
Realities of Number 7 & Sleepers of the Cave – Tafsir Surah Kahf (Part 2)
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
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.
“Atiullah atiur Rasul wa Ulil amre minkum.”
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)
The Love of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ Should be the Core of Every Deed
Always a reminder for myself, ana abdukal ‘ajeezu, dayeefu, miskinu, zhalim, wa jahl, and but for the grace of Allah (AJ) that we are still in existence. In this month of Safar, the month of entering into ‘The Cave of Realities’ and that, that cave is the heart of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ.
That, with ishq and love and with praisings and good actions, our way is based on making a correct intention and deeds – deeds that get the nazar (gaze) of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. That da’wah (religious propagation), those actions, that Ta’zim; that celebration of love is what’s important and what should be inspired to people.
Awliyaullah (Saints) Teach Us Heavenly Knowledges
So, that the shaykhs come along into our life, they teach us the reality, and then they teach us to spread that reality. That reality is not an earthly knowledge where 99.9% of videos you watch it’s a had-e-dunya (limited to the material world), if you understand its analogy. The Earth talks about earthly matters – knowledge that resides upon the Earth are earthly. They could even be about the heavens but from the perspective of someone on Earth, like a gazing – they’re, ‘Oh! Wow’, they can talk about certain things – each like a ship. Allah (AJ) describes these planets are like ships, a fulk. They’re moving in an orbit.
لَا الشَّمْسُ يَنبَغِي لَهَا أَن تُدْرِكَ الْقَمَرَ وَلَا اللَّيْلُ سَابِقُ النَّهَارِ ۚ وَكُلٌّ فِي فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ ﴿٤٠﴾ وَآيَةٌ لَّهُمْ أَنَّا حَمَلْنَا ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ فِي الْفُلْكِ الْمَشْحُونِ ﴿٤١
36:40-41 – “Lash shamsu yambaghee laha an tudrikal qamara wa la allaylu sabiqun nahari, wa kullun fee falakin yasbahoon. Wa ayatul lahum anna hamalna dhurriyyatahum fil fulkil mashhooni.” (Surat YaSeen)
“It is not permitted to the Sun to catch up the Moon, nor can the Night outstrip the Day: Each (just) swims/floats along in (its own) orbit. (40) And a sign for them is that we have carried their atoms/forefathers in the loaded ship. (41)” (YaSeen, 36:40-41)
Maqamul Fardani: Those Upon the Ship Teach From Its Reality
The maqam, Maqamul Fardani, the maqam (station) of the moon is a ship. Those upon that ship, they teach and talk from its reality and that course is not the same course of the ship of the Earth. The ship of the Earth is on its own course; it talks from the view and the horizon of that ship. You’re on this ship, it only talks from the mountains and the view that it sees.
So, that ‘uloom (knowledges) is something different. That’s why people say, ‘We don’t hear this before!’ The ‘uloom and the knowledge, that’s from the qamar (moon). That we’re singing ‘Qamaron, Qamaron’ because they’ve been dressed by that reality. That knowledge is about the course that, that qamar is on – 12 courses, 12 hijabs (veils). Its [moon’s] job is to safeguard the Earth but its only focus is on the sun – its only focus! You can throw as many rocks as you want and be as loud a dog barking at it as you want, it doesn’t care. Its only focus is the shams (sun).
Shamsul ‘Arifeen: Allah (AJ) Grants Knowers the Highest Realities of Eternal Light
That’s why this is called Shamsul ‘Arifeen. These are the ‘arifeen (knowers) that Allah (AJ) granted them the highest realities of eternal light – star realities, not earthly planet realities! The shams is a symbol of eternity. A symbol of Allah’s (AJ) malakut (heavenly realm) because it has no mass; it released and gave away its mass. It’s an ethereal gaseous reality that has no mass – just pure energy. It produces an energy and it produces a reality that is solely sustained by Allah (AJ). As a result, it’s eternal. This qamar, it only focuses on that reality and takes every type of difficulty, every type of barrage of rock throwing – that is the symbol of the qamar. That, it’s not distracted! So, it means this and those knowledges are different.
