Jalaluddin Rumi (qs), the great mystical poet and master of classical Islamic spirituality, often referred to as Sufism, stated in one of his beautiful and eloquent verses, “If you are irritated by every rub, how will you be polished?”
If you are irritated by every rub, how will you be polished?
Jalaluddin Rumi (qs)
In this simple yet direct statement, the great Rumi (qs), also known as Jalaluddin Balkhi in reference to Balkh, his place of origin and birth, points out that upon the path to the Divine Presence of God, the seeker must become purified of the ego-self, which is the singular veil between the servant and his or her Lord, the Creator, Allah Almighty.
Rumi: If You Are Irritated By Every Rub, How Will You Be Polished?
Upon the classical path of spiritual development, transformation and awakening, it has ever been the role, function and duty of a spiritual teacher, commonly known as a shaykh, to train and develop his students and companions not so much by formal and academic instruction, but rather through necessitating the humbling of the self, for only through humility, submission and surrender can a human being become purified of the ego and the self, which are the impediments to awakening to the Divine Presence of God.
The classical approach to spiritual awakening is thus fundamentally different from more modern approaches to faith, spirituality and development, which often are characterized by formal and academic instruction on the one hand, and by indulgence of the self and the ego on the other.
To the contrary, the classical path of faith-based spiritual development, offers the self little to no quarter, and the traditional teachers and trainers of the way rather than indulge the ego of the disciple instead create situations and circumstances designed to develop humility through surrender and submission.
In this way, the student of sacred knowledge progressively develops freedom from the ego and mastery over the mind—the seat and domain of the ego, or the false self—and so begins to develop transcendence of the self and the lower world.
It is for this reason that my noble teacher and master, Shaykh Muhammad Nazim Adil al-Haqqani (qs), stated that upon the authentic path of spiritual development and awakening, patience and humility are more valuable than academic study and formal instruction.
Upon this path, more valuable than memorizing books of knowledge is learning to tolerate disliked things.
Shaykh Muhammad Nazim Adil al-Haqqani (qs)
Sadly, we now live in a world and increasingly a global culture that rather than humble the ego seeks to indulge, appease, validate and assert the self. Consequently, human beings are now more veiled from the light of the Divine Presence on a collective scale than ever before, and the Children of Adam (as) are increasingly falling away from faith and belief, descending deeper into a world of materialism and the worship of the self, resulting increasingly in hopeless, fear, stress, anxiety, despair, despondency, disconnection and depression.
The consequences of such an approach and paradigm are and have been disastrous, for the degree to which the ego is appeased and asserted, not only do divine blessings depart, but conflict and chaos increasingly manifest. Now, more than ever before, the most basic of human relations are in crisis and collapse, for only through humility can harmony be achieved and experienced.
As believers, it is critical we now return to classical and traditional methods and approaches to both faith, religion and spirituality as well as to life and living, seeking to cultivate excellence, nobility and beauty of character through humility, and seeking the sacred and divine pleasure of God rather than the appeasing, assertion, validation and vindication of the self.
Only by surrendering and submitting to the cleansing, purification and polishing of the mirror of the self do we as human beings fulfill our divinely destined role and responsibility as deputies and representatives of the Divine, making possible the reflection, transmission and flow of His divine light, mercy, peace and presence into creation, and thus our own health, happiness and harmony.
To your divine and eternal success.
9 Responses
The purpose of education is to know God. Education is derived from the term educare’ meaning to release our innate talents skills and gifts provided by to each individual by the only Power and Reality
Very insightful, thank you for sharing, Ibrahim. Allah Almighty’s divine peace and protection be with you.
The journey to the spiritual part requires almost everything we love, just as you’ve said we have to kill the self from this world, although it’s a very difficult part, it practically requires you to do everything you don’t want to do and once you start doing it that’s the break through
Peace and light, Hamza. I would also add that it is important to have guidance and mentorship upon the path, for there are many pitfalls and the ego is always a step ahead, for we are in our own blindspot. Be well and blessed, to your divine and eternal success.
