In the Name of Allah (SWT), the Merciful, the Compassionate

ON THE NIGHT OF MIRAJ

It has been narrated by Ameer Almumineen Ali b. Abi Taleb (A.S.) that the Prophet (peace be upon him and
his family) asked his Lord on the night of Miraj and said:

Oh my Lord. What is the best of deeds?

Allah (SWT) answered:

There is nothing better for Me than dependence (tawakul) upon Me and contentment with what I have
ordained.

Oh Muhammad, My Love will be guaranteed to those who love each other through Me. And My Love
will be guaranteed to those who sympathize with each other through Me. And My Love will be guaranteed to
those who communicate with each other because of Me. And My love will be guaranteed to those who depend and
rely on Me. My Love is boundless, endless, and cannot be conquered by knowledge.
I supply continuous knowledge to those whom I love. Those are the ones who look at their fellow humans
as I look to them. They dont submit their requests to their fellow humans. Their stomachs are empty from eating
what is forbidden (haram). Their pleasure in this life (Dunya) is My remembrance (zikr), My Love and My
Contentment with them.
Oh Ahmad, if you want to be from the most careful from committing sins (wara), then abandon the
pleasures of this world (zuhd), and demand the Hereafter.

Then the Prophet (S.A.) asked: Oh my God, how can I abandon the pleasures of this world (zuhd)?

Allah (SWT) said: Take from this world (dunya) a handful from its food, drink, clothes and dont save for
tomorrow. Continue in My Remembrance.

The Prophet asked: Oh my Lord, how can I continuously remember You?

Allah (SWT) answered: By staying away from people, by disliking the sweet and the sour and by emptying
your stomach from the materials of this world (dunya).
Oh Ahmad, Beware. Do not act as a child; if he looks at the green and yellow, and when given sweet or
sour, he becomes fascinated by it.

Rasulullah (S.A.) asked: Oh my Lord, guide me to a deed that will bring me closer to You.

Allah (SWT) said: Make your night a day and your day a night.

The Prophet (S.A.) asked: Oh Lord, how can I do that?

1
 Allah (SWT) answered: Spend your sleep-time in prayer (Salat) and let your food be fasting and hunger
(sawm).
Oh Ahmad, I swear by My Highness and Glory that any slave of Mine who guarantees for me the
following four characteristics, I will permit him to enter paradise (Jannat):
Keep his mouth shut and not to talk except with what concerns him.
Protect his heart from evil inspirations (wiswas).
Act according to the fact that I am watching him and know everything about him.
The pleasure of his eye (Quratul 'ayn) would be in hunger.

Oh Ahmad, if you would just taste the sweetness of hunger, silence, and loneliness and what you would
inherit from these things!

The Prophet said: Oh Lord, what is the inheritance of hunger?

Allah (SWT) answered: Wisdom, protection of the heart, nearness to Me, continuous sadness, light needs
for his life, saying the truth, and not caring whether living in good times or hard times.
Oh Ahmad, do you know at what time my slave will be nearest to me? If he is hungry or in prostration
(sujood).
Oh Ahmad, I wonder at three slaves of Mine. A slave who enters prayer (Salat) while knowing to whom
he is raising his hand and in front of whom he is, and then he yawns. And I wonder at a slave of Mine who has
food for his day from grass or else, then he worries about tomorrow. And I wonder at a slave of Mine who does
not know whether I am pleased with him or not, then he laughs.
Oh Ahmad, there is a palace in Paradise made from pearl and precious gems. It is built as one part without
connections. In it lives the very special slaves of Mine. I look upon them seventy times each day. Every time I
look at them, I talk to them. I increase in their kingdom seventy times each time I look upon them. When the
people of Paradise get pleasure from food and drink, those very special slaves of Mine get pleasure in My
Remembrance, My Words, and My Speech.

Then Rasulullah (S.A.) asked: Oh Lord, what is the distinguishing features of those people?

Allah (SWT) said: They have imprisoned their tongues from vain talk and their stomach from excess food.
Oh Ahmad, to love Allah (SWT) is to love the poor and to be near to them.

