Cleanliness

Allah SWT mentions in the Holy Quraan:

“Truly, Allah loves those repent to Him constantly and He loves those who purify themselves.” (2:222)

“Within it (the Masaajid) are men who love to purify themselves. And Allah SWT loves those who make themselves clean and pure.” (9:108)

The Messenger of Allah SAW has said, “Cleanliness is half of faith.” [Muslim]

He SAW also said, “Religion is founded on cleanliness.”

There are two categories of cleanliness; Physical and Spiritual.

Physical cleanliness can be understood from the act of performing Whudu or Ghusl before acts of worship such as Salaat or recitation of the Quraan.

Spiritual cleanliness means that a person strives to be free from the defects of the heart such as ill manners, pride, materialism and hypocrisy to name a few.

Physical cleanliness lays the foundation to achieving the ultimate goal of Islam; cleanliness of the Nafs (inner-self) and ridding oneself of diseases of the heart in order to attain the Pleasure of the Almighty SWT.

If we think of Zakaat (charity) and Sawm (fasting) we see that these by extension are more than mere pillars which need to be fulfilled, they are gateways to the purification of wealth and soul.

Physical cleanliness is of two types; one related to the human body and one related to the surroundings such as one’s home, the Madrassah and public places.

The importance of cleanliness in Islam can be gauged from the fact that Fiqh and Ahadith Kitaabs almost always begin with a chapter on cleanliness.

Personal hygiene:

A person should remember that failure to remain clean harms oneself and others around them. Women especially need to bear in mind the correct method of performing Whudu and Ghusl especially after Haidh (menstruation), intercourse and Nifaas (post childbirth bleeding). It has been mentioned that, “Even in this modern era where knowledge is so widely available, there are women who do not know how to perform Ghusl properly and it is only when they pass away and are given the Ghusl before being wrapped in Kafn (shroud) are they really clean.”

This statement should serve as a reality check for all of us.

Below are some tips on keeping clean and hygienic:

-         Bathe at least twice a week. NEVER let a week pass without bathing.

-         Change clothes regularly. “Keep your clothes clean.” (74:4)

-         Try and remain in the state of Whudu. By doing this, a person ensures that the parts regularly exposed to dust and dirt are kept clean.

-         Make sure that Istinjaa is done properly. Many may find this a trivial point but in the time of the Messenger SAW, a man was punished in his grave simply because he did not take care when urinating.

It was narrated that Ibn Abaas RA said:

The Messenger SAW passed by two graves and said, “They are being punished, but not for something difficult to avoid. One of them used to walk around spreading Nameemah (malicious gossip) and the other did not take care to avoid getting urine on himself.” [Muslim]

-         Cut nails weekly and remove any unwanted hair regularly.

-         Brush teeth twice a day and use a Miswaak throughout the day. The Prophet SAW said, “Had it not been difficult for my Ummah, I would have ordered them to use Miswaak before every Salaat.” [Bukhari]

It has also been mentioned in another Hadith: “Whoever eats from this foul smelling plant (raw onion) should not come near our Masaajid, because the Angels are troubled by what humans are troubled by.” [Bukhari, Muslim]

This by extension not only refers to foul breath but also body odours and smoke.

-         Comb hair daily. Once a man came to the Prophet SAW with his hair dishevelled and the Prophet SAW asked, “Has he no oil with which to tidy his hair?”

-         Cover mouth/nose when sneezing

The Prophet SAW advised the Muslims to appear clean and tidy in private and in public. Once when returning home from battle, He SAW advised his army, “You are soon going to meet your brothers, so tidy your saddles and clothes. Be distinguished in the eyes of the people.” [Abu Dawood]

Environmental hygiene:

Islam instructs Muslims to maintain the cleanliness of roads and streets. Ridding the streets of impurities and filth is considered to be an act of charity.

“Removing any harm from the road is charity (that will be rewarded by Allah).” [Bukhari]

The Prophet SAW said, “Beware of three acts that cause others to curse you; reliveing yourself in a place where there is stagnant water, on foot paths and in shaded places.” [Abu Dawood]

This also includes throwing litter in such places.

