Question & Answere Before Understanding Suffisum

Question & Answere  Before Understanding Suffisum 

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Q1:
What is Mysticism?
Ans.:
Mysticism is the knowledge of the Inner World, which reveals the vision of God.


Q2:
Who all come into the folds of Mysticism?
Ans.:
The mystics of all religions.


Q3:
What is Sufism?
Ans.:
Sufism is the knowledge of the heart (Ilm- e- Seena) of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (birth 20th April ‘571 AD -died 25th May ‘634 AD).


Q4:
What is the difference between Mysticism & Sufism?
Ans.:
Mysticism is like a cup & Sufism is its wine. The wine of mysticism from any religion can fill the cup.


Q5:
What is the aim of Sufism?
Ans.:
The aim of Sufism is to make people godly, means, the Friend of God by uplifting their outer and inner knowingness with purity.


Q6:
Is Sufism only for Muslims?
Ans.:
No, Sufism is like a tavern with free entry to anyone who wishes to get the free wine of Tauheed (Unity of God).


Q7:
What is Tauheed?
Ans.:
According to Hazrat Imam Ghazali (d.1111 AD), it is “...to make all (as) One, to see all (as) One, to know all (as) One and to count all (as) One.” Sufism is based on Tauheed.


Q8:
Is Sufism a part of Islam?
Ans.:
Yes. Just as everything has two sides to it, in the same way even religions have two sides – the outer & the inner. Sufism is the inner knowledge of Islam.


Q9:
What is Islam?
Ans.:
Literally means: Submission to God.


Q10:
What is the knowledge of the heart?
Ans.:
That which will fill the heart with Noor-e-Elahi (Light of God) and then everything will be seen clearly.


Q11:
How can I get the knowledge of the heart?
Ans.:
By erasing all doubts.


Q12:
From where has the word ‘Sufi’ come into Islam?
Ans.:
Ashab-e-suffa (companions of the Platform). This group of lovers of the Holy Prophet would wear a thick coat of soof (wool) and sit on a platform outside the house of Prophet Mohammed, in exclusive devotion (yaksui). The Holy Quran has described it thus:

“Remember thou, the name of Thy Lord, and devote thyself, unto Him with an exclusive devotion”. {Para 29 : Ayat 8}

They were pure & so much mad in love of the Holy Prophet that they would wait endlessly outside his house for his one glance.


Q13:
Why did the Ashab-e-suffa use the long coat of soof?
Ans.:
Because the Holy Prophet used to wear the long, white woollen soof dress. Symbolically, it is also represents wafa (faithfulness).


Q14:
Why did the Prophet use this particular kind of dress?
Ans.:
It is comfortable to wear in the Arabian climate. It also hides the external physical movement of the body. And, in this long dress, a person looks like Alif, which represents ‘one’ - the one God.


Q15:
Is there a symbolic description of the word soof.
Ans.:
Yes. The word soof is made from three letters: Su’wad, Wa’oo and Fay. According to Hazrat Junaid of Baghdad (d.910 AD):

Su’wad represents sabr (patience), sidq (sincerity), safa (purity)
Wa’oo represents wu’du (friendship), wird (practice), wafa (fidelity)
Fay represents fard (detachments), faqr (poverty), fana (annihilation)


Q16:
Who is the first Sufi?
Ans.:
Hazrat Ali (d.661 AD).


Q17:
Can I become a Sufi?
Ans.:
Yes, if you will follow the way of Hazrat Ali. The Holy Prophet has himself said thus about Hazrat Ali: “I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate”


Q18:
What is the way of Hazrat Ali?
Ans.:
To follow the Holy Prophet with Istiqamat (constancy).


Q19:
Why only Ali when the Prophet has very many disciples?
Ans.:
Because Hazrat Ali has made his own Nafs (Self) the same as the Nafs of the Holy Prophet. Therefore, he is also called Ham Nafs-e-Rasool (being of the same Nafs as that of the Holy Prophet). The Holy Prophet himself once remarked: “ Whoever takes me as a master, Ali is his master too.”


Q20:
What is Nafs?
Ans.:
The Self or the desires of the Self.


