36th LETTER

This letter, written to Hâdji Muhammad Lâhôrî, states that the Sharî'at bears the happinesses of this world and the next, that there is no happiness obtained outside the Sharî'at, and that tarîqat and haqîqat are the helpers of the Sharî'at.

May Allâhu ta'âlâ let us all know the haqîqat of the Sharî'at of our Master Muhammad Mustafâ 'sall-Allâhu alaihi wa sallam', and bless us with attaining this haqîqat! Âmîn.

The Sharî'at consists of three constituents: 'Ilm, 'amal and ikhlâs, [that is, to learn the teachings of the Sharî'at, to do what is learned, and to do everything for Allah's sake]. The person who has not attained these three blessings has not attained the Sharî'at. When a person attains the Sharî'at, Allâhu ta'âlâ likes him. The fifteenth âyat of 'Imrân sûra and the seventy-third âyat of Tawba sûra purport that being liked by Allâhu ta'âlâ is the highest, the most valuable of all the fortunes of this world and the next. Then, the Sharî'at is the capital that makes one obtain all the fortunes of this world and the next. There is no goodness to be looked for, to be desired outside the Sharî'at. Tarîqat and haqîqat, which are attained by great men of tasawwuf, are the assistants, servants of the Sharî'at, and are useful in attaining ikhlâs, which is the third constituent of the Sharî'at. They are not intended to obtain something beyond the Sharî'at.

The hâls, the mawâjid, the 'ulûm and the ma'rifats, which the wayfarers of tasawwuf see on their way, are not things to be aspired after. They all, like illusions and fancies, are transient. They are nothing but a means for training and improving those wayfarers. It is necessary to pass all these, to leave them behind, and to reach the grade of ridâ. The end of the grades, stages on the way of sulûk and jadhba is the grade of ridâ. For the aim of the way of tarîqat and haqîqat is to attain ikhlâs, which happens at the grade of ridâ. They honour only one out of tens of thousands of the travellers of tasawwuf with attaining ikhlâs and the grade of ridâ by rescuing him from three kinds of tajallîs and from the mushâhadas that are based on ma'rifats. Those poor people who cannot see the truth think of hâls and mawâjids as something. They yearn for mushâhadas and tajallîs. Thus, they get stranded on the way, being unable to get rid of delusions and fancies and reach perfection in the Sharî'at. It is purported in the thirteenth âyat of Shûrâ sûra, "Allâhu ta'âlâ chooses whomever He likes of His slaves for Himself. To those who turn away from others and want Him only, He shows the way to attain to Him." Yes, to reach the grade of ikhlâs and ridâ, it is necessary to go through these hâls and mawâjid and to acquire these informations and ma'rifats. These are the way that guides to the purpose. They are the beginning of the purpose. Only after ten years' travel on this way was this faqîr (Imâm-i Rabbânî) enabled to know that this was so. Not before then did the beauty named Sharî'at show its glory as the alms of His beloved Prophet 'sall-Allâhu alaihi wa sallam'. I had not gotten stuck in the hâls and mawâjid before, either. I had had no other desire than that of attaining the haqîqat of the Sharî'at. But the sun of haqîqat rose only ten years later. Many thanks be to Allâhu ta'âlâ for this favour of His.

The death of Mayân Shaikh Jamâl 'quddisa sirruh', who attained Allâhu ta'âlâ's forgiveness, has caused sorrow among all the Muslims. I request that you offer condolence to his children and recite the Fâtiha on behalf of this faqîr, and I send my salâm.