The Prophet (S.A.) asked: And who are the poor (fuqaraa)?

Allah (SWT) answered: Those who are content with the little. Those who are patient in hunger. Those
who are thankful to Me in good times. They do not complain of their hunger or thirst. They do not lie with their
tongues. They do not become unpleased with their Lord. And they dont regret what has missed them. And they
dont become overly exuberant with what has been given to them.
Oh Ahmad, to love Me means to love the poor. So bring the poor closer to you and let them sit near to you.
And keep the rich away from you and let them sit far from you, for the poor are My loved-ones.
Oh Ahmad, do not adorn yourself with the best of clothes, the best of food, and softness of furniture, for
the self (nafs) is the sanctuary of every evil and the companion of every bad. You drag it towards the obedience of
2
Allah (SWT) and it drags you towards His disobedience. It does not go along with you in His obedience and it
obeys you in what displeases Him. It becomes despotic when content, complains when hungry, becomes angry
when poor, gets arrogant if rich, forgets when becomes in a high status, and does not remember Allah (SWT) when
it feels secure. It is the peer of Satan (Shaytan). The self (nafs) is like an ostrich. It eats too much, but when it
comes time to fly, it doesnt. The self is like a dufla (a type of plant). Its color is nice, but its taste is bitter.
Oh Ahmad, despise the life of this world (Dunya) and its seekers. And love the hereafter (Akhira) and its
seekers.

The Prophet (S.A.) asked: Oh Lord, and who are the seekers of this world and who are the seekers of
the hereafter?

Allah (SWT) answered: The seekers of this world is he who eats , laughs, and sleeps much. He who
constantly becomes angry. He is rarely pleased. He does not apologize to those whom he hurts. And he does not
accept the apology of others. When it comes to the obedience of Allah (SWT), he is lazy. But he is active and
courageous in committing sins. His hopes are far even though his life is short. He does not blame himself. He is of
little use to others, but speaks much. He fears Allah (SWT) little and is very joyful when presented with food. The
seekers of this world are not grateful to Allah (SWT) during good times. They are impatient during hard times.
What people consider as much, they consider it as little. They praise themselves for the things they dont do. And
they claim for themselves what does not belong to them. They speak with what they wish. They mention the
faults and defects of others, but they hide their virtues.

The Prophet (S.A.) asked: Oh Lord, all these bad characteristics are in the seekers of the life of this
world.

Allah (SWT) said: The seekers of this world have a lot of ignorance and foolishness. They are not modest
with their teachers. They think they are smart, but those who are truly knowledgeable consider them foolish.
Oh Ahmad, the virtuous and seekers of the hereafter have thin faces. Their shyness is much. Their
foolishness is little. Their usefulness is much. Their deception is little. The people are at ease with them. But
their own selves are tired with them. Their words are accurate. They blame and find faults with themselves. Their
eyes may sleep, but their hearts are awake. Their eyes are full of tears. Their hearts are in a state of constant
remembrance (zikr).
They praise Allah (SWT) in the beginning of a blessing and thank Him in its end. Their supplications
(dua) to Allah (SWT) is accepted and their words are heard. The angels are happy with them. Their supplications
revolve under divine veils. The Lord loves to listen to their words as a mother loves to hear her child. They are
never distracted from Allah (SWT) for even a blink of an eye. They dont want much food, talk or clothes. To
them all the people are dead and only Allah (SWT) is Alive and Generous. They invite those who turn away as a
good manner from them. And they welcome warmly anyone who comes to them.
To them, the life of this world (Dunya) and the hereafter is one.
Oh Ahmad, do you know the reward I have for those who abandon the pleasures of this world (zahideen)?

The Prophet said: No, Oh Lord.

