Briefing Document: Key Themes and Ideas

Briefing Document: Key Themes and Ideas

Introduction

This document analyzes various excerpts from the teachings, focusing on key recurring themes and important concepts within their teachings. The core ideas center around spiritual purification, the importance of a personal connection with God through the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the significance of practices like fasting and pilgrimage, and the concept of "bay'at" or spiritual allegiance.

I. Core Principles and Foundations

• Humility and Self-Negation: A recurring theme is the need for humility before God and recognition of one's own limitations. This is frequently expressed in the phrase: “ana abdukal ‘ajeezu, dayeefu, miskinu, zhalim, wa jahl, and but for the grace of Allah (AJ) that we’re still in existence” which appears in several excerpts. This acknowledgement of one's weakness and dependence on God’s mercy is crucial. The sources teach to negate the self, as in: "La ilaha illa anta Subhanaka, innee kuntu minazh zhalimeen." This self-negation is presented as a path towards spiritual understanding and closeness to the Divine.
• Importance of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ): The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is central to the spiritual understanding. He is described as the source of all lights, blessings, and divine knowledge. The teachings emphasize that access to Allah (AJ) is through the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). For example, the quote “the realness and the reality of that tawheed (oneness) is that Allah (AJ) sends everything to the reality of Muhammadun Rasulallah ﷺ.” highlights that all divine gifts and blessings flow through him. He is not just a historical figure but a living, spiritual reality. The Prophet (ﷺ) is also described as the "magnificent character," "Khuluqal ‘azheem" and the one taught by "someone immense in power", implying his unique and perfected status before God.
• Tawhid (Oneness of God): While emphasizing the role of the Prophet, the teachings strongly adhere to the concept of Tawhid, the Oneness of God. The kalimah (testimony of faith), "Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa habibuhu wa Rasuluhu ﷺ", is presented as a powerful tool to purify and recalibrate the servant back to oneness with Allah (AJ). It expresses the essence of Islamic belief: that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.
• Inner Jihad: There is a constant call to engage in "inner jihad," the struggle against one's own ego (nafs), desires, and negative traits. This struggle is considered the most important battle a Muslim faces. As it is noted, "this is the greatest fight all the battles we fought together is not in comparison to the fight you're going to have inside you." This is not merely about external actions, but also about inner purification and aligning one's will with the divine will.
• The Heart as the House of God: The heart is repeatedly presented as the true "house of Allah." The teachings stress that one must purify their heart and cleanse it from negative attributes in order to connect with the Divine. As it is expressed, "the heart of the believer is the house of allah azza wajal suspend your life and cleaning your heart." This emphasizes an inward focus, rather than only focusing on outward rituals.

II. Key Practices and Their Inner Dimensions

• Fasting in Ramadan: Ramadan is portrayed as a transformative period, far beyond mere abstinence from food and drink. The objective is to fast with all senses – eyes, ears, breath, and tongue, as quoted: "fasting with all our senses. That the beauty of Ramadan and its immense blessings is a state in which to fast from all our senses. Not only the sense of not eating but to fast with our ears, to fast with our eyes, to fast with our breath, to fast with our tongue, to fast with everything and all our senses so that Allah (AJ) can dress them and bless them." It’s a time for inner reflection, purification, and establishing a deeper connection with God. The concept of a spiritual taste that can be opened by fasting is also introduced, which deepens our understanding that the fast has an inner and outer meaning. The night of power (Laylatul Qadr) is mentioned as having immense blessing, with actions multiplied by 30,000.
• Hajj (Pilgrimage): The pilgrimage to Mecca is explained not just as a physical journey, but as a symbolic and multi-layered experience. Shaykh talk about 5 levels of Hajj. The first Hajj is in the mother's womb, with the seed entering the egg, the next is about the sun, the next is around one's own body, and the final one is about circling one's own heart. The true purpose of the Hajj is presented as purifying the heart, connecting to divine light, and understanding one's inner reality. He emphasizes that without inner transformation, the physical journey becomes like that of a mere tourist. The importance of "Tazkiya" (purifying the heart) is highlighted as essential to a meaningful Hajj. They say that those who deny Tasia deny the reality of the inner dimensions of Hajj.
• Salah (Prayer): Prayer is not merely performing rituals, but about having an open heart, witnessing God, and establishing a connection with the Divine. The core concept is that prayers should be done “as if you see Allah”. If the heart is not open, it’s indicated that the prayers are not accepted. They advocate for humility in approaching prayers, focusing on pure intention, and not just seeking reward. They say that when the intention of prayer is based on love, the heart will open. They also suggest seeking out actions of devotion that require no intention, such as zikr, as they are given immense rewards. They clarify that physical motions are the vehicle, but the soul's connection to the Divine is what's key.
• Zikr (Remembrance of God): The act of zikr (remembrance of God) is portrayed as a powerful tool for cleansing the heart and establishing a connection with the Divine. The sources emphasize the continuous nature of zikr and its ability to dispel negative forces, with the concept that "every beat of the heart has to say Allah." They propose that zikr is a form of love that does not need to be judged, and as such, has tremendous blessing.

