Abu Hafsat

As-Salaam alaikum, Rakb al-Misri reported that the Messenger of Allah, Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam, said:-- "I bring good tidings to the one who is humble while mindful of the honor of being created a human being; also to the one who has given up self-regard, yet does not beg for favors; to the generous one who spends freely for Allah's sake from what he possesses; to the one who is compassionate to those in need; to the one who seeks company of the wise and knowledgeable. I bring good tidings to the one who gains his livelihood lawfully with his own hands; to the one who cleanses his heart; to the one whose inner beauty shines in his face; to the one who holds back his anger; to the who does not say what is not to be said; and to the knower who acts upon his knowledge." (Tabarani)

As-Salaam alaikum, Verse/ayat 57 of chapter 51 of the Holy Qur'an reads:-- "No sustenance do I require of them, nor do I require that they should feed Me." (Zariyat 51:57) This establishes the fact that Almighty Allah is free of needs and by definition beyond the concerns of whether man worships or serves Him or not. Man, however, for his/our own sake, needs to establish a relationship to Allah. This relationship is that of Abudiyyah (servitude)... says the Qur'an:-- "I have only created jinns and men, that they may serve Me" (51:56) Hidden, but discernible in this unique relationship of abject servitude, only to Allah, is the secret of the ultimate freedom of man from all other bondages. This servant of Allah, His sincere bondsman, is free of all earthly gods and goddesses.. be they of power, wealth, race, color or beauty. We must serve Allah Ta'ala and turn to Him for guidance in all our endevours. Best Regards.

As-Salaam alaikum, It is my pleasure to share with you the following great, inspiring words from Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazzali, may Allah be Merciful to him:-- "If you want to get the benefits of medicine, first purge your bowels and clear it from congested stools. Similarly, clear your soul first from passion and greed and then take the medicine of Zikr. When Zikr enters such a heart which is free from thoughts other than God, the devil flees away from it, as disease goes away if medicine falls in a stomach free of food." "The devil moves in man like the circulation of blood. Make his circulation narrow by hunger. The reason is that hunger cures sexual passion, which is the weapon of the devil." "The Prophet, Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam, said: 'Allah says: 'Poverty is my prison and disease is my chain. I inflict a servant whom I love with these.' When there is prevention of sin in disease, what greater good can there be than this? There is peace of mind in giving up sins. A certain religious man asked someone: 'How are you? He said: I am in peace of mind. He said if you have not committed sins, you are then in peace of mind. If you commit sins, then what disease is greater than sins? He who commits sins is deprived of good." SOURCE: 'Ihya Ulumiddin, Vol. 3 and 4 translated by Maulana Fazlul Karim (1986)

As-Salaam alaikum, The other day, I was reading parts of the book titled 'Al-Ghunya Li Talib Tareeq al-Haqq ..Sufficient Provision For the Seekers of Path of Truth' by Sayyadi Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, may Allah be Merciful to him, and the passage below caught my attention, which I am glad to share with you:-- "This world is an Ocean, and your faith [Imaan] is its ship. This is why Luqman the Wise [al-Hakim], may Allah's Mercy be upon him, said: 'O my dear son, this world is an ocean. Faith is the ship. The sailor is your obedient worship [ta'at]. The shore is the Hereafter.' O you who persist in sinful disobedience! Coming to you very soon are blindness and deafness, old age and poverty, and the hardening of people's heart toward you. Your possessions will all be gone because of losses, confiscations and thefts. Be sensible. Repent to your Lord (Almighty and Glorious is He). Do not make idols of your possessions and put trust in them. Do not become attached to them. Evict them from your heart. Keep them in your houses and your pockets, and with your servants and your agents. Be ready for death, diminish your appetite and reduce your expectations.'' Abu Yazid al-Bistami, may Allah be Merciful to him, is reported as having said: ''The experienced believer [al-mu'min al-arif] seeks nothing of the hereafter from Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He). All he seeks from his Master is his Master.. [innama yatlubu min Mawlahu Mawlahu].''

As-Salaam alaikum, In Sunan Tirmidhi is the Noble Hadith where the Messenger of Allah, Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam, is asked: 'Where was Allah, Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala, before the creation of the Universe?' He replied:- 'He was in the 'Ama.' It goes on to say that it had no aboveness or belowness... is incomprehensible. In other words, it was a premordial non-spatiality in non-time. Sayyadina Ali Ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him and ennoble his face, was asked the same question and after a long silence he said:- 'To ask where was Allah is to ask of a place. Now Allah was- but there was no space. Then He created time/space and He is now as He was before time/space.' Culled from:- 'The Hundred Steps', by Sheikh Abd al-Qadir As-Sufi.

