The Wash Cycles for the Heart
The Wash Cycles for the Heart by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahmatullah ‘alayh) Once, on viewing the Mataf from one of the upper levels of Masjidul Haram, the scene of thousands of people engaged in Tawaf brought to my mind the following analogy: Seeing thousands of people moving around the Baitullah reminded me of the wash cycles of the washing machine. Indeed, we find that we can draw parallels between the Tawaf and the work of the washing machine. The purpose of the washing machine is to wash our clothes clean. We place dirty clothes into the drum of the machine, and we add the detergent, bleach and softener. With a press of the Start button, the drum starts to spin, water pours in, and the machine does its work of extracting the dirt repeatedly until the final rinse. Once the drum stops, the clothes are taken out, hung up to dry, and when dry, they are ironed —with the result being well-pressed, crease-free, clean clothing. Tawaf resembles the purpose and work of the washing machine, except that we are not washing dirty clothes; instead, we are washing our hearts —our spiritual hearts Like how dirty clothes are placed into the washing machine, we put our dirty hearts into the Tawaf —hearts which are stained with all kinds of sins, including the ‘tough’ stains of major sins. What is not found in this heart? So much has soiled and spoilt our hearts: Pride, Jealousy, Malice, Vanity, Hubbe Dunya, Hubbe Jah, and the deep, dirty stains of lustful gazes, backbiting, and other such evils have blotted our hearts, smeared and blackened them. Before washing badly stained clothing, a stain remover is used. Accordingly, we apply to our hearts the stain remover of regret and remorse over our sins and earnest intention that what has passed has indeed passed. The Hajre Aswad can be likened to the ‘START’ button. The intention of Tawaf and the raising of the hands with ‘Bismillah Allahu Akbar wa- lillahil Hamd’ signify the commencement of the Tawaf. Simultaneously the washing of the heart commences. The detergents of Istighfar, Durud Sharif, and Zikrullah then contribute to the cleansing of the heart. Just as water gushes into the drum, Allah Ta’ala’s Tajalli, special mercy, and noor cascading onto the Baitullah drench those in Tawaf. These are the ones who are the first to benefit, and they benefit more than all others. Their hearts, too, are soaked with this Noor, similar to how dirty clothes become soaked with water. The detergent of sincere Istighfar and Taubah wash the heart. The amount of detergent a person needs for washing his clothes depends on the load size. So if our hearts are heavily loaded with sins, then naturally, the demand will be of plenty of Taubah and Istighfar. If we want our hearts to be white, the bleach of Zikrullah is added to the Tawaf, just as bleach is used when a person wants his white clothes to be as white as possible. If we want our hearts to be soft, then the softener of Durood Shareef is also released into the washing of our hearts. Each round of the Baitullah is similar to the wash and rinse the dirty clothing goes through for a good wash. Round and round, each cycle is completed with Istighfar and Taubah, Durud Sharif, Dua and Zikrullah. Together with that Tajalli, the dirt of the heart is extracted until the final rinse and —the 7th round. Now the heart is clean and purified. If we enter the Tawaf with total concentration on Allah Ta’ala and complete focus on the great privilege of Tawaf of Baitullah – which is, in reality, Tawaf of Rabbul-Bait, then we will experience that beautiful Noor and that Tajalli. Naturally, for the full benefit of Tawaf, the gaze has to be controlled. If a person has ‘khauf-e-Khuda’ and ‘Azmat’ of Baitullah, he will not raise his glance towards strange women; he will not cast an evil gaze – in the Tawaf and out of Tawaf. If during Tawaf, the person is engaging in lustful gazes and other sins, there will be just an accumulation of darkness and dirt. Once the heart is washed, it is taken out of the Tawaf – clean, bright, and white. After completing the 2 Rakats of Wajib Salah after Tawaf, the person proceeds to the Multazam, where he places his chest against the wall. That pressing of his chest is akin to pressing and ironing the “creases” of his heart, similar to how clothes are ironed, making them ‘crease-free’. The tears shed at the Multazam are like droplets of sweet musk which now fragrance that heart. SubhanAllah, what a sparkling heart, emitting the sweetest of scents. Whilst we will sense it – Insha Allah – we will have to thereafter look after this cleanliness and this sparkle. We have to make sure that we fulfil the rights of Taubah by making amends for our shortcomings in Huququllah (the rights of Allah Ta’ala) and Huququl Ibad (the rights of the servants of Allah Ta’ala). Whatever is outstanding of Salah, Zakah, and fasts will have to be made up for, and whatever is due to people will have to be returned to them, or forgiveness secured from them. May Allah Ta’ala grant us all the Taufiq of making such Tawafs, which only increase our hearts in purity and whiteness and increase that Qurb (proximity) to the Owner of the House, Aameen.
