Have Love Like Birds

February 17, 2020 July 8, 2024

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This Article Has Been Translated

Malayalam

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

A’udhu 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

From these holy hadith of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ, just we recite a few and then inshaAllah the next few nights. Over a short period of time soon, we try to go over them in a little bit more detail.

A’udhu Billahi Minash Shaitanir Rajeem Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Hadith: The State of the Heart Affects the Whole Body

From Al-Nu’man ibn Bashir reported Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ has said, “Verily, in the body is a piece of flesh which, if sound, the entire body is sound, and if it’s corrupt, the entire body is corrupt. Truly, it is the heart.”

أَلا وَإِنَّ فِى الْجَسَدِ مُضْغَةً إِذَا صَلَحَتْ صَلَحَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ، وَإِذَا فَسَدَتْ فَسَدَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ، أَلا وَهِى الْقَلْبُ

“Ala wa inna fil Jasadi mudghatan idha salahat salahal jasadu kulluho, wa idha fasadat fasadal jasadu kulluho, ala wa heyal Qalb.”

“There is a piece of flesh in the body, if it becomes good (reformed) the whole body becomes good but if it gets spoiled the whole body gets spoiled and that is the heart.” Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) [Sahih al-Bukhari, 52]

Hadith: A Believer With Good Character Shows Signs of a Clean Heart

Another hadith of Prophet ﷺ is that one with a heart swept clean and truthful in speech and Sahabi (companions) had asked Prophet ﷺ that, “We know truthful in speech. What is a heart swept clean?”

And Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ described, “One that is mindful of Allah and pure, in which there is no sin, no aggression and no envy.”

And we said, “Who shows the sign of it, Ya Sayyidi Rasul-e-Kareem?”

(Prophet ﷺ said) “One who hates worldliness and loves the Hereafter.”

And they said, “And who shows signs of it?” And Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ, “A believer with good character.”

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو قَالَ: قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَنْ خَيْرُ النَّاسِ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ذُو الْقَلْبِ الْمَخْمُومِ وَاللِّسَانِ الصَّدُوقِ

قُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ عَرَفْنَا اللِّسَانَ الصَّدُوقَ فَمَا الْقَلْبُ الْمَخْمُومُ قَالَ: هُوَ التَّقِيُّ النَّقِيُّ لا إِثْمَ فِيهِ وَلا بَغْيَ وَلا حَسَدَ

قُلْنَا فَمَنْ عَلَى أَثَرِهِ قَالَ: الَّذِي يَشْنَأُ الدُّنْيَا وَيُحِبُّ الآخِرَةَ

قُلْنَا فَمَنْ عَلَى أثَرَهِ قَالَ: مُؤْمِنٌ فِي خُلُقٍ حَسَنٍ

‘An ‘Abdullahi bin ‘Amr (ra) qala: “Qultu ya Rasulallahi man khairun nasi?” Qala Rasulillahi (saws): “Zul qalbil makhmomu wal lisanis saddoqi.”

Qulna, ya Rasulallahi, ‘arafnal lisanas sadoqa, fama al qalbul makhmomu? Qala: “ Huwat taqiyun naqiyu, la ithma fihi wa la baghya wa la hasada.”

Qulna, faman ‘ala atharihi? Qala: “Allazi yashna addunya wa yuhebbu al aakhirah.”

Qulna, faman ‘ala atharahi? Qala: “ Mu’minun fi khuluqin hasanin.”

Abdullah ibn Amr reported: I said, “O Messenger of Allah, who are the best people?” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “One with a heart swept clean and truthful in speech.”

We said, “O Messenger of Allah, we know truthful in speech. What is a heart swept clean?” The Prophet (pbuh) said: “One that is mindful of Allah and pure, in which there is no sin, nor aggression, nor envy.”

We said, “Who shows a sign of it?” The Prophet (pbuh) said: “One who hates worldliness and loves the Hereafter.”

They said, “And who shows a sign of it?” The Prophet (pbuh) said: “A believer with good character.”

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ Was Sent to Teach Us the Best of Character

This means everything is reduced by Prophet ﷺ down to good character. Adabina Rabi fi ahsani fi tarteeb.

أَدَّبَنِي رَبِّي فَأَحْسَنَ تَأْدِيبِي

“Addabanee Rabbi fa ahsana ta’deebee.”

