Four pieces of advice from Ghaus-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه

The sayings of our righteous predecessors رَحِمَهُمُ اللہُ تَعَالٰی provide us with guidance in various walks of life. These sacred personalities went through the ups and downs of this world in their long life and normally spent it having religious awareness. Therefore, their sayings are based on their experience of several years. Let’s read the sayings of Ghaus-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه and learn from them:

1. Four types of people

There are four types of people:

1.         Those who neither possess a tongue (which they may use to speak something wise) nor a heart[1]; such ignorant, heedless, foolish, and despicable people do not have any dignity and honour in the court of Allah Almighty. Such people are like chaff. It is necessary to avoid the company of such people. However, if you are an Islamic scholar and a preacher conveying the “call towards righteousness”, do join their company, invite them towards the obedience to Allah Almighty and make them feel fear of sins. If you do so, you will be considered as a Mujahid. The Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللہُ  تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated: If Allah Almighty guides anyone through you, it is better for you than the fact that you possess red camels. (Sahih Muslim, pp. 1007, Hadees 6223)

2.         The second type consists of the people who do possess a tongue, but do not possess a heart. They carry out an extremely intellectual conversation that is full of wisdom to advise others about knowledge and acting upon it, but do not act upon it themselves. They call others towards Allah Almighty but they themselves go away from Him. They mention the evils of backbiting but they themselves remain indulged in it. They pretend to be pious in front of people but declare a war against Allah Almighty by committing grave sins in seclusion. Such people are actually wolves in the guise of humans. Stay away from such people and seek refuge with Allah from their evil.

3.         The third type consists of such people who have a heart but not a tongue (i.e. their heart is enlightened with knowledge and wisdom but it is not permitted to reveal the knowledge and wisdom. In fact, they have adopted complete silence so that they remain safe from socialising and conversing with people). These are pious and ascetic people. Allah Almighty has concealed them from people and covered them. Moreover, Allah Almighty has made them aware of the shortcomings of their Nafs and has enlightened their heart by making them aware of the minute details [harms] of arrogance and ostentation. They have become certain that salvation lies only in silence and seclusion. Do adopt the company of such people and serve them. اِنْ شَـآءَ اللہ عَزَّوَجَلَّ! Allah Almighty will include you also among His righteous people.

4.         The fourth type consists of those people who possess both, a tongue and a heart. Such people are aware of Allah Almighty and His signs. Allah Almighty has informed them of those secrets that are concealed from other people and they have the rank of being the successor of Ambiya and Mursaleen عَـلَيْـهِمُ الـصَّلٰوةُ وَالـسَّلَام. These noble personalities have such a high rank above which there is only the rank of Nubuwwah.

I have mentioned all the four types of people before you. If you are a contemplative and farsighted person, you should ponder over it. May Allah Almighty give us Taufeeq to carry out such deeds which are beloved by Him. (Sharh Futooh-ul-Ghayb – translated, pp. 356; summarised)

2. Pay attention to Faraaid before Nawafil

Saying of Ghaus-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه: A believer should first fulfil his Faraaid [obligatory acts] and Wajibat [compulsory acts]. Then he should get engaged in Sunnat-e-Muakkadah, and then he should pay attention to Nawafil and other virtuous acts. It is foolishness and arrogance to get engaged in Sunnahs and Nawafil without fulfilling Faraaid. If one carries out Sunnahs and Nawafil before [fulfilling] Faraaid, they will not be accepted. In fact, he will be disgraced. Such person’s example is like a man who has been appointed by a king to serve him, but the person leaves him and gets engaged in serving his slave. (Sharh Futooh-ul-Ghayb – translated, pp. 511)

3. Condemnation of sleeping in excess

Ghaus-e-Pak رَحْمَةُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has said: The one who prefers sleeping to [the state of] wakefulness, prefers something extremely insignificant and imperfect. As sleep is the sister of death, he wants to become unaware of all the matters and resemble the deceased. Allah Almighty is free from sleep because He عَزَّوَجَلَّ is free from every defect. Angels do not sleep either because of being close to the Divine court. Moreover, sleep will not overcome the dwellers of Paradise either. All the goodness lies in wakefulness, and all the evils and unawareness from matters lie in sleep. The one who remains engaged in eating, drinking and sleeping more than his need and just for desire, will miss out on a lot of goodness. (Sharh Futooh-ul-Ghayb – translated, pp. 518; summarised)

