Tawzifnama 11 to 15
11.
“Don’t say “why is that so?”
It is just as it should be
Look and wait to see what will result
Let us then see what the Lord does
Whatever He does the result is beautiful”
Why should you object to anything at all in your heart of hearts? In practical daily life we can and should certainly object to many things and try to change them to what seems better. Again, as previously explained, what Allah wants us to change is what He allows us to change, by giving us the power and opportunity to do it. However, the majority of things happen beyond our control and that exactly means they are neither our responsibility nor for us to judge.
There is no doubt that impressions from the appearances are usually deceptive and judgements based on them more unjust than any supposed injustice we are criticising. This does not of course mean that we cannot or should not criticise anything. It only means that we can and should criticise things we are well informed about and competent in. An ‘alim’ (Islamic scholar) can criticise another ‘alim’ only in matters of the knowledge they more or less share, but not in something else they do not. For example, one may be a gardener and the other a birdcage maker by hobby. The gardener however, cannot criticise the birdcage maker in the art of making them except perhaps when he is a sort of genius or suddenly has an inspiration which enables him to make a helpful suggestion. There is nothing more embarrassing, rude and vain than an ignoramus trying to offer guidance to an expert. Unfortunately, this is what happens most of the time among people with harmful results. This tendency to interfere with others come from ignorant pride and blindness to one’s own defects and more importantly, needs. It is like trying to put out a fire, if it is really a fire at all, in your neighbour’s home while your home itself is surely on fire.
This kind of disastrous and irresponsible behaviour is the cause of a catalogue of sins clearly names and prohibited by Allah (swt,viz.)
“Do not pursue things about which you have no knowledge. The ear, the eye and the heart are (all) responsible for it.”
“Do not investigate or spy on others and do not indulge in backbiting (criticism in absentia)”
“Avoid most of unfavourable opinions about others. Some of such opinions are sinful.”
The modern age of “democracy and human rights” may have a lot of merits to commend it, but at least in one respect it is quite scandalous. Under the cult principles of “Freedom of thought and expression” people, especially those in the media and politics are given almost total license to (i) peep into the private lives (ii) to investigate matters for which they are neither responsible nor authorised (iii) accuse and condemn as a result. To get the information they want they dabble in every kind of crime from bribery to telephone tapping to burglary, unaware that they acted like gangsters who feel entitled to accuse their victims. Worse still, they broadcast or publicise opinions hardly based on solid facts, instead reflecting their grudge and bias against somebody or something no matter how dear or sacred that somebody or something might be to how many people. This savage lust to indulge one’s grudges and biases are defended as a sacred human right, as an inviolable freedom. They are forgetting that people are not only bodies vulnerable by physical abuse, but also they are minds vulnerable to mental abuse.
It is a fact that you can hurt a person by ridiculing their race or ancestry or faith as much as if not more than throwing stones at them or stabbing them with a knife. A hurt is a hurt and you cannot admit one kind and turn a blind eye to another just because you need to vent your venom about something or somebody which is dear to others. If this should be free, physical violence should also be free. Another curse of modern society is its encouragement of debates among sections and levels of society about everything no matter how ill-informed the debates might be. Again, the greatest offenders are in the media. Because they want to be the first to break the news about anything as well as give the most sensational news in the most appealing way, “popular” papers, radios and TV stations “inform” their clients of things in too much of a hurry with too few checks and verification. As a result, reputations are ruined (many times unjustly) and harmful reactions triggered. The essence of such behaviour is the exploitation of the lower instincts and hostile grievances of an immature populace, thereby obtaining their money.
The same is at the root of all pornography whether a nude photograph on page five or a salacious rape or seduction story on page one (hardly anywhere else). Because such sordid exploitation of the infantile populace is enormously profitable most media are enemies of religions or any movements trying to discredit and block their ways. But to return to our subject squarely, we can conclude that a lot of criticism we common people or the media cannot help indulging in is probably more unjust and unjustified than the acts and persons we are criticising and is making the matters worse just because they are unjustified. To cure this plague, if it is curable at all, we are not advocating any ideology or legal reforms. As we pointed out earlier, external measures cannot solve problems originating from internal illnesses. The only solution can be internal as well. As many people as possible must be taught noble beliefs and morals and manners. Although it is impossible to convert everybody to a faith and persuade them to behave according to that faith’s requirements, the more people we can convert end the more we can persuade each to live up to the faith, the better for everybody. Allah says:
“ Most of the people shall not be believers however ardently you may wish”
“Among My servants the thankful are but few”
Still, this world becomes a better place in general in proportion to the number of enlightened and matured souls living among its population. Such enlightened and matured persons not only do not indulge in ill-informed and unjustified criticism, but also keep admiring those who are in contact with them not to do it either, explaining to them why they shouldn’t. The more of their contacts stop such idle talk, the less harm will result for all concerned.
