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lnner Tradition$ Int€mational One Park Stleet Rochester, Vermont 05767 www.InnerTraditions,com Copyright @1991by Hakim abu-Abdullah Moinuddin al-Chishtiyya All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, includint photocopying, recording, or by any information storate and ret eval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
DATA LTBRARY oF CoNGREss CATALocTNG-rN-PuBLrcllTroN Moinduddin, abu-Abdullah Ghulam. . The book of Sufi healing / Moiruddin Chishti. cm. P. Reprint. Origrnally published: New York : Inner Tladitions Intemational, c1985. inlcudesbibliographical referencesand hdex. ISBN 0-89281-324-5 1. Sufism. 2. Spiritual healing. 3. Medicine,Arabic. 4.Metaphysics. I.Title t991 8P189.65.F35M65 613-dc20
Printed and bound in the United States 1098 Text design by Studio 31
91-14595 CIP
In the name oJ God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful Praise be m God, the Chefisher and Sustainer oJ the |Iorlds; Most Gracious, Most Mercifuli Master oJ the Day oJ Judgment. Thee do we wonhip and Thine aid we seeh, Show us the st,ruight waJl, the wql oJ those on whom thou hast bestowed Thy Gtace, those who have not eamed Thine anger and who go not astray.
C-ontents Foreword by Abu AneesMuhammad Barkat Ali vii Shajarah,or Line of Succession, of Shaykh Moinuddin ix Notes on the Transliterationand Pronunciationof Arabic Words xiii Preface 1 Prologue 9 1 What Is Health? 11 2 The Hierarchy of Creation L7 3 The Stationsof the Soul 25 4 Food and Health 39 of the Body 45 5 Akhlat: The Four Essences 6 Foodsof the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) 51 7 Herbal Formulasfor Common Ailments 65 8 Fasting:The Best Medicine 85 9 9alet: The Posturesof the Prophets 9L 10 The Soul of the Rose LLL 11 The Universeof the Breath L23 12 Tacwidh: The Mericiful Prescriptions 131 13 Dhikr: Divine Remembrance L47 14 The Origin of Miracles L49 15 The Keys of the Treasuresof the Heavensand the Earth 16 The InfallibleRemedy 159 Appendixes I. The IslamicCalendar 165 II. Some Useful Short Srlrahsof the Holy Qur'an 767 III. The Divine Attributes 771 IV. Glossary 179 V. Bibliography 183 Index 187
155
tI
v
t
[\ ,
Therearc t*o *;ra, oJ Knowledge: the knowledge oJ rcligions and the hnowledge oJ the body,
d CEoVrbaul ,4 U At^Jl C^t God has not cteated any illness without creating ako its curc, except old age,
Foreword Bismillah, ir-Rahmdn ir-Aahim Not eventhe highestdegreeof dedicationto worshipmay earnanybodythe claim of divine forgivenessor recompensein any other form, yet there is one thing that everybodyshould make sure of, which shall not go unrequited under any circumstanceby Allah the Almighty, and that is the selflessserviceto the ailing humanity. There is no other human act more favorably acceptable to Allah than helping the sick and the suffering creaturesof His. That is what Shaykh Hakim Abu Abdullah Moinuddin Chishti has endeavoredto do in presenting this BooLof SufiHealing. The subject being a difficult and rare one, there are not very many books in this branchof knowledge.Neverthelessit is most hearteningto note that ' the author has taken great painsin bringingout this commendable work by dint of his unshakabletrust in Allah and unswerving will to serve the humanity. He displaysample evidenceof his vast knowledgein fields of multifariouskinds-theology, mysticism,IslamicSufism,medicine,hygiene, astronomy,and modern sciences. One wonders at the depth and insight of his knowledge,essentiallythe result of intensiveas well as extensivestudy in subiectsof diversenature. He takesup different subjectsseparatelyand then correlatesand coordinatesthem to convergeon a centralpoint, namely health,be it physicaland mental health or purificationof the soul.This he has done most logically and methodically.What part do snldt,fasting,tatuidh, or recitationof the Holy Qur'an or dhilcrof Allah the Almighty in any other form play in physicaland mental health or purificationof one'snafsTThe answer is not very far to seek. The author has also endeavoredto dispeldoubts and misgivingsabout IslamicSufism,a most misunderstood.subject in the West.It is a tremendous effort on the part of the author to vindicalethe causeof Islamand Sufism. The presentationof additionalinformationin the shapeof illustrations,list of herbs with their characteristics and ailmentswith their treatment,glossary of mystical terms, Qur'anic verses aptly quoted, basic information about s.aldt,fasling, dhikr,and so on, has made the book still more beneficial for the ordinary reader. Indeed, TheBookof Sufi Healingis a blessing for the English-readingworld population in general and fellow American and Muslim brethren of the author in particular.In creatingsucha fine book,
lx
x I ThcBa,kol SufiHnling the author has rendered a great service to the causeof Islam in the sense that, as Islam is the most natural faith, adherenceto its tenets and principles i. lir" o"fy course leading toward human perfection and establishingthe rule of Aliah the Almighiy on this earth' For Sufism in its purest form is else but Islam and Islam only. nothing f *iL the author still more courage and determination to serve the causeof Islam and betterment of the ailing humanity' Abu Anees Muhammad Barkat Ali Dar-ul-Ehsan, Faisalabad, Pakistan
ShajarahSharif of Shaykh Hakim Abu Abdullah Moinuddin
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Allah, The Exalted, The AlmightY Huzw Sat-ilar-i-Ka'indt Mulammail Muglafd ' The Holy Prophet of Islam (s.a.w.s.)
& Attfir al'Mu'minln Hazrat cAli (r.a.a') $ Hazrat Khtttdja Hasan Basti oir
KhzttdiacAb ilul-Wdhiil li'
FuilaYl ibn AYad o'o
Ibrahim ibn Adham oio
Sailiq Mat cashi
t: llta Namshdrt oto
Abn Islhq Shami oal
Abfr A\mail AbilEl Chishti ror Muhammail Zahiil Maqbal Chishfi caa
xl
xii I Tlu Buk S iufi Haling
Abtl YusalChishti olr
Nasiruililin Chishti 'lo
Matoilild Chishtr r'o Shaif Zinilani ; cVthrfldn Hatini Klwaia olo
Ktutaja MuclnuilifrnChishti of Ajmer tlr
Khttt Aja Qutbu tlilin Bakhtiy ht K-alci olo
Shaykh FatTituitiEnMascttil Ganj'i Shakar ltr
Haztat cAl:auititincAIi Atlmail Sdbit ol Kalyar Hazrat Shamsuililln Turk of Pa,tiqat ooo
Hazrat laldlutlihn Mahrnltil of Panipat llo
Hazrat Almad cAbilul'Haqq Ranilauli Inkeja oto
Haztat ShaYkh cAif of Ranilauli r'o Hazrat ShaYkhMuhammail ata
cAb ttttl - Quililit s of Gqngoh ola
Kabit-ul-Aulia Jalhluilitin Farlt{t Thanesar oto
ShniarehShedl I xlll
N izdmudihn Balkh Rahnumah
& Abh Saciil Gangohi olr
Muhammail Sailiq oto
Mahammail Daciil otr
ShahAbitl-Macdli aol
Muhammail Saciil oot
Saciil Shah Mullammail Sallm
.a Shah clnayanlldh oio
cAbilul-Kafim o'o
Ilafi4 cAbllul-Ralfm ooo
Hazrut Shdh Hassdn r'r
Hafiz Husayn Shah lo'
Muhammail Husayn
& Muhammail Murtaza Ahmail lol
sacid Safdar cAIi Shah Chishti
& Haztat Abu Abilullah Ghalam Moinuililin 'ol
xiv I ThcBlr,kol Srfi Hulirg
is the record of the line of succession A shajarah of a shaykh.It tracesthe spiritualgenealogyfrom the presentshaykh,backin the line to the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.), who first transmittedthe spiritualpossessions. genealogy The Sufi is from the $dbiriyyahline of the ChishtiyyahOrder of Sufis, headquarteredat Ajmer, Ralasthan,India. Ones who carry on the Sufi teachingsare authorized by living shaykhs, who maintain a living link and authority over those below them. This authority is granted by meansof formal initiation,and rights of succession are set forth in a KhildfaFNama,or Letter of Succession, duly signedand sealedby the seniorshaykhsof the order. Hazrat Ni46muddinAwliyi'(r.a.) explainedthe grantingof Khilifat: "Khilafat is the right of him who has no aspiration in his mind to have it, and who possesses\7) caqlsalim lsound iudgmentl or maturedknowledgeto judgeall intricatemattersof the world with strict impartialityand forbearance;(z) who is an accomplished scholar; and (3) whose chestis full of divine love and wisdom." The shaykh serves as an indirect link with the Divine Power. The tabarrukdtmuslafawl-the sacredrobes and relics coming down from the line of Chishti shaykhs-are conveyedto the shaykh upon KhilSfat. Hazrat Abu Abdullah Moinuddin is the twenty-sixth successorin the line of Hazrat Khwaia MucinuddinChishu (r.a.)
Notes on the Transliteration and Pronunciation of Arabic lVords Arabic consonants are pronounced like English consonants,with the following exceptions. ' f[
A simplestop in the breath. Pronouncedlike f] in tfrrr.
klr Pronounced like rl in Scottish lochor Yiddish challah. b An h soundedwith a strong outbreath. dlr Pronounced like tl in tls. r A slightly rolled r. g An emphatics soundedwith the tongue at the roof of the mouth. I
An emphaticd soundedwith the tongue at the roof of the mouth.
{
An emphaticf soundedwith the tongue at the roof of the mouth.
4 An emphaticsound betweenz and dh. f A consonantformed by constrictingthe backof the throat andpushing the breath outward. 3ft A sound like clearing the throat, or like a French r. .4 A t soundfrom the backof the throat, like the c rn courtas opposedtoccf. Arabic vowels are divided into long and short. The short vowels a, i, u are pronouncedas in cat,fit, andduty.They are not indicatedin transliteration by any specialmarks. The long vowels are about twice as long ia durationas the short vowels, and are marked as follows: -aah as in father i eeas in seen 'u ooas in vou.
ol SuliHealing xvi ! TheBook Arabic has two complex vowels: ay, often pronouncedlike eyebut sometimes as in bay, and aa;,pronounced between cowand bost. All prayers and sacredphrases have been transliterated accordingto a specialiormat that may help the readerwith pronunciation.The Namesof iod are capitalizedso as to be easily recognized.z{llnfrbegins with a letter *hose sound often vanisheswith elisions.In such casesthe Name is indicated by the capitalizationof its first soundedletter: Ufrh. Names of ancient shaykhshave been written accordingto Arabic transliteration. Contemporary shaykhs' spellings have not been standardized' Certainphrasesthat find their derivationor maiorusageinPersian,Turkish, or Urdu have not been set in Arabic transliteration style. The sameis true of terms that have becomecommonin English.
,x;; Preface Bismi LIdh ir-Rabmdn, ir-Ral.im Sub@n Alldhi wal-fomdu li-Lhhi wa la ilallu illa LIfth wa Alldhu akba All thanhs belong to Allah and all praise belong to Allah and there is tp deiE except Allah and AIIah is Grca&r (than all tlmt we avfibe to Him). I wish first to give thanks to Allah, Exalted is He, for the very excellenceof His creation,and for His mercieswhich exist and are bestowedin abundance upon His humanity. His benefits are epitomized in the creation, life, and teachingsof all of His prophets (may His blessingsbe upon them all), and perfected in the form of His last Prophet, the master of humanity, chief of both the worlds, Hazrat Muhammad (peaceand blessingsof Allah be upon him). To the extent that Allah shouldpermit and inform me, it is my intention to set forth someof the generaland specificprinciplesof human healthand well-being as they have evolvedwithin the practicesof the mysticsof Islam, generallycalledSufis in the West. While it is understoodthat for many readers this book may constitute their first contact with some of these ideas,it is sincerelyhoped that even personsof long-standingpracticeof the ' way of life called Islam, may find herein confirmation of their faith and belief.M; sh|' Allah!(As it pleasesAllah the AlmiShty!) There are two main purposes to this book: to reveal the health and healing practicesunique to the Sufis, anfto give some general idea of the stagesand progressionsinvolved in adopting the Sufi life' Many possibleapproachescould have been taken with the subiectof Sufi healing, which is being presented in English for the first time. It must be borne in mind that Sufism is a specializedtopic within the study of Islam, and the healing practicesof Sufism is an even more refined subiect. Obviously the possiblematters which could be discussedwould run into tens of thousands of volumes, not one! Moreover, there is a problem in presenting authentic Sufi practicesto a
2 I TheBook of iufi Hcoliag public that has perhaps obtained a distorted view of Sufism up to the present time. It is hoped that those whose impression of Sufism is merely some vague perceptionabout "God and goodness"will learn from this book that it is at once a,specificand practicalset of guidelinesfor achievinga high state of human evolution. In any event, the contents of this book are offered as one drop in the divine oceanof knowledge. Let us try to sort out the many conceptions,definitions, and notions of the term "Sufi." One who has true knowledgeof the subiecthaspresented it thusly: There is one immediate condition of the soul (lnl), calledalghanin Sufi parlance, which refers to the overwhelming ioy and love one feels when confronted with or granted a glimpse of the very presenceand reality of God Himself.*One is compelledto shedsweettears.While this condition no doubt comes and goes, the accounts are not few of pious personalities who were afflicted with this supreme joy for years on end. A second meaning of the word afghanrcfers to the sPiritual station (maqdm) of the soul,characterized by the one who has achievedtrue purity. Sucha personcanbe saidto haveextinguishedthe flamesor burning (afisr)of the variousappetitesof the ego (nals)to suchan extentthat they canneverbe rekindled.Anyone enjoyingthis statusmay be referred to as a Sufi. More properly, he or shewould be called a walt(pl.awliyd'),meaning"belovedfriend of God." People,particularly in the West, who casually refer to themselvesand others as Sufis do not realize the exalted Position of those who have attainedsuchrefinementthrough the graceand blessingsof Almighty God' In fact, it would constitute a kind of unparalleledarroganceto Presumeto describeoneselfas at the pinnacleof spiritualperfection.Sincetrue Sufis it is would of necessityexhibit the height of humility and selflessness, difficult to locate one who would admit to such a condition. The founder of the Chishtiyyah Order of Sufis in India, Hazrat Khwila Mucinuddin Chishu (r.a.),has spokenof the true Sufi as one who seesno evil, hears no evil, speaksno evil, and thinks no evil. Although there are more than 150 orders in Sufism, they are all united in one fact: that all participants, from novice to supreme master, are conformed in inward thought and outward behavior to the religious iniunctions of Islam,known as shancat. Some mistakenlyassert that Sufism is separatefrom Islam, that it is broad and open-minded,whereas Islam is narrow, static,backward,and oldfashioned. Not only is such a concept ignorant, but it does a tremendous disservice to those who are sincerely seeking the right way of living, of guidanceto God. To those who may claim that all paths lead to God, He has replied: If you don't know where you are going, any path will do. 'The pronoun for God in Arabic has neither male nor female gender. I use the conventional literate form, Hirn, only becausethere is no proper genderlesspronoun in English, most certainly intending no offense to femininity.
PrelaeI 3
Literally millions of volumes exist which establishbeyondany possibility of doubt that Sufism took seeddirectly from Islam, was nurtured by Islam, and has reached maturity in Islam. Sufism, far from being separatefrom Islam,is the very soul of Islam expressedin a conceptualframework." The Sufis may be considereda specialclass of teachers within Islam, whose responsibilityis to maintainand transmit the hidden,deeperknowledge (ciln) contained in the Holy Qur'an. There are the commonly known and understoodteachingsof the Holy Book-called mulkam1t(sing.muf;kan)which can be understood easily by anyone. Then there are those divine (sing, mutashibih\ secretscalledmutashdbihit which were revealedby the Holy ProphetMuhammad(s.a.w.s.)to Hazrat cAli (r.a.a.),who in turn conveyed this knowledge to others in an oral transmissionwhich has continued up to the present time through the network of Sufi orders, or silsilas. The life of the Sufi is the life of the spirit, a life adjustedand regulatedby the clear guidancefor humanity provided by God Himself in the Holy Qur'an. Ultimately,the successfulone is granteda personalconfrontation with, and absorption in, the overwhelming reality of the Creator, Owner, and Sustainerof existence:Allah. It is important to note that the word Allah doesnot mean "a" god or a Muslim god. Even Arabic-speaking Christiansuse the word Allah for God. We use the word Allah, first, becauseit has never been used to refer to anything except the One God. Further benefits attachedto the Arabic letters and soundswill be elucidatedin this book, in shi'Allah (God willing). For the Sufis, the supreme object of life is to serve and obey Allah, thereby earningHis pleasure.Just as the Creator indiscriminatelybestows sun, rain, and love upon all of His creatures,so too doesthe Sufi strive to love all of humanity regardlessof caste,creed, age, sex, color, religion, or nationalorigin. The stagesof Sufismrest upon the premisethat by constantrecollection and remembranceof Allah, one will, through the grace of Allah, eventually come to be effaced in the One Remembered. At the headquartersof the Chishti Order in Ajmer, India,there is one street (more like an alleyway) that mns alongside the dargah,or resting place,of Hazrat Khwdfa Mucinuddin Chishti (r.a.).Along that street are sitting perhapsthree dozenmen and women at any given time,and from all outward appearancesthey are the dutcasts and most despicablebeggarsof the world. But one look into their eyeswill reveala countenanceof supreme ioy and peace,of contentment, of complete reliance and trust upon Allah (tawwakulAllAh) to provide all that they may need.Whether they eat or do not eat doesnot matter to them.They cannotevenknow if they arecleanor dirty. Every person who crossestheir path, be he criminal or saint, is given 'lt is beyond the scopeof the present book to deal fully with this issue.The interested reader is referred to Annemarie Schimmel,MyslicalDimensions oI Jslara(University of North Carolina Press),and Dr. Mir Valiuddin, Contenplalioe Disciplines in Sufism(London, East-West).
of5$ Huliag e I ThcBor,k the samegreeting-an exPressionof unrestricted love for that person and the deepestprayer that the person may receivethe merciesand blessingsof Allnh! Allah. Once this conditionsetsin, there is no end.SlbllinAltah!Sublrafl SubllqnAuah!
It was in this samecondition that the well-known Sufi Hazrat Mawlana Rnmi (r.a.) found himself after completing the greatestsequenceof mystical poetry in the world, lhe Masnaoi.To show that he was completely resigned io the will of Almighty God, and that he lived solely by the permissionand by the blood of the human body, Mawlind, in the favor of God and "oi presence of a large gathering of notables, called for a physician (fakirz)' When the healer irrived, Mawlene ordered that incisionsbe made through all of his veins and the cuts be allowed to bleed until all flowing ceased. When this act was done and no more blood flowed, Mawlane rose up and, after performing ablutions, entered his rose garden and commencedthe ecstatic twirling of the sacreddance.Mi shA'AltAhf Al-ftanduli-lJah al' IJayyu!Al-Qayyiln! Hazrat BEbdFarfdGani-i Shakar(r.a.),one of the saintsof the Chishtiyyah, has said that the first stepor stageof Sufismconsistsin knowledgeof and accessto the 18,000created worlds (cilamtn;sini. talcrn).No doubt. to arrive at the threshold of such a state requires a commitment and level of worship that most humanscannot even imagine. It is relatedthat Almighty Allah has said:"My servantceasesnot to seek nearnessto Me through specialworship, until I make him My favorite, and thus I becomethe earswherewith he hears,the eyeswherewith he sees,the handswherewith he holds,and the feet wherewith he walks." This "special worship" is taken up in the form of voluntary prayers during the day, and also extended worship and supplicationsthroughout the night. The mastersof the true path are unitedin their insistencethat no progress at all can be madewithout the middle-night superogatoryPrayers (tahajjudl. By combining this specialdevotion and obedienceto Allah, the Sufis unlock the origin of miracles through which they gain accessto the attributes of Allah the Almighty, and reflect these qualities in their own character and actions,to the extent possiblein human beings. Just as the most prominent characteristicor attribute of Allah is His compassionfor humanity, so, too, do the Sufis strive to spreadand bestow this among the people.Of all serviceto humanity, that which is considered superior is the healing of the sick and suffering. Certainly the great proportion of Sufi shaykhs have been known for their ability to effect results in the realm of healing various ailments. Of course, it is Allah Who does the actualhealing,the shaykhbeingonly the agentfor the will of Allah, exalted is He! The Chishtiyyah Order of Sufis, one of the four largest in Islam, has carried on this tradition of serving the downtrodden of humanity-the sick and ailing-for the pasteight hundredyears,ever sincethe foundingof the
PrcleuI 5 order. A large herbal-medicineclinic is attached to the dargahpremises at Aimer, and all personscoming there (upward of sixty thousand per day) are provided whatever treatment they need,free of chargeor obligation.M6 sh6' Allah! If Allah touch theewith affliction, nonecanremoveit but He. (Qurhn 6:17)
The aboveverse forms the basisof this book, which has been written to provide specific means to attain a true health of the body, mind, and soul. For these suggestionsto be put into practice successfullyrequires only the stateof being known as tawwakul Allih (trust in Almighty Allah). To inspire the reader'sconfidencein the suggestionswhich follow, I have cited examplesof various Sufi personages past and present.All of thesepersonshave derived their own example and inspiration from that of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.), whose life has been aptly describedas "the Qur'an lived-" The physical healing methods of the Sufis derive first from the Qur'an and secondfrom the traditions and actions of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.). Furthermore,there are many men and women of brilliancewho have developedthe knowledgesof physical medicine in the context of Islamic societiesand culture. Hakim Ibn Sina, Rhazes,and al-Suyuti are among thesemedicalauthoritiesfrequently studiedby the Sufis. I have made little effort to rationalize or otherwise lustify the healing claims contained in this book, except to identify their source and origin, which in the end is God. In fact, materialistic ideologies and scientific theoriescanneverbe sufficientto explainthe divinemysteries.Nonetheless, these practiceshave proved effective and useful for an untold but very great number of personsand are in current use among the mysticsof Islam. At the sametime,it must be noted that what is requiredfor one to attain to the state of being of a walTor Sufi-and utilizing the healingmethods herein-is not the same thing as reading this book. One who is sincerely interested in taking up a formal curriculum of study in Sufi healing must find an authenticshaykhor masterand wholeheartedlysubmit to the advice offered. Some say that at least twelve years are required for this training. The health practices fall into three categories:(1) those for the body, (2) those for the mind or emotions, arrrd(3) those for the soul. The best and preferred practicesare those for the soul. However, a person whose mind and soul are degeneratedor weak, may be unable to act upon or be acted upon by a purely spiritual practice.In such a case,herbal remedies,food restrictionssuch as dieting and fasting, and similar modesare employed. Practicesfor the heart are also employed favorably in such cases,for they awaken,enliven,and disseminatevarious divine potentialitiesthroughout the person. The practices for the soul are highly charged with divine grace and blessings, and if rightly applied, will never fail to bring results. It is a
of1ufiHtr,liq 6 I Thr Bcr,k
principle of nature that the spiritual always takes Precedenceover the material. began in My own study of the sciencesof Islamic mysticism (taqawwuf\ 1968 with a written correspondencewith my shaykh, the late Hazrat MaulanaSufi WahiduddinBegg(mayAllah grant him the choicestblessings, as many of such things as there are,imin!).Prior to his demisein Aimer in February 1979, our exchangeof letters had grown to some four thousand pages,which form the corpus of his teachingsto me. During this period it was my good fortune to travel to Afghanistan, where I took up a formal course of. study of healing sciencesunder the guidanceof Sufi personages of that belovedland.While there,I was initiated into the healing practicesof dream interpretation by Pir Syed Daoud lqbali, leaderof the NaqshbandiyyahSufis at Dehdadi,near Balkh. The knowledge of Islamicjurisprudence(/iql) and the scienceof utilizing various Qur'anic verses in healing (tacwldh)were conveyedby Haiii Shaikhin Afghanistan. ul-IslamNimayatullahShahrani,alsowhile I wasin residence ln April 1976, while paying my respects to the leader and supreme murshid(teacher) of the Chishtiyyah, at the dargahof Hazrat Khw6ia MucinuddinChishti (r.a.),I experiencedthe first of what was to becomea There, under the directionof my continuingsequenceof miracles(karamat\. shaykh,I was ableto instigatea particularpracficethat halteda sPontaneous abortion which was being sufferedby my wife in far-off Kabul-an e.'ent that was later termed a miracleeven by the attendingphysicians. Consequently,I undertook a vow to devote the balanceof my life to the duty of serving the humanity, for the sake of Allah Almighty and only for the sakeof Allah the Almighty. Ma sha'Allah. In order to make this volume useful to as many as possible,I have presented wherever I could the original Arabic script as well as the transliterationand translationof variousprayers.The words shouldbe utteredin Arabic, for reasonsthat will becomeapparent in the following pages' A specialdebt of gratitude is hereby acknowledgedand expressedfor my presentshaykh,SyedSafdarAli ShahChishti,of Lahore,Pakistan,who has shared with me his spiritual possessions,for which honor and favor I could never adequatelyexpressmy appreciation. One of the finest examplesand exponentsof the idealsexpressedin this volume is to be found in the life and personality of Sufi Abu Anees Muhammad Barkat Ali of Dar-ul Ehsan, Pakistan.His miraculous healing experiencesare legend throughout the world. While I was involved in preparing the final typescript of this book, Bernard Glicksbergprovided me with great assistancein the mechanical production of the text and allowed me to work unhindered by various external concerns.He proved to be a friend in the truest senseof the word. The editing of this manuscript was a specialchallenge.Rabia Harris exerted her knowledge of Arabic in conforming the disparate foreign language elements to one style. And Kendra Crossen discoveredmany opPor-
PtcfutcI 7 tunities to clarify and enhance the text. Both of these gracious people earned my respectand gratitude. The Arabic and Persian calligraphy was contributed by Enayatullah Shahrani, Aishah Holland, Shaykh Shemsuddin Friedlander, and myself. The illustrations were the inspired work of Angela Werneke. A special thanksis due to LeslieColket,who managedto masterfullycoordinateall of the disparateelementsof production. Abu Anees Muhammad Barkat Ali read the manuscriptfor errors of intent and reason,and Zafar HussainKhan assistedme by resolvingtechnical matters regardingSufisticterminology. My wife, Iman, listenedwith love and concernto my ideasand efforts while I was writinS this book, and I must thank the All-Merciful for her endlesssupport and forbearance. Finally, I most sincerelythank my publisher, Ehud C. Sperling,president of Inner Traditions International, Ltd,, of Rochester,Vermont, for his years of kind forbearanceand interest to allow me the time and effort to complete this volume. May Allah the Merciful reward them all with His choicest blessings! Amin!Amin!Amin! Wa ikhiru dacwini an al-\amduli-Ll5hirabbil-c6limin! Wa9-qalituwas-salimucali rasilihil-karim! Rabbanitaqabbalminni innakaantas-Samic ul-cAlim! Subl.rinaRabbukarabbul-cizzaticammi yaqifin. Wa salimun calal-mursalin. Wal-lramdu li-Llihi rabb il-celamin! Ami"l
In the end our claim is that all praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds,and blessingsand greetingsto the Prophet (s.a.w.s.). Our Lord! AccePt from us this dutY! Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Hearer, the Knower! Gloried be thy Lord, the Lord of Majesty, From that which they attribute (unto Him)! Peacebe unto His messengers! Praisebe to Allah the AlmightY, Lord of the Worlds! Be it so!
H.M.C. Dar-ul Iman Oxford,New York 13830
Prologue The philosophyof Sufism is best summed up in the words of the final kfufbaft (sermon) of Hazrat Khwrja Mucinud&n Chishu (r.a.), which he delivered to his followers iust one month before his demise.The great saint said: Love all and hate none. Mere talk of peacewill avail you naught. Mere talk of God and religion will not take you far. Bring out all of the latent powers of your being and reveal the full magnificence of your immortal self. Be surchargedwith peaceand ioy, And scatter them wherever you are and wherever you go. Be a blazing fire of truth, Be a beauteousblossornof love And be a soothing balm of peace.With your spiritual light, dispel the darknessof ignorance; dissolvethe clouds of discord and war and spreadgoodwill, peace,and harmony among the people. Never seek any help, charity, or favors from anybody except God. Never go to the courts of kings, but never refuse to bless and help the needy and the poor, the widow, and the orphan, if they come to your door. This is your mission, to serve the people. Carry it out dutifully and courageously, so that I, as your hr-o-Murshid, may not be ashamedof any shortiomirtgs on your parr before the Almighty God and our holy predecessors in the Sufi order [silsilifi] on the Day of Judgment. In the following pages, my own humble effort is offered to fulfill this pious advice. It is for all people, and constitutes an expression of mv
ao I ThcBook of SuliHaliry unyielding love for the life and example of our belovedleader,the Prophet of Islam and saviorof humanity (s.a.w.s.). If you find the spiritual sparks herein to become uplifted, all praise, thanks, and appreciationbelongsto Allah sublhnuwa tacafa, the All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate. If there be mistakesor errors, the responsibilityis entirely my own, and I ask pardon and forgiveness of my Lord.
1, What Is Health? Fot you God nbjectcd all that is in tbe heavens And on the eorth, aII Jrcm Him, Behold! In that are signsJor pople who rcflect. Qtr'an 45:18
What is health? When we talk about the human organism existing in a stateof health,we must first of all understandseveralinterrelatedquestions. What is a human being? How did it come into existence?How is it sustainedin existence?And what is the purposeof human life? Without understandingthe answersto thesequestions(or at leastthe questions),we can never have a satisfactoryknowledge of the real type of health we should be seeking.For without any criteria for what constitutesthe proper functioning of a human being,how can we say that it evenmatterswhether we are ill or well? Just becausesomething feels "good" does not necessarily mean it is of ultimate benefit to us. And conversely,simply becauseat the moment we seemto havepain,we cannotdismissthis experienceas"bad," unlesswe understandhow and what the result of thesemomenrarysensations will be. Allah saysin the Qur'an, "There may be a thing decreedfor you that you do not like that is good for you; and things that you like that are not good for you." The great Sufi Imam al-Ghazzali(r.a.)expressedthis ideaasfollows: "lllness is one of the forms of experienceby which humans arrive at a knowledge of God; as He says,'Illnessesare my servants which I attach to My chosenfriends."' Thus, we ought not necessarilyto considerillnessour enemy; rather, we may see it as an event, a mechanismof the body, that is serving to cleanse, purify, and balance us on the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual planes. Considered from this perspective,a bout of flu, a cold, diarrhea, even some kinds of agonizing pain are friends, enabling our bodiesto purge unwanted and potentially harmful toxic by-products of metabolism.
rz I TheBrr,kol 9tfi Haling Western medicine endeavorsto halt or impede the various eliminative functions of the body-to stop the urSe to vomit with stomachremedies;to block diarrhea with potions; to end fever with aspirin and related drugs' Behind every naturai action of the human body is an inherent wisdom, a the body to heal itself. In fact, no herb, food, or any mechanismihut "Uo-t other substanceor procedurecan do anything on its own to heal;it can only aid and assistthe body in its own self-healingrole. If your finger is cut, it is not the stitchesor the bandageor the iodinethat causesit to heal;it is the skin itself that performs this miracle. When we think of illness,we almost always first think of iniury or acute pain as the first stage.But today many people-are.realizingthat other aspectsof our mental world, our feelings and thoughts, can become unbaiancedand causeillnessand suffering,eventhough there may be nothing clinically "wrong" with a person. This approach to health and diseasehas come to be Lnown as "holistic." It is rather easy to understand the physical level The body lets us know-by rn""rl, oi our sensePerceptions-sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell-and the vegetative faculties-when something is wrong, and we take steps to correct the problem. The seat of the vegetativefunction-that is, the instinctive,life-sustainingwork of the body-is the liver, sometimes called the Wheel of Life. All of our physical functions are cued by the functions and enzyrnesof the liver. In Arabic, nalsis the word for the body and its appetites'Na/smeansall of the demandsof the body-for food, for warmth, for fame and fortune (all of these include emotional needsor drives).All physicaldiseasescanbe marked out by one or more of thesephysicaldimensions. The word nafshas many meanings: breath, animal life, soul, self, a person,essence, and more.In Sufism,the progressionof the soulis described Ly consideringthe evolution of the nals,which manifestsin human behavior 'fhe nafsiam-marfr is the ai one's entire character,personality,and behavior. is condition commanding soul, which createsinordinate appetites.This the of the rafs referred to when one occupiesthe station of egotism (maqdm an-nafs). are meant to control The behaviorsrecommendedin the Qur'an (sharical) and subdue these inordinate appetities,leading the nalslo a more refined status.The soul that has beenentirely purified is callednalsilcrll,meaning "universal soul," which unites with Allah in the final stage of Sufism However, even at the latest stagesof Sufi practice,one cannot assume oneselfto be immune to the blemishesof the soul. The secondaspectof our existenceis the mind world, or let us say the emotional and mental world. The mind is not entirely separatefrom the physical body, but is part of and intimately connected-with physical funclioning. Moods and feelings that originate in the mind frequently have an effect on the body-emotions such as anger, fear, or extreme ioy When one
Whot Is Hcdth? I 13
or more of these is experienced,the blood pressuremay rise or fall, the body sweats,tears may come. Interestingly, some ailments or conditions that we have come to regard as purely emotional have their origin in physicalimbalances.An exampleis severe anger. Psychologistswould usually attribute this to a condition of the mind or emotions. But according to the fibb system of the Persian physicianAvicenna, severeanger is one of the body'smost effective ways of dispellingexcessmoisturein the areaof the heart.It is easilycorrectedwith diet. The realm of the mental world is called/itr in Arabic. In essence,/ilrr means meditation or deep-thought process. The third component of our existenceis the soul, calledthe rnfi. The rull is that which exists after death, which marks the end of both physicaland mental life. The interaction of the three realms (or the activation of the physicaland mental realmsby the soul realm)is carriedout by meansof the spirit.Many people use the words "spirit" and "soul" to mean the same thing, yet they are distinctly different and separate.The spirit is what activatesthe physicallevel existence, including thought processes.The word for this spiritactivator is nafas.lt is activated at the point of the breath. The point of the lips where in-breath and out-breath unite is the link between life and death. We can live without mental activity and without physical movement. But without breath, life ceasesin a very short time. There are peoplewho live without mental existence.Although an electroencephalographshows that their brain waves are not functioning, they may be kept "alive" by mechanicalmeans.They are called"brain dead," yet they are still regarded as living; we do not bury them. This meansthat there is something superior to this mental existence and physical existence. Such persons still have something left of life in them, and that something is the breath. The Sufis considerthat the breath of life existsand continuesby virtue of the idfia, or permission of God, the One Who has created us all. What we call the Creator-God, Allah, Yahweh, or whatever-does not matter. In His ultimately reality, God is one. He gives His permissionfor human life to exist in the first place,and as long as that permissionremains,we may draw breath in and out. Regardlessof which systemof healing we may wish to apply, or how skilled the practitioner, Evenif all the healersof the world came together, they could not counteract the idhn.When the permissionis withdrawn, there is no more breath; life ceases. Interesting casesbear this out. When a child is born, it doesnot breathe right away.Somesay the shockof the coldair startsit breathing.But not in every casedoes this happen. The Sufis would say that Allah sendsHis i/lz for that particular life to commence.If He doesnot send His permission,no amount of spankingor technologicaleffort can force the baby to breathe.It will be a stillborn.
ol SuliHaling rt I ThcBook On the other hand, sometimes, despite every effort to end a life, the permission overrides human efforts A recent article in a medical iournal iold of a couple who had informed their doctor that they did not want to have children under any circumstances'The doctor suggestedthat the husband undergo a permanent vasectomy,and so it was performed A few months later the couplewas back, furious with the doctor, becausethe wife had becomepregnant. The doctor then offered to perform a free abortion to terminate the pregnancy. This procedure was done. Another month later, the couple sued the doctor for malpracticewhen the woman discoveredthat she was still pregnant! Despitethe sterilizationand the abortion, the idhnof God was that this particuiar child would be born. And so it was. Clearly, there is an Authority against Whom we have no real ability to interfere. Consider the nonmanifest realms-the world of dreams,of intuition, of abstract phenomena-and the many casesof people reporting encounters with UFOs,demons,poltergeists,and the like.No one in the West hasso far come forward with a fully developedconceptualframework with which to deal with these"other-worldly" experiences.The Sufis use the term ghnybto refer to events that transpire in the unseenrealms.This unseenrealm includesthe actionsof the soul. The center,or seat,of the soul'sexistenceis the heart' With what do we associatethe heart and soul? Love, compassion,sympathy, mercy, and all of our religioussentiments'When someonedies,the grief of the survivorsis felt in the heart. It is actuallya physicalpain. The heart aches.There is so much terminology in our languageabout these soul-relatedaspectsof the heatt. And no one can deny that thesefeelingsof love and compassiondo exist. No one is without them. In Arabic, the heart is calledqalb.The heart accordingto the Sufis is not just a physiologicalpump for dispersingblood about the body. It servestwo uitil, interrelated functions. One, the heart is the storehouseof divine -or" and two, it is the seat of manufacture of the rafas-that lifeattributes; force which enters with eachbreath, the breath that activatesall activating physiologicalfunctions. Thus, when the idhn, or permission of God, is drawn in, it goes immediately to the heart. In some manner, this idhnactivatesall of the divine attributesin variouscombinations,and thesethen are carriedout into the body. ihe Qur'an informs that thesedivine attributes are approximatelyninetynine in number and are what Allah uses as the means of allowing the human to function and work on the created plane of being. For example.one of these attributes ls calledal-Ba{r, which means"the Perceiver." In other words, Allah sees everything at all times; there is the view of God,not eventhe most intimatethoughts. nothing that escapes This bnqirexistsas a potentialitywithin us at all times,storedin the heart.