Allah (AJ) Created Earth Only for Sayyidina Muhammad’s ﷺ Arrival
So, it means that when they teach about Muharram from that perspective – not from the Earth – everything that Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ walked and did it had a much deeper reality. That’s why Allah (AJ) “Wa maa arsalnaka illa Rahmatan 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)
‘We wouldn’t have sent this reality, it didn’t need to become, but I only created Earth for that reality to arrive, so that it complete its knowledges and its reality upon the Earth,’ [Allah (AJ) says]. The arrival of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ completes the reality of what Allah (AJ) had created the Earth for.
Struggle Against the Physical World and Seek the Eternal Reality
So, when Prophet ﷺ is moving in Muharram from the state of dunya (material world) into the state of malakut which is Madinatul Munawwara (luminous city of Prophet ﷺ), he’s teaching for us these qamaron knowledges is more than if you pay for a $12,000 package for Hajj (pilgrimage) and they take you on a bus. You’re so happy to pay that and they take you on a bus and show you around. Say, ‘This is where Prophet ﷺ was walking, this is where this, this is…’ that’s nice. But Prophet ﷺ is teaching the eternal reality of that.
There’s a reality that never leaves and based on all eternity that Allah (AJ) gave a grant to these inhabitants of Earth to achieve that. That, ‘When I walked from Makkah and struggled 13 years against myself,’ as an example for us that we struggle against ourselves and Allah’s (AJ) going to open now the Heavenly Kingdom. When He wants to open the Heavenly Kingdom for Maqamul Mahmood, the Muhammadan reality of what Allah (AJ) want to grant, they must stop at the cave.
وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِ نَافِلَةً لَّكَ عَسَىٰ أَن يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامًا مَّحْمُودًا ﴿٧٩
17:79 – “Wa minal layli fatahajjad bihi, nafilatal laka ‘asaa an yab’athaka Rabbuka Maqaman Mahmooda.” (Surat Al-Isra)
“And pray in the small watches of the morning: (it would be) an additional prayer (or spiritual profit) for thee: soon will your Lord raise you to a Station of Praise and Glory! [Maqam al Mahmood]” (The Night Journey, 17:79)
You Must Pass Through The Cave to Reach The City of Lights
Their souls must stop at the cave, and that cave is a symbol of the kingdom you’re about to enter. That, the only way into Madina was through the cave of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. So, we never left that reality. Soon as they taught it, they’re teaching you, you never left that reality. You must have an atom that exists within that cave. If you’re hearing this now or at any time that you hear this reality you must have a reality in that cave. To be dressed and blessed by that reality, the presence and the fana (annihilation) of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ resting in his qalb (heart). We’re asking to enter into that reality, to be dressed by that reality.
Accompany the Two Great Siddiqs on Your Spiritual Journey
The only protection for the purified heart is that you must be accompanying the foot of a great Siddiq. Naqshbandiya tul ‘Aliya (The Most Distinguished Naqshbandi Order) has the both of these great Siddiqs guarding this reality.
One who lied in the bed for the hijrah (migration) to begin – Imam ‘Ali (as). That teaching us that, ‘After our companion, Sayyidina Abu Bakr as Siddiq, Siddiq al-Mutlaq (the absolute truthful) (as) completes this reality upon you, we will give you our family dress when you enter into the city. But first you go that way to understand the Siddiqiya (Truthful) reality that Sayyidina Abu Bakr as Siddiq (as) wants to dress upon.’
Teaches us then character of truthfulness with your deeds and with your actions. Not that people just say they’re truthful, they haven’t been through anything, they haven’t been through any testing. But through their deed and actions and everything that they do to establish that love and that reality they accompany Sayyidina Abu Bakr as Siddiq (as) in the love of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. If we have that love and we are accompanying with that character, Sayyidina Abu Bakr as Siddiq (as) says, ‘Then you’re on my feet, you’re my qadam (footstep), you are my muqaddam (the one who follows upon the footsteps), you are copying my character.’ Did you give everything for the love of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ with your heart and with your soul?