The enlightened and matured person will not indulge in ill-informed and unjustified criticism because the cause of such behaviour is not so much the desire to put things right as it is to give vent to confused general resentment and jealousy afflicting all immature people - squalor breeds leprosy among dirt- poor people. Being fully aware of the laws of behaviour, the illuminated and matured person has a cleansed heart harbouring no resentments or nurturing no jealousies. He can only pity people who infringe on other’s rights and will not for example feel a hunger to read the story of a murder or rape in order to have some kicks of sadistic pleasure, while in public he will hypocritically condemn the culprits.
Finally, the enlightened and matured person knows that this whole universe is the manifestation of a Perfect Being and everything that happens therein must lead to good one way or another. He is not upset by the fact that wolves must devour lambs or microbes must feed people. Although he pities the suffering involved he is not upset unduly by the apparent injustices done by some people to others or by afflictions gripping some people for no apparent fault of theirs, like a sudden accident or an abnormal birth. He knows or at least assumes that Allah knows what He is doing and that includes creating some people who are both merciful and able to put some injustices right or to comfort the afflicted. Hence, if Allah gives you both power and opportunity to remove an injustice or comfort an afflicted person, you should do that with thanks to and for Allah and not expect or demand thanks from the beneficiaries. Allah Says:
“They feed the destitute, the orphan and the slave for His love’s sake, saying ‘we are not feeding you but for Allah’s sake and we do not want from you either reward or thanks.’”
The ultimate Divine purpose behind all events whether pleasurable or painful or ‘just’ or ‘unjust’ is our spiritual evolution with a view to prepare us for our eternal existence in the company of Allah swt and nothing else. This world is only important and vital for this purpose and outside this it is totally worthless. Too much worry and grief in this world’s account or happiness based on its satisfaction are vain and will eventually be regretted”. The Real converts evils into good Do not think that He does otherwise.”
12.
“Do not look down on anybody
Do not hurt, do not ruin hearts
Do not take sides with your ego
Let us then see what the Lord does
Whatever He does the result is beautiful”
How many supposedly religious or pious people are puffed up with pride and will look down on others with contempt and sometimes hatred as well? Believer or unbeliever, pious or impious, do not look down on anybody. For appearances are both transitory and deceptive. A believer may turn an unbeliever tomorrow, while today’s unbeliever may turn a believer the next day. A pious- looking person may in reality be a Satan in disguise while an apparently impious person may be a future saint in temporary turmoil. History is full of examples of apparent pious people committing unspeakable crimes and dying as infidels while some apparent criminals one day repenting end up turning into ever-tearful saints full of the most assertive piety and humility. Know that Allah is testing each one of us with each one we meet to see whether we behave humbly and kindly towards them or seek to take pride in ourselves. This pride and conceit of most religious people leads them to insult others openly or by implication and break their hearts very painfully. This is an imposition of the devil on them who thereby seeks to wreck the spread of true faith. People savaged and scandalised by immature religionists begin hating religion itself and this is at the bottom of most irreligion and impiety that characterises our modern age.
Most of our religions leaders and almost all out religious populace have no sense of timing or propriety. From the Qu’ran they absorb more of the Madinain verses which reflect the victory of Islam and talks harshly of Islam’s enemies and its too lukewarm victories. They somehow fail to absorb the Meccan verses which reflect the initial weakness of Muslims there and switch sharply between intense condemnation of idolatrous impieties and the praises of the humble and patiently suffering believers and those believer’s apologetic, well-wishing attitudes towards their oppressors, quite similar to the early Christians who were persecuted by the Romans as well as the Jewish establishment. The Prophet Shuaib is reported to have said to his cruel people, “ My only wish is (your) betterment as much as I am able.” ( ). Our prophet sws, spoke to his Meccan audience with politeness and humility, addressing the likes of Abu Lahab, Abu Jahl, Walid etc. very respectfully and trying to convince them of the truth of his message as sweetly as possible.
