Spiritual Lessons of Hijrah (Migration) & Cave of Jabal al-Thawr

July 17, 2026 July 20, 2026

1.3K

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

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ ٱلْرَّجِيمِ
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

A’uzu Billahi Minash Shaitanir Rajeem
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

I seek refuge in Allah (AJ) from the accursed Satan
In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

Alhamdulillahi Rabbil ‘aalameen, was salaatu was salaamu ‘alaa Ashrafil 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 wa atiur Rasul wa Ulil amre minkum. Always a reminder for myself, ana abdukal ‘ajeez, wa dayeef, wa miskin, wa zhalim, wa jahl, and but for the grace of Allah (AJ) that we’re still in existence.

أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنكُم… ﴿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)

Muharram: A Month of Divine Light and Salvation

Blessed month of Muharram, one of the four Holy months that Allah (AJ) has drawn our attention to. ‘Asha Nura is an opening of immense light and the salvation of all nations. An immense salvation for the nation of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ with the events of Imam Hussain (as) and Shuhadayi Karbala (as) that Allah (AJ) raise their darajats (stations) infinitely higher. That we be under their intercession of Yawmul Mahshar (Judgement Day), under the shade of Imam Hussain (as). That they dress us from their rida and satisfaction. That the immensity that Allah (AJ) gave to us of seeing this Holy days. Giving us a life in which to open and step in another year of hijrah (migration) and pilgrimage to the Divinely Presence. That to remember the immense realities that awliyaullah (saints) are bringing from the heart of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ of the realities of Muharram.

The Hijrah of the Heart: Destroying the Idols Within

That we talked last night that the hijrah, meaning the ‘migration,’ from the oceans of difficulty and struggling in the heart. Mecca represents the station of the heart in which all our lives we have to struggle with our heart. We have to destroy the idolatry and all that wants our worshipness and our submission. When people say that, ‘We submit to Allah (AJ)’ is that we are attempting to submit to Allah (AJ). Every vice and every desire is a rab (lord) over us, ‘Subhana Rabbil ’ala’ means that ‘Glory be to the Lord Most High’ in my sujood (prostration).

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيُ الْأَعْلَي

Subhana Rabbil ’ala
(Glory be to my Lord, the Lofty)

From everything that shaitan (satan) has put into this world that stops us from that sujood. That the Lord Most High deserves all our attention and all our worshipness.

Prophet ﷺ, thirteen years of abuse and struggle and fight against the desires and the bad actions of people all around. Before the order of the hijrah was 13 years of difficulty. In our lives when we complain and think that we’re having difficulty, we can’t imagine that the most beloved of Allah’s (AJ) creation on what type of difficulty! What type of torment from people, how much they threw difficulties upon Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. He ﷺ kept the best of manners, the best of character. They threw trash at the door and Prophet ﷺ would go to clean it before his daughter, his beloved Sayyidina Fatima tul Zahra (as) would see it. So not to cause a distress on her heart for the abuse that people were putting upon.

Entering Muharram Through the Gate of Repentance

That Prophet ﷺ comes into our heart and reminds us that every Muharram that opens is ‘No haram (forbidden).’ That try our best in life to struggle with the station of Mecca which is our heart and clean our heart from all its idols. Not the statue and the buddha but everything that is the hidden idol. Everything that is coming in our life and stopping us from making the sujood, making our prayer and our sajdah to Allah (AJ) with our full heart and with all our love. What is stopping us from praying, from making the sujood, from doing what Allah (AJ) wanted from us of good character and good actions.

That’s what Prophet ﷺ comes into our heart and asks each Muharram that, ‘Step into this month and ask Allah (AJ) to enter the gates of tawbah (repentance).’ In which we leave these bad actions and that we move toward the ascent and towards the oceans of realities.

