"He should be a precious
substance that melts and flows. He should be long on silence [samt], agreeable
in manner [na't], forbearing when he is treated foolishly, and very patient with
anyone who treats him badly. There should be no freezing [jumud] of the feelings
in his presence, and no extinguishing [khumud] of the fire of Truth. He must
never be slanderous [nammum], envious [hasud], impetuous ['ajul], or malicious [haqud].
He must treat the elderly with deference, and the young with compassion.
"He must be worthy of trust [amana] and far from betrayal [khiyana]. His habit
should be true devotion, and modesty should be his natural disposition. He
should always be on the alert, and make vigilance his constant practice. He
should take little for granted, and be very long-suffering. He should mean
little to himself, but a great deal to his brothers. His behavior should be an
example of good conduct [adab], and his speech should be a marvel ['ajab]. He
must never gloat over anyone's misfortune, nor speak ill of anyone behind his
back.
"He must be dignified and very patient, content and very thankful. He should
spend little time in talking, and make a frequent practice of ritual prayer [salat]
and fasting. He must be truthful of tongue, and steadfast of heart. He should
treat his guests with cordial hospitality, and supply everyone present with
whatever food is available. When disasters befall him, his neighbors must not be
adversely affected.
"He must not be a verbal abuser [sabbab], a backbiter [mughtab], a slanderer [ghayyab],
a calumniator [nammam], or a faultfinder [dhammam]. He must not be impetuous ['ajul],
inattentive [ghaful], envious [hasud], irritable [malul], malicious [haqud], or
ungrateful [kanud].
"He must have a tongue that is stored away [makhzun], a heart that is
grief-stricken [mahzun], a way of speaking that is measured [mawzun], and a way
of thinking that travels far and wide, through what has been and what is yet to
be [ma yakun]."
Before we start the next chapter which details a few of countless karamat
attributed to Hazrat Sheikh Sayyed Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA)- I have included a
salawat by Shaykh Abd al-Qadir Jilani (RA) by way of inspiration from ALLAH. It
is called Bashair al-Khairaat –Glad Tidings of Good things.
Bashair al-Khairaat
Glad Tidings of Good Things
Introduction
In the Name of ALLAH, the All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate.
Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim.
Praise be to ALLAH, who has graciously endowed us with faith. Blessing and peace
be upon the master of the realms of being, and upon his family and his
Companions, at every moment and at all times.
It is related of the Shaikh of the Community, the Imam of the Imams, the
chieftain of the nobles, the Cardinal Pole of the Cardinal Poles [Qutb al-Aqtab],
the Supreme Helper [al-Ghawth al-Azam] and the most generous protector, my
master, Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, that he said to one of his brethren in ALLAH
(Exalted is He):
Accept these invocations of blessing [salawat] from me, for I received them by
way of inspiration [ilham] from ALLAH (Exalted is He), then I presented them to
the Prophet (ALLAH bless him and give him peace). I intended to ask him about
their special merit, but he answered me before I asked him, and he said to me:
They have a special merit that is something too tremendous to be calculated.
They raise those who adopt them to the highest degrees, and cause them to reach
the farthest goals. If someone seeks to achieve some purpose by them, he will
not be turned away disappointed. His idea will not be frustrated, and his
supplication will not be rejected. If someone recites them, even one time only,
or carries them with him, ALLAH will grant forgiveness to him and to those who
are with him in his company.
When his final moment is at hand, four of the angels of mercy will be present
beside him. The first will keep Satan away from him. The second will inspire him
to utter the profession of faith [kalimat ash-shahada]. The third will quench
his thirst with a cup from the River of Abundance [al-Kawthar]. The fourth will
hold in his hand a vessel of gold, filled with the fruits of the Garden of
Paradise, giving him the glad tidings of a dwelling in the Garden, and saying to
him: Be of good cheer, O servant of ALLAH! So he will look at Him and see Him
with his eye, before his spirit departs.
He will enter his grave with a feeling of security, happy and cheerful, and he
will experience no loneliness and no confinement therein. Forty doorways of
mercy will be opened for him, and the like thereof of light. When he is raised
up on the Day of Resurrection, an angel will bring him good news from his right,
and an angel will reassure him from his left. He will be dressed in two fine
garments, and a well-bred steed will be guided to him for him to ride. He will
suffer no distress and no remorse, and he will be subjected to an easy
reckoning. When he passes across the Bridge of Hell, the Fire will say to him:
Make a quick escape, O emancipated slave of ALLAH! I am forbidden to touch you.
He will enter the Garden of Paradise in the company of the righteous forebears,
and in the Garden he will be given forty domes of white silver. Each dome will
contain a palace of gold, and in each palace there will be one hundred pavilions
made of light. In each pavilion there will be a raised couch made of silk
brocade, and upon each raised couch there will be a maiden, one of the houries
with those lovely eyes. Her body will consist of the most fragrant perfume, as
if it were the full moon of the night of his consummation. Then he will be given
that which no eye has ever seen, of which no ear has ever heard, and which has
never occurred to the heart of a human being.
