The Cloaked Traveller

Moved!

2006-07-23T03:50:00.000-04:00

Bismillahir-Rahman-nir-Rahim,

As'Salaam wa Alaikum wa Rahmtullahi wa Barakatahu

I moved this Blog to Word Press, because it's a lot more simpler and neater, Alhamdulillah. Join me there, Insh'Allah.

Allah emanat Olunuz,

May Allah bless you and your families! Ameen. For the sake of His Beloveds.

Hidden Sweetness

2006-07-19T18:34:00.000-04:00

BismillahirRahmanirRahim

(Mevlana Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks)

There's hidden sweetness
in the stomach's emptiness.

We are lutes, no more, no less.
If the soundbox is stuffed full of anything, no music.

If the brain and the belly are burning clean with fasting,
every moment a new song comes out of the fire.

The fog clears, and new energy
makes you run up the steps in front of you.

Be emptier and cry like reed instruments cry.
Emptier, write secrets with the reed pen.

When you're full of food and drink,
an ugly metal statue sits where your spirit should.

When you fast, good habits gather
like friends who want to help.

Fasting is Solomon(AS)'s ring. Don't give it
to some illusion and lose your power,
but even if you have, if you've lost all will and control,
they come back when you fast,
like soldiers appearing out of the ground,
pennants flying above them.

A table descends to your tents,
Jesus(AS)'s table.
Expect to see it, when you fast,
this table spread with other food, better than the broth of cabbages.

The Most Beautiful Man in the World

2006-07-16T21:57:00.000-04:00

Sultan-ul-Awliya

- (Spring 2006)

Secret Knowledge

2006-07-16T16:30:00.000-04:00

BismillahirRahmanirRahim

Abu Huraira (ra) said:

I have learned directly from Allah's messenger (saw) and I have memorized prophetic sayings and acquired knowledge that can fill five large bags. By now, I have opened and shared with you only two of them.

If I were to open the third bag, and should you hear what he said, you would surely stone me to death.

(narrated Qutaiba bin Sa'id)

Quest for the Seal

2006-07-16T16:02:00.000-04:00

BismillahirRahmanirRahim

(Abu Tufail Amir bin Wailah narrated that Salman al-Farsi (ra) said) -

I come from the city of Jai (in Isfahan, Persia). One day, Almighty Allah inspired my heart to ponder the question, `Who created the heavens and the earth?'

Hence, prompted by such concerns and inner quest, I sought an old man I knew, who spoke very little and who, out of self-restraint, had kept a distance from the city people. When I reached him, I asked, `What is the best of religions?' He replied, `Why would you want to talk about this subject? Are you seeking a religion other than that of your fathers?' I cautiously answered: `No, I am not, but I would like to know who created the heavens and the earth, and what is the best religion to follow?' The old man said to me, `To my knowledge, only one monk follows the true religion today, and he lives in the city of Mosul, in Iraq.'

Hence, I traveled to Mosul, and I found the monk I was told to meet. Thereat, I stayed with him, and I worshipped what he worshipped. He was an old man, and he lived on little provisions. He fasted all his days, and he prayed all his nights. Approximately three years later, at his deathbed, I asked him, `You must advise me what to do now, and where to go?' The man replied, `I know of no one in the East who believes and worships what I worship. Go West. Find a monk I once knew and who lives at the edge of the Arabian Peninsula, and give him my regards of peace.'

After the monk died, I traveled to where he told me, and I found the man he described. I conveyed to him the greetings of his brother, and I told him of his death. Thereat, I remained in his company for another three years, and again, at his deathbed, I requested him to guide me where to go after he dies. He replied, `I am not acquainted with any one on this earth today who worships what I worship except for a very old monk who lives in the region of Amoriya, in Philistine, and I am not sure whether he is still alive.'

After the monk died, again I traveled to where I was told, and luckily, I found the man he described to me. Thereat, I stayed with him, and this time, the man was financially comfortable. Sometimes later, when he neared his death, I sought his advice, and he replied, `I am not acquainted with any living person who worships what I worship. However, if you happen to live in a time where a man from the descendants of the House of Abraham (upon whom be peace) will appear, -- and I am not sure whether you will live to meet him or not – I myself have had a strong desire to live to meet him. However, if you should meet him, then follow him, for that is the true way and that is the religion of Allah Almighty. Among his signs is that some of his people will label him a magician, and an insane person, and a prognosticator. He accepts and eats from what is given to him as a gift, and he does not eat from charity; and you will also see the seal of prophethood in-between his shoulder blades.'

Salman continued, `I resided in my place for a while, and one day, a caravan of merchants from Medina crossed out path. I inquired from them, `Who are you?' They replied, `We are merchants. We make a living from trading. However, there appeared a man from among the descendants of Abraham in Mecca, and he migrated to Medina, and the entire city is now under his control. As a result, his people from Mecca have declared war on him and on his followers, so we feared for our livelihood, and therefore, we decided to seek shelter and safety somewhere else.'

I asked, `What are they saying about him?' The merchants replied, `They say he is a magician, a prognosticator, or maybe he is an insane person.' Hearing that I said to myself, `These are his signs.' I further inquired, `Who is the leader of this caravan? Would you please guide me to him?' When I came before the leader of the caravan, I requested him, `Would you please take me to Medina?' He replied, `What would you pay me?' I said, `I have nothing to give you, but if you agree to carry me there, I will be indebted to you, and I will be your slave.' The man accepted the barter and he carried me to Medina. Thereat, he placed me to work for him at a date plantation he owned, and I worked there very hard. I seldom had any food, and I mostly lived on water, just like cattle, until the bones of my back protruded, and I could see my pectoral bones. I did not know Arabic then, and not many people in that city spoke my Persian tongue.

One day an old woman of Persian origin came by the date plantation to get some water. When I spoke to her in my mother tongue, she understood me, and as we chatted a little I asked her, `Do you know that man that appeared lately, and would you please point him out to me?' She replied, `He usually passes by here after the dawn prayers, or sometime in mid-morning.'

Salman continued: The next day, I kept some dates aside and I waited for him. As he passed, I followed him to the mosque, and as he sat amidst his companions, I went there, and I presented him with the dates. Allah's messenger (saw) looked at them and then said to me, `What is this? Is it a charity or a gift?' I understood what he meant, and I made a gesture pointing out that it is a charity. He immediately said, `Give it to these people sitting here.' As I did, I said to myself, `This is one of his signs.' The next morning I brought another measure of dates and placed them before him. Allah's messenger (saw) again inquired, `What is this?' I hastened to say, `A gift!' He (sws) then ate one, and he called his companions to share them with him. He then saw me stealthily attempting to look over his shoulders. He recognized my intention and allowed his cloak to slowly drop below his shoulders, and when I saw what I saw, I became bewildered, and I jumped out of my place, I kissed him all over, and I held tight to him. After I sat there for a moment, Allah's messenger (saw) asked me to relate my story. When I told him what happened, he said to me, `Go and buy back your freedom.'

Salman continued: `When I reached my master, I said to him, `I have come to buy back my freedom.' He replied, `Yes indeed! I will give you back your freedom for the price of planting one hundred seedlings of date palm trees, and when I verify that they all took roots, and that they are free from disease, you also must bring me the weight of a date pit in gold, and only then you may go free.'

Salman said: I went back to Allah's messenger (saw) and I related to him what the man said. He replied, `Give him what he asks of you, and also bring me a bucket of water from the well you will use to irrigate the plants.'

I immediately went to the man, and I made the deal with him following the conditions he stipulated. With his permission, I then filled a bucket of water from the central well in the plantation field, and I took it back to Allah's messenger (saw) who in turn prayed over it. Allah's messenger (saw) also asked the companions to collect and to give me the needed one hundred seedlings, and when they did, I went back, and I planted the seedlings.

Salman continued: I swear by Allah that not a single seedling failed us, and as soon as the man verified that, I went back to Allah's messenger (saw) and told him the same. Allah's messenger (saw)then called upon the companions to bring him a piece of gold of the weight we agreed upon with the man, and again, I immediately went back to the man and placed the piece of gold before him. When the man placed his specified measure on the other scale of the balance, my piece of gold seemed to weigh more, for nothing moved, and the man accepted the barter.

I brought back to Allah's messenger (saw) the date pit that determined the conclusion of the deal, and he looked at it and commented, `I swear by Allah, that even if you had agreed with him to give him the weight of such and such measure of date pits, the piece you gave him would weigh more.'

Salman continued: From that day on, I went to Allah's messenger (saw) and I stayed in his company until the end.

[Hilyat-e Evliya]

His Appearance

2006-07-15T15:30:00.000-04:00

BismillahirRahmanirRahim

Scholars debate about when Mahdi (as) will appear and return justice
to the world. Grandsheykh Nazim al-Hakkani el-Kibrisi said,

We do not accept that Allah is disobeyed, and that the Ummat is
tormented, and that the flag of Shaytan continue to be raised for
one, two, or four more years, not even for one day more. Therefore,
every morning we say, "Tonight he will appear" and every night we
say, "tomorrow he will appear.

[Naqshbandi Sufi Tradition]

CNN's Snow Job

2006-07-15T14:15:00.000-04:00

BismillahirRahmanirRahim,

As'Salaam wa Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatahu,

Came across this, confirming what we already know about the media bias for Israeli-centric news coverage from CNN, but it's interesting to see this exposed by the liberal media here in the US. May Allah ease the suffering of the innocent and the oppressed, and rid the world of tyranny in all its forms, Ameen. For the sake of our Sheykh.

"I was surprised yesterday afternoon when a Reuters article popped onto my computer screen reporting that 53 Lebanese civilians had been killed by Israeli forces, part of the suddenly chaotic two-front battle Israel's military is fighting in the Middle East. Surprised, because I had been monitoring the day's events on CNN and hadn't heard much about that kind of swelling Lebanese death toll.

Thanks to CNN, I'd learned that Israeli forces had bombed Beirut International Airport and a blockade was in place to cut off Lebanon's ports, that president Bush announced Israel had the right to defend herself, that Hezbollah had fired missiles into the seaside city of Haifa, and that an Israeli woman in Nahariya had been killed amidst the cross-border violence. But I hadn't learned many details about the more than four dozen civilians in Lebanon being killed, a fact that struck me as central to the unfolding story.

