SHAYKH IBRAHIM NIASSE'S WORKS: INTERPRETATION FROM ARABIC: January 2019

ON THE THREE (3) “MEANS OF APPROACH” (WASA'IL) MENTIONED IN QUR’AN & ANNIHILATION (FANA'A) OF THE EGO

Khutbah of Shaykh Al-Islam Ibrahim Niasse (RA)

Source: 'Jawahir Ar-Rasa'il'

Translated by: Imam Muhammad Abdullahi (USA)

ON THE THREE (3) “MEANS OF APPROACH” (WASA'IL) MENTIONED IN QUR’AN

Khutbah of Shaykh Al-Islam Ibrahim Niasse (RA)

Everything which we are seeking in this life and the Hereafter is to be found in Taqwa! Therefore I advise myself and all of you to have the conscious awareness of Allah--in pubic and private. Again Taqwa is to obey the commands and avoid the prohibitions of Allah--inwardly and outwardly. Allah Ta’ala says, “O you who believe! Have conscious awareness of Allah and keep your duty to Him, and seek the means of approach to Him.”(5:35). Therefore, if you are desiring to acquire Taqwa you must seek that which will connect you to its attainment, and there are three (3) Wasa’il mentioned in the Holy Qur’an:

1.) To follow the Messenger of Allah(SAWS) in all of his words and actions. Surely, this is a “means of approach” to Allah, Glorious and Exalted is He! “Say to mankind: ‘If you (really) love Allah then follow me, and Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”(3:31). The Messenger of Allah (SAW) is saying that if you love Allah, then follow him! Whosoever follows the Messenger in his words and actions will obtain the love of Allah! Allah says in a Hadith Qudsi, “When I love him, I become him.” If Allah loves someone He will become his hearing, his seeing, his speaking, his hands and his feet! This is the beginning of Sainthood (Bidayat al-Wilaya) and this is the best “means of approach” (Wasila al-Wasila).

2.) The Holy Qur’an itself is the second “means of approach”. The Remembrance of Allah, Glorious & Exalted is He, has no other aim and purpose besides the Countenance of Allah. “Keep yourself patiently with those who call on their Lord morning and evening, seeking His Face; and let not your eyes overlook them, desiring the pomp and glitter of the life of this world; and obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our Remembrance, and who follows his own lusts, and whose affair has been lost.” (18:28). In other words, imprison your egos (Ahbasa Nafsuka) along with those who remember Allah, morning and evening, and have no other purpose (in this) but seeking His Face, Glorious & Exalted is He! Surely, this is a “means of approach” which will connect the servant to Allah, Glorious & Exalted is He!

3.) Companionship with a Gnostic Saint (‘Arif Billah). Allah says, “And follow the path of him who turns to Me in repentance and obedience.”(31:15). Whosoever turns to Allah in the totality of his spiritual states is to be considered an ‘Arif Billah, because there is nothing remaining of this person except Allah! So whosoever keeps the companionship of such a person will have found the “means of approach” which will connect you to Allah, Glorious & Exalted is He!

The reality of “Existence” (Haqiqat al-Kawn) is (to be considered) everything other-than Allah; Existence and Man him-“self”, but Man desires union with Allah (al-Insan yurid al-Wusul ila Allah) although between him-“self” and Allah are veils (Hijab). The “veil” which is blocking man is (only) “Existence” itself! If a person persists in the Dhikr of Allah, Glorious & Exalted is He!, along with presence of heart, he will find “existence” vanishing from before him and he will attain union with Allah! He will find “existence” “…like a mirage in a desert. The thirsty one thinks it to be water until he comes up to it, he finds it to be nothing; but he finds Allah with him!”(24:39). The “Greatest Shaykh” (Shaykh al-Akbar), Muhyideen ibn al’Arabi al-Hatimi(RA) has said:

“Whosoever has been enlightened to see ‘existence’ (al-Kawn) as a mirage, has surely been elevated (to see) beyond the veil!”

The Complete Shaykh (Shaykh al-Kamil) is the one who--when a disciple comes to him seeking union with Allah--the very first thing he orders is to engage in abundant Dhikr of Allah until he attains the Presence of Allah, according to the path of the annihilation of the ego (Tariqa al-Fana’). That is because unless the servant experiences the extinction of himself in the Essence of Allah, he will never obtain the perfection of faith! For as long as the “veil” remains, there also remains a type of punishment which will overtake the servant. “Nay! Surely, they will be veiled from seeing their Lord that Day. Then verily, they will indeed enter the burning flame of the Hellfire.”(83:15-16). So wherever there is the “veil”, there also is the punishment! But if (the disciple) persists in the Dhikr of Allah, he will become annihilated (to existence)!

