Spiritual Advice of Sheikh Shahab al-Din Sohrawardi to His Son Translation of A Testament

Maulana Ziyaur Rahman Alimi

Introductory Note: This testament was written by Sheikh al-Shuyukh, Shahab al-Din Abu Hafs Omar Suhrawardy Quddisa Sirruhu (author of Awarif al-Ma’arif,), a towering figure in Sufism, who lived between 539 AH and 632 A.H (1145–1234 CE). Composed for his son, Abu Muhammad Imad al-Din Abdullah Suhrawardy, the testament is deeply personal yet universal in message and very relevant to our time, encapsulating the essence of Sufi teachings. It serves as a timeless guide to spiritual proximity and divine realization. Treasured by seekers of the Sufi path, it has been used by Sufi masters as an admonition for students and disciples and has inspired scholars in their writings, letters, and treatises on mysticism.
The renowned Indian Sufi master and eminent scholar of Islam, Makhdoom Sheikh Saad al-Din Khairabadi Quddisa Sirruhu (d. 922 AH/1516 CE), cited from this testament in his magnum opus, Majma’ al-Suluk, which is a voluminous commentary on Risala Makiya, authored by the great Sufi master Qutbuddin Dimashqi (d. 780 AH/1378 CE). The Arabic text of this testament was recently published by Dar al-Taqwi, Damascus, Syria, in 1443 AH/2022, alongside a newly edited version of Awarif al-Ma’arif.
The Arabic edition was meticulously prepared by researcher Bilal Muhammad Hatem al-Saqa, who relied on three manuscripts. The first is the manuscript of Sheikh al-Islam Fayzullah Effendi (No. 1263), which is primarily a manuscript of Awarif al-Ma’arif, with this testament (dated 962 A.H.) included at its beginning.
The second manuscript, housed in the Maktaba Azhariyya (Serial No. 132905, Special No. 2281), is a compilation of various treatises, with this testament spanning folios 19 to 21.
The third manuscript, also from the Maktaba Azhariyya (Serial No. 34788, Special No. 741), is a collection of writings on the science of faith, where this testament is found on folios 36 to 37.
Recognizing its universal significance, the testament has been translated into English with subtitles for the first time, to make it accessible to a broader audience. This beautiful piece of work appearing in Sufitimes, aims to preserve and share a treasure of wisdom that transcends centuries.

• Fear of Allah, Protection of His rights and the rights of the people:
  Dear son! My advice to you is to fear Allah Almighty in all circumstances, both in private and public. Keep His fear in your heart, take care of the rights of Allah, His Messenger, your parents and all pious people. Consequently, Allah Almighty will be pleased with you. Keep Allah Almighty in mind in all situations, both outwardly and inwardly.

• Recitation and understanding of the Quran:
  Do not neglect the recitation of the Holy Quran secretly and publicly, outwardly and inwardly with knowledge, understanding, contemplation, deliberation, sadness, grief and tears in your eye. Refer to the Holy Quran in all rulings; the Holy Quran is the proof of Allah Almighty over creation. So, protect its rights.

• Knowledge, Creeds, Sunnah and bad company:
  Do not turn away from knowledge even a single step, learn jurisprudence (Fiqh), do not be like ignorant Sufia and common Ulema. They are thieves of religion and robbers of Muslims. Adhere to the Sunnah, remain steadfast in the belief of the people of Tawheed and stay away from the baseless things that have been created in religion, such things are innovations (Bid,ah) and every innovation is an aberration. Do not be in company of adolescents, women, innovators, rich and disciples of passion. This destroys your religion.

• Contentment, and the importance of consuming Halal:
  Be content with a little of this world, live in solitude and weep over your sins. Eat halal, this is the key to good deeds, do not go near the Haram lest the fire of Hell burn you on the Day of Judgment. Wear Halal clothes you will find the sweetness of faith and worship, keep the fear of Allah Almighty in your heart and mind and do not forget that you will have to stand before Him.

• Observance of congregational prayers and avoidance of positions:
  Perform voluntary prayers (Nawafil) at night, fast during the day, and even if you are not an imam or a muezzin, do not neglect congregational prayers. Do not seek leadership or designation, because the one who desires to achieve leadership or designation will never succeed. Do not sign Qabalah or similar documents (which are expected to receive additional wealth in return for signing), do not attend the assemblies of kings and judges, and do not accept the wealth of wills (easy money). Flee from people as you would flee from a lion, and choose solitude and seclusion so that your religion is not destroyed.

• Self-discipline and training of the soul:
  Travel with the intention of making yourself taste humiliation; The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: صُوْمُوْا تَصِحُّوْا وَسَافِرُوْا تَغَنَّمُوْا “Fast and you will be healthy, travel and you will gain wealth.” (Tabarani, Mu’jam Awsat, Hadith No: 8312) Take care of the hearts of the elders, do not be deceived by the praise of those who praise you, do not be saddened by the condemnation of those who condemn you, and consider both their praise and their condemnation to be equal for you. Maintain your good behaviour with all creatures and be humble. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
  مَنْ تَوَاضَعَ لِله رَفَعَهُ اللهُ وَ مَنْ تَکَبَّرَ وَضَعَهُ اللہُ۔ (Ibn Majah, Hadith: 4176)
  (Whoever humbles himself for the sake of Allah, Allah will raise him up, and whoever is arrogant, Allah will put him down). Be kind to everyone, good or bad, in all circumstances. Be merciful to all creatures, both small and big, and look at them with eyes of mercy.