Whelh Hcslth?lrs
When Allah sendsHis idhnin on a breath,and this is combinedwith certain sounds we utter, the potentiality will then travel through a semigaseous network called a humor. The potentiality moves along this network until it reachesthe moist, crystallinelens of the eye. Once there, the potentiality uniteswith the physicalpart of the body and becomesthe actualityof sight. Perception,the total potentialityof al-BaEir,alsoincludessuchthings as insight, our sensationof maiesty when viewing a panoramicsunset,and sirnilarexperiences. All of theseperceptivecapabilitiesare includedwithin the potentialityof perception. All of these ninety-nine divine attributes,then, are stored within the heart. Thesepotentialitiesmay be activatedby meansof varioussoundswe utter in combinationto make words. The three basicsoundsare the long vowel soundsof i, i, and l. Theseare what the Sufiscall the universalharmonicconstants,and they are similarly used in all mystic paths that utilize sounds (otherwisecalledmanlrasor wagfahs). We do not sing or chant these sounds.Rather, they are voicedin the normal courseof our conversations. The word All-ah,as an example,is iust an elongation of the long vowel sound of t, int€rrupted once with the consonant of the letter l, which makes the shape of the letter i with the tongue. Even animalsutter various combinationsof these three long vowel sounds. The owl, for example, says,"Hool" The pronoun for God in Arabic is Hi, pronouncedexactly the sameway that the owl utters its remembrance of the divine name. Allah has informed us, "Every creature in the Heavens and the earth glorifies His Name." The Sufi, knowing the Arabic tones and namesof God, is able to attune to a cosmic conversation that is constantly going on throughout all of existenceas countlesscreaturesutter their variationsof the divine name. The use of these three constantsis not arbitrary. The long vowel sound of d (as in father),as a vibratory tone, travels downward and slightly to the left from the throat and centers in the heart, thereby stimulating all of the divine attributes stored within. The long sound of i (asin machine) moves in the oppositedirection,up the nasalseptum,and vibratesat the point of the pinealgland,which is consideredto be a remnant of the third eye, a lightsensitiveorgan. The long sound of u (as in you)exists when uttered exactly at the point on the pursed lips, the point of connectionbetween the in- and out-breaths. It is where our action meetsand intermingleswith the divine permission, the idhn. The Sufis use various formulas or combinationsof thesetonesto produce electrifying effects that are able in and of themselvesto unlock congested areas within the heart, thereby releasing one or more potentialities. This alone accountsfor a considerablenumber of miraculous cures.
ol Srli Hcaling 16 I ThcBook So the very words we use to make conversation are hardly a random matter. When we say the word " eal" (making the sound of the long i), for example, we are actually stimulating the endocrine system's pineal gland! The tineal gland receivesa vibratory signal that causesa seriesof ethereal shocis which go throughout the body, providing information to all of the physiologicalfunctions. Theseeventsare in coniunctionwith what transpiresthroughoutnature when the sun sends certain germinative shocks through the soil which cause the seedto open and send out rootlets. The germinal center of the seedis activatedby shocksfrorir the.sun.Likewise,variouscenterswithin the human body are awakenedby the undulations of the vibratory tones in these universalharmonic constants.The effects upon human health are profound. This interconnectionbetween the physicaland spiritual realms exists all through nature, of which humans are a part. One might say that animals ur" rno." attuned to it; sometimeshorsesand other animalsgive a particular sound just before they die, and animalsnearbyknow the meaningof this sound. Animals have greater awarenessof the unseen realms.Humans should have this knowledge, but they do not seek it. Humans are more bound to the physical plane. There must be a knowledge and consideration of the physical,mental, and spiritual planesof existencefor there to be true health. By understanding eich of these planesof being, we can arrive at the correct modesof balancing and treating each one. If the subiect of diseaseis looked into deeplyenough,the origin of all illnesscan be saidto lie in the mind. There must be a thought or conceptof an illnessin order for it to exist.But what is the mind? Somesay it is a collectionof cellsthat havemany functionsand possibilities.But the Sufis attribute a Sreat deal more to the mind, as the iepository of the intellect,which God has given to humans,thus making them unique among all of the creation. Before this mind can be adequately understood,we first have to have a conceptionof the entire universe, from the most minute bacteriallife up to God. This is known as the hierarchyof creation.
2 The Hi erarchy of Creation God is the One Who eeated tor you AII that is on the earth. Moreove4 He tunrcd to tlp heaven and fashioned seven havens with hannony. He isJull of krcwledge o:f all things. @thn
2i:17
The hierarchy of creation extends from the most minute forms of terrestrial life up to Allah. The constructionof this hierarchywas designedby Allah and is kept in form and balanceby His will. In general terms, the whole of creationis dividedinto two parts: the known world of our human creation (insin) and the unseen Qhayb)and generally unknown world of the heavens. The world below, as it were, is the sublunary world, consisting of four elementalspheres:the terrestrial,vegetative,animal,and human kingdoms. These four componentsare arranged in ascendingorder of creation, so that the human being occupiesthe highest position in the order of the physical creation.This dimensionis governedby the rules of nature,which is to say the dominion of growth and decay,of life and death. Above this created world of human existence lies the realm of the heavens,which are elevenin number. Eechof theseheavensis occupiedby angelic forms and ultimately is populated with souls that depart from human bodiesand earthly existence. The various realms of earth and the heavenscan be representedin their entirety in the accompanying chart. Each of the elemental spheres-the terrestrial, vegetable,animal, and human kingdoms-is composedof two parts: an elementalsphereand an interspace,with which it connects to the sphere above its own. Thus, the terrestrial sphere connects with the second elemental sphere via the in-
l7
20 | ThcBak ol SufiHuling organicworld. When the elementof water is combinedwith the terrestrial sphere, the vegetative world is created. Likewise, the addition of air to earth and water creates fire. When all these combine-earth, water, air, and fire-the human form is made up. The human kingdom is the interconnection to the heavenly realms. For most humans,the first heavenis representedby the moon: We first attain our strivings for the heavenly realms by viewing the moon. For those who occupythe dimensionof the first heaven,or moon, the moon is the firmament and the secondheavenrepresentsa higher aspiration-Mercury is their heaven.And so on, up the hierarchyof the heavens. Humans occupy the highest placein the realms of createdlife, by virtue of one reasononly: Humans have been endowed with the faculty of reason, caql.The caqlis the creative, rational reasoning power of the mind, which neither plants nor animals nor water has. These lower forms can only obey their instincts provided by the Creator. They are totally obedient to the laws of nature.For example,one cannever"reason"with a deer.If one tries to approachone, it almost invariably bolts instantly and disappears,regardlessof the intent of the approachinghuman. This holds true even for those animalsthat humans have sought to control. Dogs, for example, have not taken well to efforts to domesticate them. The more inbreeding that has occurred in a particular breed, the more neuroticthe dogsbecome.Despiteefforts to makedogsinto pets,it is not so infrequent that a dog will for no reason turn wild upon a person or smallchild and kill him. usuallylosethe natural dignity of Animals that have beendomesticated their species.Animals of all kinds are marvelousin their natural terrain' But in that element they have intact all of their natural instinctivebehavior, which is required for their survival. The lion doesnot kill in the wild out of malice.To be a killer is the positiongiven to the lion in the creation,and the lion must do it. Only humans have the capacityfor creativereasoning,for the rational processby which we decidewhether we are going to do a decision-making thing. This processis sometimescalledfree will. One can inform a human being that to do somethingdangerouswill kill him; yet the human beingusing his free will-can act contrary to all the evidenceand do it anyway. Animals have no such choice:A fish must be a fish. Our mental decisionsare accomplishedby the taql,and it is byvirtue of this faculty alone that humans have been placedover all of the creation of the sublunary world. When we aspire to something beyond the earthly existence,we move into the realm of the heavens.Most apparentto all are the zodiacalheavens, which are seven in number. This is the realm of the planets,the first of which is the moon. Its color is white and silver, and it is constructedfrom the four elementsmentioned, olus ether.
The Hientchy ol Crcetbn | 2l
The second zodiacal planet is Mercury, whose color is gray. God said that He made Mercury with the addition of His own fikr, His own deep meditative thought. Venus is the third zodiacalplanet, and its color is yellow. Venus governs the world of similitudes, of analogiesand metaphors, of poetry. Allah has informed us that Venus was created with the addition of His khayal,or imagination. The sun, the fourth zodiacal planet, is presided over by Israfil, the Angel of Resurrection.The Prophet (s.a.w.s.)is reported to have related that Israfil told him that the Angel of Death scans the faces of seventy thousand peopleeachday and, from these,choosesthose who will be called from earthly existence.This planet God made from the light of His own heart, the fount of God, the absolute of the heart: love. The fifth planet in the zodiac is Mars. Its color is blood-red.Azrael, the Angel of Death, presidesover this planet, which is createdfrom God'swafum, or divine decision. Jupiter is the sixth planetof the zodiac,presidedover by the archangel Michaeland formed of the Light of Himmah-the light of Allah'sreflection. The final zodiacalplanet is Saturn. Its color is black.Saturn, being the highest in the hierarchy, was the first zodiacalconstellationto be created. These first seven heavens (presentedin reverse order, from lowest to highest) are descdptively namedssmi'.The word sami'(heaven)is linked by sound to samdc, an Arabic word meaning "ecstaticcontemplation."Each heavenexists with a relation to both something aboveand something below itself. Theseheavensare inhabitedby variousbeingsof the creation.There are disembodiedsouls (having died already to earth life and awaiting the yawm al-qiydmmah, or Day of Judgment)in one or other of the heavens.All the angelsexist in all of thesevariousheavens,dependingupon their function and rank. In additionto human soulsand angels,Allah alsocreatediinns.Whereas He createdhumansfrom the four elementsof earth,water, air, and fire, He made the jinns from "smokelessfire." The iinns, which are describedfully in the Holy Qur2n, can from time to time assume human form. Generally, they are harmlessor favorably inclined to humans, but they can be malevolent. They have great effect upon h'uman affairs and frequently cause imbalancesthat we would identify as disease.A prime example is colic in infants, who are especiallyprone to the influence of iinns. Certain herbal substances and recitationsare usedto dispeljinns. When the soul is extracted from human life, it begins to ascendthrough these heavenly realms. So a person would always have consideration of a prior state, and also something to look forward to. This is the reality of the heavenlyexistence.Thosewho believein reincarnationhavearrivedat their conceptsby only partially understanding the entire creation of the heavens. When we arrive at the highest heaven of the zodiac,we are at the
22 I TheBookof SuliHwling
thresholdof the Throne of Allah, calledthe carsh.This is actuallya metaphoricaistatement,as no one could imaginesitting in or anywherenearthe seat of Almighty Allah. This eighth heaven constitutesthe limit of the physicalconfinesof our universe.The universewe study with telescopes, laser beams,and radio waves reachesits limit at this point of the eighth heaven.Although sciencehas not arrivedat this barrier yet, it may in time, Cod willing. There are 18,000createduniverses,of which we know about only one, the one we inhabit.The other 77,999exist contiguousto our own and have other functions that we do not know.aboutand never will. Allah has said that He did not createhumanswith ihe capacityto totally understandall of His creation.But at the moment of death, when the veils are torn away, each person will instantly see the whole nature of the heavensand the universeand will be astonishedat the ingenuityof God'sdesign.Incidentally, Allah has said that despitethe complexityof the heavens,He has created the human body infinitely more complex!But for now we shall have to be content to know that there is unimaginablevastness.This inspiresus to acceptthe majestyand power of our Creator,Who has insistedupon many thousandsof dimensionsof creation;we humans seeonly one drop in this divine cosmicocean. The events of the eighth heavenare directedby Allah Himself;in the lower realms,Allah directsintermediariesto accomplishHis designs.When events like shooting stars and meteoritesoccur in our zodiac,they are causedby actionsin this ninth heaven.The regular orbiting of our fixed planetsin the earthly heavensis regulatedfrom this heaven. The ninth heavenis the Crystalline,calledthe rarsl,meaningthe Throne of Allah, the dazzlementof God's glory. This state of existenceis totally beyondconceptionor description.A great Sufi oncesaid,"He who climbed over the wall to the tnrsh,no one ever heard of him again." The tenth heavencontainsno planetsor stars and thus is calledthe StarlessHeaven.It is where the motions of all the other spheresoriginate, directly under the commandand decisionof Allah the Almighty. The eleventhheavenis calledthe Empyrean,or the Heavenof Heavens. It is wholly luminous, nothing but pure, complete,overwhelminglight. Mawlana Rimr (r.a.) celebratedthis realm when he wrote: "What do we carefor the Empyreanand the skies?Our iourney is to the RoseCardenof Union." Allah has informed us in the Qur'an that when He decidedto makethe creation,the first thing He made was the soul of prophecy.And, this, He said, He made from His own light, or anr. In other words, for all of the prophetsAllah sent to earth with informationfor human beingsabout the nature of the creation,God made for them one soul only. He put this in 12o,ooosuccessive human forms, both maleand female,someknown to the world, some not. Allah madethis unimaginablyelegantsoul from His nlr,
The Hictatchy of Crution I 29
His own light. That is why the prophetswere able to have such amazing effect upon the world: Allah gavethem the powersof illuminationover the world. Allah further saidthat "lf I had not createdthe soulof prophecy,I would not have createdthe world." After Allah createdthis soul of prophecy,it was so brilliant and luminous that it began to perspire.And from this perspirationof the soul of prophecy,Allah madethe soulof the rose.This is why the rose has such a magnificentessenceand is calledthe mother of scents.Anyone who looksat a rosesmilesand is uplifted,and peopleall over the world honor and caressthe rose instinctively.Indeed,the rose is the symbol of love itself. We can see from this chart or pathway of the evolution through the hierarchy of creation that humans occupy a relativelylow point in it all; there are many levelsabovethat we cannot reachwith the physicalbody. After the earthly,terrestriallife, there are many additionalstages,which of necessitymust be traversedusing the vehicleof the soul.There is a stage beyond the Heaven of Heavens, past the Empyrean, called oifl, or the wedding to God Almighty. This alone is the goal of the true Sufi and the real meaning of U ildha illa Unh-that one is content with nothinS except the ultimate and final union with the Beloved,the Owner, Creator, and Sustainer of all the Worlds. Yi f;ayyn!Yn qayynm! Every scripture and every prophet from the first have said the same thing: that we are createdby a wise and loving Creator,and that the special purposeof our existenceis to endeavorto work our way backto Him. Our objectivein life is to regainunion with God, and everythingin our life is an immensepageantdesignedto assistus in that lourney.That is why one who is active on the Sufi path is referred lo as sdlik,the traveler. Everythingwe considerto be kind, good,and desirablein this life is but the minutest manifestationof the final, absolute,and incontrovertibleactuality of those things which are owned by Allah and not by anyoneelse. This final and ultimate knowledgeabout all things is calledhaqiqat(from haqq,trtth). When we speakof love and say we want to be loved or to love someone, what we mean is that we yearn for that absolutelove that will overwhelm us and burn us to ashesso that we die of love.One human cannotprovide such maiesticpower of love for anothei. It is only the Divine Belovedwho can annihilateus. That is what the Sufi seeks,or dies trying to achieve. The iourney from a confused,earthly person to one united forever with the Divine Reality is a long, complex, and difficult iourney. Therefore, the Sufis have elaboratedthe various stageson this path and have developed various signpostsand measuresthat can be used to identify where one is on the path. This chart of progressionon the journey to the Belovedis called the stationsof the soul.
The Stations of the Soul In its progression through life, the physical body passesthrough stages, from infancy to youth, adulthood, and old age. Similarly, the soul palses through specificevolutionary stagesor stations. The Arabic word for such a station is maqdm(pl. naqdndt).ltmeansa s.topqilg or resting place.But it has many other connotations that convey the full sense of what this stage may be: place of residence,dwelling, mansion, stay, dignity, office, state, musical tone, question. Indeed, the occupationof a maqimby the soul is all of these,and sometrmesmore. The stationsof the soul are enteredinto at the momentof birth, and the entire period of life is occupiedin one of these stations, although there may be changesfrom one station to another.Theseare listedin ascendingorder as follows: Maqdm an-Nafs:The Station of Egotism Maqfrm-al-@lbzThe Station of the Heart Maqdm-ar-Rll1tThe Station of the Pure Spirit Maqdm as-SirrtThe Station of Divine Secrets Maqim nlQurbz The Station of Proximity (or Nearness)to Allah Meqdm al-Wigdl:The Station of Union (sometimes called the Divine Wedding with the Beloved) From the moment of birth, we are constantly striving to develop the soul, and progress in this effort can be marked out and measured bv referring to thesestages.Obviously,not everyoneattainsall of the stages. It is important to realizethat it is not the bodv as such that makes this journey, but rather the rill. The translationof rul is usually given as "soul." It can also mean the breath of God, the angel Gabriel, the Qur'an, revelation, or prophecy.
26 I TheBookol SuliHuling For the Sufis,the rn! is the essence of life. It is not the physicalbody or the brain and its thoughts and memories;nor is it the life processes. The rirlhas a distinct existenceof its own, which is derived from God and belongs entirely to God. When we ask someonewhat a pomegranatetasteslike, he may well say somethinglike, "lt tasteswhat it tasteslike." That does not seema very satisfactoryanswer,but becausethe pomegranateis unique,its tastecannot be related to anything else, hence this curious reply. And so it is with the rnft. The rufi,or essence, canbe shown to existonly in relationto rhythm and motif. Think of danceas an example.There is sucha thing as dance,but it doesnot existconcretelyexceptin relationto the form of rhythm and motif. One can imaginea dancewith the mind, but for the danceto be actual,the motion and rhythm of dancersare neededto act it out. But the dance remains the essence. This is what is meant by essence, of which the m{r is perhapsthe supremeexample. The human soul also requiresthis rhythm and motif to be manifeston the physicalplane.Rememberthat the rnf, or soul'sessence, is not the same thing as the spirit (nafas).The latter is the divine force that activates the physicalphenomenain the body, including mental processes. The rn! is more intimately felt and superior to the spirit. Imagineall of the things that havethe essence of fire in them-the sun, green wood, ashes,and so forth. All have the same essence,but they possessvery different physicalforms, and each is at a different stageof evolution,a different maq|m.The absoluteof the essenceof fire is oart of the rr.rr,or light of Cod. Every physicalcreatedthing has its unique and characteristic balancebetweenhot and cold, moist and dry, passivityand activity.We readin the Qur'an that Allah "has createdeverythingin its correctbalance."For example, the blood is characteristically warm and moist. Anything that disturbs or changesthat normal balancedconditionmay leadto disease. The sameis true of our emotions.Our moodsare constantlyaffectedby eventscoming in via our sensoryapparatus.Take the senseof touch. If someoneslapped you hard, your mood would almostinstantlychange.If you jumpedinto an icy pool,again,your moodand emotionswould dramaticallychange.Hearing is another example.Music can produceprofound effects on the state of mind. Calm, soothingmusic is healing.Loud, raucousmusic can makeone iittery. Yet these emotionalevents need form and motif in order to cause thesechanges.The effectof readingmusicalnoteson paperis not the same as that of listeningto a Breat symphony. Some sensesare more powerful than others. The physicalsenseconsideredto be the highestis that of smell.Somesay that smell is relatedto memory. For instance,when walking down the street,one can encountera scent,such as that of baking bread,and almost immediatelyit reachesthe
TheSretiont of theSoul127 nostrils, one has a flashbackto some childhoodmemory. The scienceof aromatherapyis basedupon the preeminenceof the senseof smell. Each flower of naturehasits own rr.rf,or essence. A pure,naturalfloral oil may be used for its antisepticeffect on a wound. The Sufis have classifiedflowers accordingto their effect upon the soul in its evolution toward God. Eachhuman beinghas a rr.r!,but not everyperson'sruf is the sameasthe next one's;a sinner is not the sameas a saint. Somesoulsare much more refined than others. Every person is born into the maq|mnn-nafs, or station of egotism.This is the inevitablefirst stop in life. The infant is entirely preoccupiedwith its need for physicalsatisfaction.It wants food, or to be pickedup, and will scream,cry, and spit to make its demandsknown. It is completelyunconcerned about the effects of its own actions.A baby will break an object considereda pricelesstreasureby an adult,and will laughaboutit, at that! The body in its earliestdevelopmentcares only to satisfy its animal desires-for food,affection,stimulationof all kinds.Sincethis isa God-given condition, and a necessaryone, infants and children are immune from judgment and punishment.If a small child walks into a supermarketand knocks over a displayof bottles,no one saysmuch. Someonecleansit up. But let an adult do it-intentionally, as a childmight-and the policemay be called. In the stationof egotism,the facultyof reasonand judgmenthasnot yet been developed.That comeslater on. As a child grows, its parents,or the societyat large,generallyimpressupon it variouscodesof conduct.In other words, the child learnshow to stay on a particulartrack of behavior.One who deviatesfrom that track will be confronted with various uncomfortable restrictions. It may be normal and understandable for small children to exist in this just grow state of egotism,but as they out of crawling and regurgitating their food, and developmature bodiesand smoothphysicalactions,so, too, do we expectthat a person'ssoul will evolveand grow out of egotism. The Qur'an revealsthe properbehaviorfor conductingthis evolutionary progressionof the soul. The mode of living spelledout in the Qurhn is al-mustaqim: the straight path. For the Sufi, the supremeand called,as-Eir-a! sole obiectof life is to attempt to iourney to God, and to do so in the most manner,antl the quickestway aswell. Therefore, reasonableand successful path is actuallya straight line-the shortestdistancebetween the straight two points, which measuresthe distancebetweenthe station of egotism and union with the Beloved,Almighty Allah. Many peoplegrow into adulthoodand evenold agewithout everdepartan-nafs.Such people never ing from this initial stage of egotism, the maqfrm stop demandingtheir own way, the endlesssatisfactionsof the body. Taken we call to the extreme,the whole rangeof emotionaland physicaldiseases chronic and degenerativeis a result of remainingin this station too long.
28 I TheBook ofSufiHuling
insanity,weepingfor no reason, anxiety,self-doubt,selfishness, Fearfulness, depression, paranoia, sexual perversions, and suicide-all are emotional diseasesconnectedwith the maqiman-nafs,when a person lingers in it into adulthood. can sometimes The physicaldiseasesassociatedwith the maq|man-nafs ones.But for the occur concurrentlywith the emotionalor psychological body, the end result of remainingin the station of egotismincludesdrug abuse,alcoholism,criminal behavior,obesity,hypoglycemia,blindnessand other eye problems,jaundice,heart attack, venerealdisease,and cancer. Theseconditionsresult from the failure to exercisepropercontrolover one or more of the nalsfunctions,or appetitesof the body. Some readersmay disagreeand say that they know a very nice personwho had a heart attack. Understandingthe further stationsin the evolutionof the soul will clarify this matter fully. The method of escape-or progress-from the station of egotismis to train and disciplinethe ego and its drives.This meansdevelopingwillpower, and courtesy,amongother traits. responsibility,consideration, compassion, When one succeeds in gettinSsomecontrolover the ralsand leavesits stage, or station of the heart. one arrivesat the mnqimal-qalb, The Arabic word for heart, qalb,refers to a wide rangeof magnificent meanings:heart, mind, soul, understanding,intellect,kernel,marrow, center, the choicestpart, core,genuine,pure. Even more interestingis that the word 4albalsomeans"permuting,""transmuting,"or "turning." For the Sufi, the heart is the meansby which all transformationoccurs they feel Thosewho occupythe stationof the hearthavea basicgoodness; al-qalbwould good about themselvesand the world. A person in lhe maqam say,"l want to do only goodin the world. I lovenaturein all its forms.I accept everyone.Oh, what a wonderlife is!"Judgingby this exaltedattitudetoward life, one might imaginethat no diseases or problemswould troublea person at this stage.The reality is almostthe contrary.For personsin the stationof aswell as the heart are still proneto both emotionaland physicalimbalances spiritualones.The emotionaland spiritualailmentsincludethe inability to concentrate,forgetfulness,fear of failure,certaintypesof hypocrisy,excessive emotions such as severeecstasy,depression,ioy, and severeanger, arrogance,and being inconsiderateof others' feelings. Despite the positive aspectsof this station, it is still only the second station of the soul's progress.This stage can be a time of tremendous emotional upheavals,including divorce or other relationship problems,and financialdifficulties.This is so becausethe personfeelsa surgeof ecstasy,a fresh and almost overwhelmingexcitementtoward life. Many who have been involvedwith the personbefore he or she ascendedto the station of the heart cannot acceptthe changesthey seein their friend. In fact, lossof friends is very common in this stage. There are alsophysicalproblemsaffiliatedwith the stationof the heart.
Thc Stotiontof theSosl 129
While those of the prior state were almost exclusivelyof a degenerative nature,the diseases and ailmentsof this stageare chronicand acute.This is so becausethe body is going through an internal cleansing,a throwing off of toxicity and superfluousmatters accumulatedin the prior stage.Thus, diseasesof the station of the heart includeheadache(especially migraine), nausea,diarrhea,achesand painsthroughout the body,irritability, general toxicity (skin eruptions,scalpproblems),fever, and gallbladderand kidney problems. Whereasthe diseasesof the station of egotism were severeand often incurable,the conditionsof the station of the heart are themselvesa kind of self-treatmentby the body.Almost all are signsof one or more of the kinds of healingcrisisthe body undergoesin healingitself.This processmay not be pleasant,but it is beneficial. It is very difficult to continue to the higher stagesof soul evolution without a true shaykh.Under his guidance,one may move toward the next stage, maqdmar-rul1(station of the soul), by following various practicesto develop the capacitiesof mercy, compassion,consideration,and selfdisciplineto a high pitch of perfection. No doubt the stationof the soul is a blessedstate,and anyoneoccupying it would appearto others as a personof great love and spirituality.But at the sametime, there remainphysicaland emotionalimbalances that become part of the mechanismby which the person strives toward God. These conditions deepenfaith. The emotional problemsof the nraqamar-r ll includ,e arrogance,pride,self-deception, lackof concentration,giddiness,a frivolous, irreverent attitude to life, and sometimesthe habit of degradingothers. Note that these are the diseasesof this state, not the behavior of one existinS in balancein this station. The imbalancesmay occur when the person has not yet evolvedto the point of being entirely immune to the appetitesof the nafs. Once, when the great Sufi cAbdul-QadirJildni (r.a.)was alreadyconsideredto be a great man of spiritualrank, he was approachedby a manifestation that identified itself as Gabriel, the angel of revelation.The manifestationtold cAbdul Qadir that he could now dispensewith ritual prayerbecauseof his holiness.cAbdul-Qidir reciteda versefrom the Qur'an (satan).This which exposedthe manifestationas a masquerading shayldn demonstratesthat the further one traVelson the spiritualpath, the more certain one may be of insinuationsfrom the devil. Someof the imbalances of this stationare easyto control,somenot. One of the more difficult, and offensive,is arrogance.This is the raw, selfreferentkind of egotismthat leadsa personto say,"I am better than others. I pray all day. I fast. I meditate,and look at all thesegarbagepeoplein the world. They're sinners!"This may be the truth in someform about certain people,but it is an injury to them, and it mars one'sown spiritualdevelopment to expressit. It must be appreciated that eachpersonhas evolvedto a
30 I TheBookol SuliHaling
particularpoint by the decisionof Almighty God. No matter how sunk into the life of the world peoplemay be, they still have within them the spark of divinity. They alsocan advance,and it is the duty of a truly spiritualperson not to condemnthem, but to befriendthem so that they might be led out of their misery and onto the right path of living. Some physicalproblemsare associatedwith the station of the soul. Theseincludeauto-intoxication(from excessive breathingpractices), various kinds of nervoustremors, fatigue,corruptedappetite,and fever. There are two forms of fever. The first, occurring in the stationsof egotismand the heart, is an intenseleat developedby the body to refine and processout superfluoustoxic matters.The secondkind of fever,occurring in the later stations,constitutesa deepspiritualcleansing,causing,as the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)has said,"the sins to fall off like leaves being shedfrom a tree." Thesefeversburn off impuritieson the soul level. Evensomeof the prophetswere subiectto frequentfevers.The holy people who experiencefever at this level are not being correctedfor vile living habits.As one Sufi said,"In the beginningyou repentfor wrong actionsand sins;at the end, you repentfor forgetting God even for a second."It is this latter conditionthat is being treatedin the station of the soul. It can happenthat personsin the stationof the soul skid off into lunatic behavior,especiallyif they have no guide. They may fall into the most destructivekindsof self-illusion.One can never rest at any stageor assume that one will neverfall back. When it comesto a spiritual physicianor Sufi treating a person for a disease,it now becomesclearthat the saint and the persondwellingin the stationof egotismwould requiredrasticallydifferent modesof treatmenteven though they both may report fever as the main symptom. The questionmay arisewhether a personmay overlapfrom one station into the next. This doesnot occur.A stationis a restingplace.As such,once one enters a station, one will remain until death or until retreating or advancinginto anotherstation.There are,however,innumerableimmediate conditionsoccurring in each station, and these conditionsare called!al. Literally, fril means "change."It is linked by sound to fall, meaning an untying or unloosing,a dissolving.In this sense,it meanswhen we loseour senses,such is the extreme fervor of the Sufis during their recitationsof dhikr,when it is not uncommonto seeone of the membersfall senseless to the ground, having glimpsedsomething o( laqiqah(truth) or macrifa,(ecstasy). The fourth station is the maq1m as-sirr,the stationof divine secrets.The word sirr (pl.asrdr)refersto the greatestmystery,which cannotbe imagined, and even when experienced, it cannotbe believed.The word alsohas other meanings:coition, the middle or best part of anything, richest land, root, origin, and tomb. This is the stationreferredto bv Allah when He said,"There arecertain
The Stationtol the Soul | 3l
of my servantswho ceasenot seekingnearnessto me by meansof voluntary worship,until I becomethe lips with which they speak,the eyeswith which they see,the earsby which they hear, the hand wherewith they hold, and the foot by which they step."The fortunate ones in the station of divine secretscan understandthe mechanismsby which the whole universeis held in place. They have fully developedpowers of clairaudienceand can read the thoughts of others. Angels come to them with information from the unseenrealms. "What was One day someoneaskedthe ProphetMuhammad (s.a.w.s.), all of this universecreatedfor? How doesit exist?"The Prophetanswered, "I don't know the answer.I'll have to go ask the angelGabriel."So he went and askedGabriel,who answered,"l dont know the answerto that, I'll have to go askAllah." So GabrielaskedAllah, then returnedand said,'Allah said, 'I have createdthe skies and heavenssimply as a beautiful sight and an entertainmentfor you, and to createwonder and awe of My majestyand power. I want the blinking stars to uplift and delight you and causeyou to marvel at My creation."' When Allah was askedhow He did all of this, Gabriel reported that He said,"I did not createhumans with the mental capacityto comprehendthe meansand mechanismsby which I have done this. Even if I told you, you would not understand.But at the instant of death, when the veils are torn away, you will immediatelyseehow it is done,and you will be astonishedat My ingenuity.I am the bestof creators. As complicatedand complexas I have made the heavens,I have madethe human body infinitely more complex."The Prophet Muhammad(s.a.w.s.) who most certainly existed in the highest of stations, was able to receive this kind of information. The average person would never attain to this exaltedstateand favor of the Almighty God. , The personsadmitted to the station of divine secretshave passedthe most excruciatingtestsand are no longer seekingany egotisticalaspectof human life. They do not desirefame, wealth, or excitinSsensations. They exist only for and by virtue of a very exclusiveand intimate relationship with the Creator and the celestialpopulation.Nonetheless,they are still human, and some physicaland emotionaleventsdo occur on this planeas well. It is not correctto call theseevents"diseases,"reallyl-they are rather imbalancesor sidetracksthat can causeone to descendfrom this stateor to languishin this stationand not continuefurther, to reachthe goalof Allah. The primary imbalancesof the station of divine secretsincludefalseinterpretationof divine phenomena,irrationality,lackof interestin earthly life, incoherentbabbling,heart pain,and heart burning. At this point,it shouldbe explainedthat a personin one stationgenerally cannot leap severalstationsaheador above.A young child may be able to ride a bicyclewell, but certainlycould not pilot a supersoniciet. This is not to demeanthe child or glorify the pilot. But a personwho has attaineda
3z I TheBuk ol SufiHuling particularstationcanfunction in and understandany of the lower stationsiust as the pilot, having riddena bicycleas a child,couldcontinueto do so as an adult. The self-deceptionreferred to in this station of divine secretswould be a condition of this maqdm. B* a ldl would be the mode in which this selfdeceptionmanifestsitself. Not everyonein this or any other stationwould experienceall of the lals thal could occur in that station. The physicaleventsthat occur in the maqdm as-sirrare fever, a senseof difficulty in breathing,and sometimesa senseof suffocating.Theseparticular afflictionsoccurbecausearrival at.this stagerequiresyearsof breathing practices.Imbalancescan occur if these practicesare done incorrectlyor excessively. Moreover,it is not uncommonat this stagethat one is bothered by eventsof the nonmanifestrealms.Interferencefrom jinns is an example (althoughthey can bother peopleat any stage,eveninfants).Or one may be carrying on certain kinds of relationswith disembodiedsoulsand become affectedby this interchange.In thesecases,variouskinds of spiritualpracticesinvolving breathingwould be employedas remedies. For the Sufis,the main sourceof breathingpracticesis the Holy Qur'an itself. The various breath starts and stops are marked in the text of the Qur'an and employdegreesof difficulty up through elevenlevelsof recitation. The vowels,in particular,are frequentlyelongatedand held for more than a normal single beat in reciting. Although only a few personsas a practical matter can recite at the advancedlevels, it is possibleto find cassettetapesof suchperformancesby shaykhsrecitingthe Holy Qur'an. In thesephenomenallystirring recordings,one can hear sustainedrecitations lastingup to two minuteswith one breathexpulsion,andmovementthrough four and five octaveranges. Beyondthe station of divine secretsis the maqdm al-qurb.The definition of qurbis "nearness,"but it alsoconnotesdrawing near,approach,neighborhood, relationship,and kinship.One in this station indeedenjoysthe view of the neighborhoodof the Most High-that is, the highest heaven,containing the carsh,or Throne of the Almighty. One occupyingthe statusof this station has a vantageof this createdworld, but also glimpsesinto the next world, the world of other createdforms. At this stage there are very few imbalancesor difficulties,strictly in terms of healthand disease,but thosethat do exist can be very severe.One of the conditionsis excessiveecstasy.A personaffectedwith this condition is calledmajdhitb. Suchpeoplelosevirtually all interestin or connectionwith the world. They are in a state of joy at all times and do not care whether they sleep,eat,or are clothed.They are divinelyintoxicatedand absorbedin the Beloved. I met such a man once living out in the pastoral countrysidenear Paghman,Afghanistan.He was saidby his followersto be about 125 years
Thc Stttionsof thc Soul I 3J
old. As I and my companionsentered the high-walledgarden of his compound,we saw a smallman sitting hunchedover rows of pottedgeraniums. From time to time, he would pick a few bright red blossomsanJ eat them. He sharedthesetreats with squirrelsand other smallanimalsthat scurried around him without fear. Later, upstairs in his room, he behavedin a manner that would alarm anyoneuninformed about this station.He never spokeclearlyor directly,but one could catch snatchesof his conversations addressedto the inhabitantsof the angelicrealms.Birds flew in and out of the openwindows.As we were leaving,he offeredone of my companionsa "gift," which he held out like a treasurein his cuppedpalms.The gift turned out to be a dirt-smeared,half-eatenpeachpit! Suchis the conditionof those in the station of nearness,who perceivereality on an entirely other plane. This state is interestingand beautiful in its way, but it is not the goal. In fact, most shaykhsare of the opinion that it is an inferior and undisirable condition. Some peoplein this station do not speak.Casesare recordedof some who went for over twenty yearswithout speaking,being so overwhelmed that they had no desireor ability to communicate.Other difficultiesinclude forgetfulnessand genuineinsanity.The personforgets from one moment to the next what he is sayingor doing. Some of the practices-involving both breath and mental contemplation-are so profound and intensethat the personmay lose his mind entirely. This is rare, however. Remarkablesimilaritiesmay be observedbetweenthe conditionsoccurring in these latter stagesof spiritual evolution and the behaviorof the mentally ill. In the East, many peopleon the street exhibit such bizarre behavior that they would immediatelybe locked up if they did the same thing in the West. Yet a true diagnosisof their condition-wouldrequire a considerationof the imbalancesof the soul. ' A problemnot mentionedyet but commonto all of the stations(andyet more of a danger in the station of nearnessthan any other) is that of attributing divinity to oneself, God protect us from such a thing. And, although it is painful to even think of it, a related imbalance-the most severe-is disbeliefin God. The higher and further one risesin the evolutionof the soul,the more one is tested.Peopleat this level have long sinceextinguishedtheir carnal desires and egotistic traits. But they frequently are very successfulin leadingothers to the path of truth and righteousness,and therefore are constantly being bothered by all of the malevolent forces-shayalin(devils), jinns, dayoparee(ghosts),and similar troublemakers. I have heard peoplesay that they themselveslisten to God, or that thev have receivedguidancedirectly from God. They ought to recall that the only means Allah has ever used to relate to humans is the angel Gabriel (with the sole exceptionof Moses,once).There are many warnings about
tt
I The Buk ol S'lfi Hwling
assuming oneself to be adequatearmor against the delusionsof the evil ones, both human and nonhuman. The great shaykh Junayd (r.a.) said, "He who takes himself as a teacher has taken Satan as his guide." or unionwith One more station exists, and the Sufis call it maqdmal-arb.il, Allah. Here God is your Beloved and you are the lover, and you are wedded together in Divine Unity for all time. This station, unlike all of those which precede it, cannot be attained by effort. Almighty Allah makes the decision and chooseswhom He will. The tradition relating the manner of selection for this station is moving. It is quoted from the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)on the authority of Hazrat Ibn Mascid (r.a.): Among the creaturesof Allah, there are three hundred peoplewho bear a specialrelationship with Allah and whose hearts are similar to that of the prophet Adam, peacebe upon him. And forty whose hearts are similar to that of the prophet Moses, peace be upon him. Seven are those whose hearts are similar to that of the prophet Abraham, peacebe upon him. Five are those whose hearts are similar to that of the archangelGabriel. Three are those whose hearts are like that of the angel Michael. There is one servant among the creatures of Allah the Almighty whose heart is like the angel Isrifil. When one servant dies, Allah choosesone from among the three to 'replacehim. When one among the three dies, one from among the five is admitted to his place.When one among the five dies, one from among the seven is admitted in his place.When any of the sevendies,one from among the forty is admitted to his place.When any one of the forty dies, one from amongthe threehundredis admittedto his place.Whenone from among the three hundred dies, one from among the peoplein generalis admitted.So, becauseof them; Allah the Almighty administerslife, death, rainfall,creation,and rids humanity of misfortunes. All of the three hundred persons would be characteristicallysmiling at all times and would have no concerns whatsoever of the world. They do not need to eat, drink, or sleep.They have transcendedhuman bounds and can soar-literally-anywhere they like, on earth and through the heavens. Only a few in human history have come to this status. lt is impossible to describe in words. It is the real goal of existence and involves the promise we each made to our Creator before we came into this life. These people are termed nnl'i (pl. swlivfr'), meaning "beloved friends of God." They are the real vicegerents of God on earth. Generally, they are not known to the world at large. The awliyd'are informed about and have accessto the mechanisms to control and affect all human events, and it is they whom Allah uses to unfold the divine plan on earth. The means they use are with the knowledge of Allah. Only one who has attained admittance among the three hundred or the lesser numbers is properly termed a Sufi. All others are rather aspirants to Sufism.