According the traditional report [khabar], on the night when the Prophet (ALLAH
bless him and give him peace) was transported to his Lord (Almighty and Glorious
is He), the Almighty One (Glorious and Exalted is He) said:
To whom does the earth belong, O Muhammad? He replied: To You, O my Lord, so He
said to him: To whom do the heavens belong, O Muhammad? Again he replied: To
You, O my Lord, so He said to him: To whom do the veils belong? Again he
replied: To You, O my Lord, so He said to him: To whom does the Pedestal [Kursi]
belong, O Muhammad? Again he replied: To You, O my Lord, so He said to him: To
whom do you belong, O Muhammad? At this point, the Prophet (ALLAH bless him and
give him peace) bowed down in prostration, and the sense of shame prevented him
from saying anything. The Almighty One (Glorious and Exalted is He) then said:
You belong to him who invokes blessing upon you, and who does so with profound
respect and reverence.
My master, Shaikh Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, then went on to say:
This invocation of blessing is the one that befits this Prophetic tradition [hadith].
It is the opening of seventy doors of mercy, and it manifests marvels from the
path of the Garden of Paradise. It is better than someone who emancipates a
thousand souls, and immolates a thousand sacrificial beasts, and donates a
thousand dinars [gold coins] to charitable causes, and fasts for a thousand
months. It contains a hidden secret, and it is the means by which provisions are
easy to obtain, characters are refined, needs are satisfied, degrees are
exalted, sins are erased, faults are pardoned, and the lowly are dignified.
My master, the firm support of the religion, also said This invocation of
blessing is given to no one but the perfect righteous man, for it is perfect in
its qualities, endowed with gracious favor. If some problem troubles its owner,
every invocation of it will be a means of access for him in the presence of the
noble Prophet, and every Qur’anic verse in it will be an intercession in the
presence of the Almighty Patron. It is the invocation of blessing of those who
perform the ritual prayer, the Qur’anic recitation of those who practice
remembrance, the admonition of those who heed advice, and the means of access of
those who seek access. It is the invocation of blessing of the glorious Quran,
and I have called it:
Glad Tidings of Good Things
[Bashair al-Khairat] –Part I
In the Name of ALLAH, the All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate.
Bismillahi r-Rahmani r-Rahim.
Praise be to ALLAH, the Lord of All the Worlds.
al-hamdu lillahi Rabbi l-alamin.
O ALLAH, grant blessing and peace
ALLAHumma salli wa sallim
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
ala sayyidi-na Muhammadini l-bashiri l-
and the conveyer, to the believers,
mubashshiri lil-muminina
of what ALLAH the Magnificent has said:
bi-ma qala llahu l-Azim:
And give glad tidings to the believers,
wa bashshiri l-muminin. (2:223)
and that ALLAH does not waste
wa anna llaha
the wage of the believers.
la yudiu ajra l-muminin. (3:171)
O ALLAH, grant blessing and peace
ALLAHumma salli wa sallim
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
ala sayyidi-na Muhammadini l-bashiri l-
and the conveyer, to those who remember,
mubashshiri lidh-dhakirina
of what ALLAH the Magnificent has said:
bi-ma qala llahu l-Azim:
So remember Me, and I will remember you.
fa-dhkuru-ni adhkur-kum. (2:152 Remember ALLAH with frequent remembrance,
[u] dhkuru llaha dhikran kathira:
and glorify Him at the dawn and in the evening.
wa sabbihu-hu bukratan wa asila.
He is the One who blesses you,
Huwa lladhi yusalli alai-kum
as do His angels, that He may bring you forth
wa malaikatu-hu li-yukhrija-kum
from darkness into light;
mina z-zulumati ila n-nur :
and to the believers He is All-Compassionate.
wa kana bil-muminina Rahima.
Their salutation on the day
tahiyyatu-hum yawma
when they shall meet Him will be: Peace!
yalqawna-hu salam :
And He has prepared for them a goodly recompense.
wa aadda la-hum ajran karima. (33:41-44)
O ALLAH, grant blessing and peace
ALLAHumma salli wa sallim
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
ala sayyidi-na Muhammadini l-bashiri l-
and the conveyer, to those who labor,
mubashshiri lil-amilina
of what ALLAH the Magnificent has said:
bi-ma qala llahu l-Azim:
I do not waste the labor of any laborer
la udiu amala amilin
among you, whether male or female.
min-kum min dhakarin aw untha. (3:195)
Whoever does right, whether male or female,
wa man amila salihan min dhakarin aw untha
and is a believer,
wa huwa muminun
such will enter the Garden,
fa-ulaika yadkhuluna l-jannata
where they will be nourished without stint.
yurzaquna fi-ha bi-ghairi hisab. (40:40) O ALLAH, grant blessing and peace
ALLAHumma salli wa sallim
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
ala sayyidi-na Muhammadini l-bashiri l-
and the conveyer, to those who turn back [to their Lord],
mubashshiri lil-awwabina
of what ALLAH the Magnificent has said:
bi-ma qala llahu l-Azim:
He is always Forgiving
fa-inna-hu kana
to those who turn back [to Him].
li-l-awwabina Ghafura. (17:25)
They shall have whatever they will
la-hum ma yashauna
in the presence of their Lord.