As-Salaam alaikum, In the universal religion of Islam, there are 3 dimensions that encompass the outward and inward expressions of the belief system. These 3 dimensions are:-- (1) Islam-- This is based on Tawheed (belief in the Oneness and Uniqueness of Allah); five daily prayers, offering of Zakkat (almsgiving), fasting in the monthof Ramadan, and performing pilgrimage to Makkah. These are known as the 'five pillars' of Islam.... the building blocks of the domain of knowledge, which later came to be called Islamic Jurisprudence or Shari'ah. (2) The second dimension is that of Imaan (faith). This is an expression of a specific conviction in the belief in Allah (God), His Messengers, His Angels, the Last Day of Judgement, His Books and the good and evil fate as ordained by Allah Ta'ala. These form the core of Islamic Theology, which was elaborated by theologians. The tow dimensions above (Islam and Imaan) both teach us that religious practice and belief system are interrelated and are incomplete without each other. (3) The third dimension is Ihsan, which in the words of the Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam, means to: "Worship Allah as if you see Him, for if you see Him not, yet He sees you." Ihsan reminds us, Muslims, that we are always in the Presence of Allah and that one should consider this Presence in all his thoughts and actions. Thus Ihsan adds spirituality to the religion.

As-Salaam alaikum, In ayat/verse 11 of chapter 42 of the Holy Qur'an, Allahu Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala says:-- "There is nothing like Him... Laysa Ka Mislihi Shay'un" (Ash-Shuraa- 42:11) Indeed, nothing in existence resembles Allah Ta'ala in any manner. He does not resemble anything from His creation, nor does anything resemble Him. Attributes of Allah are Eternal; Pre-Existent, while attributes of creations are never free of causality and effect. In this regards, Al-Waasiti, said may Allah be Merciful to him, that there is no essence like His [Allah's] Essence; there is no name like His Name; no action like His action; and there is no attribute like His Attribute except from the perspective of verbal expression alone. Note that whenever Allah, Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala, describes Himself with a 'face', 'hand' 'two hands' or a 'foot'.... that still is as He describes Himself without 'how-ness' in accordance with what He says, and with a meaning that He alone means. For each of these attributes fall under the transcendence of His words: "Laysa Ka Mislihi Shay'un...There is nothing like Him". Ibn al-Athir said: "Everything which is transmitted in the Qur'an and Prophetic traditions related to hand, hands or other than these from the names of bodily limbs connected to Allah, Azzah Wa Jallah, then it is transmitted by way of metaphor and symbolism, because Allah is absolutely free of resemblance and incarnated substantiation. This is true simply because "Laysa Kamislihi Shay'un...There is nothing like Him."

As-Salaam alaikum, Verse/ayat 103 of chapter six of the Holy Qur'an reads:-- "No vision [eyes] can grasp Him, But He sees [grasps] all eyes: He is above all comprehension." (6:103) In other words, no sight can reach Allah Ta'ala, while He is in all that sees. In this regards, Sheikh Ibn Arabi, may Allah be Merciful to him observes that "No eyes can see Him, so no one can perceive Him. He is the only existence, and if no one can see Him,then there is no one besides Him. If there were other existences besides Allah, they should have been able to see Him. So the meaning of ''the eyes cannot see Him.." is that there is no existence other than His. The eyes cannot see Him because the eyes are created..." SOURCE: 'Divine Governance Of The Human Kingdom', by Ibn Arabi (Fons Vitae, 1997).

As-Salaam alaikum, Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Noble Prophet, Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam, said:-- "He who relieves the distress of a believer, Allah will relieve his distress on the Day of Judgement; he who lessens the hardship of an indigent, Allah will lighten his hardship in the life beyond; he who does not expose the fault of any Muslim, Allah will cover his weaknesses in both worlds; Allah assists a person so long he continues assisting fellow Muslims; he who undertakes a journey in search of knowledge for him Allah will smoothen his way to Paradise; if a group studies or teaches Qur'an in the house of Allah [masjid or madrasa], on it descends tranquility and the grace of Allah covers it, and angels surround it. Allah mentions their names with appreciation to angels close to Him. But he who is negligent in performance of good deeds, his lineage will avail him not." (Sahih Muslim).

