The Spiritual Return of the Prophet (sawas) by Shaykh Nazim Al Haqqani

The Prophet (sal) is the one whose heart is clean from all things connected with this life of dunya.
Allah Almighty made his heart to be connected with the Divine
Pleasures and made it to swim in the oceans of Divine Wisdom, Divine
Knowledge and Divine Secrets. This was opened to Rasoolullah (sal)
and he opened it to Seyyadina Abu Bakr As Siddique (ral) and to
Seyyadina Ali (ral) and then from them to the Sahabas who received
this, each according to his own levels from the Divine Knowledge,
Divine Secrets and Divine Wisdoms from the Unity Oceans of Allah
Almighty.

Then from one heart to another this knowledge was transferred down to
us. This was given to those who liked to swim in these Oceans. Not
everybody is asking to swim in these Oceans. Most people are very
happy to memorize some religious knowledge from books or from the
Shariah. They are very happy with this. But there are another
category of people who are searching for the `Living Knowledge'. This
is Knowledge of life. This knowledge is full of life, full of
Spirituality and full of Reality. Allah Almighty opens this knowledge
in the hearts of those who have cut off all connections with this
material world and who have connected their hearts to Allah Almighty
and to the Prophet (sal).

As for these people Allah Almighty will make for them a special
`Mihraj.' This is a special opening which takes them from one Maqam
to another. Higher and higher from state to state till they reach to
the Highest Station and to the Highest Level. This is a station from
which they can receive from Seyyadina Mahdi (alai). They take this
knowledge from him and also reach to taking knowledge from the Prophet
(sal). Then they will be able to enter into and swim in these Oceans
of Knowledge.

The message that we have for the children of Adam (alai) is that this
life is not going to continue as it is now. It is going to end soon.
Very soon there is going to come a time when everything is going to
be changed. Everything is going to change for the better. It is
going to change into the time of Sahib uz Zaman Mahdi (alai).

We are now approaching to the time of Sahib uz Zaman, Seyyadina Mahdi
(alai). The Prophet (sal) gave us news of this. The Sahabas asked
the Holy Prophet (sal) as to when the Day of Judgment is. The Prophet
(sal) answered that, "it will be very close, so close more than you
can even tell." Then the Sahabas asked him whether it will be during
his time. The Prophet (sal) replied, "No, it will be after my time,
and after me there shall be the four `Rightly Guided Khaliphas' who
are Abu Bakr as Siddique, Omar, Usman and Ali. After them will come
the Princes and then the Kings". The Princes were the Ummayad and
Abassids and the Kings and the sultans were the Ottomans The Princes
or the Ummayads and Abassids ruled for two centuries and thereafter
the Kings ruled for seven hundred years. The Kings were the Ottoman
Khaliphas. The last of the Kings or the Sultans was Sultan Abdul
Hamid of the Ottoman Empire. After this during the next hundred
years will be the period of the tyrants. We are in this period now.
This period will be for 100 years or less and then Allah Almighty is
going to send the grandson of the Holy Prophet (sal) who will also be
called Muhammad. He will guide the Nation of the Prophet (sal) to
Islam and to Iman. He is going to lead the Nation of the Prophet
(sal) so that they will reach to the Divine Pleasures of Allah
Almighty and will be the real Ummah of the Holy Quran.

Seyyadina Mahdi (alai) will rule for 7 years. During this time this
World will be like Paradise. In the 7th year Seyyadina Esa (alai)
will take over from him and rule this World for a period of 40 years.
This period of time beginning from the rule of Mahdi (alai) will be
the time that the Holy Prophet (sal) will be sent back into this
World, spiritually and he will be planting the secret of the Quran in
the hearts of the people during this time. This is because Allah
Almighty had promised this in the Holy Quran. So Allah Almighty is
going to send the Holy Prophet (sal) not in his physical body but
spiritually in order to plant in the hearts of all Mankind the Secret
of the Quran.

