Bismillahi Rahmani Raheem
Allahumma Swalli Alaa Sayyidina Muhammadin Wa alaa Aali Sayyidina Muhammadin Wa Sallim
Madad Ya Al Haqqani Madad Ya Sahibu Saif, Madad Ya Ambiya Wa Awliya Allah
There are eight Naqshbandi Principles formulated by the Imam of the Khwajagan (early Naqshabndi Silsila) order , Hazret Shaykh Abdul Khaliq Ghujdavani (Q.S) and three other principles formulated by the Imam of the Tariqah Khwajah Muhammad Baha’uddin Naqshbandi Al-Uwaisi Al-Bukhari (Q.S).
They are:
1-Hosh Dar Dam (Awareness of breath), 2-Nazar Bar Qadam (Watching the step), 3-Safar dar Watan (Inward Journey in the Spiritual Path) , 4-Khalwat Dar Anjuman (Solitude in the Society) , 5-Yad Kard (Reminding outwardly and inwardly of God’s Name), 6-Baz Gasht (return to the responsibilities of a person according to Shari’ah after performing pure Zikr), 7-Concentration on God (Yaddasht), 8-Nigadasht (Guarding one’s spiritual state)
Other three Principles taught by Khwajah Shah Baha’uddin Naqshbandi (Q.S) as an additional three methods of training the students were:
9-Awareness of time (Wuquf E Zamani), 10-Counting the Zikr repetitions (Wuquf e Adadi), 11-Constant Attachment of Heart to God (Wuquf E Qalbi)
In this article I am inspired to write about: “Guarding One’s Spiritual State”or Nigahdasht
Guarding One’s Spiritual State (Nigahdasht):
It is one of the most difficult part of the seeker. The seeker must be a watchful soldier against his ego. The ego never dies until the soul depart from the body, but it can be controlled, guided and guarded. Be a guardian of your ego. Be watchful the notion of your ego and motion of your desires.
LOVE AND SINCERITY TO THE SHAYKH:
In our Path (Tariqa Naqshabndiyya),arriving at the degree of perfection is related to a loving bond (Rabita) with the exemplary Shaykh . The Sincere disciple is, through his love of the Shaykh, receives divine energy (Fayd) from the inner being (Batin) of the Shaykh and becomes colored with the color of the Shaykh, by having an essential connection to the Shaykh or annihilation in the Shaykh (Fana fi Shaykh), the beginning of true annihilation in God (Fana Filla). Anyone doing Zikr without bonding his heart with the Master and without achieving annihilation in the Shaykh will not reach”-Khwajah Muhammad Ma’sum , in Maktubat
It is said On the authority of Tameem ibn Aus ad-Daree (ra):
God Almighty teach us through his beloved Prophet alaihiswalathu wa salam. Iblees could not guard his spiritual rank, so he become Satan.
When Shaykh Muhyiddin Abdul Qadir Jilani (Q.S) was walking, Satan try to fool him, and he defeated Satan. Satan replied: “I have caused many Saints to lose their Sainthood”
Ego and Satan working 24 hours in partnership to destroy one’s status in the divine presence. But the Mercy of the Lord Forbearing and forgiving us. Ego can be made as a servant to our Soul thus making it as a servant to Allah.
So many people including big Shaykhs in Tariqat loosing their spiritual ranks. they have been brought down from their seats,, because of their ego sometimes fooling them when they take friendship with wealthy and rulers, and attack the pious ascetics.
So without a heavenly support, it is hard to guard one’s Faith (Imaan) and his spiritual progress. A Seeker must be well mannered and keep highest standard of morals and discipline to keep his spiritual state safe. If you have a guaranteed heavenly support, then Allah Almighty will send those who will guard you from all sides and with in yourself.
A person can learn All verses in Quran with it’s exegesis (tafseer), all recorded Hadiths (traditions of Prophet Muhammad alaihiswalathu wa salam) ,by heart four Schools of Law (Madhab) , yet he can die the death of Jahiliya (pre-Islamic death), if he do not know how to guard the Sanctity of the Quran that is in his heart, the sanctity of the hadith that he recorded in his heart, and the respect for the Law of Allah that he studied and imprinted in his heart.
This is why following a Shaykh of Tariqah (Tasawwuf/Science of Purification) is very important and having a heavenly support is necessary to become an Imam/leader. Without heavenly support, how can you be an Imam/leader? Your certification must come from an eternal authority. Not from a commercial institution!
