The Key to a Sweet Life: 18th October 2010

Summary of Maulana Shaykh Nazim’s Daily Suhbah

18^th October 2010, Monday

The Key to a Sweet Life

A’uzubillah himinash shaitan nirrajeem

Bismillah-hir Rahman-nir Raheem

Assalamu’alaikum wrh wbkt

• Maulana advised everyone to follow each Suhbah carefully, so that you will collect every jewel from it, as that may be your key to a sweet life, in both worlds. To miss out on one Key, may mean that you have lost an entire vault of sweet treasures!

• Life is sweet, which is why no one wants to die. We love what we are learning, tasting and experiencing, so much so that we are reluctant to die – we want to live here forever. But this world was never designed to be the eternal home, it is just a sneak peek of the pleasures of the life to come.

• Even an ant, Maulana says, if you chase it and attempt to kill it, it will run for its life, as it wants to continue to exist and taste the sweetness of existence. It has the right to be in existence, so do not cruelly snuff out its sacred life. True, it is small and appears insignificant, but it has an understanding about itself and about its Creator, that is more complete than even some humans have. It knows Who brought it into existence and it recites tasbih, glorification of Allah, for it is thankful to have been created out of nothingness, and been brought into existence to taste life’s pleasures.

تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتُ ٱلسَّبۡعُ وَٱلۡأَرۡضُ وَمَن فِيہِنَّ‌ۚ وَإِن مِّن شَىۡءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمۡدِهِۦ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تَفۡقَهُونَ تَسۡبِيحَهُمۡ‌ۗ إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورً۬ا

The seven heavens and the earth, and all beings within it, declare His glory (tasbeeh): there not a thing but celebrates His praise; and yet ye understand not how they declare His glory! Verily He is Oft- Forbearing, Most Forgiving! (Quran 17:44)

• Shame upon Mankind, who is not in continuous glorification of Allah despite being bestowed more that what that ant received! All of creation is in glorification, only Man is heedless. Allah created the creation, to be an example for Man, so that he may take lessons from their acts, but humans are unable to draw lessons from creatures around him, as he is not following heavenly guides; he is following devillish ones, who draw the wool over his eyes, blinding him from the wisdom of all that Allah created around him.

• Some religious teachers teach so much, but they miss out on the main trunk of the teachings! Maulana says that they must teach their followers and students, that every one of the Children of Adam is an honoured creature, and so he must be so thankful to Allah for having brought him into existence! Even an ant knows what an honour it is to have been created, and it glorifies Allah every moment of its existence, to the end of its life. Like the ant, we must also learn how to lead an honourable life in thankfulness, for one who is deprived of such knowledge, will attain no honour in both worlds. Oh people, why are we not doing the same? Why are we not reciting:

ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ

Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds (Quran 1:2)

• The Prophet (saw) taught his Companions about the great honour Allah had bestowed upon them. And they acknowledged His favours, and became people of honour. The Companions, carried the heavy responsibility of the coming generations, but they never felt weighed down by it, they were always happy people, they lived thankful lives, even though they had little good food or expensive clothing. Their hearts were always pleased with Allah, as they knew what an honour it was to have been created, and they were deeply thankful and grateful to Him.

وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلۡأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُهَـٰجِرِينَ وَٱلۡأَنصَارِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحۡسَـٰنٍ۬ رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنۡہُمۡ وَرَضُواْ عَنۡهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمۡ جَنَّـٰتٍ۬ تَجۡرِى تَحۡتَهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيہَآ أَبَدً۬ا‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ

The vanguard (of Islam)― the first of those who forsook (their homes) and of those who gave them aid, and (also) those who follow them in (all) good deeds― well― pleased is Allah with them, as are they with Him: for them hath He prepared Gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever: that is the Supreme Felicity. (Quran 9:100)

• Allah is pleased with the Companions, so we must also be pleased with them. Some Muslims have actually condemned, cursed and spoken ill of the Companions of the Prophet (saw). There is no benefit in speaking ill of anyone, and it is even worse to speak ill of the deceased. What can be gained by speaking ill of the deceased Companions, upon whom Allah is already pleased with? Who are we to judge one who has already been judged by Allah, and upon whom Allah says, “I am happy with them, and they are also happy with Me.” An Imam in Iran has recently advised Shiites to stop slandering a portion of the Companions – a practice of Shites for hundreds of years now.