“Warn your near tribe.”
“Call to your Lord’s way with wisdom and courteous advice and fight against them with what is pleasant.”
Today’s Muslims forgetting that they have been thoroughly beaten by the West and are captives in their hands economically, politically and militarily are trying not to win over the hearts and minds of their powerful captors as they should, but instead are trying to shout them down with insults and sarcasm and bomb them out with terrorist activity. Both only help to widen the rift between Islam and the West and threatens to precipitate a showdown with disastrous results. We must realise that against out Western rivals we are hardly in a more advantageous position then out Prophet and his few Meccan companions were against pagan arabs and accordingly we should treat out adversaries with tact and caution to say the least. What is more, what we sometimes do to each other in terms of cruelty and oppression sometimes dwarfs what the West does or ever did to us and we should be ashamed of ourselves. Have we ever been able to unite as we should? Let alone the whole Islamic nation (al ummah) even Arabs cannot unite. Let alone Arabs, even most radical and committed Islamic groups are unable to unite. Each fights for supremacy and plots against the others in most disreputable ways. If such behaviour and relations among Muslims is not wrong, the West’s treatment of us is not wrong either. The sad fact is that as this twelfth quintet warns against. We are looking down both on our fellow Muslims and out non-Muslim rivals; we are hurting and insulting the same, and breaking hearts and we are taking sides with out lustful and ambitious egos instead of trying to be just, even if against out ego’s desires. Allah help us!
13.
“The believer’s (mumin’s) affair cannot be colour changing
And his mental habit cannot be militancy
The arif’s tongue cannot be venomous
Let us then see what the Lord does
Whatever He does the result is beautiful”
A true and sincere believer does not change colours every time he works towards something. He is not a chameleon turning grey among rocks and green among leaves. Wherever he is seen he is recognised for his piety and rectitude and he will not disappoint his admirers. He is true to himself always because he is true to Allah. Again, “his mental habit cannot be militancy” i.e. he prefers sane and sober discussion and responds kindly with polite argument to anger and violence.”
Lastly, his “tongue cannot be venomous” i.e. he will not eject insults, sarcasm, hurtful insinuations towards anybody whether Muslim or non-Muslim. Rather, his talk or writing will be all politeness, propriety and goodwill. Now please my dear readers tell me the truth. How are the affairs, mental habits and tongues of most of our Islamic fighters? Are their affairs uniformly pious and upright or shifty and irresolute? Are their habits peaceful or warlike? Are their tongues humbly and respectfully sweet or arrogantly and venomously vindictive? May Allah help us. Ameen.
Now, why are some Muslims unsteady in their attitudes? Why are some warmongers? Why do some have such incisive, wounding tongues? First, the unsteady, unreliable behaviour. This comes from weak faith. The person is yet to be convinced of the truth of Islam and his interest in the hedonistic (pleasure- seeking) and selfish side of life is still dominating his heart. He is split between living for Allah and living for his lower self- his ego and nafs.
Allah says: “There are not of these or of those” and “In their doubt they vacillate”
Hence, of they see an Islamic cause more probably winning they rush to join. If they see the odds turning against the Islamic side, they quietly quit and can even join the anti-Islamic side. But the issue is merely an Islam- un-Islam divide. Persons with week faith will take long to consent to sacrifice any selfish interest for the sake of a noble purpose or remain on board of the noble cause when the opponents’ victory looks more likely. Therefore, they may give promises freely and easily to get rid of you but will not keep them when the crunch comes. When a lot of Muslims are like this (i.e. with week faith and reliability), the Muslim public becomes more disenchanted and will find it difficult to trust and follow anybody. Again, this is why we Muslims have been unable to unite so far despite best efforts.
Once upon a time,
Secondly, why are come Muslims so warlike? They are obsessed with “Jehad,” which, judging from their restless and ever-violent temper and behaviour means picking a fight with anybody and everybody whenever slightest pretext can be found. I remember such a ‘mujahid.’ A refugee from a war-torn, devastated Muslim country who was befriended by a Muslim family in a Western country. This family was Muslim but quite a humble one at that. Due to their defective upbringing they were little concerned with the formal practises of Islam but despite that, in every other way they were exemplary Muslims bearing in mind that Islam’s ultimate worldly aim is to make man and woman highly moral and well mannered ( Akhlaq wa abad). That is why the Prophet (sws) emphasised.
