Extract from Sheikh Nazim's discourse on 'Love is the Water of Life'
Everyone knows the story of Noah, peace be upon him. He is one of the five greatest prophets of God. He called on his people day and night for years, asking them to leave their evildoing, to repent and return to love of God and His worship and to abstain from wrong. His people rejected him repeatedly and scoffed at him. As much as he preached they rejected his teachings.
However he was patient and continued to preach to them. They never let up in their mockery of him. So it continued for years and years, and Noah was persistent and patient. He did not tire of calling his people to truth and goodness, and they in turn did not tire of scoffing at him. This continued for decades, a century, two centuries, and Noah was patient and persistent. Three centuries, four, five...
After nine centuries of non-stop preaching accompanied by endless mockery and rejection, Noah reached his limit. Finally he asked God to punish his people and to send a flood upon them and not leave a single one of them alive. As he was a prophet of God, God was obliged to answer his prayer. We know what came to pass.
Once some time after having been saved from the flood, the Lord addressed Noah saying, "O my servant, I am asking you to go and with your utmost care make for Me forty clay jugs." As he was an obedient servant and a great prophet, Noah immediately went about complying with this order. He gathered the finest clay he could find and spent days and nights laboring with love to create 40 beautiful clay jugs.
After so much effort, the Lord then addressed Noah again saying: "O my servant, now that you have made these forty jugs, go outside and take each one and throw it down upon the rocks." Noah, an obedient servant, had no choice but to obey. He took the jugs which he had spent so much effort in making, and one-by-one smashed them against the rocks.
Then the Lord addressed Noah, saying: "Oh Noah, you made forty clay jugs, and it was odious to you to break them. Do you think that it was a pleasure for Me to kill all of My servants, even though they were unbelievers?"
Then Noah began to cry and wail. So proverbial was his wailing that "Nuh" came to mean "wail" in Arabic.
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Extracts from Shaykh Nazim's Discourse
Our Grandsheikh described how a Derwish may be acceptable as a servant to Allah Almighty. “He must have one character from each of three animals,” he said.
”From the donkey, he must be able to carry burdens with patience and without objection. Unless he can do this he will be unsuccessful, because without patience one cannot carry the responsibilities of life.
From the dog, he must learn faithfulness to his master. If the master tells the dog to stay somewhere until he returns, that dog will stay, even until death. If the owner beats it and chases it away, the dog will still return, with its tail wagging, when its master calls.
Finally, when a man looks at a pig, he must know that his nafs is dirtier and filthier than a pig. The dirt of pigs is external, it comes from eating dirty things. But the nafs is dirty inside. Its dirt comes from fighting with its Lord. A perfect man must have such a character that he will accept whatever dirt is thrown on him, whether by words or by actions, knowing that his nafs is dirtier.”
These three characteristics give a man rest and satisfaction in his heart. Only in this way can he reach happiness in this life. These are the characteristics of Prophets and Saints...
”From the donkey, he must be able to carry burdens with patience and without objection. Unless he can do this he will be unsuccessful, because without patience one cannot carry the responsibilities of life.
From the dog, he must learn faithfulness to his master. If the master tells the dog to stay somewhere until he returns, that dog will stay, even until death. If the owner beats it and chases it away, the dog will still return, with its tail wagging, when its master calls.
Finally, when a man looks at a pig, he must know that his nafs is dirtier and filthier than a pig. The dirt of pigs is external, it comes from eating dirty things. But the nafs is dirty inside. Its dirt comes from fighting with its Lord. A perfect man must have such a character that he will accept whatever dirt is thrown on him, whether by words or by actions, knowing that his nafs is dirtier.”
These three characteristics give a man rest and satisfaction in his heart. Only in this way can he reach happiness in this life. These are the characteristics of Prophets and Saints...
Monday, May 16, 2005
The Training : Riyada
Bismillahi ir-Rahman nir Rahim
Gems from Imam Malik:
1) Say the truth : If don't know, say I don't know.
2) Do not eat too much.
3) Be the most silent one in a group.
These will make u train the ego, to ride it.
Gems from Imam Malik:
1) Say the truth : If don't know, say I don't know.
2) Do not eat too much.
3) Be the most silent one in a group.
These will make u train the ego, to ride it.
Saturday, May 07, 2005
The Jihad against the nafs
The Prophet (s) said: "The fighter against unbelief is he who fights against his ego in
obeying God"...
Sufyan al-Thawri said: "I never dealt with anything stronger against me than
my own ego; it was one time with me, and one time against me"...
