The Blessings of Nisbat-e-Rasooli (PBUH): The Path to True Faith

Discourse of Huzoor Wala Shan Pir Sahib (RA)Dated: 11 August 1985

Speech No. 27

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

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 to Allah Almighty, the Master of all kings, Who has once again granted us the opportunity and ability to gather here for His pleasure, in His remembrance and in His love. Millions upon millions of blessings and peace be upon the Leader of all Prophets, the Beloved of Allah, Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (PBUH), through whose noble mediation this favor has been bestowed upon us.

Respected listeners! After offering the Friday prayer, we recite the blessed names of Allah so that we may seek His mercy, ask forgiveness for our heedlessness and sins through their blessing, and pray that through them Allah may grant us the ability to become His true servants and the true followers of the Beloved of both worlds (PBUH). We also seek relief from worldly hardships and ask for both religious and worldly blessings.

The real matter is that before presenting our requests to Allah, we should first become His true servants. And in order to become true servants, it is necessary to attain Nisbat-e-Rasooli (the spiritual attachment to the Messenger of Allah). This means establishing a heartfelt connection with the Prophet (PBUH). If a person possesses this heartfelt connection, then he is a true Muslim and is superior to all creation; everything is humbled before him. If this connection is absent, then there remains little difference between him and other animals.

Anyone may claim to have a spiritual attachment to the Prophet (PBUH), but the practical proof is that for such a person nothing is more beloved than the love of Allah and His Messenger (PBUH). Such a person is always ready for every sacrifice, and every sacrifice becomes a source of happiness and inner peace for him.

The Perfect Example of Nisbat-e-Rasooli

The perfect example of devotion to the Prophet (PBUH) is found in his devoted companion Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (RA). He spent his entire life seeking the pleasure of his Master (PBUH) and considered nothing as his own.

In this world, a person holds his life, children, wealth, and parents dear. Yet Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) sacrificed all four for the sake of the Prophet (PBUH). When he accepted Islam, he possessed forty thousand gold coins, but by the time of the migration only four thousand remained, and he gave those as well.

When he left with the Prophet (PBUH), his father Abu Quhafah came to the house where Hazrat Aisha (RA) and Hazrat Asma (RA) were present. He remarked that Abu Bakr must have taken everything with him. Hazrat Asma (RA) gathered some pebbles, covered them with a cloth, and said, “No, he has left plenty for us.” Since Abu Quhafah was blind, she guided his hand over them, and he said happily, “This will be sufficient for your expenses.”

SubhanAllah! Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) had taken everything to sacrifice for his Master (PBUH) and left the innocent children under Allah’s protection without any anxiety, because the attachment to the Prophet (PBUH) had perfected his faith.

During the Journey of Migration

During the journey, Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) would walk sometimes ahead of the Prophet (PBUH), sometimes behind him, and sometimes on his right or left. The Prophet (PBUH) asked, “Abu Bakr, what are you doing?”

He replied, “O Messenger of Allah (PBUH), when I fear that an enemy may be lying in wait ahead, I walk in front so that any harm comes to me first. Then I fear that an enemy may approach from behind, so I walk behind. Likewise, I move to the right and left out of concern for your safety.”

Thus he was sacrificing himself like a moth circling a flame.

In the Cave of Thawr

When they reached the Cave of Thawr, Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) lovingly requested the Prophet (PBUH) to remain outside while he entered first. He cleaned the entire cave and tore his cloak to plug its holes. During this process his finger was injured and bled, yet he continued cleaning while saying, “You are only a finger that has been wounded in the path of Allah.”

Afterward, the Prophet (PBUH) entered and rested his blessed head in Hazrat Abu Bakr’s lap. One hole remained uncovered, so Hazrat Abu Bakr sealed it with his heel. A snake emerged and bit him, but he did not move lest the Prophet (PBUH) be disturbed. Tears eventually flowed due to the intense pain, and when they fell upon the Prophet (PBUH), he awoke. Upon learning what had happened, he applied his blessed saliva to the wound, and the pain disappeared immediately. However, the poison remained within his body and later contributed to his martyrdom.

Thus even his life was ultimately sacrificed for his Master (PBUH).

Love and Reverence for the Prophet (PBUH)

On one occasion, Hazrat Abu Bakr’s father spoke disrespectfully while mentioning the Prophet (PBUH). In a state of intense devotion, Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) pushed him so forcefully that he fell.

When the matter reached the Prophet (PBUH), he asked why Hazrat Abu Bakr had acted in that way. Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) replied, “By Allah, if I had a sword in my hand, I would have struck off my father’s neck. I cannot tolerate any disrespect toward you, O Messenger of Allah (PBUH).”

This too was a manifestation of his profound attachment to the Prophet (PBUH).

The Key to Salvation

For success in this world and salvation in the Hereafter, only Nisbat-e-Rasooli (PBUH) will be of benefit. Whether one belongs to the Qadri, Chishti, Naqshbandi, or Suhrawardi path, salvation depends upon carrying the attachment of the Prophet (PBUH) within the heart; otherwise, there is Hell.

The Prophet (PBUH) said that the followers of Musa (AS) would divide into seventy-one sects, only one of which would attain salvation; the followers of Isa (AS) would divide into seventy-two sects, with only one saved; and his own Ummah would divide into seventy-three sects, with only one entering Paradise.

The Companions asked, “Who will they be?” The Prophet (PBUH) replied, Al-Jama’ah, Al-Jama’ah.” That is, the community who will enter paradise are those whose hearts possess Nisbat-e-Rasooli, whoever they may be. If this Nisbat-e-Rasooli is absent, then no matter how a person may appear outwardly to be a Muslim through prayer, Hajj, and Zakat, without Nisbat-e-Rasooli, they are Yazidis, who, while claiming Islam, have torn the very spirit of Islam to shreds.
Final Advice

Respected listeners! Remember that in order to become true Muslims and to have our worship accepted, we must attain Nisbat-e-Rasooli (PBUH). Otherwise all acts of worship and all good deeds may become fruitless.

Come, through the blessed names of Allah, let us pray in His court for the gift of attachment to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH).

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

The Awrad-e-Naziriya Sharif was then recited, and supplication was made.