Two Great Inheritances of Naqshbandi Path

The importance in Naqshbandiya tul ‘Aliya (The Most Distinguished Naqshbandi Order) in which it is the only tariqah (spiritual path) from the heart of Sayyidina Abu Bakr as Siddiq (as), Siddiq al-Mutlaq (the absolute truthful) and called Siddiqiya (truthful) tariqah. Because of the immensity of the secret and that 42 other tariqahs are from the reality of Imam Ali (as) as his Siddiqiya secret. Naqshbandiya comes with the reality of Sayyidina Abu Bakr as Siddiq (as) – Siddiqiya secret.

Then with Sayyidina Qasim (as) and Sayyidina Imam Jafar as-Saddiq (as) inside the shajarah (spiritual lineage) and the chain of Naqshbandiya it brings the hidden reality of Imam Ali (as) to dress Naqshbandiya tul ‘Aliya. That he brings his secret into this tariqah.

I – Inheriting The Siddiqiya Character of Sayyidina Abu Bakr as Siddiq (as)

That you make your akhlaq and your character exactly how Sayyidina Abu Bakr as Siddiq (as) wants it. Because this was the beloved Khalil (friend) of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. Have a truthful character that he’ll mould you as your spiritual father. The spiritual father of our Naqshbandiya tariqah Sayyidina Abu Bakr as Siddiq (as). That he’ll mould you in perfection of character in which he’ll dress us with his inheritance.

That when they came to give to Prophet ﷺ, Sayyidina Abu Bakr as Siddiq (as) had given everything. They were preparing for battle and each companion was bringing what they had to give Prophet ﷺ. Each you know 30%, 40%, 50% Sayyidina Abu Bakr as Siddiq (as) has brought all his life’s possessions and put at the step of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. He explained that ‘I’ve left only for my family “La ilaha illAllah Muhammadun Rasulullah ﷺ.”

عَنْ سَيِّدِنَا عُمَرِ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامْ قَالَ: أَمَرَنَا رَسُولُ أَللَّهِ ﷺ أَنْ نَتَصَدَّقَ.

.وَأَتَى أَبُو بَكْرٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامْ بِكُلِّ مَا عِنْدَهُ …

فَقَالَ ﷺ: “يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ مَا أَبْقَيْتَ لِأَهْلِكَ؟” قَالَ: “أَبْقَيْتُ لَهُمُ أَللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ.

[سُنَنُ التِّرْمِذِي ٣٦٧٥]

‘An Sayyidina ‘Umar ibni al Khatabi (as) qala: Amarana Rasulallahi ﷺ an natasaddaqa,…Wa ata Abu Bakrin (as) bi kulli ma ‘indahu. Faqala ﷺ: “Ya Aba Bakrin ma abqayta li ahlika? Qala: “Abqaytu lahumu Allaha wa Rasulahu.” [Sunan At Tirmidhi 3675]

Sayyidina ‘Umar ibn al Khattab (as) reported: The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) ordered us to give charity…Sayyidina Abu Bakr (as) came with everything he had. The Prophet (pbuh) said, “O Abu Bakr, what have you left for your family?” Abu Bakr said, “Allah and his messenger.” [Sunan At Tirmidhi 3675]

Truthfulness Opens the Way to the Love of Prophet ﷺ

This is our inheritance, this the greatness of our spiritual father in which he is giving an inheritance of his station. His khuluq, his character that, ‘If you truly love me and follow this tariqah, I want to dress you with the Siddiqiya character, I want to dress you with the truthful character that you’re truthful in your actions and in your deeds.’ Then that character of truthfulness will make you dear to Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ.

That’s why our hijrah of Naqshbandiya’s realities it starts with the understanding that, ‘Don’t forget Imam Ali (as) in this tariqah.’ He is lying in the bed for this mission to occur. He is lying in that bed to teach us that when this great Siddiq takes you to that cave, takes you on your path, treats and shows you how to be truthful, I’ll come back and dress you from a secret. Sayyidina Abu Bakr as Siddiq (as) comes and dresses our character, teaches us with all the Naqshabandi mashayikh (spiritual guides) that how to have a truthful character. A character in which Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ to love you and befriend you because so happy with that beautiful character.

