DIALOGUE WITH SHAIKH YUSUF SULTHAN SHAH QADHIRI CHISHTHY

[Habeeb Rahman]

Dialogue with Sheikh

Sulthan Sha Qadiri  

What is going to be unveiled before you is an extract from the dialogue with Sheikh Yousuf Sulthan Shah Qadiri Chishti.  It can’t be considered even as a preface to the eventful spiritual journey of Sheik Yousuf sultan . It is beyond our ability even to get a glance of that esteemed life and blessed strife.

• When was Your highness’ blessed birth?

It was on a Sunday, 17^th day of a Ramzan. March 26^th of AD 1945.

• Family background…

Near before four centuries, Muhammad Muhyidheen and his three younger brothers arrived at Cochin of Kerala from Medina, the city of Holy Prophet T.

The three brothers departed to Panazhikkulam, Perumukham and Todupuzha respectively. Muhammad Muhyidheen, the elder one settled in Vennipparamb near Aluva. I was born in his lineage.

There were a great number of scholars and saints in this heredity. Ahmad Pilla is the father and Fatimah mother. Father and grandfather were Islamic scholars.

• We have heard of some unusual incidents in connection with your birth. Your good explanation…

Though the delivery pain has started since the last day no delivery was occurred. It was then that a Sayyid, relative of Sayyid Hydros Koya of Cochin, visited us. He said to my father and grandfather: “All your efforts for the delivery will be in vain. The delivery will occur after three days. The baby is in fasting.” Mother had given me birth after three days of delivery pain.

• For what was the fasting?

Let us away from such matters. Those who can’t comprehend it will make it an issue of commotion.

• There are thousands of Mureeds (spiritual disciple) who can realize. For their sake we hope your description…

That fast was to get promised that no one who holds my hands with good and sincere intention will be subjected to the punishment of the hell.

• Is there anything to say to whom who have doubts in this...?

Yes, I have. This doubt can be wiped out if one stretches his sights to the last moments of my Mureeds who have kept the words with me. They will be seen bidding goodbye to their last breath with smiling faces, chanting the holy Kalimathu Shahada. Detractors can save nobody raising censures and doubts. I do prove before your naked eyes the truths I have conveyed to you through my Mureeds. Let intellects think of how the hecklers are going on. One who hesitates to agree the truth even after being convinced of it is leading himself and others away from the real path of Islam. To think of and correct the misguided opinions will be better to the seekers of eternal escape.

• On your education…

The beginning of education was from the mosque of my village. My first teacher was Fareed Musliyar. Completed ‘The ten books’ ((عشرة كتب and Umda (العمدة) on Islamic jurisprudence from him. And I fetched the Arabic grammar and linguistics from my father and grandfather. Later, at Titwara studied Tafseers, Mishkath and Ihya’u uloomiddeen and some other books from Bapputty Musliyar who was a man of deep knowledge in the Four Madhabs and was a polyglot too. His holy shrine locates at the burial ground in Solapur which is the resting place of too many renowned saints.

• A depiction on the beginning of your ‘journey’…

I realized that Bombay is a dwelling place of living and reposing Auliyas of Almighty Allah. I was deeply influenced by this truth. I came to know that there are all the settings to enter the avenue to great God.  Hence I intended to reach Bombay.  Collecting the address of my uncles, who owned a hotel in Bombay, I set off from Aluwa railway station. Lived with them for about three months. But, after some months they made me return to home. There I did visit father and mother. And again I left for Bombay and went to uncles. With a bit of anger they asked me that ‘on whose expectation did you come here?’ ‘In expectation of Allah’, I said. It was the truth too. No uncles were my intention. No their hotel was my expectation. For the sake of Allah I left their hotel. Sat down on the fringe of a shop in Bildi Bazar.

Around the time of Subah I went to the nearest masjid. Prayed the Subah. Recited the holy Qur’an. Thereafter visited the  mausoleum of Sheikh Abdul Rahman at BistiMulla. There I felt a sort of irritation. I slept there. In dream I saw a Dargah located at the shore of sea. When enquired, a man informed me of such a Dargah in Haji Ali. Along with him I went to Haji Ali. The Dargah was beside the sea. On those days it was impossible to sit in its surrounding at evenings due to the clash of waves. Now an absolute change is wrought there. The mainland increased. Masjid and other facilities are arranged. I spend days offering Yaseen for my forefathers, performing Haddad Ratheeb and repeatedly reciting Sura Al-tabaraka and other verses I have by hearted earlier. I said to the Bava in Haji Ali Dargah that if I get a sum of ten rupees I will stay there. I let the man came along with me return. At the next arrival I got a new ten rupee not from Bava. In those days one can survive for two weeks with ten rupees.