Q21:
Why Ali is called Ham Nafs-e-Rasool?
Ans.:
Because he has no desires of his own. He has surrendered his own will to the will of the Holy Prophet and you already know that the Holy Prophet has surrendered his will to the Will of God.


Q22:
In one of your question you have mentioned ‘the Tavern’ and ‘the Wine of Tauheed’. Who is the cupbearer (Saqi)?
Ans.:
The cupbearer is the spiritual guide (Pir-o-Murshid), also referred to as the Pir-e-Maikhana (Tavern Keeper).


Q23:
If the spiritual guide is the cupbearer, then what is the position of Hazrat Ali, the Holy Prophet and God?
Ans.:
Hazrat Ali allots the Goblet (surahi). He is called Qasim-e-Kausar (the one who allots the fountain of Paradise). The Holy Prophet Mohammed is called the Saqi-e-Kausar (the cupbearer of the fountain of Paradise). God is the owner of all the Taverns of all the different faiths. He is called Saqi-e-Alam (the cupbearer of the Universe).


Q24:
What is a proper word for the Tavern in Sufism.
Ans.:
Khanqah.


Q25:
What is a Khanqah?
Ans.:
Literally, it means a convent. There are actually two sounds hidden in the word Khanqah.: the sounds of ‘Kha’ and ‘Qah’. ‘Kha’ is for khana which means ‘a house’ or ‘a place’ and ‘Qah’ reminds us of Qana’at or contentment. Which then means that a Khanqah is a House of Contentment. Where there is contentment there is satisfaction. Where there is satisfaction, there is mercy, and where there is mercy there is peace. For the holy souls peace is very important. The sufi’s are content with what is granted to them and with their contentment, they make Palaces of Peace. As a result, all the connected holy souls begin to come to this Palace of Peace. Those who visit such a place are showered with blessings. In blessings there is peace.


Q26:
Who is the successor to the Saqi or Pir?
Ans.:
A practical (ba amaal) Sufi who can pour with generosity (sakhawat).


Q27:
Does a Sufi order have to be run by blood relations?
Ans.:
No, it does not. However, if the children have the desired qualities of running the Sufi Order (silsila) and the higher authorities of the order decide so, then the order may be run so.


Q28:
Who nominates the successor?
Ans.:
The higher spiritual circle of the order and the connected spiritual alliances (Nisbat) nominate the successor (sajjadanashin).


Q29:
Is there is a scale by which a successor is nominated?
Ans.:
The Nafs (self).


Q30:
How can they nominate the successor by assessing the nafs?
Ans.:
The Nafs is like mercury in a thermometer, which increases and decreases.


Q31:
How can we reduce our nafs?
Ans.:
By willfully controlling the desires that originate from our self (nafsani khuwahishat).


Q32:
And how can we control the desires of the self?
Ans.:
By being content (qana’at).


Q33:
How can we get contentment?
Ans.:
Follow the formula of Hazrat Dr. Zahurul Hassan Sharib, Gudri Shah Baba IV (d. 1996 AD): “What He has done, done the best,
What He is doing, doing the best and
What He will do, do the best”


Q34:
Can I follow the practices of other mystical faiths along with Sufi practices?
Ans.:
According to Hazrat Nawab Khadim Hasan, Gudri Shah Baba III (d. 1970 AD): “To mix other mystical practices with Sufi practices is as tasteless as chun-chun ka murabba (a tasteless jam of fifty four fruits).”


Q35:
Why is it tasteless?
Ans.:
Because it shows lack of devotion (aqeeda). If there is a lack of devotion, then there is less attention (tawaj’joo) of the master. Everything runs with the special attention (tawaj’joo). Tawaj’joo makes a person insan-e-kaamil (a perfect person).


