The Favor of Visiting Maqams

As-Salāmu ‘Alaykum wa Raḥmatullāhi wa Barakātuh. A‘ūdhu Billāhi Minash-shayṭāni r-rajīm. Bismillāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm. Wa ṣ-Salātu wa s-Salāmu ‘alá Rasūlinā Muḥammadin Sayyidi l-Awwalīna wa l-Akhirīn. Madad yā RasūlAllāh, Madad yā Sādāti Aṣḥābi Rasūlillāh, Madad yā Mashāyikhinā, Dastūr Mawlana Shaykh Abdullāh al-Fā’iz ad-Dāghistāni, Shaykh Muḥammad Nāẓim al- Ḥaqqānī. Madad. Ṭarīqatunā aṣ-Suḥbah wa l-Khayru fi l-Jam‘iyyah.

Our Holy Prophet ﷺ says that the things that will remind you about Akhirah are good. This is the meaning of a Hadith. Shukr to Allah ﷻ, Allah ﷻ granted us yesterday to visit the Maqam of Sayyidina Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, [born as] Khalid bin Zayd, a holy man who hosted the guests of our Holy Prophet ﷺ. We were also his guests there and broke our fast there. He favored us both spiritually and physically, may his Maqam be high.

They are holy ones. They remind us about Akhirah. They are beautiful people. Wherever they are, they are called Sultan in the place they’re in. Ayyub Sultan, Hala Sultan... Wherever the place is, our ancestors favored them and always honored them. They honored them by both building their Maqams/shrines, and making charity in their names.

Shukr to Allah ﷻ, the Ottomans and those before them; all of them went on this way. They favored those who were on the way of our Holy Prophet ﷺ. They built mosques, tombs and almshouses. And their charity and goodness always lasted. Those who came afterwards called it Shirk/polytheism and Bid’ah/innovation. That is because of the jealousy and envy of shaytan. Otherwise, to favor the Sahabah of our Holy Prophet ﷺ, Mashayikh, Awliya and Ahlu l-Bayt makes us closer to Allah ﷻ. For their honor, their spirituality will be present.

Therefore, it was practiced more in old times. When the three holy months came, they visited all Maqams. But now they are confusing people and telling them it is wrong. Also, they are lazy. They don’t go around as before. Whereas, they go to a mosque for the pleasure of Allah ﷻ and make Ziyarah there. They read Yasin and Qur’an, things that they know. They pray and return home. They both remember the three holy months and attain so much virtue. For reading the Qur’an, there are 10 Thawab for every letter, not only one Thawab. If our Holy Prophet ﷺ stayed home - he wouldn’t do that. Certainly, to go with the Jama’ah is for the pleasure of Allah ﷻ. To go with the Jama’ah is beautiful.

The shaytan doesn’t like it and makes people forget these customs. These servants of Allah ﷻ are the Sahabah of our Holy Prophet salla Llāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Our Holy Prophet ﷺ praised them and told us to follow them. They are like stars, showing us the way. Whoever you follow from them, you’ll find guidance, says our Holy Prophet salla Llāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Those who reached until here by following any of them are under guidance. Therefore, we should benefit from this favor.

Shukr to Allah ﷻ, the Sahabah and Awliya are everywhere. There is nothing wrong in visiting them for the pleasure of Allah ﷻ. On the contrary, they have benefit, as they are the beloved servants of Allah ﷻ. They are not dead. They are alive, because all of them are Shaheed. When someone is Shaheed, Allah ﷻ mentions it in Qur’an ‘Azimu sh-Shan, “Don’t think they are dead; they are alive”. (Qur’ān 03:169). The people who are alive give us from that life, the true life given by Allah ﷻ which is the eternal life. May Allah ﷻ raise their Maqam. May their Barakah be upon us. And may they give us from their Iman insha’Allah.

Wa min Allah at-Tawfiq. Al-Fatiha.

Mawlana Sheikh Muhammad Adil ar-Rabbani 12 April 2022/ 11 Ramadan 1443 Fajr Prayer, Akbaba Dergah

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