The 12th Naqshabandi Principle: Awareness of Places
Bismillahi Rahmani Raheem
Awareness of Place in the Quran:
Indeed, I am your Lord, so remove your sandals. Indeed, you are in the sacred valley of Tuwa. (QURAN 20:12)
This inspiration came to my heart with reminding me of the verse about hz Musa a.s on awareness of place and thus filled the 12th principle of the most distinguished Naqshbandi-Rabbani Sufi Order (Mawlana Shaykh Nazim Al-Haqqani q.s opens the way to be called Rabbani Tariqah), henceforth it will be known “Rabbani Tariqah” in the time of Hz Mahdi (a.s) , no other names and titles.
Awareness of Place in the Hadiths: (Edited Part)
Awareness of places has very significance in the End of Times. It is as if Imams of the Tariqah left the 12th principle for me to fill up and explain to the people of this time.
Today, people do not have multiple awareness of different places. They have same mindset in the toilet, in the streets, in the Masjids and in the holy places. Their heart is not working according to the various places they are entering. They browse internet in the toilets and in the mosques. They can’t put flight mode on or switch off the phone while attending Masjid. The respect for places have lost in the minds of people. They bring all their filth to Mosques though they wash their bodies very well and put nice perfume and make-ups. They bring all dirtiness to the places of Zikr (Zawiyas, Dergahs etc), they plot and create malice against their fellow brothers,
End of Times and Awareness of Places:
…….Then a people whom Allah had protected would come to Jesus, son of Mary, and he would wipe their faces and would inform them of their ranks in Paradise and it would be under such conditions that Allah would reveal to Jesus these words: I have brought forth from amongst My servants such people against whom none would be able to fight; you take these people safely to Tur. And then Allah would send Gog and Magog and they would swarm down from every slope. The first of them would pass the lake of Tiberias and drink out of it. And when the last of them would pass, he would say: There was once water there. Jesus and his companions would then be besieged here (at Tur, and they would be so much hard pressed) that the head of the ox would be dearer to them than one hundred dinars …… (Reference : Sahih Muslim 2937a, 54 The Book of Tribulations and Portents of the Last Hour (20)Chapter: Ad-Dajjal(20)باب ذِكْرِ الدَّجَّالِ وَصِفَتِهِ وَمَا مَعَهُ
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Neither Messiah (Ad-Dajjal) nor plague will enter Medina.”
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ نُعَيْمٍ الْمُجْمِرِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ لاَ يَدْخُلُ الْمَدِينَةَ الْمَسِيحُ وَلاَ الطَّاعُونُ ”.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5731
Narrated Zaid bin Thabit:
“We were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) collecting the Qur’an on pieces of cloth, so the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Tuba is for Ash-Sham.’ So we said: ‘Why is that O Messenger of Allah?’ He said: ‘Because the angels of Ar-Rahman spread their wings over it.'” Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3954
Hudhaifa reported The Messenger of Allah (may peace be npon him) said: We have been made to excel (other) people in three (things): Our rows have been made like the rows of the angels and the whole earth has been made a mosque for us, and its dust has been made a purifier for us in case water is not available. And he mentioned another characteristic too (Sahih Muslim)
(This article might be edited again, as some inspiration descended in my heart after Night prayers)
There are more information to say on Awareness of places, we may explains a bit more in our blogs (Sufismlive.wordpress.com) when my heart expand to those inspirations.
Unedited Part:
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).
1-Hosh Dar Dam (Awareness of breath), 2-Nazar Bar Qadam (Watching the step), 3-Safar dar Watan (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)
The 12th Naqshabandi Principle:
On this day in Ramadan, I, Jouhar Ali Naqshabandi Al-Hassani reveal the 12th Naqshabandi Principle, “Awareness of Places”.
We must be aware of both physical places and spiritual places. By saying Physical place, we must acknowledge, we are not living in paradise , and we don’t claim to make this world In to Paradise. And we don’t act like we are in paradise . We must act like we are living in a prison, and watched by prison officers. Because Nabi a.s says, this world is a prison for the believers and a paradise for the unbelievers (Hadith), and everyone is watched by two Angels who record their deeds in every moment and their every movement (Raqib and Atheed , peace be upon them).
