Ruhul Adab

Commentary of Imam Hassan Cissé

Sufism is a spiritual clinic with doctors who have knowledge of attending to ailments of the soul. For a sick patient that requires cures and doses of medicine from the clinic, there is the need for him to make a declaration of his sickness and acceptance of patient-hood.

          In taking Tarîqa, one should be aware that it is a commitment and the beginning of an endless journey. Shaykh Ibrahim here advises that for one to profit in this journey, he should at all times seek righteousness. A man once came to Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse and said: “Oh Shaykh, from today on, I am going to do whatever I want.” The Shaykh asked him, “Based on what?” He replied: “Based on the fact that on the Day of Judgement, I know you will not enter the Paradise and leave me behind.” To this Shaykh asked him: “Who told you that I am going to Paradise?” The man said: “I know it myself… because you are learned, you teach people with your knowledge, help the sick and feed the poor. Above all these, you are using your entire life and effort to see to the uplifting of the religion of Allah. Therefore, there is no doubt that Paradise is yours.” Shaykh said: “Get away from here, for you are shaitan”!

        Islam is not a religion for lazy people. It is a faith professed by the heart and exemplified by the limbs. The more a believer practices Islam, the more he fears Allah SWT and the more he becomes a better person that is honored and respected in the society.

       One day in London, two Senegalese Muslims were being interviewed by a Jewish man, for employment. He started by asking them their religion. The second one declared that he was a practicing Muslim who says his prayers promptly. The employer remarked: “It is you that prays, that I shall give this job to, because a person that does not pray can never respect any accord between he and I, if he can disrespect the accord between him and his Creator.”

(To be continued in sha Allah…)