inda Rabbi-him
That is the reward of those who are active in goodness.
dhalika jazau l-muhsinin. (39:34)
O ALLAH, grant blessing and peace
ALLAHumma salli wa sallim
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
ala sayyidi-na Muhammadini l-bashiri l-
and the conveyer, to those who repent,
mubashshiri lit-tawwabina
of what ALLAH the Magnificent has said:
bi-ma qala llahu l-Azim:
Truly, ALLAH loves those who repent,
inna llaha yuhibbu t-tawwabina
and He loves those who keep themselves clean.
wa yuhibbu l-mutatahhirin. (2:222)
And He it is who accepts repentance
wa Huwa lladhi yaqbalu t-tawbata
from His servants, and pardons evil deeds.
an ibadi-hi wa yafu ani s-sayyiati. (42:25)
O ALLAH, grant blessing and peace
ALLAHumma salli wa sallim
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings ala sayyidi-na Muhammadini
l-bashiri l-
and the conveyer, to those who are sincere,
mubashshiri lil-mukhlisina
of what ALLAH the Magnificent has said:
bi-ma qala llahu l-Azim:
So whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord,
fa-man kana yarju liqaa Rabbi-hi
let him do righteous work, and let him
fa-l-yamal amalan salihan
give no one any share at all
wa la yushrik
in the worship due unto his Lord,
bi-ibadati Rabbi-hi ahada. (18:110)
devoting the religion sincerely to Him.
mukhlisina la-hu d-din. (7:29)
O ALLAH, grant blessing and peace
ALLAHumma salli wa sallim
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
ala sayyidi-na Muhammadini l-bashiri l-
and the conveyer, to those who perform the ritual prayer,
mubashshiri lil-musallina
of what ALLAH the Magnificent has said:
bi-ma qala llahu l-Azim:
And establish the ritual prayer.
wa aqimi s-salah.
The ritual prayer helps to prevent
inna s-salata tanha
indecency and reprehensible behavior.
ani l-fahshai wa l-munkar. (29:45)
Enjoin what is right and fair,
wa mur bil-marufi
and forbid what is wrong and unfair,
wa nha ani l-munkari
and endure with patience whatever may befall you;
wa sbir ala ma asaba-k.
surely that is true constancy.
inna dhalika min azmi l-umur. (31:17) O ALLAH, grant blessing and peace
ALLAHumma salli wa sallim
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
ala sayyidi-na Muhammadini l-bashiri l-
and the conveyer, to the humble-minded,
mubashshiri lil-khashiina
of what ALLAH the Magnificent has said:
bi-ma qala llahu l-Azim:
Seek help in patience and prayer,
wa stainu bis-sabri wa s-salah :
though truly it is hard
wa inna-ha la-kabiratun
except for the humble-minded,
illa ala l-khashiin :
for those who know that they
alladhina yazununa anna-hum
will have to meet their Lord,
mulaqu Rabbi-him
and that unto Him they are returning.
wa anna-hum ilai-hi rajiun. (2:45,46)
[There are signs for] those who remember ALLAH,
alladhina yadhkuruna llaha qiyaman
standing and sitting and on their sides,
wa quudan wa ala junubi-him
and who reflect upon the creation of the heavens
wa yatafakkaruna fi khalqi s-samawati
and the earth: Our Lord, You have not
wa l-ard: Rabba-na ma khalaqta
created this in vain. Glory be to You!
hadha batila: subhana-ka
So guard us against the torment of the Fire.
fa-qi-na adhaba n-nar. (3:191)
O ALLAH, grant blessing and peace
ALLAHumma salli wa sallim
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
ala sayyidi-na Muhammadini l-bashiri l-
and the conveyer, to those who endure with patience,
mubashshiri lis-sabirina of what ALLAH the Magnificent has said:
bi-ma qala llahu l-Azim:
Surely the patiently enduring will be paid their wages
innama yuwaffa s-sabiruna
in full without reckoning.
ajra-hum bi-ghairi hisab. (39:10)
Such are those whom ALLAH guides,
ulaika lladhina hada-humu llahu
and such are those endowed with understanding.
wa ulaika hum ulu l-albab. (39:18)
O ALLAH, grant blessing and peace
ALLAHumma salli wa sallim
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
ala sayyidi-na Muhammadini l-bashiri l-
and the conveyer, to the fearful,
mubashshiri lil-khaifina
of what ALLAH the Magnificent has said:
bi-ma qala llahu l-Azim:
But for him who fears the standing
wa li-man khafa maqama
before his Lord there shall be two gardens.
Rabbi-hi jannatan. (55:46)
But as for him who feared to stand before
wa amma man khafa
his Lord, and forbade the lower self
maqama Rabbi-hi wa naha n-nafsa
to follow passion,
ani l-hawa:
Surely the Garden [of Paradise]
fa-inna l-jannata
will be his final place of rest.
hiya l-mawa. (79:40,41)
O ALLAH, grant blessing and peace
ALLAHumma salli wa sallim
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
ala sayyidi-na Muhammadini l-bashiri l-
and the conveyer, to those who are truly devout,
mubashshiri lil-muttaqina