LETTER 60: MEDITATION

In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate!

Dear Brother Shamsuddin, may God's favor be with you! Meditation has been termed a divine work by the Prophet. He used to say: Meditate on created beings, not on the divine Essence, for whoever thinks about the Lord Himself will soon fall into infidelity, since the object of thought should be limited and focused if thinking is to be of some use, while the divine essence and attributes, on the other hand, are free from limitation that applies to the boundary of scientific

knowledge and to other matters cognizable by the human mind. One should meditate on His creation in order to recognize the various manifestations of change and stability, transience and permanence, in creatures of the various ranks of existence. A person can pass on from these to acquire a knowledge of the Creator of everything. It is fitting that when a seeker emerges from the grip of external activity he should immediately focus on reciting short ejaculatory prayers at the same time that he gives full justice to the canonical prescriptions and carries out whatever is obligatory. From time to time he should also engage in reflecting on the conditions of God's creation and the world, and yet keep in mind that the Creator must infinitely transcend the work He produced.

In reflecting on the world as divinely created, he examines his own soul, heart, and body, and his various degrees from the time of his birth until his death. 70 He also contemplates his own ways. At the same time, he should reflect on the road of the Law and construct his assets out of knowledge and activity in order that, along the way, he may not be cut off by either emptiness of praise, delay or hesitation, or similar things.

The capital of disciples should not consist in seeking profit or loss. On the contrary, through the process of reflection, they will gain the treasure of insight. The profit of mystical knowledge will accrue to them. What it would take worldly people many long years to acquire as a result of good works and worship will be reaped by them in a very short period of proper meditation. The Prophet has given us a hint of this outcome when he says that an hour of meditation is worth sixty years of worship. This reflection should be on matters of religion, the conditions of His creation, and the benefit of seeking wisely, which is itself a virtue. Such meditation is equivalent to sixty years of good works. It is said by the Lord Most High: Wherever one's eye falls in the Quran and finds a command, the purpose of the order is revealed to him who meditates. He profits from it, and, in understanding it, learns lessons and gains insight, since the eye of man can- not completely perceive the perfections of earth and heaven. What profit is there in investigating something that can never be fully grasped? God Almighty gives us no command to waste our time in what is useless!

It should also be noted that the truths concerning created beings can be perceived only by people endowed with keen insight. Such a gifted person will be able to see everything in such a way that the door of ostentation remains closed for him. Just as there are differences in the understanding of externalist scholars, so there are also differences of inner perception. Some are weak, others, strong, some are quick to perceive, others, slow. Similarly, the masters of hearts differ with regard to their insight. Some see as far as heaven; others as far as the divine throne. Some reach the tablet and pen; some gain a perfect, genuine insight, passing beyond all creatures, and see just the Creator Himself. The difference of peoples, manners, religions, and beliefs has only one root, and it is to be found in Him! Certainly the benefit derived from reflection is a profusion of knowledge. It is a means of acquiring mystical knowledge, which could not take place unless learning and interior knowledge had been acquired in the heart due to a change in the state of the heart. If this takes place, then one's deeds and actions are also changed. A person has fallen into change. From there, he falls into travelling. After this happens, he falls into attraction. When this occurs, then he arrives through a veritable craving for God at a place that no jinn or man has reached either by struggle or good works. The fruit of consideration is all sorts of knowledge, and states without limit. It is beyond all reckoning and estimation, for even if a disciple desired to gauge all kinds of things and occurrences, and to know all about thought and reflection in the world, he would not be able to do so, since occurrences of reflection are innumerable, just as the fruit of reflection is without limit: It is simply beyond reckoning or description.

The sheikhs have said that many things are contained in reflection. Abdullah Mubarak saw Suhail ibn Ali quietly meditating one day. He said: How far have you reached? He replied: As far as the bridge across hell! Khwaja Sharih was traveling along a road. After a while he sat down, drew his blanket over his head, and began to cry. People asked him what had happened. He replied: I was thinking of how my life is passing away, and how little I have done. Khwaja Da'ud Taiy, while sitting on his rooftop one moonlit night, was reflecting on the angels of heaven. He cried much and fell into the courtyard of his neighbor. The master of the house sprang up naked from his bed. He thought it must be a thief. When he saw it was Da'ud Taiy, he said: Who threw you down? He replied, I know nothing about my fall! Muhammad Wasi reported: There was a man from Basra who, upon the death of Abu Zar, went to his mother and enquired about his devotion. She said: Every day he passed his time in a corner of the house, engaged in meditation. Khwaja Fuzail lyaz said: Reflection is a mirror that reveals to you your good points and your bad ones. The disciples of Jesus asked him: Is there anyone else like you upon the face of the earth today? He replied: Yes Those whose speech is a remembrance, and whose silence is meditation and whose glance is a warning such a person is like me. Ibn Abbas said: If you perform two prostrations of prayer while fully applying your mind, it is better than a whole night spent in distracted vigil!

