LETTER 91: DRESS

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

My brother Shamsuddin, may God grant you the robe of friendship with Him! In the matter of dress, the sheikhs insist that their disciples should be adorned with the jewel of being clad in rags. They themselves also dress in this fashion, that they might be a sign among the people, and that the people might become their watchmen. If they make a false move, people will speak out to rebuke them. If they desire to commit sin while wearing that dress, they will be seized with shame. In short, a patched garment is the adornment of God's saints. and it is customary to wear it!

Ibn Abbas says: The Apostle wore a woolen garment. It is related that it was made up of twelve patches, of which some were bark from the date tree. Similarly, Umar wore a woolen garment. It is related that his had thirteen patches, of which some were bark. Sheikh Abu Ali was asked who should be entrusted with the wearing of this garb. He replied: That person who is a superintendent in God's kingdom, because nothing in the whole world, regarding states or commands, can occur without being known to him! They should wear a dress of a light hue and they should take pains to sew it well so that people might think that they are men of means, since it is related that God loves those who practice this pious deception! Among the various colors, blue and khaki are preferred, for they are the colors worn by the afflicted or sorrowful. They are also the darkest colors, signifying that if those who wear them permit even a momentary negligence, then they will become estranged from the divine Presence!

The afflicted wear a blue garment, for it is necessary to wash clothes of other colors after every few days. They do not care to become involved in washing, for it will not leave them time for ejaculatory prayer and their other duties. They choose khaki also for this reason it does not have to be washed so frequently. Other colors, too, arouse the spirit of self-adornment, but by this color they are held to be grief-stricken and brokenhearted. One of the reasons for wearing coarse grass garments is to hope that the coarseness of the grass might produce a similar effect in the wearer After wearing it, a person should then proceed to get tough with his animal soul, and put it in its place, as do the ascetics. Excising anger and deceit from their soul, they should be straight and humble before God. They should have eyes for no other person or place. Nor should some disappointment cause anger or envy to appear in them. Another reason for wearing such a garment is to imitate our revered sheikhs.

On the other hand, a white robe is suitable for anyone who holds that the garment of his life has been washed with the soap of austerity and return to God. Also, the page of his heart should be cleansed of anything written in praise of rivals, and purified of the lusts of his lower soul. A blue garment is suitable for anyone whose lower soul has been conquered and its head severed by the sword of inner struggle! Also, mourning and the wearing of a khaki robe are fitting for the person who is so thoroughly immersed in the presence of God that he never has time to wash it. An azure dress possesses the quality of the purity of the sky, and is granted to anyone who has passed from the world below to paradise above, and been endowed with a heavenly magninimity! A woolen garment is bestowed upon anyone who is a Sufi. All seekers, both in the faith and in the world, should turn aside from themselves and observe all the practices and good manners that are prescribed. A coarse garment should be worn by anyone who has emerged from the condition of human nature and is no longer under the sway of any creature, because the power of the sewer, the weaver. and the spinner has not reached this garment. This means that the animal soul should have been trampled underfoot and ground into the earth. A black robe is fit for the person who has passed beyond all the stages and stations along the Way to God, and has reached the Goal of his endeavors-Undoubtedly your goal extends to your Lord! (Q53:42). Having reached the object of his affection, he will find no veil remaining between him and God, as has been said:

Realize that there is no color beyond black!

Poverty is blackness of the face. If you have grasped this you will be able to understand what Khwaja Sanai wrote:

All these colors are filled with variety, Yet the ring of Unity makes them one! Choose black, for it will not run, Nor does it accept any other color. The sparks of the Fire the heart seeks Are the object of the seeking of an inspired, black-faced one: It is the nature of an Abyssinian to court trouble! In fact, he takes delight in his black face. If you do not want to disclose the secret of your heart, Remain with the black-faced one of both worlds!

Trousers are suited for the person who can continuously keep his inner self before him, and be engaged in the remembrance of God, just as the person occupied in plaiting and weaving the trouser cloth needs to be very alert lest his mind get distracted by other matters. There is also a closely stitched garment called the mixture of a thousand that is frequently worn because of its durability. It is also uncomfortable. Weaving it, one will need no other garment for a long time. Most of the sheikhs wear such a garment. Its wearing also involves the penance of putting up with the inconvenience of its weight!

[Many more details of different types of clothes worn by the Sufis are given.)

The sleeves should be wide according to the practice of the companions and the sheikhs. In this way one's ritual ablutions are facilitated. Also, if anyone wishes to carry around his prayer carpet or something else, he can slide it up his sleeve! (Still more details of dress follow.)

O Wisdom, in Your path a child is better than a lion! The intellect of the guide has become lost in quest of You. O Wisdom, all are perplexed along Your path! Intellect has been spun around and left dazed by the wayside!

It has also been said:

The royal throne and this world are naught but talismans. He exists! All those others are nothing more than names! Look carefully! This world and the next are nothing but Him! If there is anything apart from Him, then it too is He!

Alas, nobody has been illuminated! Eyes remain sightless-yet the world is filled with the Sun!

