Menara-e-Noor/Question & Answers

Q ' Which is better out of two? 1. The Holy benediction 2. Dhikr-e-Allah by stroke. Answer. Becoming a momin (true believer) is better of all. Sura-e-Hujrat defines the characteristics of a true believers as follows: Arab say, "They have committed faith", O, Prophet, Tell them, They have only accepted Islam, and faith has not entered their hearts yet", (Faith enters hearts as in shape of light, which is produced through repetition of the Holy Kalima in heart). There are two ways through which the light of Allah enters hearts. One is Wahbi (Bestowed), in which the Prophet Muhammad enlightens the chest of the aspirant by his majestic and elegant glance, just as the incident of Abu Bakar Hawaii, when Abu Bakar Siddique (the most closest friend and companion of the prophet Muhammad ignited the chest of Abu Bakar Hawari by his esoteric glance, to achieve him the rank of sainthood.

There is an other incident when Abdul Qadir Jelani of Bagdad sighted a thief with his special esoteric glance, and enlightened his chest to grant him the rank of Qutub.

This method of enlightenment is known as Wahbi (Bestowed) and reserved for only selected people.

The other method relates to the revival of heart by personal name of Allah or any other names of the attributes of Allah, it takes some considerable time to attain it. This method is known as Kasbi (Acquisition).

When the aspirant, through any method has attained the spiritual benevolence, his chest is enlightened, and heart purified, greed, jealousy' and arrogance are expelled out of his chest. He is saved from being under the effect of the so called prophetic tradition as follows: One who bears arrogance and ardent even of the size of mustard seed, would not enter the heaven.

At this stage his body is Jism-e-Azam (All-purified). He is now able to be granted Ism-e-Azam (The greatest name of Allah).

His heart is now open and ready to receive all sort of benevolence. His heart is linked with the great Empyrean. His prayers (Salah) attains the authority of Ma'raj. Being a Hafiz (Protector of Holy Quran) attains the state as Allama Iqbal explains as follows:

A true believer resembles a rector of the holy Quran, whereas he is Quran himself in real. If the aspirant at this stage, recites the holy benediction frequently, he attains the rank of Faqr and approaches the court of the Prophet Muhammad and attains the authority of being lover of the Prophet Muhammad. If the aspirant at this stage practices the remembrance of heart with the personal name of Allah, he attains the rank of Faqr-e-Bakamaliat. At this particular stage, recitation of holy Quran and performance of the holy benediction become the means of spiritual progress.

This is the station of a lover of Allah. Dhikr-e-Allah is far better than the performance of holy benediction, provided the Dhikr is derived from a saint of Allah. While the performance of holy benediction is greater than a Dhikr not derived by a perfect spiritual guide the recompense of Dhikr-e-Qulb is far greater than that of holy benediction. (Muktobat-e-Rabbani page 232.)

'''Q.2. is Dliikr-e-Allah an abligatory or a custom of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H)?''' Answer. Zikar-e-Allah is both a custom of the Prophet and an obligatory. Its a kind of debt and the decree of Allah as well.

When the Prophet Muhammad was nine years of earthly age, his sacred chest, was dissected, wherein Tifl-e-Noori and Juss-e-Tufeeq-e-llahi were inserted. As these unearthly and granted invisible bodies relate to the light of Allah. Because of- presence of these, the name of Allah started to echo in the prophet's chest.

When due to the Dhikr, the Prophet would feel ecstasy and state of jazb (absorption) he went to the cave of Hira and would engage in the remembrance of Allah.

As the order of Salah did not yet come, therefore it is proved that Dhikr-e- Allah is the first custom of the Prophet PP. The Kalima is the first of all five pillars of Islam and is considered as the greatest Dhikr. The Kalima is an obligatony. Therefore, Dhikr-e-Allah is an obligatory as well.

Holy Quran States: When you have performed your prayers, engage in the remembrance of Allah standing, sitting and even on your sides.

There are five pillars of Islam, four of them provisional, compensation of these are to be awarded on the day of judgment. The compensation of the first pillar, (which) is eternal and Dhikr-e-Qulb) is awarded here in this life as a rank of sainthood (through remembrance of Allah). He attains the authority as described in the given below verse of holy Quran.

الاان اولیاء اللہ لاخوف علیھم ولاھم یحزنون

'''Q.3. Why a dervish and a scholar is opposite of each other, whereas both of them, call people for Allah?''' Answer. A student of religion spends nearly 12 years for acquisition of religious knowledge he learns logic, prophetic traditions and religious problems. He is insisted during the schooling that he would not do any thing against the custom of the Prophet and that he is the heir of the prophet's religion and for him is the prophetic tradition as follows:

The religious scholars of my ummah are like the prophets of Israelites.