As-Salaam alaikum, Ali Ibn Abi-Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, quotes the Messenger of Allah, Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam, as having said:-- "There is none whose final abode is not known to Allah from beforehand- whether it is going to be Hell or Heaven." The audience said, "Should we not then hang on to the scroll of destiny and suspend action?" The Messenger of Allah, Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam, stated: "No, do your part for what is pre-ordained for one has been made easy for him. If he is fortunate, the path of goodness has been smoothened for him but if he is doomed, evil deeds are equally facile to him." He then recited the ayat/verse, "But as for him who gives (in charity) and fears (Allah), and accepts whatever is good, We surely will smoothen the path of happiness." (Bukhari and Muslim).

As-Salaam alaikum, Sayyada Umm Hani, may Allah be pleased with her, said:-- "The Messenger of Allah passed by me one day and I said, "Ya Rasulullah, I am old and weak, so command me something I can do sitting." He said, "Say:-- SUBHANALLAH [Glory be to Allah] 100 times: It is equal to 100 slaves of the descendants of Isma'il you set free. Say: 'ALHAMDU LILLAH [Praise be to Allah] 100 times: It is equal to 100 horses saddled and bridled and ridden in the Way of Allah. Say: ALLAHU AKBAR [Allah is the Greatest] 100 times: It is equal to 100 camels garlanded and facing qibla. Say: LA-ILAHA ILLALLAHU [There is no god but Allah] 100 times (I think he said) it fills up what is between heaven and earth. On that day, no one will have a better action presented than that which will be presented for you, unless be brings the like of what you bring." (Ahmad, at-Tabarani, al-Bayhaqi).

As-Salaam alaikum, The first, opening chapter/Surat of the Holy Qur'an...the Fatihah...encompasses four kinds of sciences, which are the very anchor of the religion of Islam. These are:-- (1) The science of the foundations, beliefs and knowledge of Allah Ta'ala and His attributes. This is indicated by His words in the Fatiha: 'ALHAMDU LILLAHI, RABBIL ALAMEEN; AR-RAHMANI RAHEEM' [All Praises are due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds; the Beneficent the Merciful]' Knowledge of Prophet-hood and this is what is intended by Allah's words: 'LAZINA AN 'AMTA ALAIHIM' [those You have favored; Knowledge of the contract to the Final End, indicated by His words: 'MALIKI YAUMI-D-DEEN' [King of the Day of Judgement]. (2) The science of the religion and its cognomen is worship, and it is what is meant His words: 'IYAKA NA' ABUDU' [It is You that we worship] (3) The science which brings about perfection of character. Its root is arrival at the Eternal Presence, encountering the focal point of Divine Uniqueness, traveling its path and being upright in it. This is indicated by Allah's Words: 'WA IYAKA NASTA'EEN, IHDINAA SIRADAL-MUSTAQEEM' [and it is You we seek help. Guide us on the Straight Path]' (4) The science of narrated stories and transmitted news about foregone religious communities, the blessed among them and the wretched, as well as what they achieved from the promises of the spiritually excellent and threats of the evil among them. This is what is intended by His words: 'LAZINA AN 'AMTA ALAIHIM, GHAIRUL MAGRUUBI ALAIHIM, WALA RLALEEN' [Those You have favored, and not those who have incurred Your anger, nor those who have gone astray]'.

As-Salaam alaikum, Sometimes, the thought may occur in some minds that what would they need Du'a (supplication) for, when everything is destined to happen the way Allah Ta'ala has ordained!! No, that is a wrong perception to adopt. Du'a/Prayer/Supplication includes averting affliction; it is a means of turning aside tribulation and drawing the Divine Mercy, just as a shield is a means of deflecting arrows; and water a means of bringing forth herbage from the earth. Just as a shield turns aside arrows and they offset each other, so too supplication (Du'a) and affliction compensate each other. It is not a condition for believing in the Destiny of Allah Most High that one unarmed, for Allah has said:- "TAKE DUE PRECAUTION" (4:71) or that one should not water land after seeding, saying: 'If previously destined the crop will grow, and if not previously destined it will not'. Rather, the conjoining of causes and effects is the premordial destiny that was accomplished "IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE OR EVEN FASTER" (16:77). So, stick to Du'a always...regularly as the Prophet, Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam, said: - "Du'a is worship.." he also said: "Whoever does not ask Allah, He becomes angry with him." Best Regards.