3
 Allah (SWT) said: People will be resurrected, asked ,and tried on the Day of Judgment while those who
abandon the pleasures of this world (zahideen) will be secure from all of that. The least I will give to them are the
keys to Paradise (Jannat) so they can open any door they wish. And I will not deprive them of Myself. I will
make them enjoy with pleasure My Words. I will seat them on the seat of the truthfulness (maqadu sidqin). I
will remind them of their deeds and suffering in this world (Dunya). I will open to them four doors. Through one
door enter endless gifts from Me, day and night. And through another door, they gaze upon me as they want
without any difficulty. Through the third door, they will look at the Hell-Fire, they will see how the oppressors
are punished. Through the fourth door, beautiful (huris) will enter.

The Prophet asked: Oh Lord, who are those who abandon the pleasures of this world (Zahideen)
whom You have described?

Allah (SWT) answered: The one who abandons the pleasures of this world (Zahid) is he who doesnt have
a home which could cause his sorrow upon its loss. He who does not have a son whom his loss could cause his
sorrow. He does not have anything worth causing his sorrow upon its loss. No human can distract him from Allah
(SWT). He does not have excess food that he will be asked about on Judgment Day. He does not have soft clothes.
Oh Ahmad, the faces of the zahideen are pale from exhaustion of continuous salat at night and the fasting
of the day. Their tongues are tired from remembrance of Allah (SWT) Taala. Their hearts in their chests are
suffering because of their long silence. They gave their effort, not because they fear the Hell-Fire, nor because they
desire Paradise. But they gaze upon the heavens and the earth, then they find Allah (SWT) worthy of being
worshipped.
Oh Ahmad, this is the rank of the Prophets (anbiyaa) and the Sidiqeen from your Ummah, and the other
nations, and a group from among the martyrs (Shuhada).

The Prophet (S.A.) asked: Oh Lord, which Ummah has the most zuhaad, my Ummah or Bani Israel?

Allah (SWT) said: The zuhaad (ascetics) of Bani Israel as compared to the zuhaad of your Ummah are like
one black hair on a white cow.

The Prophet (S.A.) said: Oh Lord, and how is that so, when Bani Israel outnumber us.

Allah (SWT) said: This is because they became filled with doubt (Shak) after certainty (Yaqeen), and they
were ungrateful after believing.

Then the Prophet said: I praised Allah (SWT) Taala and thanked Him and I asked for their ascetism,
protection, mercy, and every other good.

Allah (SWT) said: Oh Ahmad, hold on to wara (carefulness from committing sins and fear of Allah
(SWT)), for wara' is the head, the middle, and the end of religion (deen). Wara brings you closer to Allah (SWT)
Taala.
Oh Ahmad, wara is the adornment of the believer (momen) and the base of religion (deen). Wara is like a
ship which none can be saved without it. So without wara, the zahideen cannot be saved.
Oh Ahmad, any slave who knows Me is humble to Me, everything will be humble to him.

4
 Oh Ahmad, wara opens the doors of worship (ibadah) to the slave of Mine (abd). This will make the
people respect him and will make him reach Allah (SWT) Az wajall.
Oh Ahmad, keep silent, for the best congregation (majlis) is the hearts of the virtuous (saliheen) and the
silent. And the worst majlis is the hearts of the speakers of that which does not concern them.
Oh Ahmad, worship (ibadah) is ten parts. Nine of them is in looking for earning for living from Halal. If
your food and drink is from halal, then you are under My Protection.

The Prophet asked: Oh my Lord, what is the beginning of worship (ibadah)?

Allah (SWT) answered: The beginning of worship is silence and fasting (sawm).

The Prophet asked: Oh my Lord, and what are the advantages of fasting (sawm)?

