Bismillahi r-Rahmani r-Rahim
8 Rajab 1444
9th Urs Sharif of Sultan ul-Awliya Mawlana Shaykh Nazim Al-Haqqani ق
Al Fatiha
In this special sohbat Mawlana opens for the first time some of the oceans of the meanings of the ayat, “إِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَىٰ – only Mawaddat through al- Qurba” (42:23). What is al-Mawdah and what is al-Qurba? And what is al-Qawa’ida mina-l Bayti, in the ayat, “وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ الْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ – when Abraham was raising the foundations of the House” (2:128)? Then comes the command, “أَن طَهِّرَا بَيْتِيَ – Purify My House”(2:125). Love is the unique grant of Al-Habib, the Seal of Prophets (ﷺ), and al-Mawaddata fi-l Qurba is the the unique maqam of his Ummah.
Bismillahi r-Rahmani r-Rahim
Illa-l Mawaddata Fi-l Qurba (42:23)
Sultan ul-Awliya Mawlana Shaykh Muhammad Nazim Al-Haqqani An-Naqshbandi ق
Sohbat of the 23rd of May, 2013 – Rajab
As-salāmu ‘alaykum, O beloved brethren of Shah Mardan. Dastur (we ask for permission)! Madad (we ask for support)! We are weak servants. Qawwi da‘fanā fī ridāk (Strengthen us weak ones towards Your good Pleasure)! This is a supplication: O my Lord, strengthen us on the way to Your Pleasure! Give us strength, a strength unlike the strength of animals! No, give us a strength, which enables us to move on Your Way! We are asking for power. For what? To move on the Path of Allah. We are not asking for animal strength.
Here you go, O Shah Mardan. We want strength. Let’s gain strength. That’s what we want. Here you go, O Shah Mardan. What kind of strength should we desire? Qawwi da‘fanā fī ridāk (Strengthen us weak ones towards Your good Pleasure)! On the way to Your Pleasure, O my Lord, give us strength! We are not asking for animal strength, We are asking for spiritual strength. To perform services that gain our Lord’s Pleasure we are asking for strength. Here you are, O Shah Mardan. Of course, we are not asking for animal strength. We were not created to be animals. We were created to be the most honored of all created beings. Qawwi da‘fanā fī ridāk! Give us strength on the way to Your good Pleasure, O my Lord!
We want a strength that lifts us up to the nearness of Allah Most High.
Mā shā’ Allāh, here you go, Shah Mardan. Listen, O beloved brethren of Shah Mardan. Learn, what it is, that you want! What do you want? Animal strength? Animal strength has no value. What we want is strength to perform services that gain Allah the Exalted’s Pleasure. We are not looking for the strength that’s needed to pull carts. We want strength that takes us to spiritual stations closer to Allah. Welcome, O Shah Mardan, how beautiful are your words! We are looking for strength, a strength that brings us close to our Lord. We are not looking for the animal strength to pull carts. No! An animal pulls a cart, serving a purpose, but the strength we desire, is a strength that takes us to Divine Nearness. This is undoubtedly one of Shah Mardan’s important subjects.
We want strength. We want a strength that lifts us up to the nearness of Allah Most High. What are we going to do with animal strength to pull carts? We don’t want animal strength to pull carts. Here you go, Shah Mardan! You’re expressing it beautifully. What use is that animal strength to pull carts to us? An animal is an animal. It does a certain job, but what we want is not that animal strength. What we want is strength that takes us to Divine Nearness, that’s the strength we want.
Mā shā’ Allāh As-salāmu ‘alaykum, O beloved brethren of Shah Mardan. You have to know, what you want! When you open your hands to supplicate, don’t ask for barley straw! Animals ask for barley straw, to feed their animal being, but you are not an animal pulling a cart. You possess a rank, you have an honor. That honor demands that you look for a strength that lifts you up to Divine Nearness, to nearness to the Messenger of the Almighty. Don’t ask for animal strength! Ask for Angelic strength, ask for that strength, which Angels possess! Angels have a strength, which brings us to Allah’s Divine Nearness, into Allah Most High’s proximity. You must know that well! Who doesn’t know this is more of an animal than animals. Here you go, O Shah Mardan! Who doesn’t know, what he wants, is below the rank of animals. We have an honor, but to really achieve that honor we need strength. An animal needs strength to pull a cart, so it eats barley straw. But you…? That is for pulling a cart.
