{قَالَ يَـٰٓـَٔادَمُ أَنۢبِئۡهُم بِأَسۡمَآٮِٕہِمۡۖ فَلَمَّآ أَنۢبَأَهُم بِأَسۡمَآٮِٕہِمۡ قَالَ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ إِنِّىٓ أَعۡلَمُ غَيۡبَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَأَعۡلَمُ مَا تُبۡدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡتُمُونَ}
Surah al-Baqarah v33
In this verse, Allah ta’ala introduces the human being to the angels prior to sending him to the earth. Now when Rabb-ul-Alameen does an introduction, what an introduction that will be – tell me! What a spectacle it will be. Allah gave human beings such capacity and capabilities that even the angels were envious. Up until that time, they had been the greatest form of creation, and they said ‘Ya Allah, we are made of Noor, of light, and they are made of clay, of soil.’ But when they saw the status of the human being, his ‘Irfan, his Ma’arifah, his knowledge of Allah and nearness to Allah, they said ‘SubhanAllah.’ And the angels then accepted the rank and capability of the human being.
So who are these human beings? They are us! Which other human beings could we be talking about? We are the offspring of Hadhrat Adam alayhi salam, aren’t we? So in other words, the capability that Hadhrat Adam alayhi salam had, all of the children of Hadhrat Adam alayhi salam also have. The angels were shown what achievements we could attain, what we were capable of doing. We have very great qualities – ‘Ilm-e-Ma’arifah, ‘Ilm-e-‘Irfan, the closeness to Allah. Allah describes us in the Qur’an as {أَحۡسَنِ تَقۡوِيمٍ۬}. Look at where Allah ta’ala places human beings among His Creation. He gives great wealth to human beings – in other words, to us.
Every human being is capable of reaching glorious heights - the knowledge of Allah’s nearness, Allah’s ‘Irfan, Allah’s Ma’arifah, SubhanAllah. Yet on the Day of Judgement, human beings will be like tiny little ants, crawling like spiders who are crushed under foot. There will be fire on all four sides, and people will be dragged into the imprisonment of Hell. This is the description in a Riwayah related in Tirmidhi. Why will this be the fate of those who have such qualities, who Allah has given such a high status? Because we have crushed those capabilities and gone towards wrong, and this is the punishment for this. Such people had Kibr, they had pride, and that is why they will be crushed like ants. Kibr was inside them. Imagine all the glorious ranks that Allah ta’ala has given us, of which the angels are envious such that they accept us as their Ustaadh, and yet that same human being ends up in that dismal situation on the Day of Judgement. This is one of the worst punishments of Qiyamah, for those people who are immodest, who are criminals, sinners, liars, fraudsters, committing Haram, consuming Haram, disobeying and rejecting the ‘Ibadah of Allah, not worshipping Allah.
Due to this, many people will suffer the opposite fate to what should occur. The angels are saying ‘We are in the heavens, and yet we cannot attain the levels of Qurb, of nearness, that a man who sits on the earth can attain.’ A person who attains Allah’s Ma’arifah and nearness, who has a great connection with Allah, SubhanAllah, he can enter into the Court of Allah in a second! This is how much Allah has elevated human beings and given them opportunities. He has given them ‘Ilm, ‘Ilm-e-Ma’arifah, the knowledge of Allah’s nearness, and he learns and progresses when he controls his Nafs with ‘Ilm-e-Dhahir and purifies it with ‘Ilm-e-Baatin. So imagine the heights to which he can reach, and yet that same Insan can waste his time with immodest actions and running after his passions and desires and disobeying Allah. Why is there this discrepancy today? Why do we have this massive discrepancy?
Allah ta’ala said {قَالَ يَـٰٓـَٔادَمُ أَنۢبِئۡهُم بِأَسۡمَآٮِٕہِمۡ} – ‘Demonstrate and explain to the angels the ‘Ilm that I have given to you.’ {فَلَمَّآ أَنۢبَأَهُم بِأَسۡمَآٮِٕہِمۡ} – Adam alayhi salam then taught and showed the angels according to Allah’s Hukm, and they were surprised and impressed, alhamdulillah. So why is it that human beings drop to such low levels in comparison to the opportunities that they have been given? We need to think about this in the light of the guidance of the Qur’an. That is why we are reading the Qur’an – so that we can improve ourselves and rectify ourselves. We have the capability to reach great heights. Allah ta’ala has given us power and knowledge, so how sad if tomorrow, on the Day of Judgement, we are swamped by severe conditions and difficulties. Allah ta’ala has given us the Qur’an so that the Deen of the human being can be refreshed, and to tell him what he should and should not be doing so that he can become a person of understanding and of good deeds.
Let us look at our condition today. Whoever is listening to the Qur’an right now, think for a moment and ask yourself ‘What will happen to me tomorrow when I go?’ Why are we lost? Why are we devoid of the great status that Allah ta’ala has given to us? Both women and men, all have that capability within us; all the qualities and abilities are present. We have no need for anything else, so why is there such a big difference? The angels explained, and Allah ta’ala has mentioned this Himself in the Qur’an and has guided us on this point, Allahu Akbar. Allah ta’ala gave ‘Ilm, and the angels accepted. {قَالُواْ سُبۡحَـٰنَكَ لَا عِلۡمَ لَنَآ إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمۡتَنَآ} SubhanAllah. They said ‘We didn’t know this. We don’t know anything apart from what you have taught us.’ So then, the question arises: ‘Why did you say such a thing? Why did you think -{نَحۡنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمۡدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ}- and mention that you hymn the praises of Allah and remember Him? Why did you say this? What sort of query was this?’ This statement of theirs is explained at the end of the verse when they say to Allah ta’ala {إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ}. Previously, they had said to Allah ‘He may spread Fasaad, whereas we hymn Your praises and remember You.’ SubhanAllah.
So when they understood, they immediately said {سُبۡحَـٰنَكَ لَا عِلۡمَ لَنَآ إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمۡتَنَآۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ} – SubhanAllah. ‘Allah, You alone are The Knower, The Wise.’ The point is highlighted by these two qualities that the angels mentioned. They said {لَا عِلۡمَ لَنَآ} – ‘Be glorified, Oh Allah! You know everything – we have no knowledge save that which You have taught us. You have caught the thief in our hearts. You know everything that is hidden; nothing can hide from You.’ The angels made a vital statement here - {إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ}. They could have said something else, but this specific statement, that ‘Oh Allah, You have caught the thief in our hearts. You are the Khaliq and the Malik. Because You are ‘Alim, nothing is hidden from You, nothing in the Universe. You are aware of everything and have realized this as well. You are Hakim. We said that we remember You, Oh Allah, when we said {مَن يُفۡسِدُ فِيہَا وَيَسۡفِكُ ٱلدِّمَآءَ وَنَحۡنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمۡدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ}. How did we say this! {إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ} – The reality is that You know everything, and we don’t know. We made that query based on our understanding, whereas we should know that every decision of Yours is based on Your Hikmah. We did not fully understand this.’ So the weakness of their point was revealed and accepted, which was that they thought that they alone were the ones who remember Allah and that human beings would spread Fasaad. ‘But You are Alim and Hakim, and we lost out when we queried, whereas in reality, what You ordained was correct.’ Then Allah subhana wa ta'ala said {قَالَ يَـٰٓـَٔادَمُ أَنۢبِئۡهُم بِأَسۡمَآٮِٕہِمۡۖ فَلَمَّآ أَنۢبَأَهُم بِأَسۡمَآٮِٕہِمۡ} – ‘Adam, tell them the names; tell them the Deen’; and then the ‘Ilm was explained to the angels.
And then, Allahu Akbar, Allah says: {قَالَ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ إِنِّىٓ أَعۡلَمُ غَيۡبَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَأَعۡلَمُ مَا تُبۡدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡتُمُونَ} – ‘Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of the heavens and the earth, and that I know that which you disclose and that which you hide?’ This statement was not just for the Malaa’ika actually; Bani Adam also comes into this. Allah is saying ‘Listen – they were angels in the heavens, made of Noor, and what they said was according to My Wisdom. But you are going into the world now.’ SubhnaAllah – Allah is explaining that this applies to us as well. {قَالَ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ إِنِّىٓ أَعۡلَمُ غَيۡبَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَأَعۡلَمُ مَا تُبۡدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡتُمُونَ} When Allah said to Adam alayhi salam {قَالَ يَـٰٓـَٔادَمُ أَنۢبِئۡهُم بِأَسۡمَآٮِٕہِمۡ}, Adam alayhi salam told the angels, but then Allah ta’ala addresses them both. ‘These the angels made of Noor queried what I had created and sent to the earth due to a little lack of understanding regarding {إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ}.
But now Allah ta’ala is addressing both, and the message to Bani Adam is ‘You will live here in the world, so don’t confuse your understanding of this point; don’t fail in this regard. You are in the world, oh human being, and your children will be in the world, and mischief, evil and shaytan and Nafs will be against you, because I have made it a place of test and challenge so that I can elevate your status through these challenges of the Dunya. I have made the world this way through My choice; this is how I want it.’ And Allah ta’ala left us free for our lifetimes, and then we have to return to Him – and this process is continuing. So Allah is saying ‘When you go to the world, oh mankind, if you are careful of this same point you will never fail. The attractions of the world will come upon you and Nafs and base desires will run after you. And the first thing that Nafs and shaytan will try to make you do in the world relates to this {إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ}. They will try to remove that recognition that Allah ta’ala knows, and that Allah ta’ala’s decisions are based on His Wisdom. Shaytan and Nafs will make you cover up this point. The angels queried, and if they faltered, can you not drop? You need to look after this point in the Dunya.’