III. Spiritual Guidance and the Role of the Shaykh

• Bay'at (Spiritual Allegiance): The concept of "bay'at," taking a pledge of allegiance to a spiritual guide (Shaykh), is presented as crucial for spiritual progress. They say that "you can’t call yourself Muslim without bay’at." This is not just a symbolic act, but a pathway to aligning one's will with God's will. They argue that without a guide, one cannot truly submit their will to the Divine. The Shaykh is presented as a living link to the Prophet (ﷺ), guiding the seeker on the path to God. The teaching insists that only through the hand of the Shaykh, whose hand is upon the hand of the Prophet, that one’s hand is actually a hand of Allah.
• The Ulul Amr (People of Authority): They mention "Ulul Amr," as saintly figures whose hands are upon the hand of Sayyidina Muhammad (ﷺ), that help people fulfill their covenant with Allah (AJ). The role of these guides is to teach, discipline, and help the student return to their original covenant.
• Spiritual Attorneys: The Saints are described as spiritual attorneys who understand the contract with Allah and help those on a spiritual path.

IV. Key Concepts and Metaphors

• Light and Darkness: The concepts of light and darkness are frequently used to represent spiritual truth and ignorance, respectively. The light of Muhammad (ﷺ) is seen as the ultimate source of guidance and enlightenment. The teachings talk of the immense light that flows from those in connection with the Prophet. They talk of stars as a metaphor for spiritual progress, with the concept that spiritual practitioners are “destined to be a star”.
• The Covenant: They talk about a “covenant” that all humans made with God before birth. They argue that the purpose of life is to fulfill this covenant.
• The Cave: The cave is presented as a place of transformation and connection to Haqqiqatul Muhammadiyah. The idea is that we are all in the cave, being dressed by these spiritual realities.
• The Nucleus: The metaphor of a nucleus with four supporting elements is used to describe the structure of Islamic teachings. It is used to describe the central role of the Prophet with the four great Caliphs.
• The Ocean: The ocean is used as a metaphor for the depth and breadth of divine knowledge.
• The Ship: The Earth is described as a ship and we are being carried on this ship by God.

V. Critique of Contemporary Practice

• Empty Ritualism: There is a critique of superficial religious practices, warning against focusing solely on the external aspects without internal transformation. They argue that many Muslims are going through rituals without the spiritual component. For example, they note people focusing on what to eat rather than trying to connect to the Divine while fasting. The sources also criticize those that make excessive ritual acts such as prayer and wo’doo, while having an impure heart.
• Lack of Inner Connection: They highlight the importance of not focusing on outer acts and ignoring the soul. They present an argument that the lack of connection of today's Muslims stems from them ignoring the inner realities of Islam.
• Worldly Attachments: There is a condemnation of worldly attachments and the pursuit of material gains, with an emphasis on self-sacrifice and service to others as key aspects of spiritual growth.

Conclusion

These excerpts from the teachings of Shaykh Nurjan Mirahmadi present a comprehensive view of Islamic spirituality, emphasizing inner transformation, love for God and the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), and the importance of spiritual guidance. Key recurring themes include humility, inner jihad, the purification of the heart, and the symbolic and inner dimensions of religious practices. The teachings strongly advocate for a personal connection with God, urging individuals to move beyond mere ritualism and embrace a path of sincere devotion and self-negation. They also present an argument that without the spiritual training of a guide, the path to God remains blocked.