ILM e Laduni THE HIDDEN OR SECRET KNOWLEDGE OF SUFISM
The most mysterious part of Sufism is the delicate subject of Ilm-e-Ladunni or secret knowledge which is beyond all human conception and intellect. Knowledge is of two type:
a) One which we receive from Madressa schools and Universities. Whatever is
learnt in these institutions is dubbed as knowledge.
b) One which is imparted directly from Allah without the medium of schools, madressas
etc. This is known as the secret or hidden knowledge.
About this science the Holy Prophet (sallal lahu alaihi wasallam) said "This is such a knowledge which is like a hidden thing. None can grasp it except those who know Allah. Don’t despise such learned men whom Allah has given a portion of it, as Allah does not despise a man to whom he gives a gift". This knowledge is not recorded in books and even if a person reads a million books he will not attain it. Hazrat Abu Huraira (radi Allahu anhu), one of the ASHAB-US-SUFFA said "I learnt two sciences from Rasullallah (sallal lahu alaihi wasallam), I have conveyed to you the first one. You cannot comprehend the second one and you would kill me if I disclose it to you". The first science is the outer knowledge and the second one being the inner knowledge known only to the Awliya.
Attainment of this knowledge depends totally upon the grace of Allah who bestows it upon whom he wishes eg. He gives one knowledge from himself as he did for Hazrat Khizr (alaihi salatu was salaam). Allah says in the Holy Quran "Then they found a bondsman from our bondsman whom we gave mercy from ourselves and bestowed upon him our inspired knowledge". (Sura Kahaf verse 65). Then man with the consciousness of what he has received reaches the level of divine wisdom where he knows his creator and worships him whom he knows. This knowledge has been bestowed upon the chosen Aulia and their only object of life is the duty to guide humanity on the right path of truth and love whenever it goes astray.
A perfect Sufi is in constant communion with Allah through Ilm-e-Laduni and has unlimited powers to prevail upon the whole creation of his Creators universe. This Ilm-e-Laduni has the following four mediums of communication with Allah :
1. WAHI
This was a communication only between Allah and his chosen Prophets.
2. ILHAAM
A Type of Prophetic dream inspired by Allah, inspired by Allah to divine personalities for the benefit of mankind.
3. DARJ-E-FIRASAT
This a stage of the highly developed divine intelligence acquired by Saints and the pious.
4. KASHF
This is the hidden or secret knowledge both of earthly or heavenly things. This knowledge also lies dormant and hidden in certain verses of the Holy Quran. This knowledge is interpreted by those Sufis only who reach the pinnacle of spirituality.
Hazrat Data Ganj Baksh (radi Allahu anhu) says that "Mans life without any spiritual or divine knowledge is faithlessness".
The disclosure of this Ilm is strictly prohibited by the Mashaaikh. Hazrat Khwaja Qutbudeen Bakhtiyaar Kaki (radi Allahu anhu) says "A Sufi must have strong courage, will power and tolerance to resist the temptation of divulging divine secrets as it would amount to the disclosure of the secrets of his ‘friend’ (Allah)". Hazrat Junaid Baghdadi (radi Allahu anhu) said "A thousand pities on that lover who is madly in love with his beloved (Allah), but when he sees Allah’s myriad Divine Secrets and beauties he discloses them to others".
When Allah wishes to bestow upon anyone the crown of Wilayat and if that particular person has insufficient or no knowledge then Allah bestows upon him this inspired knowledge which encompasses the external and internal knowledge. There is a famous saying of Imam Shafi’ee (radi Allahu anhu) that "Allah does not make an ignorant a Wali". We find great personalities such as Hazrat Ahmad Ibn Hambal (radi Allahu anhu) {Hambali Madhab named after him}, who was the most superior scholar of his age and was at a high degree of knowledge and Ijthihad, became the disciple ofHazrat Bishr Hafi (radi Allahu anhu) to obtain this knowledge.
When he was asked as to why he had kept the company of Hazrat Bishr Hafi (radi Allahu anhu), he answered "He knows Allah better than I do".
Another example is Imam-e-Azam Hazrat Imam Abu Hanifa (radi Allahu anhu) {The Hanafi madhad is named after him}. He gave up the work of Ijthihad in his latter years and became the disciple of Hazrat Imam Jaffar Sadiq (radi Allahu anhu). When he was asked as to why he had done so, he replied "Nu’man (his real name) would have perished if it were not for those two years of his company".
Hazrat Imam Shafi’ee (radi Allahu anhu) (The founder of the Shafi’ee Madhab) used to sit near Hazrat Sha’iban Ray (radi Allahu anhu) and consult him on many matters. The people asked the great Imam "You are so learned, why do you seek advice from a Bedouin". He replied "This man has learnt what we have not learnt".
As we can see these very great Imams of the Ummah who had high grades in knowledge and worship, humbled themselves in the presence of the grand masters of Tassawuf to attain the secret Ilm. These Imams clung to and joined the service of the Mashaaikh and became great Sufis themselves.
This shows that salvation and spiritual success depends totally on one becoming a disciple or mureed of a perfect spiritual master or Pir-o-Murshid.
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