Benefits of the Company of the Righteous
To: Pahlawan Mahmood (may Allah have mercy on him)
May Allah Almighty grant you steadfastness upon the path of Shari‘ah. Āmīn.
A truly fortunate person is one whose heart has been emptied of the love of this world and filled with the love of Allah Almighty. Love for the world is the root of all sins, while renouncing it is the crown of all acts of worship. The reason for this is that Allah’s wrath is upon the world. Since its creation, He has not even looked at it. The world and its people are stained with reproach and condemnation.
In the Hadith it is stated:
“The world is cursed, and everything within it is cursed—except the remembrance of Allah.”
Since the people who engage in Allah’s remembrance—and even every particle of their being—is immersed in dhikr, they are exempt from this curse. In fact, they are not counted among the worldly. This is because the world is defined as that which distracts the heart from the remembrance of Allah, the Most Glorious, and turns it toward anything else—whether it be the desire for power, authority, fame, honor, or status.
Allah Almighty says:
“So turn away from the one who has turned away from Our remembrance.”
This is a definitive verse. Hence, everything that falls under the category of ‘worldly’ is a burden to the soul. Worldly people live in constant discord and distress in this life, and will be among the regretful and remorseful in the hereafter.
True renunciation of the world means losing interest in it. And such detachment is only complete when a person feels no difference whether he possesses it or not. Achieving this state is extremely difficult without the companionship of the friends of Allah. If the company of such noble individuals becomes available, one should consider it a great blessing and wholeheartedly devote oneself to them.
The companionship of Miyan Shaykh Muzammil is a great fortune for you all. Such rare individuals are more precious than red sulfur (a symbol of something extremely rare).
Clarification:
Wherever the deputies (khulafāʾ) or trained disciples of the noble shaykhs reside, the local people should value them and seek the spiritual blessings of their shaykh through them. The deputies are representatives of the shaykhs, and their circles of dhikr and companionship lead to inner and spiritual growth. To consider them ordinary people is foolishness. Even if they outwardly appear to be of simple nature or less learned, the spiritual grace in their hearts is like the elixir of life.
May Allah Almighty grant both you and us the ability to appreciate the rank of the Leader of Mankind, Muhammad the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and his deputies. Āmīn.
May Allah Subḥānahu wa Taʿālā grant us and you steadfastness upon the path of His beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Wa-s-salām wa-l-ikrām.