“ The heaviest deed in the balance on the Day of Judgement is good morals (husn al khulq)” and “ One can attain the ranks of those who pass their days by fasting and their nights by praying by simply achieving good morals” and “ I have been sent for nothing but to perfect the glories of morality.”
Who can argue with the Messenger of Allah (sws)? Now this self-appointed and self-styled mujahid refugee ate the food of this kind family and enjoyed their pure and sincere hospitality and instead of thanking them, criticised everything he saw from the hostess’ uncovered hair to the photographs, innocently hanging on the walls, warning direly that “angels would not enter their house.” Although the kind, unassuming hosts did not mind, their hearts were not won either. In contrast to this I have seen saintly scholars who visit or have been visited by ignorant and negligent Muslims and by simply never criticising them but only exchanging niceties with them politely, he won them over to full “Islamization,” however gradually. They did not even challenge their non-Muslims visitors and again by simply being kind and polite to them they won some of them to Islam without asking them to be Muslims even once!
The militancy of some Muslims are so general and indiscriminate that they function exclusively as “criticising robots” round the clock, even when they sleep. The cause of such militant fanaticism according to psychologists is secret doubt in the hearts of the perpetrator. Because he cannot silence the tormenting voice of the secret doubt, he desperately tries to drown that voice in the noise he directs to others. To put it differently, he takes the message of the doubt in his heart and converting it into emphatic assertion, throws it loudly to as many people as possible as many times as possible in order to vent his inner pressure. A true and insightful believer just believes and is content with their belief, festering no spiritual abscess seeking an explosive relief. The doubter- fanatic needs to export his unhappiness to all around him so that they become infected with the same suffering and he gains comfort from the increase in the numbers of the similarly afflicted. Because he is unhappy with his faith and its “oppressive” practises, he wants others as well to acquire a doubting faith and oppressive compulsion for the practises imposed. It is as if he wants to say, “ Look how cruel is Islam which swallowed me up on account of my fear of death and going to hell and taste the same bitter pill I am unable to throw away. Why should I suffer all alone while you are merrily indulging in your lustful pursuits? Let us suffer equally, shall we? If you refuse, I shall fight against you tooth and nail and I shall even bomb you into submitting to the same indignity I submitted to out of fear of death and the threat of hell. Don’t make too much out of God’s Mercy. He is still too dangerously ruthless for us to take His Mercy for granted and we have to suffer Him to be on the safe side. But I dread being alone in this uncomfortable, nightmarish situation. I want and need you as well to share it with me. To get it I am prepared to fight you as savagely as I can.
Thirdly, “The arif’s tongue cannot be venomous.” How can it be? An arif, the insightful Gnostic, the one who attains understanding in matters Divine and spiritual; who has become an initiate and adept in the use of the astrolabe of gnosis is so pleased with Allah’s ways, in what Allah does to His servants for their ultimate good in the eternity that he can see the wisdom in and the reason behind each person’s or situation’s peculiarities and can be anything but angry with or resentful towards them. And because there is no bitterness and pressure in his heart, his tongue cannot conduct bitterness- he will not either produce or eject venom. Only those immature, doubting, vacillating and tormented Muslims and satanlike enemies of Allah can produce inner animosity and pour it through their tongues, looks and behaviour. It is a spiritual law that what is produced must be used. It cannot accumulate for long as there is not enough room to store such feelings.
Beware then and know that whoever among Muslims is in the habit of talking bitterly and breaking hearts is a secret doubter resentful of Allah however knowledgeable, practising and pious he may appear to be. But neither expose him nor criticise him. If you want to help him at all, just be patient and treat him excellently and eventually he may be cured successfully. Read if you want, “ Return evil with good and you will see that the one between whom and you there is enmity shall becomes as if he is a warm friend. Only the patient can attain this (success), only those given a big share (of sanctity) can attain this (success).”
14.
“It is my good patience that is pleasant
It is Allah’s preordination that is my guarantee
Allah is my dependable
Let us then see what the Lord does
Whatever He does the result is beautiful”
What pleasure do I need to look for while I discovered the satisfactory fact that good patience is the greatest comfort one can attain? Yes, thanks to my faith and trust in Allah I am patient with everything and everybody because I do not so much see them as I see Allah to be the real agent and actor. My Lord can entertain and educate me anyway He wants and patience for me means allowing Him to feed and pamper me all the time so that my spirit acquires the qualities necessary to see more of Him and to eventually end up in His sweet embrace, swimming in His oceans of godhead, constantly gazing at His Face. What greater pleasure can there be than being patient with His gracious ways?
