Purification of Innerself in Sufism

PURIFICATION
OF INNERSELF IN
SUFISM

PURIFICATION
OF INNERSELF IN
SUFISM
English Translation of Urdu Book NAFS KAY NASOOR
Author
Shabeeh-e-Ghaus-e-Azam Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen
Khadim Sultan-ul-Faqr
Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Mohammad Najib-ur-Rehman
Translation
Captain Mohammad Abdullah Iqbal Sarwari Qadri
SULTAN-UL-FAQR PUBLICATIONS LAHORE
PAKISTAN

www.sultan-bahoo.com
www.sultan-ul-faqr.com
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This book is dedicated
with respect and love to my Murshid
Shabeeh-e-Ghaus-e-Azam Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen
Khadim Sultan-ul-Faqr Hazrat Sakhi Sultan
Mohammad Najib-ur-Rehman Madzillah-ul-Aqdus
Without him, I am nothing

CONTENTS
Page
Preface 7
Nafs (Inner Baser Self) 9
Desires of Nafs and Lust 10
Sensual Desires 10
 Sensual Desire of Appetite 11
 Sexual Desire 14
 Sensual Desire of Wealth 18
 Lust of Prominence, Power and Fame 19
Diseases of Nafs 21
 Arrogance 21
 Pride and Vanity 29
 Jealousy 31
 Narcissism 36
 Pretence 38
 Anger 44
 Malice and Grudge 45
 Stinginess 47
 Backbiting 51
 Lie 53
 Evil Speculation 55
 Snooping 56
 Talebearing 58
 Negligence 60
 Greed 62
Point to Ponder 64
Authentic way of Tazkiya-e-Nafs 68
Glossary 69
Index 71

PREFACE
Once Holy Prophet pointed towards chest and said that your
greatest enemy (nafs/baser self) is hidden inside you. The war
against this greatest enemy is referred to as Jihad-e-Akbar
(Greatest holy war against nafs). The triumph in this war is
salvation and success for mankind whereas defeat is curse. The
sole purpose of this life is the sacred vision of Allah and His
recognition. No one can achieve this purpose without winning
war against baser self. The loser in this war remains deprived of
the sacred vision of Allah. That‟s why it is compulsory to win
this war. In this war Satan is the comrade of nafs whereas perfect
spiritual guide (the Murshid) is the commander of mankind
appointed by Allah. As no one can win war without commander
likewise the war against nafs cannot be won without perfect
spiritual guide. It is quite easy to defeat enemy standing in front
of you but it is very difficult to fight against the enemy hidden
inside you. It is impossible to recognize enemy present inside
without perfect spiritual guide. If you do not know your enemy,
you cannot fight against him.
“Know Your Enemy” is the winning principle in wars of this
material world. Unless you are aware of capabilities, strength
and tactics of your enemy, you cannot win a war. This principle
is also valid in Jihad-e-Akbar and perfect spiritual guide is the
one who is fully aware of capabilities, strength and tactics of
nafs and its comrade. So, it is obligatory to take bayat1
on the
sacred hands of perfect spiritual guide to achieve the sole
1
Oath of allegiance, when a person becomes a disciple, he hands over himself to his
spiritual guide in exchange of spiritual guidance. Bayat is pact or covenant or rite of
initiation into a Sufi way. This in fact is a pact between Allah and His Slave which
eternally bonds the Murshid with his Murid (disciple).

8
purpose i.e. sacred vision of Allah. If your spiritual guide is
Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen Sultan Mohammad Najib-ur-Rehman then
your destination is quite near.
This translation would not have been possible without the
guidance of my Murshid Sultan Mohammad Najib-ur-Rehman.
He always guided me exoterically and esoterically. Whatsoever
is good in this translation is because of my Murshid and all
weaknesses are mine.
Rawalpindi Captain Mohammad Abdullah Iqbal
November-2016 Sarwari Qadri

NAFS (INNER BASER SELF)
Nafs2
is a veil between Allah and His slave. If nafs is removed
(i.e. purified) there remains no veil between Allah and His slave.
This state is achieved when nafs is elevated to the level of nafs-
e-mutmaina3
after purgation and the heart becomes Qalb-e-
Saleem4
. To reach at the station of sacred vision of Allah it is
compulsory to get salvation from scourge of baser self or
ailments of baser self which are usually described as spiritual
diseases or esoteric diseases. According to the teachings of
Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo and other Saints, these illnesses get
worse with exoteric devotions. Resultantly man gets trapped
badly in these illnesses and goes astray. When we suffer from
medical diseases we always visit doctor for treatment because
we cannot treat these diseases by just reading books at home.
Similarly when we suffer from spiritual or esoteric diseases we
need spiritual physician (Murshid Kamil5
) for treatment who
must be Sahib-e-Musamma6
Ism-e-Allah Zaat7
. When a seeker
of Allah contemplates Ism-e-Allah Zaat and performs practice of
inscribing Allah‟s personal name on his body under the
supervision of such Murshid, all his spiritual diseases vanish and
he becomes eligible for the sacred vision of Allah. As per
teachings of Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo, inward or spiritual
diseases can be cured by the contemplation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat
only if it is acquired from perfect spiritual guide. Such a spiritual
guide is the greatest physician who is proficient in treating
inward illnesses. Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo says:
2
Baser self, lower self, ethereal self which keeps a person away from Allah by trapping
him in worldly desires.
3
The satisfied self which is never inclined towards sins.
4
The pure and flawless heart.
5
The Divine spiritual guide.
6
The possessor of the Divine Essence and the personal name of Allah alongwith all His
attributes, who can take his disciples to the station of Divine Union and can grant them
the vision of Allah.
7
Personal Name of Allah which represents the Divine Essence and all Divine attributes.

10
 Murshid is like a physician and the disciple is like a patient.
When a physician treats a patient he gives him bitter and
sweet medicines and the patient must take those medicines
so that he is cured and healthy. (Ain-ul-Faqr)
DESIRES OF NAFS AND LUST
This world is full of seekers of desires of nafs and lust. Some
people seek abundant livelihood, some wish for beautiful
woman, some pray to increase wealth and property, some are
running behind ranks, fame and worldly respect. If at all there is
a seeker of Faqr8
, he wants accomplishment in it the way he likes
by ignoring Allah‟s will. If a man is drowned in desires of nafs
and lust or even in any one desire of them, he keeps thinking
about it and struggles to achieve it. This desire and lust becomes
his God. To get rid of these sicknesses is called “Tazkiya-e-
Nafs”9
.
SENSUAL DESIRES
Hazrat Imam Ghazali says:
 Stomach in the body is just like a pond or fountain head (of
desires). Arteries originate from stomach into seven different
directions. These arteries are like seven canals. Stomach is
initiator of all the sensual desires. Prophet Adam was exiled
from heaven to earth because of the same sensual desire.
Sensual desire of hunger is the base of all other sensual
desires and lusts. Whenever stomach is full, man desires for
woman and wishes to have sex with many females. This
illness (which arose from stomach) does not end here. Man
cannot satiate his hunger and sexual desires until he has
8
The spiritual way which leads to the Divine vision and ultimate closeness of Allah.
9
Cleansing and purifying the inner self.

11
wealth. So it instigates lust of wealth in him, and wealth can
only be earned by fame and business which demand good
social relations with people. This ultimately leads to arousal
of anger, jealousy, pride, pretence, malice and grudges in a
person. Hence, the root of all the sins is domination of
desires of stomach over a man and controlling the desires of
stomach is the root of all rectitude. (Ahya-ul-Uloom, Volume III)
Hazrat Ali says that this world comprises of six pleasures
which include eatables, beverages, dressings, ride, marriage and
scents. The best among eatables is honey which is merely saliva
of a bee. The finest beverage is water which includes all types of
germs as well as healthful things. The premium dressing is silk
which is the spittle of an insect. Horse riding is the best among
all rides which is used to kill man. Woman is the best choice for
marriage but it is nothing more than sex. The most beautiful
body part (face) of woman is prettified and the vilest part
(vagina) is desired. The finest scent is musk which is blood of an
animal. This is the reality of this world and its pleasures. (Ahya-ul-
Uloom, Volume III)
Now we will explain the desires of baser self and diseases of
innerself separately.
SENSUAL DESIRE OF APPETITE
Foremost pleasure is to eat and drink. This is the most hazardous
weakness of mankind. Adam was descended from paradise
because of this weakness. This syndrome is the main foundation
of all sensual desires. If this ailment is controlled, undoubtedly
destination (of Allah’s closeness) comes quite near. This sensual
desire has three levels i.e. moderate, excessive and extreme.
Moderate can be define as to eat only required quantity which is
considered essential to live a life, unlike live to eat. Always eat
less than hunger. Eat in such a quantity that weakness must not
overcome and you may perform your duties undeterred. Prophet

12
Mohammad once said, “Mankind has not filled any utensil
bigger than their abdomen. They only needed a few morsels to
keep their back straight. Eat one-third (of appetite), drink only
one-third and that‟s all.” In a Qudsi Hadith Allah expresses
pride in front of angels upon the person who has reduced his
appetite. Allah says to angels that He has provided abundant
provision to His man but he chose patience and restrained
himself from excessive food intake. (Allah says to angels) Be the
witness that for each morsel he sacrificed for Me, I will bless
him with higher rank in paradise. Excessive level of appetite can
be explained as the person is always thinking about delicious
foods and wishing to have them and eats so much in quantity that
makes difficult for him to stand. In this way it becomes a hurdle
in his prayers and worships. Extreme level can be understood as
the condition in which someone remains completely engrossed in
eating and it becomes aim of his life. Every moment, he keeps
pondering about food or remains indulged in eating round the
clock. Hazrat Ibn-e-Abbas says that angels avoid to visit a
person with filled tummy. Hazrat Imam Hassan said, “The Holy
Prophet once said that meditation is partial worship whereas
eating less is complete worship.”
 Prophet Mohammad once said, “On the Day of Resurrection,
he will be ranked superior who starved more and meditated
about Allah while the most hatred will be the one who ate
the most.”
 On one occasion Prophet Mohammad said, “Do not destroy
your heart. Your heart is just like a crop and if you water
your crop excessively, it is devastated.”
 Hazrat Imam Hassan narrates a tradition from Hazrat Abu
Huraira, “Prepare yourself for death by wearing simple
dresses and eating less.”

13
 It is Hadith of the Holy Prophet, “Allah dislikes obese scholar.
Obesity symbolises negligence and excessive eating which is
bad for a scholar.”
 Hazrat Abdullah ibn-e-Masud relates, “Allah hates obese
scholar.”
 There is a Hadith, “Satan runs in the blood of human beings,
restrict his movement through starvation and thirst.”
It is related that full stomach produces leucoderma.
 Holy Prophet said, “Whosoever sleeps after overeating,
becomes callous.”
 Holy Prophet said, “Whosoever would remain contented on
single bread, he will be safe from all sensual desires.”
 There is saying of Hazrat Abdullah-at-Tustari that knowledge
and wisdom lie in starvation whereas sin and ignorance lie in
overeating.
 Hazrat Abu Huraira narrates that once the Holy Prophet
asked him, "May I show you the reality of this physical
world?" Hazrat Abu Huraira replied in affirmative. Holy
Prophet took him along in one of the valleys of Madina.
There was a heap of trash. It contained filth, torn clothes and
human skull bones. The Holy Prophet said, “O Abu Huraira
these heads were greedy and wishful like your heads. They
had numerous desires like you have but they all ultimately
turned into merely bones with no skin. Soon these bones will
become dust. This filth was once their food which they ate
with their earning. Today people walk by this heap of trash
without paying any attention. These torn clothes were their
dresses and now they are hovering with air. These are the
bones of the animals who were their ride. They used to ride
on them and roam around different cities. Whosoever
realises the truth of this world, he should weep upon it.”

