HADHRAT YAHYA MU-AAZ RAAZI (Rahmatullah alayh)

HADHRAT YAHYA MU-AAZ RAAZI

(Rahmatullah alayh)

* The Mashaaikh say that Allah Ta’ala had two Yahyas. One among the Ambiya, viz., Hadhrat Nabi Yahya (alayhis salaam), and one among the Auliya, viz. Hadhrat Yahya Mu-aaz Raazi (Rahmatullah alayh).

* Hadhrat Yahya Muaaz (Rahmatullah alayh), addressing his Mureeds, said: “Remember that abandonment of Uboodiyat and Ibaadat is Dhalaalat (deviation from Siraatul Mustaqeem), Khauf (Fear for Allah Ta’ala) and Raja’ (Hope in Allah Ta’ala) are two fundamentals of Imaan. The Khaa-if (the one in whom khauf is dominant) worships for the fear of being discarded by Allah Ta’ala, and the Raaji’ (the one in whom raja’ is dominant), worships in the hope of reaching the destination by Allah Ta’ala.

Remember that as long as Ibaadat is not proper, neither will khauf be proper nor raja’. When Ibdaat is proper, the Saalik is then not without khauf and raja’. (Rasulullah – sallallahu alayhi wasallam said – “Imaan is between fear and hope.”)

* After the era of the Khulafa-e-Raashideen the first person from the assembly of Sufiya who had mounted the mimbar for giving a wa’z (discourse) was Hadhrat Yahya Mu-aaz.

* One day in a gathering of 4000 people, after mounting the mimbar, he scanned the audience and dismounted, saying: “The person for whose sake I had climbed the mimbar is not present.”

* Hadhrat Yahya Mu-aaz (Rahmatullah alayh) had a brother who had settled in Makkah Muazzamah. Once his brother sent him a letter. In the letter he wrote:

   “I had wished for three things. Two wishes have already been fulfilled. Make dua that the third wish is also fulfilled. My first wish was to settle in a holy place. The holiest place is the Ka’bah. Now that I have reached Makkah Muazzamah, this wish has been fulfilled.

   My second wish was to have a servant to assist me. This too has been fulfilled. My third wish is to see you before my Maut. Make dua for the fulfilment of this wish as well.”

Hadhrat Yahya Mu-aaz wrote back: “Regarding your first wish, you, yourself, should become the holiest of creation, then live in any place of your choice. Remember that places become holy because of men of holiness. A man does not become holy because of a place.

Regarding your second wish, if you had honour and integrity, you would not have made Allah’s slave your slave thereby preventing the slave from serving Allah Ta’ala. You, yourself should become a servant, not wishing to be served. Remember that Makhdoomi (to be served) is an attribute of Allah Ta’ala, and khaadmi (to be a servant) is an attribute of the slave. A slave should remain a slave. When a slave desires for the attribute of Allah Ta’ala, then he becomes a Fir’oun.

Regarding your wish to see me, it appears that you are oblivious (ghaafil) of Allah Ta’ala. If you were aware of Allah Ta’ala, never would you have thought of me. It is incumbent for you to cultivate such companionship with Allah Ta’ala which will efface the remembrance of your brother from your mind. For His love, the son is to be sacrificed, leave alone the brother. If you have attained Him, then what benefit will you gain from me? And, if you have not attained Him, then of what benefit can I be to you?”

* Hadhrat Yahya Mu-aaz wrote to a friend: “The world is a dream, and the Aakhirat is awakefulness. If in a dream you see yourself crying, it means that in the Aakhirat you will be happy and laughing. Therefore, you are required to cry in this world which is a dream to ensure happiness in the Aakhirat.”

* Once Hadhrat Yahya Mu-aaz’s daughter asked her mother for something. The pious lady said: “Ask Allah Ta’ala.” The little girl responded: “Mother, I   am ashamed of asking a nafsaani desire from Allah Ta’ala. Rather you give it.”

* “If I slightly relax the reins on my nafs, it will deposit me into the vortex of destruction.”

* Once during the night, a breeze extinguished the candle. Hadhrat Yahya Mu-aaz began weeping. His companions asked: “Why are you weeping. We shall light the candle.” He replied: “I am not weeping because the flame of the candle was extinguished. It occurred to me that suddenly a divine gust of independence (i.e. Divine Independence) blows and extinguishes the flame of Imaan and the rays of Tauheed which have been lit in the heart.”

* “Maut is a bridge which unites the friend with the Friend. (i.e. the sincere obedient Mu’min with Allah Ta’ala).

* Once when he recited the Aayat: “We believe in the Rabb of all the worlds.”, he commented: “When the Imaan of a moment can efface 200 years of kufr, why can the Imaan of 70 years not efface the sins of 70 years?” (This is an indication of the boundless mercy of Allah Ta’ala and the wonderful effect of Imaan.)

