Tragedy of Karbala and Intercession of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for the Ummah
From the Realities of Mawlana (Q) as taught by Shaykh Nurjan Mirahmadi.
أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
A’uzu Billahi Minash Shaitanir Rajeem
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem
I seek refuge in Allah 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)
Begin the Hijrah Within and Seek the Gate of Repentance
As we enter into the month of Muharram al-Haram, that asking Allah (AJ) the beginning of our hijrah (migration). The head of everything that we are trying to accomplish is this holy month. Alhamdulillah, in the way of awliyaullah (saints), into the heart and the reality of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ — Shamsul ‘Arifeen (Sun of Knowers), that we go to the app and open up the month of ‘Muharram’ and click on the button that says, ‘The general understanding.’ These are for the realities of every month.
The holy month of Muharram is the opening of the door of Baab at Tawbah (door of repentance), the opening of the door of power that requires our sincere ‘Tawbah’, in English is ‘Repentance.’ That as Qur’an is our power, Qur’an is our guidance, Qur’an is everything of our existence. Qur’an is guiding us. Holy Qur’an and its reality is on the ninth surah (chapter) because this way of ‘arifeen (knowers) has to do with the power of this nine. This Baab at Tawbah, it has no ‘Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem.’ It’s a surah that has no, ‘Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem’ because this is a gate in which Imam Ali (as) is guiding and teaching that, ‘You must sacrifice yourself.’ You say: “Bismillah Allahu Akbar.“
Ya Rabbi, I’m putting my head on the table, asking every badness and character to bring down that badness and grant me sincerity, Ya Rabb. That, You be satisfied and happy with me and I put my head on to the table. That, cleanse me, purify me, and allow me to enter into this ocean of reality, into the highest purpose of our creation.’ This Baab at Tawbah begins to open for us and enter into that ocean of reality; that every badness to die. Then we read Surat at Tawbah and all of its immense realities, how the surah is — holy surah — is drawing us into this Muhammadan Haqqaiq (realities).
Enter the House of Qur’an and Step Through the Gate of Forgiveness
Because we taught from last year and the previous years, this heart that we’re entering is the house of Holy Qur’an — Manzil al-Qur’an (where the Holy Qur’an emanates). This house of the heart of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ is Allah’s (AJ) Divinely speech. The location of Allah’s (AJ) Divinely speech is drawing us. That we thought we are remembering Allah (AJ) and became proud of that and Allah (AJ) reminding, ‘No, it’s My remembrance of you that’s pulling you into this heart. Because My love for you is more ancient than your love for Me. You just recently discovered Me, I’ve known you for all of eternity. And My love is calling you into this Presence; My love is calling you into this gate.’
They begin to teach that enter into that gate, enter with your right foot on this month, asking, ‘Ya Rabbi’ and you take a step, ‘I’m asking to enter into this hijrah, to this movement from my badness, and bad desires, and bad character towards Your oceans of repentance, oceans of forgiveness, Your Baab at Tawbah, Ya Rabb.’
That ninth name of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ under this gate of tawbah (repentance) is Sayyidina Aqib ﷺ — the one whom frees his nation from hellfire. It is the gate of our salvation and the gate of all realities, the highest gift that Allah (AJ) can give. It’s not just any month, it’s the only month. If you miss the bus, the rest of the journey is lost to you. Those whom Allah (AJ) describes, “Li hadana Allah’, if Allah (AJ) doesn’t guide you, you can never be guided.
…وَقَالُوا الْحَمْدُ لِلَّـهِ الَّذِي هَدَانَا لِهَـٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَهْتَدِيَ لَوْلَا أَنْ هَدَانَا اللَّـهُ ۖ لَقَدْ جَاءَتْ رُسُلُ رَبِّنَا بِالْحَقِّ…﴿٤٣﴾
7:43 – “…wa qalo Alhamdulillahi al lazee hadana lihaza wa ma kunna linahtadiya lawla an hadana Allahu, laqad jaa at Rusulu Rabbina bil Haqqi…” (Surat Al-A’raf)
“… And they will say, Praise be to Allah, who has guided us to this [joy and happiness]; and we would never have been guided if Allah had not guided us. Certainly the messengers of our Lord had come with the truth…” (The Heights, 7:43)
The Key of Sayyidina Aqib ﷺ Unlocks Allah’s (AJ) Attribute of Al-Jabbar
Everything in the darajats (spiritual ranks). What Allah (AJ) going to guide you to? To ice cream store? Then you were guided to ice cream store. If Allah (AJ) wants to guide you to His highest realities, only through Allah’s (AJ) ni’mat (blessing), that He guides and bring you into that guidance and that reality of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ — Sayyidina Aqib ﷺ — is the one whom frees his nation from hellfire. This becomes the gate of repentance, the true reality that Allah (AJ) wants for us.