He is told that he is superior to all men, this produces arrogance, ego, conceit in him. If he belongs to a spiritual school of thought and the religious instructor is a Saint of God, he is equipped with the spiritual knowledge as well, here he is taught the given below prophetic tradition as well.

"Fear and avoid the company of an ignorant scholar, when enquired by the companion of the prophet, "Who is an ignorant scholar". The prophet replied, one, who is a scholar of exterior knowledge and his heart is black (unaware of Allah's essence) is an ignorant scholar.

In the spiritual school, the student goes through the process of self-mortification, purification of heart and struggle to get rid of arrogance, greed and jealousy. As one attains the predication of self and cleanliness of heart, he becomes a religious scholar and a Dervish at the same time. Viz (Noor-ala-Noor). Some of these are dominated by the knowledge as for example. Imam Ghazali, Hazrat Junaid Bugadai and Imam Abu Hanifa. There are some, other who are dominated by love of God. Like Abdul Qadir Jalani of Baghdad Moeen-ud-Din Chisti of Ajmair, Ali Hajwari of Lahore. Both of the above mentioned categories are correct and not opposite of each other. There are those who are not aware of the station of purification and cleanliness of heart and self such as Maudodi, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, Abdul Wahab, and so many ignorant scholar of this time. And some unorthodox dervish (who do not possess the knowledge of exterior), they have only acquired a kind of spiritual status of heart through remembrance and got stuck in the state of intoxication or absorption. They are really opposite of each other.

'''Q.4. What of a man, who considers himself as saint, whereas he is not and people also believe him to be a saint? What is true re-cognation of a saint?''' Answer. This is the unanimous decision of the religious scholars of this umrnah that a person who claims to be a prophet is an infidel and so are his followers. The prophet hood is subject of revelation and miracle.

So is the unanimous decision of the saints of this ummah, that a person who makes a false claim of Sainthood is severely misguided, unfortunate and daft. He has just burdened himself with the great number of disciples and wasting their lives. His followers are unfortunate, deprived of the benevolence. A saint of God is one who possesses inspiration spiritual insight and a miracle to be able to be a useful saint (Mufeed). One may be so dose to God but does not possess the spiritual insight, miracle and inspiration, will be considered as unique (Munfrad) he should avoid public contacts. The lowest miracle of a saint is that he revives the heart of the seeker with the remembrance of Allah within seven days. Which means that he actually changes the heart beats into remembrance of Allah. There could at least be four men or eight; women, who confirm that hey have attained the presence and access to the court of prophet through the particular saint. The saint is supposed to be able to speak with the essence of Allah. This is the rank of Faqr-e-Bakamaliat. Those of Faqr-eBakaram speak with the essence of Prophet. They grant the Seeker Dhikr-e-Qulbf presence and access to the court of Prophet after they have gone through the process of Self mortification and hard core of worship.

If a man of miracles abide by the sacred law it takes him to upgrade his ranks, if he abandons the sacred law, he ceases to make progress.

'''Q.5. The personal name of Allah is glorious and should only be practiced at isolated places. Is it true that it may turn a man insane?''' Answer. The personal name of Allah is with out any doubt glorious and very hard to be practiced. It is said that Phoenix (a bird) heard Allah Hoo from a dervish. He recited the personal name of Allah until with the heat (produced by recitation) his, body was burnt into ashes, which later produced an egg. Another bird was produced, of the particular egg and when he grew up he also started to recite the personal name of Allah and burnt into ashes again. This routine is continued for centuries now. Allah almighty revealed his personal name on the mountains and they did not accept it but a human heart accepted it. But only those hearts accepted it which were enlightened with the name and love of the Prophet. As the name of prophet is amiable and cool which controls the heat produced by the remembrance of the personal name of Allah. Knowledge, worship and struggle relates to external part of religion but the lights of God relates to the inner self. There were nine (9) spiritual orders for to attain the spiritual link and knowledge which have been cut to four spiritual orders now (Qadri, Naqshbandi, Chishti, Soherwardi). The religious order of Soherwardi has almost ignored Zakooriat (chapter of remembrance) and is engaged with Na'at Khawani (praise of the Prophet). This religious order is now on the edge of being cut off from spiritualism.

