From tariqas-digest-approval@europe.std.com Mon Sep 2 08:16:54 1996 Date: Sun, 1 Sep 1996 13:50:50 -0400 (EDT) From: tariqas-digest-approval@europe.std.com Reply-To: tariqas-digest@world.std.com To: tariqas-digest@world.std.com Subject: tariqas-digest V1 #117 tariqas-digest Sunday, 1 September 1996 Volume 01 : Number 117 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Joshi Date: Sun, 1 Sep 1996 15:52:44 +0800 Subject: Re: to break ones knees At 23:50 31/08/96 -0500, you wrote: as salaamu 'alaikum Br Jabriel I can relate to what you said; I too am at a place in my life where I often feel that everything I do, no matter what, is futile; I am not saying that I am depressed; rather, it is just a feeling of ...I feel as if I am wasting my life here, doing what I am doing [ I am an Honours student,in Biochemistry]; I often feel that my life as it stands now has little prupose, that if I should die tomorrow, what will I have to face Allah[swt] with? In the past year or so especially I have been feeling ...a sense of alienation from things around me; it is as if I am in a cocoon of my own often; I lost all desires a long time ago, not just the physical ones, but even things like money, clothes etc. I feel as if I am neglecting my spiritual development for this, the dunyawiy part of my life. A br I know tells me to hang on,and wait for my shaykh, but it can be so hard sometimes:-) Too, I wonder if I shall ever actually meet him/her, the person who is meant to guide me to Him.Sometimes I wish to simply get away from everyone for a while, and to simply go somewhere in isolation and hole up, read up on all the things I want to read...it is not easy too, living with non muslims, who hinder your spiritual development. I really do not know if I am making any sense right now; I am in a fragmentary state of mind at present. sorry:-) salaam. Imaan Shivani Joshi sci30342@leonis.nus.sg He who painted you all by Himself will not leave you alone in your mad desire. [Jalaluddin Rumi] ------------------------------ From: Fred Rice Date: Sun, 1 Sep 1996 20:01:30 +1000 (EST) Subject: Re: Atheism vs. agnosticism Assalamu alaikum, On Sun, 1 Sep 1996, Steve H Rose wrote: > > For me, as far as I know, a leap of faith is not necessary. I don't > "believe" in God, I have had direct experience of God (or of something > which appears to be what other people call God, so I am willing to use the > word "God"). This is my feeling too... not believing in "God" (by which I mean the object of some of my experience) to me just seems incredibly silly!! You don't need "faith" when you have _experience_! Wassalam, Fariduddien ------------------------------ From: Fred Rice Date: Sun, 1 Sep 1996 20:08:11 +1000 (EST) Subject: Re: Atheism/Existence of God Assalamu alaikum, Just an interesting comment.... a Muslim/Sufi who I think posted to soc.religion.islam (and who I think may read this list) made a comment like this.... He said that when discussing the topic of "God" with atheists, he asks the atheist what "god" it is exactly that the atheist _doesn't_ believe in. When this "god" is described, he usually finds he doesn't believe in _that_ "god" either! :) Wassalam, Fariduddien Rice ------------------------------ From: Zainuddin Ismail Date: Sun, 1 Sep 1996 20:08:27 +0800 (SGT) Subject: Re: Ninety Nine Most Beautiful Names As Salamu 'alaikum w.w.Is there anyone who has the book or serialised articles on he Ninety Nine Names of Allah written by Sir Thomas Arnold.If I remember correctly the name of the work is "PEARLS OF FAITH" This book by the famous author of the Preaching of Islam who studied at the feet of Shibli Nu'mani will strengthen anyone's faith.Please respond . At 10:31 8/31/96 +0100, you wrote: >Jabriel said: > >I just got back from the hospital yesterday. Thank you for your prayers >they have assisted me getting through one of the most incredible series of >challenges I have yet faced in my life. The most overwhelming gift has been >that of a re-newed experience of faith. > >>>> So glad your home my friend. > >Clip.... >You must understand then that I was overjoyed at hearing the level of >p[participation regarding the Ninety Nine Most Beautiful Names when I got >home from the hospital. > >>>>>I am overjoyed too and so anticipating the beautiful 99 names translated >>>>>poetry, to help us, particularly myself with little background, to under- >>>>>stand the deph and beauty of these attributes of Allah, the most special >>>>>name of all. > >Many days were grieved, and my my mind fragmented with pain and depression >And my very being was eaten with rotting corpses of past traumas >But now I am a love-knot in my Lord's Lovely hand. >And there is no fear when one is loved from within... >Kaffea Lalla > > > > ------------------------------ From: frank gaude Date: Sun, 01 Sep 1996 06:17:06 -0700 