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On the Way to Alexandria

Tonight's post Latifiya dars really convinced me to get my hands on a copy of Duratul Asrar of Ibn Sabbagh. I can't promise I'll take it with me to the sessions but my house can always use a bit more light. This week Sidna picked up from the point where Imam Abul Hasan set off for Alexandria.

It happened that the noted arif, Shaykh Abu Ali and his disciples were accompanying Shaykh Abul Hassan. When they reached Tripoli Shaykh Abul Hassan determined that they should take the middle route between the coast and the mountains to Alexandria while Shaykh Abu Ali differed and took the coastal route. Sidna noted here that our conviction when the awliya differ is that Allah alone is the Mighty King and with Him alone is Umm al Kitab. Allah does what He, Most High pleases and can through kashf reveal one thing to a wali and another to another of the merely permitted matters. This is so because of the matters inscribed in the tablets other than Umm al Kitab He, Most High keeps some of it and effaces some.

So the two walis traveled on. On the way Shaykh Abu Ali saw the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) in a dream. And he (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said to him after witnessing that both he and Shaykh Abul Hassan are walis of Allah, Most High that Allah has not made a way for one wali against another. Sidna explained that the purity of the hearts of the awliya naturally excludes envy of one another and jealousy, and their differences do not entail corruption of any sort. The two parties continued till they met again on the outskirts of Alexandria. There Shaykh Abu Ali with some of his disciples entered the hut of Shaykh Abul Hassan.

In the hut a disciple of Shaykh Abu Ali (who was narrating the entire event) reported that they spoke of matters that he understood nothing of and he witnessed Shaykh Abu Ali's deference and awe struck propriety towards Shaykh Abul Hassan such that he and the others with him were at a loss concerning his conduct. At length Shaykh Abu Ali took Shaykh Abul Hassan's leave, kissing his hands and weeping. Later Shaykh Abu Ali revealed to his disciples that prior to his meeting with Abul Hassan he had seen the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) again and was informed by him (Allah bless him and grant him peace) that Shaykh Abul Hassan was chosen by Allah to be the Qutb al Zaman and that what they witnessed was nothing short of the propriety due to him (Abul Hassan).

Upon reaching Alexandria Shaykh Abu Ali again weeping and after entreating Allah in earnest remarked to those who came out to greet him and his followers:

Oh people of Egypt if only you knew who was coming to you! You would kiss the hooves of his mount! What is coming your way is barakah itself!

Sidna explained: thus are the awliya: they consign every matter that meets them to Allah and are pleased with His decision. This is tawfidh, a precondition of taqwa and wilaya which negates envy and malice. And regarding all matters past they submit entirely, taslim and focus on the task at hand, dhikr and striving to improve their ma'rifa.

This is what I recall. I intend to revisit this post once I get a copy of the book. Insha Allah.

Tawfiq!  Ya Rab! Wal hamdulillah.

11:23 , 12 05 09

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