Even by removing a piece of rubbish the size of a matchstick you will a lot of reward as long as a person’s intention is correct. Especially whilst in Madrassah, we are guests of the Prophet SAW, think of how much reward such a small act can gain.

Hadhrat Abu Hurairah RA reported: A black woman used to clean the Masjid of the Messenger SAW. The Prophet SAW sensed her absence and asked about her, He SAW was told that she had passed away. He SAW then said, “Why did you not inform me?”

Then He SAW said, “Show me her grave.”

When it was shown to Him, He SAW offered Jazaazah (funeral) prayers over it and said, “These graves cover those in them with darkness, and Allah illuminates them for the inmates as a result of my supplication for them.” [Bukhari, Muslim]

This woman’s status was so high in the eyes of Allah, that the Prophet SAW prayed Janaazah Salaat over her grave. And to us, this woman would have been seemed like a nobody!

Even the Sahaabah RA used to clean up for others. When Hadhrat Abu Bakr RA was the Khalifah, he used to take time out every day to visit an old blind woman living on the outskirts of Madinah. He used to cook for her, clean her house and wash her clothes.

There is an incident regarding Maulana Hussain Ahmad Madni RH, he was once travelling on a train and there was a Brahman Hindu in the same compartment as his. The Brahman needed to use the toilet but returned quickly as the toilet was filthy. Maulana saw this and went himself and cleaned up the toilet. Upon returning, he informed the Brahman that the toilet was now fit for use but did not admit that it was he who cleaned the toilet. Such was his humility!

Such was the Akhlaaq (character) of our elders, compare this with our character!

Such acts are the best way to rid a person of pride and inculcate humility within a person.

In view of the significance of cleanliness in Islam, Muslims should have the highest standard of cleanliness and personal hygiene of all people, but it is highly regrettable that dirt has become the identity of Muslim homes and localities. The majority Muslim areas are marked with unhygienic conditions not to mention the highest incidence of rat infestation!

Let it not be that due to our laziness we incur the wrath of Allah SWT. 

The Importance of Durood

Through the medium of the Quraan, Allah SWT has instructed us to carry out various acts of worship, for example, Establish Salaat, Pay Zakaat or to fast in the month of Ramadhan.

Even though Allah SWT has commanded us to do these, never has it been mentioned that He prays or that He fasts or that He gives Zakaat.

However there is one commandment that is unique, one in which Allah SWT Himself affirms His own participation: 

Indeed Allah and His Angels send blessings onto the Messenger SAW.

Oh you who believe, confer your blessings also and (ask Allah to) grant Him peace.

(33:56)

The fact that Allah Himself participates in the act of sending Durood upon the Messenger SAW highlights the importance of this act.

There are many Ahadith which mention the Prophet SAW’s request to send Blessings upon Him and how we should confer Salaat which will Allah willing, be mentioned below.

 In Imam Bukhari RH’s Tafseer of the abovementioned Ayah, he records that Ka’ab bin Ujrah RA said, “It was asked of the Messenger SAW of how Salaah should be sent upon Him as the Sahaabah RA knew the method of sending Salaam.” Prophet SAW replied,

“Say, Oh Allah SWT, send your Salaah upon Muhammad SAW and upon the family of Muhammad SAW, as You send Your Salaah upon the family of Ibrahim AS, verily You are the Most Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.

Oh Allah SWT send your Blessings upon Muhammad SAW and upon the family of Muhammad SAW, as You send Your Blessings upon the family of Ibrahim AS, verily You are the Most Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.”

In another Hadith, this has been explained in further detail;

When this Ayah was revealed, the Sahaabah RA said, “Oh Messenger SAW, we now come to know of the manner of reciting Salaam upon You as we recite in Tahiyyaat:

            السلام عليك أيها النبي و رحمت الله و بركاته

‘Peace be upon You, Oh Messenger SAW and the Mercy of Allah and His Blessings.’

“Please show us how to recite Salaah upon You.”

The Prophet SAW then recited Durood Ibrahim AS.

