HADHRAT AHMAD BIN AASIM AL-ANTAAKI (Rahmatullah alayh)

HADHRAT AHMAD BIN AASIM AL-ANTAAKI

(Rahmatullah alayh)

* Hadhrat Ahmad Bin Aasim Al-Antaaki (Rahmatullah alayh) was among the great Auliya of the Tab-e-Taabieen era. He was the mureed of Hadhrat Muhaasabi (Rahmatullah alayh). Due to the sharpness of his Firaasat (spiritual insight and wisdom), Hadhrat Sulaimaan Daaraaee (Rahmatullah alayh) gave him the title of Jaasoosul Quloob (the Spy of the Hearts).

* A person asked Hadhrat Al-Antaaki: “Do you yearn for Allah Ta’ala?” He replied: “No”. The person asked for the reason, he responded: “One yearns for someone who is absent. Yearning is not for the one who is present.”

* “Ma’rifat has three stages. (1) The establishment of Tauheed in the heart. (2) Expulsion from the heart of all things besides Allah Ta’ala. (3) The understanding that never can anyone worship Allah Ta’ala as he should be worshipped.”

This conception of Ma’rifat is the minimum degree necessary for all Mu’mineen. The higher spiritual levels are not included in this conception although this lowest degree is the fundamental basis and the imperative requisite for the higher transcendental stages of Ma’rifat.

* Hadhrat Al-Antaaki was asked to explain the signs of Divine Love. He said: “His (i.e. the person’s) worship (Nafl ibaadat) is not much. His reflection (on Allah Ta’ala) is perpetual. His solitude is abundant. His silence is constant. He remains unseen. When he is called, he does not hear. When calamity settles on him, he does not grieve. Prosperity does not make him happy. He fears none and he has no hope on anyone.”

* “The lowest degree of Yaqeen brightens the heart with noor, purifies it from all doubts, cultivates gratitude and fear for Allah Ta’ala, and produces recognition of Allah Ta’ala.”

* “If you desire the reformation of the heart, supplicate to Allah Ta’ala to grant you the taufeeq to guard the tongue.”

* “The best intelligence is that it enables you to recognize the bounties of Allah. It impels you to be grateful and contented. It spurs you to virtue and to oppose the nafs.”

* “The best Ikhlaas (sincerity) is that which eliminates from you show, pretence, adornment and self-conceit.”

* “Worship based on ignorance is worse than sin based on ignorance.”

Ignorance of the rules of worship is itself sinful. Thus, it is an aggravating factor. On the other hand, sinning due to ignorance is a mitigating factor.

* “One who understands sins to be small (insignificant) will very soon be overwhelmed with misfortunes.”

* While the elite (i.e. Aulya) dive in the ocean of meditation, the masses wander aimlessly in the wilderness of deception and obliviousness (ghaflat).”

* Yaqeen is a noor which Allah Ta’ala creates in the heart of His servant. With this noor he observes the affairs of the Aakhirat. The fierceness of this noor incinerates all the veils between man and the Aakhirat. The transcendental issues then become vividly perceivable.”

* “Ikhlaas of a deed is that you detest being recognized and praised for the deed, and that you desire its reward from only Allah Ta’ala. Do the deed as if there is no one on earth besides you, and no one in the heavens besides Allah Ta’ala.”

* “Only a few days of life remain. Consider it an opportunity so that your previous sins are forgiven.”

* “The balm for the heart is in:

(1) Companionship with the Saaliheen

(2) Tilaawat of the Qur’aan (abundantly).

(3) An empty stomach

(4) Salaat during the night (Tahajjud)

(5) Weeping in the late hours of the night (as a result of khauf).”

* There are two kinds of Adl (Justice). Zaahiri Adl, i.e. between you and creation, and Baatini Adl, i.e. between you and the Creator.”

* “Allah Ta’ala says (in the Qur’aan Majeed): “Verily, your wealth and your children are a fitnah (a trial).” The reality is that we continue increasing fitnah (mischief and corruption of a variety of kinds).”

* One night 29 companions of Hadhrat Ahmad Bin Aasim (Rahmatullah alayh) were with him. A little bread was available. He broke it into small pieces and placed it in front of the companions. Then he extinguished the lantern. It was pitch dark. After a while when he lit the lamp all the bread had been left. No one had ate anything. Each one had sacrificed for the next one.