Yahya ibn Mu`adh al-Razi
said: "Fight against your ego with the four swords of training: eat little, sleep little, speak
little, and be patient when people harm you... Then the ego will walk the paths of obedience,
like a fleeing horseman in the field of battle."
Personal comment:
eat little - ok
sleep little - not so ok
speak little - ok
be patient when people harm you - eeerrrrrr sure..
Verdict : A long way to go..
obeying God"...
Sufyan al-Thawri said: "I never dealt with anything stronger against me than
my own ego; it was one time with me, and one time against me"...
Yahya ibn Mu`adh al-Razi
said: "Fight against your ego with the four swords of training: eat little, sleep little, speak
little, and be patient when people harm you... Then the ego will walk the paths of obedience,
like a fleeing horseman in the field of battle."
Personal comment:
eat little - ok
sleep little - not so ok
speak little - ok
be patient when people harm you - eeerrrrrr sure..
Verdict : A long way to go..
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Have faith in our Lord..
In life, there is no guarantee among creations.
But those who have faith in their Lord and Creator,
Do not despair
For every closed door,
He will open ten more!
But those who have faith in their Lord and Creator,
Do not despair
For every closed door,
He will open ten more!
Saturday, April 30, 2005
Seeking higher Truths...
I was pondering over this one verse from the holy Quran (S34, Ayat 46) with the translation and commentary by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, that would be refreshing for some.
Say: "I do admonish you
On one point: that ye
Do stand up before Allah,-
(It may be) in pairs, (*1)
Or (it may be) singly,-
And reflect (within yourselves):
Your Companion is not
Possessed: he is no less
Than a Warner to you,
In face of a terribe
Chastisement".
--- Commentary by Yusuf Ali
(*1) : A crowd mentality is not the best for the perception of the final spiritual truths. For these, it is necessary that each soul should commune within itself with earnest sincerity as before Allah: if it requires a Teacher, let it seek out one, or it may be that it wants the strengthening of inner convictions that dawn on it, by support of a sympathiser or friend. But careful and heart-felt reflection is necessary to appraise the higher Truths.
Say: "I do admonish you
On one point: that ye
Do stand up before Allah,-
(It may be) in pairs, (*1)
Or (it may be) singly,-
And reflect (within yourselves):
Your Companion is not
Possessed: he is no less
Than a Warner to you,
In face of a terribe
Chastisement".
--- Commentary by Yusuf Ali
(*1) : A crowd mentality is not the best for the perception of the final spiritual truths. For these, it is necessary that each soul should commune within itself with earnest sincerity as before Allah: if it requires a Teacher, let it seek out one, or it may be that it wants the strengthening of inner convictions that dawn on it, by support of a sympathiser or friend. But careful and heart-felt reflection is necessary to appraise the higher Truths.
Monday, April 25, 2005
Choosing to Love
I lift this section from 'My Heart Speaks' Blog. Do visit that blog if you are hungry!
Choosing to Love
You don't choose whom you love.
He chooses them.
If you had that choice to choose;
then the road would be simple.
Whom he puts in your life, is part of your test:
to bear with them, to accept them and most of all to love them
despite all that they may agitate you with.
After all, they come from Him and they return to Him,
just like you did and will do.
"...And We have made some of you as a trial for others: will you have patience?
And your Lord is Ever All-Seer" (Surah al-Furqan:20)
Choosing to Love
You don't choose whom you love.
He chooses them.
If you had that choice to choose;
then the road would be simple.
Whom he puts in your life, is part of your test:
to bear with them, to accept them and most of all to love them
despite all that they may agitate you with.
After all, they come from Him and they return to Him,
just like you did and will do.
"...And We have made some of you as a trial for others: will you have patience?
And your Lord is Ever All-Seer" (Surah al-Furqan:20)
Good food for the soul
I am always hungry and I love to eat.
When I visits The heart speaks and The Light of Eminence & Sufism blogs, I get even hungrier.
When I visits The heart speaks and The Light of Eminence & Sufism blogs, I get even hungrier.
Saturday, April 23, 2005
Anger
When a seeker says :" Oh Nafs, from today on, I declare Jihad on you!"
Nafs will blow the trumpet of war and put on their battle gear.
Surely they will launch their attack with much fervor and tenacity,
that without the support of his Lord, he will surely be defeated.
One of the most powerful in the Nafs army is the Field Marshal Anger!
Be careful of him for if he has many tricks to overcome you.
Mash'Allah. May Allah save you.
If Anger overwhelms you, you are gone. Finished!
But a seeker has ample defensive tactics he can used if he remembers..
