Speech of honourable Shaykh Said-Afandi Al-Chirkawi at Mawlid in Chirkey on 24.04.2010

Many things could be mentioned, but hardly everything can be said completely. Sometimes it happens that a person commits suicide, stabbing knife or gun shot. After wounding himself, he still has time to repent (make tawbah) and his sin may be forgiven, if he regretted the incident and asked for forgiveness. But it also happens that a man commits suicide by hanging himself [leaving no chance for repentance].

I have read either in books of Hanafi mazhab or in Tafsir, or maybe another book, that it is claimed that funeral prayer (Solat Janazah) cannot be performed after such a self-murderer. The ban is imposed due to the fact that the man died in disbelief, and that funeral prayer is performed for a Muslim only. The person who hanged himself had no time for repentance. People who blow themselves up are also similar to him, they will neither see nor smell Paradise. Believe me! They are very deceiving people. As noted here, they recruit boys and girls, and allegedly send them to heaven. But why do they not go there themselves? Don`t they want Paradise? They know better than us that they will not go there, and despite of that do these kind of things because of the profound confusion.

The most joyful day

Young men have many happy days in their lives. For example, when a child is born, it is celebrated. Previously it was celebrated by drinking, but now, praise be to Allah, we celebrate reading Mawlid. When a young man enrolls in a college it is a joyful day for him, when he graduates, it is a happy day too. But these happy moments in our lives come to an end quickly, and they are of little use.

Recently, the number of people wishing to enter tariqah has increased so much that, sometimes there are not enough leaflets [explaining tariqah tasks] and rosaries to be given to all. Praise be to Allah, people come to tariqah en masse and most of them are young people. To them the joys of previous days is nothing compared to this day. There is no happier day than the day of joining Shazaly tariqah and receiving permission for its practice. It is the day of the greatest joy, because the person has got on the right path. What day may be better than this?

I have encountered with the following fact, probably like you. Before entering Tariqah, I tried obliging myself for something, for example, saying "La ilaha illallah” hundred times every day or reading Surah al-Ikhlas hundred times, but I could not maintain its practice. I tried doing it, and then neglected. It seemed such a burden to perform missed prayers after lunch and sunset obligatory prayers. However, entering the tariqah has changed everything. You have noticed it too, that you became different after entry into tariqah. Everyone who gets a little of Barakah, will notice it.

Significance of Tariqah

We are not able to describe all the virtues of Shazaly Tariqah. For instance, many ask: "Can I practice read zikr myself without visiting shaykh? What if I read zikr myself without joining tariqah?" Of course you can, however, we strive to worthy, beneficial, valuable. A single reading of zikr under the guidance of spiritual mentor is like an independent reading hundred times. This is what I heard from my shaykh. Why? Because first of all teaching zikr comes not from me, but from the Prophet (peace be upon him), and all shaykhs are after him in the chain (silsila) of Tariqah. That is one advantage. Secondly, murids say "Astaghfirullaha llyazi la ilaha illa huwal hayyal qayyuma wa atubu ilayhi.” Hayun and Qayyum are the names of Allah. Most alims say they are ismullahil a`zam that is the great names of Allah. A single recitation of this prayer is more than a hundredfold repeating "Astaghfirullah" due to the fact that it contains the names of Allah. The third advantage: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The most beloved deed to Allah is continuous service, no matter how small it is." For example, today if you have free time, you read 2-3 parts of the Quran, perform prayers, etc. And when there is no free time this service is not performed. It is done by those who are not in Tariqah, and we see it. When we enter tariqah, we commit ourselves to read given tasks hundred times. We make this reading obligatory upon ourselves. Such service becomes favorable to Allah, for it is performed constantly every day, in the morning and evening. Here is one more advantage.

Rabitah

Many questions are asked about performing Rabitah in Shazaly Tariqah. I tell everyone that the principle of performing Rabitah is described in the leaflet with Tariqah tasks and those who can, let them perform it, but who cannot, let him not. Because not all people are alike: someone likes to make Rabitah, and for someone it can be a burden. Shazaly Rabitah is therefore left at the discretion of murid. Some people say that in general there is no Rabitah in Shazaly Tariqah. This is not true. I heard Shaykh saying: "There is, my son, there is Rabitah and muraqabah in Shazaly Tariqah.” I heard how he said it. And now again I repeat: who has the desire and opportunity, let him perform Rabitah.

Among those who perform Rabitah of Naqshbandy Tariqah, there are also people who request permission to perform Shazaly Rabitah. It is enough for them performing Naqshbandy Rabitah only, but if they want to make Shazaly Rabitah, they can do it too. Those who perform two Rabitahs can be compared with those who milk two cows. One gets one bucket of milk from one cow, and two cows give two buckets. In a word, it is allowed to make both Rabitahs, but they must be performed one after another, without combining.

To clarify the essence of Rabitah I can give the following example. Drivers use the phrase "batteries run out", meaning that there is no electricity. What should we do in this situation? We need to recharge batteries. And murid also needs to recharge his heart spiritually. For example, if we make Shazaly or Naqshbandy Rabitah in the morning it is similar to putting heart on charge - that spiritual charge is enough till sunset prayers. If one makes Rabitah after sunset prayers, the charge will be enough till morning. Great grace (Barakah) lies in Rabitah.