• Whether the Sura Al-Yaseen and Ratheeb were by the suggestion of Sheikhs (spiritual teachers)?

It was as per the permission by my father. At the beginning of everything I offer Sura Al-Yaseen on my forefathers.

• How long did you stay at Haji Ali?

While the ten rupee given by Bava came near to end, I struck up an acquaintance with Pasha Bhai, a native of Mangalore. Being able to read and write English he offered me a job as the cashier in his own hotel.

I had been watching Pasha Bhai’s unusual and frequent visits to home. Enquiry brought me to a conclusion that his wife has been suffering from severe pain at stomach at intervals. It is then that Pasha Bhai hurries to home. Two operations were held. Yet not cured. When pain attacks should hurry to hospital. All these I did get from a worker in that hotel.

“If he gives me 50 Rupees I will cure it”, I promised. Being informed of my words Pasha Bhai invited me to his house. “I will come when the pain crabs for the next time”, I replied. On the third day the pain attacked again. Pasha Bhai called me and gave a bit of water chanting holy verses. The pain cured and I got 50 Rupees.

News of the recovery of Pasha’s wife spread all around. It was then Sufi Faqrudheen Moulana arrived at BistiMulla. Mudaris (teacher) in the masjid was a Mureed of Faqrudheen Moulana. He too came to know the news of her recovery from the long-termed frustration. This event endowed me with a chance to get introduced with him. He was the first to suggest me Riyadha (spiritual exercise).

• Which are the Riyadhas you have performed at the early stage?

To arrive at the holy presence of Prophet Muhammad T, one should pass through the ‘Great Gate’ of the ‘Knowledge City’, Ali Bin AbeeTwalib (R.A). To achieve this great goal, Sufi Moulana suggested me a Dikr to spell in continuous forty one nights in the Joolan Ground at Bombay. Alone, in the vast ground, until the Subah, forty one nights.

• Did you meet with Ali Bin AbeeTwalib (R.A)? An explanation…

Two days after the commencement of Riyadha I saw a horse striding toward me. I kept on spelling the Dikr with tightly closed eyes. On the 21^st day two policemen came and tried to converse with me. I didn’t unlid my eyes. Didn’t let my tongue move. But continued Dikr. They went back after some time. I had watched too many things in dream, but was not satisfied with them.

On the 41^st day, while returning after being completed the Riyadha, I met a man with a smiling face and wide biceps. He offered me Salam. He seemed to be Fareed Musliyar of my native place. I enquired of the conditions of my place. But all that he retorted was something unheard and unusual matters. He stretched a list of many incidents going to take place in the future and explained it. Then I invited Him to serve a cup tea. ‘I don’t drink tea from hotels’, he said. ‘Then, where from did you have food?’ I compelled him to have a cup of tea. But by the time I returned ordering two glasses of tea, he had trodden away. Afterwards, I explained all these to Sufi Faqrudheen Moulana and he said that it was Ali Bin AbeeTwalib (R.A). Then I wrote a letter to my father depicting all that happened and asked whether Fareed Musliyar had been to Bombay on the day I met the man of same complexion. But in return he informed me that Fareed Musliyar had gone nowhere and advised me to hold firm the Sheikh who has suggested me the Riyadha.

• Had Sufi Moulana suggested any more Riyadha thereafter?

Yes, he had. To meet with Khilr (A.S) he asked me to perform a Dikr sitting beside the Haji Ali Dargah. Sometimes waves tread towards me. But I continue chanting Dikr with closed eyelids. While returning after 41 days, almost at 5’O clock by morning, I came across a man, a tall and fat person with black complexion, standing at the front side of the Dargah with a bag hanging in his shoulder. No sooner he saw me than called me by my name. I felt embarrassed. How did you get my name? I asked. Then he called me again adding up my father’s and grandfather’s names. Were you alive when all they were alive? I asked again. Yes, I was alive, he answered and holding my hand he said: ‘Take your seat. I have something to tell you.’ Being seated there, I saw him plucking and eating a shrub. ‘Why do you eat it?’ I enquired. ‘Having eaten it I will feel no thirst and hunger’, he explained. As like Ali bin Abi-Twalib (R.A) he too explicated many things going to take place in the future.