ON THE THREE (3) TYPES OF SPIRITUAL ANNIHILATION (FANA’):

1.) Annihilation in the Acts of Allah (Fana’ fi’l Af’al).
2.) Annihilation in the Attributes of Allah (Fana’ fi’s Sifat).
3.) Annihilation in the Essence of Allah (Fana’ fi’l Dhat).

Many of the Believers have attained the station of annihilation in the Acts of Allah. Whosoever knows that there is no “Doer” in existence except Allah, this is the one who is annihilated in the Acts of Allah. Indeed, many of the common believers have obtained this degree of annihilation.

I told my students, in one of the lessons on Arabic Grammar, that the grammarians say: “The Doer in reality is Allah, even if He engenders the action metaphorically by means of an agent, for the One Who engenders the action is inseparable from the action performed.” That is because it all is Allah! The “Doer” in reality is Allah (al-Fa’il Haqiqatun) and the metaphorical agent (al-Fa’il Majazan) who (appears) to “do” the action, is also Allah! Whosoever knows that there is no “Doer” in existence except Allah has attained the annihilation in the Acts of Allah--in the Presence of the Acts of Allah (Fi Hadrat al-Af’al)-- and this person has found some of the true Faith (which is required).

If the person attains the station of annihilation in the Attributes (Fana’ fi’s Siffat), he has indeed ascended to a higher station. The Attributes of Allah are well-known to all of us, as we have studied the books of Tawhid which begin by enumerating His (Essential) Attributes:

1.) Power (Qudrat)

2.) Will (Irada)

3.) Knowledge (‘Ilm)

4.) Life (Hayat)

5.) Hearing (Sami’a)

6.) Seeing (Basar)

7.) Speech (Kalam)

When we have assigned each of these (Essential) Attributes of Allah to Him Alone, we have attained to the station of annihilation in the Attributes of Allah. The ‘Ulama have settled for us in our elementary teaching that there is no power, will, knowledge, life, hearing, seeing, or speech except that of Allah! Therefore, whosoever attains (the real knowledge of this) has arrived to the station of Fana’ fi’s Sifat! If someone persists onward in Tarqiyya and is elevated beyond this, he will attain to the station of annihilation in the Essence of Allah (Fana’ fi’l Dhat).

Imam Muhammad Abdullahi (USA)

Pristine Sufism Production;

FB group: www.facebook.com/groups/pristinesufism

FB page: www.facebook.com/pristinesufism

Email: smilebak2004@gmail.com

Call/WhatsApp: +2348034656467

https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=2348034656467

DOWNLOAD PDF

SUFI LITERATURE AND PRAYER BOOKS COLLECTION (AVAILABLE FOR ORDER)

A Practical Guide on the Wird (Litany) of the Tariqah Faydah Tijaniyyah (The Adherent's Handbook)....by Sayyidah Bilqees Bolajoko Grillo at-Tijani

Sayidat Rabiat Adawiyat (RA) - (by Sayyid Ahmad Bello As-Suufi Harazimi)

*SALAT ALA NABIYY (PRAYER UPON PROPHET) COLLECTION/SERIES*

Available for order and worldwide delivery....

1. It'haful muhtaaj bi tarfat al hajj fi salvation alaa saahibi taaj....by Shaikh Abubakar Atiku

2. Majmuu' kutubu thalatha....by Sheikh Aliyyu Harazim (kano).

3. Jaami'u salawaat alaa nabiyy....by Sheikh Aliyyu Harazim (kano).

4. Sullamu l muhibeena ilaa hadrat khairul mursaleen....by Sheikh Aliyyu Harazim (kano).

5. Salat qadaa'i l hawaa'ij....by Sheikh Aliyyu Harazim (kano).

6. Sirrul asraar fii salaat alaa Jaami'u l anwaar....by Sheikh Aliyyu Harazim (kano).

7. Mataalib al abd fii salaat alaa afdal mash'had....by Seyyid Hussein ibn Ilyas al-harazimi.

8. 'Awaa-idu l barakat fi fawaaidul waraqaat min hadrat Mawlana al-Arif billah Shaykh Aliyyu Harazim

