Contents 1. Introduction - Prof Iqbal Jhazbhay pg 2 1. Sacred Expression in Quran - Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri pg 6 2. Movement as Worship of the One - Shaykh Kabir Helminski pg 7 3. Openings from Rumi - Camille Helminski pg 8 4. Music as a Sacred Practice - Shaykh Saadi Douglas Klotz pg 9 5. Sufi alkingW Meditation - Natalia Douglas-Klotz pg 10 6. Nature is God’s Language - Haji Mustafa Sterling pg 16 7. The Big Bang and its Gifts - Shaykh Hosam Raouf pg 18 8. Inspired Talismans and Sacred Objects - Aliya B Haeri pg 19 9. Sacred Orientations - Facets of Unity - Dr. Adnan Adnani pg 23 10. Gender, Spirituality, Justice - Sadiyya Shaikh pg 26 11. Poetry Recitals pg 26 12. The Sacred Knot - Ebrahim Ravat pg 26 13. Sacred Stones - Majida Ravat pg 27 14. Photo Gallery Introduction Prof Iqbal Jhazbhay The 13th century sage, Ibn ‘Ata’llah, correctly advises us in his classic text, The Hikam, to avoid trying to break through the ‘walls of destiny’ and to shun the over-management of your day-to-day events (isqaat al-tadbir). It is this wisdom which flashed through my heart, as I reflected on 13th annual gathering of the Academy of Self Knowledge (ASK). I am ever-grateful for the opportunity of attending the past 12 ASK annual gath- erings of hearts, minds and souls. I yearned, year-after-year, for the next gathering. In this context, I was saddened by the possibility earlier in the year that I may not be availed such an opportunity, to attend the 2012 annual gathering under the title, Celebrating Life. Destiny prevailed. The angels conspired! This year’s annual gathering was another feast of lights and de- lights. Poetry recitals, zikrs, musical ensembles, Sufi kataak dancers, and the African drum echoed over the 5-day substantive programme. Shaykh Fadhalla weaved his storytelling narrative representing geography, history, music, cosmology and the norms of the Qur’an. The age-old storytelling genre is returning to a number of circles. May this beautiful return (al-rad al-jameel), continue. Aluta continua storytelling! Guests speakers from Finland, the USA, Scotland, provided insights and connected time and space. Every year this gathering inspires and connects hearts. There seems to be no letting up of the quality of presen- tations and that graceful frontier of hearts. This event remains a highly-credible gem. I now wonder what will emerge in 2013 and await the next annual ASK gathering, in sha Allah! 2 Sacred Expression in Quran Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri 1. Earthly Struggles The Qur’an is a sacred deliberation combining descriptions of realities as well as prescriptions, which when followed bring about radical transformation and joyful liberation. Ever since Adam’s exile from eternal paradise we human beings long to return back to that original state. All of our efforts physically, mentally and spiritually are directed towards experiencing the field of paradise. We prefer hope to despair and we want to believe that a time may come when we celebrate, uncondition- ally, the universal perfection irrespective of one’s personal feelings. To live happily for a while is the begin- ning of the path where we desire happiness at all times irrespective of our physical, mental or spiritual conditions. It has been a human habit from pre-historic times to live with hope and good expectations and to celebrate goodness in numerous occasions and for numerous reasons, such as a new home, a birthday, a good har- vest, success and victory, as well as other causes. We follow tradition, culture, religion and many other situ- ations to enable us, individually and collectively, to share in celebrations. The inner drive in human beings to be hopeful and optimistic regarding sacred experience is relentless. I share with you the following story: After harrowing days of bombardment of Salzburg there was a day of calmness. Half of all the buildings in the city and many thousands of homes were reduced to rubble. The American and allied parties caused mayhem. The ‘friendly’ allies were supposed to arrive at the destroyed city soon. The early morning sun sprayed its rays of hope upon the devastated city. Max the musician was making his way cautiously to the centre of Residence Platz with this elaborate baroque fountain and surrounding buildings most of which were now in ruins. He walked towards a broken bench adjusting his sitting position for his cello in prepara- tion for his musical improvisation celebrating cycles of life and death on earth’s eternal life’s source. Max was already a well known figure in the musical circles