Baffled, I made a point of watching CNN's afternoon "Situation Room" with the network's high-profile anchor Wolf Blitzer, who gravely intoned about the "fear of all-out war" in the Middle East. ("Mideast: Brink of War?" read the on-screen graphic.) Indeed, "The Situation Room" chewed on Middle East story almost without interruption. I watched a CNN reporter from Israel file a dispatch, and then a reporter traveling with the president, a reporter from the United Nations, a reporter from Lebanon, an in-studio discussion with the U.S. ambassador to Iraq and then an interview with Republican Sen. Bill Frist. Yet during the first 40 minutes of "The Situation Room," which devoted itself almost exclusively to the escalating Mideast chaos, there was no reference to the fact the Israeli military had killed more than 50 Lebanese civilians. (It wasn't until halfway through the second hour of "The Situation Room" that Blitzer finally clued viewers in.)

Later, I went back and checked CNN's reporting, via TVeyes.com, and discovered that throughout the day CNN repeatedly reported on the lone Israeli civilian causality without making any mention of the more than 50 Lebanese civilian casualties. To be exact, CNN did that at 10:31 a.m., 11:02, 12:09 p.m., 12:19, 1:00, 1:30, 1:52, 2:00, 2:17, 2:30, 2:50, and 4:04.

Note that at 12:05 p.m. CNN did report that "at least 45 Lebanese civilians have been killed in this offensive," but that's because the news channel was airing a feed from CNN International, which seemed to understand one of its fundamental responsibilities in covering bloody, revenge-driven political conflicts was to report civilian deaths suffered on both sides. In fact, a check of CNN Europe's reporting yesterday afternoon showed CNN Europe routinely reported on the death of the Israeli woman and as well as death of nearly 50 Lebanese civilian. CNN's U.S.-based anchors and reporters though, seemed mostly unable or unwilling to do the same.

Has CNN gotten to the point where it won't report pertinent facts that are essential to putting a story in context? Facts that certainly would have helped viewers understand some of the international criticism Israel was coming under for what the European Union called a "disproportionate" military response to the conflict at hand.

At this point I don't think it's even controversial to suggest the Arab-Israeli conflict is told in the United States mostly through the eyes of Israelis, and that's especially true on cable news channels. American news organizations have more resources in Israel, better sources within the Israeli government and most American viewers likely consider the Israeli's more like 'us.' And if you don't think there's a difference on how the U.S. media cover the warring sides, then try to imagine what the press coverage would have looked like yesterday if 50 Israeli citizens had been killed by the missiles that hit Haifa.

I doubt Wolf Blitzer would have reported on that story for a solid hour and forgotten to give viewers the civilian death toll."

Source: "CNN's Lebanon Problem", The Huffington Post

Abdur-Rauf al Yamani and Sheykh Mevlana

2006-07-13T17:50:00.000-04:00















Bismillah hir Rahman nir Rahim,

Things are beginning to come to a head in the world
as you can probably see. We are truly at the end
of the Ahir-uz-Zaman.

Best thing to do now, is make sure we
are alright in our hearts, and our
connection to Allah is clear and
uncompromised by the weight of the nafs
and this world. Insh'Allah Rahman. Sheikh Mevlana
Nazim's Sheykh - Grand Sheykh
Abdullah Al Faiz Daghestani has spoken
about the events unfolding and about to
unfold during this time. Take a look here-

"The picture above is of Moulana Sheikh Nazim with Sheikh Abdur Rauf al-Yamani. Grandsheikh Abdullah Faiz Dagistani has spoken of Sheikh Abdur Rauf al-Yamani during his time.

The following is the prediction made by Grandsheik Moulana Abdullah Faiz Dagistani about Sheikh Abdur Rauf al-Yamani and it is in page 371 of History and Guidebook of the Saints of the Golden Chain-The Naqshbandi Sufi Way.

China is under the authority of a Great Saint, who will be one of the Greatest Saints in the time of Mahdi (alai) and Easa (alai). His name is Abdur Rauf al-Yamani. Through his influence China will sign an agreement with the West not to use its nuclear weapons. China will split into many different small countries. There will be problems in the Far East, in the Korean Peninsula, and a great power will intervene to stop that conflict. A non-Arab Middle Eastern country will attack the Persian Gulf area, which will put the whole world into fear that the source of petroleum will
be cut off."

Read more at Source

: http://www.sheiknazim2.com/preciousmoments.html

So, Allah shares the knowledge we don't know, with His
beloved ones. Because they are living their lives according
to the knowledge that thay know, Allah is giving them the knowledge,
they don't know. If we do the same, Allah will do the same for us.

Insh'Allah it will become apparent to
those who are sincere and looking with sincere eyes.

May Allah guide us to sincerity and to His
beloved ones, and to make every day better than the last,
according to the Holy Prophet(ASWS)'s advice,
May Allah bless him and his family and
companions. There is surely safety with them.
Ameen, for the sake of our Sheykh.

The World Lost Its Compass;The Dirtiness of Nuclear War

2006-07-12T16:30:00.000-04:00

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

The World Lost Its Compass;
The Dirtiness of Nuclear War

Sohbet by Sheykh Abdul Kerim el-Hakkani el-Kibrisi

Thursday, 27 RabiThani 1427
May 25, 2006
Osmanli Naks-i'bendi Hakkani Dergah, Siddiki Center, New York.

BismillahirRahmanirRahim
Medet Ya Seyyidi Ya Sultanul Awliya, Medet.
Alhamdulillah, shukr Allah, Astaghfirullah.

We are asking medet inshaAllah ar-Rahman from our Sheykh to send us something to speak that will benefit us, that will benefit me, you and everyone who listens. We are not good for anything. If they don't send then we cannot speak. What we speak is for ourselves and for those people who are running to find true ways and to live the way of Islam, the way of Truth. This sohbet is for anyone who is thirsty for that. If it's not then everyone should run to live as they like until the angel of death will come. After that no `as you like'. As He likes. After the angel of death comes we will all understand. Those who were before us all understand now. But it's too late for some of them. Those who were living and trying to correct themselves in this life should not worry and those who are trying now should not worry too. Allah is the Most Merciful and the Most Beneficent.

The whole mankind today, from east, west, north and south lost the direction, lost the compass. It doesn't know which side to go anymore and so much problems, miseries and pains and man is running for all kinds of things that the children of Adam has not been created for and staying under the curse and not collecting what is coming for them. The mercy of Allah is raining but they are running to the areas where the curse is raining. For that the whole mankind lost the direction, exception is some handful of people (such as) here and some others in the world. But the general (masses) lost the compass. They lost the direction. Nobody is controlling the wheel except Sheytan driving towards Jahannam.

Our Grandsheykh is saying, "This Sheytan is sitting on a big truck and that truck has a very powerful engine. So many people are behind that truck and Sheytan is driving the truck into the ocean or over a cliff, ready to fall down." Our Sheykh is saying, "We (the Awliya, him and so many like him, there are 124,000) are trying to hold the truck from behind not to go down the cliff, not to go down to the ocean but the physical power that the truck is carrying is pulling every one of us together. So we have to know where to let it go." And they are screaming to those who want safety saying, "Jump down from the truck! Otherwise, the end is deep, going down."

Jumping down from the truck means turning back to the laws of Islam. There is no other way. Leave the ego ways, leave the ways of other teachings, other kinds of governmental teachings (let's put it that way), or from studying in schools that are saying to you, "Enjoy yourself." There is nothing to enjoy in this world. We have not been created to run after to try to enjoy ourselves. Enjoyment is in the hereafter. And we must have discipline to be able to accept the laws of Islam, to put it on ourselves and to start benefiting. All those laws and everything are to teach us to reach to the highest stations anyway, to become Insan-i Kamil, the most perfect one. So it's teaching us slowly how to have better discipline, how to have better Adab, better manners.

Islam first put laws saying, "Forbidden things. Halal and Haram." Haram and Halal, that is, what is for us and what is not for us to have, to eat, to drink and to enjoy. All nations today, Muslim countries too, removed the laws of Allah. They put their own laws. Man's laws. Then later they are saying, "Oh, we are not interfering into religion. Leave as you like." But they are not even leaving that. They are interfering into religion all the time. It's okay in a country to go to open bars, clubs, discotheques and all kinds of wrong places. The government gives them license saying, "These are the borderlines. Live according to that and enjoy as much as you want inside that room. Go crazy if you want. Don't bring it out. Drink as much as you want. But if you are too drunk then don't drive your car. Let somebody bring you home." This is what the governments are saying to people, some governments, especially in the Middle East. And it's okay. It's not illegal. That's legal. You can have bars, you can have clubs and you can have all kinds of things that are speaking only for ego. It's okay.

When you go to those governments to get a license saying, "I accept your secular way also. Let me live according to my religion inside the secular way. I am asking you to give me license to open a dergah and to have ten people, fifteen people, fifty people or a hundred people in the dergah to say `Allah'. We don't like to go to bars, clubs and discotheques to go crazy drinking and getting all these wrong things. We would like to come together in this place to say `Allah' and to jump up and down." Now you are finding all governments saying, "No! We are not giving you permission to do that."

Hmm. So you give permission to a man to have the microphone in his hand… some are not even men that are appearing on television. They look like men but they are not. Some look like women but they are almost naked, appearing on television singing, dancing and making people to admire them, to run after them, on state-run televisions and permission is given to all those wrong things, but they are not giving permission to believers to remember their Lord in their own houses. How are you expecting your government to stand up for a long time? No police government ever lived more than a hundred years. In a hundred years time it came down. History is showing, from the time of Firaun and Namrud to everyone. Meaning, oppressor governments who were pushing people didn't live for long. All these ones are not going to live for long too now.

Ya hu, don't you see? You go to an university and the university has laws saying to you, "You have to come to school at this time, you have to enter to the class at this time, at this time you are going to study, at this time you are going to sleep, at this time you are going to eat, at this time you are going to do that and at this time you are going to do this." Everything has their laws. But when it comes to religion they don't want any laws, they don't want anybody to bother them and they say, "Live your religion by yourself."

(You say,) "Let's have ten people together."

They say, "No! By yourselves."

And Allah is saying, "Become Jamat." So that's how those governments are really favoring and letting religion live among the people.

