Seeker of Allah (Talib e Maula)
Talib e Maula (the seeker of Allah) desires nothing but Allah only. Quest (talb) is the desire and intention to seek something special and talib, meaning seeker is a person in quest of something. This desire only exists within humans. The quest for the recognition, vision and gnosis of Allah is known as the desire of Allah (talb e maula) and the one desirous of it is known as the seeker of Allah (Talib e maula) or more commonly Mystic traveller (salik) or disciple (talib or murid).
The world is divided into three categories of people:
SEEKERS OF THE WORLD
Seekers of the world are those who utilize all their knowledge, skill and expertise and struggles to attain material world and its luxuries. Surprisingly, they consider this as the aim of their life to the extent that even the aim of their invocation (dhikr / zikr) and contemplation (tasawur), prayers and devotion, recitals and all other mystic exercises is only to acquire and increase worldly assets and respect. Hence, their desire and happiness is only limited to this world and they are at peace with it.
SEEKERS OF THE HEREAFTER
Their focus is on making the hereafter a better place for themselves. Indeed for them, success means saving themselves from hell-fire and to get the bounties of the paradise and its castles and houris. Therefore, their devotions, mystic exercises, good-deeds, fasting, salat, hajj, zakat, invocations and glorifications are only to gain a happy life in the hereafter. Hence, they believe that this is the purpose of life.
SEEKERS OF ALLAH
The seekers of Allah are called Talib e Maula. As the reason for all their struggle, devotion and worship is only to seek vision, closeness and union with Allah. In fact, the seekers of Allah neither seek the pleasures of this world nor do they aspire to have bounties of paradise in the hereafter. As their goal is the Divine Essence and they are the seekers and lovers of Allah. Talib e Maula willingly sacrifice the desires of this world and the hereafter because of their love for Allah and remain desirous of His vision only. They are in continuous journey towards Allah.
“Mystics always instruct people to become the seeker of Allah.”
A Qudsi Hadith:
طَالِبُ الدُّنْیَا مُخَنَّثٌ وَ طَالِبُ الْعُقْبٰی مُؤَنَّثٌ وَ طَالِبُ الْمُولٰی مُذَکِّرٌ
Meaning: The seeker of the world is a dejected bisexual, the seeker of the hereafter is female and the seeker of Allah is male.
Sultan Bahoo said:
Who is a true man? The one who desires nothing but the Divine vision and neither he wants the pleasures and adornments of the world nor the houris, castles and charms of the paradise. Moreover the men of Divine vision have been absorbed in the ecstasy of Ism-e-Allah Zaat since eternity. Now for them everything other than Allah is hideous. Whosoever makes Ism-e-Allah Zaat his life and soul gets rid of all worries of both the worlds. (Ain-ul-Faqr)
Importance of Seeking Knowledge for Talib e Maula
Seeking ilm (knowledge) of sharia without understanding the in-depth meaning may astray a person if not guided by a perfect spiritual guide. Satan had a lot of knowledge, yet he did not bow before Adam despite Allah’s command and was cursed. This shows to attain ultimate success, one does not need to be a seeker of knowledge rather must be a seeker of Allah. However, one must not be completely ignorant and fall in Satanic traps and tricks. Just do not absolutely depend on your knowledge rather seek help and guidance from Allah Almighty. In other words, one should not become just a knowledge seeker without taking oath of allegiance on the hands of a perfect spiritual guide. As a perfect Murshid will ensure that the seeker does not wayward in the path towards Allah.
The Seeker of Allah Achieves Everything
Prophet Mohammad said about the seeker of Allah (Talib e Maula):
مَنْ طَلَبَ شَئْیئًا فَلَا تَجِدْہُ خَیْرًا وَّمَنْ طَلَبَ الْمُوْلٰی فَلَہُ الْکُلّ
Meaning: He who desires a material thing, does not find goodness in it but he who seeks Allah, achieves everything.
One who seeks Allah (Talib-e-Maula) gets everything
مَنْ طَلَبَ الدُّنْیَا فَلَہُ الدُّنْیَاوَمَنْ طَلَبَ الْعُقْبیٰ فَلَہُ الْعُقْبیٰ وَمَنْ طَلَبَ الْمَولیٰ فَلَہُ اْلکُلُّ.( اسرارِ قادری)
Meaning: He who seeks the world, gets it; he who seeks the hereafter, gets it but he who seeks Allah, gets everything.
اَلدُّنْیَاحَرَامٌ عَلٰی اَھْلِ الْعُقْبیٰ وَالْعُقْبیٰ حَرَامٌ عَلیٰ اَھُلِ الدُّنْیَاوَالدُّنْیَا وَالْعُقْبیٰ حَرَامٌ عَلیٰ طَالِبُ الْمُوْلیٰ . مَنْ لَّہٗ الْمُوْلٰی فَلَہُ الْکُلُّ o
Meaning: The pleasures of the world are forbidden for the seeker of paradise, pleasures of the paradise are forbidden for the seeker of world, whereas, the pleasures of the world and the hereafter, both are forbidden for the seeker of Allah. He, who gets Allah, finds everything.
