Contemplation OF Ism E Mohammad, Sacred Name Of Mohammad
INTRODUCTION:
Contemplation of Ism e Mohammad is a custom in Sarwari Qadri Order taught in emphasis by Sultan Bahoo. He revealed about its need and its spiritual benefits. However, his spiritual descendant and present Shaikh Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen is the one who made Ism e Allah Zaat common for all the seekers of Allah. He also generously grants the sacred name of Mohammad to those who reach a certain spiritual level. Sultan Bahoo teachings enlighten us with the fact that the contemplation and invocation of both Ism e Allah and Ism e Mohammad are necessary for the nourishment of soul.
REACHING MOHAMMADAN ASSEMBLY THROUGH ISM E MOHAMMAD:
The people at the time of Prophet Mohammad including his sacred companions were fortunate to elevate spiritual stages by beholding and communicating with him. However, after he passed away, the only way to enter the Mohammadan Assembly is through the sacred name of Mohammad i.e. Ism e Mohammad. Only through the guidance and benevolence of Prophet Mohammad can one reach Allah. The People of Cloak, sacred companions, Saints and all who seek Allah are present in the Mohammadan Assembly. The only way to consistently stay there is to be perseverant in loyalty, sacrifice and concentration.
ISM E MOHAMMAD THE MOST SACRED NAME OF MOHAMMAD:
Among the names of Allah, Allah ( اَللّٰہُ ) itself is the most sacred and powerful name of Allah as it consists of all His Essence. Likewise, among the names of Prophet Mohammad, Mohammad ( محمد ) is the most sacred and powerful name which contains his existence. Among the names of Prophets in Islam, no Prophet’s name has such spiritual power.
MANIFESTATION OF THE SACRED NAME OF MOHAMMAD, ISM E MOHAMMAD:
The beauty of the sacred name of Mohammad ( محمد ) is that it originated from the light of Allah. Hence, it possesses Divine powers. Sufis say that when Allah manifested Himself, His first manifestation was the sacred name of Mohammad. Hence, separating greatest name of Allah from name of Mohammad is impossible. Allah says in the Quran:
اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ یُبَایِعُوۡنَکَ اِنَّمَا یُبَایِعُوۡنَ اللّٰہَ ؕ یَدُ اللّٰہِ فَوۡقَ اَیۡدِیۡہِمۡ ۚ
Meaning: (O Beloved!) Indeed, those who pledge allegiance to you in fact pledge allegiance to Allah alone. Allah’s Hand is over their hands. (Al-Fath 10)
وَ مَا یَنۡطِقُ عَنِ الۡہَوٰی ؕ﴿۳﴾
اِنۡ ہُوَ اِلَّا وَحۡیٌ یُّوۡحٰی ۙ﴿۴﴾
Meaning: And he does not speak out of his (own) desire. His speech is nothing but revelation, which is sent to him (by Allah). (An-Najm 3-4)
Allah says in a Qudsi Hadith:
اَنَا اَنْتَ وَ اَنْتَ اَنَا
Meaning: (O Mohammad!) I am you and you are Me.
DIVINE VISION THROUGH ISM E ALLAH ZAAT:
Those who seek Allah and the Prophet’s path, can see Him through the contemplation and invocation of Ism e Azam or Ism e Allah Zaat. However, only Prophet Mohammad can see Allah fully and in unveiled form due to his incomparable proximity to Allah.
NAME OF ALLAH AND ISM E MOHAMMAD:
The effects of name of Allah are vast as it contains both Divine majesty (al-Jamal) as well as Divine wrath (al-Jalal). Hence, it is more comprehensive but affects variously. However, Ism e Mohammad only contains Divine beauty and benefits a seeker with compassion and mercy. Its contemplation makes a seeker follow the laws of sharia and makes him more submissive towards Allah.
Sultan Bahoo says:
چوں بہ بینم حق قیوم آں خدا
می بینم من از رفاقتِ مصطفےٰؐ
Meaning: If I can see Allah, the Unparalleled, it is because of the (sacred attention and) company of Prophet Mohammad.
SULTAN BAHOO VIEW ON ISM E MOHAMMAD:
According to Sultan Bahoo, not only the sacred name of Mohammad but even the letters of the sacred name of Mohammad have spiritual effects.
From the letter م(M) of محمد one gains gnosis of Allah and by the letter ح (H) the presence in the Mohammadan Assembly. By the second م (M) of Mohammad one observes both the worlds and by the letter د (D) all the objectives are gained just in the beginning. All these four letters are like an unsheathe sword to kill the infidel inciting innerself (nafs). (Kaleed-e-Jannat)
Ism e Mohammadhas four Arabic letters which are (M) م, (H) ح, (M) م and (D) د. From command over the (first) م (M) one gains access to the Mohammadan Assembly. Moreover, the command over ح (H) is presence in the Mohammadan Assembly. The command over (second) م (M) is absorption in the light of Mohammad. Furthermore, د (D) means not a single breath is void of the conversation of the Prophet Mohammad. (Aqal-e-Baydar)
SPIRITUAL EFFECTS OF ISM E MOHAMMAD:
The Ism e Mohammad granted by the perfect spiritual guide has spiritual effects upon the disciple. His innerself is purged and he feels the tendency to adopt the ways of Prophet Mohammad pbuh. Gradually, if he shows sincerity and consistency, then he is allowed in the Mohammadan Assembly. Then Prophet Mohammad trains him and appoints him with spiritual duties. Hence, he becomes the beloved of Allah.