Listen brothers and all those who are listening: we have to be very conscious of this point. If there is any lack of awareness that Allah is All-Knowing and All-Wise, and that His qualities are never ending, then darkness increases the more this awareness reduces in our hearts. And when this darkness makes that awareness diminish and disappear, that is when sins come and we incline towards disobedience - this is what Allah is saying here. Disobedience, Shirk, immodest actions, Kibr, pride – the root cause of every sin is what? That the recognition that Allah ta’ala is Wise and that He knows has diminished and disappeared. And a person commits sin and does Kibr and he lies and commits fraud due to this. Whenever he does any act of disobedience, he does so at that time when he has lost that recognition, when his heart is devoid of the feeling and acceptance that Allah knows, and that all of Allah’s decisions are based on His Wisdom. This shaytan’s trick and mode of attack in taking this understanding away from a person’s heart.
Let me give you an example from the world to explain this. When does a thief like to steal? He does so when everyone is sleeping, or when no one is looking at him. That is when he steals. A shop lifter or a pick pocket commits his crime when he is certain that nobody is watching him. SubhanAllah. Otherwise he would never steal. If he sees that cameras are on him, he won’t steal because he will have Yaqeen that the camera will record his crime. He will only steal when he is sure that he will not be observed. A human being only does wrong actions when he is sure that nobody is watching him. He will only do impure actions when he thinks this and feels this, because he is afraid of being caught, of being seen doing wrong. Do you see what I am saying? The human being only does wrong actions at a time when he feels that no one is looking at him. If he thinks that no one will catch him, then he steals. In the same way, a human being always breaks Allah’s law and breaks the principles set down by Allah when he feels strongly in his heart and is sure that Allah is not watching. He believes that Allah is the one who punishes, but he thinks that Allah is not watching. When we get to this point, when we feel that we are not being observed, that is when a person will take somebody’s money or wealth or their life. That is why people take life or beat each other, and why a person can cause thousands to die within seconds, because they do not think that they will be brought to account, and that there are no checks and balances. Would anyone do this if they knew the reality of the punishment? So the Qur’an says - Allah says - ‘I am here; I am present! I am always with you, closer to you than your jugular vein.’ What does this mean? That Allah is aware of everything that we are thinking and doing. This is the connection between the servant and Allah – remember this.
So shaytan and Nafs break this connection. They put a veil over this connection, and when the veil comes over this connection, a human being goes very far from the right path. He thinks ‘I am free. I can murder someone or take somebody’s money, or usurp his property or oppress people, turf someone out of his home or swear at somebody.’ This can happen even if a person has got Qur’an in his hand and knowledge of Hadith, remember this. Memorizing the Qur’an or holding it or putting it on your head or memorizing Hadith - these do not confer Taqwa. They do not give this recognition. You do have that knowledge, yes, but as the angels said {إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ} - ‘Oh Allah! We do everything, we hymn Your praises, we glorify You and are Dhakir and Shakir. We make this statement because we know that You are All-Knowing and Wise.’ So Allah ta’ala addressed both; both were stood in front of Him, but really, Allah ta’ala was addressing us, saying ‘You will also fall into this trap. You have got a high Maqam, and My connection with you is very strong. I am so close to you – I am closer to you than your jugular vein, oh human being.’
We do Sujood, but then we make idols out of mud and prostrate to that! We don’t accept Allah as Rabb, but instead take an idol as Rabb. Don’t we? Openly, we lie and disobey Allah. We oppress people -why? Because we don’t feel that Allah is watching us; we don’t recognize this. Allah says ‘This will be the reason that you disobey and do wrong actions in the world. This feeling that Allah is watching, and that Allah is All-Knowing and All-Wise will have disappeared.’ Allahu Akbar.
Allah ta’ala goes further: {قَالَ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ إِنِّىٓ أَعۡلَمُ غَيۡبَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَأَعۡلَمُ مَا تُبۡدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡتُمُونَ} – Allah says ‘I know everything. I know every piece of earth - no particle of earth is hidden behind another for Me. No darkness can conceal things from Me, no depths of the oceans can hide things from Me. The peaks and the caves of the mountains are not places to hide from Me. The layers upon layers of darkness in the darkest night do not conceal anything from Me. I can hear the footsteps of the smallest black ant walking on a black rock on a black mountain. And I am Hakim also! Even when a leaf drops from a tree, it does so based on My Wisdom and Hikmah.’ This is for a leaf falling from a branch, so what about when we leave the decisions and instructions of Allah due to our lack of awareness? We start feeling upset and depressed and then we leave Allah’s laws, and then we blatantly talk nonsense about Allah, or backbite. Tell me – would you swear at someone’s face? It doesn’t matter how much you backbite and talk behind someone’s back, saying ‘Oh, he’s this, he’s that’, but when you are in front of him, you are silent. So if we knew Allah was with us and that He is watching, would we not feel ashamed? Do we feel ashamed about Allah when we do wrong? Allah is with us all the time! In other words, if you wouldn’t swear or speak nonsense in front of a person’s face, and if you remain silent when you are in his presence, then what about Allah, who is with us at all times and is closer to us than our jugular veins?
So what is clear is that this feeling has gone from within us. Tell me- is there a bigger Shirk than this? Is there? If a person is immersed in this ignorance, he does whatever he wants. That is why Allah ta’ala has made us realize this, and why He addressed both human beings and angels in this verse. {قَالَ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ إِنِّىٓ أَعۡلَمُ غَيۡبَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَأَعۡلَمُ مَا تُبۡدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡتُمُونَ} Allah ta’ala says ‘Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of the heavens and the earth, and I know that which you disclose and that which you hide.’ Allah is telling us that He is aware of everything. Allah knows what a tiny ant buried under layers of earth needs to be sustained. Allah says ‘I know what everything in this world needs. I am the Malik, the Owner, of everything; I am the Khaliq, the Creator, and the Sustainer. I have sent you to this world, and I am giving you this lesson via the angels, oh Ibn Adam. Go to the earth and don’t forget this belief that Allah is watching you. Don’t let this feeling and recognition disappear that Allah ta’ala knows everything, and all decisions are based upon His Hikmah, His Wisdom.’
So if we know that Allah ta’ala is watching, the question doesn’t arise that human beings would disobey or commit sin. Otherwise, Allah ta’ala says, ‘There is a punishment, for I will be upset with you.’ A human being should never criticize or complain about Allah ta’ala’s decision. How can a person challenge that? You know when you do Mashwarah, take advice, from somebody senior who has got a bit more intellect or wisdom, even if he gives the wrong advice, we accept it because we think that the person has got wisdom. Is there anyone greater than Allah? All decisions are made by Allah, so why should we feel down or upset about the decisions of Allah? Why? The reason is that the recognition of these two qualities of Allah has gone from us; we have come into this temporary material world, and shaytan and Nafs has overwhelmed us. This is our sickness, and this is what we realize from this verse.
I am speaking here from the angle of Tasawwuf, not of Fiqh. That is not my topic. I told you from the first day that we aim to rectify ourselves from the Qur’an, to do Islah, to find the cure. And the Qur’an gives the cure, and what is that? ‘Ilm-e-Ma’arifah, ‘Ilm-e-Ludni, that ‘Irfan which was given to Adam alayhi salam and which he taught to the angels. SubhanAllah. If we leave this path, this understanding, then forget it, my brothers. We will certainly live a life worse than the animals. Forget the apparent reality. It doesn’t matter how modern you are, or progressive or advanced, the question doesn’t arise that you will attain success. There are no two opinions in this matter, no contrary points of view. When Allah’s Nabi sallallahu alayhi wasallam was asked about this by the noble Companions radhiAllahu anhum, he said ‘When you walk in water, will your feet not become wet?’ The Companions replied ‘Ya Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam, of course they will become wet.’ Then the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said ‘Allah ta’ala has made this world full of attractions, so when you walk through it and live in it, will some of that dirt not accumulate on you? It will! But Allah ta’ala has given you a method to be saved, and this is your test, so grab hold of the method, of the solution.’
So today, why has Fitnah spread in society? Because we have left the solution that Allah ta’ala has given to us. Alhamdulillah, we have a Jama’ah, and with the Fadhl of Allah everyone is listening. We have taken hold of the solution. Allah ta’ala has put this into our brains, into our minds. I gave you Da’wah and you accepted, alhamdulillah, and we have realized that we are living in an impure environment where dirt will accumulate, where lying will affect us, where love of the world will affect us, even taking the rights of another person will affect us. But, because we have started applying the solution, we have the understanding that Allah ta’ala is watching us. Difficulties and problems will come, but Allah ta’ala has started the process; Allah ta’ala is Hakim. Sabr will come, and we will develop patience in the decisions of Allah. And when we sin, we will also go towards Tawbah, thinking ‘Oh, I have lost out – I have committed a big sin. I will do Tawbah today - I will go to Dhikr in the morning. I am ashamed at having committed this big sin – I should never have done it. I consumed somebody’s wealth wrongfully.’ Your feelings will be awakened, and you will embrace the understanding that was given to Hadhrat Adam alayhi salam. Allah ta’ala says ‘Take and adopt this ‘Ilm and you will progress. So, MashaAllah, if a person clearly and steadfastly and robustly goes towards the solution that has been explained to him, then Allah ta’ala says his rank will increase. But this depends on how serious the brethren and people who are following this route really are.
