Download PDF: [S] How to Behave with Creation

How should we behave with other creation if we truly call ourselves Muslims can be estimated from the words which appear in the blessed treatise, “Kashful Mahjub” by the great Saint, Hadrat Sayyiduna Data Khanjh Bakhsh – may Allah be pleased with him. What type of behaviour should be adopted for those who are needy and destitute is also explained in this masterpiece.

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Data Khanjh Bakhsh – may Allah be pleased with him – explains, “When a Dervish stops travelling and decides to settle somewhere, one of the acts of adab or respect which should be displayed by him is that when a traveller appears in front of him, he should display immense respect for the traveller. He should welcome the traveller. He should believe that this is also one of the guests that used to visit Nabi Ebrahim – peace be upon him. He should therefore behave with this person as Nabi Ebrahim – peace be upon him – used to behave with his guest. One should not ask questions like where did you come from, where are you going to and what is your name, etc. One must bear in mind that the person has come through the Divine Command of Almighty Allah and will also leave with the Divine Command of Almighty Allah. If the person wants to sleep alone, he should make the proper arrangement within his means. Or else, he can allow the person to sleep in his room.”

In one of his “Maktubaat”, Shaikh Yahya Maneeri – may Allah be pleased with him – mentions that, “One of the easiest ways for a rich person, a person in government or a person of influence to attain closeness to Allah is through being kind, simple and generous to those who are in need. A Saint has mentioned that there are different ways of reaching the Divine Court of Almighty Allah, however, one of the easiest ways of doing this is to create peace or security for the heart of another.” (Bazme Sufiyah)

 

In another “Maktubaat” which Shaikh Yahya Maneeri – may Allah be pleased with him – wrote to someone called Malik Khidr, he wrote, “In this dark world, as far as possible, one should deliver comfort to the needy through one’s pen, one’s speech and through one’s influence. Yes, certainly Salaah, fasting and Nawaafil is all very good, but it is not better than delivering peace to the heart of another person.”

 

It is mentioned that once someone appeared in front of Hadrat Sayyiduna Bayazid Bustami – may Allah be pleased with him – and asked the great Saint to teach him something about Ma’rifah. The great Saint then asked that food be brought for the person. After eating, the person went away a little embarrassed. The next day, the person again appeared in front of the great Saint and again asked him the same question. Again the great Saint asked that the person be fed. After eating, the person went away. The third day, the person again appeared and asked the same question a third time. The great Saint asked that food be brought for the person. This time, the person asked, “Hadrat! I am asking you about Ma’rifah and you are feeding me. Please give me the answer to my question.” The great Saint then mentioned that the crux of this was to feed people and not something which could just be given just like that. (Taarikh Mashaa’ikh Chist)

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Baba Fareed – may Allah be pleased with him – used to mention that, “It was the habit of Hadrat Sayyiduna Qutbudeen Bakhtiyar Khaki – may Allah be pleased with him – to never allow anyone who visited him to go empty-handed. If there was no food in the langar, he used to advise Hadrat Sayyiduna Badrudeen Ghanawi – may Allah be pleased with him – to give people water so that they do not rob themselves of Barakah for that day. He used to then mention the behaviour of Hadrat Sayyiduna Khawaja Ajal Shiraazi – may Allah be pleased with him – who to live in Baghdad Shareef that he also never allowed anyone to leave empty-handed. If there was nothing he made sure that a person at least leave with a piece of broken date. This was something which people kept all the time with them (as a source of Barakah).” (Rahaatal Qulub)

 

The eminent Mureed of Hadrat Sayyiduna Nizaamudeen Awliyah – may Allah be pleased with him – namely Shaikh Burhaanudeen Ghareeb – may Allah be pleased with him – used to advise his disciples to always go out of their way to help those in need. In fact, he used to advise them that they should stand under the sun while others stood under the shade of the tree. They should never worry about their being but worry about others.” (Bazme Sufiyah)