Empty Your Heart of Everything Except Allah (AJ) and Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ
You don’t have to empty your bank account, you have to empty your heart! Take out of your heart your family. Take out of your heart your children. Take out of your heart your job. Take out of your heart your goals, your insurance and all your cash, and everything that holds too much space in your heart, your studying, your classes. You pray for more studying then for your reality. Take it out of your heart! It’s a dunya, it’s a big dunya! Its a matter – is like emailing all the time, ‘Pray for my Lamborghini, Shaykh. I need gas. Pray please pray, Shaykh.’ Everyday, ‘Pray for my Lamborghini, Shaykh’. Why would he pray for your Lamborghini? Everything that occupies the heart take it out and put in it Allah (AJ) and Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. Say, ‘Ya Rabbi, I want to empty my heart of everything other than Allah (AJ) and Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ.’
Beware of Filling the Heart With Worldly Lords
If we follow their teaching, follow their example, follow their way, you feel that your heart fills with the love. That, your focus and primary in your life is that reality and everyone else and everything else has its place. Because at some point in your life you’re going to become disappointed. If you put them in your heart, they became your Rab (Lord) and your Rab will crush you when they do something wrong.
There’s no shaykh in there either, it’s Allah (AJ) and Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ – a love that’s never disappointing, love that is supreme and the best of example. When we have that love that’s the inheritance from Sayyidina Abu Bakr as Siddiq (as). It means, ‘I gave away everything, means I put it out of my heart.’ They were the wealthiest in Madina; it didn’t mean they became poor. But, ‘I put it all away and the only focus for my heart was how to serve Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ.’ That was Muharram, that was the opening.
Contemplation Reveals What’s Actually Occupying Your Heart
So, we’re clarifying how to find this cave. How to find this cave? It’s the heart of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ! With this love, with these actions, with this khidmat, with this service, with everything that people are trying to do they’re now going into their heart. They meditate. At the first level of meditation you’ll find what you really love because your meditation will be all about what’s in your heart.
Some people seeing too many haram (forbidden) images when they close their eyes. Uh oh, you have to empty that out of your heart! Take these out, take these out! Too many thoughts that when they want to sit and meditate, ‘Oh! I got to pay the bills, I got to check my account. There’s a stock that’s going up. Oh! I wonder if I’m going to get the promotion.’ Those are again idols within the heart. That’s why the tafakkur (contemplation) and muhasabah (self-examination) and accounting will reveal to the servant what’s in their heart.
Take a Daily Account to Learn What is Within
So this is not a lecture about emptying your bank account and sending everything to a shaykh. This is about emptying your heart – making a meditation and a continuous daily accounting of what’s in my heart. Why when I close my eyes, I just can’t forget about everything? Everything just leaves my thought as if I’m dead and I’m so happy to be dead and I’m just thinking of Prophet ﷺ. I’m thinking of how I’m going to enter Madina. How when I take my last breath will Prophet ﷺ be there to greet me that, ‘You did good my son, I’m happy. You tried your best on this Earth, you spread my name everywhere with your love.’ Are we thinking like that? That’s what they’re asking, ‘Think like that. Empty the heart of everything but that love.’
Safar Takes Your Soul to the Cave to Be Lit With the Eternal Reality of Rabi’ul Awwal
Safar comes and Allah (AJ) want to dress us with Milad, want to dress us with Milad un Nabi ﷺ (celebration of the birthday of Prophet ﷺ). The birth of that light is going to be coming in the cave. That’s why they want your soul in that cave because what’s coming after Safar? Rabi’ul Awwal – where the light is born! There’s no time for Allah (AJ). So, a light inside your being and your essence is lit by the reality of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. You’re in existence from where? For you to be lit and to light up, you take your imitated light and you’re asking Allah (AJ), ‘Light me up, Ya Rabbi, with my eternal reality.’ We say, ‘Your eternal reality you don’t know it yet.’ So, they come into our life and say, ‘No, your eternal reality is Muhammadun Rasulallah ﷺ.’
