Tuesday, 29 May 2012
Acquisition of Knowledge Obligatory Upon all Muslims
It is commonly known amongst
Muslims that the first question asked on the Day of Judgement will be about
Salat. In the Jewish tenet a similar concept can be found. But I have not found
this written in any Hadith. However, I have read in Moulana Rum’s ‘Masnavi’
that the first question on the Day of Judgement would be about Salat. No
scholar or researcher questions the authenticity or basis of this concept of
what the first question would be on the Day of Judgement. It is just a concept
that has been passed along and Muslims believe in it. Keeping this concept in
perspective we get the impression that no form of worship is greater than
Salat. But if we focus on this and from the vast knowledge available in the
Quran and Hadith we get a different impression.
Many Muslims watch my YouTube
videos and question their scholars. I would like to request those people to
thoroughly examine what I say.
According to Hadith-e-Nabvi, whether you are a Muslim man or a Muslim
woman, the acquisition of knowledge has been declared obligatory upon all.
I did not read this Hadith in any
book, however, this was written on the main gate of the Urdu Science College.
This Hadith should have been written on a mosque but it was written on a
college. If this Hadith was written on a mosque at least Muslim men and women
would have this understanding that among the many other obligations, the
acquisition of knowledge is an obligation also. Now, because Quran is not
taught in the schools and colleges they have manipulated this Hadith to suit
them referring to the knowledge of physics, chemistry etc. but was Prophet
Mohammad referring to physics and chemistry when he said this? One speaks about
his field of expertise. Therefore Prophet Mohammad was referring to the
acquisition of religious knowledge. If the mosques gave importance to this
Hadith, then the average Muslim today would not hold the Muslim Scholars
entirely responsible for religious knowledge but rather investigate himself. If
Muslims understood religious knowledge to be obligatory then every Muslim would
at least have enough knowledge today to help them differentiate the truth from
falsehood.
It is a shame that amongst the
Pakistani nation if somebody makes their child a Hafiz-e-Quran (one who
memorises the entire Quran word for word), there is greed behind it. They think
if you make one child a Hafiz-e-Quran, salvation will be granted to 7
generations. They don’t do it for the sake of acquiring religious knowledge. If
one has become Hafiz-e-Quran, has he acquired the religious knowledge? Usually
the lazy students cram their studies. They memorise and repeat everything
however they do not know what it is they are saying. The words just roll off
their tongue. Same is the case with a Hafiz-e-Quran. People say the Quran is in
the hearts of the Hafiz-e-Quran. This is wrong. The Quran is not in the heart
of the Hafiz-e-Quran, it is in the brain because bookish knowledge is not
related to the heart. Guidance, Divine Light (Noor), love, connection with God
is related to the heart. If any knowledge is related to the heart it is not the
bookish knowledge, it is the Batini (esoteric) knowledge. Bookish knowledge
does not enter the heart. Only that knowledge enters a heart that comes from the
heart.
Prophet Mohammad: Scholars are those who will acquire the knowledge
from my chest.
Today I would like to elaborate
on this further. ‘Ulema min Sadri’, means the scholars who are from my chest,
meaning a scholar will be one who is at least connected to the heart of Prophet
Mohammad. This is the commencement of Batini knowledge and the culmination is
when the Jussas (sub-spirit) of Prophet Mohammad enter the heart of a person.
Such a person becomes Imam-e-Haq. What is the difference between Imam-e-Haq and
Aalim-e-Rabbani? One who is enlightened is an Aalim-e-Rabbani and one who
possesses a Jussa of Prophet Mohammad is Imam-e-Haq.
His Divine Eminence Ra Riaz Gohar
Shahi says the enlightenment of the heart connects one to God and turns him
towards God and it is because of the Nafs (Self) that one remains involved in
this world. When somebody’s Nafs is purified he becomes fed up with this world.
