Tariq was sadly sitting at the edge of a stream watching the waves, one of his friends happened to pass by there. He saw Tariq and enquired after him. Tariq revealed his grievances in front of his friend that I am in search of peace and have become sick of noisy environment due to wife and children, at home. Now I feel ringing in my ears. Could not see properly and could not sleep well. I visit the edge of the stream when I feel more disturbed. His friend advised him that there is a very good Hakeem in the nearby village. Pay him a visit; perhaps he may solve your problem.
Tariq visited that Hakeem the very same day and explained his problem to him. Hakeem checked his pulse and said that you will be cured but you need to do as I say. He nodded in acceptance. Hakeem said, ‘Keep a rooster at your home and come to me after three days.’ Tariq thought in his heart, ‘I am already sick of children’s noise yet a rooster will further add to my sufferings’. However, on his way home, he bought a rooster from Kareem Bakhsh. The children were over the moon when they saw the rooster. They started playing with it. Tariq’s restlessness increased along with the noise. After three days he visited Hakeem and explained him the situation. This time Hakeem said, ‘Keep a dog also’. Tariq thought in his heart to reply Hakeem bluntly but remained quiet out of respect. He got a dog and tied it outside the house. When the children used to keep quiet, the dog used to start barking. When the dog stopped, the rooster started. He met with Hakeem third time in the state of extreme restlessness. Hakeem ordered, ‘Also keep a donkey’. He had no choice; he bought a donkey on credit and tied it to a peg near his house. Now the neighbours also approached him and complained that your animals and children have collectively destroyed our peace. Tariq requested Hakeem so he (Hakeem) said, ‘Sell the donkey immediately’. Tariq sold the donkey on half price and had somewhat better sleep that night.
Next day he met Hakeem and was ordered, ‘Get rid of the dog too’. He did the same and it resulted in a little more silence in the house. Upon meeting Hakeem again, he (Hakeem) said to slaughter the rooster and eat it. Tariq gathered the courage and said, ‘Hakeem Sahib! I know that I have promised to act upon your every instruction but the rooster has enlivened our home. Children are happy due to it. Until it doesn’t crow we do not feel that the sun has risen.’ Hakeem repeated his order so Tariq obeyed half-heartedly. He again approached Hakeem and he (Hakeem) said, ‘Get rid of your wife and children and send them to your father-in-law’s home then you will get complete peace.’ Tariq was about to burst in tears and said this is enough. I have been cured completely. Now I am in peace. Hakeem put his hand on Tariq’s shoulder and said, ‘I was trying to make you understand the very same thing that peace lies within us and we keep on searching it outside. If we make our mind, we can also develop the habit to tolerate the things contrary to our mood otherwise we remain restless. Go and now live with peace in your home.’
Dear Islamic brothers! We have come to know about a method of attaining peace through this fictional story. Who doesn’t want peace? Human searches this peace at every place. Sometimes he feels that if I earn abundant wealth then I will achieve peace. If the wealth would have been the means of peace then Qaroon would have attained it, but he was sunk into the earth alive along with his treasures. Some people search peace in rule or power. If power and rule were the means of peace then why would have Fir’awn and Namrood destroyed. Some people search peace in being famous. Abu Jahl was also famous but did he get peace? Certainly not. People don’t leave any stone unturned in search of peace. For example, some people started to read romantic and detective novels and digests. Some tried to attain peace by visiting recreational places having lush green mountains, snowfalls, waterfalls and gardens. Some thought that playing absurd games or watching them would be the source of attaining peace. Some searched peace in listening to music, dancing, watching films and dramas. Some tried to attain peace in the addiction of heroin, Charas (hashish), Ganja (marijuana); some in sexual activities. Some felt peace in backbiting, taletelling, arrogance etc. Some get peace in fulfilling their job obligations and responsibilities and many lazy people attain peace in sitting idle doing nothing.
