LETTER 94: SECLUSION

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

Dear Brother Shamsuddin, may God grant you the grace of obedience! It is important for a disciple to enter into seclusion and to withdraw from people in order to be able to devote himself to the service of God. It has been related that a sheikh said: I arrived at a gathering where an archery competition was in progress. I wanted to speak to one person who sat apart from the participants. He said: 'As far as I am concerned, it is good to remember God Almighty.' I said: 'Why are you sitting all by yourself? He replied: 'My Lord is with me, and two angels as well. He then got up and went off. At such moments creatures are a hindrance that prevents a disciple from devoting him self to divine service. 108 Moreover, he no longer enjoys their company, and is finally thrown into sin and destruction. What should he do? There is a story related about Hatim, who said: I sought five things from people, but did not find them. I sought worship of God and austerities from them, but they do not practice such things. I said: 'Come, make friends with me! but none did. I said: 'Be satisfied with me when I do something'-but they were not. I said: 'Don't be a hindrance for me! but they rejected my plea. I said: 'Don't invite me to do those things that are not pleasing to God Almighty! Also, if I don't do such things, then don't blame me! But they did just that! That was then I took leave of them, and became preoccupied with myself.

The Prophet has praised such behavior. It is also enjoined by the Law upon his people. He has commanded some to separate them- selves from people. In this matter, there is no doubt at all that he must be wiser in such affairs than you or I, and also capable of giving us better advice about ourselves than we could ever give. When you come across a period like the one described by the Prophet, then take heed of his commands and accept his advice. If you do not take heed, you are simply destroying yourself.

What has been commanded is this, as Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al- As put it: I was close to the Apostle. He was describing a state of tumult. He said: When you see that men pay no heed to their promises, and have laid hands on things entrusted to them I interjected: What should I do at such a time, O Apostle of God? He replied: It is necessary to keep to your house, and to maintain a watch over your tongue. Hold on to whatever you know, and abandon whatever you don't! It is for you to attend to your own work, and ignore the work of somebody else! It is related that the Apostle said, It is a time of distress. The people said O Apostle of God, what time should be called a time of distress He replied: It means a time when a man cannot feel secure with those who sit down beside him. Ibn Masud has related in another tradition that the Apostle said to Haris Amirah: If you are granted a long life, a time will come upon you when there will many preachers but few men endowed with knowledge, ma, who ask, but few who give. In such an age, following one's sensual appetites will be considered enlightenment. I said, When will such a time arise? He replied, The very day when prayers are abandoned and bribery is embraced, and when the faith is sold for some merely worldly trinket. Flee from such an age, O blessed one! Yes, flee far from it!

O brother, see with your own eyes all that has been described in this tradition. Study this very age itself in order to see what you ought to do. So many pious people of former times have been unanimous in their view that they should flee far from their own age and from worldly minded people, and embrace a life of seclusion. They have commanded their disciples to do likewise. There is no doubt at all that they were extremely wise and percipient in this whole matter. Succeeding ages have not registered any improvement, but rather have deteriorated.

A venerable Sufi has said: I heard from Sufyan Suri that he word to say: By the God apart from Whom there is no other god, seclusion has become lawful in our age. If this is so in his time and age, then in our own it ought to be considered as being necessary-even a duty. It is also related to Sufyan Suri that he was seated facing Ibad Khass and said: Realize that you are in such an age when the companions of the Apostle were seeking a refuge from what they found was happening then. And remember, they had a knowledge we don't possess! They also had helpers that we don't, as well as a power denied to us. What sort of state should we be in here and now? We have but little knowledge, less patience, and scarcely any helpers.