• Why was Allah pleased with them? The humble Companions had little worldly possessions, but they acknowledged His Favours, and served Him thankfully. They gave up all that they had to Rasulullah (saw), for the sake of Allah, even their Souls! And they were happy to do so. They were dressed in simple and ordinary clothes, they never sought honour with clothing, or worldly possessions and ornaments!

• Today’s people seek honour  by putting on fancy clothes, and showing off their worldly possessions. Is that honour? Even so-called religious ones are dressed in expensive and grand-looking clothes, as if honour came from the clothes that one wore! This is what happens when a generation of ignorant Muslims who do not understand where their honour lies, emerges.

• Are we constantly glorifying Allah? Are Kings and Sultan praising Allah and thanking Him for their honour? Today, even in the Holy Mosques of Makkah and Medina, they are not praising Allah after the congregational prayers! Once the prayer is completed, a deathly silence fills the air, and the only sound heard is the rushed shuffling of feet, as the Imam and the congregation, make a beeline for the exits. Why is no one reciting, Subhanallah or SultanAllah? Do the Salafi Imams there really believe that leading the congregation in Zikrullah, to praise and hail Allah in unison, will bring down Allah’s wrath?

• Oh misguided ones, the Holy Mosques are tanzeelur-rahmah, places where Mercy from Heavenly Mercy Oceans, descends! Sit in the prayer niche (Mihrab), oh Imam, as the Prophet (saw) used to do, and sing praises to Allah, glorify Him, elevate His Name and be grateful servants. That is such an honourable deed, and Allah will dress those who do this, with heavenly dresses of honour!

• Instead of being the first one to rush out of the Holy Mosque after congregational prayers, the Imam should be the last one out, as an example to the congregation. He should lead the thousands there, in reciting praises and glorification to Allah Almighty. How amazing that shaitan has penetrated even up to the Haramain, telling the Imams, “No, stop this, enough, leave the mosque! It is not Sunnah to Zikir together, it is a bida’ah!”

• Oh Imams, how narrow your interpretation of the word bida’ah (innovation) is. How stifled your understanding of Islam is! How limited your vision of religion is! How easy it is for shaitan to deceive you! Shaitan has tied to you his rope, and once congregational prayer is over, he quickly yanks you outside, before you can lead thousands, or perhaps millions, in the glorification of Allah! Recitation of Subhanallah or SultanAllah, is not a bida’ah ! Zikir is not an innovation! Should these Imams persist obstinately in not praising Allah after prayers, Maulana prays for the Mosque’s Imams to be replaced by those with a true Spirituality. Ameen.

• Having abandoned the glorification of Allah, Man now lives in fear – his life is besieged with disasters from all directions. There are earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, flood, poisoned rivers……

• Man must abandon his pride, and put on the dressing of humility and submission, and come to the Lord’s Divine presence. You cannot come to Allah, dressed in clothings of pride! Maulana asks, if someone knocks on your door, seeking charity, but he is dressed in fine and expensive clothes – would you give him charity? Obviously not. But if the one knocking is dressed in old and torn clothes, you would help him.

• So, be like the Companions, they were dressed in poor clothes, and their hearts too were dressed in the clothings of humility and thankfulness. They came to Allah, grateful to Him for bestowing honour upon them. Today’s misguided ones don’t even come to ask from Allah (they feel so self-sufficient), and when they do so, they come dressed in ‘expensive’ clothes, with a heart dressed in arrogance and pride!

