A Musaffir (traveler) stopped at a Masjid. He was tired, sweltered, weary, wretched and giddy. Especially that he felt lonely in the crowd along the way. He found serenity in that Masjid. His ablution felt like it was washing his entire body and soul. When the water rubbed, he was as if seeing black dots of his sins fading, dripping, flowing and drifting away with the water. In his salat, he truly felt himself standing in front of the Creator. Every bit of his recitation was as if responded by Him. He felt the vibe of that greatness. This is the first time he could weep and sob in his sujood. His heart was shrouded by the feeling of tranquility, coolness and meaningfulness. He felt ecstasy.
At other time, he was passing by that Masjid. He had purposely intended to pray there. He longed for the khushoo'. There was greatness that especially emanated from that Masjid. Its pillars are raised solidly, layered with gray marbles. The columns have half of their spirals sweetly decorated with geometric designs. Its dimly lighted lamps are enclosed in shining metals and octagonal in shapes. Its floor is coolly refreshing, a specific characteristic of dark granites and its carpets are soft, greeting every sujood.
He chose to pray behind a pillar wrapped in yellowish carvings with holy verses. He tried to fully appreciate his salat. But strange. He did not find that vibe this time. There was no ecstasy. There was no spiritual charm. Not even a drop of his tears was willing to flow. In regret, he closed off his prayer with the salaam. To the right and then to the left. And his eyes were transfixed to a translation of a calligraphy on the southern wall. He read, “Whoever seeks Allah, he would find khushoo'. Whoever pursues khushoo', he would lose Allah.”
Like the worshippers of Al Masih who complicate the Divinity with the trinity, the perception of khushoo' was also frequently made difficult. There is nothing wrong actually to cite the story of ‘Ali ibn Abi Thalib who asked for the arrow to be pulled from his leg when he was in salat, so that its pain could not be felt because of the khushoo' of his salat. It is also not wrong to emulate ‘Abbad ibn Bisyr who kept on praying even though the arrows of an enemy spy were piercing his body one after another. But is it only that what’s called khushoo'?
The Prophet (pbuh) is the most khushoo' human being. And how beautiful was his khushoo'. The khushoo' that always quickened the salat when hearing the cry of a baby or to shorten his recitation when realizing the presence of a few frail individuals in his jama’ah. The khushoo' that did not stop him from carrying Umamah binti Abil ‘Ash or Al Hassan ibn ‘Ali in his standing and put them down when sujood. The khushoo' that made his sujood very long because Al Husain ibn ‘Ali was playing horsey on his back.
Friends, this is the way of love of the strugglers. The khushoo' and rage of spiritual bliss are only entertainments and respites, the place where we refill the provisions and relieve the tiredness. This is the way of love of the strugglers. Not the way of the pursuers of spiritual bliss, to the extent of having to repeat their takbiratul ihram until the imam is already in ruku’. This is not the way of the lovers of hunger who are afraid to gargle in their fasting but are only silent when watching oppressions. Also not the way of the lovers of Ka’bah who are addicted to performing hajj while the poor people are knocking on the door of his house which is always locked.
History gives us the list of lessons about the pursuers of spiritual bliss. They are thrown far away from this way. There are those who think of themselves as good Mu’meen; because they can cry while in salat, their hearts are touched while giving zakat, they can recite dhikr until they lose consciousness while fasting or they perform hajj every year; yet they are blinded from the Islamic world that calls out in an already hoarse voice.
These are the people who always speak of religion as a private affair. A private affair for the purpose of enjoying the spiritual bliss. To them, how blissful it is to pray in khushoo' on an expensive prayer mat, in an air-conditioned room, with the settings of different sceneries that can be rearranged. The khushoo' is in enjoying the recitation of the imam with certificate from a premium audio system, in the fragrant air from the aromatherapy perfume. Further in the distance, in the way of love of the strugglers, the Prophet (pbuh) prayed between the intervals of Battles in establishing the Shari’ah. With dusts, with blood, with exhaustion and with hardships.
