The Reality of Tasawwuf, Part 3: Miracles are not the Goal

In our last post, Hazrat Shaykh (rh) explained the reality of Tasawwuf. Thereafter, he related many stories illustrating it. These days, there are many misconceptions surrounding the reality of Tasawwuf due to the distortions made by a few.

Having reached so far, mention was made in the after Asr Majlis about Shah Ilmullah of Rae Bareilly. A story of him was told of how a discussion took place about Hazrat Bayazid Bustami Rahmatullahi Alayh. Hazrat Bayazid was going somewhere when his path was blocked by a river. As he reached it, there suddenly appeared a clear path across. Hazrat Khawaja Saheb said: "This is a test from Allah!" Then he made dua asking Allah to return the river to its former state and he will turn back, or choose another route. He said: "I am afraid of this test."

The narrator said: "If this saint among saints had such fear at the appearance of karaamat, and was so fearful of Allah's power, then how much more should not other lesser saints fear? It is the duty of every seeker after the truth to beg Allah only to be Allah conscious and to be in His presence and to be involved with His Remembrance."

كل ما شغلك من الله فهو صنمك

"Everything which diverts your attention from Allah is an idol to you."

On having mentioned the above story I recall an incident about my teacher, mentor and guide Maulana Khalil Ahmad Saheb (rh). With my elders there was never any special attention given to the working of miracles or the bringing about of miraculous deeds. On the contrary, they always tried to stop such happenings.

I had a very close friend who is slightly older than me and had studied under my father in Gangoh as one of my father's most diligent students. They were a sizable group of between twenty and twenty five boys in Arabic studies. Those in Persian and Quran studies were over one hundred. When in 1328 Hijri he decided to take up permanent residence in Mazahirul Uloom, Saharanpur, they all came here with him and completed their studies in Mazahir. After completing their courses they became mureeds through bay'at of my late Shaykh for their inner spiritual training and cleansing.

Among them was Maulana Abdur Rahman Saheb who became the Imam of a masjid at Kasoli near Shimla. From there he wrote to Hazrat telling of his well-developed spiritual condition. because I used to write Hazrat's letters I became quite aware of the spiritual progress and conditions of friends. May Allah grant Maulana Abdur Rahman a high place in the hereafter. In one long letter he explained to Hazrat about many miraculous happenings in which he was involved as well as many visions and revealings. As I read the letter to Hazrat, he became very happy and pleased saying that this young man has reached up to thhe fourth heaven.

My surprise was tremendous when in reply Hazrat made me write to him: "Apart from the compulsory prayers and the sunnats attached to them, suspend all nafl prayers, zikrs and wirds." I was completely dumbstruck at this reply.

Similar incidents happened to all our elders. When my late uncle used to write to Hazrat Saheb about such revelations and miraculous happenings concerning himself, Hazrat wrote to him in similar vein, instead of giving further encouragement: One should not pay attention to such things as these things can be an interference to spiritual progress.

Aap Beti, Page 65