It has been mentioned by Abul ‘Aliyah RA in a narration that “Salaah refers to praise of the Prophet SAW in front of the Angels by Allah SWT and the Salaat of the Angels is their supplication for Him.” [Bukhari]

Imam Tirmidhi RH said, “This (the above) has been narrated from Sufyaan Thawri RH and other scholars who have said, “The Salaah of the Lord is Mercy and the Salaah of the Angels is their seeking forgiveness.””

In another narration it has been mentioned that “Salaah is the honouring of the Messenger SAW with kindness and affection by Allah SWT.” [Fadhail Salaat ala Nabi SWT – Sh.Zakarriyah RH]

Hadhrat Ibn Abaas RA in his Tafseer (commentary) of the above Ayah states that “Salaah means to pray for blessings.” The Angels sending Dua can also be referred to as “their Dua in favour of the Prophet SAW for a higher rank.” [Ruh ul Bayaan]

It has also been mentioned in Ruh ul Bayaan that one interpretation of Salaah is “Following in His SAW’s footsteps and expressing love for Him”.

‘Allamah Sakhaawi RH has narrared on the authority of Amr bin Rabi’ RH that the Messenger of Allah SAW said, “Whosoever confers Salaah upon me once, Allah SWT confers ten mercies upon him. It is at your discretion to confer as little or as much as you wish.” [Fadhail Salaat ala Nabi SWT – Sh.Zakarriyah RH]

This concludes a basic outline of this great and unique instruction of the Quraan, to send Salawaat and Durood upon our Beloved Messenger SAW.

The above can be summarised through the understanding of the following:

-         The Ayah is a unique commandment due to the fact that Allah SWT Himself participates in Durood

-         The Angels participate in this virtuous act

-         The Believers have been honoured with the ability to join Allah and the Angels to confer their own Durood

-         For one Durood recited, the recite gets ten mercies conferred upon him by Allah SWT

IMAM GHAZALI ON HUMILITY

Your belief that you are better than others is sheer ignorance. Rather you ought not to look at anyone without considering that he is better than you and superior to you.

Thus, if you see a child, you say, ‘This person has never sinned against God, but I have sinned, and so he is better than I.’
And if you see an older person, you say, ‘This man was a servant of God before me, and is certainly better than I.’
If he is a scholar, you say, ‘This man has been given what I have not been given and reached what I did not reach, and knows what I am ignorant of; then how shall I be like him?’
And if he is ignorant, you say, ‘This man has sinned against God in ignorance, and I have sinned against Him knowingly, so God’s case against me is stronger, and I do not know what end He will give to me and what end to him.’
If he is an infidel, you say, ‘I do not know; perhaps he will become a Muslim and his life will end in doing good, and because of his acceptance of Islam something of his sins will be taken away, as a hair is taken from dough; but as for me – God is our refuge (God grant it does not happen) – perhaps God will lead me astray so that I become an infidel and my life ends in doing evil, and then tomorrow he will be among those brought near to God and I shall be among the punished.’

Arrogance will not leave your heart except when you know that the great man is he who is great in the sight of God Most High. That is something which cannot be known until the end of life, and there is doubt about that (the end and whether it will be good or bad).
So let fear of the end occupy you and keep you from making yourself out, despite the doubt about your end, to be above the servants of God Most High. Your certitude and faith at present do not exclude the possibility of your changing in the future; for God is the Disposer of hearts; He guides whom He will and leads astray whom He will.

Extract from Imam Ghazali’s Bidayat al-Hidaya or ‘The Beginning of Guidance’

Credit goes to original poster: https://faithrehearsed.wordpress.com/2014/08/14/imam-ghazali-on-humility/

Explore the Life of the Sahaabah

What Should I Do?

Sahaabah Exhibition

99 Names of Allah

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 

'To God belongs 99 names, 100 minus 1, anyone who memorises them will enter Paradise; He (God) is odd (odd number, he is the Only One), and He loves odd numbers (such as 99)' [Sahih Muslim]

The first man Adam (AS) was taught the names of everything. 

"Teaching names means making man conscious of the essence of these things. This consciousnes implies full knowledge. Full knowledge is impossible without the essence becoming part and parcle of the being. 

By studying the manes of Allah, a person with (insha'Allah) understand Allah and the essence of things.

