Questions and Answers about Tasawwuf
Questions of Ahbab Answered by
His Eminence Ameer Muhammad Akram Awan
Sheikh Silsilah Naqshbandiah Owaisiah
Q 30: Can women be taught Zikr Allah?
A 30: Just as women acquire knowledge from men, in all walks of life; they can similarly learn Allah’s Zikr, while remaining within the limits of Shari‘ah.
Q 31: Can we conduct the Zikr of a non Muslim?
A 31: All human beings are Allah’s creation. If a non Muslim does Zikr, he gets blessed with Islam. You can only teach him the method, but cannot conduct his Zikr. He should do it alone. It is enough for him till he accepts Faith.
Q 32: Does the person conduction Zikr have to keep in mind some special considerations while conduction the first Zikr of a beginner?
A 32: No. Just teach him the method of Zikr, sit him beside you and start the Zikr. Allah Kareem knows, HE will take care of everything.
Q 33: Hadhrat, what is difference between Tawajjuh and Ilqa and what is the technique of giving Tawajjuh?
A 33: The technique of giving Tawajjuh is that the person who is conducting Zikr should think that the Divine lights are descending on his Qalb (first Latifah), are also going to the Quloob of those who are doing Zikr with him; this thought will divert the lights. Ilqa is the reflection and Tawajjuh is the thought that this reflection is taking place. If an Imam makes Niyyah (intention) of leading the Salah, then the Salah of all those who join him is accepted. However, if the same Imam starts offering his individual Salah, then the Salah of none of those who join him later will be accepted, because the Imam had not made the Niyyah in the first place. If he makes the Niyyah, the Salah of all those joining him will be accepted whether they are ten or a hundred thousand. Tawajjuh is akin to making this Niyyah, while Ilqa is the process of reflection caused by this Tawajjuh. As far the technique of giving Tawajjuh or Ilqa is concerned, you have only to think that you are conduction their Zikr. The connection of Lata‘if with the Prophet-As is like that of your body with the four elements. A man appears to be made of muscles and skin, we see no clay in him, but he has actually been raised from clay, air. water and fire. Similarly Allah Kareem has made each Prophet the symbol of a particular relationship and feeling. All these relationships converge at one centre, the Holy Prophet-SAW! The lights coming on the first Latifah are of Prophet Adam-As, descend from the first heaven and are yellow in colour. The lights coming on the second Latifah are from two Prophets, Prophet Nooh-As and Prophet Ibraheem-As. The lights coming on the third Latifah are from Prophet Musa-As. On fourth Latifah the lights come from Prophet Isa-AS, descend from the fourth heaven and are deep yellow in colour. The lights coming on the fifth Latifah are of the Holy Prophet-SAW and descend from the fifth heavens. On the sixth and seventh Lata‘if descend the Divine lights. Their colour and state cannot be described; they are like lightening that flashes and disappears. When someone is conduction Zikr, he should think that the lights descending on his Lata‘if are also going to the Lata‘if of others; the Ilqa will start.
Q 34: Is the flow of Lights interrupted if the eyes are opened for a couple of seconds during Zikr?
A 34: It is not the opening or closing of eyes, but the focusing of attention that is important. An open eye looks around and thus disrupts the attention. There is no harm if the eyes get opened unintentionally like a wink, but if that causes distraction, one should be careful.
Q 35: What is the reason that even after the illumination of the Lata‘if and performing Salah, Tasbeehat and Zikr for forty years, a Sufi doesn’t understand Sufic expressions and cannot comprehend their meanings?
A 35: It is not possible to learn Tasawwuf without knowledge. If he doesn’t possess knowledge, he may walk the Path with the help of a religious scholar. Illumination of the Lata‘if does bring pity in conduct, but it is necessary to formally learn the phrases and their meanings. There may be one Sufi out of millions, blessed with ‘Ilm-e Ladunni (Knowledge from Divine Presence), who may understand the expressions and comprehend their meanings without formal learning.
Q 36: Are high spiritual stations a prerequisite for accessing the Court of the Holy Prophet-SAW or can a person with lower spiritual stations also seek access?
A 36: When a seeker is blessed with nearness, his/her spiritual stations are also elevated. It is just like asking, ‘is good health necessary for wrestling?’ it is but obvious that only a healthy person will wrestle; how can a sick person undertake this activity? If the spiritual stations of a seeker, who has attained access to the Court of the Holy Prophet-SAW are not high, whose spiritual stations will then be high? To be in the audience of the Holy Prophet-SAW is the root cause of being raised in spiritual stations. However it is not necessary that a seeker will automatically attain to higher spiritual stations. His spiritual progress will take place in the normal manner. Yes, the spiritual capacity of such people is definitely enhanced. If another seeker requires Tawajjuh of a whole year to attain to a particular stations, such a person may require only a single Tawajjuh to reach that station; however the spiritual path will be traversed according to the normal procedure. Those who receive spiritual education directly in the Court of Holy Prophet-SAW are very rare, one in a century or probably one in a millennium. Such people serve as the building blocks of great revolutions. This is unique honour, known only to those who are blessed with it. In any case, Deen denotes the relationship of an adherent (follower) with the Holy Prophet Muhammad-SAW. His capacity to obey the Holy Prophet-SAW will depend on the purity and sincerity of this relationship. The three tributaries of obedience, respect and trust, keep saturation the Qalb of a believer and lead to his spiritual growth. May Allah Kareem grant this to everyone!
Q 37: It was observed this evening that during the meditation of Spiritual Bai‘at, you (spiritually stood up from your chair, stood in front of the Holy Prophet-SAW and present the Ahbab for spiritual Bai‘at. This doesn’t happen normally.
A 37: It is not necessary to stand up during normal attendance, but there is a great difference between normal attendance and the presentation of Ahbab for Spiritual Bai‘at. For this, one has to appropriately present one’s self before the Holy Prophet-SAW.