Spreading the beneficence of Ism-e-Mohammad along with king of invocations Hoo (ھُو) is solely the marvel of Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen. Undoubtedly, it is one of his greatest achievements. Notably, his spiritual guide Sultan-ul-Faqr VI, among lacs of disciples chose him alone to grant the contemplation of Ism-e-Mohammad. Before death, his spiritual guide imparted these words to him:
“I entrust you Ism-e-Allah Zaat and Ism-e-Mohammad. Now, it is your responsibility to spread its beneficence.” (Sultan-ul-Faqr VI Sultan Mohammad Asghar Ali Life and Teachings)
Thus, following the will of his spiritual guide, Sultan ul Ashiqeen Sultan Mohammad Najib-ur-Rehman spread the beneficence of Ism-e-Mohammad among his disciples.
Significance of Ism-e-Mohammad
Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen says in his book Shams ul Fuqara (English: Sufism the soul of Islam) while explaining the secrets, marvels, blessings and effects of Ism-e-Mohammad:
During the life of the Holy Prophet his sacred Companions crossed all the spiritual stages of gnosis of Allah by the privilege of his closeness, attention and beholding his sacred face. After him all the seekers of gnosis found presence in Mohammadan Assembly through the contemplation of his sacred name and got spiritual beneficence. Without his guidance and help no one has ever reached Allah and no one ever will. Unless his attention is bestowed, neither the soul of a seeker becomes alive nor finds gnosis and union.
In this age the only way to get his spiritual beneficence is the invocation and contemplation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat and contemplation of Ism-e-Mohammad which takes the seeker spiritually to the Mohammadan Assembly and grants him the honour of spiritual company of the Holy Prophet and his sacred Companions. When a seeker stays in this assembly with patience, perseverance, respect, modesty, devotion and obedience leaving desires and dependence on others only then he becomes capable of gnosis. Hence reaches the station of belovedness and union with Allah. (Sufism the soul of Islam)
There are infinite attributive names of Allah but Allah ( اَللّٰہُ ) is His personal name. Similarly, there are many attributive names of the Holy Prophet, but Mohammad ( محمد ) is his personal name. Moreover, as previously described, Allah ( اَللّٰہُ ) is the most powerful name of Almighty Allah. Likewise, for the Holy Prophet, Mohammad ( محمد ) is the most effective and powerful name.
Manifestation of Divine Light
When the Saints reveal the fact that Allah first of all manifested Himself in the form of Ism-e-Allah Zaat, then by saying Zaat they actually refer to the light or Essence of Mohammad who is the first manifestation of the light of Allah. Hence, proved that Ism-e-Mohammad is not separate or different from Ism-e-Allah Zaat. Rather Ism-e-Allah Zaat concealed Ism-e-Mohammad in its Essence. Or we can say that Ism-e-Allah Zaat veiled over Ism-e-Mohammad. That is why Allah has declared His beloved Mohammad’s hand as His Hand and his words as Allah’s Words. As Allah says in the Quran:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُبَايِعُونَكَ إِنَّمَا يُبَايِعُونَ اللَّهَ يَدُ اللَّهِ فَوْقَ أَيْدِيهِمْ ۚ فَمَنْ نَّكَثَ فَإِنَّمَا يَنْكُثُ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ ۖ وَمَنْ أَوْفَىٰ بِمَا عَاهَدَ عَلَيْهُ اللَّهَ فَسَيُؤْتِيهِ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
Meaning: O Beloved! Those who swear oath of allegiance upon your hands in fact swear oath at Allah’s Hand. And Allah’s Hand is upon their hands. (48:10)
وَمَا يَنْطِقُ عَنِ الۡہَوٰی. إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىٰ
Meaning: And he (the Holy Prophet) says nothing out of his own will. Whatever he says is an outright revelation sent to him by Allah. (53: 3-4) (Sufism -The Soul of Islam)
While explaining about Ism-e-Allah Zaat Sultan Bahoo said that Ism-e-Mohammad manifested from Ism-e-Allah. Just as the light of Mohammad manifested from that of Allah. Hence, Ism-e-Mohammad is a form of Ism-e-Allah Zaat. Furthermore, Sultan Bahoo in Mehak-ul-Faqr Kalan said;
The explanation of the saying of the Holy Prophet اَلْفَقْرُ فَخْرِی (Faqr is my pride) is that the path of Faqr begins with Ism-e-Allah Zaat. In other words, Fakirs attain their level by Ism-e-Allah, which is the pride of the Holy Prophet. Ultimately, Ism-e-Allah transforms into Ism-e-Mohammad. As Allah says in a Qudsi Hadith, “(O Mohammad!) I am you and you are Me.” Hence proved that these two names are of the same Divine Entity. That is why he said اَلْفَقْرُ فَخْرِیْ وَالْفَقْرُ مِنِّیْ . Meaning: “Faqr is my pride and Faqr is from me.” (Mehak-ul-Faqr Kalan)
Ism-e-Mohammad has all the powers and effects of Ism-e-Allah Zaat. However, Ism-e-Allah Zaat has the Divine majesty (Jalal) as well as the Divine beauty (Jamal). To put another way, it has both wrath and kindness. While Ism-e-Mohammad has the Divine beauty only. It is the absolute compassion and mercy, so it has more pleasant effects on the inward of a seeker. By the contemplation of Ism-e-Mohammad the seeker becomes completely obedient to the laws of sharia. Hence, becoming fully compliant to Allah.
