Rajab Shaban Ramadan Arabic and English feature image

Realities of The Face, Presence, Essence – Part 1

November 10, 2014 April 24, 2022

Three Alifs in Insan

اِنْ سَ انِ

From The Teachings of Mawlana Shaykh (Q) as Taught by Shaykh Sayed Nurjan Mirahmadi

The Three Alifs of Insan Represent Three Honour

There are three alifs in the word insan (human being). The first alif from right is the first letter of the word insan, the second alif is hidden in the word naar of the second noon from left, and the third alif is the one right before the first noon of nur (light) from left. The three alifs represent the three ‘Izzat (honour); Honor of Allah (AJ), Prophet (saw), and the believers, ‘Izzatullah wa li Rasuli wal Mumineen’.

﴾وَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ… ﴿٨

63:8 – “…Wa Lillahil ‘izzatu wa li Rasooli hi wa lil Mumineen…” (Surat Al-Munafiqoon)

“…And to Allah belongs [all] honor, and to His messenger, and to the believers…” (The Hypocrites, 63:8)

Our shaykhs are teaching us that when we are dressed by the nur (light) of the first noon (from left) and the sir (secret) of the seen, then they take us to that second noon, to be a source of light – naar. At that time you are in the presence of the alif (last alif from left of insan). They take you all the way to the Presence of that alif (last alif from left) and that is Izzatullah (Allah’s (AJ) Might and Magnificence). The hidden alif in the naar is the Izzat ar-Rasul and Izzat al-Mumineen is the first alif from the left (of the word insan).

REALITIES OF RAJAB, SHA’BAN , AND RAMADAN

How the Three Alifs Represent the Three Holy Months

Atiullaha wa atiur Rasola wa Ulil amre minkum is also in the word of insan. The first alif of insan (from right of the word insan), is Atiullah which is the holy month of Rajab (Allah’s (AJ) month).

﴾ياأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُواللَّه وَأَطِيعُوٱلرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ…﴿٥٩

4:59 – “Ya ayyu hal latheena amanoo Atiullaha wa atiur Rasola wa Ulil amre minkum…” (Surat An-Nisa)

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

The second alif is hidden in the naar of second noon and that means atiur Rasul, which is the holy month of Shaban. The third alif which sometimes it’s written as fatha in Arabic is the ulil amre minkum, which is the month of Ramadan.

Then follow ulil amr (those in authority), and Husn ur Rafiqa (those who follow the ulil amr). Then when you sit in Lailatul Qadr (Night of Power) in Ramadan, you will be dressed by these lights. The light described for that night of power is from these realities of Rajab and Shaban. From the barakat (blessing) of tariqa (spiritual path), awliya (saints) are always dressed by these realities of Lailatul Qadr.

Prophet Muhammad’s Blessings of Mir’aj Will Rain Upon Us

The only way to get to Izzatullah (Allah’s (AJ) Might and Magnificence), is through Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh)’s M’iraj (Night of Ascension), which is the night of the 27^th of Rajab. Wherever Prophet (pbuh) is moving in his M’iraj (Ascension), he is dressing us with it. He (pbuh) pierces to go up to heavens and beyond and what rains as a result are the blessings upon our souls. Therefore, his (pbuh) prescription for us is to fast and wait; these realities will rain upon you.

Then in the month of Shaban, Prophet (saw) will dress us from his realities as it is his month. Sayyidina Muhammad (saw) said:

رَجَبٌ شَهْرُ اللَّهِ ، وَشَعْبَانُ شَهْرِي ، وَرَمَضَانُ شَهْرُ أُمَّتِي

Rajabu shahr ullahi, wa Sha’banu shahryi, wa ramadanu shahru Ummati.

Rajab is the month of Allah, Sha’ban is my month, and Ramadan is the month of my followers.

