ALMISKEENAH

 

THEN and NOW merge.

Shaikh Abu Muhammad ibn Abd al-Basri Rahmatullahi alaihi (d.A.H. 580)
was one of the preeminent Shaikhs of Iraq. He was one of those scholars whose knowledge is based on direct experience, and one of the most splendid of those drawn near to the Lord. He had an exquisite way of speaking about the paths of the realities saying:

• The spirits of those who experience ecstasy are fragrantly perfumed. Their speech revives the dead at heart, and increases their faculties of understanding.
• The genuineness of ecstasy depends on the severance of the properties of human nature from all attachment.
• Ecstasy annihilates. For one who has no experience of loss, there can be no experience of finding.

 *

This morning we arranged to take a van of Hujjaj to the Uhud Cave after Fajr. We had plans, but Allah Ta’ala is the Greatest and Best of Planners, SubhanAllah. Negotiating with the drivers to take you there is now a delicate task, as they know that if they are caught going there the least that can happen is to loose their license, the worst, to be carried off. We managed to convince a very amiable one to take us. Some of the group were sitting in the van awaiting for the rest of the small group to arrive, when a policeman on his motor bike came along side the van asking if we, the Madians, were acting as "middle men" in arranging Ziarah, as we had been "seen" in the vicinity over the past week or so. Three different groups we know are currently residing in three different hotels which happen to be in the very same block, so we have been coming and going visiting and bringing others to visit. One would think this is not so unusual in this season of Hajj. He was told yes, we act as the middle man for Allah Ta’ala. It seems gone are the days and the qualities of Ansar as being admirable. He soon rode off, leaving us to begin our little journey. The driver was extremely amenable, stopping at some of the notable places along the way as was requested while we spoke of the significance of the places. It was agreed that he would drop us before the cave and wait around the corner until we had finished, so that his presence was not obvious.

We stopped at the place where Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam had his wounds bandaged by his noble companions RadhiAllahu anhum, then moved to Masjid Fash, and then to the path leading to the cave. (see previous post for details)

I quote the words above, of our illustrious predecessor, as the feeling that lovers of the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam exude when following in his footsteps seems to emit such a fragrance and serenity of being. I become witness to an inner ecstasy within others, which however momentary, or however deep, and only Allah Ta’ala knows this secret, but for an instant there are such changes where worldly attachment is obliterated. SubhanAllah, I am grateful for this gift from others.

The group proceeded up the mountain, and four managed to enter the cave. I had the intention of taking some photos for this post, and was adjusting the view of Masjid Nabawi in the distance when an all too familiar vehicle suddenly appeared. It was the VICE SQUAD!!! Three of the ‘promotion of virtue and eradication of vice’ men swiftly jumped out and began shouting and yelling for all to come down! Eventually they did, with the word Bid’ah being repeated over and over and the statement that they may as well go back to their country as they had violated their Hajj by visiting such a place. One of the gentlemen from the group even had his pockets frisked. As this was happening other vehicles were driving up the narrow road with the same intention of visiting the cave. The "authorities" inspected the license of one driver, but we had time to warn others to turn around.

Our driver had disappeared. Insha’Allah we hope that he was able get away before they got him. We then began walking to Shuhadah, where by now thousands were arriving by the bus load. Police in their cars seemed to be in every direction, yelling instructions through their load speakers. We felt like criminals, wondering how we would get back. One of the group thought the vice squad cars were a private taxi and began to ask if they were available for hire!

There were hundreds of buses and vans in the designated car parks so we merged with the crowds and finally found a van who would take us back to Haram.

I relate this little tale as like all our experiences there are lessons to be learnt. And upon reflection the sentiments quoted above epitomize the inner of what we shared this morning; ‘For one who has no experience of loss, there can be no experience of finding.’ The pilgrims in this group experienced a loss of sorts, but due to their devotion to our Beloved Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, and retracing his ordeal after the Battle of Uhud, there seemed to be a deep sense of finding. May Allah Ta’ala shower His Hidayah all over the world during this spiritually uplifting time of Hajj. May He protect all the places our Noble Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam’s Mubarak feet stepped for the sake of his Ummah. Insha’Allah make Du’a for our heritage sites. Ameen.

Back to THEN….

Shaikh Ali al-Khabbaz relayed: "I was once in an orchard in Basra, together with its owner, who was one of my companions. In came a dusty, disheveled pauper, who said to the owner of the orchard: ‘Give me some figs, enough to satisfy my appetite!’ My friend presented him with a helping of figs, and he ate them all up, then he said: ‘Give me more!’ He gave him another helping, and he ate them up and then he said: ‘Give me more!’ He kept giving him helping after helping, until he had eaten the weight of a thousand ratl (Approximately one pound in Iraq). Then the pauper went to a nearby stream, and started scooping water from it. He drank a huge amount of water from the stream, then he went on his way.

After some years had elapsed, the owner of the orchard told me that the quantity of its annual produce had multiplied many times over. Then, in the year when he told me this, I went on the Pilgrimage, Hajj. One day, while I was walking along by myself, in front of the caravan, I found myself thinking about the condition of that man, and I wished that I could see him. To my amazement, he appeared there and then, at my right hand side. I saluted him with the greeting of peace, and we continued our journey, he and I walking along together. Whenever he sat down to rest, the entire caravan would come to a halt, and as soon as he started walking, the whole caravan would move forward.

One day, we came to a large lake, the water of which had subsided to the bottom, so he carved out a lump of clay, and made a meal of it. Then he fed me some of the clay, and it tasted like a delicious fruit pudding, with an aroma like that of fragrant musk. He also drank a lot of the apparently stagnant water. Then he said to me: ‘O Ali, this is the first meal I have eaten, since that one you saw me eat in the orchard. I have done no eating or drinking in the meantime.’ ‘O my master, how did you come to be as you are?’ He said: ‘ Shaikh Abu Muhammad ibn Abd al-Basri Rahmatullahi alaihi, once cast a glance upon me, so my heart was filled with love, and my innermost being [Sirr] attained to my Lord, Glory and Exalted is He. All the realms of being were folded up for me, and all substances were transformed for my benefit. Through that glance of his, the remote was brought near to me, and I reached the desired goal. He clothed me with a spiritual essence, which rid me of the need for food and drink, except at the point of contact with humanity.’ The he disappeared from my sight, and I have never seen him since that moment."

May Allah Ta’ala be well pleased with them all.

May He change our dead hearts and ways so that He may be well pleased with us all too. Ameen.  

 

 

 

 

Three images of the narrow laneway as you approach the cave.

From todays Arab News, which seems at variance to what we experienced this morning.

And more on the organizational aspect of Hajj, with predictions of rain, plus a focus on the Indian Hujjaj.

DHUL HIJJAH MUBARAK and Juma’ah Mubarak. With the announcement of the new month it means that this year will be al-Hajj al-Akbar. May Allah Ta’ala bless us all. Ameen. 

All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Ameen.