We must be aware of spiritual places and the status of earth with in the Holy Words, and where such status is excluded . As it is said, whole earth is made into a Masjid for believers ,except certain places (e.g. unclean places and roads) and places (sometimes certain situations makes a place to be forbidden/disliked to be) that are forbidden to be. And to be aware of the places where opposite gender spend their time, to know our boundaries, rules and etiquettes in various places, and places that are disliked for us to spend time more than necessary (such as markets and toilets).
So I am inspired to call this principle: “Awareness of Place”. The virtues of a place is originated from a Prophet or Saint (Awliya Allah) who lived/spent time there. Therefore, saying, “awareness of place” is appropriate. Because even in the absence of such a pious person, the virtue of that place remain. Because in spirituality, a person and place is inseparable. Because the virtue of a place is named after the person who lived/stayed in that place (Maqam).
It is truly I. I am your Lord! So take off your sandals, for you are in the sacred valley of Ṭuwa. (Quran 20:12) , In this verse, Allah Almighty made Musa a.s aware of the place. Allah Almighty did not emphasis “I am your LORD, so remove your sandal”, but the emphasis is given on the place which Allah Almighty chosen to speak to Musa a.s. This is the basis of the 12th Naqshabandi principle. (Edited Paragraph)
We say, this is place where there is a grave of the Prophet, or towel of the Prophet, or turban of Gaws Al Azam or Maqam of a Wali of Allah (Saint). Because people enter into the “Place” before they meet the pious person, object or belongings that is preserved there, buried there, or living there. So the conscious that is going to precede is the place. And the virtues of a place is known by its landmarks, or the most important person lived there, or living there.
We must also be aware of sacred places , such as Masjids, Maqams (Shrines ) of the Prophets and Saints and how to observe best conduct and manners there. Hz Musa a.s was asked to remove his sandals. Because, only his sandals were unclean to enter that place. Because the place where Allah Almighty Addressed him become a sacred place. So he entered there removing his sandals. This is an order for common people to reflect and understand, and when we enter the place of Musa a.s or Maqam of Ibrahim a.s or Roza Sharif of Nabi Muhammad alaihiswalathu wa salam and other prophets and saints, we remove our sandals, that we use elsewhere. This is the protocol for us, for the spiritually enlightened people.
The Mosques have to be honoured and respected. Especially the main prayer hall where the pulpit is set up. And it is inappropriate and unspiritual for Masjids to attach toilets and area of purification to the Masjid building. It should be detached at least, or must be constructed away from Masjid’s main prayer hall. But these days, they follow Western ways when they build masjids, some masjids have toilets built inside of it. This are wrong ways, unspiritual and contrary to the ways of pious generations. You must go and see old Masjids. They built toilets and places of ablution outside of the Masjid. In it’s courtyards and toilet in the far corner of the ablution area. They kept the holiness of masjid in such a way. Today Mosques are built like shopping centres. All in one building in it includes-Masjid, Ablution area, toilets, kitchen etc. Toilets in the top floors as wells. This is not the way of traditional Islam (Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jamah). But masha Allah, everyone is a mufti today, a scholar, a Sufi, or whatever they call.
It is ok to have a closed or open corridor between Masjid and other utility areas. This prevent Masjid being attached to toilets and bathroom.
So when Hz Mahdi (a.s) comes forth, he will re-build or demolish certain masjids, old mosques as we explained here today, will remain as it is. New mosques, they all are going to be rebuilt or demolished. And everyone’s claim to scholarship, spirituality and piety will be exposed on that day!. Therefore, it is obligatory for everyone to listen and obey this words and put it into practice. So that you are safe when those days come.
We must be in good conduct and behaviour in the places where the pious scholars and ahlul bayt lives. Because the Quran and Hadith commands to honour the Pious Scholars and Ahlul Bayt.
So on this day, 17/18th Ramadan, we reveal and establish the 12th Naqshabandi Principle, “Awareness of Place” followed by the 11 Naqshabandi Principle. So that today the Naqshabandi Principles has been perfected to 12 holy principles, and it is a sign for those with spiritual insight to understand our position in the Naqshbandi and Rabbani Order. And whatever the LORD of Heavens Wish to Reveal or Manifest, He will reveal it through His Chosen Servants from time to time.
Wa salamun alal Mursaleen
Walhamdulillahi Rabbil aalameen
~ Jouhar Ali Naqshabandi Al-Hassani
Wriiten 19 April 2022, 9 AM GMT, Posted 14:54 GMT
Naqshabandi.org
Sufismlive.wordpress.com
Naqshabandi -Rabbani Way 