Submitting One’s Spiritual Face to God

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Ya Ali Madad and Idd Mubarak. On the occasion of Idd-ul-Adha, may Allah grant
material, spiritual and intellectual happiness to Muslims all over the world, and to
all those who have submitted their wills to He Who is Above All Else. Ameen.

On this day, may Noor Mowlana Shah Rahim Al-Hussaini Hazar Imam, the 50th direct lineal descendant of the Holy Prophet (s.a.s.), bless the global Jamat with peace, prosperity, happiness, barakat, higher spiritual enlightenment, spiritual & luminous tayid (help) and empowerment. Ameen.

Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad
(O Allah! Bestow Peace on and through Muhammad and his Descendants).

Introduction

This post focuses on complete submission and obedience to Allah and ties in beautifully with the celebration of our first Idd ul-Adha in the reign of our 50th Holy Imam, Noor Mowlana Shah Rahim Al-Hussaini Hazar Imam (a.s.). We will explore this topic through the following headings.

This post has six parts:

1. Ayat from Surah An-Nisa and Its commentary;
2. Deeper Insight Into Submission to God;
3. The Experience of Submission to God;
4. Salim: The Heart Which is Free From Inner Diseases;
5. Sadiqin: The Truthful Ones Who Are Given Quranic Wisdom; and
6. Sahib: Companion for Our Spiritual Journey.

1. Ayat from Surah An-Nisa and Its Commentary

Ayat 4:125

This ayat reads as follows:

And⁶⁰⁸ who is better in religion than he who resigneth himself entirely unto God and is righteous, and followed the creed of Abraham, the Upright One, And God took Abraham for a Friend.

Holy Quran Ayat 4.125

Note to Ayat 4.125

Here is the note for the above ayat from S. V. Mir Ahmed Ali’s translation of the Holy Quran:

Vr. 4:125. (608) The best religion is the submission to God—i.e., Islam.

‘Hanif‘, i.e., wholly devoted to one object—attached exclusively to the Right Path—always avoiding the wrong one.

‘Wajh‘, literally face. In Qur’an mostly used signifying the distinctive aspects of a being by which the being is recognized—man is distinguished by his cognitive self—God is distinguished by His Absolute Universal Excellence which is manifest throughout [as described] in 2:115 [And God’s is the East and the West, therefore whithersoever ye turn ye find the face of God; Verily God is All-Pervading, and All-Knowing].

‘Millat-e-Ibrahim‘ repeatedly used in the Qur’an indicating the universality of his mission.

Footnote 608 S. V. Mir Ahmed Ali, p.424

2. Deeper Insight Into Submission to God

Islam primarily means “to submit to someone”. The religion of Islam is so called because of the fact that whoever accepts it, surrenders himself to God and obeys His commands. So to say that Islam is the name of obedience to God is correct (Qamus, p. 56). For instance, aslama wajhu li’llahi (He submitted his (spiritual) face to God, 4:125. Indeed this act is in the sense of annihilation and monoreality as explained below.

The greatest secret of the religion of Islam is in submitting one’s (spiritual) face to God, the example of which is fana fi’llah (annihilation in God) and baqa bi’llah (survival in God) or monoreality. For instance, God creates Hazrat Adam in His Image (surat-i Rahman). The image belonged to Him, but He granted it to Hazrat Adam as well. Hazrat Adam submitted it to God. That is, he merged in his origin (asl se wasil). It is this act of submission which is the religion of Islam for everyone.

A Thousand Wisdoms, Tawil No. 60 and 61 pp. 46-47

3. The Experience of Submission to God

In verse (28:88) God says: “Everything is perishable except His Face (surat-i Rahman)”. That is, when an arif has the final didar (vision), it is the surat-i Rahman in which he merges and attains eternal life. In other words, this bliss is called fana fi’llah and baqa bi’llah. This is the meaning of submitting the spiritual face to God and in return attaining the everlasting treasure of surat-i Rahman.

A Thousand Wisdoms, Tawil No. 62 p. 47

4. Salim: The Heart Which is Free From Inner Diseases

It is said in verse (26:89): “Save to him who comes to Allah with a faultless heart.” To go to the presence of God in such a way (i.e. with a faultless heart) is not an ordinary thing, it is the excellent character of Hazrat Ibrahim and his spiritual companions and that of the holy Prophet (33:21).

A Thousand Wisdoms, Tawil No. 457. p. 245

5. Sadiqin: The Truthful Ones Who Are Given Quranic Wisdom

It is said in verse (9:119): “O you who believe! Fear God and be with the truthful.” This wisdom-filled verse is revealed about the Imams from the progeny of the holy Prophet. The truthful are those only in whose forehead there is the manifestation and miracle of the revealed light. Thus, it is the holy Imams who have the truthfulness and reality of the Quran and Islam (Da’aim, I, 21).

A Thousand Wisdoms, Tawil No. 493. pp. 263-264

6. Sahib: Companion for Our Spiritual Journey

Reflect upon the soul-nourishing words of verse (57:28): “And He will appoint for you a light in (the illumination of) which you will walk.” This is the light of Imamat, the purpose of which is to guide the people of faith on the straight path. The purpose of walking is to reach the final destination and the final destination is God and where there is God, there is His holy vision.

A Thousand Wisdoms, Tawil No. 492. p. 263.

Shukhran Lillah Wal Hamdu Lillah
(All thanks are due to Allah, and all praises are due to Allah)

Idd ul-Adha Mubarak!

May Noor Mowlana Hazar Imam fill our spiritual hearts (Qalb) with his Noor and nothing else!

Al-Hamdu lil-lahi Rab-bil Aalamin (All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds)

Angelic Salwat Supplication

Let us now start supplicating with angelic salwat, Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad (O Allah! Bestow Peace on and through Muhammad and his Descendants).

May our beloved NOOR Mowlana Shah Rahim Al-Hussaini Hazar Imam send blessings for mushkil aasan, and for material and spiritual upliftment.

Ameen

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Haizinda — Qayampaya
(Our Present Imam is Living and His NOOR is Eternal)