MAN'S PERFECTION (I)

Hadrat Muhammad Ma’thûm says in the 50th letter of the first volume of his Maktûbât:

Man’s perfection lies in his realization of his being fânî (transitory, subject to nonexistence). The ultimate objective of the Sharî’at and the Tarîqat is to lead man to the realization that he is a mere nothing. Making a fame by displaying wonders and miracles, on the other hand, caters to feelings of self-conceit, which in turn deprives one of the benefits of the Sharî’at and the Tarîqat. A person who is in this state will not attain any ma’rifats. Abû Sa’îd Abu-l-khayr,^[1] one of the greatest Awliyâ, was asked: “So and so walks on water (without sinking. What do you think)?” He replied, “It is quite easy. Seagulls walk on water, too.” They said, “So and so flies in air.” He said, “Birds and flies can fly, too.” When they said, “So and so goes from one city to another in a flash,” his answer was: “The devil also can travel from the far east to the far west in the same breath. Such things are of no value. A manly person will lead a life like anybody else. He will do shopping. He will get married. And he will not forget Allâhu ta’âlâ even for a moment.”

Shihâb-ud-dîn Suhrawardî,^[2] a great Walî, after giving detailed information about wonders and miracles in his book Awârif, brings his discourse to the following conclusion: “All these wonders and kerâmats are almost nothing when compared to the heart’s drilling dhikr of Allâhu ta’âlâ.”

[1] Abû Sa’îd Abu-l-khâyr passed away in 440 [A.D. 1048].

[2] Shihâb-ud-dîn ’Umar Suhrawardî Shâfi’î Siddîqî passed away in Baghdad in 636 [A.D. 1234].