Gems of Profound Wisdom

Last nite, the second of three-day sessions composed of counsel and profound wisdom uttered by our spiritual guide. He spoke mainly of witnessing God's Oneness, His Existence and His Supreme Power. The story of the creation of Adam and souls of his progeny was also recounted. Although the session was slightly shorter than the previous nite, the depth of sacred knowledge imparted represents no less a "heavy dosage" of sufic wisdom. One that needs not intense concentration but rather the opening of one's heart in order to receive the divine blessings.

On the witnessing of God's Onenesss, he spoke of the categories of belief:

1. Many men believe in God but do not not believe in His Existence (Wujud). If you ask them, do you believe in God, they will say "Yes". But they do not "see" His Presence. They are blind to His Existence(Wujud). As a result, they continue to defy God's commandments at the same time they claim to worship Him. They do not read nor understand of God's revealaion "And wherever you turn, you'll find Allah's Face(Wajh)". He spoke of a parable of the lion and the gold mine. If you tell a man that there is a gold mine nearby but a lion roams in the vicinity of the mine, it is likely, he will go to the mine because he has not seen the lion. But if instead the one who spread the word is the lion himself and stood in front of him, he would run away or be fearful because of the lion's "actual" presence.
   
2. Many men believe God is Supremely Great yet he prides in his own work and efforts. They know that He is the al-Muqtadir (The Powerful Determiner). The One whose Supreme Power enforces all decrees and ordains the course of all affairs. He said in the Qu'ran "by Him Who knows the unseen, - from Whom is not hidden the least little atom in the heavens or on earth". Despite this, they claimed their successes are due to their own mortal efforts. They forgot it is through God's Bountiful Grace that they are able to do those things they claimed. As a sufi said, abandon thy selfhood before embarking thy journey to God.
   

He also raised the question "Where therein lies God's Greatness ?" Is it this world of creation(alam) ? If the answer is "Yes" then if this created world doesn't exist it will therefore mean God's Greatness is diminished. The real answer is this: He creates what He wills. He commands "Kun!(Be)" and the thing is created. It is so easy for God. He does not have to struggle(jihad) to create something. That is why when we see some wonderful creation of God, we say "Subhanallah (Glory be to God!)". This is to reaffirm our witnessing of His Greatness in creating without any struggle.

On the creation of Adam and his progeny, he said that to the question, "Who was created first Adam or the human souls ?", the answer is "Adam". When God has created Adam, he commanded an angel to "stroke" his back. From thereon the spiritual effusion of human souls started. The souls in that realm were asked by God, "Am I not your Lord". The souls responded,"Verily, indeed Thou art our Lord". Thereafter, God kept the souls in a "special place" pending their descent to earth. The end of days would not happened until all the souls have completed their earthly sojourn.