As-Salaam alaikum, Ali Ibn Abi-Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Holy Prophet, Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam, once said that for every Prophet there were seven (7) selected guardians (Nujaba' Ruqaba), but I have been given fourteen (14) instead. When we asked as to who they were, he replied:- " I myself, my two sons [Hassan and Hussein], Jafar, Hamzah, Abu Bakr, Umar, Mus'ab Ibn Umair, Bilal, Salman, Ammar, Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud, Abu Dharr and Miqdad." (Tirmidhi; Bab Manaqib Ahlpil-Bait). The secret implied in this Hadith is that for every Prophet, it is necessary to have some persons in his company, such that there should be some to acquire some share of wisdom from him, while others receive from him a portion of giving instruction. Others also may take to science of jurisprudence, holy war (Jihad), and other religious matters. The reason behind all this being that every perfection which the Prophet, Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam, acquired could thereby be represented in a most distinguished manner.

As-Salaam alaikum, The Holy Prophet, Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam, once advised his beloved wife, Sayyada A'isha, may Allah be pleased with her, saying:-- "O A'isha! Before you sleep you should perform 4 deeds:-- You should complete the recital of the Holy Qur'an. You should make sure that the Prophets intercede for you on the Day of Judgement. You should make sure that the entire Muslim Ummah is happy, and You should perform the Hajj and Umrah." She asked him as to how it was possible to complete all these deeds before going to sleep. The Prophet, Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam, smiled and replied:-- "O A'isha, When you read Surah Ikhlas 3 times, then it is as if you have read the entire Qur'an. When you read the prayer for blessings and peace upon me and all the preceding Prophets [Salaat ala Nabiy a ala Nabi''eena wal-Mursaleen], then we will certainly intercede for you on the Day of Judgement. When you make Du'a for all the Muslims, they will be happy with you. When you read the following: 'SUBHANALLAHI, WAL HAMDULILLAHI, WALA ILAHA ILLALLAHU, WALLAHU AKBAR', then it is as if you have performed Hajj and Umrah." (Durratun Naasiheen, page 89). We should as well adopt this good work/deed accordingly. Best Regards.

As-Salaam alaikum, Some people have this idea that if they love Allah Ta'ala, they will reap benefits, but this is self-interest, not love. Imam Rashid al-Din Maybudi, may Allah be Merciful to him, explains this point when he wrote that "when people choose someone for friendship, it is their habit to want every ease for their friend and not to let stormy winds blow over him/them. The Divine custom is contrary to this. Whenever He chooses someone for friendship, He sends the drink of tribulation with the robe of love. When the rank of someone is higher in the station of love, his tribulation is greater. This is why the Prophet (S.A.W) said, 'Surely the people most severely tried are the Prophets, then the Awliya, then the next best, then the next best.' For further reading on this, see the Imam's 'KASH AL-ASRAR WA'UDDAT AL-ABRAR- Unveiling of The Mysteries'.

As-Salaam alaikum, "And O you believers! Repent (and turn) ye all together towards Allah, that you may attain Bliss". (Nur- 24:31) Whoever wishes to reach Allah Ta'ala should enter from the gate of all gates-- Repentance. This is the first gate to be crossed by the servant when he seeks to enter the Presence of nearness to the Exaltation of the Lord of Heavens and Earth. The ayat quoted above indicates that repentance is an obligation, a duty. When inviting people to it, the Prophet, Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam, said:-- "The one who repents from his sin is as the one who is sinless; Repentance erases whatever has preceded it." And "Allah accepts the repentance of His bondsman until he is gasping [death rattle]." Know that repentance is an incumbent obligation, since the avoidance of sin and obedience to Allah are an unceasing duty. Let us repent, return to Allah Ta'ala by:-- (1) Regretting and show of remorse for disobedience. (2) Immediate abandonment of sin and (3) Determination not to sin again.