Q36:
How can I follow the ways of Hazrat Ali when he is not physically present?
Ans.:
Every human being has the quality to carry out the duties for the generation ahead. In a similar way, he can go reverse by connecting to the links of a sufi order. In a sufi order there are various stations (muqam). When a seeker (talib) follows his spiritual guide (Pir-o-Murshid) with devotion, the love of the spiritual guide transforms him and the various stations of Reality are revealed to him. He passes through many stations of Fana (annihilation of the Self). The first is Fana-fil Murshid where the seeker’s own will merges with the Will of his spiritual guide. Another station is Fana-fil-Ali where the will of the seeker merges with the Will of Hazrat Ali. At this station, nothing of the seeker remains and all that remains is the Will of Hazrat Ali. From here, he may proceed through the station of Fana-fil-Rasool (merging of the seeker’s own will with the Will of the Holy Prophet) till he may reach the station of Fana-fil-Allah, where the seeker has nothing of his own will and all that remains is the Will of the Almighty. While there is the station of Fana (annihilation of the Self), there is also the important station of Baqa (subsistence in the Truth). Upon reaching the station of Baqa, you reach the Original Existence (That which has existed forever, even before any creation).


Q37:
From where do human beings get the ability to reach the Original Existence?
Ans.:
From the father of all human beings – Adam. God has said for him in the holy Quran: Indeed I am placing a khalifa (vicegerent) on the earth. {Para 1: Ayat 30}


Q38:
What is Original Existence?
Ans.:
The Spirit of God. According to the holy Quran: I complete him and breathe into him my spirit (Para 14:Ayat 29)


Q39:
Is this ability also present in other creations?
Ans.:
No. Only human beings are called the most eminent of God’s creation (Ashraf-ul- Makhluqat).


Q40:
What is Fana and what is Baqa?
Ans.:
“The passing away of the attributes of self is Fana and abiding in Allah is Baqa”. Actually, Fana is like walking in the dark night and the morning is Baqa.


Q41:
How can I walk in the dark night?
Ans.:
By following the path of fidelity (wafa) with the Friend.


Q42:
What is wafa?
Ans.:
According to Hazrat Shaikh Abul Hasan Khirqani (d.1076 AD): “When you see yourself with the Friend, it is wafa.
When you see the Friend with yourself, it is Fana and,
When you do not see yourself but see only The Friend, it is Baqa”.


Q43:
How can I reach the stations of Fana and Baqa?
Ans.:
By recognizing yourself. The Holy Prophet has said: “He who knows his own self, knows God”


Q44:
What is a Sufi Order?
Ans.:
It is a chain of holy masters holding each other’s hand with yaqeen (certainty) and faith in the One, and who derive their energy from Irfan (the Divine Knowledge). This chain is like a rosary (Tasbih). The one large bead (Imam) and the two long but smaller beads (muqtadi) of the rosary represent the spiritual stations (muqam).
The Holy masters are like the beads that represent the different names of the One God, the Almighty.
The holding of hands is similar to the stringing of many beads in one thread. It shows Unity - the Oneness of God.
Divine mercy is their energy.
Huwal Awwal, Huwal Aakhir (He is the First and He is the Last) is their yaqeen (certainty and faith).


Q45:
You have mentioned various stations. Can I achieve them on my own without joining a sufi order?
Ans.:
In this world, it is difficult to achieve on your own the various stations of Sufism because this world is called the World of Means (Alam-ul-Asbab). Here, it is important to keep an eye on the means (asbab). The sufi orders are the means (asbab) for reaching sufi stations.


Q46:
How can I join a sufi order?
Ans.:
By finding a spiritual guide (Pir). According to Hazrat Khwaja Moin-ud-din Hasan Chishti of Ajmer (d.1229 AD): “The knowledge of reality cannot be acquired without the direction of a perfect Murshid (Spiritual Guide).”


Q47:
How can I find a spiritual Guide? Where can I find him?
Ans.:
When your fondness (shawaq), demands (talab) and search (talash) will align, then your spiritual guide (murshid) will appear in front of you.


Q48:
How can I join a spiritual order?
Ans.:
By giving your will to the Will of the Friend – soulmate. Razi ba raza-e-Jaana.


Q49:
There are many orders. How do I decide which order to join?
Ans.:
You have no need to worry. Where there is your spiritual share, there you shall go.


Q50:
What is intiation?
Ans.:
To sell your self as a slave into the hands of the master.


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