And what greater guarantee need there be than the fact that everything that is going to happen to me has already been planned by Him and nobody can change it. Don’t you see how the young whether of man or beast depend on their mothers completely and unconcernedly, expecting and getting all the sustenance and protection without having to do anything other than suckling the nipple offered and accepting the kisses and caresses given. Allah is the Maker of all mothers and as the Messenger of Allah (sws) said, “ Allah’s Mercy towards His servants is at least ten times greater than a mother’s mercy towards her newborn.” What is more, a mother may fail in her duty but Allah will not. Then, depending on Him no matter what is a totally justified and foolproof guarantee.
15.
“On every tongue His name
In every soul His remembrance
To each servant is His succour
Let us then see what the Lord does
Whatever He does the result is beautiful”
Even the most irreligious people will pronounce His name at times and they cannot help it however much they try. This is because in his heart of hearts, every person without exception knows and acknowledges Allah and that in turn is because it is Allah Who created them and put in their constitution an inseparable pre-eternal experience of Allah’s existence. Read if you want:
“When we took from the back of Adam his offspring and addressing them we said, “ Am I not your Lord?” They said, “Indeed, Thou art.” That is because we wanted to make them witnesses against themselves so that they will not be able to say “ We did not know this in advance.””
The only trouble with the unbelievers is that they are too infatuated with their hedonistic desires and too pleased with their pride and as a result, they cannot bear the prospect of compromising them in the interests of to them, less tangible spiritual benefits offered by Allah.
“In every soul is His remembrance.” Yes, even the hardest atheists cannot help think of Allah and feeling intrigues about Him. How eye opening it is to read some of the writings of such fools who address Allah with hatred and accusations, forgetting that they hardly needed bothering with Him had they really been convinced of His non-existence. It sounds like a prostrated previous lover’s bad language against his missed beloved who now is accused of being unfaithful. By the agreement of all psychologists, such behaviour only confirms the existence of burning love and the accuser will be found only too ready to rush to the arms of the beloved should she just smile or wink once playfully. But she won’t because the desperado does not deserve it. That is because there is a selfish element in his love and an aware beloved will not accept such adulterated, impure love. It is a spiritual law that I am telling you now and you better open your eyes and ears. “ True love is admiring understanding of the beloved and had no self-interest to serve. It is not possessive or pleasure- seeking. It willingly lets the beloved be and derives all its joy from the pure contemplation of the beloved.” Here is an example: Two boys are interested in the birds visiting their gardens. One is nervous as he watches them and will try to trap them to that he can put them in cages for enjoying their sight and songs any time he wishes or perhaps kill and eat them for their excellent taste. He loves them alright, but how pure and selfless is his love?
The other boy, on the other hand is simply happy to watch these lovely birds perch on the trees in the garden, sing and communicate naturally, feed themselves as they please and with delight, fly off and return as they so wish. The boy is simply fascinated with them and nothing makes him happier than seeing “his” birds free and happy. Now, I am sure you agree with me that this is the real love. The pure love. Let us carry this over to relations between human beings. One who loves you truly will not demand anything from you whatsoever in return for his love. He will just seek and enjoy your company and if anything, he will be delighted to give you something instead of taking anything from you. That is how good parents love their children and that is how a good friend should like you. And that is how you should love others and above all, Allah. The only difference is that you can’t help needing Allah’s favours and you have to pray to Him. He is altogether in a different category than other and your worshipping and praying to Him do not detract from your love. On the contrary, it is part of your necessary relation to Him. What is required of you as a true lover of Allah is not accusing Him with anything however dreadful. That is a tall order and enough to ensure your sainthood if you can succeed in it.
“To each servant His succour.” Believer or “atheist,” Allah has enough Mercy for every servant and His punishments are part and parcel of that mercy. Do you not see how female cats paw their kittens and hens bill their chicks when they dangerously misbehave? Each mother has her young’s best interests at heart and will punish them for their own good, while feeling sad in her heart for being forced to punish.
All of us take our share of punishment in love and after death but it is not meted out out of blind vindictiveness. It is one aspect of our education as spirits and it is up to us to avoid its application as much as we can by being obedient.