SHAYKH IBRAHIM NIASSE'S WORKS: INTERPRETATION FROM ARABIC: THREE DEGREES OF REPENTANCE

THREE DEGREES OF REPENTANCE

(The Perception of the Sufis/Esotericists on Tawba or Repentance)

By: Shaykh Al-Islam Ibrahim Niasse (RA), Kitab Jawahir ar-Rasa’il (The Book of Essential Letters)

1. Tawbat al-‘Amm (Repentance of the common person) = “Muslim”

2. Tawbat al-Khass (Repentance of the spiritual elect) = “Mu'min”

3. Tawbat Khass al-Khass (Repentance of the elect of the elect), and this is the reality of repentance (Haqiqat at-Tawbah) = “Muhsin”

Repentance (Tawba) is to (firstly) abandon ingratitude for the blessings of Allah (Kufr an-Ni’mat), for every blessing is due gratitude and thanksgiving to the Bestower. The opposite of gratitude is unbelief (Didu Shukr Kufr).

The Ulama among the Sufis have said it (repentance) is to abandon every base characteristic for every sublime attribute.

However, I say the reality of base characteristics for the common person (Al-‘Amm) is to leave off the religious obligations (Al-Fara’id) and to commit acts which are prohibited (Al-Muharamat),

But for the spiritual elect (Al-Khass) it is to leave the praiseworthy deeds (Al-Fada’il) and to do what is disliked (Al-Makruhat).

For the elect of the elect (Khass al-Khass), it is to turn away from the Divine Presence and that is heedlessness or forgetfulness (Al-Ghafla), and this repentance is the reality of Tawba – which is to kill one’s ego – as Allah Ta’ala says, “So repent to your Creator and kill yourselves, that is better for you with your Creator.” (2:54).

The reality of killing one’s ego is to not see any action or spiritual state or station as belonging to the “self”--and that is repentance from repentance! “Verily, Allah loves those who turn to Him in repentance.” (2:222), meaning to repent from repentance!

The Reality of Repentance (Tawba) is to repent from repentance.

“Know that Allah accepts repentance from His servants and takes the Sadaqa, and that Allah Alone is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, the Most Merciful.” (9:104).

TAWBA (REPENTANCE) AND MA'RIFA (DIVINE GNOSIS)

Divine Gnosis (Ma’rifa) is the last station of the Deen and Repentance (Tawba) is the first, but Tawba is better than Ma’rifa because Gnosis is the result of repentance – although the reality of repentance is repentance from repentance – and this is not possible without Ma‘rifa!

This is what was alluded to by Shaykh al-Khatm Ahmad al-Tijani(RA) when he said, “I did not achieve the degree of repentance.”, meaning that he was repentant from seeing his Tawba. As long as the servant sees himself in the act of repentance, he has not achieved the (real) degree of Tawba!"

— Taken from “THE THREE STATIONS OF THE DEEN (MAQAAMAAT AD-DEEN ATH-THALAATHA)”

By: Shaykh Al-Islam Ibrahim Niasse (RA)

Sourced from: Kitab Jawahir ar-Rasa’il (The Book of Essential Letters)
Compiled by: Shaykh Ahmad Abu’l Fat’hi

Interpreted from the Arabic by: Imam Muhammad Abdullahi al-Tijani al-Ibrahimi

SUFI BOOKS BY/ON SHAYKH IBRAHIM NIASSE AND THE TIJANI TARIQA (AVAILABLE FOR SALE)

1. Vessel of Spiritual Flood, Translation of Goran Faydah by Shaykh Balarabe Haroon Jega - (Translated by Khalifah Awwal Baba Taofiq)

2. Rihlat Konakriyah (A trip to Conakry), Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse - (Translated by Khalifah Awwal Baba Taofiq)

3. Shariah and Haqeeqah: In the Light of the Qur'an and the Prophetic Traditions (Compiled by Khalifah Awwal Baba Taofiq)

4. The Icon of Mystics: Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse Al-Kawlakhy (Compiled by Khalifah Awwal Baba Taofiq)

5. Dala'ilu l khairat of Shaikh Sulaiman Jazuli (Arabic text, Translation, Transliteration by Imam Marooph Raji)

6. Hizbu Sayfi & Hizbul Mughni (Arabic text, Translation, Transliteration by Imam Marooph Raji)

7. Hizbul Bahri (Arabic text, Translation, Transliteration by Imam Marooph Raji)

8. Kano Conferences (Majlis Kano) and the khutba titled (Hadiqat al-Anwar fii ma ihtawa alayhi qawaaid al-Islam minal hikam wal asrar) - (Translated by Sayyidah Bilqis Grillo)

9. Katsina and Kaduna Conferences (Jadhbul ahbab ila hadrat Rabbil arbab) and Mecca Conference - (Translated by Sayyidah Bilqis Grillo)

10. A Brief Biography of the Shaykh al-Islam Ibrahim Niasse (Compiled by Sayyidah Bilqis Grillo)

11. Risalat at-Tawbah (Epistle of Repentance) of Shaykh Ibrahim Niyass al-Kawlakhi" – (Translation & Commentary by Dr. Razzaq Solagberu)

12. Islamic Law of Inheritance, by Sayyid Ali ibn Abubakar al-Muthanna ibn Abdullah Niasse (Translated by Dr. Sulaiman Shittu)

13. Muassasah Nasr al-'ilm Int. (AAII) Magazines No. 13, 14& 15 (with Articles like Outline of Life of Sufi Heros & Heroines like Shaikh Ibrahim Niasse, Shaikh Abdus-Salam Oniwiridi Pakata, Shaikh Muhammad Bello Eleha, Shaikh Ahmad Rufa'i Nda Salati, and others...this magazines also features other interesting Articles).

14. Numerous “English” Sufism & Tijaniyyah Tariqah E-books/Journals/Articles (soft copies - to be sent via email)

15. Numerous “Arabic” Sufism & Tijaniyyah Tariqah E-books/Journals/Articles (soft copies - to be sent via email)

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