Allah (AJ) Sparks the Light of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ into Your Essence
Did you go in the heart, empty it? Sit there, begin to praise upon Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ to make Allah (AJ) happy. The praising and salawat on Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ is the highest zikr (Divine remembrance) of Allah (AJ) because Allah (AJ), “InnAllaha wa malayikatahu yusalluna ‘alan Nabiy ﷺ.”
إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيماً ﴿٥٦﴾
33:56 – “InnAllaha wa malayikatahu yusalluna ‘alan Nabiyi yaa ayyuhal ladhina aamanu sallu ‘alayhi wa sallimu taslima.” (Surat Al-Ahzab)
“Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet [Muhammad (ﷺ)]: O you that believe! Send your blessings upon him, and salute him with all respect.” (The Combined Forces, 33:56)
So, you want to do the highest zikr of Allah (AJ) – is durood sharif (praising upon Prophet Muhammad ﷺ). You filled your heart with this durood sharif and then asking, Ya Rabbi, now through Safar and the reality of Safar, what happens then in Rabi’ul Awwal? That light will be born. Boom! A spark Allah (AJ) will grant into your wujud (existence), into your essence. The spark of all realities to be born, every year Rabi’ul Awwal, the light of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ is born in the heart of those whom are ‘ashiqeen (lovers). That’s why these salawats and these na’ats (prophetic praising), ‘You’re the light of my essence that it sparked and it opened.’
Safar Guides You Towards The Real Love of Muhammadun Rasulallah ﷺ
That’s why Safar is a month of haybah (majestic power). What Allah (AJ) wanted for all of humanity? Run from what they’re worshipping, their belief is incorrect. Who? Everyone! If it’s not the love of Muhammadun Rasulallah ﷺ they didn’t find Allah’s (AJ) hidden treasure. ‘I was a hidden treasure wanting to be known.’
قَال رَسُولَ اللَّه ﷺ، قَالْ اللَّه عَزَ وَجَلْ: ” كُنْت كَنْزاً مخفيا فَأَحْبَبْت أَنْ أُعْرَفَ؛ فَخَلَقْت خَلْقاً فَعَرَّفْتهمْ بِي فَعَرَفُونِي.” [حَدِيثْ اَلْقُدْسِي – بِحَارْ اَلْأنْوَارْ، اَلْعَلَامَةْ اَلْمَجْلِسِيْ، جُزْء ٨٤، صَفْحَة ١٩٩]
Qala Rasulallahi ﷺ, Qala Allah (AJ): “Kuntu kanzan makhfiyya, fa ahbabtu an a’rafa, fa khalaqtu khalqan, fa ‘arraftahum bi fa ‘arafonee.” [Hadith al Qudsi – Behar al Anwar, Al ‘Alama al Majlisi, Juz’ 84, Safha 199]
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, that Allah (AJ) said: “I was a hidden Treasure then I desired to be known, so I created a creation to which I made Myself known; then they knew Me.” [Holy Hadith – Bihar al Anwar, by Al ‘Alama al Majlisi, Volume 84, Page 199]
You thought you found La ilaha illAllah but Allah’s (AJ) saying, ‘No, I’m hidden and the only way you can find Me is if you found My treasure. If you found really the reality of Muhammadun Rasulallah ﷺ,’ you found Allah (AJ). Allah’s (AJ) secret is manifesting, Allah’s (AJ) Rahmah (mercy) is manifesting, Allah (AJ) “khuluqin ‘azheem” is praising Himself, ‘You have a magnificent character.’
