In Depth Islam: Have you ever thought why you feel high and low in Imaan?
Read the book ' The Expansion (Al Bast) and Constriction (Al Qabz) of Imaan' Here
Tareeqah Muhammadiyah [The way of the Prophet (Salla'hu'alhi'wa'salam)].
Introduction to the course of self - purification {The purification of the Heart}
Stage 3) - Purification of the Soul
In this stage the seeker is taught both how to rid them self of the bad and immoral traits as well as how to beatify their inner self with the good and praiseworthy traits. As either of these two is performed, their reverse automatically takes place. For example, when a person tries to attain humbleness, its enemies i.e. arrogance and pride automatically vanish from within the person. Similarly, when one tries to rid them self of jealousy, its rival, ‘to love for another what you love for yourself ‘ is born within.
Stage 4) – Enlightenment
This stage is only for those who desire more closeness to Allah The Exalted, however it is not a compulsory command of Shariat but is highly desirable. From the view of Shariah only the first three stages are compulsory, hence they are a sufficient means for a person to enter paradise with the mercy of Allah The Most Merciful. In this stage the seeker travels the path of love until he/she annihilates them self in the love of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him). It is a requirement for perfection of imaan (faith) to love Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) more than everything in existence including oneself. Thereafter, one tries to annihilate them self in the love of Allah the Most High. It is at this point that one has submitted to the will of Allah, they no longer have a will but it has become subservient to the will of Allah, well pleased with His every decision. Moreover, there is yet a further stage in which one’s inner self is in complete extinction and absorption in the love of Allah and Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon Him) whilst ones outer self is in complete absorption in following the sunnat (prophetic practices) of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him). These are the Saints, the Auliya (Friends) of Allah and those whom Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) love.
The Sheikh may also prescribe different Azkaar (deeds for remembrance) to the seeker at each stage as he/she progresses to aid his/her purification until the soul is decorated with all that pleases Allah (azzawajal) and is free from all that Allah (Exalted be He) dislikes.
View the TM discourses Trailer
Tareeqah Muhammadiyah is a spiritual order, which was initiated by a great Saint, the Ghous of his time, Hazrat Sayidina Abdul Aziz Dabbagh (may Allah shower his infinite mercy upon him) who lived approximately 270 years ago in the city of Fez, Morocco. For more or less than twelve years Sayidina Abdul Aziz Dabbagh (may Allah shower his infinite mercy upon him) was in search for that Friend of Allah who could guide Him to the nearness and love of Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessing be upon him) and Allah The Exalted and Glorified. He travelled long distances visiting many different sheikhs (spiritual masters in the field of self-purification) of His time, sincerely acting upon all that they instructed but to no avail. Then one day He visited to the local cemetery and sat next to the grave of a saint. A person sitting in the shade of a tree called Sayidina Abdul Aziz Dabbagh (may Allah shower his infinite mercy upon him) to himself and began to talk about things that Syidina Abdul Azeez Dabbagh (may Allah shower his infinite mercy upon him) yearned for. He continued talking for a long period of time. Eventually he gave Sayidina Abdul Aziz Dabbagh (may Allah shower his infinite mercy upon him) a supplication to recite. This blessed saint who gave the supplication was none other than Hazrat Khidhr (may Allah be pleased with him) and through the blessings of this supplication Tareeqah Muhammadiyah was initiated.
All the blessings and illumination of this tareeq comes directly from Sayidina Abdul Aziz Dabbagh (may Allah shower his infinite mercy upon him) and from Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) through the current Master of the Tareeq Hazrat Ahmad Dabbagh (May Allah continue to shower His blessings upon Him).
What is the Objective of Tareeqah Muhammadiyah?
Firstly, every type of worship in Islam consists of two forms, the outer form (the body) and the inner form (the spirit). The latter is the true essence of the worship and where the true benefit lies. Every act that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) performed consisted of these two forms. The seeker is trained firstly to adopt the outer form of that worship e.g. salaat (prayer). Only when the seeker has remained steadfast he/she is taught how to perform the salaat (prayer) inwardly i.e. with the spirit and the prayer of the spirit is never rejected by Allah (azzawajal). There are different degrees or levels of the inward worship. The higher the level one attains, the more the person resembles the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and through this he gains His love and nearness. Therefore, the Sheikh of the tareeq gradually decorates the seeker with the inward and outward Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). The goal or objective of the tareeq (course) is none other than The Pleasure of Allah by helping the seeker to follow the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) for the full twenty-four hours of the day both inwardly and outwardly, until his/her entire life is spent and lived in the obedience and love of Allah and His Messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). The objective of the tareeq (course) is also prayed for in the supplication given to Hazrat Sayidina Abdul Aziz Dabbagh (may Allah shower his infinite mercy upon him) by Hazrat Khidhr (upon him be peace). The summary of the meaning of the supplication is that Allah The Exalted by His Grace and Mercy brings us close to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) in this world before our death. The word ‘close’ means in every aspect of the way of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) such as His eating, His drinking, His sleeping, His interaction with people, His business transactions, His entire life for ‘He is the best of example for the whole of mankind’. And Allah says to Him in the Holy Qur’an, ‘Verily You [O Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him)] are On an Exalted standard of character’.
So the purpose of the Tareeq is to become a perfect embodiment of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)………nothing beyond.
Current Master of the Tareeq
Ahmad Dabbagh (May Allah continue to shower His blessings upon him) is the current Master of the tareeq. He gradually guides one through the tareeq (course) as outlined before. Many seek His advice for both their spiritual and physical well being in this life and in the hereafter.