The St,,tionsof th. SotI I 35
By the time one attains the station of proximity there are no physical ailments left. The only physical event remaining is the mode by which one will die. Usually, people at this station do not die from diseaseas such, but rather they are informed by the Angel of Death of the precisetime for their departure, and so can make preparations for it. My shaykh wrote me the exact date of his death one month before it occurred. He worked, fully alert, up until the morning of his passing. Then, at two P.M.,he lay down and began reciting the profession of faith (La ilnha illa LLnh,Mulammndun rasilu Ual) until he expired, just after sunset (which happened on the birthday of the Prophet, s.a.w.s.).MA sha'Allah. For such persons, when they pass out of human life, it is a blessedevent, even a celebration, for they have long since given up relating to the world with their bodies. Instead, they have soared high into the spiritual realms with their souls and are able to traverse not only this but the other universes as well. No one can disturb or contradict them. Even the most determined criminals or violent armies would be powerless against the Sufi. Such persons are immune from the difficulties of the world. Generally, one is not acceptedinto the circles of shaykhs until one has attained the station of the soul or higher. This acceptanceby the aspirant of the duties imposed upon the shaykhs is formalized in a specialceremony of initiation, called baytat (pledge). The founder of the Chishti Order in India, Hazrat Khwija Mucinuddin (r.a.), has offered an account of his own initiation at the hands of his shaykh, cUthmin Harini (r.a.).This ceremony transpired in the year A.H.561, after Khwiia Mucinuddin had spent a full twenty years in training and service with his shaykh. The great saint described his bat'at thw: I had the honor of appearingbefore my shaykh, Hazrat cuthm;n, in the presenceof many other spiritual luminaries. I bowed my head in solemn reverence.Hazrat cUthmin askedme to offer two ratsnlsof 1alit. I did it. He then directed me to facethe Kacbahat Mecca.I did it. He then askedme to recite the Qur'anic chapter Sirat al-Baqarah.I did it. He told me to rePeat praise and blessingsfor the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.)and his family (a.s.) twenty-one times and to say SubldnAIIah sixty times. I did it. After that, he stood up, took my hands in his own, and looked toward the heavens,saying,"Let me presentyou to Allah."After that he cut off my hair with a scissorsand then put a speciil caplkolahthaharlarkil on my head and asked me to sit down. He then asked me to rePeatSrirat al-lkhl5g one thousand times. I did it. He then said,"Among our followers there is only one day and one night's probation Inuinhqdahl,hence go and do it today." Accordingly I spent the whole of one day and one night in continuous €alAf and reappearedbefore him. He askedme to sit down and repeat Srirat al-lkhlig again one thousand times. I did so. He then instructed me, "Look toward the heavens."When I raised my eyes toward the heavens,he inquired, "How far do you see?"I
36 I TheBookol Suli Huling said, "Up lo al-tqrshal-mucaln"[the Zenith of the Divine Throne]. He then said,"Look below." I did so. He inquired again,"How far do you see?"1said, "Down to the tqlllothlhsm"lthe Abyss of Hell]. He then askedme to sit down and repeatSurat al-Ikhlig one thousand times. I did it. He then told me, "Look toward the heavens."When I did so, he inquired, "How far do you see now?" I said, "Up io the co4mqt"(the Dazzlementof God'sClory). He then told me, "Closeyour eyes."I did so, and after a moment,he told rne,"Open your eyes."I did so.He then heldup the first two fingers of his right hand and inquired, "What do you see through them7"I said,"l seethe eighteenthousandworlds."When he heard this he said,"Now your work isoveri'He then lookedtoward a brick lying nearby and asked me to pick it up. When I did so, I found some gold coins under it. He asked me to go and distribute them among the poor and the needy,which I did. He then instructedme to remain with him for some time. Thus with obedienceand the grace of Allah does the soul progress from its state at inception-of helplessegotism-to the divine unity, if Allah wills it. The means of passing from lower to higher stations is by opposing and controlling the appetites of the nafs.And in this endeavor, the Sufis have received specialpractices thai are designedby Allah Himself to produce the most sure, rapid, and profound results. Failure often overwhelms people who desire, or think they desire, to take up and maintain a spiritual orientation to life. This is so becausethe ego is the greatest test there is. We may wake up any morning with the firmest resolve that we will concentrate only on the purest, most blessed, and highesi thoughts. Yet all it takes is a phone call, telling us that we are overdrawn at the bank, or that the children have broken a window, and before we know what has happened,we have lost our concentration. Only later in the afternoon do we recall our resolution to remember God. Therefore, one must constantly restate and restart one's intention all the time. At first, it may be difficult, and failures may occur. But sooner than one would imagine, the intention leads to a habit, the most positive habit possible.After a time, you don't forget. Gradually the aspirant lets go of worldly ambitions and concentrates solely on the spiritual goals. In India at the headquarters of our Chishti Order, there is the resting place of our murshid,Hazrat Khwiia Mucinuddin Chishu (r.a.). Beneath the shrine-the dorgah-are about one hundred small cells (hujrahs\, which are assigned to shaykhs of the order for use during visits to Ajmer. These cells exist for the performance of the chilla,a fortyday-and-night seclusion,underground and in darkness, with a minimum of food and water. This practice constitutes a kind of rehearsal for being in the grave. The Sufis, realizing the inevitable nature of death, take the opportunity while still living to see what the grave is like, and prepare for this extended time of seclusion.While in this seclusionfor forty days and nights, one is under the direction of one's shaykh, who prescribescertain recitations
Th. Srqriont of rheSoulI cz
and practices,which serveto extinguishthe fires of the nalsand annul the lower desires.One cannot undergo this ritual alone or accordingto one's own thinking. The dangersare awesome.This is only one of the important reasonsone needsa living master to guide one at all times. If we read the testimony of all of the greatestpeoplewho lived-the prophets (a.s.)-we find that they were the most fearful of what awaited them in the grave and in the next life. Thesepeoplewere the most humble, most righteousand selflesspeoplewho lived; and they all were constantly aware of their shortcomingsand worried about their ultimate fate before their Lord. How much more ought ordinarypeopleto expresssuchconcern. The foregoingdescriptionsof the stationsof the soul'sevolutionare of necessitygreatly simplified,and many decadesare required under true teachersand optimum circumstances to achievemeaningfulresults.There are schoolsthat teach a person how to fix an automobileengine,which require two or three years iust to learn the basics.How much more time and complexityare involvedin learninghow to fix the harsh workings of a disorderedsoul. There is a differencebetween a serious seekerwho comes before a shaykh to find the anchor for life and the person who is the guide.The difference between these two persons-seeker and sought, discipleand master,muridandshaykh-isthat the shaykhgivesand the studentreceives. The studentcomesasking,seeking,demanding-still in need.The transition occurswhen one no longer remainscrying for breastmilk, for ihe teacher's aid and attention, but insteadbecomesone who demandsto give. And no one can stop the giving. It is like going through the midpoint of an hourglass.One who has passedthrough that small and difficult stricture may not be a teacheryet, but at leastis looking out to the other side. It's like being a river rushing down the side of a mountain, trying to reach the ocean. When the ocean is reached,there is a great, tranquil merging, a new existence.What need is there then to be a little river, noisily running over the rocks?There are no more barrierswhen one has reachedthe oceanof divine mercy. So those who arrive at the final destination-union with Allah-are of the chosenones,the Sufis.Their statusin the eyesof Allah is one of great favor, but below that of the prophets(peacebe upon them all).They are not prophets,nor havethey everclaimedsuchi thing for themselves. However, they standas a testamentand inspirationto the heightsthat human beings may achieve,by sincerelyfollowing the adviceand loving guidanceof the Great, the Praised,the Glorious, the Holy, the Lord of Angels and the Spirit, the Exalted,the Glorified Allah the Almighty. Al-fudnduli-Iihi rsbb lt lal a mln!
Now let us turn to the healthaspectsof the body,the mind, and the soul, and take noticeof the modesof treatmentemployedby the Sufisin treating various imbalancesto restorepeopleto full health.
4 Food and H ealt The stomach is the home oJ disea*. Diet is the main medicine. Prophet Mulnmmad (s.a,w. s.) kl1il1 Muslim
The worldly life is one of the stagesof the lourney to God, and the body is the vehicle for this iourney. As such, it behoovesthe traveler to maintain the body in optimum condition, so that the diversions of discomfort and pain do not distractone from concentrationupon the goal. Digestionis the processof taking in nutrients through the mouth and then refining thoseelementsin the body.When it is saidthat the stomachis the home of disease,this means that diseaseariseswhen this digestive processbecomesunbalanced. "Diet is the main medicine"is taken to mean that we should first use foods themselves to rebalance and rebuild the digestiveprocess.The foodsare usedas vehiclesfor conveyingcertainhealing formulas-both herbal and nonphysical-to the body. The possibleexceptionto this generalrule occurswhen the body and its organshave been damagedso severelythat there remainsno regenerative power to rebuildan organ or bodily system.In suchcases,surgeryor other radical modes might be the treatment of choice.However, if the principles of health are followed throughout life, from earliest childhood onward, one need have no more fear of falling ill than being struck by lightning. Indeed,I have known quite a few men and women (mainly residing in the East)who have never had a day of illnessin their lives. They had never had so much as a headacheand never visiteda doctor or a hospital.Perhapshealth is best definedas that statein which one neverneedbe awareof the body.In other words, a healthy person receivesno signalsof pain, disturbance,or discomfort-all of which signify some kind of imbalancein the body. Nonetheless, if we recall the pathways of the soul'sevolution, originating in the station of egotism, we know that these imbalanceshave developedin many people. Let us review the processof digestion so as to determine how and why imbalancesoccur.
40 | ThcBuk of9rfi Huling
One characteristicof Sufi shaykhsthat seemsto predominateover all others is that they are extremelyhospitableand capableof offering someof the most deliciousand satisfyingmealsimaginable.Many storiesabout the shaykhs revolve around some aspectof food, not only intake, but also abstinence. Once I was visiting near Balkh,Afghanistan,and wanted to go and sit with a shaykhI had heardof, a descendantof Hazrat Mawlini Rimi (r.a.). 'lhe imam(prayerleader)of the main mosqueat Balkhgaveme directionsto (compound),in the villageof Esrak,about fifteen the old shaykh'skhanaqah kilometersfrom Balkh. After a most interesting journey to the village,I found the shaykhstandingin the doorway,asthough he had beenexpecting me. Once inside,I saw a group of old dervishessitting huddledin a circle, about to commencethe noon meal. The shaykh invited me to join them, and I sat down. In a few minutes a large wooden bowl was brought and placedbefore the shaykh.There was one wooden spoonin the bowl. The shaykh took a portion for himself, replacedthe spoon, and handed the serving bowl to the man seatedon his right. After a half-dozenmen had their turns, the bowl came to me. I took a spoonful of a cucumberand yogurt soup, which was unbelievablydelicious,despiteits simplicity.In all my memories,I cannot recallany meal being better than that soup shared with a handful of dervishesperchedatop the world. One of the great Chishti shaykhs,Hazrat Ni4SmuddinAwliyi' (r.a.), kept a half-dozenof his nrnridswith him for more than sevenyears,and all the while preventedthem from eatingto their fill. Frequentlythey were on the edgeof starvation.One day a disheveledbeggararrivedat the door and broke an earthen bowl of flour before the eyesof the starving dervishes. From that day forth, Hazrat NiTimuddin provided the most magnificent feastsfor the whole city of Delhi up till the end of his life. Why are shaykhsso involvedin providingfood to their followers?First of all, it is a good serviceto feed the hungry, if they are genuinelyin need. But even more important, the shaykhshave a certain knowledgeof the effectsof food on the body and the stagesof the soul'sevolution,and so they can frequentlybenefit the studentsand the sickby the choiceof foods servedat meals. The serving of food must be conceivedof on the broadest possiblescale. By this I mean that the person preparing and serving the food-be it mother, father, servant, or shaykh-must take into account all of the factorsrelevantto the seasonor time of year, the time of day, the climate, altitude,distancefrom the sea,any prevalentdiseases or viruses,unusual migrationof insects,and so forth. Peoplewho live closeto natureare ableto observeall of thesefactorsand many others as well. The conceptionand intention brought to the preparationof a meal are the most important things that bearon food. In the United States,it seems that not only do peopleseldomconsciouslythink aboutfood in this way, but
Foo.land Health I 4t
they really do not even take the time to sit down and eat properly, preferring to have a paper-wrapped clod slapped into their hands as they drive by a window. In my family, my wife, Iman, and I are constantly conferring with each other about what foods ought to be included in the menu. Shell inform me what small things are going on with our children's health, or what particular foods are coming onto the market by season.We make adjustments according to the situation. For example, it is a very common notion in the East that milk and fish should never be consumed together. Biochemicalresearchhas shown that milk and fish both have a high concentration of a particular .amino acid. When they are eaten together, the concentration is so great that it may cause allergic reactions. Another important consideration is that fruits and vegetables at the beginning of the growing seasonhave a healing quality, while those at the end of the growing season can produce disease.This is confirmed with apples,for example, which are very tart and astringent early in the growing season. But after the freeze, the sugar content soars and can easily cause excessivemucus buildup. Flus, colds, and the like may result. Attention must be given to the selection and buying of foods. Where are you going to buy your food products? Where do they come from? Are they treated with chemicals?If so, what chemicals?Most foods should be obtained from the locale in which you reside. Always buy onions and potatoes grown locally (or within one day's iourney), because they contain the cure and antidote for all of the little viruses, bugs, and specialbacterial strains that occur in your region. One should not forgo onions from one's own neighborhood in favor of those trucked in from a thousand miles away. Of course, if you live in an area where potatoes and onions are not grown at all, then you generally should not eat those particular foods. Eskimos seldom, if ever, eat bananas! People who enter a supermarket are often pleased by the sight of the bonanza of foods, a virtual cornucopia. Yet almost all of the foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables,have been severely altered with chemical additives and treatments. It may be marvelous that you can obtain Egyptian mangoes, Bolivian pomegranates, and Mexican bananas ar your corner grocery, but that does not necessarilymean they will sustain you properly. Conventional advice about food selettion emphasizes consuming the main food groups daily. Some people refine the concept somewhat and suggest choosing whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetablesin season,and so forth. Others offer analysisof the vitamin, mineral, and nutrient content of the foods as the key to eating for health. The Sufis view the matter somewhat differently. Just as they perceive the soul or essenceof the body as the most important, so, too, do they seek the essenceof food as the most important element. Let us assume for the moment that we have selectedthe correct foods
+z I TheBookof iufi Hwlbtg and have the best intentions in regard to feeding our family and friends. The next stage is the actual cooking of the food. I have said many times that the most important hospital in the world is your own kitchen, becauseit is here that the essenceof the food is extracted, and health gained or lost. If the food is being prepared correctly-taking sufficient time for each stage-the first thing that occurs in the kitchen is the most delightful explosions of scents. When onions are heated in olive oil, for example, the volatile oils and essenceare driven off into the air. When you add spices such as cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and similar aromatic spices,anyone who comes into the house and gets a whiff of these wonderful scents is immediately uplifted. The matter of scents is important, and indeed many today are becoming interested in the essencesof floral substances(including what we generally call spices) and their effect on health. The body responds to all of these smells in various ways. As the nose perceives certain odors of cooking, information is delivered to the internal organs that a meal is being readied. The stomach, gallbladder, liver, colon, thyroid gland, and other endocrine glands-all respond in their own ways. Moreover, the essencesof oils, driven off by the heating, can themselves alter the temperament of internal organs and thus affect health greatly. At the very least, cooking fragrances are responsible for altering the body to conclude the prior meal's digestion. When people come into the dining room only moments before eating, and thus are deprived of the intake of scentsprior to the meal (or even throughout the day), some of the most important initial stagesof digestion are lost. In fact, the process of digestion actually begins at the time of the mental conception of a meal. These scented vapors not only affect the bodily functions, including the skin, but also have a beneficial influence on the eyes. Onions, which make you cry when you cut them, are the best example of this. Many injurious toxins are built up as a normal result of the thinking and emotional life. Particularly since many people think that crying is somehow unmanly or weak, the tendency to release superfluous matters through the eyes by crying is suppressed.During cooking, the vapors of onions as well as other spicesencourage elimination through the eyes. When onions are cut in the kitchen, it is surely not a mournful matter. When I cook, I start at noon. To me, preparing meals for others is one of the most enjoyable and wonderful things a human can do. Cooking is healing in its essence.I have one dish made of basmati rice with chopped pistachios,almonds, raisins, and tiny carrots slivered into piecesthe size and shape of toothpicks. I need about three dozen large carrots to make this dish for eight or ten people. I always sit down with a sharp knife and spend an hour or more at this task of slicing, until a huge pile of carrot slivers is sitting before me. One day someone helping in the kitchen saw me doing this and informed
Food andHeslth| +g me, "l have a great idea.Here, put thosecarrotsin the food processor,and the iob will be done in lessthan a minute!" I thankedmy assistantfor the suggestionand then explainedthat the reasonI preferreddoing the iob by hand was that with eachsliceI madea little prayerthat the food be a healing influencefor the personwho eatsit. So the thought of desiringwellnessfor peoplealso needsto be addedto the foods that you preparefor them. We certainlycan tell the differencebetweenfood eatenin a restaurant and food preparedproperlyin the home.Too often, the peoplewho work in public eatingestablishments haveno concernwhatsoeverfor the food they (food serve which almost alwaysis preparedby machines).In fact, many peoplehavingjobs in restaurantsare anSryand disgustedthat they haveto work there in the first place.The mentalvibrationsof suchpeopleinevitably work their way into the food. Let us now assumethat we havethe bestfood,preparedaccordingto the correct methods,and are ready to put it into our mouths. Even beforewe put the food into the mouth, we haveto think for a second:Wheredoesthis food comefrom, and what is our purposein consumingit? For the Sufi, the eating of food is a time of fellowship, a celebrationof life, and a rededication of life to the highestidealsof human existence.Beforeeating,the Sufi says, "Bisni Llnhiir-Rnfumdn, ir-Raftlm:In the name of God, the most merciful,the most compassionate. O my Lord!I will eat this foodonly to bea betterservant of yours. Use this food to uplift me and uplift all of your humanity.r4nrin." The reasonfor eating is not simply to derive pleasure.It is to maintain the body, which is the vehiclefor conveyanceof the soul and the meansby which we improve and give strength and gracefulnessto the soul. Only after applyingsuchan invocationto the food do we put it into our mouths, tn gnq .auan.
The refinement,or digestion,of food requiresfrom one to eight hours, dependingupon the food. Sciencehasdelvedinto the biochemicalstructures of foodsand the body and derivedsome facts and theoriesthat purport to explainwhat goeson during digestion. The most importantconceptrelatingto humanphysicalhealthis centered on the notions conveyed by two Persian words, sardi and garmi, meaning "hot" and "cold." Before explainingthis conceptfully, let me say that the entire processof digestion should be thought of as one of heating, or cooking, the nutrient substances.The're is a Persian word, pokhta,which means"cooking,"but also refers to what the body doesin breakingdown food into its compositenutrients.Pokltameansthat somethingis cookedand ready to serve.For example,one knows that a curry is pokhtawhen the ghee or oil is floatinglightly, shimmeringand glittering,on top of the sauce.Until then, it is not ready to serve,is not fully cooked. There is a moment of ripenessto everything.We can easilyseewhen a fruit is unripe, and we would not eat it until it is ripe. The grosscookingof food leads to a moment of ripeness,and the bodv itself "cooks" the food
e4 I TheBookof SufiHwling
down until it is alsoripenedand readyto assimilateinto the bloodor tissues or enter into other chemicalinteractions. In other words, somethingis ripe when it is at the optimum moment of growth or refinement. In the processingof foods by the body, a seriesof digestionsoccur,beginningwith the actionof enzymesin the mouth. This action createsheat, slight though it may be. To this heat is addedthe heat of friction, causedby the grinding of the food by the teeth. After the food is swallowedinto the stomach,another cooking occurs-the heat of hydrochloric acid. Eachof theseheatingschangesthe nature of the food. If one lacks the proper levels of enzymes in the mouth, or fails to chew the food sufficiently, or if there is a hydrochloric acid deficiency,then digestion will be impairedfrom the start. When the digestionin the stomachis finished,the food is a semifluid mass calledchyme. Exiting from the stomach,the chyme travelsthrough the small intestine,where further enzymesact upon it. Then it arrivesat the site of the liver. views Easternand Western medicinehave taken virtually irreconcilable of digestionfrom this point onward. Western sciencetries to identify each componentsof the nutrient-vitamins, aminoacids,enzymes,caloricvalues, proteins,fats, and so forth. Easternmedicinefeelssuch an effort is by and large useless.This is so becauseeach liver cell containsmore than one thousandenzymes.Or it should be said rather that Western pathologists have acknowledgedthat more than a thousandenzymesexist in eachliver cell, of which they know specificallyhow only about two dozen actually work in the body!In fact, there may be billionsof enzymesin eachliver cell. This is not known or unknown as yet. In any case,to baseone'stheorieson somewhatlessthan three percentof the total possibilitiesis to rely on mere guesswork. Easternmedicinetakes a much more interestingview of the digestive process-a view that can be understoodby anyone,even young children, and that providesthe basicframework for the selectionof foodsto maintain or regain health quickly and easily.Theseconceptsare consistentwith all systemsof medicinein the world-Chinese, Ayurvedic,Hippocratic,Calenic, Arabic,and Hebraic.In other words,all of the medicaland healthsystemsof the world have agreedwith theseconceptsfor thousandsof years-except Westernbiochemicalmedicine. The key to healthful eatinghabits is in understandingtwo notions:the four bodily essences, and the heating and coolingeffects of foods.These conceptsare so important to human health that the next chapteris devoted to them.
Akhldt: The Four Essences of the Body The four essences of the physicalbody ariseat the site of the liver and are or akhlit,(sing.tltill), part of the processof digestion.Eachof theseessences, is producedas the food is broken down into ever-smallercomponentsof nutrients and by-products.The accompanying chart summarizesthe origin and fate of eachof the four essences. Let us now focus upon the four essences: BlooilEs*nce:Hot and Moisr PhlegmEs*tru: Cold and Moist Bilious Esxnce:Hot and Dry AtrnbiliousEssmce:Cold and Dry
Eachof theseessences has a characteristictemperamentof heat and moisture associatedwith it. When this temperamentis altered or disturbed, imbalanceoccurs,frequently leadingto one or more diseaseconditions.(I Like the other essences use the term "intemperament"for suchimbalances.) describedin Sufi healing,the alrfrlnl do not exist asseparateentities,but only as a part of the entire processof digestion.When the body no longer functions.the essences alsoceaseto exist. To illustrate how theseessences function,let us considerin somedetail the phlegmessence. th" phl"g- essencecomes into'being as part of the third stage of digestion,and is formed from the less choicenutrient parts (the choicer parts having alreadybeenutilizedin the formationof bloodand its essence). Phlegmis usedin many ways in the body:as a lubricant,as a shieldagainst foreign matter, includingbacteria,and as a coatingof the internal viscera, amongother things.Phlegmby nature is somewhatsticky,but it frequently can be observedto changeits character-to salty, thin, rough, watery, and so forth. Normal phlegm will always be the result of a cold and moist essence.When the essencemoves to either a hotter or colderdegree,the
45 | The BookofSuli Hcaling
phlegmitself is altered.Sometimesthis alterationis necessary aspart of the process. healing The fak'ims,physiciansof the physicaldiseases,have worked out a codifiedsystem that categorizesall diseasesarising from disturbancesof this third stageof digestionby the natureof the phlegm.Likewise,all of the other essences can alter and produceimbalances, and specificsymptomsare associated with a particularimbalanceof eachessence. It follows,then, that the first course of treatment is lo restore theessence lo itsnaturalbalance. Now, it is rather easyto arrive at a diagnosis,by first determiningwhich stageof digestionis affectedand then lookingfor the signsof excessheat or moisture (or its opposite).Although four factors are associated with each essence-heat,cold, moisture,dryness-these can be reducedto two, heat and cold (garmiand sardiin Persian),becausemoisture is a function of heat, which drives off moisture.* Of course,the diagnosisof a complicatedimbalancebelongsin the realm of an expert physician.However,there existsa completesystemof dietetics accordingto the foregoing principlesand essences. This system of food selectionis basedupon the two factors of heat and cold. When we say that a food is hot, we do not mean that it is actuallyhot to the taste,nor do we refer to its caloricvalue.Rather,a hot food is one that createsa net effect in the body which promotesmetabolism.A food that is cold in its essence hasa net effectof loweringmetabolism.In other words,if we had a thermometerthat measuredtemperaturein billionthsof degrees rather than tenths, we could observea slight increasein body temperature whenever a hot food was consumed.And the reversewould be true of eatinga cold food: The temperaturewould drop slightly. The single most important factor in this dietetic system is that foods containsufficientmetabolicheat to allow digestionto be completed.As the ProphetMuhammad(s.a.w.s.) has said,"The main causeof disease is eating one mealon top of another."This meansthat the food first consumedis not fully digestedand assimilatedbefore a new meal is taken.Of courseif one eats every twenty minutes, such a condition would occur. But what is meant here is that the food is not fully digestedowing to lackof metabolic heat. This notion becomesclearerwhen we look at the metabolicvaluesof many common foods, given in the accompanyingchart (page48). Although it is beyondthe scopeof this book to presentthe entire system of medicine(known as Jibb) that has evolvedfrom thesemarvelousprin'The prince of physicians,Hakim Abn cAli ibn Sint, known as Avicenna in the West, wrote an eighteen-volume encyclopediaof medicine, in which can be found a complete discussionof the essences and which diseases result from which imbalanceof each.I have published a book, translated from Persian sourcesincluding the works of Avicenna, which introduces this system of physical medicine for the lay public and natural practitioners: NaluralMeditine(London: Wildwood House. 1980).
Akhllat:The Four Essences ol the Body I 47
MOUTHTAKESIN FOOD& DRINK
FIRST DIGESTION
PARTS UPON BY
FLUIDS IN S MA LL IN TE S TIN E
CHYME8Y WITH DICESTIVE
FLUIDS & INCESTED PARTS TO IN TE S TIN E :
ciples,it will be useful to presentanother arrangementof evaluatingthe heatingand coolingpropertiesof foodsand spices,so that one may beginto make intelligentchoicesabout the foods one consumes.It is hoped,ifl eftr' AIlAh,that one will seea remarkableimprovementin health. To facilitatethe use of foods and herts as medicines,all substances are classifiedaccordingto their degreeof heator cold.There are four degreesof each,making a total of eight possibleclassifications for eachfood. Thus a food or herb may be: Hot Hot Hot Hot
in in in in
the First Degree the SecondDegree the Third Degree the Fourth Deeree
or
Cold in Cold in Cold in Cold in
the First Degree the SecondDegree the Third Degree the Fourth Degree
48 I ThcBor,kol iufi Haling
METABOLIC VALUES OF FOODS Heating (Garmi) Foods Mcat aru| Eishzlamb, liver, chicken, eggs,goat (male),fish (general) Dairy Products:. sheept milk, cream cheese,cream, clarified butter (ghee) and Beens:beet, radish, onion, mustard greens, red lentils, white Vcgztablcs lentils, kidney beans,leek, eggplant, chigk peas,red pepper,green pepper/ carrot seed,squash Fnrilsr banana, coconut, peaclL plum, orange, lemorL mulberries, red raisins, green raisins, olive, ripe grapes,purnpkin, all dlied fruits Sccilsanil Nrls: sesame,almond, pistachio, apricot kernels, walnut, pine nuts Grcins: thin-grain rice, basmati rice Oils: sesameoil, corn oil, castor oil, mustard oil Bcwrags: black tea, coffee HerEs:cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, fenugreek, ginger, celery seed,anise seed,rue, saffron, garam masala(blend),curry powder (blend) Ollran honey, rock candy, all sweet things, salt, all modern medicine Cooling (Sardi) Foods Mcet: rabbit, goat (female),beef Dairy Prodwtstcow's milk, mother's milk, goat's milk, butter, buttermilk, dried cheeses,margarine Vrytebhs and Beanstlettuce, celery, sprouts (general), zucchini, spinach, cabbage,okra, cauliflower, broccoli, white potato, sweet potato, carrot, cucumber,soybeans,tomato, turnip, peas,beans(general) Frurts melons (general),pear, fi& pomegranate Scedsend Nrls: none Grains:brown rice, thick€rain rice Oils: sunflower oil, coconut oil Bwmges: green teas Hcrls: coriander (dry), dill, henna Olftar refined sugar, vinegar, bitter things, sour things
Akhlit:ThcFourEssenc.s oflheBodyI 49 We learn from Avicennathat thesedegreehave the following effects: First Degree:Affectsmetabolism,but not in any way discernedby physical sensation.Slightestaction. SecondDegree:Acts upon the body, causingmetabolicchange,but in the end is overwhelmedby the body. All nutrients belongto this category. Among the actionscausedby second-degree substances areopening pores,initiating peristalticaction,causingperspiration,and stimulating digestion. Third Degree: Not acted upon by the body, but acts upon the body. All medicinalsubstances belongto this category.An exampleis sennapods, which overwhelm the eliminative powers and force rapid evacuationof the lower bowel. Fourth Degree:Causescessationof metabolicfunction. Poisonsare in this category.Someherbsare usedas medicinesfrom this category,but only in the most minute amounts and under the strict supervisionof a physician.
hot substancewould speedup By way of illustration,a second-degree cold substance would slow it down-In metabolism,whereasa second-degree the extremefourth degree,a hot herb would causean expangionof metabolism beyond the limits that support life, whereas a fourth-degreecold herb would slow down metabolismto the point of death. An exampleof these principlesin action is the commoncaseof people eatingcurry that is too hot for them. Usually,they reachfor a tall glassof water. However, this doesnot quenchthe burning, becausewater, in this system,is neutral. Instead,they should have on hand a small sidedish of cucumbersand yogurt-two foods that are quite high in their cooling effect. All elementsof nature can be assigneda value accordingto this system of heatingand coolingeffects.And the diet can be adiustedaccordingto all of the factorsmentionedearlier:season,climate,altitude,prevalentillnesses, and so forth. These dietary principlesform thg basisof all traditional societiesand their eatinghabits.In the United States,thoseof Hispanicand African tribal origin have the vestigesof this system in their diet becauseboth peoples were at one time part of Islamicculture. The Sufi shaykhunderstandsthis systemand frequentlymakesrecommendationsto correct a physicalimbalanceby introducing one or more foods. Each part of the body has its own characteristicdegreeof heat or cold-just as eachof the four essences do-and so one can generallyadjust the diet to raiseor lower the metabolicbalance.
so I ThcBnk ofSufiHuliag For instance,a man may come before the shaykh complaining of painful joints-a condition calledarthritis in Western terminology. The shaykh knows that the proper temperamentof the interior nervesand loint fibers is somewhat cold and moist in a state of health. By observing the physical condition of the man, the shaykh will determine whether or not a cold or hot excesshas createdthe imbalance,and he can prescribean herb or food to correct the problem. This is similar to what a physiciandoes,but the shaykh is also taking into account the effect of the nafas,or activator of the physiologicalactions. When the breath is drawn in thrgugh the mouth and nostrils, it is destined to penetrate to the furthest reachesof each organ. True, the breath may undergo many changesbefore it reachesits goal, but it will alwayscarry an intention to travel to the furthest reachesof all extremities. When a constrictionoccursin the pathwaysof thesebreathsof life, disease conditions developquickly. We could assigna value to the type of imbalance and peer inside the tissues to see that a particular bacteria thrived in the atmosphereof imbalanceand grew to a larger than normal population.However, it is first of all necessaryto unblock the constriction of the dispersalof the nafas-the life force itself. This accountsfor the vast malority of miraculous cures of physicalproblems accomplishedby the Sufis. The methods by which these blockagesare unlocked will be taken up in a later chapter. With all of the foregoing as a preface,we can now turn to study some of the specificknowledge of foods, as related by the master and guide of all Sufis, the Holy ProphetMuhammad(s.a.w.s.).
6 Foods of th Prophet
t
(s.a.w.s.)
And the eatth hath He appointed Jor His creadnes Whercin are Jruit and shathed plm trees, Husked gruin and rrcated ffi. Wbicb is it oJ thee Javon oJyow lnrd tlnt ye deny? @n'an 55:10-13
The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)was once reported to have said,"There are two kinds of knowledge: knowledge of religion and knowledge of the body." The Prophet (s.a.w.s.)frequently commentedupon the nature and value of various foods and spices.These comments were noted by his wives and companions(r.a.)and remain availableto us today. For the Sufi, the Prophet(s.a.w.s.) was the embodimentof onewho lived asperfectlyaspossible,andasthat includeshis eatinghabits.his recommendatio{p on diet form the basisof the Sufis'daily sustenance.At the beginning;frre Sufi aspirantassumesa behaviorknow n asfand'fi shaykfi-effacementYn the shaykh.The periodof following this courseof behaviormay be short or long. During this time, the muridadoptsas closelyas possiblethe behavior of the shaykh in all respects.That is, the muriddresseslike the shaykh (or as the shaykhrequests),eatslhe fdodsof the shaykh,takesup the practicesadvisedby the shaykh.In short, the nnrid dissolveshimselfin the imageof the shaykh.The objectiveis for the muridto discontinuehis prior behaviorand over time adapthimselfto the characterof the shaykh. The point of this training, on one level,is to harmonizeoutward action with inward condition.This interactionis eoitomizedin three words: imin. isldm,and ifisrtn. Imdnmeansto have true belief and absolutefaith in God. When one possesses this requisitefaith, it causesone to follow the com-
51
52 I TheBookof 9nfiHuling mandments of God, called sharitat.The one who consciously follows these sharicat laws is said to be living Islam. When the way of life calledisla-nr is adheredto with finality, it causesthe developmentof the interior stations of the soul, known as if;sdn,which means"blessing."On the Sufi path onecannotattainany of theseconditions without the other; they are interdependent.As Sufi Abu AneesBarkat Ali once remarked:"Following the behavior of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.)is the sunnah, which is the root of Islam.Sufismis the fruit of the tree of Islam,or the fragranceof its fruit. If there is no root, how can there be any fruit?" When this period of f an6'f i shaykhis e nded, the muridenters the next phase,calledfand'fi murshid,adopting the dress, foods, and general and specificbehaviorof the leaderor murshitl of the particularorder to which the muridbelongs.Thus, the practicesare extended,food is lessened and fasting increased,and the deepermeaningsof the Qur'an are studied,revealed through the agencyof the shaykhsof the order. The next evolution is into that known as fana'fi rasul,in which, in sfia-' Allah, the murid is effacedin the image of the rasulAllah, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.).Ultimately, following this stage,if successful,the murld.attains the state known as fana'fi LlAh,or total annihilation in the Almighty. Becausethe Sufi path is a gradualand reasonableone, fully in accord with human nature in every regard, the muridat the outset concentrates upon adopting the correct manner of eating, sleeping,walking, sitting, praying,and similarbehaviors.At all times,the shaykhholdsswayover the murld,to offer helpful suggestionsand guidance,and to correctkindly any actionsthat the murldmay do incorrectly. In the earlierstagesof Sufism,the struggleis mainlyto subduethe gross physical appetites of the nafs,and therefore, the following statements and suggestionsof the ProphetMuhammad (s.a.w.s.), which also includesome of the knowledge associatedwith the physiciansof Islam, becomevital for every aspirantto learn, understand,and apply. Before presenting a selectionof the Hadith specificallyrelating to health, it is necessaryto reflect for a moment on the nature of some of these recommendations.To some pbople, the advice which follows may seem quaint, old-fashioned,or simply bizarre. Some may feel that a particular statementhas not been or cannot be confirmed by scientificknowledge. However, all of the statementsand actionsof the Prophet (s.a.w.s.)are woven upon the nucleusof divine inspiration,and so do not admit of any error, inaccuracy,or amendment.A few illustrationswill make this clear. There is a Hadith that says that if a fly falls into a liquid while one is preparing to drink it, the person should first dip the fly completely under the surface of the water and submerge the fly totally before removing it. This adviceseemsvery strange,if not dangerous. Medicallyit is known that a fly carriessomepathogenson somepartsof
Fods of theProphd(s,o.w,s,lI Sg
its body (this was mentionedby the Prophet Muhammad [s.a.w.s.]1,400 years ago, when there was practicallyno formal medicalknowledge).But Allah has said that He createdno diseasewiihout alsocreatingits remedy, exceptdeath (meaningthe declineof old age).Therefore,in modern times penicillinhas beendiscovered,which is usedto counteractharmful organismssuchasstaphylococci. However,Dr. MuhammadM. el-Samahy, director of the Departmentof Hadith at al-Azhar University at Cairo, Egypt, has written an article revealingthe astute medicalgenius of this apparently mysteriousadvice. Dr. el-Samahyrelatesthat microbiologists havediscoveredthat there are parasites longitudinalcells living as inside the stomachof the fly. These yeast cells,as part of their own reproductivecycle,protrude through the respiratory tubules of the fly. When the fly is dippedcompletelyinto a liquid, the resultingchangein the osmoticpressurecausesthe cellsto burst. The contentsof thosecellsis an antidotefor pathogenswhich the fly carries on its body. Thus, the latest researchin microbiologyconfirms what has been known from Propheticknowledgefor 1,400years. Another exampleconcernsthe adviceto take a small amount of salt before beginning a meal. This in particular seemsto be contradictedby modern medicalwisdom, which stressesthe harmful effectsof excesssalt consumption.However, a knowledgeof the metabolismof the body illustrates the wisdom of this suggestionas well. Salt is composedof two chemicals:sodium and chloride.The chlorides presentin salt constitutethe only readilyavailablesourceof chlorideswith which the bodycanmanufacturehydrochloricacid,vital for properdigestion in the stomach.Thus, taking in a small amount of salt prior to the meal allows any deficiencyof hydrochloricacid to be madeup just beforeintroducing new food. It should be addedthat the harmful effectsof excesssalt are primarily associated with raisedlevelsof sodium,not chlorides.In fact, personswho eliminate salt entirely from their diet may be subject to further disease causedby lack of proper levels of hydrochloric acid. - Thesetwo examplesprovethat there is indeedintelligentmedicalreasoning for following the recommendations of theseHadith.It is true that not all of theseHadith have been submittedto scientificconfirmation.It must be pointed out, however, that even if scientificexperimentswere done to confirm eachand every statement,the fact that sciencedid not, or could not, confirm its value would not negatethe truth of the statement. For scientificknowledgeis constantlychanging,and too often experiments have been found to be done incorrectly, and even intentionally falsified.For the Sufi, it is sufficient that God has mentioned,or inspired His Prophet(s.a.w.s.)to advise,a practice.Human knowledgeor experience can never contradictor amendthe divineknowledgeand commandments. Once these words of adviceare integratedinto dietary habits,one will
ol SufiHuling sa l TheBook discoverthat every action is perfectlyin accordwith human nature, and immensehealthbenefitswill accrueto anyoneapplyingthem with sincerity. Not only can various recipesbe gleanedfrom the commentariesthat follow, but also individual foods and herbs are often prescribedas medicines. It is impossibleto state with finality which food or herb would be given in a particular case,becausethe person must be present before the healer or physician,in order for him to make a correct diagnosisof the imbalance. Nonetheless,the foods discussedin the following sections should be preferred over others,and the suggestionsfor combiningthem adheredto.* It must be remembered that it is lot simply the eating of one or more foods that marks the Sufi's behavior.There are many other aspectsof behaviorthat bear upon health-fasting, prayer,giving of alms,and other practices-andtheseother factorsmay havea greatertotal impacton health than any foods.
