Those who reach an elevated level in the eyes of Allah, and whom Allah grants to see many things, including matters of the unseen (Ghayb) that others without such a connection do not experience, find it difficult to accurately describe their spiritual experiences in ordinary language. These experiences are so profound that they cannot be expressed in everyday words.
Those who have
such experiences can grasp the essence of their spiritual experience, whether
it is a vision (Kashaf), a true dream that comes true, or even a
revelation from Allah. However, it is very challenging for them to convey this
experience to others – what they have seen and felt – because it is a unique
experience specific to the person who witnessed it.
Others will
not fully understand these experiences unless Allah also allows them to witness
and experience them personally. For example, we can describe the sweetness of
sugar to someone who has already tasted it. The best way for someone to know
the sweetness of sugar is to taste it directly. Similarly, encountering Allah
[but without seeing Him in his Original form] is beyond words. This is what we
call union with Allah, where only those who truly please Allah to a high
degree, and whom Allah favours with His mercy and affection, achieve this
exceptional blessing. Those who have such spiritual experiences often show
qualities that reveal their special connection with Allah because He is a
Living God. He has spoken in the past, He speaks today, and He will continue to
speak as long as there are humans on Earth to receive His revelations.
This special
connection that a servant of Allah has with Allah is like a machine connected
to electricity – it comes to life and starts working. Similarly, those who
achieve union with Allah manifest signs of this divine connection.
It is worth
noting that there are servants who reach deep spiritual levels, whether in the
presence of a Messenger of Allah or in times when no Messenger of Allah
appears. Such individuals represent the truth that Islam will not perish as
long as they exist on Earth. They are pillars of the Deen-e-Islam. And if these
people live during the time of a Messenger of Allah, two situations can arise:
Their connection with Allah can be strengthened by their love for Allah and His
Messenger, recognizing Allah’s power and will in sending His Messenger.
Alternatively, some may lose this connection out of jealousy when they realize
that Allah has elevated someone higher than them. This is known as the effect
of Iblis (Satan). Throughout human history, there have been many examples of
people who were initially very pious but turned against prophets sent by Allah
in their time, considering themselves superior to those prophets and trying to
undermine the Divine Manifestation of their time. But Allah does all this to
test His servants.
When a
Messenger of Allah comes, those who believe in him with sincerity and
faithfulness are blessed by Allah with divine revelations and visions as a
confirmation of the truthfulness of His Messenger. It’s like the sugar that the
Prophet said he tasted but others cannot understand, and so Allah chooses
certain people among his followers to experience some spiritual states, to live
some spiritual experiences [in other words, to taste the
sugar that the prophet said he tasted], and then these people will know the
truthfulness of that prophet and understand that he is not lying about what he
is saying in the name of Allah. However, not all his disciples or followers
receive this blessing. It depends on their connection with Allah and their
efforts on the path of Allah. And Allah manifests these signs on those He loves
most, or even on some people as a test for them, to see if they become arrogant
about what Allah has shown them or if they humble themselves more before Allah
in gratitude and say: Thank you, Allah! [Fatabarakallaahu
Ahsanul Khaliqeen – All thanks are for Allah, the Best of
Creators!]
So, Allah loves those who love Him, who thank
Him, who are not ungrateful to Him. Whether during the time of a Messenger of
Allah or a normal time when no Messenger has appeared, Allah strengthens His
connection with those who seek Him. And for those who seek Him, Allah opens the
door of heaven for them, where they see angels, the universe, and even reach a
point where they hear the voice of Allah. The relationship with spiritual
beings – like angels – can only be established through deep understanding and
knowledge. The Quran identifies three types or stages of realization. The first
stage is knowledge by inference, where a person perceives something indirectly
through its effects. The second stage is knowledge by vision, where the person,
in this case, his soul, or we can even say his spiritual eye, sees something
but does not fully understand what it is or what it means. The third stage is
perfect realization, where the person fully, completely understands the essence
of what he is seeing through his personal experience. These three stages of
spiritual realization are comparable to different ways of knowing and
understanding fire. Just as we can understand fire by seeing its smoke, its
flames, and feeling its heat, the stages of spiritual realization involve a
similar progression: (1) inference (i.e., discovering its presence through its
effects), (2) vision (seeing it directly but without full understanding), and
(3) experience (where you fully understand what you are living and experiencing
or seeing through direct contact with it). Each of these stages offers
deepening understanding and knowledge that continue to increase.
Islam emphasizes the importance of making
efforts to reach these stages of realization. At first, we hear about Allah’s
attributes from others or read about them, creating only a temporary
impression. However, true realization requires personal effort and often
involves trials. Just as we first see smoke and may doubt its source, i.e., there
must be fire there. Only persistent efforts will allow us to see the flames and
feel the heat of the fire.
Allah chose 7th January specifically to strike
the rich and arrogant in California. The 7th of January is not only the date
and month of my birth but also the actual date of their Christmas celebration.
This date will remain etched in their history as a dark day. Only those endowed
with true intelligence and reflection will contemplate this and change their
ways, avoiding arrogance on earth. This kind of fire occurred after 64 years,
when in 1961, a similar fire occurred in California's wealthy neighbourhood (in
Bel-Air). This year, 2025, several places have been affected by fires because
California is vast; here I specifically speak of Los Angeles, a city of sin,
show-off, and arrogance.
There wouldn’t be fire without smoke. Without
the smoke of arrogance, intolerance towards the suffering of persecuted
countries, and without the mockery towards Allah, the Creator of the Universe,
none of this would have happened. Every action a person takes has consequences.
If they do good, they will receive good, despite some trials that Allah may put
them through to test their faith and sincerity.
So, my warning to you is to stop the false
pretences and come forward with the truth. Do not hide behind lies and evil
because Allah’s vengeance is terrible against the oppressors.]
So, returning to our main subject, we find that
Islam encourages people to seek a deeper understanding and offers the
opportunity to achieve all stages of realization, just as the former Awliya
(saints), Nabi (prophets), and Rasul (messengers) did.
Therefore, my call to all those who truly love
Allah and desire to perfect their connection with Him is to stay connected with
Him through prayer, Duahs, Zikr, and the recitation of the Quran. It is through
these acts of worship that Allah will elevate your stages and allow you to
taste spiritual fruits that the rest of humanity cannot experience in this
world. Expand your understanding and build your relationship with Allah.
Surely, Allah will stand by you when you come fully to Him, in this world and
in the Hereafter. Insha-Allah, Ameen.
---Friday Sermon of 17 Janaury 2025~ 16 Rajab 1446 AH delivered by Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius.