Murshid Kamil Akmal (The Perfect Spiritual Guide)
QURANIC REFERENCE OF MURSHID KAMIL (PERFECT SPIRITUAL GUIDE):
Murshid Kamil Akmal (perfect spiritual guide) is the mediator between Allah and His seeker. Allah orders that one must search for him. He says in the Quran:
يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ وَابۡتَغُوۡۤا اِلَيۡهِ الۡوَسِيۡلَةَ
Meaning: O believers! Fear Allah persistently and keep looking for a mediator to (approach and get closer to) Him. (al Ma’idah 35)
In sharia, the term mediation, mediator or vaseela refers to the person who connects a man to Allah by virtue of his closeness to Allah. He is often termed as the spiritual guide, Murshid, Pir, Shaikh, etc. Murshid Kamil Akmal is the perfect spiritual guide who is closest to Allah more than any other person alive in a particular era. Hence, he is liable and legible to guide the Mohammadan nation to his heritage of Faqr which is the soul of Islam. Hence, the Quranic verse means:
“O believers find the perfect spiritual guide to reach Allah.”
HADITHS TO FIND MURSHID KAMIL AKMAL (THE PERFECT SPIRITUAL GUIDE):
Not only the Quran but Prophet Mohammad pbuh also orders us to find Murshid Kamil (perfect spiritual guide) and to follow his footsteps to reach the Mohammadan Assembly.
اَلرَّفِیْقُ ثُمَّ الطَّرِیْقُ
Meaning: First find a companion (the perfect spiritual guide) and then set on (the spiritual) journey.
لَا دِیْنَ لِمَن لَّا شَیْخَ لَہٗ
Meaning: One who does not have a spiritual guide has no faith.
مَنْ لَّاشَیْخَ یَتَّخِذُہُ الشَّیْطَان
Meaning: Verily, one who is not guided by a spiritual guide, Satan surrounds him.
اَلشَّیْخُ فِیْ قَوْمِہٖ کَنَبِیٍّ فِیْ اُمَّتِہٖ
Meaning: A spiritual guide is among his disciples the way a Prophet is among his nation.
مَنْ مَّاتَ وَ لَیْسَ فِیْ عُنْقِہٖ بَیْعَۃٌ مَاتَ مَیْتَۃً جَاھِلِِیَّۃً
Explanation: One who died in a state that he had not pledged allegiance at the hand of a perfect spiritual guide, he died in complete ignorance.
REASON TO FIND MURSHID KAMIL AKMAL (THE PERFECT SPIRITUAL GUIDE):
It is incumbent upon Muslims to find Murshid Kamil (perfect spiritual guide) initially because it has been ordered by Allah. Second, outward cleanliness or piety is not enough. One must be purged from the inward to gain eternal sanctification so that he can be taken to the court of Allah by Murshid Kamil.
اللہ اللہ کرنے سے اللہ نہیں ملتا
یہ اللہ والے ہیں جو اللہ سے ملا دیتے ہیں
Explanation: One cannot reach Allah only by invoking His name superficially or silently and through physical prayers but the Murshid Kamil (perfect spiritual guide) can take seekers there because he is the Universal Divine Man.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IS A NECESSITY TO BECOME A SAINT:
To date, every Saint has pledged oath of allegiance and gained spiritual training from Murshid Kamil. Rumi is the most famous Saint due to his unconditional love for his Murshid Kamil Sham of Tabriz. Al Ghazali met fame due to his mystical experiences granted through Yusuf al-Nassaj. The perfect spiritual guides are the spiritual masters of the universe.
Rumi said:
اندرین عالم نیرزی باخسے
تانی آویزی بہ دامانِ کسے
Explanation: You do not have any worth in this world unless you get associated with the perfect spiritual guide.
METHOD OF MURSHID KAMIL AKMAL TO TRAIN DISCIPLE:
Murshid Kamil (perfect spiritual guide) follows Prophet Mohammad pbuh for the spiritual training of his disciples. Murshid Kamil Akmal sets mystic destinations for him to succeed in to reach the Mohammadan Assembly. This is how the Quran mentions it:
يَتۡلُوۡا عَلَيۡهِمۡ اٰيٰتِهٖ وَيُزَكِّيۡهِمۡ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الۡكِتٰبَ وَالۡحِكۡمَةَ
Meaning: Who (My beloved) recites to them His revelations and cleanses and purifies them (outwardly and inwardly) and teaches them the Book and wisdom. (al Jumu’ah 2)
It is necessary to follow Murshid Kamil Akmal (perfect spiritual guide) to learn the way of Allah. The way Prophets were sent to explain the revelations of Allah, likewise, Murshid Kamil is sent as a representative of Prophet Mohammad to instruct people to follow him. Murshid Kamil, on the other hand, is trained by Prophet Mohammad pbuh and instructed by him through spiritual knowledge.
