IMAM JAFFAR SADIQ

1. IMAM Ja’far al-Sadiq

His name was Ja’far al-Sadiq and his patronymic name was Abu Mohammed. If we start writing about his qualities and miracles then it is not easy to cover all of them. He inherited from Ali Bin Abi Talib (RA) and he is the real heir of the Prophet. Ja’far al-Sadiq’s greatness is such that we can call him the king of Muslim ummat (nation). He was the follower of truth and ascertainment and also the true follower of the pious persons. He was great among all the saints and successors of the Prophet. He was descendant of Ali Bin Abi Talib (RA) and the Prophet’s family. Due to his greatness, we all praise him. As already mentioned above that to write the details about the works and achievements of Prophet, their companions and members of the Prophet’s family is not easy and will need many volumes to describe. After seeking the blessings for writing this book, we are mentioning here the stories of pious persons who were passed away after the family members of the Prophet. Here we are writing about Ja’far al-Sadiq. Ja’far al-Sadiq was ranked after the companions of the Prophet. He was member of Prophet’s family, hence many of his teachings about mystic knowledge and also his other narrations are available. We are mentioning here some of his sayings about good felicity. Those who follow his religion, in other words are following the religion of twelve Imams (religious leaders), as he was the successor of the twelve Imams. So it is one that is equal to twelve and also twelve that is equal to one. If we mention about his works and achievements then it will be equivalent to mention the works and achievements of twelve Imams. If we mention about his character, he was master in every kind of knowledge and wisdom. He was the leader of learned people and they all had full confidence in him. He was not only a great leader of mystic persons but he was also the follower of literary persons and lovers of Allah. He has written many books and in these books he has explained the controlling powers of Allah in the best possible manner. He has also narrated many of the sayings of Imam Baquer’s. The author explains as follows: “I am surprised to know that a group of persons due to their poor knowledge thought that Sunnat Jamat (followers of the Prophet) has enmity with the family members of Prophet. But the fact is that the members of Sunnat Jamat are the followers of the Prophet’s family members.” So we must remember that every one who has faith in the Prophet, he should also love and have faith in the Prophet’s family members. When Imam Al-Shafe’i was imprisoned on the charge of enmity with the Prophet’s family members, he uttered some couplets at that time. The meaning of one of the couplet is as follows: “I am friend of the holy Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) and his family members so if this is enmity then all human beings and jins should be witness on this enmity.” Who is Sunni? In its real meaning Sunni is one who accepts the greatness of the Prophet’s family members. If it is not compulsory the rule of faith to know about the Prophet’s family members and his companions but it is good for everybody to know about them. As you know some other things and some unnecessary things. The importance of companions of the Prophet is very great because due to their sacrifices and great efforts as well as due to their Islamic knowledge which they learned from the Prophet and which helped the Muslims to spread the religion of Islam throughout the world. They set great examples of their sacrifices and efforts, which will guide the Muslims till the day of judgement. If we follow them then we can achieve real Islamic goal in our lives. So for you it is good to know about the king of this world and the world after the death, Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) and his companions and their followers. The Prophet’s family members who made distinguished services and sacrifices for the Islam and Muslims. With the help of their teachings we can become a true Muslims. So for this reason one should respect and love for the followers of the holy Prophet and his family members. When some persons asked Abu Hanifa who is superior in the followers of holy Prophet. He said, “In the older Abu Bakr Siddiq (RA) and Omar Farouq (RA), in the young men Osman Bin Affan (RA) and Ali Bin Abi Talib (RA), in the women Ayesha (RA) and in the girls Fatima (RA).” One night the caliph Mansur of Baghdad ordered his minister to bring Ja’far al-Sadiq before him for his killing so the minister told him, “Why did he want to kill such a noble and great person who is in loneliness in the house and busy in the worship of Allah and who left the worldly life and pleasure so it is against expedience.” Mansur angry when heard the reply from his minister and told him it is his duty to obey his orders. The minister tried his best in this matter but he was not successful so he went to call him helplessly. The caliph ordered his slaves to kill him upon his arrival to the palace at the time when Mansur takes down his crown from his head. But when he came to his palace Mansur stood before him