So what is the point that the Qur’an is telling us? That the human being is disobedient to Allah and starts to commit sins and do wrong when the recognition that Allah is watching him disappears, when he forgets that Allah is seeing what he is doing and that Allah has ordered the angels to record all of his deeds. In addition, we are being told not to criticize Allah’s decisions, and if he does, this shows that he does not believe in Allah’s Hikmah, and does not believe that all decisions are based on Allah’s Wisdom.
Now, how do we increase the strength of this recognition and belief that we need? Say SubhanAllah! How do we increase this quality and revive these two feelings within? Take the immune system – why does a person get a stomach-ache? The doctor may say that it is due to the immune system having broken down – this is often why a person catches an illness quickly. Many doctors are recommending that the solution to the Coronavirus is protecting and strengthening the immune system. So we need to strengthen the spiritual immune system, the Ruhani immune system, so that we automatically think ‘Oh, I shouldn’t do this action.’ This is the rank that we need to get to, that feeling that Allah is with us everywhere. When your gaze is drawn towards a woman, you will think ‘La Hawla wa Quwwata illa bi’llah – Allah is watching me and I am looking at this woman!’ That is how you will feel when this happens.
I will share an event of Hadhrat Umar radhiAllahu anh with you to demonstrate strong belief that Allah is ‘Alim and Hakim. He was once on a journey in a barren land, and he came upon a shepherd with his goats, an illiterate nomad. Hadhrat Umar radhiAllahu anh was the Khalifah at that time, the Amir ul-Mu’mineen, but the shepherd did not know this because there was no pomp or grandeur surrounding the journey of the Khalifah, who was travelling with only the basic requirements. So Hadhrat Umar radhiAllahu anh thought ‘Let me go and test this shepherd’ – he was the Khalifah and wanted to gauge the state of his nation. So he went up to the shepherd and said ‘Sell me one of your sheep.’ The shepherd replied ‘No, I cannot do so because they are not my sheep. They belong to someone else and I am just herding them.’ Hadhrat Umar radhiAllahu anh said ‘Ok, but we will give you a very good price.’ ‘No’, the man replied, ‘I cannot possibly sell one to you.’ Where was the owner at that time? Nowhere to be seen – the flock was entirely in his control. Hadhrat Umar radhiAllahu anh then tested him further and said ‘Look, we want a goat to sacrifice and eat, so take the money, and you can say it was taken by a wolf - no one will know. Your boss will never find out.’ But SubhanAllah, the shepherd said ‘You look like someone with understanding. My malik may not be here, but Malik-ul-Mulk is here! He is watching, isn’t he? The owner of the goats is not here, but the owner of the whole Universe is here watching me. Where do you think Allah is?’ Hadhrat Umar radhiAllahu anh fell to the ground and said ‘As long as this Ummah contains people like this who know that Allah ta’ala is watching, and whose feelings and emotions attest to the fact that Allah is watching, then Fasaad cannot come into this Ummah.’
Here is another fantastic event relating to Hadhrat Umar radhiAllahu anh. It was his habit to go out at night to monitor what was happening, and once he happened to overhear a discussion taking place within a family whose income came from selling milk. This is an issue that still arises today. In Pakistan, you hear a seller calling ‘Pure milk for sale’, but very often water is added to increase the volume and make extra profit. Why would a person commit such a fraud? Because he thinks ‘Allah is not watching us.’ This is the feeling that drives people to behave like this. So Hadhrat Umar radhiAllahu anh passed by the house, and he heard the mother say to her daughter ‘Come on, mix some water into the milk so that we have more to sell.’ But the daughter replied ‘Mother, I can’t add water to the milk. That’s fraud, it is wrong.’ Hadhrat Umar radhiAllahu anh was listening all the while. The mother said ‘What is the problem, go on, add water. It will be fine, just do it.’ But her daughter repeated ‘No mother, it is wrong, we can’t.’ So the mother said ‘Come on, it is not as if Umar is watching. Add some water!’ Statements such as this are commonly made by us at work ‘No one will know, let’s take a break from the work we are supposed to be doing.’ But the Malik is watching, my brothers. If you are skiving at work and cheating your employer, it is not just the employer you are offending against, but rather you are criminal in the sight of Allah! If we had this recognition, how great our society would be - our countries would progress to high levels. But today, the whole nation of Islam has lost the Yaqeen that Allah is watching us. I swear by Allah, if we had just a little bit of Yaqeen that Allah is watching us, our situation would be so different. Through this whole event, Allah is telling us this.
After the event, the angels said one thing: {قَالُواْ سُبۡحَـٰنَكَ لَا عِلۡمَ لَنَآ إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمۡتَنَآ} – ‘Oh Allah, we accept! We accept everything. We have made a mistake; we have erred. We forgot that You are All-Knowing, All-Wise. Your decision was totally correct in elevating him and making our Dhikr lower than Ibn Adam.’ I swear by Allah, our situation would transform if we could create that awareness, but we are dissipated today. We are fractured and dissipated, and there is no other cure. When someone offers a cure today, people make fun of him. This is a unique Jama’ah in the world, these Sufi brothers who are sat with us. If you go to the Masjid, they will look different. Their clothes and their appearance make them look like outsiders, and people say ‘Oh this is Farooqui Sahib’s Jama’ah.’ They have made a Jama’ah of my name! Oh servants of Allah, these are people who want to develop that feeling within that Allah is always watching. They want the fear of Allah to come into them, so that all of their actions are carried out with fear and recognition of Allah in their hearts. If through the Dhikr that you do, you are not improving and acting properly and learning, then you are losing out. That is why we are reading the Qur’an.
From today, we need to analyze ourselves regularly, asking ‘Has this feeling and emotion developed within me?’ If today we are still lying and committing fraud and forbidden actions, then what we are doing is not giving us any benefit at all. How can we succeed if this is the case? Allah ta’ala is giving a great solution here, which is to develop this feeling and emotion within you that you need, wherever you go in the world, in order to realize that Allah is present; He is {عَـٰلِمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ}, watching you. That woman said to her daughter ‘Add water to the milk. Is Umar watching?’ But the girl replied ‘Umar is not watching, but Umar’s Rabb is watching!’ Allahu Akbar, he sat down and held his head in his hands! SubhanAllah, he waited until the morning and then said ‘This is a golden opportunity. Where are those poor milk sellers?’ He said to his wife ‘We are going to get a marriage partner for our son.’ And he called to his son, saying ‘Get up, I’m taking you to meet your bride.’ So his son said ‘Where are we going? Who are you going to marry me to, oh father?’ His father said ‘Come on, get up quickly – a golden opportunity has arisen. Let’s go.’ So they knocked on the door of the milk sellers’ house, who saw that it was Hadhrat Umar radhiAllahu anh – everyone knew who he was, obviously - and they were worried that somehow it was some check to do with adding water to milk.
This happens when the inspector comes; you see the milk sellers running here and there, panicking that they will be found out for putting water in their milk. If they didn’t put water in the first place, they would have nothing to worry about, but we forget that Allah is ‘Alim and Hakim. We don’t realize that Allah is watching us, which is the certain reality. So when people sell counterfeit items – are they Muslims, those who do this? If a person doesn’t have Yaqeen that Allah is watching, then how can he be a Muslim? How can you sell counterfeit items then? Will the wealth that you earn from selling fake goods make you rich? Astaghfirullah. Are you earning wealth? No, you are earning the fire of hell, and your children will consume cannabis and alcohol, and your women will leave home and run around without Deen. Remember what I am telling you. When Allah ta’ala’s punishment comes, nothing can stop it. Look at Coronavirus. Allah ta’ala grabs us and holds us, but He gives chance after chance after chance for people to understand.
You are pious people, but Allah ta’ala explaining to me with this Qur’an that we are reading. You may not need to be told because you are pious people, but Allah ta’ala is telling me how to become pious. If I don’t understand this message today, and if I continue to defraud and lie and deceive and sell counterfeit goods, thinking I will benefit from this, and if I stock alcohol in my shop, will I become wealthy? Can I become wealthy through doing wrong actions? Do I think that the household will be better off, and that I will save more money, living in luxury while consuming Haram? Allah ta’ala gives us chances – He doesn’t just grab suddenly. We think that we are not being punished so we are ok, and thus become even more big-headed. Allahu Akbar, when Allah brings the real punishment, it is very severe indeed. Why don’t we understand this in advance? We should understand when we are told, so from today, do Tawbah and repent, and have so much Yaqeen that Allah ta’ala is listening to and watching all of us right now, and knows whatever you have heard. How can I give you the wrong message when I know that Allah ta’ala is watching me? He sees, He hears – how can I say what is wrong? Do you understand what I am saying?
So Hadhrat Umar knocked on the door, and they said ‘Why have you come?’ He replied ‘I have come to request something from you.’ The mother became afraid, and said ‘What is your request?’ Hadhrat Umar radhiAllahu anh said ‘I wish to make your daughter my daughter-in-law. I want her to come into the family of al-Farooq.’ And SubhanAllah, through the descendants of that woman, Hadhrat Umar bin Abdul-Aziz came into the world, who became known as Hadhrat Umar ath-Thani. From that daughter-in-law came Hadhrat Umar bin Abdul-Aziz, who was a truly great leader in a time when Fitnah had become commonplace. He was such a just Amir that even the animals ceased to oppress each other. In an event recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari, someone called out in a remote jungle ‘Umar bin Abdul-Aziz has passed away! Umar bin Abdul-Aziz has passed away!’ A person nearby who heard him said ‘How can you say this? How do you know that he has passed away?’ He said ‘Because one of my sheep was killed and eaten by a wolf today, and that wolf would not have dared to do this if Umar bin Abdul-Aziz were alive.’ He was a thousand miles away, but he knew the effect of the passing of that pious leader, who was so full of Taqwa and awareness that Allah watches over everything that even the animals in his kingdom were careful not to oppress his subjects. Nowadays, we are afraid of mice! They took note of the date and time, and found out later that this had occurred at the exact time that Hadhrat Umar bin Abdul-Aziz had passed away, Allahu Akbar. As soon as he left this world, Fasaad, disorder and mischief began to spread, and shaytan’s work began to prosper and intensify. So this is what we are lacking.