One can not be granted the remembrance of the Personal name of Allah until and unless he enters one of these spiritual orders and attaches with a perfect spiritual guide. Once the dhikr is granted it is automatically controlled. If somebody engages in the remembrance of the Personal name of Allah without permission from the spiritual guide, he will definitely burn like a Phoenix and the very heat of it will turn him mad.

'''Q.6. Can women go to the Shrine? where as Ahmed Raza Khan Brailvi opposed it?''' Answer. According to the religious books of Shami and Dur-e-Mukhtar an aged women can visit the holy shrine of a Saint and for young girls it is act of obscene as in the past there was a risk of (Bay-Pardaghi) unveiling at these places and Shrines of Saints became the place of entertainment in India. Because at that time there were no places of entertainment like cinemas, clubs, parks, girl's schools and colleges. The girls would pretend to be going to the Shrines as for to pay homage, but they made it source of entertainment and there were times that the fair were held at the shrines and many of the girls had been kidnapped. It was only then that Ahmed Raza Khan forbade women from visiting shrines.

Even today if a woman visits a shrine with an intention to find entertainment and perform an act of obscenity the-saints of the shrine curses such women. But a woman who intends to attain the spiritual benevolence and cure, is allowed to visit shrines.

'''Q.7. When humans destiny is out of his control, why should he be accountable for it?''' Answer. Destiny is of two types. One is Taqdeer-e-Azal, which is eternal, the other is Taqdeer-e-Mu''aliq which is suspended or pending.

If a person is destined in his Taqdeer-e-Azal that he would not have any progeny or he would not expire as an infideL In this case, the Taqdeeer-e-Mu''alik would not benefit or avail him any thing.

Blessings and prayers of a (Kamil Zat) perfect spiritual master, can certainly change (Taqdeer-e-Azal) (eternal Fate)

نگاہ مرد مومن سے بدل جاتی ہیں تقدیریں

جوہوذوق یقیں پیدا تو کٹ جاتی ہیں زنجیریں

(A glorious glance of a saint changes the fates...)

This particular destiny of Taqdeer-e-Azal is out of human beings control. If a person is destined in his Taqdeeer-e-Azal that he would have four children or that he would be of true believers. Taqdeer-e-Mu'alik would benefit him in this case. This is to say that he would have four children provided he married somebody.

One must avail an intermediary to utilize the Taqdeer-e-Azal, without which one can't avail what he is destined for. If a person is destined to become a true believer, an intermediary must be sought. Therefore, Taqdeer-Mualik is within the access of human beings and of course, one is definitely accountable for it.

Some body asked Makhdoom Jehania, "why one must struggle for the food he is destined for."Makhdoom Jehania replied, " struggling for food is the part of destiny."

'''Q.8. It is said that Paradise is under the feet of mother, can the paradise be obtained without the performance of rights of God and only through serving one's mother?''' Answer. First and foremost is the, command of Allah and his Messenger Muhammad which is followed by the rights of parents and later the rights of fellowmen ship. As growing a beard, performance of Salah (Prayers), attending the assemblies of Dhikr is the decree of Allah and his Prophet Muhammad.

If the rights of parents and fellowmen ship hinder in the way of God, should be abandoned. The companions of the Prophet faced great opposition from their parents in accepting Islam. Their parents prevented them from accepting Islam. They gave up their parents for the sake of Allah and his messenger. Growing beard is a command of Allah. If ones mother prevent him from keeping beard and on contrary he grows beard he would not be considered as sinner, as growing a beard is a decree of God. If some body does not grow beard even being insisted by his mother would be considered as double sinner. This is to say that one disobeys Allah Almighty and his mother at the same time.

Paradise is under the feel of mother, this particular phrase is in use since the time of Adam.

When Hab'ail and Qabail used to fight each other their mother would forbid them and they would not listen to her, that is when Adam used to say, "obey your mother, as paradise is under her feet". This particular phrase was said even at the time of the Prophet Noah when the Prophet Noah announced his Prophet-hood, his wife did not believe neither did his son, his son obeyed his mother just according to above mentioned phrase that paradise is under the feet of mother. As a result of it both mother and son died as infidels, neither the son nor his mother could enter the Heaven.