and ran to receive him and gave him a most suitable place to sit him and he sat before him with sincerity and with great respect. The slaves were surprised when they saw the actions of Mansur. The caliph asked him if he need any thing from him. Then he told him that he should not be called again there to enable him to continue the worship of Allah. Mansur said good bye to him with great respect and at the same time Mansur’s body began shivering and became unconscious and he was in that condition for three days and some persons told he was in that condition in which his three prayers were lapsed. When he was all right then the minister asked him, “What was the matter with him?” Mansur told him, “When he entered his palace he saw a big python with him and his two lips were open and one was on the upper side and the other was below of the throne.” The python told him, “If you do any harm to Ja’far al-Sadiq I would swallow you with your seat.” So when I heard this I was afraid of python and I could not know what I was telling to him so I excused him and become unconscious.” When once Dawood Tai came to see him and asked him, “Oh! Son of the Prophet, pray for me as my heart become black.” Then Ja’far al-Sadiq told him, “Oh! Abu Suleiman, you are also pious person of the time so no need of my prayers.” Then Dawood Tai told him, “Oh! Son of the Prophet, Allah gave you a such greatness and it is obligatory for you to give advice to all Muslims.” He told, “Oh! Abu Suleiman, I am afraid that on the day of judgement my grand father will caught me and will ask me why I have not fulfilled my duties properly and Allah will not see the inheritance but see the good deeds.” Then Dawood Tai wept and told, “Oh! Allah, his inheritance is from the holy Prophet and his habits are superior and his grand father is the holy Prophet and his mother is batool (great woman) but he is still worried then who is Dawood and why he is so proudly on his deeds.” One day Ja’far al-Sadiq was sitting and he told his slaves to come and make a promise that on the day of judgement whoever will be successful then he should recommend the others. Then they told, “Oh! Son of the Prophet, why did you need our recommendations as your grandfather will recommend all the creatures?” Then he told them, “He is ashamed of his deeds so he is afraid to see the face of his grandfather.” Once Sufyan Thauri went to see Ja’far al-Sadiq when he discontinued going outside of the house and stayed alone in the house and he told him, “Oh! Son of the Prophet, people are not getting your grace as you are in the loneliness of the house.” Then he told him, “I think this is better for me” and recited these two couplets and the meaning of them is as follows: “The faithfulness is not seen as the traveller on the journey will not see again and people are busy with their thinking and necessities. People express love for each other but their hearts are full of poison.” When the persons saw him wearing a wealthy dress and they told him, “Oh! Son of the Prophet, it is not suitable for the Prophet’s family member to wear such a dress.” Then he caught his hand and took it inside of the dress of his shoulder and showed him the inside dress which was made of jute and it scratched his hand. He told him, “This dress is for the Allah and other is for the mankind.” Ja’far al-Sadiq asked Abu Hanifa, “Who is wise?” And he replied, “One who makes difference between good and bad.” Then he told him, “The animals could do these things. As they recognize who beat them and who love them.” So Abu Hanifa asked him to explain in this matter, “Who is wise?” He told him, “One who could make difference between two good things and two bad things and choose one good thing which is more good from the two goods things and one bad thing which is less bad from the two bad things.” When the persons told him, “You have all qualities of pious persons and have kindness and coolness of the family members of the Prophet but you have more proudness.” So he replied, “I am not proudly but my lord is great so when I discontinued proudness and greatness these things entered into me. So upon Allah’s greatness one can feel proud but one should not be proudly for greatness of his own.” Somebody lost his bag of dinars (money) so he caught Ja’far al-Sadiq and told him, “You have stolen my dinars,” as that man could not recognize him. He asked him, “How many dinars have you lost?” The man replied, “One thousand dinars.” He took that man to his house and gave him one thousand dinars. Later that man found his bag of money some where and explained him the whole event and made apology to him and requested him to take the money which he brought back for him and he also told him, “It was his mistake.” He told him, “He would never take back anything which he gives to anybody.” That man asked, “Who is this person?” And people told him, “He is Ja’far al-Sadiq” Then the man was very sorry for his mistake and went away. One day he was going on the road lonely and he was saying ‘Allah, Allah’, and one poor pious person was also following him and saying ‘Allah, Allah’. When he told, “Oh! Allah, I do not have trouser and dress