Alhamdulillah, in America we still have the freedom to live the religion that way. That's why the Awliya Allah are supporting it. They are not supporting the government or the President. They are supporting this government because they are still leaving people to live their own religion the way that their Prophet left to them. They are not oppressing them. That's why the Awliya Allah are praying and so many people are taking the Awliya Allah's praising (let's say) to America or Great Britain and they are thinking that the Awliya Allah are concentrating on that individual whoever is the President for that time or whichever the party is in that time. They are thinking that the Awliya Allah are taking the sides of parties, Republicans or Democrats or whatever more there is. That also shows how close they are and how much they are understanding the teachings of the Awliya Allah. They are definitely supporting this country because we can still sit here and pray as we think our Holy Prophet (alayhi salatu wa salam) left to us and they are not coming to bother us. That's why they are blessed. But you cannot do that in any Muslim country today. Not in Turkey, not in Egypt, not in Morocco, not in Syria, not in Saudi Arabia, not in Iraq, not in Iran, not in Uzbekistan and not in any country.

They are claiming that they are Muslims and they are living according to Islam. According to what Islam? The Islam that you have invented according to what fits to your ego? Or the Islam that the Holy Prophet (alayhi salatu wa salam) came to teach us? That kind of Islam? Or the kind of Islam that you have invented according to your own ego? Yes, they are living the kind of Islam that fits to their ego. That's why they don't have the laws of Allah. They removed the laws of Allah and they put the laws of man and they are screaming that there are terrorists everywhere. Of course. It's not working. Your laws are not working. Put the laws of Allah back on and look how fast it's going to work.

We say to them, "You tried everything. For almost a hundred years you tried everything from Communism, to Fascism, to dictator regimes, to everything. Why not take Islam and try Islam again too a little bit to see what's going to happen." As soon as you say to them `Islam' they start shivering, saying, "These terrorists are coming." Terrorists? If it was up to the Muslims they would not even take a gun in their hand. It's only to protect themselves. Nothing else. And the Sufis never went fighting with any governments too. But when they were under the ruling of the Empire and under the ruling of the Khalifah, they were the first soldiers, always in the front lines. Yes, the Sufis, because they were fighting and defending for the sake of Allah. So they were running in the frontlines. But after the Khilafat came down nowhere will you find the Sufis uprising and fighting. No. Until they came and they approached them here and there in different countries, in Afghanistan and in Chechenistan, and some small groups of people are standing up, alhamdulillahi rabbil alameen. But the majority among them also turned into the wrong areas and they started adopting and taking some teachings of the Wahhabis and they started becoming tyrants.

And I am surprised to hear today from the Muslims that they are supporting and they are saying, "We must have nuclear bombs. The Muslim governments must have nuclear bombs." Let me ask you, what are you going to do with that nuclear bomb? Do you think having nuclear bombs will stop those oppressors on you? It's their weapon. They are going to find something else on you again. So if you have the nuclear bomb then what are you going to do? Are you going to use it on America? Or are you going to use it on Russia? Or China? Or Israel (as they are running non-stop and declaring)? As soon as America gives ultimatum to one country, right away they say, "We are going to hit Israel." What's going to happen when you hit Israel? When you are hitting Israel you are going to hit Lebanon, Jordan and all Muslims countries there too. And half of Israel is Muslims inside. Muslim people are living inside there too. Do you think the atomic bomb is going to separate saying, "This is Muslim and this is not Muslim"? How foolish the Muslims became! And what kind of a war is it then that it is a disgrace to mankind to have such a bad weapon. Even the Generals in America never liked to have that option because they are men with a vision understanding the warfare, and understanding, "This is something very dirty." They don't want that. You are burning everything, man, animals and everything in it. What kind of understanding of Islam do these people have?

Islam is saying to you that if you have a ship at the shore and there are a thousand people there where nine hundred and ninety-nine of them have been found guilty by the court of Islam and they are going to have death penalty, every one of them. They are escaping from that country and nine hundred and ninety-nine people who are in that ship are guilty and they have death penalties on them. There is only one person in that ship who is not guilty but he is just caught up with them there. You cannot sink that ship because there is one innocent sitting among those nine hundred and ninety-nine of them. As man you cannot sink that ship. If Allah wants He is going to do something. But you cannot sink that ship. Allah is not giving permission to Muslims then, saying, "Let that ship go. Think of some other ways to stop that ship." You cannot kill every one of them because there is one innocent, even though nine hundred and ninety-nine of them have death penalties on them.

This is the Islam that Holy Prophet (sws) brought to us and if anybody is trying to get something other than that then they are never going to reach anywhere again. They are leaving the way, they are running away, they are deviating from the ways of the Holy Prophet (alayhi salatu wa salam) and they are screaming saying, "We need help. We need help Ya Rabbbi!" Allah is saying to us, "You need help? Hold on tightly to that Prophet. Then help will reach to you. If you are not holding on tightly to My Prophet then no help is reaching to you."

Wa min Allahu taufiq.

InshaAllah ar-Rahman this much is enough for you and for me.

Fatiha.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Transcribed by Yeni Osmanli

The World is but Shadows

2006-07-08T20:53:00.000-04:00

BismillahirRahmanirRahim

(from The Book of Golden Meadows, by Ali al-Mas'udi)

The historian Asmaiy relates the following anecdote:

One day theCaliph Harun al-Rashid gave a feast in a magnificently decorated hall. During the feast he sent for the poet Abu'l Atahiyah, and commandedhim to depict in verse the gorgeous scene. The poet began: "Live, O' Caliph, in the fulfilment of all your wishes, in the shelter of your lofty palace!"

"Very good!" exclaimed Rashid. "Let us hear the rest."

The poet continued: "Each morn and eve be all your servitors swift to execute your behests!"

"Excellent!" said the Caliph. "Go on!"

The poet replied: "But when the death-rattle chokes your breath you will learn, alas! that all your delights were a shadow."

Rashid burst into tears. Fazl, the son of Yahya (Haroun's Vizier), seeing this, said to the poet: "The Caliph sent for you to divert him, and you have plunged him into melancholy."

"Let him be," said Rashid; "He saw us in a state of blindness, and tried to open our eyes."

[Source: http://www.fordham.edu/source/masoudi.html]

Lover of the Divine

2006-07-08T20:51:00.000-04:00

BismillahirRahmanirRahim

"Becoming sultan of the world was an empty struggle. I found greatness only in devoting myself to a lover of the Divine."

- Yavuz Sultan Selim [Source: Ilm as-Sadr, Hakikat Yayincilik]

Touch and Go

2006-07-08T20:31:00.000-04:00

As'Salaam wa Alaikum wa Rahamtullahi wa Barakatahu,

BismillahirRahmanirRahim,

Haven't been here in a while, and I apologize to those who've been checking in regularly. Hope you were patient with me. I won't be able to update this site as often or as regularly as I'd like, due to studies and preoccupation with my chosen profession as it's beginning to get a bit time consuming. However, Insh'Allah Rahman, with the support of My Sheykh, I'll be dropping by to share some things from time to time, which I feel may be beneficial to me and to you.

Jazak'Allah Khair to all those who've read and stopped by. Take care of yourselves, and your families, and one another as you yourself would like to be treated, and taken care of -as per the advice of the Holy Prophet(ASWS). Prophet(ASWS) is saying, 'Deen an-naseehat- Religion is advice'. Insh'Allah we will take the advice of the most beloved one and one day become beloved ones ourselves. It is a long road, but we have our guides, the Sheykhs, to rely on for support, Insh'Allah Rahman. And we wait for Mahdi (AS) to come, revive the sunnah once again , Insh'Allah. We must work to be with those who are with Him, always.

'Be with the Saliheen until Death comes to take you' - from the words of our Holy Prophet(ASWS). Insh'Allah, with support, we will endeavor to do just that. Ameen.

May Allah guide you to His presence through His Beloveds and forgive you, and guide me and forgive me. For the sake of His beloved Prophet(ASWS) and Sultan-ul Awliya and Sheykh Abdul-Kerim Effendi. Ameen.

Was'Salaam wa Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatahu

Remembering Death

2006-06-11T12:44:00.000-04:00

BismillahirRahmanirRahim

You must make a practice of sincere devotion. You must perform your
ritual prayer for His sake, not for the sake of His creatures. You
must keep the fast for His sake, not for the sake of His creatures.

You must live your lives for His sake, not for the sake of His
creatures.

You must live your lives in this world for the sake of
Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He), not for the sake of His
creatures, and not for the sake of your own egos. In all acts of
worshipful obedience, you must be dedicated to Allah, not to His
creatures.

You will not be capable of performing righteous deeds, nor of sincere
dedication in the performance thereof, unless you practice the
remembrance of death. You will also be incapable of remembering death,
unless you make it your practice to contemplate the dilapidated burial
sites, and to reflect on their inhabitants and what they used to be
involved in. You must sit beside the crumbling tombs, saying to
yourselves: "Once upon a time, those who lie buried here would be
eating and drinking, having sexual intercourse, engaging in sport and
play, and getting together for social purposes. What is their
condition now? What benefit can they derive from all of that? What do
they have at their disposal, apart from their righteous deeds?"

- (Hazret Abdul Kadir Geylani ks) [Jala Al-Khawatir, tr. M. Holland]

Be with Saliheen until Death comes for you

2006-06-09T02:16:00.000-04:00

BismillahirRahmanirRahim

Salman al-Farisi (ra) said that some people who recently accepted Islam once came to the mosque of Holy Prophet (sws) along with others of their class, and they sought a private audience with Allah's Messenger (sws). Their leader said, "O Messenger of Allah, why wouldn't you sit regularly on a raised chair exclusively for you in the forefront of the mosque, and meanwhile, ask these people and their foul-smelling jubba (mantels) to pull away from us into the furthermost corner of the mosque, so that we can hearken attentively to your teachings and learn from you."

It is then that Allah, the Lord of Majesty and Glory, sent down the revelation, "Rehearse to them what is revealed to you from the Book of your Lord. Nothing can ever change His Words, and you will not find refuge except in Him! Apply yourself with patience to remain in the company of those who call upon their Lord morning and evening, seeking His countenance. Keep them constantly under your watch, and do not let your focus wander beyond their circle. Do not solicit the company of those who seek the pomp and glitter of this lower life, nor obey anyone whose heart We have veiled and caused to forget to remember Us, those who follow their own whims and desires, and whose condition has degenerated to the point that it can bring about their ultimate loss. Say: `The truth comes from your Lord,' hence, whosoever wants to believe in it, let him believe in it, and whosoever want to reject it, let him reject it. Surely We have prepared for the unjust ones a fire whose smoke and blazes will hem them in like a corridor whose walls and roof stand high. Therein, if they cry out for relief, they will be given water like melted brass that will scald their faces. Alas, what a dreadful drink it is and how uncomfortable is such a couch to recline on! As to those who believe and do righteous deeds, surely We do not leave unrewarded the work of someone who does good. Such ones will be rewarded with gardens of eternity beneath which rivers flow. Therein, they will be adorned with bracelets of gold and they will wear green garments of fine silk and brocade, and therein, they are consoled in safe heavens, - Aah, what a gratifying reward and how comfortable is such a couch for reclining! (Quran 18: 27-31)."

