'Let it be known that Allah's people always do good deeds' (qasida 62:11)

This is the motto of this section, which is for talking about the the people of Allah who are the people who are constantly preoccupied with Allah

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Sufi Poetry or Qur'an?!

People ask, in wonder and maybe denial, "which is better: reading Sufi poetry or Qur'an?" Some are critizing Sufis, when they recite "Qasaid al-Qum" (i.e. the poems of the Sufi masters). 

This is because of such disturbed ideas in religion that we cannot be so sure that it is innocently spread by some people. We say here:

Muslims, our people, don't follow these bad ideas! they are destructive to the religion that we worship Allah with, and tears apart our united nation. Let's go back to Allah's words when He said [O, ask those people of Dhikr, if you know not] an-Nahl 16:43. If one disagrees with a group of people that are alleged to be wrong, so why do not he ask the 'people of Dhikr': who are these people?

This is in order for him to find out the truth, as Allah says [The Gracious God! Ask thou then concerning Him one who is expert] al-Furqan 25:59. Whoever is asked must be an expert scholar for whom many other scholars of this nation admit knowledge. Until one finds a scholar, he has to follow what Allah says [And as for those who strive for Our sake, We will surely guide them to Our ways] al-Ankabout 29:69. To strive for the sake of Allah means to be Muslim in the first place, then strive using indulgent Shari'a and supererogatory work, then seek and judge the truth in your heart before being biased to one opinion. It is not something easy, or else we would not need an expert scholar. As when one needs to do some plumbing work in his house, he seeks a good plumber, or a proficient carpenter to do some carpentry work. If you want to build a house, you search for a well-known, qualified architect. This means that in order to do your needs, you seek clever professionals, you do not go and read some books and try to do it yourself. So why do that when we want to know about your religion?

Why do not we seek professionals, when we ask for knowledge in our religion, when we want to fix our hearts and souls, and when we want to please our Creator?! Do not we care about our religion? Do not Allah and His Prophet [PPBUH] deserve our search and strive?! Allah forbids!

One has to search for the Truth with honesty and without bias or impoliteness, because impoliteness with the saints of Allah prevents one from reaching al-Hadra and locks one's heart so that it does not see the Truth; [Will they not, then, ponder over the Qur’an, or is it that on the hearts are their locks?] Muhammad 47:24. Who puts these locks? It is Allah, as the Prophet said, in a Divine Hadith narrated by al-Bukhary, Ibn Maga, and others, that Allah says [Whoever is an enemy to a saint of mine, I wage war upon him]. In another narration [I declared war upon him] then, his heart will be locked and never be able to see the Truth, may Allah forbid that to happen to any of us. Be careful of whom Allah has waged war upon anywhere! Some Muslims are suffering now from impoliteness, and this is the reason many Muslims are carelessly attacking Sufism. With a reason like that Allah becomes protective to His saints, defends them and make those who attack them [deaf, dumb and blind; so they will not return] al-Baqara 2:18. Can you guide someone who is deaf, dumb, blind, with locks on his heart?!

Let's get back to our main question; "what should we prefer? Qur'an or Sufi poetry?"

We say that this question is wrong, because it is like the question; "what should we do in the worldly life? drink or eat?" In fact, we need both of them or we will die in a few days. Qur'an needs interpretation, meanings, and signs, while the Sufi poetry interprets the qur'anic verses in its lines. The Sufi saints are permitted to interpret Qur'an by the Prophet [PPBUH] as they truely witness him [PPBUH]. Some of them even see him [PPBUH], while awake, and this is called the "insight". Allah says [Say, ‘This is my way: I call unto Allah on sure knowledge, I and those who follow me] Yusuf 12:108. This is the permission and the insight from the Book of Allah. One does not know how, unless he follows the words of Allah, searches for a professional, and finds a way; [We will surely guide them to Our ways] but after their strive. Should we only recite Qur'an as parrots without understanding?!

The Sufi words are made like poetry but, in reality, it is an organization of the meanings of truth. So we say a string of pearls, not just poetry. You know that ordinary poetry includes metaphors, imaginations, and exaggerations, but Sufi poetry contains no imagination but only truth. In a Hadith narrated by al-Bukhary, Abo-Dawoud, Imam Ahmed, al-Bayhaqy, al-Bazzar, and ibn Maga, the Prophet [PPBUH] said (Some poetry is wisdom), so what about these strings of pearls. And if Allah has also confirmed the truth of some poetry men and granted their following, so what about those truthful words, revealing the meanings of the Holy Book, of such great people, who made those words for us to remind us of the true meanings of the great Book of Allah and to make us transcend with it?!

Before reading the Sufi poetry, try to learn the meanings of the Sufi terminology, in order not to misunderstand it and become an enemy to those saints; [And as for the poets - it is the erring ones who follow them, ¤ Dost thou not see how they wander distracted in every valley, ¤ And that they say what they practise not? ¤ Save those who believe, do good works, and do Dhikr of Allah much, and retaliate only after they are wronged. And the wrongdoers will soon know to what place of return they shall return] ash-Shu'ara' 26:224-227. In this verse, we can see that the believers, who do the Dhikr of Allah alot (i.e. in their poetry), are excluded from the general poets, and they will retaliate after being wronged. You can also see that those who are [wrongdoers will soon know to what place of return they shall return]. Avoid being one of those wrongdoers!

to be continued ...

Edited by Mohamed Maqbul

Translated by Nahed Aboel-Hasan

Whoever wants to get more about this, can browse the pages of Sufism in the official site of tariqa Burhaniya.

The Editors Team