14
Hazrat Abu Huraira says that after this he and the Holy
Prophet wept for long.
Sensual desires and lusts lead to devastation. Sexual desire
arouses from sensual desire of appetite. Then this leads to other
longings. All sensual desires can be controlled or restricted by
controlling appetite. As soon as the seeker accomplishes it,
esoteric world is revealed upon him.
SEXUAL DESIRE
Full stomach gives birth to sexual desire. Hazrat Imam Al-
Ghazali says, “Sexual desire is engendered in human beings for
two reasons. (1) The pleasure of sex reminds the pleasure of
heaven. If this amusement was prolonged, it would have been
most dominant among all pleasures of body like pain of fire burn
is most painful among all pains. It is impossible to attract people
towards paradise without giving them the feeling of pleasure and
to frighten people from hell without letting them feel any pain.
For example, if someone finds sexual pleasure pleasant, he will
certainly believe in heaven‟s joys. Although pleasure and
happiness of heaven are much superior than the pleasures of this
world. (2) Survival of human generation. Apparently there are
two benefits of sex but it contains so much evil that if a person
does not keep this desire moderate it would destruct both this
worldly as well as religious life.” (Ahya-ul-Uloom, Volume III)
 Hazrat Hudhayfah relates, “During a sermon the Holy
Prophet said that alcohol leads to infinite evils and women
are a trap of Satan. I listened Holy Prophet was advising not
to give superiority to women like Allah did.” Once Holy
prophet said, “Women are a trap of Satan. If there was no
lust (of sex), women would have not commanded men.”
 Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo says, “Women are devils who
make us fall astray.”

15
The description of the above Hadiths is that if a woman
becomes hurdle in the way of Faqr, then she is a devil as Satan
says that women are his weapons. On the other hand if woman
follows shariah10
and the path of Faqr and assists man as well to
follow Faqr, then she is a Mominah11
.
There are three levels of sexual desire i.e. moderate, excessive
and extreme
To fulfil sexual desire as per body capacity and within
limitations is considered moderate. Abu Salman Durrani says, “It
is better to avoid matrimony at initial stage of spiritual journey
of Faqr. Whosoever gets married in the start of Faqr, he gets
inclined towards the material world. I have not seen a single
disciple who remained unharmed spiritually after marriage.
Whatsoever distracts from Allah whether it is spouse, children or
wealth, it must be considered sinister (i.e. seeker of Allah must
not marry until he accomplishes himself in Faqr. If one remains
absorbed in wife, it hinder the path of Allah). Moderate level of
sexual desire can be understood as shariah has allowed four
marriages with some conditions. However, if the person is able
to coup with economic essentials of one spouse only and can
bear capacity of fulfilling rights of single spouse, he must be
contented on single matrimony. Excessive level is when sexual
desire is aroused to such an extent that the person remains
absorbed in women all the time. To satisfy his desires, he
marries more than one woman against his economical limits and
physical capacity and then fails to fulfil his responsibilities. So,
he gets trapped in more troubles. Extreme level can be defined as
the person is so much obsessed by the desire of sex and women
that he starts following illegitimate ways instead of legitimate
one. Allah has declared severe penalty for adultery.
10
Set of Islamic laws
11
Feminine of Momin, true believer of Allah.

16
 The Holy Prophet said, “O people save yourself from
adultery. It brings six punishments. Three of them will fall
upon you in this world and the rest three in the hereafter.
Three punishments of this world are:
1. Ancestry honour is vanished
2. Livelihood is diminished
3. Wealth is wasted
Three penalties on the Day of Resurrection are:
1. Wrath of Allah
2. Strict and harsh accountability
3. Permanent hell torment
 The Holy Prophet said that Allah created angels and
included wisdom in their nature. Allah created animals and
inculcated sensual desires in their nature. Allah created
human beings and embedded both wisdom and sensual
desires in their nature. If someone‟s wisdom dominates
sensual desires, he is superior to angels and whose sensual
desires dominate his wisdom, he is worse than animals.
Prophet Mohammad said that save yourself from adultery as
it brings nine perditions:-
1. Faith is lessened
2. Reduction in livelihood
3. Grief of being away from relatives
4. Sadness and wrath
5. Dominance of amnesia
6. Disapproval by the people of faith
7. Fading of Noor from face
8. Unacceptance of prays
9. Rejection of worships

17
One of the pests of sensual desires is the love between man
and woman which is now considered equivalent to Ishq-e-
Haqeeqi12
. It is presented as a sacred act. This is entirely opposite
to shariah and leads to a number of sins. If a person does not
restrain from this sin at initial level, he will be doomed in it
surely. The evil sight of a person leads to this sin. Its only
prevention is to restrict and control one‟s sight. The Holy
Prophet said, “Eyesight is the arrow (weapon) of Satan which is
dipped in poison.” If you stare someone of the opposite gender
unintentionally, then you can forbid yourself next time from
doing so, but if you allow your eyesight to freely stare anyone,
then it becomes very difficult to control it. In this situation, nafs
acts like a horse which starts running in the wrong direction. If
you have reined it, only then you can stop it. But when horse
gets free from reins, it becomes impossible to control it. So it is
better to restrain your sight as eyes also commit adultery. The
Holy Prophet said, “Eyes also indulge in adultery like sexual
body parts. Eye adultery is to watch wrong. Whosoever protects
his eyesight from evil, Allah will bless him with real faith.”
Hazrat Abu Huraira relates that once Holy Prophet said, “Eyes
commit adultery when they watch evil, ears commit adultery
when they listen evil, tongue commits adultery when it speaks
evil, hands commit adultery when they touch someone with evil
will, feet commit adultery when they move towards evil and
heart also commits adultery when it desires someone with lust.
(Sahih Muslim)
Once a Companion of Holy Prophet went to meet Hazrat
Usman Ghani. In his way, he watched a beautiful woman. He
looked at her beauty considerately. Then he reached the court of
Hazrat Usman. Hazrat Usman said, “There are people among
you, whose eyes manifest of their adultery.” That Companion
surprisingly asked Hazrat Usman, “Is the process of revelation
12
Divine love, Eternal love for Allah

18
still continued after the Holy Prophet?” He replied, “No, but the
Momins are still blessed with insight and perspicacity.”
Sodomy also falls in the worst category of infidelity. Sodomy
was the reason of torment upon the nation of Lut. The more the
sensual desires are strong, the higher the ranks one gains in the
court of Allah by fighting against them and nafs. Sensual desires
are the most powerful entity in a human being. Whosoever fights
against them, is blessed with infinite ranks in the court of Allah.
SENSUAL DESIRE OF WEALTH
Above mentioned desires of eating and sex require money. So
these two lay foundation of attraction of wealth. Love of wealth
eradicates love of Allah from the heart. Thus, man remains
indulged in earning day and night. He makes no difference
between legitimate and illegitimate wealth. This makes him
covetous and greedy. The desire to get anything more than
necessary, especially wealth, is called greed. To fulfil the needs
of family justly is not considered greed as shariah has allowed it
up to a certain limit. On the contrary, to remain busy all the time
in earning money by forgetting Allah is considered greed. A
greedy person is never contented, no matter how much wealth he
possesses. He spends every moment of his life in thinking about
the means to increase his treasure. It is told in surah Munafiqoon,
“O believers! Your children and wealth must not make you
oblivious of Allah. Whosoever will forget Allah will be
jeopardized.”
 Hazrat Kab bin Ayaz relates that once the Holy Prophet said
that every ummah13
faced a trial. My ummah‟s trial is
wealth.”
 Hazrat Abdullah bin Masud narrates a tradition that the Holy
Prophet said, “Soon after you, there will be a nation who will
13
Nation

19
enjoy all luxuries of the world. They will ride better and
fastest horses. They will marry gorgeous women and they
will wear colourful dresses, but their tummies shall never be
sated and their hearts shall never be contented even on
having excessive wealth. They will consider the world their
God and will worship it. They will be engrossed in the world
whole day and night and will obey the world. Whosoever
will be present in that era, I advise him to avoid handshake
with them, do not visit them when they are sick and do not
offer their funeral. Do not respect their leaders. Whosoever
will not act upon my advice, he will be considered their
assistant in eradicating Islam.”
 There is saying of Sultan-ul-Faqr second Hazrat Hassan of
Basra, “I swear to Allah, whosoever will love the wealth,
Allah will disgrace him.”
Abundance of affluence gives birth to lust of prominence.
LUST FOR PROMINENCE, POWER AND FAME
Abundance of affluence procreates lust of prominence, power
and fame in human beings. Hazrat Imam Al-Ghazali says, “A
number of people have been destructed due to the wish to be
praised by others and aspiration of fame and reputation.” Desire
of fame, reputation, power and prominence means that a person
wishes to dominate the people‟s hearts and lead them.
Submission of heart to anyone results in physical as well as
financial submission and complete obedience to him. Before
obedience to anyone, it is necessary that you have good
conviction about him. Good conviction about any person creates
his respect in your heart and he can earn it by proving his
perfection in knowledge, devotions, virtuous moralities, power
or anything which is considered his exceptional quality. When
you develop good conviction about a person, ultimately your

20
heart becomes obedient to him, which means obedience with
passion and gratification. Then you start praising him verbally
and serve him with wealth. You become like a servant to that
person, rather something more than servant as servant does not
serve his lord with passion. In this way, man uses his wealth,
qualities and power to capture people‟s heart and wishes that
everyone submits before him and he becomes the lord and owner
of everything, but unfortunately this is impossible.
There are two categories of creation; one type cannot be
approached by a human being like sky, stars, angels, Satan and
all entities which are present under the soil and in oceans and
mountains. He wishes to dominate them with knowledge. He
desires to know all secrets of the worlds like a person who is not
a player of a chess but wants to know all its tricks. This is also a
sort of wish to dominate.
Second category includes creations which are accessible to
human beings as they are present on earth like animals, plants
and inorganic matter. Man wishes to become the lord of all
these. He wants to dominate them and this is not possible until
he has plenty of wealth and power. These are the causes behind
lust for dominance and power. Love of wealth and dominance is
the root cause of all inward sicknesses. When any nation suffers
from this esoteric disease, it transforms this world into hell.”
(Ahya-ul-Uloom, Volume III)
 The Holy Prophet said, “Lust of wealth and power gives
birth to hypocrisy in you like algae grows on stagnant
water.” (Tibrani)
 It is Hadith of the Holy Prophet, “When any nation of the
world got excessive wealth, their hearts were entangled with
enmity and hatred.”
Love of money, power and prominence creates numerous
esoteric diseases like jealousy, wrath, pride, conceit, scrimp, enmity,
pretence, occultation, falsehood, greed, mistrust tale-bearing etc.

21
It must be noticed that lust for food produced sexual desires
which gave birth to love of wealth and fame, and they ultimately
led to all sensual desires and inward sicknesses. These esoteric
diseases not only destroy an individual but a complete society.
These sicknesses can be cured by austerity but Hazrat Sakhi
Sultan Bahoo has devised an easy way to cure all these illnesses,
however it is essential to consult the perfect spiritual physician
i.e. Murshid Kamil to acquire that way for spiritual cure.
 Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo says, “The person who wants to
keep his nafs obedient and safe from the accidents of life and
evils of Satan and wishes to get rid of cunning suggestions
and satanic illusions, even while wearing silk and gold
dresses and eating the best food, then he must imprint Ism-e-
Allah Zaat14
by contemplation on his heart. His heart will be
liberated from all the worldly wishes and needs and he will
undoubtedly find presence in the holy assembly of Prophet
Mohammad.” (Kaleed-ul-Tauheed Kalan)
DISEASES OF NAFS
ARROGANCE
Magnificence and Glory are for Allah and only He deserves them.
There is Qudsi Hadith, “Grandeur is My cover, Magnificence is
My dress and whoever will fight with Me over them I will break
him” Arrogance and considering oneself better than others is a
very contemptible trait and it is just like enmity with Allah.
Allah is the Greatest in His attributes and Essence, He is Perfect
and Complete. No one is equivalent to Him, that is why only
Allah deserves all the Grandeur and Glory. No one can get any
rank or grade in the court of Allah without His will. Allah is
Greatest in every aspect so arrogance of a man has no reality.
14
The Divine name which represents the Divine Essence and all Divine attributes.

