Ties That Bind
I know of a bond that connects soul to soul, in a way much deeper than familiarity or blood.
Forged by Divine decree. Duly registered as apportioned Rizq.
The Teacher and the Student meet somewhere before time, and they are eternally connected.
A teacher of religion opens whole worlds to his pupil: the secrets of
this life, the spiritual realm, the Divine and the self. Perfection and
imperfection.
He is visionary, he is powerful. He is the guide, and you are the lost traveler.
If he is true, he will lead you to Paradise, step by careful step.
‘Empty your cup.’
Come blank, empty, open, so that you can receive.
You must take humility as your cloak.
But what of ties that strangle?
You believe that if you submit to him and his Way, you are guided.
You will no longer be lost.
The path to Allah is clear. It is at his feet.
He will take you by the hand to safe shores.
His love for you is overwhelming. So he will shape you, mind and soul, and purge you of your evils.
Soul, did you not think, when you laid your whole being in his gentle hands: What if he missteps?
Is he not formed by his experiences, by the ties that bind him?
This deen is wide. Why do you narrow it?
You must craft your cup from the firm clay of knowledge, and bake it to
solidity in the heat of courage, deep thinking, and dependence on Allah
alone.
And engrave on its side, in a delicate script, the following words:
Beauty lies in intelligent, mindful devotion.
Every love has an adab.
Even dervishes must have ijaaza before they spin.
I am no feather in the wind, nor an unmoulded being.
I am an empty cup, with a solid base and a structured rim,
Firm against passion. Shaped for sacred words.
I fill with good, whatever its source, and pour out wrong.
—
Sidi Ahmed Zarruq (of the 9th century Hijri) said: There are no more
perfect teachers. We benefit from the good in people, and we leave the
rest.
Comments (1)
Hello Ms. Muslimah,
Your site is so fancy and elegant but I see that you don’t write here much anymore!
I have an important message for people in these troubled times from the Bible: 4 Satan, the god of this evil world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe, so they are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News that is shining upon them. They don't understand the message we preach about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. (2Corinthians 4:4) (NLT)
I like to write articles about God and religion on my site. I hope you get a chance to look at them.