Post by Mohammed IbRaHim on Jan 27, 2014 15:51:54 GMT 5.5
Sufi Anecdotes & Stories
The Saint & his nafs
A pious saint relates,
Once I was very angry with my nafs. I said to it that I am going to throw it in some place of destruction.
I used to live near a jungle in which there was a den of lions and I went and lay in the midst of two cubs, hoping to be devoured by their parents. After a short while their father came carrying a piece of meat in his mouth. When he saw me he threw the meat and sat a distance from me. Then their mother came, carrying a piece of meat. She too threw the meat, roared and came to attack me, but the lion stopped her with his head. She sat down with the father and both of them did not move. After a while the lion walked towards me and one by one carried the cubs to their mother.
Imam Junayd & the Haji
In the eyes of the genuine Sufi it is null and void unless each of the successive religious acts which it involves is accompanied by corresponding 'movements of the heart.'
A man who had just returned from the pilgrimage came to Imam Junayd al Baghdadi Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu. Junayd Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu said:
"From the hour when you first journeyed from your home have you also been journeying away from all sins?" He said "No." "Then," said Junayd, "you have made no journey. At every stage where you halted for the night did you traverse a station on the way to God?" " No," he replied. "Then," said Junayd, "you have not trodden the road, stage by stage. When you put on the pilgrim's garb at the proper place, did you discard the qualities of human nature as you cast off your clothes?" "No." "Then you have not put on the pilgrim's garb. When you stood at ‘Arafat, did you stand one moment in contemplation of God?" "No." "Then you have not stood at ‘Arafat. When you went to Muzdalifa and achieved your desire, did you renounce all sensual desires?" "No." "Then you have not gone to Muzdalifa. When you circumambulated the Ka‘ba, did you behold the immaterial beauty of God in the abode of purification?" "No." "Then you have not circumambulated the Ka‘ba. When you ran between Safa and Marwa, did you attain to purity (safa) and virtue (muruwwat)?" "No." "Then you have not run. When you came to Mina, did all your wishes (muna) cease?" "No." "Then you have not yet visited Mina. When you reached the slaughter-place and offered sacrifice, did you sacrifice the objects of worldly desire?" "No." "Then you have not sacrificed. When you threw the pebbles, did you throw away whatever sensual thoughts were accompanying you?" "No." "Then you have not yet thrown the pebbles, and you have not yet performed the pilgrimage."
This anecdote contrasts the outer religious law of theology with the inner spiritual truth of mysticism, and shows that they should not be divorced from each other.
The Shaykh, the Jew and the Seven Brides.
Once a very poor man in distress presented himself in front of KHAWAJA HAJI SHAREEF AL-ZANDANI al-Chisti Rahmatullahi 'alayh [d.612H] explaining to him that he had seven daughters and he did not have enough money to get them married. He requested assistance from Khawaja Haji Shareef Rahmatullahi 'alayh who listened attentively to his plea and told him that he should not worry and that he should return the next day.
On his way home the poor man met an inquisitive Jewish man who enquired as to where he had just been. The poor man replied and told him that he had been visiting Khawaja Haji Shareef al Zandani Rahmatullahi 'alayh to whom he requested some financial help to get his daughters married. The Jew knew of the financial status of Khawaja Haji Shareef, and remarked 'he himself has nothing, so how is he going to help you? .. go tell your shaykh to become my servant and I will give you 7000 gold dinars to get your daughters married on the condition that he should work for me for seven years to my satisfaction after which I will give him his freedom. The poor man immediately returned back to the Great Khawaja and reported the entire story. Khawaja Haji Shareef readily agreed and said, ''If by my seven years of work your problem can be solved I accept to work for the Jew on his conditions.'' After saying this they both went to the house of the Jew and got the contract signed and presented it to the Qadi [muslim judge] of the city. The Jew then handed 7000 gold dinars to the poor old man, which he used for the weddings of his daughters. The Jew then told Khawaja Haji Shareef, ''from now on you are my slave and you have agreed to work for me for seven years to my satisfaction,'' to which the Khawaja accepted. The Jew then gave him instructions by telling him to guard the entrance of his house day and night without any sleep preventing any thieves from entering the house.
