Vision of Allah (Deedar-e-Elahi)
DEVOTION IS MEANINGLESS WITHOUT VISION OF ALLAH (DEEDAR E ELAHI)
The Mohammadan umma have been gifted with this sacred gift on the night of ascension at the request of Prophet Mohammad. Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani says:
مَنْ لَّمۡ یَعۡرِفُہٗ کَیۡفَ یَعۡبُدُہٗ۔How can a person worship Allah, unless he knows and recognizes Him? (Sirr-al-Asrar)
Sultan Bahoo says: One, who does not have Vision of Allah (Deedar e Elahi) while invoking Him, in fact he is oblivious of Allah.
SACRED COMPANIONS COULD SEE ALLAH:
VISION OF ALLAH (DEEDAR E ELAHI) IN LIGHT OF QURAN:
The Vision of Allah (Deedar e Elahi) has also been mentioned in the Quran:
وَ مَا خَلَقۡتُ الۡجِنَّ وَ الۡاِنۡسَ اِلَّا لِیَعۡبُدُوۡنِ
Meaning: I have not created humans and Jinns except for my servitude. (51:56)
In the explanation of this verse, Abdullah ibn Abbas says:
وَ مَا خَلَقۡتُ الۡجِنَّ وَ الۡاِنۡسَ اِلَّا لِیَعۡبُدُوۡنِ
Meaning: In this verse, ‘prayers’ (لِیَعۡبُدُوۡنِ) means gnosis (لِیَعۡرِفُوۡنِ)
True prayers are those which have gnosis and Deedar e Elahi.
PERFECT SAINTS ARE BLESSED WITH THE VISION OF ALLAH (DEEDAR E ELAHI):
آن نور تجلی کہ بموسیٰ ؑ کوہِ طور عین عنایت است مرا حق ظہور
Explanation: How can one have Vision of Allah unless inward is awake! Real prostration is possible only while beholding Him. Merely, prostrating before the wall blindly is not at all the real prostration.VISION OF ALLAH (DEEDAR-E-ELAHI) IN LIGHT OF HADITH:
کُنْتُ کَنْزًا مَخْفِیًا فَاَرَدۡتُ اَنْ اُعْرَفَ فَخَلَقْتُ الْخَلْقَ
Meaning: I was a hidden treasure. I desired to be recognized. Thus I created the creatures for my gnosis. Therefore, the purpose behind the entire universe and all created things is the gnosis and Deedar e Elahi.QUESTION IN GRAVE ABOUT VISION OF ALLAH (DEEDAR-E-ELAHI):
THE DENIER OF VISION OF ALLAH (DEEDAR-E-ELAHI):
اُولٰٓئِکَ الَّذِیْنَ کَفَرُوْ بِاٰیٰتِ رَبِّھِمْ وَ لِقَآئِہٖ فَحَبِطَتْ اَعْمٰلُھُمْ فَلَاْ نُقِیْمُ لَھُمْ یَوْمَ الْقِیٰمَۃِ وَزْن
Meaning: It is those, who have denied the signs of Allah and His meeting (seeing). So, all their deeds are ruined. And, Allah shall not give any weight or any worth to them (and their deeds) on the Day of Rising. (Al Kahf 105)قَدۡ خَسِرَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَذَّبُوۡا بِلِقَآءِ اللّٰہِ
Meaning: So those who belie their meeting with Allah incur loss. (Al-An’am:31)وَ مَنۡ کَانَ فِیۡ ہٰذِہٖۤ اَعۡمٰی فَہُوَ فِی الۡاٰخِرَۃِ اَعۡمٰی
Meaning: And whoever remains blind (to the glorious vision of Allah) in this (world), will be blind in the hereafter, as well. (Bani Israil 72) In ar Risala tul Ghausia, Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani reveals that the one who remains heedless to his inward and Deedar e Elahi, Allah increases his attention towards the world: “One who does not try to come to me esoterically, I make him suffer physically through hardships.”QURANIC REFERENCE OF PROPHET MOSES SEEING ALLAH:
وَ لَمَّا جَاءَ مُوۡسٰی لِمِیۡقَاتِنَا وَ کَلَّمَہٗ رَبُّہٗ ۙ قَالَ رَبِّ اَرِنِیۡۤ اَنۡظُرۡ اِلَیۡکَ ؕ قَالَ لَنۡ تَرٰىنِیۡ وَ لٰکِنِ انۡظُرۡ اِلَی الۡجَبَلِ فَاِنِ اسۡتَقَرَّ مَکَانَہٗ فَسَوۡفَ تَرٰىنِیۡ ۚ فَلَمَّا تَجَلّٰی رَبُّہٗ لِلۡجَبَلِ جَعَلَہٗ دَکًّا وَّ خَرَّ مُوۡسٰی صَعِقًا ۚ فَلَمَّاۤ اَفَاقَ قَالَ سُبۡحٰنَکَ تُبۡتُ اِلَیۡکَ وَ اَنَا اَوَّلُ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ۔
