Spiritual Secrets of Guidance & Role of the Companions -Tafsir Surah Kahf (Part 3)
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.
Follow the Ulul Amr and Run to the Cave of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ
“Atiullaha wa atiur Rasula wa Ulil amre minkum.”
﴾أَطِيعُواللَّه وَأَطِيعُوٱلرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ… ﴿٥٩…
4:59 – Ya ayyu hal latheena amanoo Atiu Allaha wa atiur Rasula 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)
A reminder for myself, ana abdukal ‘ajeez, wa dayeef, wa miskin, wa zhalim, wa jahl, and that Allah’s (AJ) rahmah and mercy keeping us in existence and forgiving our wrongs and granting us immense ni’mat (blessings) to have the love for Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. Alhamdulillah, in the month of Safar in which Allah (AJ) orders for us to run to the cave. We pray that Allah (AJ) expand our heart in the understanding of the cave and its reality of the Muhammadan heart.
Islam is the World of Form, Iman is the World of Light
That in our life of struggling, in the station of Makkah in which we accept Allah’s (AJ) oneness and the Ka’bah is symbolic of that reality of oneness. That leave all other than the worship of Allah (AJ), come to that oneness, struggle for that oneness and perchance Allah (AJ) give that ni’mat of mulk (heavenly realm) in the physical world that, ‘When I find sincerity, I might grant you faith.’
Faith is not the physical world anymore. The faith is the world of light, malakut. Iman (faith) is different than Islam and accepting Islam. Islam is the world of form – you move the form, you accept with the form – all of those are related to form. Iman is the world of light and belief and faith and that reality of moving towards Madinatul Munawwara (luminous city of Prophet ﷺ). Allah (AJ) gives through the example of the hijrah (migration), the holy hijrah of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ that you have to move, but stop at the cave. Ghar e-Thawr, the Cave of Thawr; it means that’s the cave of all realities. That’s the cave in which our arwah (soul) is located in that, dressed in that, and the secret of guidance is based on that.
Seven Sleepers Showed Taslim By Their Movement and Veiling
So, ayatul kareem (generous verse of Holy Qur’an) from Surat al-Kahf. Haji Shahzad, it’s ayah 17, but start from the middle of the ayah where it describes “Min ayati Allahi, man yahdillahu…”
Reciter:
﴾مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّـهِ ۗ مَن يَهْدِ اللَّـهُ فَهُوَ الْمُهْتَدِ ۖ وَمَن يُضْلِلْ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ وَلِيًّا مُّرْشِدًا ﴿١٧…
18:17 – “…min ayati Allahi, man yahdillahu fahuwal Muhtadi, wa man yudlil falan tajida lahu waliyyan murshida.” (Surat Al-Kahf)
“…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)
Sadaqallahul ‘azim.
Shaykh Nurjan Mirahmadi: Sadaqallahul ‘azim. Barakah ya Rasulul Kareem (The Most Generous Messenger). From just this section, when Allah (AJ) in the above ayah (verse) is describing in the same ayah that they enter into the cave, the reality of the sun, the movement of the sleepers has to do with taslim (submission). It has to do that you taslim in this cave of realities. That we put a veil over their ears. Once you read this holy surah (chapter), it’ll describe that Allah (AJ) put a veil over their ears and they went into a sleep.
﴾فَضَرَبْنَا عَلَىٰ آذَانِهِمْ فِي الْكَهْفِ سِنِينَ عَدَدًا ﴿١١
18:11 – “Fadarabnaa ‘alaa aazanihim fil Kahfi seneena ‘adadaa” (Surat Al-Kahf)
“Then We draw (a veil) over their ears, for a number of years, in the Cave, (so that they heard not)” (The Cave, 18:11)
One, why the ears to cause this level of reality? Two, that when you enter into this cave of realities, the sun has a direct influence on you and you don’t move but through its isharah (sign). That’s why Allah (AJ) say, ‘These are the signs.’ They were moving left and right like the command of the sun was giving it to move so they wouldn’t burn and that their body wouldn’t decay.