ٱدۡعُواْ رَبَّكُمۡ تَضَرُّعً۬ا وَخُفۡيَةً‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُعۡتَدِينَ

Invoke your Lord with humility and in secret. He likes not the aggressors. (Quran 7:55)

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ عِندَ رَبِّكَ لَا يَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ عَنۡ عِبَادَتِهِۦ وَيُسَبِّحُونَهُ ۥ وَلَهُ ۥ يَسۡجُدُونَ

Lo! those who are with thy Lord are not too proud to do Him service, but they praise Him and adore Him. (Quran 7:206)

• Ask from Allah, ask to learn something about servanthood. A true guide must teach you how to be a real servant of Allah. Even a king must learn servanthood. The Prophet (saw) mingled freely with his Community, and sat with them always, often raising his hands in prayer (doa) for them. The Prophet (saw) dressed in the same clothes his Community wore. Oh Kings, do not create a level for yourselves above that of common people. Be like common people and be with them too, that is servanthood, and Allah will honour you with real Heavenly Honour.

Fatihah

Commentary

• This world was never designed to be the eternal home, it is merely a stage along the route to eternity, just like a caterpillar in a cocoon. The imitated life here is designed to give us a fleeting taste of what the Eternal life will be like, it is like a 30 seconds movie trailer that gives us a taste of how the 3 hour movie will be like later.

• Maulana mentioned that the creatures around us, bring lessons to us. Here is an example. When Qabil killed Habil (as), he was at a loss as to what to do, then Allah sent him a crow to teach him.

فَبَعَثَ ٱللَّهُ غُرَابً۬ا يَبۡحَثُ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ لِيُرِيَهُ ۥ كَيۡفَ يُوَٲرِى سَوۡءَةَ أَخِيهِ‌ۚ قَالَ يَـٰوَيۡلَتَىٰٓ أَعَجَزۡتُ أَنۡ أَكُونَ مِثۡلَ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡغُرَابِ فَأُوَٲرِىَ سَوۡءَةَ أَخِى‌ۖ فَأَصۡبَحَ مِنَ ٱلنَّـٰدِمِينَ

Then Allâh sent a crow who scratched the ground to show him to hide the dead body of his brother. He (the murderer) said: “Woe to me! Am I not even able to be as this crow and to hide the dead body of my brother?” Then he became one of those who regretted. (Quran 5:31)

• We are so blessed to have been created. It is an even greater honour to have been created as Bani Adam, the Khalifa of Allah. Then Allah has honoured us further by making us part of the Nation of Rasulullah (saw). And we are part of his Nation, of the end of times, those the Prophet (saw) referred to as his lovers, those who had never seen him, but believed and followed him. To add to that, we are amongst those blessed to study from a Saint like our Shaykh Nazim. Allah has blessed us with layer upon layer of honour!

• What did Rasulullah (saw) do when he was bestowed so much honour by Allah? In a famous hadees, Rasulullah (saw) prayed all night until his legs swelled, and Aishah (ra) asked him why he was pushing himself so hard, when he was already forgiven and guaranteed safety. The Prophet (saw) said, “Should I not be a thankful servant to Allah?” So one who understands the honour Allah has given him, must worship, praise and glorify Allah as much as possible! If Man does not understand what dressings of honour have been placed upon him, he would behave in a way that was totally inappropriate for such dressings. Look at children, when their parents dress them up in nice clothes, to take them visiting. However, when they reach a muddy playground or dirty play area, they dive right in and make a mess of themselves, completely oblivious to the fact that they had been dressed in nice clothes that was not meant for such dirty or unimportant purposes. Don’t dive into the mud (of dunia) with your best Divine clothes!