with me” and at the same moment one clean pair of dress was appeared there and he wore the same. Then the poor pious person asked him, “Oh! Great man, I was also reciting ‘Allah, Allah’ behind you so please give me your old dress.” So he liked his idea and gave him his old dress. A man came to Ja’far al-Sadiq asked him, “He wanted to see Allah.” He told that man, “Have you not heard what Allah told Prophet Moses (PBUH) that you did not able to see him.” The man told, “Yes.” But this is ummat (followers) of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) and among the followers of the Prophet in whom one person said, “His heart was seen Allah and other person is crying that he will not worship Allah until he could see Allah.” So he asked the persons to tie him with rope and throw him in the river Tigris. When he was thrown in the water and he was gone inside water but water brought him to the surface level and he called, “Oh! Son of the Prophet, help me, help me.” But he told the water, “Oh! Water, take him and hide him” and water took him inside. So that man was gone inside of the water many times and came on the water surface many times but he was crying for the help of Ja’far al-Sadiq. When he was tired and gone inside of the water and lost hope for the help from the mankind and at that time water brought him to the upper level of surface as he called, “Oh! Allah, help me, help me.” Then he told the persons to take him out from the water and he was taken out from the water. He sat for some time and he became normal. He asked him, “Have you seen Allah?” He replied, “When I was calling others then there was a veil but when I called Allah for his help with eagerness then I saw Allah in the window which opened in my heart. If there was no eagerness and passion then Allah will be not there.” Allah says, “Is somebody there who will reply the needy person’s call?” Ja’far al-Sadiq told him, “When he was calling others for His help then he was false and advice him to take care of the window in the heart.” Ja’far al-Sadiq told, “One who says, ‘Allah is on the things or Allah is from things’ and so for this saying he will become unbeliever.” And further he told, “One who commits sin with fear and seek Allah’s repentance and then he will become closer to Allah. When one who worships in the beginning for himself and in the last for the show and proud for this he will be kept him away from Allah. One who is proud for his worship then he will become a sinner. Sincere is one who will repent for his sins.” When persons asked Ja’far al-Sadiq, “Who is better either sincere pious person or wealthy person?” He said, “Pious person is better than other one because wealthy person always looks for the bags of money but pious person is always with Allah.” He further continued, “The worship is not right without repentance because Allah preferred repentance than worship. As Allah said, ‘Repentance seekers are worshipers.’ ” Refer to Qur’anic teaching in which it is clear that repentance is superior to the worship. The real remembrance of Allah is that in which one should forget all things because Allah is found for such things. He explained one verse of the Holy Qur’an in which Allah says, “He bestow His mercy on any one whom he likes.” So all sources are kept away as Allah’s blessing is given without any source. Ja’far al-Sadiq said, “The faithful is one who stands against nafs-i-ammara (inordinate appetites) and the pious is one who stands in the worship of Allah.” He said, “One who fight against nafs-i-ammara for the sake of himself then he will become the man of miracles.” He also said, “One who fights with nafs-i-ammara for the sake of Allah then he finds Allah.” He said, “Ilham (revelation) is a sign of Allah’s blessing for His accepted persons but when this matter is proved that it is nothing by logic and this is the work of unbelievers.” He said, “Allah is more hidden in the man than the movements of the black ants on the black mountains during the night. The love of Allah is neither good nor bad. The secret which I come to know when I became mad. It is good for a man if he has wise enemy.” Ja’far al-Sadiq said to keep away from the friendship of the following five persons: 1. Liar who will always deceive you. 2. Foolish who always wish for your good but the result will be bad which he does not know. 3. The miser who will spoil your time. 4. Coward who will leave you when you are in danger. 5. Sinful who will sell you for the sake of a morsel and also for his greed he will put you in the trouble for his gain which even it will be less than a morsel. Ja’far al-Sadiq said, “Allah’s heaven and hell are also in this world. When there are no worries it is heaven and when there are worries it is hell. It is heaven when we should approach Allah for all our works. It is hell when we surrender all our works to nafs-i-ammara.” If there will be effect of enemies on Allah’s men then there was effect on Asiya from the Pharaoh and if there was effect of Allah’s man on the enemies of Allah then there was benefit for the Lut’s wife and Noah’s wife. His sayings are too many but we have mentioned above some of them only.