It says in the Quran "The one who sends to you this Holy Quran is
going to send you back at an appointed time" In this time the Prophet
(sal) will be sent to plant the Secrets of the Holy Quran in the
hearts of the children of Adam (alai) and in the hearts of Mankind and
in the hearts of the Nation of Rasoolullah (sal). Allah Almighty is
going to send the Seal of Prophets, spiritually, not physically and
then he will order him to appear and already Rasoolullah (sal) has
appeared like the sun for his Ummath.

Rasoolullah (sal) was like the Sun for his Ummah and will never
disappear. Always if there is a Nation of Rasoolullah (sal), then
there has to be Rasoolullah (sal) with this Nation. There cannot be a
Nation without their respective Prophets and you will see that all
past Nations are now finished. Now the Nation of the Prophet is only
remaining. Allah Almighty will continue it till the Day of Judgment
and Allah Almighty shall make Rasoolulah (sal) to be forever with his
Nation and to plant the secret of the Holy Quran in the time of Mahdi
(alai) and Seyyadina Esa (alai). This is going to be in front of us.
We are now waiting for this event to happen. All awliya are waiting
for this time to come. This is the time when Rasoolulah (sal) is going
to make his Spirituality to appear and people are going to know about
the Spirituality of Rasoolullah (sal).

The Sahaba of Rasoolullah (sal) or the companions of Rasoolullah
(sal) was in the presence of the physical body of Rasoolullah (sal).
The last Nation of Rasoolullah (sal) is going to see his Spirituality.
They are going to see his reality and he is going to plant in their
hearts the Secrets of the Holy Quran. By the Holy Quran Allah
Almighty is changing the badness in this world into light . Then how
about when Rasoolullah (sal) receives the Secret of the Holy Quran?
What is going to happen and what is going to be the changes when these
Secrets are going to be opened for Mankind. The Heavens and the Earth
is going to be opened to Mankind. All stations and Godly Worlds are
going to be opened to Mankind and by using the Secrets of the Holy
Quran, Mankind will be able to enter into the Divine and Godly Worlds
of Allah Almighty by the permission of Allah Almighty.

Allah Almighty will at that time order the Spirituality of Rasoolullah
(sal) to give everyone a `Spiritual Being' so that they will be able
to enter into the Godly Worlds of Allah Almighty, and into the Godly
Kingdom of Allah Almighty. The Kingdom of Allah Almighty unlike this
world will never finish. It is from Pre-Eternity to Eternity. It is
forever. The Kingdom of Allah is not like this earth which is good
one day and bad on the next day. This World which is the Godly World
is so vast and so big containing the Earth and the Heavens and the
World of Command. Jabarut and all this is going to be opened up
during the time of Mahdi (alai) and all these will be by the blessings
of Rasoolullah (sal) who is going to open the doors of these Godly
Worlds of Allah Almighty.

Allah Almighty has even now given the people and the ulama the `Keys.'
Everyone who recites the Holy Quran can find these keys. But they do
not know how to use it. This is because they do not know how to use
it and because they do not know what the secret of these `Keys' are.
Allah Almighty has made plenty of these `Keys' and they are in the
hands of people even now but they do not know how to use it. Allah
Almighty has in some `Ayats' or verses given these secrets in letters
in the beginning. For example:-

Alif Lam Meem,
Kaf Ha Ya Ayn Saad,
Haa Meem Ya Seen khaff,
Haa Meem
Alif Laam Raa
Saad and so forth and regarding these letters even the Ulama do not
know the meaning. Everyone explains them according to the knowledge
that they have but they are really `Keys'. These are `Spiritual Keys'.
.
These are the Spiritual Keys to open the Holy Quran and by and through
them you will be able to enter the Holy Secret of the Holy Quran and
you will be able to open all the Divine Godly World of Allah Almighty
and you will be able to swim in the Oceans of Wisdom and of the Secret
of Divine Knowledge in the Divine Unity of Allah Almighty .
Therefore no one should think he is a big one and that his life is
going to continue like it has been upto now. No. It is not going to
continue like this. It is going to come to an end. Allah Almighty is
going to stop this kind of life which we are living in and to change
it into a new life. To change it to a life that is guided by Imam
Sahib uz Zaman Seyyadina Mahdi (alai) and by Seyyadina Esa (Sal).

