"IT IS A WELL KNOWN HISTORICAL FACT THAT IN SPREADING THE ETHICAL AND SPIRITUAL VALUES OF ISLAM, MAJOR AND EFFECTIVE CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE WALIS OF ALLAH (SAINTS). IT WAS THEIR HUMANISTIC POSITION, AND PIETY WHICH WON OVER THE HEARTS OF LACS OF PEOPLE. THEY MADE A DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE MASSES SERVED AND LOVED THEM, LIVED WITH THEM IN THE REALIZATION OF ETERNAL TRUTH. "
"THE PROOF OF THIS IS MORE THAN EVIDENT FROM THE HISTORY OF GROWTH OF ISLAM IN "INDIA. ALTHOUGH ISLAM HAD PENETRATED IN THIS SUBCONTINENT IN THE FIRST CENTURY OF HIJRA, BUT THE NOBLE TASK OF INSPIRING THE PEOPLE TO ITS TENETS AND VALUES IN INDIA WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY "HAZRAT KHWAJA MOINUDDIN CHISHTY (R.A.)" POPULARLY KNOWN AS "KWAJA SAHEB" AND "KHWAJA GHARIB NAWAZ"."
"
"THE WORD SUFI IS DERIVED FROM THE ARABIC WORD 'SUF' WHICH MEANS ' WOOL ' AND WHICH REFERS TO THE COARSE WOOLEN ROBES THAT WERE WORN BY THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PBUH) AND BY HIS CLOSE COMPANIONS. THE GOAL OF A SUFI IS NONE OTHER THAN GOD HIMSELF. THERE ARE SIGNS OF GOD EVERYWHERE IN THE UNIVERSE AND IN MAN HIMSELF."
"THE SUFIS HAVE POINTED OUT USEFUL THINGS ABOUT IBLIS. LET'S CONTINUE WITH SOME OF THEIR TEACHINGS. LET US QUOTE SHAYKH FARIDUDDIN 'ATTAR WHO HAS WRITTEN THESE LINES IN HIS "MOSIBAT NAMA"(BOOK OF ADVERSITY), P. 63, FOR PEOPLE LOOKING FOR A SUFI TEACHER:"
"GAR TO GU'I NIST PIRI AASHKAARTO TALAB KON DAR HAZAAR ANDAR HAZAARZE AANKE GAR PIRI NAMAAND DAR JAHAANNA ZAMIN BAR JAAI MAAND NA ZAMAANPIR HAM HAST IN ZAMAAN PENHAAN SHODATANG-E KHALQAAN DIDA DAR KHOLQAAN SHODA"
"IF YOU SAY: THERE IS NO PIR OPENLY TO BE SEEN,THEN YOU SHOULD SEEK ANOTHER THOUSAND TIMES.FOR IF NO PIR WOULD REMAIN IN THE WORLD,THEN NEITHER THE EARTH NOR TIME WOULD REMAIN IN PLACE.THE PIR EXISTS EVEN NOW, BUT HE IS HIDDEN.HAVING SEEN THE NARROW-MINDEDNESS OF THE PEOPLE,HE IS WEARING WORN-OUT CLOTHES."
"SHAYKH 'AZIZUDDIN NASAFI SPEAKS ABOUT THE ROLE OF IBLIS IN THIS RESPECT: "O, DERVISH! YOU WILL NOT FIND THIS WISE MAN OR THIS VERIFIER OF THETRUTH IN MOSQUES, PREACHING FROM THE PULPIT OR RECITING DHIKR. "YOU WILL NOT FIND HIM IN THE RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS GIVING LESSONS, AND YOU WILL NOT FIND HIM AMONG THE PEOPLE OF HIGH OFFICE AMONG THE BOOKISH PEOPLE OR AMONG THE IDOL WORSHIPPERS. YOU WILL NOT FIND HIM IN THE SUFI CENTRE PROSTRATING HIMSELF WITH THE PEOPLE OF FANTASY AND SELF-WORSHIPPERS."
"OUT OF THESE THREE PLACES FOR WORSHIPPING GOD, THERE MAY BE ONE PERSON OUT OF A THOUSAND WORKING FOR THE SAKE OF GOD". " O DERVISH! THE WISE MAN AND THE VERIFIER OF THE TRUTH, AND THE MEN OF GOD ARE HIDDEN AND THIS HIDDENNESS IS THEIR GUARDIAN, THEIR CLUB, THEIR FORTRESS, AND THEIR WEAPON. THIS IS THE REASON WHY THEY ARE CLEAN AND PURE. HE THAT IS NOT HIDDEN IS A PLOT AND A TRICK OF SATAN". O, DERVISH! THEIR EXTERIOR IS LIKE THE EXTERIOR OF THE COMMON PEOPLE AND THEIR INTERIOR IS LIKE THE INTERIOR OF THE ELITE. THEY DON'T GIVE ACCESS TO ANY LEADER OR CHIEF AND THEY HAVE NO CLAIM TO BE A LEADER...THEY SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME IN RETREAT AND SECLUSION, AND THEY DON'T ENJOY INTERACTION WITH THIS WORLD. THEY ARE OPPOSED TO COMPANY WITH THOSE OF HIGH POSITION. IF IT IS USEFUL, THEY SPEND THEIR TIME IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE DEAR ONES AND THE DERVISHES"."
"( TO BE CONTD)"
May the blessings of the God Almighty be alive your guidance,
love, tranquility & harmony
Gulsha Fawzia Salman Chishty
http://www.gulsha.giving.officelive.com