II – The Family Inheritance Through Imam Ali (as) in Naqshbandiya

Then Sayyidina Ali (as) comes to sweeten that reality. Because after they attempted to kill Sayyidina Ali (as) and Allah (AJ) blocked that and not a hair on the head of Imam Ali (as) was injured. He escaped from Mecca and appeared in Medinatul Munawwara (luminous city of Prophet ﷺ) to greet the arrival of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. So means that Imam Ali (as) comes into the tariqah and begins to sweeten with the prophetic and family inheritance.

Naqshbandiya tul ‘Aliya – they want to dress with the Siddiqiya and the companion reality to dress you from that Siddiqiya truth. Also to grant you from the family reality and this is from the inheritance of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ that given to Imam Ali (as) from Ulul al Baab (Gatekeepers of the Reality). That ‘Come and I make you from the people of the gate.’ In which not only your character is so beloved to Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ but that you sacrifice everything for that love. That you don’t even think twice about the love that you have for Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. That sacrifice everything in your life for that reality. That you have to love Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ more than we love ourselves. More than we love our parents, our children, more than we love anything from this dunya (material world). We try to take a path in which to love Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ more than any of these things.

عَنْ أَنَسِ بْن مَالِكٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ، قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: ” لاَ يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى أَكُونَ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ وَالِدِهِ وَوَلَدِهِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ ‏”‏‏.‏
[صَحِيِحْ مُسْلِمْ، حديث ٤٤، واَلْبُخَارِي، كِتَابُ الْإيْمَانْ، حديث ١٥]

‘An Anas ibn Malik (ra) qala, qala Rasulullahi ﷺ “La yuminu ahadukum hatta akona ahabba ilayhi min walidihi wa waladihi wan nasi ajma’yeen.” [Sahih Muslim, Hadith 44, wa Al Bukhari, Kitabul Iman, Hadith 15]

Narrated by Anas son of Malik (ra) that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “None of you will have faith till he loves me more than his father, his children, and all mankind.”
[Authentic by Muslim, Hadith 44 & by Al Bukhari, Book of Faith, Hadith 15]

The Hidden Reality of Two Golden Doors of Ka’bah

So that that perfection of character and perfection of that reality can come into our existence and into our lives. So many realities from that hijrah that we’re asking Allah (AJ), ‘To open, Ya Rabbi from the character of these holy companions.’ That the Ka’bah, when you look to the Ka’bah is the heart of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. When you look to the two golden doors with two golden hearts, these are the realities of Sayyidina Abu Bakr as Siddiq (as) and Sayyidina Ali (as). That teaching us that, these are the two great Siddiqs that bringing the nation of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ into this reality to be dressed, to be perfected. To giving them the khuluq and the character that is pleasing to Allah (AJ). That’s what this hijrah and the Naqshbandiya realities of this hijrah is that we’re asking from.

That if we don’t know the intention, it doesn’t matter because awliya they know. They’re asking Allah (AJ) that, ‘Let this year to begin Ya Rabbi, that we fulfill this covenant that we gave with these holy companions. That they perfect our character, that we reach to that truthfulness in our actions and in our deeds. That Imam Ali (as) begins to teach us and make us from the caretakers of the door. That the Ulul al Baab in which we stand firm at the door for the love of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ.’

Hidden Realities of the Cave of Thawr

& The Event of Hijrah

InshaAllah Allah (AJ) give us istiqam and firmness in our belief and in our practices. Reminding us that as we’re entering in and following Sayyidina Abu Bakr as Siddiq (as) they went to a cave. Inside that cave they went and they hid, a spider web had blocked its gate. A bird became present, a dove which represents the peace and the angelic beauty of that reality. That dove had two eggs. This is for the mulk (earthly realm) and malakut (heavenly realm). The angelic reality that guards this cave of what we’re trying to enter. Everything in it was a code that when Allah (AJ) put Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ into that cave with his beloved friend Sayyidina Abu Bakr as Siddiq (as). But then the entry of that cave, that beatific spider web and every year we repeat for our understanding. So that we can go deeper and deeper into that understanding. In front of that cave a dove with two eggs, means that a sign for us is that this cave has an entry and has a reality.

i – The Spider Web

The Ankabut, Allah (AJ) describes the spider that makes this beatific and fragile home. It means that our rizq (sustenance) is not to conquer the earth, running in the bazaar and trying to conquer everything. Conquer everything and then say, ‘One day I’ll retire and then I’ll worship Allah (AJ).’ Say, ‘No, the Ashabul Kahf (Companions of The Cave), the real, the real Ashabul Kahf, everything is real by Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. Before that everything was an imitation; the real Ashabul Kahf are the ones whom are running into the heart of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ.

Secret of Seeking Refuge in Allah (AJ) from Accursed Devil

Allah (AJ) saying, ‘If you want to come into this cave look what you see first? Do you see the spider web that’s blocking this cave?’ Because many of your friends and colleagues and brothers and sisters they won’t see this cave. They don’t understand what’s being said about the heart, ‘Run to the heart of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ.’ That’s the secret of “A’uzu Billah.”

How do you have “Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem” if you didn’t understand the “A’uzu Billahi Minash Shaitanir Rajeem?” If you want knowledges you want every reality, they say everything you do, do with “Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem.” What’s the value of saying “Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem” if you yet didn’t even understand the “A’uzu Billahi Minash Shaitanir Rajeem?” Seek refuge in Allah (AJ) from the accursed devil. How are we to seek refuge in Allah (AJ)? It is to seek refuge who are already in Allah’s (AJ) refuge and satisfaction. So means run to the presence of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ and that is the protection from shaitanir rajeem.

The Spider’s Lesson in Reliance Upon Allah (AJ)

For one they understood this cave, Allah (AJ) takes and looks, says, ‘Look at that spider web. Do you see what a beatific house that is? How delicate and how fragile that creature makes its home?’ That home is his way of making sustenance. He builds a beatific house and then he waits for Allah (AJ). He waits for Allah (AJ) to send his sustenance. He waits for Allah (AJ) to send him what he is in need of. For that creature, Allah (AJ) is truly his sustainer. That he reached into an understanding of himself that, ‘I can’t catch anything. I can’t bring anything into my mouth, Ya Rabbi other than building this beatific home. Building this beatific reality.’ That Allah (AJ) when He is pleased with it, He sends the sustenance into that web.

Awliayullah came into our hearts and described that, ‘Your web that you should be building is your awrad (daily practices), your zikr (Divine remembrance) and all your good deeds of salawats (Praises upon Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)) and zikr. Do the actions that are so pleasing to Allah (AJ); do your zikrs, do your awrad, do all of these practices.’ The house that you build becomes so beatific to Allah (AJ) that Allah (AJ) shows you, ‘I am truly your sustainer. I’ll send you everything. I’ll send you whatever I believe you’re in need of and I send it to you.’ Because their house is zikr and salawats and all the good deeds they’re continuously thanking Allah (AJ). That ‘Shukran Ya Rabbi, Alhamdulillah wa Shukranlillah,’ making salawats, praising upon Allah (AJ). It becomes a perpetual reality. As they’re praising, Allah (AJ) is sending more. Because their whole life was keep preparing the web, keep preparing it, building it, repairing it and Allah keeps sustaining and sustaining that servant.

ii – The Doves and Two Eggs

Then Allah (AJ) said, ‘Look see that dove, it is a symbol of my angels. That the angels guard the presence of this reality. The two eggs are symbolic of the two creations. Rasul ath-Thaqalain – the master of the two worlds, of the mulk and malakut. That the master of this reality, this is the cave, this is the heart to that reality. If one day you understand that inside this cave, inside this heart is Manzil ul Qur’an (where the Holy Qur’an emanates). Its power, its ocean, and its realities is the flowing holy Qur’an of Allah (AJ). The Creator of all created universes is teaching and speaking to this heart; it is something that can’t even be understood or imagined. Allah (AJ) say, ‘I’m giving you access to this heart. Enter into its reality and understand this reality.’

iii – Snake Coming Through the Hole

So, when those whom are fortunate enough and Allah (AJ) granted them a ni’mat (blessing). Did you understand or are you understanding to enter into this cave? They enter into this cave and what Allah (AJ) draws their attention? In this cave is a great Siddiq and his life is the Ta’zim un Nabi ﷺ (Honoring the Prophet (pbuh)). That this beatific reality of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ is inside this cave and his only concern is the safeguard of this reality.