It is going to be the Sultan ul Awliya of our time who will be
teaching even Mahdi (alai) to reach to Rasoolullah (sal). Without the
intermediary of this Sultan ul Awliya no one can reach to the reality
of Rasoolullah (sal). Even Seyyadina Mahdi (alai) who is going to be
the Sultan of the Earth has to be connected to Rasoolullah (sal) by
the Sultan ul Awliya of our time.

At this time every one like Seyyadina Moosa (alai) will be able to
hear the voice of Allah Almighty. In this manner Allah Almighty will
talk to mankind during the time of Mahdi (alai). Everybody is going
to hear the voice of Allah Almighty in the way that Seyyadina Moosa
(alai) heard the voice of Allah Almighty. Everyone is also going to
hear the voice of Rasoolullah (sal) and the sincere person will also
be able to see the Spirituality of Rasoolullah (Sal). Everyone will
not be able to see the Spirituality of Rasoollah (Sal), only the
sincere person will be able to see him, But everyone will be able to
hear the voice of Rasoolullah (sal). This is not limited to only
those who are alive at that time because those who are in their graves
and those who are in Barzaq will also be able to hear the voice of
Rasoolullah (sal) and all of them will be blest by the Secret of the
Holy Quran being put into their hearts. Those who are alive will be
dressed in this life physically and those who have already passed away
will also be dressed in this manner, spiritually, by the blessings of
the Secret of the Quran.

For this Allah Almighty is making a way and anyone who walks in this
way is going to reach to at the end, the Imam of this way and if you
can walk in the rays of the Sun you can reach the Sun, and the one who
can walk in the way of Lights can reach at the end to Divine Oceans
of Light. Here Allah Almighty is saying, "I am Allah Almighty, the
Light of Light. " Allahu Noor us samawathi wal Arl" Allah Almighty is
the Light of the Heavens and the Earth. Allah Almighty is saying in
the Holy Quran, "I am the Light, I am the Light of all the Heavens
and the Earth, I am the Light of your physical body, I am the Light of
your soul, I am the Light of your real body, I am the Light of all
creation", which means that everything is really created from the
Light of Allah Almighty. If you can make yourself to die before death
then you will enter into the Divine Ocean of the Light of Allah
Almighty and you will swim in this Ocean and then you will become
Light. Your shape will be like your physical body but the reality is
that you are a Light from the Light of Allah Almighty. Your physical
body will be in the shape as it is now, but in reality your Light will
be from the Light of Allah Almighty. Your eyes will be from the Light
of Allah Almighty and your ears will be from the Light of Allah
Almighty, your tongue shall be from the Light of Allah Almighty and
your hands and your feet will be from the Light of Allah Almighty and
your soul will be from the Light of Allah Almighty and you shall be
Light upon Light.

You will see with the eyes of Allah Almighty, you will hear with the
ears of Allah Almighty, you will talk with the tongue of Allah
Almighty, you will work with the hands of Allah Almighty and you will
walk with the feet of Allah Almighty. Allah Almighty shall then dress
you with a `Godly Body', a `Godly Light body'.

This is what all the Awliyas are preparing for now. Rasoolullah (sal)
predicted that until that time appears people will be facing so much
of misfortune and so many bad events are going to be faced by them.
Therefore you must try to tolerate as much as you can and ask for
protection from Allah Almighty by saying "|Asthagfirullah." Keep away
as much as you can from bad people and don't try to intervene between
people in their quarrels but keep yourself safe so that you will be
able to reach to the time of Seyyadina Mahdi (alai) where you are
going to have real life and you are going to be enjoying the real
spiritual life like the Sahaba during the time of Rasoolullah (sal).