We ask from Sayyidina Aqib ﷺ that: ‘Dress us, bless us, intercede for us into this light and into your reality that we’re entering.’ And the name of Allah (AJ), the ninth name, which is the lock, and Sayyidina Aqib ﷺ is the key, is Al-Jabbar (The Compeller). Allah’s (AJ) Jabaroot that, ‘The Forceful One’, whom no one can change, no one can change the Will of Allah (AJ) when Allah (AJ) determines. It means the only one whom can grant access to that reality is Allah (AJ). So under sifat Al-Jabbar (attribute of the Compeller), Ya Rabbi, with the key of Sayyidina Aqib ﷺ, we’re asking to enter into this gate of maghfirah and forgiveness.
Every Nation was Granted Salvation on ‘Ashura
The immense gates of forgiveness whom they lay the foundation of its realities, the key of which is in the understanding of Sayyidina Imam Hussain (as), but we’ll talk about that later. Not something small that you compare it with every other event; it’s the Gate of Salvation. That every Prophet (as) was forgiven in these ten days of Muharram, their tawbah, their maghfirah (forgiveness), their repentance was accepted and Allah (AJ) saved them and their nations in these ten days. Again, it’s not something small. It’s immense.
Every Prophet (as) that was under difficulty, every nation that was under difficulty, Muharram’s ten days was their salvation. ‘Ashura was its opening and its lights. That, Allah (AJ) granted forgiveness, granted repentance, granted salvation. And this gate opens, and we’re asking to enter into that reality that, as the Prophets (as) were saved, as their nations were saved, to be dressed by this light. These same ten days in that same direction, Allah (AJ) sent the intercessor for all creation whom his name is Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ.
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ (١٠٧)
21:107 – “Wa maa arsalnaka illa Rahmatan 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)
Every Prophet (as) Seeks Intercession From Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ
That as every Prophet (as) was saved, every Prophet (as) was in need of the salvation of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ, ‘Wa Shafa’at al Kubra’ (The Great Intercession). That on Day of Judgment, every nation will run to their Prophet and ask their Prophet for intercession and all Prophets will gather and say: ‘I’m not the one.’ Sayyidina Adam (as) will say: ‘I’m not the one, let us go to Sayyidina Nuh (as).’ Sayyidina Nuh (as) say: ‘I’m not the one, let us go to Sayyidina Ibrahim (as),’ Sayyidina Musa (as), Sayyidina Isa (as). Until all nations are gathered and, ‘Let us go to the only one whom can save us is the presence of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ.’
عَنْ أَنَسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنّهُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ: ” يَجْتَمِعُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَيَقُولُونَ: “لَوِ اسْتَشْفَعْنَا إِلَى رَبِّنَا” فَيَأْتُونَ آدَمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامْ) فَيَقُولُونَ: “أَنْتَ أَبُو النَّاسِ، خَلَقَكَ اللَّهُ) عَزَّ وَجَلَّ( بِيَدِهِ وَأَسْجَدَ لَكَ مَلاَئِكَتَهُ، وَعَلَّمَكَ أَسْمَاءَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ، فَاشْفَعْ لَنَا عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ حَتَّى يُرِيحَنَا
مِنْ مَكَانِنَا هَذَا.” فَيَقُولُ: “لَسْتُ هُنَاكُمْ”، وَيَذْكُرُ ذَنْبَهُ فَيَسْتَحِي.
ائْتُوا نُوحًا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامْ) فَإِنَّهُ أَوَّلُ رَسُولٍ بَعَثَهُ اللَّهُ (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ( إِلَى أَهْلِ الأَرْضِ. فَيَأْتُونَهُ فَيَقُولُ: “لَسْتُ هُنَاكُمْ.” وَيَذْكُرُ سُؤَالَهُ رَبَّهُ مَا لَيْسَ لَهُ بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَيَسْتَحِي. فَيَقُولُ: “ائْتُوا خَلِيلَ
الرَّحْمٰن (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامْ)”، فَيَأْتُونَهُ فَيَقُولُ: “لَسْتُ هُنَاكُمْ.”
