DR. MOHAMMED SHOMALI 11 TH SEPT 2012

 The ship of Salvation –  “ Allahumma-ahmilna fii sufuni-najaatik – Sufun – is the plural of safinat.  “Most surely, Husayn is the light of guidance and the ark of salvation.” tradition from the Ahlulbayt a.s.  In this munajaat, the Imam talks about sufunni-najaat – the ark of Prophet Nuh a.s.  Prophet Nuh was given special mercy /rahmah. This rahmah was an ark of deliverance, an ark that would guarantee safety and refuge. But his own son refused to board on the ship of salvation.  The Prophet kindly asked his son to board on the ark but he refused and said he would take shelter on a top of a mount and that would save him. The son thought he was clever and would get protection. Prophet Nuh a.s. advised him of the punishment, except those who receive the Rahmaah from Allah swt.

 Concept of the ship of deliverance is very common in the Holy Quran and the traditions.  Knowledge of Allah swt, the prophet’s message is also considered as a deliverance.  Pleasure which comes from appreciating and benefitting the beauty of talking to Allah swt. It is the most profound deep pleasure – through the munajaat.  It is whispering to Allah swt and talking to him with intimacy.  He has given me permission, to talk to him and given us the medium to talk to Him at any time, any moment. We don’t need an appointment – but can talk in whispers.. He is Rabbul A’lameen.  In His hand are our life and death, our happiness, grief, sustenance, and all blessings from Allah swt.  This is the great kindness of Allah Himself. When we try and talk to Him, We will feel so honoured, the taste of this beautiful experience cannot be placed with anything else.  The sweetness of loving you cannot be replaced with something else.

 Awliya Allah – friends of Allah – We feel that they are worshipping constantly, and we feel pity, and we don’t say it, but we think it so negatively but for the friends of God it is a sweet delicacy and they wouldn’t want to miss it even for a moment. They are the ones who feel pity on those who are not in communion with Lord, Allah.  The pleasure of munajaat cannot be experienced with anything else.  “Please let us enter the pools of Your Love…..” It is a fountain that cannot be quenched except by being in intimacy with Him. This love, is something that one can only know when one experiences it.  When we are in the sea, or in water, we would be engulfed with it, overwhelmed positively. This is a very friendly way of God’s approach towards His close friends.  It is as though we have gone through a very harsh weather, very hot summer day, and when we dive into the beautiful, fresh cool water, we would feel the coolness in the whole body and enjoy its coolness.  Mawlavi Rumi says in his mathnavi, he talks about the sugarcane and using it as music, that sound is that sound of separation. This metaphor is synonymous to Allah’s separation.

 Mawwadat- and Wudd stem from the same word, it means love, affection and following the Ahlulbayt a.s.  God is near to us, but we need to be near to HIM.  Our life is full of struggles and hardships.  We have been created in difficulties – Holy Quran.  We need to strive even in this dunya, we strive and go through hardships in seeking knowledge, status, good family, being teachers, any type of ambition, we need to strive in order to be successful.  The most fortunate are those who struggle in Allah’s ways. Their target is the most valuable thing and the most eternal.  To achieve the akherat, we have to use the qur’an, Allah as a wasilah and of course the Ahlulbayt a.s.  Taking Allah’s wasilah, will make our journey short. Success is when we obey the orders of Allah and the Holy Prophet saww. This is a great achievement.  The above the are the eternal wasilahs.

 This is a very special place, in Allah’s sight.  They precede towards God’s honour, dignity and respect.  For example, if a king or a marjae gives you a gift i.e. a pen, it’s a great honour.  The chosen ones precede to reach the gifts of Allah, they expediate, being swift in doing good deeds.  Allah says in the Holy Quran on this subject in great depths.  Those who work swiftly in order to gain good deeds with everlasting results (baaqiyatu-saalehaat).  As long as we do virtuous deeds i.e. helping others, working in His way, is itself a virtue and will be eternal.  Those who make efforts in order to reach elevated stations, among the best of the best – Rafiiu-darajaat.  “Truly You have power over everything.” God has the will to do anything that is possible. Our contribution is also necessary to support in His way. For surely, He has the Power –qudrat.  We only need to our part and He is Arhamur-Rahimeen, the Most Merciful.