The news of this event spread throughout the city like wild-fire. When the king heard about it he immediately summoned 7000 gold and 7000 silver dinars be sent to the Khawaja and requested him to give it to the Jew so that he may regain his freedom. Khawaja Haji Shareef Rahmatullahi 'alayh accepted the money but instead he distributed it to the poor and needy and said that he had promised the Jewish man that he will work for him for seven years and under no condition will he break his promise. Eventually the jew came to find out about this remarkable feat and something inside him overtook his emotions. He immediately requested that Khawaja al-Zandani forgive him for his disrespectful behaviour and gave him his freedom. Khawaja al-Zandani then told him, ''Just as you have freed me Allah will free you from the fire of hell.'' Immediately thereafter he became a Muslim and a mureed [disciple] at the hands of Hadrat Khawaja Shareef al-Zandani Rahmatullahi 'alayh. After spending some time with his murshid [spiritual guide] he also renounced the world and became a perfect Sufi.
Watch your thoughts
A man rose up where Junaid (Junaid al-Baghdadi) was preaching and began to beg.
"This man is perfectly healthy," thought Junaid. "He can earn his living. Why does he beg, and impose on himself this humiliation?"
That night Junaid dreamed that a covered dish was set before him.
"Eat," he was bidden.
When he lifted the lid, he saw the man who had begged lying dead on the dish.
"I do not eat the flesh of men," he protested.
"Then why did you do so in mosque yesterday?" he was asked.
Junaid realize that he had been guilty of slander in his heart, and that he was being taken to task for an evil thought.
"I woke in terror," Junaid recollected. "I purified myself and said two rak'ahs, then I went out to search for the beggar. I saw him on the bank of the Tigris, picking out of the water scraps of vegetables people had washed there and eating them. Raising his head, he saw me approaching and addressed me.
"Junaid," he said, "have you repented of the thoughts concerning me?"
"I have," I replied.
"Then go. It is He who accepts repentance from His servants. This time keep a watch over your thoughts."
[Farid al-Din Attar, Tadhkirat al-Awliya]
Never doubt
A true story relayed back to us by brother Faizan Ashrafi
Many many years ago we had the blessings of inviting Hadrat Shaykh al Islam wal Muslimeen to our house during their frantic preaching and propagation tour of the U.K.
It was on this particular occasion my nephew Marhoom Hafiz M Arif Ashrafi decided to become a disciple 'mureed' of Shaykh al Islam in our living room. Once Hadrat arrived the matter was brought to their attention. Immediately Hadrat asked the person from the room full of people to come forth, our most nervous nephew slowly proceeded forward, sat by Hadrat's feet clinging on to their scarf with his head bowed, almost trembling while repeating the words of initiation. On completion after the du'a Hadrat handed some water to him to drink. The whole process which can change the outcome and outlook of ones life barely took more than five minutes to complete. As we congratulated and welcomed our new spiritual brother to the fold of 'The Ashrafi Circle' Hafiz Arif sat back down at the back of the room with mixed emotions and feelings.
After Hadrat had left I again congratulated my nephew showing my delight and asked him how he felt now with his added title of 'Ashrafi'. He said he felt much relieved that it was all over as he had never been so nervous however after taking the oath of alegiance with Shaykh al Islam he felt as if something was missing. I asked him to elaborate on what he meant. He said the feelings he was getting was that after the initiation Hadrat did not even ask him his background or his name. He said that 'would Hadrat even recognise me or know i was their mureed next time they see me?' I told him not to doubt Hadrat for he has now entered their discipleship and Hadrat have a very thorough and clear memory they are surely aware of all there mureeds of which there are many millions throughout the world. In their daily hectic schedule sometimes as many as 10, 20 or even 100 people will take the oath at once. But as far as your devotion and their spirituality is concerned their is a very strong link between Shaykh and mureed.