22
As per shariah, considering ourselves better than others is
referred to as arrogance because Allah has made everyone equal.
Arrogance is a satanic trait as Satan refused to prostrate Adam
because of arrogance and due to it he was accursed by Allah.
Similarly an arrogant is disgraced in religion as well as worldly
life and is cursed by Allah and people.
Seeker of Allah must save himself from arrogance by adopting
humility while travelling on the path of Faqr. Humility is very
essential on the path of Faqr and it can only be adopted if
arrogance is eradicated completely. Humility is considered the
base of Faqr and it acts as defence against troubles and hurdles
coming on the path of Faqr. It is obligatory upon every seeker to
remove arrogance completely from himself and become humble.
Allah has condemned arrogance. There are numerous verses
regarding arrogance, only few are narrated here.
SATANIC ARROGANCE
Allah says about the arrogance of Satan:
 And (also recall) when We commanded the angels:
„Prostrate yourselves before Adam.‟ Then they all prostrated
themselves to Adam except Iblis (Satan). He refused and
showed arrogance, and (consequently) became one of the
disbelievers. (Surah Al-Baqarah-34)
Allah has narrated this incident in surah Al-A‟raf:
 And certainly, We did create you (i.e. your real being), then
gave you shape (i.e. accomplished the phases of chemical
and biological genesis and evolution of life till the
completion of the physical existence of Adam). Then We
commanded the angels: „Prostrate yourselves before Adam.‟
They all prostrated themselves except Iblis; he was not of
those who prostrate themselves. (Allah) said: „(O Iblis!)
What inhibited you that you did not prostrate yourself when
I commanded you?‟ He said: „I am better than he. You have

23
created me from fire and You have made him from clay.‟
(Allah) said: „So, get you down from here. You have no right
to show arrogance here. Away with you (from My presence!)
You are certainly of the disgraced and the humiliated lot.‟
He (Iblis) said: „Grant me respite (to live) till the Day when
people will be raised up (from the graves).‟ (Allah) said:
„Indeed, you are of those granted respite.‟ He (Iblis) said:
„Since You have led me astray, (I swear that) I will (also) sit
on Your straight path (to waylay the children of Adam till I
cause them to deviate from the path of truth). I will assuredly
approach them from their front, from their rear, from their
right and from their left, and (consequently) You will not
find most of them grateful.‟ Allah commanded: „(O Iblis!)
Be gone from here, humiliated and cursed. Whoever of them
will follow you, I will certainly fill Hell with all of you.
(Surah Al-A'raf-11-18)
 So all the angels fell down together prostrating themselves
before Him except Iblis. He showed arrogance (against the
dignity of the Prophet) and became one of the disbelievers.
(Allah) said: „O‟ Iblis! What has prevented you from falling
down prostrate before this (exalted person) whom I have
created with My Own (Benevolent) Hand? Did you show
arrogance (to him), or were you (presuming yourself) high
ranking?‟ (Surah Sad-73-75)
In this way, arrogance wasted all devotions (almost devotions
of fifty thousand years) of Satan. Satan was removed from the
rank of master of angels and became cursed and rejected.
ARROGANCE OF PHARAOH
Arrogance destroyed Pharaoh too. Allah says:
 Then, after them, We sent Musa and Harun (Moses and
Aaron) with Our signs to Pharaoh and his chiefs. But they
displayed arrogance and they were people given to crimes.
(Surah Yunus-75)

24
Pharaoh and his followers rejected invitation of Prophet Moses
towards Allah. They behaved arrogantly and did not accept the
invitation, ultimately were drowned in river Nile.
ARROGANCE OF PEOPLE OF AAD
People of Aad also became arrogant and thus were penalised.
Allah says about them:
 As for the people of „Aad, they were unrightfully arrogant
(and rebellious) in the land and said: „Who is greater in
might than we are?‟ And have they not seen that Allah, Who
has created them, is far mightier in power than they are? And
they kept denying Our Revelations. So We sent upon them
an appalling and violent wind during ill-omened days to
make them taste the torment of humiliation in the worldly
life, and the torment of the Hereafter will be far more
degrading. And they will not be helped at all. (Surah Ha-Mim
Al-Sajda-15,16)
ARROGANCE UPON DEVOTIONS
Allah says in Quran:
 And your Lord has said: “Always pray to Me; I shall certainly
grant your prayer. Surely, those who turn away from My
worship in defiance will soon enter Hell disgraced.”
According to Arifs15
and Faqeers16
, arrogance, pride and vanity
on devotions is immense negligence and critical blunder.
Devotions are for Allah and it is upto Allah whether He accepts
or rejects them. Allah says in surah Nisa, “Those who disdain
His worship and are arrogant, He will gather them all together
unto Himself to (answer).”
Angels are not arrogant on their worship. Allah says:
15
Knowers of Allah
16
Saints of highest rank who travel the path of Faqr and reach its ultimate level.

25
 And those (angels) who (remain) in His presence are not
arrogant towards His worship, nor do they become weary (of
carrying out His obedience). (Surah Al-Anbiya 19)
 Shaikh Motraf says, “If I sleep for a complete night and
wake up worried and aggrieved (because of realisation of
negligence), it is far better than I offer prayer for a complete
night and in the morning I become arrogant of my prayer.”
Once Shaikh Bashir Ibn Mansoor offered a long prayer. He
noticed that an individual was very impressed because of his
prayer. After the prayer he said to him, “Do not be surprised
at my long prayer. Iblis offered devotion of years but you are
aware of his end.”
ARROGANCE UPON LINEAGE
Hazrat Imam Al-Ghazali writes in Ahya-ul-Uloom (Vol-3), “One
kind of arrogance is that an individual of high lineage considers
belittle of other individuals of low lineage, no matter latter may
be better than former in knowledge, Taqwa17
and deeds. Some
people are so much arrogant because of their lineage that they
consider others their slaves and hate to interact and sit with them.
They keep spelling this arrogance everywhere and disdainfully
comment about others as, “What is their worth and reality. I am
the son of so and so and grandson of so and so. How can anyone
dare speak in front of me.” Arrogance is a hidden illness in nafs
that is present in all people of high lineage no matter how much
wise and virtuous they are. They do not express it in normal state
but when anger and annoyance dominate them, their wisdom
fades away and then they express it.” In the following Hadith
arrogance is condemned:
17
Taqwa literally means to have fear of Allah, abstain from sins and adopt pious deeds,
but in reality Taqwa is a state of the heart‟s closeness to Allah. This fact is endorsed by
Hadith that once the Holy Prophet was asked about Taqwa, he pointed towards heart and
said, “Taqwa is here”. So Taqwa is inner state of a person which ultimately leads to have
the vision of Allah

26
 Hazrat Abu Huraira relates a tradition that the Holy Prophet
said, “People must abandon arrogance upon their ancestors‟
status, otherwise God will disgrace them more than the
insect of muck.” (Abu-Dawood, Tirmidhi)
There are other types of arrogance which are not narrated to be
precise. For example; arrogance because of knowledge, arrogance
because of rank and designation, arrogance of power, arrogance
of wealth and progeny, arrogance because of beauty and health
etc.
DENIAL OF RIGHT PATH DUE TO ARROGANCE
Some people, groups and sections forego religion and reject the
right path for materialistic gains, desires of baser self, egotism
and arrogance. They also reject the preachers of right path. Allah
says about them:
 And those who disbelieved (it will be said to them), “Were
My Verses not recited to you? But you showed arrogance
and you were the evildoers.” (Surah Al-Jathiya-31)
 But is it (not) that whenever a Messenger brought you (the
commandments of Allah) your (ill-commanding) selves
disliked, you arrogantly resisted there and then. You belied
some of the Messengers and started killing others. (Surah Al-
Baqarah-87)
 Your God is One God, so who do not believe in Hereafter
are deniers at heart and are beliers and arrogant. (Surah Al-
Nahl-22)
 So those who believe and persist in doing pious deeds, He
will pay them their wages in full and will (then) award them
more out of His bounty. But those who disdain (worshiping
Allah) and behave arrogantly, He will punish them with
grievous torment. (Surah An-Nisa-173)
Arrogance has been condemned in Hadiths as well.

27
 Hazrat Salamah ibn Al-Akwa relates a tradition that the Holy
Prophet said, “Man keeps obeying his nafs until he is
included in the (list of) arrogants and ends like them.” (Al-
Tirmidhi)
 Hazrat Abdullah relates that the Holy Prophet said,
“Whoever will have a bit of arrogance in his heart, he will
not enter the heaven and whoever will have a bit of faith in
his heart, he will not enter the hell.” (Ibn Majah)
 Hazrat Abu Huraira narrates that once the Holy Prophet said,
“Whoever drags his apron because of arrogance, Allah will
not look towards him mercifully on Doomsday.” (Bukhari)
 Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar narrates that once Holy Prophet
said, “Whoever will have a bit of arrogance in his heart,
Allah will throw him in hell facedown.” (Bayhaqi)
 Hazrat Uqbah ibn Amir relates that the Holy Prophet said,
“Whoever will have a bit of faith in his heart, he will not
enter the hell and whoever will have a bit of arrogance in his
heart, he will not enter the heaven.” (Muslim, Abu Dawood)
Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo says:
 “A sin which is done because of lust may be forgiven but a
sin which is done because of arrogance cannot be forgiven.
Prophet Adam's sin was because of lust and Satan‟s sin was
because of arrogance.” (Asrar-e-Qadri)
 You must know that the knowledge of (Do not
prostrate other than Allah) stopped Satan from prostrating
Adam. This knowledge proved a veil for him and he became
disobedient of Allah. There is saying of Holy Prophet:
meaning: “Knowledge is the greatest
veil between Allah and His slave.” This Hadith refers to the
knowledge which creates arrogance. There are three

28
alphabets18
in (Kibr19
). With (K) karamat20
disappears,
with (B) barkat21
disappears and with (R) rehmat22
disappears. (Mahak-ul-Faqr Kalan)
 An arrogant is friend and companion of Satan. Satan is very
popular scholar all over the world. Remember that
knowledge (of marifat23
of Allah) blesses with very high
levels. It includes (knowledge of) promises and warnings of
Allah, verses on incidents of Messengers, knowledge of zikr
of Ism-e-Allah Zaat which is the key to the reality of marifat
of Allah as well as the knowledge of people of world and
renunciation of world. There is saying of Holy Prophet,
(Meaning: World is accursed and
what so ever is present in it other than invocation of Allah is
also accursed). So, it is clear that friendship with
materialistic world and believing in it is a matter of disgrace.
Believing in materialistic world produces lust in heart and
lust is merely a satanic sin and cause of embarrassment in
the court of Allah. Believing in life hereafter brings its
friendship which creates obedience to Allah and Taqwa.
Obedience and Taqwa bring consent of Allah Almighty.
Believing in marifat of Allah and His companionship create
spirit and love of Allah. Whenever any scholar involves
himself in materialistic world, he becomes useless for
religion. Material world is just like a poison and when it is
taken, whether less or more, it kills the religion. This
material world is wealth of Satan, any heart filled with
wealth of Satan or love of satanic wealth, surely becomes
house of Satan. Such a person cannot gain any benefit from
18
According to Arabic alphabets
19
Kibr is Arabic word for arrogance
20
Miracle of a Saint
21
Blessings of Allah
22
Compassion of Allah
23
Gnosis, mystic knowledge of Allah which is acquired only after having the vision and
closeness of Allah.