Seekers of Allah offer eternal prayer inwardly
The special quality of the seekers of Allah is:
اِجْسَامُھُمْ فِی الدُّنْیَا وَقُلُوبُھُمْ فِی الْاٰخِرَۃِ الصَّلوٰ ۃِ الدَّیِٔمُونَ یُصَلُّوْنَ فِیْ قُلُوبُھُمْ
Meaning: Their (refers to Talib e Maula) bodies are in this material world but their inwards are in the hereafter and they offer eternal prayer inwardly.
Prophet Mohammad said:
مَنْ کَانَ لِلّٰہِ کَانَ اللّٰہُ لَہُ۔
Meaning: He who becomes Allah’s, Allah becomes his.
The best invocation is the invocation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat
Undoubtedly, the best dhikr of Allah for Talib e Maula is the invocation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat.
طَلَبَ الْخَیْرِ طَلَبَ اللّٰہِ وَ ذِکْرُ الْخَیْرِ ذِکْرُ اللّٰہ
Meaning: The best desire is to seek Allah and the best invocation is the invocation of ‘ اللّٰہ ’ (Allah) i.e. the invocation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat.
Ali ibn Abi Talib said:
“I do not worship Allah for the desire of heaven or out of the fear of hell. I worship Allah because only He is worthy of worship.”
Undoubtedly, there is no god but Allah and indeed He is the Creator of the whole universe and worthy of all praises.
Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal said that he himself heard Fazeel bin Ayaz say, “The seeker of the world gets oppressed and insulted.” He requested Fazeel bin Ayaz to give him a piece of advice and he said, “Be a slave not a master. Being a slave is a matter of honour.” (Chapter 10 Tazkirat-ul-Auliya)
Sufi Breathing Practice to invocate Zikr e Khafi
Only the seeker of Allah who sacrifices his will, inward and outward self for Allah is crowned and stays in Eternal Meraj (Ascension to Allah). Such beheaded seekers keep busy in travelling through an-Nur (sacred Light) of Zaat (Divine Self) and they always remain engrossed in the Zikr-e-Khafi (hidden invocation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat through breathing). About Zikr e Khafi through breaths Prophet Mohammad said:
Meaning: “Everyone has counted breaths, whichever is exhaled without the glorification (Zikr) of Allah is dead.”
Inward purgation of Seeker of Allah
Cleansing or purification of soul is called Tazfiya Nafs. The seeker of Allah must be in the company of a perfect spiritual guide to attain purgation of soul. As whenever one wants to travel an unknown destination, he seeks guidance just like a person who wants to learn a lesson or a skill or to get education, seeks an instructor. Similarly, Faqr’s esoteric path is unknown to the devotee. Moreover, Satan like a brigand, lies in ambush to deceive and mislead, so that one may never reach Allah. So it is mandatory that a seeker of Allah receives guidance from a perfect spiritual guide.
Quranic Verses about Seeking Murshid Kamil
In the Holy Quran Allah says:
Meaning: O’ Believers! Fear Allah persistently and find medium to get close to Him. (Al-Maida-35)
In the aforementioned verse medium refers to Murshid Kamil. At another instance in Quran, Allah Almighty emphasizes to approach such a mentor who is accomplished in Dhikr.
Meaning: If you do not know (the way to Allah) then ask those who are accomplished in Dhikr. (Surah Al Anbia-7)
So the seeker of Allah needs a Murshid (perfect spiritual guide) together with the contemplation and invocation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat. Murshid possesses the Divine Powers as he is Fana Fillah (annihilated in Allah) and Baqa Billah (immortal with Allah). With these powers, he kills the an-nafs of the seeker and gives life to his dead soul.
Seeker of Allah Must attain Taqwa
Taqwa is the fear of displeasing Allah. Once someone asked Prophet Mohammad about Taqwa, he (pbuh) pointed his finger towards his chest and said “Taqwa is here”.
Hence, to remain firm on the orders of Allah is true form of taqwa. Now the question arises how to attain Taqwa? In the mystic terminology getting closer to Allah by abstaining from the creation is called taqwa. Hence, to attain taqwa Talib e Maula must remain firm on the orders of Allah and love no one but Allah. Sultan Bahoo says in his book Sultan ul Waham:
“Relinquishing everything other than Allah is called Taqwa.” (Sultan-ul-Waham)
Fate of the seeker of Allah
Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani said about the seeker of Allah (Talib e Maula):
“Most people seek the world. The seekers of hereafter are few but the seekers of Allah, despite their rarity hold the attribute of alchemy. That is to say they have ability to turn copper into gold. Talib e Maula are seldom found around but serve as a protection for the people of their area. Additionally, their presence rebound evil curses from the creation and it is due to them that Allah showers rain which makes the earth produce minerals, grains and fruits. At their initial stage, they wander from place to place sometimes even in desolated places but when their reality is recognized, they leave the place and travel elsewhere.