The Sahaba were in Jennah or Paradise because they were with
Rasoolullah (sal). They were with him physically and they could see
and touch Rasoolullah (sal) and so it was like Paradise. This was
more than paradise for the Sahaba who were living with the Prophet
(sal) and praying behind him and was in his holy presence. In this
manner the Sahaba lived for 23 years with the Prophet (sal) and
because of this it was like living in paradise. Then when Rasoolullah
(sal) passed away they lost it and it was finished and it stopped.
>From the time that Rasooullah (sal) passed away we are in nought time.

This shall be so until the appearance of Imam Mahdi (alai).

Then they will send to us the reality of Rasoolullah (sal) again and
this time shall be much higher than even paradise. It will be "Makkah
ul Siddiq" "Madinatul Muktadir" because it is going to be in the
neighborhood of Allah Almighty and it is going to be in the
neighborhood of Rasoolullah (sal) because the reality or the
spirituality of Rasoolullah (sal) is going to be with us during this
time and the knowledge that is going to be opened by Rasoolullah (sal)
will be the opening of the Secret of the Quran. What is the meaning
of "Secret of the Quran." This is what Allah Almighty dresses the
Holy Prophet (sal) with, what He gave from His heart to the heart of
Rasoolullah (sal) during the Holy Seclusion during the night of
Mihraj. This is the night that we call "Lailathul Mihraj." In this
Night Journey at the time that Rasoolullah (sal) ascended to the
Divine Presence he made a special seclusion with Allah Almighty.
During this seclusion Allah Almighty dressed the heart of the Prophet
(sal) directly.

What was directly dressed into the heart of the Prophet (sal) will be
opened to the Nation of the Prophet (sal) during the time of Seyyadina
Mahdi (alai) and Seyyadina Esa (alai). It is because of this that
Moulana says that Allah Almighty is going to send again the reality of
Rasoolullah (sal) because no one can give this knowledge, or translate
this knowledge or open this knowledge or the secret of this knowledge
expect Rasoolullah (sal), because he was the one who was dressed with
the knowledge in the seclusion that we mentioned before with Allah
Almighty.

Allah Almighty, did not make a seclusion like this with any other
prophet except with the Seal of Prophets, Seyyadina Muhammad (sal).
Many were the times that Seyyadina Moosa (alai) asked Allah Almighty
to see Allah Almighty. He was a very powerful prophet in the Divine
Presence of Allah Almighty. He was saying "Oh! Allah Almighty let me
be able to see you just one time. Let me be able to meet you at least
once even. Let me be able to make a seclusion with you for at least
the blink of an eye." Allah Almighty replied, "No Moosa! This is not
for you! It is for My beloved Prophet Muhammad (sal)."

Moosa (alai) was surprised and he said, "What is the difference
between me and Muhammad (sal)? I am Your Khalif and I also talk
toYou. So why do you not treat me like you treat Muhammad (sal)?"
Allah Almighty admonished Moosa (alai) by saying, "Moosa be careful
with what you are saying! You are not allowed to talk like this about
Muhammad (sal). All prophets are trying their best to please me. As
regards to Muhammad (sal) it is I who is trying to please him. I am
Allah Almighty and I am trying my best to please My beloved Muhammad
(sal)."

May Allah Almighty forgive us, send us mercy , bless us by the mercy
of Rasoolullah (sal) and the good tidings and blessings of Rasoolullah
(sal) and Allah Almighty. May He make us sincere servants of Allah
Almighty and make us sincere Ummath of Rasoolullah (sal) and sincere
Mureeds of Moulana Sheik Nazim and of Grandsheik and of all the
Grandsheiks in our golden chain up to Seyyadina Abu Bakr (Ral).

Allah Allah Allah Allah Allah Allah Azeez Allah Allah Allah Allah
Allah Allah Allah Kareem Allah Allah Allah Allah Allah Allah Allah
Suban Allah
Allah Allah Allah Allah Allah Allah Sultan Allah.