Imam-e-Haq is one who cuts off the Nafs from the world and into servitude to
the Spiritual Guide. When the impurities and evil leave the Self, it will
become fed up with the world and its contents. The heart is engaged in this
world because of the Nafs. When the hearts of Sufis became fed up with the
world, they would seclude themselves in jungles and engage in austerities. They
would engage in austerities for a period of 12 years. We have heard that Baba
Farid secluded himself and engaged in austerities for 36 years and we have also
heard that Ghous Pak spent 40 years in the jungle. Austerities are not for 40 years.
The time period for austerities is 12 years and if we say he engaged in
austerities 3 times it would only be 36 years. Taking recluse in the jungle for
4 more years was his own choice; he did not desire to go back into the world.
Then something happened. One day he was walking and he saw a half-dead man
lying in front of him and he said to Ghous Pak, ‘I am Prophet Mohammad’s deen
of Islam, please give me support.’ When this happened he was convinced to
return to the world, otherwise he was living in the jungle because he did not
want to have any connection with the world and its contents.
When somebody’s heart is
connected with the Lord and the Nafs becomes purified, he becomes fed up with
the world. Imam-e-Haq, with his Nazar (Merciful Glance), purifies your Nafs and
connects you to God by enlightening your heart. You will become fed up of this
world when your Nafs’ diet of Naar (negative energy) is cut off and a supply of
Noor (Divine Light) is given to the Nafs through the Merciful Glance of the Spiritual
Guide. The Nafs will be made to recite the Kalima and when Nafs recites the
Kalima, Divine Light will be produced and the evil ways will begin to diminish.
When the Nafs has been completely purified, it will become fed up with this
world and will not enjoy the company of the worldly people. In fact, those who
have purified their Nafs (Saints/friends of God) are advised to keep a distance
from people. The rank of Imam-e-Haq is only given to the scholars when a
sub-spirit from the divine chest of Prophet Mohammad settles in their heart and
this is the knowledge related to the heart of Prophet Mohammad.
Notice the Hadith which states
that the acquisition of knowledge is obligatory upon all Muslim men and women
says ‘Muslim’ not ‘Momin’. Because it does not say Momin here, it means acquire
that knowledge by which you can become a Momin from a Muslim. At the least, the
knowledge of how to become a Momin from a Muslim is obligatory upon all
Muslims. They should be able to understand the state of being a Muslim and how
they can go from being a Muslim to a Momin. A hint is given in the Quran also.
قَالَتِ
الْأَعْرَابُ آمَنَّا ۖ قُلْ لَمْ تُؤْمِنُوا وَلَٰكِنْ قُولُوا أَسْلَمْنَا
وَلَمَّا يَدْخُلِ الْإِيمَانُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ ۖ وَإِنْ تُطِيعُوا اللَّهَ
وَرَسُولَهُ لَا يَلِتْكُمْ مِنْ أَعْمَالِكُمْ شَيْئًا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ
رَحِيمٌ
(49:14)
The Arabs said we are Momin. Tell them they are not Momin
but rather they should say they have become Muslim and will become Momin when
the Noor of Emaan (faith) enters their heart.
When will the Muslims understand
that it is the entrance of Noor in the heart that makes one a Momin? If they
read the Quran themselves they would know. But Muslims say we can just ask a
scholar, but if the scholars were to tell you this, why have they not already
done so by now? Why do they not tell you this is the knowledge of the Quran,
this is how you become Muslim, but this is not where you are supposed to stop;
if you stop here you will not become a Momin or an Ummati (follower of Prophet
Mohammad). Our Ulema start off as professors and simply by giving lectures they
become Sheikh Ul Islam, Saints and Spiritual Guides. I am not saying that they
cannot become these because it is possible that in 20 years they found a
Spiritual Guide and adopted the spiritual ways and obtained knowledge of the
heart and managed to enlighten their hearts. It is possible that Tahir ul Qadri
could have become Sheikh Ul Islam or a Saint of God. If God wanted, it is all
possible. However there is a divine method and a way of recognising such a
person. If 20 years ago he was a scholar/professor/doctor and today he is
Sheikh Ul Islam than there should be a difference in the lectures he gave 20
years ago and the lectures he gives today. The lectures of a scholar should be
different from the lectures of a Sheikh Ul Islam/Mujaddid/Perfect Spiritual
Guide. Now, Noor should emanate from his words and people should feel love for
God and their hearts should become connected with God. He should dispense the
knowledge of heart enlightenment. But the lectures 20 years ago and the
lectures today are the same then you are still just a simple scholar. If you
had become a Saint or Mujaddid, you would at least tell us of the Tajdeed you
made in the religion of Islam. Only the followers of Minhaj ul Quran believe
you to be a Mujaddid but the real Mujaddid, Mujaddid Alif Sani is known all
over the world and everyone believes him to be the true Mujaddid of Islam.