SAYINGS OF THE PROPHET(s.a.w.s.) Before proceedingto the listing of foods, it is worthwhile to provide the statementsof the Prophet (s.a.w.s.)relating to manners,hygiene,prevention, and similar topics,bearingon health. Saidthe Prophetof Allah (s.a.w.s.): Allah did not create any illnesswithout also creatingthe remedy,except deathlold age].Allah saidthat he who livesaccordingto the Qur'an willhave a long life. The origin of every diseaseis cold.So eat when you desireand refrain when you desire. The stomachis the home of diseaseand abstinencethe head of everv remedy.So make this your custom. In the sight of Allah, the best food is a food sharedby many. To eat the morning mealaloneis to eat with satan;to eat with one other personis to eatwith a tyrant, to eatwith two other personsis to eatwith the prophets(peacebe upon them all). 'ln my judgment, the cuisineof Afghanistan providesthe best recipesfor applying all of these foods in proper proportion, and in that country, at least,the foods are eaten in light of availability by season.Unfortunately, there are few easily obtainable books on Afghan cooking. It is also a fact that the men and women of Afghanistan are probably among the most vigorous and hearty and pious on earth.
(s.o.u.s., Foods ofthcPrcphd I ss
Allow your food to cool before eating, for in hot food there is no blessing. When you eat, take your shoesoff, for then indeedyour feet havemore rest. This is an excellentadvice. There is blessingin the middleof a dish.So commencefrom the sideand not from the middle.. There is blessingin three things:in the earlymorning meal,in breadand ln soup. Brush your teeth with a miswik[a woodentoothpickusuallymadefrom a twig of the pelu tree] after a mealand rinse out your mouth. For thesetwo practicesare a safeguardfor the eyeteethand the wisdom teeth.
Usemiswltk, for this practicecomes from cleanliness, andcleanliness comes from faith, and faith takesits practitionerto heaven. The dish pleadsfor mercyfor the onewho takesup the lastmorselIi.e.,do not be wastefull. Eat togetherand then disperse,for a blessingresidesin groups. Lessfood, lesssin. To horde in thesethings is unlawful: wheat, barley,raisins,millet, fats, honey,cheese,walnuts, and olives. Let no one drink while standingup, exceptone who is suffering from sciatica. Eat your meal at dawn, for there is blessingin a meal at dawn. When I was takenup into Heaven,I did not passoneangelwho did not say to me:"O Muhammad,tell your peopleto makeuseof scarificationIallowing out a smallamount of blood from an incisionl.The best treatment that you have is scarification,coriander,and costus[an EastIndian herb]. Whoeveris sickfor sevendays,therebyhe expiatesbeforeAllah the sins of seventyyears. There is no pain like pain in the eye,and no worry like the worry of a debt. When the Prophet(s.a.w.s.) camebeforea sickperson,he usedto say:"Get rid of evil delusions.Strength is with Allah the Almighty. Cure and be cured.There is no healingbut Yours." *The implication here is that one should exhibit a selflessreserveand allow another to obtain the blessing,not hog it for oneself.
s6 I TheBookolSuli Hcolirg
LIST OF FOODS
Aniseed (arisfin)-Among its many properties, the seed of anise soothes internal pains, increasesmenstrual flow, promotes secretionof milk and semen,and dissolvesintestinalgas.It may be appliedin tea form to the eyes to strengtheneyesight.ln nature,snakescomingout of winter hibernation seek out the anise plant and rub their eyesagainstit, becausetheir vision becomesweak over winter. Apple(taffih)-Sour applesu.. -o.l that applesstrengthenthe heart.
coolingthan sweetones.It is claimed
Asparagus (hiyawn)-Hot and moist, asparagusopens obstructions of the kidneysand easeschildbirth.It is saidthat asparagus will kill dogsthat eat it. Banana (mawz)-Hot in the first degree, banana has little use as a food. exceptfor peoplewith a very cold intemperament,who should eat it with honey.
Batley (sh{ir)-Barley ranks below only wheat as a desirablefood. It is the first recommendationfor hot intemperamentdiseases. Barleyis soakedin water, which is drunk for coughsand sore throats. The prophet (s.a.w.s.) always gave a soup made from barley to anyone suffering from the pain oi rever. Basil,.Sweet\rayfiAn)-smelling basil strengthens the heart. Sleep is pro_ moted by rubbing the headwith basiland water. Bread,(khubz)-The best bread is madeof the finest whole grain flours and is bakedin a circular stone oven. Breadshould be allowedi'o cool somewhat beforebeingeaten,or it will makeone excessively thirsty. Stalebreadclogs the bowels.Breadcontainingsubstantialbran is d-igested quickly,but is veiy nourishing.The softer the bread,the easierthe digestionanj the greater the nourishment.Breadcrumbsproducegas.Breadi madefrom Uuj"y u.,a pea flours are slow to be digestedand must have salt addedto them. Said the Prophet(s.a.w.s.): "Do not cut breadwith a knife, but give it due honor by breakingit with the hands,for Allah has honoredit.,, Butter (zubfuh)-Butter is mildly hot and moist. Useful to alleviateconstiDation, butter is alsomixed with honeyand datesto makea food that removes the food cravingsof pregnantwomen.
Foods ol tlu Prophct G,s,u,s,lI s7 Cauliflower (qunnabil)-This vegetable is hard to digest, and it is said to harm the vision. Chamomile (bdbitnajl-Hot in the first degree,chamomile is mild. Its main use is to promote urination and menstrual flow. Canol (jaztrl-Sexual urges arise from eating carrot, which is hot in the seconddegree.It also is usedto increasemenstrualflow and urination. Coconut @drJil ilay'a'l)-The best type is very white, which is hot and moist. The natule of coconut is that it increasessexualpowers and relieves pain in the back Coffee Bean (qahwahl-Coffee is a corrective for dysentery, relievesthirst, and is said to producewisdom. It should be usedsparingly
Coriander Seed(habbal-suda)-The most respectedbooksof traditions state that the Prophet(s.a.w.s.) said,"Make yours the seedsof coriander,for it is a cure of all diseases exceptswelling[cancer],and that is a fatal disease.,,It is also reported that Allah informed the Prophet, "She has been given everything." And then Allah revealedthat "she" is coriander.Corianderalleviates flatulenceand resolvesfevers.It is effectivein the treatmentof leukoderma. and it opensthe subtlestnetworksof the veins.Excessmoisturein the body is dried up by coriander,and it increases milk flow, urine, and menses.It is particularly useful when a person has a cold. The oil of coriander is a treatment for baldnessand scalpproblems,and preventsgray hair. The smoke of the burning seedsis an insect repellent. Chicken (dajcj)-Light on the stomachand easyto digest,chickenis the best of fowl meats.It correctsand balancesall the essences, is a food that is good for the brain, and improvesthe complexion.However,overconsumptionof chickenleadsto gout. The bestchickenis a hen that hasneverlaidan egg. Cinnamon (darchinil-Cinnamon is hot in the third degree.Its volatile oil is a great medicinefor indigestion.It forms an ingredientin spiceblendsused as the basisof cooking in almost three.fourths of the world. Citron (rfruj)-The Prophet(s.a.w.s.) is reportedto havesaid,"The citron is like a true believer:good to tasteand goodto smell."Citron strengthensthe heart, dispels sadness,removes freckles, satisfies hunger, and slows the flow of bile. The wife of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.)usedto treat blind persons with citron dippedin honey. Citron is best taken about ten minutes after the conclusionof meals.
ol SuliHcalhq sa I ThcBook Cucumber (qrff)-Ripe cucumbersdispelheat and are diuretic. Eating dates with green cucumberis said to causeweight gain. Cumin (kammitn)-Cumin is very hot. It is reported to be the only spiceor herb that travels through the stomach unaffectedby digestion,until it reachesthe liver. Cumin soakedin water, which is then drunk, is excellent for colic.
Dates, Dried (lazr!-The Prophet "(s.a.w.s.)is reported to have said, "A house without dateshas no food." Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)used to plant date treeshimself.Dates shouldbe eatenwith almondsto annul any adverseeffects.Freshdateswere the food eatenby Mary (r.a.),at the time "He who of her deliveryof the infant Jesus(a.s.).Saidthe Prophet(s.a.w.s.), finds a date,let him breakhis fast on that. If he finds no date,let him break it on water. For verily that is purity."
Eggplant (b:adhinj1n)-Thedark variety of eggplant causesproduction of bile. Small amounts of it help piles.Eggplant'stendencyto producebile is correctedby eating it with meat dishes. EgEs(bayy'rahl-Thebest eggs are those of chickens,eaten soft, not hardboiled. Egg white relievespain of sunburn, aids healing of burns, and preventsscarring.Eggsare aphrodisiac.
Endive (hindib|)-The effects of endive change according to the season. Endiveat the earliesttime is best, and at the end of the growing season, virtually useless.The Hadith states:"Eat endivesand do not belch, for verily there is not one day that drops of the water of Paradisedo not fall upon them [endives]."
Fenugreek (hulbahl-lt is reported the Prophet (s.a.w.s.)once said: "If my peopleknew what there is in fenugreek, they would have bought and paid its weight in gold." Fenugreekis hot and dry. As a tea it aidsmenstrualflow and is useful in colicand as a cleansingenema.Fenugreekstrengthensthe heart. Fig (#z)-Fresh figs are preferred to dried. Although quite nourishing, they are very hot. The Prophet (s.a.w.s.)is reported to have said, "If you say that any fruit has come from Paradise,then you must mention the fig, for indeed it is the fruit of Paradise.5o eat of it, for it is a cure for piles and helps gout."
(s.a.w.s,l Foods ofthePropfut I 59 Fish (sarae&)-Fresh-waterfish are best, and those which feed on plant life, not mud and effluvia.Uncookedfish is hard to digestandproducesimbalance of phlegm. Gatlic (thawm)-Garlic is hot in the third degree. It is used to dispel gas, promote menses,and expelafterbirth. It is excellentto correctcold intemperament,for dissolvingphlegm,and the oil is usedto treat insectbites.The eatingof raw garlicand then visiting the mosquehasbeenforbiddenby the ProphetMuhammad(s.a.w.s.). Ghee (clarified butter) (sann)-Ghee is the most fatty of all condiments.It is to be considereda medicinaladditiveto foods.Mixed with honey,gheeis said to be an antidoteto poisons. Ginger (zanjabi[r-Cingeris mentionedin the Holy Qur'an (76:17).It is hot in the third degree,and is best for softeningphlegm.It also aidsdigestion and strengthenssexualactivity. Henna (tinnn')-One Hadith reports that nothing is dearer to Allah than henna. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.)recommendedit for many conditions: bruises,pain in the legs,infectionof nails,burns, and to beautify the hair. Henna is noted for its greatheat and its abilityto excitethe passionsof loveThe perfumemadefrom hennaflowers is consideredto be one of the finest in the world. The dyeing of hands,nails,and feet is a common practicein the East,especiallyfor weddingsand feasts. Honey (ccsal)-Allah has said: "There comesforth, from within [the bee], a beverageof many colors in which there is a healingfor you." Mixed with hot water, and taken in severalsmall doses,honey is consideredthe best remedy for diarrhea. The Prophet(s.a.w.s.)once said,"By Him in whosehand is my soul,eat honey. For there is no house in which honey is kept for which the angels will not ask for mercy.If a personeatshoney,a thousandremediesenter his stomachand a million diseaseswill come out. If a man dies and honev is found within him, fire will not touch his body {i.e.,he will be immune from the burning of helfl."The Prophet(s.a.w.s.) himself usedto drink a glassof honey and water eachmorning on an empty stomach. Honey is consideredthe food of foods,the drink of drinks, and the drug of drugs. It is used for creatingappetite,strengtheningthe stomach,and eliminatingphlegm;as a meat preservative,hair conditioner,eye salve,and mouthwash.The besthoney is that producedin the spring;the secondbest is that of summer,and the leastquality is producedin winter.
oo I Thc Bcokof Suli Hwling
Lentils (cadas)-All lentils producedryness. Small amounts should be eaten, as a sidedish, for in quantity they are generallybadfor the stomach.Hadith say that the eatingof lentilsproducesa sympatheticheart,tearsin the eyes, and removespride. Lettuce (tftass)-Although cold, lettuce is consideredthe best nourishment of all vegetables.It softensa hard constitutionand helps thosewho suffer delirium. It contradictsthe sexualenergy and dries up semen.Excessconsumption of lettuceweakensthe eyesight. Marjoram, Sweet (mananjfisft)-The Prophet (s.a.w.s.)is reported to have said that sweet marioram is most excellentfor anyone who has lost the senseof smell. Meat (latnr)-Allah has said in the Qur'an (52:zz): "And we will aid them reportedly with fruit and meat, suchas they desire."The Prophet(s.a.w.s.) said that one who doesnot eat meat for forty consecutivedayswill waste away,whereasto eat meat for forty consecutivedayswill hardenthe heart. In other words, one should moderatethe intake of meat. The most desirableof all meats is mutton, which is hot and moist in temperament.The best mutton is that of a male yearling;the best cut is a shoulderroast.Mutton shouldbe cookedin someliquid, or it tends to dry out. Beef fat mixed with pepperand cinnamonacts as a tonic medicine.The meat of pigs is forbiddento eat. The consumptionof horsefleshas a food is disputed.Avicennasaidthe flesh of camels,horses,and assesare the worst of all meats. Also prohibited for human consumptionare beastsof prey, animalsthat possesscanineteeth, and birds with hookedtalons. "Do not cut up meat with a knife upon the Said the Prophet (s.a.w.s.): dish,for that is the way of non-Muslims.But graspit in your fingersand so it will taste better." And, he said:"One sheepis a blessing;two sheepare two blessings;three sheepare wealth."
Melon (baffiftfi)-Saidthe Prophet (s.a.w.s.):"Whenever you eat fruit, eat melon, becauseit is the fruit of Paradiseand containsa thousandblessings Generally,the and a thousandmercies.The eatingof it cureseverydisease." sweeter a melon, the greater its heat. Green varieties tend to be cold; the yellow, hot. The Prophettook melonswith fresh dates.Melon purifies the bladderand the stomach,and improvesthe spinal fluid and eyesight. Melons should not be eaten first in a meal. Said the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) "None of your women who are pregnantand eat of watermelonwill fail to produceoffspring who are good in countenanceand good in character."
Foodsol thc Ptophetls.a.w.s.l I 6l
Milk (lalar)-Allah has mentionedmilk to us, saying,"Rivers of milk,the taste whereof doesnot change"(Qur'an 47:15).And againHe said,"Pire milk, easyand agreeableto swallow for those who drink" (Qur'an 16:66). The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)is said to have remarked that milk is irreplaceable and that he himself loved milk. Milk is composedof fat and water and milk solids(cheese). Together, thesecomponentsare well suitedto the constitutionof humans.However, we should not take the milk of animalswhose pregnancylastslonger than that of humans.The milk of cows is best,for they feedoff grasses. "Drink milk, for it wipesaway heat from the Saidthe Prophet(s.a.w.s.): heart as the finger wipes away sweat from the brow. Furthermore, it strengthensthe back,increases the brain,augmentsthe intelligence, renews vision,and drivesaway forgetfulness." A milk diet is the best treatment there is for dropsy;however,anyone with fever must avoid milk.
Mint (ndnac)-The most subtleand refinedof pot herbs,mint is heatingand drying. Mint strengthensthe stomach,cureshiccups,and encourages sexual activity. Placedin milk, mint will prevent it from turning to cheese.
Myrtle (ns)-Cold in the seconddegree,myrtle is mostusedto stemdiarrhea. Smellingthe oil will cure headachecausedby overheating.Myrtle tea with quinceaddedis usedfor coughs. Narcissus(naryis)-OneHadith says,"Smella narcissus,evenif only oncea day or oncea week or oncea month or oncea year or once a lifetime.For verily in the heart of man there is the seed of insanity, leprosy, and leukoderma.And the scentof narcissusdrives them awav "
Olives and Olive Oil (nyt and zsytfinl-The older olive oil is, the hotter it becomes.Olive oil is an excellenttreatment for the skin and hair, and it delaysold age. Allah has said of the olive tree: "And a tree that grows out of Mount Sinai which producesoil and a condimentfor thosewho eat. For olive oil is the supremeseasoning."Allah has also'calledit the BlessedTree (Qur'an 24:35). Creen olivesare the most nourishing,and counteractautointoxication Black olives cause the spleen to overproducebile and are hard on the stomach.Olive leavescan be chewedas treatment for inflammationof the stomach,skin ulcerations,and eruptionsof herpesand hives.
Onion (bafal)-Quite hot, the onion is a good corrective for all excess wetness.Onion improvesthe flavor of foods and eliminatesphlegm.Raw
62 | TheBcrkof SuliHuling onions causeforgetfulness.An excessof cookedonions causesheadache and forgetfulness. Parsley (karnfsYA Hadith states that eating parsley just before sleepwill cause one to awaken with sweet breath and will eliminate or prevent toothache.Parsleystimulatessexualactivity. Peach (kftr'lrfi)-Peaches generate cold, relax the stomach, and soften the bowels.A good laxative,peaches shouldbe eatenbefore,rather than after, a meal. Pistachio (fusfuql-lt is said that to eat the heart of a pistachionut with egg yolk will make the heart grow strong.The reddishskin stemsdiarrheaand vomiting.
Pomegranate(rumtnin)-Sweet pomegranatesare preferred over the sour. The juice stemscoughs.All kinds of pomegranates settlepalpitationsof the heart. Hazrat cAli (r.a.)saidthat the light of Allah is in the heart of whoever eatspomegranates. It is alsoreportedthat one who eatsthree pomegranates in the courseof a year will be inoculatedagainstophthalmiafor that year. Said the Prophet (s.a.w.s.):Pomegranate"cleansesyou of Satan and from evil aspirationsfor forty days."
Quince (safejal)-lt is said that to eat quince on an empty stomach is good for the soul.Cold and dry, quinceis astringentto the stomach,and it checks excessivemenstrual flow. A few seedsplacedin water will, after a few minutes,form a mucilagewhich is an excellentremedyfor coughand sore throat, especially in the young.Quinceis alsoexcellentfor pregnantwomen, gladdeningtheir hearts.The Holy Prophet(s.a.w.s.)said:"Eat quince,for it sweetensthe heart.For Allah hassent no prophetasHis messengerwithout feedinghim on the quinceof Paradise.For quinceincreasesthe strengthup to that of forty men."
Rhubarb (rfrwanill-Rhubarb is hot and dry, and best when picked fresh. It opensblockagesof the liver and resolveschronic fever. Rice (rruzz)-Next to wheat, rice is the most nourishing of whole grain ,,foods. It is saideating rice increasespleasantdreamsand the productionof semen. Eating rice cooked in fat from sheep'sliver is better and more effectivethan a maior purging.
Foodsof thcProghel(s.t.tD.s.,I 6s
Satfrcn (zncfarfrn)-Hot and dry, saffron is excellent for the blood and strengtheningto the soul. It easespains in the joints, but can causegrear increasein the sex drive of young men. Salt (nilt)-Hot and dry in the third degree,salt,when takenmoderately,is beautifying to the skin, giving it a soft glow. Salt causesvomiting when purging,and stimulatesthe appetite.Excessive usecausesthe skin to itch. The Prophet (s.a.w.s.)recommendedbeginningand ending eachmeal with a pinch of salt. He said:"From the one who beginsa meal with salt, Allah wards off three hundred and thirty kinds of diseases,the least of which are lunacy, leprosy,bowel troubles,and toothache.The rest is prescribedin the supremeknowledgeof Allah." Senna(sanii)-The best speciesof henna is that from the blessedcity of Medina, where it grows plentifully. The chief property of sennais that it strengthensthe heart without harshness.Its nobility has causedit to be referred to by the fuakims as the Glory of Drugs. Its uses are many-in purgative infusions,decoctions,pills, enemas,and powders.Sennacauses the bile to flow, and reachesto the very depthsof the joints to balancethe essences therein.The most effectiveuse is as a tea,which canbe madeeven more efficaciousby adding violet blossomsand crushed red raisins.The Prophet (s.a.w.s.)recommendedsenna most highly, making a statement similar to the one about coriander:that it curesevery diseaseexceptdeath itself. Spinach (asfAndkhl-Spinachis cold and moist, causingirritation to the chest and throat. Still, it softensthe bowels. Sugar(snktar)-Sugaris coldand moist.It is most of ten usedin combination with other medicinalherbs,which carry the effectsto the furthest point of an organ.Eating too much sugar createsdiseaseof moisture. Thyme (gacfnr)-lnthe time of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.),it was customaryto fumigatehousesby burning frankincenseand thyme.Thyme is coldand dry in the third degree.An excellentdigestiw aid to heavyfoods,thyme beautifies the complexion,annuls intestinal gas, and benefits coldnessof the stomachand liver. When drunk as an infusion,it is saidto kill taDeworms. Vermicefli (i?iWnh)-This food is hot and excessivelymoist, thus hard to digest. For those with very strong constitution, it provides excellent nourishment.
64 I Thc Bookol Suli Hcaling
Vinegar (&/rall)-The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)was reported to have onceremarkedthat vinegarwas the seasoningof all the prophetswho came beforehim. Vinegaris both cold and hot, nearlybalancedbetweenthe two. Mixed with rosewater, it is an excellentremedyfor toothacheandheadache. Vinegar dissolvesphlegm.Another Hadith statesthat a housecontaining vinegarwill never suffer from poverty. Walnut (raaz)-Walnut is the hottest of nuts. Although hard to digest, when eaten with raisinsit is the best remedy for winter cough.Avicenna said that walnuts cure the effectsof foisons.Water (rnii')-The Prophet (s.a.w.s.)reportedlysaid:"The bestdrink in this world and the next is water." Water is moist and, becauseof this, slightly cooling.It extinguishesthirst and preservesthe innatemoistureof the body. It assistsdigestionof foods and absorptionof nutrients. Saidthe Prophet (s.a.w.s.): "When you have a thirst, drink lwater] by sipsand do not gulp it down. . . . Gulping water producessicknessof the liver." Wheat (hintahl-Wheat is somewhat hot, and balancedbetweendrynessand moisture. The eating of raw wheat producesintestinal worms and gas. Wheat flour shouldbe ground during the daytime. So praise be upon this unlettered Prophet who producedfor us this marvelousknowledgewhich makesus seeand understandand dazzlesthe upon wisest minds. Herein are proofs of God's kindnessand benevolence His creatures,for He is the most kind and allJoving. May we serve Him with true vision.
Al-lpmitulr-Uhi Rebbil-Alsminl So all praisebe to Allah, Amin! Lord of the t.r'Jorldsl
Herbal Forrnulas for Common Ailments O manhind! Thete hath come to lou a direction Jrom your Lord And a healing Jor the diseases in your heartsAnd Jor those who believg a Guidance, and a Mergr. Qgr'an IO:57
It.is the customof the shaykhsto first of all resort to someform of dietary advice to effect the cure of simple imbalances.This dietary reform may includeadiustingthe use of various herbs and spicesin cooking. The herbal formulasgiven in this chaptermakeuse of the foods,herbs, and spicespresentedin the foregoing chapters.They are usuallyeasy to obtain and requirevery little effort to prepare.Theseremediesaie formulated accordingto the qualitiesof heat and coldnessQarmiandsnrli)of each substanceand work primarily by rebalancingthe temperamentof one or more of the four essences of the body.Despitetheir simplicity,theseherbal formulasare quite effective. Preparation of Remedies 1. Formulasshouldbe preparedaccordingto instructions. 2. When a formula calls for pouderetherbs,they should be ground to a fine powder and sievedthrough a muslin cloth or a sieveof 100 mesh (unlessformula saysa coarsepowder may be used). 3, When herbsare to be madeinto a decoction(boiledin water),as soon as the water startsto boil, the vesselshouldbe removedfrom the fire and allowedto sit for five minutes;then the liquid shouldbe strained and drunk warm. 4. When a formula calls for a liquid to be red.uerl to half, the vesselshould be kept on a medium fire until about half the water has evaporated by boiling.
56 | Thc Bookol Sufi Hwling
DOSAGE Adults (aboveage fifteen) should be given a full dose. Children may be given the following amountsaccordingto age: Up to one year 3-4 years 5-6 years 7-9 years 10-15 years
Consult physician 1/6 of adult dose 1/4 of adult dose 1/3 of adult dose i/2 of do"" "drrlt 3/4 of adult dose
WEIGHTSAND MEASURES l tablespoon 1 cup 1 pint l quart l gallon
3 teaspoons 8 fluid ounces 2 cups 2 pints 4 quarts
l l l l
0.34 fluid ounce 3.38fluid ounces 1.06 quarts 2.64 gallons
centiliter deciliter liter decaliter
Lessthan a teaspoon l teaspoon l tablespoon 1 teacup
a few grains 1 dram 4 drams 7 ounces
Sugar, if it is to be added to a formula, should be a fine powder of pure, raw, unrefined sugar, such as that from Mexico. If unavailable, use honey in its place. 6. In some cases,the instructions sdy to soak an herb overnight. If this cannot be done, the herbs may be soakddfor three to four hours, and then simmeredfive to six hours before using. This method would also be used in winter. When instructed to make a "water" (e.g.,ginger water, lime water), soak one to two ouncesof the herb or other substancein one pint of pure water for four to six hours. Strain before using. L
Herbal Fotmulasfor CommonAilmcnls I 67
8. Formulasthat are to be preservedand used for more than one day may also be preparedin reducedor lesserquantitiesthan calledfor, The ratios of eachingredientmust be carefullyadjustedin suchcases. 9. When equalpnrtsof herbs are to be used,eachherb should be equal by weight or volume. The quantity to be taken should be decidedin light of the doserecommended and the number of davsfor which the formula is to be preparedat one timeStorage 1. Decoctionsare to be preparedfresh for singledoses.Dosesshould not be madein the morning for eveningconsumption,or viceversa. 2. Do not exposeremediesto direct sunlight, unlessthat is part of the method of preparation. 3. Containersshouldbe cleanedand dried completelyin the sun before formulas are stored in them. Never store herbal formulas in open containers. 4. If a formula is to be kept for more than one day, store it in a wellsealedglassbottle. 5. Labelall formulas, especiallythose that are for externaluse only. Keep all herbal formulas out of the reach of children. Safetv caos are advisedfor all bottles. Administration
1 Remediesare usually taken twice daily, unless otherwise stated. Morning dose should be taken after a light breakfast,and evening dosebetween4:OOand 6:00 P.M. 2. Remediesto be taken in the morning should be taken on an empty stomach,immediatelyafter rising and performingtoiletandcleansing. 3. Herb preparationsto be taken after mealsshould be consumedfive to fifteen minutes after eatinga main meal. 4. Formulasto be taken at bedtimeshouldbe taken two hours after the eveningmeal. 5, The quantity indicatedto be "taken as such" is meant to be a single oose. 6. Vehiclessuch as milk, water, soda water, and tea have been mentioned for some formulas. In s"uchcases,the vehicle usually is one cup, unlessstatedotherwise. 7. Where no vehiclesare mentioned,the remedyshould be taken with water (in winter, with lukewarm water).
Caution: Some of the formulas use rose petals.Almost all commercially grown rosesare treated with toxic chemicals.Use onlyorganicallygrown rosesin these formulas.If in doubt, use another formula
68 I ThcBlr,kol 5uf Hcaling
THE FORMULARY ANEMIA Paleness of whole body,eyes,and fingernailbeds.Swellingof faceand feet, especiallyin the morning.Generalweakness,giddiness,lossof appetite,and sometimesdiarrhea. Instructions: Light diet, with fresh fruits and foods such as chicken soup, liver extract, beets,carrots, spinach,and fenugreek, is advised.Avoid fatty foods.
FORMULA1 6 teaspoonsfennel seeds,crushed 6 teaspoonsred rose petals Preparation: Boil in 1 112 cupswater and strain. Dosage: Twice daily. FORMI.JLA 2 4 teaspoonsground Indian cinnamon I teaspoonshoney I cupspomegranateiuice Preparation: Dissolve cinnamon and honey in pomegranatejuice. Dosage:2 teaspoonsin 1i2 cup of water, as needed. FORMI,JLA 3 1 teaspoonpurslane 1 teaspoonsweet basil 1 teaspoongum arabic 9 teaspoonsolive oil 1 cup rose water Preparation: Fry first three ingredients in olive oil for ten minutes. Remove and soak in rose water for one hour. Dosage: 1 teaspoonseveral times per day.
ANGINA PECTORIS Pain in the chest muscles in the area of the heart, due to cold (snrli) imbalance. Instructions: Avoid exposure to cold air.
HerbalFotmulasfor Cornmon Ailfients | 69
FORMULA1. 1 teaspoonfenugreek 2 teaspoonshoney Preparation:Boil fenugreekin 7 ll2 cups of water, strain, and add honey. Dosage: Twice daily. TORMULA 2 1 teaspoonrose oil 4 teaspoonssweet almondoil Preparation:Thoroughly mix two oils together. Dosage:Rub on chest,morning and evening.
ARTHRITIS There is pain and/or stiffness, without swelling, in one or more joints. Sometimes fever. Instructions: Avoid sour and spicy (garrni)foods. Take walks in the morning, but avoid exposure to very cold air. External Treatment: Rub with oil of amber and frankincense.
FORMULA1 1 teaspoon powdered valerian root 1 teaspoonchamomile 1/2 teaspoon hops 1 teaspoon hay saffron Preparation: Mix first three ingredients in 3 cups water and bring to boil. Remove from heat at first sign of boiling. Add saffron and steep for twenty minutes. Strain. Dosage: 1/2 to 1 cup before bedtime.
FORMULA2 6 teaspoonsginger 6 teaspoonscaraway seeds 3 teaspoonsblack pepper Preparation: Combine into a fine powder and preserve. Dosage: 1/2 teaspoon with water, twice daily.
70 I Ttu Bookol 9ufi Huling
ASTHMA Asthma occurs in spasmodicattacks of difficult breathing.When experiencing the asthma attack, the person should sit forward with the head resting on the hands and elbows on the knees.The face turns pale,and there is a wheezing sound in the breath. After extendedcoughing,the personusuallyemits a smallamount of phlegm. Instructions: Avoid exposureto cold air. Avoid cold (sanfi)and sour foods. External Treatment: Rub chestwith oil of sweet almond.
FORMULA1 1 teaspoonground ginger Preparation:Pour 1 1/2 cupshot water over the ginger. Dosage One teaspoon,lukewarm,at bedtime. FORMULA 2 1i2 teaspoonskunk cabbage 1/2 teaspoonhorehound 1/2 teaspooncayennepepper 1/2 teaspoonbayberrybarL 1/2 teaspoonpowdered valerian root 3 ouncesmolasses Preparation: Grind all herbs fine and mix with molasses. Dosage:1 teaspoonin cup of hot tea, as needed.
BEDWETTING FORMULA1 1 teaspoonpomegranateflowers 1 teaspoonground sesameseeds 1 teaspoongum acacia 1 teaspooncrushedcorianderseeds Dark brown sugar Qur),as needed Preparation: Fry coriander seedsin a cast-iron skillet until they are lightly burned.Mix in other ingredients,exceptbrown sutar, and make a fine powder. Add brown sugar to equal the amount of powdered herbs. Dosage: 1 teaspoonat bedtime.
Herbsl Formulasfor CornmonAil cnts I 7l
FORMULA2 ground driedwater chestnut 3 teaspoons 3 teaspoons raw sugar Preparation:Make a fine powder of dried water chestnutand mix with sugar. Dosage:1 teaspoon,twice daily. FORMULA3 1 1 1 3
teaspoon cumin teaspoon ground cloves teaspoon mastic herb ounces honey
Prepqration: Crind and mix the first three ingredients, add honey, and mix well. Dosage: 1 teaspoon, morning and evening.
BRONCHITIS IN CHITDREN Breathing is rapid, and there is a hollow sound beneath the ribs while breathing. Cough, pain, and high fever are often present. Facebecomesred and nostrilsdilate while breathing.Child becomesrestless. Instructions: Avoid exposure to cold air. Take liquid diet.
FORMULA 1 2 teaspoonscut licorice root 2 teaspoonslinseed 12 teaspoonshoney Preparation: Boil the first two herbs in 7 Ll2 cupswater for ten minutes.Strain and sweetenwith honey. Dosage Two to three times per day.
FORMULA2 1/8 teaspoonaloe Preparation: Dissolve in mothert milk or cow's milk. Dosage: (1) Administer to child as such. (2) Dissolve aloe in lukewarm water and apply on the chest.
72 I Thc Bookol Stli Hallng
FORMIJLA 3 1 teaspoonoil of garlic 3 teaspoonshoney Preparation: Mix ingredients together. Dosage: Allow child to lick up a small amount with tongue, three times per day.
BURNSAND SCALDS FORMI.'LA 1 Pomegranate flowers, as needed. Preparation and Administration: Grind with water to make a paste and apply on affected part.
FORMI,JLA2 4 teaspoonslime water 4 teaspoonscoconut oil Preparation and Administration: Combine and rub until mixture turns white; then apply on affectedparts. FORMI.JLA 3 I egg white Preparation and Administration: Apply to affected parts. Especially effective if blister has appeared.
COLIC Acute pain in abdomenand constipation,Abdomenis distended.Flatulence and gurgling sound are present. External Treatment: Massagebody with rose oil or sweet almond oil. RecommendedFoods: Green pea soup, chicken soup. FORMULA 1 2 teaspoonswild basil Preparation and Administration: Grind with water to make a paste,and apply to abdomen.
Hefiel Formuhslor Commot Ailments I 73
FORMULA2 1 drop oil of peppermint 0r 1 teaspoonpeppermint leaves Preparation: Mix peppermint oil in 6-8 ounceswater; or boil leaves in 1 cup water for three minutes. Dosage Drink glassful twice daily. FORMI,]LA 3 6 ouncesrosewater, honey water, or fennel water Dosage: Drink once per day.
COMMON COLD Attacksof sneezing,watery dischargefrom nose,headache, cough,malaise, sometimesmild fever.
FORMULA 1 1 teaspoonviolet flowers Preparation:Boil for three minutes in 1 cup of water and strain. Dosage: Twice daily on empty stomach.
FORMULA 2 1 teaspoonwheat husk 5 black peppercorns 1/6 teaspoonsalt Preparation: Boil ingredients in 1 cup water for three minutes, and strain. Dosage: Twice daily. FORMULA 3 1/2 teaspooncinnamonbark, broken into bits freparation: Boil in 1 1/2 cupswater for ten minutes,strain,and sweeten with honey. Dosage: Twice daily.
74 I TheBmkof 1rfi Hcaling
CONSTIPATION Instructions: Consume leafy green vegetables,fruit iuice. and plenty of water. Avoid sugar, candies,and all sweets. Avoid straining the bowels. Establishhabit of going to toilet at regular tirnes. FORMULA 1 5 teaspoonsminceddried dates 5 teaspoonsalmond, mashed into a pulp 10 teaspoonshoney Preparation: Grind the first two ingredients separately,combine, and add honey. Dosage: 3 teaspoonstwice daily. Note: Thrs formula also useful for hemorrhoids and chronic constipation.
FORMI.ILA 2 1 1 1 1
teaspoon teaspoon teaspoon teaspoon
senna leaves ground ginger (dried or fresh) fennel seeds rock salt Preparation: Make a fine powder of all ingredients. Dosage: I teaspoon with water at bedtime.
COUGH FORMULA 1 1 cup ginger water 2 teaspoonshoney Preparation: Mix ingredients together. Dosage: Two or three times per day.
FORMULA 2 2 teaspoonspoppy seed 3 teaspoonscut licorice root Preparation: Boil in 1 cup water for ten minutes and strain. Dosage: Twice daily.
Hrbtl Formuhs for C.ommonAilmcnts | 75
OTHER UseFormula2 under'Asthmaheading. Dosage:1 teaspoon,three or four timesdaily.
DIABETES Frequentand excessiveurination, excessivethirst, weak appetite,and general debilityare commonsigns.Sugaris presentin the bloodand urine.The presenceand amount of sugar in the urine should be determinedby a test administeredby a physician. Instructions: Avoid sweets and sweet fruits. Avoid such carbohydratesas white potato,sweet potato,and rice. Mild exerciseis advised. FORMI,JLA 1 I teaspoonscrushedcumin seeds Preparation: Make a fine powder. Dosage: 1/2 teaspoon,with water, twice daily.
DIARRHEA Instructions: Eat a light diet. Avoid chili peppersand spicy foods. FORMULA 1 1 teaspoonpowdered ginger 1 teaspoonpowdered cumin 1 teaspoonpowdered cinnamon Preparation: Combine all three powders, add honey, and mix into a thick paste. Dosage 1/2 to 1 teaspoon,three times daily. FORMULA 2 3 teaspoonspowdered ginger 5 teaspoonsfennel seed honey, as needed Preparation: Grind ginger and fennel into a powder. Add honey to make thick paste. Dosage: 1 teaspoonin tea, three times daily and before bedtime.
76 | ThcBookof 1tfi Haliag
FORMULA 3 6 ouncesMadlool dates 3 teaspoonsmyrrh rose water, as needed Preparation: Make a fine powder of first two ingredients, then mix with rose water to moisten.Make fingernail-sized pills. Dosage: Two pills, twice daily.
DYSENTERY Frequentbowel movements,sometimesmixed with mucusand blood,gripping pain, and pain in abdomen. Instructions: A diet of yogurt and rice is advised. FORMI.JLA 1 10 pomegranateflowers Preparation: Grind flowers with 1/2 teacup water. Strain. Dosage: Twice daily. FORMI,JLA 2 2 teaspoonsgreen leavesof rose bush Preparation:Grind with 1/2 teacupof water. Strain. Dosage: Twice daily.
HEADACHE Headacheis of different types, sometimesfelt in different parts, or all over the head.Nauseaand vomiting may also be present.
FORMULA1 3 teaspoonslavenderflowers 3 teaspoonscorianderseeds 5 black peppercorns Preparation: Grind all ingredients into fine powder. Dosage: Take one-half of dose with water, early in the morning, then rest in bed for thirty minutes.
Hcrbal Formuhs for C.ommonAilmcnts | 77
FORMULA2 1 teaspoon Spanishsaffron gum myrrh 1 teaspoon 1 teaspooncinnamon Preparation:Make a fine powder of all ingredients,add a little water, and mix well into a paste. Adrninistration: Put the paste onto a piece of clean cotton cloth, and apply to one or both temples. FORMULA 3 6 teaspoonsjasminewater % teaspoonseasalt Preparation:Dissolvethe salt in the lasminewater and preserve in a cleanglassdropperbottle. Dosage:Two drops in eachnostril, twice a day or as needed. FORMULA 4 (for migraine) 1/2 teaspoonblackmustard seeds Preparation:Grind with 3 tablespoonswater and strain. Dosage:One or two drops in nostrils.
HEMORRHOIDS Constipation,passingof hard stool with blood, burning and irritation in anus, and discomfortin sitting. Presenceof pile mass in anus. Blood may oozeout after bowel movement. Instructions: Exerciselightly. Light diet with green vegetablesis advised. Avoid hot spices. External Treatment: Rub anus with rose water or other flower water to soothe. FORMULA 1 1 teaspoonhenna leaves Preparation: Crind henna leaves into powder with 1 cup water. Strain and let sit for twenty minutes. Dosage:Drink 1/2 cup twice daily.
78 I Thc Bookol Suli Huling
FORMULA2 1i8 teaspoon coriander leaves 1i8 teaspoon red clay earth Preparation: Grind to make a paste and apply to anus.