Meaning: And when Musa came at the time (set) by Us and his Lord spoke to him. He submitted “O Lord, show me (Your Beauty) so that, I may savour Your sight”. Allah said, “You cannot look upon Me (directly) but look towards the mountain. So, if it stays in its place then soon will you behold My beauty”. When his Lord unveiled the Light on to the mountain, (He) crushed it into sand particles and Musa fell down unconscious. Then, when he recovered, he submitted: “Holy You are, and I turn to You in repentance and I am the first of all believer.” (Al A’raf 143)
PROPHET MOSES AND VISION OF ALLAH (DEEDAR-E-ELAHI):
SHATTERING OF MOUNTAIN:
The underlying subtle point is very simple. The way a person needs sunglasses to gaze at the sun, one only ends up seeing its encircling light. Likewise, Allah ordered Prophet Moses to look at the mountain from where He descended His theophany. However, the mountain failed to bear the Divine Trust and shattered to pieces. The Quran states:
اِنَّا عَرَضۡنَا الۡاَمَانَۃَ عَلَی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ وَ الۡجِبَالِ فَاَبَیۡنَ اَنۡ یَّحۡمِلۡنَہَا وَ اَشۡفَقۡنَ مِنۡہَا وَ حَمَلَہَا الۡاِنۡسَانُ ؕ اِنَّہٗ کَانَ ظَلُوۡمًا جَہُوۡلًا۔
Meaning: We presented our Trust to the skies, earth and mountains. Everyone refused to bear it but man (the Universal Divine Man) picked it up. No doubt, he is cruel (towards his innerself) and ignorant (of his highest rank near Allah). (Al Ahzab 72) Prophet Moses can never ask Allah anything which is impossible or forbidden In Tafseer Zia-ul-Quran, Muhammad Karam Shah al-Azhari says in the explanation of the above-mentioned verse: “As far as, the possibility of seeing Allah is concerned, there is not any controversy. Everyone admits that anyone can have vision of Allah. If it were not possible, why would Prophet Moses (Hazrat Musa) had asked for it? Moreover, the prophets know what is possible, what is not. A Prophet never asks for anything which is impossible or forbidden.”
PROPHET MOSES ASKED ALLAH FOR HIS VISION:
After all, Moses was the Prophet of Allah, he would only ask of Allah whatever is possible and practical. In the Exegesis of Zia ul Quran, Mohammad Karam Shah al Azhari states: “There is no controversy that Allah can be seen. Everyone admits that Deedar e Elahi is possible. Prophet Moses would never have asked for it had it not been possible. Moreover, the Prophets know what is possible, what is not. Hence, a Prophet never asks for impossibility or anything which is forbidden.” Jarir ibn Abdullah al Bajali relates that the Prophet said: “Soon you will see your Allah with your own eyes.” (Mishkwat)
VISION OF ALLAH (DEEDAR E ELAHI) LEADS TO GNOSIS:
The verbal declaration of faith is quite easy. What is difficult and that which matters is to accept and act upon it genuinely. The fact is that the soul refuses to believe anything which it has not seen. Hence, true belief in Allah means Deedar e Elahi and then gaining His gnosis. Therefore, it is then that the prayer is actually meaningful and becomes a Miraj itself. Prophet Mohammad said:
اِنَّکُمْ سَتَرَوْنَ رَبَّکُمْ کَمَا تَرَوْنَ ھٰذَا الْقَمَرُ لَا
تُضَامُوْنَ فِیْ رُؤْیَتِہِ (صحیح بخاری7434)
Meaning: Soon you will have Deedar e Elahi as you see the sun and the moon. (Al Fath ar Rabbani section 33) Umar ibn Khattab said: “I had the Deedar e Elahi through His resplendent Light.” Ali ibn Abi Talib said: “I do not worship Allah unless I see Him.” Hence, gnosis of Allah is gained through Deedar e Elahi.
