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Usually,
people call or consider someone with treasures
to be a person who possesses heaps of wealth. No
matter what kind of person that man is, if he
has a lot of wealth, then people will not tire
of praising him, saying, “So-and-so is
wonderful!” But in my view, merely having a lot
of money is not everything. Money is undoubtedly
a great necessity of life, but it is not
everything. Treasures are of many kinds:
Knowledge is a priceless treasure; Forbearance
is also a priceless treasure; Sound intellect,
high morals, human health, righteous offspring,
a true friend – all these blessings are also
priceless treasures.
Now, I
will write my opinion on each point. Afterwards,
I will try to gather opinions from some other
people and write them here. Because every
person's opinion is their own, from which we too
can learn a lesson.
Knowledge
About
which Allah Ta'ala commanded the Kareem Prophet
(PBUH) himself: 'Take the pen!' He himself
stated - "Indeed, I am unlettered." The command
came: Read! In the name of your Sustainer. And
he was taught that knowledge which he did not
know. Meaning, knowledge is such a priceless
light, by acquiring which humans can attain the
high station of humanity. Knowledge is not just
reading books, but internalizing it and deriving
the correct purpose from it is the light of
knowledge.
These
achievements in the world that are before our
eyes, the books and stories of great
philosophers, this knowledge of medicine from
which thousands, indeed millions of people are
benefiting and countless among them have
achieved cures. This land, sea, and air travel…
today, this knowledge of computers has turned
who knows what into what! These are all benefits
of knowledge, which has taken humans as far as
the moon. Praise belongs to that Pure Being who
bestowed education upon His beloved, sweet guide
Mustafa, and showed His grace upon sinners like
us by making us his followers. Then, those
humans who took legitimate advantage of that
knowledge and achieved their destination and
purpose, they improved their world and
hereafter, departed from this mortal world and
reached their final resting place, where every
living being has to arrive. This is the
priceless treasure of knowledge. Whatever more
is written about knowledge is still too little,
because knowledge has no limit. It is priceless
and will remain priceless.
Forbearance
Now we
come to ‘Hilm’ [forbearance]. This too is
one of the treasures given by the Pure
Sustainer, a priceless treasure, but it too is
granted to whom He wills. Ḥilm means
humility and gentleness, in which there is no
pride or arrogance. If you want to acquire this
forbearance, then learn that humility and
submissiveness from Noori (a folk story of Sindh],
about whom Shah Sahib has said:
Full of
stinking fish, their baskets, their trays,
Disgusting
is the touch of their dresses with your dress
Yet
standing in their midst, favours them the Samo
king.
All Sama
girls, all Soomra girls, all having garlands
around neck,
For the
sake of seeing the Beloved, they made great
efforts,
The path of the Beloved
belongs to those, who walk with humility.
Just as in
this world, the example of Jam Tamachi is one of
Nuri's forbearance and humility, similarly, and
even higher than that, is the honour of those
servants before the Master Saeen, whose value is
beyond counting. But they are such servants that
despite this, they spin and tremble:
"Spinning, I tremble, the
weighers are strict."
They spin
and tremble, those with the fine thread, always,
May the Assayer’s benevolence be, may He not
scrutinize thread by thread,
Where the scale tips,
lest, the spinner is put to shame.
Sound Intellect
Sound
intellect ('Aql e Salīm) is also a
priceless treasure. This gift too comes from
that Giver. Master Saeen has sent every human
into this world having given them something or
the other. Some He gives much, some little, but
He has not left anyone empty-handed. Now, those
humans whom He sent having given sound
intellect, He has placed correspondingly greater
burdens upon them too. Now, how that person uses
it, derives benefits for themselves from that
priceless treasure, and benefits others – an
example of this has passed before my eyes. Some
people asked Luqman Hakim, ‘Saeen, from whom did
you learn this wisdom?’ He replied, ‘Brother,
whatever work foolish people do, I do the
opposite. There, I employ my sound intellect.’
These sayings and actions of wise people are
heard, and some have also passed before our own
eyes. If we keep our thinking and understanding
on the right track and, taking refuge in Allah
Ta'ala, use our intellect, we will find
countless such examples. For this, the presence
of two things is very necessary: Patience,
working with deep thought and understanding.