He, then, suggested that Allah cannot be met only by taking a seat in any grounds or dargahs, but should stay away from the contact with peoples. Then how do I get my bread and butter? I showed my doubt. For a whole year I will bear your expense, he offered and wanted me to spend every day all that I get in that day. Afterwards, prescribed me some verses from Sura Al-An’am to recite daily. When awake after going to bed having recited the verses I would get a ten rupee note underneath my pillow. Every day I have been getting this ten rupee note.

It was then Sufi Faqrudheen Moulana gave the next Riyadah, which was of Bismi. Duration of the Riyadah was six months and has to take fast whole the six continuous months. The food had to be cooked by myself. Having finished this Riyadah I have shown too many Karamath (miracles). It was during that period that I made the rain shower in lieu of ten rupees and cured many a patients.

• How long did you get ten rupees?

For, more or less, one year. Afterwards, as per Sufi Faqrudheen Moulana’s advice I set out to Ajmer Khwaja. The first thing he wanted me, when I reached there, was to stop that ten rupee-dealing. If so, who will bear my livelihood? I retorted. Be relied on the Almighty, he advised. After seven days from the visit to Ajmer Khwaja I set off a Spiritual journey to Rouza, the Holy Mausoleum of Prophet Muhammad T. Ajmer Khwaja too was there. Then opened the gate of Rouza and lifted up the silk on the Rouza. I myself removed the soil from above the shrine and then my fingers wounded. Subsequently I came face to face with Muhammad T. His Highness Rasool T embraced me. Said some matters of much importance. Since then, I became free of body odour. It was then onwards that I started communicating with those in shrines.

• There are Sheikh Madarshah Qadiri and Sayyid Muhammad Badusha Qadiri Yemeni in your Silsila (Sufi order). Then, haven’t you got Tareeqa and Khilaphat from Sufi Faqrudheen Moulana?

Yes, I have got Khilaphat in Qadiriyya Tareeqa (not in the Perfect Thouheed) from Sufi Faqrudheen Moulana. Aside from this I have got khilaphat in six other Tareeqas.

• Which were those thuruq? And who were Sheikhs?

1. I got Qilaphat in Qadiriyya tareeqa for the first time from Sufi Faqrudheen Moulana.
2. Qilaphat in Rifaiyya tareeqa from Sheikh Sayyid Ismaeel, Rajasthan.
3. Qilaphat in Qilriyya from Sheikh Sayyid Muhammad bin Ab-ul-Gazali of Banduppa in Bombay.
4. khilaphat in Chishtiya from Sheikh Farooq Husain Chishti and have got internally i.e. spiritually from Ajmer Khwaja.
5. khilaphat in Naqshabandhiyya from Sheikh Ameer Miyan of Rampur.
6. khilaphat in Shaduliyya from Sayyid Shadui of Androth Island.
7. Finally, I was endowed with the khilaphat in the Perfect Qadiriyya Tareeqa by Sayyid Muhammad Badusha Qadiri Yemeni.

• When did you visit Baghdad for the first time?

Once, along with Sheikh Sufi Faqrudheen Moulana, went to Rampur, wherein has been the settlement of Faqrudheen Moulana’s Spiritual Teacher, Sheikh Ahmed Jalaludheen. When two months passed after I reached there, we were informed that Sheikh Jalaludheen’s mother, who is in Baghdad, has gone into bed. Hence, when starting to Baghdad, Sheikh Jalaludheen said looking at me, “let our little Sulthan come along us.” Thus, in company with them, travelled to Baghdad by sea.

 

• What happened in Baghdad?

In Baghdad firstly we reached at Sheikh’s house. His mother, who has been in bed for two years, when saw her son arrived, awoke and embraced him. A bit after, showing me the Shrine of Sheikh Jeelani, he said me that his responsibility is over. Then, along with me, went to the Shrine. There, the servers of Dargah kissed his hand and handed the key of Shrine over to him. To reach the Maqbara, seven doors have to be opened. There I saw my father. A moment so nervous, that I couldn’t even complete reciting Sura Al-Yaseen. I asked Sheikh the permission to stay there. But he refused and suggested me to go out of the Shrine within an hour. When I reached there I felt to have entered a new unknown world. A feeling indescribable enveloped me and situations gone too awful to words. Coming out from the Shrine, again I asked permission to stay there. Though he compelled me to sleep at home, allowed reside there that night.