“My Lord taught me good manners and He taught me in the most excellent way.” Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

That Prophet’s ﷺ only claim not that I’m a great messenger, not that I’m this, not I’m that that but that Allah (AJ) sent me to bring the adab (manners) of the heavens and has perfected my character and as a result Holy Qur’an Allah (AJ) describes khuluqin azeem.

﴾وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ ﴿٤

68:4 – “Wa innaka la’ala khuluqin ‘azheem.” (Surat Al-Qalam)

“Truly, You (O Muhammad!) are of a magnificent character.” (The Pen, 68:4)

That Allah (AJ) Almighty describing you are of a magnificent character because Allah (AJ) created that character. Allah (AJ) knows what reality He put into the reality of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ.

Hadith: One Who is Wealthy in the Heart Will Not Be Harmed

Abu Dharr reported that Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ had said, “Wealth is in the heart, poverty is in the heart. Whoever is wealthy in his heart, he will not be harmed no matter what happens in this world. Whoever is impoverished in his heart will not be satisfied no matter how much he has in this world. Verily, he will only be harmed by the greed of his own nafs (ego).”

عن أبي ذر قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْغِنَى فِي الْقَلْبِ وَالْفَقْرُ فِي الْقَلْبِ مَنْ كَانَ الْغِنَى فِي قَلْبِهِ لا يَضُرُّهُ مَا لَقِيَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَنْ كَانَ الْفَقْرُ فِي قَلْبِهِ فَلا يُغْنِيهِ مَا أَكْثَرَ لَهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَإِنَّمَا يَضُرُّ نَفْسَهُ شُحُّها

‘An Abi Zarr, ‘an anNabi (saws) qala: “kanal ghena fi qalbihi la yadhurruhu ma laqiya minad dunya. Wa man kanal faqru fi qalbihi fala yughnihi ma akthara lahu fid dunya wa innama yadhurru nafsahu shuhhuha.”

Abu Dharr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Wealth is in the heart and poverty is in the heart. Whoever is wealthy in his heart will not be harmed no matter what happens in the world. Whoever is impoverished in his heart will not be satisfied no matter how much he has in the world. Verily, he will only be harmed by the greed of his own ego.”

Hadith: Reality of Faith is When We Love For Others What We Love For Ourselves

Another holy hadith of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ, “The servant does not attain the reality of faith until he loves for his people what he loves for himself of goodness.”

عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى الِلَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ:لا يَبْلُغُ عَبْدٌ حَقِيقَةَ الإِيمَانِ حَتَّى يُحِبَّ لِلنَّاسِ مَا يُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِهِ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ

‘An Anas bin Malik ‘anin Nabi (sallallahi alaihi wasallam) qala: La yablughu ‘abdun haqiqatl Imaani hatta yuhibba linnasi ma yuhibbu linafsihi minal khayri.”

Anas ibn Malik reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “The servant does not attain the reality of faith until he loves for people what he loves for himself of goodness.”

Hadith: Having Hearts of Birds Will Enter Us Into Paradise

“People whose hearts are like the hearts of birds, they will enter into paradise.”

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ أَقْوَامٌ أَفْئِدَتُهُمْ مِثْلُ أَفْئِدَةِ الطَّيْرِ

‘An Abi Huraira (as), ‘an anNabiyi (saws) qala: “Yudkhulul jannata aqwamun afeydatuhum mithlu afeydati attayri.”

Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “People whose hearts are like the hearts of birds will enter Paradise.”

And we talked a little bit about that, we spoke that is the forty of these beautiful hadith of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ that deals with muhabbat and ishq and love and the bird is symbolic of awliya (saints). So, many times when we see birds around, they are a symbol and manifestation of very holy souls. That our ability is not to see these souls and not prepared to see them and they appear as birds. And that’s why all over Janat al-Baqi (cemetery in Medina) is beautiful, like an ocean of beautiful birds, of these pigeons and every now and then there’s one right in the middle that is all white and they don’t put any of their bodily waste onto that grave area. How much they have ihtiram (respect) and training.

Birds are Symbolic of Unquestionable Love

But the bird is symbolized with what we said before of an immense love, immense love for Allah (AJ). And it’s this love that is not the head. And awliyaullah (saints) come and teach that first zikr la ilaha illallah (there is no God but Allah (AJ)). ‘La’ to your head, that learn in life to shut your head. Your head is the thing that causing all your confusion. The head is where the nafs resides. The nafs (ego) becomes a partner with shaitan, makes sharik (partner) to come against Allah (AJ). So, every confusion is in the head. So the tariqas (spiritual paths) come, the first zikr is la ilaha illallah, into the heart. And that the heart is the abode and the house of Allah (AJ) and Allah (AJ) then takes and teaches us, ‘Clean My house, purify My house, wash My house and circumambulate My house.’