You are the Sultan, Oh Allah, we are the weakest servants, Oh Allah
have mercy on us, we are repenting to you. Oh Allah we are saying,
Astafurullah, Astafurullah, Shafata Ya Rasoollah, Muhabatha Ya Allah,
Muhabatha Ya Rasoollah Ela Sharafi Nabiyina Seyadina Muhammad (sal)
(Presention) Al Fathiha

Someone in the audience says to Sheikh Adnan, "We are noting that a
lot of non muslims are becoming Moulana's mureeds after reading the
website (www.sheiknazim2.com). We find that they are more interested
in high knowledge than the Muslims."

Sheikh Adnan answers:

"Muslims will ask whether we could do this or that but non muslims
they will like spirituality they will come for spirituality. Muslims
will ask where in the Quran you find this and where in the Hadees you
find this. This is not the case with non Muslims. During Mahdi
(Alahi)'s time most of his followers will be non-muslims who will
convert to Islam. To Muslims when you say something, they will ask to
show them the Ayath in the Holy Quran. Due to this our Grandsheikh
said and Moulana said that when Imam Mahdi (alai) appears 70,000
Ulamas (Islamic Scholars) will reject him. They will say, "You are
not true. You are a false one. You are not Mahdi." They shall in this
manner reject Mahdi (alai) and then Allah Almighty will order them to
be slaughtered.

Imam Ali (as) The Father of Sufism

Ali is acclaimed as the "Father of Sufism". Most of the Sufi orders claim their descent from Ali. According to Ali Hajjweri, the rank of Ali is very high in the line up of Sufism. According to Junayd of Baghdad, Ali is the Shaykh as regards the principles and practices of Sufism.


The Holy Prophet and Sufism

The roots of Sufism lie embedded in Islam itself. There are numerous passages in the Holy Quran which are of a mystical character. The Holy Prophet of Islam (peace be on him) himself displayed mystical inclinations and he very often retired to the cave of Hirah for the purpose of devotions, meditation and contemplation. The Holy Prophet was recipient of two types of revelations, one embodied in the Holy Quran, and the other that illuminated his heart. The former was meant for all, the latter for a selected few whose hearts could be illuminated with the Divine Light. The knowledge of the Holy Prophet was thus book knowledge (ilm-i-Safina), and heart knowledge (ilm-i-Sina). Ali got this heart knowledge from the Holy Prophet. It is related that after the Ascension, the Holy Prophet awarded a mantle to Ali which led to the illumination of his heart.


Gnosis of God

According to Ali, the base of religion is the gnosis of God. He held: "The height of gnosis is His confirmation. The height of confirmation is Tauhid. The height of Tauhid is the acknowledgment of the supremacy of God in all matters. He is beyond all attributes. No particular of attribute can give an idea of His exact nature. He is not bound by anything; all things are bound by Him. He is Infinite, limitless, boundless, beyond time, beyond space, beyond imagination. Time does not affect Him. He existed when there was nothing. He will exist forever. His existence is not subject to the law of birth or death. He is manifest in everything, but He is distinct from everything, He is One. He is not the cause of anything, everything is because of Him. He is unique. He has no partner. He is the Creator. He creates as well as destroys. All things are subject to His command. He orders a thing to be and it is. Ali enjoined the severance of the heart from all things save God. Ali was asked what was the purest thing that could be acquired, and he said, "It is that which belongs to a heart made rich by God". When Ali was asked about gnosis, he said, "I know God by God, and I know that which is not God by the Light of God. " When asked whether he had seen God he said that verily he had seen God, for he could not worship Him unless he knew Him.


Prayers to God

When Ali used to pray, his hair would stand on end. He would tremble and say, "The hour has come to fulfil a trust which the heavens and the earth were unable to bear." Abu Darda, an eminent companion of the Holy Prophet, said, "None in this world has excelled Ali in prayer." While praying, so great was the intensity of the emotions of Ali that he would fall into a swoon. It is related that on one occasion, Abu Darda found Ali lying rigid on the prayer mat, and touching his cold body thought that Ali had breathed his last. Then he broke this news to Fatima. She said that Ali often became unconscious while praying. Abu Darda weeping profusely sprinkled some water on the face of Ali, and he regained consciousness. Seeing the tears in the eyes of Abu Darda, Ali said: "Why are you crying? You shed tears when you see me in this state. Imagine what will happen to me when the angels drag me into the presence of God, and I am forced to render an account of my deeds. They will bind me with fetters of iron, and present me before God and those of my friends who will happen to be witnesses will be powerless to help me. They will lament my unhappy plight, but none save God will be able to help me on that day. "