ALLAH - This is the greatest name and it is the sign of the cause of all existence. Allah is only Allah’s name and no one can share it. Whoever reads الله 1,000 times daily, all doubt will be removed from his heart and determination and faith will replace it all.

These 99 names are those names by which Muslims regard as Allah. The Quran and hadeeth have mentioned these names. There is one narration by Abdullah ibn Mas’ud in which he states that some names have been hidden from mankind. [Taymiyyah]. This shows that other than the 99 names, there may be other names of Allah.

According to Islamic tradition, a Muslim may not be given any of the 99 names of God in exactly the same form. For example, nobody may be named al-Malik (The King), but may be named Malik (King). This is because of the belief that God is almighty, and no human being is the equivalent of God, and no human being will ever be the equivalent of God. Muslims are allowed to use the 99 names of God for themselves but should not put 'Al' at the front of them.

However the names of God can be combined with the word "‘Abd-" which means "servant/Worshiper" (of God) and are commonly used as personal names among Muslims. For example ‘Abd ar-Raḥmān ("Servant of the Most Compassionate/the Beneficent").

Tips on how to memorise Asmaa’ ul Husnaa

Always have the correct intention and don’t think this as a burden!

Repeat the names you learn continuously everywhere (except when in the toilet)

Go home and make your family members memorise the names you learnt

Challenge your friends by testing them at random times!

Allah accept our efforts and make memorising his names easy for all of us. Ameen.

Ar-Rahmaan (The Compassionate) - Only he is the one who can provide mercy and good for his creations. If this name is recited 100 times daily after each Salaah, hard-heartedness and negligence will be removed from your heart. Insha’ Allah

Al – Gafoor (The Forgiver and Hider of faults) – He who has a headache, fever and despondent, and continuously repeats this name will be relieved of his ailment and will have Allah’s forgiveness.

Al – Hafeez (The Preserver) - He who repeats this name frequently and keeps it with him will be protected against calamities.

Al – Khaaliq (The Creator) – Whomsoever repeats this name 100 times for seven days without break, Allah will create an angel whose duty will be to act righteously for this person until the day of Judgement.

"What Is Happiness?"

Hafsa (RA) Mother of the Faithful

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

She is the daughter of 'Umar ibn al-Khatab RA. In Arabic language, Hafs is one of the names of the lion. The Messenger of Allah SAW, would often address Umar RA as Abu Hafs.

There is a story for behind her entering the household of Prophethood as a wife of the Messenger of Allah (SAW).

She was married to a man known as Hisn ibn Hudafah who witnessed the Battle of Badr and then fell ill at Madeenah and passed away. Hafsa (RA) then became a widow. It had been part of Arab culture, either in the age of ignorance or after the emergence of Islam, that a man makes efforts to marry off his daughter, sister or any woman in his guardianship without any inconvenience - to someone he believed was good and suitable. This is because; her continuous stay in his house as an unmarried girl or a widow was regarded a great shame.

So when Hafsa (RA) became a widow, it pained Umar and he was distressed. He went out one day heading for the house of the nearest person to him who was Abu Bakr as Siddeeq RA. He informed him of what is in his mind and offered him Hafsa RA in marriage. Abu Bakr kept silent and did not utter a word. Umar left his house greatly distressed and embittered.

Then Uthman RA came to his mind. Since his wife, Ruqayyah, the Prophet's daughter had passed away; he was in a better position to respond favourably to his offer. So he made for his house, Mother of the Faithful for his house and offered him his daughter in marriage. But Uthman RA told him, "I do not want to marry today."

Who was she that can replace Ruqayyah in Uthman's house after both of them have enjoyed the life with each other for many years? And 'Uthman was in a psychological state that could not allow him to propose marriage or to marry. Umar RA’s distress increased.

The Messenger of Allah SAW then saw him in that condition. He SAW asked him about what ws troubling him and Umar RA told him of his encounter with Abu Bakr and Uthman. Bitterness and rage against them could be noticed in his speech and the way he talked. The Messenger of Allah SAW calmed him down and then said, "Hafsa RA shall marry someone who is better than Uthman RA and Uthman RA shall marry someone who is better than Hafsa RA."