ائْتُوا مُوسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامْ) عَبْدًا كَلَّمَهُ اللَّهُ (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ( وَأَعْطَاهُ التَّوْرَاةَ. فَيَأْتُونَهُ فَيَقُولُ: “لَسْتُ
هُنَاكُمْ.” وَيَذْكُرُ قَتْلَ النَّفْسِ بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ فَيَسْتَحِي مِنْ رَبِّهِ.
فَيَقُولُ ائْتُوا عِيسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامْ) عَبْدَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولَهُ، وَكَلِمَةَ اللَّهِ وَرُوحَهُ. فَيَقُولُ: “لَسْتُ هُنَاكُم.”
ائْتُوا مُحَمَّدًا ﷺ عَبْدًا غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ. فَيَأْتُونِي فَأَنْطَلِقُ حَتَّى أَسْتَأْذِنَ عَلَى رَبِّي فَيُؤْذَنُ {لِي}.
فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُ رَبِّي وَقَعْتُ سَاجِدًا، فَيَدَعُنِي مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ يُقَالُ ارْفَعْ رَأْسَكَ، وَسَلْ تُعْطَهْ، وَقُلْ يُسْمَعْ، وَاشْفَعْ تُشَفَّعْ. فَأَرْفَعُ رَأْسِي فَأَحْمَدُهُ بِتَحْمِيدٍ يُعَلِّمُنِيهِ، ثُمَّ أَشْفَعُ، فَيَحُدُّ لِي حَدًّا، فَأُدْخِلُهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ، ثُمَّ أَعُودُ إِلَيْهِ، فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُ رَبِّي ـ مِثْلَهُ ـ ثُمَّ أَشْفَعُ، فَيَحُدُّ لِي حَدًّا، فَأُدْخِلُهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ {ثُمَّ أَعُودُ الثَّالِثَةَ} ثُمَّ أَعُودُ الرَّابِعَةَ فَأَقُولُ: “مَا بَقِيَ فِي النَّار…”
[صَحِيحُ الْبُخَارِي ٤٤٧٦، كِتَابْ ٦٥، حَدِيثْ ٣]
‘An ‘Anas (ra) – ‘Anin Nabiyi ﷺ Qala: “Yajtami’ul mu’minuna yawmal qiyamati fayaquluna lawi stashfa’na ila rabbina, fayaytuna Sayyidina Adam (as), fayaquluna: “Anta abun nasi, khalaqaka Allahu (AJ) biyadihi wa asjada laka malayikatahu, wa ‘allamaka asma’a kulli Shayyin, fashfa’ lana ‘inda Rabbika hatta yurihana min makanina Haza.” Fayaqulu: “Lastu Hunakum”, wayazkuru zanbahu fayastahi.
Ytu Sayyidina Nuh (as) fayinahu awalu rasulin ba’asahu Allahu (AJ) ila ahlil ardi. Fayaytunahu. Fayaqulu: “Lastu hunakum.” Wayazkuru suyaalahu rabbahu ma laysa lahu bihi ‘ilmun fayastahi. Fayaqulu: ” Ytu khalilar Rahman (as)”, fayaytunahu fayaqulu: “Lastu hunakum.”
Ytu Sayyidina Musa (as) ‘abdan kallamahu Allahu (AJ) wayatahut tawrata. Fayaytunahu fayaqulu: “Lastu hunakum.” Wayazkuru qatla nafsin bighayri nafsin fayastahi min rabbihi.
Fayaqulu: “Ytu Sayyidina Isa (as) ‘abdal Allahi wa rasulihi, wa kalimatal Allahi waruhahu. Fayaqulu: “Lastu hunakum.”
Ytu Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ ‘abdan ghafaral Allahu lahu ma taqaddama min zanbihi wa ma tayakhkhara. Fayaytuni fayntaliqu hatta astayzina ‘ala rabbi fayuyzanu li.