Allah (SWT) said: Fasting begets wisdom (hikmah) and wisdom begets knowledge (marifah) and
knowledge begets certainty (yaqeen).
If a slave of Mine (abd) becomes certain, he then will not care whether he wakes up in a good time or a
bad one. When this slave of Mine is at his death state, angels will stand over his head. In the hand of each angel
is a cup filled with the water of Al-kawthar and a cup of wine. They will let his spirit drink until he doesnt feel
the difficulty of death and its bitterness. They will give him the greatest tiding and they will tell him, You are
good and your grave-site is good. You will meet the Noble, the Generous, the Beloved-One, and the Near. Then
the spirit will fly from the hands of the angels. It will ascend to Allah (SWT) faster than the blink of an eye. No
veil will remain between it and Allah (SWT) Taala. Allah (SWT) Az wajal will be anxious to see it. It will sit
beside the Throne (Arsh) of Allah (SWT). Then it will be said to the (spirit): In what condition did you leave the
Dunya? It will reply, Oh my God, I swear by Your Nobility and Highness, I have no Knowledge of dunya. Ever
since You created me, I feared You. Allah (SWT) will say, Oh slave of Mine, you are truthful. Your body was in
dunya, but your spirit was with Me. I know your secrets and what is manifest. Ask, and I will grant you. Hope
from Me and I will give you more. This is my Paradise. All of it is allowed to you. And this is My Neighborhood,
inhabit it. The spirit shall say, Oh my God, You made Yourself known to Me, so then I was not in need of your
human creatures. I swear by Your Nobility and Highness, if your Pleasure is in that for me to be cut into pieces
and that I will be killed seventy times as brutal as anyone else was killed, I will then prefer to please You. Oh my
God, how can I be fond of myself when I am scornable if you didnt elevate me. And I am a loser if you didnt
help me. And I am weak if you dont strengthen me . I am dead if you dont set me alive with Your Remembrance.
If it wasnt for Your hiding my sins, I would have been in a scandal the first time I disobeyed you. Oh my God,
how can I not ask for Your Acceptance when You have perfected my mind until I came to know You and know the
truth from falsehood, what is good from what is forbidden, knowledge from ignorance, and light from darkness:
Allah (SWT) will reply, I swear by My Nobility and Highness, no veil will stand between you and I at any time.
This is what I do to those who are Beloved to Me.
Oh Ahmad, do you know which living is more pleasurable and which is eternal?

The Prophet (S.A.) said: Oh my God, I do not know.

Allah (SWT) said: As for the pleasurable life, it is one in which a person does not get bored from My
Remembrance, does not forget my bounty, and is not ignorant of My Rights upon him. He asks for My Pleasure
5
day and night. As for the eternal life, it is one in which a person commits good deeds and worships until the life of
the world becomes valueless to him and appears small to his eyes. While the hereafter becomes the greatest to him.
He prefers My Will over his own. He seeks My pleasure, respects My Rights over him and constantly remembers
that I know everything about him. Before committing any sin or disobedience he reminds himself that I am
watching him. He purifies his heart from all what I despise. He hates Satan and his evil inspirations. He does
not give Iblis any authority or access to his heart. When he does all these things, I will ingrain in his heart a Love
until I make his heart belong to Me. I will make his free time, work-time, worriness, and speech all belong to Me.
This is the bounty I give to My Beloved-ones. I will open his hearts eye and hearing until he hears and sees with
his heart My Highness and Greatness. I will constrict and narrow the life of this world to him, I will make him
dislike its pleasures. I will warn him from dunya and what is in it as a shepherd warns his sheep from deadly
grassland. After I do this to him, he will escape from people and will be transported from the transient abode to
the eternal abode, and from the satanic abode to the Merciful abode.
Oh Ahmad, I will adorn him with respect and greatness. This is the good and eternal life. This is the
station of the contented-ones. Anyone who works for My Pleasure, I will give him three characteristics. I will
teach him to be grateful without being ignorant, a remembrance (zikr) that is not contaminated with forgetfulness,
and a Love so that he does not prefer any other love over Mine. If he loves Me, I will love him. I will open the
eye of his heart to my Highness. I will not prevent him from seeing those who are close to Me. I will invoke him
in the darkness of the night and daylight until he gradually stops talking and sitting with other people. I will let
him hear My Words and the words of My Angels. I will let him know the secrets that I veiled from the other
people. I will clothe him with shyness until all the people are shy from him. He will then walk upon the earth
forgiven. I will make his heart aware and foresighted. I will not hide from him what is in paradise or in hell. I
will let him know what will happen on Judgment Day to the people from terrible events. I will let him know how
I will judge the rich and the poor, the knowledgeable and the ignorant. I will enlighten his grave and send down
only Munkar to ask him. He will not see the hardship of death, the darkness of the grave, and the terrible scenes
in Resurrection until I set his scale (Mizan) and let him see his record. Then I will place his book in his right hand.
He will read it publicly. Then there will not be an interpreter between him and I. This is what I do to those who
love Me.
Oh Ahmad, make your worriness only one worriness directed towards your hereafter so that I will make
your tongue one (without hypocrisy) and your body alive never forgetting Me. Whoever forgets Me, I will not care
at which valley he dies.
Oh Ahmad, use your intellect before it is gone. For whoever uses his intellect, he will not err, nor will he
become a despot (taghut).
Oh Ahmad, you never forget Me. Whoever forgets Me, I will not care at which valley he dies.
Oh Ahmad, do you know why I preferred you over all the other prophets?