Din lahw mayn khona tujhay, shab subh tak sona tujhay

Sharm-e-Nabi khauf-e-Khuda, yeh bhi nahin woh bhi nahin

4. Persuasion of making Du’a

Ghaus-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has stated: Do not say, ‘I do not make Du’a to Allah Almighty, because if something is destined for me, I will eventually receive it whether I make Du’a or not, and if something is not destined for me, my Du’a cannot make me gain it.’ Make Du’a for whatever you need from the goodness of this world and the Hereafter, provided that it is not Haraam [prohibited] or a cause of Fasaad [discord]; because Allah Almighty has commanded and persuaded you to make Du’a. Allah Almighty has stated: ‘اُدۡعُوۡنِی اَسۡتَجِبۡ لَکُمۡ ؕ’ Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: Supplicate to Me, I will accept (it).[2] Furthermore, it has been stated: ‘وَ سۡئَلُوا اللّٰہَ مِنۡ فَضۡلِہٖ ؕ’ Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: And ask Allah for His Benevolence.[3] (Sharh Futooh-ul-Ghayb – translated, pp. 666; summarised)

Whomsoever Allah Almighty wills, He عَزَّوَجَلَّ blesses him with Wilayah by showering His special grace upon him and creates his love in the hearts of the people. Then the same love and devotion bring the people to the courts of these sacred personalities who have an acclaimed rank in Wilayah. From their courts people’s desires are granted, difficulties are removed; people are guided and attain the closeness to Allah Almighty. By the bestowment of Allah Almighty, the blessed Awliya رَحِمَهُمُ اللہ تَعَالٰی bless and shower grace upon the creation of Allah Almighty and make them reach closer to Allah Almighty. People at times gain these bounties and blessings through admonitory sermons, at times, they enlighten their inner-selves through the noble character and actions of the Awliya of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and at times, people witness these blessings and grace in the shape of saintly miracles which strengthen their Iman and develop further devotion for them in their hearts. Countless people also have gained, are gaining and will keep gaining blessings until the Day of Judgement from Ghaus-e-Samdaani, Qutb-e-Rabbani, Mahboob-e-Subhani, Sayyiduna Shaykh Sayyid ‘Abdul Qaadir Jeelani رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه. In fact, they will also اِنْ شَـآءَ اللہ عَزَّوَجَلَّ attain his blessings and bounties even on the Day of Judgement. Various saintly miracles were manifested by him, three of them are mentioned below.

1. Disappeared by flying in the air

Shaykh ‘Abdullah Muhammad Husayni رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه states: Once I and Shaykh ‘Ali Bin Heeti رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه presented ourselves in the court of Huzoor Ghaus-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه. We saw that a young man is lying at the door. Seeing us, he said, ‘Speak for me to Huzoor Ghaus-e-A’zam.’ When we went inside, then Shaykh ‘Ali Bin Heeti رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه spoke to Huzoor Ghaus-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه about that person. Upon this, he رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه said, ‘We have given him to you.’ Shaykh ‘Ali Bin Heeti رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه came and said to the young man that my request has been accepted in your favour. That person immediately flew in the air and disappeared. Then we inquired about this event from Huzoor Ghaus-e-Pak رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه. Upon this, he رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه replied, ‘That man was ‘Sahib-e-Haal’ (i.e saint). He passed by here and thought to himself that there is no one like him here. I divested him of his Haal. If Shaykh ‘Ali Bin Heeti would not have come, then he would have remained in the same very state.’ (Bahjat-ul-Asraar, pp. 142, Barakaat-e-Qadiriyyat, pp. 57)