Subject: RUMI 156 COME COME COME my endless desires come come come come my beloved come my sweetheart come come come don't talk about the journey say no more of the path one must take you are my path you are my journey come come come you stole from this earth a bouquet of roses i am hidden in that bouquet come come come as long as i am sober and keep talking about good and bad i'm missing the most important event seeing your face come come come i must be a moron missing this life if i don't cast my mind in the fire of your love come come come RUMI, ghazal number 156, translated May 3, 1992, by Nader Khalili. tanzen ------------------------------ From: Joshi Date: Sun, 1 Sep 1996 22:09:14 +0800 Subject: Rumi as salaamu 'alaikum A certain man knocked at his friend's door: his friend asked"Who is it?" He answered:" I". "Begone," said his friend," tis too soon! At my table there is no place for the raw. How shall the raw be cooked but in the fire of absence? What else will deliver him from hypocrisy?" He turned sadly away, and for a whole year the flames of separation consumed him. The he came back and again paced to anf fro beside the house of his friend. He knocked at the door with a hundred fears and reverance lest any disrespectful word might escape his lips. "Who is there?" cried the friend. He answered: "Thou O charmer of all hearts." "Now," said the friend, "since thou art I, come in, there is no room for two I's in this house." [Rumi] May Allah[swt] guide us to that stage:-) Ameen. wasalaam. Imaan Shivani Joshi sci30342@leonis.nus.sg He who painted you all by Himself will not leave you alone in your mad desire. [Jalaluddin Rumi] ------------------------------ From: Joshi Date: Sun, 1 Sep 1996 22:17:25 +0800 Subject: Men as salaamu 'alaikum Just an after thought after recently having "spoken" a br on the list; I have realised, alHamdulillah after my brief period on the list, that many of the brs, I shall not mention by name since this may embarrass them:-) are so ver sensitive; they have a wonderful ability to listen, to empathise [ even with emotional women such as myself], to be peaceful and non aggressive in their arguments,...it is really so refreshing to see brs who do not feel they have to constantly indulge in macho posturing in order to be considered men:-) One br on the net refers to himself as my "father", and refers to me as "dear one":_) yet another br, also calls me "dear one", or "Dear friend" ...for a person who has an almost insatiable need to feel loved, ...it is a truly wonderful feeling, to have "male" friends whom I can talk to just as I would to a girlfriend:-) alHamdulillah; surely these men are better than the "normal" variety:-) Just my two cents' worth:-) Imaan Shivani Joshi sci30342@leonis.nus.sg He who painted you all by Himself will not leave you alone in your mad desire. [Jalaluddin Rumi] ------------------------------ From: woodsong@juno.com (Carol Woodsong) Date: Sun, 01 Sep 1996 10:31:57 EDT Subject: To Live Within The following is from the book, /To Live Within -- A woman's spiritual pilgramage in a Himalayan hermitage/, by Lizelle Reymond. It is a letter written to the author by her guru, Shri Anirvan: December 3, 1952 You must have received news of me by this time en route. As yet there has been no flux of visitors. The weather is not too cold. The calm of Haimavati remains intact. Have I lost my grip on life? Perhaps not. The phrase "spiritual existentialism" we coined has become so real here. I can exactly imagine how you will feel when you come into the crowd. It will be there and yet it will not be. The soul like a child, simply looking at things with wondering eyes -- not evaluating, not passing judgment on anything, not bound by a sense of duty and yet silently active in radiating her simple joy of living; how wonderful! Love wears a new face then; suddenly it becomes secure in the depths. I love because I exist. I possess everything because I am nothing. My love is light that gently kisses the drooping brow of sorrow and passes on. It embracves everything but sticks to nothing. You remember the story I told you of Devahuti, the mother of Kapila, who had known life in a womanly fullness and then known the Void in its manly grandeur and at the end of her earthly existence had chosen to change herself into a sparkling stream. That is eternal Woman. I can't picture her as Mother today. She is the child who holds the gods on her tiny palm. ------------------------------ From: frank gaude Date: Sun, 01 Sep 1996 07:36:22 -0700 Subject: Re: Atheism/Existence of God Hello, folks! Fred Rice wrote: > > Assalamu alaikum, > > Just an interesting comment.... a Muslim/Sufi who I think posted to > soc.religion.islam (and who I think may read this list) made a > comment like this.... He said that when discussing the topic of "God" > with