SHAYKH AASHIQ ILAAHI MERATHI SHAYKH AASHIQ ILAAHI MERATHI A translation of Imdaadus Sulook – A detailed treatise A translation of Imdaadus Sulook – A detailed treatise on Tasawwuf originally in the Farsi language by on Tasawwuf originally in the Farsi language by Hadhrat Shaykh Maulana Rashid Ahmed Gangohi Hadhrat Shaykh Maulana Rashid Ahmed Gangohi SHAIKH AASHIQ ILAAHI MERATHI A translation of Imdaadus Sulook – A detailed treatise on Tasawwuf originally in the Farsi language by Hadhrat Shaikh Maulana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi (Rahmatullah Alayh) Translated By : Mujlisul Ulama of South Africa PO Box 3393 Port Elizabeth 6056 South Africa ii Irshaadul Mulook PREFACE ............................................................................................... III INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 1 IRSHAADUL MULOOK .......................................................................... 4 A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF MAULANA AASHIQ ILAAHI SAHIB ............................ 4 IMDAADUS SULOOK ............................................................................. 9 RISAALAH MAKKIYYAH .................................................................... 15 SHARAH FAARSI ................................................................................. 16 HADHRAT AQDAS HAAFIZ MUHAMMAD DHAAMIN SAAHIB SHAHEED (RAHMATULLAH ALAYH) ................................................ 18 SAYYIDUT TAA-IFAH SHAIKHUL ARAB WAL AJAM HADHRAT HAAJI SAAHIB (RAHMATULLAH ALAYH) ....................................... 30 INTRODUCTION OF IMDAADUS SULOOK ......................................... 37 IRSHAADUL MULOOK THE TRANSLATION OF IMDAADUS SULOOK42 FASL TWO ............................................................................................ 51 THE SHAIKH-E-KAAMIL .......................................................................... 61 THE NECESSARY REQUISITES FOR THE SHAIKH .............................................. 61 OBEDIENCE TO THE SHAIKH .......................................................................... 67 FASL THREE ......................................................................................... 68 CONDITIONS FOR BIDAAYAT ......................................................................... 73 THE FIRST REQUIREMENT ............................................................................. 74 THE SECOND REQUIREMENT ......................................................................... 75 THE THIRD REQUIREMENT............................................................................ 77 THE FOURTH REQUIREMENT ......................................................................... 78 FASL EIGHT ......................................................................................... 97 REMEMBRANCE OF ALLAH .......................................................................... 102 THE AADAAB AND CONDITIONS OF THIKR ................................................... 108 THE SHAJARAH OF THE AUTHOR OF RISAALAH MAKKIYYAH ....................... 112 THE MUREED’S ATTITUDE .......................................................................... 113 THE TYPES OF THIKR ................................................................................. 115 THE SIX STAGES OF THIKR ......................................................................... 121 THE SEVEN ATWAAR (STAGES) .................................................................. 121 HOW TO THWART SHAITAAN ..................................................................... 124 FARHAT AND SUROOR ................................................................................ 124 FASL NINE ......................................................................................... 134 THE KHAWAATIR ....................................................................................... 134 FASL TEN ........................................................................................... 142 FASL ELEVEN .................................................................................... 143 FASL TWELVE ................................................................................... 148 i Irshaadul Mulook FASL THIRTEEN ................................................................................ 150 IHTIRAAM-E-ZAAHIRI (OUTWARD RESPECT)............................................... 154 THE BAATINI IHTIRAAM TO BE OBSERVED FOR THE SHAIKH ........................ 156 THE TIMES OF THIKR.................................................................................. 156 FASL FOURTEEN ............................................................................... 157 THE SIGN OF NOOR .................................................................................... 158 CORRESPONDING EXISTENCES ..................................................................... 159 THE SHAIKH ............................................................................................... 159 FASL FIFTEEN .................................................................................... 163 DONNING THE KHIRQAH (MANTLE) ............................................................ 163 MANS BAATIN ........................................................................................... 164 FASL SIXTEEN ................................................................................... 166 ADAB (RESPECT) ........................................................................................ 168 THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SUFIYA ....................................................... 169 MA’RIFAT .................................................................................................. 170 FASL SEVENTEEN ............................................................................. 174 I’TIQAAD-E-SAHEEH ................................................................................... 175 IMAAN ....................................................................................................... 176 KUFR ......................................................................................................... 177 IBAADAT .................................................................................................... 185 HAQ ........................................................................................................... 187 FASL EIGHTEEN ................................................................................ 189 WISAAL...................................................................................................... 191 FASL NINETEEN ................................................................................ 195 THE FOUR ELEMENTS (ANAASIR) ............................................................... 196 REVELATIONS ............................................................................................. 197 SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT FOR NOVICES .................................................... 201 A PLOY OF SHAITAAN ................................................................................. 204 FASL TWENTY ................................................................................... 209 SAHAABI AND TAA-BI-EEN.......................................................................... 211 WILAAYAT ................................................................................................. 212 THE QUTB .................................................................................................. 213 FASL TWENTY ONE .......................................................................... 215 CONCLUSION .............................................................................................. 218 MUSAA’S ROLLING IN THE DUST ................................................................. 219 BACKGROUND OF IRSHAADUL MULOOK ....................................... 221 ii Irshaadul Mulook نحمده ونصلي علي رسوله الكريم PREFACE Irshaadul Mulook is a treatise on Tasawwuf. Tasawwuf is that branch of Islamic Knowledge which deals with self-purification and the attainment of Divine Proximity (Qurb-e-Ilaahi). Although Irshaadul Mulook deals adequately with the initial phase of Tasawwuf, viz., self-purification which envisages the elimination of the evil attributes (Akhlaaq-e-Razeelah) and the cultivation of the lofty angelic qualities (Akhlaaq-e-Hameedah), its emphasis is on the second and higher stage of Tasawwuf, viz., Ser Fillaah or the Journey around the Zaat (Being) of Allah Ta’ala. This highest stage of Tasawwuf is the elevation or progress in the stages of Divine Proximity (Qurb-e-Ilaahi). The Slave of Allah soars in this stage from one lofty rank of Qurb to another, in an everlasting flight of progress. The elevation in the ranks of Qurb is never-ending. Allah Azza Wa Jal is The Eternal Being. It must be stressed here that most people – laymen as well as Ulama – are incapable of comprehending many of the expositions recorded here in Irshaadul Mulook. Since the concept of Qurb-e- Ilaahi is inexplicable, human words cannot adequately convey what exactly the divine and spiritual stages of Qurb-e-Ilaahi are. Words fail to translate the experience, meaning and splendour of the stages in this Divine Journey of eternal Bliss. Imaam Ghazaali too had voiced his inability to describe this concept and said that the only way of discovering this Divine Reality is to enter the Path which leads to Divine Proximity. iii Irshaadul Mulook We have to confess that in this age, there hardly remain any Mashaa-ikh of the calibre described in Irshaadul Mulook.