29
religion as he is drowned in pleasures of lust of baser self.
(Mahak-ul-Faqr Kalan)
Arrogance is such a dangerous spiritual disease that if it is
present in heart even in the least quantity equivalent to a mustard
seed then no devotion is accepted at all in the court of Allah.
May Allah save everyone from all kinds of arrogance. There is a
similar disease to arrogance which is called pride and vanity.
PRIDE AND VANITY
Islam has strictly prohibited display of pride and vanity. All
human beings are equal. White has no superiority over black and
Arabic over non-Arabic. That is why it is not right to display
pride over tribe, status, knowledge or wealth. Allah has severely
disliked it. Usually people feel pride over their lineage, this
creates imbalance in society which leads to conflicts.
People of Faqr consider it malicious to even disclose
themselves (i.e. their high rank near Allah) in front of people,
what to talk about pride and vanity. Pride and vanity lead to
arrogance, that is why they have no importance for the people of
Faqr. They consider Faqr as standard of closeness to Allah. The
more the seeker is humble, the more the path of Faqr becomes
easier for him.
Pride is only allowed in one situation i.e. when it is displayed
to show power and supremacy over the enemies of Allah and
Islam. Such kind of pride is proved from Companions of the
Holy Prophet and our sacred ancestors. But if pride is due to nafs
then it is like arrogance and strictly prohibited. Generally people
become victim of pride and vanity because of nafs. Allah has
absolutely detested this kind of pride.
QURAN
Quran prohibits pride and vanity in these words:

30
 And Allah does not like anyone arrogant and proud. (Surah Al-
Hadid-23)
 Surely Allah does not like the one who is arrogant and
boastful. (Surah An-Nisa-36)
 And if We make man taste mercy from Us, then withdraw it
from him (for some reason), he becomes highly disappointed
(and) ungrateful. And if We make him taste (some) favour
after the suffering that afflicted him, then he is sure to say:
“Gone are my troubles.” Surely he (becomes) most exultant
and boastful. (Surah Hud-9,10)
HADITHS
 Hazrat Abu Malik Asha‟ari relates that Holy Prophet said,
“There are four things of age of ignorance still prevalent in
my nation:
1. Pride over lineage.
2. Curse others‟ lineage
3. Associate raining with stars
4. To lament the deceased
 The obedience and devotion polluted with arrogance is
merely a sin, the disobedience with a proper excuse is better
than such devotion. (Ain-ul-Faqr)
 Arrogance, vanity and pride are the heritage of Satan,
Pharaoh and Qaroon24
whereas humility is the heritage of
Messengers and Saints. (Ain-ul-Faqr)
 Listen! Iblis said, “I obeyed” (Allah) answered, “I cursed
(you)” Adam said, “I made a mistake” (Allah) answered, “I
forgave (you).” (Ain-ul-Faqr)
24
“Korah” in the Bible

31
It must be understood that pride and vanity give birth to
injustice and rigidity. Human beings start oppressing each other
and ultimately they are cursed by Allah.
JEALOUSY
When Allah blesses someone and others start disliking it and pray
for the declination of his blessings, then this is called jealousy.
This is the foremost inward ailment. It was initially expressed
by Satan against Prophet Adam. He showed jealousy against
Adam as Adam was blessed with Divine Trust. Satan became
rebellious and disobedient and refused to prostrate Prophet
Adam. He was the first one to display jealousy. Moreover the
first murder on earth was also due to jealousy when Qabil25
killed Habil26
.
Allah is Indifferent and He blesses inwardly and outwardly
anyone He wants. He enhances livelihood of whomsoever He
wishes and blesses anyone with obedient offsprings, beauty,
Divine knowledge and above all confers His closeness upon
whomsoever he wishes and blesses him with His vision. This is
generosity of Allah and it is part of faith to accept it, but to
criticise the blessed people only because of Allah‟s bestowal
upon them is jealousy. This is strictly against Allah‟s will. Is it
wise to criticise blessing of Allah upon people? Rather this is
fight against Allah and interference in the decisions of Allah.
Allah severely dislikes jealousy as it is the basis of other inward
sicknesses. That is why it is considered a major sin in Islam.
Jealousy is not only a hurdle in the path of Faqr but sometimes it
completely halts the journey of Faqr. This sickness also
originates during the course of Faqr when seekers of Allah
compete with each other. If the spiritual guide ignores his
25
Cain
26
Abel

32
disciple (due to some reason i.e. to test or train him) whom he
has been loving and starts focusing upon another disciple and
this situation creates jealousy in the former disciple then he is
trapped by Satan and becomes devil. In this situation the spiritual
guide leaves him alone. Such disciple plays in the hands of Satan
until his spiritual guide i.e. the Murshid saves him. It is certainly
hypocritic and very dangerous to claim Faqr on one side and
become victim of jealousy on the other side because the true
seekers completely submit to the will and decisions of Allah.
Numerous notable scholars have become the prey of this disease
due to jealousy against other scholars‟ repute and fame.
Faqeers are never inclined towards worldly wealth and honour
rather they curse them, so they are never jealous of the people
having these.
Although, envy is not as bad as jealousy. If Allah has blessed
someone, it is not bad to wish for those blessings for yourself
and this is called envy. It is not an evil trait. However, this envy
will become jealousy if you wish decline of blessings for others,
for example, if Allah has blessed someone with beauty, fame,
high ranks or status and you wish that Allah takes these blessings
back from him and give them to you. Similarly, in the way of
Faqr, if Murshid loves one of his disciples more than you and in
reaction you wish to take his place and create distance between
that disciple and Murshid then it will be considered jealousy on
your part.
Quran has warned about jealousy in these words:
 Many of the people of Book desire to turn you back to
disbelief after you have believed because of the jealousy
they have in their hearts, despite the fact that the truth has
become evident to them. So keep forbearing and overlooking
till Allah sends His command. Verily, Allah has (absolute)
control over everything. (Surah Al-Baqarah-109)

33
 Do they feel jealous of the people because of (the blessings)
which Allah has conferred upon them of His bounty? So,
surely, We have given the family of Ibrahim (Abraham) the
Book and wisdom, and We also granted them a great
kingdom. (Surah An-Nisa-54)
First two sins, one on sky and second on earth were committed
because of jealousy. In Quran Allah says:
 (O’ most Esteemed Messenger!) Relate to these people the
account of the two sons of Adam (Habil and Qabil [Abel
and Cain]) which is absolutely true. When both of them
made offering (one each to Allah), the offering from one of
them (Habil [Abel]) was accepted, whilst that from the other
(Qabil [Cain]) was not accepted. Thereupon, he (Qabil) said
to Habil (out of jealousy and vengeance), „I will surely kill
you.‟ He (Habil) said (in reply), „Indeed, Allah accepts
(offering) only from the people of piety.‟ (Surah Al-Maidah-27)
Prophet Adam had two sons namely Habil and Qabil. They had
two sisters27
. Qabil‟s sister was very pretty so he himself wanted
to marry her. Prophet Adam did not allow this. Ultimately it was
decided that both brothers will make offering in front of Allah.
Whomsoever‟s offering would be accepted, he would marry her.
Habil's offering was accepted by Allah and this induced jealousy
in Qabil which resulted in homicide of Habil by Qabil.
Satan became the enemy of Prophet Adam just because of
jealousy. The incident is narrated in Quran as:
 And (call to mind the time) when We said to the angels: „Fall
down in prostration before Adam.‟ Then all prostrated
themselves except Iblis. He said: „Shall I prostrate myself
before him whom You have created of clay?‟ (And Satan
27
Prophet Adam and Eve used to have twin children every time, a son and a daughter
who were each others‟ brother and sister. Prophet Adam used to marry the son and
daughter of one twin progeny to the daughter and son of the next twins respectively.
Hence the mankind generated rapidly.

34
also said:) „Tell me, is it he You have exalted over me?
(What is its reason after all?) If You grant me respite till the
Day of Resurrection, I shall root out his children except a
few of them (by bringing them under my control).‟ (Al-Isra-
61,62)
When Allah granted Adam superiority over Satan, Satan
became jealous. He wished to be superior to Adam as he was
created from fire whereas Adam was created from mud. He held
the view that fire has superiority over clay so he must be exalted
over Adam. He disobeyed Allah just because of jealousy and
was anathematized in the court of Allah. His jealousy had such
intensity that he requested respite from Allah till the Day of
Judgement to mislead mankind.
 Hazrat Abu Huraira narrates that once Holy Prophet said,
“Save yourself from jealousy as it extinguishes pious deeds
like fire burns wood.” (Abu Dawud)
 Hazrat Abu Huraira relates a tradition that Prophet
Mohammad said, “Do not become jealous of each other,
never keep malice for each other, never break up your
relations with each other and O’ mankind! Stay in
brotherhood”. (Bukhari)
 Hazrat Anas relates that the Holy Prophet said, “Jealousy
destroys pious deeds like fire burns wood while sadqa
(donation for Allah) extinguishes sins like water extinguishes
fire and salat is the Noor28
of Momin and fasting is a
protection against hell.”
 Hazrat Anas relates a tradition that Prophet Mohammad said
that soon poverty would be considered as sin and jealousy
would take over fate.
28
Divine light

35
The description of above narrated Hadith is that soon there will
come a time when people will be forced to leave Islam or
Muslims will not be able to follow truth because of poverty.
Wealthier people will be more honoured than the men of Taqwa.
Explanation of “jealousy would take over fate” is that if Allah
blesses someone with anything then this is his fate but jealous
person wishes for deterioration of that blessing. In this way the
jealous person does not accept fate. He always tries to snatch
blessings of Allah from the blessed person. To fulfil his wrong
motives, he follows the path of Satan like nowadays it is
common to cast black magic for this mean purpose. People spell
black magic on others just because of jealousy.
The sacred Companions of Holy Prophet have strictly
forbidden jealousy.
 There is a saying of Hazrat Umar Farooq that whomsoever
Allah intends to bless, He blesses him by any mean and
jealousy cannot stop it.
 There is a saying of Hazrat Usman that jealous feels
unhappy and aggrieved on your pleasure. This feeling itself
is enough punishment for him and you do not need to take
revenge, he himself will burn in his own fire.
 Once Hazrat Ali said, “Never be jealous of each other as
jealousy snubs faith like fire burns wood. Appreciation of
someone more than he deserves is flattery and toadyism
while less (appreciation) than he deserves is because of
inner weakness or jealousy.” There is one more saying of
Hazrat Ali, “Health of body is related to paucity of jealousy.”
 Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo says, “Remember, people who
do not have jealousy in their hearts surely belong to heaven
and those who have jealousy in their hearts are worse than
the people of hell and are Zoroastrians (fire worshippers).

36
JEALOUS IS ENEMY OF HIMSELF
Jealous person always harms himself because of his jealousy. He
will instantly renounce jealousy if he recognises the fact that
how much destructive his jealousy is for himself in this world
and hereafter and moreover his jealousy benefits the respective
person (whom he is jealous of). Worldly penalty for a jealous
person is that he always remains worried and restless, and he is
never released from this penalty even for a single moment as
Allah is perpetually blessing His slaves. He always wishes for
decline of his fellow men but he himself has to face those
worries which he wishes for others. Jealousy is such a drastic
anxiety which has no match as a jealous puts himself in
permanent trouble because of his enemy (whom he is jealous of),
on the other hand his enemy has no worsening effects of jealousy
as Allah blesses his creation in any way when He intends to bless
and jealousy cannot change or lessen the blessings of Allah.
Blessing is the ordinance of Allah and your jealousy is unable to
change fate. Think over it and search the cure of your ailment.
NARCISSISM
Narcissism is illness of nafs which wounds up all the abilities of
insight. Allah has blessed everyone with specific talent like
someone is good in knowledge, someone is blessed by beauty
and someone is prominent in Taqwa. If someone loves his own
goodness to such an extent that it makes him blind to see others‟
goodness, this is called narcissism. Narcissism means to like
yourself up to the limit where you start disliking everyone else
and consider others inferior and yourself superior. Narcissism
gives birth to self-praise which ultimately converts to arrogance.
People asked Hazrat Ayesha, “When does someone become
evil?” She replied, “When he starts considering himself virtuous.”
Such a thought is related to narcissism. Hazrat Ibn-e-Masud says,
“There is devastation and wreckage in two things, one is