* “The one who is happy in the service of Allah Ta’ala, all else is happy in his service. The friendship of people with you is proportionate to your friendship with Allah Ta’ala. Similarly, creation’s fear for you is proportionate to your fear for Allah Ta’ala.

* “He who has shame for Allah Ta’ala abstains from sins because he is aware that Allah Ta’ala is watching him. He thus abstains from the prohibitions of Allah for the Sake of Allah Ta’ala, not for his own sake.”

* “An evil disposition is the effect of evil deeds, and a virtuous disposition is the effect of virtuous deeds.”

* “He is in the greatest state of loss, who indulges in evil and futility and submits his limbs to destruction, and he perishes before he realizes his sins.”

* “Beware of the company of three groups: Ulama-e-Ghaafil (i.e. Ulama-e-Soo’); indolent Qaaris (i.e. those who do not practise according to the Qur’aan which they recite), and jaahil sufis (such as those who abound in the world today).”

* “If Maut had to be sold in the marketplaces, the people of Aakhirat would purchase nothing but Maut.”

* “He who betrays Allah in secrecy, Allah will tear off his veil in public.” (He who sins in secret without remorse and has no intention of taubah, will ultimately be exposed by Allah Ta’ala. Such a person is like a munaafiq.)

* “Speak less with people, and speak much with Allah Ta’ala.” i.e. Engage constantly in Thikrullaah.

* “He who befriends Allah Ta’ala becomes the enemy of his nafs.”

* “If you cannot benefit a Mu’min, do not harm him. If you cannot make him happy, do not make him sad. If you do not praise him, do not criticize him.”

* “There is no greater stupidity than planting the seed of Jahannam and expecting the fruit of Jannat.” (i.e. hoping for Jannat despite indulgence in sin and transgression.)

* “Abstention from sin is for you a remedy for all diseases.”

* I wonder in surprise at the man who abstains from food (as a diet) for fear of disease, but he does not abstain from sin for fear of the punishment in the Aakhirat.”

* “If it was not for the fear of Jahannam, not a single person would have been obedient to Allah Ta’ala.” (This is a reference to the masses, not to the Auliya, for they obey Allah Ta’ala because of shame and love.)

* “The entire world with all its possessions and activities does not have the value of a single sigh of sadness. What then is the status of one who has spent his entire life in grief and sadness?”

* “This world is the market of shaitaan. Beware! Do not steal anything from his market, for he will pursue you and snatch away your Deen in lieu of his merchandise which you had stolen.”

* “This world is the liquor of shaitaan. He who drinks of this liquor and becomes intoxicated will sober up only on the Day of Qiyaamah in the midst of the armies of Allah Ta’ala.” (Everyone’s Qiyaamah begins with Maut).

* A Zaahid is he who blackens (humiliates) the face of the world and rips out its hair.”

* “In earning the world there is disgrace, and in earning Jannat there is honour.”

* “I wonder in surprise at him who humiliates himself in the pursuit to acquire what is perishable and will not remain.”

* “The calamity of the world is such that its mere desire makes you oblivious (ghaafil) of Allah Ta’ala. What then will be the calamity on you by actual acquisition of the world?”

* “Three types of people are intelligent: He who abandons the world. He who prepares for the grave before being assigned to the grave. He who pleases Allah before meeting Him.”

* “Two of the greatest calamities will befall a man of wealth. One: At the time of Maut, his wealth will be snatched from him. Two: A reckoning will be taken from him for every dime.”

* “Gold and silver are two scorpions. Do not touch them as long as you have not learnt their charm (the way of neutralizing them). Their poison will destroy you. Its charm is that it be earned in a halaal manner and spent in a halaal manner.”

* “Criticizing Tawakkul is tantamount to criticizing Imaan.”

* “The house of the mureed is seclusion. His nourishment is Tawakkul and his occupation is Ibaadat.”

* “He who indulges in gluttony will soon be scorched in the fire of bestial lust.”

* “In the body of man there are a thousand appendages of vice and evil. All of these are the hands of shaitaan. Hunger incapacitates all these appendages. The flames of hunger extinguish all these appendages.

* Hunger is a noor (celestial light) and satiation is a naar (fire). Lust is its (naar’s) fuel. On earth the bodies of the Siqqiqeen derive strength from hunger.”

* “I seek refuge from such a zaahid who corrupts his stomach with the variety of foods of the wealthy.”

*   “The heart of the man of the Aakhirat finds rest in only four places. In a corner of his home or in the Musjid or in the Qabrustaan or in some place where no one sees him.”

* “The worst calamity is companionship with aliens.” (In this context aliens refer to fussaaq and fujjaar – evil compamy).