وَتَرَى الشَّمْسَ إِذَا طَلَعَت تَّزَاوَرُ عَن كَهْفِهِمْ ذَاتَ الْيَمِينِ وَإِذَا غَرَبَت تَّقْرِضُهُمْ ذَاتَ الشِّمَالِ وَهُمْ فِي فَجْوَةٍ مِّنْهُ ۚ … ﴿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…” (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…” (The Cave, 18:17)
Real Guidance Comes From Those Who Have Entered the Heart of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ
But the spiritual reality is what we’ve been teaching is that this is the reality of the qamar (moon), it’s path towards the sun. It’s going through 12 veils, 12 buruj (stars), 12 tajjalis (manifestation) of Allah (AJ). It’s different than the knowledges of the people of the Earth. Their knowledge is like looking, ‘This is a beautiful sky. These are beautiful stars.’ They talk of a reality. The knowledge from the moon is in the reality giving you description of the reality, it’s on it versus star gazing towards it.
At this level, Allah (AJ) is describing guidance because this is the cave of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. This is the way of the people whom want to enter into Madinatul Munawwara. They want to enter into the highest reality that Allah (AJ) wants to give. Maqam al-Mahmood (Station of Praise and Glory) is not for all of creation. To believe, if they believe, they’re granted paradise. But to believe in Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ is Allah’s (AJ) highest gift.
If You’re Not With a Waliyun Murshidun, You’re Left to Be Astray
So, then the symbolic path of Makkah to Madina that Prophet ﷺ stepped into the cave – three days of work. What Allah (AJ) did in those three days and did those three days ever end? That’s why three days Prophet ﷺ into the cave? What type of reality Allah (AJ) wanted to open in the cave and is continuously opening? The arwah and the soul of Prophet ﷺ is there and doing the work that Allah (AJ) wanted to do and that’s symbolic of the prophetic heart on our path that when Allah (AJ) want to guide and this – now we go into this – He says that, ‘These are from the signs of Allah (AJ). He whom Allah (AJ) guides is rightly guided.’ (Holy Qur’an, 18:17)
So, if He’s going to take them into the city of Madinatul Munawwara, it’s going to be based on these realities and these teachings and we’re going to describe that now. ‘But he whom He leaves astray’ means whom is not guided is left astray. So this part here is very deep. If you’re guided, you’re guided. If Allah (AJ) leaves you astray, then He describes what is somebody who’s astray? ‘Never will he find him a Waliyun Murshidun.’ Ah, 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)
You’re Only Guided With Allah’s (AJ) Permission
When someone thinks they’re guided, then Allah (AJ) clarifying because this whole Surat al-Kahf is about haqqaiqs (realities) and the ways of tariqah (spiritual path). The way of the path, the way of the cave to enter into the heart of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. So, like a clue, like a puzzle whom Allah (AJ) said, ‘Whom guided is rightly guided but whom He left astray, they never will find a Waliyun Murshidun.’ If you’re not with a wali (saint), and that wali is not a murshid and a guide, then you have to consider yourself, according to Allah (AJ), He left you to be astray. The same sentence, it’s Allah’s (AJ) words, not my words.
So, guidance is what? It’s not people thinking they’re guided. Allah (AJ) is clarifying, ‘No, guidance is when Allah (AJ) puts your hand in the hand of a guide. Sultanul Awliya Mawlana Shaykh Muhammad Nazim Haqqani (Q), Sultanul Awliya Mawlana Shaykh Abdullah Faiz ad-Daghestani (Q) – huge guides! All their heart and realities are dressing in these knowledges. So, then Allah’s (AJ) saying, ‘When We guide you, you’re in the hands of a Waliyun Murshidun. (Holy Qur’an, 18:17)
When they say, ‘There is no murshid,’ Allah (AJ) says, ‘No, this is in Qur’an. There is murshid.’ ‘There is no wali and there is no one who can protect you except Allah (AJ).’ Allah (AJ) says, ‘You’re wrong because I put it in Qur’an.’ That there are guides who are protectors with the Izzah and Might of Allah’s (AJ) will. That it’s through Allah’s (AJ) permission, He’s going to guide.
Imam Ali (as) Took the Brunt of Satanic Attacks When He Sacrificed Himself
So, now then guidance happens how? That when Allah (AJ) want to guide you, the reality of Imam Ali (as) in the hijrah (migration) was what? He took the brunt of satanic attack because everything is symbolic. There’s a physical event, but there’s a much deeper spiritual event. That Allah (AJ), for the main character is one story, but for me and you, when we’re coming on this path then this is a whole story of guidance until you get to the stories of Sayyidina Musa (as) and the adab (manners) of meeting the guide.
