Mystical Visions in Islam

 

In a recent Question and Answer session with the Sahih Al Islam YouTube Channel, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (aba) of Mauritius explains the nature of Visions, Dreams & Revelations as spiritual phenomena. In this conversation with Hazrat Tayyiba Nasrine Aliah, Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) describes the Islamic perspective with copious references to Qur’anic teachings as well as the Holy Prophet’s mystical experiences, especially focussing on the Miraj (Ascension) of the Holy Prophet (sa). Furthermore, drawing on his own personal, mystical experiences, Hazrat Saheb (aba) gives a fascinating glimpse into the world of spiritual visions and revelations in this era, SubhaanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allah-u-Akbar!  

 

For the Text of the Interview, click here. 

The Quest for the Face of God

 

‘I created jinn and mankind only to know and worship Me.’ (The Holy Qur’an, 51:57)

 

According to a famous Hadith Qudsi, God says: ‘I was a Hidden Treasure and I yearned, I loved to be known intimately. So I created the heavens and the earth so that they may know Me intimately.’

 

A true believer is a lover of God. By establishing oneself on Divine commandments and the perfect example of the noble Prophet (sa) and the Elect of God of one’s era, a true believer can aspire for a special relationship of friendship and spiritual intimacy with God Almighty through a sound, purified heart: 'The heavens and the earth cannot contain Me, but the heart of My faithful servant can contain Me'. Sincere striving with pure faith and a grateful heart opens up the gates of Divine mercy: 'So remember Me, and I shall remember you' (2:153). Indeed God loves an earnest, perfected soul when it seeks Divine nearness with a tongue always moist with the remembrance of God. In a Hadith Qudsi, Allah (swt) states: ‘He who seeks Me, finds Me; He who seeks other than Me, will never find me; Pious souls yearn to behold Me, I yearn more to behold them’.

‘Laila-tul-Qadr’: An Interview

 

“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong).” (2:185)

'Truly, We revealed this on a Night full of blessings...’ (44:4)

We revealed it on the ‘Laila-tul-Qadr’ [the Night of Destiny, the Blessed Night & filled with virtues] (97:2)

Ramadan: Dreams and Visions- I

 

Ramadan is a special month in the devotional calendar of the Muslim. This month of fasting is characterized by an atmosphere of spiritual contemplations, special invocations and other supererogatory acts of worship and remembrance of God whereby the Muslim seeks nearness to his/her Lord. Members of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam in India have reported several pure dreams and pious visions of a mystical nature that clearly points to Divine Light and Pleasure on the Jamaat of Allah (twt) in this blessed month of Ramadan, Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah.  

 

Reproduced below is a remarkable description of certain mystical experiences that took place on Saturday, 01 April 2023 & again, on Sunday 02 April 2023 after 9 pm during Taraweeh prayer- reported by our dear brother Muhammad Sabir Saheb of Palakkad (Kerala) on behalf of his pious and humble wife, Mubeena Sabir Saheba:

Khalifatullah’s India Visit 2023

 

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius, and the International Sadr of the Siraj Makin Djawaharatul Kamal- the women’s wing of the Jamaat- Hazrat Ummul Mu’mineen Fazli Amena Varsally completed a historic visit to India between 16 January and 10 February 2023. The Holy visit took place under the will and shade of Allah's Grace in the dawn of a New Year, literally marking a new page in the Book of Time and the evolving spiritual lives of the Jamaat members in India, Masha Allah, Allah-u-Akbar!

 

In spite of the manifold and diverse Deeni works that keep them busy all through the year, Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) and Hazrat Ummul Mu’mineen International Sadr Saheba chose to find time and be with the disciples and followers in India for a period of almost a month. The presence of these blessed servants of God in India- a journey that took place despite several hurdles, marked a spiritually- uplifting, and morally- ennobling experience for all those who were in the circle of the Divine Manifestation during those days of the Holy visit, Subhaan Allah.  

Disciples and followers of the Khalifatullah (aba) will certainly cherish for a long time the spiritual warmth and filial affection showered by him upon all of them all through the visit, in Tamil Nadu, in Kerala and elsewhere. Like the sunshine and the rain, the servants of God embraced all those who came in search of Divine Grace and succour in their midst. Many devout souls recognized the privilege of joining the High representative of God – the Khalifatullah- in his long invocations and sublime prayers, and the opportunity to directly listen to discourses on finer points of spiritual wisdom, and to hear about Allah’s help and assistance amidst all trials and tests of faith in the everyday lives of those who believe and entrust their affairs to the wisdom and grace of the All Knowing, the All Aware,- relying entirely on the will and pleasure of God, Alhamdulillah. Indeed, the Holy visit gave members of the Jamaat a unique and special opportunity to join and experience the signs of Divine presence and manifestations in their own surroundings in everyday life, Subhaan Allah, Masha Allah, Allah-u-Akbar! 

