Shaykh Bayrak - The Path of Muhammad: A Book on Islamic Morals & Ethics by Imam Birgivi (The Spiritual Classics Series)

THE PATH OF MUHAMMAD

(AL-TARIQAH AL-MUHAMMADIYYAH)

A BOOK ON ISLAMIC MORALS AND ETHICS

&

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

(VASIYYETNAME)

by

IMAM BIRGIVI

A 16th Century Islamic Mystic

Interpreted by

Shaykh Tosun Bayrak al-Jerrahi al-Halveti

Foreword by

Shaykh Abdul Mabud

Introduction by

Vincent J. Cornel

The Path of Muhammad (s.a.w.s): A Book on Islamic Morals and Ethics

2005 World Wisdom, Inc.

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be used or reproduced
in any manner without written permission,
except in critical articles and reviews.

Most Recent Printing Indicated by last digit below:

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Birgivi Mehmet Efendi, ca. 1522-1573.

[Tariqah al-Muhammadiyah]

The path of Muhammad : a book on Islamic morals and ethics / by Imam Birgivi ; interpreted by Shaykh Tosun Bayrak al-Jerrahi al-Halveti ; foreword by Shaykh Abdul Mabud ; introduction by Vincent J. Cornell.

p. cm. -- (Spiritual classics series)

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-0-941532-68-6 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Religious life--Islam. 2. Muslims--Conduct of life. 3. Islamic ethics. I. Bayrak, Tosun. II. Title. III. Series.

BP188.B56 2005

297.5--dc22

2004028733

Printed on acid-free paper in Canada

For information address World Wisdom, Inc.

P.O. Box 2682, Bloomington, Indiana 47402-2682

www.worldwisdom.com

I dedicate this book to my spiritual children, the Jerrahi Dervishes of America and to my children and grandchildren from my loins. May they read, understand and follow my last will and testament and this book of guidance. The words are from us, the persuasion is from Allah.

*

I wish to acknowledge my gratitude to my dervishes Hajja Rabia Harris who reviewed and edited the manuscript, Hajja Zinnur Doganata who typed it with careful attention to important details, and to Adel Y. al-Akel who checked the Arabic transliterations. May Allah be pleased with them.

(English translations of Arabic calligraphy only)

i. s.a.w.s. salla Allahu alayhi wa sallim (May Gods peace and blessings be upon him): a blessing reserved for the Prophet Muhammad.

ii. a.s. alayhi as-salam (Peace be upon him): a blessing reserved for prophets and archangels.

iii. r.a. radiya Allahu anhu (or anha) (May God be pleased with him/her): a blessing reserved for the family and companions of the Prophet Muhammad.

iv. q.s. qaddusa Allahu sirrahu (or sirraha) (May God sanctify his/

her secret): a blessing reserved for saints.

O Prophetbehold, We [Allah] have sent thee as a witness [to the truth], and as a herald of glad tidings and a warner, and as one who summons [all men] to Allah by His leave, and as a lightgiving beacon (Quran 33:45-46).

Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.), the last and the greatest of Allahs messengers said, None of you has real faith unless I am dearer unto him than his father and his child and all mankind (Bukhari and Muslim). An ostentatious affection for the blessed Prophet can do little to create an authentic affinity with him. Real love between us and the Prophet is established when we follow the actions of his life: actions that made his life truly the Last Messengers life and a life that is worthy of imitation for all people until the end of the world. Following the Prophets sunnah is to submit to Allah, and to efface ones ego. In its comprehensive sense, sunnah is not just following the Prophet in one particular act, but adopting the way of the Prophet in the pursuit of meritorious acts and supererogatory practices and habits.

Al-Tariqah al-Muhammadiyyah of Imam Birgivi (r.a.), translated and interpreted by Shaykh Tosun Bayrak, has combined in itself the expositions of both the law (shariah) and the way (minhaj) as exemplified in the life of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.). Written in clear, lucid language and replete with verses from the Quran and hadith, this book presents Islam as practised by the Prophet. Through his interpretative translation, Shaykh Tosun Bayrak has indeed rendered a great service to those English-speaking readers who are interested in learning the essentials of Islamic faith and practices. It discusses the inner meaning of religious injunctions and how to purify our inner selves so as to gain closer proximity to Allah.

Allah created human beings pure and perfect, with no original sin. Sinners destroy this perfection with their own hands. Believers strive to preserve this perfection with their dedicated obedience. Ever since Adam (a.s.) received revelation from his Lord, human beings, over the generations, have been guided through a chain of Divine Messages. The Quran revealed to the Prophet is the culmination and end of all prophetic revelations. For all humanity, Allah has ordained a law and a way in conformity with His universal divine plan. Our Prophet was sent down as the epitome of this plan, a human model that we should all aspire to. He was the imam of all the prophets during the night journey (miraj) and was endowed with the unique honor of crossing the farthest limit of the realm of creation and of conversing with the Lord of the Worlds in the very presence of His Throne.

The Prophets life shows that there is a supplication (dua) for every actionfrom waking up in the morning and for every action that ensues throughout the day until bedtime. He turned to Allah in every situationwhether in calamities or in happiness. When suffering befell him, he reacted with calmness and a readiness to accept that whatever happens, comes from Allah. When his prayers were answered, he wept for the love of Allah and His almighty mercy. Thus was his life permeated with the remembrance of Allah.

The path of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) encompasses the whole of human life. Undeterred by any worldly power, unmoved by any offer of worldly gain, he proclaimed the glory of Allah. When his uncle, Abu Talib asked him to desist from his mission, he said, Uncle, should they give me the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left hand in return for abandoning my call, I would not do so until Allah has brought this message to triumph or until I have perished. All who come after Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) should endeavor to pursue this stoic frame of mind. He was indubitably a trustworthy recipient of Allahs message. In him, there was no question of changing or hiding the revealed word, even when it contained his divine admonition. Nor did he preach that which went against the word of Allah in order to satisfy his own desires. He only conveyed the word that Allah revealed to him. So, his words were law.