2. Die by the command of Allah Almighty

Sayyiduna Abul ‘Abbas Ahmad Bin Muhammad رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه narrates: Once Sayyiduna Ghaus-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه went to the Jaami’ Masjid Mansoori Shareef. Upon his return, he رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه took his blessed shawl off, took out a scorpion and said: ‘مُوْتِیْ بِاِذْنِ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی’ i.e. die at the command of Allah Almighty. It died instantly. Then he رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه said, ‘O Ahmad! It has stung me sixty times from Jaami’ Masjid Mansoori till here’. (Barakaat-e-Qadiriyyat, pp. 66)

3. Caravan was saved from robbers

Sayyiduna Abu ‘Amr ‘Usman and Sayyiduna Abu Muhammad ‘Abdul Haq رَحِمَهُمَا اللہ تَعَالٰی state that we were present in the court of Sayyiduna Ghaus-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه. After performing Wudu, he رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه wore his wooden slippers and offered two Rak’aat Salah. After performing Salam, he رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه chanted a slogan loudly and threw one of his wooden slippers up in the air. Then, he رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه proclaimed another slogan and threw the other wooden slipper. Both slippers disappeared from our sight instantly. Then he رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه sat down. Due to his awe and grandeur, no one had the courage of asking him anything.

Few days later, a caravan arrived in his court from ‘Ajam and they said: ‘اِنَّ مَعَنَا لِلشَّیْخِ نَذْرًا’ i.e. we have a Nazr [present] of yours with us. We sought permission from Huzoor Ghaus-e-Pak رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه to take that Nazr. Huzoor Ghaus-e-Pak رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه said, ‘Take it.’ The traders presented 1 Maund of silk, few cloth rolls, gold and those slippers that he رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه threw in the air that day. Astonished, we asked, ‘How did you get hold of these slippers?’ They said: We were travelling somewhere and few robbers attacked us who had two chiefs. They robbed our goods and killed some of our people. Then they went by the stream to distribute the goods among themselves. We said to each other that it is better for us to remember our Shaykh, Sayyiduna Ghaus-e-A’zam at this time and vow for some Nazr for him upon receiving deliverance. We had just remembered Huzoor Ghaus-e-Pak رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه and heard two loud slogans which resounded the entire jungle. We looked at the robbers. They were overtaken by fear. We thought that some other robbers have attacked them. They came to us and said, ‘Here. Take your belongings and have a look at what great calamity has befallen upon us.’ They took us to both their chiefs. We saw that they were lying dead and both of them had one slipper each next to them soaked with water. Then the robbers returned all our wealth. (Bahjat-ul-Asraar, pp. 132; summarised)

Qasam hay kay mushkil ko mushkil na paaya

Kaha ham nay jis waqt Ya Ghaus-e-A’zam

I swear I did not find a difficulty to be difficult

The moment I proclaimed Ya Ghaus-e-A’zam

(Zauq-e-Na’at, pp. 126)

Whomsoever Allah Almighty wills, He عَزَّوَجَلَّ blesses him with Wilayah by showering His special grace upon him and creates his love in the hearts of the people. Then the same love and devotion bring the people to the courts of these sacred personalities who have an acclaimed rank in Wilayah. From their courts people’s desires are granted, difficulties are removed; people are guided and attain the closeness to Allah Almighty. By the bestowment of Allah Almighty, the blessed Awliya رَحِمَهُمُ اللہ تَعَالٰی bless and shower grace upon the creation of Allah Almighty and make them reach closer to Allah Almighty. People at times gain these bounties and blessings through admonitory sermons, at times, they enlighten their inner-selves through the noble character and actions of the Awliya of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and at times, people witness these blessings and grace in the shape of saintly miracles which strengthen their Iman and develop further devotion for them in their hearts. Countless people also have gained, are gaining and will keep gaining blessings until the Day of Judgement from Ghaus-e-Samdaani, Qutb-e-Rabbani, Mahboob-e-Subhani, Sayyiduna Shaykh Sayyid ‘Abdul Qaadir Jeelani رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه. In fact, they will also اِنْ شَـآءَ اللہ عَزَّوَجَلَّ attain his blessings and bounties even on the Day of Judgement. Various saintly miracles were manifested by him, three of them are mentioned below.