Then there comes a time when Divine forts surround them, and Allah’s graciousness descends upon them. Moreover, the army of Allah takes them into its protection and they become honoured and secure. Now, it becomes binding upon them to take care of humanity. They become spiritual healers and cure the creation of Allah but these things are beyond your perception and intellect. (Al-Fath ar-Rabbani)
Ibn Arabi
About the seeker of Allah Shaikh al-Akbar Mohiyuddin Ibn Arabi says:
“Only he is worthy of gnosis of Allah who is strong i.e. neither does he seek the world nor the hereafter but his only desire is Allah Himself. (Fusus al-Hikam)
Worship of Lord is not a trade
Allama Iqbal directly addressed the seeker of Allah in his poetry. That he should not expect any reward in exchange of his worship and devotion. Lest it becomes a form of trade. Important to realize is that he instructed seeker of Allah to devote oneself to Allah selflessly:
سوداگری نہیں یہ عبادت خدا کی ہے
اے بے خبر! جزا کی تمنا بھی چھوڑ دے
Explanation: This is not a trade but the worship of the Lord. O ignorant! Renounce even the slightest expectation of reward.
Seeker of Allah Expects no Reward
واعظ کمالِ ترک سے ملتی ہے یاں مراد
دنیا جو چھوڑ دی ہے تو عقبیٰ بھی چھوڑ دے
Explanation: O sermonizer! Absolute renunciation (of everything except Allah) ensures destination. So, renounce the world as well as the hereafter. Only then Talib e Maula is able to walk on path to Allah.
جس کا عمل ہے بے غرض، اس کی جزا کچھ اور ہے
حور و خیام سے گزر ، بادہ وجام سے گزر
Explanation: Renounce the attractions of paradise. In fact, make your deeds selfless (and only desire the Divine Essence) for its reward is priceless. (As reward of seeker of Allah is Allah Himself).
Difference between seeker of the world and the hereafter
In Javaid Nama, Allama Iqbal’s words are true wisdom for heart and soul. He beautifully described the difference between the seeker of hereafter and the lover of Allah in the following way:
1-مرد آزادے کہ داند خوب و زشت
می نگنجد روحِ او اندر بہشت
2-جنتِ ملا مے حور و غلام
جنتِ آزاد گان سیرِ دوام
3-جنتِ ملا خور و خواب وسرود
جنتِ عاشق تماشائے وجود
4-حشر مُلّا شق قبر و بانگِ صور
عشقِ شور انگیز خود صبح نشور
1.Soul of the seeker of Allah which suffers in longing for the Divine Beloved cannot sustain in paradise. As he knows the difference between right and wrong.
2.Paradise for the seeker of hereafter is the purified wine, houris and young male servants but the paradise of the lovers and seekers of Allah is eternal vision of Allah.
3.The paradise of the seeker of hereafter is to eat, drink and enjoy luxuries but for the lovers of Allah (meaning Talib e Maula), paradise means the vision of the Divine Beloved.
4.According to the seeker of hereafter, resurrection means opening up of the graves and the awakening at the blow of the trumpet of Angel Raphael. However, the lover goes through resurrection before it happens (because Allah judges him every day as it would be on the Day of Judgment).
Sayings of Sultan-ul-Faqr VI About Talib e Maula
A few of the saying of Sultan-ul-Faqr VI Sultan Mohammad Asghar Ali about (Talib e Maula) seeker of Allah are:
- The seeker of Allah should be true to his quest for Allah like Abu Bakr Siddiq who was the man of truth.
- In veracity and sincerity, the seeker of Allah should be exemplary like Abu Bakr and should not refrain from sacrificing his life, wealth and progeny for his spiritual guide.
- The seeker of Allah neither desires the pleasures of the world nor the grades and blessings of the hereafter. As a matter of fact, his quest is only to have the Divine vision.
- How could you claim that you are a seeker of Allah? In exchange of your prayers and virtuous deeds you demand reward and grades from Allah. Important to realize is that are you worshipping Him or doing trade with Him?
- The seeker of Allah has no desires. Thus, he is indifferent to all desires. (Sultan-ul-Faqr VI Sultan Mohammad Asghar Ali Life and Teachings)
SULTAN BAHOO AND SEEKER OF ALLAH
Those seeking knowledge about the characteristics of Talib e Maula must refer to the books of Sultan Bahoo. As writings of Sultan Bahoo revolve around the concept of the seekers of the world, hereafter and Allah. According to him, the masses are the seekers of the world; the religious scholars, worshippers, ascetics, forbearing are the seekers of the hereafter and the most special people such as the Prophets, Saints, and the truthful and pious are the seekers of Allah.