Umar stood up, somewhat calmed, but he was still scratching his head over the meaning of the Prophet's statement. When Abu Bakr RA met him, he approached him and they talked with each other. Umar RA informed him of what he heard from the Messenger of Allah SAW and he told Abu Bakr that he could not understand the statement.

Abu Bakr smiled and said, "I have heard the Messenger of Allah SAW mentioning Hafsa. But I would not like to reveal his secret. If he had not shown his interest in marrying her I would have married her. So do not bear any grudge against me."

Uthman came to the Messenger of Allah SAW in his softness, bashfulness and sorrow. He was tearful and gloomy. He said, "My marriage relationship with you has come to an end with the death of Ruqayyah, Oh Messenger of Allah!"

The noble Messenger SAW sympathised with him and then said, "I have given you her sister, Umm Kulthoom, in marriage. If I had had ten daughters, I would have given them to you in marriage (one after the other)."

That is how the Messenger of Allah SAW married Hafsa RA and Uthman married Umm Kulthoom. And that is how Hafsa enter the household of the Prophet SAWas one of the mothers of the faithful.

Hafsa RA was a devoted worshipper, very pious, always fasting and praying in the night. She was the closest to 'A'ishah among the Prophet's wife. It is as if they were two sisters. They were always in agreement and never disagreed.

However, Hafsa had in her nature an aspect of the meaning of her name: She was somewhat stern and tough. Perhaps, she inherited that from her father 'Umar, al-Farooq. This sternness was increased by the death of her first husband, making her easily irritated.

It was this nature of hers that caused the Messenger of Allah (SAW) to divorce her once after which he took her back.

Ibn Sa'd recorded that the Messenger of Allah SAW divorced Hafsa once and then took her back because the Angel Gabriel told him, "Take Hafsa back, for she frequently fasts and prays in the night. And she is your wife in Paradise."

Humayd ibn Anas narrated that, "The Prophet SAW divorced Hafsa and he was thereafter commanded to take her back, and he did so."

'Uqbah ibn 'Amir narrated that the Messenger of Allah divorced Hafsa, 'Umar's daughter. When 'Umar heard this, he strewed sand over his head and said, "Allah will no more care about Umar and his daughter after she has been divorced [by the Prophet (SAW)]." So Angel Gabriel came to the Messenger of Allah the following day and told him, "Allah commands you to take back Hafsa as a way of showing compassion to Umar (her father)."

Abu Salih in his version of the narration said, “Umar entered the place of Hafsah while she was crying and he asked her whether the Messenger of Allah SAW has divorced her. He said to her, 'He had divorced you once and took you back only because of me. If he divorces you again, I will never speak: to you again.'  After that, Hafsa was keen never to annoy the Prophet (SAW) again until he died.

Here, dear reader, we need to point to a new and illuminating aspect of Hafsa’s personality in addition to her other values and qualities.

Angel Gabriel described her for the Prophet SAW that she was frequently performing (voluntary) fasting and night prayers, and that she is one of his wives in Paradise. These are degrees and ranks, as well as practical attributes and spiritual activities.

Another quality you can add to her credit is the fact that she could read and write, a quality that was very rare among womenfolk then, even among men. The new thing that attracts our attention here is that her house was the place in which the revealed verses of Qur'an written on palm branches, slates and other materials were kept.

She was entrusted with the most honourable and the greatest thing. And she deserved that.

This was the case since the time of the Messenger of Allah SAW up to the time of Uthman. When Uthman was compiling the Qur'an and copying it in a single book form, those kept with Hafsa was the primary sources in doing so.

This role played by Hafsa, transcended her life in the house of the Prophet, unto Islam itself. It was full of religiosity, activities, orderliness and a course of action.

We cannot but make a stop, as a means of honouring the mother of the faithful, Hafsa. For, she was the custodian of the Book of Allah. She preserved it in her heart and in her house.

