Something Has To Be Done To Acquire Rectitude (Righteousness)
Listen! There are various levels of rectitude. One level is when a person performs salāh and keeps fast.
However, he has not acquired that level of rectitude which is enjoyed by the saints. This is what I want to explain to you. They were something and we are something else. I do not want to denigrate you.
A saint addressed a gathering and said: “These are all people of Paradise.” But he added: “Only certain one are humans.” Now that I am living among you how can I denigrate you? If I do not address you in this way and do not teach you how to understand, what more can I do? People come here and want to become saints without having to do anything. I say, even if you adopt the appearance of saints out of ostentation, do you think you will be saints in the sight of Allāh ta‛ālā?
The seat of the saints cannot be occupied through mere boasting. If you want to occupy their place, you will have to obtain their means, viz. do as they did. If people are going to merely imitate the saints, do you think they will become saints? Certainly not.
Maulānā Rūm rahimahullāh said:
Man does something and a monkey does the same because it mimics the man.
Maulānā Rūm rahimahullāh gives an example. He was an expert in advising and imparting words of wisdom through stories. He writes: A monkey used to live in a tree opposite a barbershop. Sometimes the barber had to leave his shop for some need or the other. When he would come back, he would find the scissors missing. Sometimes the shaving blade could not be found. Sometimes the mirror would have disappeared. One day he noticed his items on the tree with the monkey. He concluded that the monkey was the culprit who had been taking away his tools.
He stood outside, did as though he was passing the blade across his lips and cheeks, left the blade there and went inside his shop. As was its habit, the monkey came down, grabbed the blade and fled to the tree. It then passed the blade across its lips and cheeks. It cut its lips and cheeks in the process.
When it realized this, it threw the blade and other tools. The barber never missed any of his tools after that day.
From this story Maulānā Rūm rahimahullāh wants us to realize that a person has to have some intelligence even if he wants to imitate another. If a foolish person imitates another, he will cause harm to none but his own self. A person imitates the saints and assumes he has become like them, whereas there is a world of difference between the two.
When I address someone sternly on some occasions,I do it because people come here for this reason. That is, they desire rectification and reformation. This is why I address them harshly, and that too in the course of my lecture so that others who have
misunderstood may have their misunderstanding removed. On the other hand, my written word is soft and lenient because the same (removal of misunderstandings) cannot be achieved through writing. This is why I say to you, no one should ever go from here and imitate me. I do not permit anyone to do this.
Listen! I want to put to work those who come here, this is why I have to speak harshly sometimes. How can I cause hatred in the hearts of those who come to me for rectification!? This is extremely reprehensible in Islam. Some people came to Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‛alayhi wa sallam and complained about a certain Sahābī. They said: “We work the entire day and return tired, and the one who leads us in salāh reads lengthy sūrahs.” Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‛alayhi wa sallam said: “There are some people among you who are causing dislike in the hearts of others.” Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‛alayhi wa sallam then addressed the Sahābī and asked him why he does not read shorter sūrahs.
I went to a certain place and delivered a lecture. Some senior people came to me and said: “You are saying these things, while others come here and say such and such things [different from what you said].”
I replied: “I have come here for the sake of rectification. If I come and speak ill of senior people here, how will rectification be achieved? As for thosewho came and said harsh things to you, you should go to them and ask them the reason.”
Hadrat Maulānā Shāh Wasīyyullāh Sāhib rahimahullāh
