Question:
ssalamu’alaikum, dear eshaykh.com
I’m [private] from Malaysia. I would like to know the doa/munajat below whether origin from Rasulullah s.a.w. or is started by Sufi from Naqshbandi order or from Sufi of other tareqat. What is the name of the Sufi sheikh? Thank you, wassalam
“ILAHI ANTA MAQSUDI WA RIDHAKA MATLUBI”
Answer:
wa `alaykum salam,
This du`a/munajat is narrated by Hadrat Mawlana Shaykh `Abd al-Khaliq al-Ghujduwani (Allah sanctify his secret) through spiritual unveiling (kashf) from the Prophet (upon him blessings and peace), though not with a chain of transmission. This phrase is the main worship of the Sixth Principle of the Naqshbandi Tariqa which is called Baz Gasht or “Returning”.
Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Kabbani (Allah sanctify his secret) said in his book The Golden Chain:
“Baz Gasht is a state in which the seeker, who makes Dhikr by negation and affirmation, comes to understand the Holy Prophet’s (Allah bless and greet him) phrase, ilahi anta maqsudi wa ridaka matlubi (“O my God, You are my Goal and Your Good Pleasure is my Aim”). The recitation of this phrase will increase in the seeker the awareness of the Oneness of God, until he reaches the state in which the existence of all creation vanishes from his eyes. All that he sees, wherever he looks, is the Absolute One. The Naqshbandi murids recite this sort of dhikr in order to extract from their hearts the secret of Oneness, and to open themselves to the Reality of the Unique Divine Presence. The beginner has no right to leave this dhikr if he doesn’t find its power appearing in his heart. He must keep on reciting it in imitation of his Shaykh, because the Prophet (upon him blessings and peace) has said “Whoever imitates a group of people will belong to them.” And whoever imitates his teacher will some day find this secret opened to his heart.
“The meaning of the phrase Baz Gasht is the return to Allah Exalted and Almighty by showing complete surrender and submission to His Will, and complete humbleness in giving Him all due praise. That is the reason the Holy Prophet mentioned in his invocation, ma dhakarnaka haqqa dhikrika ya Madhkur (“We did not Remember You as You Deserve to be Remembered, O Remembered One”). The seeker cannot come to the presence of Allah in his dhikr, and cannot manifest the Secrets and Attributes of Allah in his dhikr. If he does not make dhikr with Allah’s Support and with Allah’s Remembrance of him. As Bayazid [al-Bistami] said: “When I reached Him I saw that His remembering of me preceded my remembrance of Him.” The seeker cannot make dhikr by himself. He must recognise that Allah is the One making Dhikr through him.”
May Allah Most High grant us something of that lofty Station and may He reward and thank our masters on behalf of the Ummah.
Hajj Gibril Haddad
