Friends, come, let us speak of the Beloved.
January has come before with all its beauty, its joy, its happiness, its sadness, its sorrow, and its pain of separation, and it will continue to return in the same way. Time moves forward, yet meaning repeats itself.
The universe is in constant motion. If it were to stop even for a single moment, it would dissolve, along with all its colour and fragrance, into the vastness that surrounds it. During the last ten days of January, there was scarcely an eye without tears and scarcely a heart that did not momentarily lose its rhythm. The material world seemed suspended, while the heavens were in celebration.
On 27 January 1979, when the darkness of night was about to give way to the light of dawn, Qalander Baba Auliya departed from this world and entered the embrace of his Eternal Creator.
The remembrance of the righteous revives the soul. A single moment in the company of such souls is greater than a hundred years of sincere obedience, and after their return to the heavenly realm, remembering them becomes greater than a thousand years of devotion. This is because the remembrance of those who are close to God colours the entire being with a sense of nearness to Him.
The Eternal Being, in order to sustain and spread His mercy, raises servants who remind humanity of the temporary nature of this world. Their mission is to remain connected with the Everlasting Creator and to introduce humanity to Him.
Today, let us speak of that beloved, that gentle soul. Love for humanity demands that the voice of one who cared for humanity be preserved, so that through remembrance a collective image may emerge before us.
Qalander Baba Auliya said:
All men, women, children, and elders are, by virtue of their connection to Adam, creative secrets of the Creator of the universe. They are brothers and sisters, none greater than the other. True greatness belongs only to the one who understands the vast divine attributes, in whom those attributes are reflected, and from whose hands no creature suffers.
One who calls others to goodness must first be good within himself. Just as a corrupt heart spreads corruption, a purified heart spreads peace.
Anger first burns the one who is angry. It weakens the senses and drains life energy, eventually harming others. God does not love harm inflicted upon His creation. God states:
وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
Those who spend in ease and hardship, restrain anger, and pardon people. God loves those who do good.
Surah 3 verse 134
A candle burns itself first, and through its sacrifice, moths gather and surrender their own lives. True guidance demands self sacrifice.
How can one who lacks inner knowledge impart wisdom to others? How can one who is himself destitute give charity?
To feel joy at another’s pain is to wound one’s own roots. Humanity is a single tree with countless branches. If a branch strikes the root, it harms itself. Happiness can never be achieved by harming one’s own kind.
Every person is connected to every other person through the exchange of life giving waves. This is why the sorrow of one can darken the joy of many. Humanity is like a chain. When one link weakens, the whole chain weakens.
God states:
وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا
Hold firmly together to the rope of God and do not be divided.
Surah 3 verse 103
Unity and brotherhood shape a dignified past, a peaceful present, and a hopeful future.
An artist first judges his own creation. If he is not content with it, others will not be either. Work that does not satisfy the conscience leads only to regret. This is the secret of becoming a source of guidance.
Strive fully in your actions, but leave the outcome to God. Man moves within circumstances, while God governs circumstances. When He wills, situations change instantly.
If someone causes you pain, forgive without hesitation, for revenge is itself a calamity that weakens the soul.
If you have caused pain to another, seek forgiveness, young or old. True greatness lies in humility.
God states:
هَلْ أَتَىٰ عَلَى الْإِنسَانِ حِينٌ مِّنَ الدَّهْرِ لَمْ يَكُن شَيْئًا مَّذْكُورًا
ثُمَّ نَفَخَ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِهِ
Was there not a time when man was nothing to be mentioned? Then He breathed into him of His spirit.
Surah 76 verses 1 to 2 and Surah 32 verse 9
The Spirit is the work of God. When He intends a thing, He says Be, and it comes into existence.
Doubt is the strongest weapon of Satan. One who harbours doubt can never attain true inner knowledge, for doubt distances the soul from its origin and closes the doors of awareness and insight.
Upon the God conscious descend the rains of divine mercy. The light of their presence illuminates the world around them.
By Khawaja Shamsuddin Azeemi RA
Book: Journey Towards Insight