Incumbent upon the seeker of Allah to search for the perfectly accomplished spiritual guide
Sultan Bahoo said:
Know that it is incumbent upon the seeker of Allah to search for the perfect spiritual guide. In fact, Talib e Maula should find him even if he has to travel from east corner of the world to the west. Not to mention the defectiveness of an imperfect spiritual guide and his flawed way is visible from the effects of his company.
The initial and final point of the perfect spiritual guide is the same. As he is on the straight path and possesses the mystic way of contemplation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat which leads to the gnosis and closeness of Allah, Divine Oneness and the observation of theophanies of the Divine Essence.
The more an imperfect spiritual guide makes disciples the more he is disgraced in the world and hereafter. As he keeps them deprived of the gnosis and closeness of Allah, hence ruins them. (Qurb-e-Deedar)
What the letters of Maula (Lord) mean?
Lord is written in Arabic as مولیٰ which is transliterated as Maula / Mawla. It has four letters ( م , و , ل , یٰ ) that refer to four signs of the seeker of Allah that he possesses by the effects of these four letters. First by the letter م (M) it means that he does not fulfill the desire of his innerself and remains engrossed in the gnosis. Second by the letter و (O) it means that he is ever drowned in Oneness. Third by the letter ل (L) it means that he is capable of the vision of Allah and is cut off from the contemptible world. Lastly by the fourth letter یٰ (Y) it means that he is so absorbed in the remembrance of Allah that he forgets his wealth, children and even himself. (Ain-ul-Faqr)
What the letters of talib (seeker) mean according to book Kaleed-ul-Tauheed Kalan?
The Arabic word for the word ‘seeker’ is طالب transliterated as talib. Seeker meaning a person who is attempting to find or obtain something. Like the maula, seeker also has four letters; ط (T), ا (A), ل (L), ب (B). Its first letter ط (T) means that the true seeker of Allah gives three divorces at once to the desires and pleasures of the inciting innerself, to the world which is like an old witch and a bandit as well as to the evil of Satan which is the enemy of humans. When he gets rid of all the evil attributes and hurdles of worldly relations by repenting from them, he becomes pure.
Additionally, the first letter ط (T) also means that the seeker only has desire of Allah, he is determined to achieve his objectives and is capable to have gnosis of Allah. The second letter ا (A) means that the seeker has true objective, he is verily truthful, does not rest from the esoteric and exoteric worships even for a moment and remains engrossed in meditation of Divinity. The seeker of Allah never inclines towards the wrong path and sacrifices his life in the way of Allah.
Third letter ل (L) refers to the fact that he is capable and modest, has shunned arrogance and lusts as well as his inciting innerself and has annihilated and become immortal. Welcome to such a seeker towards Allah! Fourth letter ب (B) means that the seeker bears the Truth and leaves the falsehood, he is obedient and saintly, vigilantly follows the orders of the spiritual guide and forgoes his own will. (Kaleed-ul-Tauheed Kalan)
What the letters of talib (seeker) mean according to book Mohkim-ul-Fuqara?
The word ‘talib’ meaning seeker, is in fact the seeker of Allah and it has four letters; ط (T), ا (A), ل (L), ب (B). First letter ط (T) means that the seeker has only the desire of Allah. Second letter ا (A) means that his devotion is true. Third letter ل (L) means that he never lies or boasts. Fourth letter ب (B) means that he leaves all his powers and authorities and believes in his spiritual guide fully. The Holy Prophet said:
Meaning: The seeker should be to the spiritual guide just like the corpse is to the corpse washer. (Mohkim-ul-Fuqara)
What the letters of talib (seeker) mean according to book Mehak-ul-Faqr Kalan?
The word ‘talib’ طالب has four letters, ط (T), ا (A), ل (L), ب (B). First letter ‘ ط’ (T) means that the seeker becomes more obedient and less greedy about his life. Second letter ‘ا ’ (A) stands for that he has sincere intentions and becomes the most truthful and the most faithful. Third letter ‘ ل ’ (L) means that the seeker becomes worthy of the vision of Allah. He becomes independent of all wishes, does not flaunt and does justice to his inciting innerself. Fourth letter ‘ب ’ (B) means the seeker becomes more respectful, his speech becomes calculated and he becomes as clear as a mirror.