O our Lord, what we are asking for is nearness to You, Your proximity. We ask for spiritual nearness.
Here you go, Shah Mardan. What a human needs is something different, what man needs, is a strength, which takes him to Divine Nearness, to closeness to Allah. That is why the prophets came and taught us what is necessary. That strength comes from divine dominions. Mā shā’ Allāh! Qawwi da‘fī fī ridāk! Grant us weak ones strength on the way towards Your Pleasure, O my Lord! We are weak. We ask for strength, to draw close to You! Here you go, Shah Mardan, master of the realm, beloved of the All-Merciful. Mā shā’ Allāh, how beautiful a wish. Who does not know what to ask for, he is an animal. Man must know for what he was created. O our Lord, what we are asking for is nearness to You, Your proximity. We ask for spiritual nearness.
There are many noble verses of the Qur’ān saying, “Ask for proximity, ask for nearness to your Lord!” “… illa l-mawaddata fī l-qurba.” (42:23) “Mawaddat”! What do we need? This thing needed for proximity, for nearness to Allah, the Exalted, what is this thing called “mawaddat”? It is indeed such a power, that it cannot be described, “illa l-mawaddata fī l-qurba”, that proximity to Allah. Here you go, O Shah Mardan. What is it that Allah, the Exalted, wants? “Illa l-mawaddata fī l-qurba.” You should look for the love of those, who are close to Me! Mā shā’ Allāh, mā shā’ Allāh “Illa l-mawaddata fī l-qurba.” Look for the love of those, who are close to Me! That’s why this glorious Prophet, the closest one to Allah is the glorious Prophet, he is the closest one to Allah, the Majestic. “Mawaddata fī l-qurba.” The closest one in nearness to Allah Most High is the Master of all creation. What is called “mawaddat” regarding him must be a spiritual rank above love (muhabba). Isn’t it like this?
Mawaddat goes even beyond reverent love.
“Mawadda”, it is an incredible word, describing the spiritual rank which befits man. “Illa l-mawaddata fī l-qurba”, the love of those close to Me, is such a love, that it is called “mawaddat”. It is higher than love, it is a love kneaded with caring esteem, kneaded/blended with reverent love. “Mawaddat” is such a power that it gives strength to man to draw near to his Lord. This is a deep subject. “Mawaddatu l-qurba”, it is said regarding the degree of nearness of the closest one to Allah, the Master of all creation. Isn’t it? What is called “mawaddat” is a kind of affection higher than love, a kind of affection that is kneaded with caring reverence. It is not a vain kind of affection. Rather it is a spiritual rank containing the utmost degree of caring esteem. Mawaddat goes even beyond reverent love. It is a rank, the excellence of which nobody can really describe.
When Allah Most High says, “Illa l-mawaddata fī l-qurba”, that “mawaddat for those close to Me” is a spiritual station higher than love. It is the love of those kneaded with love, a love permeated and kneaded with affection and caring reverence. Ultimately, Allah, the Majestic, by saying “mawaddata fī l-qurba” refers to the love of His most beloved one. “With this love you can reach Me, without this love you can’t reach Me!” Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar. Man… man… man holds a spiritual rank of being kneaded/blended with reverent love and affection in the Presence of Allah, the Exalted. This is what Allah Most High wants. Who is permitted the greatest nearness? The one who, in addition to loving his Lord, his love is kneaded with that even higher kind of love called “mawaddat” for His Beloved.
Close ones… who is the one closest to Allah? It is Allah’s Beloved, Habību-Llāh! All prophets came, looking for this love, this “mawaddat”, exerting themselves to bring it to their nations.