Allah ta’ala tells us to develop this, and this is the point that we need to understand. This is why we have Sulook, the journey of Tasawwuf, the journey to Allah. This is called Sufism today, and ‘Ilm-e-‘Irfan or ‘Ilm-e-Ma’arifah, the knowledge of Allah. There are two forms of knowledge: ‘Ilm-e-Dhahir and ‘Ilm-e-Baatin, visible knowledge and hidden knowledge, which is the inner knowledge of the Nafs, or the internal self. Both these Uloom together form the Shari’ah. Shari'ah and Sunnah come from both types of knowledge. There are two parts to the definition of Shari'ah and Sunnah; one is ‘Ilm-e-Dhahir and the other is ‘Ilm-e-Baatin. When you put them both together, you get Shari'ah and Sunnah. When we say ‘Follow the Shari’ah’, this means that we must follow the principles and laws of ‘Ilm-e-Dhahir via the strength that we gain from ‘Ilm-e-Baatin. If we know something is Halal or Haram, we must accept it and act accordingly. How do we acquire the strength to act on it? Via ‘Ilm-e-Baatin, the knowledge of the soul, of the inner self. Do you understand what I am saying?
Sulook is another name for ‘Ilm-e-Baatin. Within Sulook, the journey to Allah, the most important thing the traveler needs to do is intensify and strengthen that feeling that Allah is watching and is present everywhere, and that every decision of Allah’s is totally fine for us and is based on His Wisdom. So to get to this condition, a person has to embark on the path of Tasawwuf and go to a Kamil Sheikh, a complete Sheikh. Remember, there is a difference between pure milk and milk that has been contaminated or mixed with water – this is the day and age of Fitnah and Fasaad. If you are listening to what I am saying, you are either thinking that you want to do Islah and improve, or else these words are going in one ear and coming out of the other. That is your choice. But Allah ta’ala is telling you the knowledge and delivering the message to you. Whether an incapable person like me takes you to the heights or some lofty personality becomes your teacher and does so, the important thing is to pay attention to the message, not the human being. The message is coming to you. And how has it come? From very far away, in a small room, there was a Dervaish who sat in the darkness and delivered this message, SubhanAllah. How amazing is the arrangement of Allah! And now people are listening in their cars, or sitting at home, both men and women; and those who are not listening have lost out.
We need to understand that we must do Amal on this, and we must realize that we do sins when the feeling and emotion that Allah is watching and that all decisions are based upon His Wisdom has evaporated and disappeared. We need to elevate and strengthen this understanding, and to do so we have to go to the Wali of Allah, the Friend of Allah. And what does the Wali of Allah, the Sheikh do? He prescribes for you the method of various forms of Dhikr, and the biggest thing in our Naqshbandi order is Muraqabah. This is such a valuable and excellent action – Muraqabah is the best action of all. Many people say ‘I can’t do Muraqabah – it is too hard.’ This is because shaytan is controlling your hearts. Otherwise a person can do Muraqabah for hours. When a person does silent Dhikr, he first focusses on his heart from his mind, from his brain, and then the heart’s focus is directed and converted towards Allah. In other words, you flip the direction of the heart toward Allah ta’ala. How? In the manner that the Sheikh explains regarding each of the Asbaaq, each of the levels or lessons - like the heart, which is what we have to pay attention to initially. We have to reform the heart first. Total attention and focus on the heart must be acquired.
It is not me who has extracted these lessons; not me, nor Hadhrat Bahauddin Naqshband, nor Hadhrat Mujaddid Alf Thani. These lessons are the first, primary Ibadaat, from right at the very beginning. At the time that Nubuwwat was announced, the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam would do Muraqabah in the cave of Hira on Jabal-e-Noor. Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam would go to the cave of Hira with a few belongings – and you will have heard of this place or perhaps you have seen it yourselves, SubhanAllah. He would take a few belongings to the cave of Hira and stay there with some provisions for several days, and there was no Salah, no specific prayer, but he would be a Muraqib. The Ka’abah was in front of him and he would be engaged in Muraqabah, SubhanAllah. The mountain is still there and the same cave is there. So from that time, the Sunnah of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam has been recorded.
We need to turn our hearts to Allah, to focus on Allah. And how do we do that? By following the Tariqa and the prescription of a Kamil Sheikh. Whoever has been given such lessons is very fortunate indeed. Anyone who wastes this has suffered a huge loss and should regret it severely. When a person does Muraqabah, he gets to Allah ta’ala’s nearness very quickly, and because he feels that Allah is watching, he leaves wrongful actions. SubhanAllah. And any decision in life that goes against him, of the sort which causes others to run around shrieking and complaining, he says ‘SubhanAllah, this is Allah’s decision and I am happy with that. Allah knows best.’ And he pays attention to Allah and asks from Allah and pleads to Allah. He increases his Ibaadat and says ‘Oh Allah, Your decision is the best. Give me courage and determination.’ And then Allah gives that person more reward, SubhanAllah. Such a a person submits to Allah and cries and makes this Dua, saying ‘Oh Allah, I am stuck in this difficulty. Please take me out of this trap and trick.’ This is Tasawwuf, which is the most important part of our life, and the most important part of Tasawwuf is Muraqabah.
I advise and request that you pay attention to whatever your Sheikh prescribes for you and tells you to do. And you have to pay attention and focus, because it is very important for you that when you do Muraqabah, you have the right intention. Make a solid intention that you are doing Muraqabah in order to develop that feeling and emotion inside so that when you go out, you remember that Allah is watching you every second. At every moment, you should have that feeling and acceptance that somebody is watching. Allah is Khabir and Basir – He knows everything. He is aware of every single thing in the Universe. And the Mashaa’ikh do their own Muraqabah first to heighten their own awareness. It happens sometimes that a Sheikh says to a student ‘You were doing such and such last night – were you not ashamed?’ Allah ta’ala gives Kashf, insight. So if the Sheikh knows this, imagine Allah’s Glory and Power! Tell me! So when you do Muraqabah, you should have a clear Niyyah: ‘Oh Allah, I want to reform myself and improve myself, and that is why I am doing Muraqabah.’ There should be no other intention. And after sitting with the right Niyyah, focus fully, one hundred percent, and then see the enjoyment you attain.
So, number one, make your Niyyah for sitting in Muraqabah pure and sincere; and secondly, you should totally focus on Allah subhana wa ta'ala in the manner your Sheikh has prescribed and explained to you. A person should sit on the basis of these two things, thinking ‘I have come to the Court of Allah, and I am a Faqir, a beggar. Oh Allah, I am begging to You, pleading to You.’ Focus totally on the heart and on the Faidh and blessings that you want to attain, on the Mercies that you want to receive. Who will explain this to you? Your teacher will explain how this Faidh comes from this Maqam, and how that Faidh comes with these blessings, and so on. There are different Lata’if and different lessons – Latifah Qalb, Latifah Ruh, Latifah Sirr, Latifah Khafi, Latifah Akhfa, Latifah Nafs. And beyond this there are other Muraqabaat that we do that you need to understand. And as the teacher unfolds these to you, you will request Allah to give you Faidh and blessings in Muraqabah, SubhanAllah.
So, alhamdulillah, Allah has stated this so that if you are lacking in this awareness, and this emotion has disappeared, then Allah ta’ala says {أَعۡلَمُ مَا تُبۡدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡتُمُونَ}. We need to strengthen this lesson of this verse, which has been given to us via the angels, who themselves said ‘Oh Allah, You are the One who knows everything’ – {إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ}. ‘You have grabbed the thief in our heart, and we accept that You are ‘Alim and Hakim. We completely accept every one of Your decisions.’ And this is why we should reform ourselves internally, so that this quality becomes stronger and more intense; and when we acquire Yaqeen that Allah ta’ala is always watching us, in every second, then our sins will disappear and be removed from our lives inshaAllah. How can a person commit sins? How can I look at some woman if I know that Allah is watching me? Could a person do that if he had that feeling? Could I imagine stealing if I knew that Allah ta’ala was watching me? The child refused to put water in the milk, saying ‘Mother, how can I add water to the milk, because Allah is watching me?’ She had Yaqeen and strong belief, and was pure inside, SubhanAllah, with no room for fake actions.
Allah ta’ala has given us life, and Hadhrat Adam alayhi salam was given the Deen which gives us chances time and time again. We have the full capability, but this has been covered by soil and dust. We need to remove that veil by means of the Dhikr of Allah. When we do more Dhikr of Allah, the dust will be removed and the mirrors will start to become clean and shiny. First the heart will become shiny, and then the Ruh, and then the Sirr, and then the Khafi and then the Akhfa. They will shine and sparkle, and then we will always feel that Allah is watching us and will avoid doing wrong. But if we continue to sin and commit theft or even so-called small sins, then we should be clear that we do not have the Yaqeen that Allah ta’ala is watching us, and we should know that we are very far behind indeed, because the realization of sin has evaporated from within us. Can there be a bigger thief than the person who doesn’t recognize this? The Qur’an is telling us directly that we are wrong.
