From the collection ‘Shaykh ul Aalam’s Advice for the Seeker’
The Shaykh said:
I have seen nowadays that people carry their luggage [in a suitcase] attached to a handle and two wheels. I have not yet, however, seen anyone push it from behind – instead, I have seen that the person goes ahead whilst the suitcase follows behind. And the extraordinary thing is that he does not look behind him to see “how is the suitcase doing?” He does not look back; he simply continues to walk ahead listening to the sound of the wheels. He does not observe behind – why? Because the successful traveler (musaafir) does not look back, he does not remove his sight from his destination.
O believer, you are traveler. And what is your final point (inteha)? Belonging to the Door of the Prophet, your home is Jannah. That is where your sight is. Your luggage i.e. the world, keep it behind you! Keep the Door of your Beloved in front. Why should the world come in between you and your Beloved? Do not leave it [the world] yet do not keep it in between. Keep it behind you, and you proceed ahead. Yet do not leave it. Your pace (raftaar) shall not stop, nor shall your character (kirdaar) decrease, nor shall your speech (guftaar) be at fault, nor shall the signs in your vision diminish. That is the beautiful life of a believer.
When the person grasps the suitcase with two wheels, he does not let go. Yet how different it is when, at the time of sleep, the suitcase is released. When the person sleeps, everything goes. That which he had grasped in his hand for a whole ten hours, now the grip of his hand upon it loosens; the handle goes, everything goes. Allah! But when does he sleep? Once he has reached his destination. Which sleep is this? Respected ones, this is the final sleep; the final sleep. In the final sleep, the suitcase has been released; at this time, the eyes are closed, and when they open, the suitcase is not there, the Master of both worlds (kawnayn ka Sultan i.e. Sayyidina RasulAllah) is in front of him.
Those who kept the suitcase ahead of them, they became of no use, disgraced, nameless. Yet those who kept that suitcase behind them, they became successful (shaad kaam), elevated in rank (ba maqaam), esteemed in name i.e. granted good reputation.
Put this world behind you, keep the Beloved Master in front. And proceed, proceed, proceed.
Do not abandon this world, but tell this world: “I have my hand upon your neck; you are not the ruler (haakim) over me, I am your ruler.” Do not live according to the wish of the world, but enforce it to submit according to your wish. And you should only submit according to the wish of the Master (i.e. Sayyidina RasulAllah). Lower yourself, so that when the Master raises you, it will be past the ‘Arsh (Divine Throne) and towards the Vision of the Lord.
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