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lnner Tradition$ Int€mational
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LTBRARY
oF CoNGREss DATA
CATALocTNG-rN-PuBLrcllTroN
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God has not cteated any illness without
creating ako its curc, except old age,
Foreword
Bismillah, ir-Rahmdn ir-Aahim
lx
x I ThcBa,kol SufiHnling
the author has rendered a great service to the causeof Islam in the sense
that, as Islam is the most natural faith, adherenceto its tenets and principles
i. lir" o"fy course leading toward human perfection and establishingthe
rule of Aliah the Almighiy on this earth' For Sufism in its purest form is
nothing
- else but Islam and Islam only.
f *iL the author still more courage and determination to serve the
causeof Islam and betterment of the ailing humanity'
*-)-;)$\';r,
r f . lr- ,-"
KhzttdiacAb ilul-Wdhiil
li'
Abtl YusalChishti
olr
Nasiruililin Chishti
'lo
Matoilild Chishtr
r'o
Shaif Zinilani
;
Klwaia cVthrfldn Hatini
olo
Muhammail Saciil
oot
o'o
Ilafi4 cAbllul-Ralfm
ooo
Hazrut Shdh Hassdn
r'r
Hafiz Husayn Shah
lo'
Muhammail Husayn
&
Muhammail Murtaza Ahmail
lol
'ol
xiv I ThcBlr,kol Srfi Hulirg
Arabic vowels are divided into long and short. The short vowels a, i, u are
pronouncedas in cat,fit, andduty.They are not indicatedin transliteration by
any specialmarks. The long vowels are about twice as long ia durationas the
short vowels, and are marked as follows:
-aah as in father
i eeas in seen
'u ooas in vou.
ol SuliHealing
xvi ! TheBook
Arabic has two complex vowels: ay, often pronouncedlike eyebut some-
times as in bay, and aa;,pronounced between cowand bost.
All prayers and sacredphrases have been transliterated accordingto a
specialiormat that may help the readerwith pronunciation.The Namesof
iod are capitalizedso as to be easily recognized.z{llnfrbegins with a letter
*hose sound often vanisheswith elisions.In such casesthe Name is indi-
cated by the capitalizationof its first soundedletter: Ufrh.
Names of ancient shaykhshave been written accordingto Arabic trans-
literation. Contemporary shaykhs' spellings have not been standardized'
Certainphrasesthat find their derivationor maiorusageinPersian,Turkish,
or Urdu have not been set in Arabic transliteration style. The sameis true
of terms that have becomecommonin English.
,x;;
Preface
Bismi LIdh ir-Rabmdn, ir-Ral.im
I wish first to give thanks to Allah, Exalted is He, for the very excellenceof
His creation,and for His mercieswhich exist and are bestowedin abundance
upon His humanity. His benefits are epitomized in the creation, life, and
teachingsof all of His prophets (may His blessingsbe upon them all), and
perfected in the form of His last Prophet, the master of humanity, chief of
both the worlds, Hazrat Muhammad (peaceand blessingsof Allah be upon
him).
To the extent that Allah shouldpermit and inform me, it is my intention
to set forth someof the generaland specificprinciplesof human healthand
well-being as they have evolvedwithin the practicesof the mysticsof Islam,
generallycalledSufis in the West. While it is understoodthat for many
readers this book may constitute their first contact with some of these
ideas,it is sincerelyhoped that even personsof long-standingpracticeof the
'
way of life called Islam, may find herein confirmation of their faith and
belief.M; sh|' Allah!(As it pleasesAllah the AlmiShty!)
There are two main purposes to this book: to reveal the health and
healing practicesunique to the Sufis, anfto give some general idea of the
stagesand progressionsinvolved in adopting the Sufi life'
Many possibleapproachescould have been taken with the subiectof Sufi
healing, which is being presented in English for the first time. It must be
borne in mind that Sufism is a specializedtopic within the study of Islam,
and the healing practicesof Sufism is an even more refined subiect. Ob-
viously the possiblematters which could be discussedwould run into tens of
thousands of volumes, not one!
