We will now do Dhikr Khatam Khawajgan, and this is a reflection and demonstration of our love for the pious elders of our Silsila, due to whose effort, Deen has come onto our lives. Hence it is the Tariqa of the Naqshbandis Silsila always to do this before Dhikr - first, we do Esal-e-Thawab, we send Thawab to our pious elders.
The Qur’anic verses that we will recite are related to the Sheikhs and the Thawab for the recital is given to them – this is called Khatam-e-Khwajgan. They conferred favours upon us by working hard and making effort, due to which Allah’s Deen came to us. They told us the method and the way to practice, and their Fuyudh and Barakat reached us, so it is their right upon us that whenever we sit down to do Dhikr, we do not forget them. Rather, we should do Esal-e-Thawab for them and make those Duas and recite those verses and ask for the Thawab to be sent to them. And when you do Esal-e-Thawab, as soon as you recite the Kalimaat, Allah ta’ala immediately delivers the Barakah of the Kalimah to them. And the sender is named – ‘This person is sending this to you’ - and as the Duas are made, with the Fadhl of Allah, they also reply. Allah ta’ala has prepared this. And then they make Duas there: ‘Oh Allah, give him promotion and give him elevation for having remembered me and made Dua for me.’
I remember an individual who – actually it is better that I don’t relate that. Anyway, the meaning of Khatam Khwajgan is that we do Esal-e-Thawab. This is what Khatam Khawjgan is, not some drama whereby Kalimahs are recited. No, every Kalimah has a connection with a Sheikh, with a pious elder – every single one. So as we recite these Kalimahs, make the Niyyah that we are collectively sending the reward to them. By doing this, you will derive a lot of benefit in Dhikr when their Fuyudh and their blessings start to come upon you. So all these Kalimaat that we recite relate to the different teachers, and that is why it is called Khatam Khwajgan. First we do Esal of these recitations, and after that we will do Dhikr of Allah in the form of the Muraqabah.
Now I see that some people sit for the recitations, and then when we do Dhikr, they run off. They don’t know what Dhikr is and they think that Dhikr is the recitation of the Kalimaat. Alhamdulillah, that is also Dhikrullah, but it is just the start, the introduction; the real dish is yet to come. Just as you are about to reach Allah, you get up and go away – what is that? Do you understand what I am saying? So never leave the gathering in this way. The pious predecessors say that you should stay for as long as the Sheikh is present in the Khanqah. You don’t know when Allah’s Rahmah may come onto him, and you will also attain that Faiz and that blessing.
So why are you in a rush to leave? Why are you running away? Yes, if there is a pain in your stomach or you have an appointment or there is an emergency – okay. Otherwise, complete the action for which Allah ta’ala sent you. Yes? Just as when a good dish is given to you, like a lovely Halwa, until you lick your fingers with what remains at the bottom of the bowl, you will not stop. Only then will you leave it – right at the end. You will take the full enjoyment because it is so nice and tasty, and you will wipe the plate clean with your fingers. In the same way, you have come here to attain Allah’s Rahmah, so stay as long as Allah’s Rahmah is there - and as long as the Sheikh is present, Allah’s Rahmah and blessings continue. This is Allah ta’ala’s system, so stay there until he leaves.
I am not forcing you or saying that I am upset – no, no, no, that is not the point. Rather, these are just some principles and tips that I am sharing with you about Tasawwuf. These are very valuable and precious tips that I am sharing with you. I attained these in Makkat-ul-Mukarramah, and I remember when I sat there with Hadhrat Sahib rahmatullah alayh. Wallahi, morning to evening, even when sweating profusely, the question of leaving did not even arise. Staying put was their blessed habit, so I would do the same; in the night, everybody else would leave, but this Faqir would not leave. So take my tip. I said to myself ‘I can’t leave – to be sat with my Sheikh at this time is the greatest Ibadah, so unless he forces me to go, then I will not get up.’ Everybody else would get up and depart until the only people left were Hadhrat Sahib and myself – myself, Hadhrat and the Ka’abah! And this was in the third portion of the night – imagine the sights at that time.
So you just need courage and determination – but we don’t have courage and determination and we want to run off and leave quickly. Sit with ease and get what you have come for. Make Dua to Allah ‘Let me stay as long as the Majlis goes on, because I may not get this Majlis again tomorrow.’ These things do disappear, my brothers – they vanish.