Again with the first letter ‘ط ’ (T), he should get control over his inward being to become one with Allah. Second letter ‘ا ’ (A) means that the seeker should come under the protection of Allah. Third letter ‘ ل ’ (L) means that he should be independent of desires. Lastly fourth letter ‘ب ’ (B) means that he should not provide any pleasure to his self except the pleasure of eating itself i.e. let his self remain dissatisfied so it gets destructed. Moreover there are four kinds of flesh (selves) and hence four types of pleasures of eating each. It is said, one flesh is with the flesh, the second is within the flesh, the third is above it and the fourth one eats it.” (Mehak-ul-Faqr Kalan)
Seeker of Allah is always with the Truth
The seeker of Allah comes with the Truth and takes the Truth with him. Equally important is that he never inclines towards the false world or anyone other than Allah. (Kaleed-ul-Tauheed Kalan)
Qualities of seeker of Allah
Who is a true seeker of Allah? The virtuous one who circumambulates the inward (which is the abode of Allah). One who is perfectly sincere like Abu Bakr Siddiq. As “just” as Umar ibn Khattab. As modest as Usman ibn Affan. Moreover a fighter against innerself and completely resigned to the will of Allah like Ali ibn Abi Talib. Particularly man of sharia and Divine secrets like the king of Prophets, Prophet Mohammad. As they all are the real seekers of Allah. (Ain-ul-Faqr)
Seekers of world according to Sultan Bahoo
Sultan Bahoo stated in his book Ain-ul-Faqr about the seeker of the world:
- The seekers of world are either hypocrites or pretenders.
He also added, the world is:
- A Satan and its seekers are devils;
- Violence and rebellion and its seekers are rebellious;
- Hypocrisy and its seekers are hypocrites;
- An impurity and its seekers are impure;
- A lie and its seekers are liars;
- Polytheism and its seekers are polytheists;
- An evil and its seekers are also evil;
- A curse and its seekers are accursed;
- An ignorance and its seekers are ignorant like Abu Jahl;
- A prostitute and a worldly man is a cuckold who sees his whore wife in the sensual company of others but does not object. (Ain-ul-Faqr)
Confidant of Divine secrets
The seeker of Allah (Talib e Maula) does not become confidant of Divine secrets unless he reaches the station of ‘death before dying’. Also the seeker who is not perseverant and seeks the world, always faces disgrace. Surprisingly there are many seekers of the hereafter and hence, of the houris of paradise.
Amongst thousands, there is perhaps only one seeker of Allah who comes up to the spiritual guide’s expectations and is worthy of being presented in the court of Allah. In fact the seeker who desires gnosis and union with Allah, should spend all his wealth and other possessions to achieve that. (Taigh-e-Barhna)
Seeker of Allah is always passionate for Divine vision
The inward and soul of the strong seeker of Allah are passionate for the vision of Allah and his every breath remains engrossed in it. Equally important is that the seeker desired by Allah keeps imploring;
ھَلْ مِنْ مَّزِیْدَ ھَلْ مِنْ مَّزِیْدَ الْمُشْتَاقُ اِلَی الْمُشَاھِدَ ۃٌ
Meaning: We are passionate for your vision, can we have more, can we have more? (Qurb-e-Deedar)
Seeker’s Path Should be Sirat-e-Mustaqeem
It is obligatory upon the seeker of Allah to acquire the eternal straight path (Sirat-e-Mustaqeem) from his spiritual guide and follow the greatest Sunna of the Holy Prophet which is to donate the entire wealth and every possession in the way of Allah. (Qurb-e-Deedar)
Comparison between seeker of the Allah and those who spy on the perfect spiritual guide
You must know that the true seeker of Allah (Talib e Maula) is dearer to the spiritual guide than his own life but the dishonest seeker who spies on the spiritual guide is his enemy and is like the Satan. Rather, worse than Satan because Satan runs away on reciting Lahaul (prayer for safety from Satan) but the dishonest seeker does not go away even on reciting Lahaul thousand times and keeps on harming the spiritual guide till end of life.
باھُو گرطالبِ صادق چو مرشد راز بر
می رساند طالبان را بانظر
Explanation: O Bahoo! If the true seeker of Allah finds the perfect spiritual guide who bears the Divine secrets, then he can elevate the seeker spiritually just by his powerful sight.
Know that the veiled seeker is one who seeks worldly respect and honour. Hence, he is mean, impotent and deprived of the real objective of life. Contrarily, the majdhub seeker eventually turns reprobate while the beloved seeker of Allah (Talib-e-Maula) is bestowed with the laudable end.
The seeker of Allah, who finds the blessing of gnosis of Allah, privilege of beholding the light of Divine Essence with open eyes and closeness of Allah, always keeps check upon his self and holds it accountable like a judge. According to sharia, there are two witnesses of the closeness of vision of Allah; first is the unprecedented sight and second is the eternal awareness by the power of Divine favour. Now such a seeker is always safeguarded by Allah. (Qurb-e-Deedar)
Whose company the seeker of Allah should not keep?