atheists, he asks the atheist what "god" it is exactly that the > atheist _doesn't_ believe in. When this "god" is described, he usually > finds he doesn't believe in _that_ "god" either! :) Interesting! Many years ago I had the habit of asking people to describe the God in which they believed. I never found two people with the same ideas or concepts! From that I started thinking that each individualized soul had a different and unique "religion". I believe that to this day, al-Hamdu'lillah! Thanks, Imaan, Fariduddien, Habib, Michael, and others, for all the comments re God, logic, and science. Again, interesting! But with a little direct experience it seems intellect takes its rightful place in the balance of things. Peace and love, tanzen ------------------------------ From: Rabia Kathleen Seidel Date: Sun, 01 Sep 1996 10:47:07 -0400 Subject: Re: Ninety Nine Most Beautiful Names Zainuddin Ismail wrote: > > As Salamu 'alaikum w.w.Is there anyone who has the book or serialised > articles on he Ninety Nine Names of Allah written by Sir Thomas Arnold.If I > remember correctly the name of the work is "PEARLS OF FAITH" This book by > the famous author of the Preaching of Islam who studied at the feet of > Shibli Nu'mani will strengthen anyone's faith.Please respond . > Greetings! I have this book, which was originally published in 1883. The author was actually Edwin Arnold (who also wrote The Light of Asia). I found my copy -- the original American edition -- at a used bookstore some time ago; many editions were published, so they are neither rare nor too expensive. Muhammad Ashraf, Lahore, has issued at least two reprints of the book, in 1969 and 1973, so it may be readily available in Pakistan. It is a lovely book, and unusual in that, though written by one who was not himself a Muslim, the author chose to write "from the point of view of an Indian Muhammaden" (sic). The language is somewhat archaic, which may raise a barrier for some readers. Here is a sample: #42 Al-Jamil! "the Benign;" ah, name most dear, Which bids us love and worship without fear. Too much ye tremble, too much fear to feel That yearning love which Allah's laws reveal; Too oft forget -- your troubled journey through -- He who is Power, is Grace and Beauty too, And Clemency, and Pity, and Pure Rest, the Highest and the Uttermost and Best; Sweeter than honey, and more dear to see Than any loveliness on land or sea By bard or lover praised, or famed in story; For these were shadows of His perfect glory; Which is not told, because, who sees God near Loseth the speech to speak, in loving fear, So joyous is he, so astonished. Hath there come to ye what the Dervish said, At Kaisareya, in the marble shrine, Who woke from vision of the love divine? "I have seen Allah!" quoth he -- all a-glow With splendour of the dream which filled him so -- "Yea! I have paced the Garden of Delight, And heard and known!" "Impart to us thy light," His fellows cried. He paused, and smiled, and spake: "Fain would I say it, brothers, for your sake, For I have wandered in a sphere so bright, Have heard such things, and witnessed such a sight, That now I know whither all nature turns, And what the love celestial is which burns, At the great heart of all the world, ensuring That griefs shall pass and joy be all enduring. Yet ask me not! I am as one who came Where, among roses, one bush, all aflame By fragrant crimson blossoms, charged the air With loveliness and perfume past compare. Then had I thought to load my skirt with roses, That ye might judge what wealth that land discloses; And filled my robe,plucking the peerless blooms; But ah! the scent so rich, so heavenly, comes; So were my senses melted into bliss With the intoxicating breath of this; I let the border of my mantle fall -- The roses slipped! I bring ye none at all." Brothers! with other eyes must we Behold the Roses on that Tree. _______________ Tosun Bayrak's book The Most Beautiful Names is currently available from Threshold Books; some excerpts from the book can be seen on Threshold's web site at: http://www.webcom.com/threshld/books/namex.html We are currently at work on a substantial addition to the site on the 99 Beautiful Names of Allah, and will let you all know when we put it up. Two other books that have helped to illuminate the meaning of the names for me are Bawa Muhaiyaddeen's Asma'ul Husna: The 99 Beautiful Names of Allah (Fellowship Press, 1979, in print), and Ninety-Nine Names of Allah, by Shems Friedlander, with an introduction by Shaikh Muzaffer Ozak (Harper Colophon, 1978, out of print). Ashk olsun -- Let it become love! Rabia Kathleen Seidel ------------------------------ From: Joshi Date: Sun, 1 Sep 1996 23:36:36 +0800 Subject: Re: Atheism/Existence of God At 07:36 01/09/96 -0700, you wrote: >Hello, folks! > >Fred Rice wrote: >> >> Assalamu