Communion with God

Very often, Ali would sob the whole night in prayers to God, and God would reward him with a glimpse of the Inner Vision. According to Ali, the highest purpose of knowledge is the awakening of latent spiritual faculties whereby one is enabled to discover his true and inner self. It is to this inner self that God reveals Himself when the self disappears in the vision of the "All Absorbing Reality." Ali often observed that man could have the joy and wonder of communion with God if one abandoned pride, disciplined the flesh, overcame the lust and submitted to the Will of God. He exhorted the people in his various sermons not to indulge in the gross licentiousness, which had characterized Arab society in the "Days of Ignorance." But should instead live in piety and simplicity as enjoined by Islam. Ali said, "Man is a wave in the boundless Sea of God. As long as man's vision is clouded by ignorance and sensuality he will consider himself a separate entity, different from God. But when the veil between him and God is lifted, he will then know what he really is, the wave will then merge with the ocean". Ali held that enlightenment is needed so that one can first get to know himself. Only then would he get to know God. Ali held that to this end religious exercises must be practiced. Sufism for which Ali stood derived its strength from the Shariah. Ali preached that any form of knowledge which failed to show the Infinite Reality in man was useless, because it could not fill that vacuum of which the aching soul of every individual was so pathetically conscious. Ali wanted men to be virtuous as virtues purify the soul, and it is only the purified soul that can be the recipient of spiritual enlightenment. This is the doctrine of Inner Light, which was enunciated by Ali as the core of Sufi thought. Ali is accordingly acknowledged as the "Father of Sufism" and the "Prince of Saints".


Doctrine of preference

Ali also enunciated the doctrine of preference. He stood for preferring the claims of others to one's own claims. He gave an outstanding demonstration of this doctrine when he slept on the bed of the Holy Prophet on the night of the Holy Prophet's migration from Makkah, when the infidels were seeking to slay him. Ali risked his life for the sake of the Holy Prophet, because of the preference that Ali gave to the life of the Holy Prophet as compared with his own life. After the death of the Holy Prophet, Ali considered that he was the most deserving person to be elected as the Caliph. When his claims were overlooked and other persons were elected as the Caliph, he offered them allegiance in pursuance of the doctrine of preference. It was this spirit of preference that motivated Ali to plunge on the thick of the battle to meet the challenge of the enemy regardless of his own personal safety. It is related that after the ascension, the Holy Prophet gave Ali a mantle, he asked him as to the use that he would make of the mantle. Ali said that he would use it to cover the faults of others. The true Sufi way lies in covering the faults of others.


Fasting

According to Ali, fasting was not a mere formality or a ritual; it was an exercise for the purification of the soul. Because of his constant fasting, Ali earned the epithets of "Qa'im-ul-Lail" (Praying most of the night without sleep), and "Sa'im-un-Nahar", (Fasting mostly during the day). Ali held that hunger sharpens the intelligence, and improves the mind and health. Hunger involves home affliction for the body, but it illumines the heart, purifies the soul, and leads the spirit into the presence of God. One who cultivates his spiritual nature by means of hunger in order to devote himself entirely to God and detach himself from worldly ties is at a much higher level than the person who cultivates his body by means of gluttony and lust. Ali acted on the advice of the Holy Prophet, "Fast so that perchance your hearts may see God in this world". And verily, because of his fasting and other spiritual exercises, Ali did see God in this world. The Holy Prophet had enjoined, "When you fast, let your ear, your eye, your tongue, your hand, and your every limb fast." Ali followed this advice in letter as well as in spirit. By the discipline of fasting, Ali was able to subordinate the physical senses to spiritual requirements in such a way that they could respond only to what was pure and became dead to what was impure. Ali thus led a purified life.