I think last year we went for Ziyarah to Uzbekistan. We were told that because of the drought, residents had to plough gardens for two times, as there was no water in rivers and canals. Will the seeds grow from the dry land? Similarly, there is a rule: to teach those who entered Naqshbandy Tariqah for the first 2-3 months to perform Rabitah only, without teaching zikr of the heart. Why? Because hearts are never the same, most of them are similar to a dry land, where there is no moisture. As the grain sown into dry land will be wasted, and the heart zikr, taught to a person with such heart, will not do anything. After all, before you sow the garden, you must dig the beds, carry water, and irrigate the soil. Similarly, to revive the heart a bit, first prepare it, start with Rabitah without teaching heart-zikr. This point should also be understood.

Cure for sins

We begin receiving education since school, growing and excelling as we learn, then we enter institute, university, etc. A similar process is taken by person who enters Tariqah. For instance, medical students in the learning process increase their knowledge in medicine through reading, listening to lectures, seminars, talking with doctors, observing their actions, etc. Thus, their knowledge adds up, and we can notice it.

Likewise, murids increase their knowledge. However, the knowledge acquired by medical students, is used to cure bodily ailments, while knowledge gained in Tariqah, is used to cure diseases of soul, for protection from sins. For example, during Hajj we are accompanied by physicians. I have never seen a doctor who would be sick there, and you probably have not seen either. In Hajj we become ill, suffer from cold, cough and other ailments. But the doctors are safe from all these. Even if they get sick, they are doctors, they have knowledge, they will treat themselves. And we do not have that knowledge. As doctors differ from people who have no knowledge in medicine, similarly those who are in Tariqah too differ from those who have not joined it. So, what is offered in Tariqah is a remedy for sins.

Content with what Shaykh has taught

I would like to emphasize one point. When murids reach the level of ma`iyat, there are complaints, particularly from women. Shaykh Hassan Afandi did not teach muraqabahs after ma`iyat to those men and women who could neither read nor write. As such time has come, followers have increased, it turned out that they were taught and trained up to the end. Now, however, we are not allowed to do so. Men and women who cannot read and write in Arabic, should be stopped at level of ma`iyat and it is better for them, but they do not understand. And what does ma`iyat mean? This is a very high level. For example, in the Quran Allah says (the meaning): "Wherever you are, I am with you" (Might, Will of Allah is always with us).

Please note that everyone who has reached the level of ma`iyat, must realize that Allah knows all his thoughts, He hears everything he says, sees all his actions. Such a state must cover him, he should get used to the idea. If a person truly knows that Allah hears what he says, that Allah sees his actions and knows about that - would he kill people, steal, make trouble, knowing that nothing is hidden from Allah? One refrains from such actions, even if people see him. Think about it. What is the difference between animals and people who continuously commit violence, kill, steal, rob, lead dissolute lifestyle, and do not repent? That is why ma`iyat level is such a great thing. Those people who are on this level must perform muraqabah because they are already trained for this by ustaz. But it would be better to stay at ma`iyat, because they cannot do and because ma`iyat is enough. May Allah help! The best thing for you is to be satisfied with what ustaz has taught. Especially women are prone to envy. If I train one, another one will take offense for not teaching her. It should not be so.

Previously things trained by mentor were hidden. I heard that Shaykh Abdulhamid-Afandi of Inkho said to one murid: "If your friends ask you, to what level you have reached, do not tell." But today the number of murids have increased and you cannot hide things. When someone is taught with the next task, all present, can hear it. Where are they all going to go, into the street, or what? Here is the situation. It is better for you to make that what is taught by ustaz.

Parenting

When my children were little, my ustaz said: "My son, teach children to read three times istighfar and Salawat, in order for them to know when they grow up." And you, parents, those who want to do so are allowed by teaching children to read Salawat and istighfar that by adulthood they will learn it. Is this not the best in education that parents can give to children?
When our Prophet (peace be upon him) was raised to Mi`raj, he asked Allah to give an opportunity to see one of the twelve communities of the Prophet Musa (`alayhi salam), located in China. It is written in the books, that they still are there. The Prophet (peace be upon him), met with them. He welcomed them with Salam, and they replied to a greeting. When they asked who he was, the Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: "I am Muhammad. They asked: "Aren`t you, Muhammad, about whom the Prophet Musa (`alayhi salam) said, willing to give him salam?". "Yes" - answered the Prophet (sallyallahu alyayhi wassallam). And they gave him a greeting from the Prophet Musa (`alayhi salam). The Prophet (peace be upon him) responded to the greeting. They asked: "Who is with you?"."Can you see him?" - Asked the Prophet (peace be upon him). "Yes, we can" - "they replied. "This is the Angel Gabriel" - said the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). The people of this community saw Gabriel (`alayhi salam). We do not see him, but we would see if we were such as they are. Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) saw the distressed people standing aside and asked: "What's wrong with them and why they are saddened?" "They have a baby" - they replied. "Is it a grief when child is born?" - asked the Prophet (peace be upon him). He was told that they are sad because they do not know what will be the end of the child and they fear, whether he will be in error. People already concerned on the birthday of the child about his death: whether he will die in truth or in error. If from this moment a child is raised, he rarely becomes bad.

As mentioned, this world and religion do not hold on us. We just have to hold tight on to Islam, Tariqah. Allah’s Mercy to us will be more depending the extent of our credibility. We must praise God. We have so many Mawlids, Majlises of `alims! Perhaps, in every village, especially in Avar's, read khatmu and Salawat. Such majlises and Barakah cannot be seen anywhere else. Therefore, we must praise to Allah. May Allah save us! May we see only good things! Amin.