You’re right most times if I’m losing it I just go straight to YouTube and watch your videos that’s how I get back on the right track, where I stay no one to stand as my mentor because everyone I meet tend to discourage me from this part you’re the first person that talked to my heart and soul, the very first time I watched your video it redefined my thoughts and doubts about islam you’re a God sent to my life
Thanks for everything, wish you can stand as my mentor it’ll be a more blessing to me
We are each guided to what we are destined for and that suits our souls. Stay connected, brother Hamza. I suggest joining us in Awakenings Academy, in which you’ll have access to most of my courses and programs and we can connect directly, as well as have additional support from many others upon the same path and way. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions. In Allah Almighty’s divine light, peace and protection.
Thanks a lot may Allah reward you with good
I’ll join the Academy right away
السلام علیکم و رحمتہ اللہ و برکاتہ،
بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
حدیث شریف: قال رسول الله صل الله تبارك و تعالٰى عليه افضل الصلاة و السلام تحية التسليم
أَدِّبُوا أولادَكم على ثلاثِ خِصالٍ :
١) على حُبِّ نبيِّكم،
٢) وحُبِّ أهلِ بيتِهِ،
٣) وعلى قراءةِ القرآنِ،
فإن حَمَلَةَ القرآنِ في ظِلِّ اللهِ يومَ لا ظِلَّ إلا ظِلُّهُ، مع أنبيائِه وأصْفِيَائِهِ
The Holy Master Hadrat Sayyidina Wa Maulana Rasool’Allah Sallallahu Ta’ala A’alaihi Afdalu AlsSalatu AlsSalam Wa Tahiyyatu AltTasleem said:
“Train your children in three things:
1) The love of your Prophet A’alaihi Afdalu AlsSalatu AlsSalam ﷺ
2) The love of his ﷺ progeny, i.e. Ahlul Bayit Ridwan’Allahi A’alaihim Ajmaeen,
3) And recitation of the Holy Qur’an Al-Kareem,
For indeed the bearers of the Holy Qur’an Al-Kareem will be under the shade of Allah’s Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala Throne (عرش الله) with the Holy Prophets A’alaihim AlsSalam and chosen ones (Ahl Al-Bayit), on a day in which there will be no other shade.
Al-Jami’-ul-Saghir, vol. 1, p. 14
السلام علیکم و رحمتہ اللہ و برکاتہ،
Clearly the Hadith Shareef quoted above tells us to teach our children first and foremost adab and love of our Master and his holy progeny then the learning of (علم) ilm is prescribed.
But today in our society this concept is non-existence. The young parents in our society today have it in reverse order. We’ve somehow skipped the first two steps and have made it a priority for our children to acquire ilm (knowledge) without terbiyet (تر بیت) training of adab and love.
This is the epitome of what I think you are alluding to in the last two paragraphs of your article above. “As believers, it is critical we now return to classical and traditional methods…..”
My grandfather ( may Allah A’azzah Wa Jal have Mercy on him) used to say “learn to read & write in madrasa but then practical application should only be taught by a faqeer.” Then he went on to define the faqeer as follows; “a faqeer is one who knows sabr, humility, taqwa, the one who strictly abstains as well as adheres to the do’s and don’ts of the Islamic Shari’a. Find a faqeer and seek his company.
Guide us to the Right Path, the Path of those upon whom you have bestowed favours,…..
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَآ إِلَّا ٱلۡبَلَـٰغُ ٱلۡمُبِينُ
Allah A’azzah Wa Jal and Habib’Allah A’alaihi AlsSalatu AlsSalam knows best.
Appreciate the meaningful article above you have very accurately diagnosed the fundamental issue we the Muslim society is facing today.
شکرًا و جزاکم اللہ خیرًا،
سَيِّدْ شَاه خَواجَا مُحْيِ الدِّين نَبِيْره القَادِرِيْ اَلْحَمَوِيْ
Beautifully said, and yes, this is precisely the key to success and the divine pleasure of Allah Almighty, for true development and knowing—beyond information—comes through the love and companionship of the Prophet ﷺ and the rightly guided, they upon whom is Allah Almighty’s favor and grace. May He Almighty guide and keep us. To your divine and eternal success.