Peace

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

My brother Shamsuddin, may God grant you the robe of friendship with Him! In the matter of dress, the sheikhs insist that their disciples should be adorned with the jewel of being clad in rags. They themselves also dress in this fashion, that they might be a sign among the people, and that the people might become their watchmen. If they make a false move, people will speak out to rebuke them. If they desire to commit sin while wearing that dress, they will be seized with shame. In short, a patched garment is the adornment of God's saints. and it is customary to wear it!

Ibn Abbas says: The Apostle wore a woolen garment. It is related that it was made up of twelve patches, of which some were bark from the date tree. Similarly, Umar wore a woolen garment. It is related that his had thirteen patches, of which some were bark. Sheikh Abu Ali was asked who should be entrusted with the wearing of this garb. He replied: That person who is a superintendent in God's kingdom, because nothing in the whole world, regarding states or commands, can occur without being known to him! They should wear a dress of a light hue and they should take pains to sew it well so that people might think that they are men of means, since it is related that God loves those who practice this pious deception! Among the various colors, blue and khaki are preferred, for they are the colors worn by the afflicted or sorrowful. They are also the darkest colors, signifying that if those who wear them permit even a momentary negligence, then they will become estranged from the divine Presence!

The afflicted wear a blue garment, for it is necessary to wash clothes of other colors after every few days. They do not care to become involved in washing, for it will not leave them time for ejaculatory prayer and their other duties. They choose khaki also for this reason it does not have to be washed so frequently. Other colors, too, arouse the spirit of self-adornment, but by this color they are held to be grief-stricken and brokenhearted. One of the reasons for wearing coarse grass garments is to hope that the coarseness of the grass might produce a similar effect in the wearer After wearing it, a person should then proceed to get tough with his animal soul, and put it in its place, as do the ascetics. Excising anger and deceit from their soul, they should be straight and humble before God. They should have eyes for no other person or place. Nor should some disappointment cause anger or envy to appear in them. Another reason for wearing such a garment is to imitate our revered sheikhs.

On the other hand, a white robe is suitable for anyone who holds that the garment of his life has been washed with the soap of austerity and return to God. Also, the page of his heart should be cleansed of anything written in praise of rivals, and purified of the lusts of his lower soul. A blue garment is suitable for anyone whose lower soul has been conquered and its head severed by the sword of inner struggle! Also, mourning and the wearing of a khaki robe are fitting for the person who is so thoroughly immersed in the presence of God that he never has time to wash it. An azure dress possesses the quality of the purity of the sky, and is granted to anyone who has passed from the world below to paradise above, and been endowed with a heavenly magninimity! A woolen garment is bestowed upon anyone who is a Sufi. All seekers, both in the faith and in the world, should turn aside from themselves and observe all the practices and good manners that are prescribed. A coarse garment should be worn by anyone who has emerged from the condition of human nature and is no longer under the sway of any creature, because the power of the sewer, the weaver. and the spinner has not reached this garment. This means that the animal soul should have been trampled underfoot and ground into the earth. A black robe is fit for the person who has passed beyond all the stages and stations along the Way to God, and has reached the Goal of his endeavors-Undoubtedly your goal extends to your Lord! (Q53:42). Having reached the object of his affection, he will find no veil remaining between him and God, as has been said:

Realize that there is no color beyond black!

Poverty is blackness of the face. If you have grasped this you will be able to understand what Khwaja Sanai wrote:

All these colors are filled with variety, Yet the ring of Unity makes them one! Choose black, for it will not run, Nor does it accept any other color. The sparks of the Fire the heart seeks Are the object of the seeking of an inspired, black-faced one: It is the nature of an Abyssinian to court trouble! In fact, he takes delight in his black face. If you do not want to disclose the secret of your heart, Remain with the black-faced one of both worlds!

Trousers are suited for the person who can continuously keep his inner self before him, and be engaged in the remembrance of God, just as the person occupied in plaiting and weaving the trouser cloth needs to be very alert lest his mind get distracted by other matters. There is also a closely stitched garment called the mixture of a thousand that is frequently worn because of its durability. It is also uncomfortable. Weaving it, one will need no other garment for a long time. Most of the sheikhs wear such a garment. Its wearing also involves the penance of putting up with the inconvenience of its weight!

[Many more details of different types of clothes worn by the Sufis are given.)

The sleeves should be wide according to the practice of the companions and the sheikhs. In this way one's ritual ablutions are facilitated. Also, if anyone wishes to carry around his prayer carpet or something else, he can slide it up his sleeve! (Still more details of dress follow.)

O Wisdom, in Your path a child is better than a lion! The intellect of the guide has become lost in quest of You. O Wisdom, all are perplexed along Your path! Intellect has been spun around and left dazed by the wayside!

It has also been said:

The royal throne and this world are naught but talismans. He exists! All those others are nothing more than names! Look carefully! This world and the next are nothing but Him! If there is anything apart from Him, then it too is He!

Alas, nobody has been illuminated! Eyes remain sightless-yet the world is filled with the Sun!

Peace