Bismillah ir-Rahamn ir-Raheem

VOLUME   ONE
 

In The Name of Allah,

The Most Merciful, The Most Compassionate





Prologue:

Al A'aref billah, my master Abdul Kader Eesa Al Hassany, may Allah grant him His kindness, said, "Sufism is all about good manners. Whoever excels you in good manners, excels you in Sufism."

By this verily wise quote, we start addressing all of you, brothers and sisters, all over the globe, from this corner, with the aim of introducing to you Sufism: the real purposeful, foremost Sufism, free from debasement or non-Islamic misconceptions.

It is especially important to do so, now that all around us, we find a lot of conflicts and duality in thoughts and behavior. This prompted us to take this initiative, to correct some misunderstandings about this consecrated school. We are more interested in elucidating the truth, and clarifying facts, rather than in defending.
 
 
 
 

We admit that there are some mistakes and perverted manners assumed by some individuals who claim to belong to this school. This is a fact that disfigures the pureness of such a school, and a fact that leads to some misconceptions that found their way to the yard of this purity school. The Olama'a (Islamic scientists) have endeavored, one generation after another, to clarify the ESSENCE of this religion, and to show the basis of marching ahead towards Allah, Rabbul A'alameen (The Master of All).

Misconceptions, however, found their way through, due to direct and indirect reasons:

As for the direct reasons: Ever since the dawning of the sun of Islam, hateful enemies have been trying to demolish the basis of this religion, and to abolish what Islam builds, with all possible methods, along many roads

Nowadays, we are faced with atheist waves, and immoral currents, originating for the materialistic West, aiming at misleading the offspring and the youth of the Islamic nation.

In order to face these challenges, it is important for the faithful of the A'arefeen (those who really know Allah), the guides and the instructors responsible for bringing up the nation, it is important for all of them to attach the hearts of the nation to Allah, sobhanahu wa Ta'ala (All Mighty).

As much as it is the responsibility of the Doo'ah (Callers to Islam) to bring back to this religion its essence in the hearts, and to open those of the hearts that have been closed, it is also the aim of Sufism, along all times and eras, to take the people back to the shelter of the companionship (Ons) of Allah, and the delight of inaudibly talking to Him (monagat Allah), and the true happiness of His proximity.
 
 

On the Other hand, an indirect reason that led to misconceptions to the Sufist school in particular, and to the Islamic school in general, is the ignorance of the Islamic societies to its true teachings, characteristics and foundations. This message, however is not intended to list the names of the movements and the individuals that have played a major role in establishing misconceptions about the "Ehsaneiyah" (Benevolent) school. This is because if we know on that door, of listing names, we will never be able to find our way out, and our message will turn into futile arguments, and minor details will eventually keep us from our goal.

Our function, and primary goal, is to show the beauty of Islam, its tolerance and the wideness of its horizons, to enclose all those with sincerely honest intentions with Allah, sobhanahu wa Ta'ala (All Mighty), through advising fellow Muslims, to clarify the different aspects of their Deen (religion), and Donya (Life on Earth).

Ahlullah (The people of Allah), and Al A'arefoon Billah (those who know Him well) based their way (methodology) on three pillars:

The First: The good, strong faith in Allah, and the good relation with Him.

The Second: The good, strong faith in Al Eebaad (the worshippers of Allah), and the good relation with them.

The Third: To tame their Anfus (The Selves), in accordance with the Islamic laws.

These pillars cover up the general outlines, but as for the educational lines, they have based the pillars of their CONDUCT on three additional cornerstones:

The First: Al Thikr (The rememberance of Allah),

The Second: Al Ilm Al Sharaee (The Islamic Laws),

The Third: Devotion and Love.

From the above mentioned facts, it should be evident that this school has its CLEAR, PUBLICLY-KNOWN syllables, which is not a secret to anybody, as is the case for the destructive thoughts and movements, which resort to secrecy.