9. Jihazu Sarih of Sheu Gibrima

10. Hizbu suwar al maneehi....by Sheu Gibrima

11. Nataij safar....by Sheu Gibrima

12. Itbaau tazyeel....by Sheu Gibrima

13. Sidratul muntaha....by Sheu Gibrima

14. Tazyeel wa tahaqeeb....by Sheu Gibrima

To order for copies;

Call/Whatsapp: +2348034656467

Or click

https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=2348034656467

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Ismaeelbakare

Email: smilebak2004@gmail.com

NEW BOOKS AVAILABLE

1. Sayyida Fatimat Zahara (The Rose): The Beloved Daughter of the Holy Prophet (SAW) - (by Sayyid Ahmad Bello As-Suufi Harazimi)

2. Sheikh Ahmad Tijani and his Spiritual Path (Tariqat) - (by Sayyid Ahmad Bello As-Suufi Harazimi)

3.Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse's Annual Mawlid Nabiyy Lectures at Senegal - Arabic text & English Translation.

4. Selected Prayer Poems (Qasaa'id) of Shaikh Ibrahim Niasse from Kanzul Masun - Arabic, Transliteration & English Translation.

5. Jawahir Rasail (A Collection of Priceless Expositions via Letters "Letters 1 to 10"): Diamond Sparkles - Arabic text, English Translation and Commentary by Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse

6. Tahniah (Congratulatory Ode) of Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse to the Prophet Muhammad (Part 1) – Selected, Transliterated & Translated by Alhaji Abdul-Quadri Okeneye

5. Handbook for Every Tijaniyyat - (Compiled by Sayyid Ahmad Bello As-Suufi Harazimi)

Other available books

1. Tafsir al-Jalalayn...warsh
2. Quran...written in warsh style with hausa leather pouch

3.Quran....very old (500years old) handwritten manuscript...written in warsh with hausa leather pouch

4. Diya at-Ta’wil fi Ma’ani at-Tanzil (hafs)...Published copy the tafsir by Abdullahi bin Fodio
5. Shifaa Qadi Iyadh (warsh)

And many other books are available

To get copies...contact the above links

CLASSICAL QUR'ANIC CALLIGRAPHY & MANUSCRIPTS (Available for order)

1. Qur’an (warsh) - Handwritten, with Barnawi/Kanawi calligraphic style (neatly wrapped in a leather skin-bag)

2. Qur’an (warsh) - Handwritten (Over centuries old manuscript, loosely bounded in leather case)

3. Qur’an (warsh) - Electronic print

4. Dalail al-khayrat (warsh) - Electronic print

5. Shifaa of Qadhi Iyadh (warsh) - Electronic print

6. Fii Riyadh Tafsir of Sheikh Ibrahim Niasse (7volumes)

7. Majmuu’at at-ta‘areef bi Shaikh Ibrahim Niasse (7volumes)

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

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

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

4. Hizbu Suwar al Manee'hi – ‘Arabic (composed like Hizbu Sayfi)’ (by Shk. Muhammad Gibrima)

5. Sidratul Muntaha ad-daa'een– ‘Arabic’ (by Muhammad Gibrima)

6. Jihazu Sarih – ‘Arabic prayer book on Salatul fat’hi’ (by Shk. Muhammad Gibrima)

7. Tibbul faa'ihi – ‘Arabic prayer book on Salatul fat’hi’ (by Shk. Abdul-Waahid Nazeefii)

8. Nataa'ij Safar – ‘Arabic prayer book on Salatul fat’hi’ (by Shaikh Muhammad Gibrima)

9. Itbaau Tazyeel – ‘Arabic prayer book on Salatul fat’hi’ (by Shaikh Muhammad Gibrima)

10. Sirrul Jaleel fii l Khawaas 'Hasbunallahu wa ni'mal Wakeel (by Shaikh Abul Hassan Shadhili)

11. Afdalu Salawaat ala Sayyidi Saadaat – ‘Arabic collection of Salat upon the Prophet’ (Shaikh Yusuf ibn Ismaa'eel an-Nabahani)

12. Kanzul Masun wa luuluu l Maknuun – ‘Arabic collection of prayers written by Shaikh Ibrahim Niasse. Compiled by Imam Hassan Cisse’.

13. Ahzab wa Awrad (Litanies) of Shaikh Ahmad Tijani

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. 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)

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

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

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

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

10. 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).

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

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

To order for copies (of books), contact;

Email:

smilebak2004@gmail.com

Call/Whatsapp:

+2348034656467

Facebook:

Isma'eel Bakare

www.facebook.com/Ismaeelbakare