But what Allah (AJ) describing is what is guidance? Because of their sacrifice and the steps they took, the brunt of this movement, Imam Ali (as) took most of the shaitans (devils) because he stood there in the bed to be killed. So, the brunt of attack came to Imam Ali (as) and it was stopped by the Izzah and the Might of Allah (AJ). As a result of that, Prophet ﷺ went and established into the cave.
We Cannot Reach the Heart of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ Without the Sacrifice of Imam Ali (as)
So, it means that in our life and in our guidance if that event had not taken place, the minute you decided to come to tariqah (spiritual path) and come to the way of Allah (AJ), shaitan would have obliterated you. He would have merely found that you want to go to tariqah, he would have sent all his devils come rip you to pieces. But no, no, there must be defenders. There must be Waliyun Murshidun (Saintly Guide to the Right Way).
Allah (AJ), when He destines this one will find a tariqah, Imam Ali (as) is dispatched to destroy the shaitans that are around him. No shaitan is going to come to that one whom Allah (AJ) want to be guided because Allah’s (AJ) then saying, ‘If I didn’t grant that sultan (king) to come and guide you and to protect you, you’ll be left astray by the devils that are playing with you.’
So, the fact that Imam Ali (as) lies within the bed of this reality of hijrah, the reality of Naqshbandiya, is the bulk of the attack is then taken by Imam Ali (as) to destroy those shaitans so that you can reach to the cave and to the heart and to the love of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. Otherwise, the minute you intended to do something good, intended to have a love for Prophet ﷺ, this dunya (material world) in its overwhelming negativity, would have obliterated you.
Allah (AJ) Appointed Imam Ali (as) as a Means to Protect and Defend Us
So, when people say, ‘No, there is no protection,’ but this is Allah’s (AJ) protection. This is how Allah (AJ) does it. Allah (AJ) doesn’t send His physical hand and put something. This, the people have an incorrect understanding. Allah (AJ) works by means. Says, ‘These souls that I granted immense blessings, I merely dispatch them.’
So, that Waliyun Murshidun, one reality of Imam Ali (as), is that his ruhaniyat (spirituality), his nazar (gaze) must come to defend you, push away all negativities so that you are free to go to Madina. He did it for Prophet ﷺ. He said, ‘I’ll lie in the bed. They’re coming to kill you. I will lie in the bed and take that death. I sacrifice myself for you.’ This is an eternal station for the believer. If he doesn’t lay his life down to defend us, to protect us, shaitan would have destroyed us. He clears the path.
Allah (AJ) Opens Your Path to Madina When You Participate in These Teachings
You are free to move towards Madinatul Munawwara and these ashiqeen (lovers), they begin to run and levitate and move through means of dreams, through visions, through whatever comes to their heart by randomly hitting a YouTube. There is no randomly hitting a channel. It’s by that reality they cleared the way and they pushed you, ‘Press that button.’ You press the button and now you’re entering towards the Madina, Madani realities.
These are ‘ashiqeen (lovers). Anytime you touch their button, watched a video, come across their page, come across a book, anything – Allah (AJ) has opened a path to Madina. It’s not that you had $18,000 to go physically take a plane; many people don’t and they won’t have an ability especially now anymore, everything’s closed. But Madina is everywhere. Anywhere the lovers of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ gather, it’s the garden of Madina of the presence of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ.
Be Like the Spider – Build a Beatific House and Wait for Sustenance
So, then the first level of guidance, you must have been defended to come this direction. Then we go into the heart. At the heart, they describe the spider web and how Allah (AJ) works with codes because if you’ve ever seen a treasure map, it doesn’t show you the map and put a X and say, ‘There’s 10 million dollars of gold here.’ There’s clues and Allah (AJ) wants the seeker to seek. It’s not given to you. Where, how come it’s not known? Why is this a secret? Because secret is a part of seeking. You seek to find a secret so that it has value. If it’s up in the open, it has no value. So, when they come across the cave, Allah (AJ) draws their attention to a spider web. Why the importance of a spider web?
So, ahlul tafakkur (people of contemplation), they understood that the ankabut (spider), the reality and the beauty of ankabut at many levels, the tariqah you must live a life like a spider. Not a bear hunting for your sustenance, trying to conquer the whole Earth. But make a beautiful house and let Allah (AJ) send flies to you. He can send big flies too. If your house is good, it’ll catch it. That was one level.
