برهانيات كوم
Burhani Lecture
A lecture by the late Dr. Ibrahim al-DessouqiTransaltion: Khaled Farid, MontrealThe straight pathThe ordinary Muslim reads the Fatiha at least 17 times a day, once in each Rakaat. Every time we read the Fatiha we say: "Ahdina al Sirat al Mustaqim", which means: "Guide us to the straight path".About the right path, Mawlana said: "If you think of the state of the whole nation since the beginning of Islam to this day, the path has never been straight." So what is this straight path then?It is the path of those who have been described further in Fatiha: "The way of those upon whom Thou hast bestowed favors, not of those who have incurred Thy wrath, nor of those who have gone astray."Contrary to the general belief that those who have incurred the favor of Allah are the Jews, and the ones who have gone astray are the Christians, this explanation does not hold up because of the use of the negative propositions (not) and (nor). Who are they then?About those upon whom Allah has bestowed His favors, Mawlana said: "I am in the most truthful of my two lives covered with favors." Then who are they exactly? The story of the Servant of the Prophet (PBUH), called Sayyidina Thawban provides the answer to this question. He only left the prophet whenever the Prophet (PBUH) gave him his leave at the end of the day. But his love for the Prophet (PBUH) was so intense that he did not return home; instead, he spent the night circling around the house of the Prophet (PBUH) as a pilgrim does around the Kaaba.One day as the Prophet (PBUH) was leaving his house he found Sayyidina Thawban standing outside the door; He asked him what he was doing there, and Sayyidina Thawban replied: "O Prophet there is one thing that worries me. If I cannot stand the thought of being separated from you in this life, how will I do it in the other life? Even if I were to go to Paradise, you will be at a much higher level than mine and I will not be able to see you.” The Prophet (PBUH) smiled at him and it was then that the verse that clearly identified those upon whom Allah has bestowed his favors arrived: " And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger - those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favor of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions. (Al Nisa: 69).So everytime we read al-Fatiha, we are effectively saying to Allah, "You have given us the command to choose our companions well, so guide us to the path of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous.. Here is a very powerful argument against the accusations of those who accuse us of shirk because we seek the company of the virtuous.This then is the straight path. It is that of ahl a bayt whose company we must seek. And this straight path begins with Fatema daughter of the Prophet and the line is uninterrupted until the arrival of Sayyidina al Mahdi.Mawlana Sidi Fakhreddin said:My path and that of the Prophet who saved meThose who envy me shall the right path shall never findThey have incurred the wrath (of Allah) who has scattered themLike those who are lost but what about my nation?The will of the Lord in 73 factions has divided itOnly one of whom salvation shall findThat which in the love of ahl al bayt has sought refugeIn this life without their love asylum can there be?They are the end and the means, whoever loves them shall be savedFinally, the Quran tells us: "And follow the path of one who turns towards me (the believers) (Luqman: 15). The message is clear, there are people who turn towards Allah and we are ordered to find them and follow them. These are Ahl al Bayt. Our beloved mashayekhs.May Allah guide us to the straight path.