Zakat

Ali held: "Of the most meritorious acts of a believer, and one of the most acceptable things to God is Zakat. It behooves everyone to give charity, because from amongst the acts of worship this is the most pleasing to God." In his sermons, Ali exhorted the people in the following terms: "O ye people send a part of your wealth to God so that: it may stand you in good stead in the next world. Do not leave your entire wealth here so as to be a source to annoyance to you in the world to come". In the annals of the Arabs, Hatim Tai enjoys fame for his munificence and generosity. Ali outclassed Hatim in the matter of generosity. Some of the stories of his generosity which have attained the dimensions of legends are narrated in another Chapter of this book.


Pilgrimage

Ali was born in the Kaaba. He had, therefore, a strong emotional attachment for the Kaaba. Ali observed that the Holy Kaaba was sited in a territory known for its stony wastes and wilderness where no water was available. God had ordained the Muslims to bear the hardships involved in a journey through such inhospitable land cheerfully so that these very privations might ultimately become a source of salvation. The pilgrimage is symbolic of the fact that whatever hardship one bears in the trials of life and endeavors to fulfill the will of God, he acquires goodness and righteousness by them. The darkest thing in the world is the beloved's house without the beloved. What is really important for a lover is the beloved and not the house of the beloved. According to Ali the spirit of pilgrimage did not lie in a bare visit to the Kaaba, it lay in developing the inner vision whereby one could see God, the Lord of the Kaaba.


Jihad

Ali held that Jihad is the gateway to Paradise. He said: "God has opened this gate for His friend. It is the mantle of piety. It is the shield of faith. He who avoids it, God subjects him to disgrace".

Ali held that Jihad did not lie in merely taking up arms in the cause of God, it comprehends incessant struggle against falsehood in all spheres of life. Jihad is the main pillar on which Islam rests.


Repentance

The first stage in the path of Sufism is repentance. Repentance is described as the awakening of the soul from the slumber of heedlessness, so that the sinner becomes aware of his evil ways and feels contrition for past disobedience. Ali repeatedly prayed for the forgiveness of God. His typical prayer was: "O God, forgive me my sins of which you are more aware than me. And if I commit these sins again, even then forgive me. Whatever promises I had made with myself to follow Your commands have not been fulfilled. I seek Your forbearance if I have sought Your proximity with my tongue, but my heart did not keep pace with my tongue, overlook my lapse. O God, forgive me for my futile talk, vain desires and lapses of the tongue".


Detachment

Ali exhorted that while living in the world, one should not renounce the world, yet he should not have an undue attachment for the world. Detachment from the world is the means of attaining God. It is related that some one begged Ali to give him a precept. Ali said: "Do not let your wives and children be a cause of concern for you, for if they are the friends of God, He will look after His friends, and if they are the enemies of God, why should you take care of God's enemies?"


Patience

On the mystic way, the traveler has to meet many trials and tribulations. God subjects His lovers to severe testing, and he alone can pass such tests who is patient. Ali was the personification of patience, and for his patience he won the epithet of "Job, the Second". In the Battle of Uhud Ali received as many as sixty-one wounds so that his whole body looked like one big wound which the nurses could not dress. Ali though in mortal agony said: "May God grant me patience to bear this suffering. Is it not a favor of God that He gave me the courage to stand and fight, and not to leave the field?"

About the patience of Ali, Dr. Ata Moyudin writes as follows in his Ali, the Superman, "Ali used to say that at no time in his life had he ever known peace and tranquillity. From the time he went in infancy to the home of the Holy Prophet, it was a ferment of turbulence and turmoil. The Holy Prophet was constantly persecuted by the Makkan pagans. Then from adolescence onwards, Ali was constantly fighting in Jihad, and after the death of the Holy Prophet, he was embroiled against his wish, in the political intrigues of others. Even when elected Caliph, the implacable enemies of Islam arose and rebelled against him. Yet he bore all these afflictions with patience, thanking God that he had acquitted himself well in the tests and trials to which the Almighty had thought fit to subject him."