The Power of Sohbat: The Transformative Gaze and Heart-to-Heart Transmission of the Friends of Allah
Hazrat Qari Ismail Desai Saheb
Hijri date
Ramadaan 1435
Duration
1:06:30
Summary
The love of Allah and the effect of His friends (Auliya Allah) are transferred from heart to heart, even without understanding their language. Their gaze has a profound spiritual effect.
A historical account details how Maulana Husain Ahmad Madani's mere gaze transformed a person who was hostile towards him and intended him harm.
Spiritual realities and their effects are as real as physical ones; if medicine or poison have effects, so do the words of Allah and the gaze of those connected to Him.
A wise person illustrated this point by making a mocker upset with a simple, seemingly insulting statement, then questioned why they doubted the effect of divine words and glances.
It is beneficial to be in the company (sohbat) of Auliya Allah, even if you don't understand their speech, as the focus on their personality allows for the transfer of spiritual benefit.
Maulana Shah Wasimullah sought spiritual benefit from Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi by focusing on receiving what was in his heart, not just his intellectual knowledge.
Great scholars like Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi recognized the spiritual rank of Haji Imdadullah Muhajir Makki, who was not formally an alim, illustrating that spiritual status transcends academic qualifications.
When offered Haji Imdadullah's books, Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi stated he came for what was in his teacher's heart, not just his knowledge, emphasizing the primacy of inner illumination over textual learning.
A heart filled with Allah's light gives words and actions profound effect, unlike eloquent speech without inner sincerity, as exemplified by a Shaykh whose simple words moved an audience deeply.
The 'mine' of taqwa (God-consciousness) is found in the hearts of arifeen (those who have recognized Allah), underscoring the importance of associating with them for spiritual growth.
The instantaneous transformation of a hostile individual through the mere gaze of Maulana Husain Ahmad Madani demonstrates the powerful spiritual impact a Wali can have.
Spiritual light (nur) from Auliya Allah is transmitted from heart to heart, not through words; maintaining focus on their hearts during their company, even without understanding, is key to receiving this nur.
True spiritual progress is often achieved through association with the pious, who can ignite the love of Allah in one's heart and facilitate transformation that individual effort alone might not achieve.
The speaker encourages not to despair or allow the ego to create doubt about personal spiritual growth; simply attaching oneself to the company of Auliya Allah is enough for Allah to bring about profound change.
The transformation experienced in the company of includes a spontaneous desire to obey Allah, draw closer to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and feel deep regret for past sins, leading to genuine repentance and a desire for purity.