Moreover, there is a problem in presenting authentic Sufi practicesto a
of iufi Hcoliag
2 I TheBook
'The pronoun for God in Arabic has neither male nor female gender. I use the con-
ventional literate form, Hirn, only becausethere is no proper genderlesspronoun in English,
most certainly intending no offense to femininity.
PrelaeI 3
'lt is beyond the scopeof the present book to deal fully with this issue.The interested
reader is referred to Annemarie Schimmel,MyslicalDimensions oI Jslara(University of North
Carolina Press),and Dr. Mir Valiuddin, Contenplalioe
Disciplinesin Sufism(London, East-West).
of5$ Huliag
e I ThcBor,k
tunities to clarify and enhance the text. Both of these gracious people
earned my respectand gratitude.
The Arabic and Persian calligraphy was contributed by Enayatullah
Shahrani, Aishah Holland, Shaykh Shemsuddin Friedlander, and myself.
The illustrations were the inspired work of Angela Werneke. A special
thanksis due to LeslieColket,who managedto masterfullycoordinateall of
the disparateelementsof production.
Abu Anees Muhammad Barkat Ali read the manuscriptfor errors of
intent and reason,and Zafar HussainKhan assistedme by resolvingtech-
nical matters regardingSufisticterminology.
My wife, Iman, listenedwith love and concernto my ideasand efforts
while I was writinS this book, and I must thank the All-Merciful for her
endlesssupport and forbearance.
Finally, I most sincerelythank my publisher, Ehud C. Sperling,president
of Inner Traditions International, Ltd,, of Rochester,Vermont, for his years
of kind forbearanceand interest to allow me the time and effort to complete
this volume.
May Allah the Merciful reward them all with His choicest blessings!
Amin!Amin!Amin!
Wa ikhiru dacwini an al-\amduli-Ll5hirabbil-c6limin!
Wa9-qalituwas-salimucali rasilihil-karim!
Rabbanitaqabbalminni innakaantas-Samic ul-cAlim!
Subl.rinaRabbukarabbul-cizzaticammi yaqifin.
Wa salimun calal-mursalin.
Wal-lramdu li-Llihi rabb il-celamin!
Ami"l
H.M.C.
Dar-ul Iman
Oxford,New York 13830
Prologue
The philosophyof Sufism is best summed up in the words of the final
kfufbaft (sermon) of Hazrat Khwrja Mucinud&n Chishu (r.a.), which he
delivered to his followers iust one month before his demise.The great saint
said:
unyielding love for the life and example of our belovedleader,the Prophet
of Islam and saviorof humanity (s.a.w.s.).
If you find the spiritual sparks herein to become uplifted, all praise,
thanks, and appreciationbelongsto Allah sublhnuwa tacafa, the All-Merciful,
the All-Compassionate.
If there be mistakesor errors, the responsibilityis entirely my own, and I
ask pardon and forgiveness of my Lord.
1,
What Is Health?
Fot you God nbjectcd all that is in
tbe heavens
And on the eorth, aII Jrcm Him,
Behold! In that are signsJor pople who
rcflect.
Qtr'an 45:18
On the other hand, sometimes, despite every effort to end a life, the
permission overrides human efforts A recent article in a medical iournal
iold of a couple who had informed their doctor that they did not want to
have children under any circumstances'The doctor suggestedthat the
husband undergo a permanent vasectomy,and so it was performed A few
months later the couplewas back, furious with the doctor, becausethe wife
had becomepregnant. The doctor then offered to perform a free abortion to
terminate the pregnancy. This procedure was done. Another month later,
the couple sued the doctor for malpracticewhen the woman discoveredthat
she was still pregnant!
Despitethe sterilizationand the abortion, the idhnof God was that this
particuiar child would be born. And so it was. Clearly, there is an Authority
against Whom we have no real ability to interfere.
Consider the nonmanifest realms-the world of dreams,of intuition, of
abstract phenomena-and the many casesof people reporting encounters
with UFOs,demons,poltergeists,and the like.No one in the West hasso far
come forward with a fully developedconceptualframework with which to
deal with these"other-worldly" experiences.The Sufis use the term ghnybto
refer to events that transpire in the unseenrealms.This unseenrealm
includesthe actionsof the soul.