As-Salaam alaikum, According to modern science, the human body is made up of ten trillion cells, as a world million times greater than this world exists within the human body. The life span of each cell is not more than six months, within which each cell reproduces its exact replica and dies. A human being, therefore, sheds his dead cells everywhere; in his clothes, the bed he sleeps in, the places he visits, the routes that he takes... and in 6 months his entire body is renewed. This cycle continues till his death, and there are millions of deaths and millions of rebirths within him during a 24-hour span. If there is any deformity in any of the new cells, it is automatically corrected by an impulse from the brain. Scientists state that each cell contains a 'book' (DNA) within it which details every information pertaining to the individual, even to the extent that, when his first hair will grey or when his tooth will decay. All this can be read. Subhanallah!!... behold the Power of Allah, the All-Powerful, the Eternal. Indeed, He stated the truth in chapter 50 of the Holy Qur'an:-- "It was We who created man, and We know what dark suggestions his soul makes to him: for We are nearer to him than [his] jugular vein". (50:16) Even the jugular vein is composed of cells, and Allah Ta'ala, the Omnipotent who gives life and death to millions of cells in every individual at every instant, is much closer to man than his jugular vein. Be vigilant... keep to the tenets of the religion of Islam, as expounded in the Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam.

As-Salaam alaikum, In a Hadith related by Imam Bukhari in his Sahih, Umar Ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Messenger of Allah, Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam, said:-- "Indeed, actions only go by intentions. Everyone gets what they intend. Anyone, therefore, who emigrates [for] Allah and His Messenger, then his emigration is indeed for Allah and His Messenger. But anyone who emigrated to gain something of this world or to marry a woman, his emigration is for that for which he emigrated." Intention is a precondition for our works/actions: Wudu, Ghusul, Tayammum, Fasting, Zakkat, Retreat, Hajj, Sallah etc. In fact, intention (Niyyah) is to aim for the goal... It is the heart's resolve. In view of this, we should always have sincere intention when we come to perform any work of worship... do it for Allah's sake and in accordance with the Sunnah. Best Wishes.

As-Salaam alaikum, In response to his students spiritual and intellectual questions, Sheikh 'Ayn al-Qudat responded to them as in sample responses below, from which I believe we can still [today] benefit:-- (1) "O Friend! Should you have major sins (kaba'ir) which fill the heavens and the earth, Allah's mercy is more than them. And should you have acts of obedience which fills the heavens and the earth, next to His justice, they are but specks of grain.. keep your hearing and sight pure from what is inappropriate...keep your tongue pure from sins until you can read the Qur'an. Do not be heedless of your duty; "Invoke Allah with frequent invocation" (33:41) (2) "O Friend! I have written a piece of advice, namely that you give something in charity everyday, and not merely by way of habit. Obey Allah, however much you can. And charity is the best form of your obedience: 'and they spend from that which We have provided them' (2:3; 8:3) You have wealth, fame, power, the pen and speech. 'Show mercy to those below you, and the One above you will show mercy to you'. Spend whatever you have so that what you do not have will spent upon you." SOURCE: 'Ayn al-Qudat Between Divine Jealousy and Political Intrigue', by Muhammad Rustom, in Journal of Sufi Studies 7 (2018).

As-Salaam alaikum, Verse/ayat 37 of chapter 50 of the Holy Qur'an reads:-- "VERILY IN THIS IS A MESSAGE FOR ANY THAT HAS A HEART AND UNDERSTANDING; OR WHO GIVES EAR [listens] AND EARNESTLY WITNESSES (the truth)" (Qaf- 50:37) In the Islamic Tradition, listening is not only a sensory or mental act, but also a contemplative practice. Much about this, Imam al-Harith Ibn Asad al-Muhasibi (d. 243/857) may Allah be Merciful to him, in his book, 'Watchfulness In Observing God's Duties', observes:-- "He who, out of yearning for God, listens to God's Book, or to a word of wisdom, or to a portion of knowledge, or to a piece of counsel while not conversing with his self at all but [concentrating] his attention and allowing his heart to see what he hears, such a one will drive counsel and remembrances (from the words he hears), for they are God's words. God described the believers (as listeners) and Commanded them [to listen] saying:-- "My Servants who give ear to the Word and follow the fairest of it. Those are whom God has guided: those--they are men possessed of minds." (Zumara- 39:18) In other words, with our attentive hearing sense we can listen to Allah's words when reciting the Holy Qur'an, for example.... and with our heart we can witness what we hear from Him, Jallah-Jalalahu, who witnesses us at all times.

