7 Maqams of Surah Fatiha – Journey of the Soul – Part 2

January 27, 2022 January 27, 2022

From the Realities of Mawlana (Q) as taught by Shaykh Nurjan Mirahmadi

A’uzu Billahi Minash Shaitanir Rajeem
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the rejected one
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Alhamdulillahi Rabbil ‘aalameen, was salaatu was salaamu ‘alaa Ashraful Mursaleen, Sayyidina wa Mawlana Muhammadul Mustafa ﷺ. Madad ya Sayyidi ya Rasulul Kareem, Ya Habibul ‘Azeem, unzur halana wa ishfa’lana, ‘abidona bi madadikum wa nazarekum.

Being Guided to the Hands of Awliyaullah is a Great Blessing of Allah (AJ)

“A’udhu Billahi Minash Shaitanir Rajeem. Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem. Atiullaha wa atiur Rasul wa Ulil amre minkum,” and always a reminder for myself, Ya Rabbi, ana abdukal ‘ajeez, wa dayeef, wa miskin, wa zhalim, wa jahl.

﴾أَطِيعُواللَّه وَأَطِيعُوٱلرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ… ﴿٥٩…

4:59 – “…Atiullaha wa atiur Rasula wa Ulil amre minkum…” (Surat An-Nisa)

“… Obey Allah, Obey the Messenger, and those in authority among you…” (The Women, 4:59)

If not for Your Rahmah (mercy) and Your Grace that I cease to exist. That alhamdulillah, that Allah (AJ) granted us a tremendous gift to follow the ways of haqqaiq (realities) and to lead us to the hand of awliyaullah (saints). They (awliyaullah) are the shadow of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ upon this Earth and Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ the shadow of Allah (AJ) upon the Earth.

That alhamdulillah, Allah’s (AJ) great ni’mat (blessing) is whom Allah (AJ) guides is truly guided and whom Allah (AJ) does not guide will never find guidance.

مَن يَهْدِ اللَّـهُ فَهُوَ الْمُهْتَدِ ۖ وَمَن يُضْلِلْ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ وَلِيًّا مُّرْشِدًا…﴿١٧

18:17 – ” …Man yahdillahu fahuwal Muhtadi, wa man yudlil falan tajida lahu waliyyan murshida. (Surat al Kahf)

“… He whom Allah, guides is rightly guided; but he whom Allah leaves to stray,- for him you will never find Saintly Guide to the Right Way.” (The Cave, 18:17)

Heart of Holy Qur’an is Surat YaSeen; Heart of Surat YaSeen is Surat al Fatiha

From their teachings, alhamdulillah, that Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ is in a continuous Mi’raj (Ascension) into Divinely Presence of Allah (AJ). Awliyaullah and Ummat e Muhammad ﷺ (Nation of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ) are in a continuous Mi’raj into the heart of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ and in that Mi’raj they are in a Mi’raj through the Holy Qur’an.

Because, what do you find in the heart of Prophet ﷺ? It is the speech of Allah (AJ) – Manzil ul Qur’an – the location in which the Qur’an is emanating. The Divinely Speech of Allah (AJ) emanating from that Holy heart. ‘Ashiqeen (lovers), their arwah, their souls are in that heart of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ.

Their Mi’raj then is in the heart of Prophet ﷺ through Holy Qur’an. If Surat YaSeen is the heart of Holy Qur’an, Surat al Fatiha is the heart of Surat YaSeen. It means a door and an opening towards these realities.

Tremendous Reality of “Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem”

4 Bismillah Circle Calligraphy Alhamdulillah, we’ve been talking for the last week and a half that awliyaullah come into our lives and to teach us the tremendous reality of “Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem” – that’s given to no nation. That, all the uloom (knowledges) of Holy Qur’an, all the lights and power of Holy Qur’an is moving into these 30 juz (parts) – like a laser coming into 30 juz. Now they want to explain what’s happening with those 30 juz. It means that those 30 juz then are moving and dressing 7 darajahs (spiritual rank) of Surat al Fatiha. That, every Holy ayah (verse) of Surat al Fatiha from Holy Qur’an is dressing it.

All of Qur’an is in Surat al Fatiha

So it’s an immense reward in just the recitation of Surat al Fatiha. That you’ll find, every ayat al Qur’an can be filed away within these 7 verses. It means they’re speaking to the 7 verses and the realities of Surat al Fatiha. All of Surat al Fatiha, like a laser, is brought into “Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem.”

By just saying “Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem” you’re unfolding the realities of Surat al Fatiha upon the soul. And the Surat al Fatiha is unloading all the realities of the 30 juz. The 30 juz opening all the realities of Holy Qur’an upon the soul. Like a flower. So as soon as you recite, it begins to emanate all of its secrets.

Soul Begins at Lowest Gate and Journeys to the Pinnacle of Paradise

The soul is in a continuous journey and you see yourself in just your physical life. Those whom Allah (AJ) are guiding and granting real guidance, these are awliya (saints) who are Murshids (authorized spiritual guide). That, their soul is in a continuous journey. That Allah (AJ) has their souls and raising their darajah (spiritual rank). That they are not living an empty life of only physical, but at every moment Allah (AJ) is raising the darajah of their soul, taking them through unimaginable infinite realities.