It was upon these thoughts and anxieties he tried to put the matter to rest. At nightfall he went to sleep but sees in his dream that he is once again in a room full of people gathered around Hadrat Shaykh al Islam wal Muslimeen. In the next instance Hadrat calls my nephew by his name 'Arif idhar awoh', Arif, come here.. Hafiz Arif awoke, immediately realising that his Shaykh are removing his doubts. He rang me the next day eager to tell me of his amazing dream. I was delighted for him to be reasured thanks to our Spiritual Mentor who proved to their new Mureed that they were certainly aware of him and his name thus removing all his doubts. Hafiz Arif Ashrafi's very own words which I remember to this day were ''How dare i doubt Shaykh al Islam.
In 2003 during the month of Ramadan our Nephew Hafiz Arif Ashrafi left this mortal world. We ask all those who read this thread to please pray for his and the souls of all muslims who have passed away.
Makhdoom Ashraf & the Cat
One day Hadrat Sayyad Makhdoom Ashraf Jahanghir Semnani (Rahmatullahi alaih) was talking about Hadrat Najm al-Din (Rahmatullahi alaih) in which he stated that his gaze at a dog turned the dog into a wali (saint). Hadrat Makhdoom Ashraf's khalifa, Qazi Rafa al-Din, thought in his mind: Can there be a wali in these times whose gaze at an animal could turn it into a wali? Hadrat Makhdoom Ashraf (Rahmatullahi alaih) knew the thoughts going through the khalifas mind and said, "It is possible that there are people around like him today."
Hadrat Makhdoom Ashraf (Rahmatullahi alaih) then asked the cat owned by his mureed, Kamal Jogi, be brought to him. When the cat was brought in front of him, the colour on his face changed. Those present were overcome by this incident. Hadrat Makhdoom Ashraf (Rahmatullahi alaih) was talking about marifat (knowledge of Allah and His attributes) and the cat sat opposite him.
The cat then leapt six feet into the air and then lay unconscious on one side for some time. When the cat came back to his senses it came and greeted and went around Hadrat Makhdoom Ashraf (Rahmatullahi alaih). After this incident whenever Hadrat Makhdoom Ashraf (Rahmatullahi alaih) talked about marifat, the cat would come to listen.
Whenever visitors came it would call out to the cook to indicate the numbers present in order for him to prepare enough food for them. Whenever Hadrat Makhdoom Ashraf (Rahmatullahi alaih) wanted anyone to be called to him he would send the cat to their house. The cat would make noises and people would understand, that they were called by Hadrat Makhdoom Ashraf (Rahmatullahi alaih).
One day a few pious people came to the khanqah (shrine). The cat informed the cook accordingly. However, when they all sat down to eat, they noticed that there was one less plate. Hadrat Makhdoom Ashraf (Rahmatullahi alaih) turned towards the cat and said, " You made a mistake today, You counted one less for dinner today" The cat got up, and started sniffing and smelling all the guests. It got into the lap of one of the guests sat down and urinated on the clothes of the guest. The person got up, went towards Hadrat Makhdoom Ashraf (Rahmatullahi alaih), greeted him and said, "Hadrat, I am a non-believer. For 12 years I have been wearing Muslim clothes and have been going to many khanqahs but not one pious person recognised me."
Hadrat Makhdoom Ashraf Rahmatullahi alaih replied, "O foolish man! Not only did they recognise you, but they did not disclose this fact because they knew you would accept faith at my hands."
The unbeliever then recited the kalima and accepted faith at the hands of Hadrat Makhdoom Ashraf Rahmatullahi alaih. The man having learnt about religion and marifat from Hadrat Makhdoom Ashraf Rahmatullahi alaih, became a pious person and later went to Istanbul to study further.