Prophet Mohammad says, “Hold my hands.” The seeker’s inward enlightens with marifat of Allah. He is blessed to guide and persuade others to Faqr. (Kaleed-e-Jannat)
SPIRITUAL EFFECT AND BENEFIT OF THE SACRED NAME OF MOHAMMAD
There are 3 levels of annihilation: annihilation in spiritual guide (fana fi Shaikh), annihilation in Prophet Mohammad (fana fi Rasool) and annihilation in Allah (fana fi Allah). Sultan Bahoo says:
The seeker who contemplates Ism e Mohammad, his conversation is a reflection of the Mohammadan light. He is spiritually in the Mohammadan Assembly from where he is gets beneficence and guidance. Ultimately, he annihilates in Prophet Mohammad (fana fi Rasool). The four letters of Ism e Mohammad ( م ,ح ,م ,د ) possess both worlds that unveil secrets. The contemplation of Ism e Mohammad grants the seeker with spiritual company of Prophet Mohammad and his sacred companions. (Mohabbat-ul-Asrar)
By the contemplation of the Ism e Mohammad, one gains the reality of gnosis. (Kaleed-e-Jannat)
When one contemplates Ism e Mohammad, he relinquishes everything except Allah. Moreover, he sees the Mohammadan Assembly everywhere. He becomes the humble and modest lover of the Holy Prophet and the beloved of Allah. (Aqal-e-Baydar)
ISM E MOHAMMAD REVEALS INWARD AND OUTWARD KNOWLEDGE
Both inward and outward knowledge unveil on the one who contemplates Ism e Allah, Ism e Mohammad and Shahadah. Outward knowledge is related to physical acts of worship such as Salat etc. On the other hand, inward knowledge is about the Oneness of Allah and observation of Divine Essence. Former is of physical and latter is spiritual. (Kaleed-e-Jannat)
When a seeker is absorbed in the contemplation of Ism e Allah Zaat, Ism e Mohammad and Shahadah, all his sins hide in the coverlet of the light of Ism e Allah Zaat. (Mohabbat-ul-Asrar)
CONTEMPLATION LEVELS OF ISM E MOHAMMAD:
The contemplation of Ism e Mohammad leads to 4 levels:
In the 1st level, the soul is enlivened, innerself is purged and annihilation in the sacred name of Mohammad is achieved. In the 2nd level, the seeker enters the Mohammadan Assembly and recognizes it. In the 3rd level, all parts of the universe are revealed to his sight and he is forgiven.
لِّيَـغۡفِرَ لَكَ اللّٰهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنۡ ذَنۡۢبِكَ وَ مَا تَاَخَّرَ
Meaning: So that Allah forgives, for your sake, all the earlier and later sins. (Al-Fath-2)
In the 4th level, the seeker gains Divine vision (Deedar e Elahi) and his inward is liberated from all desires. If a spiritual guide is unable to grant these levels to his disciple, then he himself is imperfect and a disgrace in the Mohammadan Assembly. (Kashf-ul-Asrar)
SACRED NAME OF MOHAMMAD IS THE SAVIOUR FROM ALL SATANIC TRAPS
Only the sacred name of Mohammad is the savior from all satanic traps. It protects the seeker from all mischief. Sultan Bahoo says:
The one who seeks Allah must be aware of his thinking through name of Allah and Ism e Mohammad. His inward lightens up through invocation which does not let his innerself or Satan or worldly lust take over. (Mehak-ul-Faqr)
ONLY MURSHID KAMIL CAN UNVEIL THE REALITY OF ISM E MOHAMMAD
Without the blessing and permission of the perfect spiritual guide, one cannot unveil the reality of Ism e Mohammad. Only he unlocks the inward and activates the effects of Ism e Mohammad. Only the perfect spiritual guide decides when the disciple is ready to be granted it. The seeker must be submissive under all conditions no matter when he gets it. In Faqr and Divne love, the seeker must follow the spiritual guide without any arguments.
SUSPICIOUS SEEKERS CANNOT ENTER MOHAMMADAN ASSEMBLY:
For a seeker to enter the Mohammadan Assembly, it is important for him to have faith in his spiritual guide and Ism e Mohammad itself. He must be sincere and faithful. If he is suspicious of the power or reliability of the spiritual guide or of the Ism e Mohammad, then he would be entangled in further doubts and never relaise the beauty and reality of the sacred name of Mohammad.
ONE WHO DENIES ISM E MOHAMMAD, THE SACRED NAME OF MOHAMMAD:
The one who denies the sacred name of Mohammad can never be successful in Faqr and can never reach high spiritual levels. Sultan Bahoo says:
- The denier of Ism e Allah Zaat and Ism e Mohammad is the second Abu Jahl or Pharaoh. (Aqal-e-Baydar)
One who does not believe in Ism-e-Allah Zaat and Ism-e-Mohammad is surely a hypocrite. Ism-e-Allah Zaat is the most exalted name of Allah. Ism-e-Mohammad is the straight path. (Mehak-ul-Faqr Kalan)
Sultan Bahoo’s spiritual descendant and present Shaikh of Sarwari Qadri order Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen Sultan Mohammad Najib-ur-Rehman, grants both the greatest name of Allah and Ism e Mohammad to the seekers of Allah. It is due to his spiritual power that he is able to grant such high levels of invocation and contemplation to his disciples.