This Spiritual Path is Based on Laam Alif, 29th Arabic Letter
Ahlul tafakkur (people of contemplation), they understood deeper that this ankabut is surah 29. What’s the huroof (Arabic letters) of 29? Laam alif. Oh, the whole way is based on bi sirrat lam jalala. We said this whole treasure wanting to be known is by laam alif.
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]
Later, you’ll read in the same surah (chapter) that Sayyidina Musa (as) wanted the laam alif. ‘I want where the two rivers meet. Where La ilaha illAllah meets with Muhammadun Rasulullah ﷺ. This Bahrul Hayat (Ocean of Ever-Living) in the center where the fish comes to life, this is what I want, ya Rabbi.’
﴾وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِفَتَاهُ لَا أَبْرَحُ حَتَّىٰ أَبْلُغَ مَجْمَعَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ أَوْ أَمْضِيَ حُقُبًا ﴿٦٠
18:60 – “Wa idh qala Mosa lefatahu laa abrahu hatta ablugha majma’a albahrayni aw amdiya huquba.” (Surat Al-Kahf)
“Behold, Moses said to his attendant, I will not give up until I reach the junction of the two seas or (until) I spend years and years in travel.” (The Cave, 18:60)
Ulul al Baab Guard the Heart of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ With the Secret of Laam Alif, the Zulfiqar
So, they understood the spider web is a secret of the sword and whose sword? It means the zulfiqar (sword of Imam Ali (as)) and these are now the Ulul al Baab (Gatekeepers of the Reality). The Ulul al Baab, they guard the heart of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. That’s why many will turn on the signal, watch the TV and say, ‘Oh, these people are crazy’ and change a channel. Because you didn’t see anything and that wasn’t meant for you.
They came after they were stalled from the attack. They came running, running, running and say, ‘Oh, there’s nothing here. It’s just a spider web.’ Those Sufyani, same people. They don’t see the importance of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ and they definitely don’t recognize the heart of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. At that heart, there are the caretakers and they guard the door to that reality. They guard the door with the secret of laam alif.
A True Siddiq Helps Us Enter the Heart of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ
Inside the cave now becomes the understanding of our journey. That inside the cave means inside my heart. I’m in a state of fana (annihilation), but in my heart is a Siddiq (truthful one). It means in my heart is a Siddiq and if you’re trying to enter into this heart of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ, you’re going to need help because our heart begins to mimic that reality.
Says, ‘In my heart is a Siddiq and the role that I have given to this Siddiq is to put his qadam, his holy foot, his path, his reality, his power in which Allah (AJ) has given to his qadam – we’ll describe that in Surat al-Fath – in 48, Surah 48. “Taqaddama min dhanbika taakhkhar.”
﴾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 Mubeena. (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)
Sayyidina Abu Bakr as Siddiq’s (as) Foot Blocks Shaitan to Support Us
There has to be a foot on this path to support you. The great Siddiq, Sayyidina Abu Bakr as Siddiq (as), is showing that, ‘My foot went into that hole for shaitan (satan) and blocked the shaitan.’ And Prophet’s ﷺ description when he yelled at the snake, ‘How dare you bite the foot of a Siddiq? It’s forbidden for you, shaitan. Shaitan’s response was, ‘I love you so much, I just wanted to see you.’ Shaitan’s response is, ‘I just, I wanted a beautiful vision of your gaze.’
Now what does that tell you? That one, if you want to battle against shaitan, you better have a Siddiq in your heart because if you think you’re going to fight shaitan alone, you will be obliterated. That’s why this is all about guidance. When Allah (AJ) says, ‘If you don’t understand this, you’re definitely astray. Shaitan is playing with you and flipping you in all sorts of directions.’
In the holy heart and the presence of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ is describing Sayyidina Abu Bakr as Siddiq (as), this is his role, that his madad and support must be with you putting his qadam, putting his path, putting his training, putting his teaching and then sending faiz (downpouring blessings) and madad to you to block the shaitan and lessen the attack of shaitan within your heart.