WORSHIP ALLAH AND KNOWING ALLAH:
There is a difference between worshipping Allah and knowing Allah. People usually feel satisfied with worshipping Allah but Murshid Kamil (perfect spiritual guide) is the one who also knows Allah. An extremely beautiful example is of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal. He disliked Sufis but once he acquired the company of Bishr al Hafi, he referred some of his students to him. His students got curious and asked that how could the famous Imam refer them to a common person. Imam Ahmad replied, “Bishr al Hafi knows the Allah that I worship and talk about.” Hence, he used to refer the seekers to him.
SOUL IS LIFELESS WITHOUT MURSHID KAMIL AKMAL:
Murshid Kamil (perfect spiritual guide) is the one who nourishes the soul and gives it a spiritual life. Imam Abu Hanifa despite being such a great scholar visited Bahlool (Wahab ibn Amr) who was merely a majdhub. He said, “If I had not remained in the blessed company of Bahlool for two years as I did, my soul would have been wasted.”
REALITY OF MURSHID KAMIL AKMAL (THE PERFECT SPIRITUAL GUIDE):
Not every seeker is fortunate enough to decipher the reality of Murshid Kamil (perfect spiritual guide). This is because every seeker seeks something different. Only a true seeker of Allah can unveil his reality. The incident of Moses and Khidr narrated in sura al Kahf makes us learn that intellect cannot comprehend wisdom. Suhayl ibn Amr says, “Everyone sees their (the perfect spiritual guide’s) appearance but no one knows their reality. A fortunate few come to know their reality, who will become successful…”(Tafsir Ruh Al Bayan)
YOU GET WHAT YOU SEEK:
Hence, the outcome of spiritual allegiance depends on the intention of the seeker. Allah promises to guide those who seek Him. Allah says:
وَالَّذِيۡنَ جَاهَدُوۡا فِيۡنَا لَنَهۡدِيَنَّهُمۡ سُبُلَنَا ؕ
Meaning: And those who strive hard (and struggle against the inciting innerself vehemently) for Our cause, We certainly guide them to Our ways. (al Ankabut 69)
Allama Iqbal says:
ہست این میکدہ و دعوت عام است اینجا
قسمت بادہ باندازہ جام است اینجا
Explanation: This world is a tavern and everybody is invited to drink (taste the wine of Divine vision). Everyone’s wine will be up to the size of his cup (according to his desire to seek Allah).
QUALITY OF MURSHID KAMIL AKMAL (THE PERFECT SPIRITUAL GUIDE):
The first and foremost quality of Murshid Kamil Akmal (perfect spiritual guide) is that he grants the invocation and contemplation of Ism e Allah Zaat.
Sultan Bahoo says:
Murshid Kamil Akmal (perfect spiritual guide) grants the seeker invocation of Ism e Allah Zaat and also orders him to practise inscribing Allah’s name on body. He takes the seeker to the Divine presence by his spiritual attention. While, the imperfect and false spiritual guide just makes false promises. (Nur ul Huda Kalan)
The Murshid Kamil (perfect spiritual guide) is like the pure soul whereas imperfect spiritual guide is like a dog. (Majalisa tul Nabi Khurd)
The spiritual guide who does not grant the contemplation of Ism e Allah Zaat is not worth guiding. (Nur ul Huda)
Murshid Kamil (perfect spiritual guide) is the one, who not only blesses the seeker with invocation of Ism e Allah Zaat but also grants its contemplation. The spiritual guide who cannot give (invocation and contemplation of) Ism e Allah Zaat to the seeker is not a true spiritual guide. (Nur ul Huda Kalan)
Murshid Kamil (perfect spiritual guide) bestows Ism e Allah Zaat to the seeker of Allah on the very first day. (Kaleed e Jannat)
Allama Iqbal’s says:
مکتبوں میں کہیں رعنائِی افکار بھی ہے؟
خانقاہوں میں کہیں لذتِ اسرار بھی ہے؟
Explanation: In the modern educational institutes there is no effort towards creating ardent love for Allah among the youths. Neither any lessons regarding Divine gnosis nor for the embellishment of their thoughts. Similarly, there is no one in fake khanqahs for seekers of Allah to spiritually train them. There were once present Sufis, Saints and Fakirs who acquainted them with the secrets of Allah. They were the great spiritual teachers or enlightened teachers.
