A Thought of Mine

ایک میرا خیال

One night, lying on my bed, I was turning this way and that — whether it was called sleep or something else, I do not know. As if something prevented me from sleeping entirely. Despite every effort, the barrier of sleep was not lifted. The world of imagination poured open before me. I was swept into it. The Greeks were there, many in nature, fierce and unsettled. The mind wanted to leap out — 'Knowledge saves everything from all harm.' Providence had willed something. And before me was a terrifying scene — a Greek army on the march: a great ship, the shore, and the shore filling with soldiers. Along the shore — in several years — came Greeks. There was no woman, no child, no officer to be seen. No rank-and-file soldier to be seen — not one of them going forward, all were making sounds in distress.

The ships' planks came down apart — some were being drowned in the waves. Large powers from ten nearby towns gave aid to the enslaved. The great powers also began to speak — but at every turn one could not find the face of salvation.

In every part of the world, civilization, refinement, barbarism and cruelty were wrestling each other — carrying, beckoning, calling in turn. It was being said that the civilization of Jesus (peace be upon him) was not their civilizing force. These white-skinned people — their hearts were black inside; a hidden fire was burning within them.

This slavery — making the world's servants of false civilizations. Islamic freedom — however it might be attained — is difficult while remaining enslaved. Those imprisoned in the slavery of civilization — true freedom from it is impossible. Thousands of years of red and white rule have come and gone. A new light of civilization came and removed the thorn from the side; many years have passed. The civilization of present times has placed iron fetters on the necks of entire peoples with its apparent attractions, desires, and fashions — all have become the chains of a shameful yoke. Its civilization has never been accepted by the mind. In this age, the behaviours, actions, and thoughts of civilization are not its trait — rather, they are a quality of the power of Allah Almighty, the will of Providence. Any nation that makes itself a competitor with another nation finds a similar arrangement — and the way of this world's war game — it too has an arrangement. Each side's work has some goodness. And looking at the matter of two sides' work — from the perspective of wisdom and the arrangement of Allah Almighty's perfect order — it is clear that whatever seems to be happening is all for the best.

وَتِلْكَ الْأَيَّامُ نُدَاوِلُهَا بَيْنَ النَّاسِ

"And these days — We alternate them among the people." (Qur'an 3:140)

May Allah Almighty favour us with faith and tranquillity from His grace — we shall strive in every good deed for His sake. Ameen, ameen.

Who Am I, and What Am I?

Who am I? I am — that is certain. I am Muhammad Abdul Qadir — not so. Who says it? The comparison of the word 'I' ('میں') is with no one. Mawlawi Muhammad Ilyas Barnabi Sahib compared me, by looking at the letters, to Muhammad Abdul Qadir. He is Ilyas — I am Hasrat. He is Farooqi, I am Siddiqui. He is of celebrated fame — I am from Hyderabad. He is still young — I am already aged. He is the Nāzim and Nāẓim-e-Dār-ul-Tarjuma. As for me — I have a function in achieving saintly stations. We are both friends, both related to Jami'a Uthmānia. We are both of the same school and same disposition. We are of the same cast of mind. Yet sometimes a matter comes up for debate — but the answers stop short.

Let me compare myself with something — compare myself to an animal. Compare myself to a tree. Compare myself to an inanimate stone. Compare myself to a sensory being. Compare myself to angels. Compare myself to anything with colour, smell, or taste. Let me add myself to every direction — the direction of my Lord. Worship Him — I am the sultan of the body; my heart is the seat of the Throne; my mind is my library; my imagination is my image gallery; my nerves are my subjects — all are my servants. Knowledge from a higher source is my need — hearing, sight, speech, intention, and will — all these are mine. My actions and I — are under my control; my speech is my command.

Truly — I am the image of my Lord, placed in this world as His khalīfah (vicegerent). Look at me — I am in the muqābalah (presence) of everything. However I am considered — my knowledge does not change, my essential personal unity does not change. My information remains greater than all things. The world contains elements of my knowledge — and this knowledge is of various kinds. This is one kind. In the same way, knowledge of Allah Almighty also came — and it is also one. These are its various modes.

Before this thought — what was I thinking? I was thinking of my own essential self (dhāt). The essential self — and then life and death at various stages became apparent to me through different kinds of knowledge. I was examining and seeing these — and understanding the necessities and consequences. These were before my eyes as something that I could examine, understand — and here it all became a spectacle before me.

The present being of existence, making it manifest — is this possible? Because the will is there — the will is mine. The supreme will of the Supreme Being (Bāl-Dhāt) appears through my will. And through these manifestations, whatever I wish to make visible — I make visible. And whatever I wish to make invisible — I make invisible. My will, therefore, can never exceed the will of the Supreme Being. Never.

وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَتَوَكَّلُوا إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

"And upon Allah, so put your trust, if you are truly believers." (Qur'an 5:23)

In such a way, every created being has need of the Supreme Being — no power, no Supreme Being has an irāda (will) — no motion, no might. This is the magnificent display of Dhū al-Jalāl (the Possessor of Majesty).

لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ

"There is no might and no power except with Allah."

مَا تَشَاءُونَ إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ

"And you do not will except that Allah wills — the Lord of all the worlds." (Qur'an 81:29)

Is this imaginary perception dying — or am I running? Am I running — no, I am dying. I am dying — no, I am running. I am running to accomplish these things, and I am creating them for their sake. I am alive and firm in my own place. I am the one who is capable of change — my worldly thought system demands this. Therefore, for this thought system, every direction is the best.

In the same way, the actions of created beings are between good and bad from one another's perspective — some are harmful and some beneficial, some good and some bad. From the perspective of wisdom and divine decree — all of them, with the lofty wisdom of Allah Almighty — are good to behold. Everything going on is all for the best. And the mutual action of one being with another, from the perspective of the other, and with Allah Almighty's perfect wisdom — is visible as all for the better. May we all become bound to Allah Almighty's grace, faith, and tranquillity. May we stride forward. Ameen, ameen.