A person generally
purchases material commodities from a shop. Groceries are purchased from a
supermarket; clothing from a clothing store, jewellery from a jewellery shop
and so forth.
In order to obtain
these material commodities, the buyer will have to give a certain amount of
money in return for his goods. This is a transaction which is most common in
the business world.
There is also a
transaction in the spiritual world where special commodities may be purchased :
The commodities of the Ma`rifat (Recognition of Allah Ta’ala), Ishq (Love for
Allah Ta’ala), Qurb (Nearness to Allah Ta’ala), Nisbat (Connection with Allah)
and so forth which are generously available, for all.
However these
special commodities of the ‘Ma’rifat’ (recognition) and Ishq of Allah Ta’ala
are such that they cannot be purchased with the coins and notes, or the gold
and silver of this world. …However, they are to be purchased in this world and are found in what I
term, the ‘shops’ of Ma’rifat… that
are found throughout the world.
These ‘shops of ‘Ma’rifat’ are the Ahlullah (People of
Allah). They
stock the merchandise of Allah Ta’ala. However, these Ahlullah do not accept
cash, cheque, card, gold or silver in their transactions. They accept a
different kind of currency, which is far more precious than money.
The payment for the merchandise of Allah Ta’ala is the qurbaani (sacrifice) of our evil
desires. To become ‘Aarif Billah’, we
have got to make payment for these spiritual treasures with the sacrifice of
our base desires.
The ‘asking price’ is the sacrifices of our evil desires
– whether it is the evil desire to cast lustful gazes, commit
fornication/adultery, gamble, take drugs, backbite, listen to music or commit
any action which is Haraam.
Added to this, the
more money a person possesses, the greater the commodity that can be purchased.
…R5 cannot buy a person a 22ct gold bangle. You require ‘big’ money for big commodities.
Similarly, the more
the qurbaani, the more the ma’rifat of Allah Ta’ala; the greater the sacrifice, the greater the recognition of Allah Ta’ala.
Take the example of
a person who goes to the Jeweller and he has with him R100 000. On the one
hand, he wants to purchase jewellery and on the other hand, he does not want to
part with his money. He is attached to the one and he is drawn to the other. He
wants both. …But he will have to part with that money in exchange for the
jewels that he desires.
Many of us want to
please Allah Ta’ala and we want to also keep our nafs happy. …This cannot be.
No one can gain the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala and secure His love while
pandering to the whims and fancies of the nafs and shaytaan.
Just as the person
will get gems, pearls, gold and silver in return for his money; so too, if the
Saalik (Seeker of Allah Ta’ala) is prepared to make the sacrifice and then
renders the sacrifices of his evil desires and passions, then from the shops of
Ma’rifat, he will be given the pearls and jewels of Ma’rifat.
The Ahlullah have
within their hearts an invaluable treasure. They are very generous in sharing
because sharing increases their treasure. And if we are able to secure the
same, then we will understand the insignificance of dunya (the material world).
“O Allah, You have explained Your Value,
being both worlds.
If by giving both the worlds, You are
attained,
Both worlds are nothing in exchange for
Your Love and Friendship.
Even if a person should sacrifice his life
for You,
Then too, the full price has not been paid.
To become martyred for the sake of Your
Love,
Is better than a thousand lives,
And many are the Kingdoms to be sacrificed
for Your Bondage,”
Once Shah Waliullah
(RA) addressed the Moghul Emporers, saying : Waliullah has a heart that is beautified with the gems and pearls of
the Love of Allah Ta’ala. If there is anyone wealthier, then come forward. When
you die, you will be beneath the ground, wrapped in a few sheets, while your
power and position, your wealth and treasure will be left behind, above the
ground.
The gems and pearls
of the Ishq and Ma’rifat of Allah Ta’ala are dependent on how much of qurbaani
is made.
“O Friend! Treasures are generally buried
in places of destruction.
Hence destroy the evil desires and attain
the Treasure”
Until we do not turn our hearts
red with the blood of our evil desires, there is no way that we can secure the
Ishq, Ma`rifat and Qurb of Allah Ta’ala. There is no Wali (Friend of Allah
Ta’ala) who has become a Wali by fulfilling the evil desires of his heart.
The condition of the sincere
ones is :
“Say:
‘Truly, my Salaah (prayer), and my sacrifice, my life and my death are (all)
for Allah, The Cherisher of the Worlds.’”
[Surah An-An`aam 6 : 162]
By Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh)