========================================

FIRST EPISODE from Tazkeratul Aoulia by Sheikh Farid-ud-Din Attar (Book of Muslim Saints and Mystics)

======================================

Translated from Urdu to English by Muhammed A. Hafeez, B.COM. Email: hafeezanwar@yahoo.com H.NO. 16-11-16/1/21, SALEEMNAGAR COLONY, AL-MADINA COTTAGE, FIRST FLOOR, FLAT NO.3, AL-SULAIMAN APARTMENT, Hyderabad-36, (India)

======================================

Reference Books 1. Tazkeratul Aoulia by Sheikh Farid-ud-Din Attar (Book of Muslim Saints and Mystics), Urdu translation published by Majedi Book Depot, Kanpur in the year 1383 A.H., India. 2. Tazkeratul Aoulia by Sheikh Farid-ud-Din Attar (Book of Muslim Saints and Mystics), Urdu translation published by Anwar Book Depot, Delhi India.

==============================

2.Owaise of Qarni About Sohail Yemeni, the prophet says that he is superior to his followers due to his kindness and favor. When there is praise by the prophet then what else can I describe about him. Sometimes the prophet used to turn his face towards Yemen and said, “I feel the breeze of love from the Yemen.” the prophet told on the day of judgment that Allah will create 70,000 angels same as Owaise of Qarni (clone) and when Owaise of Qarni will come there in between them and will proceed to the heaven, no one will recognize him except Allah, because in the world he used to worship away from the mankind and so he will be kept away from the mankind on the day of judgment. It is mentioned that the friends of Allah will be kept hidden by him, so no one will be able to see them. On the day of judgment the prophet will come out of his palace and will say, “ Where is Owaise, so that I can see him.” soon there will be a call in which it will be heard that do not worry in this matter, you will not see him here as you did not see him in the world. The prophet told that there was a person in my followers and his recommendation was accepted which was equal to the hairs of the sheep of Rabiya and Mizer tribes of Arabia. There were two tribes in Arabia who had many sheep at that time. The companions asked the prophet, “Who that person is?” he said, “He is one among the slaves of Allah.” then they told the prophet that they were also slaves of Allah, but what was his name. The prophet told them, “His name is Owaise and he is from Qarni.” they asked him, “Where he is ?” He replied, “He is in Qarni.” then companions asked the prophet, “Have you seen him?” he replied that even though he did not see him physically but he was seen by the eyes of certainty. The companions asked that how such a lover did not come to see you. He said, “It may be due to two reasons, first due to his conditions and second is to respect my Shariat (Islamic law), because his mother is old and blind. He looks after camels and gets some money for the food and clothes for his mother. Then the companions asked could they see him. The prophet answered that Abu Bakr (ra) will not see him but Ali Ibn Taleb (ra) and Omer Farouq (ra) will see him. On Owaise Qarni’s body there are hairs and on his chest and on his palm there are small white marks, which are not of leprosy. The prophet said to Omer Farouq (ra) and Ali Ibn Taleb (ra), “ When you will meet him, convey my salam and ask him to pray for the Muslims.” the prophet told he is superior among the Allah’s men who are hidden. Then the companions asked that where could they find him ? The prophet replied, “ In Yemen there is a camel look after Owaise and you have to follow his foot steps.” When the time of prophet’s death was nearer, the companions asked that to whom they should give his dress. He said, “ TO Owaise of Qarni.” After the death of prophet Omer Farouq (ra) and Ali Ibn Taleb (ra) went to Koofa (Baghdad) and at the time of delivering sermon Omer Farouq (ra) requested the people of Najd to stand and asked them, “Is there any person from Qarni.” they said, “ Yes.” then Omer Farouq (ra) asked them did they know about Owaise of Qarni? They replied, “ No, but there is a mad person who lives away from the people.” Omer Farouq (ra) asked where he lives. They replied, “He lives in Arna valley and looks after the camels, eats dry bread in the night, neither come to the village nor talk to the people.” he does not eat what we eat and he does not know sorrow and happiness. When people laugh he weeps and when people weep he laughs. Omer Farouq (ra) and Ali Ibn Taleb (ra) went to that valley and found that Owaise of Qarni was praying at that time. Allah has ordered his angels to look after his camels. When there was a sound he finished his prayer and said salam to Omer Farouq (ra). Omer Farouq (ra) asked him, “ What his name is ?” he replied, “A slave of Allah.” then Omer Farouq (ra) said, “We all are slaves of Allah but I am asking your proper name.” he replied, “Owaise.” Omer Farouq (ra) told him to show his left hand. He showed his hand and Omer Farouq (ra) saw the white mark on his