'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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The Straight Path

Look here man… this time I am not going to talk, so you talk as you please about what you please. Yes… please talk… about truth. He looked at me with wonder, then he said: how do I talk about what I please? While you say talk about truth? Also did we finish our talk about Shari'a? I said: No, but, between you and me, I am scared… yes I am scared, why are wondering about that? I am scared of what you are going to say afterwards. I have a feeling about this; I feel that I am going to learn that I have nothing of Shari'a. And what I used to brag about would come to nothing. That is why I said to you: talk about the truth, so that I might find a way out or an excuse… I do not seem to gain anything from my talk, am I? Ok, continue your talk, and let what happen, happen. He raised his hand to his head and scratched it thinking and trying to remember what was said before. He stood silent for a while. I said to my self: that is good, maybe he will forget…

But he suddenly said: listen… if you are going somewhere, near or far, what would you use to get to that place? I said: if it is near then it would cost nothing, I will use my legs. But if it is far, I will take a bus or any other means of transportation, like… But he interrupted me saying: Yes, a means… transportation means.. right, this means that anything needs a means to get to it… right? I said: No, it is not right… if I go to near place, I would use my legs. He answered: and you legs, are not they a means of transportation. As you used them to move the rest of your body to the place you want. Allah, Almighty, created for us the five senses and made it as means for us. For example how can you know the taste of the food or drink without testing it with your tongue? Is not the hearing a means to listen to what is being said? Touching, is not it a means to know how solid or soft and cold or hot things are? Sight, is not it also a means for seeing things around you? Smelling, is not it a means to know the difference between good and bad smells? Allah created the brain for us as one of the highest means of perception, if it was not for it you would not know how to eat with you hand, otherwise we would have eat and drink like the beasts.

I felt like if someone is grapping my shoulders and shaking me up to get out so much dust that was filling my head. I shouted: Allah… Allah… this is true, and it is almost in front of me all the time… so why are we denying the means? He said: Thanks to Allah… we now agree that everything needs a means to get to it… right? I shook my head agreeing, while I was still in a shock state. He continued: Allah also made means between him and us… yes… the prophets and the messengers are means to Allah. I said: what abour worship, is not it also means to Allah? he said: are you sure that your worship and the worship of all people is accepted by Allah? This is first. Second, are you sure that your worship is purely for the sake of Allah? I said: No. He said: so how can it be a means to Allah, while Allah is good and loves everything good… is not that right?

He looked at me, so I did not say a word, so he continued: did not the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH] say (I am the best knower of Allah, of you all. And I am the most Allah fearing of you all)? So if you do not know Allah, you should know someone who knows Allah, and if you do not know someone who knows Allah, then you should know someone who knows him… and so on. You should see where you are among those and get to know whoever is better than you in knowledge. That is what Allah, Almighty, guided us to do in Sura al-Fateha [Guide us to the straight path] whose path? [the path of those unto whom You bestowed your grants] and who are those? If you want to know them, you go to Sura an-Nisa' verse 69, do you know what it says? I said: Yes… "and whoever obeys"… he interrupted me and said: No, "and whoever worships"! I said: No, "and whoever obeys", I memorized this verse quit well, you can bring a Qur'an book and read it from it. He said: No… I believe you, but I wanted to draw you attention to a very simple thing. The verse says [and whoso obeys Allah and the Messenger, they are with those unto whom Allah has bestowed His favor, of the prophets and the saints and the martyrs and the righteous. The best of company are they]. Those are people of the straight path. Those are the people we should know and follow… why? Because those are the ones who will teach you the right way of worship, so what does that makes them? A means… or not?

I said: I have a question which might be a little stupid… but I want to understand. This path, ib not it in the hereafter, when people pass over it? He answered: this is strange, that should be clear. Do not you read Qur'an everyday, did not you see the verse 153 of al-Anaam [And this is My straight path, so follow it. Follow not other ways, lest you be parted from His way. This has He ordained for you, that you may ward off] so is the path in the hereafter or in this worldly life? Also when Allah, Almighty said to Iblis [Satan] [Lo! you are of those reprieved] al-Aaraf 7:15, the damned rejoiced and said [He said: Now, because You have sent me astray, verily I shall lurk in ambush for them on the straight path ¤ Then I shall come upon them from before them and from behind them and from their right hands and from their left hands, and You wilt not find most of them beholden] al-Aaraf 7:16-17. I also have a stupid question here: Is Iblis working in this worldly life or in the hereafter? I said with low voice: No, in this worldly life. He said: I did not hear you. I said: ok, ok… continue you speech, we know now that everything has a means… So?

He said: this means that we should know rightly the Shari'a as it is the means for the truth… and I am not saying you should go learn the Fiqh of Shari'a… no… only what you need to do of Shari'a, what are the duties, and the basics of worship. To make it more clear, what is the evidence that you are a slave? I was silent because I did not know the answer. He said: the obedience is the basis, so Allah said [Obey Allah and obey the Messenger] an-Nour 54, another question, but not stupid... how do we obey Allah? I said: by following His commands. He said: ok… and where are these commands? I said: in Qur'an, of course. He said: ok… and this Qur'an was revealed to whom? I said, with mockery: what are these trivial questions? He said: please bear with me and answer. I said: it was revealed to Sd. Mohammad [PPBUH], and he told it to us… do you like me to tell you the whole biography? He laughed and said: No… what you said was enough. Qur'an was revealed to Sd. Mohammad and he was the one who conveyed it to us… right? I said, with impatience: Yes… this is right… please make it short…

He answered: So the commands that Allah ordered us to obey, came by Sd. the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH]. In other words, as if Allah is saying to us that His obedience is in what His Messenger tells us… right? I sat straight and looked at him, before answering as I felt that he wants to take me to something indirectly and is paving the way for it, so I said: Yes… that is right. He said: this means that we, Muslims, from the time of the companions to Allah knows when, took the Qur'an and the Sunna from one source; the saying of Sd. the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH]. he was the one who differentiated for us between the words of Allah and his own words. If it was not for him we would not have known the difference, would we? He was the one who told us what is right and how to do it, and what is wrong and how we should avoid it. Allah, Almighty, cleared that saying [And whatsoever the messenger gives you, take it. And whatsoever he forbids, abstain] al-Hashr 7… did you get it?

Written by Ahmad Abbas

Translated by Amin.

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

The Editors Team