37
narcissism and other is disappointment. The disappointed person
does not find himself worthy for seeking Allah while a narcissist
does not consider it necessary.
Narcissism is an evil trait. Satan is mainly the one who creates
it in heart. Narcissism includes arrogance in it, that is why it is
essential to keep the heart clean from it. On the path of Faqr, it
takes away Divine help from the seeker. As soon as Divine help
disappears, seeker‟s devastation starts. So ultimately it leads to
havoc.
Quran has stressed again and again to keep ourselves away
from narcissism. On the occasion of battle of Hunayn, Muslims‟
strength was manifold as compared to the enemy. This created
narcissism in Muslims that enemy would be unable to compete
with them because of their strength. Allah Almighty disliked it,
hence the signs of defeat of Muslims started emerging. But soon
Muslims realised their mistake and they adopted humility, so
their defeat converted into victory. Allah says in Quran;
 Assuredly, Allah has helped you on a great many occasions,
and (in particular) on the day of Hunayn, when the
superiority of your (numerical strength) exhilarated you.
Then that (numerical superiority) could not prove to you of
any avail, and the earth, despite its vast expanse, narrowed
for you, and then you turned your backs in retreat. (Surah At-
Tawbah-25)
On the occasion of battle of Badr, Quraish of Makkah were
indulged in narcissism so they faced defeat. In the following
verse Allah instructs to get rid of narcissism:
 And be not like those who came out of their homes
exhibiting false pride and showing off to the people and who
hindered (the people) from the path of Allah. And Allah has
encompassed (with His Knowledge and Power) all the
activities they are doing. (Surah Al-Anfal-47)

38
The Holy Prophet has also condemned narcissism in many
Hadiths:
 It is narrated in Zavajir with reference to Vilmi that the Holy
Prophet said, “Narcissism is such a curse that it wastes the
virtuous deeds of seventy years” (Vilmi)
 Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar says that the Holy Prophet said,
“If you do not commit any sin even then I am afraid that you
will indulge yourselves in narcissism.” (Bazaz)
If Allah Almighty blesses someone with knowledge, wealth,
beauty, zeal of prayers, desire of Faqr and closeness of Allah,
and he remains worried that he may not lose this blessing (due to
his own negligence or unthankfulness), then such a person is not
self-conceited or a narcissist. If a person considers every blessing
as the beneficence of Allah rather than attributing it to his own
self and remains happy on it instead of being afraid of losing,
then he is also not self-conceited. On the other hand, if he exults
on this blessing and considers it as his own attribute then surely
he is arrogant and self-conceited.
PRETENCE
Pretence means to show off good deeds. The purpose behind
obedience to Allah and devotions of a person should be the
gnosis of Allah. All virtues must be aimed at gaining the consent
of Allah so that Allah blesses the person with His closeness and
gnosis. If this purpose is polluted with desires of fame and show
off then surely it is not purely for Allah and this is called
pretence. Arifs consider pretence a great sin and veil between
Allah and His slave. It is very close to idolatry. Only the actions
done with absolute sincerity for Allah are accepted in the court
of Allah. If there is a personal interest behind devotions and you
wish to become known as a virtuous and pious person through

39
these devotions, then such devotions are contaminated with
pretence and will take you away from Allah.
 Allah says in Quran: “And those who spend their wealth to
show off to people, and believe neither in Allah nor in the
Last Day. And whoever sides with Satan as a companion, so
he is an evil companion!” (Surah Al-Nisa-38)
 Hazrat Mahmood bin Labaid relates that the Holy Prophet
said, “I am worried about the minor idolatry.” People asked,
“What is minor idolatry?” The Holy Prophet said, “Pretence”.
(Al-Bayhaqi)
 Hazrat Abu Huraira relates that the Holy Prophet said, “In
the last era there will be people who will seek material world
by using religion. They will wear skin of sheep to show
people (they will be wolves disguising as sheep). Their
language will be sweeter than sugar to show their kindness
but their hearts will be like wolves. Allah will say to them,
“Have you become fearless because of My reprieve to you?
Are you daring before Me? I swear to Myself I will indulge
you in such a trial which will surprise the wise men.” (Musnad
Ahmad ibn Hanbal)
 Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar relates that the Holy Prophet said,
“Whoever does his (virtuous) deeds to show people, Allah
will give him similar type of reward.” (Ibn Majah)
 Hazrat Shadad ibn Aus relates that the Holy Prophet said,
“Whoever offers his prayer for pretence surely he does
idolatry, whoever fasts for pretence surely he does idolatry
and whoever gives donations for pretence, undoubtedly he
performs idolatry.” (Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal)
 Hazrat Jondab relates that the Holy Prophet said, “Whoever
adopts pretence, Allah will also pretend for him and whoever
shows off, Allah will also do the same with him.”

40
 Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar relates that the Holy Prophet said,
“Even a bit of pretence is also idolatry. They are the most
beloved of Allah who adopt Taqwa and are hidden. If they
disappear, no one searches them (they are not needed by
people for any worldly purpose) and when they give testimony,
no one recognises them. These people are commanders of
righteousness and beacons of knowledge.” (Al-Tibrani, Al-Hakim)
 Holy Prophet said, “Pretence is worse than infidelity.”
REALITY OF PRETENCE AND ITS TYPES
Reality of pretence is that a person displays his piety so that
people love him, appreciate his righteousness and he becomes
famous, respectable and role model of virtuosity among people.
He adopts such behaviour which appears to be religious and
pious. Ultimately, he becomes habitual to show off all his good
deeds. The pretence has been divided in five different types.
 First type is related to physical body of a person. The
pretentious person transforms his physical appearance like
Saints. For example, he makes his face pale by any mean so
that people assume that he has prayed for the whole night
and has not slept. Or, he makes himself so weak and feeble
that people get the feeling that his weakness is just because
of hard devotions. Or, he talks with people in soft tone which
induces people to think that he is so much engrossed in
religion that has lowered his voice as well. Or, makes his lips
dry by scratching or by any other way so that people
consider that he is fasting these days. When people start
thinking about him the way he wants, then this gives his nafs
a great pleasure and happiness.
 Second type of pretence is related to dressing i.e. wearing
such dresses which give look of pious people. Wearing
coarse, shrunk or torn old clothes so that a person looks like

41
an ascetic. Or, dressing like Saints and carrying prayer mat
and pallet with him so that people consider him a Sufi but in
fact he has nothing to do with spirituality. There are two
further groups according to pretence in dressings. First group
consists of people who are eager to become known among
people as a pious person by wearing plain and old clothes or
simple dresses. This thing earns them popularity among the
masses. Even if someone suggests them to wear clothes as
per weather conditions, they consider it disgrace and display
serious concern over this suggestion. Although, such
dressing is not forbidden in Islam but by wearing such
clothes their popularity as a pious person would be
hampered. They fear that people may stop considering them
virtuous. Second group consists of people who are keen to
earn popularity in public as well as in the elite class of
aristocrats. They avoid to wear old clothes so that the rulers
may not consider them disrespectful and at the same time
they have the fear that good and expensive dressing may
make them unpopular among general public. So they wear
thin cotton or woollen clothes which bear different designing
on them, as such dresses have also been worn by some
ascetics and pious persons. In this way, general public also
appreciates their piousness and the elite class finds no reason
to degrade them because they wear expensive clothes. If
someone asks them to wear simple clothes, they go in
moribund state by hearing this suggestion, no matter simple
dress may be better than their dress. Actually, they cannot
wear simple dress because they have to pretend to be pious
on one side and rich on the other side. These fools are fully
aware of the fact that such simple dresses are allowed in
Islam and worn by religious people. In fact, secretly they
wear such dresses in home but do not have the courage to go
outside in these dresses because it earns them bad name.
Maybe they are unaware that this kind of attitude is like

42
worshipping people (not Allah) or they may know it but are
not afraid of Allah.
 The third categorization in which pretence is worked is
verbosity, i.e. the manner to communicate. Either the so
called ascetics try to pretend to be invoking by holding a
chaplet or constantly move their lips so as to show that they
are never free from invocation of Allah‟s name. Maybe, they
really invoke but the question arises that what is their
purpose of moving lips deceitfully while invocation, why it
cannot be carried out in heart? Although, invoking in heart is
more beneficent than invoking by tongue but then how will
people know that they even invoke! They do this pretence of
invocation just in public, while in solitude they never even
think about invoking. Some such fellow learns the traditions
of sacred Companions and Sufis by heart and repeats in front
of people to make them perceive him as the only man of the
age who has full command over knowledge of mysticism
and religion. He walks among people by lowering his neck
to pretend that the state of spiritual ecstasy has occupied
him. At times, a few religious stories are present in his
memory which he repeats of and on among people to show
as if he has immense knowledge and no one can compete
him in this age as regards the knowledge of religion and
none is like him who has visited numerous Sufis and has
spent his life in enlightening travelling.
 Fourth kind of pretence is related to prayers which are
performed with hypocrisy e.g. before the time of prayer one
starts its preparation in front of people or sits in the mosque
before prayer time so that every person who comes to the
mosque to offer prayer sees him and gets convinced of his
devotion. When such a hypocrite sees a man coming near
him while he is praying, he starts his prayer with great care
and humility, bends his neck and prolongs the bowing and

43
prostration. Giving alms in front of people (to become popular)
is also included in this kind of pretence. Every such form of
worship is nothing but pretence. A pretentions person treads
slowly with lowered neck but if someone is not looking, this
walk fastens and not a moment goes when he does not peep
around. When he sees someone coming, his walk slows
down and hence looks and eyes also become venerable.
 Fifth category of pretence is that the fake so called spiritual
guides claim that they have numerous number of followers
and devotees and their students are countless. The aristocrats
and elite come to visit them and consider it an honour and a
benediction to greet them. Shaikh of the era respects them
and considers them virtuous.
Here this point is worth mentioning that if respect is
demanded through things other than worship, then it is
permissible because if a person dresses well then this is not
only correct but is also the sunnah as this well dressing
represents him favourably rather than showing his virtuosity.
If a person is knowledgeable in vocabulary, grammar,
mathematics, medicines etc. or in any other field which is
not related with religion and worships and if he expresses it,
then this is acceptable despite being pretence because
pretence is done for respect and it has been told that if desire
for respect does not crosses its limits then it is correct.
However, it is absolutely forbidden regarding worships and
religion.
Thus any act or worship based on hypocrisy is not acceptable
in the court of Holy Lord, instead this hypocritical act and
worship become a nuisance. Especially if a seeker who is on the
path of Faqr becomes a hypocrite then he is disgraced in both the
worlds.

44
ANGER
Anger is a strong emotion of annoyance. It appears in heart. Its
reality is fire and is related to Satan as Satan was created from
fire and Prophet Adam was created from soil. Fire expresses
restlessness and impatience whereas soil represents peace.
Whosoever is dominated by anger, he is more related to Satan
than Adam. Whenever someone is feeling angry, he must control
it.
Allah gave the feeling of anger to man so that it may become
the weapon to fight and clear the satanic threats from inner self.
While sensual desire is engendered in man so that he attracts
good towards him. A man cannot avoid these two traits (anger
and sensual desire) but when they cross the limits and become
excessive then they are very dangerous. Anger is like a fire
which burns in heart and its smoke moves to brain, resultantly
the smoke darkens the wisdom which cannot foresee and think
good anymore. It is just like a cave filled with smoke where
nothing is visible. Anger is too dangerous and is considered to be
a Satan for wisdom. To culminate it completely is not good even,
as Muslims can fight against the non-Muslims for respect and
safeguard of Islam only with this feeling of anger. Anger must be
the part of personality. Anger should be neither more nor less
rather moderate and it must be exercised under the command of
Islam and wisdom. Some people opine that anger can be
completely finished from personality but they have developed
wrong opinion. Anger is a useful weapon as narrated above and
just like sensual desire, it also cannot be exterminated
completely from the personality. However, shariah has drawn
limits. If sensual desire crosses specific limit, shariah instructs to
control it. Similarly, if anger crosses the moderate limit and
causes wisdom to fade away, then shariah teaches to control it in
order to avoid such situation. Anger must remain in boundaries

45
of shariah and wisdom so that one must not be taken over by it
and harm others.
The traveller of path of Faqr has the capability to control his
anger. This fact is narrated in Quran in this way, “They are the
ones who spend in the cause of Allah whether they are affluent
or indigent (in both the conditions), sublimate their anger and
tolerate (the faults of the) people; and Allah loves those who are
benevolent.” (Surah Aal-e-Imran-134)
On another occasion, Allah has narrated about forgiveness
during the state of anger:
 And those who refrain from major sins and the indecencies;
and when they feel furious, they forgive. (Surah Ash-Shura-37)
MALICE AND GRUDGE
Malice means to keep secret enmity in heart. Hidden enemy is
more dangerous than known enemy. Malice and grudge means to
keep intention of revenge in heart against innocent individual
and it is also a kind of hypocrisy. Virtuosity of soul fades away
because of malice and grudge. It is such an illness of innerself
which harms religion and faith and creates hurdles in devotions.
It reverses the journey of Faqr of a seeker as malice and grudge
make him oblivious of his spiritual journey towards Allah. He
spends his maximum time in planning to take revenge rather than
seeking Allah and His closeness. The purpose behind purification
of nafs is to sanctify human being from esoteric and exoteric
illnesses. The soul tainted with malice and grudge is unable to
travel the path of Faqr. Malice and grudge are antonyms of
kindness, love, forgiveness and mercy. If malice and grudge
vanish from the heart then these will be replaced by kindness,
love, forgiveness and mercy. This state of heart is acquired by
the company of perfect spiritual guide and invocation and
contemplation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat.