FORMULA3 3 teaspoons marshmallow 3 teaspoons dill Preparation: Put herbs inside a clean sterile cloth; wet with warm water. Application: Apply to anal area for half-hour at a time.
INDIGESTION Feeling of heaviness in stomach after eating. Lack of appetite, nausea, flatulence, and vomiting. This condition is usually due to faulty, irregular diet, especiallyeating before the previous meal is fully digested.
FORMI,JLA1 1 teaspoonfennel seeds 1 teaspooncardamomseeds Preparation: Make a fine powder of the seeds. Dosage: 1/6 teaspoonwith water twice daily after meals.
FORMULA 2 1 teaspoonfennel seed 1 teaspoondried ginger 1 teaspooncloves Preparation: Grind fennel, ginger, and clovesinto a fine powder. Add honey to make a thick paste.Preservein a glasslar. Dosage:1 teaspoonfifteen minutes after eachmeal and at bedtime. FORMI.JLA 3 1 teaspoonrock salt 1/2 cup ginger water 1/2 cup lime water
Hefiel Formuloslor CommonAilmmts I 79
Preparation: Mix, preserve in glass bottle, and exposeto sun for three or four days. Dosage:Mix 1 teaspoonwith 1/2 cup of water. Take twice daily, after meals. FORMULA 4 1-3 drops peppermintoil Preparation:Mix 1-3 dropsof peppermintoil with 8 ounceswater. Dosage: Drink as needed.
INFLAMMATION OF GUMS AND TOOTHACHE Swollen,reddened,painfuI gums. Personmay becomerestlessand agitated becauseof toothache.
FORMULA1 1 cup ginger water 1/2 teaspoonsalt Preparation:Mix salt with ginger water. Administration: Apply by dipping finger in water and rubbing on 8ums. FORMULA 2 Oil of clove, as needed Administration: Apply to gums or aching tooth. FORMULA 3 3 teaspoonsvinegar 6 teaspoonsrose water Preparation:Mix vinegarand rose water in glass. Administration: Garglewith solution three times per day.
IAUNDICE The color of urine and eyesis yellow. Skin is pale.Stoolsmay be white or grayish.Generallynausea,vomiting, fever, and weakness.
ao I ThcBookol Sufi Haling
FORMULA 1 1 teaspoonhenna leaves Preparation:Crush leaves,boil in 1 1/2 cupswater, strain. Dosage:Take as such in the morning. FORMULA 2 1 teaspoonroasted chickory root Preparation:Soakin l cup water overnight;strain in morning. Dosage:Drink whole cup in morning. TORMT.JLA3 1 teaspoonchickoryseeds 1 teaspooncut licorice root 1 teaspoonrock salt Preparation: Make a fine powder of all ingredients. Dosage:1/2 teaspoonwith water twice daily.
LOSSOF HAIR FORMULA 2 cups roots of fig tree 1 quart coconutoil or olive oil Preparation: Dry out fig roots in shadefor three days.Then crush roots and immerse in oil for fifteen days. Strain and preserve in glassbottle. Administration: Massageon scalpat bedtime.Leaveon overnight.
OBESITY FORMULA 1 (to curb excessiveappetite) 1 teaspoonvalerian root 1 teaspoonnutmeg Preparation: Grind the two herbs into fine powder. Dosage: 1/6 teaspoon,thirty minutes before meals,with water.
Hcrbtl Form as for Ctmmon Ailmmh | 8l
FORMULA2 1 teaspoon limejuice Dosage:Take with 1 cup water in the morningon an empty stomach.
PAINFULMENSTRUATION This condition is preceded by severe pain in the thighs, pubic region, and groin. Sometimes heavy nausea and vomiting occur. Usually blood flow is very scanty.
FORMI,JLA1 1 teaspoongum myrrh 1 teaspooniuniper berries Preparation:Boil in 1 cup of water. Strain. Dosage:Take in morning for sevento ten daysafter menstrual period has ended.
FORMULA 2 1 3/4 teaspoonspowdered rhubarb Preparation: Dehydrate and make into a fine powder. Dosage: 1i 8 teaspoonof rhubarb powder with water twice daily, for one to two weeks following end of period.
FORMULA 3 1 teaspoonfennel seeds 1 teaspoonwild rue 1 teaspoonwormwood 1 teaspoonrose hips 1 teaspoonchoppedfigs 4 teaspoonshoney Preparation:Boil all ingredientsin 1 cup water for five minutes. Strain and preserve. Dosage: Consume in tablespoondosestwice a day for three days. Stop for three days.Then repeatdose.
82 | Thc Bookof Sufi Huling
SKIN ULCERSAND BOILS FORMULA1 Linseedas needed Preparation: Grind with water to make a paste. Administration: Apply to boil (which, after it is drawn out, shouldbe lanced).
SLEEPLESSNESS FORMULA1 1/2 teaspoonpoppyseeds lettuceseeds 1/2 teaspoon Preparation:Boil in l cupwater, strain,and sweetenwith honey. Dosage:Twice daily. FORMULA2 1/2 teaspooncinnamonstick Preparation: Boil in 1 cup water for five minutes, strain, and sweetenwith honey. Dosage: Twice daily. FORMULA 3 3 drops rose oil 3 drops violet oil 1 ounce sweet almond oil Preparation: Thoroughly mix the three oils and preserve. Administration: Apply to scalp, ears and soles of feet before retiring. A small amount can be applied to the anus as well.
VAGINAL ITCHING Itching and burning in vagina; burning sensationwhile urinatinS. Restlessness. Instructions: Avoid close,tight-fitting underwear, especiallymadeof nylon or other synthetic fabrics. Acute cleanlinessof the vaginal area is required. Bathe immediatelyafter urinating and after sexualintercourse'
Hrbal Fornths fot Comnon Ailncah I 83
FORMT,JLA1 3 teagpoonsfennel seeds 2 teaspoonslily-of-the-valley root 1/2 teaspoonpomegranateflowers 1/2 teaspoonrosehips Preparation: Pound and grind into powder. Sift. Dosage: 1 to 2 teaspoonsdaily with buttermilk or a glassof iuiced green graPes. FORMULA 2 1/3 teaspooncamphor herb 6 teaspoonsrose water Preparation: Grind camphor in rose water. Administration: Soak a tampon in solution and apply to vagina for thirty minutes. Repeat as necessary.
Fasting: The Best Medicinle Every act oJ the son oJ Adom is Jor him except Jasting, It is done Jor My sake, and I will give as mucA reward Jor it as I lihe. Allah, the Mojestic and the Exabed
Fastingis the oldestknown form of naturalhealing.The methodsemployed range from discontinuanceof a single food for a short period of tim",-up through total abstinencefrom all foods and liquidsfor extendedperiods.' For many people who have never fasted, the idea seemsstringe, and some ev€n considerit quite dangerous.These conceptionsare not utterly unfounded,becauseincorrectlyappliedfastingcanresult in severedisorders of the body, and evendeath.
The Sufis probably have more experiince .than any other group of . performing fasts. The accounts are legion of'Sufi shaykhs and \uma.ns in_ discipleswho endured fasts of varying durations,frequently with miraculous results. As has been noted, the Sufi doesnot take upany physicalprocedure relating to health for any reason except to earn tle pi""rr." oithe Most High God. Allah has informed us in the Holy eur,an:,,O ye who believe! Prescribedunto you is fasting even as it was prescribedunio those before you, that perhapsyou may becomeGod-conscious,, (2:1g3).
65
a5 I Thc Bookol Suli Healing
All of the creation,exceptman, follows the dictatesof God derivedfrognatural lawsJAnimals do not have to be restrainedfrom overeatingand 't ldietary abuses.But for humans,the love of materiallife and the temptationsI iof the physicaldesiresare responsiblefor the vast maiority of illnesses.I j Therefore,Allah the Most Kind hasprovidedguidanceto control and annul I appetitesby the mechanismof the fast. ) ithese - The Qur'an statesthat a human cannot attain salvationunlessthe low desiresare restrained: "And as for him who fears to stand before his Lord and restrainshimself from low desires,the paradiseis surely the abode" (79:40-4D. The exercise of abstaining from things that are ordinarily lawful and permittedin life, solelyfor the sakeof Allah, strengthensmorality and selfcontrol and deepensawarenessof Allah. This is what distinguishesfasting in Islam and Sufism from ordinary fasting for health. The primary fast to be taken up is that generally called Ramadan in Islam.Ramadanis one of the months of the Islamiccalendar(seeAppendixI for Islamicmonths)-the month during which the Qur'an, as well as the Torah, the Psalmsof David, and the New Testament,all were first sent down from Allah. The excellenceof fasting is known from these two statements of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.). By the one in whosehandis my life, the fragranceof the mouthof a fasting man is dearerto Allah than the fragranceof musk. Paradise has a gate named Rayyin. None except a fasting person will enter Paradise by that gate.
Allah has promiseda vision of Him as reward for fasting. .- The word rama(andoes not actually mean "fast."fthe technicalterm for \ lfasting is qiyirn,whose root word means"to be at rest." By abstainingfrom I lfood, drink, and sexualintercourse,thesefunctionsof the body are granted I frest, and an opportunity to becomerevivified. _) The general fast during the month of Ramadanis enloinedupon the whole humanity; those who actuallydo it are Muslims.Many personswho have closecontactwith Muslims alsoengagein this form of fast and derive someof the benefitsfrom it. But there are severalregulationswhich must be followed for any fast to be valid. First, one must clearly state the intention to fast. Since Allah has said that we will be ludged accordingto our intentions, one cannot get the benefits of good actions which occur entirely by accident.For exampleJiF) Fie was deprived of food by being lost in the wilderness, this would not I constitutea formal fast, becauseone would have eatenif the opportunity I tCJ-.represent.This formal declarationto perform an action is termed riyyat.J It is preferablystatedin Arabic,but is iust asvalidin any language.One may
Fesring:Tb Brrt Mdkin
I t7
simply state:"l intend to offer fast this day, for the sakeof Allah and only for the sakeof Allah." Having entered into this formal pledgewith Allah, having made this promise, if one intentionally breaks the fast during the avowed period, one is liableto compensatefor the fast by making up one or more daysGenerally, to perform a fast day the following conditions must all be met: L The niyyat,or intention to fast, must be made, aloud or silently. 2. The periodof the fast must extendfrom the time iust beforesunrise _(foir) until iust after sunset(maghrib)." f-During the period of the fast, iotal abstinencefrom the following is: J required:food, drink (includingwater), smoking or consumptionof I tobacco,sexual intercourse, and any form of negativity, backbiting, l__ fighting, cursing, arguing, and similar behaviors. T SJ*"r,-.r,"y ,,oI bu-d"li6"."tely emitted, nor may one deliberateb' vomit. 5. Pregnant or lactating women, the seriouslyill, the aged, and the insaneare exemptedfrom fasting,but in somecasesmay be liableto make up misseddays.A woman doesnot fast on days when she is menstruating,but must make up the misseddays.When her period ends, she must resume fasting. Children under the age of twelve generally are excludedfrom the fast, but may fast part of the day or -for some of the days. . The fast is broken after sunset with a date or a glass of water, ] i I followed bv a modest meal. There are severaldozensof specialcaseswhich apply to the fasting man or woman, and the adviceof a practicing Muslim shaykh should be sought to resolveany question. T\: specialnature of fasting is that it engendersforbearanceand sacri-fice.lFasting occursin the mind primarily,and so it is hiddenfrom all human visibleonly to the Eye of God: it is a secretaction. leyes, * During the time from midnight to the beginningof the fast, it was the to eat a meal, calledsafiir.This may consist practiceof the Prophet(s.a.w.s.) broken by eating one or a few dates, foods. The fast is usually any lawful of followed by some water, which must be done prior to offering the sunset (maghrib) prayer. Even though cleaningthe teeth is Permitted,it is more meritoriousif one doesnot do so after midday. In addition to these iniunctions,one should be engagedas much as possiblein reading and reciting the Holy Qur'an, and should distribute as much charity as one is capableof. *See Chapter e, "$alit," for cornputing sunrise and sunset correctly.
86 I TheBook of SufiHuling
All of the creation, except man, follows the dictatesof God derived fro4gnatural lawsJAnimals do not have to be restrainedfrom overeatingand \ ldietary abuses.But for humans,the loveof materiallife and the temptationsI fof the physicaldesiresare responsiblefor the vast maiority of illnesses.J {Therefore,Allah the Most Kind hasprovidedguidanceto control and annul I appetitesby the mechanismof the fast. ) ithese -The Qur'an statesthat a human cannot attain salvationunlessthe low desiresare restrained:"And as for him who fears to stand beforehis Lord and restrains himself from low desires, the paradiseis surely the abode"
(zg:+o-+t\.
The exerciseof abstainingfrom things that are ordinarily lawful and permittedin life, solelyfor the sakeof Allah, strengthensmorality and selfcontrol and deepensawarenessof Allah. This is what distinguishesfasting in Islam and Sufism from ordinary fasting for health. The primary fast to be taken up is that generally called Ramadan in Islam.Ramadanis one of the months of the Islamiccalendar(seeAppendixI for Islamic months)-the month during which the Qur'an, as well as the Torah, the Psalms of David, and the New Testament, all were first sent down from Allah. The excellenceof fasting is known from these two statementsof the Prophet (s.a.w.s.). By the onein whosehandis my life, the fragranceof the mouthof a fasting man is dearerto Allah than the fragranceof musk. Paradisehasa gatenamedRayyin.Noneexcepta fastingpersonwill enter Paradise by that gate. Allah has promiseda vision of Him as reward for fasting. ,- The word ramalandoes not actually mean "fast."fhe technicalterm for \ lfasting is 1iyEm, whoseroot word means"to be at rest." By abstainingfrom I drink, and sexualintercourse,thesefunctionsof the body aregranted I lfood, and an opportunity to becomerevivified. [est, _) general The fast during the month of Ramadanis enjoinedupon the whole humanity; thosewho actuallydo it are Muslims.Many personswho have closecontact with Muslims also engagein this form of fast and derive someof the benefitsfrom it. But there are severalregulationswhich must be followed for any fast to be valid. First, one must clearlystate the intention to fast. SinceAllah has said that we will be iudged accordingto our intentions, one cannot get the benefits of good actions which occur entirely by accident.For exampleffi Fie was deprived of food by being lost in the wilderness, this would not I iconstitute a formal fast, becauseone would have eatenif the opportunity I present.This formal declarationto perform an action is teried, niyyfi) i.1g.9re It is preferablystatedin Arabic,but is just asvalid in any language.One may
Festing Thc BestlvledicineI 87
simply state: "I intend to offer fast this day, for the sake of Allah and only for the sake of Allah." Having entered into this formal pledge with Allah, having made this promise, if one intentionally breaks the fast during the avowed period, one is liable to compensate for the fast by making up one or more days. Generally, to perform a fast day the following conditions must all be met: l. The niyyat,or intention to fast, must be made, aloud or silently. 2. The period of the fast must extend from the time iust before sunrise _Aajr) until lust after sunset (maghrib).' I \3. During the period of the fast, total abstinence from the following is (including water), smoking or consumption of I required: food, drink intercourse, and any form of negativity, backbiting, ' tobacco, sexual ! fighting, and similar behaviors. cursing, arguing, l_ ts SJ*"n--"y ,roi b"-duli"b".utely emitted, nor may one deliberately' vomit. 5, Pregnant or lactating women, the seriously ill, the aged, and the insane are exempted from fasting, but in some casesmay be liable to make up missed days. A woman does not fast on days when she is menstruating, but must make up the missed days. When her period ends, she must resume fasting. Children under the age of twelve generally are excluded from the fast, but may fast part of the day or
some of the days. -for 15,The fast is broken after sunset with a date or a glass of water,) i followed bv a modest meal. There are severaldozensof specialcaseswhich applyto the fastingman or woman, and the adviceof a practicingMuslim shaykh shouldbe sought to resolveany question. The specialnature of fasting is that it engendersforbearanceand sacrifice.JFasting occursin the mind primarily,and so it is hiddenfrom all human visible only to the Eye of God: it is a secretaction. leyes, -. During the time from midnight to the beginningof the fast, it was the practiceof the Prophet(s.a.w.s.) to eat a meal, calledsalyr.This may consist of any lawful foods.The fast is usuallybrokenby eatingone or a few dates, followed by some water, which mustte done prior to offering the sunset (naghrib)prayer. Even though cleaningthe teeth is permitted, it is more meritoriousif one doesnot do so after midday. In addition to these iniunctions,one should be engagedas much as possiblein reading and reciting the Holy Qur'an, and should distribute as much charity as one is capableof. 'See Chapter 9, "|alat," for computing sunrise and sunset correctly.
e8 I ThcBook ol SuliHuling
Such are the minimum regulationsfor fasting. It is the fast of the general people,and entered into for the purposeof restraining oneselffrom eatingand drinking and sexualpassions.A higher form of the fast consists of (in addition to the above)refraining from wrong actions of hands, feet, sight, and other limbs or organs of the body. The saints perform the very greatest kind of fast, a fast of the rirind. In other words, these people do not think of anything except Allah. They considertheir existencein this world only asa seedfor growth into the next world. This fast also includesrestrainingthe eyesfrom any evil sight, and shunning uselesstalk, falsity, slander^obscenity,and hypocrisy.In short, the fasterskeepsilent,and when they do speak,it is only to rememberGod. This fast is so strict that one cannot even listen to forbidden speechcoming from others.One must leavethe presenceof the personwho violatesthese prohibitions. -Moreover, the Sufis, when they do break the fast, eat only the minimum ' amount required to stem hunger. The correct meal following this fast is I the one being eaten by the poorest people in one's community. _-j In additionto the obligatoryfast of the sacredmonth, the Sufis engage in various optional fasts, which are called nafil fasts. Some of these occur every year, some every month, and some every week. The accompanying list summarizesthe entire spectrumof fasts engagedin by the Sufis. Although the main intention and desiredeffectsof fasting occur in the realm of the soul and its evolution,it nonethelessremainsa fact that most peopleachievephysical results of the fast as well. As discussed earlier,diseasefrequentlyis attributedto incompletedigestion of the nutrients at one or more stagesof digestion.During a fast, the ordinary work performed in the digestion of foods is reduced, thereby allowing the body to eliminatesuperfluousmatters and to repair damage done by long-term dietary abuses. When this occurs,the body respondsin specialways. The first action the body takes, when given the opportunity, is to generatethe strange heat of fever. This specialkind of heat causesa very rapid processing("cooking" down) of the excessmatters,regardless of what they may be.The substances are thus refined into a form which can be eliminated by the body. The elimination occurs in one (and sometimes more) of five ways, which are called the five forms of healing crisis: nosebleed,vomiting, diarrhea, perspiration,and urination. By sayingthat this eliminationoccursin a healingcrisis,I mean that the body is putting out the excess,frequently harmful and toxic by-products of abnormal,incompletedigestion.A healingcrisisby urinationis not the same thing as normal urination. The volume and frequencymay be as high as five or more times an hour for severalhours. A healing crisis by diarrhea could consistof fifteen or more motions in severalhours.
Fat ing: TIE B6t Mdiliw
l g,
FAST DAYS OF THE SUFIS Rama{an: The thirty-day fast obligatoryupon all Muslims. Other Annual Fasts: The daysof cArafet (during the month of Dhul-Hiiiah); the days of cArshurah; the first ten daysof Dhul-Hiijah; the first ten daysof the month of Moharram; and as much of the month of Shacbin as possible. (Note: It is not permitted io fast the three days prior to the beginning of Ramadan,nor the feastdaysof cid al-Fitr and cld al-Adhe). Monthly Fasts: The best days to keep fast during any month are the first day, the middle day, and the last day of every month. In addition, there is fasting on the ayyim bayid-the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth days of the moon's cycle. Weekly Fasts: While fasting any week,one shouldendeavorto fast Thursday, Friday, and Monday, which are the days of excellence. forbadefastingeveryday.The bestway Daily Fasts:The Prophet(s.a.w.s.) to maintain maximum fasting is to fast every other day. The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said,"The treasuresof the world were presentedto me. I rejected them and said:I shallremainhungry for one day and takefood on the next. When I take food I shall praiseThee, and when I remain hungry I shall seek humility from Thee."And then he said:"There is no better fast than this."
Oddly enough,thesehealingcrisesarepreciselythe eventsthat Western medicinelabelsasillnessand disease. Consequently,the efforts to arbitrarily blockor end thesenormal eliminativefunctionscut short the most effective inherent health-buildingmechanismsthe body possesses! The forms of healing crisis are mentioned becauseduring fastingespeciallyfor one who has never taken it up before-one or more of these are likely to transpireafter the third or fourth days(sometimesevenwithin perhapsa slightlyelevatedtemperature a few hours).A poundingheadache, or fever, sweating,and similar signs show that the body is moving into a corrective mode. When the diarrhea or vomiting begins, one who is unacquaintedwith the benefitsand effectsof fastingmay concludethat he has contractedthe flu or a respiratoryproblem,having become"weakened"by fasting! Many people are unwilling to endure any discomfort or unpleasantness whatsoever, and thus resort to various chemical drugs, which will unfortunatelyput an immediateend to any healingactionsof the body.This may suffice to get a person back to work, or prop him or her up to attend an important function; but over yearsand yearsof suppressingtheseelimina-
90 I Thc Bor,kol Sufi Healiag
tions, the toxic matters back up within the system,until organ damage occurs and there is no hope for a cure, except by the most drastic means. Even then it is difficult and gruesome. Effort and disciplineare required to make it through these recommended fasts. I suggestpersonswith no experiencebegin with iust one day, or part of a day, and gradually extend it to the desired level of performance. Muslims have a specialadvantage,for they are strengthenedand helped by Allah to complete a full thirty days each year. One of the great Sufis was said to have fasted on alternate days during the last forty years of his life. And, at that, when he did eat, if he discoveredhe was deriving any pleasure from the food, he would immediately spit it out half-chewed.He lived to be ninety-six years old. Allah the Almighty has promised uncountable rewards for those who fast. One such reward for the fortunate onesoccursduring the last ten days of Ramaddn.This is known as Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Power).For one who has performed the fast perfectly and accordingto the strictest criteria, Allah sendsan angel to personallymeet this person,and any wish whatsoever the person may make is granted. Yfr llayya! Ya Qdyyln! Fasting is prescribedby the Most High God as a great blessingupon His humanity. As the Maker of human bodies,He knows the best techniques and practicesfor maintaining its health. And not only is fasting the best and safestmeansof protectingthe physicalhealth, but it alsocarriesimmense spiritual rewards. One other aspectof physicallife bearssignificantly upon human health. It is the cornerstoneof all Sufi activities,the galil,which servesas the ladder by which one may approachGod.
$aldt: The Postures of the Prophets The Great and Glorious Gd does not insist upn the prJormance of any other devotion as much as He does on the perfonnance oJt Faht. Hazmt Khw6|t Ghafib Nawtu (r.a.)
Snrat al-Fatihah,the Openingof the Holy Qur'an, is in one sensethe most condensedand concentratedprayer one can utter. It is said that the whole of the Qur'an is encapsulated in this openingsitrah."fwo of its versesare a specialimploring by the servant to God Almighty for His guidance: Ihdin;q-9iratal-mustaqim
calayhim. $iri! alladhina ancamta Show us the straight path, The path of those whom You love and have favored. Not only as the Most Kind God provided humans with the best possible invocation to Him, but immediately after He hears this sincere request, He informs His creatures of the means of attaining it-by revealing the entire Qur'an for the perfect and total guidance of humankind. However, in the very first verses of the iecond slral of the Qur'an, Allah establishesthe only keys that will open the blessingsof this book: Dhalikal-kitEbu li rayba fih Hudd lil-muttaqin; Alladhine yu'minina bilghaybi wa yuqiminaq-qalita wa mimma razaqnihum yunfiqin.
9l
92 | TheBookofSufiHwliag This is the Scripture wherein there is no doubt, A guidanceto thosewho shun evil, Who believein the Unseen, and and establishs-nlat, spendof that which We have bestowedupon them. The word galil in Arabic is translated as prayer or worship, and also supplications for forgiveness, compassion, and mercy. (In Persian, Turkish, and Urdu, the term is namiz.) Western scholarshave unfortunately misrepresentedthe true conception of s.aldtby translating the word simply as "prayer" or "worship." In fact, the practice of 2nl-at is very specific and forms the most unique and central feature of religious life in Islam and Sufism. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)is reported to have said, "The difference between a believer in God and a disbeliever in Him is the performance of galit." The great saint Hazrat Khw6ja Gharib Nawdz (r.a.) commented on the importance of the snlit with the following statements: qnlalis the climax Without performinglliil, nonecan approachGod,because in the processof such approachfor the pious. sdl;l is the ladderleadingto the proximity lqurblof Cod. Srlalis a trust committedto human careby Almighty Cod, a secretrelationship existingbetweenthe worshiperand the Worshiped, The Indian mystic musician Hazrat Inayat Khan, who brought some Sufi ideas to the West in the early part of this century, said, "A person who never accomplishes[snlnt]has no hope of ever advancing any other way, for every posture has a wonderful meaning and a particular effect . ' it is to be prescribed before further sacred teachings. lf he fails to advance in this, there is no hope for his future." Sallt is at once an external and an internal practice: a set of physical and the richest spiritual exercises(somehave compared them toyoga asanas), nourishment. By considering each of these aspects in some detail, we can learn why the Sufis have consideredin many casesthat they would rather die Ma sha'Allah! than forgo the\r s.alat. qnlif is performed at five regular intervals throughout the The practice of day as a minimum and can be done ai other times accordingto the capacities of the worshiper. The times of performance are fixed according to the journey of the sun and planets across the heavens. These times are as follows: Fajr: Begins approximately forty-five minutes before sunrise and extends up to the rising of the sun.
$alat:ThePosttresol thcProphctsI 9t fuhn Begins after the sun has passed the median point in the sky and has iust begun its downward arc. cAgr: Begins when the sun has crosseda bisection of the arc made by the sun, midpoint between noon and the line of the horizon; or when the body's shadow is equal to two body lengths. Maghrib'.Begins just after the sun has set below the horizon and no light is left reflecting off the clouds (i.e., there is no more redness). clsfti: Begins when night has fully fallen, approximately one hour and twenty minutes after the time of maghrib,or sunset. By following these prayer times, one is perfectly attuned to the motions of the planets, seasonalchanges, and geographic variations. In so doing, one becomes harmonized with all of the natural cycles of the universe. There are three aspects to the qalil: thought, word, and action. Before beginning the qalAt, one must clean oneself of any physical dirt on the body or clothing, or on the place where one intends to pray. At this same time, one must drive out all negative or evil thoughts and cleanse the mind to concentrate fully upon the glory of Allah the Almighty. This preparation, calledwufa', consistsof washing the hands, rinsing the mouth (and brushing teeth if necessary),snuffing water up the nose, wiping the face from brow to chin and from ear to ear, washing the forearms from the wrists up to the elbows, wiping over the head and the back of the neck, and, finally, washing the feet up to the ankle bone. Each of these washings is repeated three times and must be done in the sequencedescribed. When these actions have been carefully completed, one goes to the place of prayer and, assuming a humble attitude, with head down, hands at sides, and feet evenly spacedbelow the shoulders, utters the intention to offer the palfrf,as follows: and facethe qiblah, I intend to offer fthe obligatory number ofl rn(tatsof s.al-at, the ExaltedKacbah,for the sakeof Allah andAllah alone.I takerefugewith Allah from the rejectedand evil satan,and I begin in the Name of Allah, Most Cracious.Most Merciful. This invocation may be made in Arabic, but any language will suffice as well. However, the remainder of the qafit must be recited entirely in Arabic. (Later chapters discuss the Arabic vowels, sounds, and breath patterns.) The one offering prayer must be facing in the direction of the city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. (In the United States, this would mean facing generally eastward.) The qaldtis done by assuming eight separate positions of the b ody (ark-anl, and reciting various Qur'anic verses with each posture. These postures are illustrated in turn, and a brief description is given of the benefits ascribedto each.
94 I Thc Bcrk of Sufi Healing
POSTURE1 Bring hands, palms open, up to ears, and place thumbs behind earlobes,as " All1hu akbar"(God is Great) is uttered.
Nameof Posture:Niyyat Time to fu Held: 5 szconds fucitation: Allabu akbar.
Beneficial Effects: Body feels relieved of weight owing to even distribution on both feet. Straighteningback improvesposture.Mind is brought under control of intellect.Vision is sharpenedby focusingupon floor, where head will prostrate.Musclesof upper and lower back are loosened.Higher and lower centersof brain are united to form singlenessof purpose.
Salct:ThcPwlunsol tlu ProphdsI cs
POSTURE2 Placehands,right over left, lust below navel.
Nameof Posture:Qiitm Durstion: 40-60 seconds Recimtion: BismiLldh ir-fuhnon ir-Rahin Al-lnndu li-lJah rabb il-c6lamin. Ar-Rolnan, ir-Aolin. Milihi yawn id-Dn. Iyyakana cbuduwa iyyako nastacin. rr4 al-mustaqim. lhdinas-gi calayhim $ira1alladhinoancamta c Ghayril-maghlibiolayhin wo )ai.lithn. Amin. (ln the NameoJ A oh, the knefcent, the Merclful. All proisebe to Allah, Lord oJ the Workls. The kneficent, tbe Mercif . Masterof the Doy of Judgnent. Theeonly do we worship. Theeolonewe askfor help. Showus thestra$ht path. Thepath of thosewhom Youloneandfavor, Not he path oJ thosewho haveeamed Thineanger,not are leodingastray. k it so.)
Following these words, a short chapter of at least three verses should be recited from the Holy Qur'an (seeAppendix II for suitable examPles). Beneficial Effects: Extends concentration,causesfurther relaxation of legs and back,generatesfeelingsof humility, modesty,and piety. In the recital of the aboveverses,virtually all of the soundsthat occurin Arabicare uttered, stimulatingdispersalof all of the ninety-ninedivine attributesin perfectly controlled degreesthroughout the body, mind, and soul. The sound vibrations of the long vowels i, 1,and i stimulate the heart, thyroid, pineal gland, pituitary, adrenalglands,and lungs, purifying and uplifting them all.
96 I ThcBookol1rfi Hullry
POSTURE3 Bend at waist, placingpalms on kneeswith fingers spread.Backis parallel to ground,suchthat if a glassof water were on the back,it would not spill.Eyes are looking down, directly ahead.Do not bend the knees.
Nome:Aukuc Durction:12 seconds fucitotion:Whllebndiry at tlrc wdist,reciteAllihu akbar, then:
SublzanaRobbld-cA7in SubfianoRobbTol-cAvin Subldna Robbid-cA7in (Holy h ny Lord, the Magnifcent)
Beneficial Effects: Fully stretches the muscles of the lower back, thighs, and calves.Blood is pumpedinto upper torso. Tones musclesof stomach, abdomen,and kidneys.Over time, this posture improvesthe personality, generatingsweet kindnessand inner harmony.
Salct:ThcPwturcsol thcProphctsI 97
POSTURE4 While rising from the bending position of rukut, recite SamicaLlfrhuli-man (Allah hears the one who praisesHim; Our fianidah.Rabbaniwa lakal-fiamd Lord, Yours is the praise).Then return to standingposition,arms at side. Name:Qauma Duration: 6 seconds Aecitation:AJnr holdngfor six seconds, say: Allahu akbar and moveto nextposition,
Beneficial Effects: The fresh blood moved irp irtto torso in previous posture returns to its original state,carrying away toxins. Body regainsrelaxation and releasestension.
e8 I ThcBuk of iuli Hrr,ltng
POSTURE5 Place both hands on knees and lower yourself slowly and easily into a kneeling position. Then touch the head and hands to the ground. The following sevenbody parts should be in contact with the ground: forehead, two palms, two knees, toes of both feet. The end position of this posture is given below.
Nome:kjdah Durotion:12 seconds Recitation: SuphbnoRobbiaL-cAld SulhonoRabblol-cAla Sulhina RabbTal-clir (Glory k to my Lord, tlv Most Supreme)
Beneficial Effects: Knees forming a right angle allow stomach musclesto develop and prevents growth of flabbinessin midsection.Increasesflow of blood into upper regions of body, especiallythe head (including eyesrears, and nose)and lungs; allows mental toxins to be cleansedby blood. Maintains proper position of fetus in pregnant women. Reduceshigh blood pressure. Increaseselasticity of toints. Annihilates egotism and vanity. Increases patienceand relianceupon God. Increasesspiritual stationsand produces high psychicenergy throughout body. This posture of supreme submission and humilitv is the essenceof worship.
Saht: Thc Poshtr* of thc Pmphcts | 99
POSTURE6 RecitingAlldhuskbnr,rise from Position5 and assumethe sitting posture shown here.
Name: Qtcil Durotion: 6 yconds Redation: At end oJ 6 seconds, Allihu rcfot
akbar ond actioridof
Puiion 5 exoctly.
Beneficial Effects: For men, the h6el of the right foot is curled up and the weight of the leg and part of the body rests upon it. This aidsdetoxification of the liver and stimulates peristaltic action of the large intestine. Women keep both feet, solesup, underneath their bodies.The body returns to even greaterrelaxation,and the postureassistsdigestionby forcing the contents of the stomachdownward.
roo I Thr Bookol Suf Haling
POSTURE7
kpeat motionsof Posture5 exactly. Then,recitingAllahu akbar, rctum to sitting as in Posture6.
Beneficial Effects: Repetition of the deepprostration within a few seconds cleansesthe respiratory, circulatory, and nervous systems.Gives experience of lightness of body and emotional happiness.Oxygenation of entire body is accomplished. Balancessympatheticand parasympathetic nervoussystems.
Solrt ThcPostures ol lhc PmphctsI lol
POSTURE8 From Posture 5, with head in prostration, lift the head away from the floor and bring the torso backward.Placinghandson knees,reversethe procedure for going down, and,while againreciting / Ildhuakbqr,return to the standing position. This completesone rackatof prayer.