As-Salaam alaikum, In a Hadith related by Imam Bukhari in his Sahih, Umar Ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Messenger of Allah, Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam, said:-- "Indeed, actions only go by intentions. Everyone gets what they intend. Anyone, therefore, who emigrates [for] Allah and His Messenger, then his emigration is indeed for Allah and His Messenger. But anyone who emigrated to gain something of this world or to marry a woman, his emigration is for that for which he emigrated." Intention is a precondition for our works/actions: Wudu, Ghusul, Tayammum, Fasting, Zakkat, Retreat, Hajj, Sallah etc. In fact, intention (Niyyah) is to aim for the goal... It is the heart's resolve. In view of this, we should always have sincere intention when we come to perform any work of worship... do it for Allah's sake and in accordance with the Sunnah. Best Wishes.

As-Salaam alaikum, In the hadith-qudsi, commonly referred to in Islamic sources as hadith al-Nawafil (the tradition concerning supererogatory works), it was reported that:-- "Allah has said: Whoever treats a Friend (Wali) of mine with enmity, I declare war on him. There is nothing by which My servant draws close to Me than that which I have imposed upon him; and My servant does not cease to draw close to Me by supererogatory works (nawafil) until I love him, and when I love him, I become his hearing by which he hears, his sight by which he sees, his hand by which he forcibly seizes, and his leg by which he walks. If he asks Me, I give him, and if he seeks My refuge, I grant it to him. There is no action of mine in which I waver more than [taking] the soul of a believer: he hates dying, and I hate doing him wrong." (Bukhari No. 6502, al-Bazzar in Mu'azzasat 'Ulum al-Qur'an, 1988-2009, 15:270). Studying this hadith with an in-depth perspective, one cannot but conclude, as in Sheikh Ibn Arabi's Thought, that God Almight... Allahu, Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala, is the ultimate agent of all activity within creation; man should acknowledge that Allah is the true author of human actions and that we are nothing but an "instrument compelled by the hand of the Powerful Truth (haqq)", as is evident from the Nawafil tradition. The one who realizes this in all aspects of his or her life and being begins to see, hear and know by means of Allah Ta'ala... Allah becomes his very organs and faculties. This, however, does NOT imply that Allah 'dwells' in the organs of His servant, rather He assists the servant in obeying Him... the individual relinquishes his/her own will...resigns himself to the will of Allah.

As-Salaam alaikum, As we know it in Islam, Riya' (hypocrisy) is one of the secret sins of the heart, and often the perpetrator of riya' is self-deluded and hardly realizes his hypocrisy. Hypocrisy means that the state of the heart, in its intention and desires, does not correspond to the virtue of the outward act; it is the desire for something beside Allah Ta'ala, in serving Him, and the desire to gain something from men by that service to Allah; it is to do an action, outwardly for the glory of Allah, but with the intention of having glory of men. The Noble Prophet, Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam, said:-- "The thing most to be feared for my community is hypocrisy and secret desire." If man is not heedful of the direction of his secret desires, they will corrupt his service of Allah. In its most open form, hypocrisy is falsehood and in its most hidden form, it is guile. It is hidden from him who is neglectful and is manifest to him who searches for it with understanding knowledge; and he who knows the gravity of his need of it cleaves to sincerity, out of fear of hypocrisy.

As-Salaam alaikum, In ayat 15 of Surat Fatir of the Holy Qur'an, Allah Ta'ala says:-- "O mankind, you are impoverished with regard to Allah and Allah is Independently rich, the Praiseworthy." (35:15) On the meaning of the expression 'impoverished' Sheikh Ibn al-Arabi al-Hatimi, may Allah be Merciful to him, said that "the truly impoverished one is the one in dire need of everything and nothing is in need of him. This person is considered by the realized ones to be the pure unadulterated servant.." Sheikh Ibn'l-Hajj said regarding the meaning of the expression 'impoverished': "He is the one who has placed this world's life behind him, and has embarked upon his Hereafter, being totally preoccupied with his Lord. He thus embarks upon the correction of his soul and cleansing it from everything other than Allah." Sheikh Ibn Ajiba said: "As for the truly impoverished one, he is the one who is bereft of everything besides Allah.. the pre-requisites of the truly impoverished are four: (1) elevated spiritual enthusiasm (2) excellent service (3) having esteem for sanctity and (4) piercing spiritual resolve."