46
Grudge is developed in weak and coward people who cannot
openly take revenge. So they secretly foster grudge in their heart
and always remain in search for opportunity to take revenge. In
some people the emotion of malice becomes so extreme that
even the enemy dies but they try to take revenge from his
children.
Malice and grudge can also be defined as feeling happy on
others‟ troubles and becoming worried on others‟ happiness. It is
the sign of malice that the victim of malice will not greet while
meeting others and when malice will become intense then he will
not respond to others‟ greetings, hatred will be visible in his eyes
and he will use foul language. He will try to disclose the secrets
of his enemy with backbiting and lying and will abuse him. He
will become the enemy of his relatives too. If he finds the
opportunity of revenge then in no circumstances will he spare his
enemy and will tyrannise him and insist others as well to do so.
He will not even offer prayer with him.
Quran has stressed upon keeping away from people with
malice and grudge.
 O‟ believers! Do not confide in those who are not from
amongst you. They will never miss (any) chance to cause
you mischief. They wish you severe torture. As for their
malice, that has become evident from their utterances, and
(the hostility) that they have concealed in their hearts is
(even) greater. We have made the signs manifest to you if
you would use your intellect. (Surah Aal-e-Imran-118)
 And nothing (of the believers) was annoying them except
that they had believed in Allah the Almighty, All-
Praiseworthy. (Surah Al-Buruj-8)
 And, (O' Beloved!) the (Book) which has been revealed to
you from your Lord will certainly increase most of them in
rebellion and disbelief (due to jealousy). And We have put

47
among them hostility and spite till the Day of Resurrection.
Whenever these people kindle the fire of war, Allah puts it
out. And they are engaged in spreading mischief and
disorder (everywhere) on the earth, and Allah does not like
those who spread mischief. (Surah Al-Maidah-64)
 Indeed, in Ibrahim (Abraham) and his companions there is
an excellent example for you (to follow), when they said to
their people: „We are utterly weary of (and cut off from) you
and the idols that you worship apart from Allah; we have
openly rejected you all. The enmity, hatred and malice
between us and you have become evident forever until you
believe in Allah, the One.‟ (Surah Al-Mumtahinah-4)
 Hazrat Abu Huraira relates that Prophet of Allah said, “Do
not retain malice for each other, do not break relation with
each other and be the brother of each other. (Sahih Bukhari)
 Hazrat Abu Huraira relates that Prophet Mohammad said,
“People‟s deeds are presented (in front of Allah) twice a
week i.e. Monday and Thursday. So all Momins are granted
forgiveness except the individual having malice for his
brother.” (Sahih Muslim)
 Hazrat Maaz Bin Jabal relates that the Holy Prophet said,
“On the night of 15th
Shaban Allah looks mercifully upon his
slaves and forgives everyone except the individual having
malice.”
STINGINESS
Stinginess is a sign of extreme love for wealth and this love is
the major obstacle in the path of Closeness to Allah because a
stingy stays absorbed in wealth and keeps thinking about means
of earning more money and saving it. Stinginess is antonym of
generosity and a generous is beloved of Allah. Allah is
Indifferent and whomsoever He intends to give infinitely, He

48
does so and whomsoever He intends to give minutely, He does
so. If Allah Almighty has blessed someone with excessive
wealth then he must remember that shariah has instructed to
spend this wealth on himself, his family, relatives, loved ones as
well as in the way of Allah. Spending less money than basic
needs is stinginess. Accumulating wealth and creating huge
accounts apparently seems to be much profitable but in fact it is
a great detriment. A man thinks that his savings will make him
rich and then he will be able to have luxurious life, but a stingy
is always absorbed in earning and saving money so he remains
unable to live a luxurious life. A stingy spends his whole life in
accumulating money and at the end he himself dies then other
people including his near and dear ones enjoy luxurious life with
his money. Stinginess brings a lot of troubles and worries in life.
A stingy remains so much focused on collecting wealth that he
stops differentiating between legal and illegal earnings, and
when he uses illegal means, he finds himself in more difficulties.
It must be remembered that abundance of wealth brings
anxieties, illnesses and troubles with it.
Exterminating worldly love from heart and replacing it with
love of Allah is the right path. But a stingy loves worldly wealth
so he is deprived of love of Allah.
Whosoever loves Allah instead of wealth, becomes generous.
This is the reason why friends of Allah are always generous.
They trust Allah and Allah blesses them. Path of Faqr is the path
of generosity not stinginess. Generosity brings felicity in wealth
and stinginess vanishes it. Stinginess is not at all a virtue rather it
is an evil, that is why Quran has ordered to quit it. Allah likes the
generous not misers. Allah says in Quran:
 And those who are niggardly in giving away (from the
wealth) which Allah has bestowed upon them out of His
bounty must never consider this miserliness of any benefit to
themselves; it is rather injurious to them. Soon on the Day of

49
Resurrection, this wealth they are niggardly about will be put
around (their necks) like a neck-fetter. To Allah belongs the
heritage of the heavens and the earth (i.e. He will remain the
Owner of the universe after your death in the same way as
He owns it today). And Allah is well aware of all your deeds.
(Surah Aal-e-Imran-180)
 Remember! You are those who are called to spend in the
way of Allah. Then there are some of you who act miserly.
And whoever acts miserly does it only against himself. And
Allah is Independent and you (all) are dependent. And if you
turn away from the command of Allah, He will replace you
with other people who will not be like you. (Surah Mohammad-
28)
 Those who are miserly and bid others (also) to be miserly
and hide that (blessing) which Allah has granted them of His
bounty. And We have prepared a disgraceful torment for the
disbelievers. (Surah An-Nisa-37)
 They who are (themselves) miserly and (also) urge others to
be miserly. And he who turns away from (Allah’s
injunctions), then surely Allah is (also) Self-Sufficient, Most
Praiseworthy. (Surah Al-Hadid-24)
On many occasions Quran has reproached stinginess and
ordered to avoid it.
 Say: “If you were the owners of the treasures of my Lord‟s
mercy, you would even then hold (your hands) back (from
spending) for fear of (total) exhaustion. And man has turned
out to be highly narrow-minded and miserly.” (Surah Al-Isra-
100)
 So fear Allah as much as you are able to. And listen to (His
commands) and obey and spend (in His way). That will be
better for you. And whoever is saved from the miserliness of
his (ill-commanding) self, it is they who will attain
prosperity. (Surah Taghabun-16)

50
On the Day of Judgement, stingy will face a huge penalty.
Allah says:
 But he who is miser and disregards (spending in the cause of
Allah), And (in this way) denies the good (the religion of
truth and afterlife), soon shall We facilitate his landing into
hardship (advancing towards torment, so that punishment
becomes his rightful due). And his wealth will not help him
in any way when he falls into (the pit of) destruction. (Surah
Al-Layl-8-11)
 O’ believers! Indeed, the majority of the priests and monks
(of the people of the Book) devour the wealth of people
through unfair (means) and hinder from the path of Allah
(i.e. fill their safes with people’s money, and hinder it from
being spent for the publicity and promotion of the true
religion). And those who hoard silver and gold and do not
spend it in the cause of Allah, warn them of a grievous
torment. The Day when this (gold, silver and wealth) will be
heated in the fire of Hell, their foreheads, sides and backs
will be branded with this (heated material, and it will be said
to them:) „This is the same (wealth) that you treasured for
(the benefit of) your souls. So taste (this wealth) which you
had been amassing.‟ (Surah At-Tawbah-34,35)
Stinginess is strictly prohibited in Hadiths as well.
“Two angels descend every morning. One of them says, “O’
Allah! Bless them with reward who spend in Your way” and
the other angel says, “O Allah! Seize the wealth of stingy.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari)
 Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri relates that Holy Prophet said, “A
Momin cannot have two attributes i.e. stinginess and
misconduct.” (Al-Tirmidhi)

51
“Stingy and the donor who gives Sadqa29
are like two
individuals wearing armour jackets and their hands are tied
with chest and neck. So, when the donor gives Sadqa, his
hands get free and when stingy displays stinginess, his
armour jacket is tightened and its radius is reduced.” (Sahih al-
Bukhari)
“Generosity is the tree of heaven. The generous holds the
branches of this tree and these branches will surely take him
to heaven. Similarly stinginess is the tree of hell so the
stingy holds its branches and these will surely take him to
hell. (Al-Bayhaqi)
Stinginess is such an esoteric disease which enhances distance
between human beings and humanity and a stingy is hated by
everyone.
BACKBITING
Backbiting means to discuss someone with hateful talk and
immoral label or talk about someone in such a bad manner which
he would dislike if he comes to know. If those bad habits of a
person are conversed which he possesses, then it is backbiting
and if he does not possess them, then it is slandering and
blaming. Backbiting is very hazardous esoteric disease because it
gives birth to mistrust.
Quran says about it:
 O’ believers! Avoid most conjectures. Indeed, some
conjectures are sins (liable to punishment in the Hereafter).
And spy not (on someone’s unknown matters or secrets), nor
backbite one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh
29
Any kind of donation in the way of Allah.

52
of his dead brother? You would hate it. And fear Allah (in
all such matters). Indeed, Allah is Ever-Returning, Ever-
Merciful. (Al-Hujrat-12)
“When you say anything (bad) about (habit of) your brother,
if he has it then it is backbiting and when you say anything
(bad) about (habit of) your brother, and he does not have it
then you blamed him. (Sahih Muslim)
 Hazrat Ali relates that Prophet Mohammad said, “Save
yourself from backbiting because it brings five penalties for
the one who does it:
i) Beauty of his face fades away.
ii) His prayers are not accepted.
iii) His devotions are propelled back on his face.
iv) On Doomsday his face will be turned backside.
v) On Doomsday he will stay with Pharaoh and Shaddad in
hell.
“Do you know what is backbiting?” People replied, “Allah
and His Prophet are well aware.” The Holy Prophet said,
“To talk about your brother (Muslim) in such words which
he dislikes.” People asked, “If he possesses that evil which is
being pointed out?” Prophet said, “Whatsoever you are
saying, if he has it then it is backbiting and if he does not
have it then it is a blame.” (Sahih Muslim)
 Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri relates that the Holy Prophet said,
“When I was visiting skies during the night of Meraj30
, I was
passed above people whose flesh was being cut from their
body and they were eating morsels of that flesh. I inquired
from Jibreel about those people. Jibreel replied, “They were
backbiters of your nation.”
30
Ascension of Holy Prophet to Allah