The center,or seat,of the soul'sexistenceis the heart' With what do we
associatethe heart and soul? Love, compassion,sympathy, mercy, and all of
our religioussentiments'When someonedies,the grief of the survivorsis
felt in the heart. It is actuallya physicalpain. The heart aches.There is so
much terminology in our languageabout these soul-relatedaspectsof the
heatt. And no one can deny that thesefeelingsof love and compassiondo
exist. No one is without them.
In Arabic, the heart is calledqalb.The heart accordingto the Sufis is not
just a physiologicalpump for dispersingblood about the body. It servestwo
uitil, interrelated functions. One, the heart is the storehouseof divine
-or"
attributes; and two, it is the seat of manufacture of the rafas-that life-
activating force which enters with eachbreath, the breath that activatesall
physiologicalfunctions.
Thus, when the idhn, or permission of God, is drawn in, it goes im-
mediately to the heart. In some manner, this idhnactivatesall of the divine
attributesin variouscombinations,and thesethen are carriedout into the
body.
ihe Qur'an informs that thesedivine attributes are approximatelyninety-
nine in number and are what Allah uses as the means of allowing the
human to function and work on the created plane of being.
For example.one of these attributes ls calledal-Ba{r, which means"the
Perceiver." In other words, Allah sees everything at all times; there is
nothing that escapes the view of God,not eventhe most intimatethoughts.
This bnqirexistsas a potentialitywithin us at all times,storedin the heart.
Whelh Hcslth?lrs
@thn 2i:17
The hierarchy of creation extends from the most minute forms of terrestrial
life up to Allah. The constructionof this hierarchywas designedby Allah
and is kept in form and balanceby His will. In general terms, the whole of
creationis dividedinto two parts: the known world of our human creation
(insin) and the unseen Qhayb)and generally unknown world of the heavens.
The world below, as it were, is the sublunary world, consisting of four
elementalspheres:the terrestrial,vegetative,animal,and human kingdoms.
These four componentsare arranged in ascendingorder of creation, so that
the human being occupiesthe highest position in the order of the physical
creation.This dimensionis governedby the rules of nature,which is to say
the dominion of growth and decay,of life and death.
Above this created world of human existence lies the realm of the
heavens,which are elevenin number. Eechof theseheavensis occupiedby
angelic forms and ultimately is populated with souls that depart from
human bodiesand earthly existence.
The various realms of earth and the heavenscan be representedin their
entirety in the accompanying chart.
Each of the elemental spheres-the terrestrial, vegetable,animal, and
human kingdoms-is composedof two parts: an elementalsphereand an
interspace,with which it connects to the sphere above its own. Thus, the
terrestrial sphere connects with the second elemental sphere via the in-
l7
20 | ThcBak ol SufiHuling
The second zodiacal planet is Mercury, whose color is gray. God said
that He made Mercury with the addition of His own fikr, His own deep
meditative thought.
Venus is the third zodiacalplanet, and its color is yellow. Venus governs
the world of similitudes, of analogiesand metaphors, of poetry. Allah has
informed us that Venus was created with the addition of His khayal,or
imagination.
The sun, the fourth zodiacal planet, is presided over by Israfil, the
Angel of Resurrection.The Prophet (s.a.w.s.)is reported to have related
that Israfil told him that the Angel of Death scans the faces of seventy
thousand peopleeachday and, from these,choosesthose who will be called
from earthly existence.This planet God made from the light of His own
heart, the fount of God, the absolute of the heart: love.
The fifth planet in the zodiac is Mars. Its color is blood-red.Azrael, the
Angel of Death, presidesover this planet, which is createdfrom God'swafum,
or divine decision.
Jupiter is the sixth planetof the zodiac,presidedover by the archangel
Michaeland formed of the Light of Himmah-the light of Allah'sreflection.
The final zodiacalplanet is Saturn. Its color is black.Saturn, being the
highest in the hierarchy, was the first zodiacalconstellationto be created.
These first seven heavens (presentedin reverse order, from lowest to
highest) are descdptively namedssmi'.The word sami'(heaven)is linked by
sound to samdc, an Arabic word meaning "ecstaticcontemplation."Each
heavenexists with a relation to both something aboveand something below
itself.