Haste must absolutely not be employed, because
haste is the work of ‘Shaitan’ [devil];
it kills a person's intellect. Then what they
say, what work they do, they themselves are
unaware of. There, taking refuge in Allah's
help, one must take a step after much thought
and consideration. The wise say: “Chētnā
mukhī, sadā sukhī” [The aware leader is
always happy]. This proverb is also common: “Avoid
the ignorent even though he swings you in a
cradle; be with the wise, even with both legs
stuck.” The meaning of this is to avoid the
ignorant person, even if he swings you in a
cradle. But compared to that, if both your legs
are stuck, meaning you are in some difficulty,
even then a wise person will get you out of that
difficulty. Besides that, the help of Lord the
Pure is needed, who is our Protector and Helper.
Man is helpless, weak, and created from clay.
Master Saeen, with His guidance, will see the
boats across. Insha'Allah, Ameen.
High Morals
Regarding
high morals (A'lá Akhlāq), I have already
written quite a bit before, but I will write
something here too: Undoubtedly, this too is a
priceless treasure, which elevates a person from
the earth to the sky. Wherever a person of good
character goes or is, every person there will
respect them. I remember that in the sixth-grade
book, there was this lesson: “Morality raises a
person to a high rank.” This lesson and these
words are so imprinted on my mind to this day,
meaning it has been seventy-five (75) years
since that time, but I cannot forget them! I
have always kept my mind inclined towards this
and constantly give this lesson to all my
children. Although they are all, Masha'Allah,
grown up now and surpass me in knowledge as well
as intellect. Nevertheless, according to my
flawed intellect and understanding, I keep
saying this: Baba! “These morals are your
beautiful ornament. Never let go of them. If
jewellery is lost, there is no worry, but may
Allah forbid that morals be lost.”
Saying
this also makes me feel very happy that Shahid’s
Baba Saeen, may Allah rest his pious soul in the
highest place in Jannah - Ameen, was such a
great man that even though we poor people didn’t
have much wealth, but Alhamdulillah, the fine
words of this virtuous person and the priceless
wealth of good character he possessed made him
into a jewels. Even today, people take his name
with great respect and reverence. That was the
fragrance of sandalwood, which made me fragrant
too. I hope in my Cherisher that you too become
so virtuous, fortunate, and pious that your
fragrance makes your relations, your household
members, and your children all fragrant with the
scent of sandalwood. Insha'Allah, Ameen.
Health
Human
health and well-being are also equally a
priceless treasure, because if the body is not
sound, physical health is also not right, then
no blessing of the world will be visible to you.
Whether you have a home and family, whether you
have heaps of wealth and riches, or even many
other blessings of the world, yet “Health is a
thousand blessings”. Indeed, health is one of
the countless blessings bestowed by Allah Pak, a
priceless blessing. But when this blessing is
easily available to us, then we do not realize
the pain and suffering of a sick person. If we
ourselves get even a slight headache, all the
comforts of the world are forgotten. Therefore,
all of us should value such a priceless treasure
given by Allah Pak, and along with that, we
should also acknowledge gratitude to that Rabb
Pak. May the Master grant this blessing to
everyone, Ameen. Along with this, we should also
take care of the principles of health, for
example: Eating food according to one's
constitution and exercising. Besides this, there
are many other things, by acting upon which a
person can remain healthy. One must certainly
make one's own effort. The rest is in the power
of Allah Pak, who guides His servants with peace
and safety. Insha'Allah, Ameen.
Righteous Offspring
Righteous
offspring are also a gift granted by Allah
Ta'ala and a priceless treasure, but only if
they are righteous and pious. If it is not so,
then such offspring are like a harmful poison,
more dangerous than the bite of a snake, for
which there is no cure. For that, only and only
the guidance and help of Allah Pak are needed.
Therefore, every parent, every mother and
father, should always pray to Allah Ta'ala that
may Allah, the Lord of Honour, make the
offspring pious and a source of pride and mercy
for the family members, children, friends, and
loved ones. Then such offspring are indeed
priceless treasures.