HOW TO IDENTIFY MURSHID KAMIL AKMAL (THE PERFECT SPIRITUAL GUIDE):
The first sign to identify Murshid Kamil (perfect spiritual guide) is that love Prophet Mohammad and Allah increases in his company. According to Sultan Bahoo the result of the invocation and contemplation granted by the spiritual guide witnesses the degree of his being perfect or Murshid Kamil. If there is spiritual progress, renunciation of the world from inward and engrossment in Allah, then he is Murshid Kamil. Hence, one must be submissive to such a perfect spiritual guide.
PLEDGING TO SOMEONE ELSE:
It is forbidden to pledge to some other guide in the life of one’s spiritual guide the way a woman cannot marry another man while her husband is alive. However, one may pledge allegiance to another guide if one’s spiritual guide has died and one was unable to accomplish one’s spiritual path during his lifetime especially if he fails to benefit from the grave of the spiritual guide as well. One must benefit from living spiritual masters.
باھوؒ! مرشدانِ این زمانہ زر پرست و زن پرست
زن پرست و زر پرست و دل سیاہ و خود پرست
Explanation: O Bahoo! The (fake) spiritual guides of this age are the lovers of wealth and women. They are lewd, egoistic, arrogant and dark inwardly.
SULTAN BAHOO’S VIEW OF MURSHID KAMIL AKMAL (THE PERFECT SPIRITUAL GUIDE):
Sultan Bahoo excessively talks about Murshid Kamil (perfect spiritual guide) in most of his books. Sultan Bahoo books mention the qualities and signs of Murshid Kamil.
Murshid Kamil (perfect spiritual guide) is like a corpse washer. He is always in search of a seeker whose inciting innerself is dead and who wishes to reach the stage of ‘death before dying’ ( مُوۡ تُوۡ ا قَبۡلَ اَنۡ تَمُوۡتُوۡا ). It is where his soul becomes alive and material body dies. Only such a true seeker can suffer the hardships on the way of Faqr. While the disobedient seekers are stubborn and follow their own will. (Ain ul Faqr)
باھوؒ! مرشدانِ واصلانِ حق عشق سوز
ہر ساعتی ہر دم بسوزد شب بروز
Explanation: Murshid Kamil (perfect spiritual guide) unified with Allah, burn in the fire of His love every moment day and night. (Ain ul Faqr)
True spiritual guide is like a shady tree which endures the severity of weathers himself and provides shade and comfort to those sitting under it. (Ain ul Faqr)
AWARENESS OF DISCIPLES’ STATES:
Murshid Kamil Akmal (perfect spiritual guide) saves his disciples from all evils and sins the way Prophet Jacob spiritually intervened to save Prophet Joseph from the evil of Zulaikha.
Know that true spiritual guide is the one who is completely aware of all the states, words, deeds, acts, level of gnosis and closeness to Allah, thoughts, arguments, considerations and waham of the seeker. Spiritual guide should be so much vigilant that he ever keeps his hold upon the seeker to the extent that the seeker speaks his words and breathes with his breath. Such a spiritual guide has a thriving inward and his seekers finds him omnipresent, inwardly as well as outwardly, by the power of Ism e Allah Zaat and keeps perfect faith in him. (Kaleed ul Tauheed Kalan)
The perfect spiritual guide is omnipotent and omnipresent
عارف کامل قادری بہر قدرتے قادر و بہر مقام حاضر
Explanation: The perfect Mystic of Qadri order (spiritual guide of the Sarwari Qadri order) is empowered to do everything and is present everywhere. He is omnipotent and omnipresent. (Risala Roohi Sharif)
SULTAN BAHOO’S QUATRAINS ON MURSHID KAMIL AKMAL (THE PERFECT SPIRITUAL GUIDE):
Sultan Bahoo also explains about Murshid Kamil Akmal in his Punjabi quatrains. Sufi poetry on spiritual guide (peer Murshid shayari) always had an significant role in Punjab.