Fayiza rayaytu rabbi waqa’rtu sajidan, fayada’uni ma shaayal Allahu summa yuqalur fa’ raysaka, wasal tu’tah, waqul yusma’, washfa’ tushaffa’. Fayarfa’u raysi fayahmaduhu bitahmidin yu’allimuniihi, summa ashfa’u fayahuddu li haddan, fayuzkhilhumul jannata, summa a’udu ilayhi, fayiza rayaytu rabbi – misslahu- summa ashfa’u, fayahuddu li haddan, fayuzkhilhumul jannata (summa a’udus salisata), summa a’udur rabi’ata fayaqulu: “Mabaqiya fin narri…”
[Sahih al-Bukhari 4476, Kitab 65, Hadith 3]
Narrated Anas (ra): The Prophet (pbuh) said, “On the Day of Resurrection the Believers will assemble and say, ‘Let us ask somebody to intercede for us with our Lord.’ So they will go to Sayyidina Adam (as) and say, ‘You are the father of all the people, and Allah (AJ) created you with His Own Hands, and ordered the angels to prostrate to you, and taught you the names of all things; so please intercede for us with your Lord, so that He May Relieve us from this place of ours. Sayyidina Adam (as) will say: ‘I am not fit for this (i.e. intercession for you).’ Then Adam (as) will remember his sin and feel ashamed thereof.
He will say, ‘Go to Sayyidina Noah (as), for he was the first Apostle Allah (AJ) sent to the inhabitants of the earth.’ They will go to him and Sayyidina Noah (as) will say, ‘I am not fit for this undertaking.’ He will remember his appeal to his Lord to do what he had no knowledge of, then he will feel ashamed thereof. He will say: ‘Go to the Khalilur Rahman (Sayyidina Abraham (as)).’ They will go to him, and he will say: ‘I am not fit for this undertaking.’
‘Go to Sayyidina Moses (as), the servant to whom Allah (AJ) spoke (directly) and gave him the Torah.’ So they will go to him, and he will say: ‘I am not fit for this undertaking.’ And he will mention (his) killing a person who was not a killer, and so he will feel ashamed thereof before his Lord.
He will say, ‘Go to Sayyidina Isa (Jesus) (as), Allah’s (AJ) Servant, His Apostle and Allah’s Word and a Spirit coming from Him. Sayyidina Isa (Jesus) (as) will say, ‘I am not fit for this undertaking.’
‘Go to Sayyidina Muhammad (pbuh) the Servant of Allah (AJ) whose past and future sins were forgiven by Allah (AJ). ‘So they will come to me and I will proceed till I will ask my Lord’s Permission and I will be given permission.’
‘When I see my Lord, I will fall down in prostration, and He will let me remain in that state as long as He wishes. Then I will be addressed: “(Muhammad!) Raise your head. Ask, and your request will be granted; speak, and you will be heard; intercede, and your intercession will be accepted.”‘ ‘I will then raise my head and praise Allah (AJ) with a saying (i.e., invocation) He will teach me. Then I will intercede, and He will fix a limit for me (to intercede for), and I will admit them into Paradise. Then I will come back again to Allah (AJ), and when I see my Lord, the same thing will happen to me. I will intercede, and Allah (AJ) will fix a limit for me to intercede for those I will admit into Paradise. Then I will come back for the third time. Then I will come back for the fourth time and will say, “None remains in Hell…” [Sahih al-Bukhari 4476, Book 65, Hadith 3]
Walk the Prophetic Path Into the Kingdom of Eternal Light
Allah (AJ) granted that immense reality of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. That, that presence that comes on to this earth and its migration from the active heart of dunya (material world) — Malik al Dunya (King of Manifested World) to the opening of Malik al Hayat (King of Oceans of Eternity) — into the world of light. Everything and every step that Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ made had an immense reality, that the king of all kings of all Prophecy, of all texts, and of all the heavens is in Makkah.
The struggle of Makkah, the symbolism of the struggle of your religion and your physical life, and Allah (AJ) in Muharram grants the king of all kings of reality that, ‘Now I’m going to open within these 10 days your movement into the kingdom of the heavens and the kingdom of light,’ and that’s Madinatul Munawwara—the City of Lights. Why? Because ‘Asha Nura.’ ‘’Ashura’ is the opening of lights. So, as all Prophets (as) were saved, all their nations were saved, then the one whom saves all of them is then the symbol of that reality. That Muharram opens, and Prophet’s ﷺ great hijrah and the movement and migration, from the realities and the struggles of what Makkah represents. That Allah (AJ) granted in those 10 days, ‘Open the City of Lights upon this earth and upon all of the heavens.’