In reality, meditation is the best form of speech. Such instruction should be sufficient for this letter. May God Almighty grant us assistance to reflect on these facts as is fitting, and make the way of correct thinking easy for us! He is our helper, and makes everything easy by His grace. If you seek but do not find, do not become downcast! The Lord has said: Call upon Me and I will answer your prayer! (Q40:60). His prayer is not that of Moses: neither is His purity that of Moses; nor is His longing that of Moses Can you not see us The anger of friends is like that!

O brother, a certain people was in search of Him day and night. The reply they received was this. Your seeking has been rejected. the road has been closed! Another group turned their face away from the path and walked heedlessly, according to their own desires. A voice came from the Unseen: God invites them to the abode of peace! (Q10-25)

One brought forth from a Christian hermitage was called stranger: But to another brought out of an idol-temple He said: My friend!

Someone was seen wandering around in the wilderness without provisions or mount. People told him he was not bound to perform the pilgrimage For a long time I have known this, he replied, but I simply cannot stay cooped up in my own house!

A small boy played truant from school. The teacher sent some other children to bring him by force. A spiritual guide arrived on the scene. He was very happy. The boy is being conveyed by His wrath! he noted. In this way he is learning a lesson about a divine quality!

The hearts of dear ones have been torn to shreds! Their minds and eyes have been thrown into astonishment. They are on the verge of death. All previous connections have been wiped away like a mere wish. The seal has been stamped on them, as on a person's will!

Today all has been deemed an empty display: Tomorrow they will do what has already been prepared!

Peace!

In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate!

Dear Brother Shamsuddin, may God's favor be with you! Meditation has been termed a divine work by the Prophet. He used to say: Meditate on created beings, not on the divine Essence, for whoever thinks about the Lord Himself will soon fall into infidelity, since the object of thought should be limited and focused if thinking is to be of some use, while the divine essence and attributes, on the other hand, are free from limitation that applies to the boundary of scientific

knowledge and to other matters cognizable by the human mind. One should meditate on His creation in order to recognize the various manifestations of change and stability, transience and permanence, in creatures of the various ranks of existence. A person can pass on from these to acquire a knowledge of the Creator of everything. It is fitting that when a seeker emerges from the grip of external activity he should immediately focus on reciting short ejaculatory prayers at the same time that he gives full justice to the canonical prescriptions and carries out whatever is obligatory. From time to time he should also engage in reflecting on the conditions of God's creation and the world, and yet keep in mind that the Creator must infinitely transcend the work He produced.

In reflecting on the world as divinely created, he examines his own soul, heart, and body, and his various degrees from the time of his birth until his death. 70 He also contemplates his own ways. At the same time, he should reflect on the road of the Law and construct his assets out of knowledge and activity in order that, along the way, he may not be cut off by either emptiness of praise, delay or hesitation, or similar things.

The capital of disciples should not consist in seeking profit or loss. On the contrary, through the process of reflection, they will gain the treasure of insight. The profit of mystical knowledge will accrue to them. What it would take worldly people many long years to acquire as a result of good works and worship will be reaped by them in a very short period of proper meditation. The Prophet has given us a hint of this outcome when he says that an hour of meditation is worth sixty years of worship. This reflection should be on matters of religion, the conditions of His creation, and the benefit of seeking wisely, which is itself a virtue. Such meditation is equivalent to sixty years of good works. It is said by the Lord Most High: Wherever one's eye falls in the Quran and finds a command, the purpose of the order is revealed to him who meditates. He profits from it, and, in understanding it, learns lessons and gains insight, since the eye of man can- not completely perceive the perfections of earth and heaven. What profit is there in investigating something that can never be fully grasped? God Almighty gives us no command to waste our time in what is useless!