After Hadrat Makhdoom Ashraf Rahmatullahi alaih passed away, the cat stayed in the service of Hadrat Abd 'al-Razzaq Nur al-Ayn Rahmatullahi alaih.
One day some milk was being warmed up in a large pot in the kitchen. A black snake fell into it from the high ceiling of the kitchen and nobody saw this. The cat kept on circling the pot and making noises. But the cook could not understand what the cat was trying to say. The cat then jumped into the pot and died. When the milk was being thrown away, the black snake was also discovered with the cat. Hadrat Nur al-Ayn Rahmatullahi alaih said, "This cat gave its life for the poor people. Make a grave and a shrine for the cat."
A shrine was then erected to the east of Hadrat Makhdoom Ashraf Rahmatullahi alaih's shrine next to the Dar ul-Uloom at Kicchocha Shareef. The cat is honoured with the title 'Bibi Gurba' ('the lady of the poor').
Hadrat Makhdoom Ashraf Rahmatullahi alaih and Hadrat Nur al-Ayn Rahmatullahi alaih's shrines are next to each other at RasulPur, Kicchhocha Shareef, Faizabad, Northern India. People, many of whom are possessed by Jinn's etc. go to the shrine for treatment. People go there crying and dissappointed, but leave with faces of hope and inspiration in their hearts, by the Grace Of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala.
Hadrat Makhdoom Ashraf Rahmatullahi alaih descends from the family of Hadrat Sayyadina Imam Husayn, son of Hadrat Ali, son of Abu Talib Radi Allahu ta'ala anhum, which ruled the kingdom of Semnan; a province of present day Iran. Hadrat Makhdoom Ashraf Rahmatullahi alaih abdicated the throne of his kingdom which enjoyed a peaceful, orderly, prosperous and equitable rule, to serve spiritually the humanity at large. He travelled to India and became a disciple of a great spiritual leader, His Holiness Ala ul-Haq Wadeen Pandawi Rahmatullahi alaih. He enjoyed the company of some of the most learned and pious men of his time, including Hadrat Khawaja Banda Nawaz of Deccan and Hadrat Khawaja Baha al-Din Naqshband Radi Allahu anhum to name only a few.
Hadrat Abd'al-Razzaq Nur al-Ayn Rahmatullahi alaih is the 11th descendent of Hadrat Sayyad Abd'al-Qadir Jilani, Ghawth al A'zam Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu.
A Friend Keeps Watch
One night Rabiah al Adawiyah Radi Allahu anha was praying in the hermitage when she was overcome by weariness and fell asleep. So deeply was she absorbed that, when a reed from the reed-mat she was lying on broke in her eye so that the blood flowed, she was quite unaware of the fact.
A thief entered and seized her chaddur. He then made to leave, but the way was barred to him. He dropped the chaddur and departed, finding the way now open. He seized the chaddur again and returned to discover the way blocked. Once more he dropped the chaddur.
This he repeated seven times over; then he heard a voice proceeding from a corner of the hermitage. "Man, do not put yourself to such pains. It is so many years now that she has committed herself to Us. The Devil himself has not the boldness to slink round her. How should a thief have the boldness to slink round her chaddur? Be gone, scoundrel! Do not put yourself to such pains. If one friend has fallen asleep, one Friend is awake and keeping watch."
2 Loaves of Bread
Two notables of the 'faith' came to visit Rabi'ah al Adawiyah Radi Allahu anha, and both were hungry. "It may be that she will give us food," they said to each other. "Her food is bound to come from a lawful source."
When they sat down there was a napkin with two loaves laid before them. They were well content. A beggar arrived just then, and Rabi'ah gave him the two loaves. The two men of religion were much upset, but said nothing. After a while a maid servant entered with a handful of warm bread.