کامل مرشد ایسا ہووے‘ جیہڑا دھوبی وانگوں چھٹے ھو
نال نگاہ دے پاک کریندا، وِچ سجی صبون نہ گھتے ھو
میلیاں نوں کردیندا چِٹا‘ وِچ ذرہ میل نہ رَکھے ھو
ایسامرشد ہو وے باھوؒ‘ جیہڑا لوں لوں دے وچ وَسے ھو
Explanation: Murshid Kamil (perfect spiritual guide) is the one who washes the innerself of his disciples the way a laundryman washes clothes. Without involving them in physical mystic exercises, he cleanses them with his spiritual sight (peer ki nazar). He is the perfect master who ends worldly love and arouses Divine love in the inward of his disciples. He takes them to Oneness and dwells in the existence of his disciples to makes everything possible. (Abyat e Bahoo Kamil)
I WISH MY BEING TURNS INTO AN EYE:
ایہہ تن میرا چشماں ہووے‘ تے میں مرشد ویکھ نہ رجاں ھو
لوں لوں دے مُڈ لکھ لکھ چشماں‘ ہِک کھولاں تے ہِک کجاں ھو
اِتنا ڈِٹھیاں صبر ناں آوے‘ میں ہور کِتے وَل بھجاں ھو
مرشد دا دیدار ہے باھوؒ‘ مینوں لکھ کروڑاں حجاں ھو
Explanation: May my whole body turns into an eye, so that I can get enough view of my Murshid Kamil (perfect spiritual guide). My eyes still yearn to see more of him. May each pore on my body turns into an eye so that if one blinks, I havelacs of other to see him. My desire of beholding my beloved spiritual guide can never be satisfied. No one can cure me from this burning desire. The vision of my beloved Murshid Kamil is my pilgrimage of thousand years. (Abyat e Bahoo Kamil)
ISM E ALLAH ZAAT OF MURSHID KAMIL AKMAL (THE PERFECT SPIRITUAL GUIDE):
تو تاں جاگ نہ جاگ فقیرا، انت نوں لوڑ جگایا ھو
اکھیں میٹیاں نہ دل جاگے، جاگے جاں مطلب نوں پایا ھو
ایہہ نکتہ جداں کیتا پختہ، تاں ظاہر آکھ سنایا ھو
میں تاں بھلی ویندی ساں باھوؒ، مینوں مرشد راہ وکھایا ھو
Explanation: Meditation does not mean closing one’s eyes. This is only a display and not inward success. One only gains spiritual elevation through the invocation and contemplation of Ism e Allah Zaat. I was lost and believed in seclusions but my Murshid Kamil (perfect spiritual guide) held me and showed me the right path. (Abyat e Bahoo Kamil)
WONDERS OF SPIRITUAL GLANCE OF MURSHID KAMIL AKMAL (THE PERFECT SPIRITUAL GUIDE):
جل جلیندیاں جنگل بھوندیاں، میری ہِکا گل نہ پکی ھو
چِلے چلیٔے مکے حج گزاریاں، میری دِل دی دَوڑ نہ ڈکی ھو
تریہے روزے پنج نمازاں، ایہہ وِی پڑھ پڑھ تھکی ھو
سبھے مراداں حاصل ہویاں باھوؒ، جداں مُرشد نظر مہر دِی تکی ھو
Explanation: I have searched and secluded myself in jungles but failed. I performed hajj in Makkah but could not recognize Allah. I prayed 5 times a day and kept fasts but could not find Allah. However, once I met my Murshid Kamil (perfect spiritual guide) everything revealed upon me and all my concerns vanished correcting all my spiritual beliefs. (Abyat e Bahoo Kamil)
INWARD ENLIGHTENMENT:
عشق اسانوں لِسیاں جاتا، کر کے آوے دھائی ھو
جِتول ویکھاں مینوں عشق دسیوے، خالی جگہ نہ کائی ھو
مرشد کامل ایسا ملیا، جس دل دی تاکی لاہی ھو
میں قربان اس مرشد باھوؒ، جس دسیا بھیت اِلٰہی ھو
Explanation: Divine love has wrapped me in itself. It dominates my being. I see theophanies of the Divine Essence everywhere. The benevolence of my Murshid Kamil (perfect spiritual guide) has enlightened my inward with Divine secrets. He has unlocked my inward and now I want to sacrifice to him in every way. (Abyat e Bahoo Kamil)
INWARD CONNECTION WITH MURSHID KAMIL AKMAL (THE PERFECT SPIRITUAL GUIDE):