May Allah ta’ala give us all the Tawfeeq to practice upon this. Ameen
وأخر دعوانا أن الحمد لله رب العالمين
{قَالَ يَـٰٓـَٔادَمُ أَنۢبِئۡهُم بِأَسۡمَآٮِٕہِمۡۖ فَلَمَّآ أَنۢبَأَهُم بِأَسۡمَآٮِٕہِمۡ قَالَ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ إِنِّىٓ أَعۡلَمُ غَيۡبَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَأَعۡلَمُ مَا تُبۡدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡتُمُونَ}
Surah al-Baqarah v33
In this verse, Allah ta’ala introduces the human being to the angels prior to sending him to the earth. Now when Rabb-ul-Alameen does an introduction, what an introduction that will be – tell me! What a spectacle it will be. Allah gave human beings such capacity and capabilities that even the angels were envious. Up until that time, they had been the greatest form of creation, and they said ‘Ya Allah, we are made of Noor, of light, and they are made of clay, of soil.’ But when they saw the status of the human being, his ‘Irfan, his Ma’arifah, his knowledge of Allah and nearness to Allah, they said ‘SubhanAllah.’ And the angels then accepted the rank and capability of the human being.
So who are these human beings? They are us! Which other human beings could we be talking about? We are the offspring of Hadhrat Adam alayhi salam, aren’t we? So in other words, the capability that Hadhrat Adam alayhi salam had, all of the children of Hadhrat Adam alayhi salam also have. The angels were shown what achievements we could attain, what we were capable of doing. We have very great qualities – ‘Ilm-e-Ma’arifah, ‘Ilm-e-‘Irfan, the closeness to Allah. Allah describes us in the Qur’an as {أَحۡسَنِ تَقۡوِيمٍ۬}. Look at where Allah ta’ala places human beings among His Creation. He gives great wealth to human beings – in other words, to us.
Every human being is capable of reaching glorious heights - the knowledge of Allah’s nearness, Allah’s ‘Irfan, Allah’s Ma’arifah, SubhanAllah. Yet on the Day of Judgement, human beings will be like tiny little ants, crawling like spiders who are crushed under foot. There will be fire on all four sides, and people will be dragged into the imprisonment of Hell. This is the description in a Riwayah related in Tirmidhi. Why will this be the fate of those who have such qualities, who Allah has given such a high status? Because we have crushed those capabilities and gone towards wrong, and this is the punishment for this. Such people had Kibr, they had pride, and that is why they will be crushed like ants. Kibr was inside them. Imagine all the glorious ranks that Allah ta’ala has given us, of which the angels are envious such that they accept us as their Ustaadh, and yet that same human being ends up in that dismal situation on the Day of Judgement. This is one of the worst punishments of Qiyamah, for those people who are immodest, who are criminals, sinners, liars, fraudsters, committing Haram, consuming Haram, disobeying and rejecting the ‘Ibadah of Allah, not worshipping Allah.
Due to this, many people will suffer the opposite fate to what should occur. The angels are saying ‘We are in the heavens, and yet we cannot attain the levels of Qurb, of nearness, that a man who sits on the earth can attain.’ A person who attains Allah’s Ma’arifah and nearness, who has a great connection with Allah, SubhanAllah, he can enter into the Court of Allah in a second! This is how much Allah has elevated human beings and given them opportunities. He has given them ‘Ilm, ‘Ilm-e-Ma’arifah, the knowledge of Allah’s nearness, and he learns and progresses when he controls his Nafs with ‘Ilm-e-Dhahir and purifies it with ‘Ilm-e-Baatin. So imagine the heights to which he can reach, and yet that same Insan can waste his time with immodest actions and running after his passions and desires and disobeying Allah. Why is there this discrepancy today? Why do we have this massive discrepancy?
Allah ta’ala said {قَالَ يَـٰٓـَٔادَمُ أَنۢبِئۡهُم بِأَسۡمَآٮِٕہِمۡ} – ‘Demonstrate and explain to the angels the ‘Ilm that I have given to you.’ {فَلَمَّآ أَنۢبَأَهُم بِأَسۡمَآٮِٕہِمۡ} – Adam alayhi salam then taught and showed the angels according to Allah’s Hukm, and they were surprised and impressed, alhamdulillah. So why is it that human beings drop to such low levels in comparison to the opportunities that they have been given? We need to think about this in the light of the guidance of the Qur’an. That is why we are reading the Qur’an – so that we can improve ourselves and rectify ourselves. We have the capability to reach great heights. Allah ta’ala has given us power and knowledge, so how sad if tomorrow, on the Day of Judgement, we are swamped by severe conditions and difficulties. Allah ta’ala has given us the Qur’an so that the Deen of the human being can be refreshed, and to tell him what he should and should not be doing so that he can become a person of understanding and of good deeds.
Let us look at our condition today. Whoever is listening to the Qur’an right now, think for a moment and ask yourself ‘What will happen to me tomorrow when I go?’ Why are we lost? Why are we devoid of the great status that Allah ta’ala has given to us? Both women and men, all have that capability within us; all the qualities and abilities are present. We have no need for anything else, so why is there such a big difference? The angels explained, and Allah ta’ala has mentioned this Himself in the Qur’an and has guided us on this point, Allahu Akbar. Allah ta’ala gave ‘Ilm, and the angels accepted. {قَالُواْ سُبۡحَـٰنَكَ لَا عِلۡمَ لَنَآ إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمۡتَنَآ} SubhanAllah. They said ‘We didn’t know this. We don’t know anything apart from what you have taught us.’ So then, the question arises: ‘Why did you say such a thing? Why did you think -{نَحۡنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمۡدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ}- and mention that you hymn the praises of Allah and remember Him? Why did you say this? What sort of query was this?’ This statement of theirs is explained at the end of the verse when they say to Allah ta’ala {إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ}. Previously, they had said to Allah ‘He may spread Fasaad, whereas we hymn Your praises and remember You.’ SubhanAllah.
So when they understood, they immediately said {سُبۡحَـٰنَكَ لَا عِلۡمَ لَنَآ إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمۡتَنَآۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ} – SubhanAllah. ‘Allah, You alone are The Knower, The Wise.’ The point is highlighted by these two qualities that the angels mentioned. They said {لَا عِلۡمَ لَنَآ} – ‘Be glorified, Oh Allah! You know everything – we have no knowledge save that which You have taught us. You have caught the thief in our hearts. You know everything that is hidden; nothing can hide from You.’ The angels made a vital statement here - {إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ}. They could have said something else, but this specific statement, that ‘Oh Allah, You have caught the thief in our hearts. You are the Khaliq and the Malik. Because You are ‘Alim, nothing is hidden from You, nothing in the Universe. You are aware of everything and have realized this as well. You are Hakim. We said that we remember You, Oh Allah, when we said {مَن يُفۡسِدُ فِيہَا وَيَسۡفِكُ ٱلدِّمَآءَ وَنَحۡنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمۡدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ}. How did we say this! {إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ} – The reality is that You know everything, and we don’t know. We made that query based on our understanding, whereas we should know that every decision of Yours is based on Your Hikmah. We did not fully understand this.’ So the weakness of their point was revealed and accepted, which was that they thought that they alone were the ones who remember Allah and that human beings would spread Fasaad. ‘But You are Alim and Hakim, and we lost out when we queried, whereas in reality, what You ordained was correct.’ Then Allah subhana wa ta'ala said {قَالَ يَـٰٓـَٔادَمُ أَنۢبِئۡهُم بِأَسۡمَآٮِٕہِمۡۖ فَلَمَّآ أَنۢبَأَهُم بِأَسۡمَآٮِٕہِمۡ} – ‘Adam, tell them the names; tell them the Deen’; and then the ‘Ilm was explained to the angels.
And then, Allahu Akbar, Allah says: {قَالَ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ إِنِّىٓ أَعۡلَمُ غَيۡبَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَأَعۡلَمُ مَا تُبۡدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡتُمُونَ} – ‘Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of the heavens and the earth, and that I know that which you disclose and that which you hide?’ This statement was not just for the Malaa’ika actually; Bani Adam also comes into this. Allah is saying ‘Listen – they were angels in the heavens, made of Noor, and what they said was according to My Wisdom. But you are going into the world now.’ SubhnaAllah – Allah is explaining that this applies to us as well. {قَالَ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ إِنِّىٓ أَعۡلَمُ غَيۡبَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَأَعۡلَمُ مَا تُبۡدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡتُمُونَ} When Allah said to Adam alayhi salam {قَالَ يَـٰٓـَٔادَمُ أَنۢبِئۡهُم بِأَسۡمَآٮِٕہِمۡ}, Adam alayhi salam told the angels, but then Allah ta’ala addresses them both. ‘These the angels made of Noor queried what I had created and sent to the earth due to a little lack of understanding regarding {إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ}.
But now Allah ta’ala is addressing both, and the message to Bani Adam is ‘You will live here in the world, so don’t confuse your understanding of this point; don’t fail in this regard. You are in the world, oh human being, and your children will be in the world, and mischief, evil and shaytan and Nafs will be against you, because I have made it a place of test and challenge so that I can elevate your status through these challenges of the Dunya. I have made the world this way through My choice; this is how I want it.’ And Allah ta’ala left us free for our lifetimes, and then we have to return to Him – and this process is continuing. So Allah is saying ‘When you go to the world, oh mankind, if you are careful of this same point you will never fail. The attractions of the world will come upon you and Nafs and base desires will run after you. And the first thing that Nafs and shaytan will try to make you do in the world relates to this {إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ}. They will try to remove that recognition that Allah ta’ala knows, and that Allah ta’ala’s decisions are based on His Wisdom. Shaytan and Nafs will make you cover up this point. The angels queried, and if they faltered, can you not drop? You need to look after this point in the Dunya.’