So, then they come back into our life and begin to teach that these are the 7 maqams that Surat al Fatiha is dressing upon creation. We said before, “Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem” being the crown and the pinnacle of the journey. “Alhamdu lillaahi Rabbil ‘aalameen,” because they’re starting from the gate closest to dunya (material world) taking us up into the paradise, 7 paradises, which is in the Divinely Presence – “Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem.”

﴾بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿١﴾ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّـهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٢

1:1-2 – “Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem. Alhamdu lillaahi Rabbil ‘aalameen.” (Surat Al-Fatiha)

“In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds” (The Opener)

So, from had ad dunya (limit of the material world) the lowest level, “Siraatal lazeena an’amta ‘alaihim ghayrilmaghdoobi ‘alaihim wa lad daaalleen.”

﴾صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ ﴿٧

1:7 – “Siraatal lazeena an’amta ‘alaihim, ghayril maghdoobi ‘alayhim wa lad-daaalleen” (Surat Al-Fatiha)

“The path of those upon whom You have bestowed Your grace/favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” (The Opener, 1:7)

Seventh Maqam – Take the Way of Allah’s (AJ) Grace to Open the Heart

We said a couple nights, but in our world you repeat a hundred times and you’d be astonished each time what the soul understood. That people are hearing but really not understanding. So, Prophet ﷺ was teaching that keep repeating, keep repeating because it’s going to penetrate like cracking a walnut. That, people have a big defense upon their heart and upon their realty. That as you repeat, like a light, that it keeps hitting until it began to enter into the heart. That’s why the zawiyahs (spiritual schools of Sufism) and the khaneqahs (houses of Sufi Masters) of awliyaullah, they are from that reality. That, Allah (AJ) said that, ‘Take the way of My Grace and My Mercy, and not the way of My Anger, and not the way of those who have gone astray,’ (Holy Qur’an, Surat Al Fatiha, 1:7).

The Schools of Sufism Guide Those Who Have Gone Astray

So, we said before, then all the zawiyahs, what do you see in them? The way of Allah’s (AJ) Rahmah. Because their practices are all immense rahmah and mercy, and you’ll see filled within them those whom angered Allah (AJ) and who have gone astray because their belief was not the way Allah (AJ) wanted. Even if you say, ‘I am born into Islam,’ the practices were not of that reality in which Allah (AJ) was happy – and actions and character and bad akhlaaq (character).

You see people who you think to be pious, and they’re typing all sorts of crazy things now. They say crazy things, they talk in a way you can’t imagine. So, there’s your Islam. You say, ‘No shaykh, I’m born Muslim.’ This is not a title where you say, ‘I’m Versace and I have Polo. I’m Muslim.’ But its an action!

Our Love is Just a Drop From Allah’s (AJ) Immense Ocean of Mercy

Allah (AJ) is infinite rahmah! We talked last night, immense mercy and love for His beloved creation. Only you understand it once you have a family, once you have children. You realize that, no matter what your child does, you never want to rip its hands and feet and do horrible things to your children. You don’t even want to beat them. The only time you get angry at them is as a warning that, ‘Don’t go into the kitchen, don’t go near those hot pots. Because God forbid, if that fire should fall open you what am I going to do? I suffer more by seeing you in calamity, by seeing you in these mushkilat (difficulties).’ Allah (AJ) says, ‘I give you that love, you think you have more love than Me? It came from Me! If I didn’t send you that rahmah, you’d be cold as ice, worst than ice. Even ice is hot.’ It means where is that love coming from? It’s coming from Allah’s (AJ) oceans.

Spiritual Guides Reflect Allah’s (AJ) Mercy and Teach With Love and Happiness

Those who reach those darajahs, Allah (AJ) send them back down as a guide. ‘You reached My Rahmah, you understood My Rahmah. You understood the immense love I have for this creation, go back and be a caretaker of that ayat al Qur’an.’

That, ‘Make your path to be the path that I love. Do the actions that you know I love. Do the practices you know I love. Feed people, make them to do their belief. Encourage them through love, have majlis (gathering) of zikr (Divine remembrance), majlises of salawat and praising upon Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. Teach people good characteristics – not to cheat, not to steal, to be happy and smiley.’

SubhanAllah, wherever we go, our people are smiley people and other people say that why do these people think they’re the chosen people of paradise, they don’t smile. No teaching of akhlaaq and good manners. You’ve been to the centers, nobody smiles. Rows of chairs, and politicians looking, and everybody in the audience looks angry. If Allah (AJ) granted you the ni’mat of paradise, why are you so angry? You should be the happiest people – radiant like sunshine, smiling. Because even your smile is a sadaqah (charity) – from Prophet’s ﷺ teaching.