Whenever we open a copy of the Quran to read it, we have to remember the Angel entrusted with the Revelation (Gabriel) and his reverberating sound, the impact the verses had on the heart of the Messenger of Allah SAW and the scribes of the Revelations: 'Ali, Zayd and others. We have to remember Abu Bakr and 'Umar and their compilations of the Qur'an; and Uthman and his resoluteness, trustworthiness and sense of duty; and finally Hafsa and her preservation of the Book.

We have to remember and seek guidance from Allah, the Great in His Majesty.

At the beginning of the year 44 A.H., Hafsa departed from this world and joined the company of the loved ones, Muhammad (SAW) and his Companions.

TAKEN FROM WOMEN AROUND THE MESSENGER (SAW) 

The 40 Rules of Love

Shams of Tabriz's 40 Rules of Love

Rule 1

How we see God is a direct reflection of how we see ourselves. If God brings to mind mostly fear and blame, it means there is too much fear and blame welled inside us. If we see God as full of love and compassion, so are we.

Rule 2

The path to the Truth is a labour of the heart, not of the head. Make your heart your primary guide! Not your mind. Meet, challenge and ultimately prevail over your nafs with your heart. Knowing your ego will lead you to the knowledge of God.

Rule 3

You can study God through everything and everyone in the universe, because God is not confined in a mosque, synagogue or church. But if you are still in need of knowing where exactly His abode is, there is only one place to look for him: in the heart of a true lover.

Rule 4

Intellect and love are made of different materials. Intellect ties people in knots and risks nothing, but love dissolves all tangles and risks everything. Intellect is always cautious and advices, ‘Beware too much ecstasy’, whereas love says, ‘Oh, never mind! Take the plunge!’ Intellect does not easily break down, whereas love can effortlessly reduce itself to rubble. But treasures are hidden among ruins. A broken heart hides treasures.

Rule 5

Most of problems of the world stem from linguistic mistakes and simple misunderstanding. Don’t ever take words at face value. When you step into the zone of love, language, as we know it becomes obsolete. That which cannot be put into words can only be grasped through silence.

Rule 6

Loneliness and solitude are two different things. When you are lonely, it is easy to delude yourself into believing that you are on the right path. Solitude is better for us, as it means being alone without feeling lonely. But eventually it is the best to find a person who will be your mirror. Remember only in another person’s heart can you truly see yourself and the presence of God within you.

Rule 7

Whatever happens in your life, no matter how troubling things might seem, do not enter the neighbourhood of despair. Even when all doors remain closed, God will open up a new path only for you. Be thankful! It is easy to be thankful when all is well. A Sufi is thankful not only for what he has been given but also for all that he has been denied.

Rule 8

Patience does not mean to passively endure. It means to look at the end of a process. What does patience mean? It means to look at the thorn and see the rose, to look at the night and see the dawn. Impatience means to be short-sighted as to not be able to see the outcome. The lovers of God never run out of patience, for they know that time is needed for the crescent moon to become full.

Rule 9

East, west, south, or north makes little difference. No matter what your destination, just be sure to make every journey a journey within. If you travel within, you’ll travel the whole wide world and beyond.

Rule 10

The midwife knows that when there is no pain, the way for the baby cannot be opened and the mother cannot give birth. Likewise, for a new self to be born, hardship is necessary. Just as clay needs to go through intense heat to become strong, Love can only be perfected in pain.

Rule 11

The quest for love changes user. There is no seeker among those who search for love who has not matured on the way. The moment you start looking for love, you start to change within and without.

Rule 12

There are more fake gurus and false teachers in this world than the number of stars in the visible universe. Don’t confuse power-driven, self-centered people with true mentors. A genuine spiritual master will not direct your attention to himself or herself and will not expect absolute obedience or utter admiration from you, but instead will help you to appreciate and admire your inner self. True mentors are as transparent as glass. They let the light of God pass through them.

Rule 13

Try not to resist the changes, which come your way. Instead let life live through you. And do not worry that your life is turning upside down. How do you know that the side you are used to is better than the one to come?

Rule 14

God is busy with the completion of your work, both outwardly and inwardly. He is fully occupied with you. Every human being is a work in progress that is slowly but inexorably moving toward perfection. We are each an unfinished work of art both waiting and striving to be completed. God deals with each of us separately because humanity is fine art of skilled penmanship where every single dot is equally important for the entire picture.