"My mistress sent these," she explained. Rabi'ah counted the loaves. There were eighteen. "Perhaps it was not this that she sent me," Rabi'ah remarked. For all that the maidservant assured her, it profited nothing. So she took back the loaves and carried them away. Now it so happened that she had taken two of the loaves for herself. She asked her mistress, and she added the two to the pile and returned with them.
Rabi'ah counted again, and found there were twenty loaves. She now accepted them. "This is what your mistress sent me," she said. She set the loaves before the two men and they ate, marveling. "What is the secret behind this ?" they asked her. "We had an appetite for your own bread, but you took it away from us and gave it to the beggar. Then you said that the eighteen loaves did not belong to you. When they were twenty, you accepted them."
"I knew when you arrived that you were hungry," Rabi'ah replied.
I said to myself, How can I offer two loaves to two such notables? So when the beggar came to the door I gave them to him and said to Almighty God, 'O God, Thou hast said that Thou repayest tenfold, and this I firmly believed. Now I have given two loaves to please Thee, so that Thou mayest give twenty in return for them.' When eighteen were brought me, I knew that either there had been some misappropriation, or that they were not meant for me."
UWAIS AL QARNI & HIS MOTHER
Hadrat Uways al-Qarni Radi allahu Anhu and his Mother
The great Saint Uways of Qaran! Was presented the blessed cloak of Rasulullah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam on the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam's instruction. It is preserved in Istanbul, Turkey. He reached his Spiritual status due to obedience to his mother.
Uways Radi allahu Anhu was from the village of Qaran, in Yemen. He had asked his mother's permission to visit Allah's Most Beloved Messenger Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam, and she said: "You have my permission to go, see him once, and come straight back. If the Messenger Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam is at home, you may meet with him; if not, come straight back here." Uways made a journey of three months on foot, from the Yemen to Madinah the Illuminated. When he reached Rasulullah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam's house, he knocked on the door and Hadrat Aisha Radi allahu Anha, wife of the Chosen Prophet and Mother of the Believers opened the door. She told him that Rasulullah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam was in the Masjid.
Uways Radi allahu Anhu remembered his promise to his mother and replied: "Please convey my salaams to my Beloved Rasulullah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam. Kindly inform him that Uways came from the Yemen, did not find him at home, and is returning to the Yemen, since he does not have permission from his mother to meet him in the mosque."
When the Rasul Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam came home from the mosque, he found the radiance of Uways in his house. Hadrat Aisha Radi allahu Anha told him what had happened, and conveyed Uways's salutations. His blessed eyes looked towards Yemen and the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam said: "The fragrance of our friend is reaching us." The noble Companions asked: "If Uways is your friend, why did he not stay to see you?" Rasulullah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam replied: "He complied with a promise given to his mother and he is serving her."
The Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam said "Uways will come back to Madinah the Illuminated, to meet me, but we will not meet physically, for I shall then be united with my Lord "
Rasulullah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam said that when Uways Radi allahu Anhu came back to Madinah he was to be given his cloak, and asked to pray for the Community of Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam. He also mentioned that a light was visible on one of Uways's hands.
During Hadrat Umar Radi allahu Anhu's Caliphate, a number of Yemeni's visited Madinah the Illuminated and Hadrat Ali and Hadrat Umar Radi allahu Anhu ajmain approached them and enquired about the Saint, Uways Radi allahu Anhu, from the village of Qaran. The Yemenis said they knew of no such saint, but they did point out that a camelherd from that village, who seldom mixed with other people, preferring to spend his time in worship, alone among the camels. Hadrat Ali and Hadrat Umar Radi allahu Anhu ajmain then approached Hadrat Uways Radi allahu Anhu, greeted him, conveyed the greetings of the Messenger Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam, and presented him with his blessed cloak. But he was reluctant to accept. "Surely there is some mistake!" he exclaimed, in his desire to hide himself. Seeing the light upon his hand, however, they cried: "You are the saint described to us by Allah's MessengerSalla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam, for he told us about the light on your hand." They also reported to him the wish of the blessed MessengerSalla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam that he should pray for the Community of Muhammad.