hand, which was already described by the prophet. He kissed his hand and said, “The prophet has conveyed his Salam and has sent his dress for you and asked you to pray for the Muslims.” then Owaise of Qarni told them, “You are superior so you pray, as you are very close to the prophet.” Omer Farouq (ra) replied, “I will pray but you also pray according to the advice of the prophet. Owaise of Qarni requested Omer Farouq (ra) to please check some other person and that he is not the real one. Omer Farouq (ra) said that they have found all marks on him, which were explained by the prophet. Then Owaise of Qarni said, “Give me the dress so that I can pray.”Omer Farouq (ra) gave him the dress. Owaise of Qarni told him to stay there and he went away and poured the dust on his face and asked Allah, “ Oh Allah, I will not wear the dress until you accept my recommendation for all Muslims and for this the prophet has sent his dress and Omer Farouq (ra) and Ali Ibn Taleb (ra) have done their work, now your work is left.” then there was call in which it was heard, “I have forgiven some people due to your recommendation.” Owaise of Qarni replied, “I will not wear the dress until you forgive all Muslims.” then the call was heard again in which it was told, “I have forgiven many people.” when he was talking to Allah, at the same moment Omer Farouq (ra) and Ali Ibn Taleb (ra) came over there. When Owaise saw them there he asked them that why they have come over there because he was talking to Allah and that he will not wear the dress until he (Allah) accepts my recommendation for all the Muslims. Omer Farouq (ra) saw that Owaise of Qarni was wearing a rag dress, in which there was wealth of 18,000 worlds. Omer Farouq (ra) was very sad to see himself and his caliphate, so he said, “Anybody is there who can purchase his caliphate for a piece of bread.” Owaise said that foolish will purchase so throw it and anybody who likes it, will take it, so there is no need of selling and buying it. Then Owaise of Qarni wore the dress and said that Allah has forgiven the Muslims on his recommendation and due to this dress to equal number of the sheep of Rabiya and Mizer tribes. Ali Ibn Taleb (ra) was silent. Omer Farouq (ra) asked him, “Oh Owaise, why have you not met the prophet?” Owaise asked, “Have you seen the forehead of the prophet. If you have seen then tell me whether his eyebrows were close or scattered.” but he could not reply this. Owaise of Qarni told, “ Are you a friend of the prophet Muhammad (pbuh)?” he said, “yes.” if you were firm in the friendship then why you have not broken your teeth when the prophet’s teeth were broken in the battle of mount of Ohud in Madina and this is the rule of friendship. He showed his teeth and said that he had broken all his teeth in prophet’s love without even seeing him. When I broke a tooth, I was not sure of it as it might be the same tooth of the prophet or not and then I have broken all my teeth. Omer Farouq (ra) and Ali Ibn Taleb (ra) wept and said that your value of respect was great. He did not see the prophet but his respect for the prophet was admirable. We have to learn respect from him. Omer Farouq (ra) asked him to pray for him. Owaise of Qarni told him that there should be no desires and wishes when one has faith in Allah. In every prayer I used to pray for all men and women of Muslim world for Allah’s mercy and forgiveness. If you die with faith then you will find result of my pray in your grave otherwise my pray will be spoiled. Omer Farouq (ra) asked him to give some advice. He said, “Oh Omer, do you know Allah?” Omer (ra) said, “Yes, I know.” He told Omer (ra) that except Allah he does not know anybody and it is better for you also. Again Omer (ra) asked for more pieces of advice. He said, “Oh Omer, does Allah know you.” He said, “Yes.” then it is better that Allah knows you more than others. Then Omer (ra) told him to please wait for some time, so that he can bring something for him. Owaise of Qarni took out two dinars from his pocket and said, “This is my earning from camel grazing. If you guarantee that these two dinars are enough for my entire life then I will accept the other things from you, otherwise I do not need anything.” then Owaise of Qarni gave thanks to them for coming over there to see him after facing many difficulties and asked them to leave the place. The Day of Judgment is near, where we can meet there and from there we will not separate at all. Now I am busy for the preparation for the life after death. When Omer Farouq (ra) and Ali Ibn Taleb (ra) left that place the people of that place started respecting Owaise of Qarni. He left that place and reached Koofa. After that nobody has seen him, but Huban’s son Harm when he heard about the greatness of recommendation of Owaise of Qarni he was anxious to see him. He went to Koofa to see him, searched him and by chance he found him on the river Farat where he was doing ablution and washing