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8
Benefits Imam Ghazali (Alai Rahma) once received a letter
from one of his disciples. In his letter, the disciple asked Imam Ghazali (Alai
Rahma) to help him choose a branch of knowledge that would really benefit him.
Imam Ghazali (Alai Rahma)'s answer to the letter is published as a short book
titled, "Ayyuhal Walad" (Arabic). What follows is an extract from the
same. A TRADITION: It is said that among the students and
mureeds (disciples who seek spiritual elevation/enlightenment through the
attainment of purification of their soul from all evil desires and tendencies
under the guidance of a spiritual guide who has in turn completely attained
this purification and high station before Allah through training, guidance, and
proximity of another spiritual guide) of Shaykh Shafeeq Balkhi (Alai Rahma),
was a student and disciple named Hatim Ism (Alai Rahma) who in turn later on
became a great spiritual master through the training and guidance of Shaykh
Shafeeq). One day Shaykh Shafeeq Balkhi (Alai Rahma) said to
him: “O Hatim! For how long have been in my company
(spiritual proximity) and have been listening to what I have been saying
(teaching)?” Shaykh Hatim Ism (Alai Rahma) replied: “Thirty Three
years!” Shaykh Shafeeq Balkhi (Alai Rahma) asked: “In that [long] time period, what benefit have you
derived from me?” Shaykh Hatim Ism (Alai Rahma) responded: “[I have] obtained eight (8) benefits [from
you].” Shaykh Shafeeq Balkhi (Alai Rahma) responded: “Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaeyhe Raji’oon.” “To Allah we belong and to Him shall we return (it’s
a supplication from Quran that is made at times of loss and grief).” Shaykh Shafeeq Balkhi (Alai Rahma) then said: “O Hatim! I have spent my lifetime in teaching and
training and you have just gained eight benefits from me!” Shaykh Hatim Ism (Alai Rahma) replied: “O my teacher! If you asked [me] for the truth then
the reality is what I [just] told you. I do not need any more [benefits] and
these benefits from knowledge are quite sufficient because I am certain that I
will attain salvation [and success] in this life and in the life hereafter
through these eight benefits.” Shaykh Shafeeq Balkhi (Alai Rahma) asked him: “All right! Tell me what are those eight
benefits?” BENEFITS
NARRATED BY HATIM BIN ISM (Alai Rahma) “O my teacher! The first benefit is that I looked at
the people of this world and saw that everyone has a beloved. But these
beloveds of the people [of the world] are such that some of them (i.e. the
beloveds) are with them (i.e. the people) until their illness that brings
death, some of them are with them until death, some of them are with them until
they reach their graves, and after burial all the lovers return from there..
None of their beloveds go with them in their graves to live with them there and
to provide their company [in the darkness, solitude, narrowness, and horror of
the grave]. I contemplated on this and said to myself that only that is a good
beloved who goes with them in the grave and lives with his/her lover, who will
provide the company, who will illuminate the grave, who will be a partner on
the Day of Judgment and its destinations (stations that one goes through after
burial until the Day of Judgment). I saw that the only beloved who has these
[good] qualities is my good (pious/righteous) deeds. After this [determination
and awareness], I made my good deeds my beloved so that it goes with me in my
grave [when I die], will provide me with its company, will become an
illuminated candle in my grave, will be my partner in all stages of life
hereafter, and never ever separate away from me.” Shaykh Shafeeq Balkhi (Alai Rahma) said: “Bravo O Hatim! You have told a very good thing. Now
narrate the second benefit.” “O my teacher! The second benefit is that I glanced
at the people of the world and saw that everyone was following after the
pleasures and desires from the Nafs (lower self that instructs one to commit
evil) and [everyone] is subservient to the desires from the lower self. Upon
seeing that, I deliberated on the following holy verse [from Quran]: ‘Wa Amma Mun Khafa Maqama Rabbihi Wa Nahun Nafsa
‘Anil Hawa Fa Innal Jannata Heyal Mawa.’ ‘But the one who has stood in fear of his/her
Sustainer’s Presence, and restrained his/her inner self from the base (low and
evil) desires, Paradise will the place of rest [for this person].’ (Quran,
Chapter 79, Verses 40-41) I developed the certitude that the Wise Quran is
correct and the book of Allah is the truth. Then I established a front against
my Nafs (lower self) and became determined to oppose it. I molded it (i.e. my
lower self) in such a shape that I did not fulfill any of its desires until it