Theseheavensare inhabitedby variousbeingsof the creation.There are
disembodiedsouls (having died already to earth life and awaiting the yawm
al-qiydmmah, or Day of Judgment)in one or other of the heavens.All the
angelsexist in all of thesevariousheavens,dependingupon their function
and rank.
In additionto human soulsand angels,Allah alsocreatediinns.Whereas
He createdhumansfrom the four elementsof earth,water, air, and fire, He
made the jinns from "smokelessfire." The iinns, which are describedfully in
the Holy Qur2n, can from time to time assume human form. Generally,
they are harmlessor favorably inclined to humans, but they can be malevo-
lent. They have great effect upon h'uman affairs and frequently cause
imbalancesthat we would identify as disease.A prime example is colic in
infants, who are especiallyprone to the influence of iinns. Certain herbal
substances and recitationsare usedto dispeljinns.
When the soul is extracted from human life, it begins to ascendthrough
these heavenly realms. So a person would always have consideration of a
prior state, and also something to look forward to. This is the reality of the
heavenlyexistence.Thosewho believein reincarnationhavearrivedat their
conceptsby only partially understanding the entire creation of the heavens.
When we arrive at the highest heaven of the zodiac,we are at the
22 I TheBookof SuliHwling
His own light. That is why the prophetswere able to have such amazing
effect upon the world: Allah gavethem the powersof illuminationover the
world.
Allah further saidthat "lf I had not createdthe soulof prophecy,I would
not have createdthe world." After Allah createdthis soul of prophecy,it
was so brilliant and luminous that it began to perspire.And from this
perspirationof the soul of prophecy,Allah madethe soulof the rose.This is
why the rose has such a magnificentessenceand is calledthe mother of
scents.Anyone who looksat a rosesmilesand is uplifted,and peopleall over
the world honor and caressthe rose instinctively.Indeed,the rose is the
symbol of love itself.
We can see from this chart or pathway of the evolution through the
hierarchy of creation that humans occupy a relativelylow point in it all;
there are many levelsabovethat we cannot reachwith the physicalbody.
After the earthly,terrestriallife, there are many additionalstages,which of
necessitymust be traversedusing the vehicleof the soul.There is a stage
beyond the Heaven of Heavens, past the Empyrean, called oifl, or the
wedding to God Almighty. This alone is the goal of the true Sufi and the
real meaning of U ildha illa Unh-that one is content with nothinS except
the ultimate and final union with the Beloved,the Owner, Creator, and
Sustainer of all the Worlds. Yi f;ayyn!Yn qayynm!
Every scripture and every prophet from the first have said the same
thing: that we are createdby a wise and loving Creator,and that the special
purposeof our existenceis to endeavorto work our way backto Him. Our
objectivein life is to regainunion with God, and everythingin our life is an
immensepageantdesignedto assistus in that lourney.That is why one who
is active on the Sufi path is referred lo as sdlik,the traveler.
Everythingwe considerto be kind, good,and desirablein this life is but
the minutest manifestationof the final, absolute,and incontrovertibleac-
tuality of those things which are owned by Allah and not by anyoneelse.
This final and ultimate knowledgeabout all things is calledhaqiqat(from
haqq,trtth).
When we speakof love and say we want to be loved or to love someone,
what we mean is that we yearn for that absolutelove that will overwhelm
us and burn us to ashesso that we die of love.One human cannotprovide
such maiesticpower of love for anothei. It is only the Divine Belovedwho
can annihilateus. That is what the Sufi seeks,or dies trying to achieve.
The iourney from a confused,earthly person to one united forever with
the Divine Reality is a long, complex, and difficult iourney. Therefore, the
Sufis have elaboratedthe various stageson this path and have developed
various signpostsand measuresthat can be used to identify where one is on
the path. This chart of progressionon the journey to the Belovedis called
the stationsof the soul.
The Stations
of the Soul
For the Sufis,the rn! is the essence of life. It is not the physicalbody or
the brain and its thoughts and memories;nor is it the life processes. The rirlhas
a distinct existenceof its own, which is derived from God and belongs
entirely to God.
