The Firâsa

Shaikh al-Islâm ’Abdullâh al-Hirawî (rahimah-Allâhu ta’âlâ) said, ‘The firâsa (intuition, sagacity) or karâma of the one who has ma’rifa is the ability to distinguish those hearts which are suited for attaining the ma’rifa of Allâhu ta’âlâ from those which are not suited. As for those who undertake hunger and austerity, their firâsa covers the secret knowledge about creatures; they cannot attain Allâhu ta’âlâ’s ma’rifa. Awliyâ’ who possess ma’rifa always talk about Allâhu ta’âlâ. However, people think that the one who tells secrets about creatures is a walî. [3] People do not believe the words of awliyâ’ about the ma’ârif of Allâhu ta’âlâ. They say to themselves that if awliyâ’ were really awliyâ’ they would have known the secrets about creatures and that anyone who cannot know the secrets about creatures can never know Allâhu ta’âlâ. They, being stuck in this wrong thought, do not believe awliyâ’ (rahimahum-Allâhu ta’âlâ). Allâhu ta’âlâ, because He loves His awliyâ’ very much, does not let them be busy with creatures. He does not even make them remember creatures. Men of Allah do not like those who are fond of the world, and, likewise, those who are addicted to the world cannot recognize and do not like men of Allah, who, however, can comprehend and reveal the secrets about creatures better than others if they mean to think about them. Because the firâsa of those who undertake austerities and hunger are of no value, they may occur on Muslims, Jews, Christians or on any person; firâsa is not particular to men of Allah only.