TOPWithout love worship is tasteless and useless
In the latter part of 1963 Sri Lanka had the good fortune of Almighty Allah’s blessing to receive one of the leading scholars of the Indo-Pak subcontinent, His Eminence, Fakhrul Islam Allama al-Hajj Hafiz Maulana Muhammad Ibrahim Khushtar Siddiqui Qadiri Razvi. His Eminence used to explain disciples and well-wishers in Sri Lanka the Masnavi Shareef of Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi (may Allah be pleased with him), a book most had never heard of before. After the Esha Prayers our Pir-i-Tariqat would explain the Masnavi Shareef and he would interpret the narration of the Masnavi with suitable pieces of Hadith's and anecdotes of the Sufi Saints.
Maulana/Mevlana Jalauddin Rumi (may Allah be pleased with him) has revealed the Masnavi the mystery of profound revelation. In the East his works are considered as sacred as holy scriptures. They have influenced numberless souls, and the study of his work can be considered to belong to the highest standard of culture. Poets were great thinkers such as Firdawsi, Fariduddin Attar, Sa’adi, Hafiz, Jami and Omar Khayam.
Imam Ahmad Raza Khan (may Allah be pleased with him) was also drowned in the ocean of love. This is the first impression we get when we read and recite his poems. In the few lines of a poem below, the Imam recognizes his weakness, a sign of humility and, in a state of ‘drunkenness’; he almost humbly strikes at the door of the beloved Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) and begs for a crumb of generosity. The depth of his love may be gauged from the following couplets:
Kab se phaila-e hein daaman tairq ishq
Ab to pass-ein zakrm daaman daar ham
O sword of Love! We have waited and waited so long
Inflict now on us a wound, which is serious and strong.
Lutff az khrood raftagee yaa Rab naseeb
Hoon shheeda jalwo-o raftaar ham
O God! Grant us the honor and pleasure
Of dying at the feet of our beloved Master.
Hazrat Inayat Khan (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote that poetry is an art, a music expressed in the beauty and harmony of words. No one can make the soul dance unless the soul itself is inclined to dance. Also no soul can dance that is not alive. When the mystic, poet or Sufi dives deep into himself he touches the perfection, which is the source and goal of all beings. For long ages the poets of Persia have left a wonderful treasure of thought for humanity.
Hazrat Maulana Khushtur further stresses that lovers of the Prophet (Peace and blessing be upon Him) should show their abhorrence to those who incite against this love. They should embrace every lover of the Prophet (Peace and blessing be upon Him) as his brother. The one who talks of the Love for the beloved Prophet (Peace and blessing be upon Him) should be greeted warmly. The love for and of the beloved Prophet (Peace and blessing be upon Him) should be the basis of all relations and dealings. The one who yearns for sacrificing his life for the sake of Hazrat Muhammad (Peace and blessing be upon Him) should be respected and honored. This type of Love needs to be known and be manifested.
To love the beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessing be upon Him) intensely- even above the Sufi Shaikh's who inherit the spiritual wealth, knowledge and beauty of the Prophet - lifts one into perfection. This state of completeness is simply to be through the Being of Almighty Allah, to live through the Life of Almighty Allah, to see through the All-Seeing, to hear through the All-Hearing, etc.
To love the beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessing be Upon Him), who is the Lover of all Humanity, and the Diamond of the Universe, vastly accelerates our spiritual progress. Loving the noble Prophet of Islam enhances immeasurably our love for other human beings, on all levels of development. Failing to love the beloved of Almighty Allah above all beloved persons saps the energy of our love, making it finite and linking it with imperfection.
Love the beloved Prophet of Islam (Allah bless him and give him peace) for his perfection of love! and as the light of true humanity within every heart. Love him and you will love all persons abundantly, fail to love him and you will fail to love anyone truly. Love the beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) who is the Perfection of human love, and you will overflow with love for Almighty Allah, Who is the Source of Love. Disappear with ecstatic love into the beloved Prophet of Allah, and you will disappear into Almighty Allah [Exalted in He] in mystic union. Fail to loose yourself in the love of the Prophet who was sent as a Mercy to mankind, and you will never directly encounter the Love of Almighty Allah.
May Almighty Allah be pleased with Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (may Allah be pleased with him) and may He sanctify the innermost beings of all His saints and servants. May Almighty Allah bless our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace), his family, and his Companions, and may He grant them peace. Praise be to Almighty Allah [Exalted is He], the Lord of All the Universes.