﴾أَن طَهِّرَا بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْعَاكِفِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ ﴿١٢٥…

2:125 – “…An Tahhir baytee liTayifeena, wal ‘Aakifeena, wa ruka’is sujood.” (Surat Al-Baqarah)

“…Purify/Sanctify My House for those who perform Tawaf (circamambulation) and those who seclude themselves for devotion, and bow and prostrate [in prayer].” (The Cow, 2:125)

It means make your body to move to the will of your heart, not your heart to follow the body. This dunya, this material world, making everyone’s heart to follow something they know is not right, do things they know is not right. And Allah (AJ) is reminding, no, force your body to do that which is correct and that we’ll make Allah (AJ) to be happy.

The Size of the Head is Insignificant

Then they teach that it’s not the size of your head because the head is actually the thing causing the problems. So, the bird has a pea brain. So physiology of a bird, [someone sneezes] haq, is like a pea. So, this insan (human being) with a big head can do nothing, he cannot talk and communicate like an ant, he cannot fly like a bird. So, what makes him to feel he’s so special? With his big head, he is not able to do anything. So, then Prophet ﷺ is saying, ‘If you have love like a bird, you are the people of paradise’.

‘An Abi Huraira (as), ‘an anNabiyi (saws) qala: “Yudkhulul jannata aqwamun afeydatuhum mithlu afeydati attayri.”

Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “People whose hearts are like the hearts of birds will enter Paradise.”

Be Like the Bird and Have Complete Trust in Allah (AJ)

That that bird comes to teach a symbol for them, that it’s not about your head, learn to shut your head off and bring the light and the love of Allah (AJ) into the heart. Make the heart to be a source of power. Then the bird comes as an example then you must be completely trusting in Allah (AJ). Then this is where our life’s testing comes. Why are you concerned about your money? Why are you concerned about anything in your life? Why not be like the bird that has absolutely no concern? It doesn’t even think that I’m five thousand feet in the air and Allah (AJ) is going to not let me fly anymore and *feeeeee chakaw* right down.

If we walk on a stick on the ground, you have no problem. If you take that same stick or beam and put it in the air, immediately your fear is that you can’t walk. Why fear? Because I’m going to fall. How the bird has no fear? Not thinking that it’s flying so high and that Allah (AJ) will cut it off and not be able to fly in the next two minutes. But for us everything is about maybe He’s not going to feed me tomorrow, maybe my rizq (sustenance) won’t come in again, maybe this won’t happen, maybe that won’t happen, every type of fear.

An Association of Birds is an Association of Awliyaullah

And Prophet ﷺ is describing for us, and just a little example of a bird which is a huge ocean because the bird is representing awliya. And these diwan; when people see an association of birds around, it means that awliya (saints) have appeared. When we go to Mecca and Medina, many time the birds come on the windowsill of your room. It means there are awliya (saints) there and they’re calling upon you.

They represent and can present themselves as these birds and the peacock of them is the representation of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. When they have an association, they are all present as birds. And then the ruhaniyyat (Divine Lights) of Prophet ﷺ, when it appears, as a peacock with a full bloom of beatific colours. And the bird that represents Sayyidina Mahdi (as) is the phoenix, is the bird of war that coming…that, that’s a different subject.

Have No Doubt in Allah’s (AJ) Provision If Your Character and Love is Good

But this bird, it’s about tawakkul (perfected trust in God), it’s about having love, it’s about shutting the head and opening the heart. Have faith that Allah (AJ) will provide everything if the character is good, if the love is good. Hence, when we have doubt in our lives, it’s maybe because we don’t think that our love and our character is perfected. If you believe your love to be sincere for Allah (AJ) and you believe your love for Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ is sincere to your ability, ya Rabbi, I don’t know how I can show my love anymore! If you reached to that level, what you have to fear for? Allah (AJ) says, ‘You love me and I love you. I don’t even want to harm you by taking your soul.’ You’re from ashiqeen (lovers) of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. Why I’m not going to feed you? Why I’m not going to provide for you? Why I’m not going to shelter you? Why is it that you doubt Me? Then it becomes like a sadness. Then all these songs of ishq and love, they feel a sadness – how could I dare doubt Allah (AJ)?