Salman al-Farisi (ra) continued: "Immediately upon receiving this revelation, Allah's Messenger (sws) stood up and left the circle and he went searching for them. Moments later, he found most of the Ahl-e Suffa sitting at the far back of the mosque, remembering Allah and invoking His praises. When he saw that, Allah's Messenger (sws) exclaimed blithely, "All praises be to Allah Who did not let me die before He had enjoined upon me to abide with constancy in the company of the chosen ones among my nation. Henceforth, and by Allah, living is living in your company until death comes."

[narrated Abu Amru bin Hamdan] [Source: Ranks of the Elite, by Imam Abu Na'im]

Do Battle on These Terms

2006-06-09T02:10:00.000-04:00

BismillahirRahmanirRahim

"Here I am, summoning you to violent death in the Name of Allah (that is to say, to combat with the ego, the passions, and the natural impulses). Who will dare to respond? Who will step forward to meet the challenge? Who will show that he has the courage for it? Who will be prepared to take the risk? This means death, but then life everlasting. Do not run away! Endure with patience, and then with still more patience. Courage is an hour's patience. You must be patient with your compliance with your Lord (Almighty and Glorious is He). If there is one among you who can bear the burden of readiness to accept the divine decree, Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He) will relieve him of it, and He will inscribe him in the register of the brave. When someone is ready to sacrifice himself, he acquires a sense of certainty. When someone knows what he is looking for, he attaches little importance to what he must spend in order to attain his goal.

Be sure of where you stand, and then make haste. Come here on the footing of sincerity, so that you may knock at the door of the Lord of Truth (Almighty and Glorious is He). You must stay there as long as it takes, until the door is opened for you. You may as well be importunate in asking Him for the things you need, since this will do you more good than your importunity toward your king and potentates and wealthy patrons.

Follow the example set by your predecessors in their quest for their Lord (Almighty and Glorious is He) and their total absorption in Him."

- (Hazret Abdul Kadir Geylani ks)
[Jala Al-Khawatir, tr. M. Holland]

Having the Correct Notions

2006-06-09T01:23:00.000-04:00

BismillahirRahmanirRahim,

"If Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He) and His remembrance are present with you, your heart will certainly be filled with His nearness, and the notions suggested by Sheytan, the passions and this world will all avoid your company. There is a kind of notion belonging to this world, and a notion belonging to the hereafter. There is a notion belonging to the angels, a notion belonging to the ego, and a notion belonging to the heart. There is also a notion belonging to the Lord of Truth (Almighty and Glorious is He). It is therefore necessary for you, O truthful one, to get rid of all those other notions and to rely on the notion of the Lord of Truth (Almighty and Glorious is He). If you reject the notion of the ego, the notion of passions, Sheytan's notion and the notion of this world, the notion of the hereafter will come to you. Then you will receive the angels' notion, then finally the notion of the Lord of Truth (Almighty and Glorious is He). This is the ultimate stage."

- (Hazret Abdul Kadir Geylani ks)
[Jala Al-Khawatir, tr. M. Holland]

Statement of Non-Association with Naqshbandi Michigan

2006-05-23T01:15:00.000-04:00

BISMILLAHIRRAHMANIRRAHIM

Selam aleykum,

This is an offical notice to assert the authorized mission of Sheykh
Abdul Kerim al-Hakkani al-Kibrisi and the integrity of the Osmanli
Dergahi. Sheykh Abdul Kerim works world-wide, independently of any
other sheykh, with the permission and under the direct orders of
Mevlana Sheykh Nazim al-Hakkani al-Kibrisi.

This is a statement that the Osmanli Naks-i'bendi Hakkani Dergahi
(aka Osmanli Dergahi) has no connections whatsoever with Sheykh
Hisham Kabbani, his organizations based in Michigan, or any of his
deputies, associations, web sites, mailing lists, programs, etc. The
the Osmanli Naks-i'bendi Dergahi is a completely seperate entity from the "Naqshbandi Haqqani Sufi Order" of America.

Sheykh Abdul Kerim and the Osmanli Dergahi take orders directly from Mevlana Sheykh Nazim al-Hakkani al-Kibrisi. Sheykh Hisham Kabbani and his spokespeople do not speak for, and cannot speak for, Sheykh Abdul Kerim and the Osmanli Dergahi.

We have our work. They have theirs.

The purpose of this notice is a matter of protocol to make the
situation perfectly clear after a serious breach of etiquette on the
part of Sheykh Kabbani and his people. It has been over forty days
since the NY Times published an article in which the reporter
attacked by insinuation Sheykh Abdul Kerim's legitimacy as an
Islamic leader and as a Sheykh of the Tarikat. In that article,
Sheykh Kabbani's spokespeople - Abdul Haqq Sazanoff and Sanaa Nadim - supported that view.

From the article:
"On its Web site, Mr. Fuat's group says that he is a deputy of
Grandshaykh Muhammad Nazim, the spiritual leader of the worldwide
Naqshbandi-Haqqani Sufi Order. But Abdul Haqq, a spokesman for that order in North America, said he is not. 'He has made his own group,' Mr. Haqq said."

Neither Sheykh Kabbani nor Abdul Haqq have contacted Sheykh Abdul
Kerim Efendi to retract the statement, and to offer an apology.
Whatever their misunderstanding or ignorance in prior years and
months, they in fact knew Abdul Haqq's statement to be
categorically false when the article went to press. We had informed
the reporter of Sheykh Mevlana's message to Sheykh Abdul Kerim,
posted publicly on the http://www.naksibendi.org site with English
translation. Sheykh Mevlana definitively and with emphasis addresses
Sheykh Abdul Kerim as "Sheykh", states that Sheykh Abdul Kerim has
been working with permission for Islam, and he says that Sheykh
Abdul Kerim in fact has inherited and earned the title of "Evliya".
The reporter read Sheykh Mevlana's statement about Sheykh Abdul Kerim.

She later showed her true colors by never mentioning
Sheykh Mevlana's words in her article. But she contacted the
Kabbani organization to ask them about it just before publication.
Immediately, an order went out from their headquarters sending a delegation to Sheykh Mevlana to pressure him to say that he had excommunicated Sheykh Abdul Kerim. But alhamdulillah, they did not get the response they wanted, which would have pleased them and the New York Times.

This notice is intended for everyone on the Osmanli Naks-i'bendi
mailing list, as well as any other interested or effected parties.
We are putting out this message to clear the minds of anyone who believes in Sheykh Abdul Kerim and his work, to address the confusion and fitna that has been put out and going around for years. We have kept silent for a long time, amd we were still intending to keep silent up until the day they went public in the press. They are the reason that this has become open. We are protecting the rights of Sheykh Mevlana, of Sheykh Abdul Kerim, and our rights. Our Sheykh - Sheykh Abdul Kerim - and the Osmanli Naks-i'bendi murids around the world, are following Sheykh Mevlana's orders now, and inshallah we will do so until eternity.

Our message to Sheykh Hisham Kabbani's Naqshbandi group, and to all
others who are attacking us, is that they should stop the attacks on
us. They should stop partnering with enemies of Islam. And we should
all work together under the banner of Sheykh Mevlana for Allah and
for His Prophet aleyhi as-salatu ve selam.

All praises to our Lord Allah subhuana ta'ala and to our
Prophet aleyhi as-salatu ve selam, who is the most beloved
one in His Divine presence, and to our most beloved Master
and Guide Mevlana Sheykh Muhammad Nazim al-Hakkani.

If you still have not heard Sheykh Mevlana's unequivocal support of
Sheykh Abdul Kerim and his mission, you may go to

http://www.naksibendi.org/Extras/20051216_1426-
ThulQada-14_MSN_Message_to_SAK.wma

The English translation is at

http://www.naksibendi.org/Extras/20051216_1426-
ThulQada-14_Message_from_Seyh_Mevlana_to_
Sheykh_Abdul_Kerim_English.rtf

If you have questions, please direct them to
osmanlinaksibendi@gmail.com Inshallah we will do our best to answer.

Allah'a emanet olunuz,
Moderator

Aslan al-Adil: The Just Lion

2006-05-21T01:38:00.000-04:00

Late but never too late to laud one of the most notable yet also one of the most gutlessly maligned freedom fighters of our age. The Lion revealed why he was respected by those standing for justice, and feared and hated by the enemies of courage.

Chechen Republic of Ichkeria
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Official Statement 24/09/2004

STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT OF THE CHRI A. MASKHADOV: I CATEGORICALLY DECLARE THAT AFTER THE END OF THE WAR, PERSONS WHO ARE GUILTY OF CARRYING OUT CRIMINAL ACTS WILL BE TAKEN TO COURT, INCLUDING SHAMIL BASAYEV.

In connection with Shamil Basayev's statement, in which he took responsibility for the organization of the terrorist act in the town of Beslan in North Ossetia, I categorically declare that the government of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria and the Armed Forces of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria under my command have nothing to do with this terrorist act.
I want to say once more that I most decisively reject and condemn such methods of fighting, no matter who uses them.

Unfortunately, it is practically impossible under the conditions of the continuation of the present war, to call to account those who are guilty of this terrorist act. However, I categorically declare that after the end of the war, persons who are guilty of carrying out such criminal acts will be taken to court, including Shamil Basayev. I call the international community to establish an international tribunal for the comprehensive investigation of all crimes committed during this war by both sides of the conflict.

However, I find it necessary to note that such acts are a consequence of and reaction to the genocidal war of the Russian government against the Chechen nation, during which the Russian army has killed 250,000 people, including 42,000 children.

