The state and stages of Sainthood - Qadi Abdur Rahim - alaihi rahmah

[chisti-raza]

The state and stages of Sainthood: by al-Qādī Abdur Rahīm Bastawī

Wilāyah is divided into two types. The first is Aamah or common and the second is Khāsah or special. The first type is that which includes all those who possess pure faith and are included in the religion of Islam. The second type which is considered to be the special type is that which is unique to those who are especially connected to the truth.

Thereafter, in the path of Sulūk and with Divine proximity, there are five types of Saints. They are the Nuqābah, the Nujūbah, the Abdāl, the Awtād and the Aqtāb as has been mentioned in the treatise entitled Hāwi. Vol 2, Pg 241.

Ala Hadrat, the Imām of Ahl As-Sunnah (Imām Ahmad Rida Khan al-Qadrī rahimaHullah) has enumerated 14 stages of the Saints. They are the Suluhā, the Sālikīn, the Qāni’tīn, the Wāsilīn, the Nujūbah, the Nuqābah, the Abdāl, the Budula’, the Awtād, the Imāmain, the Ghawth, the Siddīque, the Nabī, and the Rasūl. The first three are those who are considered as travelling towards Allāh Almighty and the rest are those who are considered as having travelled within[1] Almighty Allāh. All of them are considered as Awliyā.[2]

The literal meaning of the word Walī among others are, Master, Chief, Senior respected person, one who is protected, a patron, a friend or someone who is loved. In the definition of the Awliyā, a Walī is considered as that person who is considered close to Allah Almighty and as possessing proximity to Allah Almighty. As-Sayyid as-Sharīf Alī Muhammad rahimaHullah in the treatise entitled, Tahrīfāt declares that,

The word Walī if it possesses the subjective sense could mean ‘he who embodies obedience and does not obey anyone except Allah Almighty.’ If the objective sense is taken, then it could mean ‘that person who possesses the Special Infinite Mercy of Allah Almighty and His Divine Grace…’

The idea of a Walī performing a miracle (karamah) is not something which is mandatory. If a Walī performs a miracle without any valid Shari’ reason, then his state of Sainthood could also be taken away.

al-Qādī Abdur Rahīm Bastawī
Source: Markazī Darul Ifta Bareilly Sharīf

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[1] The usage of the word “within” should not be taken in its literal sense. It is however, the only word that we can find which can imply absolute and total proximity (translator).
[2] Imām Ahmad Rida’s, Al-Malfūdh, Pg 455, English Translation

www.gatewaytomadina.org

[Qasim Hanafi Ridwi]

Jazak Allahu khairan kathira

Subhaan Allah may Allah 'Azza wa Jall have mercy on the great shaykh aameem thumma aameen

[naqshbandijamaati]

jazakallah brother chishti, that was enlightening. Do you more of this type of stuff about saints and their ranks?

[chisti-raza]

I came across this last night in the work of the great Arif of Allah, the Qutb, Sayyid Ahmad Husayn Nuri Barkati - may Allah sanctify his secret - Siraj al-Awarif. He is the teacher of Imam Ahmad Rida.

THIRTY-THIRD NÚR

I have not seen anything but saw Allah before it. [1]
I have not seen anything but saw Allah after it. [2]
I have not seen anything but saw Allah in it. [3]
I have not seen anything but saw Allah with it. [4]

These words are of the noble Awliya that were made after they have reached the Divine Presence of Allah and were endowed with high stations of Wilayah. When this status is achieved, they will utter any one of these four statements. [1]The first statement is that of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr. [2]The second is that of Sayyiduna 'Umar al-Faruq, [3]the third is that of Sayyiduna 'Uthman al-Ghani and the [4]fourth is that of Sayyiduna 'Ali al-Murtudah. These words are due to their spiritual station - may Allah be pleased with them all.

The first statement is similar to that which Sayyiduna Rasulullah [peace and blessings be upon him and his family] made in the cave of Thour on the night of Hijra.

- He said to his companion, have no fear; verily Allah is with us.

-the second statement is similar to that of Sayyiduna Musa [peace be upon him] when he said.

(Nabi Musa) said: "By no means! My Lord is with me! Soon will He guide me!"

The first statement is of Jazb(Extinction) and the other is of Suluk(mystical journey). The differences between the experiences of Sayyiduna Rasulullah [peace and blessings be upon him and his family] and Sayyiduna Musa [peace be upon him] is that our Beloved Nabi [peace and blessings be upon him and his family] first saw Allah and then himself, while Nabi Musa first saw himself then Allah. Both these experiences are excellent, but the former is more superior to the latter. Therefore, the declaration of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr is according to Jazb which Allah inspired in him. The statement of Sayyiduna 'Umar is in accordance to Suluk and this is a clear manifestation of his spiritual perfection. In this case, the literal meaning of Jazb and Suluk is taken into consideration and not the technical meaning because technically, Suluk surpasses Jazb in excellence.

However, by virtue of these four utterances, the station and status of the Four Righteous Khulafa - may Allah be pleased with them all - can be understood, accordingly. I advise those who do not respect their excellence to firstly understand and rectify their personal beliefs. May the Merciful Allah guide us on the Right Path.

- translated into English by Shaykh Abdul Hadi - South Africa

[sherkhan]

Originally Posted by naqshbandijamaati

Do you more of this type of stuff about saints and their ranks?

You can look up following books in English (among many others). I will add couple more books to the following list later.

1. Siraaj al-Awarif
I bought a copy of it earlier this week (although I'm a compulsive downloader, nothing beats the pleasure of flipping the book). The English translation is well produced. My only gripe is that the book is printed on high-gloss paper which makes it bit difficult to read under glare.

2. Seal of the Saints
Notwithstanding that this has been written by a non-muslim, it is a good read and probably the most comprehensive available.

al-Ibriz, Kashf al-Mahjub and Imam Qushayri's Risala also have bits on ranks of awliya.


If you are interested in reading more about Nur Muhammadi, you should pick up The Path of God's Bondsmen. It is an absolute gem! If you can ignore Algar's shiite leaning (and persianized arabic), then it can be very enlightening read. Sirr al-Asrar (translated independently by Tosun Bayrak, Muhtar Holland and Shaykh Abdul Hadi) also deals with it in brief.

[sherkhan]

Add The Concept of Sainthood in Early Islamic Mysticism by ʻAlī Ḥakīm al-Tirmidhī to the list above

[abu Hasan]

considered as having travelled within[1] Almighty Allāh.

supposing this is the translation of sayr fi' Allah and sayr ila Allah.

sayr ila Allah is traveling towards the path of Allah
sayr fi' Allah is traveling in the path of Allah

thus, sayr ila Allah is traveling on the path to attain the love of Allah
sayr fi' Allah is progressing in the path after having attained the love of Allah.

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Tahrīfāt declares that,

the book is al-ta'rifat. tahrifat means something else.

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Do you more of this type of stuff about saints and their ranks?

those that come to mind instantly are:

al-khabar al-daal `ala wujudi'l quTub wa'l awtad wa'n nujabayi wa'l abdal by imam suyuti

ijabatu'l ghawth bi bayani Haali'n nuqaba'yi wa'n nujaba'yi wa'l abdali wa'l awtadi wa'l ghawth by imam ibn abidin shami (included in his rasayil ibn abidin vol.2)

a couple of pages are mentioned in sayyidi ibn ajiba's : mi'yraj al-tashawwuf

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wAllahu ta'ala a'alam.

[chisti-raza]

Originally Posted by abu Hasan

supposing this is the translation of sayr fi' Allah and sayr ila Allah.

sayr ila Allah is traveling towards the path of Allah
sayr fi' Allah is traveling in the path of Allah

thus, sayr ila Allah is traveling on the path to attain the love of Allah
sayr fi' Allah is progressing in the path after having attained the love of Allah.

brilliant! now this keeps with better and proper adab and becomes self explanatory.

the book is al-ta'rifat. tahrifat means something else.

thanks, i will get this corrected.

[naqshbandijamaati]

sidi sherkhan,

thank you! i am so thankful to you. jazakallah khayran for that book list. i think i might have come across the seal of the saints before...

i will enjoy these insha Allah..