SHAIKH ABDUL QADIR JILANI QUOTES ABOUT VISION OF ALLAH (DEEDAR E ELAHI):
According to Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani: “Our Allah is Omnipresent and one can see Him”. “Every true believer who has gnosis and true belief, possesses two physical eyes and two esoteric eyes of the soul. Therefore, with his physical eyes, he can see the world and its creatures whereas, with his internal eyes, he can see the creatures of the unseen world. Hence, all the veils are lifted from his soul. Consequently, he can have Deedar e Elahi without any doubt and material medium. Thus, he becomes closest to Allah and His beloved.” (Al Fath ar Rabbani section 33)
THE SOUL IS ALWAYS THIRSTY TO SEE ALLAH:
Man is formed through inner and physical being. The inner being or soul is the real person. On the other hand, the physical form is only the dress of this world and remains here. It is only the soul which can gain Deedar e Elahi and returns to Allah after death. Therefore, the Quran states:
اِ نَّا لِلّٰہِ وَاِنَّا اِلَیۡہٖ رَاجِعُوۡن
Meaning: We have come from Allah and to Him only we return. Hence, soul gains gnosis and Divine vision as soul belongs to Allah. As Allah says in the Quran that He breathed the soul into the vessel of Adam and all humankind:
وَ نَفَخۡتُ فِیۡہِ مِنۡ رُّوۡحِیۡ ۔ Meaning: And then I (Allah) breathed into him My soul. (Al-Hijr-29) This soul is the one that remains curious to have vision of Allah and His gnosis. Allah says about those who do not seek His vision and gnosis.
فَاِنَّہَا لَا تَعۡمَی الۡاَبۡصَارُ وَ لٰکِنۡ تَعۡمَی الۡقُلُوۡبُ الَّتِیۡ فِی الصُّدُوۡرِ ۔ Meaning: These (physical) eyes are not blind but the soul inside the body is blind (to vision of Allah). (Al-Hajj-46)
OBSTACLES IN VISION OF ALLAH (DEEDAR E ELAHI):
ISM E ALLAH ZAAT IS A NECESSITY FOR VISION OF ALLAH (DEEDAR E ELAHI):
The Vision of Allah (Deedar e Elahi) requires spiritual sight. This is granted by the perfect spiritual guide through Ism e Allah Zaat. The invocation and contemplation of Ism e Allah Zaat which has been provided by the Sarwari Qadri Shaikh has genuine spiritual effects upon the inward of the disciple. Hence, the Murshid who has spiritual sight blesses his disciples with Deedar e Elahi. Sultan ul Faqr VI Sultan Mohammad Asghar Ali says: This world requires 2 elements for vision: sight and light. If one is missing, vision is not possible. Likewise, the spiritual world or inward also requires 2 elements for Deedar e Elahi. This includes the spiritual sight and Divine light through Ism e Allah Zaat. Allah says:
وَ مَنۡ کَانَ فِیۡ ہٰذِہٖۤ اَعۡمٰی فَہُوَ فِی الۡاٰخِرَۃِ اَعۡمٰی
Meaning: And whoever remains blind (to Deedar e Elahi) in this world will be blind in the hereafter as well. (Bani Israil 72) (Sultan ul Faqr VI Sultan Mohammad Asghar Ali Life and Teachings)
SARWARI QADRI ORDER AND VISION OF ALLAH (DEEDAR E ELAHI):
SULTAN BAHOO QUOTES REGARDING VISION OF ALLAH (DEEDAR E ELAHI):
In his writings, Sultan Bahoo explains Vision of Allah (Deedar e Elahi). I am enriched with the gnosis of Deedar e Elahi. I see Him everywhere. I do not have understanding of any other knowledge apart from Allah’s. I am not acquainted with any other invocation or meditation. Every knowledge is for the sake of Deedar e Elahi that I already have. In the realm where I behold my Beloved, there is no sense or existence of time or space, nor of stations or destinations. There, the Divine Essence is unparalleled and incomparable. Allah’s gnosis and union is possible in realm of Divinity. Moreover, theophanies exude from the letters of Ism e Allah Zaat that allow the seeker to have Deedar e Elahi. (Ameer ul Kaunain) I am proficient of the knowledge of the Vision of Allah and study only its lessons. I have attained these ranks by the sacred company of Prophet Mohammad, his Companions and the People of the Cloak. (Ameer ul Kaunain)
MEANING OF DEEDAR E ELAHI FOR SEEKER OF ALLAH:
Sultan Bahoo explains that for the seeker of Allah, Deedar e Elahi holds great significance.
طالبِ دیدار با دیدار بر جز خدا دیگر
نہ بیند بانظر ہر طرف بینم بیانم حق زحق بامطالعہ دائمی دِل دم غرق
Meaning: The seeker of vision of Allah seeks nothing except Deedar e Elahi. So, he sees nothing except Allah. Therefore, while drowned in his real essence, he sees Allah everywhere. Undoubtedly, Deedar e Elahi is the greatest blessing of Allah. In the words of Sultan Bahoo:
بہ ز ہر لذّت بود لذّتِ لِقا لذّتِ دُنیا چہ باشد بے بقا
Meaning: Of all pleasures, the best is seeing the Eternal beauty i.e. Allah. Moreover, all the pleasures of this material world are unworthy as compared to His vision. In fact, they are mortal and perishable. (Nur-ul-Huda)
VISION OF ALLAH (DEEDAR E ELAHI) UNLEASHES TO THOSE WHO SACRIFICE:
ہر کہ جانِ خود را فروخت اسمِ اللہ را خرید ہر کہ اسمِ اللہ خرید بعین العیان دید
Explanation: Whoever sacrificed his life to Allah, procured Ism e Allah Zaat. Whoever procured Ism e Allah Zaat (in fact) beheld Allah with his open eyes. Allah is always with you. However, you are blind to His presence and depraved from His path.
