Silsila-e-Chistiya - Noore Madinah Network

(552 AH to 561 AH). Adorned with the external knowledge of Islam (ilme zaahir) hefelt an urge to acquire recognition of his Creator (ilme baatin) and thus he sought aSpiritual Guide.The Spiritual Guide is the inheritor of The Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu ta'alaalayhi wa Sallam) in his inner Spiritual State, in their outward behaviour and intheir roles as guides and protectors within their communities. Their Spiritual Hearts(qalb) [6] are capable of receiving light and love from Allah and radiating it to thosethat are in their attendance. A person may acquire any amount of external knowledge(ilm) but he cannot reach reality (haqiqah)[7] until he connects himself to a Silsila[8]via a physical present Guide of the Silsila, who has the powerful transference oroverflow from the Great Heart (qalb) of the Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu ta'alaalayhi wa Sallam) down the unbroken chain of recipients.Mawlana Jala al-ddin Rume (Rahmatullahi alaihi) says:Ilme Baatin Hamchu masqa, Ilme zaahir hamchu sheerKe Buwad sheer masqa, ke buwad be Pir, PirInternal Knowledge (ilme baatin) is like butter and External Knowledge (ilme zaahir) is like milkLike butter cannot be acquired without milk, so to recognition of Allah (ilme baatin) cannot beobtained without a Spiritual Guide.Once while Mawlana Jala al-ddin Rume (Rahmatullahi alaihi) was teaching his pupils in theopen courtyard next to a fountain, a shabbily externally dressed but perfectly internallyadorned Sufi, Shams Tabrez (Rahmatullahi alaihi) came to their assembly and watched them.He saw Mawlana Rumi referring to numerous handwritten books in the course of histeaching. Shams asked Mawlana Jala al-ddin Rumi (Rahmatullahi alaihi) as to what was inthe books. Mawlana Jala al-ddin Rumi (Rahmatullahi alaihi) replied, “O! Sufi. This containsknowledge that is beyond your understanding so you continue to read your rosary (tasbih).”Unnoticed by Rumi, Hadrat Shams Tabrez (Rahmatullahi alaihi) threw all the books into thepond of water. When Mawlana Rumi’s students saw what occurred they began beating HadratShams Tabrez (Rahmatullahi alaihi). This and the screams of Shams Tabrez (Rahmatullahialaihi) alerted Mawlana Rumi as to what occurred. He complained that all his valuableknowledge had been destroyed. Shams Tabrez (Rahmatullahi alaihi) said; “Tell your pupils toleave me alone and I will give back your books.” A visibly dejected Rumi conceded to therequest thinking that this was impossible.He was surprised to see Shams Tabrez (Rahmatullahi alaihi), recite bismillah, lift thedrenched books from the pond, blew dust of them and returned them to him intact. He askedShams Tabrez (Rahmatullahi alaihi) as to how he did this. Shams Tabrez (Rahmatullahialaihi) replied, “This knowledge is beyond your understanding so you continue to teach yourpupils.” Mawlana Jalalludin Rumi (Rahmatullahi alaihi) fell at his feet and was swept into the