Due to his honesty of intention, the seeker of the vision of Allah (Talib e Maula) becomes trustworthy while the seeker of the world remains busy in pursuing the carcass desires of the carrion world. On the other hand, the people of Divine vision do not keep the company of those who seek the material world. (Mehak-ul-Faqr Kalan)
Seeking Allah is the real knowledge
In the path of knowledge, the real knowledge is the knowledge of seeking Allah. As without having knowledge of the Divine path one may astray. Sultan Bahoo said:
Important to realize is that seeking worldliness is sheer ignorance and the seekers of world are full of ignorance but seeking Allah is the real knowledge. Moreover, the seekers of Allah (Talib e Maula) are embodiment of this knowledge which blesses with exact Reality, shows exact Reality, grants perfect purification, bestows union of exact Reality, hence the seeker ever remains present in the Mohammadan Assembly. (Ameer-ul-Kaunain)
Two kinds of seekers
The seekers are of two kinds. Some are cowards and weak, others are strong and brave like the winning soldiers. Who are the weak ones and who are the winning soldiers? Now the weak ones are those who fight day and night against the enemies of Allah, that is to say, the innerself and Satan. While the winning soldiers are (seekers of Allah) who behead the enemies and everything other than Allah with the sword of Ism-e-Allah Zaat and become safe from the fight. Hence attain perseverance which is superior then miracles and high stations. (Ameer-ul-Kaunain)
Seeker of Allah (Talib e Maula) Must Behead Innerself (an-nafs)
In his Persian poetry, Sultan Bahoo writes about the seeker of Allah:
1-سر بریدہ شوبیا اے طالبا
اِشتیا قے گرترا دیدن خدا
2-بے سراں را سرِّ وحدت پیشوا
بے سرا بینند دیدارِ خدا
3-سربریدہ بے سرے سر تاج شد
بے سراں را دائمی معراج شد
4-بے سراں را سیر باشد ذاتِ نور
بے زباں خوانند وردِ یاغفور
5-ہر کہ سر بیند آں دیدن روا
کس نمے بیند بچشمِ سر خدا
Explanation: (1) O seeker! If you wish for the vision of Allah then come beheaded (sacrifice your spiritual and physical self).
(2) Only those who had beheaded (so passionate that they sacrifice everything for Allah) are the ones who can reach the heights of Divine vision. As they are guided to Allah by the Divine secret of Oneness. As a matter of fact, the seeker who sacrifices his will as well as spiritual and physical self for Allah is crowned and then he stays in eternal Miraj.
(3) Such beheaded seekers of Allah remain busy in travelling through the Divine light of Essence and remain engrossed in the hidden invocation of Allah – the Most Forgiving.
(4) Certainly, the seeker who sacrifices his life in the path to Allah is the only one who succeeds in attaining the vision of Allah, otherwise, no one has seen Allah with physical eyes.
(5) Beholding Allah is justified only for the beheaded. No one has ever beheld Allah with the physical eyes. (Nur-ul-Huda Kalan)
Seeker of Allah (Talib e Maula) Must Behead Innerself (an-nafs)
In his Persian poetry, Sultan Bahoo writes about the seeker of Allah:
1-سر بریدہ شوبیا اے طالبا
اِشتیا قے گرترا دیدن خدا
2-بے سراں را سرِّ وحدت پیشوا
بے سرا بینند دیدارِ خدا
3-سربریدہ بے سرے سر تاج شد
بے سراں را دائمی معراج شد
4-بے سراں را سیر باشد ذاتِ نور
بے زباں خوانند وردِ یاغفور
5-ہر کہ سر بیند آں دیدن روا
کس نمے بیند بچشمِ سر خدا
Explanation: (1) O seeker! If you wish for the vision of Allah then come beheaded (sacrifice your spiritual and physical self).
(2) Only those who had beheaded (so passionate that they sacrifice everything for Allah) are the ones who can reach the heights of Divine vision. As they are guided to Allah by the Divine secret of Oneness. As a matter of fact, the seeker who sacrifices his will as well as spiritual and physical self for Allah is crowned and then he stays in eternal Miraj.
(3) Such beheaded seekers of Allah remain busy in travelling through the Divine light of Essence and remain engrossed in the hidden invocation of Allah – the Most Forgiving.
(4) Certainly, the seeker who sacrifices his life in the path to Allah is the only one who succeeds in attaining the vision of Allah, otherwise, no one has seen Allah with physical eyes.