• Negligence and the death of the heart:
  Do not make it a habit to laugh, laughter comes from negligence and the heart becomes dead. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
  لَوْتَعْلَمُوْنَ مَا أَعْلَمُ لَضَحِكْتُمْ قَلِيْلًا وَّلَبَكَيْتُمْ كَثِيْرًا
  “If you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep much.” (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 6486)
  Do not be fearless of the grip of the Almighty, and do not despair of the mercy of God, but live between fear and hope.

• Abandoning the world and serving pious people:
  Dear son! Abandon the world; If you fall for it, your religion will be lost. Fast, pray, and despite poverty and hardship, remain cheerful, chaste, well-mannered, polite, humble, and pious. Become a scholar of Fiqh, distinguish yourself from the ignorant Sufi masses, serve the teachers and religious masters with your wealth, body, and designation. Protect their hearts, times, character and conduct, and do not criticize them unless their actions are against the whole community. If you criticize them, you will never succeed. Never ask about people out of curiosity, do not ask for anything from them, and do not argue with them.

• Generosity, envy and sustenance:
  Do not store anything for tomorrow, Allah will definitely provide the sustenance that is destined for you every day. Be generous with your heart and soul, spend what Allah has given you, and avoid stinginess, envy, and deceit; for the stingy and envious will be in Hell. Do not always show off your status in front of people, do not just keep your appearance beautiful; mere external beauty and adornment are a sign of the destruction of the inner self. Believe in the promise of Allah Almighty regarding sustenance, He has guaranteed the sustenance of every animal. Allah Almighty says: وَمَا مِنْ دَآبَّةٍۢ فِى الْاَرْضِ اِلَّا عَلَى اللهِ رِزْقُهَا “And there is no creature on earth but upon Allah its sustenance” (Hud: 6).

• Trust in the Creator and Avoid the useless:
  Abandon hope from all creation, do not be attached to them, speak the truth even if it is bitter and do not rely on the creation, otherwise the Creator of the universe will drive you out from his door. Pay special attention to yourself, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: مِنْ حُسْنِ إسْلَامِ الْمَرْءِ تَرْکُ مَالَایَعْنِیْہِ “One of the best qualities of a person’s Islam is to abandon what is not beneficial to him” (Tirmidhi, Hadith: 2317) and be sincere and well-wishing to all creation.

• Sufi ethics and manners:
  Control your eating, drinking, sleeping and speaking. Eat only when absolutely necessary, do not talk except when obligatory and do not sleep until sleep prevails over you. Observe night prayers and daytime fasts and do not sit too much in gatherings of Samaa (in which only ghazals and love poems are recited); this creates hypocrisy and then the heart becomes dead. However, do not have objections over Samaa gatherings either, because there are some people who are capable of attending Samaa gatherings. Samaa is only suitable for a person whose heart is alive and the soul is dead. For someone whose heart is not in such a state, fasting, praying and engaging in Dua and Adhkaar (words of supplications, regular remembrance and Dua) is better.
  Let your heart be sad, your body sick, your eyes weeping in the love of Allah, your deeds full of sincerity and your prayers should include praises of Allah. Let your clothes be worn out, your companions be the poor, your home be a mosque, your wealth be insight into religion and its deep awareness, your adornment be asceticism and your companion be the Most Gracious Lord.

• Principles of making friends:

Do not befriend someone unless the following five qualities are clearly visible in him:

1.  He prefers poverty to wealth.
2. He prefers action to knowledge.
3.  He considers the Hereafter to be more important than this world.
4.  He prefers humiliation for the sake of religion to worldly honour.
5.  He has insight into external and internal knowledge and is always ready for death.

• Being thoughtful of the Hereafter:
  Dear son! Do not be deceived by the beauty of the world, this world seems green, fresh and sweet. Whoever clings to it clings to it and whoever rejects it also shakes it off. There is no way to keep the world. Be prepared for the journey of death day and night and be concerned about the Hereafter.

• The world is just like a guest house:
  Dear son! Keep yourself in seclusion, be solitary, and be broken-hearted in fear of God, until you are immersed in the blessings of God Almighty. Live in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveller. Count yourselves among the dwellers of the grave and leave this world as you came to it free from sins; for it is not known by what name you will be called on Conclusion: the Day of Resurrection.

• Conclusion:
  May Allah Almighty grant us the ability to act in accordance with these instructions and protect us from opposing them. True knowledge is with Allah Almighty, He is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs. There is no power or might except Him. May Allah’s blessings and peace be upon our master, Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him), his family, and his companions until the Day of Resurrection.