Listen brothers and all those who are listening: we have to be very conscious of this point. If there is any lack of awareness that Allah is All-Knowing and All-Wise, and that His qualities are never ending, then darkness increases the more this awareness reduces in our hearts. And when this darkness makes that awareness diminish and disappear, that is when sins come and we incline towards disobedience - this is what Allah is saying here. Disobedience, Shirk, immodest actions, Kibr, pride – the root cause of every sin is what? That the recognition that Allah ta’ala is Wise and that He knows has diminished and disappeared. And a person commits sin and does Kibr and he lies and commits fraud due to this. Whenever he does any act of disobedience, he does so at that time when he has lost that recognition, when his heart is devoid of the feeling and acceptance that Allah knows, and that all of Allah’s decisions are based on His Wisdom. This shaytan’s trick and mode of attack in taking this understanding away from a person’s heart.
Let me give you an example from the world to explain this. When does a thief like to steal? He does so when everyone is sleeping, or when no one is looking at him. That is when he steals. A shop lifter or a pick pocket commits his crime when he is certain that nobody is watching him. SubhanAllah. Otherwise he would never steal. If he sees that cameras are on him, he won’t steal because he will have Yaqeen that the camera will record his crime. He will only steal when he is sure that he will not be observed. A human being only does wrong actions when he is sure that nobody is watching him. He will only do impure actions when he thinks this and feels this, because he is afraid of being caught, of being seen doing wrong. Do you see what I am saying? The human being only does wrong actions at a time when he feels that no one is looking at him. If he thinks that no one will catch him, then he steals. In the same way, a human being always breaks Allah’s law and breaks the principles set down by Allah when he feels strongly in his heart and is sure that Allah is not watching. He believes that Allah is the one who punishes, but he thinks that Allah is not watching. When we get to this point, when we feel that we are not being observed, that is when a person will take somebody’s money or wealth or their life. That is why people take life or beat each other, and why a person can cause thousands to die within seconds, because they do not think that they will be brought to account, and that there are no checks and balances. Would anyone do this if they knew the reality of the punishment? So the Qur’an says - Allah says - ‘I am here; I am present! I am always with you, closer to you than your jugular vein.’ What does this mean? That Allah is aware of everything that we are thinking and doing. This is the connection between the servant and Allah – remember this.
So shaytan and Nafs break this connection. They put a veil over this connection, and when the veil comes over this connection, a human being goes very far from the right path. He thinks ‘I am free. I can murder someone or take somebody’s money, or usurp his property or oppress people, turf someone out of his home or swear at somebody.’ This can happen even if a person has got Qur’an in his hand and knowledge of Hadith, remember this. Memorizing the Qur’an or holding it or putting it on your head or memorizing Hadith - these do not confer Taqwa. They do not give this recognition. You do have that knowledge, yes, but as the angels said {إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ} - ‘Oh Allah! We do everything, we hymn Your praises, we glorify You and are Dhakir and Shakir. We make this statement because we know that You are All-Knowing and Wise.’ So Allah ta’ala addressed both; both were stood in front of Him, but really, Allah ta’ala was addressing us, saying ‘You will also fall into this trap. You have got a high Maqam, and My connection with you is very strong. I am so close to you – I am closer to you than your jugular vein, oh human being.’
We do Sujood, but then we make idols out of mud and prostrate to that! We don’t accept Allah as Rabb, but instead take an idol as Rabb. Don’t we? Openly, we lie and disobey Allah. We oppress people -why? Because we don’t feel that Allah is watching us; we don’t recognize this. Allah says ‘This will be the reason that you disobey and do wrong actions in the world. This feeling that Allah is watching, and that Allah is All-Knowing and All-Wise will have disappeared.’ Allahu Akbar.
Allah ta’ala goes further: {قَالَ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ إِنِّىٓ أَعۡلَمُ غَيۡبَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَأَعۡلَمُ مَا تُبۡدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡتُمُونَ} – Allah says ‘I know everything. I know every piece of earth - no particle of earth is hidden behind another for Me. No darkness can conceal things from Me, no depths of the oceans can hide things from Me. The peaks and the caves of the mountains are not places to hide from Me. The layers upon layers of darkness in the darkest night do not conceal anything from Me. I can hear the footsteps of the smallest black ant walking on a black rock on a black mountain. And I am Hakim also! Even when a leaf drops from a tree, it does so based on My Wisdom and Hikmah.’ This is for a leaf falling from a branch, so what about when we leave the decisions and instructions of Allah due to our lack of awareness? We start feeling upset and depressed and then we leave Allah’s laws, and then we blatantly talk nonsense about Allah, or backbite. Tell me – would you swear at someone’s face? It doesn’t matter how much you backbite and talk behind someone’s back, saying ‘Oh, he’s this, he’s that’, but when you are in front of him, you are silent. So if we knew Allah was with us and that He is watching, would we not feel ashamed? Do we feel ashamed about Allah when we do wrong? Allah is with us all the time! In other words, if you wouldn’t swear or speak nonsense in front of a person’s face, and if you remain silent when you are in his presence, then what about Allah, who is with us at all times and is closer to us than our jugular veins?
So what is clear is that this feeling has gone from within us. Tell me- is there a bigger Shirk than this? Is there? If a person is immersed in this ignorance, he does whatever he wants. That is why Allah ta’ala has made us realize this, and why He addressed both human beings and angels in this verse. {قَالَ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ إِنِّىٓ أَعۡلَمُ غَيۡبَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَأَعۡلَمُ مَا تُبۡدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡتُمُونَ} Allah ta’ala says ‘Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of the heavens and the earth, and I know that which you disclose and that which you hide.’ Allah is telling us that He is aware of everything. Allah knows what a tiny ant buried under layers of earth needs to be sustained. Allah says ‘I know what everything in this world needs. I am the Malik, the Owner, of everything; I am the Khaliq, the Creator, and the Sustainer. I have sent you to this world, and I am giving you this lesson via the angels, oh Ibn Adam. Go to the earth and don’t forget this belief that Allah is watching you. Don’t let this feeling and recognition disappear that Allah ta’ala knows everything, and all decisions are based upon His Hikmah, His Wisdom.’
So if we know that Allah ta’ala is watching, the question doesn’t arise that human beings would disobey or commit sin. Otherwise, Allah ta’ala says, ‘There is a punishment, for I will be upset with you.’ A human being should never criticize or complain about Allah ta’ala’s decision. How can a person challenge that? You know when you do Mashwarah, take advice, from somebody senior who has got a bit more intellect or wisdom, even if he gives the wrong advice, we accept it because we think that the person has got wisdom. Is there anyone greater than Allah? All decisions are made by Allah, so why should we feel down or upset about the decisions of Allah? Why? The reason is that the recognition of these two qualities of Allah has gone from us; we have come into this temporary material world, and shaytan and Nafs has overwhelmed us. This is our sickness, and this is what we realize from this verse.
I am speaking here from the angle of Tasawwuf, not of Fiqh. That is not my topic. I told you from the first day that we aim to rectify ourselves from the Qur’an, to do Islah, to find the cure. And the Qur’an gives the cure, and what is that? ‘Ilm-e-Ma’arifah, ‘Ilm-e-Ludni, that ‘Irfan which was given to Adam alayhi salam and which he taught to the angels. SubhanAllah. If we leave this path, this understanding, then forget it, my brothers. We will certainly live a life worse than the animals. Forget the apparent reality. It doesn’t matter how modern you are, or progressive or advanced, the question doesn’t arise that you will attain success. There are no two opinions in this matter, no contrary points of view. When Allah’s Nabi sallallahu alayhi wasallam was asked about this by the noble Companions radhiAllahu anhum, he said ‘When you walk in water, will your feet not become wet?’ The Companions replied ‘Ya Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam, of course they will become wet.’ Then the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said ‘Allah ta’ala has made this world full of attractions, so when you walk through it and live in it, will some of that dirt not accumulate on you? It will! But Allah ta’ala has given you a method to be saved, and this is your test, so grab hold of the method, of the solution.’
So today, why has Fitnah spread in society? Because we have left the solution that Allah ta’ala has given to us. Alhamdulillah, we have a Jama’ah, and with the Fadhl of Allah everyone is listening. We have taken hold of the solution. Allah ta’ala has put this into our brains, into our minds. I gave you Da’wah and you accepted, alhamdulillah, and we have realized that we are living in an impure environment where dirt will accumulate, where lying will affect us, where love of the world will affect us, even taking the rights of another person will affect us. But, because we have started applying the solution, we have the understanding that Allah ta’ala is watching us. Difficulties and problems will come, but Allah ta’ala has started the process; Allah ta’ala is Hakim. Sabr will come, and we will develop patience in the decisions of Allah. And when we sin, we will also go towards Tawbah, thinking ‘Oh, I have lost out – I have committed a big sin. I will do Tawbah today - I will go to Dhikr in the morning. I am ashamed at having committed this big sin – I should never have done it. I consumed somebody’s wealth wrongfully.’ Your feelings will be awakened, and you will embrace the understanding that was given to Hadhrat Adam alayhi salam. Allah ta’ala says ‘Take and adopt this ‘Ilm and you will progress. So, MashaAllah, if a person clearly and steadfastly and robustly goes towards the solution that has been explained to him, then Allah ta’ala says his rank will increase. But this depends on how serious the brethren and people who are following this route really are.