“Love for the ones who are close to Me, that is what I want from you”, declares Allah Most High. “Illa l-mawaddata fī l-qurba”, “place the love of those who are close to Me in your hearts! This brings you closer to Me, for you don’t really know, what to do to reach spiritual stations of nearness.” O our Lord, O our Lord, we love the one You love. “Love him”, he says, “but what I want from you is ‘mawaddat’.” Love is one thing, mawaddat is another. Mawaddat is kneaded with caring esteem, an affection kneaded together with the highest degree of reverent love. It is a wondrous thing, “mawaddat”. Close ones… who is the one closest to Allah? It is Allah’s Beloved, Habību-Llāh! All prophets came, looking for this love, this “mawaddat”, exerting themselves to bring it to their nations. All prophets wished for the spiritual station (maqām) of “mawaddat”, so their nation could be representatives of the endless affection and caring reverence of the maqām of “mawaddat”.
Don’t look at this world, Allāhu akbar! Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar wa li-Llāhi l-hamd. Every prophet had for his nation his own spiritual station of ‘mawaddat’, which he presented to them. The Prophet Ibrāhīm’s spiritual station of ‘mawaddat’ was different. Ismā‘īl’s(‘alayhi s-salām)was different. The prophet Nūh’s was different. Ya‘qūb’s(as) was different. The prophet Yūsuf’s was a different kind of mawaddat, love, love of the highest degree of passionate longing, of the highest degree of affection, the highest degree of affection combined with what? Combined with reverent love. All prophets had that, but each prophet’s “mawaddat” was different – each prophet’s. Prophet Yūsuf’s “mawaddat” differed from Ya‘qūb’s (‘alayhi s-salām) “mawaddat”. The Prophet Ibrāhīm’s “mawaddat” was different.
“Wa idh yarfa‘u Ibrāhīmu l-qawā’ida min al-bayti wa Ismā‘īl…” (And when Ibrāhīm raised the foundations of the house with Ismā‘īl ) (2:127) that doesn’t mean that the Prophet Ibrāhīm was a bricklayer. They were not construction workers but they were overcome by such an urge to build “mawaddat”, so that the sons of Ādam might enter into it. The Prophet Ibrāhīm, “and when Ibrāhīm raised the foundations of the house”, which house is this? It is the maqām of “mawaddat”. The building of stone is not what is ultimately intended here. Allāhu akbar. What was it that filled the hearts with the urge to build it? “Mawaddat”, that highest degree of love kneaded/blended with caring reverence. The real aim was not for Prophet Ibrāhīm to erect a building with 4 corners. “And when Ibrāhīm raised the foundations of the house”, Which house is this? “and when Ibrāhīm raised the foundations of the house”, What is that house?
What a magnificient house is that, which the Khalīlu r-Rahmān (the close friend of the All-Merciful) was ordered to raise together with Prophet Ismā’īl. Prophet Ibrāhīm’s maqām is one thing, Ismā’īl’s (‘alayhi s-salām) is different. One is apparent, the other is kneaded with spirituality, hidden inside. Regarding “mawaddat”, there is no way to quantify the Magnificence of Allah, and there is no way to measure the veneration owed to Him. “Build a house”, He said, “so that people’s hearts may hasten to it!” Do they rush to it? They do! “…the foundations of the house”, “and when Ibrāhīm raised the foundations of the house”, Allah ordered it like this, “and when Ibrāhīm raised the foundations of the house”. The house? Which house is that?
The “House of Allah”, that was meant when that order was given, is not that building with four corners, that building had been erected already, anyway. It is inside the hearts of the children of Ādam.”Raise that one”, He says. “O Ibrāhīm, raise it together with Prophet Ismā‘īl, that maqām of the heart, which is the House of your Lord! That’s where you should look! This is the manifestation for which My Beloved, the Beloved of Allah, the Exalted, the Seal of Prophets, the Pride of the Universe, the Beloved of the Lord of the Worlds wishes you to ready yourselves!” Let us also wish for that! Let us laud his (ﷺ) name, for His sake! It is not that building with 4 corners, which is intended here. The intent is to exalt the rank of the one who represents Allah Most High, Habību-Llāh.