53
 Hazrat Abu Huraira relates from Hazrat Aslami that Prophet
of Allah said, “O people! Who have endorsed faith with
tongue only but faith has not entered into your heart (you are
away from the station of verification by heart), neither
indulge yourselves in backbiting of Muslims nor search their
faults. Whosoever searches other‟s faults, Allah will find out
his faults and when Allah will disclose his faults, He will
disgrace him in his own home.” (Abu Dawood)
LIE
Lie means falsehood and mendacity which is far away from
reality. It can be committed both with tongue and action. Lie
gives birth to countless evils. It originates from inward and then
it is expressed by tongue or action. Lying deprives one from the
Compassion of Allah and the liar is cursed by Allah. There
remains no blessing in the provision of a liar. Falsehood creates
anxiety and unease. Lie makes the heart go astray and finishes
the blessings of Allah from home. It creates negligence and is the
mother of all vices. It gives birth to dissension, brawl, feud,
hatred, malice, grudge and antipathy.
First promise of a seeker of Allah on the path of Faqr is to
safeguard himself from lying at any cost no matter how much
damages and troubles he will have to face. Although, it is very
difficult to follow the path of truthfulness but it eventually earns
success. Lie never brings success and prosperity even in this
world. Ultimately truth gets victorious. Allah says:
 Certainly, Allah does not give guidance to the one who is a
liar and highly ungrateful. (Surah Az-Zumar-3)
 Undoubtedly Allah never guides the one who has crossed the
limit of lying. (Surah Al-Momin-28)
 And on the Day of Resurrection, you will see those who
have fabricated a lie against Allah that their faces are

54
darkened. Is the abode of the arrogant not in Hell? (Surah Az-
Zumar-60)
 In their hearts is a disease. So Allah has worsened their
disease. And for them, there is painful punishment because
they used to tell lies. (Surah Al-Baqarah-10)
 And who can be a greater wrongdoer than the one who
invents a lie against Allah or who belies His Revelations?
Surely, the wrongdoers will not prosper. (Surah Al-Inam-21)
 Hazrat Abu Umama relates that the Holy Prophet said, “Lie
in fact is a part of hypocrisy.” (Ahya-ul-Uloom-Volume 3)
 Hazrat Abu Bakr reported that the Holy Prophet said, “Save
yourself from lie because lie is opposite to faith.” (Musnad
Imam Ahmad)
 Hazrat Abu Huraira narrates a tradition that the Holy Prophet
said, “To relate every rumour is sufficient to become a liar.”
(Sahih Muslim)
 Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood narrates a tradition that the
Holy Prophet said, “Strictly follow truthfulness because truth
takes you to the righteousness and righteousness leads to
heaven. An individual continually speaks truth and tries to
always speak truth until he becomes Siddique31
in front of
Allah. And save yourself from lie because it takes you to evil
and evil leads to hell. An individual keeps on telling lies and
always tries to tell a lie until he is declared liar in the court
of Allah.” (Sahih Muslim)
 Hazrat Ibn-e-Umar reports a tradition that Prophet of Allah
said, “Whenever a person tells a lie, angels move one mile
away from him with its stink.” (Al-Tirmidhi)
said, “No one can be a Momin until he avoids to tell a lie
31
Man of truthfulness

55
even while joking and avoids brawl even when he is right.”
(Musnad Imam Ahmad)
 Hazrat Abu Umama relates that the Holy Prophet said,
“Momin may be born with any nature but he can never be
born with the nature of lie and treachery.”
On the path of Faqr only true and upright seeker finds victory.
A liar can never be a Friends of Allah because Allah is the Truth
and he likes the truthful. Men of Allah manifest truth so how can
a liar be considered a man of Allah! To hide right thing is also
considered a lie, it is related about Jews that they used to hide
righteousness and interpret Torah erroneously. May Allah
Almighty save us from it.
EVIL SPECULATION
Immoral assumption or evil speculation is such an illness which
takes birth from the misapprehensions created by the inward
devil who whispers evil thoughts into the heart and devastates
the peace of its victim. It means to develop wrong assumption
about some innocent person without any proof and reason. Such
assumption is a potential threat to that person‟s honesty, popularity,
goodness and nobility and transforms his goodness into evil,
good luck into bad luck and creates storm of nonsense against
him which demolishes his pious reputation.
Apparently, evil speculation is a trivial ailment but if considered
carefully, it is the basis of many illnesses. It proves fatal for any
home, society and institution.
Allah says in Quran:
 And you imagined a highly evil speculation and became a
people bound to perish. (Surah Al-Fateh-12)
Quran has emphasised clearly to save ourselves from wrong
speculations:

56
 O’ Believers! Avoid most conjectures. Indeed, some
conjectures are sins (liable to punishment in the Hereafter).
(Surah Al-Hujrat-12)
Why do evil speculations originate? It has many reasons and
one of them is being unnecessarily emotional or sensitive.
Usually speculations are linked with our beloveds or enemies. In
case of our loved ones we develop wrong assumptions from their
trivial conversations and actions. Same case is with enemies. We
develop mistrust about our friends and enemies which has
nothing to do with reality. In the beginning a person usually
develops minor evil assumptions unintentionally but with the
passage of time it becomes his habit, as a result he becomes
lunatic. He experiences the fits of evil speculations just like
mental patients. In short, this disease changes friendship into
enmity, enmity into worse form, love into hatred and liking into
malice.
However, whatever is the reason or source of wrong
speculations, they bear hazardous and deadly effects on society.
Prosper families are devastated due to this illness. Nations
experience downfall and ruin because of this infection, rather it
destroys everything coming in its way. Just because of this
disease, peace is converted into violence.
Backbiting, grudge and tale-bearing originate from wrong
speculations and they also instigate to find other‟s evils.
SNOOPING
When thoughts are not organised and wrong speculations are
developed then illness of spying and snooping takes birth. A
person who is victim of evil speculations is always indulged in
finding faults. Quran has forbidden to find others‟ faults:
 And spy not (on someone’s unknown matters or secrets), nor
backbite one another. (Surah Al-Hujrat-12)

57
The Holy Prophet said,
 “O people! Who have endorsed faith with tongue only but
faith has not entered into your heart (you are away from the
station of verification by heart), do not indulge yourselves in
exploring others‟ secrets. Whosoever tries to find others‟
secrets, Allah will disclose his secrets, He will disgrace him
in his own home.” (Abu Dawood)
 Protect yourself from evil speculations, because nothing is
more unreal than an evil speculation. Avoid spying and
secretly listening others. ( Muwaṭṭa Imam Malik)
There are Hadiths of the Holy Prophet:
 Whosoever hides (flaws of) other Muslims, Allah will hide
(his flaws) in this world and hereafter.
 Whosoever (unintentionally) found secret of anyone and
then covered it, it is just like that he saved a girl from dying
who was buried alive.
It is the attribute of Momin that instead of spying upon others‟
flaws, he carries out accountability of himself and removes his
own flaws.
 Mian Mohammad Bakhsh says:
Meaning: I went out to search a sinful person but I could not find
one. However, when I looked into myself, I realised that no one
is more sinful than me.
It must be remembered that whosoever finds others‟ secrets
and flaws and advertises them, Allah discloses his secrets and
flaws and humiliates him.

58
TALEBEARING
Philosophy of a victim of evil speculation revolves around
probing others‟ weaknesses. He likes the person who assists him
in his philosophy and this all leads to talebearing. In other words,
we can say wrong speculations warmly welcome talebearing.
Talebearer puts his best effort in talebearing just because of his
personal dispute and interest. Talebearing is a precarious
practice.
Allah says in Quran
Meaning: (The one who is) a slanderer, fault-finder, mischief-
monger, (and) who backbites the people to rouse strife. (Surah Al-
Qalam-11)
Meaning: (The one who is) rude, unmannerly, crooked and
moreover of doubtful birth. (Surah Al-Qalam-13)
Hazrat Abdullah bin Mubarak says that the word used in
above verse points towards an individual born illegitimately. He
has interpreted that whosoever is unable to hide others‟ weaknesses
and involves in talebearing, he is actually illegitimate and
bastard, as Allah has also pointed out. Allah says:
Meaning: Woe to everyone who slanders (face to face) and finds
fault (in absence)! (Surah Al-Humazah-1)
According to one of the exegesis of this verse means tale-
bearer. (Makashifa-tul-Qaloob)
The Holy Prophet said:

59
 “May I inform you about the worst persons?” Companions
of the Holy Prophet replied in yes. The Holy Prophet said,
“Those are talebearers who separate close friends.”
 “Talebearing, abusive language, pig-headedness and prejudice
lead to hell.”
 The Holy Prophet said, meaning: “Qataat
will not enter the heaven.” The Holy Prophet explained that
„Qataat‟ means „talebearer‟.
The Holy Prophet Said,
 “On the Doomsday, talebearer having janus-face (dual
personality) will be in worst condition. When he visits
someone, he has one face (personality) and when he visits
someone else he has different face (personality). On the
Doomsday he will have two tongues made up of fire.”
said, “Amongst you all, Allah‟s favourite is the one who is
better in conduct, soft hearted, cooperative, caring and
loving while the worst amongst you is the talebearer who
creates disputes between Muslim brothers and remains keen
to find faults of pious people.”
 Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar relates a Hadith in which Allah
swears on His Honour and Majesty that he will not allow
eight categories of people to enter the heaven, talebearer is
one of them.
 Hazrat Imam Ghazali relates a tradition in his book
“Makashifa-tul-Qaloob” that when reality of a talebearer is
unveiled, he is humiliated more than an orphan.

60
TACTICS OF TALEBEARER
 He remains inquisitive of finding others‟ weaknesses and
then advertises them in front of people with exaggeration to
spread hatred among them.
 The most dangerous lie is that which is blended with truth to
manipulate the actual incident. This is one of the tactics of
talebearer.
 Janus-faced talebearer is the one who spells hatred among
two groups or people. Each group considers him a friend but
in reality he is not sincere with anyone. His only aim is to
create enmity among them.
 He swears a lot while conversing
In our society this illness has reached its peak. No family and
house is safe from it. Differences in mother in law and daughter
in law and other disputes of family arise just because of this
disease. Generally men and specifically women fall prey to this
esoteric illness. In homes, offices and on the path of Faqr, most
of the troubles arise because of wrong speculations and
talebearing. On the path of Faqr, seekers of Allah must take
utmost care against this disease. Satan (either in the form of
human or jinn) feels victorious by poisoning the lives of seekers
of Allah with this disease.
NEGLIGENCE
The aim of life is recognition and vision of Allah. In the way of
Faqr, which is the way of recognition and vision of Allah,
negligence in fact means becoming oblivious and careless
towards achievement of this aim. It is considered a great evil as
it deprives the seeker from recognition of Allah. Whosoever
could not achieve his aim of life, is surely disgraced in this world
and hereafter. The seeker of Allah, must repent from negligence

61
and should vigilantly progress on the path of Faqr. How can
anyone find Allah until he puts his best efforts to find Allah?
Negligence is the enemy of seeker in the way of Faqr as it
becomes an obstacle and veil in the way of vision of Allah.
Negligence is like a curtain on wisdom which hinders the
enlightenment of inward and ceases the passion of love for
Allah. It acts as a dangerous weapon of Satan.
Nowadays negligence has completely dominated people. Man
remains totally absorbed in material world. Negligence stops him
even from the devotions of shariah. One who is indulged in
physical worships, never tries to progress spiritually and get
closeness of Allah. The physical devotions are not the
destination but they are like a path. Everyone has fallen prey to
negligence and is stuck inwardly wherever he is. People are so
much absorbed in their wives, children, homes, business,
relatives and friends that they never think about the sole purpose
of this life. As the aim of life is recognition and vision of Allah,
so whosoever will remain neglectful, will fail completely in
achieving this aim.
Many seekers of Allah cover the initial stages of path of Faqr
quickly and successfully but later on they become neglectful and
halt on one station. Whenever any seeker feels that his journey
has stopped, he must instantly find the cause and get over with it.
He should carry on his journey of Faqr consistently and
gradually, as haste is an armament of Satan not of Momin.
Allah Almighty has warned human beings about negligence in
Quran in these words:
 And surely, We have created a large (number) of jinns and
human beings for Hell. They have hearts (and minds but)
cannot understand (the truth) with them; and they have eyes
(but) cannot perceive (the truth) with them; and (also) they
possess ears (but) cannot hear (the truth) with them. They