Once Moses asked God, "Who would be my associate in the Heaven?". God replied. "There is a butcher in the city. He would be your associate." The Moses went to see him, the butcher sold poor quality of meat and weighed less. He used to tell lies. The Moses was surprised and he thought" How could he be my associate". The Moses was confused and he thought that his associate might be some one else. He in-tented to go back when in the mean time Gab rail came and confirmed that the butcher was his associate. Soon the night fell, and the butcher decided to go back home. The Moses said to him, "I'm a traveler and want to spend a night with you." The butcher took the Moses home. He cooked food. He put some food on a plate and approached a tree. He took the swing off which hung on the tree in which was an invalid woman. He fed her. when he finished the Moses noticed that the women was saying something inaudible. Moses asked, "Who is that woman ?". The butcher replied, "She is my mother, she is paralyzed". The Moses asked him, "What was she saying?". He replied, "My mother is a follower of Prophet Moses, I have not seen him. When I feed her she prays to God, "Oh God let my son be associate of Moses'

It proves that obedience of an infidel mother misled a son of a Prophet, and he ended up in the hell and a sinner ended up in the heaven, all because of his pious mother's blessing and prayers. Of course under such mother's feet lies paradise, as that of butcher's mother. Such, mother's obedience, command, service and prayers all lead to the heaven.

'''Q.9. Accoring to Menar-e-Noor one must sight the Prophet to become a true believer, unless otherwise, it is a state of doubtfulness?''' Answer. At the time of the Prophet, many people took the oath of allegiance and converted into ISLAM. There were some of those, who were expelled out of the religion because of their suspicion, short-sightedness and disobedience.

Those of Schismatic still consider themselves as MUSLIMS. They perform the salah and recite the holy Quran as well (all in vain). There is a possibility that we might have as well been expelled out of the (ummah) religion by the Prophet, thanks to our disobedience, greed, jealousy, arrogance and ardent.

Therefore, it is doubtful to be a true-follower of the Prophet Muhammad unless he sights the essence the Prophet Muhammad.

One, who sights the Prophet Muhammad is the true follower and deserves the intercession of the Prophet Muhammad

(Prophetic Tradition) Lairs can not be my followers.

Our deeds are worse than mere telling lies. May Allah shower his mercy upon us.

Those, who were sworn us by the Prophet, some of them accepted Islam by mouths and the faith did not enter their heart (they could not manage to achieve the sincerely of heart).

Most of the above mentioned people turned hypocrite and were expelled out the ummah. There were those, who in the company of the Prophet Muhammad with his love attained the sincerity and cleanliness of heart, were awarded to be as companions of the Prophet and real followers of the Prophet Muhammad.

There are those, who were sworn in by the Prophet after his earthly spent 63 years (he lived open with public for 63 years and after this period of time he actually hid himself and made the access to his being possible only for special people). They are supposed to be admitted followers.

Those, who obtained Murtab-e-Irshad (Authority to render spiritual Instruction) after the bayat, became saints.

As Sultan Haq Bahu said:

دست بیعت کردمارا مصطفٰے

ولد خود خوانندہ است مارا مجتبٰے

I was sworn in by the Prophet,

When a common person is attached with a saint and receives spiritual benevolence, he becomes a true follower of the Prophet. One who has neither access to the Prophet or sighted him, nor he is attached to any saint of God, he would be considered as unreal follower. Children of a Prophet can not necessarily be Prophet and Children of any saint can not necessarily be saint as well. Similarly a follower would not automatically be a follower whether a real or an admitted follower.

According to a Prophetic Traditions, "On the day of judgment the nations (of the Prophets) would be distinguished by their respective lights, this is to say that, People glittering with the light of the attributable name of God, Ya Rehman, will be known as the followers of Moses. There are those who will be glittering with the light of the attributable name of God, Ya Wahab, these will be the follower of Solo man. There are others who would be glittering with the light of the attributable name ,Ya Wadood, these will be the followers of the prophet Da-wood and the followers of the Prophet Muhammad would be enlightened with the light of the personal name of Allah. And those who didn't bear any light would be considered as spy among the nations and these are those who prevented people from Dhikr-e-Allah in the mosques, as it appears in the holy Quran.

Translation:"Who would be more cruel than the one who prevents from the remembrance of Allah in the mosque."

For the acquisition of light, the saints of God strongly recommend the assemblies of Dhikr and instruct the seeker of the path with Dhikr-e-Qulb. Some of the saints even said, "A moment of heedless ness from remembrance of Allah is a moment of Kufr.

According to a Prophetic tradition, "one who remembers Allah is regarded as alive and the one who does not, is considered as dead. Many People of this umma commemorate with the names of attributes of God, it is a kind of worship and it produces some benevolence as well, it is but a pity that despite the personal name of Allah has been granted to them, they are engaged in the attributes.

All Prophets and messengers have been longing for it, but it was only granted to the Prophet Muhammad.

It was further granted to the saints of nine "9" spiritual orders, 12 Imams and finally it was in the whole, granted to Abdul Qadir Jelani of Baghdad, this is how the title of the Ghous-ul-Azam was given.