his clothes. He said, “I recognized you due to your greatness and what I have heard about you.” He paid salam to him; he replied it and he looked at me carefully. I wanted to shake his hand but he did not give his hand. I said, “Oh Owaise, Allah has blessed you, granted his mercy and has forgiven you.” I wept in his friendship and on his weak condition, Owaise of Qarni also wept. Owaise said, “Oh Harm, the son of Huban, god bless you. What thing you have brought here and who showed you my address.” Harm replied him, “How do you know my name and my father’s name, as I have not seen you before.” Owaise said, “Allah told me, who knows everything. My soul recognized your soul, as soul of Muslim knows each other.” I asked him to narrate any saying of the prophet. He told that he did not met the prophet and has heard his qualities from others and do not want to become scholar of prophet’s tradition, as he has many pending things to do. Then he asked him to recite any verse from the Quran. He recited. “A‘oodhu billahi minash shaitan rajeem” and he started weeping. He said that Allah says in the Quran, “Wama khalaqtul jinna wal insa illa li-ya‘budoon.” he recited and he cried in loud noise so I thought that he had gone mad. He again asked me what had brought him there. I told him that I wanted your friendship and to become successful. He replied that one who knows Allah does not need the love and affection of others and gets comfort from others. I asked him to advise me. He told me that when you sleep, think that your death is under your pillow. When wake up, do not have many hopes and do not consider any sin smaller, but think it is big one. If you think any sin smaller then you think Allah small and will become a sinner. I asked him, “What do you say about my stay?” he told me to go to Syria. Then I asked how I would find my livelihood there? Owaise of Qarni said, “It is very sad that their hearts are full of doubts and suspicions and they do not accept the pieces of advice.” I asked him some more pieces of advice for me. He told, “Oh son of Huban, your father died. Adam (as), Eve (as), Noah (as), Abraham (as), Moses (as), David (as) also died. Abu bakr (ra) died who was the first caliph, my brother Omer (ra) also died.” then he said, “Oh Omer, god bless you.” Omer (ra) is still living. He says, Allah has informed him that Omer (ra) has passed away. He told me that, I and you are in between dead. He recite blessing and started praying. He advised me to follow the holy book and the right path and do not forget about death at any moment. When you reach your people then advise them and also advise mankind. Always follow the steps of the prophet, otherwise you will be out of the religion and be eligible for the hell. He then advised some prayers and asked me to go. He said, “Oh son of Huban, you will not see me and I will not see you again, but remember me in your prayers, because I to remember you in my prayers. You go on that way and I will follow this way.” I had desire to follow him for some time but he did not allow me. He wept and I also wept. I was watching him from the backside but after some time he disappeared. After that there was no news about him. The son of Huban said that Owaise of Qarni first told him about the four caliphs of the prophet. Rabiya narrates that he went to see Owaise of Qarni and he saw him while he was performing the morning prayer. After the prayer he was busy in the glorification of Allah until the time of noon prayer. He was busy with his work until the time of next prayer and in this way he was very busy until next morning prayer. For three days he did not eat or drink anything or even slept. On fourth night he slept for some time and then wake up and started hymns, in which he said, “ Oh Allah, keep me away from full sleep and full food in the stomach and it is enough for me and I have come back to you.” it is said that he never slept in the nights. He used to say that the night was for doing prostration, bowing and for standing before God. He used to keep every night alive. When people asked him, “How do they pray?” he told, “I want it will be dawn before I did not say ‘Subhan Allah’ in the prostration. As I want to do worship same as angels do in the sky.” When people asked him, “What is khudo (attention) in the prayers?” He told, “If there is wound of spear on your body but you did not notice it.” The people asked him, “How are you?” how he will be, when he wake up in the morning and the death will allow him to be alive or not upto night? When people asked him about his work, he replied, “Oh, the journey is long but no preparations at all?” Owaise of Qarni said that if you worship of Allah and if the same is equal to the worship of all creations of Allah in the sky and earth but Allah will not accept the same unless you have faith in him. The people asked him further, how we have to keep faith in Allah. He said at the time of worship do not think for