So we can see that guarding one’s spiritual progress require spiritual support, morals and manners.
It is said in Sahih Bukhari: Book 89
Narrated ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar: Allah’s Apostle (alaihiswalathu wa salam) said, “Surely! Everyone of you is a guardian and is responsible for his charges: The Imam (ruler) of the people is a guardian and is responsible for his subjects; a man is the guardian of his family (household) and is responsible for his subjects; a woman is the guardian of her husband’s home and of his children and is responsible for them; and the slave of a man is a guardian of his master’s property and is responsible for it. Surely, everyone of you is a guardian and responsible for his charges.”
If you are the Servant of Allah and His Messenger (alaihiswalathu wa salam), then you are responsible for guarding the properties of Islam according to your charge. That is to keep the honor of Allah and His Messenger (alaihiswalathu wa salam) in your life, and keep the honor of Quran and Sunnah in your life style.
We ask Allah’s Forgiveness and Guidance and We are repenting to Him for the wrong deeds we have committed. So you must be responsible with the knowledge and guidance you received. When you drop it, that time you put your spiritual progress in decline!
Recently I read, someone writing in facebook: “I need a break from Islam, i feel heavy and bored, can I still love and worship Allah without associating with Muslims”?
This kind of understanding is coming from misguidance and error. You were not with the Islam that Allah says in the Quran and Sunnah, that is taught to us by the Prophet alaihiswalathu wa salam.
Lying, back biting, gossiping, jealousy,greed, materialistic life style,,lust, arrogance, stubbornness, heedlessness, ignorance,insanity, lack of sincerity, lack of morals and manner etc will bring one’s spiritual progress to decline.
Prophet alaihiswalathu wa salam said: “The best of you is one who has the best manners”
In another place it is said: “The best of you is the one who learn Quran and teach it”
So the best one will be the one with knowledge of Quran , and practicing according to it and have good manners and then teach it.
Allah says: 61:2-3 O you who have believed, why do you say what you do not do? Great is hatred in the sight of Allah that you say what you do not do.
So a best one cannot be someone who do not practice what he learned but teach it to others! A best one cannot speak things that is hated by Allah!
As a seeker in the Naqshbandi Sufi Way, the Jihad (Struggle) of a Seeker must be guarding his own Soul from his vein desires corrupting it!
We shall not have much business in this world, it is a short time stop of a traveler.
Guarding one’s spiritual state also require stand firm in the Law of Allah (Shari’ah) and Protecting one’s heart from evil things.
Allah says in Quran chapter 113Say, “I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak,From the evil of that which He created,And from the evil of darkness when it settles,And from the evil of the blowers in knots, And from the evil of an envier when he envies.”
Quran 114: From the evil of the retreating whisperer –Who whispers [evil] into the breasts of mankind -From among the jinn and mankind.”
The innovators who say there is no Spiritual Knowledge and Spiritual experiences , they did not understand nothing from Islam.
On the authority of an-Nu’man ibn Basheer (ra), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say, “That which is lawful is clear and that which is unlawful is clear, and between the two of them are doubtful matters about which many people do not know. Thus he who avoids doubtful matters clears himself in regard to his religion and his honor, but he who falls into doubtful matters [eventually] falls into that which is unlawful, like the shepherd who pastures around a sanctuary, all but grazing therein. Truly every king has a sanctuary, and truly Allah’s sanctuary is His prohibitions. Truly in the body there is a morsel of flesh, which, if it be whole, all the body is whole, and which, if it is diseased, all of [the body] is diseased. Truly, it is the heart.” [Bukhari & Muslim]
So we see that following the Law of Allah is necessary to guard one’s spiritual progress
The Shaykhs of the Naqshbandi Way is concentrating in transforming the hearts of a believer as a Sanctuary for Allah. That his heart may be given training to make it a place where Allah is often remembered and worshiped. A heart that constantly remember Allah. That is the work of a Naqshbandi Shaykh which he trains his murid to become on to.
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:
I would advise every seeker to study 40 Hadiths Book of Imam Nawawi (R.A) for it is the foundation of the Tariqah
Walhamdulillahi Rabbil Aalameen
~~~Jouhar Ali Naqshbandi Al-Hassani Ar-Rabbani
Naqshabandi -Rabbani Way 