Our Doubt Comes From Flaws in Our Love

So, that anytime the doubt comes they’re teaching then there’s something wrong in your love. If you perfect the love because you can’t rely and that’s why awliyaullah (saints) know that you can’t rely on your salat (prayer), you can’t rely on your zakat (charity), you can’t rely on any of your actions to make you feel that Allah (AJ) is going to provide everything. You have to be truthful to ourselves that my prayers, if Allah (AJ) wanted to give my sustenance based on my salat (prayer), I’m in big trouble. What makes my salat to be so great that Allah (AJ) going to send sustenance for me? Why I’m going to pass my test – because I prayed? Because I fasted? No! Because I love Allah (AJ), I love You, I love Your Rasul ﷺ to the best of my ability. I may not be able to love him like the next person but, ya Rabbi, I’m trying my best to love.

Show Your Muhammadan Love!

I want my love to manifest and I’m going to show my love. I’m going to come, I’m going to support, I’m going to do, I’m going to bring food, I’m going to show so that that love, it manifests in something. The shaykhs come to take the love within your heart and bring it out. When we do the Grand Milad (celebration of Prophet’s ﷺ birth), it’s our community showing and putting our love on our sleeve. Love is not hidden. You have to show your love! Say, ya Rabbi, look this band of forty families and thirty families is going to put on a festival and a beatific sign of the love of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ, to show our love. And Allah (AJ), no doubt, accepts that love.

Real Wealth is in Your Love of Allah (AJ) and Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ

So, it means they even teach by example that make a life in which you manifest that love. If you have that love, if we have that love, there’s nothing to worry about. Allah (AJ), if you love like that, then you must know with all your heart and soul that Allah (AJ) loves you and everything Allah (AJ) sends to you is like a gift to embrace you, to dress you, to fragrance you, because you are from ashiqeen (lovers). That you love what Allah (AJ) loves and what Allah (AJ) loves is Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. We pray that Allah (AJ) increase us in this Divinely Muhabbat (love) which opens for our heart the stations of iman and faith. And that station of faith is all blessings and all light. In which every difficulty, that’s why Prophet ﷺ is describing, ‘if you really want wealth, the real wealth is the muhabbat’.

We Search For Sustenance Instead of Remembering the One Who Gives It

You’re studying in school hoping one day you can get out and get a big cheque. Why would you spend two hundred thousand dollars for a degree that your parents don’t even know what you can do with it? Someone came out, one of our big ulema (scholars) came out with a…what was it….an arts degree, arts and craft? He got an arts and crafts and degree, all for what? To get a rizq, to get a sustenance, to get everything. And Allah (AJ) (says) why are you relying on that? How (is) that going to get your sustenance? That’s only your brain hoping your brain power will get you somewhere.

If you spend just a little bit of your time to develop the love, the muhabbat, the ishq and then know that Allah (AJ) that you love Allah (AJ) and Allah (AJ) loves you, everything will be taken care of. Every rizq (sustenance) will come. And Prophet ﷺ is describing, ‘That’s a wealthy one.’ His wealth is by the love that Allah (AJ) granted to him. You cannot achieve any love and muhabbat into your heart if Allah (AJ) doesn’t put it. And when Allah (AJ) puts love into your heart of the Divinely Presence, you are the wealthiest person on earth. That’s what the hadith was telling you.

Love Cannot Be Bought, But Must Be Achieved

But if they give you ten million dollars and your heart is black, you’ll never even find satisfaction in the ten million. Your life will be shallow and empty until sickness visits you and you have remorse. They said when Steve Jobs was dying, his biggest remorse was not all the wealth he had achieved, but the lack of love and surrounding himself with that love. That the wealth couldn’t buy anything and love is not something you can buy. Love is something you have to achieve that Allah (AJ) puts within your heart. We pray, ya Rabbi, grant us your real wealth, not the wealth of the material world, ya Rabbi, but grant us this ocean of muhabbat (love) to enter into our heart. Refresh and renew our iman (faith) at every moment, ya Rabbi. Make us to be from ashiqeen (lovers), so that we sit, our children sit, and all our generations of children to come to sit and that they send their fruits of their amal (actions) to us when we have long passed from this world.

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: December 2, 2019

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