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My Drink is Sweet
[My Drink is sweet and Salsabil
is its taste
And my knowledge is a treasure in the
hearts of my beloved]
(qasida
1:7).
This is an elegant phrase made by a
unique Sheikh, Fakhr Eldin Mohamed Othman
AAH.
Now, we are going to try to explore the beautiful meanings embedded
in its first half.
The first half of this phrase
discusses the only verse in Quran in which the Salsabil is
literally mentioned; [From a
spring therein named Salsabil]
(Al-Ensan, 76:18).
Let's first look up the
interpretation in the books of Sharia. In his Tanuir El-Maqbas,
Qauting Ibn cabbas,
Fayrouzabady - in his interpretation - said
that a water spring in heaven is called Salsabil, and they say
that this word is composed of two syllables:
[Sal]
which means
ask Allah, and [Sabil]
which means a path for it". Ibn Katheer said
"Salsabil is the name of a water spring in heaven, and it is called
so because it is easy [salas] to be swallowed" Elrazi said "a drink is
described as [Salas, Salsal or Salsabil] when it is sweet and tasty".
Elzugag said [Salsabil] in the language, is an attribute to
anything that is so easy. The benefit of mentioning Salsabil is to
indicate that this drink tastes like ginger-It is the opposite of
sour, i.e. sweet. Alamam ELnasfy interpreted Salsabil as
easy to swallow. Abou Ebeid said "water is Salsabil means
sweet and tasty".
 That was the meaning from many
sharia books. However, Sufis interpret the word "Drink"
to stand for the middle of revelations, as it begins with tasting
and ends with quenching. In language, "revelation" means disclosure,
such as the revelation of meanings. It is synonymous with "flood",
"appearance", "descent" or "opening" in the speech of Sidi Muhy
Eldin El-Aarabi.
The word "Sweet"
describes any tasty food or drink. It can also be used with 'words'
as in "sweet words". The word "Salsabil" is thought to
be either a water spring in heaven or wine. This wine interpretation
of Salsabil is related to Mawlana Fakhr Eldin's phrase:
[From my drinking place I gave my
beloved
The wine of meanings whose
beauty is clear]
(qasida 25:19)
In this verse, "Drink"
means the revelation of sweet meanings and knowledge. Who drinks it,
is changed and becomes in a better state. Unlike our prohibited
worldly wine which causes mental disorder, Mawlana's wine is divine.
It is the fruit of carefully studying and meditating the knowledge
and books of the virtuous people.
Prophet Mohamed informed us that
(every one hundred years, Allah sends to people someone who revives
their religious affairs). Mawlana Fakhr Eldin also said:
[Holy who revives the knowledge
after it became ancient]
(qasida 17:1)
In his interpretation of Holy Quran
in a book entitled "Divine revelations and concealed Keys", the
virtuous
scholar
Elamam Elnakhwagany interprets Salsabil as
a fresh spring, in heaven, which is filled with water of eternity.
It is called so, because it guides to the drinking place of the
Oneness of Allah and to the sea of the Unity of the Self, as if it
is saying to those cared for: "You puzzled
wanderer, find a path to true unity and rest there".
Based on the Sufi definition and the
interpretation of Elamam Elnakhwagany, we understand that Mawlana's
knowledge revealed to us changes the state of the "murid" in
such a way that he gives up his bad habits, displays good manners
and entertains healthy beliefs so that his faith in the Oneness of
Allah becomes valid. This is because Mawlana's knowledge is a divine
wine which is given to the virtuous, as what Allah said in the Holy
Quran:
[They
will be given to drink, a pure sealed wine * the sealing of it will
be with musk, for this let the aspirants aspire]
(Al-Mutaffifin
83:26)
The aspirants aspire to reach this
sweet drink which reaches easily the soul and guides to the right
path. Mawlana stores his knowledge in the hearts of his beloved as a
treasure. Whenever they need it, Mawlana takes it from their hearts
and reflects it on their tongues, and therefore, they become an
example to be followed and a refuge to those lost in this desert
looking for a path.
may Allah benefits us with him and his
knowledge
Prayers & Peace
be upon Saydna Mohamed and his
family and companions.
Written by Mohammad Makbool
Translated by Nahed
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