The Importance of Prophetic Connection (Nisbat-e-Rasooli SAWW) in Worship and Spiritual Success
Address of Hazrat Pir Sahib (RA)
28 April 1985
Speech No.13
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ
فَنِعۡمَ الۡمَوۡلٰی وَ نِعۡمَ النَّصِیۡرُ
رَبِِّ اشۡرَحۡ لِیۡ صَدۡرِیۡ وَیَسِّرۡ لِیۡۤ اَمۡرِیۡ وَ احۡلُلۡ عُقۡدَۃً مِّنۡ لِّسَانِیۡ یَفۡقَہُوۡاقَوۡلِیۡ
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِ عَلٰی سَیّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍوَّعَلٰی اٰلِ سَیِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍوَّعَلٰی اَصْحَابِہٖ وَعَلٰی اَذْوَاجِہٖ اَجْمَعِیْنَ وَبَارِکْ وَسَلِمْ وَصَلِ عَلَیْہٖ
All praise is for Allah.
Countless thanks are due to Allah Almighty, the Sovereign King, Who has once again granted us the opportunity and blessing to gather here for His pleasure, in His remembrance, and in His love. Millions upon millions of blessings and salutations be upon the Leader of the Prophets, the Beloved of Allah, Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa SAWW, through whose grace all these favors have been bestowed.
Respected listeners! We shall now begin the recitation of the sacred litanies (Awrad-e-Pak). Before that, it is necessary to understand a few points.
The essence of what has been discussed so far is that there are two worlds: the world of this life and the world of the Hereafter. The happiness and success of both worlds lie in the servitude of Allah, in remembering Him, and in living according to His commands. The purpose of establishing gatherings of Allah’s remembrance and reciting these sacred invocations is, firstly, to seek forgiveness for our heedlessness and sins through these blessed names. At every step, human beings are prone to mistakes, for man is created with weaknesses. Through repentance, sins are forgiven, the heart is purified, and the supplications that emerge from a purified heart are accepted more readily.
The second purpose is to express gratitude for Allah’s favors and kindness. Gratitude is shown by demonstrating humility before Allah, expressing love for Him, and sacrificing worldly concerns in order to participate in gatherings devoted to Him.
The third purpose is to seek Allah’s assistance and mercy. Whether our needs are worldly or spiritual, their successful completion is impossible without Allah’s help. Through these blessed names, Allah’s mercy and favor are attained.
All these are correct methods; however, there is one matter that is even more essential than all the others: connection with the Holy Prophet Muhammad SAWW (Nisbat-e-Rasooli). Without a true connection to the Prophet SAWW, all worship becomes fruitless and all deeds are rendered void. But if one possesses this Prophetic connection, even a small deed becomes greatly beloved to Allah.
History bears witness that those fortunate souls whom Allah granted this Prophetic connection considered it an honor to sacrifice their lives, wealth, and dignity for the sake of Allah and His Messenger SAWW. They competed with one another in making such sacrifices. In contrast, those who lacked this inner connection and merely claimed outward devotion became blinded by worldly desires, wealth, and status. Their blindness reached such an extent that they not only neglected Allah and His Messenger SAWW but even harmed the family of the Messenger SAWW, overturned his laws, and exchanged religion for worldly gain. Despite this, they continued to wear the outward garment of Islam and led many simple-minded Muslims into their misguidance.
Those whose hearts were filled with the love of Allah and His Messenger SAWW considered sacrificing all their wealth and possessions in Allah’s path a trivial matter. Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (RA) and Hazrat Uthman Ghani (RA) are shining examples of this reality.
Dear listeners! Before engaging in worship, examine your hearts and see how deeply they are filled with the love of the Prophet SAWW. If, God forbid, the love of parents, children, wealth, or worldly possessions exceeds the love of the Messenger SAWW in your heart, do not abandon worship. Instead, present your worship before Allah and pray:
“O Allah! Through the blessings of these sacred names, grant me true love, true servitude, and true connection with the Noble Prophet SAWW.”
There is another important point to understand. No one can succeed who considers the love of Allah, the love of the Messenger SAWW, and the love of the spiritual guide (Murshid) as separate things. The ultimate objective is only the love of Allah. However, attaining Allah’s love requires sincere obedience to the Messenger SAWW, and sincere obedience cannot be achieved without love. Without love, hypocrisy inevitably enters into one’s actions.
The secrets and realities of this love are unveiled only when a person, as stated by Maulana Rumi, submits himself before a perfect spiritual guide:
Leave mere words and become a man of spiritual state;
Bow before the Perfect Guide and humble yourself before him.
In this regard, the statement of Ala Hazrat Pir Nazir Ahmad Sahib (RA) provides great clarity.
When Pir Ahsanuddin Sahib became ill, Chief Justice Shahabuddin of the Supreme Court and Chief Justice Kiani of the High Court visited him. During their conversation, Justice Kiani asked:
“Pir Sahib, you are both a scholar and a man of spiritual insight. Please resolve a question for me regarding the Divine command in Surah An-Nisa (4:59).
يٰٓاَيُّھَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْٓا اَطِيْعُوا اللّٰهَ وَاَطِيْعُوا الرَّسُوْلَ وَاُولِي الْاَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ ۚ
What is the meaning of this verse? Kings have claimed that ‘those in authority’ refers to rulers; scholars have interpreted it differently; and some Sufis have claimed it refers to spiritual leaders. Whose obedience is actually intended?”
Pir Ahsanuddin Sahib replied that rather than giving his own opinion, he would read a letter written by Ala Hazrat Pir Nazir Ahmad Sahib (RA).
The letter explained:
The declaration “La ilaha illallah Muhammadur Rasulullah” means that Allah alone is worthy of worship and ultimate obedience. At first glance, the verse appears to establish three forms of obedience, which may seem confusing. In reality, obedience belongs only to Allah.
The meaning of the verse is:
Obey Allah.
How should Allah be obeyed?
In the way demonstrated by the Holy Prophet SAWW.
How did the Prophet SAWW obey Allah?
Learn this from the true servants and followers of the Prophet SAWW.
These stages can only be achieved when a person sets aside his own intellect, arguments, and claims of knowledge, and submits himself to his spiritual guide just as a lifeless body is in the hands of the one who washes it.
Respected friends!
All praise belongs to Allah, Who granted us the opportunity to establish gatherings for His remembrance and blessed us with the method of remembrance taught by our Master, the Holy Prophet Muhammad SAWW. It is our spiritual guide who taught us how to act upon the teachings of the Prophet SAWW.
Pray that Allah grants us the ability to spend our entire lives in the service and obedience of this spiritual guide; that He enables us to follow his instructions; and that He grants us the courage to make every sacrifice for the progress and spread of this spiritual path.
It is through this guide that we came to know the love of the Messenger SAWW, attained Prophetic connection, became devoted servants of Allah, and learned true submission before our Lord. We present these blessed names as a means before Allah and pray that this path remains our way of life in this world and that we are resurrected upon it after our graves are opened.
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate
Awrad-e-Naziriyyah Sharif was recited, and a collective supplication (dua) was offered.