Lailatul Bara’ah in Shaban Showers Us With Divine Mercy

One of the significant features of the month of Shaban is that it consists of a night which is termed in sha’riah (Divine Law) as Lailatul Bara’ah (Night of Salvation); the night of freedom from fire. This is the night occurring between the 14^th and 15^th day of Shaban. Traditions of Prophet Muhammad (saw) prove that it is a meritorious night in which the people of the earth are attended by special Divine Mercy. The 15^th of Shaban is also the midpoint; the 45^th day of these 90 holy days (Months of Rajab, Sha’ban, and Ramadan). The 15^th of Shaban, Lailatul Bara’ah is the spiritual New Year. Therefore, we are asked to pray salatul Khair, which consists of 100 rakat (cycle) and to read Surat YaSeen (chapter 36 of Qur’an) three times with a special dua (supplication) and with the following intentions:

1.   Read with the niyyat (intention) for Long Life.
2.   Read with the niyyat (intention) for Protection from calamities.
3.   Read with the niyyat (intention) for not being needy to anyone except Allah.

In Surat al-Qadr, Allah (AJ) says, “Tanazzalul malaikatu war Roh”.

﴾تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّ‌وحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَ‌بِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ‌ ﴿٤

97:4 – “Tanazzalul malaikatu war Roh, fiha beizne Rabbihim min kulle amr.” (Surat Al-Qadr)

“The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every Command/affair.” (The Power 97:4)

Lailatul Qadr in Ramadan Dresses Us With the Best of Gifts

This tanzil (descent) is raining whatever Prophet (saw) pierced in his m’iraj in the month of Rajab. It rains upon us and perfects our souls in Lailatul Qadr (Night of Power). Allah (AJ) says, ‘If you can reach that reality and We dress you from that secret and that light, you have been dressed by the best of gifts.’ Allah (AJ) says, “Laylatul Qadre khairum min alfe shahr“

﴾لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ‌ خَيْرٌ‌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ‌ ﴿٣

97:3 – “Laylatul Qadre khairum min alfe shahr.” (Surat Al-Qadr)

“The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.” (The Power, 97:3)

Therefore, Allah (AJ) says if you get the blessings of Lailatul Qadr (Night of Power), it is a life time achievement. That is because the blessings of 1000 months promised in surat al-Qadr (Qur’an, 97:3) equals to 83 years. It means it’s better than your entire lifetime, if you can achieve that light. Why Allah says 1000 months? That is because you get light of holy Qur’an which is from Izzatullah (Allah’s (AJ) Might and Magnificence). We pray that Allah (AJ) open these lights and realities for us.

These Holy Nights Open the Heart to Witness the Holy Face

All of these holy nights, Mawlana Shaykh is teaching for us to safeguard and to cherish, is merely to be dressed by them. If you don’t feel anything, it doesn’t matter. What is important is to sit and wait and to imitate their way. To be dressed and dressed and dressed by these lights until the dress is enough on the soul that the eye of the heart and the eye of soul can begin to move. It has its qudra (power) and it has its cleanliness of which the eye of the heart opens and begins to witness their holy face. And from their Face, it begins to witness their holy Presence. And from there, it’s like a spark into the Divine Essence.

We pray that in this holy month of Rajab, Allah (AJ) open for us from Izzatullah, and in Shaban from the izzat ar-Rasul and in Ramadan from izzat al-mumineen, and to be dressed by these lights and blessings.

FACE, PRESENCE, AND ESSENCE

Insan Kamel – The Perfected Being (saws)

Realities of Number Three
Allah (AJ) is the Creator. Prophet Muhammad (saw) is created from Allah (AJ)’s Holy Attribute of Al-Nur (Light). The creation then takes from Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) light, as everything is created from the light of Prophet (saw). All of creation is from the number three. That is why we repeat everything three times in our practices such as saying shahada (testimony of faith) three times.

How the Three Alifs Symbolize the Divinely Essence, Presence and Face

It means everything we contemplate and all of these realities are in that word insan. The three alifs in the word insan (human being) are for the three Izzat (honour) mentioned earlier. Izzatullahi, wa Izzatir Rasule hi, wa Izzatil Mumineen; Allah’s (AJ) Might and Magnficence, Prophet’s (saw) honour, and believers’ honour).

﴾وَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلَكِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٨

63:8 – “…Wa Lillahil ‘izzatu wa li Rasooli hi wa lil Mumineena wa lakinnal munafiqeena la y’alamoon..”(Surat Al-Munafiqoon)

“…And to Allah belongs [all] honor, and to His messenger, and to the believers, but the hypocrites do not know.” (The Hypocrites, 63:8)

It begins to describe three main realities of Divinely Essence, Divinely Presence and Divinely Face.