This is especially evident in the writings of the people of this pureness school, their letters, and their advice to their fellows who have adhered with their souls to this school.
 
 
 
 

The relationship between the Morabbee (guide/mentor) and his brothers and students/followers is that of a professor (tutor) and his student, and that of and advisor and the advised.

Allah, all mighty, says in the Qur'an, quoting the prophet Nooh (Noah), may peace be upon him,

“And Noah cried unto his son and he was standing aloof: O my son! Come ride with us, and be not with the disbelievers.” (Surat Hud-42)
 
 

This same message/voice of prophets continued through the prophets and the messengers and apostles of Allah, following Nooh till our prophet (apostle) Muhammad, salla Allah alayhe wa sallam (May peace be upon him), who called his people/nation to abandon that torrent of overwhelming materialism.

We can still hear our prophet, all peace and supplications be upon him, through the Qur'an, quoting him as he addresses his people:

“O ye who believe! Shall I show you a commerce that will save you from a painful doom?þ(Surat As-Saff- 10)

Such a trade is surely a winning one, where the profit is guaranteed with Allah, and so is the safety from the losses of this life and its seductions.

For such a goal to be achieved, one must endeavor to find tasheeh al neiyah ma'a Allah (i.e. to have the truthful, earnest intentions and motivations towards Allah), as well as the healthy relationship with Him. Moreover, one must exert the effort to tame one's own Self, and one's own environment and society.
 
 
 
 

Once, an Allah-Knowing tutor (Al A'aref Billah) said to his student, "My son, if you wish to learn about Halal (what is legitimately allowed in Islam) and Haram (what is legitimately resented by Islam), then you need to accompany a Fakeeh (a well informed man of religion), and if you wish to know Allah, then come to us."
 
 

Allah, All Mighty, has bestowed upon this ummah (nation) its richness with men of religion who call others to Islam (Doo'ah), as well as with its richness with men full of knowledge in Islamic sciences and studies, as well as with Allah-Knowing guides and tutors. A Muslim is in need to all of them, and so does any person seeking to know Allah, All Mighty … Why?

  1. Because he needs someone to call him to Islam.
  2. Because he needs a Fekeeh (Islamic Scientist) to show him the Halal and the Haram in the deen (religion) of Allah.
  3. He needs someone to show him the way to Allah, so as to get promoted to the Makam Al Ihsan (Benevolence Category), and to get ascertained by the meeting with Allah, sobhanahu wa ta'ala, through the heart. This is the Makam Al Ihsan (Benevolence Category): To worship Allah as if you can see Him, and if you can't see Him, know that He sees you.
Once, the was sitting with his companions, when a person came and started asking the apostle, salla Allah alayhe wa sallam, some questions. The Apostle of Allah, salla Allah alayhe wa sallam, asked his companions, “Do you know who this person is?” They replied, “Allah and His apostle know best.” The apostle of Allah, salla Allah alayhe wa sallam, said, “ This is Gibreel (Gabriel), came to teach you your religion.”

This is how Allah willed the basis of religion to be: To be based upon these three cornerstones: Islam (To adhere to the religion), Eeman (to have profound faith) and Ihsan (Good, benevolent deeds). Here, Islam stands for the actions of the body, while Eeman stands for the actions of the heart, and the Ihsan is the process of linking, aiming at allowing for the heartly-watching (Al Moshahadah Al Kalbeiyah) by the worshippers, the kneelers and the doer on the earth of Allah.

There is no reason tunderstand Deen (religion) differently, and it is not possible to accept it otherwise.

This is our message and our prologue, through this corner: Al Rashad. We hope that this is our answer to the call of Allah, to all of us, in the Quran, as quoted by a good faithful man: “And he who believed said: O my people! Follow, me. I will show you the way of right conduct.þ (Surat Ghafer-38)
 
 
 
 

The Servant of Science,
The Shareef:
Youssef Ibn Mohyeeddin Al Hassany
May Allah be Gentle with him.



The Corner of Quotes From The Knowers
(Al A’arefeen Billah)



1) Abide to the fear of Allah, for a Muslim, as the apostle of Allah- salla Allah alayhe wa sallam- described as the one other Muslims are safe from his hands and tongue. The Mo’men (the faithful) is the one people are safe from his troubles.
 
 

Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

Fear Allah through obeying Him, and obey Allah through fearing Him. Your hands should fear the blood of Muslims. You stomach should fear their wealth (money). Your tongue should fear going through their privacy and honors.

 
 

2) The knower said:

“Fear Allah in your religion, and hope for Him in all your quests, and be patient with all that becomes you.”

 
 

Ali, may Allah bless him, always, said:

“Fear only your sins, and hope only for Allah, and those who don’t know should not feel embarrassed to ask till they know.”

 
 

3) Mind the important matters in your life, and endeavor to make a better self out of your self, rather than to busy yourself with the defects in others.
 
 

4) Don’t complain to those who will have no mercy on you, against Him, who has more mercy on you than you, yourself, do. Seek help from Allah, and you will be an endeared special one for Him.
 


The Corner of Friendship
(As-Sohbah)



Fellow and companionship have a great influence in the education of the individual and his conduct and behavior. For a man is never devoid of heartly illnesses. Doctors are mandatory for our bodily illnesses. Guidance and tutors are equally mandatory for the heartly illnesses, i.e. to eliminate the share of the devil and the self out of the individual.

We are never devoid of defects, like reeyaa (Showy-ness/Pretentiousness), hypocrisy, pompousness, envy...etc.
 
 

Allah, All Mighty, said:

Say: Shall We inform you who will be the greatest losers by their works? Those whose effort goeth astray in the life of the world, and yet they reckon that they do good work.”
(Surat Al-Kahf, 103-104)

 
 

The Apostle of Allah, all peace and supplications be upon him, said,

The Mo’men (the faithful) is the mirror of his brother
(Narrated Abu Hurayrah and Al Bukhary in the book "Al Adab". It is authentic)

 
 

Thus, the practical way - that leads to the education and the richening of the self and to the decoration with the virtues in behavior – is that of accompanying the inheritants of the apostle of Allah, all peace and supplications be upon him, and the companionship of the sincere tutors and guidance.
 
 

He, salla Allah alayhe wa sallam, said:

Those of you who will sit closest to me in the hereafter will be those of you with the best behavior, who are modest, and who easily love are easily loved.

 
 

Ibn Abbas said that the apostle of Allah was asked about who, among his companions, were best. To that he, salla Allah Alayhe wa sallam, replied,

Those whose sight reminds you of Allah, those who increase your knowledge with logic and whose deeds remind you of the hereafter.

 
 



 
 

The Corner of The Remembrance of Allah
(Al Thikr)
(ðIKr)




Al Thikr has several meanings. Sometimes, it means the holy Qur’an. Allah, All Mighty, said,

Lo! We, even We, reveal the Reminder, and lo! We verily are it's Guardian.

(Surat Al-Hijr, 9)

 
 

Sometimes, it means the Juma’a (Friday) prayers:

O ye who believe! When the call is heard for the prayer of the day of congregation, haste unto remembrance of Allah and leave your trading. That is better for you if ye did but know.

(Surat Al-Jumu'a, 9)

 
 

In another place in the Qur’an it means The Knowledge:

Ask the followers of the Remembrance if ye know not
(Surat An Nahl, 43)

 
 

And it meant, in another place in the Qur’an the direct meaning of Thikr (Rememberance of Allah). Allah, All Mighty, says,

When ye have performed the act of worship, remember Allah, standing, sitting and reclining...
(Surat An Nisaa, 103)

 
 
 
 

And as for the Ahadeeth (Verified noble sayings of the Apostle of Allah, salla Allah alayhe wa sallam) they are numerous. In Shaa Allah, we will mention them for you in the next volume.
 
 

alrashad@email.com

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Last Updated on the 28th of February, 2000.