RISALATAN FII AT-TASAWWUF (TWO MESSAGES IN SUFISM)

RISALATAN FII AT-TASAWWUF

"TWO MESSAGES IN TASAWWUF"

Authored By:
His Eminence Sheikh Shariff Ibrahim Saleh Al-Husseiny
Chairman of the Fatwah Institute of Nigeria and Chairman of the Supreme Islamic Council of Nigeria

Translated By: Husseini Yushau BabalWaiz, New York

Salamu Alaikum Jama'ah, this is the first excerpt translation from the book of Maulana Sheikh Sharif Ibrahim Saleh Alhusainy (who possesses the DNA sample of the Prophet s.a.w, from the genetic root of Imamu Hussein). One of the former legendary students of Maulana Sheikh Ibrahim Niass, which his eminent and humble student, my role model and mentor, Sheikh Professor Doctor Ibrahim Maqari(also posseing DNA sample of the Prophet s.a.w) assigned me to be translating so they can be posting on the website of his eminence Sheikh Sharif.

You can log on to www.tazkiyah.org.ng to read more and you will find some of my excerpt translations of Baye's books posted on it.

They both came from Zaria in northern Nigeria. And i posted with the Arabic version for those who can read and understand Arabic language.

يالها من ثمرات الروحية...ولا غرابة فقد قيل: كيف ماكان المربي يكون المربى.

What a book full of spiritual fruits...it is no wonder it was said that: A trainee turns to be like how the trainer is.

"TWO MESSAGES IN TASAWWUF"

[MYSTICISM]

Volume One

Why the Need for (Tajdeed) or Revival in the Islamic(Tasawwuf) Mysticism

{A paper presented at the 21th International Conference for the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs which was organized by the Ministry of Endowment of the Arabic Republic of Egypt

From the Period 1108 of Rabi’ul Awwal 1430 of Hijrah Calendar, March 2009 in Cairo}

Authored By:

His Eminence Sheikh Shariff Ibrahim Saleh Al-Husseiny

Chairman of the Fatwah Institute of Nigeria and Chairman of the Supreme Islamic Council of Nigeria

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Definition of Tasawwuf[Mysticism]

(Tasawwuf) Mysticism in reality is a phrase referring to (self) purification which was mentioned repeatedly in the Quranic verses.

Allah Exalted and Almighty says: (He(Allah) was the One who sent to the unlettered(people) a messenger among them reading to them his verses and signs and purifying them and teaching them the Book[Al-Qur’an] and wisdom[Hadith] even they were in manifest delusion.” {Jum’ah[Friday]: 2}

And Allah Almighty says: (Our Lord send among them a messenger from them reciting to them your verses and teaching them the Book[Al-Qur’an] and wisdom[Hadith] and purify them You are the Powerful and Wise.” {Al-Baqarah[Heifer]: 129}

So the purification referred to here and in other verses imply by the otherworldly scholar as spiritual nurturing. Or cleansing of the heart and self-centered charity.

Allah Exalted and Almighty says: (Those who have purified it have prospered and those who have interpolate it have been disappointed) {Al-Shams[The Sun]: 9-10}

So self-purification is cleansing and shaping it to be eligible for communicating to the Truth[Allah] and eligible also for the entry into the presence of the Truth[Allah], the Exalted and Almighty in all conditions.

So Mysticism is a terminology about a complete and comprehensive methodology that impacts the heart with the reinforcement of the best values and principles in its manifestation and deportment.

So Mysticism is sub-divided into three things which made up the meaning of the religion of Islam with its exclusive real meaning. So whenever we observe Islam from the point of view of its doctrine and worship and adherence to the right path, we find it different from what is referred by the terminology of Islam when we divide this meaning into sections, so that Islam [submission] would have its meaning, Eeman[faith] would have its meaning and Ihsan[kindness] would have its meaning.

And it significant this section is on kindness. And kindness means true devotion to worship inwardly and outwardly, and worship is the direct reason for creating the creatures. So there is nothing (that exist) unless it worships Allah and its worship is “tasbeeh”(praise and invocation). And there is nothing in the heaven and the earth without making (sujud) prostration (to Allah). And their prostration is their worship.

Allah Exalted and Almighty said: (There is nothing (that exist) unless it praises and invokes Him (Allah) but you do not understand their invocation He is the most Patient and most Forgiven).{Al-Isra[Ascension]: 44}.

And He says: (Don’t you see that all thing in heaven and earth – the sun, the moon, the stars; the hills, the trees, the animals; and a great number among mankind bow down in worship to Allah? But a great number (also) such as are fit for Punishment: and such as Allah shall disgrace – none can raise to honor: for Allah carries out all that He wills). {Hajj [Pilgrimage]:18}.

So Allah created jinn or demons and mankind to worship Him. And He says: (I did not create the (jinn) demon and mankind but to worship Me).{Al-Zaariyaat[Earthquake]:56}.

