To discipline the ego
always isolate yourself.
Keep silent, sleepless, hungry,
you'll then control yourself.
Imam Al Haddad
From the Mantle Adorned
There are many ways to isolate yourself. To keep the "self" silent, sleepless, hungry, and in control. One way is adventure/travel/exploration in harsh conditions. It brings out the best of human qualities. For it requires self-denial, courage, compassion for companions, and ultimately extreme patience with ones situation to undertake such arduous journeys.
Nuruddinzangi has posted Shaykh Ahmed Idris's r.a. words, which have touched on this subject. For many days before this post I had thought of the spiritual reasons to undertake difficult expeditions over mountains and across seas. My own reason primarily being the "freeness" one experiences and the realization of ones 'utter' dependence on Allah, and ultimately the peace one finds in midst of nature.
However, Shaykh Ahmed Idris's r.a. words have provided me with what I had been seeking. Shaykh Ahmed Idris mentions that his shaykh, Abd Al Wahab at Tazi, used to say
“There is nothing good in the sea except one: the attachment of the heart to Allah alone.” And right he was. For the human experiences the cutting off of all attachments except from Allah Most High, so that even if the Sultan was with you on the sea, you do not rely on him. No- he is scared like you, restless. And so the sea, even if in riding it there are terrors, its tribulations are good, a blessing. For the best of tribulation is the one that produces pure tawhid. He who rides the sea is secure from shirk: “But when He saves them and brings them to the land, then they commit shirk.” (Q 29:65)
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ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment, which you later removed. Most of my postings are me speaking to myself. So I may not agree with what I said earlier:) ... But it is true that charity and service are the best of ways ... something the Chisti tradition emphasizes.
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