alaikum, >> wa 'alaikum salaam wr wb >> Just an interesting comment.... a Muslim/Sufi who I think posted to >> soc.religion.islam (and who I think may read this list) made a >> comment like this.... He said that when discussing the topic of "God" >> with atheists, he asks the atheist what "god" it is exactly that the >> atheist _doesn't_ believe in. When this "god" is described, he usually >> finds he doesn't believe in _that_ "god" either! :) > It has alos been my experience that many of the pple I have known who do not believe in God, and I speak from [naive] personal experience, do not believe in God because of the concept they have been brought up with. My supervisor, for example, does not believe in God because he says it is ridiculous; when we are confronted with the possibility of God being within stones, or idols, or ...as the sun or moon, etc, I for one, rejected the notion; Christianity I have been told by many and from my experience, is too "easy"..."God" is a man who prayed, fasted, was tempted by the devil...and was dead for three days:_) during these three days that he was dead, what happened to the world? Pple say that God is all powerful, and kind etc, that HE can do anything He wants, is invincible etc,...but pple I have known have a "god's room " in the house; they keep a lam burning 24 hours a day and should that flame go out, they fret cos god will be in darkness...:-) To me this was ridicuolous from the start; so many time, I would try to deny to myself the existence of any God, but somehow never could, even while I did not follow or believe in any religion. >Thanks, Imaan, Fariduddien, Habib, Michael, and others, for all the >comments re God, logic, and science. Again, interesting! But with a >little direct experience it seems intellect takes its rightful place in >the balance of things. My pleasure...:-) > >Peace and love, > >tanzen > > > Imaan Shivani Joshi sci30342@leonis.nus.sg He who painted you all by Himself will not leave you alone in your mad desire. [Jalaluddin Rumi] ------------------------------ From: Steve H Rose Date: Sun, 1 Sep 1996 11:43:06 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Pictures anybody? Assalamu alaikum. On Fri, 30 Aug 1996, Michael J. Moore wrote: > Yeah, I know, pictures don't reveal the real person or really > say anything important, but tossing all analysis aside > I just though it would be FUN to see pictures! Great idea, Michael. You can get a reasonable likeness of me from http://www.unitedmedia.com/comics/dilbert/ ;-) Yours, Habib ------------------------------ From: Zainuddin Ismail Date: Mon, 2 Sep 1996 01:03:25 +0800 (SGT) Subject: Re: Atheism/Existence of God Salamu'alaikum dear Joshi.I have not had a direct message from you for a few days. "Day was dark without a word or two Night, reading your message, was shining through" Did you contact the very spiritual and very approachable Haji Mohd bin Yacob at tel:02-07-2375860 .Wont you like to visit him at 27 Jalan Pelasih 10, Taman Kemas, Tampoi, Johore Bahru, Malaysia? Apart from being a spiritualist of no small note, he is an internationally recognised homeopath.I love this guy, Joshi.He is truly humble despite .........There is another person nearer home and also effectively bilingual and a sufi .He is Sh.Abdul Ghani.His group meets on Sunday morning at 11.30 am at the Kubor Kassim , Siglap.The group is Qadiriya and they meet near the shrine of a lover of God by the name of Habibullah.Sh.Abdul Ghani is also very approachable and useful for all seekers of God.If you want baiat from an accredited Sufi shaikh of the Naqshbandi Tariqat you could do so at the hands of Raja Ashman who is based at Bukit Damansara in Kuala Lumpur.If you need information on this tariqat whose World Leader is my beloved Sh.Nazim , you can also write to Mr Abdul Mateen, English Language Department, International Islamic University,Jalan University , Petaling Jaya, Selangor.He is an Englishman whom I met at the International Islamic Unity Conference in Los Angeles in Aug 96. Go feel the flow of Barakah at the shrine of Keramat Habib Nuh True he could walk on water near Kusu But his blazing love for Allah Rings , true and true Developers did not touch his resting place Out of their own materialistic concern But others levelled lovers shrines at Pulau Besar And Malacca harvested the Divine Spurn No we dont worship shrines or others besides God.But these shrines of the Lovers of God are full of spiritual currents for receptive souls.What more for those who can communicate directly with departed saints and hold discourse with them .Such is the bounty of Sh.Nazim.We WORSHIP GOD , SO DO THE SAINTS IN THE BARZAKH. And the greatest living Lover of God is Prophet Muhammad sAllahu 'alaihi was salam ,whose last words are Ila Rafiq ul 'Ala "Unto the Companionship on High " He was then