So what is the point that the Qur’an is telling us? That the human being is disobedient to Allah and starts to commit sins and do wrong when the recognition that Allah is watching him disappears, when he forgets that Allah is seeing what he is doing and that Allah has ordered the angels to record all of his deeds. In addition, we are being told not to criticize Allah’s decisions, and if he does, this shows that he does not believe in Allah’s Hikmah, and does not believe that all decisions are based on Allah’s Wisdom.
Now, how do we increase the strength of this recognition and belief that we need? Say SubhanAllah! How do we increase this quality and revive these two feelings within? Take the immune system – why does a person get a stomach-ache? The doctor may say that it is due to the immune system having broken down – this is often why a person catches an illness quickly. Many doctors are recommending that the solution to the Coronavirus is protecting and strengthening the immune system. So we need to strengthen the spiritual immune system, the Ruhani immune system, so that we automatically think ‘Oh, I shouldn’t do this action.’ This is the rank that we need to get to, that feeling that Allah is with us everywhere. When your gaze is drawn towards a woman, you will think ‘La Hawla wa Quwwata illa bi’llah – Allah is watching me and I am looking at this woman!’ That is how you will feel when this happens.
I will share an event of Hadhrat Umar radhiAllahu anh with you to demonstrate strong belief that Allah is ‘Alim and Hakim. He was once on a journey in a barren land, and he came upon a shepherd with his goats, an illiterate nomad. Hadhrat Umar radhiAllahu anh was the Khalifah at that time, the Amir ul-Mu’mineen, but the shepherd did not know this because there was no pomp or grandeur surrounding the journey of the Khalifah, who was travelling with only the basic requirements. So Hadhrat Umar radhiAllahu anh thought ‘Let me go and test this shepherd’ – he was the Khalifah and wanted to gauge the state of his nation. So he went up to the shepherd and said ‘Sell me one of your sheep.’ The shepherd replied ‘No, I cannot do so because they are not my sheep. They belong to someone else and I am just herding them.’ Hadhrat Umar radhiAllahu anh said ‘Ok, but we will give you a very good price.’ ‘No’, the man replied, ‘I cannot possibly sell one to you.’ Where was the owner at that time? Nowhere to be seen – the flock was entirely in his control. Hadhrat Umar radhiAllahu anh then tested him further and said ‘Look, we want a goat to sacrifice and eat, so take the money, and you can say it was taken by a wolf - no one will know. Your boss will never find out.’ But SubhanAllah, the shepherd said ‘You look like someone with understanding. My malik may not be here, but Malik-ul-Mulk is here! He is watching, isn’t he? The owner of the goats is not here, but the owner of the whole Universe is here watching me. Where do you think Allah is?’ Hadhrat Umar radhiAllahu anh fell to the ground and said ‘As long as this Ummah contains people like this who know that Allah ta’ala is watching, and whose feelings and emotions attest to the fact that Allah is watching, then Fasaad cannot come into this Ummah.’
Here is another fantastic event relating to Hadhrat Umar radhiAllahu anh. It was his habit to go out at night to monitor what was happening, and once he happened to overhear a discussion taking place within a family whose income came from selling milk. This is an issue that still arises today. In Pakistan, you hear a seller calling ‘Pure milk for sale’, but very often water is added to increase the volume and make extra profit. Why would a person commit such a fraud? Because he thinks ‘Allah is not watching us.’ This is the feeling that drives people to behave like this. So Hadhrat Umar radhiAllahu anh passed by the house, and he heard the mother say to her daughter ‘Come on, mix some water into the milk so that we have more to sell.’ But the daughter replied ‘Mother, I can’t add water to the milk. That’s fraud, it is wrong.’ Hadhrat Umar radhiAllahu anh was listening all the while. The mother said ‘What is the problem, go on, add water. It will be fine, just do it.’ But her daughter repeated ‘No mother, it is wrong, we can’t.’ So the mother said ‘Come on, it is not as if Umar is watching. Add some water!’ Statements such as this are commonly made by us at work ‘No one will know, let’s take a break from the work we are supposed to be doing.’ But the Malik is watching, my brothers. If you are skiving at work and cheating your employer, it is not just the employer you are offending against, but rather you are criminal in the sight of Allah! If we had this recognition, how great our society would be - our countries would progress to high levels. But today, the whole nation of Islam has lost the Yaqeen that Allah is watching us. I swear by Allah, if we had just a little bit of Yaqeen that Allah is watching us, our situation would be so different. Through this whole event, Allah is telling us this.
After the event, the angels said one thing: {قَالُواْ سُبۡحَـٰنَكَ لَا عِلۡمَ لَنَآ إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمۡتَنَآ} – ‘Oh Allah, we accept! We accept everything. We have made a mistake; we have erred. We forgot that You are All-Knowing, All-Wise. Your decision was totally correct in elevating him and making our Dhikr lower than Ibn Adam.’ I swear by Allah, our situation would transform if we could create that awareness, but we are dissipated today. We are fractured and dissipated, and there is no other cure. When someone offers a cure today, people make fun of him. This is a unique Jama’ah in the world, these Sufi brothers who are sat with us. If you go to the Masjid, they will look different. Their clothes and their appearance make them look like outsiders, and people say ‘Oh this is Farooqui Sahib’s Jama’ah.’ They have made a Jama’ah of my name! Oh servants of Allah, these are people who want to develop that feeling within that Allah is always watching. They want the fear of Allah to come into them, so that all of their actions are carried out with fear and recognition of Allah in their hearts. If through the Dhikr that you do, you are not improving and acting properly and learning, then you are losing out. That is why we are reading the Qur’an.
From today, we need to analyze ourselves regularly, asking ‘Has this feeling and emotion developed within me?’ If today we are still lying and committing fraud and forbidden actions, then what we are doing is not giving us any benefit at all. How can we succeed if this is the case? Allah ta’ala is giving a great solution here, which is to develop this feeling and emotion within you that you need, wherever you go in the world, in order to realize that Allah is present; He is {عَـٰلِمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ}, watching you. That woman said to her daughter ‘Add water to the milk. Is Umar watching?’ But the girl replied ‘Umar is not watching, but Umar’s Rabb is watching!’ Allahu Akbar, he sat down and held his head in his hands! SubhanAllah, he waited until the morning and then said ‘This is a golden opportunity. Where are those poor milk sellers?’ He said to his wife ‘We are going to get a marriage partner for our son.’ And he called to his son, saying ‘Get up, I’m taking you to meet your bride.’ So his son said ‘Where are we going? Who are you going to marry me to, oh father?’ His father said ‘Come on, get up quickly – a golden opportunity has arisen. Let’s go.’ So they knocked on the door of the milk sellers’ house, who saw that it was Hadhrat Umar radhiAllahu anh – everyone knew who he was, obviously - and they were worried that somehow it was some check to do with adding water to milk.
This happens when the inspector comes; you see the milk sellers running here and there, panicking that they will be found out for putting water in their milk. If they didn’t put water in the first place, they would have nothing to worry about, but we forget that Allah is ‘Alim and Hakim. We don’t realize that Allah is watching us, which is the certain reality. So when people sell counterfeit items – are they Muslims, those who do this? If a person doesn’t have Yaqeen that Allah is watching, then how can he be a Muslim? How can you sell counterfeit items then? Will the wealth that you earn from selling fake goods make you rich? Astaghfirullah. Are you earning wealth? No, you are earning the fire of hell, and your children will consume cannabis and alcohol, and your women will leave home and run around without Deen. Remember what I am telling you. When Allah ta’ala’s punishment comes, nothing can stop it. Look at Coronavirus. Allah ta’ala grabs us and holds us, but He gives chance after chance after chance for people to understand.
You are pious people, but Allah ta’ala explaining to me with this Qur’an that we are reading. You may not need to be told because you are pious people, but Allah ta’ala is telling me how to become pious. If I don’t understand this message today, and if I continue to defraud and lie and deceive and sell counterfeit goods, thinking I will benefit from this, and if I stock alcohol in my shop, will I become wealthy? Can I become wealthy through doing wrong actions? Do I think that the household will be better off, and that I will save more money, living in luxury while consuming Haram? Allah ta’ala gives us chances – He doesn’t just grab suddenly. We think that we are not being punished so we are ok, and thus become even more big-headed. Allahu Akbar, when Allah brings the real punishment, it is very severe indeed. Why don’t we understand this in advance? We should understand when we are told, so from today, do Tawbah and repent, and have so much Yaqeen that Allah ta’ala is listening to and watching all of us right now, and knows whatever you have heard. How can I give you the wrong message when I know that Allah ta’ala is watching me? He sees, He hears – how can I say what is wrong? Do you understand what I am saying?
So Hadhrat Umar knocked on the door, and they said ‘Why have you come?’ He replied ‘I have come to request something from you.’ The mother became afraid, and said ‘What is your request?’ Hadhrat Umar radhiAllahu anh said ‘I wish to make your daughter my daughter-in-law. I want her to come into the family of al-Farooq.’ And SubhanAllah, through the descendants of that woman, Hadhrat Umar bin Abdul-Aziz came into the world, who became known as Hadhrat Umar ath-Thani. From that daughter-in-law came Hadhrat Umar bin Abdul-Aziz, who was a truly great leader in a time when Fitnah had become commonplace. He was such a just Amir that even the animals ceased to oppress each other. In an event recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari, someone called out in a remote jungle ‘Umar bin Abdul-Aziz has passed away! Umar bin Abdul-Aziz has passed away!’ A person nearby who heard him said ‘How can you say this? How do you know that he has passed away?’ He said ‘Because one of my sheep was killed and eaten by a wolf today, and that wolf would not have dared to do this if Umar bin Abdul-Aziz were alive.’ He was a thousand miles away, but he knew the effect of the passing of that pious leader, who was so full of Taqwa and awareness that Allah watches over everything that even the animals in his kingdom were careful not to oppress his subjects. Nowadays, we are afraid of mice! They took note of the date and time, and found out later that this had occurred at the exact time that Hadhrat Umar bin Abdul-Aziz had passed away, Allahu Akbar. As soon as he left this world, Fasaad, disorder and mischief began to spread, and shaytan’s work began to prosper and intensify. So this is what we are lacking.