حَدَّثَنَا عَبَّاسُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَظِيمِ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا النَّضْرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْجُرَشِيُّ الْيَمَامِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عِكْرِمَةُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو زُمَيْلٍ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ مَرْثَدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ تَبَسُّمُكَ فِي وَجْهِ أَخِيكَ لَكَ صَدَقَةٌ …‏

Narrated by Abu Dharr that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “Your smiling in the face of your brother is charity…” [At Tirmidhi, Book 27, Hadith #62]

Accompany the Truthful to See The Realities of Holy Qur’an in Living Action

So, then they inspire that, ‘You make those zawiyahs a refuge and oasis for all the people I sent to you and don’t judge them! Help them, support them to the best of your ability. Guide them.’ That’s why then they come and they say, ‘Why are there so many different types of people, always new people, always guests?’ Because it’s real and Allah (AJ) says in Qur’an, ‘These are the people who are dressed from this Holy Qur’an because of their love of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. My Qur’an is real. It’s alive and it’s flowing. If you accompany them, you’ll see all of its realities in living action.’

﴾يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللّهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ ﴿١١٩

9:119 – “Ya ayyuhal ladheena amanoo ittaqollaha wa kono ma’as sadiqeen.” (Surat At-Tawbah)

“O you who have believed, have consciousness of Allah and be with those who are truthful/Pious/sincere (in words and deed).”  (The Repentance, 9:119)

So, then their zawiyahs and their locations are filled with whom Allah (AJ) wants them to be guided. So, if they dress them from that darajah, means that in every association your physicality is sitting there but your soul is moving with them.

Awliya are Ships of Light, Carrying Our Souls into the Mi’raj

As soon as their associations take place – whether they’re eating, whether they’re praying, whether they’re doing their zikr – their souls are from the oceans of Hayat (ever-living). They are not dead souls and they are not souls that are trapped within a body. Their soul is moving. The energy that people feel, whether in their presence or from a distance, is the movement of their arwah, their soul. So, their soul is Al-Hayat, is alive. Immediately it lifts, whatever Allah (AJ) is taking that soul and bringing it for its Mi’raj, everything like a ship is on their soul – moving because it’s the world of light.

Because people think from the world of form, ‘Oh shaykh we’re sitting here, you’re sitting here, we’re…’ No, no, no, no, no. These Masters who raised us, these zikrs are alive, their prayers are alive, their practices are alive. They’re continuously moving with their soul and their soul like a huge ship of light, that it leaves no one behind.

﴾وَآيَةٌ لَّهُمْ أَنَّا حَمَلْنَا ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ فِي الْفُلْكِ الْمَشْحُونِ ﴿٤١

36:41 – “Wa ayatul lahum anna hamalna dhurriyyatahum fil fulkil mashhooni.” (Surat YaSeen)

“And a sign for them is that we have carried their atoms/forefathers in the loaded ship.” (YaSeen, 36:41)

The Character of Awliya Shines Bright, Uplifting People With Their Light

We talked before, and in many different associations, their [awliya] character is better than the character of the sun. Better, because the sun is an imitated reality! The sun shines upon everyone. It’s Allah’s (AJ) mercy; He puts it on everyone. He doesn’t come to the beach and say, ‘I don’t like this guy, put a cloud over here and then shine over here.’ It shines, his job is shine. So, it means Allah (AJ) teaching, ‘Your job, shine! Regardless, it’s nothing to do with you, it’s not anything personal from you, has nothing to do with you.’ They send the light, you live a life of shining. As a result of shining, everybody is uplifted with those lights.

Divinely Knowledges are a Blessed Sustenance for the Soul

As soon as they give their knowledges, then again with the knowledge that’s been given, is like a food and a sustenance being thrown for the soul. We’ve said before that if you don’t know the address here, there’s no way you would have walked into that rahmah. So, when Allah (AJ) sends you a location, sends you a knowledge, sends you a name. Every secret has a name and every name has a secret. When Allah (AJ) gives you a rahmah and says, ‘Go to that address,’ means He has invited you to this ni’mat – means secrets that can’t be imagined.

But if you don’t have that address, you’re never going to find it. It’s like hidden. People say I’ve been driving back and forth for two years and I never went inside. Until what? Allah (AJ) granted a ni’mat and they came. There are people who walk, and it’s not just this association, these are all under these Masters. I’m nothing, a donkey for them, but they’re big and powerful awliyaullah. And you’re conducting an association under their flags, their flag under the flag of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ – “Wa maa arsalnaka illa Rahmatal lil’alameen.”

﴾وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ ﴿١٠٧

21:107 – “Wa maa arsalnaka illa Rahmatal lil’alameen.” (Surat Al-Anbiya)

“And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad (pbuh)], except as a mercy to the worlds/creation.” (The Prophets, 21:107)

Immense mercy of Prophet ﷺ, not what being portrayed on television because of the dajjal (man of deceit). His one eye, his box is one eye. Allah (AJ) say, ‘Your Lord is not one eyed.’ There are two eyes of rahmah and hayat that are dressing all of creation.

حَدَّثَنَا حَفْصُ بْنُ عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، أَخْبَرَنَا قَتَادَةُ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَنَسًا ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ” مَا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ مِنْ نَبِيٍّ إِلاَّ أَنْذَرَ قَوْمَهُ الأَعْوَرَ الْكَذَّابَ، إِنَّهُ أَعْوَرُ، وَإِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ لَيْسَ بِأَعْوَرَ، مَكْتُوبٌ بَيْنَ عَيْنَيْهِ كَافِرٌ “.