Rule 15

It’s easy to love a perfect God, unblemished and infallible that He is. What is far more difficult is to love fellow human being with all their imperfections and defects. Remember, one can only know what one is capable of loving. There is no wisdom without love. Unless we learn to love God’s creation, we can neither truly love nor truly know God.

Rule 16

Real faith is the one inside. The rest simply washes off. There is only one type of dirt that cannot be cleansed with pure water, and that is the stain of hatred and bigotry contaminating the soul. You can purify your body through abstinence and fasting, but only love will purify your heart.

Rule 17

The whole universe is contained within a single human being-you. Everything that you see around, including the things that you might not be fond of and even the people you despise or abhor, is present within you in varying degrees. Therefore, do not look for Sheitan outside yourself either. The devil is not an extraordinary force that attacks from without. It is an ordinary voice within. If you set to know yourself fully, facing with honesty and hardness.

Rule 18

If you want to change the ways others treat you, you should first change the way you treat yourself, fully and sincerely, there is no way you can be loved. Once you achieve that stage, however, be thankful for every thorn that others might throw at you. It is a sign that you will soon be showered in roses.

Rule 19

Fret not where the road will take you. Instead concentrate on the first step. That is the hardest part and that is what you are responsible for. Once you take that step let everything do what it naturally does and the rest will follow. Don’t go with the flow. Be the flow.

Rule 20

We were all created in His image, and yet we were each created different and unique. No two people are alike. No hearts beat to the same rhythm. If God had wanted everyone to be the same, He would have made it so. Therefore, disrespecting differences and imposing your thoughts on others is an amount to disrespecting God’s holy scheme.

Rule 21

When a true lover of God goes into a tavern, the tavern becomes his chamber of prayer, but when a wine bibber goes into the same chamber, it becomes his tavern. In everything we do, it is our hearts that make the difference, not our outer appearance. Sufis do not judge other people on how they look or who they are. When a Sufi stares at someone, he keeps both eyes closed instead opens a third eye – the eye that sees the inner realm.

Rule 22

Life is a temporary loan and this world is nothing but a sketchy imitation of Reality. Only children would mistake a toy for the real thing. And yet human beings either become infatuated with the toy or disrespectfully break it and throw it aside. In this life stay away from all kinds of extremities, for they will destroy your inner balance. Sufis do not go to extremes. A Sufi always remains mild and moderate.

Rule 23

The human being has a unique place among God’s creation. “I breathed into him of My Spirit,” God says. Each and every one of us without exception is designed to be God’s delegate on earth. Ask yourself, just how often do you behave like a delegate, if you ever do so? Remember, it fells upon each of us to discover the divine spirit inside and live by it.

Rule 24

Hell is in the here and now. So is heaven. Quit worrying about hell or dreaming about heaven, as they are both present inside this very moment. Every time we fall in love, we ascend to heaven. Every time we hate, envy or fight someone we tumble straight into the fires of hell.

Rule 25

Each and every reader comprehends the Holy Qur’an on a different level of tandem with the depth of his understanding. There are four levels of insight. The first level is the outer meaning and it is the one that the majority of the people are content with. Next is the Batin – the inner level. Third, there is the inner of the inner. And the fourth level is so deep it cannot be put into words and is therefore bound to remain indescribable.

Rule 26

The universe is one being. Everything and everyone is interconnected through an invisible web of stories. Whether we are aware of it or not, we are all in a silent conversation. Do no harm. Practice compassion. And do not gossip behind anyone’s back – not even a seemingly innocent remark! The words that come out of our mouths do not vanish but are perpetually stored in infinite space and they will come back to us in due time. One man’s pain will hurt us all. One man’s joy will make everyone smile.

Rule 27

Whatever you speak, good or evil, will somehow come back to you. Therefore, if there is someone who harbours ill thoughts about you, saying similarly bad things about him will only make matters worse. You will be locked in a vicious circle of malevolent energy. Instead for forty days and nights say and think nice things about that person. Everything will be different at the end of 40 days, because you will be different inside.