The continuation of this war might finally lead to the situation becoming uncontrollable, and the result will inevitably be an increase in the number and scale of terrorist acts.
It is widely known that the reason for this conflict with a four-century-long history, during which the Chechen people has suffered extremely severe acts of genocide, is the striving of Russian colonialism to quell the will of the Chechen people to realize its vested right for self-determination.

The only possible and correct solution of the Chechen-Russian conflict is a political one, which would provide an international guarantee of the stop and the impossibility of a renewal of the genocide of the Chechen people by Russian colonialism.

President of the ChRI Aslan Maskhadov, 23.09.04
Chechenpress, Department of Governmental Information, 24.09.04

------------
On , March 08, 2005, FSB head Nikolay Patrushev announced that special forces attached to the FSB had "today carried out an operation in the settlement of Tolstoy-Yurt, as a result of which the international terrorist and leader of armed groups Maskhadov was killed, and his closest comrades-in-arms detained".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aslan_Maskhadov

May Allah grant him the highest stations of Paradise, and lend strength and infinte blessings to his family, and all those who stand for truth in these backward and slanderous times. May he continue to be a model for valor to all those who dare to struggle for truth against tyranny and oppression. May Allah dress our hearts with the same light and beauty He does to his closest companions, and the Hakim-Adils' of the world. Insh'Allah Rahman, may we also be honoured with the Shade on the Day of Justice and Judgement He reserves for those as worthy as the noble Aslan. Ameen, Ya Rabbul Alameen. For the sake of our Sheykh.

Obituary at 'BBCnews.com'

The Expander

2006-05-18T14:07:00.000-04:00

Bismillah-hir-Rahman-nir-Rahim

"Do you know the description of the Prophet(ASWS), now? The Prophet's(ASWS) beauty is always expanding, growing in so many sites...Do you know the description as it is now? No,...we are only mentioning His name..."

- Sheykh Abdul-Kerim Effendi

Allah (SWT)'s first creation was the Light of Rasool'Allah(SAWS). His Nur. The Prophet(ASWS) said, "I was a prophet when Adam(AS) was still between water and clay."

From that light was created all of creation. Keeping this in mind, do you think it possible, that the beauty contained in all of creation, in all the universes, in all the heavens and the stars, in each drop of nectar that is formed in the belly of a flower, in each electron spinning in the plumage of a bird of paradise, in each explosion of color and light in the oceans and in the skies, can ever be limited by our perception of him as a "man"? And people today think they have the Prophet(ASWS) all figured out. Mash'Allah. It is enough for them, as Sheykh Effendi says, to bow their heads with complete and utter humility, and say, "Allah humma Salli Alaa, Muhammadin wa Alaa 'Aalihi Muhammadin wa Sallim."

Then, maybe, if you are sincere and have sown the seeds of Love for him in your hearts, with Allah(SWT)'s Grace and Rahmah, - will you then taste a drop of those oceans...

Insh'Allah Rahman, for such a taste, we will lay down all we cherish in this world, and what we hope to recieve in the next. Because there will be nothing better for us. The favor of our Lord is with He who Loves His Beloved. Subhan'Allah. The next time the words "Rahmatul-lil Alameen" roll off our tongues, we may reflect on the atoms of what we are saying. May Allah guide us to His beloveds. Ameen, Ya Rabbul Alameen. For the sake of our Sheykh.

Click to marvel at a glimpse of what is only a small part of Rasool'Allah(ASWS)'s fathomless ocean:

(Photographs: Rose courtesy of http://www.mccullagh.org/photo/1ds2-5/red-rose-side, Other flowers - courtesy of Michael Swanson's blog)

Carnage in the Hijaz

2006-05-17T16:41:00.000-04:00

What is left of the House of the Holy Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace)

Bismillah-hir-Rahman-nir-Rahim

Sidi Yusuf at Copenhagen Interpretation has raised the alarm (& rightly so), drawing our attention to the most vicious of undertakings yet by the harbingers of hatespeech & zealotry, (the House of Saud): that of the relentless and systematic destruction of not only historically relevant relics, but sites immediately sacred to our faith, intertwined to the lifeblood of our past and testaments to our future as members of the Ummah of the Holy Prophet(ASWS). Well? Where is the uproar now, Burners of Embassies and Renders of Flags? Truly shameful indeed.

--------------------------------
Previously unseen photographs reveal how religious zealots obsessed with idolatory have colluded with developers to destroy Islam's diverse heritage.

Daniel Howden | The Independent | 19 April 2006

There is a growing shadow being cast over Islam's holiest site. Only a few metres from the walls of the Grand Mosque in Mecca skyscrapers are reaching further into the sky, slowly blocking out the light. These enormous and garish newcomers now dwarf the elegant black granite of the Kaaba, the focal point of the four million Muslims' annual Haj pilgrimage.

The tower blocks are the latest and largest evidence of the destruction of Islamic heritage that has wiped almost all of the historic city from the physical landscape. As revealed in The Independent last August,the historic cities of Mecca and Medina are under an unprecedented assault from religious zealots and their commercial backers...

Writing in response to the article, Prince Turki al-Faisal said that Saudi Arabia was spending more than $19bn (£11bn) preserving and maintaining these two holy sites. "[We are aware] how important the preservation of this heritage is, not just to us but to the millions of Muslims from around the world who visit the two holy mosques every year. It is hardly something we are going to allow to be destroyed." This rebuttal sits at odds with a series of previously unseen photographs, published today, that document the demolition of key archaeological sites and their replacement with skyscrapers...

Click here to read more

Hilye-i-Sherif

2006-05-16T22:12:00.000-04:00

Bismillah-hir-Rahman-nir-Rahim

Hilye-i Sherif

By Hafiz Osman Efendi

(from Tirmidhi:)

The Prophet(ASWS) said, “He who sees my hilye after me, it is as if he had actually seen me, and he who sees it out of love and desire for me, God will forbid the fire of Hell to touch him. He will be safe from the trials of the grave, and he will not be sent forth naked on the day of resurrection.”

Descriptions (Hilye) of the Holy Prophet (ASWS)
Translated by Mohamad Zakaria

Transmitted from Ali(Karam'Allahu Wajhu), may God be pleased with him, who, when asked to describe the Prophet, peace be upon him, would say: He was not too tall nor too short. He was medium sized. His hair was not short and curly, nor was it lank, but in between. His face was not narrow, nor was it fully round, but there was a roundness to it. His skin was white. His eyes were black. He had long eyelashes. He was big-boned and had wide shoulders. He had no body hair except in the middle of his chest. He had thick hands and feet. When he walked, he walked inclined, as if descending a slope. When he looked at someone, he looked at them in full face. Between his shoulders was the seal of prophecy, the sign that he was the last of the prophets. He was the most generous-hearted of men, the most truthful of them in speech,the most mild-tempered of them, and the noblest of them in lineage. Whoever saw him unexpectedly was in awe of him. And whoever associated with him familiarly, loved him. Anyone who would describe him would say, I never saw, before him or after him, the like of him. Peace be upon him.

Excerpted from "Dalail-i Hayrat, Wa Shawarqi’l Anwar Fi Zikris Salat ala Nabiyil-Mukhtahar
Guide of Good Deeds and the Brilliant Burst of Light in the Remembrance of Blessings on the Chosen Prophet", by Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Suleiman ibn Abu Bakr Al-Jazuli Al-Simlali.

Edited on behalf of Sheykh Abdul Kerim al-Kibrisi
Osmanli Naks’ibendi Hakkani Tarikat
www.naksibendi.org
Translation by S. Ahmad Darwish

(Download the PDF here)

(Calligraphy(Tehzib) of the Beloved's Blessed Name)

Wake up and Run!

2006-05-15T05:25:00.000-04:00

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

Wake up! Avoid the Confusion of Sheytan!

Jummah Khutba given by Sheykh Abdul Kerim Al-Hakkani al-Kibrisi

Friday 17 Safar, 1427
March 17, 2006
Osmanli Naks-i'bendi Hakkani Dergah, Sydney Center, New York.

Auzu billahi minash sheytanir rajim
Bismillahir rahmanir rahim
La hawla wa la quwwata illa billahil aliyyil azim.

Medet Ya Syyidi Ya Sultanul Awliya, Medet.

Alhamdulillah wa shukr Allah. All praising belongs to our Lord Allah (subhana wa ta'la) and to His Rasul, our Habib Muhammad (alayhi salatu wa salam), to the Ashab-e Kiram and to all those who came. They stood in the way of Allah and Islam came to us. Fourteen hundred years has passed and it has reached to us. They did their part. They did their job. Now we must think how far we are going to take this. Where it is going to reach and what we are going to leave behind us. If this world is going to continue for another thousand years then how far what we are doing today and what we are leaving is going to reach. Man must sit, think and calculate to himself to understand whether he is leaving something behind or not. It's not like today everyone running top-speed like head-cut chickens trying to reach somewhere. Hmph!

Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) is saying, "I have created you man and I have given you intelligence." The religion spread in the world not with miracles but with one man. The Habibullah. Yes, he is Allah's Prophet (sws) but he was one person. One man. He came to awakening station and woke up the whole world. Through him it passed to others and the other ones, the other ones, the other ones and it reached to us. How are we today? Are we sleeping or are we in awakening station? You check yourself. Leave what anybody else says to you. Check yourself. Check your activities. Check yourself how sincere you are with your Lord and with His orders. Check yourself to find out which one is priority to you, Allah and His Prophet (sws) or your ego, or this world. (If it is ego or this world) then your problem never ends. Don't worry. If you don't keep Allah priority then it's never going to end. It never ended for anyone and it's not going to end for you.

This is the problem that so many people that I am watching who are going back and forth not understanding the superiority, who is more superior or if anybody else is more superior than others, and this is how it goes. The prophets are like us humans. They were spirits that Allah had created and He chose them among the other spirits and He said, "You will be the prophets." They are higher. He put them in higher stations right away. As soon as He chose them saying, "You are prophets" then they became higher than the normal spirits instantly because the title is given by the Creator. It's not given by man who are voting and giving titles. The Creator is giving titles saying, "I choose these ones to be my prophets." He didn't ask us, "Would you like it or not? Would you vote for these ones?" (Sheykh smiles). No. He says, "These ones are My prophets and you are My normal servants and you are going to obey them. You want to reach back to Me? You have to obey them. You have to follow their footsteps. Without following their footsteps you cannot reach to Me. You cannot come to Me. You are coming to Me through their doors. If you are looking to come to Me you must look through their doors. You must look to make them happy. You must look to make them satisfied with you. Then I will be happy with you."

Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) has created man for His service. He created the donkey for your service. He created you for His service and you have to find your part in that service. "What is it that I have to do in this service? What is for me in this work? What has Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) given to me?" You must know, you must find out, you must work and you must go according to that. You must live according to that.

Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) is saying in another Ayat in Surat-ul Ale Imran, "You are the Nation that I have created. You are the Nation that is ordering good things and you are forbidding people from the bad things and you are believing in Allah." Check yourself. Are you fitting into that Ayat? Are you fitting really and sincerely? Not because Allah is saying, "You are the Nation". Allah is saying to that nation. Check yourself. With your activities, what you are doing and how you are living, are you fitting into that Ayat? If you are fitting then be happy but if you are not fitting then alarm yourself right away. Say to yourself, "What am I doing? Sheytan got me from somewhere. He put me to sleep." Wake yourself up. Whatever it takes and whatever you have to do, you have to wake yourself up because otherwise you will fall out of that Ayat and if you fall out of that Ayat then in the Judgment Day you will not fall into that category that Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) said, "You are the nation". You will fall with the other nations.

So the believers cannot live a heedless life. The believer is that one who is in awakening station all the time and forces himself (finding a tariqat and going into tariqat, of course). Tariqat is to make the believers reach to higher and higher stations, not to go to lower stations, not to go to sleep, not to talk nonsense here and there, or as so many today are saying, "My Sheykh is praying in my place. My Sheykh is doing this and my Sheykh is doing that." If your Sheykh is doing then what Allah has created you for? To be donkey? You are not even good for a donkey then. What are you doing? What is in it for you? How are you going to bring that message to others? If that is so good and you like it then have you brought that message to others? Anyone who lives in the foreign countries, don't make any mistake. Questions will be asked to every one of you. When you come to the Judgment place it will be questioned to you, "You love Islam and you lived according to Islam. Who did you bring with you in the Divine Presence? For whom did you become a reason for that person to enter into Islam? Did you bring anyone here?" If not then even if you earn the whole Paradise what is it good for? Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) is saying that you are a selfish one. You want Islam only for yourself.

If a man is not in awakening station then never mind about reaching to others, he cannot even reach to himself. He only falls into his own illusions and delusions. And later some squareheads that saved themselves from hell are trying to save Sheytan from hell too now. That's what happens to man. When a man leaves the main road, the road of the footsteps of the Holy Prophet (alayhi salatu wa salam), Sheytan is going to find so many ways to fool that man. And so many are sitting on that road but they are not doing anything, they are not getting up, they are not moving. They are not getting anything. We must wake up because the danger is waiting for us. If we are heedless now then when the big wind is coming then we are not going to have time, not even a minute to look around. We are not going to have people to warn us then. You are not going to find anybody to tell you, "Turn this way or turn that way." Warning is now. Everyone is going to fall into their own problems then. They are going to run to find their way out. Don't make any mistake to think that, "Oh, everything is so nice now. America, beautiful country", or whatever you are in, or to think that it's going to continue like this. No. It's coming to an end.

Of course, there are so many people suffering right now in different parts of the world. Right this minute they are suffering. They have woken up and they are screaming. But their prayer is not accepted now. Holy Prophet (sws) is saying, "If you stop forbidding people from the wrong ways and asking people to turn their ways to the right way, to the way of Allah and His Prophet (sws), then Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) will put punishment on you, on that nation, He will put terror on that nation and then you will beg and you will cry but your prayers will not be accepted." Check it out. Look around the world. Is this how it's happening or not? If it's not like that then ask questions again later. We will tell you specifically what's happening where.

But leave that part. We must worry for ourselves now. Man must worry to save himself first before reaching to others. If you cannot save yourself then you cannot reach to others. Allah's order is not a game as so many people today are taking Islam and they are acting like they are representing Islam and they are saying, "The more Sheytan is disobedient to Allah the higher station he gets." Squarehead! And they are not feeling shame to say that they are following the Sultan-ul Awliya. But leave them. We must look at our acts. You must look at yourself. Don't get fooled by fools like that. You know by yourself whether you are in Paradise or you are in Hell in this world. You know by yourself. Nobody has to say to you anything. If you have reached to that station and your heart is so open to the whole world then you wouldn't live that kind of lifestyle. You wouldn't have any single minute in your life that has any problems. You will live in peace.

But that is the time that you will not have any peace. Sultan-ul Awliya is not having peace because he is looking around the world and the whole mankind has lost the direction. The whole mankind is running towards Jahannam and he is screaming. For over eighty years now he is screaming to mankind saying, "Oh mankind! Turn. Turn your way this way. You are going in the wrong direction." Nobody is waking. And some of his so called deputies, who call themselves deputies, they are running to bring Sheytan out from Jahannam. Don't get fooled by that kind of foolishness. Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) punished and perished so many nations before this nation. Nothing can stop Allah. Everything is in His Hands. All authority is in His Hand. He does as He likes. Don't make any mistake. Those people must be in drugs anyway. The drugs that they have been taking are still working in the body. The body is not clean from the drugs.

You must wake up. Sheytan has so many ways to fool man and Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) has so many Ayats in the Quran-e Kerim saying to us, "Wake up." He is warning us from the confusion of Sheytan and Dajjal. Holy Prophet (alayhi salatu wa salam) is warning us in hundreds and hundreds of hadith. Where are we going to put these? Which side should we put these? Should we ignore all these now? Is it another new style now? Everyone is talking from the spiritual aspect? Where is your Shariat now? Where is the law that Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) has given. The Nation lost every Shariat today. Today, the Nation is living worse than the unbelievers. The majority of the Muslims are living worse than the unbelievers. And now you are going to be that tolerant (to Sheytan)? You cannot. That is only Sheytan fooling the man. But those who do not want to be fooled must check themselves up. They must watch out, they must look and they must be worrying. In every higher station that they are going they must be worrying. They must be watching out because the higher station they are reaching they are seeing the danger that is waiting.

And Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) has given this job, this duty, to man. Man must establish the Shariat again in this world. Man must open the Quran-e Kerim. Man must work to bring the Khalifah and man must open the flag of the Holy Prophet (alayhi salatu wa salam). It's not going to come from the sky. It's going to be from these men that are living today on earth. We are all responsible. In the Judgment Day we will all be questioned. Allah will ask us, "What have you done to bring the Khilafat back and to put My laws back on. What did you do? What did you do?" Everyone will be questioned according to their level and according to their station. So is this the time now that you are going to worry to save Sheytan from hell? Sheytan is not worrying to save you from hell. Sheytan is running to bring you to hell with all these kinds of foolishness, with ideas.

You must wake up. We must wake up. "O my nation, wake up. Don't sleep", Holy Prophet (sws) is saying to us. Don't sleep doesn't mean going to sleep in the nighttime. Be in an awakening station! Ahir Zaman! Holy Prophet (sws) is saying to us, "In the end of time, the man will walk out from his house early in the morning as a believer and he will come back to his home at night as an unbeliever." He will hear so many things here and there and he will start questioning. He will start making ideas, thinking and accepting some of those things. He is going to lose his faith. That's what it means. If you are sitting and thinking, "Yes, this is okay, this is okay, this is okay, everything is okay", you are losing. Have you become more merciful than Allah (subhana wa ta'ala)? Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) is the most Merciful one. That Me'lun will not be forgiven unless he goes and submits his will saying, "Oh my Lord, I made a mistake. I have been a fool and I am asking You to forgive me and I am making Sejdah to the Children of Adam." Then he will be forgiven, yes.

People want to take some parts for themselves saying, "Well, I have been forgiven." What did you do? Did you at least cry for the mistakes and the wrong things that you did? When you and Allah are together and every time you are remembering it, are you crying for it? Are you being sorry for it? This is what we have to remember. Otherwise, Sheytan is going to fool us. Sheytan has fooled so many ones, so many people. He has fooled people who reached the level of sainthood in the time of Musa (alayhi salam). As soon as they gave an inch, he knocked them down bringing them all the way to Jahannam.

So, if we take the hadith of Holy Prophet (sws), we apply it to our lives and we try to live according to that then we will find safety. There is no other safety. And also not every hadith. You have to know which one is for you. You have to know which one is working for you. All the hadith Holy Prophet (sws) is addressing is good but maybe it's not for you. You have to take one, apply it and you must live according to that every single day. When you wake up you have to check and you have to say, "I am living according to this hadith." Then you are following the sunnat of Rasulullah (salatu wa sallim) and then because you are in constant contact with Holy Prophet (alayhi salatu wa salam) through that hadith, his blessings and his protection will reach to you and then you will not have any foolishness like that to think and to say such words, but you will run to clean yourself up. Every time you think you have cleaned one part you will find that another part is dirty. You will be continuously running and then you will see that you are going to have doubt, "Am I going to be able to clean myself before I leave this world or not?" So you will cry for yourself and you will run for yourself. Leave crying for Sheytan. Cry for yourself because Sheytan is not going to cry for you and for me. Holy Prophet (sws) is crying for us, Awliya Allah are crying for us and they are saying to us, "Oh nation, turn your face this way. Turn your face this way. Turn your face to the way of the Prophet (sws) and not to the way that Sheytan is showing to you."

So we must say one (as I always say, of course) hadith from our Grandsheykh. Whatever we learn, we learn from our Grandsheykh. Grandsheykh is saying what his Grandsheykh Sheykh Abdullah Daghistani (ks) is saying. He is saying, "My son, the whole mankind today have entered into a big truck." Think that there is a big truck and the whole mankind is behind that truck, sitting inside the trailer in the back. The driver is driving that truck towards the ocean and everyone is going to sink. Everyone is going to die. The driver is Sheytan and all man is sitting in that truck. And Sheykh Abdullah Daghistani (ks) is saying, "We, the Awliya, are holding that truck from behind for it not to go into the ocean. But the power that the engine has is dragging us with it together." He says, "We must know where to let it go. If not then the power that the truck has in its engine is going to pull us into that wrong place." InshaAllah this will be enough for us to clarify so many matters that are happening.

Wa min Allahu taufiq

Bihurmatil Habib

Bihurmatil Fatiha.

Amin.

Hidden Music

2006-05-14T22:29:00.000-04:00

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim (M)

Hidden Music

With love you cannot bargain
there, the choice is not yours.
Love is a mirror, it reflects
only your essence, if you have the
courage to look in its face.