کی ہویا جے بت اوڈھر ہویا، دل ہرگز دور نہ تھیوے ھو
سے کوہاں تے میرا مرشد وسدا، مینوں وِچ حضور دِسیوے ھو
جیندے اندر عشق دِی رتی، اوہ بن شرابوں کھیوے ھو
نام فقیر تنہاں دا باھوؒ، قبر جنہاں دی جیوے ھو
Explanation: So what if my Murshid Kamil (perfect spiritual guide) is not physically in front of my eyes. He resides within my inward and I feel his presence all the time. One who has a speck of love, will be intoxicated even without wine. The true Fakirs are those who grant beneficence even while resting in graves. (Abyat e Bahoo Kamil)
VALUE OF MURSHID KAMIL AKMAL (THE PERFECT SPIRITUAL GUIDE):
مرشد مینوں حج مکے دا، رحمت دا دروازہ ھو
کراں طواف دوالے قبلے، نِت ہووے حج تازہ ھو
کن فیکون جدوکا سنیا، ڈِٹھا مرشد دا دروازہ ھو
مرشد سدا حیاتی والا باھوؒ، اوہو خضر تے خواجہ ھو
Explanation: Beholding the sacred countenance of my Murshid Kamil (perfect spiritual guide) is my pilgrimage. He is the door to Mercy. Whenever I meet him, it is my circumambulation. When he says ‘Be’, it becomes (Kun Fayakun کن فیکون ). Now I recognize him that he is immortal with Allah. He is my leader. (Abyat e Bahoo Kamil)
MURSHID KAMIL AKMAL (THE PERFECT SPIRITUAL GUIDE) GIVES SUCCESS IN BOTH WORLDS:
مرشد کامل اوہ سہیڑئیے، جیہڑا دو جگ خوشی وِکھاوے ھو
پہلے غم ٹکڑے دا میٹے، وت رب دا راہ سمجھاوے ھو
اِس کلر والی کندھی نوں، چا چاندی خاص بناوے ھو
جس مرشد اِیتھے کجھ نہ کیتا باھوؒ، اوہ کوڑے لارے لاوے ھو
Explanation: Murshid Kamil Akmal (perfect spiritual guide) grants success in both worlds. Through his spiritual help, one’s focus shifts from earning bread to getting close to Allah. He changes the inward through Ism e Allah Zaat and grants gnosis of Allah. Whichever guide fails to do this is a fraud and liar. (Abyat e Bahoo Kamil)
HOUSE OF ALLAH:
ناں رب عرش معلیٰ اتے، ناں رب خانے کعبے ھو
ناں رب علم کتابیں لبھا، ناں رب وِچ محرابے ھو
گنگا تِیر تِھیں مول نہ مِلیا، مارے پینڈے بے حسابے ھو
جد دا مرشد پھڑیا باھوؒ، چھٹے کل عذابے ھو
Explanation: Allah cannot be found on Throne, Kaaba, mosques not can He be found through best spiritual books, intellect or worship. Seclusion or mystic exercises also do not reveal Him. He only resides in the inward of Murshid Kamil Akmal (perfect spiritual guide). He is acquainted with Divine secrets and is the perfect spiritual advisor. Ever since, I have started serving him, all my sorrows have vanished. (Abyat e Bahoo Kamil)
Without the spiritual guidance of the perfect spiritual guide success in Faqr is impossible. He is the key to spiritual awakening.
Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen Sultan Mohammad Najib-ur-Rehman is the Murshid Kamil Akmal (the perfect spiritual guide) of this era. He is the present Shaikh of Sarwari Qadri order and Sultan Bahoo’s spiritual descendant. He grants Ism e Allah Zaat with and without pledge of allegiance to everyone without any bias to enlighten inwards with Faqr. He has spiritual websites, spiritual magazines and most importantly gives spiritual coaching to those who seek Allah.
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What is the meaning of murshid?
Murshid meaning is of guide and teacher. In Sufism it relates to the spiritual guide. Then ultimate way to respect a spiritual guide (adab e murshid) is to follow him with total submission and sacrifice.