[Adimondin]

Tassawuf As Explained By Abulhasan Ali Nadwi Rahimahullaah

MAULANA ABUL HASAN ALI NADWI’S EXPLANATION

He writes, “There are two very difficult unavoidable stages encountered in all doctrines, be they ethics, education and training, reformation or the sciences. The one stage where the means become the object, and the other where technical terms obscure realities. Both the means and the technical terms are imperative and absolutely inborn and natural, without which the propagation and expansion, teaching and explanation of these high objects is practically impossible. However, be they the means or technical terms, for the purpose of achieving the aims and realities, their function is that of attendants and assistants. They are adopted temporarily for the completion of a necessity.
At times they are over emphasized and deemed to be the objects and realities themselves
. When an expert in any skill deems it necessary, he gives instruction to do without, or
completely drop both the means and technical terms. Here the expert governs the means
and technical terms instead of being controlled by them. He simultaneously considers that
it does not exceed the limits and so becomes detrimental insteadA of beneficial, and instead of conveying him to his goal, it becomes an obstacle.
A historical fact which has to be acknowledged is that time and again this misfortune befal
ls lofty ideals; where means become the object and technical terms obscure realities with
a thick veil. Not only were they obscured but moreover the bitter experiments and grave errors of the flag bearers of these technical terms gave rise to such grievous misunderstdngs that a great number of true and upright people have learnt to dread and dislike these aims and realities. It has now become a very difficult task to make them recognize an
value these realities and make an effort to attain these goals.
If a discourse to denote the importance of acquiring these aims is delivered, or an effort to satisfy them iOs made, then they are confronted with the enormous mountain of ‘means’, about which the immature and unauthorized reformers exaggerated and also unnecessry compelled them to do. These reformers themselves became so confused that the actual
aim was totally forgotten and disregarded.
Similarly, when the call for these self evident and undisputed realities was made it was obscured by technical terms. These technical words could also be interpreted differently. Generally, because of the span of time, technical terms had to be formed to explain such realities and to draw people towards understanding them. This was done for particular reasons, because of the demand of the social structure and special situations that prevailed.
The forerunners of these realities, whose lives were a true reflection of these facts, were u
nacquainted with these technical terms.
They used different words, expressions and ways to explain these realities. If a study is m
ade of the history of any science from etymology, syntax, rules, dialect, rhetorics (Balaaghat) to realities, recognition, spiritual reformation, it will be found when a comparison is made that the earlier ones were in full control of the means, whereas the latter ones were
, in contrast, controlled by the means.
The authorized experts were propagators and inviters while the novices were captives of t
heir mentors and technical terms. This became an agonising factor in the path of the exalted aims of religion, ethics, skills and sciences. Students throughout the ages were always confronted by this difficult test.
The matter of tasawwuf is very similar. As far as the aims and objects are concerned they
are self evident and unanimously accepted. Tasawwuf has been adversely affected by the following two factors. The means were exaggerated and the technical terms were over emphasized and insisted on.
If a person is questioned, “Are loyalty and ethics important or not ?”. “Is it necessary to
develop a firm belief or not ?”. “Is it commendable to be adorned with virtues and be
from vice, such as jealousy, kib’r ( to degrade another arrogantly ), to show off, bear mal
ice and hatred, love for wealth and honour or not ?”. “Is it desirable to liberate the low nafs from these evil tendencies ?”. “Humility and humbleness in salaat, the state of modest
y and entreatment whilst weeping in duaa, the habit of taking stock of ones so
ul, above all the love for Allah and His Rasul S.A.W., achievment of a feeling of satisfactin and sweetness or at least to be eager and punctual to attain it, clean dealings, truth ad trust, having regard for the rights of humanity, control over ones self, especially in times of anger, are all these desirable or not ?”. Then every sane person, especially the Muslim w
ho is not blindfolded by prejudice, will definately give this answer: “That these are not only virtuous but also necessary according to the shariat, and these are the exhortations of
the entire Qur’aan and volumes of hadith.
If it is said, “The method of acquiring these qualities is what the latter generations named
tasawwuf”. They react with a frown because they dread this term. Others would disapprove because of their bitter experiences with the forerunners and false claimants. They would
recall unpleasant incidents and observations that they encountered with them.
This is not the case with tasawwuf only. It is the problem with all other skills and reforma
tions, where there will be found amongst their propagators, administrators, missionaries and claimants those who are genuine and the false, the authorized and unauthorized, the mature and immature, and even the faithful and the faithless. Inspite of both these opposing types any just person will not deny the necessity of the profession nor object to it.
In worldly professions too, whether it is bussiness, agriculture, industry or craftmanship, b
oth types are present, the expert and the novice, the guide and the deceiver. Yet, the affairs of the world and religion go on as such. One must attend to ones own affairs and neit
