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Declaration of 9 June 1995 His Excellency Haj Ali Tabandeh Mahboub Ali Shah
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
Hu
121
To my
brethren in faith, the fuqara
of the Ni‘matullahi Sultan Alishahi Order, may Allah grant them success: The
points below, which are from the subtleties and implications of
faqr and dervishhood, I offer
once again as a reminder, so that in compliance with the noble order,
(…and
remind, the Reminder profits the believers,)[2]
God willing, it may be of profit.
The spiritual expectations which the way of
faqr and dervishhood has of its
wayfarers are:
1.
Be a guard over the trust of the faqr
and dervishhood God has given you for safe keeping, and by excellent words,
actions and thoughts, try to be worthy of the appellations of
faqr and dervishhood, for each
of your wrong deeds is an embarassment to this faqir.
2.
Make the scale of your behavior the epitome of the instructions of
faqr and dervishhood, which is
service to God, kindness to people and ministry to the brethren, and make your
deeds accord with this.
3.
Do not sell the jewel of faqr
and dervishhood for a small price so that you suffer loss. The jeweler knows the
value of the jewel. If you are not a jeweler, know that the price of this jewel
is joining the Friend.
4.
The subtlety of faqr and
dervishhood cannot be brought
to the tongue, and speech is not the way to its truth. Do not break the sanctity
of the heart by talk and do not say anything that may result in undermining the
states (ahwal) of others.
5.
The enemy of faqr and
dervishhood is the devil of the
self, which appears in various forms. Do not be taken in by the deceptive
ploting of the self, for it is possible that it may take on the appearance of
being pleasing to God.
6.
What is expected by faqr and
dervishhood from those who have
found its way is nothing but the performance of the responsibilities of the
faith. Every eye that looks for anything else in this way is due to a blind
heart.
7.
Do not trample the blessing of faqr
and dervishhood with egotism
and conceit, for the grief of this ingratitude brings pain to the hearts of the
great men of religion.
8.
The world of faqr and
dervishhood is just giving the
retreat of the heart to the Beloved. Those who pursue ease and who are alien to
this suffering are not fellow travellers with this faqir.
9.
Do not break the goblet of honor of
faqr and dervishhood
with the stone of greed and neglect, and do not purchase for yourself the black
heart of breaking the covenant.
10.
The success of service in the world of
faqr and dervishhood is
itself a spiritual reward. Seeking compensation is a poisonous neglect.
Do not be a servant for a wage like a beggar,
For the Friend has His own way of training servants.[3]
11.
Do not take captive the freedom of
faqr and dervishhood by envy of the world and yearning for the afterlife.
Do not want anything from the Friend but Himself
There must be three partings in the clothing of faqr:
Parting from the world, parting from the other world, and parting from parting.[4]
12.
The destination of faqr and
dervishhood requires a firm will. Accept the difficulties of the way, even if it
costs your life, by the mount of yearning for union,[5]
and expect your heart to open, for dispair and hopelessness are infidelity.
I expect all the brothers and sisters in faith to meditate on these points and
to look upon them with the eye of the heart, and to prepare their provisions for
the way, and not to be negligent, so that
If anyone is home, even a single word will suffice.[6]
And Peace be with you, and the Mercy of Allah and His blessings.
‘Ashura Husayni
A.H.L. 1416
Corresponding to A.H.S. 19 Khordad 1374
[9 June 1995]
Faqir Hajj ‘Ali Tabandeh
Mahbub Alishah
[signed and signeted] [1] The Prophet, his daughter Fitimah and the twelve Imams are the fourteen immaculates of Shi‘i Islam, divinely protected from error and sin. [2] (51:55). [3] A couplet from the Divin of Hifiz. [4] A couplet attributed to Shih Ni‘matullih Wali. [5] This alludes to a hadith according to which the Prophet (s) said, “…yearning is my mount…”. [6] A famous Persian proverb originally part of a couplet by ‘Izz al-Din Mahmud Kishini. |
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