Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Fayd al-Litf
ala Jawhara al-Tawhid
Jawhara al-Tawhid
of Imam Ebrahim Laqqani al-Mliki
Fayd al-Litaf
The Outpouring of Subtleties
ala Jawhara al-Tawhid
upon the Precious Pearl of Divine Oneness
by Muhammad Allie Khalfe
Section 3
Introduction
Praise be to Allh, the Unique [al-munfarid], who brings about both nonexistence 2 [al-idam] and existence [al-ijad]. Free is He from the
imperfection of having any deficiency and its opposites3. I bare witness
that there is no Deity worthy of worship beside Allh who is free from
partners, Eternal without Beginning [al-Qadim] 4, dissimilar to created
The introduction used here is that of Imam Bajuri. It can be referenced in the
He alone removes from existence that which He brings into existence. The Imam
Opposites: meaning that Allh is free from the opposite of Perfection i.e.
imperfection.
4
Meaning that He was before He brought place and time into existence, and He is
now as He ever was. The Prophet (pbuh) said: kana Allhu wa la shaya maahu
Allh existed and nothing existed together with Him. He is Eternal through
Himself, and not through some external cause; the reason being is that He would
not be eternal without beginning if something other than Him was a cause
(thereby preceding) His Eternity.
Al-Amin: One who is upright, truthful and honest. In the craft [fann] of Tawhid,
Notice that the Shaykh did not give himself a title of Shaykh or Imam, which
indicates his humility. The prophet (pbuh) said: ma tawadaa ahadu llahi azza wa
jalla illa rafaahu llahu taala - none humbles himself before Allh, Exalted and
Sublime, except that Allh elevates him.
8
This is similar to what Imam al-Shafii said regarding his kitab al-Umm in that no
work is perfect save the word of Allh (al-Quran). The Imams humility before his
Nourisher and Sustainer [Rabb] flows through his commentary on the Jawhara.
Laqqani 10 presented this text, the people named it The pearl of Divine
Oneness [Jawahara al-Tawhid]. In it the author systemized all the unique
and critical issues of this craft. It contains the most lustrous of pearls
[nafais al-durar], it is radiant in beauty and will astonish those of keen
intellect and bring forth that which will amaze and astound (the reader)11.
Through it, many are eager to enter the garden of the benefits of Tawhid
and to experience from the fruits of its table. Some of my brothers have
asked me (May Allh rectify me in my response and them in their asking of
me)12 to write a commentary [hashiya] on the poem. One that will unpack
[tusfiru] its symbols [rumuz] and secrets [asrar] and lift the veil of what is
hidden within it.
My breast was expanded so that I could respond to their request and it is
Allh alone who knows what is hidden within it13. I have thus moved with
my reins [zimam] toward its garden (of Tawhid) and immersed my
thoughts in it. It has become easy for me to do this [wa qad tayassara li idh
dhaka] as some of the commentaries of those with high aspiration has
reached me, including that of Shaykh Abd al-Salam14, which was of the
10
Imam Ebrahim Laqqani is the author of the Jawhara. In this poem the Imam has
The Imam decorates his words with sublimity bringing forth an appetite or
Again displaying Imam Bajuris intense humility even before he engages the text
of Imam Laqqani.
13
Breast here means the inner most recesses within the hear. The Imam alludes to
the fact that Allh alone knows whether one is sincere or not.
14
Shaykh Abd al-Salam being the son of Imam Ebrahim Laqqani wrote one of the
15
Al-Salam [The Bestower of Peace and Security] is one of the 99 Names of Allh
Fath here means to expand the breast and lift the veil of what was previously
unknown.
17
The Imam once again brings to the forefront his connection with his Creator. He
reminds himself and the reader that we are human beings who err and requests
from the reader to overlook what faults may fall on the readers eye. The word
mankind in the Arabic language is read as insan, which is derived from the root
nasiya, which means to forget or to err. As human beings, we have interwoven
within our very being, the potential to err and forget. How then do we respond to
the next human being who might err? Do we respond with belligerence and
anger? Or do we respond with the eye of forgiveness? These are pertinent
questions, which we need to reflect upon as they are key to the betterment and
of any society.