What is meant by “House of Allah” is not that building with four corners, but a manifestation of Allah, the Majestic’s Being, in the close friend of the All-Merciful reflecting the exalted maqām of Allah’s Beloved, “illa l-mawaddata fī l-qurba”, to fill your hearts with love for him(ﷺ). It is such a maqām. What Allah, the Exalted, wants, is “mawaddat”. He wants your “mawaddat” for His Beloved. “Love him!”, He says. Allāhu akbar. All prophets came to teach this. They came to fill hearts with this “mawaddat”, but man is heedless. The heedless human being leaves the jewels and runs after a carcass. “Purify My house for those who circumambulate it and sit there!”(2:125) “This is My house, the hearts of the children of Ādam. Uplift them with reverent love and affection! Allāhu akbar! Allāhu akbar wa li-Llāhi l-hamd.
This is the spiritual station, which the prophet Ibrāhīm taught, which is also what he had been ordered, so that “mawaddat” should be for Allah’s Beloved. The glorious rank of Love belongs to the Prophet of the End of Times. What is our level? “Illa l-mawaddata fī l-qurba”, that love kneaded/blended with caring reverence for the Prophet. Then man becomes a venerable human being. O our Lord, grant us the honor of visiting Your blessed house and allow us there to visit that majestic house, which represents the love of Your Being, O my Lord, “al-mawaddata fī l-qurba”. All the prophets visited it. There is not one, who didn’t. May Allah also grace us with that passionate longing, that fervor, that highest degree of love called “mawaddat”!
O our Lord, let us be among those sincere servants who are going to be saved from the ugliness of this world! Let our hearts be pure! Fill our hearts with divine “mawaddat”, enabling us in this way to reach closeness to Allah! “Mawaddat” is above closeness, open your eyes! Look with love for “mawadda”. This maqām is defined by the highest degree of caring reverence kneaded with loving affection. “Become purified in this way and you will reach My Presence”, He says. O our Lord, send us those from Your servants, who will take us far away from the repulsiveness of this world! O my Lord, let us want only You! “All I need is You, is You!”, as Yunus Emre says. “I want nothing else, only Your Nearness, O my Lord!”, is the wish of the Awliyā’.
O our Lord, this Rajab is the month of Allah. Dress us also in its beauties, in its blessings, in its lights, in its intimacy, in its honor, O my Lord, so that we may rush to Your Nearness!
O our Lord, You are most Generous to people, grant Your Generosity in this world and grant it in the hereafter. Let us open up and fill our hearts with joy! Let our faces shine brightly. Let our hearts be full of light! Let us also move towards the glorious maqām of Your Beloved! Let us open up, let us love and be beloved! That is the intent of, “Illa l-mawaddata fī l-qurba.” To make people worthy of respect and love, that’s the mission of all prophets, to endear them and make them become respectable. Who cannot find affection and respect inside himself is an animal. Be human! Then man becomes a venerable human being.
O our Lord, this Rajab is the month of Allah. Dress us also in its beauties, in its blessings, in its lights, in its intimacy, in its honor, O my Lord, so that we may rush to Your Nearness! Here you go, O Shah Mardan, The realm is all yours! O beloved brethren of Shah Mardan, let’s hold on to the way of the beloved ones of Shah Mardan! So many incredible things will be opened up for you! Allah! Allāhu Allāh Allāhu Hasbī, Allāhu Allāh Allāhu Rabbī, Subhān Allāh! Say this and don’t fear! Neither here nor hereafter! Fātiha.
Allah, O Lord! May your life be long, may your longing and fervor be strong! O my Lord, You know best! Dress us in the blessings of this holy month! Cut the roots of the oppressors! Those who say “Allah!”, increase their longing and fervor. Increase ours, too! Let every step of ours be for Your sake. Let us run to You, O our Lord! “Allah!”, let’s say “Allah!” Hasbunā-Llāh. Fātiha.
May Allah be pleased with you! This opened up from a maqām corresponding to Shaykh Mehmet, because the level of this son of mine, Shaykh Mehmet, has become strong. May Allah increase the outpourings of His Blessings through him! Let Him also send some of that power over to me! Allāhu Allāh Allāhu Hasbī, Allāhu Allāh Allāhu Rabbī If people said this, they’d be saved, they wouldn’t need anything else. There you go, my son! Go in peace! May Allah be pleased with you! May your rank be high!
“‘Peace’ – a word from an All-Merciful Lord!” (36:58) to all of us!
Sufi Qalam 