Narrated Anas (ra): The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Allah did not send any prophet but that he warned his nation of the one-eyed liar (Ad-Dajjal). He is one-eyed while your Lord is not one-eyed, The word ‘Kafir’ (unbeliever) is written between his two eyes.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 7408)

It means then they come to that immense mercy; they’re being uplifted through these surahs (chapters). So as soon as you come to the associations you see all these different categories of people – that is a isharah (sign) that you’re in one of those places.

Sixth Maqam – All Nations Seek Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ Intercession on Siratal Mustaqim (The Straight Path)

The next is “Alhamdu lillaahi Rabbil ‘aalameen, Ar-Rahmaanir-Raheem, Maaliki Yawmid-Deen, Iyyaaka na’budu wa lyyaaka nasta’een, Ihdinas-Siraatal-Mustaqeem.”

﴾الْحَمْدُ لِلَّـهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٢﴾ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿٣﴾ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ﴿٤﴾ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ﴿٥﴾ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ﴿٦

1:2-6 – “Alhamdu lillaahi Rabbil ‘aalameen (2). Ar-Rahmaanir-Raheem (3). Maaliki Yawmid-Deen (4). Iyyaaka na’budu wa lyyaaka nasta’een (5). Ihdinas-Siraatal-Mustaqeem (6).” (Surat Al-Fatiha)

“In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful (1). Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds (2); Most Gracious, Most Merciful (3); Master of the Day of Judgment (4). Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek (5). Show us the straight way (6). (The Opener, 1:2-6)

Then they’re going to clarify for everyone’s life, ‘Take a path of Siratal Mustaqim – the straight and narrow.’ Then the external describe that, ‘It is a blade in which you have to walk that blade and not be cut.’ Oh, the haqqaiq of Siratal Mustaqim means then, ‘It is the path in which Allah (AJ) is completely satisfied.’ We’ve said before, every Prophet (as) is in need of the intercession of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. When they come to Sayyidina Adam (as), said, ‘I sinned, and brought to Earth. How with that sin I’m going to carry all of creation? I’m in need.’ Sayyidina Adam (as) said, ‘Let’s go to Sayyidina Nuh (as).’ All the big Prophets (as). And they go to Sayyidina Nuh (as) and said that, ‘I am in need because when I got fed up with my nation, I told Allah (AJ) take them and finish them,’ and Allah (AJ) sent a flood and destroyed the nation of Sayyidina Nuh (as).

How the difference of Sayyidina Nuh (as) and Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ! That, until his feet bleeding and crying for his nation. Not the Holy Companions, that he blessed them and dressed them with infinite lights, but all the nation that would come and all the responsibility that would be under Prophet ﷺ. And seeing that their darajahs would never reach, but Prophet ﷺ wanted for them and he cried for them, made intercession for them, nazar (gaze) upon them, upon us right now. Prophet’s ﷺ, at that time, nazar was upon us and our reality – Uloom ul awaleen wal akhireen (knowledges of the beginning and the end) – completely knowing exactly everything that Allah (AJ) wants Prophet ﷺ to know. That is the immense mercy of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ.

Awliya Guide Us on the Path to Follow Prophet’s ﷺ Footsteps

It means then what in your life could you imagine as Siratal Mustaqim? Must be the Sirat (Path), the way of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ, the qadam and the footstep of Prophet ﷺ. Then they come and say that, ‘Make your life in the qadam (footstep) of Prophet ﷺ, completely follow the footsteps of Prophet ﷺ.’ That, he alayhis salatu salaam is a rahmah. That, he alayhis salatu salaam is a mercy.

﴾وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ ﴿١٠٧

21:107 – “Wa maa arsalnaka illa Rahmatal lil’alameen.” (Surat Al-Anbiya)

“And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad (pbuh)], except as a mercy to the worlds/creation.” (The Prophets, 21:107)

That every perfume and every beauty of Prophet ﷺ, by following these awliya. Because other people say, ‘Oh yeah, they’re following Prophet ﷺ, but they are very angry.’ Prophet ﷺ wasn’t known for being angry. So, what you follow must be dressing you. So, if you say you’re in the sun all day, but you don’t have a tan, something is wrong. This dunya, say, ‘Shaykh I’m all day in the sun,’ but you look like you’ve been hiding from the sun because you don’t have a tan. What do you think then about the Sun of Prophet ﷺ, the light and the nur of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ? If you’re truly following and Prophet ﷺ is reflecting to you, you have to be fragranced with that light, with that love, with that beauty. So, that everything is attracted to that fragrance, to that light, and to that love, and to that beauty.

Awliyaullah are Amongst You as Inheritors of Prophet’s ﷺ Light and Mercy

Those are the awliyaullah who are inheriting “Feekum.”