7
It is Allh (swt) whom I ask, and through His prophet do I seek the means18
[wa bi-nabiyyihi atawassal] that this work gain a place of acceptance. Indeed
Allh (swt) is the best in whom one can hope [khayru ma-mul] and the most
generous of those one may ask [wa akramu mas-ul].
18
The Basmalah
19
19
Beneficial notes on the Basmalah as found in the Tuhfa of al-Bajuri, the Risala of
Although the Basmalah appears at the beginning of each chapter in the Quran, it
was not revealed in this particular order nor was it the first verse revealed to the
prophet (pbuh). It is therefore in harmony with the sequence and style of the
Quran but not necessarily in the sequence of revelation.
22
Sahih Bukhari is one of the six major hadith collections. These prophetic
Abu Bakr al-Tunusi 24 that the consensus of all the scholars is that Allh
opened all His Books 25 with the basmalah.
The second reason for the author opening his work with the basmalah is
because this is commensurate with acting upon the hadith of prophet
(pbuh) in which he (pbuh) said, kullu amrin dhi balin la yubdau fihi bi
Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim fahuwa abtar / ajdham / aqta- every matter that is
not started with the basmalah is in itself deficient or cut off from
blessings26. This is the case even though the act may seem physically
correct [hissan], it will not be complete in meaning [mana]. In a similar
hadith the prophet (pbuh) said, kullu amrin dhi balin la yubdau fihi bi alhamdu lillahi fahuwa abtar - every matter that is not started with the
hamdalah is in itself deficient or cut off from blessings. The intended
meaning behind the act being deficient and cut off from blessings is in fact
a command [wa l-muradu bi l-amr] i.e. to precede any act of goodness, be it
speech or action with the basmalah.
He is Majd al-din Abu Bakr bin Muhammad bin Qasim al-Mursi. He was a linguist
26
Sunan Abu Dawud, hadith no. 4840. Imam Bajuri analyzes this hadith in the next
few lines.
10
of ones slippers [libs al-nal] spitting [al-busaq] or (scratching the arm or leg
to relieve one from an itchy feeling and the likes)27. Nor is it allowed prior
to an act deemed forbidden in its essence [muharraman li-dhatihi] such as
illicit sexual relations [zina], nor before something that is detested or
disliked in its essence [makruhan li-dhatihi] like looking at the spouses
private parts without necessity 28 nor before a pure dhikr 29 [dhikran
mahdan] nor before an act, which the sacred law indicates should be
started with other than the basmalah including the five daily prayers
[salawat al-khamsa]. In the case of the salawat al-khamsa, it begins with
the words Allh u-Akbar and not with the basmalah.
It is therefore forbidden to use the basmalah before an act like zina and
disliked before looking at the private parts of ones spouse30.
It is also forbidden to use the basmalah before an act deemed as haram
due to an external cause [al-muharram liarid] like performing ablution
[wudhu] using stolen water31 . It is disliked to use the basmalah before an
27
28
A pure dhikr is any form of remembrance, which the prophet (pbuh) taught his
companions and which they in turn passed on. These include Hasbuna Allhi wa
nimal wakil or Subhana Allhi wa l-Hamdu lillahi, La ila ha illAllh, la hawla wala
quwwata illa billah and the likes. The basmalah need not be mentioned before
these pure adhkar (p.dhikr)
30
The law of the basmalah will follow the law of the act. If the act is forbidden
then the basmalah is forbidden and if it is disliked then the basmalah is disliked.
31
Although the wudhu is a lawful and praiseworthy act, stealing water is in itself
forbidden. This is what Imam Bajuri means by muharram l-arid. For this reason it
becomes forbidden to use the basmalah before stealing the water but lawful
before performing the ablution.
11
act deemed as makruh due to an external cause [al-makruhi liarid] like the
eating of onions32.
The basmalah is also omitted from the dhikr al-mahd like la ilaha illAllh as
mentioned earlier. It is not a prophetic practice [sunnah] to mention the
basmalah in this case.