And He said: (And worship your Lord until certainty [death] comes to you). {Al-Hijir[Rocky Track]: 99}.

And He said: (Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him and be kind to your parents, kinfolks[families], orphans, those in need, neighbors who are near, neighbors who are strangers, the companion by your side, the way farer (you meet), and what your right hands possess: for Allah does not love the arrogant, the vain). {Al-Nissa[Women]:36}

And He said: (And they were not commanded but to worship Allah with sincere devotion being true (in faith) to establish regular prayer and to practice regular charity; and that is the religion right and straight). {Al-Bayyinah [Clear Evidence:5}.

(And strive for Allah with the striving due to Him. He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty. [It is] the religion of your father, Abraham. Allah named you "Muslims" before [in former scriptures] and in this [revelation] that the Messenger may be a witness over you and you may be witnesses over the people. So establish prayer and give (zakah) poor tax and hold fast to Allah. He is your Protector; and Excellent is the Protector, and Excellent is the Helper. {Al-hajj [Pilgrimage]: 78-77}.

All these verses strengthen that worship is a basic pillar in the course of human journey in his relationship with his Lord.

And worship with its rightful meaning is to surrender your face spiritually and mentally with submission and humbleness for the sake of Allah Almighty that coupled with love and magnification and reverence. And scholars have interpreted it as a universal name to everything that Allah Almighty loves and pleases with it of utterances, deeds, and situations.

And it is either inwardly or outwardly.

And the first type of that(is): The two affirmative phrases [believe in Allah and his Prophet{PBUH} as his messenger], prayer, fasting, poor tax, pilgrimage, migration, making effort, and commanding what is right and prohibiting what is evil, righteousness in utterances, that constitutes truthfulness in absolute statement.

And showing the rightful information about the rule of the Shariah [Islamic Law]. And rendering the affirmative on its face. And giving fatwa or judicial ruling in rightful statements if the person is the type who seeks [advice] ruling. And truthfulness in speech and statement if he is a judge or a governor. And the delivery of trust [back to the owner], and parental obedience, rightful kinship relations.

And kindness to people generally and exclusively, orphans and poor and the wayfarers, and kings, human or animal. Same applies to neighbors, relatives, and fulfilling promise, guarding the tongue from backbiting, gossip, lies, slander, falsehood in all its manifestations, showing-off, argument, mockery, contempt, insults and innuendos.

So distancing one’s self from all these things is part and parcel of what is referred to us manifest worship. Same applies to clearing armful object away from a Muslim by avoiding infringement upon his dignity, his blood, his wealth, unless it is with his heart desire, and fighting the stubborn and hypocrites those who are demeaning the rules of the Shariah with the Qur’an. And preaching and prayer and the Qur’an as a means of getting closer to Allah with his word, the triumph of the oppressed, deterrence of the oppressor, coming all out with the truthful word with hindrance or without elusion, preaching in the name of Allah with wisdom and good sermon as well as argument with the best approach upon an insightful and complete way for emulating the messenger of Allah [PBUH].

All these mood of worship and the secret of kindness in it is for a man to control it in a situation where he witnesses being with Allah as if he sees Allah when he abused it or he undoubtedly believes that Allah Exalted and Almighty sees him. And there is no third position in the scene of servitude for the sake of man. Since it is a must to worship Allah as if you see Him, if you do not see Him He sees you. And part of the greatest acts of worship is to curb one ‘self from hurting the people of qiblah [religious leaders]..

But as for worship in its real and accurate sense that arranges another hidden meaning. It is the second type of worship which is:

A universal name to make behaviors upright.

And its focus is righteousness of the heart and its health and safety by its enlightenment with believe in Allah and His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day, and Predestination - good or bad, fear and fright of Allah, hope in Him, reliance on Him, and satisfaction and submission to Him in his entire decision, trepidation of Him, aspiration of Him, true love for His sake, for the sake of His messenger, believers, religion of Islam with fidelity, absolute relationship with Him, which does not give room for turning towards anyone apart from the Truthful and Almighty[Allah].

And these acts and what resembles it is the manifest and hidden act of worship, and it is incumbent on a Muslim to seek knowledge relating to it and the manifest (fiqh) jurisprudence that encompasses all that.

And this is the meaning that we indicated in worship. It is what the Ahlul Sunnah Al Jama’ah among the fuqahah[ scholars of jurisprudence], and hadith scholars and sincere sufis[mystics], and the hidden knowledge, and the knowledge of kindness, and finally they arrived at a compromising stand to name it: (Al-Tasawwuf ), [Mysticism].

And in order to define and describe a man as (sufi or mystic), he needs to be steadfast on the methodology of this Islamic shariah [law] inwardly and outwardly in manifestation, and behavior wise. And from here one of them {sufis} says: (Every hidden thing that is revoked by an apparent in shariah is invalid).

To be continued next week....

Translated By: Husseini Yushau BabalWaiz, New York