purpose of one's
life in this world.
Qalander Baba Auliya wanted to compile a practicable and concise
document to acquaint the Muslims with their actual heritage of knowledge; the
knowledge of spiritualism. He often said, "Even after the lapse of 1400
years solid arrangements couldn't be made to teach the spiritual sciences or to
acquaint people with them. And, very naturally as a result we don't see even a
single book that could cater the needs of those who are desirous of learning
the mysteries of universe and wanted to know about the domains of spiritual
realms in simple and straight forward manner.
These were the feelings that lead him to decide to present the
principles of spiritual science in a very simple worded narration for the
guidance of the seekers of reality. For this noble purpose, he selected Khwaja
Sahib to start notes. It was decided that daily in the last part of the night
he would be dictating the contents and Khwaja Sahib would be taking notes for
one and a half an hour to two hours daily. And they got to work very soon after
it was decided.
Selection of Khwaja Sahib and making him to take note in the early
hours of morning is very meaningful in terms of its productivity. It has been
stated in the holy Quran,
"Their sides keep away from their beds and they call upon their
Lord in fear and hope and spend in charity out of what We have provided them.
And, no soul knows what joy of eyes has been kept hidden for the, the
recompense of their deeds." (Surah Sajda, V: 15-16)
They both used to get up at 3.30 am and would sit in an isolated
room away from all other meMbers of the family. Qalander Baba Auliya in his
typical soft tone would start saying what Khwaja Sahib had to pen down in a
thick register, engrossed and fully attentive.
If at any place Khwaja would not understand, he would merely lift
his .eyes from the register and look at Qalander Baba Auliya and he would
repeat what he was saying or describe and if he deemed it necessary made a
chart or map to indicate the various extraterrestrial realms and regions. This
sitting would last for about two hours.
Khwaja Sahib says, "If due to some reason I couldn't get up,
Qalander Baba Auliya, would come and awoke me." Sometime during taking
dictation he would even dose off and Qalander Baba Auliya would very politely
make him to be attentive. Remembering those delightful days, Khwaja Sahib has
many times said, "Those two years pass so very fast as if it was just on
sitting that completed so soon."
Khwaja Sahib takes great pride in having the privilege of taking the
notes of this remarkable work. When the book got completed Qalander Baba Auliya
revised it and made necessary amendments and then few copies were made after
getting them typed. These copies were made available with his ardent students
and followers.
Thus this book on the subject of the creation and Administration of
the cosmos was made available for the mankind. As Qalander Baba Auliya himself
said this is first ever book that contains the details and knowledge about the
spiritual science in an arranged and organized form.
The biggest of all qualities of this book is that it is presented in
the most eloquent manner in a simple worded narration. It is the clear headedness
of Qalander Baba Auliya, which made the most profound facts so very easily
understandable and a. quest reader's mind does not feel any ambiguity at any
place during the course of its reading. This work is a master piece of
simplicity and dept of knowledge.
Its language is most sophisticated and flowing like the water of a
brook that irrigates the minds of the readers and makes him to measure the
fathomless depths of the most sublime body of the knowledge that once used to
be considered most secretive and was taught to the most selected people.
Qalander Baba Auliya has said about this book that one who would
study ,it with an open mind and heart, with the desire of learning pure facts
about God, God would bless him with resources of equipping him with insight and
vision and he would enjoy the wealth of knowledge and the world.
(Contributed by Professor Sheikh
Faqir Mohammad)
Qalander Baba Auliya: An Introduction
Khwaja Shamsuddin Azeemi
Dedication
To that young generation that would 6ring an end to the dark shadows of grief and fear by acquainting mankind- with peace and tranquility after equipping itself with the teachings of Qalander Baba Auliya…. and man would-able to enter the heaven after reclaiming his eternal distinction.