1. Disappeared by flying in the air

Shaykh ‘Abdullah Muhammad Husayni رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه states: Once I and Shaykh ‘Ali Bin Heeti رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه presented ourselves in the court of Huzoor Ghaus-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه. We saw that a young man is lying at the door. Seeing us, he said, ‘Speak for me to Huzoor Ghaus-e-A’zam.’ When we went inside, then Shaykh ‘Ali Bin Heeti رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه spoke to Huzoor Ghaus-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه about that person. Upon this, he رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه said, ‘We have given him to you.’ Shaykh ‘Ali Bin Heeti رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه came and said to the young man that my request has been accepted in your favour. That person immediately flew in the air and disappeared. Then we inquired about this event from Huzoor Ghaus-e-Pak رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه. Upon this, he رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه replied, ‘That man was ‘Sahib-e-Haal’ (i.e saint). He passed by here and thought to himself that there is no one like him here. I divested him of his Haal. If Shaykh ‘Ali Bin Heeti would not have come, then he would have remained in the same very state.’ (Bahjat-ul-Asraar, pp. 142, Barakaat-e-Qadiriyyat, pp. 57)

2. Die by the command of Allah Almighty

Sayyiduna Abul ‘Abbas Ahmad Bin Muhammad رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه narrates: Once Sayyiduna Ghaus-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه went to the Jaami’ Masjid Mansoori Shareef. Upon his return, he رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه took his blessed shawl off, took out a scorpion and said: ‘مُوْتِیْ بِاِذْنِ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی’ i.e. die at the command of Allah Almighty. It died instantly. Then he رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه said, ‘O Ahmad! It has stung me sixty times from Jaami’ Masjid Mansoori till here’. (Barakaat-e-Qadiriyyat, pp. 66)

3. Caravan was saved from robbers

Sayyiduna Abu ‘Amr ‘Usman and Sayyiduna Abu Muhammad ‘Abdul Haq رَحِمَهُمَا اللہ تَعَالٰی state that we were present in the court of Sayyiduna Ghaus-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه. After performing Wudu, he رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه wore his wooden slippers and offered two Rak’aat Salah. After performing Salam, he رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه chanted a slogan loudly and threw one of his wooden slippers up in the air. Then, he رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه proclaimed another slogan and threw the other wooden slipper. Both slippers disappeared from our sight instantly. Then he رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه sat down. Due to his awe and grandeur, no one had the courage of asking him anything.

Few days later, a caravan arrived in his court from ‘Ajam and they said: ‘اِنَّ مَعَنَا لِلشَّیْخِ نَذْرًا’ i.e. we have a Nazr [present] of yours with us. We sought permission from Huzoor Ghaus-e-Pak رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه to take that Nazr. Huzoor Ghaus-e-Pak رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه said, ‘Take it.’ The traders presented 1 Maund of silk, few cloth rolls, gold and those slippers that he رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه threw in the air that day. Astonished, we asked, ‘How did you get hold of these slippers?’ They said: We were travelling somewhere and few robbers attacked us who had two chiefs. They robbed our goods and killed some of our people. Then they went by the stream to distribute the goods among themselves. We said to each other that it is better for us to remember our Shaykh, Sayyiduna Ghaus-e-A’zam at this time and vow for some Nazr for him upon receiving deliverance. We had just remembered Huzoor Ghaus-e-Pak رَحْمَةُ اللہِ  تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه and heard two loud slogans which resounded the entire jungle. We looked at the robbers. They were overtaken by fear. We thought that some other robbers have attacked them. They came to us and said, ‘Here. Take your belongings and have a look at what great calamity has befallen upon us.’ They took us to both their chiefs. We saw that they were lying dead and both of them had one slipper each next to them soaked with water. Then the robbers returned all our wealth. (Bahjat-ul-Asraar, pp. 132; summarised)

Qasam hay kay mushkil ko mushkil na paaya

Kaha ham nay jis waqt Ya Ghaus-e-A’zam

I swear I did not find a difficulty to be difficult

The moment I proclaimed Ya Ghaus-e-A’zam

(Zauq-e-Na’at, pp. 126)