(5) Beholding Allah is justified only for the beheaded. No one has ever beheld Allah with the physical eyes. (Nur-ul-Huda Kalan)
Seeker of Allah eventually finds Him
Sultan Bahoo stated in his Persian poetry:
کم کسے طالب ز بہر راز ربّ
ذکر فکر و غرق وحدت راز ربّ
ہر کہ طالب ھُو بہ باھُو یار شد
رفت عجب لائق دیدار شد
ہر کہ طالب ھُو بہ باھُو می رسید
>ماسویٰ اللہ غیر را ہر گز نہ دید
Explanation: As a matter of fact, there are very few seekers who are actually in search of the secrets of Allah and constantly remain drowned in invocation and reflection of the Divine secrets of Oneness. Whoever seeks Allah becomes a friend of Hoo. Important to realize is that pride and vanity are removed from his existence and he becomes worthy of seeing Allah. Particularly whoever becomes the seeker of Allah reaches Him and then he does not look at anyone except Allah. (Mehak-ul-Faqr Kalan)
Few guidelines for the (Talib e Maula) seeker of Allah
It is important that before seeker of Allah steps in the arena of Faqr, he must seek knowledge and guidance of Faqr from Sultan Bahoo books. As without knowledge, it is easy to go astray on the path and get in the hands of the fake Murshid. However, Allah never lets the true seeker of Allah go astray when he is out in search of the right path.
طالب از مرشد طلب دیدار کن
دیدار حاصل میشود از انوار کن
Explanation: O seeker of Allah! Seek the vision of Allah from your spiritual guide and the seeker gains Divine vision by the light of command (Kun). (Ameer-ul-Kaunain)
طا لب از مرشد طلب ذکر خدا
سبق خوانی از خدا وحدت لقا
Explanation: O seeker of Allah! Seek the invocation of Allah from your spiritual guide and learn the lesson of His vision and closeness. (Ameer-ul-Kaunain)
طالب صادق بود برحق نگار
طالب کاذب بود خدمت شمار
Explanation: The true disciple always keeps his eyes upon the Reality. While the mean and false disciple counts his services for his spiritual guide. (Ameer-ul-Kaunain)
طالب کہ در طلبِ قرب حضوری رحمان
سر فدا کن تصرف مال و جان
Explanation: The true seeker who is desirous of the presence and closeness of Allah should present his wealth and life to Allah. (Taigh-e-Barhana)
طالب عاشق بود جان سر فدا
این طریقہ طالبان طالب خدا
Explanation: The seeker of Allah, who is His true lover, sacrifices his life for Him. Equally important is that this is the tradition of all the true seekers of Allah. (Taigh-e-Barhana)
Sultan Bahoo And His Punjabi Poetry
Sultan Bahoo described in his Punjabi poetry:
One should walk the path of Faqr which leads to Allah
پاٹا دامن ہویا پرانا، کچرک سیوے درزی ھو
دل دا محرم کوئی نہ مِلیا، جو مِلیا سو غرضی ھو
باجھ مربی کِسے نہ لدھی، گجھی رمز اندر دی ھو
اوسے راہ ول جا ئیے باھوؒ ، جس تھیں خلقت ڈردی ھو
Explanation: I struggled so much to find a sincere seeker of Allah but could not find my spiritual confidant whom I could transfer the Divine Trust and assign the throne of spiritual guidance and instruction. As no one came to me with an inward desirous of Allah but everyone had his own selfish needs and approached me to achieve his own goals. Without the perfect spiritual guide, no one can attain the secret of Allah. One should walk the path which leads to the vision of Allah, but people are scared to do so and some fear this way so much that they refuse it right away.
Seeker of Allah must Annihilate in Ism-e-Allah Zaat
طالب بن کے طالب ہوویں، اسے نوں پیا گا نویں ھو
سچا لڑ ہادی دا پھڑ کے، اوہو تو ہو جانویں ھو
کلمے دا توں ذکر کماویں، کلمے نال نہانویں ھو
اللہ تینوں پاک کریسی باھوؒ ، جے ذاتی اسم کمانویں ھو
Explanation: O seeker of Allah! Be a sincere and devoted disciple of your spiritual guide and obey him physically as well as esoterically. Equally important is that you love and obey him to the extent that you annihilate in him. Moreover, recite the Islamic creed accepting that there is no one except Allah and achieving the secret of Mohammadan Reality so you become eternally purified. Now when you annihilate yourself in Ism-e-Allah Zaat then Allah would also purify you from all impurities and make you pure and clean.
On what kind of people Divine theophanies (tajalli) do not descend
تسبی دا تو کسبی ہویوں، ماریں دم ولیاں ھو
من دا منکا اک نہ پھیریں، گل پائیں پنج ویہاں ھو
دین لگیاں گل گھوٹو آوے، لین لگیاں جھٹ شیہاں ھو
پتھر چِت جنہاندے باھوؒ ، اوتھے زایا وسنا مینہاں ھو
Explanation: You have become an expert in recitals and think yourself to be a Saint. Additionally, you wear hundred beaded rosaries around your neck, but they have no effect upon your inward. In fact, your inward is still an abode of Satan, inciting innerself and the world. When it is time to spend in the way of Allah, you are nowhere around but when it comes to collecting wealth, you are all over the place. Additionally, those who have become stone-hearted with the lust of this world and hypocrisy, the Divine theophanies do not descend upon them.
