Question:
Assalam u alayekum sheikh Hisham!
What is the authenticity of the paintings of Imam Ali (K.U.W.H) and Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (R.U.A.H).I dont think that they are really theirs but the murids and lovers have drawn themselvs.please mention something about the authenticity of these paintings.?
what if someone believes that its right to seek blessings from that picture (‘Please note that ‘picture’ not Imam Ali And Sheikh Abdul Qadir themselves’ ).I dont think it right because i have read in Kashf ul mehjub that one of shuyukh of old times had issued order to behead one of his murids as he had raised the takbeer of allah by hearing to a cock’s crow(although he was in state of haal) and hence provided a loose point for criticism to people of hashwiya unintentionally.
Kindly give your opinion on this.i want only your or Maulana Sheikh Nazim’s opinion on this.
Answer:
`Alaykum as-Salam,
This post is answered by request of Mawlana Shaykh Hisham.
Following is the most authentic painting of Sayyidina `Ali, may Allah ennoble his face, in sha Allah:
Sayyiduna `Ali (Allah be well-pleased with him) was described as having white hair which he parted in the middle, a thick white beard and large, heavy eyes. He was heavyset and his height was medium to short. He was staunch in his renunciation of the world even in his own dress. When one of the Khawarij criticized him for what he was wearing, he said: “What do you want with my clothing? This is farther from arrogance and more suitable for me as I am imitated by the Muslims.” Narrated from Zayd ibn Wahb by Ahmad in al-Zuhd (p. 165), al-Hakim (3:143), Ibn al-Jawzi’s Sifat al-Safwa (1:332), and Abu Nu`aym’s Hilya.
Jurmuz said: “I saw `Ali coming out of his palace wearing a waist-cloth that reached to the middle of his shank and an outer garment tucked up at the sleeves, walking in the marketplace while hitting a small drum (dirra) and enjoining upon people godwariness and honesty in transactions.” Narrated by Ibn Sa`d (3:28), Ibn `Abd al-Barr in al-Isti`ab (3:48-49), al-Nuwayri in Nihayat al-Arab (20:220-221), and Ibn `Asakir in Tarikh Dimashq (42:484).
As for seeking blessing from a picture, at least the pictures of Awliya convey more blessings than the dunya pictures we dangle before our hearts, on our walls and in our hearts. This holds true regardless of authenticity because the whole intention is closeness to Allah Most High. When someone brought a supposed portrait of Shah Naqshband to
Mawlana Shaykh Nazim (Allah sanctify their secrets) he did not ask about its authenticity but accepted it and put it on his bookshelf.
However, such means are only meant to facilitate a better connection to the wali and his teaching and outpouring, not replace them. There is a story related from our liegelord Abu Yazid al-Bistami to one of the murids who wanted a piece of his cloth: “Even if you cut out Bayazid’s skin to make a jubbah out of it and wear it it will not help unless you accept my advice and follow it.”
Hajj Gibril Haddad