Shaitans Around You Come Under the Permission of Awliya
That shaitan (satan) that is coming, what’s his character? He loves Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. So, it means this shaitan is coming under their permission. That’s why we said before – when guidance comes, the shaitans that deal with you is under the permission of these awliya (saints). He’s a shaitan. He’s going to flip your world upside down, but he’s under. That’s why Allah (AJ) described that his permission is bi Izzatullah (Allah’s (AJ) Might and Magnificence). It’s in Qur’an, bi izzatur Rasul (honour of the Messenger) wa izzatul mumineen (honour of the believers) – shaitan is allowed to operate.
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)
Without Real Guidance, All Types of Shaitans Would Be Attacking Us
Where? In the sanctified fields of guidance and murshid (authorized spiritual guide). If Allah (AJ) didn’t give a control, every type of shaitan would be coming from all directions, hitting all the students; be a thousand wolves on your five sheep. There will be no way.
So, Allah (AJ) describing, ‘No, no, when I destined for you guidance, first thing I dispatch, Imam Ali (as). He’ll obliterate all the devils around. The only one who’s allowed in, he’s okay. Don’t worry about him. He’s under their command. He just going to play around a little bit to test you but not to devour you and take you away because the reality of the heart, he (shaitan) came and say, ‘I just want to see your beautiful face.’ (Prophet ﷺ) ‘You saw my face. Die!’ and he threw him out. But shaitan doesn’t die so he comes back to life again.
Do Your Awrad, Make Your Madad to Keep Guidance Against Shaitan
It means these are the realities of the heart of guidance. So, our heart becomes then a duplicate of that reality. That when we’re trying to reach the Muhammadan love and trying to have Prophet’s ﷺ love come into our heart and Allah (AJ) is reminding for us – shaitan will be coming all the time to attack you. If I’m going to guide you, I’m going to guide you with these murshids.
That’s why they teach you to make your awrad (daily practices), make the madad. Call upon their reality because when you call upon them, their arwah (souls) and their being begin to enter into your soul, enter into your heart and do the work that Allah (AJ) wants them to do and that’s the reality of guidance.
Pious Souls of the Shajarah Cleanse Your Heart and Bring Guidance
If people think they’re fighting it themselves, they have really underestimated what type of power shaitan (satan) has and they undervalue the ni’mat of Allah (AJ). You think you’re taking your desire away by yourself? Or it’s from the Budala, Nujaba and Nuqaba?
The Nuqaba, when you call upon the madad of the shajarah (spiritual lineage) of the shaykhs, you don’t know which category these shaykhs are. The Nuqaba have an ijazah and a permission from Allah (AJ). Their arwah can enter into your soul. They can see your heart from a distance and begin to clean it and pray upon it. There’s no way for you to take these desires out if not by Izzah of Allah (AJ). And Izzah of Allah (AJ) comes through the guidance of the souls and the gift that He’s already given to these souls. But it requires somebody to be humble.
Souls of Awliyaullah are Higher Than Malaika
When they say, ‘No, no, this is shirk’ (polytheism). What are you talking about shirk? This is not about worshipness. Worshipness is only for Allah (AJ) but the kingdom of Allah (AJ) is filled with bounty. If you think the angels are doing something, what about the souls of awliya (saints) who are much higher than the angels? ‘Wa laqad karramna bani adam.’
﴾وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِي آدَمَ…﴿٧٠
17:70 – “Wa laqad karramna bani adama…” (Surat Al-Isra)
“And We have certainly honored the children of Adam…” (The Night Journey, 17:70)
The soul of pious souls, their darajat (stations) and their love by Allah (AJ) is higher than malaika (angels) and everybody believes malaika do everything. They bring this, they bring that, they bring this by Izzah of Allah (AJ). So, same for the arwah (souls) of these awliyaullah (saints). That when you make the madad, they’re teaching because the cave is such an immense reality that you can spend years meditating on it and all its realities will begin to flow. This is just a drop of that reality. That when you’re entering in, when they say that that cave you never left, it means that as soon as your arwah is from that reality, from an ancient time. That your heart is now a part of that cave and your heart becomes a symbol like that cave.
Shaitan Cannot Be in Your Heart if Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ Resides Within
So, your heart becomes a cave because who do you have in your heart? Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. Why is he resting and not busy? Because he’s coming with his ishq (love) and his fana (annihilation) and he’s saying, ‘I’m going to bring my Khalil (friend), I’m going to bring my Siddiqs. My one Siddiq, he’s going to fight everything around you to guard you and my other beloved Siddiq, he’s going to enter in and go after that hole where shaitan is coming. Because when I’m in your heart and my love is in your heart, me and shaitan, we don’t get along. We’re not going to share your heart’ and Allah (AJ) say, ‘I created no one with two hearts.’