'Kashf': Vision of 11 November 2022

In the Islamic mystical tradition, Kashf  [unveiling] is a spiritual concept dealing with the Divinely-bestowed knowledge of the Illumined Heart. Kashf describes the state of experiencing a personal Divine revelation after ascending through spiritual struggles, and uncovering the spiritual faculty of heart in order to allow Divine truths to pour into it. Kashf is etymologically related to mukashafa ‘Divine disclosure’. It connotes the purified heart ‘gaining familiarity with things Unseen behind the veils. For those who have purified their hearts, and who come to know the Divine Names and Attributes to the fullest of their individual capacities, the veils in front of the purely spiritual realms are opened slightly, and they begin to gain familiarity with the Unseen. Indeed, the Divine mysteries become readily apparent to the sincere seeker through the light of knowledge of God. This is called ‘Tajalli-at-Ilaahi’ [Divine manifestation’].

The holy men and women [saints] of Islam, who lived in the centuries after the Holy Prophet (sa), became guiding poles of the religion as they preserved the living spirit of the Faith by renewing his spiritual model and example. Through fervent remembrance of God,  prayer and invocations, they sought to clean their hearts for Divine Mercy and special illumination. It is through the Divine Manifestations vouchsafed to such purified individuals that the rejuvenation of Islam took place in dark times. In our times, Hazrat Imam Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba), the Holy Founder of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Al Muslemeen of Mauritius, and the supreme head of the Jamaat-Ul Sahih Al Islam International, is such a purified soul who is graced with Divine Mercy and is bestowed with many mystical experiences of Divine illuminations over the last two decades. By the immense grace of Allah, the revelations, spiritual visions and Bashaarat being bestowed on Hazrat Saheb (aba) directly point to the enduring light of the Qur'an, Subhaan Allah, Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, Allah-u-Akbar! 

Reproduced Below is a Kashf (spiritual vision) experienced by the revered Imam (aba) on Friday 11 November 2022 after Jummah prayer: 

‘Al Mubashirat’: An Explanation

  

In the sacred traditions of the Holy Prophet (sa) chronicled in Sahih Al Bukhari, one can read: 

1.   Allah's Messenger (sa) said: 'Nothing is left of Nubuwwah except Al-Mubashirat.' They asked, "What are Al-Mubashirat?" He replied, 'The true good dreams (that conveys glad tidings).'

2.  Allah's Messenger (sa) said: "A good dream (that comes true) of a righteous man is one of forty-six parts of Nubuwwah."

In a recent Question and Answer Session, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius profoundly explained the true concept of ‘Al Mubashirat’ and its linkages with the enduring blessings of Islamic Nubuwwah for human kind for all times till the Day of Judgement.   

'Duah-e-Ganjul Arsh'

 

Hazrat Ummul Mu’mineen Fazli Amena Varsally Saheba, the International Sadr of the Siraj Makin (-women’s wing of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam) has, over the last two decades, witnessed countless Divine Signs, Blessings and Revelations from Allah (swt) that testify to the profound truth of the spiritual claims of Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (aba) of Mauritius, Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah. 

The sublime spiritual experiences- pious dreams, mystical visions and Divine revelations- of this mother of all believers [“Ummul Mu’mineen”- a Divinely-bestowed title on her] will also appeal to our believing hearts- strengthening our Imaan (faith); reassuring every devoted soul to keep faith in the existence and vital presence of Allah (swt) as our ultimate help in this era of this grand Divine manifestation, Insha- Allah, Aameen. 