When we feel the presence of anger (no matter how small), ask ourselves this 1 second question - Is this anger for myself or for Allah?
If it is not for Allah, or if you are angry because someone just insulted your intelligence..
then remind yourselves of the countless sins you did and imagine how forgiving God is to you that He said in the holy Quran :
"Say: O Ibadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful" (Quran 39:53)
Then look at ourselves and be shameful coz if Allah, the Most High and Mighty can forgive, why cant we? Are we higher than God? So forgive and thank Allah who has reminded you and given you the power to control of the powerful field marshal of the nafs : Anger!
But remember that a seeker's jihad of his nafs is not to kill but to subdue! If you have control of Anger, you can effectively direct it to earn Allah's pleasure and love.
Consider this :
"Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good,
enjoining ‘al Ma’roof,’ the doing of what is right and forbidding ‘al Munkar,’
the doing of what is wrong.” Qur’an, 3:104.
and also consider this hadith :
It is reported by Abu Sa'eed Khudri (Radhiyallaho anho) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) said:
"Whoever sees a forbidden thing being done, he must prevent it by the use of his hand; and if he has no power for this action, then he should prevent it with his tongue; and if he cannot do this even, then he should at least consider it a vice in his heart, and this is a very low level of Iman."
All these are possible when we subdue anger ,with Allah's Love and Mercy, and direct it to earn our Lord's pleasure.
Shaikh Nazim had spoken on the subject "Anger" and here is the link to it :
http://www.uksufi.co.uk/Newcomers/swallow_your_anger.htm
Nafs will blow the trumpet of war and put on their battle gear.
Surely they will launch their attack with much fervor and tenacity,
that without the support of his Lord, he will surely be defeated.
One of the most powerful in the Nafs army is the Field Marshal Anger!
Be careful of him for if he has many tricks to overcome you.
Mash'Allah. May Allah save you.
If Anger overwhelms you, you are gone. Finished!
But a seeker has ample defensive tactics he can used if he remembers..
When we feel the presence of anger (no matter how small), ask ourselves this 1 second question - Is this anger for myself or for Allah?
If it is not for Allah, or if you are angry because someone just insulted your intelligence..
then remind yourselves of the countless sins you did and imagine how forgiving God is to you that He said in the holy Quran :
"Say: O Ibadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful" (Quran 39:53)
Then look at ourselves and be shameful coz if Allah, the Most High and Mighty can forgive, why cant we? Are we higher than God? So forgive and thank Allah who has reminded you and given you the power to control of the powerful field marshal of the nafs : Anger!
But remember that a seeker's jihad of his nafs is not to kill but to subdue! If you have control of Anger, you can effectively direct it to earn Allah's pleasure and love.
Consider this :
"Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good,
enjoining ‘al Ma’roof,’ the doing of what is right and forbidding ‘al Munkar,’
the doing of what is wrong.” Qur’an, 3:104.
and also consider this hadith :
It is reported by Abu Sa'eed Khudri (Radhiyallaho anho) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) said:
"Whoever sees a forbidden thing being done, he must prevent it by the use of his hand; and if he has no power for this action, then he should prevent it with his tongue; and if he cannot do this even, then he should at least consider it a vice in his heart, and this is a very low level of Iman."
All these are possible when we subdue anger ,with Allah's Love and Mercy, and direct it to earn our Lord's pleasure.
Shaikh Nazim had spoken on the subject "Anger" and here is the link to it :
http://www.uksufi.co.uk/Newcomers/swallow_your_anger.htm
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Rumi :: Hidden Music
Shall I tell you our secret?
We are charming thieves who steal hearts
and never fail because we are
the friends of the One.
The time for old preaching is over
we aim straight at the heart.
If the mind tries to sneak in and take over
we will string it up without delay.
We turn poison into medicine
and our sorrows into blessings.
All that was familiar,
our loved ones and ourselves
we had to leave behind.
Blessed is the poem that comes through me
but not of me because the sound of my own music
will drown the song of Love.
We are charming thieves who steal hearts
and never fail because we are
the friends of the One.
The time for old preaching is over
we aim straight at the heart.
If the mind tries to sneak in and take over
we will string it up without delay.
We turn poison into medicine
and our sorrows into blessings.
All that was familiar,
our loved ones and ourselves
we had to leave behind.
Blessed is the poem that comes through me
but not of me because the sound of my own music
will drown the song of Love.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Rabi'a al 'Adawiyya : Love
I love You with two loves-a selfish love
And a Love that You are worthy of.
As for the selfish love, it is that I think of You,
To the exclusion of everything else.
And as for the Love that You are worthy of,
Ah! That I no longer see any creature, but I see only You!
There is no praise for me in either of these loves,
But the praise in both is for You
And a Love that You are worthy of.
As for the selfish love, it is that I think of You,
To the exclusion of everything else.
And as for the Love that You are worthy of,
Ah! That I no longer see any creature, but I see only You!
There is no praise for me in either of these loves,
But the praise in both is for You
Rumi : Art as Flirtation and surrender
In your light I learn how to love.
In your beauty, how to make poems.
You dance inside my chest,
where no one sees you,
but sometimes I do,
and that sight becomes this art.
In your beauty, how to make poems.
You dance inside my chest,
where no one sees you,
but sometimes I do,
and that sight becomes this art.
Nasrudin Mullah :: Assumptions
What is the meaning of fate, Mulla?'
'Assumptions.' the mullah replied,'In what way?
''You assume things are going to go well, and they don't - that you call bad luck.
You assume things are going to go badly and they don't - that you call good luck.
You assume that certain things are going to happen or not happen - and you so lack intuition that you don't know what is going to happen.
You assume that the future is unknown.'What you are caught out - you call that Fate.'
'Assumptions.' the mullah replied,'In what way?
''You assume things are going to go well, and they don't - that you call bad luck.
You assume things are going to go badly and they don't - that you call good luck.
You assume that certain things are going to happen or not happen - and you so lack intuition that you don't know what is going to happen.
You assume that the future is unknown.'What you are caught out - you call that Fate.'
Monday, October 11, 2004
Nothing but the Performer
Sitting alone by the window, I look out.
Watching people come and go
Knowing nothing that inspire their hearts,
Their deeds, their desires and their end.
How foolish I was it seems
Wanting, desiring selfish deeds
For no matter how beautiful
How elegant they might be
The truth as always strikes true
Cleanly slashing through the veils of self deceit
For no matter how painful it reveals
We are but shadows that perform.
Watching people come and go
Knowing nothing that inspire their hearts,
Their deeds, their desires and their end.
How foolish I was it seems
Wanting, desiring selfish deeds
For no matter how beautiful
How elegant they might be
The truth as always strikes true
Cleanly slashing through the veils of self deceit
For no matter how painful it reveals
We are but shadows that perform.
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Strong Emotions rekindled
Dear Bloggers,
It is already Wednesday :- halfway through the week. I am determined to do some changes in my life..Setting new priorities and objectives. Somewhat disappointed with what I am going through day after day, I decided to make change for the better, I hope.
It is already Wednesday :- halfway through the week. I am determined to do some changes in my life..Setting new priorities and objectives. Somewhat disappointed with what I am going through day after day, I decided to make change for the better, I hope.
Monday, October 04, 2004
The First Musing...
Dear Bloggers,
I have always love poetry and enjoyed writing them even more. Alas, it has been 15 long years since my last poem. Time flew and it seems now my destiny thread has led me back to something that I really enjoy in my girl-chasing, crazy teenage days...
While coding on several scripts that will eventually make up a membership management system, a kinda of devaju feelings overwhelmed me as the radio played a song that brought those almost forgotten memories rushing back. Then one by one, I saw several words vision in my mind as I ink them down... As clearly as yesterday's sun..
The First Musing...
Almost forgotten, fading memories
Came rushing back at the beacon of a song.
As subtle as the weakest ripple of a water drop
building momentum with every rhythm
gaining strength with every beat.
Suprising resilience such awakening brings
An overwhelming sense of nostalgia
And sadness and happiness and longingness
Oft ignore for the longest time
Suddenly liberated at full strength
Just for once... for a song...
I have always love poetry and enjoyed writing them even more. Alas, it has been 15 long years since my last poem. Time flew and it seems now my destiny thread has led me back to something that I really enjoy in my girl-chasing, crazy teenage days...
While coding on several scripts that will eventually make up a membership management system, a kinda of devaju feelings overwhelmed me as the radio played a song that brought those almost forgotten memories rushing back. Then one by one, I saw several words vision in my mind as I ink them down... As clearly as yesterday's sun..
The First Musing...
Almost forgotten, fading memories
Came rushing back at the beacon of a song.
As subtle as the weakest ripple of a water drop
building momentum with every rhythm
gaining strength with every beat.
Suprising resilience such awakening brings
An overwhelming sense of nostalgia
And sadness and happiness and longingness
Oft ignore for the longest time
Suddenly liberated at full strength
Just for once... for a song...
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