﴾كَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا فِيكُمْ رَسُولًا مِّنكُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتِنَا وَيُزَكِّيكُمْ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَيُعَلِّمُكُم مَّا لَمْ تَكُونُوا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿١٥١

2:151 – “Kama arsalna feekum Rasulan minkum yatlo ‘Alaykum ayatina wa yuzakkeekum wa yu’Allimukumul kitaba walhikmata wa yu’Allimukum ma lam takono ta’Alamon.” (Surat Al-Baqarah)

“Just as We have sent among (within) you a messenger of your own, reciting to you Our Signs, and purifying you, and teaching you the Book/Scripture (Quran) and Wisdom, and teaching you New Knowledge, that which you did not know.” (The Cow, 2:151)

That they’re amongst you, because they’re the drops from Prophet’s ﷺ heart. When they reached, Allah (AJ) gave them their dress and said, ‘Go back down now to humanity and lift them up because you’re inheriting from “Wa maa arsalnaka illa Rahmatal lil’alameen.”

﴾وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ ﴿١٠٧

21:107 – “Wa maa arsalnaka illa Rahmatal lil’alameen.” (Surat Al-Anbiya)

“And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad (pbuh)], except as a mercy to the worlds/creation.” (The Prophets, 21:107)

You’re walking lovers of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. Their souls are ‘ashiqeen. Wherever they go, they carry the light of Prophet ﷺ, the character of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ in their darajahs and in their levels of perfection. As a result, their associations are from Siratal Mustaqim and they’re teaching people that all the ayahs (verses) of Qur’an that are describing Siratal Mustaqim, are dressing that ayah. What a power!

Sixth Maqam of Siratal Mustaqim (The Straight Path) & Realities of Fattabioni (Following)

So when you’re reciting Siratal Mustaqim, every ayah of Qur’an that Allah (AJ) wants to give guidance and understanding and to the ‘Azhamat ul Nabi ﷺ and to the perfection of the path, because Allah’s (AJ) love is for insan (human being). That, My love for Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ, “Qul in kuntum tuhibbon Allaha, fattabi’oni.”

﴾قُلْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّوْنَ اللَّـهَ فَاتَّبِعُوْنِيْ يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّـهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوْبَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٣١

3:31 – “Qul in kuntum tuhibbon Allaha fattabi’oni, yuhbibkumullahu wa yaghfir lakum dhunobakum wallahu Ghaforur Raheem.” (Surat Ali-Imran)

“Say, [O Muhammad], “If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (Family of Imran, 3:31)

Be From Tabi’yeen (Followers) and Enter the Oceans of Obedience

So it means that ayah, that’s why you see them using very specific ayahs of Qur’an, because in these darajahs those ayahs are dressing the souls of the people who are coming. They keep saying and repeating and repeating and every time they’re repeating, then these big awliyaullah are dressing their people. They’re dressing, Ya Rabbi by the haq (truth) and the reality of Your Holy Qur’an, “Qul in kuntum tuhibbon Allaha, fattabioni” (Holy Qur’an, 3:31). Our whole life is fattabioni (follow), to be the tabi’yeen (followers). Be those whom followed and enter into the oceans of itiba’ and obedience. Itiba’ is obedience. Now you go to the masjid, there is no obedience. Everybody is rude. Everybody talks against the imam (religious leader), everybody does all sorts of crazy actions, that’s not itiba’. This is not Siratal Mustaqim.

Obedience to Awliyaullah is Obedience to Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ

Itiba’ – could you ask the Sahabi (Holy Companions of Prophet ﷺ) and would they dare say anything against Prophet ﷺ? Never! Because of their love, extreme love! What’s the difference? If somebody’s carrying a Muhammadan Light, nurul anwar wa sirratal asrar (light of every secret and secret of every light) in the days of perfection. What a respect they had for that light and the love and the ihtiram (respect) they had for Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ! These people carry that light; these ulama (scholars), they carry these lights. They would be a tabi’yeen, they would have exemplified itiba’, ‘Follow with obedience, with good character, with good manners, not to be rebellious.’

Honour the Sunnah of Prophet ﷺ with Extreme Reverence

All the words of the Jum’ah (Friday prayer). That’s why we say we have to start reciting things in English because this is about spreading the reality of Islam and not spreading Arabic. Now it’s just reciting, everybody wants to recite in Arabic, nobody understands any of the English. All of the Khutbah al Jum’ah, is about having the best of character – not cheating, not stealing, not deceiving, not having any evilness. But because nobody knows what’s being recited, they sit there good 35-40-45 minutes and leave. Said, ‘Do you not understand what was just recited?’ No crookedness, all praising upon Prophet ﷺ and all warning the jama’ (group) don’t cheat, don’t steal, don’t be crooked people!

We’re ambassadors of Allah’s (AJ) most beloved creation, it’s not something small. So, then Siratal Mustaqim is an entire ocean. That, through your akhlaaq and your character, carry the sunnah of Prophet ﷺ as your most honourable gift. Not a hat that you fight with, one day you wear it one day you don’t. One day you have it, one day you just like a battle zone with you and your hat. No, Allah (AJ) is saying, ‘I gave you the honour to imitate My most beloved creation. I gave you such an immense honour. You carry it with all the honour that you can imagine.’ It means they even carried their sunnah with extreme reverence of Prophet ﷺ.