Seekers of hereafter and world
فجری ویلے وقت سویلے، نِت آن کرن مزدوری ھو
کانواں ہِلاں، ہِکسی گلاں، تریجھی رلی چنڈوری ھو
مارن چیخاں تے کرن مشقت، پٹ پٹ سٹن انگوری ھو
ساری عمر پِٹیندیاں گزری باھوؒ ، کدی نہ پئی آ پوری ھو
Explanation: The seekers of the hereafter rise early in the morning and get involved in recitals and seclusions but those recitals have no effect upon their inwards. On the other hand the seekers of the world are worse because they rise early to gather wealth through lawful and unlawful means. Not to mention their parable is that of greedy vultures who are in search of carrion. Not only their efforts go in vain as they are deprived of the real wealth which is love of Allah but also, they remain hollow even after their lifelong struggle.
Life is short, so achieve its purpose
کر عبادت پچھوتاسیں ، تینڈی عمر چار دِہاڑے ھو
تِھی سوداگر کر لے سودا، جاں جاں ہٹ ناں تاڑے ھو
مت جانی دل ذوق منے، موت مریندی دھاڑے ھو
چوراں سادھاں رل پور بھریا باھوؒ ، ربّ سلامت چاڑے ھو
Explanation: O seeker! Allah made you for His closeness and union. Moreover, life is very short, so before it ends, achieve the purpose of your life i.e. recognition and gnosis of Allah or else you would die in disgrace. The death knell rings ashore. If only the Divine Beloved is satisfied with you! But the demons of inciting innerself and Satan have both teamed up to take control upon your life. Only the beneficence and grace of Allah can allow the boat of your life to reach its destination safely.
Secret to Divine love
ہک دم سجن تے لکھ دم ویری، ہِک دم دے مارے مردے ھو
ہِک دم پچھے جنم گوایا، چور بنے گھر گھر دے ھو
لائیاں دا اوہ قدر کی جانن، جیہڑے محرم ناہیں سر دے ھو
سو کیوں دھکے کھاون باھوؒ ، جیہڑے طالب سچے در دے ھو
Explanation: Ever since I have fallen for the Divine Beloved, the whole world has turned up against me, but I have willingly handed over my life to my Beloved. With this intention I have been protecting this Divine love within me. Moreover, I have moved from the realm of souls to this universe of creation. After all the people of the world and hereafter are ignorant to the secret of Divine love which is why they hurl their arrows at me. As a matter of fact, those whose spiritual guide is perfect, is neither sad nor worried because the spiritual guide will certainly take him to the destination, safely and successfully. (Abyat-e-Bahoo Kamil)
SUSPICIOUS AND PSEUDO SEEKER
Sultan Bahoo said about the suspicious, imperfect and pseudo seeker:
He, who possesses love, value and respect for this world and its seekers, is surely accursed. (Mohabbat-ul-Asrar)
طالبی جاسوس و دشمن صد ہزار
طالب حق یک دو کس طالب شمار
Explanation: One can find thousands of disciples who are spies and enemies but the true seekers of Allah are only one or two. (Kaleed-ul-Tauheed Kalan)
The spiritual guide never shows affection towards the hypocrite and false seeker nor does he bestow him with gnosis of Allah. The seeker ought to be sincere and pure of inward. (Fazalul-Laqa)
Who is a strong seeker? Who is a weak seeker? Now the weak seeker is one who desires to get worldly wealth and riches from his spiritual guide. Whereas the strong seeker is one who finds the path of the Reality by sacrificing his life and wealth for it. (Taufeeq-ul-Hidayat)
A dog is better than the seeker who is insincere, disrespectful, unfaithful and shameless. In reality the disciple, who loves this carrion world, stays deprived of the desire for gnosis. (Fazal-ul-Laqa)
Among the seekers, he is the most unfortunate, insincere and evil who is disrespectful in their service for their spiritual guide. With this intention he counts his days of service and stays disrespectful throughout his life. (Aqal-e-Baydar)
Those people are not deserving of being called seekers who are self-obsessed and want things to go their way. Moreover they are dependent upon their worldly desires, their disrespect and shamelessness does not allow them to become seekers of Allah and they are reminiscent of Satan himself. (Taigh-e-Barhana)
Concluding Words
As a matter of fact there is only one subtle point to be understood to solve all the problems which is that the entire universe including the worlds and heavens belong to Allah and only He is its Master and Creator, so why not pray and love only Allah seeking the pleasure of His closeness, vision and recognition, renouncing the desire of pleasures of the world and the heavens.
In reality when Talib e Maula achieves the recognition and gnosis of Allah then the pleasures of the world and heavens become meaningless. If one assumes that he can physically walk towards Allah, then surely, he is wrong. Allah is above and beyond time, space, directions, limitations, boundaries and quantities. The journey of vision of Allah is, in fact, the esoteric journey of self-realization and recognition of the reality of man.