﴾مَّا جَعَلَ اللَّـهُ لِرَجُلٍ مِّن قَلْبَيْنِ فِي جَوْفِهِ ۚ …﴿٤
33:4 – “Ma ja’ala Allahu lirajulin min Qalbayni fee jawfihi…” (Surat Al-Ahzab)
“Allah has not made for a man two hearts in his interior…” (The Combined Forces, 33:4)
Fight Shaitan By Making Immense Salawats on Prophet ﷺ
So, then how do you fight shaitan? Is bring the love of Prophet ﷺ. The ishq (love) and muhabbat of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ is the opening of all these realities. Your heart becomes the cave, the cave of this immense love. Every time you make a salawat (praises upon Prophet Muhammad ﷺ), we describe before you can even put it on the camera that what is a salawat?
The whole ocean of power is salawat on Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. The whole ocean of power is vibration, is energy, is on durood sharif (praisings on Prophet Muhammad ﷺ). When you make one durood sharif as if you took a drop from this ocean of immense power and brought it into your being, that it can’t be understood. It can’t even be described by the tongue and there is not even permission to talk about that reality. But immense, immense – imagine then this love is entering your heart. Prophet ﷺ is coming, he’s not coming alone. He’s coming with all Jundun min’as sama’a. He’s coming with the entire armies of heaven.
﴾هُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ السَّكِينَةَ فِي قُلُوبِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لِيَزْدَادُوا إِيمَانًا مَّعَ إِيمَانِهِمْ ۗ وَلِلَّـهِ جُنُودُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ وَكَانَ اللَّـهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا ﴿٤
48:4 – “Huwa alladhee anzalas sakeenata fee quloobi almumineena liyazdadoo Imanan ma’a Imanihim, wa lillahi junodu asSamawati wal ardi, wa kana Allahu ‘Aleeman Hakeema.” (Surat Al-Fath)
“It is He who sent down tranquillity into the hearts of the believers, that they would increase faith in their [present level of] faith. And to Allah belong the Forces/soldiers of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is All Knowing and Wise.” (The Victory, 48:4)
‘If I’m going to occupy your heart, I’m not going to sit there and fight with shaitan. My Sahabi (Companions) will do that.’ Sayyidina Abu Bakr as Siddiq (as) comes immediately, put his qadam into that hole, and begin to push into your heart that give your whole life away for the love of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. You’re not going to do anything with it.
What We Meditate On is a Reflection of What Exists in Our Heart
That’s why we told you last night. It’s not about emptying your bank account to the shaykh but empty your heart of everything other than La ilaha illAllah Muhammadun Rasulullah ﷺ.
لَا إِلَهَ إلاَّ اللهُ مُحَمَّدٌا رَسُولْ الله ﷺ
“La ilaha illallahu Muhammadun Rasulallah ﷺ”
“There is no deity but Allah, Prophet Muhammad is the messenger of Allah”
Look to your heart and meditate. As soon as you meditate, do you think of your bank account? Then your heart is in the wrong place. Do you think about your email? Do you think about sandwich? Do you think about dinner? Whatever we think about is the reflection of what’s existing in our heart.
That’s what Allah (AJ) saying, ‘Clean that. Clean those things so that your heart enters into a state of nothing.’ Once it’s nothing, it begins to enter into a state of love and muhabbat. When they look into their heart, they’re back in Madina and they’re crying to Prophet ﷺ. They just want to be in that presence and that is the heart of the cave. That is the heart of the reality. That is the heart in which Sayyidina Abu Bakr as Siddiq (as) is fighting aggressively. That, ‘Take these desires out, make yourself to be truthful with your deeds and with your words and with your actions. I’ll make you into a man who’s truthful. You’re just a lying child right now.’
Realize Your Nothingness and Seek Support From Rijalullah
If that soul is not there in your heart, do you think you can ever reach to truthfulness with the overwhelming dirtiness of dunya (material world)? It must be madad and support and that’s what makes us to be humble, that it’s not us doing anything. Surrender yourself to say, ‘I’m nothing. Ya Rabbi, I’m nothing without Your help. Send Your Rijalullah (men of God). Send those whom You bestowed Your blessings and bestowed Your grace upon them.’ Their light and their arwah (souls) comes, begin to extinguish all the bad and that Imam (leader) on the outside destroying every type of shaitan that trying to block you.