feverish with the love of God although his head was on the lap of Ayesha.Human love is a reflection of Divine Love At 23:36 9/1/96 +0800, you wrote: >At 07:36 01/09/96 -0700, you wrote: >>Hello, folks! >> >>Fred Rice wrote: >>> >>> Assalamu alaikum, >>> > wa 'alaikum salaam wr wb > >>> Just an interesting comment.... a Muslim/Sufi who I think posted to >>> soc.religion.islam (and who I think may read this list) made a >>> comment like this.... He said that when discussing the topic of "God" >>> with atheists, he asks the atheist what "god" it is exactly that the >>> atheist _doesn't_ believe in. When this "god" is described, he usually >>> finds he doesn't believe in _that_ "god" either! :) >> > It has alos been my experience that many of the pple I have known >who do not believe in God, and I speak from [naive] personal experience, do >not believe in God because of the concept they have been brought up with. My >supervisor, for example, does not believe in God because he says it is >ridiculous; when we are confronted with the possibility of God being within >stones, or idols, or ...as the sun or moon, etc, I for one, rejected the >notion; Christianity I have been told by many and from my experience, is too >"easy"..."God" is a man who prayed, fasted, was tempted by the devil...and >was dead for three days:_) during these three days that he was dead, what >happened to the world? Pple say that God is all powerful, and kind etc, that >HE can do anything He wants, is invincible etc,...but pple I have known have >a "god's room " in the house; they keep a lam burning 24 hours a day and >should that flame go out, they fret cos god will be in darkness...:-) To me >this was ridicuolous from the start; so many time, I would try to deny to >myself the existence of any God, but somehow never could, even while I did >not follow or believe in any religion. > >>Thanks, Imaan, Fariduddien, Habib, Michael, and others, for all the >>comments re God, logic, and science. Again, interesting! But with a >>little direct experience it seems intellect takes its rightful place in >>the balance of things. > > My pleasure...:-) >> >>Peace and love, >> >>tanzen >> >> >> >Imaan Shivani Joshi >sci30342@leonis.nus.sg > > He who painted you all by Himself will not leave you alone in your mad >desire. [Jalaluddin Rumi] > > > > > ------------------------------ From: Zainuddin Ismail Date: Mon, 2 Sep 1996 01:11:22 +0800 (SGT) Subject: Re: Atheism/Existence of God Joshi dear , Salam again before I fall asleep.You remind me so much of an Australian Women Sufi by the name of Amatullah Armstrong.But your taste(dwauq) will be different when your spiritual flower blossoms because God created us as different personalities and each of us a unique manifestation of His Names and Attribute.God saw His Perfection in the Human Being and the Human Being saw His Perfection in God. Qalb Mu'min ArshAllah. At 23:36 9/1/96 +0800, you wrote: >At 07:36 01/09/96 -0700, you wrote: >>Hello, folks! >> >>Fred Rice wrote: >>> >>> Assalamu alaikum, >>> > wa 'alaikum salaam wr wb > >>> Just an interesting comment.... a Muslim/Sufi who I think posted to >>> soc.religion.islam (and who I think may read this list) made a >>> comment like this.... He said that when discussing the topic of "God" >>> with atheists, he asks the atheist what "god" it is exactly that the >>> atheist _doesn't_ believe in. When this "god" is described, he usually >>> finds he doesn't believe in _that_ "god" either! :) >> > It has alos been my experience that many of the pple I have known >who do not believe in God, and I speak from [naive] personal experience, do >not believe in God because of the concept they have been brought up with. My >supervisor, for example, does not believe in God because he says it is >ridiculous; when we are confronted with the possibility of God being within >stones, or idols, or ...as the sun or moon, etc, I for one, rejected the >notion; Christianity I have been told by many and from my experience, is too >"easy"..."God" is a man who prayed, fasted, was tempted by the devil...and >was dead for three days:_) during these three days that he was dead, what >happened to the world? Pple say that God is all powerful, and kind etc, that >HE can do anything He wants, is invincible etc,...but pple I have known have >a "god's room " in the house; they keep a lam burning 24 hours a day and >should that flame go out, they fret cos god will be in darkness...:-) To me >this was ridicuolous from the start; so many time, I would try to deny to >myself the existence of any God, but somehow never could, even while I did >not follow or believe in any religion. > >>Thanks, Imaan, Fariduddien, Habib, Michael, and others, for all the >>comments re God, logic, and science. Again, interesting! But with a >>little direct experience it seems intellect