So this is Khatam Khawjgan. This Majlis is full of Barakah from beginning to end. Hurry here so that you arrive ten or fifteen minutes in advance. Come, sit down, prepare yourself and give the occasion due respect. Alhamdulillah, as soon as you sit down, start reciting Durood Sharif, slowly and quietly on your tongue, directing your attention towards Madina until your Sheikh comes. So come ten minutes before Dhikr starts, and in this way, you can select your place. Then sit down with respect and Sukoon and wait and listen and partake. And after that, your heart should be heavy when the Majlis is coming to a conclusion, and at the end, make your Duas for all the things you need, for your children and for your parents. This is the time for Duas, brothers. Where else will you get accepted Duas? Alhamdulillah, so be sure to understand this Majlis, for it is a very valuable thing
So this is called Khatam Khwajgan, and we start the Khatam Khwajgan with these Kalimaat and we make Dua that Allah sends the Thawab to the pious elders, and then we do Dhikr. And Allah ta’ala does not accept anything until we send Durood to the Master of Madina sallallahu alayhi wasallam. So we start with Durood at the beginning, and we recite Durood before every Kalimah, and we end with Durood, because all success comes from there. Hadhrat Ali radhiAllahu anh relates ‘You can do as many Duas as you want, but if there is no Durood Sharif before and after the Dua, there is no success.’ Hadhrat Umar radhiAllahu anh has stated that you cannot get success until there is Durood before and after your Dua. Take the Waseelah of Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam, for without this, you cannot get success. No amount of love will come in handy until you take the Waseelah of Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam – remember this. It will be incomplete and empty. This universe is empty and utterly inadequate without Mustafa; it is empty and void.
So all these points are tips and pieces of advice to follow, and if you want to attain Allah’s nearness from this Majlis, then be respectful of these points. These are not small or minor points, rather they are big points, and the more you respect them and implement them, inshaAllah, the more the paths to Allah’s Qurb will open up for you.
So now we will start the Khatam Khwajgan, alhamdulillah. Recite Durood Sharif.
We will now do Dhikr Khatam Khawajgan, and this is a reflection and demonstration of our love for the pious elders of our Silsila, due to whose effort, Deen has come onto our lives. Hence it is the Tariqa of the Naqshbandis Silsila always to do this before Dhikr - first, we do Esal-e-Thawab, we send Thawab to our pious elders.
The Qur’anic verses that we will recite are related to the Sheikhs and the Thawab for the recital is given to them – this is called Khatam-e-Khwajgan. They conferred favours upon us by working hard and making effort, due to which Allah’s Deen came to us. They told us the method and the way to practice, and their Fuyudh and Barakat reached us, so it is their right upon us that whenever we sit down to do Dhikr, we do not forget them. Rather, we should do Esal-e-Thawab for them and make those Duas and recite those verses and ask for the Thawab to be sent to them. And when you do Esal-e-Thawab, as soon as you recite the Kalimaat, Allah ta’ala immediately delivers the Barakah of the Kalimah to them. And the sender is named – ‘This person is sending this to you’ - and as the Duas are made, with the Fadhl of Allah, they also reply. Allah ta’ala has prepared this. And then they make Duas there: ‘Oh Allah, give him promotion and give him elevation for having remembered me and made Dua for me.’
I remember an individual who – actually it is better that I don’t relate that. Anyway, the meaning of Khatam Khwajgan is that we do Esal-e-Thawab. This is what Khatam Khawjgan is, not some drama whereby Kalimahs are recited. No, every Kalimah has a connection with a Sheikh, with a pious elder – every single one. So as we recite these Kalimahs, make the Niyyah that we are collectively sending the reward to them. By doing this, you will derive a lot of benefit in Dhikr when their Fuyudh and their blessings start to come upon you. So all these Kalimaat that we recite relate to the different teachers, and that is why it is called Khatam Khwajgan. First we do Esal of these recitations, and after that we will do Dhikr of Allah in the form of the Muraqabah.