• Maulana once said, that Man is the Crown Prince in the Divine Court. And where is the appropriate place for such a mighty and honoured Prince, who represents the King amongst His subjects? In the Palace! Unfortunately, most of us are in the dirty and muddy stables, looking after our donkey’s needs. That donkey is our ego. Have you ever seen a Prince who would rather sleep in the faeces and mud of the smelly stables (dunia), instead of the Palace? You would laugh at such a Prince (Maulana calls them, no-mind-people)! But that is what we are doing.

• You must return to the Divine Court! Leave your donkey in the stable (leave your ego’s dirty demands and desires), clean yourselves from the mud (by repentance), and go back to the Divine Court. There can only be one King, so you cannot return dressed as a King, but return as a humble one, thankful to be made a Prince, grateful for all the King’s gifts.

• Be aware of your lowly position, and above all things, seek not more gifts, but seek closeness to the King, for in that lies the ultimate honour. Being with the kingdom, brings you no honour, but being with the King, will make your heart very happy. That is why the Companions abandoned dunia (the kingdom) and sought to be with Allah (the King). Hence they were always happy, they were pleased with Allah, and He was pleased with them. Follow that example! Prophet (saw) said, “My Companions are like stars in the sky, whosoever you follow, you will be guided.”

• A true leader must emulate Rasulullah (saw). He mixed freely with the Community, unlike some of today’s leaders who are so inaccessible, who often hide behind a thick wall of red-tape, bureaucracy and body-guards. He lifted his hands in prayer for them, which shows that he had their interests at heart always, he was very compassionate and benevolent towards them, he felt the sufferings that they felt, and he always wanted the best for them. He was dressed like them, which meant, he never elevated himself above them, he was humble, and showed ‘ordinariness’, never trying to show himself as ‘extra-ordinary.’ The act of mixing with the society, whilst appearing as a common one, is a very high Maqam (Station) of Saints (like Shaykh Nazim), as the human ego never likes to be ordinary and un-noticed.

• Oh believers, you too are leaders in your own families, so follow Rasulullah’s (saw) example. Be with your families, don’t be detached and distant, sit with them with love and laughter. Don’t be aloof, and stop behaving like a busy CEO when you are at home (it means nothing to children that you a big boss, to them, you will always be daddy). Be a loving father, listen to their needs, understand them, and pray for them always. Hug your kids, and kiss them. Be humble, and they will also learn humility. That is why the Prophet (saw) said, “My home is my Paradise,” so makes yours one too. Teach your family to be thankful for all the favours of Allah, the biggest of which is to have been created. Tell them, “You didn’t create yourselves, you cannot even create the leg of an ant! So be thankful that He created you, and praise Him always.”

وَلَقَدۡ مَكَّنَّـٰڪُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَجَعَلۡنَا لَكُمۡ فِيہَا مَعَـٰيِشَ‌ۗ قَلِيلاً۬ مَّا تَشۡكُرُونَ

It is We who have placed you with authority on earth, and provided you therein with means for the fulfilment of your life: small are the thanks that ye give! (Quran 7:10)

وَٱللَّهُ أَخۡرَجَكُم مِّنۢ بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمۡ لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرَ وَٱلۡأَفۡـِٔدَةَ‌ۙ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَشۡكُرُونَ

It is He Who brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers when ye knew nothing; and He gave you hearing and sight and intelligence and affections: that ye may give thanks (to Allah). (Quran 16:78)

• Know that you have been honoured so highly by Allah, so live in a way befitting that honour and draw close to the One who gave you that honour, by thanking Him. Be pleased with Him, and live to please Him. That is the Key to eternal sweetness.

If you would like to listen to the actual Suhbah by Maulana Shaykh Nazim when it was recorded, please click here. Once at the site, please click on the Sohbat 18 Oct 2010.

Maulana Shaykh Nazim teaches daily, at 1720 hours GMT, please go to www.Saltanat.org to attend these illuminating lessons. There are no charges to attend these lessons, they are completely free-of-charge. These transcripts and Study materials are found at the Singapore Naqshbandi portal, recent.sufihub.com, these are also completely free-of-charge.