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)
Why Allah (AJ) want to say that? Because its Allah’s (AJ) reality. Of course He’s going to praise Himself, He’s not going to praise anyone in creation. ‘But you have a magnificent character.’ All those realities they want to be dressed and blessed by that.
Run From the Physical World into the Cave of Mercy
Safar then is a month of haybah. Where Allah (AJ) says, ‘Run from everything that they worship in your life. Find that cave and those qamaron who will teach you about that reality and enter and run into the cave.’ Run from them to Allah (AJ). As soon as they run into the cave then Allah (AJ) will send His rahmah and make them to be rushd, to ripen them. Ayatul kareem (the generous verse of Holy Qur’an), 18th Surah, Surat al-Kahf, 16th verse. ‘Run to the cave so that Allah (AJ) can send His rahmah upon you.’
وَإِذِ اعْتَزَلْتُمُوهُمْ وَمَا يَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا اللَّـهَ فَأْوُوا إِلَى الْكَهْفِ يَنشُرْ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُم مِّن رَّحْمَتِهِ وَيُهَيِّئْ لَكُم مِّنْ أَمْرِكُم مِّرْفَقًا ﴿١٦
18:16 – “Wa idhi’ tazaltumo hum wa ma ya’budoona illAllaha fawoo ilal kahfi yanshur lakum rabbukum mir rahmatihi wa yuhayyi lakum min amrikum mirfaqa.” (Surat Al-Kahf)
“When ye turn away from them and the things they worship other than Allah, betake yourselves to the Cave: Your Lord will shower His mercies on you and disposes of your affair towards comfort and ease.” (The Cave, 18:16)
Secret of the Sun: Ashab ul Kahf Were Rightly Guided
Next verse, Allah (AJ) described the sun and that when you entered into the cave how the sun is moving from east and west, east and west, “Rabbul mashariq wal magharib.”
رَبُّ الْمَشْرِقَيْنِ وَرَبُّ الْمَغْرِبَيْنِ ﴿١٧
55:17 – “Rabbul mashriqayni wa Rabbul maghribayn.” (Surat Ar-Rahman)
“[He is] Lord of the two sunrises and Lord of the two sunsets.” (The Beneficient, 55:17)
The dress and the reality of the shams, Allah (AJ) is addressing now that you’re in the cave. Allah (AJ) keep talking about the sun’s movement and how these Ashab ul Kahf (Companions of the Cave) they’re completely in submission and they’re not being burned and killed by a sun. Can you imagine just lying out onto the desert, the sun would come right over you and cook you. There’s no way you could live 309 years but Allah (AJ) give reference to the sun because of this reality.
That this sun of reality is very important with that cave. It’s the secret of that cave and in that ayatul kareem Allah (AJ) says there’s no guidance except by Allah (AJ) and those whom guided, guided. If not guided, there is no way to achieve the guidance and Allah (AJ) uses the word in the 17th verse of Surat al-Kahf Allah (AJ) declaring, ‘There’s no guidance except by Allah (AJ). Whom Allah (AJ) guides is guided and whom Allah (AJ) doesn’t guide he has no Waliyyan Murshidun.’