Learn Deep Knowledges From the Golden Chain of Shaykhs

Their shaykhs keep putting into their heart, ‘Prophet ﷺ is watching you! How you can cheat? How you can steal? How you can lie to people? How you can try to deceive people?’ You don’t see there’s two angels watching you, the jinn (unseen beings) watching you? You must know Prophet ﷺ is watching you! That’s why then you Tazkiratul Awliya (Biographies of the Saints), and you read the stories of Tazkiratul Awliya. Shaykh Abdul Qadir (Q) brought all his students, bigger story but I won’t go into that. Anyway, he had thousands and thousands and they called said that, ‘Ya Sayyidi, that we have something happening, we need some of your students, they’re all around you all the time.’ He said, ‘No, I only have two students, the rest you can take.’

We won’t go into that story. But when he wanted to test his students, he gave them all a chicken and says, ‘I’m asking you, slaughter this chicken where Allah (AJ) won’t see you.’ ‘Ok, na‘am Sayyidi.‘ They thought they were clever. ‘We’re going to go around and look for a place in which we can slaughter the chicken, and Allah (AJ) won’t see us.’ All of them disturbed themselves, looking and hiding and going here going there. And the one, who has a heart that’s open, was just sitting and waiting there. Said, ‘Why aren’t you taking your chicken to go see where Allah (AJ) doesn’t see you?’ He said, ‘Ya Sayyidi, where Allah (AJ) is not going to see me?’ It means he realized that the level of his faith is perfected. Allah (AJ) is seeing everything!

Keep Seeking Forgiveness for Your Mistakes and Shortcomings

So, Siratal Mustaqim is an immense ocean in which awliyaullah are dressing that, ‘Keep the honour of Prophet ﷺ, keep the love of Prophet ﷺ. That, keep the akhlaaq and the character of Prophet ﷺ.’ Every time you make a mistake, go back and cry that, ‘Ya Rabbi, I’m not keeping that honour, I’m not keeping that way. Grant me good character, take away my bad character. Let me to be something pleasing in the eyes of Prophet ﷺ.’ So that he looks with the happiness, not look with an anger, not look with disappointment – that’s not the nazar that we want. We want the nazar of Prophet’s ﷺ happiness and rida and satisfaction upon us.

اِلَهِى اَنْتَ مَقْصُوْدِيْ وَرِضَاكَ مَطْلُوْبِيْ

“Illahi anta maqsodi, wa Ridaka Matlobi.”

“My God, You are my aim, and Your Satisfaction is what I seek.”

That nazar melts away everything, melts away all difficulty, melts away every mushkilat, and raise that person with muhabbat and love, and to the nearness.

Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ Draws Us Nearer When We Struggle to Keep the Love

Everything is Holy Hadith, ‘You’ll be with whom you love.’

عَنْ أَنَسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: ‏… فَقَالَ (رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ): ‏”‏ أَنْتَ مَعَ مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ.‏”
[اَلْمَصْدَرْ: مُسْلِمْ:. ٧٥٢٠]

‘An Anasin (ra): … Faqala (Rasulullahi) ﷺ: “Anta ma’a man ahbabta.”

Narrated Anas ibn Malik (ra) that …the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “You will be with whom you love.” [Source: Muslim 7520]

When Prophet ﷺ sees the character is struggling so hard to reach that satisfaction, the love and the rahmah of Prophet’s ﷺ nazar, the lights of the soul like the sunshine, dresses that soul and brings that soul to be more and more present. That, ‘I understand your love, I know that you’re struggling with your character. At least by that love, you’re drawing closer to me.’

Sixth Maqam of Siratal Mustaqim (The Straight Path) & Realities of Surat Al Fath (The Victory)

Then all the Holy verses of Holy Qur’an, in just the maqam of Siratal Mustaqim. Surat al Fath, the 48^th surah, is an immense ocean of reality. “Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem, Innaa fatahna laka fatham mubina.” We have granted you, Prophet ﷺ, a manifest and immense victory. Prophet ﷺ is the Mubin. Prophet ﷺ is the Victory, “Liyaghfira lakaallaahu maa taqaddama min dhanbika wa maa taakhkhara.” That Allah (AJ) may forgive you your faults because Siratal Mustaqim.

﴾إِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًا مُّبِينًا ﴿١﴾ لِّيَغْفِرَ لَكَ اللَّـهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِن ذَنبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ وَيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكَ وَيَهْدِيَكَ صِرَاطًا مُّسْتَقِيمًا ﴿٢

48:1-2 – “Innaa fatahna laka fatham mubina. (1) Liyaghfira lakaallaahu maa taqaddama min dhanbika wa maa taakhkhara wa yutimma ni’matahu ‘alayka wa yahdiyaka siraathan mustaqima. (2)” (Surat Al-Fath)

“Indeed, We granted you, [O Muhammad], a manifest Victory. (1) That Allah may forgive you your faults of the past and those to follow; and fulfil His favor upon you and guide you to a straight path. (2) (The Victory, 48:1-2)

Now they want us to understand that when you’re truly on the steps of Prophet ﷺ and immense love for Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ, and Allah (AJ) say, “Qul in kuntum tuhibbon Allaha, fattabi’oni.” That tell them if they want My love, follow you, “yuhbibkumullahu.”