All methods adopted by humans for attaining peace result somewhere in the destruction of Hereafter, somewhere in the waste of time and money, somewhere health and somewhere other people got disturbed, even then true peace could not be achieved. And the thing which humans presumed as peace was a temporal condition and an illusion. And now the question is that how can we attain real peace? To attain it, we need to change its criterion. Searching peace in useless activities and sins is ignorance. Our Rab عَزَّوَجَلَّ, our Creator definitely knows our heart, mind, body and soul more than us. He عَزَّوَجَلَّ has kept peace and tranquillity of our hearts in His blessed remembrance. Therefore, He عَزَّوَجَلَّ states in part 13 Surah Ar-Ra’d Ayah 28:
اَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللّٰهِ تَطْمَىٕنُّ الْقُلُوْبُؕ(۲۸)
Pay heed! Only in the remembrance of Allah is the satisfaction of hearts.
[Kanz-ul-Iman (Translation of Quran)] (Part 13, Surah Ar-Ra’d, Ayah 28)
Under this Ayah it is mentioned in Tafseer Khaza`in-ul-‘Irfan: The restless hearts get peace and tranquillity by remembering His [عَزَّوَجَلَّ] Blessed Favours and Mercies; although remembrance of His Justice (عَدْل) and Displeasure makes people frightening. (Khaza`in-ul-‘Irfan, pp. 474)
Types of Zikrullah
Sadr-ul-Afadil, Maulana Mufti Sayyid Muhammad Na’eemuddin Muradabadi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه writes in Khaza`in-ul-‘Irfan under the Ayah 152 of Surah Al-Baqarah ‘فَاذْكُرُوْنِیْۤ اَذْكُرْكُمْ’ Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: So remember Me, I shall publicise you.
Zikr is of 3 types: (1) ‘لِسَانِی’: Through tongue (2) ‘قَلْبِی’: Through heart (3) ‘بِالْجَوَارِح’: Through body parts.
‘ذِکْرِ لِسَانِی’: Zikr through tongue covers Tasbih, Taqdees etc. Sermon, repentance, Istighfar, Du’a etc., fall under it. ‘ذِکْرِ قَلْبِی’: Zikr through the heart is to remember the blessings bestowed by Allah Almighty; to ponder over the Greatness of Allah Almighty and His Divine Power. Scholars’ pondering for the derivation of rulings also falls under it. Zikr through body parts is that they remain engaged in obedience to Allah Almighty, for example, the journey for Hajj, this falls under ‘ذِکْرِ بِالْجَوَارِح’. Salah consists of all three types of Zikr. Tasbih and Takbeer and Qira`at fall under ‘ذِکْرِ لِسَانِی’ and humility of heart and soul, sincerity fall under Zikr through heart ‘ذِکْرِ قَلْبِی’ and Qiyam, Ruku’ and Sujood etc., fall under ‘ذِکْرِ بِالْجَوَارِح’. (Khaza`in-ul-‘Irfan, pp. 50)
When our peace would get connected with the Zikr of Allah Almighty then اِنْ شَآءَ اللہ عَزَّوَجَلَّ we will get pleasure in Salah, will get satisfaction in observing Sawm (fast), will attain tranquillity on paying Zakah, will attain satisfaction of heart by performing Fard Hajj and will attain such a great peace in visiting the sacred places, e.g. Makkah Mukarramah, Madinah Munawwarah, Baghdad Shareef etc., we will also say:
[
Jo lamhay thay sukoon kay sab Madinay mayn guzaar aaye
Dil-e-muzter watan mayn ab tujhay kyun ker qaraar aaye
May Allah Almighty bless us with the true yearning for His love and the love of His Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ!
اٰمِيۡن بِجَاهِ النَّبِيِّ الۡاَمِيۡن صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
Mayray dil ko dard-e-ulfat woh sukoon day Ilahi!
Mayri bay-qarariyaun ko na kabhi qaraar aaye
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