The others, looking for refuge from the crushing pressures of the world. Enjoying the feeling of peace from the Dhikr, the feeling of lightness from the fasting and the feeling of solemnity from the shivering of the body. Retreating in their rags clothing, living in poverty, and then feeling that they are the most beloved being by Allah. But their faces never turned red when the Shari’ah of Allah was ridiculed. They never feel hurt when witnessing oppressions. Their hearts never tremble when witnessing common sufferings. They are the likes of the Sufi from Ganggoh. He was the ostrich that feels safe when it immerses its head in the sand. Whereas, its body was heaped right in front of the hunter’s eyelids.
The ecstasy. The spiritual bliss. The khushoo'. Don’t you pursue that feeling. It is not your god. And it is not only a Muslim who obtains the possibility of feeling such an ecstasy. Ask the people from the religion of Buddha, the followers of Zen, Tao or the practitioners of Yoga. They can also experience it through their meditation and mystical experiences. An impoverished Christian from the Franciscan Order feels it in his wandering, with naked feet in the style of Christ. A lavish Christian from the Benedictine Order enjoys it in his collections of holy relics inherited from the church priests.
Not that. It’s not that what we look for.
In the way of love of the strugglers, dedicate yourself to Allah . Spreading out goodness, ending barbarism and calling towards iman. Run only to Him. Even if the thorns are pricking your feet. Even if the gravels are slicing the sole of your feet. Until you get tired. Until you are exhausted. Until the sweat and blood are spilled. Then, the khushoo' will come to you when you are resting in your salat. The moment when you feel the pinnacle of your weakness in front of the All-Powerful. Then, you will be surrendering, in submission…
At that time, you will probably see Him, and surely He sees you.
At other time, he was passing by that Masjid. He had purposely intended to pray there. He longed for the khushoo'. There was greatness that especially emanated from that Masjid. Its pillars are raised solidly, layered with gray marbles. The columns have half of their spirals sweetly decorated with geometric designs. Its dimly lighted lamps are enclosed in shining metals and octagonal in shapes. Its floor is coolly refreshing, a specific characteristic of dark granites and its carpets are soft, greeting every sujood.
He chose to pray behind a pillar wrapped in yellowish carvings with holy verses. He tried to fully appreciate his salat. But strange. He did not find that vibe this time. There was no ecstasy. There was no spiritual charm. Not even a drop of his tears was willing to flow. In regret, he closed off his prayer with the salaam. To the right and then to the left. And his eyes were transfixed to a translation of a calligraphy on the southern wall. He read, “Whoever seeks Allah, he would find khushoo'. Whoever pursues khushoo', he would lose Allah.”
If you could just witness us O ‘Abid of Haramain
You would realize that in ibaadah, yours are a mere play
Your cheeks are wet by your tears
Our necks are soaked in blood
You would realize that in ibaadah, yours are a mere play
Your cheeks are wet by your tears
Our necks are soaked in blood
‘Abdullah ibn Al Mubarak
How doomed are the pursuers of khushoo'. The khushoo' becomes the goal, not a mechanism toward reaching Allah SWT. Therefore, the main attention in his salat is of how to attain khushoo' or at least look khushoo'. Alas, if you just know how the Prophet (pbuh) and his companions pray. They obtained khushoo' not because they were looking for it. They were khushoo' because their solat was really a sojourn from the most draining activities in the way of love of the strugglers. They were khushoo' because of the tangling difficulties and exhaustion that produced a feeling of diminutiveness and genuine servitude. Like the worshippers of Al Masih who complicate the Divinity with the trinity, the perception of khushoo' was also frequently made difficult. There is nothing wrong actually to cite the story of ‘Ali ibn Abi Thalib who asked for the arrow to be pulled from his leg when he was in salat, so that its pain could not be felt because of the khushoo' of his salat. It is also not wrong to emulate ‘Abbad ibn Bisyr who kept on praying even though the arrows of an enemy spy were piercing his body one after another. But is it only that what’s called khushoo'?