• How did you get the appellation Sulthan?

Many have called me Sulthan. At the first night of our arrival at Baghdad, after my Tahajjud Namaz Sheikh Jeelani (R.A) came and placing hand on my head he called me “Sufi Muhammad Yousuf Sulthan.”  “Renew the contract first and then can we talk,” he said.

• What was meant by his suggestion “Renew the contract?”

I enquired many of my friends, who were Auliyas of Allah, the real meaning of the words of Jeelani (R.A) and many sheikhs. Various persons gave different explanations. I did examine all. But Jeelani (R.A) rejected all. It was, at last, when I met with Sheikh Muhammad Badusha Qadiri that I got the clear idea of what Jeelani (R.A) said.

Hence, I got endued with my turn to renew the contract in the Perfect Thouheed. Renewal of the contract that God had had with the human beings is meant with it.

• Can describe how did you met with Muhammad Badusha Qadiri?

On the word of Haji Malang Bava I began reading Khutba and reference in the masjid near to the Shrine of Qamar Ali Darvesh in Shivapur. During my stay there once I happened to see Sayyid Muhammad Badshah Qadiri Yamani and Madarshah Qadiri in a dream. Then the third day was a Friday. First to meet them by naked eye was when I sat on the rostrum for Khuthuba. After Khuthuba, Namaz and Dua they came to my room and initiated the discussions on Tasawuf. Me and Muhammad Badusha (R.A) went on discussing for a long while. Afterward, when they turned the way of discussion to the Perfect Thouheed and the Renewal of Contract, it came to my mind the dream I saw just before three days and I recalled the Contract that Jeelani (R.A) talked of and the words of Ali (R.A). Then, in memory of the events and those words, I put an end to asking questions. From then on the discussion continued in line with the Perfect Thouheed and its Secrets. They convinced me the the secret pulp and amoz of Thouheed. That night Muhammad Badusha Qadiri (R.A) made Madarsha Qadiri (R.A) stay at Shivapur to let me swear oath (بيعة) and he went back. That same night, I swore the Oath in the perfect way of the complete Thouheed. After two weeks, in the presence of Madarsha Qadiri, Badusha Qadiri (R.A) gave vent to the Talqeen (تلقين).

• How long did you perform Khuthuba in Shivapur and have performed Khuthuba anywhere other?

H had performed Khuthuba in Shivapur more than two years. Occasionally has performed Khuthuba in Kalyan, Titwara and Tellichery.

• Had you been delivered speech?

By early days, I had been making speech in Urdu. While I censured the noxious deeds of some Moulanas they used the devil power. As a result frequently it seemed that the tongue comes not out when speech. Rasool T, with a gesture said that the Sihr will be cured. ….

• When did You get khilaphath in this way of the Perfect Thouheed?]

It was on November 25, 1975 that Muhammad Badusha Qadiri (R.A) offered me the Qilaphat, and was in a Du-Al-Qa’ad month at the Halkatta Shareef that locates nearbyWadi in Karnataka.

• Is it only Sufi Faqrudheen Moulana that suggested you Riyadha?

No. Betwixt 1962 and 1975 I have completed too many Riyadhas. A lot of them were severe.

• A description over it..?

If I attempt to describe them all and the events occurred along with them, may have to write many books. Those who, warding off from this spiritual zone, confined the Tasawuf in some books may be embarrassed. The description may make them be away. To let them away is not my mission, but to make them nearer to Allah and His Messenger.

Let your own selves work hard in establishing Thouheed in inmost part of your hearts and strengthen your Belief. Seeking a Sheikh, try to thrust aside the filths in your hearts. Thus, be the living models of the real Belief. Lead those who are ignorant of the true path to Allah and His Messenger T. It is the necessity of the age.

• Have Muhammad Badusha Qadiri (R.A) granted the Commission to give Qilaphat?

Yes, it has mentioned in the Qilaphat Namah. It is to do away with such doubts that I asked to publish it.

• How many Qaliphas do Sheikhuna have?