It is a sunnah to mention the basmalah before reading the Quran as this is
not considered al-dhikr al-mahd due it containing additional news about
past nations, the life to come, contracts, threats, promises and so forth.
Some might object and find a contradiction between the two hadiths
mentioned33 due to the fact that one cannot act upon both simultaneously
i.e. to say the basmlah and the hamdalah before the act.
Many answers were provided to this particular question, the most wellknown of them includes the following:
-
32
Starting an act is of two types, haqiqi and idafi. As for the first
[haqiqi], this is the actual start before the intended act [amama lmaqsud] without anything preceding the act. As for the idafi, this is
a starting point before the intended act, even though something
might have preceded it (like the basmalah). There is a general
aspect [alumum] as well as an absolute yet specific aspect [khusus
The basmalah is permissible and recommended here due to the onion being
Every matter that is not started with the basmalah is in itself deficient or cut off
from blessings and every matter that is not started with the hamdalah is in itself
deficient or cut off from blessings.
12
al-mutlaq] between the two hadiths. The hadith, which includes the
basmalah is of the first type i.e. haqiqi, while the second hadith,
which mentions the hamdalah is of the adafi type34. We have not
mentioned it the other way around [yakisu] as this would oppose
the methodology of the Quran as well as the consensus of the
scholars [ijma].
Section: On using the basmalah in poetry
And you should not say that this text [muallaf]35 is not included among the
various styles of poetry. If it is accepted as a form of poetry then is it
permissible to start and associate the basmalah poetry? Indeed those
endowed with knowledge said that poetry should not start with the
basmalah. We say that the poetry that should not start with the basmalah
is the forbidden kind, which include insults or the defaming of ones
character [hija] for example. The basmalah should also not precede poetry
that is considered detested like a man longing and yearning for a woman
who might not be lawful for him [taghazzul].
34
[ibtida al-haqiqi] while the hamdalah is the beginning connected to [ibtida idafi]
and preceded by the basmalah. In this way the hamdalah remains a starting point.
35
As for poetry that is directly linked to the various sciences of Islam, like
this particular one, to start it with the basmalah is a praiseworthy act as
was the preferred way of Imam al-Shatibi 36 where he says,
I begin this text firstly, In the Name of Allh
[Badatu bi-bismillahi fi n-nadhmi awwala] 37
Imam Laqqani did not open the Jawhara with the basmalah including it in
the poem as Imam al-Shatibi did. The reason is because this goes against
the preferred opinion [khilaf al-awla], which is to exclude the basmalah from
any form of poetry38.
36
A classical poem in the science of the seven readings of the Quran entitled Hirz
al-Amani wa Wajh al-Tahani, written by Imam Abu l-Qasim al-Shatibi the blind [aldarir], also known as the Shatibiyya.
37
Imam al-Shatibi includes the basmalah in the opening verse as part of his poem.
It is a 1444 line poem, each verse ending with the letter lam.
3 Bayhaqi and Zarkashi also said: Qutada said: "'Umar ibn `Abd al-`Aziz used to say:
'It would not please me more if the Companions of Muhammad (s) did not differ
among them, because had they not differed there would be no leeway (for us).'"
Bayhaqi also relates in al-Madkhal and Zarkashi in the "Tadhkira" that Layth ibn
Sa`d said on the authority of Yahya ibn Sa`id, "the people of knowledge are the
people of flexibility (tawsi`a). Those who give fatwas never cease to differ, and so
this one permits something while that one forbids it, without one finding fault with
the other when he knows of his position."
14
39
mentioned earlier.
15
41
The name is a word which indicates, whereas the named is the thing indicated.
The name could be Arab, Persian or Turkish, whereas the thing named may not be
of that sort. See the work entitled al-Maqsid al-Asna fi sharh asma Allh al-husna of
Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali for a lengthy and beneficial discussion on the name,
the named and the naming.
42
for existence while Allh does not depend on anything. This will be discussed in
greater detail later on, Allh Willing.
43
This was the view of the Mujassima, a sect who staunchly believed that Allh is
(swt).