A True Friend is a Priceless
Treasure
This
relationship is formed through the cooperation
of two parties, which every person builds with
their love, affection, and sincerity of heart.
Always look at the virtues of every person,
especially your friend; flaws exist in every
human being, do not focus on them. Ignore
mistakes, then surely the other person will do
the same. Such friendship remains enduring. A
person who cannot keep such a friend, with whom
he can share the matters of his heart or share
joys and sorrows, that person is in fact a dead
person; he just keeps consuming his own heart.
Therefore, the good advice is: “Be a true friend
yourself and provide your friends the
opportunity to walk truthfully with you too.”
Friendship is good when there is endurance in
it. Otherwise, it is better to stay away from
such friendship, and therein lies well-being for
you too.
Beauty has no bounds
My
personal opinion about beauty is that every
creation of Nature is a masterpiece. In this
world, every face is beloved to someone or the
other. Therefore, giving superiority to one form
over all the forms on earth and deceiving the
world is not possible. Regarding beauty, Khalil
Gibran says: “The beautiful existence of life is
hidden in two words: one, ‘beauty’, the other
‘truth'.” Beauty resides in the hearts of loving
people, and truth is hidden in the eyes of the
beholder. Undoubtedly, true beauty blossoms only
from within a person's pure feelings like milk
and soft emotions like wool, which becomes the
reason for making someone your own, for charming
the heart. Beauty is such a truth of the earth,
in whose magic all the colours of the universe
are filled and appear bright, with which this
life can become a manifestation of colours and
lights. Beauty is the name of that spirit which
gave Sassui the passion to traverse mountains
for Punhun's sake; taught Sohni to brave the
terrifying waves of the river on an unbaked pot
for Mehar; gave Marui the courage to endure the
hardships of Umer Soomro's prison; bestowed upon
Moomal the courage to throw herself into the
fire to appease Rano Mandhro.
Beauty that is disposable beauty can never
compete with original and natural beauty, nor
can it become its substitute. For example, no
matter how much perfume is sprayed on a paper
flower, a butterfly will never sit on it.
Similarly, artificial and fabricated beauty is a
fleeting intoxication. Simply, in every era,
every region, and every area, according to the
ground realities, civilization, and culture, the
standards for measuring and judging beauty are
different, but in universal reality, the truth
is that this entire mystery belongs to the eyes.
In the sights of love, it is the wonder of the
gaze. The eyes, which are the hidden windows of
the heart, if those innocent eyes wish to make
someone their own in a single glance, then no
one on this earth can be more beautiful than
that person. This is the wonder of Nature, that
the Creator and Master has bestowed upon every
servant their own unique beauty and potential.
Meaning, in this populated world, someone is
someone's Laila, and someone is someone's Majnun!
Someone is someone's Rano, and someone is
someone's Moomal! Someone is someone's Ranjha,
and someone is someone's Heer! This is all the
mystery of Nature and the arrangement of love,
truthfulness, and fragrance!
These are just the different thoughts of humans.
The wonder belongs only to Nature. To the
Merciful Master, in whose hand lies the reins of
the servant. In my view, whatever anyone
received, is a treasure given by that Saeen.
What power does the servant have to come into
this world beautiful? Or to come as average,
black or white – everything is in the control of
Rabb Saeen. Truly, every human is convinced of
this fact, that this wonder belongs to that Pure
Cherisher, the Sustainer, who, in the entire
world, whatever form He has fashioned, therein
human beings aside, every living creature that
has been created. Animals, birds, each has been
given its own beauty and grace. Among birds,
there are other birds too, but the Surkhab
bird - when we had gone to Punjab, I saw it
there and was amazed. What a Master of Nature
our Rabb is! This beauty, this composition of
colours… Subhan Allah, Subhan Allah... But
whichever thing you look at with that true
perspective, in every particle of the universe,
you will see the splendour of Nature. Subhan
Allah!
Shah Sain says:
First, Allah, the All-Knowing,
Most High, Lord of the worlds,
The Qadir, with His Power, is Established,
Eternal,
The Guardian, the One, the Unique, the
Provider, the Rabb, the Rahim,
He Himself, the Kareem,
planned and perfected the universe.