Rule 28

The past is an interpretation. The future is on illusion. The world does not more through time as if it were a straight line, proceeding from the past to the future. Instead time moves through and within us, in endless spirals. Eternity does not mean infinite time, but simply timelessness. If you want to experience eternal illumination, put the past and the future out of your mind and remain within the present moment.

Rule 29

Destiny doesn’t mean that your life has been strictly predetermined. Therefore, to live everything to the fate and to not actively contribute to the music of the universe is a sign of sheer ignorance. The music of the universe is all pervading and it is composed on 40 different levels. Your destiny is the level where you play your tune. You might not change your instrument but how well to play is entirely in your hands.

Rule 30

The true Sufi is such that even when he is unjustly accused, attacked and condemned from all sides, he patiently endures, uttering not a sing bad word about any of his critics. A Sufi never apportions blame. How can there be opponents or rivals or even “others” when there is no “self” in the first place? How can there be anyone to blame when there is only One?

Rule 31

If you want to strengthen your faith, you will need to soften inside. For your faith to be rock solid, your heart needs to be as soft as a feather. Through an illness, accident, loss or fright, one way or another, we are all faced with incidents that teach us how to become less selfish and judgmental and more compassionate and generous. Yet some of us learn the lesson and manage to become milder, while some others end up becoming even harsher than before…

Rule 32

Nothing should stand between you and God. No imams, priests, rabbits or any other custodians of moral or religious leadership. Not spiritual masters and not even your faith. Believe in your values and your rules, but never lord them over others. If you keep breaking other people’s hearts, whatever religious duty you perform is no good. Stay away from all sorts of idolatry, for they will blur your vision. Let God and only God be your guide. Learn the Truth, my friend, but be careful not to make a fetish out of your truths.

Rule 33

While everyone in this world strives to get somewhere and become someone, only to leave it all behind after death, you aim for the supreme stage of nothingness. Live this life as light and empty as the number zero. We are no different from a pot. It is not the decorations outside but the emptiness inside that holds us straight. Just like that, it is not what we aspire to achieve but the consciousness of nothingness that keeps us going.

Rule 34

Submission does not mean being weak or passive. It leads to neither fatalism nor capitulation. Just the opposite. True power resides in submission a power that comes within. Those who submit to the divine essence of life will live in unperturbed tranquillity and peace even the whole wide world goes through turbulence after turbulence.

Rule 35

In this world, it is not similarities or regularities that take us a step forward, but blunt opposites. And all the opposites in the universe are present within each and every one of us. Therefore the believer needs to meet the unbeliever residing within. And the nonbeliever should get to know the silent faithful in him. Until the day one reaches the stage of Insane-I Kamil, the perfect human being, faith is a gradual process and one that necessitates its seeming opposite: disbelief.

Rule 36

This world is erected upon the principle of reciprocity. Neither a drop of kindness nor a speck of evil will remain unreciprocated. For not the plots, deceptions, or tricks of other people. If somebody is setting a trap, remember, so is God. He is the biggest plotter. Not even a leaf stirs outside God’s knowledge. Simply and fully believe in that. Whatever God does, He does it beautifully.

Rule 37

God is a meticulous dock maker. So precise is His order that everything on earth happens in its own time. Neither a minute late nor a minute early. And for everyone without exception, the clock works accurately. For each there is a time to love and a time to die.

Rule 38

It is never too late to ask yourself, “Am I ready to change the life I am living? Am I ready to change within?” Even if a single day in your life is the same as the day before, it surely is a pity. At every moment and with each new breath, one should be renewed and renewed again. There is only one-way to be born into a new life: to die before death.

Rule 39

While the part change, the whole always remains the same. For every thief who departs this world, a new one is born. And every descent person who passes away is replaced by a new one. In this way not only does nothing remain the same but also nothing ever really changes. For every Sufi who dies, another is born somewhere.

Rule 40

A life without love is of no account. Don’t ask yourself what kind of love you should seek, spiritual or material, divine or mundane, Eastern or Western. Divisions only lead to more divisions. Love has no labels, no definitions. It is what it is, pure and simple. Love is the water of life. And a lover is a soul of fire! The universe turns differently when fire loves water.