Allah ta’ala tells us to develop this, and this is the point that we need to understand. This is why we have Sulook, the journey of Tasawwuf, the journey to Allah. This is called Sufism today, and ‘Ilm-e-‘Irfan or ‘Ilm-e-Ma’arifah, the knowledge of Allah. There are two forms of knowledge: ‘Ilm-e-Dhahir and ‘Ilm-e-Baatin, visible knowledge and hidden knowledge, which is the inner knowledge of the Nafs, or the internal self. Both these Uloom together form the Shari’ah. Shari'ah and Sunnah come from both types of knowledge. There are two parts to the definition of Shari'ah and Sunnah; one is ‘Ilm-e-Dhahir and the other is ‘Ilm-e-Baatin. When you put them both together, you get Shari'ah and Sunnah. When we say ‘Follow the Shari’ah’, this means that we must follow the principles and laws of ‘Ilm-e-Dhahir via the strength that we gain from ‘Ilm-e-Baatin. If we know something is Halal or Haram, we must accept it and act accordingly. How do we acquire the strength to act on it? Via ‘Ilm-e-Baatin, the knowledge of the soul, of the inner self. Do you understand what I am saying?
Sulook is another name for ‘Ilm-e-Baatin. Within Sulook, the journey to Allah, the most important thing the traveler needs to do is intensify and strengthen that feeling that Allah is watching and is present everywhere, and that every decision of Allah’s is totally fine for us and is based on His Wisdom. So to get to this condition, a person has to embark on the path of Tasawwuf and go to a Kamil Sheikh, a complete Sheikh. Remember, there is a difference between pure milk and milk that has been contaminated or mixed with water – this is the day and age of Fitnah and Fasaad. If you are listening to what I am saying, you are either thinking that you want to do Islah and improve, or else these words are going in one ear and coming out of the other. That is your choice. But Allah ta’ala is telling you the knowledge and delivering the message to you. Whether an incapable person like me takes you to the heights or some lofty personality becomes your teacher and does so, the important thing is to pay attention to the message, not the human being. The message is coming to you. And how has it come? From very far away, in a small room, there was a Dervaish who sat in the darkness and delivered this message, SubhanAllah. How amazing is the arrangement of Allah! And now people are listening in their cars, or sitting at home, both men and women; and those who are not listening have lost out.
We need to understand that we must do Amal on this, and we must realize that we do sins when the feeling and emotion that Allah is watching and that all decisions are based upon His Wisdom has evaporated and disappeared. We need to elevate and strengthen this understanding, and to do so we have to go to the Wali of Allah, the Friend of Allah. And what does the Wali of Allah, the Sheikh do? He prescribes for you the method of various forms of Dhikr, and the biggest thing in our Naqshbandi order is Muraqabah. This is such a valuable and excellent action – Muraqabah is the best action of all. Many people say ‘I can’t do Muraqabah – it is too hard.’ This is because shaytan is controlling your hearts. Otherwise a person can do Muraqabah for hours. When a person does silent Dhikr, he first focusses on his heart from his mind, from his brain, and then the heart’s focus is directed and converted towards Allah. In other words, you flip the direction of the heart toward Allah ta’ala. How? In the manner that the Sheikh explains regarding each of the Asbaaq, each of the levels or lessons - like the heart, which is what we have to pay attention to initially. We have to reform the heart first. Total attention and focus on the heart must be acquired.
It is not me who has extracted these lessons; not me, nor Hadhrat Bahauddin Naqshband, nor Hadhrat Mujaddid Alf Thani. These lessons are the first, primary Ibadaat, from right at the very beginning. At the time that Nubuwwat was announced, the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam would do Muraqabah in the cave of Hira on Jabal-e-Noor. Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam would go to the cave of Hira with a few belongings – and you will have heard of this place or perhaps you have seen it yourselves, SubhanAllah. He would take a few belongings to the cave of Hira and stay there with some provisions for several days, and there was no Salah, no specific prayer, but he would be a Muraqib. The Ka’abah was in front of him and he would be engaged in Muraqabah, SubhanAllah. The mountain is still there and the same cave is there. So from that time, the Sunnah of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam has been recorded.
We need to turn our hearts to Allah, to focus on Allah. And how do we do that? By following the Tariqa and the prescription of a Kamil Sheikh. Whoever has been given such lessons is very fortunate indeed. Anyone who wastes this has suffered a huge loss and should regret it severely. When a person does Muraqabah, he gets to Allah ta’ala’s nearness very quickly, and because he feels that Allah is watching, he leaves wrongful actions. SubhanAllah. And any decision in life that goes against him, of the sort which causes others to run around shrieking and complaining, he says ‘SubhanAllah, this is Allah’s decision and I am happy with that. Allah knows best.’ And he pays attention to Allah and asks from Allah and pleads to Allah. He increases his Ibaadat and says ‘Oh Allah, Your decision is the best. Give me courage and determination.’ And then Allah gives that person more reward, SubhanAllah. Such a a person submits to Allah and cries and makes this Dua, saying ‘Oh Allah, I am stuck in this difficulty. Please take me out of this trap and trick.’ This is Tasawwuf, which is the most important part of our life, and the most important part of Tasawwuf is Muraqabah.
I advise and request that you pay attention to whatever your Sheikh prescribes for you and tells you to do. And you have to pay attention and focus, because it is very important for you that when you do Muraqabah, you have the right intention. Make a solid intention that you are doing Muraqabah in order to develop that feeling and emotion inside so that when you go out, you remember that Allah is watching you every second. At every moment, you should have that feeling and acceptance that somebody is watching. Allah is Khabir and Basir – He knows everything. He is aware of every single thing in the Universe. And the Mashaa’ikh do their own Muraqabah first to heighten their own awareness. It happens sometimes that a Sheikh says to a student ‘You were doing such and such last night – were you not ashamed?’ Allah ta’ala gives Kashf, insight. So if the Sheikh knows this, imagine Allah’s Glory and Power! Tell me! So when you do Muraqabah, you should have a clear Niyyah: ‘Oh Allah, I want to reform myself and improve myself, and that is why I am doing Muraqabah.’ There should be no other intention. And after sitting with the right Niyyah, focus fully, one hundred percent, and then see the enjoyment you attain.
So, number one, make your Niyyah for sitting in Muraqabah pure and sincere; and secondly, you should totally focus on Allah subhana wa ta'ala in the manner your Sheikh has prescribed and explained to you. A person should sit on the basis of these two things, thinking ‘I have come to the Court of Allah, and I am a Faqir, a beggar. Oh Allah, I am begging to You, pleading to You.’ Focus totally on the heart and on the Faidh and blessings that you want to attain, on the Mercies that you want to receive. Who will explain this to you? Your teacher will explain how this Faidh comes from this Maqam, and how that Faidh comes with these blessings, and so on. There are different Lata’if and different lessons – Latifah Qalb, Latifah Ruh, Latifah Sirr, Latifah Khafi, Latifah Akhfa, Latifah Nafs. And beyond this there are other Muraqabaat that we do that you need to understand. And as the teacher unfolds these to you, you will request Allah to give you Faidh and blessings in Muraqabah, SubhanAllah.
So, alhamdulillah, Allah has stated this so that if you are lacking in this awareness, and this emotion has disappeared, then Allah ta’ala says {أَعۡلَمُ مَا تُبۡدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡتُمُونَ}. We need to strengthen this lesson of this verse, which has been given to us via the angels, who themselves said ‘Oh Allah, You are the One who knows everything’ – {إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ}. ‘You have grabbed the thief in our heart, and we accept that You are ‘Alim and Hakim. We completely accept every one of Your decisions.’ And this is why we should reform ourselves internally, so that this quality becomes stronger and more intense; and when we acquire Yaqeen that Allah ta’ala is always watching us, in every second, then our sins will disappear and be removed from our lives inshaAllah. How can a person commit sins? How can I look at some woman if I know that Allah is watching me? Could a person do that if he had that feeling? Could I imagine stealing if I knew that Allah ta’ala was watching me? The child refused to put water in the milk, saying ‘Mother, how can I add water to the milk, because Allah is watching me?’ She had Yaqeen and strong belief, and was pure inside, SubhanAllah, with no room for fake actions.
Allah ta’ala has given us life, and Hadhrat Adam alayhi salam was given the Deen which gives us chances time and time again. We have the full capability, but this has been covered by soil and dust. We need to remove that veil by means of the Dhikr of Allah. When we do more Dhikr of Allah, the dust will be removed and the mirrors will start to become clean and shiny. First the heart will become shiny, and then the Ruh, and then the Sirr, and then the Khafi and then the Akhfa. They will shine and sparkle, and then we will always feel that Allah is watching us and will avoid doing wrong. But if we continue to sin and commit theft or even so-called small sins, then we should be clear that we do not have the Yaqeen that Allah ta’ala is watching us, and we should know that we are very far behind indeed, because the realization of sin has evaporated from within us. Can there be a bigger thief than the person who doesn’t recognize this? The Qur’an is telling us directly that we are wrong.
May Allah ta’ala give us all the Tawfeeq to practice upon this. Ameen
وأخر دعوانا أن الحمد لله رب العالمين