Now I see that some people sit for the recitations, and then when we do Dhikr, they run off. They don’t know what Dhikr is and they think that Dhikr is the recitation of the Kalimaat. Alhamdulillah, that is also Dhikrullah, but it is just the start, the introduction; the real dish is yet to come. Just as you are about to reach Allah, you get up and go away – what is that? Do you understand what I am saying? So never leave the gathering in this way. The pious predecessors say that you should stay for as long as the Sheikh is present in the Khanqah. You don’t know when Allah’s Rahmah may come onto him, and you will also attain that Faiz and that blessing.
So why are you in a rush to leave? Why are you running away? Yes, if there is a pain in your stomach or you have an appointment or there is an emergency – okay. Otherwise, complete the action for which Allah ta’ala sent you. Yes? Just as when a good dish is given to you, like a lovely Halwa, until you lick your fingers with what remains at the bottom of the bowl, you will not stop. Only then will you leave it – right at the end. You will take the full enjoyment because it is so nice and tasty, and you will wipe the plate clean with your fingers. In the same way, you have come here to attain Allah’s Rahmah, so stay as long as Allah’s Rahmah is there - and as long as the Sheikh is present, Allah’s Rahmah and blessings continue. This is Allah ta’ala’s system, so stay there until he leaves.
I am not forcing you or saying that I am upset – no, no, no, that is not the point. Rather, these are just some principles and tips that I am sharing with you about Tasawwuf. These are very valuable and precious tips that I am sharing with you. I attained these in Makkat-ul-Mukarramah, and I remember when I sat there with Hadhrat Sahib rahmatullah alayh. Wallahi, morning to evening, even when sweating profusely, the question of leaving did not even arise. Staying put was their blessed habit, so I would do the same; in the night, everybody else would leave, but this Faqir would not leave. So take my tip. I said to myself ‘I can’t leave – to be sat with my Sheikh at this time is the greatest Ibadah, so unless he forces me to go, then I will not get up.’ Everybody else would get up and depart until the only people left were Hadhrat Sahib and myself – myself, Hadhrat and the Ka’abah! And this was in the third portion of the night – imagine the sights at that time.
So you just need courage and determination – but we don’t have courage and determination and we want to run off and leave quickly. Sit with ease and get what you have come for. Make Dua to Allah ‘Let me stay as long as the Majlis goes on, because I may not get this Majlis again tomorrow.’ These things do disappear, my brothers – they vanish.
So this is Khatam Khawjgan. This Majlis is full of Barakah from beginning to end. Hurry here so that you arrive ten or fifteen minutes in advance. Come, sit down, prepare yourself and give the occasion due respect. Alhamdulillah, as soon as you sit down, start reciting Durood Sharif, slowly and quietly on your tongue, directing your attention towards Madina until your Sheikh comes. So come ten minutes before Dhikr starts, and in this way, you can select your place. Then sit down with respect and Sukoon and wait and listen and partake. And after that, your heart should be heavy when the Majlis is coming to a conclusion, and at the end, make your Duas for all the things you need, for your children and for your parents. This is the time for Duas, brothers. Where else will you get accepted Duas? Alhamdulillah, so be sure to understand this Majlis, for it is a very valuable thing
So this is called Khatam Khwajgan, and we start the Khatam Khwajgan with these Kalimaat and we make Dua that Allah sends the Thawab to the pious elders, and then we do Dhikr. And Allah ta’ala does not accept anything until we send Durood to the Master of Madina sallallahu alayhi wasallam. So we start with Durood at the beginning, and we recite Durood before every Kalimah, and we end with Durood, because all success comes from there. Hadhrat Ali radhiAllahu anh relates ‘You can do as many Duas as you want, but if there is no Durood Sharif before and after the Dua, there is no success.’ Hadhrat Umar radhiAllahu anh has stated that you cannot get success until there is Durood before and after your Dua. Take the Waseelah of Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam, for without this, you cannot get success. No amount of love will come in handy until you take the Waseelah of Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam – remember this. It will be incomplete and empty. This universe is empty and utterly inadequate without Mustafa; it is empty and void.
So all these points are tips and pieces of advice to follow, and if you want to attain Allah’s nearness from this Majlis, then be respectful of these points. These are not small or minor points, rather they are big points, and the more you respect them and implement them, inshaAllah, the more the paths to Allah’s Qurb will open up for you.
So now we will start the Khatam Khwajgan, alhamdulillah. Recite Durood Sharif.