Imam Ali (as) and Sayyidina Abu Bakr as Siddiq (as) Perfect You in Madinatul Munawwara
As soon as that light wants to open into your heart, they open for you, Madinatul Munawwara. They open for your heart, the city of lights. It means the city of ishq and love of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. And who do you meet there? Imam Ali (as) is in Madinatul Munawwara and Sayyidina Abu Bakr as Siddiq (as) is in Madinatul Munawwara and they are perfecting your outside and inside until Allah (AJ) describe in Surat al-Kahf, they become rushd. You’re ripe when you have good character. You become rushd, grown and ripened, beautified by the sun. The sun ripens insan (human being). The love of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ makes them to be rushd, ripened and sweet.
﴾إِذْ أَوَى الْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى الْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا ﴿١٠
18:10 – “Idha aw al fityatu ilal kahfi faqalo Rabbana atina min ladunka Rahmatan wa hayyi lana min amrina rashada.” (Surat ul Kahf)
“When the young men fled for refuge to the Cave and said: Our Lord! Give us mercy from Thy presence, and shape for us right conduct in our plight.” (The Cave, 18:10)
Victory of Allah (AJ) Washes Away All Sins of the Heart
At that point when they’re inside that reality, entered into that reality, Allah (AJ) describes then these servants have been granted a victory. And what’s Allah’s (AJ) victory? Surah 48.
Reciter:
﴾إِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًا مُّبِينًا ﴿١﴾ لِّيَغْفِرَ لَكَ اللَّـهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِن ذَنبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ وَيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكَ وَيَهْدِيَكَ صِرَاطًا مُّسْتَقِيمًا ﴿٢﴾ وَيَنصُرَكَ اللَّـهُ نَصْرًا عَزِيزًا ﴿٣
48:1-3 – “Innaa fatahna laka Fatham Mubeena. (1) Liyaghfira lakaallaahu maa taqaddama min dhanbika wa maa taakhkhara wa yutimma ni’matahu ‘alayka wa yahdiyaka siraathan mustaqima (2) Wa yansurakAllahu nasran ‘aziza (3)” (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) And [that] Allah may help you with a mighty victory (3)” (The Victory, 48:1-3)
Sadaqallahul ‘azim.
Shaykh Nurjan Mirahmadi: Sadaqallahul ‘azim. Barakah ya Rasulul Kareem (The Most Generous Messenger). Allah (AJ) then describe in Holy Qur’an, Surat al-Fath, 48th surah, ‘Indeed, We granted you, oh Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ because now your heart is a Muhammadan heart, a clear opening and victory. That may Allah (AJ) forgive all your sins of the past and those to follow.’ It means Allah (AJ) will wash away “liyaghfira lakaallaahu maa taqaddam.”
The qadam means your foot will wash away all the sins of your path and your foot from the past and all the way to your qiyamah (ressurection). That We’ll wash everything. We’ll wash all your past because if We’re going to grant you a victory, Allah (AJ) describing the victory. This is not something small, to enter into that cave, to be granted from the reality of that cave. Allah (AJ) then describing ‘We’re going to wash away all the sins of your past and everything that’s going to follow.’
Allah (AJ) Safeguards and Guides Us to Sayyidina Siratul Mustaqim ﷺ
That’s why then you become mahfuz (safeguarded). Why awliyaullah, they’re not ma’soom (innocent), that they don’t sin. No, they actually sin but they’re mahfuz because Allah’s (AJ) continuously cleaning, cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. Because this was the promise of the cave. That’s why on our ta’weez (prayer for protection) of Ashab ul Kahf (Companions of the Cave), this ayatul kareem is on the ta’weez. Surat al-Fath is on the ta’weez that we have of Ashab ul Kahf that we added it on that ta’weez. ‘And He will fulfill His favors upon you and guide us to the straight path. “Taqaddam wa yutimma ni’matahu.” He’ll complete His ni’mat, “Wa yahdiyaka siraathan mustaqima.” (Holy Qur’an, 48:2)
What is Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ – one of his 201 names? Sayyidina Siratul Mustaqim (The Straight Path) because now that Muhammadan heart is being dressed. So, Allah (AJ) is saying, ‘I’m going to complete all My ni’mat. Whatever I promised you from the day of promises, I’m going to begin to dress you with it. And that your qadam and your feet is on the feet of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ and that you’re on Siratul Mustaqim.’ Then how Allah (AJ) describes who you are? “Wa yansurakAllahu nasran ‘aziza.” So, then you’re somebody whom Allah (AJ) describes, “YansurakAllahu nasran ‘aziza.”