3:31 – “Qul in kuntum tuhibbon Allaha fattabi’oni, yuhbibkumullahu wa yaghfir lakum dhunobakum wallahu Ghaforur Raheem.” (Surat Ali-Imran)

“Say, [O Muhammad], “If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (Family of Imran, 3:31)

Allah (AJ) Forgives All Your Faults and Guides You to the Straight Path

Allah (AJ) then in Surat al Fath, the 48^th Surah, is describing what that love is going to be? That, ‘Allah (AJ) will forgive you your faults, of the past and everything to follow.’ From the past and everything to follow! “Wa min dhanbika wa maa taakhkhara,” from the past and everything to follow. “Wa yutimma ni’matahu ‘alayka wa yahdiyaka siraathan mustaqima” (Holy Qur’an, 48:2). This is Siratal Mustaqim. ‘And He will fulfill all His favors upon you.’ Forgive you all your past sins, forgive you all your future sins and complete His ni’mat.

People don’t understand what ni’mat is. It means what Allah (AJ) created you, with what darajah Allah (AJ) expected for you, with what blessings Allah (AJ) wanted to grant to you. And most definitely we came on Earth and we fell short. We got mixed up, we, ‘Oh my gosh all these nice things, forget about it.’ We forgot the contract that we made with Allah (AJ). Allah (AJ) saying, ‘Because of your love for Prophet ﷺ, he alayhis salatu salam is My Clear Victory. There is no one more victorious to attach yourself to than the love of Prophet ﷺ. So, I forgive all your faults of the past, all your faults of the future and I’m going to guide you to the straight path.’ That is a victory from Allah (AJ).

Allah (AJ) Grants a Mighty Victory Through the Gaze of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ

Then Allah (AJ) seals that reality, “Wa yansurakAllahu nasran ‘aziza,” that I’m going to support you with a mighty support.

﴾وَيَنصُرَكَ اللَّـهُ نَصْرًا عَزِيزًا ﴿٣

48:3 – “Wa yansurakAllahu nasran ‘aziza.” (Surat Al-Fath)

“And [that] Allah may help you with a mighty victory.” (The Victory, 48:3)

‘Aziz, Allah’s (AJ) sifat al ‘Aziz, that nothing can stop sifat al ‘Aziz. When Allah (AJ) want to send, send sifat al ‘Aziz like the enforcer of heavens. Allah (AJ) ordering it, it’s going to come, no matter through what it’s going to arrive to that servant. Allah (AJ) saying, “Wa yansurakAllahu nasran ‘aziza,” I’m going to support you with an immense support. Why? Because you’re on a Siratal Mustaqim and you’re a lover of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ and Prophet’s ﷺ nazar upon you. It means you’ve been granted victory – the victory of the vision and the nazar of the soul of Prophet ﷺ is watching over you.

Fifth to Fourth Maqam – Soul Achieves Tawheed and Journeys to Mawt Qablil Mawt (Death of Desires Before Physical Death)

Then it opens up the next maqam, “Alhamdu lillaahi Rabbil ‘aalameen, Ar-Rahmaanir-Raheem, Maaliki Yawmid-Deen, Iyyaaka na’budu wa lyyaaka nasta’een.”

﴾بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿١﴾ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّـهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٢﴾ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿٣﴾ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ﴿٤﴾ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ﴿٥

1:1-6 – “Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem (1). Alhamdu lillaahi Rabbil ‘aalameen (2). Ar-Rahmaanir-Raheem (3). Maaliki Yawmid-Deen (4). Iyyaaka na’budu wa lyyaaka nasta’een (5).” (Surat Al-Fatiha)

Now at that maqam their faith and their practices are reaching perfection. They’re taslim (submission) to Allah (AJ), acceptance of Allah (AJ) and what Allah (AJ) ordained for them in perfection. All the way up to that reality of Surat al Faitha, “Alhamdu lillaahi Rabbil ‘aalameen, Ar-Rahmaanir-Raheem, Maaliki Yawmid-Deen.” It means once their faith was in tawheed (oneness), Allah (AJ) raised their soul to the reality of “Maaliki Yawmid-Deen.” It means everything about you, mawt qablil mawt (death of desires before physical death) that everything is dying. That Allah (AJ) going to take you to your paradise reality, begin to witness the reality of “Maaliki Yawmid-Deen,” but what Allah (AJ) dressing from that reality?

Third to Second Maqam – Soul is Lit by Sifat ar-Rahman & Sifat ar-Raheem and Makes Continuous Praise of Allah (AJ)

Then raise the servant to “Ar-Rahmaanir-Raheem.” Why? Because Sifat ar-Rahman (attribute of The Most Compassionate) is going to give a light upon their soul. Sifat ar-Raheem (attribute of The Most Merciful) is going to make them from oceans of Al-Hayat and then take them to, “Alhamdu lillaahi Rabbil ‘aalameen.”

