René Guénon, aka shaykh ‘Abd al-Wahid Yahya, died in 1951. There has been an European Sufi shaykh, Mustafa ‘Abd al-‘Aziz, who has been the first in modern times to introduce the teachings of shaykh Ibn al-‘Arabi in depth to the west. His French name is Michel Valsan. Shaykh Mustafa ‘Abd al-‘Aziz has written a letter about the death of shaykh ‘Abd al-Wahid Yahya: Paris 18th June 1951. I think you have already received the sad information about the death of René Guénon by means of newspapers and radio. It took place on the night of the 7th to the 8th of January. I have received your letter on the 8th of January at the same time as news of his…
Asking for money
An afflicted man presented himself before Alexander, the King of the Universe and asked for a dirhem. Alexander responded in a loud voice to this request: “You ask me, a king like me, so little?” “Well then”, answered the man. “Give me a town and a treasure! That will be enough to satisfy me.” “The emperor of China has received such a gift” – said the king. “Who are you to claim such things?”
Qawwali
The qawwals in the subcontinent of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh often sing the following poem, which is attributed to Mawlana Jalaluddin Rumi, but is not found in his Divan: To karimi man kamina barda am Laiken az lotf-e shoma parvarda am Zendagi amad baray bandagi Zendagi bi bandagi sharmendagi Yad-e u sarmaya-e iman bovad Har gada az yad-e u soltan bovad Sayyed o sarvar mohammad nur-e jan Mehtar o behtar shafi-ye mojreman Chun mohammad pak shod az nar o dud Har koja ru kard wajh Allah bud Shahbaz la makani jan-e u Rahmatal lil ‘alamin dar shan-e u Mehtarin o behtarin-e ambiya’ Joz Mohammad nist dar arz o sama’ An Mohammad Hamid o Mahmud shod Shakl-e ‘abid surat-e ma’bud shod…
Sufi Symbols
Alif = a The alif represents the number one and belongs to the element of fire. Because of its shape the alif resembles the numeral 1. It symbolizes the selfness of God as well as His unity. Thus, this letter takes on the archetypal value of the whole alphabet, which it begins and is thus also identified with Adam, the father of humankind (and thus any diacritical sign affirming this letter’s value is identified with Eve). The three main positions of the Islamic prayer are: · Standing, like the alif · Kneeling, like the dal · Prostrating, like the mim. These three letters also make up the name Adm (Adam). According to the Sufi Ibn Ata Allah Abbas (d. 1309):…
The Two Kings
There were once two kings, a just and an unjust; and this one had a land abounding in trees and fruits and herbs; but he let no merchant pass without robbing him of his monies and his merchandise, and the traders endured this with patience, by reason of their profit from the fatness of the earth in the means of life and its pleasantness, more by token that it was renowned for its richness in precious stones and gems. Now the just king, who loved jewels, heard of this land and sent one of his subjects thither; and it being told to the unjust king that a merchant was come to his kingdom with much money to buy jewels withal,…
Sufi concept: Saturday – Prophet Abraham
Shaykh Ibn al-‘Arabi tells us, that for every day there is a prophet from among the prophets, from whom descends a secret upon the heart of the verifying witness, a secret in which you takes delight during your day and by which you know something of that which requires to be known. This only happens to those who possess a heart. Day 7: Saturday If your day is Saturday, then it is Abraham, so hasten to the honouring of your guest before he vanishes. On Saturday it is Abraham who addresses you with a secret whereby you come to know how to deal with enemies and when they are to be fought against, and this is the presence of the…
The blind man in the maze
There was once a blind man, who in addition to not being able to see, also had a bald head. For a misdemeanour he had committed, the king put the poor fellow in a specially built prison designed like a maze or labyrinth. The prison had a number of false doors and one real door, which opened and led to the light of the outside world. By the king’s order, anyone who could find the real door could step through it and immediately gain his freedom. For a long time the blind man felt his way carefully around the prison’s wall, searching for the one real door. But as it happened, every time he actually came to it, he was…
The ‘Urs of Kwaja Moinuddin Chishti
In October this year (according to the Islamic calendar the main activities will be from the 1st up to and including the 6th of Rajab; the most important day being the 6th of Rajab) the ‘urs of Mo’inuddin Chishti will be celebrated. I have attended it 3 times, the first time arrived on the day before the ‘urs when I could see a flag procession taking place. Depending on the visibility of the moon the date thereof can be established.. It is a rather colourful occasion, especially because of the qalandariyya dervishes who participate. At the dargah complex where Mo’inuddin Chishti is buried there is a sama’ khaneh (an auditorium for sufi music). This will start a day later than…
Diwaan-e-Mo’in: Ghazal 10
Toraa mikhaaham ay delbar ke binam To’i maqsud-e-man dar har ke binam O Beloved! It is You I wish to see. I desire only You in all that I see. Maraa chasm az baraaye didan-e-tost To rokh na-nomaayaim pas-e-dar ke binam My eyes are only there in order to see You. If You don’t show Your face to me, what else can I see? Jamaal-e-saaqi-ye-man minomaayad Be-meraat-e-mai o saaghar ke binam The beauty of my cupbearer appears everywhere: In the mirror of the wine, in the goblet and in all that I see. Chonaanat dida am az dida-ye-del Ke na-shenaasam be-chasm-e-sar ke binam That manifestation of You which I’ve seen with the eyes of my heart, Cannot be understood by…
The inner dimensions of the fast
Shah Wali Allah writes in his masterpiece ‘The Conclusive Argument from God’: “When a person tries to subjugate the lower soul and eliminate its bad qualities, his act will take on a sanctified form in the world of images. Among the purest of gnostics is the one who concentrates on this form, for he is furnished with knowledge from the unseen world and achieves union with the divine essence because of transcendence and sanctification. This is the meaning of his saying, may the blessings and peace of God be upon him: “Fasting is done for My sake and I reward it”.”