The Aspiration (2/5)

The Station of Love

4 - Those whose hearts the Divine has filled;

With devotion to Him and love for the Most-Merciful.

This station - which is the station of love (mahabbah) - is the bedrock of all stations; from it spring every righteous actions, all beneficial deeds and all the lofty stations.[1]

Love refers to the heart being attached to the beloved such that it needs this love and cannot do without it. This requires that the lover with old from all that the Beloved detests and hasten towards all that the Beloved is pleased  with, doing so readily, willingly and eagerly. If he speaks, he speaks for Allah. If he remains silent, he does so for Allah. If he moves, it is for Allah. If he remains still, it is for Him. This love then gives rise to a yearning and a restlessness for Allah, such that the lover never feels settled [unless in His devotion].

If it is said: Does love - which is the highest station - have any causes or means leading to it? It is said in reply: Allah has not made anything that is sought after, except that He has also made causes and means by which it can be acquired. From the greatest of these causes and means are: withholding from any statement, action or thought that will sever you from it; increasing in the remembrance of Allah with presence of heart; reflecting upon His noble Word; acknowledging the tremendous bounties that Allah has bestowed upon the servant; standing before Him with presence of heart and due etiquette; attending the gatherings of the lovers of Allah; and turning away from whatever will cut you off from any of this. Whoever does this will attain the love of Allah, if Allah Wills - and it is His aid that is sought.[2]

This is why I said:

The Station of Remembrance

5 - Those who remember Him and do so abundantly;

In private, public, at all times in continuance.

This is a noble station which each person is in need of; indeed it is a need which ranks above all other needs. The remembrance (dhikr) of Allah is the edifice of one's time. By it grief, anxiety and distress can be dispelled. With it joy and happiness can be obtained.  It cultivates barren hearts, makes healthy hearts resplendent, and it leads to the loftiest of stations. In it are benefits and virtues that cannot be enumerated. Allah, Exalted is He, said:

“O you who believe! Remember Allah abundantly, and glorify Him morning and evening.” [Surah al-Ahzab 33:41-42]

The Prophet sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam advised a man who asked: The duties of Islam are many for me, so instruct me? He replied: "Never let your tongue cease to be moist with the remembrance   of Allah.” [3]

He sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam [also] said: "The loners (mufarridun) lead the way.” We asked: Who are the loners? He replied: "Those men and women who remember Allah abundantly.”[4]

I composed the following lines of poetry:

Be one who remembers Allah under all conditions;

For the remembrance of Allah has no time restrictions.

The remembrance of the Deity, in private and public;

Will remove your anxiety and grief, and expel it.

Procuring both religious and worldly excellence;

Driving away [evil] whisperings  at their occurrence.

The Chosen One informed his Companions one day;

Abundant remembrance is why the loners lead the way.

To seek Allah's aid was Mu'adh's given legacy;

So as to remember, thank and worship Him beautifully.

He advised a person who sought sincere council;

Who was striving hard to carry out laws legal.

That let your tongue remain most with it;

This will aid every matter and facilitate it.

He informed  that dhikr is a plant for its people;

Cultivating Gardens eternal and abodes perpetual.

He informed that Allah mentions His servant;

And is with him in all matters, facilitating it.

If dhikr had no virtue fine;

Except being a path to loving the Divine.

Stopping the youth from backbiting and tale-carrying;

And from uttering  that which corrupts  their well-being.

A great acquisition and an incentive t'would be;

To engage in Allah's dhikr, abundantly.

But due to our ignorance our dhikr is rare;

Just as our worship of the Deity is rare.

The dhikr of Allah is a light (nur) for the one remembering Allah, in his heart, speech, grave, and on the Day of Resurrection.  And Allah's aid is sought. [5]

(Continued)