1O2I ThcBookofSt!fi H.aling The galAtis done in either two, three, or four rackats,according to the time of day: Fajr:
fuhr: ct*r: Maghib: Isha:
2 nckah
4 rackah 4 rockah i rackah 4 llccka/s
At the end of eachtwo units of prayer,the following supplicationis added: wat-tayyibat At-talriyyaiuli-Llahiwaq:qalawetu As-salirnu'alayka ayyuhin-Nabiyyu Wa rafrmatuLlihi wa barak5tuhu calayniwa cali cibidi Llihig-galilrin Was-salamu Ash-haduan li iliha illaLlih cabduhuwa rasrlluh. Wa ash-haduannaMul.rammadan This supplicationis recited as a re-creationof the celestialconversation which was held between Allah the Almighty and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)during the night of the HeavenlyAscent (Mirrij) of the Prophet. The lines were spoken as follows: andgoodactsarefrom You,my Lord Muhammad: All greetings,blessings, of Allah. Allah: Greetingsto you, O Prophet,and the mercyandblessings Muhammad:Peacebe unto us, and unto the righteousservantsof Allah. I bearwitnessthat thereis no deity exceptAllah. Allah: And I bearwitnessthat Muhammadis His servantand messenger. If the required number of ratkatsis but two, the galil would proceedto the next recitation. Otherwise, one or two more rackatsare due. These are done exactlyas the first two, exceptthat no recitationsoccurafter that of Srlrat al-Fatihah. The recitations of the first two rackatsare done aloud during the €altfof fajr and maghriband cishs.At other times, all are recited silently. When the proper number of two, three, or four ratkatsare completed, another prayer is said silently,praisingand offering greetingsand blessing upon the prophetsand their families. Allihumma salli cala sayyidini Mulrammadin wa cali ili Mulrammadin kama gallaytacalalbrihima wa cal; 5li lbrihima Innaka $amidun Majid. Allihumma barik cali Mulrammadin wa caE eli Mulrammadin kamSbaraktacalalbrehima wa calaali lbrihima. lnnaka $amidun Maiid.
ol the ProphctsI tO3 Sslat:ThePostttrcs (O Allah, blessour masterMuhammad and the family of Muhammad as you have blessedAbraham and the family of Abraham. Surely You are the Praiseworthy,the Glorious. O Allah, be graciousunto Muhammad and unto the family of Muhammad as You were gracious unto Abraham and unto the family of Abraham. SurelyYou are the Praiseworthy,the Glorious.) At the end of this recitation, the head is hung low, then turned slowly to full extension to the right, so that the eyes can glance back over the shoulder, and one recites: As-salimu calaykum wa ralrmatu Llah (Peaceand blessingsof Cod be upon you). While turning the head to the left, one repeats the phrase: As-salSmucalaykumwa ralrmatu Llah. These last statements are addressedto the two recording angels, each of whom sits poised over the shoulder, recording respectively the good and wrongful actions. subhanAllah! Another interesting feature of the qclatis that in the course of assuming three main positions (qi\dm,rukat, and snjdah), one makes the physical shapes of the Arabic letters alif dal, and mim. These letters spell the word,4dam,the name of the first createdhuman and the first prophet (a.s.).The illustrations on the following page show the body posture and letter correspondence. The angels-who were created solely to worship Allah and do so as their natural behavior-perform all of these postures of worship. All the prophets of history (peacebe upon them all) also used one or more of these postures. The prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) was granted the grace of conveying to humanity the synthesis of all of the postures of all the prophets. Al-fiandu li-Llah il-Hayynil-Qayyn! Another important point regarding this practice, simply as a physical activity, is that persons of all ages can dg it. It is smooth, flowing, and easy, and in time becomes the greatest physical development that is possible. In the course of one day, the minimum performance consists of seventeen units of prayer, composed of nineteen separate positions during each ratkat. This is a total of 1le physical postures per day, or 3,570 postures monthly, or 42,840 postures yearly. In the average adult lifetime of forty years, 7,773,600 postures are performed. Anyone so doing is protected and inoculated against a host of ailments and diseases,such as heart attack and other cardiac problems; emphysema; arthritis; bladder, kidney, and bowel problems; viral and bac-
na I ThcBaokol S{i Hedtug
SALAT POSTURES CORRESPONDING TO THE WORD ADAM
POSTURE OF QIUMA
LETTEA ALIF (A)
POSTUREOF RUI
LETTEA DAL (D)
POSTUAE OF SAJDAH
LETTER MiM (M)
SalatTlu Postnrcs of th. Pmlvt I tos
terial infections; eye diseases;loss of memory and senility; sciaticaand spinalailments;and many,many others.This practicecan be donevirtually anywhere,requiresno specialequipment,and costsnothing at all. For the Sufis, the qalit hasevengreaterimport in their livesbecausethe carpet at the placeof prayer becomesthe stepping-offpoint for entering the divine reality, the laqiqat. The shaykhsgenerallystate that there are four stagesof practicesfor the aspirants to God: shnricat(law), tariqat(path), f;aqiqat(truth), and mafilat (ecstasy). The first requirementis to adopt and follow the sharit , the divine laws of human life, which in due courseleadsone onto the €ir|t al-mustaqim, the path. The enterprise of Sufism is frequently referred to as following tarlqat.This path leadsone to the laqiqat.Let me try to define this complex term. flaqiqat is the final, incontrovertible and absolute truth of all existence.For example,some peoplebelieveGod exists,some do not. Both casescannot be true. The haqq(or truth) of this matter is absolute.And we will all have this matter resolvedwith finality at the time of death. All hidden knowledgebelongsto the realm of ftaqiqat. When one attains this status of insight into the divine truths, there follows the stage called macrifat-lhe overwhelming ecstasyof being a favored and chosenfriend of the Beloved,Almighty God. The performanceof pl6t is required to attain any of these stations (which are sequential).But merely voicing sounds and standing in one placewill not producethe desiredeffects.Severalinternal conditionsmust be present. One must first of all approachthe prayerwith a senseof humility, with a recognitionof the dependentpositionof the worshiper in relationto the Worshiped.Allah has informed us that we were "a thing unremembered, until I rememberedyou." There is not a singleliving personin the history of the world who was responsiblefor his or her own conceptionof life. Not only did we not exist: we did not even knoarthat we did not exist! We shouldput all thoughts exceptthoseof our merciful Creator out of our minds as we prepareto addressHim. Worldly affairs must be shoved aside,with the understandingthat the prayer is the meansof steppinginto the next world, of drawing near to God. If the mind is alreadyfilled with mundanethoughts, there will be no spacefor remembranceof God. Another conditionof prayer is that the meaningof the words uttered be as completeas possible.Even though they are spokenin Arabic, one should know the translatedmeaningsin one's own languageand should contemplatethese meaningsas deeplyand sincerelyas possible. It is narrated in the Hadith that God said to Moses:"O Moses,when you want to rememberMe, rememberMe in such a way that your limbs tremble and that you hold Me dear at the time of remembranceand rest satisfied.When you standbefore Me, stand before Me with a fearful mind
7O5I TheBook ofStfi Heoling Iike the poorest slave,and speakwith Me with the tongue of a truthful man." And then God revealedto him: "Tell your disobedientfollowers to remember Me. I took oath upon Myself that I shall rememberone who remembersMe. When Abraham stood for prayer, the voice of his heart was heardfrom a distanceof two miles.An individualwillbe forgivenin the next world accordingto the qualitiesof his mind, and not of his body." Somepeoplemay wonder about the suggestionthat we must fear God, assertinginsteadthat we only need to think of God as kind and allJoving. A verse in the Holy Qur'an that makes this clear is found in Sirat alBaqarah(z:ttz): Bali man aslamawajhahuIi-Llahi wa huwa mu!rsinun falahu alruhi cindaRabbih wa la khawfun calayhim wa li hum ya\zanun. Nay, but whosoevergivesup his own desires while serving Allah and doesgood acts, his reward is with his Lord; They shall have no fears And neither shall they grieve. In other words, if one gives up one's own selfish desiresand serveshumanity solely for the sake of pleasing Allah, the reward is the totally and unrestricted protection, grace, and favor of Allah. When one has Allah, the Creator, Sustainer, and Ruler of the creation, as one's Protecting Friend, how could one ever be afraid or suffer sadness? The ailments people experience in the 1alit are mainly concerned with distractions. These are both physical and mental. One is often distracted from deep concentration in prayer by room noises, conversations, muffled sounds from the street, and other goings-on. The medicine to correct this diseaseof s.slitis to cut off from the source of these distractions. The Sufis find they can perform their divine services much better in dark, small, secluded rooms. If this is not possible, one must set apart a special place for worship and remembrance of Allah. Close the eyes, if necessary,becausethe eye is the first source of distraction. The second cause of distraction is the mind itself: As each thought arises,it leads to another thought. In the early days of Islam, a camel driver came to Abn Bakr (r.a.), who was a very pious Muslim, and said, "I don't believe you can make two rackatsof t4lat without thinking of something other than Allah." Abn Bakr asserted that he believed he could do it. The driver said that if Abn Bakr could perform two rsckats without a single
Saldt: The Postwesol the Ptophcts I lo7
distractingthought, he would makehim a gift of a camel,and he gesturedto two camelsnearby,one blackand one brown. Ab! Bakr commencedhis gldt. When he finished, the camel driver looked at him anxiously.Abn Bakr, being a scrupulouslyhonest man in"You were right, I couldn'tmakeit through capableof deception,confessed, the s.slat.lwas distracted."The cameldriver was relievedthat he had not lost a preciouscamel.Then the cameldriver curiouslyasked,"But what was it that distractedyou? What did you think about?"Abi Bakr answered,"l was trying to decidewhether I would take the black camelor the brown one." It is very difficult to cut the root of internalmentaldistractions.The best method is to concentrateas fully as possibleon the meaningsof what is beingrecited.If the mind doesbeginto wander,forceit backto the Qur'anic meanings. The Prophet (s.a.w.s.)recommendedthat one make2al7tin a room with no variegatedcolors,pictures,or extensivedesignson the prayer carpet, and avoid wearing any kind of rings or other jewelry. The Hadith state that when one stands in prayer, Allah lifts up the screenbefore Him, so that His servant faceshim. The angelsclimb upon his two shouldersand pray in unison along with him and sayt4nir at the end of the prayer. Then they spread virtues out from the top of the worshiper'shead to the end of the horizon. Then an angel proclaims:"lf this servant had known Whom he had been invoking, he would not have looked around, distracted.The doors of heaven are thrown open for a praying person, and Allah takes pride before His angelsfor him, and the Face of God comes before his face." This opening of the doors to the Unseen is calledkashf. There are unfortunately somepersonsparadingas pseudo-Sufisin the West,who foolishlyassertthat {rlrt is unnecessary. They makethe strange claim that such formal actions as qldt are mere rituals, which the true spiritual aspirant can dispensewith. Such misguidedpersons give the examplesof Ibn cArabi (r.a.),MawlSni Rnmi (r.a.),Imam al4hazzali (r.a.), and Maqs0r al-$allai (r.a.) as examplesof truly liberated,free-thinking "Sufis." And they disdainanyonewho makesqalilor suggestsits necessity as a backward-thinking"fundamentalist."I hope that the foregoing presentation of only some of the deepenaspects of the practiceof qalatwtll inspire people to learn and practice the yldt to learn its truly marvelous effects. The great ones mentioned above, such as Rimi and Ibn cArabi, were in fact the most ardent and sincerefollowersof the pldt. One December in Konya, Mawldni Rimi (r.a.) had gone into his llujrnh (meditationcell) to perform his nighttime prayers.When the time for the /ajr (morning) prayer arrived, he did not appear.His followers became worried becausein twentv vearsMawlini had never failed to ioin them in
lOB I ThcBcrkol SufiHealing
prayer.As time passedand the narids'alarm8rew, someone congregational finally decidedto force the door open.Inside,they were startledto find the Mawlini with his beard frozen to the ground, struggling to set himself free. In his supplications,he had begun weepingso copiouslythat a pool of tears had formed, and his prostrationin the coldwas so prolongedthat the tears froze, trapping him by his beard! Ma4srir al-$allaj (r.a.)becamefamous in the history of Sufism for his alleged crime of offending the so-calledorthodox clergy. However, he actuallywas tried and convictedon the chargeof divulging divine secrets, on his sister,who was a Sufi which he had overheardwhile eavgsdropping saint. The trial lastedover eight years.As Ma4sir al-FJalliisat awaitinghis executionduring the last week of his life, he passedhis time by punctually offering h\s qalit,and on the last day of his life he performed5oOratkatsof s.alatl The Sufis are the most strenuoussupportersof qalal.There is a story of Hazrat cAbdul-QadirJilani (r.a.),who one morning was about to miss the time of the morning prayer.A cat cameover to his sideashe lay asleepand began nudging him until he awoke. Noticing the latenessof the time, cAbdul-Qadir(r.a.)quicklyofferedhis two rarlctsof prayer.When he hadfinished,he looked at the cat, and with his spiritual insight, he saw that the cat was actually a satan.This puzzledthe great saint, as to why a satan would wake him up for prayer.So he asked,"l can seeyou are a satanbut why on earth did you wake me up for the fajr prayer?" The cat answered,"You are just as pious and cleverasmy fellow satans saidyou were. Sinceyou've discoveredme, I might as well tell you. I knew that if you missedyour obligatory prayer, you would have offered one hundred rackstsas compensation,so I woke you up so that you would only get the benefitsof two." In the courseof Sufism, the shaykhassignedthe muridmany practices that extend and enhancethe basicpracticesof Qaldt.First, added to the obligatory (fnrd)ylht, are the extra prayers that the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)used to do. These are calledsunnah, and add severaldozensmore to the activitiesof worship of the murids.Later, the posturesare held for varying periods-up to an hour or more-and versesfrom the Qur'an that are repletewith mysticalmeaningare recited. Sdlatis both the first and the final stepfor the true believer.It is the real meansof uniting one with the whole of humanity, and with Almlghty God. It is never altered in its essentialfeatures (and never has been for 1,400 years) and thus becomesthe foundation upon which the more refined spiritual practicesare built. For anyone who desiresto enioy the most excellenthealth,harmonizingthe physical,mental,emotional,and spiritual life, there is no better medicinethan the qallt.As Hazrat Khwdia Gharib Nawiz frequently remarkedto his followers:"Hurry up and perform the qalit,before the Final Hour passes!"
Sddt:ThePosluruof thcProphds| 1O9 It is incorrect to say, as some do, that when a seeker gains his desires, worship and devotion are no longer incumbent upon him; for the Chief of the World, blessingsand peaceof God be upon him, was always prostrating in worship and devotion before God. Although he had reached the summit of devotion, he would say, "O Lord, I am ashamed, for I did not worship You as I ought to have done " The following chart provides the correct number of obligatory and optional rackstsfor the five daily prayers of galil.
NUMBER OF RACIC{TS IN 5/IAT Prayer
Sunnah
Fa4
Before (Oplion.l)
(Obligrtory)
2
t
4
4
4
4
Sunnah Aft€r (Option.l)
Nafit (Optionel)
Witr (Hishly Recommended)
Fai, (Recitation aloud)
Zuhr (Silent) ,Al, (Silent)
Maghrib (First two rqckatsaloud)
clshn (Firsttwo rq'kats aloud)
4
3
2
4
2
,
3
LO The Soul of the Rose There are thrce things oJ tbis wo d that I have been nnde a preJer pra)rc\ women, and scents, Prophet M ulmmmad (s.a.w,s. )
The prophet Sulaymin (a.s.)was the one who first learnedthe healing propertiesof herbsand flowers. One day as he was standingfor prayer in taliykum, the mosque,a flower sprang up before him and said, "As-sslsm Hazrat Sulayminl" Hazrat Sulaymanreturned the greeting and then asked, "What are you doing here? What are you for?" And the flower answered him that it was a remedy for such-and-sucha disease.The next day, a different flower sprangup and told Hazrat Sulaymin the diseasefor which it was the remedy. Over a course of time, all of the medicinal flowers appearedand told Hazrat Sulaymdntheir healingproperties.And he was the first to have this knowledge,which is of divine origin. The absoluteof the essenceof Allah is called dhAt.We expressthis unfathomableabsolutewith the pronoun Hn. Our human minds are incapableof conceivingof or expressingthe full reality of Allah. And in considering the nature of God, we must look to the manifold forms of His creationand know Him by His signs. Eachof the divine attributeshas a dh-at, which is its totality. For example, ar-Rafimin is the totality of every kind of mercy that exists,haseverexisted, and will ever exist, in all forms, whether physical, mental, or spiritual, and whether we know of it or do not. Allah,tn His mercv, has bestoweduntold forms of this mercy throughout the human, angelic,and animal creation. Yet all these untold numbers of manifestationsare still only a small part of the dhAt,or totality, of Allah's attribute of ar-Rafumdn. This notion of an absolute essencealso applies to the human being in relation to the soul (rtl). This intimate relationshipbetweenabsoluteessence and manifold forms of that essenceis duplicated in all of nature. Each flower, tree, and shrub has its physical form and also its essence.The seed of an oak will not produce a willow. All of the specificcharacteristicsof the 7tl
ll2 I ThcBook ofSufiHealing
the height of the flower are containedwithin the seed,within its essence: plant, the shapeof leavesand flowers, the plant's periodsof dormancy, We learnedof someof color, fragrance,and evenits healingcharacteristics. these essentialattributeswhen we studiedthe relationshipbetweenfoods and health. or soul,is extractedat the momentof Our own human absoluteessence, death.Allah has inspiredvariousof His prophets(peacebe upon them all) to discover the methods of extracting the souls lrrth) from flowers, and this knowledgehas beenpreservedin Sufism. A prominent exampleis what is calledruh-iguldb,or soul of the rose.It is consideredthat the absoluteperfectedessenceof the roseexistswithin the flower itself,iust as the perfectedessence or soul of a human existswithin of flowers are of inestimablevalue in correcting the body. These essences imbalancesin the human being. The symbolof Sufismitself is the rose,becausethis flower is considered to be the Mother of Scentsand the Queenof the Garden.The placementof the rare and refinedbeautyand sweetnessof the roseblossoms-at the end of a long, stern stem full of prickly thorns-aptly symbolizesthe mystic path to Allah the Almighty. The 124,000prophetsAllah hassent to the world with His Guidancdhad different bodiesbut the same soul. Their messageto humanity was the sameregardlessof the physicalform they had,the colorof their skin,or the languagethey spoke. Allah saidthat the first thing He createdin the universewas the soul of prophecy.He saidthat He madeit from the absoluteof His own light, called nirr. Allah further stated that if He had not createdthis soul of prophecy,He woud not have createdthe unrverse. After Allah the Almighty made this magnificentsoul, it was of such luminous nature and so burning with light that it beganto sheddrops of perspiration.And from this sweat of the soul of prophecy,Allah madethe soul of the rose. This is the actualorigin of the art and scienceof aromatherapy. Every prophetictradition uses flowers and their oils in healing.If we considerthe nature of flowers themselves,we realizethat they are stimulated into growth and subsistprimarily by virtue of their relationshipwith the light rays from the sun, and by meansof the processcalledphotosynthesisgive off the componentsof oxygenand air that we usefor breath. Flowers require this nourishmentof light, as well as that of the soil and ratn. It is said that peopleused to follow the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s. and collect the drops of his perspiration,finding them to be the very sweetestsmell and fragranceof all, superior to any flower's scent.The reason these droplets were of such eleganceis that they containedthe essenceof his soul.
Thchul oflhc Rox I rt3
That magicalmoment of interconnectionbetweenlife and nonlife-the moment of birth-is when the soul is activatedwithin the body. Our life span is measuredbetween the first breath and the last breath. At the moment of that first breath,one can find the model for all scents,coming from the skin and breath of infants lust after they are born. The scentof an infant createsthe deepestand most profound love and affection in the heart and mind and soul of the person who receivesit. There is no one who does not appreciatethe intimate fragrance of a newborn. It is an irreplaceablyunique smell, and one simply cannot get enoughof it. It is of an absoluteclarity and purity, and it somehowembodies all of the feelingsof helplesstrust and relianceupon one superior to the infant, which encapsulates our whole relationshipwith the Creator,exalted is He. Babiesare born pure and sinless,havingwithin them the divinelight and peace;the very essence of the soul of prophecyis within them. No doubt,as they grow into consciousness of the world, they lose their innocence,and the scent dwindlesand disappearsas they becomeimmersedin the life of the world-in the maqiman-nafs. So it must be rememberedwhen we talk about the essenceof flowers that they are imitating the superior scentsof the soul of prophecy,from which they are derived. The soul of a flower may be extractedin severalways: by pressingthe oils out of the petals;by distillingwater through the petals;or by bonding the oil to a baseoil. In all cases,the essenceof the flower is drawn out by (or oils containingthe essences) this process.The word for theseessences is titr). (from "attar" Arabic In the West, these are calledessentialoils, fragrances,absolutes,and sometimesperfumes. ' The additionof alcoholto the essenceof a flower will kill that essence, and so those oils or remediescontainingalcoholare unsuitablefor Sufi healingpurposes. When applying attars or essentialoils, great care must be exercised becausethey are in such a concentratedform-not only the activephysical ingredients,but alsothe essenceis very strong.For this reason,someattars are diluted beforeuse,in a pure baseoil such asolive,sandalwood, or sweet almond. Ideally, one should use the fresh b'lossomsof the rose (or other flower), and placea few ouncesin a smallbowl of springwater for severalhours at midday.This will extractthe essence, andoneneednot worry aboutpurity or additives.Or one may eat a few of the fresh petalsthemselves, asthis admits of the leastalterationof all. But for the sakeof convenience and availability, it is sometimesprudentto keepa supplyof a high-qualitypure oil on hand. Becausethe rose is consideredto have the most refined essenceof all (blessing) flowers,it is often usedto absorband convey lhe baraka of a saint. Peoplewho visit the resting places(dargahs) of saintsoften placethe rose
714 I Ttu Bokol SuliHeoling
petalson the tomb itself, then retrieve them for later use in healing.Since the soul of the saint is living, the roseessence will imbibethe essence of the saint, which can then be consumedand conveyedinto any person with uniformly positiveresults. (monasteries)have rose gardensgrowing nearby. Many Sufi hhanagahs The Sufis alsorecitevariousversesof the Qur'an over rosepetals,charging them with even greater healing powers (seefollowing chapters). Sufi Abu AneesMuhammadBarkatAli (mayAllah be pleasedwith him), at his spiritualretreatin Pakistan,makeshis own soul remediesaccordingto the abovemethods.From a nearbyrosegarden,he gathersup fresh petals, over which constant prayers and remembranceof Allah are carried out. Thesesamepetalsare dried out in a specialroom in which there are more than 25o,oO0copiesof the Holy Qurin, as well as one of the four oldest Qur'ans in existence,dating from the time of Hazrat cUthman (r.a.).The room, which is calledthe Qur'En Malrall (Houseof the Qur'an), vibrates with the divine presence.The petalsare laid out and arrangedso as to form the shape of the word Allah, and various verses are recited over them for some time, thus maturing them for healing.Even one or two petalsof the medicinespreparedthus have been demonstratedto effect a cure, as it pleasesAllah. Anyone can utilize this method.Take a cleancloth, preferablyof forestgreen color, and if not that, blue or white, of largeenoughsizeto hold the shape of the word (about three feet by four feet). After reciting Bisni Ll:ah ir-Raftmin,ir-Raftim(In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful), spreadout the petals to form the word Allah, following exactly the sequence shown in the illustration. After completingthe shapeof the word Allah in the order indicated, recite over it 786 times, Bisni Lldh ir-Raftmin, ir-Rafiim.If you have the time and inclination,this formula can be recited any number of times. After completing this procedure, you may use the petals for healing.
11
10
Shapeand sequence of writing the word AlI6h.
Thc Sorl,lof ahcRcg I 115 I a Fa yyu, v a unv v um : u t ta h s l ta a n ta v a a r\a m R r-ra\tmtn: A mtn: \) tne
Living, O the Everlasting!There is noneexceptYou, O the Most Merciful of the Merciful! Trninl Although there are perhapsfifty or sixty thousanddifferent plantsfrom which essentialoils canbe extracted,the Sufisuseprimarily thosewhich are recommendedupon divine information.The attarsthat will be discussed are amber,frankincense,myrrh, violet, sandalwood,musk, rose,iasmine,hina, cud, and jannat al-fardaws.All are pure oils except the last, which is a blend. It is more important to learn to use a few oils very well than not know much at all about hundredsof oils. Even just with theseten oils, there are more than one hundred trillion combinations!
Amber in Persian),or liquid amber,as it is sometimescalled, Oil of amber (kshrabah is derived from a speciesof pine tree (Pircnsutdxt'era). Many peoplehave had contactwith amberstonesand beads,and it is this samebasicsubstancethat is used in healing.But the stoneshave hardenedfor severalmillion more years than the resin,which is used to manufacturethe oil There are only three localesin the world where authenticambercan be found. Its color variesanywherefrom a light, translucentpink to a heavy, dark brown. When we realize that the essentialsap of these trees, to becomeamber,has been preservedfor one to six million years,we understand that we are tappinginto a very ancienthealingenergy. Some people use the sap from trees and distill out the essence.But others,realizingthis ancientenergywithin, prefer to grind down the stones into powder and then heat it to retrieve the essence.This latter form of amber is better for healing,but very, very difficult to locate. Amber has been fossilizedfor so long that we even have no way of knowing what other life forms were present.But we do know that the prophets (a.s.)who lived long ago had extraordinarypowers of perception and healing.It is said,for example,that one prophetwas ableto overheara conversationof ants,at a distanceof more than ten miles!It is likely that in additionto beingendowedwith spiritualpowers,they hadhiddenknowledge of healingplants.Many of thesespeciesare now extinct. Although the bestambercomesorily from the Near East,Russia,and the DominicanRepublic,frequently it is taken to other parts of the world for processingout its essences, for making it into attar. Amber processedin Tunis and the Sudanis remarkablypure, clear,and healing.The Sudanese variety is much hotter than the Tunisian,and thus strongerin effect.It is so thick that it will not pour and must be heatedto get it out of the bottle. A cake amber availablefrom Afghanistan is the best in the world, and not so expensiveif purchasedin that country. Unfortunately,it is difficult to obtain it at present.
116 | Thc Bookol Stft Heditg
Amber is recommendedspecificallyfor any kind of diseaseor problem associatedwith the heart. While the rose is consideredthe Mother of Scents,amber is calledthe Father (or King) of Scents. Very little use is made of amber in Westernhealingtoday,althoughit usedto be commonlyprescribedfor heart conditionsby medicaldoctorsin the 1920s. An excellentmethod of using amberis to put one drop on the tip of the finger and apply it to the point of the "Third Eye" (not in the physicaleyes, of course).This is absorbedby the body and stimulatesthe pineal gland, which activatesmany of our physiologicalfunctions. Frankincense The word inrersecomes from the French enensand originally meant "frankincense,"but it now refers to any kind of fragrant vapor. Frankwas appendedto the word incens, to add the meaningof "luxurious"or "expensive." the French, means the very best fragrance. So, to frankinrcrss The original Latin word for incensewas parfumum,meaning"through becauseit smoke."The burning of the oils is a commonmodeof application, further refines the essence,releasesit into the air, and makesit easyto disperseover a wide area.It is an effectivemeansof administeringscentto the insane,children,or others who cannotor will not participatein smelling the scents. When an essenceis taken in its vaporizedform, it travelsinto the body via the networksof the essences and reachesits goalmore easily;whereasif that it will it is swallowedor rubbedon the skin, there are many possibilities not arrive at the desireddestination,especiallyif it goesvia the stomach. Digestivejuicesmay annul the healingeffects,becausealcoholis one of the by-products of normaldigestion. Frankincenseis hot in the seconddegree,but is not quite so hot as amber.It is a little lessdrying, too. Frankincenseis to this day used in the religious ceremoniesof the CatholicChurch, and was one of the scentspresentedto the infant Jesus (a.s.).This is so becausefrankincenseis a verv oowerful cleanserof the aura and psychicplanes.
Myrrh
Myrrh is hot and drying. lt was one of the oils commandedby Cod to Moses (a.s.),and alsoto Jesus(a.s.),to be one of the ingredientsin their healingand holy anointingoil. In ancienttimes it was usedto conveyto peoplea certain internal esotericteaching,to purify their spiritualenvironmentso that the teachingswould have a proper soil in which to be planted. Myrrh is mentionedin the Qur'an as having specifichealingproperties. Again, there are severalvarieties,but that from Tunis and Moroccoseems to be of first quality.
Th. Sorl.lof tfu Rolr I r77
Violet Violetis coldandmoistin the first degree, andthuscanbeconsidered mild in its action.Violet leaves,flowers,and oils are featuredin a great number of healingformulas.
Sandalwood Sandalis cold and dry in the seconddegree.The bestand most famousoil of sandalcomesfrom Mysore, India. It is usedin many conditions,frequently for genital and urinary tract infections.Sandalis also usedas the baseoil into which other oils are extractedor blended.It is a very goodbasebecause it evaporatesvery slowly and doesnot spoilover time. In fact, agedsandalwood is better than fresh. Sandalwoodis recommended wheneverseriousmeditationand soiritual practicesare being undertaken,becauseit is quieting to all of the egotisms of the body, especiallythose relating to sexualenergies.
Musk It was reported in the Hadith that the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)was particularly fond of musk oil. True musk oil is derived from the sexual glandsof a kind of deer,found only in remoteregionsof the world. Musk is hot and dry. Somepeoplerefuse to use it becausethey objectto using any animal substance,for anything. Musk, however,doeshave a definiteplace in medicine,particularlyin healingheart and sexualproblems.
Rose Roseis cold and dry in the seconddegree.There are perhapsthreehundred different speciesof rosesusedin aromatherapy.The finest is saidby some to be the attar of Bulgarianrose,which retailsat about $3SOper ounce.Few peoplestock it. Others considerthat some of the first-pressingrose oils from India are superiorevento the Bulgarianrose.Their priceis Jout $450 per pound in India. It requires almost 60,000 pounds of rose petals to produceone kilogram (Z.Zpounds)of first-pressingrose oil. The Indiansreportedlydiscoveredroseoil at the time of the weddingof Shah fehan, the one who built the Taj Mahal and Shalimargardensas a testamentof his unyieldinglove for his wife, Noor Jehan.For the wedding day, the emperorhad filled the moat surroundinghis castlewith rosewater, over which the weddingguestswere to be ferried.As the sun beatdown its heat on the rose water, it causeda natural distillationof the oil, which separatedoff and floated on top of the rose pond. This was skimmedoff, and the Indianshave excelledat producingrose oil ever since. The roseis the most superiorof all scentsin the floral realm.Roseworks simultaneouslyon the physical,emotional,and spiritual bodies,purifying and uplifting all three. It is the least toxic oil. One can make a delicious summer drink by addingone drop of rose oil to a gallonof water. Shakeit
ll8 I Ttu Bookof SufiHwling up, and then take onedropof that liquid and add it to another fresh gallon of water. The resulting mixture is highly refreshing. This single drop still carries the power to scent the water, even though it has been diluted almost a million times.
Jasmine oil is coldanddry. The flowersof jasminearecold,but theessential Jasmine is heating. This is an important consideration: that not all substanceswork in the same way in all forms, just as water and ice are chemically the same but quite different in their effects. It is also true that flowers and their oils do not work the same way in humans as they do in animals:what is heating to a human may be cooling to a fish. This fact makes random experiments on animals a questionablepracticeat best.Jasmineis the scent favored by the shaykhs of the famous whirling mystic dancersof Turkey. Its specialquality is its unparalleled ability to uplift the mood and lessen mental depression.
Hina Hina (pronounced huna) is the oil extracted from the flowers of the henna plant. Hina is very difficult to obtain in the United States. It is considered one of the finest and most refined oils in the world, and its price reflects that. In India, a dram of first-quality hina oil (about a teaspoon)costs about $100. This is becauseit is usually aged over a long time, and improves with aging. I have seen cataloguesadvertising it for as much as $1,ooo a pound. But one can obtain various hina oils that are blended,thus bringing the price into reach of the average person. The curious thing about hina (and some of the other oils as well) is that the liking for its fragrance is an acquired one: many people on first srnelling it find it repulsive.
cud The rare and costly oil known as cfrd is taken from the wood of the aloeswoodtree. The best cird comesfrom India. Its cost can be as high as $8oo per dram. However,thosefamiliarwith its effectsdo not find the price a consideration. It could be statedthat cid is enioyedonly by thoseof the higher evoluof tions of the soul;indeed,its applicationis usuallyrestrictedto imbalances the last three stations. fannat al-Fardaws Although a blend,jannat al-fardawsis very popularamong the Sufis.It is said that a Sufi tattir, or perfumer, one day entered the Fardaws-the Highest Heaven-in his mysticalexertions.Once there, he experienceda particular fragrance.Upon recoveringhis normal state of mind, he reproducedthis fragrance,thus the name:Gateway to the Highest Heaven.
The Soslof thc Rts I 179
APPLICATION OF OILS The most commonmethodof usingessentialoils amongthe Sufisis to rub a smallamount of oil over the extendedright hand, palmsdown. This is the etiquetteof receivingan oil offeredby a shaykh.Then the oil is rubbedover the beardor chin, acrossthe front of the shirt, and onto the wrists. A secondmethod of applying the oil, particulariy when a mental or emotionalconditionis beingtreated,is the following.Put one or two drops of the oil onto a pieceof cotton about the sizeof the end of a cotton swab stick (do not use the stick,however).Then insert the cotton wad into the ridgelike ledge of the ear, lust above the ear opening (notinsidetheear).The illustrationshowsthe correctplacementof the oil. This must be donein the rightear,not the left. In the right ear, at this point of placement,five cranial nervescometogetherto form a nervemass,or ganglia.This is an important point in other systemsof medicineas well, such as Chineseacupuncture, where it is calledsfterwen,one of the important life-regulatingpoints. Now that we understandsomethingabout oils,we can assignthe oils to be usedin eachof the stagesof the soul'sevolution-the stagesof egotism, heart, soul, divine secrets,proximity, and union. Eachof the stations,their imbalances,and resultingconditionsare given in the next section,with the proper oil to be used for each Some readers may wonder why I do not suggest applying the oils internally for physicaldiseases.Although there is a scienceof utilizing attars and essentialoils in this way, I presentherethe applications which are intendedto affect the emotionaland spiritualcentersbecausethat is where the diseaseconditions originate.Another book presenting the applicationsof oils for physicalconditionsis in preparation. Generallyspeaking,the oils may be simply smelledfor effectin all of the stationsof the soul and their imbalances. However,one will find them also effectivewhen addedto massageoils and rubbed over the entire body, in the stationsof egotism and the heart. The other stationsrequire simply inhalationof the fragrance.
LOCATION OF COTTON
Applying oil dropson coltonlo e .
^irl AT-I.,AH (GoD)
VACUUM
DIV I NE UNION
ix; (/.&) ".V*f
\\-.P, 'oY,
\
' Yo r
a
ttl9
7\v(.vlE
'+SL-/-S . " to r€ ' ,
'"^ti!:zf,.d
. - ' t Xt s 19'
,
r22 I ThcBmkof SufiHeding It should be rememberedthat the intended result is not to attack a disease,but rather to createan irresistibleinvitationof kindnessand sweetnessto the next stageof evolution. The final thing to remember is that when working with emotions and spiritualactions,the resultsare in accordwith nature;that is, they work in conformity with the body's own healing energies,and not abruptly. As a great Sufi oncesaid,"Patienceis the key to joy."
LL The Univerce of the Breath Anit rememr*r whcn thy Lard said unto thc angels: Lol I am creatin| a mortot out o.f poa'!r" cla! oJ black mud ahered, So, when I have made him dnd hare bnathed into him o! My rpirit . . . Qgtbn I 5:28-29
The Qur'anic verse above reveals in a very condensedform the-entire mystic relationshiPbetween Cod and Hir human creation He saysthat He mide the human beinS out of the elementsand then breathedIife into the body, The Qur'anic words used here are significant. AUah usesthe word nnlnsfor His own breath, and He usesthe word rnl for His own soul. These same wotds are used to mean the human breath and human soul-confirming the fact that we are oriSinally from Allah, of Allah, for Allah, and in the end will return to Allah Of all of the physical realities that have a bearing upon health, that which is least oftin consideredin medicineand healing is the breath The breath has the following important relations with health: 1. lt is the agent upon which the divine permission (idln) is borne' 2. Breath i9 responsiblefor conveying the divine attributes from the heart to the various centers of the mind, body, and soul 3. Breath creates the equilibrium and harmony of the temPeraments of the body. 4. Breath cat;ies life_supPortingelementsfrom the exterior of the body to the interior physiological[unctions
t23
12a I The Bookof S'1f Hetling
Breathis not synonymous with air,norwith oxygen.Breathisthatwhich emergesfrom the divine origin and has as its essencethe temperamentof the celestialrealms.Breath is a luminous substance,a ray of light; breath is the life force of God Himself! Breath is the regulator of joy, sadness,delight, anger,iealousy,and other emotions.Both the quantity and quality of breath have a definite and direct effect upon human health. This i9 so becausevarious physical events can alter or in a sensecover over the divine essencethat is being conveyedon the breath. Industrial pollutants,alcoholicbeverages,and various foodscan all interminglewith the breathand disturbits intendedpurity of action. All of these actionsare changedby age,climate,and habits.An example will make this clear. When one experiencesgreat depression,there is a weakening of the natural powers and a concentrationof the breath. This concentrationcaugesa violent aggregationof the breath,which consequently obliteratespart of the natural heat and givesrise to an imbalanceofcoldness. Depending upon how prolonged the depressionis, the cold imbalancecan extend into one or many organs of the body, thus producing varying degreesof disease. with Sreatand impendThe emotionsof dreadand the effectsassociated in the ing dangeralsodissipate the naturalheat.Angerwill causean increase the diseases amountof yellowbileessence created.If the angeris sustained, aseociatedwith excessyellow bile will occur. Therefore, medicinesmust be chosenfor their effect on the breath and its temperament(or its alteredtemperament). This is why compoundmedicines are frequently used, to balancenot only the phygicalsymptomsbut egsences and the also the underlyingtemperamentsof the physiological essences of the breath. in the form of attars,areso effectivein This is alsowhy flower essences, producingcures.It is vitalthat they be givenat the sametime as medicines capacity that strictlyaffectthe physicalsymptoms.Flowershavethe Sreatest to rebalance the breathand the internalessentialtemperaments. The breath is the nexu6betweenour Creator and ourselves.The healing methodsof the Sufis have placedmore importanceupon the breath than on any other factorof life. In February 1979,I receiveda letter from my old friend Yunus Maharal, the headof the familieswho attendto the daryalof our Chishtiheadquarterg at Ajmer. "Man doesnot come to earth to stay forever," he wrote, My heart was pounding,knowing what was to follow. "HazratMaulana Sufi Darveesh Wahiduddin Begg completedhis breathing practiceson the 12th of Rabicac al-Awwal,e.n 1400.It was an aurpicioustime, just after sunset.The day was more auspiciousstill: it was the birthday of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.). Although there were many feelings I expeliencedin associationwith the passingof my shaykh (mayAllah coverhim with mercy),I was struck by the unique view Yunus Maharaj had expressedto mer that life, consideredfrom
Th. uniw?r.ol th. Bftatt l12s its beginningto end, is one continuousget of breathint Practices.This is the view of the Sufis. The Holy Qur'an, in addition to all else that it may be, is a set of breathinSpractices.In fact, the very first commandof Almighty God was to recite the Qur'an. The first versesthat were revealedby Gabriel to Prophet were as follows; Muhammad(s.a.w.s.) lqra' bisrniRabbikalladhikhalaq insinamin calaq Khalaqal lqra'wa Rabbukal-Akram AUadhi'allama bil-qalam 'Allamalinsanami lam yaclam. Recite!ln the nameof Thv Lord blood Who createthman from a dropof sensitized R€citelAnd thy Lord is Most Bounteous, Who teachethby the pen Teachethmanthat whichhe kn€w not The Arabic word i4ra'is lendered here as "recite" becauseit meansto read from some book, from actual letters. Now, the Prophet (s.a.wg.) was an Ilrnfli, an unletteredone who could not read or write, so the command seemedpuzzlinS,even terrifyinS, to him at the time But the Holy ProPhet (s.a.w,s,) was ableto memorizeeachof the versesas it cameto him, and thus could "read" it from his memory, althouth actual physical written copieswere producedduring the lifetimeof Muhammad(s.a.w.s.) One of the Companionsof the Prophet related this comment by Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)on the value of reciting the Qur'an: "Recitint the Qur'an out of memory catries one thousand degrees of religious merit, while reading the Qur'an from the Book itself increaseslthe merit] up to two thousanddegrees." Thg benefits and effects of Eading the Qulan are like a seed that eventually 6ends out twi8s, branches,loots, and leaves of 6ustenancein every dircction. The Hadith state: "Whoever reads the Qu/an and acts upo; what is contalnedin it, his Parentswill be made to wear a down on the Day of Judgm€nt, the brilliance of which wil exceedthat of the sun, if it were brought down into your houses." So, if that is the r€ward for the palents, what do you think is the leward fo! the Pe$on who acts upo! it him6€lJ? The most important considerationregarding the Qur'an is that Allah statesin the Book that it is not of human origin; it consistsof the actualpreeternal, uncreated speechof Allah Himself As such, no other book exists which carries the degreeof pedection and balancein its words. Even the most disinterestedobserver cannot fail to be impressedupon hearing the Qur'an recited. lt is of surpassingbeauty, melody, and majesty. Another important point about the Qur'an is that within the first seven
a26 I Th. B@k ol Saf H.alins
lines, virtually all of the sounds that occur in Arabic are uttered. One of theseletters is grdyfl,which when uttered caugesa kind ofgrowlinS, Suttural sound in the backof th€ throat. Eachletter sets off a vibratory pattern that travels in a specificdirection,lasts a specificduration, and producesspecific physical, mental, and spiritual effects. The sound of the letter 3/rayn(and also kli', rayr, and others) is usually not madein the English language.This means that the effects associatedwith such letters are not felt unlessone recites the Arabic. It is a bit curious that most of the sounds that occur in Arabic and not in English are associatedwith the sounds of choking in English! Even more important, the various combinations of vowels and consonantscombineto stimulate and dispersethe divine attributes throughout the bodyof the reciterin perfectmeasure.One of the attributesis al-Chofnr (the Forgiver),which containsthe letter grayn.One who never recitesthis letter is deprivedof the fr.rllmeasureof forgivenessin his or her own soul. There are three basicvowel soundsin Arabic: the letters fllil, Dnrr,and rA'. Name of Vo ,€l Sound
Pronunciation
At{ YA'
a as t^ fsthtr
Wdu
i as in machine , as i^ lou
Symbol I
I (J
All languagesutilize these three basiclong vowel sounds,and they can be thought of as universalharmonicconstants,utterednot only by humans, but by every being in Creation,Once one has becomeattuned to these sounds,one can listenin on the conversations of all of nature! The vibrationsof these three soundshave differenteffects,The long vowelsoundof i travelsdownwardand stimulatesthe heart,the repository of divine attributes.The long i travelsupward and stimulatesthe pineal gland, which is not fully understood by Western science,but is felt to be responsible for activationof the life forces.And the long soundof i !esonates on the outer rim of the pursed lips, and intermingleswith the i.lfinof Allah, as His permissionfor our livesuniteswith our inhaledand exhaled breaths. These soundsare not particularly sunt or spoken,but are expless€din a specialrecitation, which is achievedcorrectly after some time of readinS from the Qurhn. ln time, these soundsresonatetheir essencein the tone box of the soul. This may seema vaguemanner of expresringsuch things, but until and unlessone experiences it, suchdescriptions must suffice, In addition to the foregoing considerationsof sound and breath, the Qur'an containsyet another unique feature that transforms it into a full set of bleathing practices.
RIM OF LIPS
ol tralrcloJlhe thepoifll ol origiflafld direcliotl ihou ahows The illustralion 1)outl ;ound. u,ilheach nibralorylonesassocialed Appearing as punctuation marks in most editions of the Holy Qur'an (although not in editions for native Arabic speakers,who already know them) are various marks in the text. One set of thesemarkinSsi9 calleduaqf, which means "pause"and indicateswhere the reciter must stop and take a full breath. The main udqlmarl is a smallcircle,as shor/n by an arrow in the followine line:
\rijrr.rql6t*,
a26 I Th. Bookol Stlt H.elint
a;n9lv,9l;dl,V,
.?