﴾ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّـهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٢﴾ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿٣

1:2-3 – Alhamdu lillaahi Rabbil ‘aalameen (2). Ar-Rahmaanir-Raheem (3).” (Surat Al-Fatiha)

“Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds (2); Most Gracious, Most Merciful (3) (The Opener)

At that level, this is the important one because we’re trying to reach towards the baab (door) of “Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem.” If your soul is from “Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil ‘aalameen,” then everything about your reality is wishing only to praise and be in continuous praise.

So we gave the example before that if you were to meet the angels, what would they be doing? There would never be a state of heedlessness. This means they don’t talk about anything other than praising Allah (AJ); they don’t do anything other than praising Allah (AJ). Their whole existence is about how to praise Allah (AJ). So, when people come and say, that why you guys have to sit so long for zikr? Why do you have to do zikr so many times? Why do you have to go to the masjid? What should I be doing? Go to hang out at a sports pub? What should I be doing? My entire being, its only satisfaction is “Dhikrillahi tatma’innul Qulob.”

﴾الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللَّـهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّـهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ ﴿٢٨

13:28 – “Alladheena amano wa tatma’innu Qulobu hum bidhikrillahi, ala bi dhikrillahi tatma’innul Qulob.” (Surat Ar-Ra’d)

“Those who believe, and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah. For without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction.” (The Thunder, 13:28)

My only satisfaction is in the remembrance of Allah (AJ). My sustenance and my energy, all comes from the remembrance of Allah (AJ). It means that, that servant then is a reality from “Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil ‘aalameen.” The servant that doesn’t want to praise Allah (AJ), doesn’t want to take from that energy, doesn’t want to attend those associations, doesn’t want anything to do with that, then they have to understand the darajah that they didn’t reach to that.

Shaykhs are Walking Surat al Fatiha and Their Souls Understand the Praise of Everything

Because these are now, the soul is dressing and dressing and dressing, they walk with the lights of Surat al Faitha – bi sirri Surat al Faitha. When they recite Surat al Fatiha, it means Allah (AJ) dress them from the secret of Surat al Fatiha. They’re walking Surat al Fatiha for you. That, their soul is “Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil ‘aalameen.” While Allah (AJ) describe “Yusabbihu bihamdihi“ – everything is praising Me, but you don’t have the ability to understand except the Ahle Tafakkur (People of Contemplation). Only the people of tafakkur (contemplation) understood that there is a hamd and praise for everything.

﴾تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ السَّمَاوَاتُ السَّبْعُ وَالْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّ ۚ وَإِن مِّن شَيْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّهُ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا ﴿٤٤

17:44 – “Tusabbihu lahus samawatus sab’u wal ardu wa man fee hinna wa in min shayin illa yusabbihu bihamdihi wa lakin la tafqahoona tasbeehahum innahu kana haleeman ghafoora.” (Surat Al-Isra)

“The seven heavens and the earth and whatever is in them exalt [praises] Him. And there is not a thing except that it exalts [Allah] by His praise, but you do not understand their [way of] exalting. Indeed, He is ever Forbearing and Forgiving.” (The Night Journey 17:44)

Everything Tells the Servants of Allah (AJ) About its Purpose in Creation

Their lights and their souls, when Allah (AJ) dress them from “Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil ‘aalameen,” they have the understanding of the hamd (praise) of everything in Allah’s (AJ) creation. Every plant will give its hamd to them and describe what it was made for. Everything has a praise. This wood is in a praise, this plant is in a praise, this metal is in a praise, every animal has a praise. ‘Everything…’ Allah (AJ) says, ‘…is praising Me,’ from its smallest wujud (existence). The servant of “Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil ‘aalameen” understands the praise of everything. When Allah (AJ) wants them, they understand the praise of everything. So before their medicine was you didn’t have to go to pharmacist, they could walk through the jungle or the forest and each plant would tell them, ‘O servant of Allah (AJ)! Allah (AJ) created me for this purpose. Don’t eat me I’m poisonous! I take away this sickness, eat me! I’m for this.’ Everything has a praise!

First Maqam – Enter the Reality of Bismillah by Imam Ali’s (as) Gate

Only at that time, then they can enter now towards the door of the ba. Because Prophet ﷺ described, ‘I am the city of knowledge, and Imam Ali (as) is the door – the baabuha.’ He is the gatekeeper for that door of the ba for the servant to enter into those realities.

“قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ “أَنَا مَدِيْنَةُ الْعِلْمٍ وَ عَلِيٌّ بَابُهَا

Qala RasulAllah ﷺ, “Ana madinatul ‘ilmin wa ‘Aliyyun baabuha.”

“I am the city of knowledge and ‘Ali (as) is its door/gatekeeper.” Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

We pray that Allah (AJ) give us long life and dress us from these realities, bless us from these realities, and to take us to that baab, inshaAllah.

Subhana rabbika rabbal ‘izzati ‘amma yasifoon, wa salaamun ‘alal mursaleen, walhamdulillahi rabbil ‘aalameen. Bi hurmati Muhammad al-Mustafa wa bi siri Surat al-Fatiha.

Special thanks to our transcribers for their help with transcribing this suhbah.

Original Date of Suhbah: February 6, 2017

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