It should also be noted that the truths concerning created beings can be perceived only by people endowed with keen insight. Such a gifted person will be able to see everything in such a way that the door of ostentation remains closed for him. Just as there are differences in the understanding of externalist scholars, so there are also differences of inner perception. Some are weak, others, strong, some are quick to perceive, others, slow. Similarly, the masters of hearts differ with regard to their insight. Some see as far as heaven; others as far as the divine throne. Some reach the tablet and pen; some gain a perfect, genuine insight, passing beyond all creatures, and see just the Creator Himself. The difference of peoples, manners, religions, and beliefs has only one root, and it is to be found in Him! Certainly the benefit derived from reflection is a profusion of knowledge. It is a means of acquiring mystical knowledge, which could not take place unless learning and interior knowledge had been acquired in the heart due to a change in the state of the heart. If this takes place, then one's deeds and actions are also changed. A person has fallen into change. From there, he falls into travelling. After this happens, he falls into attraction. When this occurs, then he arrives through a veritable craving for God at a place that no jinn or man has reached either by struggle or good works. The fruit of consideration is all sorts of knowledge, and states without limit. It is beyond all reckoning and estimation, for even if a disciple desired to gauge all kinds of things and occurrences, and to know all about thought and reflection in the world, he would not be able to do so, since occurrences of reflection are innumerable, just as the fruit of reflection is without limit: It is simply beyond reckoning or description.

The sheikhs have said that many things are contained in reflection. Abdullah Mubarak saw Suhail ibn Ali quietly meditating one day. He said: How far have you reached? He replied: As far as the bridge across hell! Khwaja Sharih was traveling along a road. After a while he sat down, drew his blanket over his head, and began to cry. People asked him what had happened. He replied: I was thinking of how my life is passing away, and how little I have done. Khwaja Da'ud Taiy, while sitting on his rooftop one moonlit night, was reflecting on the angels of heaven. He cried much and fell into the courtyard of his neighbor. The master of the house sprang up naked from his bed. He thought it must be a thief. When he saw it was Da'ud Taiy, he said: Who threw you down? He replied, I know nothing about my fall! Muhammad Wasi reported: There was a man from Basra who, upon the death of Abu Zar, went to his mother and enquired about his devotion. She said: Every day he passed his time in a corner of the house, engaged in meditation. Khwaja Fuzail lyaz said: Reflection is a mirror that reveals to you your good points and your bad ones. The disciples of Jesus asked him: Is there anyone else like you upon the face of the earth today? He replied: Yes Those whose speech is a remembrance, and whose silence is meditation and whose glance is a warning such a person is like me. Ibn Abbas said: If you perform two prostrations of prayer while fully applying your mind, it is better than a whole night spent in distracted vigil!

In reality, meditation is the best form of speech. Such instruction should be sufficient for this letter. May God Almighty grant us assistance to reflect on these facts as is fitting, and make the way of correct thinking easy for us! He is our helper, and makes everything easy by His grace. If you seek but do not find, do not become downcast! The Lord has said: Call upon Me and I will answer your prayer! (Q40:60). His prayer is not that of Moses: neither is His purity that of Moses; nor is His longing that of Moses Can you not see us The anger of friends is like that!

O brother, a certain people was in search of Him day and night. The reply they received was this. Your seeking has been rejected. the road has been closed! Another group turned their face away from the path and walked heedlessly, according to their own desires. A voice came from the Unseen: God invites them to the abode of peace! (Q10-25)

One brought forth from a Christian hermitage was called stranger: But to another brought out of an idol-temple He said: My friend!

Someone was seen wandering around in the wilderness without provisions or mount. People told him he was not bound to perform the pilgrimage For a long time I have known this, he replied, but I simply cannot stay cooped up in my own house!

A small boy played truant from school. The teacher sent some other children to bring him by force. A spiritual guide arrived on the scene. He was very happy. The boy is being conveyed by His wrath! he noted. In this way he is learning a lesson about a divine quality!

The hearts of dear ones have been torn to shreds! Their minds and eyes have been thrown into astonishment. They are on the verge of death. All previous connections have been wiped away like a mere wish. The seal has been stamped on them, as on a person's will!

Today all has been deemed an empty display: Tomorrow they will do what has already been prepared!

Peace!