Khwaja Fuzail lyaz has said: This is an age when a person should keep a careful watch over his tongue. He should also live in a secluded spot. He should treat his own heart. He should keep quiet about what he knows and abandon what he doesn't. Daud Tai has said: Fast from this world and break your fast in the next! Flee from people as you would from a lion! Abid has said: I have not seen a single wise man who did not charge me with this: If you don't want anybody to recognize you, realize that your work lies with God Almighty. And again, Men will render vain what you have acquired through your devotion on account of what comes forth from them, from their hypocrisy, vanity, and artificiality. Khwaja Yahya Mu'az has said: The attention of men is a carpet of hypocrisy. All the ascetics of previous ages from been afraid of it. Hence they have completely abandoned human intercourse and visiting one another, according to the practice of Haram ibn Hayan, who said to Khwaja Uways Qar ani: Oveis, come along with me so that we can be near each other, and visit each other from time to time! Khwaja Uways replied: It is better for us to pray for each other than to visit each other, for in visiting and meeting there is nothing but hypocrisy and artificiality. Now if this is the state of affairs with regard to meeting each other as observed by noted ascetics, what then must be that of people filled with desires and vanity, to say nothing of the wicked and the ignorant?

Realize that the present age is completely given over to vanity- unless, of course, God wills otherwise! Men have become utterly depraved, even to the extent that they try to prevent you from performing your devotions. If they are unable to stop you completely, then even if you do something, they will strive to render it ineffectual Hence it is necessary, in such an age, to seek seclusion, withdraw from men, and seek protection in God Almighty from the wickedness of the age.

O brother, remain continuously occupied with breaking in your self. Quaff the cup of grief and empty vessels of sorrow and anxiety! Do not try, even for a moment, to be free from your own difficulties, since it is not the lot of anyone to have a happy countenance. Muhammad, the Apostle of God, the very purpose of both worlds, cried out in this manner from the very depths of the pain of his own being: O would that the Lord of Muhammad had not created Muhammad! Somebody said to Abdullah Masud: O that I might be among the companions of the right! Abdullah Masud said: O that when Abdullah Masud turns to dust, his name might be wiped out from the register of existence! In no way can he lift up his head from the dust!

There was one person who practiced devotion but hankered after its reward. There was another who sinned, but expected forgiveness. Yet another, out of shame at his own existence, did not lift up his head. It behooves you to remain far from self-praise and self-conceit. Recognize yourself among the rejected and those driven away. Wahb ibn Munabbih said: A hypocrite is one who likes to praise himself by means of lies, and thus to pour scorn on the righteousness of his enemy.

Peace!

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

Dear Brother Shamsuddin, may God grant you the grace of obedience! It is important for a disciple to enter into seclusion and to withdraw from people in order to be able to devote himself to the service of God. It has been related that a sheikh said: I arrived at a gathering where an archery competition was in progress. I wanted to speak to one person who sat apart from the participants. He said: 'As far as I am concerned, it is good to remember God Almighty.' I said: 'Why are you sitting all by yourself? He replied: 'My Lord is with me, and two angels as well. He then got up and went off. At such moments creatures are a hindrance that prevents a disciple from devoting him self to divine service. 108 Moreover, he no longer enjoys their company, and is finally thrown into sin and destruction. What should he do? There is a story related about Hatim, who said: I sought five things from people, but did not find them. I sought worship of God and austerities from them, but they do not practice such things. I said: 'Come, make friends with me! but none did. I said: 'Be satisfied with me when I do something'-but they were not. I said: 'Don't be a hindrance for me! but they rejected my plea. I said: 'Don't invite me to do those things that are not pleasing to God Almighty! Also, if I don't do such things, then don't blame me! But they did just that! That was then I took leave of them, and became preoccupied with myself.

The Prophet has praised such behavior. It is also enjoined by the Law upon his people. He has commanded some to separate them- selves from people. In this matter, there is no doubt at all that he must be wiser in such affairs than you or I, and also capable of giving us better advice about ourselves than we could ever give. When you come across a period like the one described by the Prophet, then take heed of his commands and accept his advice. If you do not take heed, you are simply destroying yourself.