The Magnet That Pulls Hearts
The Magnet That Pulls Hearts by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahmatullah ‘alayh) We know that magnets draw different metals: steel, iron, nickel and other material. Imagine if the Ka’bah Sharif had the properties of a magnet. How much would it have drawn —considering its proportions and weight? One ton? Two tons? Perhaps ten tons? However, the Ka’bah Sharif is not a magnet like the magnets of this world. Whilst it is made of stone, it contains Allah Ta’ala’s Tajalliyaat. It thus has a different kind of magnetic effect. It does not draw metal; instead, it draws the hearts. Subhanallah! Throughout history, we find that the Baitullah drew the hearts of the Ambiyaa (‘alayhimus salam) to it. It drew the Mubarak heart of Sayyidul Mursalin (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), and it pulled the hearts of all the Sahabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), the Tabi’een, Tabu’t Tabi’een, millions of Auliya-e-Siddiqin, Gauth, Qutub and Abdaal. It also pulls sinful, sinful ones like us. The Ka’bah Sharif has such magnetism, which draws and pulls and attracts millions and billions. Unlike a magnet which has limitations regarding the amount it draws, we find people pouring into Makkah Mukarramah, into Masjidul Haraam, because their hearts are pulled to the Mubarak Baitullah. And there is no end to the number of people. This attraction is not because of the stone; it is due to the Tajalliyat of Allah Ta’ala, which pulls the hearts that have the commodity of Imaan. For a magnet to draw another metal, the metal has to have specific properties. Without it, there is no attraction and no pull. Once these properties are found, the metal is drawn, and we see how it clings to the magnet. Imaan is the necessary component in the heart, which the Tajalliyat of Allah Ta’ala pulls. A person’s heart desires to be nearer and nearer to Baitullah, desires to cling onto the Multazam, to enter the Hatim, to hold onto the Ghilaaf of the Kab’ah Sharif, to make Istilam of Hajre Aswad and to touch the Rukne Yamani. If a knife is taken and is constantly rubbed against a magnet, it will draw the properties of the magnet and will be able to also draw metals. There used to be a shoemaker outside my late father’s shop in the old days. He used to have a magnet, and he used to take a knife or piece of metal and rub it over the magnet. The effect of the magnet would then be evident in the knife or piece of metal, and it would be able to also draw nails and other such items. In those days, we even saw the ladies in the family use magnets to pick up their pins and needles. Since the blade or the knife made contact with the magnet, it drew that magnetic effect. The greater the effort made and the more the knife rubbed against the magnet, the more it increased in its magnetic effect. If contact was for a lengthy time, the magnetic effect would be strong; if for a short time, the magnetic effect would be temporary; and if there was no contact, then there would be no effect. The friends of Allah Ta’ala have made such effort on their hearts with their Mujahadah (Striving) and Ibaadaat; they have “rubbed” their hearts – so to speak – with the Zikr of Allah Ta’ala and with Durood Sharif. Their hearts are filled with such Ishq and Ma’rifat of Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul (Sallallaahu’ alayhi wasallam) that their hearts also became like magnets. Similar to how the Ka’bah Sharif pulls the hearts of people, these pious servants also cause the hearts of people to be attracted towards them. Since the heart has drawn the “magnetic” effect of Allah Ta’ala’s Love, it also draws people’s hearts. In the company of the Auliya Allah, we will draw that love of Allah Ta’ala and Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), that Khashiyat and Yaqin. Zikrullah and Durood Sharif will increase the strength of our hearts until our hearts, too, will become like magnets.
Tajalli Conductor
A person asked me a question regarding a talk wherein I mentioned that Allah Ta’ala’s Tajalli cascades down upon the Baytullah like a waterfall and drenches all who are making Tawaaf and are near the Ka’bah Sharif. The person mentioned that when Musa (عليه السلام) requested that Allah Ta’ala manifest Himself to him, Allah Ta’ala responded that Musa (عليه السلام) would not be able to see Him, but instead, he should look at the mountain. When Allah Ta’ala manifested His Tajalli upon the mountain, the entire mountain crumbled to dust, and Moosa (عليه السلام) fell unconscious. Allah Ta’ala mentions this incident in Surah Al-A’raf: When Musa came at the appointed time, and his Lord spoke to him, he asked, “My Lord! Reveal Yourself to me so I may see You.” Allah answered, “You cannot see Me! But look at the mountain. If it remains firm in its place, only then will you see Me.” When his Lord appeared to the mountain, He levelled it to dust, and Musa collapsed unconscious. When he recovered, he cried, “Glory be to You! I turn to You in repentance, and I am the first of the believers.” [Surah Al-A’raf 7:143] His question was: Why does this Tajalli —descending upon Baytullah not render the Ka’bah Sharif and Haram Sharif into fragments, like in the case of the mountain? And why is it that we also do not fall unconscious with the Tajalli of Allah Ta’ala descending upon Ka’bah Sharif? Allah Ta’ala’s Infinite kindness that on listening to the question Allah Ta’ala placed a beautiful answer in my mind. And I replied: “Lightning is highly destructive and causes great damage. It is known that lightning is attracted to the highest point in any specific area and can destroy tall buildings. Allah Ta’ala inspired man to invent a simple device whereby tall buildings are protected. This device is known as the lightning conductor or lightning rod. The lightning conductor provides a conducting path and directs the lightning charge down to the earth. This safely discharges the energy into the ground; otherwise, the lightning would hit the building and cause damage. The conductor is a means of protection for the building, machines, equipment and the people inside. So if Allah Ta’ala gave man the intelligence to protect buildings and protect himself from lightening, then what is it difficult for Him to have established a Tajalli “Conductor”, whereby the Baytullah, the entire Haram Sharif, and all the people therein are protected —yet they still benefit tremendously from that Tajalli —that special Noor and Mercy pouring down in torrents?” Alhamdulillah, the brother appreciated the response and may Allah Ta’ala also accept. May Allah Ta’ala grant us the Taufeeq of making the most of the beautiful opportunities whilst being in the Haram Sharif – whether in Tawaf, watching the Baytullah, engaging in Salaah, Dua, Tilawah, Zikrullah, Istighfaar, Durood Sharif —all of which is multiplied in rewards and is a means of great Noor and purification, Aameen.