6*3t4sJl
6i-EvugY 6,({i5'nU-6'^;:,\ltJ
6.,i*Atv,WrU;v (!
Mah Waqf Ma*s in Satutal-Fdtihth As an example,in Sirat al-Fetibah,which opensthe Qur'an, there are seven of these marls, placedafter each of the sevenayals,or verses One who is reciting at the elementarystagesn!51gtop wheneve! cominS to this mark. This pause forces each line to be of a specifiedlength, which is the same length as it appearedin the original form revealed to the Prophet Muhammad(s.a.w.s.). However, realizint that somepersonghavegreate! caPacitythan others, Allah hasallowedseveralforms of recitationof the Qur'an, eachappropriate to a different capacityfor breath and spiritual evolution. Thus, additional marks occur, allowing severaloI lhe avaLto be recited without the main pauses.Thus, the lentth of time of recitation may be as short ae a few secondsor as long as two minutes, The correct gevenmain breath pau3esfor the opening sira, are reproducedin the accompanyingillustration. Anyone who is learning the Qur2n does so by initially following these main breath pauses. The sEns inside the circlesindicate the numb$ of the 4yaf,The 6a!ks above the ctcles designatewhich of the stops ale cornpulsory to obey and which can be gone past. The sign ot latn"olil( I ) meansthat to stop is necessatt although it canbe optional. When encounteringthis sign, one may continue on past all l4ltalfs, until one affives at the sign of lt ( l. ), which marks the compulsory
Th. Unl,.ttr ol th. Bt.alhI 129
gtop for the second level of reciting Another mode of reciting allows pr.i the 4i as well, stopping only when the sign '*! i-.l ,' -of '".il"g over the circle Thus, one may recitethe entire 5urat al-!arlr'!an aDoears usingsevenb.eaths,threebreaths,or onebreath ln someof the dyals'these is ;;;;lh ou""t allow for recitationslastingalmost two full minutes lt manner' to hear the Qur'an recitedin thrs indeed istonishing ''ih"re are additional levels of recitation which involve iurth".*o.", proionging the breathsand focus upon certain vowels and consonants'One of masteryof the.m-odes requireyealsto attaincomPlete would of necessity ano are called 44lI' recitinBthe Holy Qur'an Personsattainint this.maslery have committed the entire Qur'an to memory by this stage' For the Sufi aspirant, the fiist requirement is knowledSeof the correct of ecstasy modegof recitinSihe versesof the Holy Qur'an The ascensions lew rePorts a than are more producedtherebycanonly be imaginedThere or themof' *hil" eng"gedin listeningto a recrtation ii-"irur.fr. (r'a l ""oiiite once,noted the Holy Qur'an. ShaykhBayazidBistami selvesreciting, tne call recrted who the him that Person that it waethe Ereatestmysteryto to prayer did not die from it 'Obviously, not every Person,particularlya novice' can achievefull the recitationof the Qur'an within a short time ln order to accelerate soul-the,Sufis and mind, body, uPon effects of tft" Qurin-in its "ii".ir reeortto useof the divinenames,whrchcondenseand compressthe elfects into a brief sPace of -' lonserrecitations we step off into the realm of the divine realities'where ii i. i"* tf,ut only true and great faith will sustainone'
L2 Ib'wrdh: The Merciful Prescriptions We send dowD stage by stage in the .l'r'an tlut which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe. . . Qtrhn
17:82
The Sufis use four things in their treatment of diseases:prayers, medicines, practicing certain things, and giving certain things up. The practicing and giving up of certain things derive from the primary religious iniunctions of the Holy Qur'an. They include abstaining from pork and alcohol, performing daily prayers, cleansing the body by ablutions, and many other things. The use of medicines (including foods and herbs) has been noted as acceptable,and even encouraged,by the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.).Although all of these actions are necessary,even compulsory, for health, the Sufis consider prayer to be the most superior kind of medicine. In addition to the various prayers that the Sufis perform daily, they have knowledge of specific verses of the Qur'an, and the names of various attributes of God, which are combined in particular ways to effect cures. This form of healing is called the science of tacnidh.The word is derived from the verb tidha, "to flee to God for rgfuge." The science of tstwidh combines all the aspects of prayer, breath, and sound. The procedures involved in making these formulations may become complex. The reason these formulas work will be taken up in Chapter 14, "The Origin of Miracles." But the actual mechanicsof making farzridlrcan be demonstrated to some extent. In the writing and utilizing of the sacred tacwidh,numbers often form a central part of the finished tncwitlh.To the casual observer, these numbers seem somewhat incomprehensible, without any sequential or other significance. 131
82 I ThcBlr,kol Stfi Huling
NUMERICAL VALUESFOR ARABIC ALPHABET Letter (Basic Form)
Numerical Value
Name and Transcription
alil 2
bg: b
Letter (Basic Iorm)
Numerical Value
Name and Transcription
800
d da4,
J"
9
ta,t
g
t.
900
4A: .Z
,,-
400
ld: t
500
thi: th
?
70
cayn:c
7 (:
5
ttrn:t
?
7,000
ghayn:gh
7
I
ha'h
19
80
la: I
600
kh:a:kh
,q
100
qEf:q
4
cql: d
.tJ
20
ral: K
700
dhdl: dh
J
30
Fam:I
200
fa: f
I
,
&
mtm: m
7
z c :z
tJ
60
stn: s
A
!r
300
shin:sh
,tA
90
s.idt q
a
7
d a
a
rt
flun: n
5
h6: h
6
oa@: w
70
va:y
To'widh: The Merciful Pftsciptions I l,g3
Affiliatedwith the Arabicalphabetis an elaboratesystemof numerology through which each letter is assigneda numerical value, thus making possiblethe expressionof any written statementby a corresponding number or set of numbers. This scienceis calledabiad.The use of numbers has severalpracticalreasons.Often the verse of the Qur2n intendedfor use may be so long as to precludeits being written out entirely in longhand. Second,there may not be time to write it out, if a formulation is needed within minutes rather than hours or days.A third reasonis that, although the Sufis disseminatetheir healingmissionsamongall humankindwithout distinctionsof any kind, the actual text or letters of the Qur'an have a specialsanctityand deservespecialforms of careand respect.This beingthe case,one who does not know the specialmodesof respectingthe Qur'an should not be allowed contact with it. In such cases.numbers can be substituted for the actual versesof the Qur'an without concern for the possibilityof lossof or damageto the divine verses. Thus, the Qur'anic verse BismiLldh ir-Raftman, ir-Rafulnmay be expressed as the number 786.The name Allah is representedby the number 66. The assiSnationof valuesto eachletter is accordingto the accompanying table. There are severalways in which these letters may be representedin transliteration,dependingon the original language,whether Arabic,Turkish, Persian,or whatever.The number valuesare the same,regardlessof the symbolsusedfor transliteration. Applying the valuesfor eachindividualletter above,we can now compute the number of Allah as 66 by the method illustratedon the following pa8e. It should be noted that somevowel sounds(atftnh,kaqrah, are nol flammah) written in Arabic script,but are soundedwhen recited.Thesevowel sounds are not computedin the numericalvalues. In the realmof healing,someof the full Qur'anicversesare written out in number form, as are some of the divine attributes.For example,Sfirat al-Fatifrahis representedby the numericalchart below: 2340 -
2346
ZJ+J
2339
2344 2338
2344
2348
2347
2342
2337
2335
Clearly understand that it is not the piece of paper or numbers or symbolsthat do any healing.Such a conceptis as erroneousas it is dangerous,for it underminesthe exclusiveness of God. lt is Allah the Almighty alonewho has conceived,designed,and madetheseformulationsavailable, and it is by His Permissionalonethat they have effect in human affairs.
734 I The Bookol Sufi Heqling
* AJJI !ul"i!'fi'1"*l:#*'o The number for BismiLlith ir-Rahman,ir-Rallimis computed as follows: The totals: {0
60
2
Bismt2+ 60+ 40= lo2
I MiM siN f,o
A
I
HA
LAM
{0
8
200
I
7
NiN
MlM
HA
R/{
{0
10
I
200
50
I
i'
MiM YA'
7
BA
I
I
I
A llnh:1-t30 + 3 0 + 5 = 6 6
IAM AUE 30
I
,I
I
ir-Rafumdn1 + 30 + 200+ 8 + 40 + 50 : 329
IAM AUF 30
I
!
ir-Ralpm 1 + 30 + 2oo + 8 + 10 + 40 = 289
HA RA TAM ALIF T o ta l :
786
The formulationsare constructedin severalways: they may be written on a pieceof paper, voicedas a silent prayer, spokenaloud as a Prayer, written on glassand the ink washedoff and drunk as medicine,affixed to some part of the body, or buried in the ground, among other methods. Sometimesthey are recitedwithin the shaykhand dispersedon his breath, whence,upon arriving as a vibratory pattern on the breath of the patient, they have their effect. As many as severalthousandof theseformulasare in use,and one must receive specialtraining in the methods of writing and preparing them coruectly.This specialtraining would include,besidesknowledgeof Arabic, a solidgroundingin the externalteachingsof the Holy Qur'an,the identities of the angelicservantswhose duties are particularto healing,the proper times of prayer, and, of course,an ability to correctly diagnosethe root
T{widh: fic Medful Pretcdttiont I t3S
causeof the diseaseon the spiritual realm so that the remedywill haveits desiredeffect. Not all shaykhspossessthe sameknowledge,Somespecializein one or severaldiseaseconditions,suchas jaundice,blindness,insanity,or others.A patient may go to one shaykh for Buidanceand then be referredby him to another shaykh,one who has the requisiteformulasto heal the person. The shaykh writing out tactDidh must be very pious,devoidof miterialistic intent. The writer must also be maintainedin the state of purity, or wuflu. The formulasare written in Indiaink, and sometimeswith vegetableinks of red or green color. Once the tatwidhis prepared,it is placedinsidea metal, cloth, or leathercontainerand worn on somepart of the bodv. Someof the ta(widhare for a limited time, while others are worn for years.Once their effect is achieved,they must be buried in a safeplace. Becausemany phyiicaldiseases havetheir origin in emotionalimbalances or conditions affecting life-style, the tacwidhcover a very wide range of apiplications. For example,if a man is sickbecauseof worry over debts,the healerwould provide the patient with a tatwrdhthat would increaselivelihood, which is the causeof the disease,in the end. Tacwidhalsoexist for improvingcrop output and honeyproductionof bees,to avert calamities, to annul the plots of enemies,for virtually any disease, and for satisfactionin interpersonalrelationships. The following pagesreproducesomeauthentic taruidl formulas from the Naqshbandiyyah and ChishtiyyahSufis in Afghanistan.(lt is not permitted to reveal all of the existing tacwidhor to make the effects availableto the generalpeople,lest someonemisusethem.)
136 I ThcBookol 9ufi Hcditg
TAcWIDH: The Merciful Prescriptions
1^1
,4)lL
'41ilt,
'ailru TtlL. rttu-'al t . a
'atlt,
' u tU 'ajjtt,
affectingentirehead.Worn aroundneck. For headache
aA
i,( i t * it* 1q i,(
-------c-
,(
\-
\lr
f-
IF
A
L
o
f
g
-)t
-il
-r' I
Y -.1 =. P
(
-.1
,
/tlL ,&l!
P
,rbrt&t! htt
For babieswith measles.Worn on throst.
fM
brp,t-
rh
f rPtl
t€'., ir ;t\
Uo
For eyepain. Platedooeraflectedeye.
L A.I
-go t- -rbU
-e6a
*u _*u
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r4o I Th. Bookof Srfi Hccling Let us now turn to the most concentrated and condensed healing formula that exists, the Divine Remembrance, the Celestial Conversation, the Favorite of Allah and the lifeblood and life breath of the Sufis: dfriLr. Al-fiamilu li-Lldh illeilhi tawd{ a k lu shay'in li'cazmatihi. Wal-fiamilu li-Llah iileilhi dhalle kullu shay'in li-ciz.zatihi. W -f;amdu li-Llsh illadht khedacahullu shay'in li'nilkihi' Wal-f;amilu li-Ll6h illailht astaslamakullu shey'in li-qdmtih. All praise is due to Allah, before Whose grii,rdeur everything is humbled. All praise is due to Allah, before Whose greatnesseverything is subdueo. All praise is due to Allah, before Whose dominion everything is abased. All praise is due to Allah, before Whose strength everything surrenders.
1,3 Dhikr: Divine Remembrance And men who temember Allah much and women who remember Allah much, Allah In rt prepred Jor themJorgivenes and a vast rcwatd. Ql,r'an 33:jS
The intimate relationshipbetweenthe Sufi and Allah is containedin the memorable verse from the Qur'an: "If you remember Me, I will remember you" (2:1,52). This form of mutual attractionand devotionbespeaksan ulterior form of love which says,in effect, I will relinquishevery aspectof my own self and devote myself wholeheartedly and absolutely exclusively to Your pleasure.At any rate, this is the conditionin which the Sufi findshimself. The word used to mean this exclusiveand intimate dwelling upon, is dlikr (sometimestransliteratedas zilr). Allah has frequentlyusedthis term when revealingthe superiorforms of worship: Remember thy Lordmuch,andpraiseHim in the earlyhours of the night and rnorning.(3:41) After you have performed the act of worship lsalill, remember Allah standing,sitting, and lying down. (l:103) Lo! Even I am Allah. There is no glod Me. So serve Me and ""."pt (20:14) establishworship for My remembrance. But verily, remembranceof Allah is more important. (29:45) (gz:zs) O ye who believe!RememberAllah with much remembrance. There are dozens more verses in the Holy Qurhn that contain similar testaments to the exalted position in which Allah holds the dhikr.
141
ofStfi Heeling ttz I TheBook Of course,remembrancein one sensesimply could mean any kind of formal thought processalighting upon Allah or His attributes' However, men and wJmen of piety approachedthe Prophet Muhammad (s a'w s') and askedfor a clarificationof the term after theseu"rr", *"i" descended dhikr. It is reported in the pure Hadith that the Prophet (s'a.ws') said:"U itahaillaLlaiu is the most excellentof all forms of remembranceof Allah the Almighty." He is also reported to have said that the end of the world will not airive so long as there is one personleft alive reciting ll ilahailld lJnhu' One of the great shaykhshas sai4:"The ecstasyproducedin the heart of the dervishesin their dlritris a kind of turbulence,which is the causeof the wavesfoaming and breakingupon the shore." The prophlt Moses (a.s) was told by Allah that dhikr is the most preferred of specialprayers.Becauseof its ability to inculcatedeepsincerityin the heart of u b"li"tt"., U ilnhs ill| Llihu is also termed the Purification of Souls. This sacred formula is also called the Key to Paradise, becausethe statedin one of his sermonsthat the gatesof ProphetMuhammad(s.a.w.s.) heaien would open for anyonewho recitedit even once in a lifetime with true sincerity.The word "gates" in the plural was usedbecausethere are many gatesin heaven,and this formula is the key to all of them. tn short, there is nothing greaterin the sight of Allah than this remembranceof Him, exaltedis He: Li ilnhailld Llnhu' One may conductthis remembrancein thought or word and at any time' practicesfor this, However, the Sufis have evolvedcertaincongregational which have come to mean the sitting in the circleof dhikr'll is perhapsthis practicethat has gainedmore attentionthan all other activitiesof the Sufis in various parts of the world. gavean accountof what transpiresin the congreThe Prophet(s.a.w.s.) gation of dhikr. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.)has said that a Sroup of angelsis given a specialduty by ell"h to perform a patrol of the entire earth, looking for of Allah the Almighty, chantingHis tirosewho are engagedin remembrance are discovered,the angelsare so amazedand name.When such assemblies pleasedthat they call more angelsto join them and, placing their wings iogetherin embrice,they makea columnthat reachesup into the Heavens' When the assemblyof dhikrhas ended,theseangelsreturn to Heaven, and Atlah asks them where they have been. (Even though He is already aware of what has transpired,He is pleasedto hear of it.) The angelstell Him that they are returning from an assemblyof persons engagedin remembranceof Him and that they were glorifyingand praising Hi;. AUah asks the angels,"Have they seenMe?" The angelsreply, "No, Lord, they havenot." Allah the Almighty then asksthe angels,"What would
Dhifu: Dbinc Raacmb'l;a,tr I 1.43
those people think if they had seen Me?" The angels reply that in such a case,they would have been engagingthemselveseven more in His worship. "What do they ask of Me?" Allah the Almighty then asks..'They long for Your Paradise,"the angels respond. "Have they seen My Paradise?,'Allah agk?."No, they have not seenit," the angelsrespond."What would happen if they had seen it?" Allah inquires of the angels.,.They would lon!-for it all the more," is their reply. Then Allah the Almighty asks the angels,"From what were the people seekingprotection?"The angelsinform Him that the peoplewere seeking protection from the hell. "Have they seen My hell?" Allah inquires. ,,No, Lord, they have not," the angelsreply. "What if they had seenMy hell?,' AIlah the Almighty asksof the angels,who reply that the peoplewould have even more sought refuge and protection from it. Then Allah the Almighty commandseachof the angelspresentthat He has forgiven all of those who were engagedin remembranceof Him. One angel says to Allah, "But Lord, there was one among them who only accidentallysat down and did not belongthere" (that is, he was insincere). Allah the Almighty replies,"Even that one have I forgiven, so exaltedis the assemblythat even one on the edgeis not deprivedof My reward." The dhikr assemblytakes many forms and is calleddhiir-fualqah, samhc, or simply dhikr. Each Sufi order may have its particular form and sequenceof performing the dhikr,but these differences are so minor as to be inconsequential. The dhikrceremony of the Chishti is composedof four parts, each Iasting approximately one hour, although the shaykh pr"r"r,i ^"yof extend the ceremony to five or more hours, dependingupon the stations thosepresent.Pir SyedDaoud Iqbali,leaderof the Naqshbandiyyah Sufisof Afghanistan, once remarked that any dhikr that lasts less than lour or five hours is lust "fooling around." For anyoneseriouslyinterestedin deriving the ultimate benefitsof the Sufi dhibr,a true shaykh (or murshid)is an absolutenecessity.As the one of the great Sufis commented:"He who hasno shavkhand followshimselfhas taken satanas his guide." Furthermore,Allah has warned us in the Qur'an that one who has no marslidbecomestotally lost. Generally, the dhilcr ceremony is held on Thursday evenin& which the Sufis consider the beginning of Fridan the day of community prayers in Islam. Usually the dervishes will arrive for dinner or shortly thereafter and pray the final night prayer (cishd)together. Then they await the signal from the shaykh to begin. The seated dervishes form a circle, and the shaykh begins by reciting praisesupon the ProphetMuhammad(s.a.w.s.) and variousother supplications. Then the sacredformula of Ln ilnhailli llAhtlis intoned. This recitation follows the lead proposed by the shaykh. It may be swift or slow, loud or
144 I ThcBook ol Stfi Heding
soft. In any event,the real objectof the dftikr-intenseas it may be-is not to get "high" or to becomedisoriented;rather, it is to ascendthe ladderof stationsof the soul, so that one may arrive ai the Thresholdand attain a glimpseof the Divine. When this happens(which is by no meansuniformly achieved),the personmay fall into a state of arajl (ecstasy).As a mark of respect,all presentrise until this conditiondepartsthe dervish. The shaykhsignalsthe end of one phaseof the dlitr and the beginningof the next. In the Chishtiyyah, the initial phase of the tlhikr consistsof recitationof Ii iliha illaLlahu,with a breathbreakat a particularplace'The second,third, and fourth parts of thg tlhikrare composedof segmentsof the sacredformula (illa llahil, nothing except Allalr;Allah, God; and Hi, the One). Amendments to the dhikr may be made at the discretionof the shaykh,by addingvariousof the divine attributes(€y'il)at variousplacesin the dhikr. After the term of the clhikr,longor short, the shaykh or other dervish recites from the Holy Qur'an. There then follows extendedsupplications his family and followers(may Allah for the ProphetMuhammad (s.a.w.s.), (a.s.),the piousancestorsin the prophets the other them all), havemercyon order, and others. The posture and motions of the head are done in a specificmanner by the Sufi orders and constitutesthe main differencesamong them. In the Chishtiyyah Order, the dhikr is ordinarily accomplishedin the following manner: br ilAhaillALlihu:First one must haveablution.Beginin a sitting posture as in prayer, the legs foldedunder the body. If the legs are crossedtailorstyle, the vein in the juncture of the left leg behind the knee must be graspedwith the big toe. This posture dispelsevil insinuationsand also dissolvesfat around the area of the heart, which is the abode of the "sneakingwhisperer"(sl-khannis), one of the forms of the Devil. WhilJ reciting, the head is moved in the motion of an arc, starting with the left cheek resting upon the left shoulder. The head is then swung downward acrossthe chest, and a pause is made with the face looking upward. This is done as Ld ilila is uttered. Then, as the syllableill is voiced, the head is thrown rather forcefully downward in the direction of the heart. The recitation concludesby raising the head again,looking upwardas" Allihn" is said.Thesemotionsare summarizedin the accompanying illustrations. There is no harm if one takes up this practicein moderation-a few dozentimes-alone. However,the Sufishaveorganizedtheir studentsinto the tariqats, so that closesupervisioncan be maintainedover thoseperforming the variouspractices.Whenevermaking recitationof formulasto treat disease,it is important that the number of recitationsend in zero (e.g.,SO, 60, 1OO,3OO).This is so becausethe desireis for the result to end with nothing.
Dhikr: DloineRcmcmbrsnce I l4S
Initial head position,
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Second position, uqna
Third position, ill
Fourth position, AllAha
As blithe as peoplemay wish to be about taking up practiceson their own, at the least severemental confusionscan result, and at the worst deathshave occurred. The reason the dhikr is so effective is that the long vowel soundsof the words Li ilAha illA IJhhu are primarily resonating in the heart, causing a
ofSufiHcoling l+6 I ThcBook tremendousdisseminationof divine attributes in a very short time. Moreand condensedin a manner that Seneratesa over, the breathis comPressed high degreeof heat, which itself burns out many physicalimpuritiesin the body. It is commonto seedervishesdrenchedin sweatat the conclusionof the ceremony. It is sometimespermitted to conduct short iirlitr ceremonieswithout having a shaykh present.However, true dervishesalways prefer to have or divine one or more shaykhspresent,owing to the channelingof bnrsknh, blessing,which only the shaykhscan accomplish. I once attendeda rlhikrin the nortlrern part of Afghanistan.About forty men were present.This particularSufi order hadconducteddfiikrceremonies every Thursday evening for almost 1,200yearswithout one interruption. Ma shn'Allnh. As we were seatedand beginning the initial recitations,the shaykh and a loud grinding and whooshingsoundroared pausedfor a few seconds, ihro..,gh the adobe room. As I looked up, I perceivedthat a cleft had appearedin the far wall of the room, which sealedup in an instant.Later,at tht end of the dhikr,the shaykh spent almost an hour reciting salamsof greetingto all of the pious soulswho had slippedin through that cleft Yi Allnh! The shaykhs also adviseand conduct another form of remembrance, which utilizes one or more of the ninety-nine divine attributes. These ninety-nineattributesare reproducedin AppendixIII. Not all of these attributes are used at all times. In the Chishtiyyah Order, five of these attributes have specialsignificanceand power. The specificattributesand the manner of utilizing them cannot be statedhere. But to recite them in a particularmanner, so many times,will conveythe following effects: (t) prevent any enemy from doing any harm to one; (z) brlng any sum of money desired;(g)compeleveryoneto treat one with kindnessand to do any helpful thing; (4) removeall anxiety from the heart; and (s) end any disagreementor quarrelbetweentwo people.Suchpowers clearlymust be guardedand preservedfrom falling into the handsof people of bad intentions. driven out from thosewho sat among I have seenmany seriousdiseases the circle of dhikr-and these people attempted no other treatment' The nature of Allah is not one of limitation or sickness,and one who fills the of Allah will find that all mind and heart with thought and consciousness things other than Allah are vanquished. the following:drivesaway evil forcesand defeats The dftikraccomplishes attractslivelihood;makesthe personality pleases the Almighty; Allah them; impressiveand prestigious;givesaccessto Allah the Almighty; revivesand resuscitatesthe heart; banishesflaws and faults; savesthe speechfrom gossipand backbiting;remediesall ailmentsof the heart; removesall fear and fright from the heart; prohibitshypocrisy.
Dhibr DioincRcmembrsacc I \47 Moreover, there exists one corner of the heart (and therefore certain divine potentialities within) that is not opened except by dhikr. Dhikr of Allah the Almighty is the touchstone of all mystical practicesof all Sufi orders. When one arrives at the state of performance of dftikr,with sincerity, one is at that famous stage when knowledge gleaned from books is of no further use. Allowed to flourish and unfold, the dlritr leads one, as He may decide, to the highest stages of human evolution, and one gains accessto the origin of miracles.
ALUHUI ALIAHU! ALUHU!
14 The Origin of Miracles But His command, when He intendeth a thing, is only tlnt He sith unto it: k! and it is. Qyr'an j6:82
A miracleis an event that happensoutsideof natural laws and beyondthe ability of the human mind and reasonto explain it. There are two words that mean "miracle" in Sufi healing,and the distinctionbetweenthem is very important to understand.The first word is mutiizah, which refersto an intervention directly by God Himself in human and natural laws. The secondword is kar|mah,which meansthe use of a human as agencyfor a divine intervention.The distinctionmay seemsubtle.The muciizah mav be any action that no human has requestedor has any hand in its doing. For example,the virgin conceptionby Mary, mothei of Jesus(a.s.),was a nucjizahof Allah, exaltedis He. An exampleof akardmahwould be the raising of the dead body by Hazrat Jesuson his own command. However, in &oll cases,ii is actuallythe power of Allah that causesthesethings to occur. Abdullah Yusuf Ali (may Allah be pleasedwith him), writing in his commentaryon the Holy Qur'an, said:,,It is the privilegeof the men of Allah to seethe sublimestmysteriesof the spiritualworld and instructmen in righteousness;they warn and shield men againstevil. But nothing can lesseneach soul's responsibility for its own deJs. Eachone carries hiJ fate around his neck.Allah'sgifts are for alll but not all receivethe samegifts, nor are all gifts of equaldignity or excellence.,, speakingof the type of personwhom Allah _ The Holy Prophet(s.a.w.s.), favorswith thesemysteries,said:"Verily, Allah Most High hath a wine that He prepared for His friends [awliyd'l;when they drink it they are purified, and.when they are purified they becomenimble, and when they^become nimble they soar,and when they soarthey reach,andwhen they reachthey unite, and.when they unite they separate,and when they separaiethey pass away, and when they pass away they abide,and when ihev abide ihev
of SufiHeding lso I TheBook becomekings; then they are in the Assemblyof Truth in the presenceof a SovereignOmnipotent." (r.a.)saysof man, "lf he but knew the The venerableshaykh al-F.Iabib '" secretof his mystery,he would sheda tearwith everybreathhe breathed' Accountsof th" liu"t of Sufis are full of descriptionsof what we would call miraculousexperiences-travelinto space,raising of the dead,healing the sick and other phenomena.Of course,the most impressiveaccountis the ascensioninto heavenby the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w's) During that visit, he learnedmany divine mysteriesand met with the soulsof many prophets and holy people, and he received instructions from Allah the Almighty Himself. Hazrat Ibn cArabi(r.a.),the great Sufi theologianof someeightcenturies ago,reportedvisiting the moon and wrote out extensiveaccountsof characteristici of the environment to be found there-all of which was only recentlyconfirmedby U.S. spaceexplorers. When he was but a child of six yearsold, Hazrat Mawlana Rnmi (r'a ) terrified his playmatesby leapingup into the sky and disappearingfor an afternoon,while he was taken on a tour of the zodiacalconstellations' Suchaccountsmay seemphenomenal,but they haveoccurredwith such that they cannot be discounted frequencyand with io many eyewitnesses simply becausescienceat Presentmay lack understandingof them. tonslder the existenceof radio waves' For many thousandsof years such waves have existed,but only in this century has man been able to identify, measure,and use them. The divine realitiesextendfar beyondthe capacityof the mind to view them, and humans can only glimpsethese things when Allah allows it. However, inTo the averageperson,miraclesseemincomprehensible. wonder how may legitimately effable as miraclesare, they are real. One miraclesoccur. or direct miracles of Allah, are not so difficult to underThe mucjizahs, stand. When we realizethat God createdthe entire universeand a great deal more, we should not falter in allowing any action to be within His capacity.However,when we hear of humanseffectingsuchthings,we are skeptical,Sufi or no! An analogyfrom our presentsocietymay cast some light on this complexand unfathomablesubject. We all usethe telephoneto reachacrossvast distances.By meansof this rather simpledevice,we candiala numberof sevendigitsand reachanother personin iny part of our city. By addingiust three more digits,we canreach anyone in the country. And just a few more numbers expandsour reach to the world. Peopledo this all the time. By using the telephonewith a computer,the possibilitiesare greatly enlarged,and one can set in motion vastiy complicaiedprocedures.For example,if one had the knowledgeof the one could transfer millionsof dollarsfrom one correctnumericalsequence, bank account to another,even accountsthousandsof miles away' Yet, if vou Dresentedthe same fifteen-digit number to a person who did not
TheOriginofMiradcsI tll
possessthe correctaccesscode,nothing would happen.In a sense,what the Sufi doesto instigatemiracles,is analogousto the computer'swork. Allah the Almighty has said that the Qur'an is the Book of Guidance; moreover,He has said that there nothing is left out of the Qur'an. This claimmay seemoverdrawnto some,but it is true, on the authority of the Lord of the Worlds. The shaykhshave recountedthat eachverse,or ayal,of the Qur'an has at ieast 18,000meanings.Obviously,the human mind cannot affix 18,OOO meaningsto eachverse.What this meansis that there are in eachayala vast number of meanings,which are perceivedon unseenand unknown levelsthe cellular,atomic,and subatomiclevels-in ways that presenttechnology and insight cannotwitness or measure. We have reviewed some of the considerationsof vowel sounds and vibratory effectsin recitingthe Holy Qur'an. But eachletter of the Arabic alphabetis assigneda relationshipbetweenthe divine realmand the human world. The following list revealsthe correspondence betweeneachletter of the Arabic alphabetand the regionsof the hierarchyof the universe.
alif (a) = 1 = sl-Bdri': the Creator be (b')= 2= al-caql:Intellect iim (il = 3 = tn-nafs: Soul dal (d) = 4 -- al-labi'th: Natve he (ft) = 5 . fll-Bai'bil-iCafaft:Creator in relation to what is below Him waw (o) = 6 = El-cAqlbil-idifah: lntellect in relation to what is below it ze' Q) = 7 = an-nafsbil-i(Afdh:Soul in relation to what is below it ha (t) = 8 = at-tabi'ahbil-idafah:Nature in relation to what is below it te (t) = 9 = al-hayitli:Material world, having no relation to anything below it ya' tg) = lO = al-ibd|': Plan of the Creator kaf (k) = 2O = at-talcwln: Structuie transmitted to the createdrealm lem (l) = 3O = al-amr:The Divine Commandment(kunfa-yakAn) mlm (ra) = lO = sl-khalq:The created universe niin (z) = 5O = al-wujitd:The twofold aspect of being sin (s) = 50 = The doubledrelation betweenkhalsandtaktnin cayn (c) = 70 -- nl-tafib:The chain of commandsbeing impressedupon the universe
r52 I ThcB&kol ilr.frHcal@ qfd (+) = 9o = The tripled relation between amr, khalq,a d takuin qef (4) = 1.oo-- ijfimal al-jumlahfil-ibdn':The assemblyof all things in the plan of the Creator ri (r) = 200 = at-tawhid:Unity,the return of all things to the One, which is their principle and reason for existence By assigningthese cosmicvalues to each letter of the word z{llal, it can now be stated that certain events are being activatedin the unseenrealms, as follows: ALLAH A = The Creator (the absolute Owner of all existence) L = The divine commandment H = Creator in relation to what is below Him (the divine essence[dhit] in relation to His manifestations['asna-']) To say the word Qur'an sirnilarly invokes overtonesin the divine realms: AL.QOR'AN A = The Creator (the absolute Ownet of all existence) L = The divine commandment Q = The assemblyof all things in the plan of the Creator (the final code covering and ordering all of eistence) R = The retum of all things to the One (the divine purpose in creation) A = Creator,Who by ordering sets in motion the foregoing Intention N = The twofold aspectof being (the separationfrom the Creator: man and God) Thus, for the Sufi when the word Allah is spbken,a sequenceof stirrings are ignited within the deepestrecessesof his mind and soul, which remind (dh*r) the remembererof the One remembered. The very essenceof the human being, when saying the word, Alldh, is impressedin this manner: the Creator, the Absolute Lord and Master of all existence,in sending a soul into human li[e, imbues the soul with an inherent knowledge of and obedienceto the divine commandments.Theseexist and are interwoven in an inexpressiblyrefined manner within the body/mind/ soul of the human being. Then the Creator issuesthe order to the soul to inhabit a particular drop of sensitizedblood (ovum), and life begins. From that moment, human life is nothing except a reflection of the Creator. A similar soliloquy is suggestedwith the word Qur'an:The Book"al-Kitab.
Thc Origin ol Mbtclr
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The Qur'an is the collection of the information of "all things in the plan of the Creator." Allah has said that nothing hasbeen left out of the eur,ary and that if all the tlees were pens and all the oceansink, and all of this doubled, we could not write down the knowledge contained in the Qur'an, With the utteranceof the first letter of the Qu1an, we are stirring within the deepestparts of our mental and psychologicalworld. As we continue the word maldng the sound of the letter rd, our souls are beckonedto the return of all things to the One." As the first three letters ignite the unimaginably immense totality of the Plan of the Creator and our purpose in human life, the fourth lettet, aliJ,stirs again remembranceof the Creator, declaring the reality of our presentsituation of duality, of separationand absenceof union with our Lord. Indeed this is the eternalcondition of life. This is not an idea. The scienceof Sufism is conducted within a closed society, an esoteric, private Broup. The knowledge possessedby the Sufis is derived from the deep immersions in the nature of existencereferred to above, Allah has provided the"accesscodes" to utilize theseknowledgesto effect miracles on the human plane. Examples have been given of reciting a particular divine attribute a particular number of timesf to prevent harm from one's enemy. Other codes exist to utilize a great many tvats of the Qur'an. (The word ayat,incidentally, meansboth "verse" and "miracle.") One Sufi practice createsan effect upon the soul equal to performanceof salattor sevenhundred years.The practice itself requiresonly about five secondsof recitation,Now, not everyonecould endure such a practice. For some,it would be like giving a full syringe of penicillin to a fly suffering from a cold! By adding practicestogether,the effectsare extendedto a point that they cannot be expressedeven using mathematicalabstractconcepts.Some Sufis have accomplishedrecitations of these formulas running into the tens of millions of times, One of the problems of expressingconceptsof Sufi healing is that one who may witness a healing, even a miraculous one, can perceive very little going on. Someoneappearsbefore the shaykh,the shaykh seemsto mumble something and blows a breath toward the patient, and the patient is healed of a crippling disease.Yet one cannot witness the decadesof preparation required for the shaykh to perform that act. It may have been that the shaykh sat in seclusionfor thirty years,reciting a formula fifty million times, to be able to heal that one person. And that healing may have been the shaykh's main purpose in life. Some people would like the Sufis to provide a list of diseasesand the specific formulas that would miraculously cure them. However, it is not the formula per se but the utilization of the formula by means of the agency of the purified breath and soul of the shaykh that causesthe effects.The formulas by themselveswould be rather uselessto the lay person. The human mind and body become clouded and covered over with
ls4 I TheBook ofStfi Heallng impurities,making the exerciseof true reasondifficult. In additionto these impurities, the influence of various societaland familial indoctrinations ultimately succeedin making a human being a mere shadowof the exalted and maiesticbeing that the God the Most High granted as eachperson's birthright. It requiresa vast and difficult blendof medicationsto cleansethe conditions of those in statesof imbalance.No two illnessesare exactlythe same, so the remediesmust be formulated individually for each person, with attention to harmonizing the treatments for body, mind, and soul. The obiective of the Sufi shaykh, as physician, is not merely to relieve a person of some physicalpain or inconvenience, but to seea total reformation of each persont life in accord with the Divine Blessingsand plan of the Creator,exaltedis He. Sufi Barkat Ali (may Allah grant him the choicestblessings,as many of suchthingsasthere are)onceremarked:"Only heartscanimpartknowledge about hearts.And this knowledgeis bestowed,not acquired." Initially theseassertionsmay haveto be takenon faith. But anyonewho caresto put them to the test will find that faith transformedinto belief, tn sna ,nuQn.
The final chapters of this book present several practices that are highly charged with divine grace and blessings.One of these practiceshas, as only one of its effects, the protection against any diseasefor the day one performs it. The second practice is known to cure any disease.
Ya Hayyul Ye Qeyyim!
L5 The Keys of the Treasures of the Heavens and the Earth lf ye count theJavors of Allah, Never will ye be able to number them, Qtr'an 14:33
Some of the conceptsand idealsexpressedin the precedingpagesmay be difficult for the novice to apply. However, the practice I shall present now can be done easilyby anyoneand encompasses all of the materialthat has presented been thus far. As far as I am aware,this is the first presentation of this practiceof the Sufis to a generalaudiencein the West. A prerequisitefor any Sufi healing formula to work is a particular recitation.Therefore,the following professionis provided,which will open the gates of the oceansof Mercy of Allah the Almighty, inshaAllah. The formula is: Li iliha illd Lldh;Muhammadun RasuluLlah. This professionshouldbe recitedoncebeforeattemptingany Sufi practice, lest malevolentforcesbe brought into play.It is alsowise to utter the verse that sealsoff any satanicparticipation,as follows: ir-rajim. Acndhubi-Llahimin asli-shay!5n If you are unacquaintedwith the Arabic language,readthe transliterations carefullyand try and say the words as best as you can-and hope that you have said it correctly. Although there are thousandsof prayers,supplications,and practices usedby the Sufis,severalareconsideredto be superior.Suchis the one here presented,calledMaqaladas-Samawatiwal Ard, the Keys of the Treasures of the Heavensand the Earth.Although it is specificto healing-conveying protectionagainstany illnessfor the day it is recited-the benefitsattached 155
of9ufiHcaliry ts6 I ThcBook to its recitationare not limited to physicalhealth,as one can glean for the following accountfrom the Hadith: It is ieported that cUthmin ibn cAffin, may Allah be pleasedwith him, requestedfurther information about Allah's iniunction of the Keys of the Treasuresof the Heavensand the Earth (mentionedseveraltimes in the Qur'an). The Prophet (s.a.w.s.)said to him: "You have inquired of me something which nobody has ever asked me before. The Keys of the Treasuresof the Heavensand the Earth are as follows":
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Jj-$,,;,;9["';; La iliha illS LlEhuwa-Llihu akbar. Wa subl.rin Allahi wal-hamdu li-Llahi wastaghfiru Llih alladhi li il5ha illi Hn wal-Awwalu wal-Akhiru w aq-llhitw wal-Betinu yulryi wa yumitu wa huwa $ayyan 15yam0tu. Bi-yadihil-khayr wa huwa cali kulli shay'in Qadir. There is none worthy of worship except Allah. Allah the Almighty is the greatest. Allah is the glorious and praiseworthy and I ask Allah for forgiveness There is no power to do good and no strength to be saved from evil exceptwith the graceof Allah. He is the First and the Last' He is the Apparent and the Hidden. He is the Ever-Living Who never dies. He imparts and takes awaY life. There is blessingwith Allah the Almighty. He is the Ruler over everything.
