- By: Captain (Retired) Umar Farooq
This universe, brought into existence by the command “Be, and it is” (Kun Faya Kun) of the Creator of the heavens and the earth, is a vast expanse wherein man has discovered two trillion galaxies. Yet, the secrets and mysteries of this cosmos remain largely concealed from the mortal eye. Since the creation of Adam, the Ashraf-ul-Makhluqat (the Noblest of Creations) appeared on this earth, and this lineage has continued to expand.
The Lord breathed His spirit into man, distinguished him, endowed him with intellect and consciousness, and guided him toward the path of truth for success in the Hereafter. However, the Essence of the Lord, His Attributes, His creations, His manifestations, the realities of the days and nights of His universe, the sustenance of thousands of creatures, the organization of life, and the orbit of celestial bodies—in short, access to millions of secrets—is not possible for every human. The physical eye is helpless.
The Gnosis of the Divine The Ma’rifat (spiritual knowledge/gnosis) of Allah Almighty is beyond the capacity of this physical heart and eye; even the understanding of His creation is attained only through His bestowal. Instigated by Satan; dark deeds, lust, greed, and carnal desires pollute innocent hearts and minds, blocking the inner vision of the physical eye.
Today, the Noblest of Creations is embroiled in bloodshed, adultery, and usury. He stands miles apart from the One who breathed the spirit into him, the Creator who said “Be,” and the One who loves him more than seventy mothers. How then can spirituality be bestowed? The Lord, hidden behind the veils of spirituality, cannot be perceived while walking the paths of waywardness.
What is Spirituality? Spirituality is to understand the Majestic Power that created souls, to know His Reality, and to delve into the depths of the secrets and mysteries of His created system. Satan controls the axis of our thoughts all day long, and we drift further from the Creator. Yet, He is watching us; He is waiting for us.
Divine Will is poised to give; He is inclined towards mercy. He is Generous (Sakhi), Self-Sufficient (Ghani), and the Enricher (Mughni). He desires that we reach such a station of yearning that all physical veils are torn asunder, and He bestows His very Self upon us.
We ask for mansions, cars, bungalows, jobs, and lovers, but we do not ask the Creator for the Creator Himself. We fail to plead: “O Master of All, reside completely within me, dye me in Your hue, let me see none but You, and infuse this soul completely with the love, affection, and devotion for Muhammad Al-Arabi (Peace Be Upon Him).”
Muhammad Al-Arabi (PBUH) was the pinnacle of spirituality; transcending the bounds of time and space, he reached the Sidrat-ul-Muntaha and was graced with the vision of the Lord.
The Path Forward So, O possessors of knowledge and wisdom, and respected readers: dive into the oceans of spirituality. Traverse the stages of Divine Love, and via the ladder of the Love of the Prophet (Mustafa), ascend toward the Gnosis of God and the understanding of the universe.
Ask the Lord for the Lord Himself. Ponder His love and reality. Mend broken hearts, give to the deprived, and share what you have. Humility, courtesy, contentment (Faqr), lawful living (Halal), forbearance, and modesty are the initial steps on the journey toward spirituality. The Quran, Durood Sharif, and spiritual remembrances (Azkar) are companions on this path.
The source and creator of spirituality is that very Master of All. Selfless love for Him, conversing with Him, exalting His name, loving Him madly, weeping while speaking to Him, pleading for the opening of the inner eye, and accepting Him as One without partner—these are all essential elements of the spiritual journey.
With the ticking of the clock, the flow of moments, every heartbeat, and every breath, that Ever-Living and Sustaining Being (Hayy-ul-Qayyum) is watching you and me, waiting to see when this masterpiece of Mine—this human—will express the desire to behold Me. One must realize how magnificent the Creator of such masterpieces must be—He who is Eternal, Everlasting, and the Light that has shone since the beginning of time.
Conclusion We are so impressed by the lights and fireworks of this world, yet we are deprived of the delight of the True Light. The ability to pen works like Kashf-ul-Mahjoob, Ihya-ul-Ulum, Taubat-un-Nasuh, and Nahj-ul-Balagha is only bestowed when spirituality is granted.
A human being encompassed by domestic life, politics, abusive language, corruption, bribery, nepotism, hatred, and contempt—who is even deprived of the basic obligatory deeds—how will he ever turn his attention toward spirituality?
O people of insight, He is closer than your jugular vein. Remove the optical illusion; ask the Lord for the Lord Himself—that is, do not commit Shirk (association) even in what you ask for. This, indeed, is spirituality