What has been commanded is this, as Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al- As put it: I was close to the Apostle. He was describing a state of tumult. He said: When you see that men pay no heed to their promises, and have laid hands on things entrusted to them I interjected: What should I do at such a time, O Apostle of God? He replied: It is necessary to keep to your house, and to maintain a watch over your tongue. Hold on to whatever you know, and abandon whatever you don't! It is for you to attend to your own work, and ignore the work of somebody else! It is related that the Apostle said, It is a time of distress. The people said O Apostle of God, what time should be called a time of distress He replied: It means a time when a man cannot feel secure with those who sit down beside him. Ibn Masud has related in another tradition that the Apostle said to Haris Amirah: If you are granted a long life, a time will come upon you when there will many preachers but few men endowed with knowledge, ma, who ask, but few who give. In such an age, following one's sensual appetites will be considered enlightenment. I said, When will such a time arise? He replied, The very day when prayers are abandoned and bribery is embraced, and when the faith is sold for some merely worldly trinket. Flee from such an age, O blessed one! Yes, flee far from it!

O brother, see with your own eyes all that has been described in this tradition. Study this very age itself in order to see what you ought to do. So many pious people of former times have been unanimous in their view that they should flee far from their own age and from worldly minded people, and embrace a life of seclusion. They have commanded their disciples to do likewise. There is no doubt at all that they were extremely wise and percipient in this whole matter. Succeeding ages have not registered any improvement, but rather have deteriorated.

A venerable Sufi has said: I heard from Sufyan Suri that he word to say: By the God apart from Whom there is no other god, seclusion has become lawful in our age. If this is so in his time and age, then in our own it ought to be considered as being necessary-even a duty. It is also related to Sufyan Suri that he was seated facing Ibad Khass and said: Realize that you are in such an age when the companions of the Apostle were seeking a refuge from what they found was happening then. And remember, they had a knowledge we don't possess! They also had helpers that we don't, as well as a power denied to us. What sort of state should we be in here and now? We have but little knowledge, less patience, and scarcely any helpers.

Khwaja Fuzail lyaz has said: This is an age when a person should keep a careful watch over his tongue. He should also live in a secluded spot. He should treat his own heart. He should keep quiet about what he knows and abandon what he doesn't. Daud Tai has said: Fast from this world and break your fast in the next! Flee from people as you would from a lion! Abid has said: I have not seen a single wise man who did not charge me with this: If you don't want anybody to recognize you, realize that your work lies with God Almighty. And again, Men will render vain what you have acquired through your devotion on account of what comes forth from them, from their hypocrisy, vanity, and artificiality. Khwaja Yahya Mu'az has said: The attention of men is a carpet of hypocrisy. All the ascetics of previous ages from been afraid of it. Hence they have completely abandoned human intercourse and visiting one another, according to the practice of Haram ibn Hayan, who said to Khwaja Uways Qar ani: Oveis, come along with me so that we can be near each other, and visit each other from time to time! Khwaja Uways replied: It is better for us to pray for each other than to visit each other, for in visiting and meeting there is nothing but hypocrisy and artificiality. Now if this is the state of affairs with regard to meeting each other as observed by noted ascetics, what then must be that of people filled with desires and vanity, to say nothing of the wicked and the ignorant?

Realize that the present age is completely given over to vanity- unless, of course, God wills otherwise! Men have become utterly depraved, even to the extent that they try to prevent you from performing your devotions. If they are unable to stop you completely, then even if you do something, they will strive to render it ineffectual Hence it is necessary, in such an age, to seek seclusion, withdraw from men, and seek protection in God Almighty from the wickedness of the age.

O brother, remain continuously occupied with breaking in your self. Quaff the cup of grief and empty vessels of sorrow and anxiety! Do not try, even for a moment, to be free from your own difficulties, since it is not the lot of anyone to have a happy countenance. Muhammad, the Apostle of God, the very purpose of both worlds, cried out in this manner from the very depths of the pain of his own being: O would that the Lord of Muhammad had not created Muhammad! Somebody said to Abdullah Masud: O that I might be among the companions of the right! Abdullah Masud said: O that when Abdullah Masud turns to dust, his name might be wiped out from the register of existence! In no way can he lift up his head from the dust!

There was one person who practiced devotion but hankered after its reward. There was another who sinned, but expected forgiveness. Yet another, out of shame at his own existence, did not lift up his head. It behooves you to remain far from self-praise and self-conceit. Recognize yourself among the rejected and those driven away. Wahb ibn Munabbih said: A hypocrite is one who likes to praise himself by means of lies, and thus to pour scorn on the righteousness of his enemy.

Peace!