Connecting the Three Holy Months to the Divinely Essence, Presence and Face

This reality could be described in the three holy months of Islamic Hijri calendar: Rajab, Shaban and Ramadan. To reach to that Divinely ‘Izzat and Divinely Essence, which is the secret of Rajab, it is hidden within the presence of Shaban, which is the prophetic reality, the prophetic reality of Sayyidina Muhammad (saw) and all the prophets. The secret of Ramadan is the holy Face. Everything we are approaching has a face. From its face, it has a presence and within that presence, there must be a secret. Those who are clever enough to move to the ocean of that Presence, they dive in towards its secret. The reality of Rajab is the Divinely Essence. The reality of Shaban is the Divinely Presence and the reality of Ramadan is the Divinely Face.

Rajab = Light of the Essence
Shaban = Light of the Presence
Ramadan = Light of the Face [surah]

Everything Perishes But the Holy Face Holy Quran 28:88

Face is that which you see. Face is what draws you in to the Presence. Then the Presence draws you to the Essence. Allah (AJ) said in holy Qur’an that, ‘Everything perishes but the Holy Face.’ Therefore, we study the face.

كُلُّ شَيْءٍ هَالِكٌ إِلَّا وَجْهَهُ لَهُ الْحُكْمُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ

… kullu shayin halikun illa wajhahu la hulhukmu wa ilayhi turja`oon (Surat Al Qasas 28:88)

… Everything (that exists) will perish except His countenance (Face). To Him belongs the Command, and to Him ye (all) will be brought back. (Ch. 28:88)

From Mawlana Shaykh’s teaching for tafakkur (contemplation) is to go deep into these realities. Everything is perishing, so don’t focus on that which perishes but focus on that which is eternal. If you meditate and focus on a tree or focus on a tomato or focus on a something from this dunya (material world), it’s perishing. Then Divine is reminding us that why do you focus on that which perishes and is perishable? By its nature, everything perishable is false. That which is eternal is only to be worshipped. That which is eternal should be our entire focus.

We Must Strive to Reach the Divinely Essence

What do you do with the three Izzat (Might); Might of Allah, His prophet (saw), and the Believers? What do you do with the Divinely Knowledge that you learn? The knowledge is there to draw you in. You learn a reality and it draws you in with that reality. It is one thing to learn this knowledge, but what you want is to reach to the Divinely Essence.

To Access the Secret in the Room, You Must Enter the Door

Another analogy would be a room. You have to move through the door, for the door opens the room. The guest is not stopping in the room, but moving towards the secret within that room, which is the Holy Essence. To get to the Presence which is the room, you need to enter through a door. Then you can go to the Essence inside the room. You will witness whatever Allah (AJ) and Prophet (pbuh) want to show you from that Essence. It doesn’t mean you reach the Essence, but what Allah (AJ) wants from you is to get to the Presence. You can get to the Presence through the door (face).

Door = Face
Room = Presence
Secret In the room = Essence

﴾يُؤْتِي الْحِكْمَةَ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَن يُؤْتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِيَ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا ۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّا أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ ﴿٢٦٩

2:269 – “Yu’til Hikmata mai yasha o; wa mai yutal Hikmata faqad otiya khairan kaseeraa; wa maa yazzakkaru illaa ulul albaab.” (Surat Al-Baqarah)

“He gives wisdom to whom He wills, and whoever has been given wisdom has certainly been given abundant goodness. And none will remember except those of understanding.” (The Cow, 2:269)

ياأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُواللَّه وَأَطِيعُوٱلرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ
Ya ayyu hal latheena amanoo Atee Ullaha wa Ateeur Rasoola wa Ulel amre minkum…
O you who have believed, Obey Allah and Obey the Messenger, and those in authority among you. (Surat An Nisa 4:59)

Ulil Amr Represent the Face That Take Us to Atiur Rasul

What Allah (AJ) said was Atee Ullaha wa Ateeur Rasoola wa Ulel amre minkum, Obey Allah and Obey the Messenger, and those in authority among you (Qur’an, 4:59). Face is the door to get into the room. Who are the Face? The ulil amr (saints) are the Face. They take you to Ateeur Rasool (Muhammad (pbuh)) which is the Presence and in the room is the Essence. The Essence is in the heart of Prophet (pbuh) as it has been related by the hadith qudsi.