To the parched lips of those who
are willing to surrender
Love will bring the wine that
changes darkness into vision,
cruelty into compassion and dust
into precious incense.

Love means to reach for the sky
and with every breath to tear a
hundred veils. Love means to step
away from the ego, to open the eyes
of inner vision and not to take this
world so seriously.

Like a thief, reason sneaked in and
sat amongst the lovers
eager to give them advice.
They were unwilling to listen, so
reason kissed their feet
and went on its way.

When you plant a tree
every leaf that grows will tell
you, what you sow will bear fruit.
So if you have any sense my friend,
don't plant anything but love, you
show your worth by what you seek.
Water flows to those who want
purity. Wash your hands of all
desires and come to the table of love.

If you can't smell the fragrance
don't come into the garden of Love.
if you are unwilling to undress
don't enter into the stream of
Truth. Stay where you are, don't
come our way.

From the heart of the lovers, blood
flows like a vast river. Our body is
the windmill, and love, the water.
Without water the mill cannot turn.

Can the essence and the scent
be separate?
Whisper to me intimately, like a
lover for tenderness is rare in this
world.
It is difficult to convey the magic of
love to those who are made of dust.

When you see the face of anger
look behind it and you will see the
face of pride. Bring anger and pride
under your feet, turn them into a
ladder and climb higher. There is
no peace until you become their
master. Let go of anger. It may taste
sweet but it kills. Don't become it's
victim, you need humility to climb to
freedom.

There is a thread from the heart to
the lips where the secret of life is
woven. Words tear the thread
but in silence the secrets speak.

Do you want me to tell you a
secret? The flowers attract the most
beautiful lover with their sweet
smile and scent.

To find a pearl dive deep into the
ocean, don't look in the fountains.
To find a pearl you must emerge from
the water of life always thirsty.

Do not be flattered by reason,
reason is only the child of the
mind. But true friendship
in born out of love and is the water
of life.

My dear heart, never think you are
better than others. Listen to their
sorrows with compassion. If you
want peace, don't harbour bad
thoughts, do not gossip and
don't teach what you do not know.

Those who think the heart is only
in the chest take two or three steps
and are content. The rosary, the
prayer rug, and repentance are
paths that they mistake for the
destination.

Seek the wisdom that will untie
your knot. Seek the path
that demands your whole being.
Leave that which is not, but
appears to be, seek that which is,
but is not apparent.

You are searching the world for
treasure but the real treasure is
yourself. If you are tempted by
bread, you will find only bread.
What you seek for you become.

Your earthly lover can be very
charming and coquettish but never
very faithful. The true lover is the
one who on your final day
opens a thousand doors.

First, lay down your head,
then one by one let go of all
distractions. Embrace the light and
let it guide you beyond the winds of
desire. There you will find a spring
and nourished by its sweet waters
like a tree you will bear fruit
forever.

Why are you so afraid of silence,
silence is the root of everything.
If you spiral into its void
a hundred voices will thunder
messages you long to hear.

You have woken up late,
lost and preplexed
but don't rush to your books
looking for knowledge.
Pick up a flute instead and
let your heart play.

Do not look back my friend,
no one knows how the world ever
began. Do not fear the future,
nothing lasts forever. If you dwell
on the past or the future you will
miss the moment.

- Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi Hazratleri(QS)

All text from "Rumi: Hidden Music" translated by Maryam Mafi & Azima Malita Kolin

The Sharr Corporation

2006-05-11T22:20:00.000-04:00

BismillahirRahmanirRahim

THE SHARR CORPORATION

Sohbet by Sheykh Abdul Kerim el-Hakkani el-Kibrisi

Saturday 8 Rabi-ul Akhir, 1427
May 7, 2006
Osmanli Naks-i'bendi Hakkani Dergah, Siddiki Center, New York.

Auzu billahi min-ash sheytanir rajim
BismillahirRahmanirRahim
La hawla wa la quwwata illa billahil aliyyil azim
Hasbinallah wa ni'mal wakeel

Medet Ya Seyyidi Sultanul Awliya, medet.

We are asking support from our Sheykh to make us to say a couple of words that will benefit us inshaAllah ar-Rahman. If someone takes them and lives according to it then they will win. If not then we do the part that is given to us and blessings are coming with it inshaAllah ar-Rahman. We must renew our faith saying, "Ash-hadu an la ilaha ilallallah wa ash-hadu anna muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluhu sallallahu ta'ala alayhi wa alihi wa ashabihi wa sallim."

124,000 prophets have been sent to this world to show people, to teach them to turn their way from Dunya to Mawla, from the world to Akhirat. When they passed, they left their inheritors in this world and they called to those nations until another prophet came to those nations. Holy Prophet (alayhi salatu wa salam) is the Seal of Prophets. No more prophet is coming until Judgment Day. He also left behind those people who are reminding themselves and the mankind to turn from Dunya to Mawla. The majority of people are always in need of reminder. They have forgotten. They are forgetting that they have not been created for this world. They turned around and fell in love with it and Allah send somebody to them to remind them. If people take that seriously and hold on tightly then they find safety in Dunya and Akhirat. If they are saying, "Well, I know but we are living in Dunya and we have to work." Of course. We are living in Dunya and we have to work. And at the same time we are living in Dunya to earn our Akhirat, not to work only, but to earn our Akhirat, earn the hereafter life while we are living in Dunya. You cannot earn that in the grave or in the Judgment Day. At least we have to make some work right now through which maybe we will leave some pages open that when we enter to the grave we will still earn higher stations in Akhirat inshaAllah ar-Rahman.

It is so valuable but we are treating it in a very lousy way. We are not treating it properly, this value that Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) has given to us. The value is the Shahadat and with Shahadat the Akhirat is coming, the eternal life is coming with that Shahadat. But while we are living in this world we are treating it very badly. It is so valuable but we are not taking any care of it. The little devices that we have here and there, the little things, the computers, the cameras, the cars, we show more care to those than the Shahadat. You cannot call that one so intelligent who is treating such a valuable thing very carelessly because that has a very big enemy also. Because it's very valuable, the enemy is running after it to catch it and take it away from us. The enemy is coming to us in so many different forms to steal that Shahadat away from us. They became a big company together. Nafs, Hawa, Sheytan and Dunya. These four are tying us, chaining us. Nafs is one chain holding from the right hand like that. Hawa, the desires, are holding from the left hand, Sheytan is holding from the right foot, tying with that chain and Dunya is holding from the left. We are in chains. We cannot move. And everyone is saying, "I am free. I do as I like." Mashallah. If you do as you like then don't die. Why are you dying? Every single day you are running top-speed to die. One day is gone again and we came one more day closer to our death. Don't speak foolish words saying, "I am free." What free? If you are free then you should not die. Man is running to find the cure to that. He is not finding and he is not going to. When he is going to through science, when Allah is going to open to them from that ocean a little bit, then they are going to beg to die. That's what they are trying now.

We are living the last days on this earth. It's not only man's life that is finishing but the whole world and all worlds that Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) has created are coming to an end. The Judgment Day, Qiyamat, is coming very close. We are the nation that reached to the end of that era. We are not in the beginning, in Adam alayhi salam's nation to say, "We still have time. Oh, generations are going to come after us until Judgment Day." We don't have too much left. So we should be more careful because we are the last nation on earth and we are very close to the Judgment Day, to Qiyamat. We are keeping ourselves busy everyday with so many other things. The unbelievers keep themselves busy with other foolishness, the believers keep themselves busy with other things and the man who is in the way of Allah keeps himself busy thinking, "This is coming, that is coming, I am preparing for Mahdi and I have to have a nice life afterwards." Qiymat is coming! Prepare yourself! When the angel of death is reaching to you it's your Qiyamat.

There are two Qiyamats. One is when the angel of death reaches to man and the second one is for all things, anything that you can think of, you can imagine that is existing in this world, the end is coming to that too. And we are very close. These young people, maybe they are in early ages of their Qiyamat, but the whole mankind today is very close to the big Qiyamat. So we must prepare ourselves. We don't really need too many people to tell us that that's the direction the world is going top-speed. If you have a little bit of sense and you put it together then you see it. We are seeing it. Everyday we are watching the news, we are watching the activities in the world, we are watching the activities that are happening around us and activities with our families and with our friends. Everyday we are seeing how fast everything is changing and in top-speed it's going to its destiny.

We cannot escape from it saying, "It was my destiny."
Yes, there is a big destiny. Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) drew the plan and everything is moving according to that. But we have to take care in that walk ourselves. We are responsible from what we are preparing for ourselves. We are responsible if we say that we are intelligent people, that we have intelligence. If we don't have intelligence then we are not responsible. But even the animals know their reason of creation and even the animals are putting curses on today's people saying, "Man has been created in Ahsani Taqweem and the Lord of the Heavens has created us for their service. We are remembering our Lord and they are not remembering their Lord." In the old days, at least the general main groups were remembering. Now, only a handful of groups are remembering. It turned around completely. The 20th century's uncivilization. The 20th and the 21st century's barbarism. The history books must write saying that they were the people who had been educated with the worldly knowledge so much but they were the worst ignorant ones ever living on earth. The second Jahiliyya Time. We should escape from that. We should not let our names to be written in that book.

The reality is not changing whether they are putting it in the history books or not. The reality is there. The angels are holding the history book and they are putting, "The 21st century: Ignorant man. The worst ones that ever lived on the face of the earth." The curse is raining. We must escape from that. We must try to escape with every opportunity that Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) is opening for us. Then they will not put our names in that list. And if we are holding tightly in fighting against these four Sharr Corporation, Nafs, Hawa, Sheytan and Dunya, if we are looking and understanding that these are our enemies then we must be careful with these ones. Then the help will reach to us and inshaAllah ar-Rahman we will be able to keep our Shahadat strongly. We will live and we will pass with that Shahadat. That is Marifat. If a man is looking for Marifat, Karamat then that is Marifat. That is Karamat. All the secrets of all Books and all the prophets came to teach man to take that faith that Allah has granted to them, to live according to that faith and to go out from this world with that faith. MashaAllah to those who did and inshaAllah we are asking from our Lord Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) for the sake of those who are most beloved ones in His Divine Presence, we are asking their Shafa'at to reach to us, and for their sake Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) to make us to live and to go out from this world with this Shahadat inshaAllah ar-Rahman.