Walk From Dunya Reality to Akhirah Reality in the Ten Days of Muharram
In that movement into the City of Lights, what Allah (AJ) bestowed upon creation. Just that symbol of that opening of the heavenly lights, and Malik al Hayat, because the light of all eternity is the ocean of al Hayat (the ever-living). That Malik al Hayat is going to be opening these realities in Muharram, and the hijrah, and the movement is the movement from our dunya reality to our akhirah (hereafter) reality. That’s why we’re in a continuous hijrah, and that’s why the second of Muharram is the pinnacle of our understanding and movement into that reality. If you miss it, then you’re not moving into that reality.
That’s why it’s the immensity of understanding these teachings that awliyaullah are giving to us of the importance of Muharram. If you don’t know that you’re entering into that tawbah, you don’t know that what Allah (AJ) is opening from your mulk (earthly realm) and your dunya life, Allah (AJ) is opening His heavenly kingdoms. By these 10 days of stepping into that reality, Allah (AJ) is taking you from your physical reality to your eternal reality. So it means then Prophet ﷺ was what? Migrating from Makkah into Madina. So then the whole step of that has its reality.
Walk the Noble Way of Sacrifice and Chivalry Shown by Imam Ali (as)
Imam Ali (as) lied in the bed to sacrifice himself for that hijrah, because then there’s a secret in this movement. That Prophet ﷺ has to go, and the people of Makkah want to attack, and Sayyidina Imam Ali (as) lies within the bed to sacrifice himself and set the standard, that our standard of our nation is that we sacrifice ourself for the movement of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. The desire and the want of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ comes first. We’re not a nation that degrades our Prophet ﷺ, we don’t curse in our Prophet’s ﷺ name, we don’t put down what our Prophet ﷺ brought, but we live and die in the service of that reality of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. The most feared nation on this earth, they look for death as others look for life.
Because it’s an example, Imam Ali (as) lied within the bed, that this is the key to the hijrah. Before you can go any further, acknowledge the one whom lying on the bed as a child, whom Sayyidina Jibreel (as) at his feet, Sayyidina Mikhael (as) at his head, guarding and safeguarding, because Allah (AJ) so loved that example in that reality.
فِيِ لَيْلَةْ اَلْمَبِيتْ أَمِيِرْ اَلْمُؤْمِنِيِنْ عَلَىٰ فِرَاشِ اَلنَّبِيِ ﷺ
أَوْحَىٰ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إلَىٰ جَبْرَائِيلُ وَمِيكَائِيلَ: ألَّا كُنْتُمَا مِثْلِ عَلِيِّ بِنْ أَبِي طَالِبٍ؟ آخَيْتُ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ مُحَمّدٍ (صلّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وآله) فَبَاتَ عَلَى فِرَاشِهِ يَفْدِيَة بِنَفْسِهِ ، وَيُؤْثِرُهْ بِالْحَيَاةِ. اَهْبِطَا إِلَى الْأَرْضِ فَاحْفَظَهُ مِنْ عَدُوِّهِْ
Fi Laylat al Mabeet, Amir al Muminin ‘ala ferashi anNabiyi ﷺ. Awha Allahu ‘Azza wa Jalla ila Jibrayilu wa Mikayilu: “Alla kuntuma mithli ‘Aliyi ibn Abi Talib? Akhaytu baynahu wa bayna Muhammadin fabata ‘ala firashihi yafdiyah benafsihi, wa yuthiruh bil hayati. Ahbita/ihbeta ilal Ardi fahfazhahu min ‘adowwihi.
On the night when Amir al Muminin (the Leader of the Believers, Imam ‘Ali (as)) slept in the place of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Allah (AJ) told the angels Jibreel (as) and Mikayil (as): “Have you seen anyone like ‘Ali the son of Abi Talib? The brotherhood between him and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is as such that Imam ‘Ali (as) slept in the place of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to sacrifice himself and give his life. Go to the Earth and protect him from the enemies.”