The authority (key) of the personal name of Allah will be given to Imam Mahdi from Ghuos-e-Azam eventually. All four religious orders were spiritually benefited with the personal name of Allah through Ghoust-e-Pak. If a person or any spiritual order holds grudge against Ghous-e-Pak, he must not, however be able to attain the personal name of Allah.

The personal name of Allah is the means through which one can attain the proximity of God.

The Commemoration of the personal name of Allah Purifies heart and enables him to receive the inspiration of God. The heart hardens and gets dark Without Dhikr-e-Qulb (whether with the name of attributes or personal name of Allah) ithout Dhikr-e-Qulb one falls prey to arrogance, greed and jealousy. The effect of the external worship confines to the faces only, he becomes the perpetual patient of arrogance and jealousy, because these relate to sins and he becomes an eternal sinner.

Due to external worship his heart is filled up with vanity and arrogance. Because he performed five time prayers, he considers himself as better than others. He does not communicate with public and shake hands with them, just because considering he spends nights in worship, he becomes proud. This all develops arrogance and pride in him. Even during Salah his heart is occupied with pride, perhaps he is not aware.

Maulana Roomi says................ it was due to vanity that Azazeel was rejected by God.

According to a tradition of the Prophet. Arrogant and greedy people would not enter the Heaven. Eventually he is expelled out of the ummah. A true follower of the Prophet must not be deprived of the intercession (Shifa'at) of the Prophet.

None of real or admitted followers of the Prophet would go into to the hell. They would be even punished in the heaven (for any thing they have done wrong). his is an incident related to Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jelani of Baghdad, when somebody pushed him into a pond (as a matter of enjoyment) long after he had gained the spiritual ranks, once he was passing by the grave of the above mentioned person, (who pushed Ghous Pak into the waters). Ghous Pak spiritually sighted that he was strolling in heaven with his hand tied together. When enquired as to why his hand was tied up, he replied. "Once I pushed you into a pond and as for punishment my hands are tied up. He further said, ''Had I not been illuminated with the light of personal name of Allah I would have ended up into the hell.

Abdul Qadir Jelani then forgave him and his hands were released.

'''Q.10.some people recite (Sallallaho aliaka ya Muhammad ) after performance of Dhikr-e-ilahi. Why do not they say any respectful words after ya Muhammad such as Muhammad Ur Rasool Allah.?''' Answer. aker- Bin Mujahid once dreamt that the Prophet Kissed Abu Baker Shibli between his eyes. It is said that it was because, Abu Baker shibli used to recite 2 (two) verses of the chapter Tuba and thrice the above-mentioned holy benediction of صلی اللہ علیک یا محمد. This is also the recommended holy benediction of chihsti order. Khuwaja Moeen Uddin Chishti used to recite this particular foly benediction after the performance of Zikar. It is to be noticed that word Allah is Glorious and Muhammad (P.B.U.H) is amiable (cool). In the first part of Kalima word Allah (اللہ) is the personal name of God the rest are attributes and the second part of the holy kalima is Muhammad ur Rasool Allah contains words Muhammad (P.B.U.H) which is the personal name of the Prophet. Many people strikes this particular name on their hearts or chest as for Commemoration.

Commemoration of Muhammad ur Rasool Allah and the holy benediction (Darood-e-Ibraheemi) can not be performed through striking on hearts and chest. Whilst sallaaho Alaika ya Rasool Allah can be performed through striking. But its benevolence relates to the attributes only. Those, who receive spiritual benevolence of the personal name of the Prophet. They strike the name Muhammad (P.B.U.H) on their chest.

They commemorate by saying Sal lal laho alike ya Muhammad (P.B.U.H) when inhale, which means they purify the chest by commemorating sal lal laho aliaka ya Muhammad (P.B.U.H). They then concentrate the word Muhammad (P.B.U.H) on their chest.

They start it with (ا) on heart, (ح) on sirri, (م) on Khafi and finaly (و) on the spirit.

As this process of contemplation takes a bit of times, so they recite the name in the end of the Holy benediction. Many people strike Isme-e-Jamal (Name of Elegance) on their chest for to attain spiritual insight.

In the method revelation of spirits they strike ya ahmed at the right side of the chest and ya Muhammad on the left side. Then they strike the heart with ya Rasool Allah. It has been noted in a book called Akhbar ul Akhyar. Page 199 that for to attain the personal benevolence striking and contemplation of the holy benediction is better but for Tasbeeh (bead of string) and holy benediction the Benediction of Ibraheem is the best.