Wa min Allahu taufiq

Bihurmatil Habib

Bihurmatil Fatiha.

The Second Jahilliyah

2006-05-02T04:53:00.000-04:00

BismillahirRahmanirRahim

THE SECOND JAHILIYYA

Sohbet given by Sheykh Abdul Kerim el-Kibrisi

Manhattan Dergah, New York City.

Selamun aleykum. Meded Ya Sayiddi, Ya Sultan Evliya, Mevlana Sheykh Nazim al-Hakkani. Meded.

When you put honey in the middle, the bees are going to come. But the mosquitoes, flies and all kinds of other harmful creatures will also come to the honey. Everyone has to take their share from it. The bees are not going to fight with the mosquitoes, because they will take what is for them, elhamdulillah. The mosquitoes are going to take what is for them, and the flies.

There is Haqq and Batil, the Truth and false. Either we are on the side of Truth or we are on the side of false. The people who are on the side of Truth have to be on the same road. They have to understand each other. They have to respect their ways. The people who are representing false, they are all together anyway. They are eating each other but they are all together in front of us.

This is the worst time that happened to Muslims about which Holy Prophet (saw) is saying, "The second Jahiliyya is going to be worst than the first one." And this is what we are facing today. The second Jahiliyya time. He said that it is because people in the second Jahiliyya time will know certain knowledge and they are not going to accept anything from anyone.

In the first Jahiliyya time people were ignorant. When someone from the Sahabi spoke to them, they were sitting and listening and comparing it with what they know. And so many were accepting. That was a Jahiliyya time, the first Jahiliyya, where Holy Prophet (saw) came only one person and then hundreds and thousands of people started following. Those people were against the Holy Prophet (saw) because they did not have any knowledge of what he brought. They were holding on to their traditions only. They were ignorant people. They did not know any better. When the other ones went and approached them properly and they showed them what Holy Prophet (saw) brought to them, they accepted. They did not argue about it. They did not feel threatened. The only ones who felt threatened were those people who were the knowledgeable people for that time. Like Abu Jahil and all the other ones. They were the people who knew how to read and write. They were the people who knew the activities of the world. They were the people who knew what was happening in the business world. They could not accept what Holy Prophet (saw) brought to them because it would not be good for their political and economical matters. What Prophet (saw) brought to them required them to change what they were doing. Not so for the ignorant. They did not fight. They sat and they listened. And sometimes later they accepted it.

Holy Prophet (saw) is saying that the Ahir Zaman, the End of Times, the second Jahiliyya time is going to be worse than the first because people are going to study the religion, they will know how to read and write but they are not going to accept anything, they are not going to accept anybody. They are just going to accept what is only for them, what is their understanding from what they read and write. So in this time people read and write. Millions read and write. So many people are reading and writing but they are ignorant. Holy Prophet (saw) is saying, "They are going to be ignorant with what they read and write. They are going to become ignorant with the knowledge that they know."

As everyone of you know, by the law of the government today you have to send your children to school. They have to learn how to read and write. But learning how to read and write is not giving them any knowledge or wisdom. However they are programming them, that is the only thing they know. Today's people became more ignorant than the people fourteen hundred years ago. They became ignorant with the knowledge of reading and writing. Not being able to read and write is not the sole problem. The secret is to know, that you need to read and write to understand. Everyone who reads and writes does not understand. They say, "Take the Quran and read." If you take the Quran and read and understand only according to your own understanding most likely you will become a terrorist. That is what most of them are doing. You cannot even understand the newspaper. Take a part from the newspaper and read. Then I am going to ask you "Give me the summary" and you are not going to be able to put it together. To be able to write and read is to learn. To know what? To know your self. Not to know other things but first you have to study you, your self, you have to know yourself, who you are, what you are and what is your position in this world. What is your secret, what is your duty, what is your mission, why have you been created, why are you occupying this space, why are you leaving this space and where are you going? That is the most important matter.

The schools are only teaching people lying and cheating these days. They know that the theory of evolution, Darwinism is finished. It is bankrupt. But they are still teaching. Everything is on that. The foundations of schools are on that theory. All those children that are studying and coming out of the schools, now their foundation is evolution which is completely against creation. So they are going to become ignorant. So ignorant that they are not going to know that they are ignorant. Taking one man's word, ordinary man. Who is this man? Who is this Darwin? Why are you accepting him? (I am saying to the Chrisitan world) You are accepting Darwin and putting his books in the schools and universities. You say you are accepting Jesus but you are not using his book in the schools. What kind of nonsense is this? (Shaykh smiling). You are saying, "Jesus is the Lord. We are the creatures, he is the creator." But you are not teaching in the schools to these people about that and you are teaching about Darwinism, about Sheytan. The same thing is with the Muslims and the same thing is with the Jews. In the Muslims countries they say, "We are Muslims. We are accepting Allah and His Prophet." But no school is teaching anything about Holy Prophet (alayhi salatu wa salam). With the Jews it is the same thing. They are not teaching about Moses or the Tewrat. So everywhere in the world they are concentrating to teach people Darwinism. Evolution.

So Prophet (saw) is saying, "The second Jahiliyya is going to be worse than the first one." That is what we see. Not by individual ignorance but by general ignorance. You are sending your children to school and this is what they are going to teach them. When they are growing up if you want to plant something in them by saying to them, "Allah created you", they are going to say to you, "You are crazy. This is what they teach us in the school." If you say to them, "They are wrong", they say, "Then why are you sending us to school?" So you are stuck between those two things and you cannot even touch your children in this time. Did Holy Prophet (saw) say that? Yes, he said this too. He said, "A time is going to come when you are not even going to be able to reach to your own children, your own families. Nobody is going to listen to you. There is not going to be one house left in the world where the confusion will not enter." This is the time. Of course, we are pretty happy that we reached to these days. And we reached to the end of this time too because every activity in the world that is shown to us (when you know the life of Holy Prophet alayhi salatu wa salam and when you know the teachings and the hadith that he pointed with, that when this comes this is going to happen and when this comes this is going to happen) we are watching that everything is moving towards the direction that Holy Prophet (alayhi salatu wa salam) has pointed to us.

Holy Prophet (saw) is saying, "The nation of Bani Israil is going to deviate into seventy-one different divisions. One is going to be on the Siratul Mustakim, in the straight path and seventy is going to be wrong." He says, "The Christians, people who say they are following Jesus is going to divide into seventy-two different divisions. One will be on straight path and seventy-one will be wrong." He says, "My nation is going to divide into seventy-three different divisions. Only one will be in Siratul Mustakim and seventy-two of them will be in the wrong ways. And if they stay in that wrong road they will be punished before they enter Paradise." He says, "Those ones who stay on Siratul Mustakim will live clean lives and they will go out from this world clean." And when they asked him, "Who are those Ya Rasulullah?" He says, "Those are the ones who hold on very tightly to my traditions, to my sunnat." He says, "Although my sunnat is going to be forgotten in that time by my nation, by the ummat of Muhammad (salatu wa sallam). People are not going to follow my sunnats. If they keep one of them they will be rewarded the equal of a hundred martyrs in the Judgment Day."

So these are the days. And as you said, you went to one place and you were surprised. I want you to go around and see what is it that they are giving. What is it they have and what is it that they are concentrating on. Are they concentrating on other than what other groups are doing? So many people today, Friday, are making certain activities. Different celebrations. They are coming together, eating together, enjoying together, doing so many activities. They have so many social gatherings under the name of religions gatherings. But when you look at the lifestyle they are living, there is no familiarity with the lifestyle of the Prophet (saw) and his Sahaba-e Ikram. But you will find familiarity with what the Christians are celebrating or the Jews are celebrating. As a matter of fact, so many are celebrating with liquor, but they are Muslims.

There was a time, when I was working with the United Nations, the Palestinians one night made a Palestinian Night, celebrating and trying to express and show their rights to other nations, and they were making a big cocktail party. Of course I had to be there. And I went and I looked. I saw all these Palestinians under the name of religion and the Arab-Israeli conflict were celebrating, they were trying to say their rights to others saying, "This is our problem, this is what had happened to us." But they had liquor in their hands, they were drinking and the time of the prayer was passing. So I said to the top official whom I know, "I have to go now."

He said, "But we did not begin yet."

I said, "Well, I know. Before you began you failed. So I have no business here."

"What do you mean?"

"I thought you were Muslims."

"Of course we are Muslims."

"But you are celebrating with liquor that Allah and His Prophet forbade you."

"But all these people are Christians and we have to show them that we have familiarity with them."

"Good, you are becoming one of them. They are not becoming one of you. So you lost. The beginning is lost. So I have no business here."

I left elhamdulillah. What I am trying to say is, when you are trying to get your rights you cannot get them from the way that Allah has forbidden you. Allah banned those things for you. You cannot say, "I do these things to be better looking to those ones in order to ask my rights". Your rights are going to be given to you by your Lord. By this one's hand or that one's hand but He is going to approve. If you are trying to please them you are never going to get your rights. The story that I told you happened maybe in 1979 and now we see that they did not get their rights and they are not going to get their rights and the worst is coming.

Everyone is saying, "What is our fault? What have we done?" What we have done is we have deviated into seventy-three different ways and we have left the one way, we left the Holy Prophet's way. All other ways are claiming, "We are following Allah's orders" and this and that. Everyone is claiming that. If the claim is right then you have to follow what Holy Prophet (saw) is teaching. Because Allah is saying to you, "Follow that one." He is giving order. He says, "Follow! Say to them: If they love Me they must follow you." It is an ayat-e kerim. Allah is saying, "IF they love me", they are claiming that they love Allah. He says, "If they love Me, they must follow you. Because you are the one whom I love and you are the one whom I showed the way and they must follow you for Me to love them."

Anyone who is dismissing the Holy Prophet (alayhi salatu wa salam) one way or the other, it is impossible for them to reach Allah. You can only claim. But Allah is not a little creature like you. You have not understood the Creator. If you did, then definitely you are going to look for a Wesil (means of approach) between Him and you, someone who is going to represent you. Otherwise, the ego is always representing itself and the ego is always seeing itself above anybody. That is wrong because no matter who we are and what we are, we are creatures. Allah is the Creator and we are creatures. That is what we have to know.

Time is up for Maghrib.

Wa min Allahu taufiq

Bihurmatil habib

Bihurmatil Fatiha.