So it means the tariqah (spiritual path) comes and teaches, this is now the way of chivalry, and that’s why Naqshbandiya tul ‘Aliya (The Most Distinguished Naqshbandi Order) carries the secret of both these holy companions. Imam Ali (as) comes and brings the secret into the tariqah that, ‘Sacrifice’, because we are the people of Kawthar (The Fountain of Abundance). “Fasali li rabbika wanhar” – ‘Pray onto your Lord and “Wanhar”, and sacrifice.’ So he’s the exemplar of sacrifice, they’re not people who taught and didn’t do.
فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ ﴿ ٢
108:2 – “Fasali li rabbika wanhar. ” (Surat Al-Kawthar)
“So pray to your Lord and Sacrifice.” (The Abundance, 108:2)
Live a Life of Sacrifice for the Love of Allah (AJ) and Prophet ﷺ
We are the example of sacrifice, our sacrifice is for the love of Prophet ﷺ. Every time you want to do something in life, you say: ‘Is this to the love of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ, we do it.’ Everything in our life is to have the rida and satisfaction of Allah (AJ) which in reality is the rida and satisfaction of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. Can Allah (AJ) be happy with something and Prophet ﷺ is not? Impossible. And can Prophet ﷺ be happy with something that Allah (AJ) is not happy with? They are a reflection of the same reality. So that rida and satisfaction is the symbol of Imam Ali (as) lying in the bed, that: ‘I sacrifice myself, and all you are coming through this gate…’ Because he’s Ulul al Baab (Gatekeepers of the Reality), the one whom is the custodian and the key for this reality is teaching us: ‘From my childhood, I lied within the bed to sacrifice myself. Oh, you who are out there, sacrifice in this way.’
Stop smoking, stop drinking, stop doing bad, put what you need to put upon your head to come against yourself, your bad desires, your bad character. We live in a world where nobody wants to sacrifice now, and they want to take everything off and run naked into the streets. And they’re teaching, ‘No, we live a life of sacrifice. Come our way and come by our example.’
Follow the Truthful Path of Sayyidina Abu Bakr as Siddiq (as) and Imam Ali (as)
As a result, then the next example is that Prophet ﷺ went with his beloved friend Sayyidina Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (as) — Siddiq al-Mutlaq (the absolute truthful). That take, if you agree to live a life of sacrifice, then our tariq and our path is the example of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ with his khalil and his beloved friend, that take this companionship. Our imam (religious leader) is always Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. Take the companionship of the siddiq (truthful) whom they are truthful in their deeds and in their character, and you should be successful in life. ‘Come, come with me to this cave.’
Your path on the feet of these siddiqs and truthful servants, whom they lay the foundation of their truth with their actions and with their deeds, not by their words, because words are cheap. But what are the deeds that they do, and the actions that they lay? And that becomes the whole turuq (spiritual path) for Naqshbandiya because Naqshbandiya is from Sayyidina Abu Bakr as Siddiq’s (as) holy heart. Imam Ali (as) is supporting the tariqah by the example of lying in the bed. Naqshbandiya tul ‘Aliya that carries the two holy companions and the immense secret of realities. Before entering into Madinatul Munawwara (luminous city of Prophet ﷺ), they entered into the cave of all realities, ‘Ghar-e-Thawr.’ How they pronounce? ‘Thur?’ ‘Thur?’ ‘Thorr?’ [Shaykh laughs] The, ‘Holy Cave of all Realities.’
So, it means this hijrah, this reality into this City of Lights, this beloved Muharram is immense realities. In these 10 days, Allah (AJ) is dressing the servant from the reality of the Gatekeeper. The way of chivalry, futuwwa, the young and chivalrous one whom leads a life for us that ‘Sacrifice.’ Every time there’s a hard choice, ‘Sacrifice’ and your path and your feet, follow the way of Sayyidina Abu Bakr as Siddiq (as). That Allah (AJ) call you to be a ‘Sadiq’, a truthful… a person whom truthful with their deeds and with their actions, and that Prophet ﷺ take you to the holy cave.
