“If you hear or read the sayings of a saint
and you understand the message
then you have got the knowledge.
But if you hear or read it and some blissful joy arise in your heart
and make yourself more humble and more aware in His presence
then you have got the wisdom.”
~ Wiyoso Hadi (Saturday Pahing, Muharram 5, 1395/January 18, 1975 – )
The celeberated sheikh and poet Abu Sa’id (died 1049) once said:“The true saint goes in and out amongst the people and eats and sleeps with them and buys and sells in the market and marries and takes part in social intercourse, and never forgets God for a single moment”. Abu Sa’id also reported that one day a man asked a sufi-master how to reach God: ‘The Way to God’ the master replied, ‘Are many as they are created beings. But the shortest and easiest is to serve others, not to bother others, and to make others happy.’
The sufi saints were known as U’lul Albab at the time of the Prophet Muhammad (saw), like U’ways al-Qarani, Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, A’li ibn Abi Talib Asadullah ul Ghaalib, Salman al-Farsi and Abu Hurayrah Abdurrahman (radiya-l-Lahu a’nhum). Many scholars agree that the ‘People of the Bench’ (“Ahl As-Suffa”), which among them was Abu Hurayrah Abdurrahman (ra), can historically be regarded as the first Sufis as they regularly held gatherings of invocation (Dhikr Majlis) and received the blessing of being alluded to in the following revelation; ‘ Restrain yourself together with those who pray to their Lord morning and evening seeking His Face. Do not turn your eyes away from them in the quest for the good things of this life; nor obey any whose heart we have made heedless of Our remembrance who follows his own lust and gives loose reign to his desires.‘ ( Qur’an Al-Kahf (The Cave), verse 28).
It is therefore clear that the Prophet received the divine order to be present with this group of companions and to call upon GOD with them. Many of this ‘People of the Bench’ (“Sufis”) were companions of foreign origin (e.g. Bilal from Ethiopia, Salman from Persia and Suhayb from Rome). They had suffered much injustice and maltreatment from the nobility of the tribe of Qureysh. Both their material poverty and their high spiritual aspiration qualify them to be described as ‘FAQIR’ meaning poor in front of GOD and as a ‘MURID’ (A MURID one who wants to reach the knowledge of Allah. This term is used in the Quranic verse ‘YURIDOUNE WAJHAHU’ (wanting the vision of His face). This contains the verb ‘YURIDU’ meaning ‘to want’. The one who is in the state of ‘wanting’ is known as a ‘MURID’.
“And keep thyself with those who call on their Lord morning and evening seeking the Divine Countenance (WajhaHu), and let not thine eyes pass from them, desiring the passing ornaments of this world’s life. And follow not him whose heart We have made unmindful of Our remembrance, and he follows his low desires and his case exceeds due bounds.”
~ Surat Al-Kahf (18): 28
The word ‘Sufi’ itself is connected etymologically to ‘purity’ (Assafaa, Safa, yasfou in Arabic) i.e. that which aspires to purify the heart of its hidden defects, inclinations and hidden attachments (Assiwa). The beauty and cleanliness of the heart (Safaa Albatin) will become apparent through the nobility of character and goods deeds, such as Pancalaku (the Five Deeds of Spiritual Excellence, ie: (1) Tawadu, (2) Siddiq, (3) Ikhlas, (4) Zuhud, (5) Fana fillah). Through the third eye (Ajna), people with high spirituality from around the world and since the time of Sayyidina Adam (as) until now can see thebeauty and cleanliness of the heart (Safaa Albatin) of the real Sufis, Saints and Siddiqeen shining out in beautiful, holy, majestic, wonderful, subtle (lata’if) green lights. Even if they never call themselves Sufi, Saint or Man/Woman of Truth (Siddiqeen), the wonderful clean subtle (lata’if) green lights always reveal the beauty and cleanliness of their blessed hearts (Safaa Albatin).
The Qur’an reveals:
“Those will have gardens of perpetual residence; beneath them rivers will flow. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and will wear green garments of fine silk and brocade, reclining therein on adorned couches. Excellent is the reward, and good is the resting place.”
~ Surat Al-Kahf (18): 31
“Dark green [in color]. So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?”
~ Surat Ar-Rahmaan (55): 64-65
“Reclining on green cushions and beautiful fine carpets. So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?”
~ Surat Ar-Rahmaan (55): 76-77
“Upon the inhabitants will be green garments of fine silk and brocade. And they will be adorned with bracelets of silver, and their Lord will give them a purifying drink.”
~ Surat Al-‘Insaan (76): 21
What does it mean? As the hearts of the real Sufis, Saints and Siddiqeen are always directly connected to the Heavens, so the beautiful, holy, majestic, wonderful, subtle (lata’if) green lights, that shine out through their hearts comes directly from the spiritual dimensions of the Heavens. That’s why (as reported by the Companion Anas bin Malik al-Ansari ra.) the favorite color of the beloved Prophet Muhammad (saw) and the color associated with the hidden Grand “Waliyy” (saint) Al-Khidr (as) are GREEN, because it reflects to the beautiful, holy, majestic, wonderful, subtle (lata’if) green lights that shine out through the clean hearts (SAFAA ALBATIN) of the real Sufis, Saints and Siddiqeen, which are always connected with the spiritual dimensions of the Seven Heavens. Those kind of servants, many of them are ‘hidden’, are the real A’wliya’ (singular: Waliyy) in GOD’s way. Verily, your Waliyy (Spiritual Protector or Spiritual Helper) is Allah, His Messenger, and the believers, – those who perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and give Zakat, and they bow down (submit themselves with obedience to Allah in prayer) — (Surat Al-Ma’idah (5) verse 55). May Allah forgive me and bless you.
“Dan bersabarlah (jaga adab/etika/jangan menggosipkan) kamu bersama-sama dengan orang-orang yang menyeru Tuhannya di pagi dan senja hari dengan mengharap/menginginkan/mencari WAJAH-Nya; dan janganlah kedua matamu berpaling dari mereka (orang-orang sufi itu, karena) mengharapkan perhiasan dunia ini; dan janganlah kamu mengikuti orang yang hatinya telah Kami lalaikan dari mengingati Kami, serta menuruti hawa nafsunya dan adalah keadaannya itu melewati batas.”
( QS. Al-Kahfi, ke-28 )
amiin