وَتَرَى الشَّمْسَ إِذَا طَلَعَت تَّزَاوَرُ عَن كَهْفِهِمْ ذَاتَ الْيَمِينِ وَإِذَا غَرَبَت تَّقْرِضُهُمْ ذَاتَ الشِّمَالِ وَهُمْ فِي فَجْوَةٍ مِّنْهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّـهِ ۗ مَن يَهْدِ اللَّـهُ فَهُوَ الْمُهْتَدِ ۖ وَمَن يُضْلِلْ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ وَلِيًّا مُّرْشِدًا ﴿١٧
18:17 – “Wa tarash shamsa idha tala’at tazawaru an kahfihim dhata al yameeni wa idha gharabat taqriduhum dhataash shimali wa hum fee faj watin minhu, Dhalika min ayati Allahi, man yahdillahu fahuwal Muhtadi, wa man yudlil falan tajida lahu waliyyan murshida.” (Surat Al-Kahf)
“And You would have seen the sun, when it rose, declining to the right from their Cave, and when it set, turning away from them to the left, while they lay in the open space in the midst of the Cave. That was from the Signs of Allah: 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)
Allah (AJ) Assigns an Authorized Spiritual Guide in the Cave
So, Surat al-Kahf is a daleel (proof) against every bad mazhab (school of thought). When they say, ‘Nobody can protect you.’ No, Allah (AJ) said, ‘No. As a matter of fact that if I guide you, you’re guided and if you’re not guided, I will not assign a wali (saint) and who’s a Murshid (authorized spiritual guide). One whom will guide you and protect you by whatever means Allah (AJ) wants. So, it means the beginning of Safar is entering into that cave, to be dressed by that reality, to be dressed by the rahmah and the mercy of what Allah (AJ) wants. That Allah (AJ) says, ‘If you’re following and entering into the cave know that there’s a Waliyyan Murshidun that is guiding you.’
Guidance is a Gift from Allah (AJ), It’s Not Perchance!
That, this is a guided cave, this is not a perchance that you found it. This is something very dedicated and very guided. If you hear it, you’re under their guidance. Allah (AJ) in Holy Qur’an is describing. All of Surat al-Kahf is the adab (manners) of how to accompany these rijal (people of maturity) because this is the part of the cave. By next week we’ll be talking about Sayyidina Musa (as) and Sayyidina Khidr (as).
Now the adab of the people of the cave. How to be dressed by this reality and that Allah (AJ) assign for us a protecting wali. When Allah (AJ) assigned the protecting wali you are now a guided person. If Allah (AJ) doesn’t assign He then gives the default that, ‘You are no guidance.’ There is no guidance except by command of Allah (AJ) and if He guides you, He sends you to a wali and who’s a murshid.
Ashab ul Kahf Represent the 7 Divinely Essences of the Holy Face
In that cave are Ashab ul Kahf, 7 and 1. In that cave are 7 realities of eternity. Each holds a reality for the 7 attributes of the Divinely Face, for Wajhi hil Karim (The Holy Face of the Most Generous). Their whole being is to reach to the reality of that face. These 7 who were sleeping in there represent the 7 eternal essences of the Divine Face. The 7 representatives of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ who are eternally representing that reality.
There are 7 diamonds upon this Earth that have the face of Sayyidina Jibreel (as). These 7, each one of them assigned to one of those diamonds and their ruhaniyat (spirituality) is attached to that diamond continuously looking at that to receive Allah’s (AJ) qudra and power. It means immense realities upon this dunya; Allah (AJ) just didn’t create it and left it for people to do what they want to do. These 7 and their reality has a representation of Ashab ul Kahf on Earth but the Muhammadan Ashab ul Kahf, not the placeholders from before the nation. Because the reality what Allah’s (AJ) showing is the reality has always been!
The Highest Reality is Muhammadan Haqqiaq, All Else is an Imitation
So, before the arrival of Prophet ﷺ there had to have been a story of that. Those 7 are the imitated; the 7 real ones are the representatives of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ as in the 12 tribes of Bani Israel. Those 12 tribes are imitated tribes – the 12 Imams of the nation are the real! Those are the real rivers and fountains flowing from the heart of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. So, everything of the Muhammadan haqqaiq is the highest haqqaiq. It’s the one that is complete haq and truth, all the other were imitations of that reality.
Come to the Cave to Reach The Divine Face!
So, then Allah (AJ) give to us that now come to this cave, reach to the reality of the cave. Do you understand the teachings of these Ashab ul Kahf? That, these Ashab ul Kahf of the Muhammadiyun reality, they take from this reality. Their souls each represent one of these attributes of the Divine Face and that Divine Face is eternally emanating and all they want in life is to reach the Divine Face.
وَاصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِيِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُ ۖ وَلَا تَعْدُ عَيْنَاكَ عَنْهُمْ تُرِيدُ زِينَةَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَا تُطِعْ مَنْ أَغْفَلْنَا قَلْبَهُ عَن ذِكْرِنَا وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ وَكَانَ أَمْرُهُ فُرُطًا ﴿٢٨﴾
18:28 – “Wasbir nafsaka ma’al ladheena yad’ona Rabbahum bilghadati wal’ashiyi yureedona Wajhahu, wa la ta’du ‘aynaka ‘anhum tureedu zeenatal hayatid dunya, wa laa tuti’ man aghfalnaa qalbahoo ‘an zikrinaa wattaba’a hawaahu wa kaana amruhoo furutaa.” (Surat Al-Kahf)
“And keep yourself patient [by being] with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His Face;. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring adornments/glitter of the worldly life and do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance and who follows his desire and whose affair is ever [in] neglect.” (The Cave, 18:28)
All Will Perish Except The Divinely Face
Ya Rabbi, they don’t care for dunya and they don’t ask for akhirah (hereafter) but they’re asking for that which never perishes – Wajhi hil Karim. At the end of Fajr (dawn) prayer we always say after Surat al-YaSeen ﷺ, ‘Everything will go except the Holy Face of what Allah (AJ) wants to give.’
…كُلُّ شَيْءٍ هَالِكٌ إِلَّا وَجْهَهُ ۚ لَهُ الْحُكْمُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ ﴿٨٨﴾
28:88 – “…kullu shayin halikun illa wajha hu lahul hukmu wa ilayhi turja’oon.” (Surat Al-Qasas)
“…Everything (that exists) will perish except His holy Face. To Him belongs the Command, and to Him you will be returned.” (The Stories, 28:88)
Allah (AJ) doesn’t have a face looking at us, Allah (AJ) has 7 attributes that dress the Muhammadan ﷺ face and these attributes each are dressing anyone who looks at that face been dressed by these 7 eternal attributes. That’s all that they want, their life is to reach towards that reality.
Seek Out the Ashab ul Kahf and Be Like Qitmir
So then our whole life was that we want to be in that cave. We want to have the reality of that cave; we want to be dressed by that cave. Then Allah (AJ) gives in Surat al-Kahf an opportunity. ‘Do you see how important these Ashab ul Kahf are? Seek them out in your life and then if you should find them, be like Qitmir!’ So, Allah (AJ) gives for us that you don’t have to think you’re Ashab ul Kahf, ‘Oh! How I’m going to be Ashab ul Kahf. If I’m not going to be Ashab ul Kahf then forget it I’m not going to go.’ Allah (AJ) said, ‘No! Do you remember the story of Ashab ul Kahf?’
There was a dog, and it’s not a dog because for Prophet ﷺ it’s a lion. These are the great lions of all reality. When this creature is following them and they’re saying, ‘No need for you, go! Because if anyone sees you, you’ll give us away,’ and start throwing rocks and start throwing rocks.
Persevere Through the Testing Until You’re Granted a Lisan (Tongue)
It means our life is then about testing – we’re going to have rocks thrown at us, we’re going to have testing and difficulty in our way. Everything that we thought and we planned for in life it becomes something different. Everyday is some sort of a test and a rock that comes towards us in every aspect of our life.Then Allah (AJ) said, ‘Don’t give up, keep going, keep going, keep going,’ until the creature got a tongue. It got up and spoke. It spoke to them and he never bit them and he never attacked them. It took tremendous abuse from them but Allah (AJ) gave a tongue and [he] said that, ‘I’m not stopping. No matter what you do I’m not stopping my path, that perchance, you may find a benefit of why Allah (AJ) is sending me.’ Then Allah (AJ) describes the benefit that while they were doing their work for Allah (AJ), when they’re lying in fana for Allah (AJ), Qitmir guarded the cave.