مَا وَسِعَنِيْ لَا سَمَائِيْ ولا اَرْضِيْ وَلَكِنْ وَسِعَنِيْ قَلْبِ عَبْدِيْ اَلْمُؤْمِنْ

“Maa wasi`anee laa Samayee, wa la ardee, laakin wasi’anee qalbi ‘Abdee al Mu’min.”

”Neither My Heavens nor My Earth can contain Me, but the heart of my Believing Servant.” (Hadith Qudsi conveyed by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh))

We Must Enter to the Door to Feel the Presence

Face = Door = ulil amr (saints)
Presence = Room = RasulAllah (pbuh)
Essence = Secret in the Room = Divinely Essence

Mawlana Shaykh has mentioned in one of his recent lectures to “go to the INN” which means the House, the Room. He explained that “Allah (swt) said: come to the homes from their doors – abwaabiha (missing words?)…Allah swt said in Holy Qur’an, If you want to come to yourself, to your heart, to your inn, to see Allah and His Prophet, there you will fee

l His light and the Divine Presence; then go through the door…”

﴾وَلَيْسَ الْبِرُّ بِأَن تَأْتُوا الْبُيُوتَ مِن ظُهُورِهَا وَلَـٰكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنِ اتَّقَىٰ ۗ وَأْتُوا الْبُيُوتَ مِنْ أَبْوَابِهَا ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴿١٨٩…

2:189 – “…Wa laysal birru bi-an tatol buyoota min zuhooriha wa lakinnal birra manit taqa, wa’ tol buyoota min abwabiha, wat taqollaha la’allakum tuflihoon.” (Surat Al-Baqarah)

“…And it is not righteousness to enter houses from the back, but righteousness is [in] one who fears Allah. And enter houses from their doors. And be Conscious of Allah that you may succeed.” (The Cow, 2:189)

Practice Meditation Using the Face of Awliya

Use the Face (awliya) through your meditation practices and ask to be dressed by them until you reach towards their face. Their Face then opens the Presence because the awliya (saints) are the Rabbin Nas (Lords of People) from the Surat An-Nas. If you focus on the Face, Rab bin Nas (Lord of Mankind), they open the Kingdom of the Presence, Malik in Nas (King of mankind). From that opens the Ilah in Nas (God of Mankind).

﴾قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ ﴿١﴾ مَلِكِ النَّاسِ ﴿٢﴾ إِلَـٰهِ النَّاسِ ﴿٣

114:1-3 – “Qul a’oozu birabbin naas. (1) Malikin naas. (2) Ilaahin naas. (3)” (Surat An-Nas)

“Say: I seek refuge with the Lord and Cherisher of Mankind (1), The King (or Ruler) of Mankind (2), The god (or judge) of Mankind (3)” (The Mankind, 114:1-3)

Face = Ulil Amr (those in Authority)= Rabbin Nas (Lordly Souls of Mankind)
Presence = RasulAllah (pbuh) = Malikin Nas (King of Mankind)
Essence = Divinely Essence = Ilahin Nas (God of Mankind)

Seek to Find Rabbaniyun

Allah (AJ) is in the heart of Prophet (pbuh). These three realities draw us in to the Face, Presence, and Essence. Therefore, Allah (AJ) said that, ‘Everything perishes but the holy face.’ (Qur’an, 28:88) Allah (AJ) is pointing to us to find these rabbaniyun (lordly souls).

﴾وَلَـٰكِن كُونُوا رَ‌بَّانِيِّينَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ الْكِتَابَ وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَدْرُ‌سُونَ ﴿٧٩…

3:79 – “…wa lakin kono rabbaniyena bima kuntum tu`allimoonal kitaba wabima kuntum tadrusoon.” (Surat Ali-Imran)

“…Be Lordly Souls/faithful servants/worshippers of Him, Because (of what) you have taught the Book and you have studied it

Part of the Insan Kamil Book of Realities

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