The Kcysol the Treasuresof the Hetoms ond thc Ecrth I 157
The Prophet (s.a.w.s.)continued: "O cUthmdn! Whoever recites it one hundred times every day will be rewarded by ten graces. First, all his previous sins will be forgiven. Second,his suffering from hellfire will be written off. Third, two angels are appointed to guard him day and night from his sufferings and diseases.Fourth, he is granted a treasure of blessings.Fifth, he will reap as much blessing as someone who would have set free one hundred slaves from the offspring of the prophet Ishmael (a.s.).Sixih, he would be rewarded of blessings as if he had read the entire Qur'an, the Psalms, the Torah, and the Bible. Seventh, a house will be constructed for him in the Heaven. Eighth, he will be married to a pious Heavenly maiden. Ninth, he will be honored with a crown of honor. Tenth, his recommendation (for forgiveness) of seventy of his relatives will be accepted. "O cUthmin! If you were strong enough you would not miss this remembrance on any day. You will be one of the successfulones and you will surpass everybody before and after you." One of the great contemporary Sufis, Hazrat Abu Anees Barkat Ali of Dar-ul-Ehsan, Pakistan, has achieved a unique position among the men of piety by reciting this sacred formula. He has erected a large signpost at the entranceway of his spiritual sanctuary, upon which the words of this invaluable formula are inscribed. His own life bears ample testament to the efficacy of these words, as he has personally adoptedmore than ten thousand Hindus of the lowest caste and provided them with a complete training and education in life. Moreover, he maintains a clinic that provides medical care and that has restored the sight of more than three thousand persons go far, without charge of any kind. He has written more than three hundred books on Islam and Sufism, all of which have been distributed free of charge (the jacket of one reads: "These books are written for ourselves and you to read, but not for sale. They have already been sold to Him for Whom they were meant"). A countless stream of devotees arrive at the well-known Dar-ulEhsan sanctuary and receive,by His grace,spiritual instructions from among the fourteen Sufi orders of which Barkat Ali is a teaching master, or shaykh. Ma sha'Allah! The qualities and attributes of Sufi Barkat Ali could be enumerated further, but anyone who views his life with an open mind must conclude that he has exceededthe usual range of human accomplishments. He is now in his seventy-sixth year. The formula for the Keys of the Treasures of the Heavens and the Earth may be recited twenty-one times after each daily prayer and requires not more than three or four minutes to do so. As Allah says: "As for those who strive in Us, surely We guide them to Our paths" (Qur'an 29:69). 633, the great saint Hazrat Khwija On the night of fifth Raiab, ^.H. (r.a.) as usual retired to his meditation cell after the Mucinuddin Chishti night prayer (ckha). He closed the door and commenced his practice, as he had done for the past thirty years, of constant and incessant recitation of the above verses. The KhwSia instructed his mrrils not to disturb him that
ol SufiHceling l.ss I ThcBook
night. They stayedaway, but heard through the door a soundexpressing unparalleledecstasythroughout the night. In the early hours of the morning, this soundceased.When the door of his cell did not openat the time of morning prayers (ajr\, anxiety was felt by everyone. Ultimately, the door wus fo.."i open by his students,who, to their astonishment,found that the soul of the great saint had relinquished his mortal body' The following sentencewas radiantlyglittering upon his forehead,as light:
Lldh Hs.lhahab'ibu Matufi hubbiLlah He is the belovedof Allah And he died in Allah's Love.
L6 The Infallible Remedy Once I saw the lrlost High M in a drcam. He asked me, "kyazid, wlnt do you want?" I replied, "I want what You want." The Most High Gd was pleavd and vid, "I am yours and you are Mitp." Slnykh tuyazid
Eisami (r.a.)
The Holy Prophet of Allah the Almighty (s.a.w.s.), whose virtues are the most excellent,was the most trustworthy personof all creation.Evenprior to his mission as Prophet, he was called Amin, the trustworthy, and was never known to have spoken anything except the truth. The Prophet (s.a.w.s.)said:"ln Snrat al-Fatihahthere is a balm for all ailments."He went on to providethe specificinstructionsfor utilizing this most treasured remedy. The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) alsosaid:"I tell you of a s-urah that is the greatest, the most virtuous, in the Holy Qur'an. It is Sfrrat al-flamd [the opening sfirah, al-Fitifrahl, which has seven verses. These are the sabcahmsthLni [the Oft-RepeatedSeven]and representthe Grand Qur'an." In another Hadith, the Prophet (s.a.w.s.)is reported to have said:"By Him Who is in possessionof my life, a s rah like this one has been revealed neither in the Torah nor in the Bible, nor even in the rest of the Qur'an." The accumulatedexperienceof the Sufis confirms that the readingand reciting of Sirat al-Fatihahwith true faith and sincereconviction,curesall maladies, whether spiritual or worldly, external or internal. The Sffrat al-Fatibahenters into the writing of almost all tacwidh; it is alsowritten in ink made of saffron and rose water, and consumed.All six books of authentic Gotill)Hadith report that the Companions(r.a.a.)used to read it for treatment of diseases, both physicaland mental. The satanlamented,wept, and tore his hair out on four occasions: when
160 I Tlu Bor,kol SufiHmling
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Bismi Llih ir-Ralrmin ir-Rahim ll-hamduli-Llihi rabb il-celamin Ar-ra!rmin ir-Rahim Maliki yawm id-din. Iyyika nacbuduwa iyyika nastacin. lhdinaE-9ira!al-mustaqim calayhim $ira; alladhina ancamta calayhim wa lid-dilin. Ghayril-maghdibi 1. In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent,the Merciful. 2. Praisebe to Allah, Lord of the Worlds; 3. The Beneficent, the Merciful; 4. Master of the Day of Judgment! 5. Thee only do we worship; Thee alone we ask for help. 6. Guide us on the straight Path; 7. The path of those whom You love; Not the path of those who earn Thine anger, nor of those who go astraY.
ThcInfelliblcRcmdyI r5r
he was cursed,when he was thrown out of Heaven,when Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)was given Prophethood,and when SUratal-FEtihahwas revealed. Hazrat Khwdja MucinuddinChishti (r.a.)hassaid,"The incessantrecitation of Sirat al-Fitil,'ahis the infallibleremedy for one'sneeds." The recitation of Sirat al-Fetihahis among the most frequent of the practicesof the shaykhsof the path. The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) suggestedthe following mode of recitationand said that this practicewill succeedin curing any disease. ReadSirat al-Fatilrahforty-one times for forty consecutive days,during the interval between the sunnah(optional)and irrl (obligatory)rarfatsof the /ajr (early-morning)prayer. In this recitation, it is necessaryto onif the breath pauseusually taken betweenthe first two verses.In other words, the rrirn of ir-Ralim is loined with the lam of al-fuamdu li-Llnfti,which then becomesmil-fiamduli-Lllhi. The rest of the sitrahrnay be done following the usual breath pauses. If the person is possessedof madness,or for other reasonscannot perform the recitation,the words should be recitedand blown on water, and given to the patient to drink. We reproduceagainSirat al-Fetilrahon the facingpage,for anyonewho may wish to make use of its miraculoushealing effects. For some,eventhis recitationmay proveto be difficult,or impossiblefor somereasonor another.The mercy of Allah is infinitel If, after trying with absolutesincerityto learn and applyanythingin this book,one failsto do so, the following will cure any disease.Simply recite eleventimes: BisniLlAh ir-Ralyin, ir-Rafiim.This verse is the GreatestAttribute of Allah the Almighty, and whatever endeavorsto intrude upon the absolutesanctityof His graceis burnt to ashes. Once Hazrat Abn Bakr (r.a.)was ill. The peoplecameto visit him and seeinghis obviousdistress,askedhim, "Why don't you callthe doctor?"Abu Bakr answered,"l alreadycalledthe doctor."His friend asked,"What did the doctor say?"Abrl Bakr replied,"He said,'I am Mighty in what I intend."' There is nothing that can defeatthe love of Allah the Almighty for His beloved friends. And after this, there remains nothing further that can, or should,be said. Allihu aclam! calaykumoa ralmatt Lllahiua barak&uht! As-safamu Rabbiqad-ataytani min al-mulki tm catlamtanimints'wil il-ahldith F-eliras+amdtfrtiwal-ar{ f Anta waliyifid-dunyE aal-dkhirah. Tawnffanimuslimenwa nlhiqnibi1-s.dlihm. Ashtuduan fa ilnhailli Llih; cabihht ua raslhh, ''$nin! Woashhadu snnsMuhsmrnadan
t62 I ThcBookol Srft Hcahng
O mY Lordl Thou hast given me somethingof sov€reignty and hast taughl me something of the interpretationof eventsCreatorof the Heavensand the Earth! Thou art my protecting Friend in this world andthe Hereafter. Make me to die submissiveunto Thee and ioin me to the righteous. I bearwitness that there ii no dtity exceptAllah and I bear witness That Muhammadis His servant and Messmger' Be it so! As-selimucelaykumue ra$matu dhi wa bcraketuhul May the peaceand blessingsof God be upon you.
APPENDD(ES
I The Islamic Calendar The Muslim year is basedupon a lunar cycleof 3S4days,consistingof 12 months of 29 or 30 days.This calendarcommencedin the year 622 of the commonera (c.e.),when the ProphetMuhammad (s.a.w.s.)migratedfrom Meccato Medina. The 12 Islamicmonths are as follows. Muftarram:The loth of this month is calledcAshurah,commemorating the martyrdom of Husayn ibn cAli, who died ar Karbalahon the l0rh Mulrarram 680 c.r. gnfar Rabicsl-Auwal: The 12th of this month is the birthdav of the prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.). RabTc sth-ThAfi: The 11th of this month is the birthday of cAbdul-eidir Jrlam(r.a.r.
lunadaat-Uta lumailaat-Akhirch fujab: The 27th of this month is the anniversary of the micrij, the ascensionof the Prophet (s.a.w.s.)to Heaven.The 6th of this month celebratesthe death anniversary of Hazrat Khwija Mucinuddin Chishti (r.a.). Shdbin: The 14th-15th of this month is Shab al-Bariht. when the destiniesfor the comingyear are assigned. Ramalin: The Sacred Month of Fasting. On either the 23rd, ZSth, or 27th night, the Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Power) occurs.During this month, the Qur'an, as well as all other revealedbooks,first descended from Allah the Most High. Shautml: The first day is cld al-Fi1r,the feast celebratingthe breakingof the fast. DhilI Qacdah Dhul-Hiijah: The pilgrimage to Mecca (lal) is completed during this month. From the lOth to the 1zth, the sacrificeof cld al-A{lrd is celebrated. As the datesare basedupon lunar cyclesand the sightingsof the new moon, eachyear the calendarbacksup by approximatelyelevendays.
165
il Some Useful Short Sflrahs
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6(;,j-lfiw-t 6A$rS&Atk Bismi Llah ir-Rafman ir-Rafim. 1. Qul Huwa Llahu Alad; 2. Allahuq-gamad; 3. Lam yalid, wa lam ytrlad; 4. Wa lam yakul lahl kufuwan a[ad. In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. l. Say: He is Allah, the One! 2. Allah the etemally besought of all! 3. He begetteth not nor was begotten 4. And there is none comoarable to Him.
167
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SomcUselul Short S:urehsof thc Holy Qrt'an | 169
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6u;ur6teJki i. Bismi Llih ir-Rafman ir-Rafim. l. Qul a'udhy bi-Rabbin-nas, 2. Malikin-nas, 3. Ilahin-nas 4. Min sharr il-waswas il-khannis, 5. Alladh-i yuwaswisu fi gudtuin-n6si, 5. Min al-jinnati wan-nas. In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. l. Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, 2. The King of mankind, 3. The God of mankind. 4. From the evil of the'Sneaking Whisperer,* 5. Who whispereth in the hearts of mankind, 6. Of the iinn and mankind.
tAn epithet of Satan.
III The Divine Attributes of how we may Allah the Almighty is, in the end, unknowable.Regardless try, we areleft with an incompleteand partialunderstandingof Him. Allahu akEnris the frequentutteranceof the Sufis.It means:"Allah is Greaterthan all that we ascribeto Him." So that we may begin to have a mental conceptof Him, Allah has set forth, in the Holy Qur'an, ninety-nineof His divine attributes.Considered together, they provide a conceptof His all-encompassing,all-pervading,allpowerful nature. These attributes, called al-asmq'al-husni (The Beautiful Names),enter into Sufi practicescalledua4ifahs.
171.
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'#i-lg 6. AL-MU'MTN The Keeper of Faith; The Bestower of SecuritYi Th€ Faithful
I. AR.RAHMAN The Gtacious; The B€neficent; Th€ Compa$ioBate
2. AR-RAHIM The Merciful
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t6. AL-WAHHAB Tb€ Bdtower
2!. AL-B,{SIT Thc Dxtender; The Enlarger; The Spreader
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22. AL-KHAF|p The Abarer
27. AL-aASIR The All-Seeing; Ihe Perceiver
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23. AR-Rlfrc The Ex.lter
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5I. AL-HAQQ The Truth
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s6. AL-HAMID The Prai6eworthyi The Laudable
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The Truttee; The Advocate; Th€ Repres€Dtative
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84. MALIK AL-MULK The owner of Sovereignty
89. AL-MUGHNI The Enricher
85. DHOL-JALAU WAL.IKRAM The Isrd of M.ie6ty and Bounty
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93. AN-NOR The Light
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9t. AR.RASHID The Guidc to the Right P.th; The Dircctor
92. AN.NAFIC The Ploliter; Th€ Prcpitiou6
99. A$-SABIiR The Patient
IV Glossary Abjad-Also calledjnfr; the scienceof numerical value configurations of the Arabic alphabet. AkhlntGing.llill )-Essences;humors; temperaments, AIIAh-The Arabic proper noun for the One True Cod (ql-ilsh:the Divinity). il^tn-"Be it so." Recitedat the conclusionof prayers and supplications. cAql-Creative reasoning;reasoningpower; the mind. cArsh-The Throne of Allah; the Ninth Heaven. a.s.-Abbreviation of talayhias-salfim, "peacebe upon him," the benedictioninvoked when the name of a prophet is mentioned. cAsr-The midafternoon obligatory prayer Gllat\. Atlar-An expressed true oil of a flower, wood, or bark, said to contain the essenceof its soul. Bisni LIih ir-Raftnanir-Raftim-"ln the Name of Cod, Most Gracious, Most Merciful"; the opening words of the Qur'an, frequently used as an invocation at the commencementof any word or action. Chilla-A secludedroom for spiritual practices;a forty-day retreat. Dargah-A spiritualshrine or meetingplacefor living Sufi masters. Dayoparee-Chosts, Qammah-A mark used in the Arabic languageto denote the long vowel sound of r. Dhikr (also spelledzikr, which signifies the Turkish and Persian pronunciation)"Remembrance";the Sufi ceremoniesof liturgical recitations of sacred formulas and divine names. Fajr-The predawn obligatory Islarnicprayer; the time for this prayer. Fq,rr'-Annihilation;effacement;passingaway. Fntllah-A mark used in the Arabic languageto denote the long vowel sound of a. al-trotiftnh('fhe Opening)-The first chapter of the Qur'an, said to concentrate within iiself the whole Qur'an. Filrr-The world of thought; deep meditation; remembrance of God by mental means. Furjah-The human kingdom; the fourth interspacein the hierarchy of creation. Garzi (Persian)-"Warm"; term used in referenceto the metabolicvaluesof foods. al-Ghofur(The Forgiver)-One of the divine attributes. Ghnyb-The Unseenas describedin the Qur'an; includesthe worlds of jinns, angels, disembodiedsouls, and other planesof existence.
179
l8o I TheBookof Sufi Healing Hadith(or hadithl-A report embodying a sunnshof the Prophet (s.a.w.s.)or of the early Muslim community. Hakim-"r{ise"; a physicianwho treats physical,mental, and spiritual illnesses. (or llaqiqat;from haqq," truth")-One Hqqtqah encein Sufism;the divine reality.
of the four degreesof mystic exPeri-
Himmah-Meditation; concentratedattention. flujrah-A shaykh'smeditation cell. If;sin-"Blessing"; the interior or internal conditions that result from performance of Islamicbehaviors. cilz-Knowledge. Inin-Faith
in God.
lnshtr-The createdworld; life; human being. clsha-The nighttime, or fifth, obligatory Islamic prayer of the day. Islira-"submissio n," "peace"; the way of life contained in the doctrines of the Qur'an and suggestedin the statements and actions of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) Idhn-The permissionof God. Jinn-A creation of Allah, made of smokeless fire; regulated by order of the Qur'an. Kncbqh-The precincts of the Holy House, the first place of worship built by the prophet Abraharn (a.s.)forworship ofthe one God; locatedat Mecca,SaudiArabia. miraculousexperienceinstigated by a Sufi shakykh (See alsomucjizah.) K.qrimah.._A Ko1rah-A mark used in the Arabic languageto denote the short vowel sound of i. Khnaaqoh-Abuilding used for spiritual retreat and training, usually occupiedby three classes:peopleof seclusion,peopleof society, and travelers. Lit iliha illA IJ-ah,Mullammadunrnsiiu Uih-The kolimahot Muslim profession of faith, translated:"There is no deity exceptAllah (God);Muhammad is the Messenger of God. MA shn'Allnh-"May it pleaseAllah"; alternately,"As it pleasesAllah." Matrilah (or macrit'at)-Oneof the conditions of Sufi experience,in which one is granted a glimpse of the divine reality; the knowledge that exists is that state. Majdhirb-One experiencingthe state of divine intoxication. Mslal-House or level. Maghrib-The after-sunset obligatory prayer of Islam' MalE'ikqh (sing. rnalak)-Angels. Maqdn-Stopping or resting place;station; stage. Miswik-A type of twig from the pelu tree recommendedfor brushing the teeth and cleansingthe mouth. (Sometimesa licorice or olive tree twiS is substituted.)
ClossdryI 7al lllycjizah-A divine miracle, which admits of no human activity or agency;an act beyondnatural laws and reasoningpower. Murid-A novice; a student of a shaykh. Murshid-Cuide; a Sufi shaykh; teacher. Muslim-One who adopts and follows the way of life of Islam; a believer in God. Ni/il-Superogatory or optional; distinct from obligatory (/nrd) worship. Narniz(Persian,Urdu, Turkish)-Salit; prayer; worship. Niryah (or niyyaf)-lntention; formal declarationto do something. Nr.rr-The Lieht of Allah. Na/s-The appetitivedrives of the body, such ashunger, desirefor wealth and fame, sexualurgings, etc. Nc/as-The breath of the spirit; pulse. rUl-An attar or essentialoil made from the wood of the aloeswoodtree. Qalb-Heart; mind; soul; choicestparti genuine; pure. Qiblah-The direction faced when offering Islamic prayers; the direction, from wherever one rnay be, facing the Kacbah at Mecca. Qiyim-One of the postures of qclil, assumedby standing straight, with hands either held down at the sidesor folded right hand over left and held just below the navel. Qlr'cn-"Recitation", ths revealedscripture of the Islamic faith, conveyed by the angel Gabriel (a.s.)to the Prophet Muhanmad (s.a.w.s.)over a period of twentythree years. Qrr}-Nearness; proximity; approach;neighborhood. r.a.-Abbreviation of ra\matu ih alayhi,a phrase meaning "May the blessing of Allah be upon him," the benedictioninvoked when the nameof any deceasedSufi is mentioned. r.a.a.-Abbreviation of raliy Allihu tonhu,"May Allah be pleasedwith him," the benedictioninvoked when the nameof a Companionof the Prophet is mentioned. Rackat(or raFah\-One unit of the galif, lslamic prayer. Ramnlin-An Islamic month, signifying the days when the initial scriptures were sent down by God, including the Qur'an; the Islamic month of fasting. RasrlAllAh-The Messengerof God (s.a.w.s.);the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.). Rn[-The soul; essence;breath of God; revelation. Rrkr(-One of the posturesof Islamicobligatory prayer, assumedby bendingat the waist with hands placedupon knees. $alit-'fhe five-times-per-dayobligatory lslamic prayer. Sajdah-The posture of prostration in the Islamic prayer. 5arni'-Heaven.
182 I TheBookol9ufi Heeliag Samic-Ecst a tic contemplation;audition. Sardi(Persian\-"Cold"; term used in reference to the metabolic valuesof foods Shaykh-Sufi master; guide; teacher. Shajarah-Thelisting of the namesof shaykhs of a silsilah. (or sharicah\-Thedivine laws and codesfor human life, conveyedby all Sharicqt prophets,but correctedand completedand sealedin the first of the Last Message, the Holy Qur'an. Silsilnft-Lineof transmissionfrom master to master of the spiritual power and teachingof a {ari4at. straight path; the path of right guidanceordainedby the as.-$irat. nl-mustaqim-The Holy Qur'an. Sirr-Divine secretsithe greatestmystery;root; origin. $iynn-A fast,particularlythe Islamicfast conductedduring the month of Rama{in. Subhan Allnh-" All Praisebelongsto Allah." includingthe reportsof othersregardingIslamic Sunnoh-Thebehaviors(sometimes life) performedby the ProphetMuhammad(s.a.w.s.). Sirat (or s rah)-One chapter of the Qur'an. The Holy Qur'an is composedof 114 raralrsof varyinglength. lariqat(from lariq,"path")-The Sufi path;a stageof developmentin Sufism. Tatuidh-A written or spoken religious amulet containing verses (and sometimes numbers)from the Holy Qur'an; frequently constructedby shaykhsfor healing purposes. Wnlrr-lmagination; the power of conceivingwhat is not present;the decisionof A llah. Wali (pl. nwliya'\-Friendof Cod; saint. Waqf-A pausefor breath markedin a written copy of the Qur'an. Wiqil-Union; wedding;unity. Yi Havyu!Ya Qayy n!-Literally, "O the Living! O the Ever-Lasting!"According to some Sufis, these two attributes together comprisethe Greatest Narne of Allah. Yowmal-Qiyomah-TheDay of Judgment.
v Bibliography Abdullah, Mawlawi, and Maulawi Ala'addin(eds.).Mizaa-nl-tibb (in persian).Bombav: Haidari Press,n.d. Al-Ghazzali. The Mysteries of Fasting. Lahore: Ashraf Press,1968. The Mysleries -. of Purity.Lahore: Ashraf Press,1970.
AIi, A. Yusuf. TheMeaningol theIllustrious Qur'an.Lahore: Ashraf Press,1967. Ali, Sufi Abu Anees Muhammad Barkat. Makshoofale-manaznl-e-Ehsan, vols. I & II (trans. from Urdu into English by Muhammad lqbal). Dar-ul-Ehsan, Faisalabad, Pakistan:Dar-ul-EhsanPublications, 1928. Balkhi,Sultan UlemaBahauddinWalid.Kitab-ulma'aril. Manuscript,13th century. Balkhi, Mawlana jelaluddin Rumi. Masnaoi.Manuscript, 16th cenrury. Begg,Mirza Wahiduddin.The Big Fiveof Indiain Sufism.Ajmer, India:W. D. Begg, 7972. -. The Holy Biography of HazrnfKhwajaMuinud.d.in Cfiijftfi. Tucson: The Chishti Order of America,1977. TheHoly Biography -. of HazratKhwnjaMuinuddinClrcfiti (lndian Edition). Aimer, fndia: W. D. BeBg,7968. Dehlvi, Hazrat Maulana Ahmad Saeed.Prophetic (TheSauior).Delhi: Medkol Sdences Arshad Saeed,1972. Eaton, Richard M. "The Shrine of Baba Farid in Pakpattan,Multan Suba'." Paper delivered at Associationfor Asian StudiesConference,Los Angeles,Calif., April 1, 1979. El-Salakawy,Ahmad A. Spotlights on MedicalTerminology: (in TheHumanBodySystems Arabic\. 1972. (in Arabic). Dar al-Maaref, Cairo, Egypt, Fundqmentals of Medkal Terminology -. 1968. Elgood, Cyril (trans.). Tibb-ul-Nabbi or Medicine of the Prophet, being a Translation of Two Works of the SameName-I. TheTihb-ul-Nabbi of al-Suyuti.ll.TheTibb-ulNabbiof Mahnud bin Mohomed al-Chaghhnyni, Together wilh Introdudion, Noles& Glossary Publication data not available Ewing, Katherine. "The Sufi as Saint, Curer and Exorcist in Modern Pakistan." Paper delivered at Association for Asian Studies Conference.Los Angeles, Calif., April 1, 1979. Gohlman,William E. TheLifeof lbn Sina.New York: StateUniversityof New york Press.7974.
Gruner, O. Cameron, M.D. A Trealise ontheCanonofMedicine ofAoicenna, lncorporoting a Translalion of theFirslBoot.New York: Augustus M. Kelly, 1920.
183
$a I Th. Bookof Stfi Hcaling to Psychiatry, Basedon Hashmi, El Sheikh Syed Mubarik Ali Jilani. ,4n Inlroduclion Scientific Holy Practice; Also Contains Results of Teachings of the Quran and Psychiatric Institute in the Demonstrationof Curing IncurableMental Diseases 1979 and 1981. Arabia-1976-77. Lahore: Zavia Books, 1978. Revised Taif, Saudi nl-qaaun lbn Sina,Qanrns f i'Llibb,New Delhi: Idarah ta'rikh al-tibb wa'l-tahqiq al-tibbi, 1,967. of Islonic Medicine.Cairo: General Egyptian Book Kamal, Dr. Hassan- Encyclopedia Organization,1975.
lhyaulum-id-d.in, of Rdigious Stiences orTheReoioal Karim, Alhaj MaulanaFazlul.Gazzqali's Trust, 1971. Book of Consfructioe Virtues,ParIl. Dhcca, Pakistan: F. K. Islam Mission The Ktran, Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan (vans.l. Sahihal-bulJni, vols.1-9. Al-Medina al-Munauwara, Saudi Arabia: Kazi Publications, Chicago, 1975.Revised 1976. Khan, Sayed Mohammad Husain. Qornbaadin-e kabir(in Persian).Bombay: Munshi Nool, n.d. Lawrence,BruceB. "HealingRitualsamongNorth IndianChishti Saintsof the Delhi Sultanate Period." Paper delivered at Conference of the Association for Asian StudiesConference.Los Angeles,Calif., April L,7979. ol al-Samarqandi andtheRelalion ol Levey, Martin, and al-Khaledy. TheMdiel Formulary EarlyArabk Simples lo ThoseFoundin The Indigenous Medicineol lhe NesrEqslandlndiq. Philadelphia: Ptess,7967. Universityof Pennsylvania in Hwlth Prattilioners Macey, Ann; Pam Hunte; and Hassian Karniab. Indigcnous Alghanistar. Kabul: Ministry of PublicHealth, 1975. Nicholson,R. A. (trans.).Kashfal-Mahjub ol al-Hujuiri.London:Luzac&Co., 1970.
Nizami, Ashraf F. Nnmaz:TheYogaof Islam.Baroda,India: Ashraf F. Nizami, 1976. Revised1977. Pelt, j. M., and J. C. Younos."Plantesmedicinaleset drougesde l'Afghanistan." Extract from Bulletin de la Soci€t6 de Pharmaciede Nancy, no. 66 (September 196s). Quasem, Muhammad Abul. Tle lewelsof the Qur'an,al-Ghazali'sTheory.Selangor, Malaysia:Dr. M. A. Quasem,1977. Rashid,Abdul; MohammadAzam; Ahmad Jan;and Mohammadlbrahim. Rclratrlnt/nl(in Persian).Kabul:GovernmentPrinting House,Reignof Habibullah. ol Isldn. Chapel Hill: University of North Schimmel,Annemarie. Mystinl Dimensions CarolinaPress,1976. Shafii, Mohammad, M.D. "Adaptive and TherapeuticAspects of Meditation." lnternofional Psychotherapy 2, no. 3 (7973\. lournalof Psythonnnlyfit
"Light, BiologicalRhythm and Integrationof Personalityin Sufi Medita-. tion." Unpublishedpaper. Siddiqi,cAbdul Hamid (trans.).SshihMuslin,vols.1-4. Lahore:Ashraf Press,7976, 7974. Sprenger,Aloys, M.D. Abdu-r-Rozzaq's Dktionaryof TechnialTernsof thrSl/is. Lahore: Zultiqar Ahmad, 7974.
Bibliography I 18s Suhrawardi, Shaikh Shahaab-ud-DincUmar b. Muhammad. The tAwaif-ul-matait'. Lahore:Ashraf Press,1973. Afghanistan(in Persian). Kabul: Ministry of Tabibi, Dr. Abdul H. Sirr-i tnssawuf-i Informationand Culture, 1977. Thomson, Robert, N.D. NnturalMeditine.New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1978. -. -.
TheGrosset Encyclopedia of NaturqlMedi.ine.NewYork: Grosset& Dunlap, 1980. A Ha dbook of AmmonHerbalRemdies. Orem, Utah: Biworld Publishers,1981.
of Tibb-ul-Nabbi to Modern Medical Practice." lournal ol the -."Application (Trenton, N.J.),vol. 11, nos. 1 & 2 (April 1980). lslamicMedkalAssoriafion /Medicinesfor the Soul."Unpublishedmanuscript. -. Disciplines ir Slr/isnr. London: East-WestPublications Valiuddin, Dr-Mir. Conlemplatioe (U.K.)Ltd., 1e80. 1959.Revised1977. TheQur'ankSufism. Delhi; Motilal Banarsidass, (The Personality, Sayings, and Zamani, M. H. Saheb, Ph.D. (ed.). Khali sewwom Thoughts of Shams-eTabrizi). Tehran: Atai Prcss,7972. -.
Index Administration, remedies, 67 A l c o h olism,2S Allergic reaction, 41 Alphabet, Arabic, 132 ano numerology, rJz-rJ) a n d reS lons ot un lve rse , l5 l- 15/ Amber, 115-116 Anemia, 68 An g e ls,21 An g e r, 28 Angina pectoris, 66-69 Animals, realm of, 20 AnlSeeo \4/tr5rIr,Jo Appetite, corrupted, 30
Apple (tuffah),s6 Application,of essentialoils,a79-'122 Arabic alphabet,132 135 and re g i o n got unr v er s e,l5 l -l 5 z Arrogan.ce,28,29 A r t hri ti s,6 9 Asparagus\hiyaor'),56 A s t hma ,7 0 45 Atrabiliousessence, Attars, 113 Auto-intoxication,30 Azrael,Angel of Death, 21 B abbl i n g ,3 l Banana (mowz),56 B arley,5 6 Basil,sweet,56 Bedwetting,70-71 45 Biliousessence, Blindness,26 45 Blood essence, Body and apperttes\nals),rt- r3 es se n ce s, 43- 47 B oils,8 2 B read ,5 6 Breath (nnlas), unjverseof, 123-129 Breathing,difficulty in, 32 Breathof life (i,llr), 13-14 broncn r s, l n c nl|or en// 1- lz Dtl rn s , 1z
Bu t t er,56 Calendar, Islamic, 165 C a n c er,28 Carrots,42-43,57 O lver,5 T Lau Ceremony, dhikr, 743-146 Ln a momlt e, ST
L n r cKe n , S/ L n ,fo r e n , o roncntfl s tn, / r-/z Ch lo r id e s,5 3 Ch ym e , 4 4 !tn n a m o n , J7 L I T T ON,J7 L OCOn UI,5 / L o tte e o e a n, J7 Co ld ( a ilm e nt), 73 Cold, food, 4-1, 43-44, 48 Co llc,7 2 - 7 3 Co m m o n col d, 73 Co n ce n tr a tio n, l ack of, 28 Co n stip a tio n , T4 Co r ia n d e r seed, 57 Co u g h ,7 4 - 7 5 L r e a t' o n , n rerarcny or, l / zJ Cr im in a l b ehavi or, 26 Cr ysta llin e heaven, 22 Cr .r cu m b e r ,58 L Um ln ,5 6
Dates,dried, 58 Depression,23 Devils (slnyalin),33 141-147 Dhikr, divine remembrance, lrraoetes,T5 Diarrhea,29,75 76, 8a, A9 Digestion,39-44 L J l V tnaetrrl oute5,l /l Divine remembrance(,lhikr),141-147 Divine secrets,statlo of (miqanas-sirr),25, 30-32 Dosage,remedies,66 Drug abuse,28 Dysentery,T6 E a rth l yl i fe, l ackof i nteresti n,31 E c s ta s y ,2 S excessive,32 E g g p l a n t,53 Eg 8 s ,5 6 Egotism,stationof (naqdman-nals),25, 27-28 Eighth heaven,22 Elementalspheres,17 20 Eleventhheaven,22 Empyrear.,22 Enotve, )at Enzymes,44 Essences body , 43- s 0 flowerc, 117-122 787
78A I Thc Bookol Suli Heding Essentialoils, 113 application,119-122 Eye problems,26
Hina, 118 Holistichealth, 12 r1oney, Jv Humans, realm of, 20 Hydrochloric acid, 44, 53 Hy poc r is y , 2 6 Hypoglycemia,2S
Failure,fear of, 28 Fastdays,89 F ast ing(fi yn n ) , 65- 90 F at igu e ,3 0 F enug re e k,58 Fever,2 9 ,3 0,32, A a,E 9 Fig, 58 Fish, 59 t t owe rs ,
m eot c t n a t , r 1 I
lzz
Flu,41 Food e a t ing, 43 and health, 39-43 metabolic values, 48 p re paration ,42 -43 o f P rophet .5l-6 4 s e l ection, 4l Forgetfulness, 26 F o rmulary,68-8 3 Frankincense, 116 F r i v o l it y, 29 Ca l l b ladder,2 9 Ca rl i c,59 Ch e e , 59 Chosts (,lnyopnree),33 Ci d d i n ess,29 rJrnger, sw Cu ms, inflammatio n, 79 Hair loss, 80 He a d ache,29,76 -77 , 8 9 Healing crisis, 88 90 O WerSano o r9 tot, L rr Lz t Health and food, 39 43 q e neo, rt- ro Heart (4nlr), 14 a t t a ck, 28 b u rning, 3l p a i n, 31 station of (maqdmal-qalb),25,2a-29 Heat, food, 43-44, 48 Heavens, 17 a n d E arth, Keys o f Tre asure sof , 155- l5E rcalrr. of , 2o-zz n e morrno,os, TT-ltt He n n a , 59 Herbal formulas administration, 67 preparation, 65-67 storage,67
Illness. as cleansinBmechanism, 11-12 Inconsiderateness,28 Indigestion, TS-79 lnfallible remedy, 159-162 Inflammation of gums and toothache, T9 Intoxication, divine, 32 Irrationality, 31 lrritability,29 Israfil, Angel of Resurrection, 21 Itching, vaginal, 62-83 Jannat al-Fardaws, 118 Jasmine, 118 la'r dice,28,79-80 Ji^ s, 27, 32, 33
Joy,z8 Jupiter,realm of, 21 Key(s) to Paradise,142 of Treasuresof Heavensand Earth, Kidneys,29 L e n ti l s ,6 0 L e ttu c e ,6 0 Light of Himmah, 21 LUnacy, JU M aqalad as - S a m a w a t i w a l A r d , 1 5 5 - 1 5 8 Marjoram, sweet,60 Mars, realm of, 21 M eat , 60 Melon, 60 Menstruation, painful, Et Mental world (fikr), 12-13 Merciful prescriptions, 131-140 M er c ur y , r e a l m o f , 2 1 Metabolic values, foods, 47-49 M et abolis m , 4 6 Michael, archangel, 21 M i8r aine, 29 M ilk , 61 M int , 61 Miracles, origin o(, "149--1,54 Moon, realm of, 2o M us L, 117 Myrrh, 116 M y r t le, 61
Indu Na r c issus, 6l Na u s ea, 29 Nearness to Allah, station of (maqam al-qurb),sz-31 Ninth heaven, 22 Nosebleed,6E Numerology, and alphabet, 132,135 Obesity, 28, 8O-81 Oils, of flowers, for healing, 112,122 Olive oil, 61 Ol i v e s,6l. Onions, 41, 42, 67-62 Painful menstruation, 81 P arsley, 62 Peach,62 Pe rs piration,8 6 Phlegm essence,45 46 Pi s t a chio, 62 Planets, realm of, 20-21 Pomegranate,62 Postures, of Prophets, 91-109 Prayers, over rose petals, 114 Preparation, remedies, 65-67 Prescriptions, merciful, 131-140 Pride,29 Proximity to Allah, station ot,25,30-34 Pure spirit, station of, 25,29-30 Qu i n ce, 62 Ra madan,86 Reason (rn4i),20 Reasoning power, of humans, 20 Re i n c arnation ,2l Remedies a d m inistratio n,6 T infallible, 159 162 preparation, 65-67 s t o r age, 6T Remembrance, di'rine (ihikr), 741-747 Rhubarb, oz K r c e , oz Rose, soul of, 717 722 S a f f ron,63 Saldt, 97-709 S a l t , 53, 63 Ja n o alwooo, r rl Saturn, realm of, 2L Sayings, of Prophet, 54-55 DC a l os,T r Scalp problems, 29 Scent, and cooking, 42
| 789
Secrets, divine, station of,30-32 Self-deception, 29 Self-illusion, 30 Senna, 63 DKrn eruptrons, 29, 6l' Sleeplessness,62 9od (ruh mtrks), 13 disembodied,2l esse^ce, 25-27 of rose, 11-l--IZ2 station of lmsqdn ar-ruh\,25-32 Spinac h, 63 Spirit (nafss),-13, 26 Starless heaven, 22 Stations, of solo|,25-37 Storage, remedies,6T Sublunary world, 17 Suffocating, sense of, 32 Sugar , 63 Sun, realm of, 21 Sur at al- Fa t i h a h , 1 5 9 1 6 2 Ta(t,'i,lh, 13"1-14o Tent h heav e n , 2 2 Thy m e, 63 Toothache, Tg Tox ic it y , 29 Treasures of Heavens and Earth, Keys of, 155 15 8 Tr em or s , 30 cud, 118 Ulcers, skin, 82 Union with Allah, station o( (naqan .|l-wisnl)',25, 34-36 Univ er s e( s ) , 2 2 of breath, 123-129 r egions , a n d A r a b i c d l p h a b e t , 1 5 1 - 1 5 3 Urination, 36 Vaginal itching, 82 83 Vener eal dis e a s e , 2 8 Venus, realm of, 21 Ver m ic elli, 6 3 Vinegar , 64 Violet, 117 Vomiting, 88, 89 W alnut , 64 W at er , 64 Wedding of Cod Almighty (I"ital),23 Weights and measures, 66 W heat , 64 Zodiacal heavens, realm o(, 20-22
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