وَتَحْسَبُهُمْ أَيْقَاظًا وَهُمْ رُقُودٌ ۚ وَنُقَلِّبُهُمْ ذَاتَ الْيَمِينِ وَذَاتَ الشِّمَالِ ۖ وَكَلْبُهُم بَاسِطٌ ذِرَاعَيْهِ بِالْوَصِيدِ ۚ لَوِ اطَّلَعْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَوَلَّيْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِرَارًا وَلَمُلِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ رُعْبًا ﴿١٨
18:18 – “Wa tahsabuhum ayqaazanw wa hum ruqood; wa nuqallibuhum zaatal yameeni wa zaatash shimaali wa kalbuhum baasitun ziraa’ayhi bilwaseed; lawit tala’ta ‘alaihim la wallaita minhum firaaranw wa lamuli’ta minhum rubaa.” (Surat Al-Kahf)
“Thou wouldst have deemed them awake, whilst they were asleep, and We turned them on their right and on their left sides: their dog stretching forth his two fore-legs on the threshold: if thou hadst come up on to them, thou wouldst have certainly turned back from them in flight, and wouldst certainly have been filled with terror of them.” (The Cave, 18:18)
Don’t Lose Hope! Allah (AJ) Grants Immense Blessings
As a result of guarding the cave, Allah (AJ) had dressed upon this creature a haybah. A creature that in their time they call the dog something najes (dirty), something that not clean. Allah (AJ) said, ‘I can make anything not clean to be clean and worthy of paradise.’ Don’t think you’re low, don’t think you’re bad, don’t think you’re not going to make it. Allah (AJ) said, ‘I can make anything from low to be high and I can make anything high to be low. I can grant whatever mercy I want,’ and that for us was immense ni’mat (blessing), immense ni’mat that Allah (AJ) forgive all sins. [He] doesn’t look to the form but says that based on your character.
Remain Peaceful and Take the Rocks of Difficulty
So what was the character to accompany the reality of the cave of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ? ‘Take the rocks!’ If you use your position to fight and to attack people, you are worse! You are not even a dog, because the example of the dog was it stayed quiet. He could’ve ate the Ashab ul Kahf. If you throw a rock enough at a big dog, you can imagine a big one – it’ll eat you. Not only he didn’t eat and he didn’t attack, never became angry, but was calm and peaceful, peaceful.
That’s why they have to prod us in life, they have to keep poking us in life because they don’t want be end up in a room with a lunatic. Would you want to be locked up in a room for forty days where somebody’s going to pull out a knife and kill you in the middle? No! They don’t want to end up in eternity with you. So, they prod you and prod you and see what you’re made of. You’re wild? You’re vicious? Then they may, ‘Oh! Let’s send that one somewhere else. Maybe there’s somebody who likes the vicious ones.’ So, they prod you and prod you until they see good character and that’s all that this cave is asking for. That Prophet ﷺ made it so easy to enter this reality have khuluqin ‘azheem, have a good character.
Spiritual Paths Teach the Adab of Ashab ul Kahf – Have Good Character!
So then tariqahs (spiritual paths) are trying to bring people to this reality and teach them, ‘Have good character! As much as you’re prodded, as much as you’re tested, keep your akhlaaq (character) and your adab to be good.’ With that good character Allah’s (AJ) dressing you until one day you can speak that your tongue will show something miraculous. That, because of the patience of this creature it began to speak to them. Dogs don’t speak! It spoke to them and showed them something miraculous that this is not something normal.
So, Allah (AJ) give to us, ‘Don’t worry! You be patient, you be good with good character, something miraculous will be about you,’ because Allah (AJ) dresses, no one else. Allah (AJ) has to be happy, no one else! Allah (AJ) is the one whom rewards and gives from His bounty. We pray that Allah (AJ) dress us and bless us with the realities of the holy month of Safar, to be dressed by it, to be blessed by it and to see all of its lights – to be protected of any type of difficulty, for the love and the sake of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ.
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: September 18, 2020
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