Enter the Cave to Unveil Karbala’s Immense Secret of Intercession
To enter into that cave and its immense realities inshaAllah, we go in later what the immensity of the cave. The immensity of its secrets, its blessings, all the way into the City of Lights, and then who Imam Hussain (as) represents of the City of Lights. For all that love and all that Allah (AJ) wanted to bestow upon this immense nation, this immense blessed nation, with all that Prophet ﷺ wanted to give to his nation, then who held the flag and the reality of Imam al-Hussain (as)? That knew that 72 will go astray, and what Prophet ﷺ wanted for them could only be achieved by the immensity of the reality of Karbala.
Karbala was not something of a personal vengeance, but was the immensity of the intercession of the nation of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. By the gruesomeness of the death, by the immensity of the struggle, Allah (AJ) gave the account to be full. ‘What is it that you want from this immense misjustice and oppression that has been done upon you and your family and your holy companions?’ And all that they wanted was to intercede for the nation of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ.
Karbala: The Ultimate Sacrifice Was Granted a Tremendous Intercession
It’s not about the cursing, it’s not about the fighting, because then we lose sight of the immensity of the intercession. That you sacrifice your life, you go through difficulties in life, so that you have an account with Allah (AJ). So on a day that you have difficulty, Allah (AJ) will ask: ‘You did good, what do you want? What do you want?’ And they teach their character. They didn’t want anything for themselves, they took their children into that battle. Ayat as Sabr (Sign of Patience) wal Jabbar, under sifat Al-Jabbar. That’s the gate, and that’s why Karbala was like that. That under sifat Al-Jabbar what Allah (AJ) wants, we won’t use our karamah (miracles), we won’t use our power, we won’t use our miracles. We’ll have patience in what Allah (AJ) wants from us.’ And one by one, their family slaughtered, but the great intercession and the immense reality that was achieved for the nation of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ.
We pray that Allah (AJ) grants us a heart that filled with love and compassion. That just to remember all of these sacrifices, all of this love, all that these holy companions and Ahlul Bayt (Holy companions of Prophet ﷺ) have laid as a foundation for the love of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ to remind for us: ‘Begin your year with this immense understanding.’ That Allah (AJ) complete His favors upon us, that complete His blessings upon us, give us a faith and a light within our heart that You be pleased with, a faith and a light within our heart that Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ to be pleased with.
Feel the Pain, Weep for Ahlul Bayt (as), and Seek Forgiveness
For anyone that you love, and you know they are suffering in difficulty, your heart bleeds for them, your heart cries for them. For our love and the immensity of the love for Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ, we can’t imagine anything more horrific than the slaughtering of his holy family, and what type of distress and sadness that must have caused that most beloved heart of the Divinely Presence, and pray Allah (AJ) forgive us all.
What they did, and what they didn’t realize of who that was. We pray that Prophet ﷺ forgive us, and his intercession be upon us, upon our families, and our communities. A day of difficulty is coming, in which nobody has anything in their hisaab (account), and they can cry out all they want, but what is it in your account that Allah (AJ) to answer? It’s the immense muhabbat and ishq and love for Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. As we cried for your family and their difficulty, cry for our family and their difficulty. Not everybody will reach where they have to reach. We pray that Allah (AJ) dress us and bless us and that they intercede for us.
Seek Healing Through the Intercession of Ahlul Bayt (as)
The immensity of Ahlul Bayt (as), and that they intercede for us, and our loved ones, and they have a good end, not to be poor in their old age, not to be in sickness. That Allah’s (AJ) rahmah and mercy to be upon us, and dress us, inshaAllah, and give us from the lights of ‘Ashura, and grant an opening, Ya Rabbi. For whoever is sick, grant them a healing, for whoever is impoverished, grant them Your wealth, whoever’s lonely, grant them happiness, Ya Rabbi, whoever is in love with Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ, grant them a nearness. That You’re capable of all things, Ya Rabb (Lord).
Forgive us what we do and don’t look to our character, but just look to the love of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ, and love of his holy family, and his holy companions, and awliyaullah fis samayi wa fil ard (saints in the heavens and on earth), that their support, and their nazar (gaze) be upon us, to reach upon us, and to help us, and push us, and guide us 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 12, 2021
Related Articles:
- Hussain (as) Sought Divine Justice in Karbala
- Reflecting on Imam Hussain’s (as) Sacrifice
- Realities of ‘Ashura and the 6 Prophets – Secrets for the Soul
- Imam Shed a Tear for Imam Hussain (as) – a Huge Sacrifice
- Imam Hussain (as) is Our Hero with an Exemplary Character
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