16
Him (swt). It is also not permissible to speak regarding these fine points
except in the appropriate sittings of knowledge [fi maqami talim]45 as it in
lie doubt, speculation and delusions for the one unskilled in this science,
regarding Allh (swt). What has been discussed here should clarify that
the word Allh is not a proper noun, which was derived from any other
word as is often the case [bi l-ghalaba] like ilah meaning Lord46. There are
however scholars who hold an opposing view47.
Bajuri, Imam Ghazali, Hafidh Al-Suyuti and the likes deem it impermissible [la yajuz
to discuss the intricacies and subtleties of theology [kalam] before the one
unskilled in the craft.
46
The name Allh is not derived from another word according to the preferred
view of Imam Bajuri. Grammarians though differ on its origin and etymology.
47
Sibuway (known as the father of Arabic grammar) reported that its root is ilah,
on the scale of fi'al. The alif and lam take the place of the hamza. Sibuway said
that it is like mankind [al-nas], which is derived from the root anas. It is said that its
root is lah and that the alif and lam are added to exalt it. This is what Sibuwayh
preferred.
48
While translating this line, the words of Abu Yazid al-Bistami, the saint [wali]
and preserver of the sunnah strikes me. He was asked, O Abu Yazid, share with us
the greatest name of Allh, to which he replied, first show me the weakest name
before I show you the greatest name.
49
He is Yahya bin Sharaf bin murra Abu Zakariyya Muhyi al-din al-Nawawi al-Shafii,
Shaykhu l-Islam, the Allama, the one with deep insight into legal matters and the
17
prefers Al-Hayyu l-Qayyum meaning the Living the Self Subsisting. The
foremost reason for a prayer [dua] not being answered at times (using the
greatest name) is due to the preconditions of the prayer not being
adhered to, the greatest of which include the eating of lawful food.
This is how the idea of mercy is understood in relation to the creation and not
The words Rahman and Rahim are in the intensified form indicating its vastness,
Section 5
the prophet (pbuh) said, Allah (swt), has one-hundred mercies. With one of them,
the creation shows mercy to each other; even the beasts show kindness to their
offspring. He has kept ninety-nine mercies with Him for the Day of Resurrection
52
Favors which we might consider as small while in reality we would not survive
...
-2
...
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7
...
:
...
...
... :
.
...
...
-8
-9
...
-10
...
-11
...
-12
-13 : ...
...
-14
20
-15
-16
-17
-18
...
...
...
:
...
.
:
-19
:
-20
:
-21
: ...
...
...
-22 . : ...
.
:
...
-23
-24
...
-25 ...
-26 ...
...
-27
-28
...
-29
...
21
...
-30
- 31
...
-32
...
...
-33
-34 ...
-35
...
...
-36
...
-37
-38
...
...
-39
-40
...
-41
-42
...
...
-43
...
-44 ...
22
-45
-46
...
-47
...
-48
-49
-50
-51
-52
-53
-54
...
...
...
...
:
...
...
...
...
-55
...
-56 ...
-57 :
...
-58
...
...
:
-59
23
-60 ...
-61 ...
-62
:
...
-63
-64
...
...
[ ...]
-65
...
-66
-67
...
-68
...
-69
...
-70 ...
-71 ...
-72
...
-73 ...
...
-74
24
-75
-76
-77
-78
-79
-80
-81
-82
-83
-84
-85
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
-86
-87
...
...
...
-88
-89 ...
25
-90
...
-91
...
...
-92
-93
...
...
-94
...
-95
-96 ...
-97
...
-98
-99
-100
-101
-102
-103
-104
-105
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
: ...
26
-106
-107
-108
-109
-110
-111
-112
-113
-114
-115
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
[ ]
...
...
-116
...
...
-117
...
-118
-119
...
...
-120
-121
...
27
...
-122
...
-123
:
-124
...
-125
...
...
-126
-127
...
-128
...
-129
-130
-131
-132
-133
-134
-135
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
-136
-137 ...
28
-138 ...
...
-139
-140
...
...
-141
...
-142
...
-143
-144
...
[ ]
29