Ummati is one who possesses Noor
in his heart but the Muslim nation today is not the Ummah of Prophet Mohammad.
I call them the Pakistani nation, Indian nation or Bengali nation. However they
cannot be Ummati of Prophet Mohammad because Prophet Mohammad said ‘An Ummati
is one who has Divine Light in his heart.’
On the Day of Judgement, you will
not be recognised by your name. Some people think on the Day of Judgement you
will be recognised by the name of your mother but according to the Hadith, on
the Day of Judgement, you will be recognised by the type of Noor you possess.
If everyone possessed the same type of Noor, how would they be differentiated? His Divine Eminence Lord Ra Riaz Gohar Shahi has explained,
"Each Prophet and Messenger was given a special name of God and the Divine Light of the name entered the heart. Whoever obtained the special name of God entered the Ummah of its respective prophet."
Moses was granted the name of ‘Ya
Rehman’ and whoever obtained ‘Ya Rehman’ from Moses or from any of the Saints
in his spiritual lineage and their hearts became enlightened with the name,
those hearts would shine on the Day of Judgement with the Divine Light of the
name of ‘Ya Rehman’ and this is how God would recognise them to be the Ummati
of Moses. Jesus was given ‘Ya Qudduso’ and David was given the name of ‘Ya
Waddudo’ which means the one who loves. He used to sing hymns in love of the
Lord and this is why he was granted this name. Those who possess an enlightened
heart, when they repeat ‘Ya Waddudo’, the love of the Lord begins to enter
their hearts. Similarly, Prophet Mohammad was given God’s Personal Name, ‘Allah
Hu’ and those whose hearts shine with ‘Allah Hu’ will be recognised as Ummati
of Mohammad. The scholars do not tell the Muslim nation how to become a Momin
from a Muslim, although they repeatedly use the Hadith known as
Hadith-e-Jibrael which explains this and the stages of Islam, Emaan, Ehsan,
etc. But they do not know how to obtain these stages. If they knew, they would
have explained it and if they had known, then misguidance would not be so
widespread.
Quran: Inallaha qareeb minal mohsineen
If you want to see those who are
in close proximity of God, then keep company of Mohsineen. A Mohsin is one who
is at the stage of Ehsaan. Ehsaan is derived from the word Husn (beauty)
meaning one whose heart possesses the beauty, image or reflection of the Lord
or one who has seen God is a Mohsin. The stage of Islam is accepting the Kalima
by word of mouth. The stage of Emaan is when the Noor of the Kalima enters the
heart. For those who have reached the stage of Ehsaan the Quran says:
هل جزاء الاحسان الا الاحسان
(55:60)
You see me and I see you. Ehsaan
means to see beauty. To see God is Ehsaan. If you have seen the beauty of God
once, he will look at you 370 times. Muslims should follow the Hadith and at
least acquire the knowledge of becoming a Momin from a Muslim because it is
obligatory for every Muslim. From there how will they reach the stage of
Ehsaan? It cannot be done alone. With whomsoever your destiny lies, will take
you there.
Who is a Wali Allah?
Tahir Ul Qadri claims to be a
Wali Allah (Friend of God). Sultan Haq Bahu and Ghous Pak was Wali Allah also.
They were able to connect people to God. Ghous Pak said, ‘My disciple cannot
die without Emaan (faith)’. Tahir Ul Qadri cannot make such a claim. How are
you Sheikh Ul Islam? You cannot claim that followers of Minhaj ul Quran cannot
be misguided. A Wali Allah is one in whose mouth the Lord speaks. When the Lord
speaks through your mouth, the Lord would say something he has not previously
said. God has already revealed the Quran. This means when the Lord will speak
through your mouth, you will not read the Quran and you will not repeat Hadith
to people because if the Lord will speak, he would say something new that he
has never said before. Those through whose mouth the Lord speaks do not read
books nor do they teach from books.
