Friday, June 16, 2006

The Basis of the Path

The basis of the path is the focus of one's entire being on Allah. Detachment allows the heart to focus on Allah...

"Whoever leaves something of this world to gain something of the next world, will gain both. Whoever leaves something of the next world to gain something of this world, loses both."

Allah is the Most Merciful of the merciful and keener for our best interest than we are ourselves. Whoever knows the favour of Allah upon him, spends his life in thanking Him. Abu'l Hasan al-Shadhili said while spending seven years in a cave, "Oh Allah, when will I be a servant who is grateful to You?" and he heard an echo "When you don't see anyone in the world bestowing favours on you, but Allah, you are grateful". Most people don't see the greatness of Allah because of their ego--the ego has trouble avoiding arrogance, it must have it's way always vying with Allah and what He has decided.

If you want to move on the Path, you must be organized. Shaykh Nuh translated a text (roughly) as follows: "Whoever wants to draw closer to Allah, let him organize his works. Let him begin by disengaging his keenness for this worldliness: the meaning of zuhd is the diminishing of things. The blessings one needs to do without are the ones he has no shukr to Allah for because these are doing him no good".

We must understand the difference between the finite and the infinite. The finite is that which calls one to "things, things, and more things"; the infinite consists of actions done by the limbs and the heart, which call to that which is without end. We must leave excess the way a mountain climber only takes with him the absolutely necessary because we are on a journey out of this world.

[Sh. Nuh Keller, Toronto Suhba 2006 - reading from a text. These are my notes and may contain errors -- if so, they are mine and in no way reflective of the Shaykh or his teachings.]

2 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:30 PM

    Asalaam alaykoum,

    Your blog is very informative and inspiring. I agree, detachment certainly allows our heart to focus on Allah. I believe one has to find a balance between the inward and the outer laws. This is just my opinion based on some of my experiences. I believe that if I'm too spiritual, I will isolate myself and not establish contact with my purpose in this world, but if I'm too worldly, then I'll truly be dead because I will no knowledge of who I am.

    Remembrance of Allah allows us to consistently interact with our thoughts, feelings, and actions, because everything we do is contemplated in Him. When Allah tested the Prophet Ayoub, peace be upon him, he did not allow misfortune or loss to affect his faith. He believed in God because he was in touch with who he was. And as the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said "He who knows himself knows his Lord." We shouldn't allow the outward forces influence whether or not we should believe in God. That is something we should know about ourselves.

    Keep up the great work :)

    Salaam,

    ~ Jehanzeb

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  2. Wa'alaykum Assalam wa Rahmatullah Jehanzeb,

    Shukran for dropping by and for your comments.

    Life must indeed be a balance, and that balance is met when, as the scholars teach us, we make Allah our intention in all matters. It is in this way that even the mundane become infinite.

    May Allah grant you all good in this life and the next. Please remember me in your du'as.

    Wassalam,
    Salikah

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