Rasulullah said: Oh Allah (SWT), no.

Allah (SWT) said: Because of your certainty (yaqeen), best of manners, generous self and your mercy
towards people. Those are the characteristics of those whom I support this earth with (awtad al ardh).
Oh Ahmad, when a slave of mine has an empty stomach and safeguards his tongue, I will teach him
wisdom. If this slave is a nonbeliever (kafir), this wisdom will be a proof against him and a burden. If he is a
believer, this wisdom will be a light, a source of guidance, a cure and a mercy. So then he will know what he

6
hadnt known before. The first thing I will let him see is his own defects. He will become busy with them rather
than looking after the defects and faults of others. I will let him know every detail of knowledge so that the
shaytan cannot find an entrance to him.
Oh Ahmad, nothing of worship is more loved by Me than silence and fasting. He who fasts but doesnt
safeguard his tongue, is like one who stands in salat without saying anything. I will give him the reward of the
standing (qiyam), but not the award of the worshipper (abid).
Oh Ahmad, do you know when My slave will be truly worshipping Me?

The Prophet (S.A.) said: No, Oh Lord.

Allah (SWT) said: When he has gathered the following seven characteristics. Fear of Allah (SWT) (wara)
that will prevent him from committing sins. A silence that will keep him away from what does not concern him. A
fear of the hereafter that increases each day with his crying. A shyness that will make him shy from Me even in his
rest room. Eating what is only necessary to keep him alive. Despising the life of this world (dunya) because I
despise it. Love the virtuous because I love them.
Oh Ahmad, not everyone who says I love Allah (SWT) has really loved me. It is only until he eats what
is necessary to keep him alive, dress modestly, sleep while in prostration (sujood), prolong his standing in prayer
(qiyam), hold on to silence, depend (tawwakul) upon Me, cry much, laugh less, oppose his self-desires, take the
Masjid as a house and knowledge and zuhd as a companion, take the ulama as companions and the poor as
friends, asks for My Pleasure, escapes away from the disobedient, keeps occupied with My remembrance, increase
in My tasbeeh, is truthful in his contract with Me, fulfills his promise, has a purified heart, is sincere in his salat,
is active in performing the faraid (obligatory worship), is anxious for My Reward (thawab), is fearful of My
Punishment (azab), and is near and a companion to My beloved-ones.
Oh, Ahmad, if a slave of Mine prays as much as all the prayers of the inhabitants of the earth and heaven,
fasts as much as all the fasts of the inhabitants of the earth and heavens, eats as little as the angles, wears as little
as he who is naked, then I find in his heart an atom of love for the life of his world or its vanity, its authority, its
ornaments and adornments, he will not be in My Neighborhood and I will extract My Love from his heart. Peace
and My Love be upon you, Oh Ahmad.

Translated:

Source- Irshad Al Qulub (Guidance To The Hearts)

Volume I. Hasan b. Muhammad Aldaylami, Pg. 177

Note: The Prophet (S.A.) said that if you receive knowledge, spread it. Therefore, we ask all
those who receive this blessed hadeeth to spread it, make copies of it, and pass it down to other
brothers and sisters. Jazakum Allah Khairan.