The Truth about 'Isra-Miraj'

'Isra wa Miraj' is one of the most celebrated events in the Muslim cultural consciousness, and every year on the 27th of Rajab in the Hijri calendar, Muslims mark one of the greatest mystical experiences the Prophet Muhammad (sa) have had in his eternally-blessed life. Whereas 'Isra' points to the Night Journey from Makka to Jerusalem undertaken by the Holy Prophet (sa) in the space of a single night; 'Miraj' denotes the Heavenly Ascension where the Holy Prophet(sa) encountered several Judeo-Christian prophets and finally came into the Divine presence: within two-bows'length of God Himself or nearer (53:10). The spiritual journeys of the Holy Prophet(sa) are significant for the deep connection it establishes between Divine messages of the past and the present- between Islam and the Prophetic heritage of old, with the ancient religions with Jerusalem as their spiritual home. Likewise, it was during the Miraj that the ritual prayer of Islam- the Salat- recieved its present form and shape.

Although rooted in events indicated in the Qur'an, with a range of details described also in scores of sacred traditions attributed to the Holy Prophet (sa); there is, however, much confusion and misunderstanding prevails among the masses concerning the true nature and meaning of the 'Isra-Miraj' journeys. Whether both the Night Journey and the Heavenly Ascension were physical occurrences? Where these journeys point to one incident with two different names, or, are, in reality, two entirely-different incidents, or were they two-stages of one mystic experience? What is the meaning and significance of the 'Isra-Miraj' journeys for devout Muslims- those who aspire to the Divine Presence in the fashion of the blessed Prophet of Islam? On the occasion of the Miraj Shareef- Saturday, 21 March 2020~ 27 Rajab 1441 AH, Imam-Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir A. Azim (atba) of Mauritius made a well-rounded speech after the Salat-ul-Esha to explain concerning the 'Miraj and Isra'.

Here is the Text of the Speech:

Mystical Journeying: 'Isra' and 'Mi'raj'

'..Before concluding my sermon, I would also like to say a few words about the Isra and Mi'raj of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). It was indeed two of the most important visions and communications that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) received from God the Almighty, for it was during one of those spiritual - and not physical - journeys that Allah ordered Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) and his Ummah (his community) to worship (Salat) five times a day.

Importance must be given to these blessed days, not because the Holy Prophet (pbuh) made “physical” journeys to heaven, but because all communication between Allah and His Messenger was and will always be special. These experiences were purely spiritual, lived by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in a state between awakening and sleep, called “Kashf” (vision). 

Keep in mind that man can never rise to the Pleiades physically, even if he tastes the final death. His corpse remains on earth, while the soul goes back where it is destined to go.

When the unbelievers had asked the Holy Prophet (pbuh) to go up to heaven and bring them a book, here is the answer he gave them: “Am I not only a human-messenger?” (Al-Isra 17: 94)

The “Kashf” is not a definitive death. The soul is spiritually awake and connected to God through His revelation and Divine Force that draws him to Him and to a world of temporary spiritual well-being. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) lived the most perfect “Kashf” because Allah made him cross the seven heavens to meet Him in an intimate and loving way.

The many forms of Divine revelation

The Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) has said:

Out of many forms of revelation which God has disclosed to me, one is that when God desires to disclose some hidden matter to His servant, He causes to flow from his tongue some phrases in a slight slumber, sometimes gently and sometimes harshly. 

Those phrases that flow harshly from the tongue fall upon the tongue as hardly as hails falls suddenly upon a hard piece of ground, or as the hooves of a fast running steed strike the earth. 

Such a revelation arrives with speed and is so awe-inspiring that the whole body is affected thereby and the tongue runs with it so fast and in such a majestic voice as if it is not one’s own tongue. The slight slumber disappears altogether when the revelation is completed and during the time it is received one lies motionless like a corpse.

The second type of revelation, which on account of its many wonders I call perfect revelation, is that when God Almighty desires to inform a servant of a hidden matter after his supplication or on His own, He imposes a faintness upon him, whereby he becomes completely lost to himself and sinks in that faintness like a person who dives in deep water and disappears in it; then when he emerges from this diving he feels a sort of echo inside himself, and when that echo ceases he feels from inside himself words that are appropriate and fine and delicious. This diving in the faintness is a wonderful experience which cannot be adequately described in words. In this condition a whole ocean of understanding is opened for a person.

The third form of revelation is communicated to one’s heart in a gentle manner. A phrase passes through the heart which does not comprehend all the wonders in perfection that are a characteristic of the revelation that we have just described. It is not necessarily preceded by any faintness or slumber. It can be received in complete wakefulness. It is felt as if someone has breathed those words into the heart or has thrown them at the heart. One might be partially awake or might be completely awake and one suddenly feels that new words have entered one’s breast. Sometimes, immediately on entering the heart, the words manifest their forceful light and one becomes aware that these words are being conveyed by God.