Today's discourse revolves around a question:
Is a Peer also a teacher or instructor?
My revered (ruh·veered) Peer-o-Murshid, Khawaja Shaikh Muhammad Farooq Shah Qadri al-Chishti Adil Fehmi Nawazi Maroof Peer Madzillahul Aali, answers this question in his renowned (ruh·nawnd) and famous book "Nisab-e-Tasawwuf" by stating that some people who are ignorant understand the Peer to be like a teacher or instructor. However, this is not the way of our Khwajgan-e-Chisht (Chisti Peers). Here, the disciple is the lover, and the Peer is the beloved. We do not consider anyone to be equal to the Peer. Understanding anyone to be superior to the Peer is far from our belief. We would never say that Junayd and Bayazid were greater than our Peer. We believe we see and know the Peer, the Prophet, and Allah as one.
Hazrat Maulana Rumi (Rahmatullah Alaih) says:
"Har ke pir o zaat-e-haq ra yak na deed,
ne mureed o ne mureed o ne mureed."
Meaning:
Whoever does not perceive the Peer's essence as the essence of Allah,
is not a disciple, is not a disciple, is not a disciple.
Let us reflect on some key points from his answer.
Firstly, you clearly stated that those who understand the Peer as a teacher or instructor are ignorant. This means they do not know the Peer’s position. There is no comparison between them. Remember, while a teacher or instructor has its own significance, a Peer cannot be equated to a teacher or instructor. A Peer holds a far higher status. While a teacher or instructor educates and trains oneself, a Peer provides spiritual training. Insha Allah, as I explain the significance of the Peer further, you will easily distinguish between a teacher or instructor and a Peer.
Secondly, you explained the importance of the Peer by saying that here the disciple is the lover and the Peer is the beloved. This means it is a matter of divine love, and in love, the beloved holds the utmost importance and highest status for the lover. And a lover never considers anyone to be equal to their beloved. No matter how beautiful or splendid the beloved may be, a lover does not consider anyone superior to their beloved. That is why you say that we would never say that Junayd and Bayazid were greater than our Peer.
Understand the third and most crucial point.
Who does not know Hazrat Maulana Rumi Rahmatullah Alaih today? How did you transition from an Islamic scholar to a Wali Allah (divine friend of Allah)? You state:
"Be joze az Shams-e-Tabrizi nabud
dar khursh-e-chashm-e-man andar do jahan."
Meaning:
Except for Shams Tabrizi (Rahmatullah Alaih), in both worlds, there was no one worthy of my gaze.
These verses reflect Hazrat Maulana Rumi’s deep devotion and love for Shams Tabrizi Rahmatullah Alaih, indicating that Shams Tabrizi Rahmatullah Alaih was a unique personality who held importance in both spiritual and material worlds for him.
In another place, he says:
“Mawlawī hargiz na shud Mula-e-Room
ta ghulām-e-Shams-e-Tabrīzī na shud.”
Meaning:
A scholar could never become Mula-e-Room until he became the devoted servant of Shams Tabrizi Rahmatullah Alaih. This means that no scholar (moulvi) can attain the status of a true spiritual master, i.e., Maula-e-Roomi until he becomes a sincere servant of Shams-e-Tabrizi Rahmatullah Alaih. To achieve the transformation and spiritual light that comes from Shams-e-Tabrizi Rahmatullah Alaih, one needs a true submission similar to that of Maulana Rumi Rahmatullah Alaih. As we have heard, to gain something, one must lose something. My Peer-o-Murshid, Maroof Peer Madzillahul Aali, says that to gain everything, one must lose everything.
Then, he states:
"Har ke pir wa zaat-e-haq ra yak na deed,
ne mureed o ne mureed o ne mureed."
Meaning:
Whoever does not perceive the Peer's essence as the essence of Allah,
is not a disciple, is not a disciple, is not a disciple.
Hazrat Maulana Rumi Rahmatullah Alaih clearly states that one is not a disciple who does not see the essence of Peer and Allah as one. We see and know our Peer, Prophet, and Allah as one.
I hope today’s discourse has been clear to you and that your divine love for your Peer has grown. Love and respect are the two wings with which a disciple soars to spiritual progress. In this path of spirituality, hold firmly to your Peer’s teachings with love and respect.
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