Hadrat Uways Radi allahu Anhu rubbed the blessed cloak over his face and eyes and kissed it. Then he asked to be left alone. When he was alone he held the cloak and began to pray: "0 Allah this cloak is the cloak of Your beloved Messenger. He has presented it to me, but I refuse to wear it unless You pardon the Community of Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam." He then repeated his prayer in exactly the same words. As he was about to repeat his prayer a third time, Hadrat Ali and Hadrat Umar Radi allahu Anhu ajmain came beside him. He cried: "Oh, you came too soon! Upon my first supplication, Allah granted me forgiveness for one third of the Community; on my second, He forgave two-thirds of the Community. In my third request I was pleading for pardon for the entire Community of Muhammad - then you came along!"
As with people in every age, the Yemenis were unaware of the presence in their midst of such a saint, whose prayers were accepted. They imagined him to be an ordinary camelherd. The Friends of Allah, do not seek fame, and as such hide themselves away from other people.
Those who serve their mothers with love will be resurrected with Hadrat Uways Radi allahu Anhu. Those who are good to their parents will be happy in this world and the Hereafter.
www.sufi.co.za/uwais%20qarni.htm
'Ya Junayd!'
[Translated from a speech by Shaykh al Islam by sidi Asif Jahangir in his own words]
One day a disciple of Imam Junayd rahmatullahi alaih was at the banks of the river Euphrates when, suddenly, he spotted his Master approaching the river. He followed Imam Junayd rahmatullahi alaih and, to his astonishment, watched the Imam approach the river and begin walking on the water, saying "Ya Allah! Ya Allah!" as he began to cross the mighty Euphrates on foot. The disciple was still dumbfounded at this miracle of his Shaykh when Imam Junayd rahmatullahi alaih, whilst walking on the water, turned around and, smiling at his disciple, called to him to follow his lead, saying 'Just follow me and keep on repeating the words, "Ya Junayd!" as you walk on the water and you will be fine.' Trusting in his Shaykh, the disciple began to cross the river and due to his faith he was able to walk on the water too. As he walked he kept on repeating 'Ya Junayd' as a litany.
When he had reached the middle of the river and the Imam had gone a little further, Iblis, the accursed Satan, suddenly swooped down to him and began his mendacious whisperings in the disciple's ear. Satan said to him, "Look at the Imam! He is saying Allah's name, while he asks you to commit shirk and repeat his own name! Why don't you also trust in Allah alone and say, 'Ya Allah!' too?"
Having said this the Accursed One disappeared. The disciple was convinced by the logic of the Devil and stopped saying the words 'Ya Junayd' and began to say 'Ya Allah' instead. As soon as he began to repeat the name of Allah, he started to sink into the water! As he was on the verge of drowning he became terrified and shouted out 'Ya Junayd' again. Immediately, he rose to the surface of the water and began to walk on the water again. He continued repeating Ya Junayd until he had reached the other bank of the river safely. The Imam had reached the river bank a few minutes before him.
When he had reached the other side of the Euphrates river he went up to Junayd of Baghdad and asked him, "O' Shaykh what is the meaning of this? I was able to walk on the river whilst I said your name but as soon as I said Allah's name I began to sink! And yet you yourself repeated Allah's name whilst you crossed the river. Please explain this to secret to me!'
"You are trying to reach Allah and yet you haven’t even reached Junayd yet!"
.... replied Imam Junayd Baghdadi rahmatullahi alaih .
Ants
There was an ant with only three legs, who decided to go on Hajj. On the road from Damascus to Makkah, he came to the Hijaz desert. He had travelled for some distance into the desert when he came across another ant, returning from Makkah.
The second ant looked at the three-legged ant and asked, "Where are you going?"