Serving Prophet ﷺ Without Seeking Anything in Return

So means these analogies are important in our life that if you want to inherit this position from Sayyidina Abu Bakr as Siddiq (as). Wasn’t in the cave looking for food, looking for fire, looking for nothing. Just that Allah (AJ) gave him an opportunity to be with His most beloved servant. All he wanted to do was to make sure His beloved servant could take a nap and rest his head on his lap. That he would secure that nothing would aggravate or agitate this beloved servant of Allah (AJ). It is ta’zim (honour); it is showing so much love and respect for the reality. That so much so that there was a hole and a snake was coming into this hole. This great Siddiq put his heel into the hole.

A Sacred Duty of Spreading the Prophetic Love

It means that our life was about this beatific reality that Allah (AJ) gave to us and Allah (AJ) is going to ask, ‘What did you do with it? Did you just pass it up? Did you think of it as something regular like everything else in life? Or was it so precious to you that you held it with a reverence?’ Your hole was how to show a reverence to the whole world for this reality. That’s why Mawlidun Nabi ﷺ (celebration of the birthday of Prophet ﷺ) is so important. These da’wah (religious propagation) is so important.

Because it is taking that beatific love of Prophet ﷺ and sharing it with the world in a beatific and elegant and perfected way. Not something small, not something unimportant or don’t put it. You put it with the best of eloquence, the best of elegance. The best of what Allah (AJ) has given to us and share with the world these beatific fragrance. That’s Ta’zim un Nabi ﷺ, to magnify the magnificent status of the reality of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ.

Only The Holy Foot of Great Siddiq (as) can Block Shaitan from Entering the Heart

The great Siddiq, that when this hole and seeing a snake to come out, he put his qadam and his holy foot to block. Awliyaullah come to our hearts and taught us that, ‘This heart and this heart of ours it has a block, a black dot, a black spot. In which shaitan is trying to enter into the heart, to contaminate the faith and take away the faith of insan (mankind). The only thing that can save this servant is the qadam (foot) of a Siddiq. The only thing that can save your heart from its black spot and from the attack of shaitan. There is not a mountain high enough to go. There is not an ocean deep enough to escape in. There is nowhere to hide yourself from this attack of shayateen (devils) if you’re not in the heart of Prophet ﷺ. That you’re not accompanying these great Sidddiqs.

So, alhamdulillah that Allah (AJ) has guided us to this way and to this path. That, that great foot of Sayyidina Abu Bakr as Siddiq (as), as Siddiq al-Mutlaq that his holy qadam to be in our hearts and to block the entry of shayateen. That to block shaitan from coming and stealing our faith and stealing our actions and stealing our character.

Beginning the New Year by Seeking Intercession of Great Siddiqs (as)

Every year is a reminder for us: ‘Ya Rabbi we’re the starting the year in remembering. We’re remembering these realities, asking from these great personalities. These great souls, that we are their children, to adopt us. Take care of us, watch over us. That we are weak servants and we want to reach to what You have given as a bounty, as a gift to the nation; we want to reach to that reality Ya Rabbi. Let the great Siddiq’s foot to block shaitan and make us to be a muqaddam and those whom they took the footsteps of this great reality.’

We pray that Allah (AJ) to dress us and bless us with this understanding of the hijrah, the opening of that reality. That the great Siddiqs, the great Companions (as) of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ to dress us and perfect us. Perfect our character because they’re inheriting from “Ummati (my nation), Ummati, Ummati.” The desire that Prophet ﷺ had for his nation, his beloved Companions (as) have that desire to perfect the nation. To present the nation pure and purified to the presence of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. We pray that Allah (AJ) to dress us and to bless us from that reality. That we be under their nazar (gaze) and under their intercession. In these holy nights that they dress us and fulfill that reality upon our souls, InshaAllah.

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

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

Original Date of Suhbah: August 31, 2020

Related Articles: