Maqáme-ihsán
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- Category: Stories from the lives of the Pious
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
[Hadhrat Mauláná A*** Sáhib دامت بركا ته wrote, during the course of his correspondence[1] with his sheikh, Hadhrat Mauláná Muhammad Masíhulláh Khán Sáhibرحمة الله عليه, the following:]
This servant has this thought with him all the time, that Haqq-Ta’álá شانه is well aware of all our bátiní and záhirí deeds. No task performed and no activity carried out are hidden from the Being of Haqq-Ta’álá شانه, because He is the creator and the master of each and every item. He has power over everything. He is All-seeing and All-hearing. In this vein, the concept of Haqq-Ta’álá شانه being hádhir-o-názir (omni-present and omni-seeing) is with me all the time.
Alláh Ta'álá states:
وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ ۚ
He is with you wherever you may be. (S.57.4.)
وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ ﴿١٦﴾
We are nearer to him than his jugular vein. (S.50.16.)
لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللهَمَعَنَا ۖ
Do not grieve. Truly, Alláh is with us. (S.9.40.)
وَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ فَإِنَّكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا ۖ
And wait patiently for your Lord’s decree, for you are certainly in Our sight. (S.52.48.)
[Contemplating[2] on these], the picturing of the presence [of Alláh Ta'álá] has increased, stage by stage, to the stage of conviction (yaqín[3]). [This has increased to that extent] that this state of yaqín has become a permanent feature of my nature [hál] and remains with me all the time. [As a result] I have become extremely bashful of Alláh Ta'álá.
At the time of performing namáz, this concept and this thought arises that I am a bondsman created by Alláh Ta'álá, who is the creator and master of both the worlds, and that I am merely one of His lowest slaves. And I am now present in His Royal Court. And I am now standing in front of Him with the utmost respect, with complete subservience [’abdiyet] with my hands folded.
[And] He is watching my every movement and bondsmanlike servitude: that I am praising and eulogising Him; that I am bowing to His great munificence and sanctified status; and that I am placing my head at His feet.
In essence, my complete namáz, from beginning to end, is performed in this state that He is watching me.
Not only at the time of performing namáz, but at other times as well, this state remains with me, as for example, when I have to open my satr when answering the call of nature in the toilet; and when I have to take off my clothes as necessitated at the time of making ghusl. [At these times] I feel extremely bashful at the thought that He is watching me.
[Hadhrat Mauláná Muhammad Masíhulláh Khán Sáhib رحمة الله عليهgave the following reply[4]:]
Reading every word, my heart kept on feeling delighted! Má-shá’-Alláh! Your condition is praiseworthy [mahmúd] and is an objective [matlúb] and is an elevated one. Mubárak! This state of yours is that of maqáme-ihsán. May Alláh Ta'álá bless you with greater progress, with istiqámat.
[1] A sálik is expected to communicate with his sheikh regularly. He has to keep him informed of his progress ‒ or lack of it ‒ in all honesty and sincerity. Even if he has been granted khiláfat, he is still expected to keep up the correspondence.
[2] “Contemplation” is termed “muráqabah”. This is part of the instructions given to the sálik , that he is to make muráqabah daily. He should choose such concepts that will bring him closer to Alláh Ta'álá .
[3] Yaqín is a part of the akhláqe-hamídah and needs to be developed into one’s character.
[4] The reply of the sheikh is very important. It will indicate whether the condition is satisfactory or not. It may contain further instructions and advices. Or it may just be a du’á. However, even the du’á has, implied in it, directions to be followed.
{translated by: AL-Naml Publications}