takes its rightful place in >>the balance of things. > > My pleasure...:-) >> >>Peace and love, >> >>tanzen >> >> >> >Imaan Shivani Joshi >sci30342@leonis.nus.sg > > He who painted you all by Himself will not leave you alone in your mad >desire. [Jalaluddin Rumi] > > > > > ------------------------------ From: Asim Jalis Date: Sun, 1 Sep 96 12:49:34 CDT Subject: Re: Atheism/Existence of God sci30342@leonis.nus.sg writes: > Christianity I have been told by many and from my experience, is too > "easy"..."God" is a man who prayed, fasted, was tempted by the devil...and > was dead for three days:_) during these three days that he was dead, what > happened to the world? The trinity is a subtle concept and in fact even paradoxical. I don't know if it is fair to look at it so logically. Plus that seems to demean the genuineness of the experience of the Beloved that many Christians live with. Perhaps one way of looking at the idea of Jesus being God is to observe how in our lives we catch glimpses of the inaccessible God through people too. If anything with its emphasis on Love and Surrender the Christian service is quite movingly Sufistic. Similarly there might be more empathic ways of looking at the other traditions which worship idols or other objects. I don't mean to say that all traditions are the same thing in different guises. And that it doesn't matter which one you choose. In fact, each one is different and each has its distinct flavor and emphasis. So it *does* matter which one you choose. But the other traditions seem neither ridiculous nor completely empty of the experience of the Beloved. Asim ------------------------------ From: BRYAN CONN Date: Sun, 01 Sep 1996 13:50:32 -0400 (EDT) Subject: The Most Beautiful Names (3) Al-Raheem Assalaamu Alaikum Having been troubled by the copyright implications of reproducing excerpts from "The Most Beautiful Names", I have decided to reproduce much less of the material. In the previous two posts I had reproduced a much more significant amount of the actual text from this book, and I felt that I had reproduced so much that it would be a discouragement for those who might otherwise purchase the book. Therefore, by reducing the amount of reproduction, I hope to still provide a benefit to Tariqas members who wish to understand more of the meaning of the 99 Most Beautiful Names of Allah. Let me stress that this reproduction is intended only for private and personal use, and I hope that my excerpts will not be further distributed. My intention is not to broadcast or republish material which I have no right to republish. My intention is only to provide some good to a private audience of friends, of brothers and sisters. I strongly encourage all those interested in these excerpts to purchase the following book from which all the following material is taken: "The Most Beautiful Names" Compiled by Sheikh Tosun Bayrak al-Jerrahi al-Halveti. Threshold Books - Amana Books. _________________________________________________________________________ Bismillah ir-Rahmaan ir-Raheem In the name of Allah, the Beneficient, the Merciful May Allah forgive me for any wrong which I am committing with this post _________________________________________________________________________ _ AR-RAHIM He is the source of infinite mercy and beneficence, who rewards with eternal gifts the ones who use His bounties and beneficence _ for the good. This is mentioned in the Qur'an: wa kana bil- _ _ mu'minina Rahiman "He is compassionate and beneficent [only] to the believers" (33:43). _ Ar-Rahim indicates beneficence toward those who have a will and choice, and who use it according to Allah's will and for His pleasure. When Allah says, "I have created all for you . . . " that is _ the expression of His rahmaniyyah. When we find this bounty hidden in everything, including ourselves, and use it as He wills us, caring for it as it is left to us to do for His sake, we are rewarded with eternal salvation. Allah says, " . . . and I created you _ for Myself." This great honor is the expression of His rahimiyyah. _ Hz. Mujahid (May Allah be Pleased with him) said, "Rahman _ belongs to the people of this world; Rahim belongs to those of the _ _ _ Hereafter." The ones who know pray: ya Rahman ad-dunya wa _ _ _ _ Rahim al-akhirah "O Rahman of the world and Rahim of the _ Hereafter." Rahman is mercy upon the nafs, the worldly being. _ _ Rahim is mercy upon the heart. Rahman gives sustenance in this _ world. Rahim gives eternal salvation in the Hereafter. ________________________________________________________________________ Salaam, Bryan I reached my hand to touch you. You struck it down. "Why are you so harsh with me?" For good reason. But certainly not to keep you away! -Rumi ------------------------------ End of tariqas-digest V1 #117 *****************************