Exegesis of Ism-e-Mohammad
Sultan Bahoo where fully explained and described Ism-e-Allah Zaat there he also narrates the knowledge, effects and marvels of Ism-e-Mohammad. The exegesis of Ism-e-Mohammad by Sultan Bahoo is:
From the letter (M) of (Mohammad), seeker gains gnosis of Allah. While, by the letter (H) Allah grants him the presence in the Mohammadan Assembly. Furthermore, by the second (M) of (Mohammad) he gets the observation of both the worlds. And lastly, by the letter (D) he gains all the objectives just in the beginning. Indeed, all these four letters are like a sheathless sword to kill the infidel inciting innerself. (Kaleed-e-Jannat)
Moreover, Sultan Bahoo narrates about the stations gained due to contemplation of Ism-e-Mohammad and experiencing theophanies from its letters. In his book Aqal-e-Baydar, he said:
Ism-e-Mohammad has four Arabic letters which are (M), (H), (M) and (D). By the command over the (first) (M), seeker access to the Mohammadan Assembly. The command over (H) is presence in the sacred assembly. Then, the command over (second) (M) is absorption in the Divine light of Mohammad. Finally, (D) means not a single breath is void of the conversation of the Prophet Mohammad sall’Allahu alayhi wa’alihi wasallam. (Aqal-e-Baydar)
A seeker must practice the contemplation of Ism-e-Mohammad with the permission of the perfect spiritual guide only. As only the perfect spiritual attention of an accomplished spiritual guide can reveal its secrets upon the seeker. In Ism-e-Mohammad, every letter of Mohammad (محمد) possesses great power and efficacy. Thus, its contemplation makes a seeker feel very positive changes in his innerself. As, his inward enlightens by the luminous effects of the Divine light of these letters. Gradually, seeker starts acquiring the morals and attributes of the Holy Prophet which made him the beloved of Allah. Also, his inciting innerself dies and the soul becomes alive. In turn, his soul liberates from the limitations of the physical body and boundaries of the material world. Thus, he reaches the Mohammadan Assembly. Here the Holy Prophet himself guides him. Ultimately, he acquires his sacred attributes and becomes the beloved of Allah.
Effects of Contemplation of Ism-e-Mohammad
While discussing the effects of contemplation of Ism-e-Mohammad on the personality of the seeker, Sultan Bahoo states the following:
Other Effects
- By the contemplation of the Ism-e-Mohammad, the seeker acquires the reality of Divine knowledge. (Kaleed-e-Jannat)
- When one contemplates Ism-e-Mohammad, he relinquishes everything except Allah and sees the Mohammadan Assembly. Therefore, he becomes the humble and modest lover of the Holy Prophet and the beloved of Allah Almighty. (Aqal-e-Baydar)
- (Through contemplation of Ism-e-Mohammad), the Divine light of Ism-e-Mohammad enters the body of a seeker . (As a result, the blessing of) Ism-e-Mohammad solves all his matters. (Aqal-e-Baydar)
The Perfect and Accomplished Spiritual Guide grants Ism e Mohammad
Sultan Bahoo titles the perfect and accomplished to such spiritual guide who grants his seekers Ism-e-Allah Zaat and Ism-e-Mohammad. He says:
Listen! Perfect and accomplished spiritual guide is the one who gives the beautifully written Ism-e-Allah Zaat or Ism-e-Mohammad. These are the medium towards Allah and shows the Divine reality to the seeker. Whatever the seeker observes through Ism-e-Allah and Ism-e-Mohammad is undoubtedly true. Certainly, the disciple who turns away from such spiritual guide in fact, turns away from Ism-e-Allah and Ism-e-Mohammad. The Islamic creed (kalimah tayyibah) also contains these two holy names, so he actually turns away from the creed. Also, the one who turns away from the creed becomes an apostate. And know that, Allah accepts none of the prayers and worships of an apostate. (Ain-ul-Faqr)
Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen Grants Ism-e-Mohammad Every Year
Every year on Eid Mawlid an-Nabi (the sacred birthday of the Holy Prophet), Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen bestows Ism-e-Mohammad to the seekers of Allah. Especially to the ones upon whom Allah has already revealed the reality of Ism-e-Allah Zaat. And also, they have spiritually succeeded in crossing the initial stages. In this way, every year Ism-e-Mohammad confers upon hundreds of seekers of Allah (both men and women). The seekers are very fortunate to gain beneficence of Ism-e-Allah Zaat and Ism-e-Mohammad so often now. This has been possible through the auspicious and enlightened self of Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen Sultan Mohammad Najib-ur-Rehman. As once, this blessing was for the special ones only and was not even perceivable by the common man.
Indeed, every act of Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen is reflection of the following verses of Allama Iqbal:
قوتِ عشق سے ہر پست کو بالا کر دے
دہر میں اسمِ محمدؐ سے اجالا کر دے
Explanation: O Allah raise the spiritual levels of the Mohammadan nation with the power of Your love in their souls. So, they eventually ascend to You. Also, enlighten this world with the Divine light of Ism-e-Mohammad so people recognize Your Holy Essence.
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