and festivals, especially in celebrations of Mozart and Haydn. A gentle breeze blew some of the dust off the piles of rubble and Max produced his red silk hand- kerchief and placed it firmly on his mouth. The stench of dead domestic animals and birds had become more intense with the rise of the sun. He was playing the changes of seasons of the human dramas on earth within an eternal truth. He looked around the empty square and thought to himself that he can represent all of creation – he continued play- ing. After a while, he felt a passing figure on the other end of the square. A mother and her young daugh- ter were clambering over the rubble making their way out of the square. The young girl began to pull her mother towards Max. She was wearing a long grey frock, obviously a hand me down. Max greeted his un- expected audience with a gesture and carried on playing. Beautiful Isabelle was looking at Max attentively and as he felt her glance, he stopped playing and looked at her sad face tinged with fear and tiredness. It was her birthday and her mother was taking her to the outskirts of the city to her cousin’s house which was not bombed. She smiled at him and said, ‘I am Isabel and I am twelve years today. Do you think music will 3 come back to our city,’ her anxious face was mixed with hope. ‘I am playing ‘requiem for the dead,’ Max spoke softly, ‘and celebrating life at the same time, do you like it’. Isabel’s eyes welled up with tears and her mother gave her a little hug trying to resume their arduous journey. Max held Isabel’s hand softly and promised she will have an enjoyable birthday. Mother and daughter began walking amongst the piles of stones and debris and the smouldering stench. A little grey kitten emerged meowing to Isabel; she kneeled down and asked her mother permission to pick it up and take it with them. Within three years Isabel was a promising student at the music academy and played in a concert celebrat- ing Max’s 80th birthday. On that occasion Max gave her a red silk handkerchief and told her whenever she is sad and depressed to put this on her face and fly into perfect harmony and bliss. Some years later, Isabel was on holiday in Salzburg ad was showing her kids the city and its beautiful sur- rounding mountains. Upon visiting the old market square, they went into a new museum and amongst the main exhibits, there lay the beautiful cello that belonged to Max. She could not stop her tears from flowing. She sat down, hugged her children and told them of the story. 2. Quest for truth Ten years after Isabel’s parents emigrated to Canada and had enjoyed their new life, news of the death of their favourite uncle Ignacio had emerged. He was a Jesuit monk, who was the last to be in the monastery when it was sold to a hotel group. Ignacio had decided to join Albert Schweitzer in the Belgian Congo in his leper’s colony. After a few months he was disappointed in many ways and died broken hearted. Isabelle married Zeki, a successful tax consultant whose father was a Turk and his mother, a German. Soon they had two children and Zeki was enjoying his material success and the family holidays to the Caribbean as well as the occasional skiing. When the Children were in their teens, Isabel was feeling the emptiness in her life and often remembered Ignacio’s last words to her before leaving for Africa. Be patient for it will take you 40 years before you begin to have lasting fulfilment beyond pleasures and disasters. She thought to herself that she still has a few more years to attain this prophecy. She was a frustrated housewife with a husband, who was pursuing his worldly obsession and pleasures. A Turkish Sufi group was visiting Toronto and Isabel was thrilled by the singing of the communal dhikr and Shaykh Muzaffar’s booming voice. Zeki was not interested; he was a rational sensible worldly materialist. A year later changed, she changed her religion again and joined a Rifa’i Sufi group in Toronto. On her birthday, Zeki had arranged a special party for her but she became ill and locked herself up in her room. She even thought of suicide a couple of times. The local Rifa’i Shaykh, Shaykh Salim was her new spiritual connec- tion and she was fully absorbed into the new teachings. She loved the Qur’an and began to pronounce the Arabic with some fluency. Zeki was quite understanding but the emotional and spiritual distance grew wider between them. Isabel goes for Hajj and was trampled over, near the position of the stoning of Satan. She possibly passed out, but vaguely recalls angels lifting her up out of the torrent of human congestion.