62
are like cattle, rather more misguided (than them). It is they
who are neglectful. (Surah Al-A’raf-179)
 Verily, those who do not expect to meet Us and are pleased
with the worldly life and are well-contented with it and who
are neglectful of Our Signs, It is they whose abode is Hell, a
recompense for the deeds they used to earn. (Surah Yunus-7,8)
 O believers! Let not your wealth and your children make you
neglectful of the very remembrance of Allah. And whoever
does so, it is they who are the losers. (Surah Al-Munafiqun-9)
 And remember your Lord in your heart with humility and
tearful submissiveness and fear and repentance and also by
calling in low tones. (Persevere with His remembrance)
morning and evening and be not of the neglectful. (Surah Al-
A’raf-205)
 Hazrat Abu Musa narrates that the Holy Prophet said,
“Whoever invokes Ism-e-Allah Zaat is alive and who does
not invoke is like dead”. (Bukhari)
 Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo has narrated this Hadith in this
way;
Meaning: Our Murshid has taught us that the breath which
passes without invoking Allah is indeed infidelity.
GREED
Man is greedy by nature. It is his nature that he is never
contented rather he remains keen for more and more. It may be
greed of wealth and property, greed of eatables, beauty, home,
health, women, clothes, power or high rank. Greed originates
from heart. A greedy remains eager to enhance his assets round
the clock and even stops differentiating between legal and illegal
means. Greed is opposite to contentment. It is essential for a

63
Faqeer to plan his livelihood for one day or a month only
because with long term planning and hope, contentment vanishes
away. Such long term expectations are greed in fact. Wealthy is
the one who is contented on his provision fixed by Allah. There
is a saying of Hazrat Umar Farooq, “Faqr is abandonment of
greed. Wealthier is the one who has no hope from people.
Whoever expects nothing from wealth of others, becomes
independent.” Contentment brings peace whereas greed brings
unrest, trouble and worry. Quran has condemned greed in these
words:
 And you lay hand on the inherited wealth and devour it
(yourselves and do not pay the poverty-stricken their due).
And you love wealth and riches inordinately. (Surah Al-Fajr-
19,20)
 Your greed for massive wealth and the superiority complex
has made you negligent (of the hereafter), until you go down
to the graves. No indeed! You will soon learn (this reality
that wealth and riches will avail you nothing). (Surah At-
Takathur-1-3)
Greed is a major instrument of Satan which he uses to distort
people from the right path. His tactic is that initially he generates
a strong desire in man which occupies his heart and mind.
Resultantly that person puts his best efforts to fulfil that wish and
only remains focused on it day and night.
 The Holy Prophet said, “Man becomes old but his two
wishes remain young i.e. greed of wealth and greed of long
life.” (Sahih Bukhari)
 Hazrat Anas relates that the Holy Prophet said, “The trap
from which even the scholars cannot escape is greed.”
said, “Undoubtedly you will become greedy for power.”

64
 Hazrat Abu Bakr said, “Whoever saved himself from
following the desires of nafs, greed and anger, he earned
salvation.”
Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo considers greed as major obstacle
in the path of Faqr. Ism-e-Allah Zaat does not manifest in heart
until the greed is removed from it. Journey on the way of Allah
is only possible after vacating heart from love of material world
and heaven because they are considered as greed and covetousness
in Faqr.
 The heart which is deprived of the kind attention of Allah
becomes dark, depraved and full of envy, greed and
arrogance. Due to envy, Qabil (Cain) killed Habil (Abel).
Due to greed Adam ate the grain of wheat (which was
forbidden by Allah) and was exiled from the heaven. While,
arrogance of Satan took him to the cursed levels. Hence, the
heart which is obsessed by sensual desires is an adobe of
greed, envy and arrogance. It is always worried for the
contemptible worldly gains. The Holy Prophet said, “The
love of world and religion cannot sustain in one heart just
like fire and water cannot be contained in one utensil.” (Ain-
ul-Faqr)
 Those who are not entangled in veils of greed, arrogance and
jealousy, remain present in front of Allah without any veil
and are absorbed in conversation with Allah like the pearls
are laid out in array. (Kaleed-ul-Tauheed Kalan)
POINT TO PONDER
Following desires of baser self and lust are considered as idol
worship and people of today are very much involved in it. It is
the biggest form of idolatry and Allah has declared it the greatest
cruelty. In Quran Allah says to the Holy Prophet:

65
Meaning: Have you seen him who has made his desire his
god? (Surah Al-Jathiya-23)
Meaning: Have you seen him who has taken the desire of his
lower self as god? (Surah Al-Furqan-43)
 Iqbal also points out towards it:
Meaning: Whenever I prostrate, earth says to me that your heart
is an idolater as it is full of love of material world instead of love
for Allah, so you will get nothing out of your prayer.
 The Holy Prophet has declared Jihad32
against nafs as the
greatest Jihad.
 Quran also pronounces purity of nafs as real success. Allah
says:
Meaning: Indeed, the one who purifies his (ill-commanding)
self (from all vain and vicious desires and cultivates in it
virtue and piety) succeeds. (Surah Aala-14)
Meaning: Only he who is purified (from the afflictions of his
ill-commanding self and pollution of sins) will triumph (Surah
Ash-Shams-9)
32
Holy war

66
When baser self is purified then such a heart is called “Qalb-e-
Saleem” i.e. the pure, perfect and protected heart. Only the
people with Qalb-e-Saleem are the successful ones as Allah says:
Meaning: The Day when neither wealth nor sons will profit. But
he alone (will be the gainer) who appears before the presence of
Allah with the heart protected (from) and pure (of all evils).
(Surah Ash-Shuara-88,89)
That is why it is said that until the lusts and desires of nafs (the
baser self) are exterminated completely from heart, Allah does
not bless a person with His closeness and when a person is not
close to Allah his devotions are not acceptable. These diseases
capture the heart secretly and a person remains totally unaware
of his inward destruction, as said:
Meaning: Lust secretly occupies the heart and fills it with idols.
Accountability of baser self is a trait of Momin. Momin carries
out accountability of his baser self all the time to check the evil
and flaws in him. When a man observes carefully, he finds every
flaw in him. Only Allah and man himself know about his inner
state, no one else knows it. We have explained all the illnesses of
nafs. Now it is your responsibility to look into yourself to find
them. No devotion can benefit you if any of the illnesses is
present in your inner self, that is why today our prayers and
devotions bear no positive effect. Physically we perform
worships and devotions but our inner self is far away from Allah
because of these illnesses of nafs.
If physically we get ill, we immediately visit doctor for our
treatment. Then we spend large amount of money on our
physical health, take every care to cure these diseases and strictly
follow all the instructions of doctor. We travel long distance to

67
cure our physical diseases, suspend all our tasks and find time
for their treatment, but do we ever search for Murshid who is the
spiritual physician to cure our spiritual diseases? Do we ever find
time to treat them? According to Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo, if
someone becomes extremely weak and his back bends because
of excessive devotions, even then these illnesses cannot be
cured. To cure them you have to search a spiritual physician.
Nowadays people do not have much strength and time to
perform hard mystic devotions like Saints of earlier times to get
rid of these illnesses. The easiest way in this era to get rid of
these diseases is invocation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat under the
supervision of the Sahib-e-Musamma33
Murshid Kamil i.e. the
perfect spiritual guide who possesses complete spiritual powers
and authority.
 “The person who wants to keep his nafs obedient and safe
from the accidents of life and evils of Satan and wishes to
get rid of cunning suggestions and satanic illusions, even
while wearing silk and gold dresses and eating the best food,
then he must imprint Ism-e-Allah Zaat by contemplation on
his heart. His heart will be liberated from all the
worldly wishes and needs and he will undoubtedly find
presence in the holy assembly of Prophet Mohammad.”
(Kaleed-ul-Tauheed Kalan)
 You must know that without the supervision of Sahib-e-
Raaz34
Murshid, if someone performs excessive devotions,
hard mystic prayers, voluntary worships and adopts forty day
seclusion, then all these will be just for the satisfaction of his
baser self. His solitude will be polluted by evil temptations
and hypocrisy because his devotion will not have any proper
33
The possessor of the Divine Essence and the personal name of Allah alongwith all His
attributes, who can take his disciples to the station of Divine Union and can grant them
the vision of Allah.
34
Possessor of the Divine secrets

68
foundation. His baser self will not become obedient until the
light of Ism-e-Allah Zaat enlightens his heart by the
command of Arif Billah35
. The contemplation of Ism-e-Allah
Zaat is the greatest of all the devotions of both the worlds.
Wise and sensible are those who searched and followed the
right path and remained consistent on it, they have reached the
level of true believers. On the other hand, those who remained
absorbed in material world and neglectful about purpose of life
are like animals and will die as animals.
AUTHENTIC WAY OF TAZKIYA-E-NAFS36
The most authentic and finest way of Tazkiya-e-Nafs is the one
which was adopted by the Holy Prophet to purify the souls of his
Companions. There is no easier and more authentic way other
than used by the Holy Prophet. To understand that way of
Tazkiya-e-Nafs please read the book “The Prophetic Way of
Purgation of Innerself” which is the English version of Urdu
book “Tazkiya-e-Nafs Ka Nabvi Tareeq” written by Sultan-ul-
Ashiqeen Khadim Sultan-ul-Faqr Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Mohammad
Najib-ur-Rehman Madzillah-ul-Aqdus.
35
The Knower of Allah who has become One with Allah.
36
Cleansing and purifying the inner self.

GLOSSARY
Arifs Plural of Arif. Knowers of Allah
Arif Billah The knower of Allah who has become One with
Allah
Ahl-e-Faqr Peoples who are blessed with Faqr
Bayat Oath of allegiance, when a person becomes a
disciple, he hands over himself to his spiritual
guide in exchange of spiritual guidance. Bayat is
pact or covenant or rite of initiation into a Sufi
way. This in fact is a pact between Allah and His
Slave which eternally bonds the Murshid with his
Murid (disciple).
Deedar-e-Ilahi Sacred vision of Allah
Faqeer Saints of highest rank who travel the path of Faqr
and reach its ultimate level.
Faqr The spiritual way which leads to the Divine
vision and ultimate closeness of Allah.
Habil Abel
Halal Permissible under Islamic Shariah
Ism-e-Allah Zaat Personal Name of Allah which represents the
Divine Essence and all Divine Attributes.
Ishq-e-Haqeeqi Divine love/ Eternal Love for Allah.
Jalal Divine Wrath.
Jihad Holy war
Karamat Miracle of a Saint.
Kibr Arrogance
Marifat Gnosis, mystic knowledge of Allah which is
acquired only after having the vision and
closeness of Allah.
Meraj Ascension of the Holy Prophet to Allah
Murshid The Divine spiritual guide

70
Nafs Baser self, lower self, ethereal self which keeps a
person away from Allah by trapping him in
worldly desires
Nafs-e-Mutmaina The satisfied self which is never inclined towards
sins.
Noor Divine light.
Qabil Cain
Qalb-e-Saleem The pure and perfect heart
Qaroon “Korah” in the Bible
Rehmat Divine Compassion
Sahib-e-Musamma The possessor of the Divine Essence and the
Personal Name of Allah along with all His
Attributes, who can take his disciples to the
station of Divine union and can grant them the
vision of Allah
Sadqa Donation for Allah
Shariah Set of Islamic Laws
Siddique Man of truthfulness
Tazkiya-e-Nafs Cleansing and purifying the inner self
Taqwa Taqwa literally means to have fear of Allah,
abstain from sins and adopt pious deeds, but in
reality Taqwa is a state of the heart‟s closeness to
Allah.
Ummah Nation
Note: The translation of verses of Holy Quran is taken from “Irfan-ul-Quran”
by Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri.

INDEX
Ahya-ul-Uloom-11, 14, 20, 25, 54
Arifs-24, 38
Ishq-e-Haqeeqi-17
Ism-e-Allah Zaat-9, 21, 28, 45, 62, 64, 67, 68
Makashifa-tul-Qaloob-58, 59
Marifat-28
Murshid, Murshid Kamil-7-10, 21, 32, 62, 67
Nafs-e-Mutmaina-9
Qalb-e-Saleem-9, 66
Qaroon-30
Rehmat-28
Sahib-e-Musamma-9, 67
Shariah-15, 17, 18, 22, 44, 45, 48, 61
Taqwa-25, 28, 35, 36, 40
Tazkiya-e-Nafs-10, 68
Ummah-18

Purification of Innerself in Sufism

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