The Prophet (pbuh) is the most khushoo' human being. And how beautiful was his khushoo'. The khushoo' that always quickened the salat when hearing the cry of a baby or to shorten his recitation when realizing the presence of a few frail individuals in his jama’ah. The khushoo' that did not stop him from carrying Umamah binti Abil ‘Ash or Al Hassan ibn ‘Ali in his standing and put them down when sujood. The khushoo' that made his sujood very long because Al Husain ibn ‘Ali was playing horsey on his back.
Friends, this is the way of love of the strugglers. The khushoo' and rage of spiritual bliss are only entertainments and respites, the place where we refill the provisions and relieve the tiredness. This is the way of love of the strugglers. Not the way of the pursuers of spiritual bliss, to the extent of having to repeat their takbiratul ihram until the imam is already in ruku’. This is not the way of the lovers of hunger who are afraid to gargle in their fasting but are only silent when watching oppressions. Also not the way of the lovers of Ka’bah who are addicted to performing hajj while the poor people are knocking on the door of his house which is always locked.
History gives us the list of lessons about the pursuers of spiritual bliss. They are thrown far away from this way. There are those who think of themselves as good Mu’meen; because they can cry while in salat, their hearts are touched while giving zakat, they can recite dhikr until they lose consciousness while fasting or they perform hajj every year; yet they are blinded from the Islamic world that calls out in an already hoarse voice.
These are the people who always speak of religion as a private affair. A private affair for the purpose of enjoying the spiritual bliss. To them, how blissful it is to pray in khushoo' on an expensive prayer mat, in an air-conditioned room, with the settings of different sceneries that can be rearranged. The khushoo' is in enjoying the recitation of the imam with certificate from a premium audio system, in the fragrant air from the aromatherapy perfume. Further in the distance, in the way of love of the strugglers, the Prophet (pbuh) prayed between the intervals of Battles in establishing the Shari’ah. With dusts, with blood, with exhaustion and with hardships.
The others, looking for refuge from the crushing pressures of the world. Enjoying the feeling of peace from the Dhikr, the feeling of lightness from the fasting and the feeling of solemnity from the shivering of the body. Retreating in their rags clothing, living in poverty, and then feeling that they are the most beloved being by Allah. But their faces never turned red when the Shari’ah of Allah was ridiculed. They never feel hurt when witnessing oppressions. Their hearts never tremble when witnessing common sufferings. They are the likes of the Sufi from Ganggoh. He was the ostrich that feels safe when it immerses its head in the sand. Whereas, its body was heaped right in front of the hunter’s eyelids.
The ecstasy. The spiritual bliss. The khushoo'. Don’t you pursue that feeling. It is not your god. And it is not only a Muslim who obtains the possibility of feeling such an ecstasy. Ask the people from the religion of Buddha, the followers of Zen, Tao or the practitioners of Yoga. They can also experience it through their meditation and mystical experiences. An impoverished Christian from the Franciscan Order feels it in his wandering, with naked feet in the style of Christ. A lavish Christian from the Benedictine Order enjoys it in his collections of holy relics inherited from the church priests.
Not that. It’s not that what we look for.
In the way of love of the strugglers, dedicate yourself to Allah . Spreading out goodness, ending barbarism and calling towards iman. Run only to Him. Even if the thorns are pricking your feet. Even if the gravels are slicing the sole of your feet. Until you get tired. Until you are exhausted. Until the sweat and blood are spilled. Then, the khushoo' will come to you when you are resting in your salat. The moment when you feel the pinnacle of your weakness in front of the All-Powerful. Then, you will be surrendering, in submission…
At that time, you will probably see Him, and surely He sees you.
No comments:
Post a Comment