other things, which Allah have reserved for you. He said, “Whoever like the following three things, for him hell will be near to nerve of his neck.” 1. Good food 2. Good dress 3. Sitting with wealthy people People told Owaise of Qarni that there is one man who is sitting in the grave since 30 years and wearing shroud around his neck and weeping. He said, “Take me to that person so that I can see him.” the people took him to that person and he saw that man who has become thin by weeping. He told him, “Oh man, the shroud and the grave has kept you away from the Allah, and these two things are disturbing on your way.” Due to his divine appearance that person was able to see these things on him and his condition was revealed to him. He died in the grave. So think on it that if grave and shroud are seen then other things can also be seen. It is reported that Owaise has not eaten anything or drank even water for three days. On the fourth day he got a dinar on the way. He did not took that dinar and he thought that it belonged to some other person and he went ahead to eat grass. Then he saw a sheep and in her mouth there was hot bread and the sheep kept that bread before him. But he thought that it belonged to some other person. The sheep told him, “I am the slave of Allah like you.” then he took that bread and that sheep was disappeared. His praise and qualities are too many and great. In the beginning Shaikh Abul Qasim Gorgani was the follower of Owaise of Qarni. Owaise of Qarni says that one who knows Allah from Allah, and then he knows everything. He said, “Safety is in loneliness. The person who is single and alone and who do not think about others in his heart is safe and secured, because it is not good to think about others in loneliness. Satan (devil) will run away when two persons meet each other.” So he did not go there because he knew that no need to misguide them, as those persons are busy with each other and have forgotten Allah. Owaise of Qarni suggested keeping control on the heart so that other person (devil) may not enter into it. Owaise of Qarni’s sayings 1. When I asked for high respect, I got it in the service. 2. When I asked for leadership and status, I got it in the people’s advice. 3. When I asked for kindness and service, I got it in the truth and right path. 4. When I asked for proud and greatness, I got it in poverty and misery. 5. When I asked for link, I got it in goodness and in the fear of god. 6. When I asked for fame, I got it in the worship. 7. When I asked for carelessness, I got it in the trust of God. It is reported that the neighbors of Owaise of Qarni told him that they thought him a mad man. They collected some money and constructed a house for him. He used to live in that house. There was nothing in the house to eat at the time of breakfast. He tried to earn money by collecting seeds of dates and by selling them. From that money he managed his food. If he collected dates, he used to sell them and that money was spent for the charity. His dress was old and not in the good condition. He made his dress from the horse skin which he used to clean himself. He used to leave the house at the time of morning prayer and to enter the house after night prayer. Wherever he went, the children threw stones on him. He requested the children to throw small stones on him to avoid bleeding from his body and not to spoil his ablution. He was not worried about his legs but he was worried about his prayers. In his last days he met Ali Ibn Taleb (ra) and participated in the war of Seffin and died there. There is a group of people who consider themselves as Owaisia. For them there is no need of teacher and they do not have any source with them like Owaise of Qarni, but they are on the right path of religion due to the grace of god. Owaise of Qarni has not seen the prophet but the prophet did his internal training and this is fact. His position is very high and it is difficult for anybody to attain such a high position. Such greatness is due to the kindness and mercy of God. Whom God likes, will be given such a great position. His grave is in a small village of Yemen, which is far away from capital Sana. ————————————————————————============== SECOND EPISODE from Tazkeratul Aoulia by Sheikh Farid-ud-Din Attar (Book of Muslim Saints and Mystics)

============================================

Translated from Urdu to English by

Muhammed A. Hafeez, B.COM. Email: hafeezanwar@yahoo.com H.NO. 16-11-16/1/21, SALEEMNAGAR COLONY, AL-MADINA COTTAGE, FIRST FLOOR, FLAT NO.3, AL-SULAIMAN APARTMENT, Hyderabad-36, (India)

==========================================

Reference Book 1. Tazkeratul Aoulia by Sheikh Farid-ud-Din Attar (Book of Muslim Saints and Mystics), Urdu translation published by Majedi Book Depot, Kanpur in the year 1383 A.H., India. 2. Tazkeratul Aoulia by Sheikh Farid-ud-Din Attar (Book of Muslim Saints and Mystics), Urdu translation published by Anwar Book Depot, Delhi India.