A
question arises, if the concept of
Wahdat al-Wajood is the lifeblood of
Sufism and most scholars of Deoband
consent with it. Then why is this
concept not propagated and
popularized to the masses of people?
The
secret cult of the Sufi masters seem
to have decided that the belief of
Allah’s Presence everywhere is
enough for a common man to believe
in, without referring to the details
of this concept. The concept of
Wahdat al-Wajood is supposed to be
the Tawheed of the Spiritually
Elites, as Abu Bakr al-Kalabadhi
mentioned in his book that al-Junaid
said to al-Shibli, “We studied this
science deeply, and then concealed
it in the vaults, but you have come
and displayed it above the heads of
people.” Al-Shibli replied: “I speak
and I listen, Is there any other in
the world but I?[1]
We
mentioned earlier, Ashraf Ali Thanvi
mentions his Pir’s (i.e. Imdadullah
Makki’s) infatuation with Wahdat al-Wajood.
Thereafter, he comments, “But to
express these sayings or to relate
them is not for everyone.”[2]
(click to view the scanned image of
this quote)
These
remarks prove that the concept of
Wahdat al-Wajood is supposed to be
hidden from the common people.
Ashraf Ali Thanvi said at an
occasion, “Hazrat Haji Imdadullah
was Allah’s Hujjat (Proof) on the
earth. The knowledge, which had
become hidden for centuries became
manifest on his lips.”[3]
Thus,
even if any common person is exposed
to the belief of Wahdat al-Wajood,
his previous belief that Allah is
present everywhere will help him
accept “the great mystery.” It is
mentioned in “The Six Fundamentals”[4]
in the explanation of the Kalimah,
“... (A believer) should believe Him
(Allah) to be his Sole Guardian and
Helper in distress and present
everywhere.”
Imam
Ahmad reports in Az-Zuhd (p. 48),
and ad-Daarimee in his Sunan (1/91),
from ‘Umar Ibn Abdul-Aziz that he
said: “If you see a people
discussing anything of their Deen
secretly, to the exclusion of people
in general, then know that they are
upon the foundation of misguidance.”[5]
Ibn
al-Jawzee quotes this report in
Talbees-Iblees saying, “So our Deen,
all Praise being for Allah, is clear
and manifest containing nothing
hidden, nor anything concealed,
suppressed or secret. Thus, whatever
the people of partisanship employ
from that then it is the door to
misguidance, and Allah’s refuge is
sought.”[6]
[1]
The Doctrines of the Soofis (Kitaab
al-Ta’arruf li-Madhhab Ahl al-Tasawwuf)
(Eng. Trans.) p.145.
[2]
Malfoodhat Hakeem al-Ummat (a
biography of Ashraf Ali Thanvi
by Muhammed Iqbal Quraishi)
vol.1, p.244.
[3]
Malfoozat (Statements and
Anecdotes of Ashraf Ali Thanvi)
by Majlisul Ulemaa, p.68
[4]
Fazaail-e-Aamaal, (Eng. Trans.)
The Six Fundamentals, Part – 8,
p.1, (Edn. 1985 - Published by
Dini Book Depot - Delhi).