Creating the universe, when He
fashioned,
The Master created Muhammad (PBUH) and sent
him,
Upon that Kareem One, He proclaimed the pure
Kalmo,
"I am your Master and you are My Beloved,"
thus He revealed,
He bestowed upon him
leadership of both realms, says the Sayyid.
–
Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai
Now, with heart and soul, this is the request
before Master Saeen: May Rabb Pak imbue us, our
entire family and dependents, indeed all
believing men and women, with the colour of His
grace and favour, and grant us the goodness and
grace of both worlds. Insha'Allah, Ameen.
The Language of Feelings
Feelings
may not have a language, but when they begin to
speak, all the languages of the world fall
silent. Emotions, sprouting from the land of the
heart, when they peep through the eyes and
spread redness upon the cheeks, it is simply
felt that the inside is alive. In the affairs of
the heart, sometimes separation prevents
parting, and sometimes union intervenes. They
say that time has learned to run at a single
speed. With a companion present, even a year
passes in a moment, but when loneliness cuts one
in half, why does time forget to move? Still,
not a single person has been found in whose
courtyard love has not spread its wings. Who
knows why people say that love has departed from
the world. Have machines ever subdued love?
Modernity
does not eclipse emotions. One may not agree
with Agha Saleem's theory that souls were split
in two and sent to earth to find each other, but
who can solve that riddle! Perhaps love is the
only emotion in the world that has not learned
to accept defeat from any oppression or tyranny;
risking one's life is its old tradition. Only
those stings can be endured which are inflicted
when eyes become distant.
Is Knowledge the Power per se?
From Kawish newspaper, March 7, 2012,
this article "Ajj jī Gālhh" [Today's Talk]
was greatly liked: It is often heard that
knowledge is power, but this is not correct. In
reality, the use of knowledge is the real power.
When you ask questions, you can obtain all kinds
of information, meaning ideas, different
methods, from the best people, and certainly
money, etc. Asking questions or making inquiries
can yield a great deal. They say: “Puchaṇā na
munjhaṇā” [inquisitives don’t get confused].
But most people hesitate to ask questions. There
are three major reasons for this: Uncertainty
about whether the question is correct, or if it
is not appropriate to ask yet; Lack of
confidence, fear of refusal; and old internal
beliefs paralyze you.
Ask questions, and you will get answers. Seek,
and you shall find. Knock, and the door will be
opened for you. Here, the need is to examine
your personal beliefs. For this, you can seek
help from a close relative, a trusted friend, or
a good advisor. Be realistic, all paths are
open. Broaden your view and think about what
true values are. How do you perceive things?
Look and think. Remove old thoughts from your
mind. Because this is the useless material that
is an obstacle in the path of your future and is
rusting your potential. The second reason,
mentioned before and also now, is that lack of
confidence jams the ability to ask questions
within you. Here too, there is a need to break
old supports. Trust yourself and keep moving
forward. Ask questions and exchange ideas. Then,
whatever the answer may be! The third reason: if
you get 'no' as an answer, what will happen?
Nothing will happen! Most people are afflicted
by this fear and solely for this reason do not
ask questions, lest they be refused. Some people
let this refusal dominate their minds and cannot
control their emotions. These three negative
habits are obstacles in the path of your success
and taking advantage of opportunities. If that
is the case, then you have to start from there.
Guide your beliefs onto the right path. Cast out
old and negative thoughts from within you. Have
complete trust in yourself and remember that
human life is never perfect. Obstacles in its
path are a common thing.
Sayings
·
Every person's opinion is according to their
personal experience.
·
As
long as a word is shut in your mouth, you are
its master, but if it has left your tongue, then
it is now your master.
·
Acquire knowledge from those who are more
knowledgeable than you, and teach your knowledge
to those who are ignorant.
·
Abstain from holding lengthy expectations,
because they extinguish the joy of the blessings
granted by Rabb Pak and make them seem trifling
in your eyes.
Wa Tammat bil Khair
[And it is concluded with goodness]
Fatima Zahra Qazi
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