started to find peace [and satisfaction] in the worship of Allah, the Exalted.” Shaykh Shafeeq Balkhi (Alai Rahma) responded: “May Allah, the Exalted, provide His blessings in
your good deeds. Now narrate the third benefit.” “O my teacher! The third benefit is that when I
glanced at the people I saw that every person, with great pain and hard work,
is busy in accumulating the possessions (money, wealth, goods) of this mortal
world and is very happy that he/she has a lot of goods and material
possessions. But when I contemplated on the following holy verse from the
bounteous Quran: ‘Ma ‘Indakum Yanfadu Wa Ma ‘IndAllahi Baaqin.’ ‘All that is with you is bound to come to an end,
whereas all that, which is with Allah is everlasting.’ (Quran, Chapter 16,
Verse 96) Then whatever [material possessions] I accumulated
in the world, I spent it all in Way of Allah by distributing it among pious
indigents and beggars so that it (the material possessions that I distributed
in the Way of Allah) will get deposited with Allah, the Exalted, as my trust
and will become source of immense good and ransom (i.e. salvation) in the life
hereafter.” Shaykh Shafeeq Balkhi (Alai Rahma) said: “O Hatim! May Allah grant you His Compensation
(reward for your spending in His Way)! You said a very good thing and have done
a very good thing. Now narrate the fourth benefit.” “O my teacher! The fourth benefit is that I looked
at the people of the world and saw that some of them think that grandeur and
honor belong to the nation or tribe (group) that is big and powerful, that’s
why they are expressing pride in their tribe (nation or group). Some of them
are such that they think that the grandeur is obtained through abundance of
wealth, [material] possessions, family and relatives that’s why [some] people
are expressing their pride in their wealth and children. Some [people] are such
that they think that their grandeur and honor is in displaying anger, beating,
killing, murder and pillage and they express their pride in that. Some [people]
are such that they think that their grandeur is in wasteful spending that’s why
they consider their wasteful spending a source of honor and express their pride
in that. But I deliberated on this verse in which Allah, the Exalted,
says: ‘Inna Akramakum ‘IndAllahi Atqakum.’ ‘Verily, the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is
the one who is most deeply conscious (i.e. fearful) of Him.’ (Quran, Chapter
49, Verse 13) Therefore this is correct and is the truth and the
creations’ thoughts are false and wrong conjectures. That’s why I adopted Taqwa
(pious reverence, consciousness, awe, and fear of Allah) so that I get counted
as the one with the highest rank in the sight of Allah, the Exalted.” Shaykh Shafeeq Balkhi (Alai Rahma) said: “O Hatim! May Allah be pleased with you. You have
said a very good thing. Now narrate the fifth benefit.” “O my teacher! The fifth benefit is that I looked at
the people who were complaining about each other. It was found that they were
doing all this because of envy, jealousy, and enmity and the main cause of that
is [the desire and competition for] greatness, grandeur, [material]
possessions, wealth, and knowledge. I contemplated on the following verse from
the Holy Quran in which it’s said: ‘Nahnu Qasumna Baeynahum Ma’eeshatahum Fil Hayatid
Dunya.’ ‘It is We who distribute their means of livelihood
(sustenance) among them in the life of this world.’ (Quran, Chapter 43, Verse
32) Then I thought that Allah, the Blessed and Exalted,
has appointed the possessions and ranks since the first beginning [of the
creation] and no one has any control [or say] in this matter. Therefore, I did
not compete or had jealousy with anyone and remained agreed to Allah’s
distribution [of worldly bounties] and [His appointed] destiny and got along
with the whole world [by giving up all jealousies and enmities against God’s
creations].” Shaykh Shafeeq Balkhi (Alai Rahma) said: “O Hatim! You are saying the truth and you are doing
the right thing. Now narrate the sixth benefit.” “O my teacher! The sixth benefit is that when I
glanced at the people, I saw that every person is having enmity with someone
else for some reason. Then I deliberated on the following verse: ‘Innash Shaytana Lakum ‘Aduwwun Fettakhizuhu
‘Aduwwa.’ ‘Verily, Shaytan (Satan) is your enemy so treat him
as your enemy.’ (Quran, Chapter 35, Verse 6)
After that, I developed the certitude that Allah’s
saying is the truth, I should not have any enmity with anyone other than
Shaytan (Satan). Since then, I considered Satan as my enemy and did not obey
any of his orders. Instead, I developed obedience [of Allah] and followed the
commandments of Allah, the Exalted and adopted only His worship and servitude.