her deprive himself of this treasure because of inexperienced claimants, nor cast aside the actual reality because of disagreement with any technical term. A poet has appropriately
said,
“Wisemen do not get involved with words,
Is the divers interest in the shells
or the pearls ?”.
There are two groups who are opposed to tasawwuf. The one comprises those who accept its constituents separately, but deny it if it is referred to as a whole. The majority of the people applaud the aforementioned aim and qualities separately, but if it be said to them that, “Some people have for some reasons given all these qualities a common name then t
heir colours change instantly and they say, ‘We don’t believe in tasawwuf, it has caused
great harm’.”
The other group are those to whom it is acceptable if it is proposed under a different nam
e. For example if it is said, “The Qur’aan Majecd has termed it ‘tazkiyah’ (purger). The hadith names it ‘ihsaan’. The latter jurists termed it ‘fiqh-ebaatin’ (spiritual jurisprudence)”. Th
ey would then reply that there is no reason for contradiction and all these are declarations of Allah and His Rasul S.A.W.
Verily, neither can alterations be made to all the books written, nor can the tongues of m
en be withheld. Otherwise, if we were given the option, we should have referred to it by the words ‘tazkiyah’ and ‘ihsaan’ and not use the word ‘tasawwuf’. Now this is the popular
name. This designation is not exclusive to this science only.
The history of the arts and sciences is full of such common technical terms. Authorities on
sciences have all along laid stress on the aims and kept the means within their limits. With great courage and strong wills have they not only refuted that which was foreign to its
soul, essence and real goal but they have also refuted that which proved harmful and unrelevent.
There is no such period in the history of Islam in which the experts, tutors and propagator
s of this subject did not differentiate between its body and soul, reality and form, aims an
d customs. All of them, from the peer of all peers, Shaikh Abdul Qaadir Jilaani R.A. and Shaikh Shahaabuddin Suharwardi R.A. upto Mujaddid Alfe Thaani R.A., Hadhrat Shah Waliullah Dehlawi R.A., Hadhrat Sayyid Ahmad Shaheed R.A., Hadhrat Maulana Rashid Ahmad G
angohi R.A. and Hakimul Ummat Hadhrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi R.A., all have emphatically made a clear distinction between the kernel and shell, the correct object and incorre
ct interpretation. They have vehemently rejected all those customs and ways which were introduced into and regarded as part of tasawwuf and tariqat by association with non-Muslims and immature sufis who were unaware.
This subject is found in many places in the following kitaabs, ‘Futuhul Ghaib’ and ‘Ghuniya
tut Taalibeen’ by Hadhrat Shaikh Abdul Qaadir Jilaani R.A., ‘Awaariful Ma’aarif’ by Hadhrat Shaikh Shahaabuddin Suharwardi R.A., ‘Maktoobaate Imaame Rabbaani’ by Hadhrat Mujaddid Saheb R.A., the works of Hadhrat Shah Waliullah Saheb R.A., ‘Siraate Mustaqeem’ by Hadhrat Sayyid Ahmad Shaheed R.A., the letter written by Hadhrat Gangohi R.A., ‘Tarbiy
atus Saalik’ and ‘Qasdus Sabeel’ by Hadhrat Maulana Thanvi R.A. They have separated the true from the false showing absolute impartiality.
Hadhrat Shah Waliullah Saheb R.A. has written thus far, “The spiritual connection of the s
ufis is a great blessing and an alchemy, but their customs (those for which there is no proof in the shariat) are worthless.
Likewise all these men, without exception, have earnestly stressed on the importance of
proper ethics, transactions and civil rights and stipulated this as a condition of reformation and approach (to Allah). Their writings elaborate extensively on this topic and their congregations always consisted of advice and propagation in this respect.
We were blessed to stay in the company of the saints of our times. Just on seeing them
were we convinced, and believed in tasawwuf. We did not only find ‘tasawwuf’ and ‘tariqat’ in them, but also the essence of ‘deen’ and ‘shariat’. Their characters were a reflection of the character of Rasulullah S.A.W. Their lives, actions and dealings were weighed and moulded according to the shariat. We noticed that they always separated the aims from the means, laid stress on realities by staying away from and disregarding technical terms.
They did not attach any importance to customs and were staunch opposers and denouncers of innovations. Their obedience to the sunnat was not only confined to devotions but it also enveloped their habits and dealings as well. They were not followers of this science, but were in fact true reformers. With their divine insight and lengthy experience they accomplished their task, sometimes with brevity and selection and at other times with omissions and amendments.
Treatment and advice were dispensed to suit each ones individual nature. In the remedy and diet full consideration was given to conditions, occupations and temperaments.
Their status in this field is similar to that of a discoverer of medicine or an inventor of a s
kill. They were masters and not slaves of their profession. Their actual concern was the health and benefit of the (spiritually) sick and not to tread the beaten track (i.e. to be a slave of old customs and rites.Their concept of the actual purpose of tasawwuf is the sincerity of desiring Allah’s pleasure, be it reformation of character, honest dealings, development of a moderate nature, self control, giving preference to others, submission, recitations, strivings, staying in the company of a shaikh and even bai’at. If these are not achieved then all this effort is synonymous to a person who works all day long trying to move a mountain with a piece of straw.
Poem:
Khawaja Saheb thinks he has attained spiritual heights,
This conclusion of Khawaja is mere wishful thinking





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[ClorrerVeks]

mashallah great stuff. Hazrat syed abul hasan ali nadwi rh drank from many fountains. It started with hazrat lahori rh and ended with shaykh ahmed prataghraghi and so many names inbetween....

[panholio]

Jazakallah khair for the wonderful post.