The Shade of the Tree of Allegiance

30 Sep

After drawing water for the flocks of Shuʿayb’s (s) daughters, the Prophet Moses (s) withdrew under the shade (tawalla ila al-ẓill) of the tree and proclaimed:

“My Lord! Truly I am in need of any good that You may send down upon me.” (Q Qasas 28:24).

Observe, dear spiritual traveler, how God’s Kalim, His Intimate Converser, observes virtuous comportment by withdrawing under the shade under the Tree of the Oath of Allegiance (shajarat al-baʿya). Beware of direct exposure to the rays of the sun of Divinity. You have no ability to withstand its rays, for they obliterate all manifestations of duality. Withdraw then under the shade of Lordship (ẓill al-rububiyya), for its shade leaves room for servanthood. Cling to humility, and regard your ego with contempt, and remember that whatever spiritual opening that you may attain is only a minor opening. Cry out: “My Lord! Truly I am in need of any good that you may send down upon me.” Never become satiated of God’s bounty, for otherwise your spiritual opening will become a veil onto itself. And may the Everlasting Presence (haḍrat al-khulud) forever remain your highest saintly aspiration.

— Shaykh Mohamed Faouzi al-Karkari (Kaf al-astar)

More Teachings

Is the Path for Everyone? Yes — here’s why

Choose a Path for yourself. You can be an Adamic human being by virtue of the inblowing of the Spirit within you…or a bestial human being by virtue of the dominance of your bestial body, so that the Spirit’s influence weakens within you. You will then become ignorant of your reality, and you will not draw out the treasure that is buried within you.

The Path and the Name

The seeker must journey from the Haʾ of the Name back to the Alif, bearing in mind their differing levels. Entering unto the singular Alif is achieved through the attributes of the saint, not through those of the believer. Attaching to the elevation of the Alif enables the knower of God to taste the reality of servanthood.

God’s Light is Real — Not Metaphorical

When you strive against your lower self, the reality of this world becomes evident to you, you know that it is non-existent; that it has no existence except through God. Then God provides you with light, and through that light you come to know how close He is to you.

The Mantle of Divine Majesty

A mantle conceals the upper part, whereas a garment conceals the lower part. The higher part of the divine mantle is an allusion to Lordship (rububiyya). This mantle of Lordship comprises two sides: the outer side is the aspect of Lordship, and inner side is the pre-cosmic reality of the Cloud (al-ʿamaʾ).

Three Levels of Being within the Microcosm and Macrocosm

the sensorial human being is the one whose heart is stamped by the forms of the sense-objects. He is marked by a dominant love for the herebelow. Moreover, the spiritual human being is the one whose inward vision (basira) has opened up so that he perceives what lies beyond the sensorial realm.

Fasting the “White Days” of the Lunar Month

The Prophet (s) recommends fasting during these blessed days, and it is said that Ibrahim (s) fasted them as well. The early Arabs called these days the “White Days” (al-ayyam al-biḍ) because the moon is brightest during this period and it achieves its most complete perfection.

Finding a True Master

With manifold arguments and no shortage of nagging, my teachers, father, family, friends, and loved-ones, sought to hold me back from cutting my worldly ties and setting off alone in search of God and a true master; and in their efforts to do so they would attempt to clinch the matter with various rational and religious objections.

Why is the Divine Name the Mirror of the Spiritual Traveler?

The spiritual traveler’s journey through the Name, however, must begin at the last letter Haʾ, which we call the Haʾ of Divine Identity (haʾ al-huwiyya).

Knowledge of God Inspires Reverential Fear of God

Reflective thought that is devoid of the remembrance God (fikr duna dhikr) is a transgression. For true reflection only occurs in the wake of long periods of remembrance (dhikr tawil), once your time has been filled with the invocation.

“I am the Dot”

And this is the dot that is ascribed to the all-inclusive names and divine realities because it is through the basmala that God takes charge over the servant who has realized the station of servanthood and upon whom His names and attributes have become manifest in both his knowledge and his state.

Yousef Casewit

The Shade of the Tree of Allegiance

What is the Middle Prayer?

Pledging Allegiance to the People of God