بجز دیدارِ حق مردار باشد کہ عاشق طالبِ دیدار باشد
Explanation: Everything is carrion except Deedar e Elahi. That is why true lovers seek only this Holy vision.
DEEDAR-E-ELAHI THE TOUGHEST AND GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT:
اِنَّا عَرَضۡنَا الۡاَمَانَۃَ عَلَی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ وَ الۡجِبَالِ فَاَبَیۡنَ اَنۡ یَّحۡمِلۡنَہَا وَ اَشۡفَقۡنَ مِنۡہَا وَ حَمَلَہَا الۡاِنۡسَانُ ؕ اِنَّہٗ کَانَ ظَلُوۡمًا جَہُوۡلًا۔
Meaning: Indeed, we offered the Trust (of our resplendent Light) to the heavens and the earth and the mountains. But, they declined to bear this and became scared. However, man took it on. Verily, he is ever so wrongdoing (against his own soul), unwise and extremely ignorant (of the consequence of lapse in paying back this trust).” (Al Ahzab 72) At pre existence, the souls were immersed in His vision. However, when the souls were descended and enclosed in physical bodies, their trial began in the world. Unfortunately, veils of innerself blinded the inner vision of soul. Therefore, only Divine light in the inward can help achieve Deedar e Elahi.
EVERYONE IS ANSWERABLE TO ALLAH:
یَوۡمَ لَا یَنۡفَعُ مَالٌ وَّ لَا بَنُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۸۸﴾ اِلَّا مَنۡ اَتَی اللّٰہَ بِقَلۡبٍ سَلِیۡمٍ ﴿ؕ۸۹
Meaning: On the Doomsday, neither worldly assets nor progeny will benefit anyone but only the pure and protected soul (from evil) will help. (Saad 88, 89)
وَ فِی اَنۡفُسِکُمۡ ؕ اَفَلَا تُبۡصِرُوۡنَ ۔
Meaning: I am within you, cannot you see. (Adh-Dhariyat-21)
وَ نَحۡنُ اَقۡرَبُ اِلَیۡہِ مِنۡ حَبۡلِ الۡوَرِیۡدِ۔
Meaning: I am closer to man than his jugular vein. (Qaf:16) In Qudsi Hadith Allah says:
لَاْ یَسْعُنِیْ اَرْضِیْ وَ لَا سَمَآئِی وَلٰکِنْ یَسْعُنِی قَلْبُ عَبْدِالْمُؤ مِن
Meaning: Neither earth can possess me nor the skies, only the inward of a true believer can possess me.
قَلْبُ الْمُؤْمِنِ عَرْشَ اللّٰہِ تَعَالیٰ۔
Meaning: The inward of a true believer is the Divine empyrean (Arsh) of Allah (where He resides). Prophet Mohammad said: “One who does not possess trust (Amanat) has no faith”.
IQBAL AND SELF RECOGNITION:
مَنْ عَرَفَ نَفْسَہُ فَقَدْ عَرَفَ رَبَّہُ ۔
Meaning: One, who gained self recognition, undoubtedly, recognized Allah. Iqbal referred to self recognition as khudi. He instructed the Muslim umma to recognize their inner self khudi in order to recognize Allah. Iqbal named Self Recognition as Khudi Iqbal has named self-recognition as Khudi. He persuades the Muslim umma to recognize their true self Khudi in order to recognize Allah.
خودی میں گم ہے خدا ئی تلاش کر غافل یہی ہے اب تیرے لیے اصلاحِ کار کی راہ
Meaning: O neglectful! Allah has hidden Himself within you. Search and find Him, as this is the only way of your success. Soul is a part of Divinity and feels restless without the closeness and Vision of Allah. Moreover, self recognition, recognition of Allah as well as gnosis, closeness and Vision of Allah are interrelated. Furthermore, it all comes down to one’s urge, desire and longing for Allah.INNER PURIFICATION:
SULTAN-UL-ASHIQEEN QUOTES ON DEEDAR-E-ELAHI:
KEY QUESTIONS:
Allah has gifted his vision only the Mohammadan umma. It was bestowed to Prophet Mohammad at his request on the night of ascension i.e. Miraj. Read more in Sufi teachings blogs.
According to Islam, God is neither a material nor a spiritual being. The Quran says, “No vision can grasp him, but His grasp is over all vision: He is above all comprehension, yet is acquainted with all things.” (6:103) When a seeker of Allah, annihilates in Allah only then spiritually strong and worthy enough to behold Allah.