The three-legged ant replied, "I am on the way to Makkah."
The other ant said, "You'll never make it! It's a terribly difficult journey, even for an ant with six legs. You'll die along the way!"
The three-legged ant looked at him. He thought for a moment. Then he smiled and said,
"What does it matter if I die?
At least I'll die on the road to Makkah."
Dhu'l-Nun and the pious disciple
There was a disciple of Shaykh Dhu'l-Nun al-Misri Rahmatullahi alaih who had forty times observed the forty days' seclusion, forty times he had stood at Arafat, and for forty years he had kept vigil by night. Forty long years he had sat sentinel over the chamber of his heart. One day he came to Dhu'l-Nun Rahmatullahi alaih.
"I have done all this," he said. "For all that I have suffered, the Friend speaks not one word to me nor favours me with a single glance. He takes no account of me, and reveals nothing to me from the unseen world. All this I say not in order to praise myself. I am simply stating the facts. I have performed all that was in the power of me, poor wretch, to do. I make no complaint against God. I simply state the facts, that I devote my whole heart and soul to His service. But I am telling the story of the sadness of my evil luck, the tale of my misfortune. I do not say this because my heart has grown weary of obedience. Only I fear that if further life remains ahead of me, it will be the same. For a whole lifetime I have knocked in hope, but I have heard no response. Now it is grown hard for me to endure this any longer. Since you are the physician of the afflicted and the sovereign prescriber of the sages, minister now to my wretchedness."
"Go and eat your fill tonight," advised Dhu'l-Nun. "Omit the prayer before sleep, and slumber the whole night through. So it may be that if the Friend will not show Himself kindly, He will at least show Himself reproachful; if He will not look on you with compassion, He will look on you with sternness."
The dervish departed and ate his fill. His heart would not permit him to forgo the prayer before sleep, and so he prayed the prayer and fell asleep. That night he saw the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu Ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam in a dream.
"Your Friend greets you," the Prophet Salla Allahu Ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam said. "He says, 'An effeminate wretch and no true man is he who comes to My court and is quickly sated. The root of the matter is uprightness of life, and no reproaches. God Almighty declares, I have given your heart its desire of forty years, and I grant you to attain all that you hope for, and fulfill all your desire. But convey My greetings to that bandit and pretender Dhu'l-Nun. Say then to him, Pretender and liar, if I do not expose your shame before all the city, then I am not your Lord. See that you no more beguile the hapless lovers of My court and scare them not away from My court.' "
The disciple awoke, and was overcome by weeping. He went and told Dhu'l-Nun what he had seen and heard. When Dhu'l-Nun heard the words, "God sends you greeting and declares you a pretender and a liar", he rolled over and over with joy and wept ecstatically.
The favourite mureed ...
A certain shaykh once had a disciple whom he favoured above his other disciples, thus exciting their envy. One day the shaykh gave each of them a fowl and told each to go and kill it in a place where no one could see him. Accordingly each killed his fowl in some retired spot and brought it back, with the exception of the shaykh's favourite disciple, who brought his back alive, saying, "I have found no such place, for Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala sees everywhere." The shaykh said to the others, "You see now this youth's real rank; he has attained to the constant remembrance of Allah."
From the 'Alchemy of Happiness'- Imam Al Ghazzali Radi Allahu anhu
The Uninspired Mureed
A story is told of a mureed who had been under the guidance of a murshid for some years, and had not yet attained his goal. He had seen many come and depart inspired. In the end he went to the murshid, and asked why this was so. The murshid said in answer, 'My son, the fault is not with me, but in thyself.' A mad dog was passing at the time, and the murshid glanced at it, and the dog was cured instantly of its madness. He then pointed out that it was not lack of power on the part of the murshid, but lack of response on the part of the mureed.About this, Hafiz says,
'The dark-fated ones cannot be guided even by the illuminated ones.'