* “Desire destroys the Deen. Perpetuation of the Deen is in Wara’ (Taqwa of a lofty stage).”

* “Deeds (for acceptability by Allah Ta’ala) are in need of three requisites: Ilm (Knowledge of the Deen), Niyyat (intention) and Ikhlaas (sincerity).”

* “Imaan has three attributes: Khauf (Fear), Raja’ (Hope) and Muhabbat (Divine Love). Abstention from sin is the effect of Khauf, and this is incumbent for freedom from Jahannam. In the wake of Raja’ comes reflection and concern by means of which Jannat and lofty stages are acquired. The effect of Muhabbat is the Pleasure of Allah Ta’ala.”

* “Khauf is a tree in the heart. Its fruit is Dua and Humility. When there is Khauf in the heart, all the limbs accept wholeheartedly Ibaadat, and abstain from disobedience. Everything has a beauty. The beauty of Ibaadat is Khauf. The sign of Khauf is the absence of distant hopes.”

* “Obedience is a treasury of Allah, and its key is Dua.”

* “Wara’ is to be grounded in Knowledge without interpretation.” (i.e. without fanciful and whimsical interpretation which subverts the Law of Allah Ta’ala.) Wara’ has two dimensions: exoteric (zaahir) and esoteric (baatin). The exoteric dimension is not to move except in the direction of Allah Ta’ala (i.e. by means of obedience). The esoteric dimension is that in the heart should be none but Allah Ta’ala.”

* Taubah Nasooh (a sincere repentance) has three signs: Eating less for the purpose of fasting. Sleeping less for the purpose of Ibaadat. Speaking less for the sake of Allah Azza Wa Jal.”

* It was said to Hadhrat Yahya Mu-aaz: “Some people are gossiping (making gheebat) about you.” He said: “If Allah forgives me, whatever they say will not harm me. If Allah Ta’ala does not forgive me, than I am deserving of what they say.”

* Hadhrat Yahya Mu-aaz (Rahmatullah alayh) had incurred a huge debt of 100,000 dirhams. He had spent this entire amount on the Fuqara and Masaakeen, not using anything for himself. When the creditors began making demands his peace of mind was disturbed with the worry of paying his creditors. One night Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) appearing in his dream said: “ O Yahya! Do not grieve. Your grief brings grief to me. Go towards Khurasaan. In lieu of the 100,000 dirhams which you had given to the Fuqara, someone will give you 300,000 dirhams to free you from this liability and grief..” Hadhrat Yahya said: “O Rasulullah! Where is this person and who is he?” Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: “Go from city to city delivering Wa’z (discourses). Your talks cure and reform the hearts of people. Just as I have appeared in your dream, so too shall I appear in the dream of the other person.”

Hadhrat Yahya Mu-aaz (Rahmatullah alayh) set off on the journey and when he reached Nishapur, he began giving discourses in the Musjid. In his first wa’z he said: “I have come here on the instruction of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). He had informed me that my debt will be paid by someone from this region. I am indebted for 100,000 dirhams. This debt has become a veil (of worry) for me.”

From the audience someone offered a contribution of 50,000 dirhams. Another person offered R40,000 dirhams, and a third one offered 10,000 dirhams. The sum of these three amounts was 100,000 dirhams. Hadhrat Yahya Muaaz refused to accept the contributions, and said: “Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) had indicated that the whole amount will be given by one person.”

In his very first wa’z in Nishapur several persons died. He was a powerful Waa-iz. His talks exercised a profound spiritual effect on the audience. People would immediately repent and reform themselves. This was confirmed by Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) in the dream.

Then he set off for Balkh. He stayed for a considerable period of time in Balkh. In his talks here he explained the virtues of wealth. Here someone presented him with 100,000 dirhams.   A Shaikh from Balkh was displeased because Hadhrat Yahya had given preference to wealth over Faqr (poverty) in his discourses. He therefore said: “May Allah Ta’ala deprive this money from any barkat.” On the outskirts of Balkh some robbers befell Hadhrat Yahya Muaaz and robbed him of the 100,000 dirhams. He commented: “This is the consequence of the Dua of that pious Shaikh.”

He then went to the city of Marwah, then to Hiraa. In Hiraa he repeated the issue of his debt and the instruction of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). The pious daughter of the governor of Hiraa informed him: “The night when Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) had appeared to you in your dream, he also appeared in my dream. In my dream I asked Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) whether I should go to you. He said no.: “He will come to you.” She gave him 300,000 dirhams which was the amount mentioned by Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

On his return home he instructed his son to pay all the creditors, and to give the rest to the Fuqara. Nothing was used for himself or his family.

In the morning whilst Hadhrat Yahya Muaaz (Rahmatullah alayh) was supplicating in Sajdah, someone struck him on the head with a boulder. His soul departed from this earthly realm – Rahmatullah alayh.