The correct way is the Sirat al-Mustaqeem (the straight path of guidance in
which there is no crookedness) as Allah, the Exalted, has Himself said: ‘Alam A’had Ilaeykum Ya Bani Aadama Al La Ta’budush
Shaytana Innahu Lakum ‘Aduwwum Mubeen Wa Ane’buduni Haza Siratum Mustaqeem.’ ‘Have I not obtained this promise from you that O
you the Children of Adam! Never ever obey the Shaytan (Satan). No doubt, he is
your avowed (open) enemy and worship Me alone [because] this is the straight
path.’ ” Shaykh Shafeeq Balkhi (Alai Rahma) said: “O Hatim! You did a very good thing and said a very
good thing. Now narrate the seventh benefit.”
“O my teacher! The seventh benefit is that I looked
at the people and saw that every person is preoccupied with his/her livelihood
and search for sustenance and is involved in an intense effort. In this
regards, he/she is not even differentiating between Halal (permissible) and Haram
(forbidden) but instead, is getting humiliated with doubtful and Haram
(forbidden) earnings. Then I deliberated on the following verse: ‘Wa Ma Min Daabbatin Fil Arde Illa ‘AlalAllahi
Rizquha.’ ‘And there is no living creature on earth whose
sustenance is not the responsibility of Allah.’ (Quran, Chapter 11, Verse
6) Then I developed the certitude that the Wise Quran
is the truth and is correct and that I am also among those living creatures [of
God] that are present on earth. So thus, I got engaged in the worship of Allah
and developed the certitude that He will bring to me [my] sustenance because He
has promised [to provide me with] sustenance.”
Shaykh Shafeeq Balkhi (Alai Rahma) said: “You did a very good thing and told a very good
thing.. Now narrate the eighth benefit.”
“O my teacher! The eighth benefit is that when I
looked at the people I found that every person’s reliance [or trust] is on
someone or something. Some have trust [or rely] on their [material]
possessions, some trust [or rely] on other people. Therefore, I pondered on
this holy verse in which Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, says: ‘Wa Maey Yatawakkal ‘AlalAllahi Fahuwa Hasbuhu.’ ‘And for everyone who places his/her trust in Allah,
He [alone] is enough [for him/her].’ (Quran, Chapter 65, Verse 3) ‘Wa Huwa Husbi Wa Nai’mal Wakeel.’ ‘And He is sufficient for me and He is the best
Helper.’ [Therefore, I adopted complete reliance on Allah in
every matter.]” When Shaykh Shafeeq Balkhi (Alai Rahma) heard these
[eight] benefits, he said: “O Hatim! May Allah grant you His Tawfeeq (i.e.
enable you to do righteous deeds and to walk on His Path). You have told [us]
very good things. I have seen in Taurat (Torah), Injil (Gospel of Prophet
Jesus), Zabur (Psalms), and in the praiseworthy differentiator between right
and wrong (i.e. the Holy Quran), that all these books [of God] mention these
eight benefits, i.e., all four books in their teachings have told [us] these
eight benefits. Whoever acts on these [eight principles] is like as if he/she
has acted on all four [holy] books. From: "Abdul@yahoo.com"
<Abdul@yahoo.com> |
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