There are more than 30 Qaliphas in order of the Perfect Thouheed. Above 3000 is the number of Qaliphas in Qadiriyya, Chishtiyya, Khilriyya, Rifa’iyya, Shaduliyya, and Naqshabandhiyya, being inside and outside Kerala.

Tareeqa and Qilaphat are the ways to be nearer to Allah, not a business. That is why I am of not the practice of jotting down their names and addresses.

Let the people meet with Allah at its maximum, it is my desire. I ask not that all should do Bai’ath from me but to achieve the success swearing the oath in the presence of my Qaliphas or any other Sheikhs who serve the Perfect Thouheed.

• In the Perfect Thouheed have you offered the Qilaphat to anyone outside karala?

Yes, I have.

• Can You name anybody of them...?

Sheikh Abdul Qadir Shah Qadiri of Bombay and Sheikh Noorudheen Shah Qadiri of Vorli are among them.

• Have you Mureeds only in India?

No. I have Mureeds in Egypt, Russia, America, Qatar, sudan, Iraq, Malaysia, UAE and so on. Tareeqa has no boundaries of countries or organizations. It is meant for anyone at any nook of the world, if wish to be a good believer.

• Some do claim that Tareeqa is meant to accept after the completion of Sharia. Another set of people assert that members of Tareeqa need not Sharia. Some others avow that to achieve success there is no need of Tareeqa, Sharia is enough. Which of these arguments is true? How is the connection between Sharia and Tareeqa? Is one of them enough for a man to be successful? Your good explanation…

Two groups of people are there, whom Prophet T did fear most in connection with the humanity, pseudo-scholars and bogus-sheikhs. These people try to deviate the society from the right path. They make conflicts of ideas in people’s mind and raise doubts and confusions in regard with Tareeqa and Sharia.

Both Tareeqa and Sharia are taught by Allah and His Messenger. As far as a Muslim is concerned they are necessary. To deny them means denial of teachings of Allah and His Messenger. Is it suitable for a Muslim? Think… In sum, those who deny Tareeqa and accept only Sharia are the pseudo-scholars the Prophet T warned of and those who refute Sharia and agree to only Tareeqa are the bogus-sheikhs the Prophet T presaged of. There is no room for doubt in it. What do those, who claim the acceptance of Tareeqa after Sharia, mean? I can’t get it. When will be that day of completion of Tareeqa? Is it when the dead body is brought to the grave or within the grave? To be a truthful holder of Sharia, one needs to accept Tareeqa and to be an honest holder of Tareeqa he must agree with Sharia. This is the truth about the matter.

• On seeking knowledge…

Knowledge is the basis of the greatness of human being. It was with knowledge that Allah elevated the grandeur of Adam (A.S), father of the mankind. Qur’an asserts that the knowledgeable and ignorant are never similar to one another. Islam affords a high status to the seekers of knowledge and preachers of it.

To achieve the real goal of knowledge, it might be useful. Prophet T has sought protection from the knowledge that lacks utility. When the educated person, the scholar, gets purged and his heart purified, then only do his knowledge be helpful to him. When he conveys it to others, they too get the better out of his knowledge.

To come to the point, a scholar is in need of two qualifications to be a real scholar. First and foremost, to be sanctified himself and the next, to consecrate others.

They are the real successors of prophets as Prophet T remarked:

العلماء ورثة الأنبياء

“Scholars are the successors of Prophets.” Hypocrites not they are. But are Mumins who renewed their contract with Allah.

• Message to the world humanity…

The world wherein we live is bursting with troubles and dilemmas. Nations, politics, organizations, families and even persons are not in rid of this lethal situation. To be purified after the resolution of all problems is mere illusion. That is the purification of a human being is meant not only for material success, but also, may be with more emphasis, to gain the eternal success. From onwards the death do his Life-Hereafter begins. Before the arrival of the angel of death man could move on through the path of virtue and truth.

I invite the world humanity to the Perfect Thouheed. The prophets held this Thouheed. Prophet T enlightened the society with this Thouheed. Auliyas of Allah, including Sheikh Jeelani (R.A) purified the society with this Thouheed.

It is to this holy Thouheed, to the real Islam, that I invite you. I am going on with this mission with the Consent from the part of Allah.

This is not a huge movement or an organization. But a way that Allah defined, Prophet Muhammad T and Swahaba showed, Auliyas and Arifs of Allah handed over.

I assure you that you too can accomplish the eternal success if you move through this path.