What is Sufism? A formal Explanation Part 18:

The Final Two Principles: Night Rising (Tahajjud) and Strengthening Awareness and Love for Allah.

The Eight Principle of the Path:

Staying away from excessiveness whatever form that may be: in speech, food or love of worldly things.

The Ninth Principle of the Path:

The importance of the Night Prayer (Tahajjud) in particularly waking up in the last third portion of the night.

Why in particular is this time blessed?

- There are verses in the Qur’an encouraging us to do istighfar at this time. Ya‘kub (upon him be peace) promised his sons when they confessed their wrong that he would seek forgiveness for them ‘soon’. It is reported that his intention was to pray during the later part of the night as the prayer made at that hour is answered specially.

- This is the best time to do any dhikr and focus ones attention purely on Allah. This is because there are no distractions, no duties calling and no interference from anyone.

- The last portion of the night is generally when the mischief dies down and the evil doers of the night have gone to sleep and the mischief doers of the day have not yet risen.

- The last portion of the night is also a time when the brain has rested and is now alert and fresh.

The Tenth Principle of the Path:

Reflecting on the creation of Allah and having a constant dhikr regimen.

- The universe around us has been made for us to reflect upon. Everything which it contains is a means for us to understand our Creator and to comprehend the subtleties of His wisdom. This all depends on how we are looking at it. The task for us as the Shaykh mentions is to change the way we look at things. By directing ones focus to the right objective (which is Allah), everything around us will become a means of reflection and connection to Allah.

The two benefits of reflection…

1) The awareness and consciousness of Allah strengthens.

2) The love for Allah increases

What is the objective of dhikr:

Emptying out the heart from anything which is other then Allah.

Being continuous upon your dhikr and its benefits:

- Abundance of dhikr will remove all those things preoccupying the heart away from Allah. Allah will become dominant in one’s heart and thoughts.

- The more a person remembers Allah the easier their work load becomes. By giving time to Allah and remembering Him Allah will place barakah in one’s time and efforts and complete his or her tasks with goodness.

- Engaging in the remembrance of Allah creates a light which emits from the heart. The strength of this light will leave its effect on the rest of the limbs giving a person the strength to carry out good deeds and turn one away from the love of this dunya.

- A quote mentions “the one who is given the ability to do dhikr has been given the plan of wilayah (close friendship with Allah)”. The greatest thing a person can be doing is remembering Allah. As mentioned in the Qur’an “Remember Me and I will remember you..” A person feels elated if a notable, well-known, respected person makes mention of them by the words ‘I remembered you’, so what can be said in the case here when it is no other than the Lord of all the Worlds remembering His lowly servant.