Moulana Rum said, ‘O you who are
unaware, deen is not found in the books’. The scholars speak of Moulana Rum and
we are doing the same and you [Tahir ul Qadri] are writing book after book. If
someone asks you about Imam Abu Hanifa you say I am not even equivalent to the
feet of Imam Abu Hanifa. If you are not then Imam Abu Hanifa has written many
books why are you writing books? Ghous Pak has already written books, why are
you writing books?
When God speaks through
somebody’s mouth that person does not know the Lord is speaking, but the one
listening knows it is the Lord speaking. What happens when the Lord speaks?
Once Ba Yazeed Bastami went to the mosque and a Molvi (cleric) was leading the
prayers. Molvis have a habit of making speeches and during his speech the molvi
said the flag of Prophet Mohammad will rise, high above the rest on the Day of
Judgement. Ba Yazeed Bastami was in a highly spiritual state and the Tifle
Noorie (sub-spirit of God) within him stirred. He stood up and said to the
cleric, ‘Sit down. The flag that shall raise high above all others is my flag’.
This was the Lord speaking. But, people caught him and when they questioned
him, he swore to God that he had not made this statement because by then he had
come out of his spiritual state. On another occasion, Ba Yazeed Bastami was
praying and the Lord spoke, ‘Ma azam shaani subhani’. The disciples knew he is
a Saint of God therefore he could not be lying so they asked him about it. In
return he asked them a simple question, ‘Whose flag is greater than Prophet
Mohammad’s?’ They said God’s. He said then God must have spoken. When God
speaks this way, people understand it is God speaking. If God speaks in you,
then why do you just repeat Hadith and Quran? When God speaks and leaves, Quran
and Hadith are used to verify what God has said.
The Jewish have a similar faith.
According to the Jewish tenet, the first question asked on the Day of Judgement
would be with how much intensity did they awaited the Messiah.
Hazrat Ali said the same for Imam Mehdi. He said, ‘To await Imam Mehdi
in the last era would be the greatest of all worship’.
Imam Mehdi and the Messiah are
the same. But look at the tenet of the Jewish. It is obvious this question
would be poised at those who had not met the Messiah because those who had
would be enlightened. This question would be directed towards those who came
before the Messiah. They would be asked with how much intensity they awaited
the Messiah because the wait would ignite a fire in their heart and that in
turn would generate Noor and that Noor became the wealth of Emaan. You too
await Imam Mehdi but waiting does not mean sitting with a watch. It means there
is a longing and desire in your heart for Him to come as soon as possible. If
you want to make this wait worthwhile, spread the message to the world. Tell
them how to recognise Imam Mehdi and tell them what Imam Mehdi will do when He
arrives. Tell people about the Spiritual Blessings of Imam Mehdi and show His
image. Doing so will intensify the longing and desire for Imam Mehdi to come.
الر كِتَابٌ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ النَّاسَ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ
إِلَى النُّورِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَى صِرَاطِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ
(14:1)
Surah Ibrahim is related to the
Messiah. The Book of Alif Laam Ra was sent forth onto you. This was not said
for Prophet Mohammad, if it had there would have been mention of his Ummah.
This is for Imam Mehdi because providing guidance to all humanity is His job.
The chapter of Alif Laam Ra will be sent onto you so that you may help all
humanity become enlightened. What comes from God cannot be obtained for except
with his permission. Similarly the Book of Alif Laam Ra would not be given
without permission of the Lord. However, we have been given permission from the
Lord, permission to give Ra Riaz.
This is not Sirat al Mustaqeem.
Allah Hu in the heart is the path to establish Sirat al Mustaqeem. But this is
the Path to get connected to God’s Personal Being. You do not have to establish
this path; this is the path that leads directly to the Lord. This is known as
Sirat ul Aziz. It is written in the Quran. This will connect you to His being
directly.