﴾وَيَنصُرَكَ اللَّـهُ نَصْرًا عَزِيزًا ﴿٣
48:3 – “Wa yansurakAllahu nasran ‘aziza” (Surat Al-Fath)
“And [that] Allah may help you with a mighty victory (3)” (The Victory, 48:3)
Allah (AJ) Will Obliterate Anyone Who Comes Against Awliya
That’s why Allah (AJ) says, ‘If you come against my awliyaullah, I’m going to make war against you.’
عَنْ أَبِيِ هُرَيْرَةِ رَضِّيَّ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ، قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ :” إِنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَىٰ قَالَ: “ مَنْ عَادَى لِي وَلِيًّا فَقْد آذَنْتهُ بِالْحَرْبِ”
[اَلمَصْدَرْ: صَحِيحْ الْبُخَارِيُّ – رقم:٦٥٠٢]
‘An Abi Hurairah (ra) Qala, qala Rasulullahi ﷺ: InAllaha Ta’ala qala: “Man ‘ada li waliyan faqda adhantahu bil harbi,…” (Hadith Qudsi, Sahih al Bukhari, Raqam: 6502)
Narrated by Abu Hurairah (ra) that: the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that: Allah the Almighty said: “I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a Wali (saint) of Mine…” [Holy Hadith – Authentic by al Bukhari 6502]
Why? Because they’re dressed with “yansurakAllahu nasran ‘aziza.” That Allah (AJ) say, ‘I’m going to support you. After I described everything I’m going to give to you, I’m going to support you with My sifat al-Aziz (attribute of The All-Mighty). That I will obliterate anyone who comes after you and anything I want to grant to you, if the whole world comes to stop it, it’s going to reach to you.’
Guides Take Us On a Journey Into Living the Holy Qur’an
So, it means to be dressed by “yansurakAllahu nasran ‘aziza.” (Holy Qur’an, 48:3) This is the reality of what Allah (AJ) describing. This is guidance. Not that you think you became clever and you think you went yourself somewhere and you guided yourself and you found your own cave somewhere in a closet and sat in it.
No! These guides have to take our hands and take us on this journey and their journey is into the Holy Qur’an; not the reading of it, but the living of it because the Qur’an is dressing them, blessing them, putting onto their soul. Every ayatul kareem is coming and dressing their soul so that they become dressed from Holy Qur’an. That they went to the cave, they got dressed by the cave, they understood the madad (support) of calling upon the Siddiqs and they understood the reality of Imam Ali (as) and they understood how much of the devils were destroyed for them to reach these immense blessings.
Be Thankful for Allah’s (AJ) Gift of Guidance
That’s why we say on Jummah (Friday prayers), ‘On this day, I reached immense blessings’ because they understood you could’ve not got up on that Jummah if Allah (AJ) wasn’t guiding you. Do you think you prayed because it was your cleverness? In the azaan (call to prayer), you say, “La hawla wa la quwwata illa bilahil ‘Aliyil ‘Azeem.” Allah’s (AJ) help and power is allowing us to pray.
لاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ اِلاَّ بِاللهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيْمِ
“Wa laa hawla wa la quwwata illa billahil ‘Aliyyil ‘Azheem.”
“And there is no Support/strength, nor power except by Allah, The Sublimely Exalted, The Magnificent.”
So, it means then there are darajats (stations) of guidance. Just to be able to pray is God’s gift, Allah’s (AJ) gift and every movement higher is Allah’s (AJ) ni’mat and blessings. That’s why by Jummah, they’re thanking Allah (AJ) that, ‘Oh my God, what an amazing day this is. I actually reached to Friday and all of it is from Allah’s (AJ) blessings.’ We pray that Allah (AJ) dress us and bless us with the realities of guidance and the secret of the cave and the secret of the heart of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ, 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: September 19, 2020
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- God Gives Permission For You To Pray
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