When we ask someonewhat a pomegranatetasteslike, he may well say
somethinglike, "lt tasteswhat it tasteslike." That does not seema very
satisfactoryanswer,but becausethe pomegranateis unique,its tastecannot
be related to anything else, hence this curious reply. And so it is with
the rnft.
The rufi,or essence, canbe shown to existonly in relationto rhythm and
motif. Think of danceas an example.There is sucha thing as dance,but it
doesnot existconcretelyexceptin relationto the form of rhythm and motif.
One can imaginea dancewith the mind, but for the danceto be actual,the
motion and rhythm of dancersare neededto act it out. But the dance
remains the essence. This is what is meant by essence, of which the m{r is
perhapsthe supremeexample.
The human soul also requiresthis rhythm and motif to be manifeston
the physicalplane.Rememberthat the rnf, or soul'sessence, is not the same
thing as the spirit (nafas).The latter is the divine force that activates the
physicalphenomenain the body, including mental processes. The rn! is
more intimately felt and superior to the spirit.
Imagineall of the things that havethe essence of fire in them-the sun,
green wood, ashes,and so forth. All have the same essence,but they
possessvery different physicalforms, and each is at a different stageof
evolution,a different maq|m.The absoluteof the essenceof fire is oart of
the rr.rr,or light of Cod.
Every physicalcreatedthing has its unique and characteristic balance-
betweenhot and cold, moist and dry, passivityand activity.We readin the
Qur'an that Allah "has createdeverythingin its correctbalance."For exam-
ple, the blood is characteristically
warm and moist. Anything that disturbs
or changesthat normal balancedconditionmay leadto disease. The sameis
true of our emotions.Our moodsare constantlyaffectedby eventscoming
in via our sensoryapparatus.Take the senseof touch. If someoneslapped
you hard, your mood would almostinstantlychange.If you jumpedinto an
icy pool,again,your moodand emotionswould dramaticallychange.Hearing
is another example.Music can produceprofound effects on the state of
mind. Calm, soothingmusic is healing.Loud, raucousmusic can makeone
iittery. Yet these emotionalevents need form and motif in order to cause
thesechanges.The effectof readingmusicalnoteson paperis not the same
as that of listeningto a Breat symphony.
Some sensesare more powerful than others. The physicalsensecon-
sideredto be the highestis that of smell.Somesay that smell is relatedto
memory. For instance,when walking down the street,one can encountera
scent,such as that of baking bread,and almost immediatelyit reachesthe
TheSretiont
of theSoul127
By the time one attains the station of proximity there are no physical
ailments left. The only physical event remaining is the mode by which one
will die. Usually, people at this station do not die from diseaseas such, but
rather they are informed by the Angel of Death of the precisetime for their
departure, and so can make preparations for it. My shaykh wrote me the
exact date of his death one month before it occurred. He worked, fully alert,
up until the morning of his passing. Then, at two P.M.,he lay down and
began reciting the profession of faith (La ilnha illa LLnh,Mulammndun rasilu
Ual) until he expired, just after sunset (which happened on the birthday of
the Prophet, s.a.w.s.).MA sha'Allah.
For such persons, when they pass out of human life, it is a blessedevent,
even a celebration, for they have long since given up relating to the world
with their bodies. Instead, they have soared high into the spiritual realms
with their souls and are able to traverse not only this but the other universes
as well. No one can disturb or contradict them. Even the most determined
criminals or violent armies would be powerless against the Sufi. Such
persons are immune from the difficulties of the world.
Generally, one is not acceptedinto the circles of shaykhs until one has
attained the station of the soul or higher. This acceptanceby the aspirant of
the duties imposed upon the shaykhs is formalized in a specialceremony of
initiation, called baytat (pledge). The founder of the Chishti Order in India,
Hazrat Khwija Mucinuddin (r.a.), has offered an account of his own initia-
tion at the hands of his shaykh, cUthmin Harini (r.a.).This ceremony
transpired in the year A.H.561, after Khwiia Mucinuddin had spent a full
twenty years in training and service with his shaykh. The great saint
described his bat'at thw:
The worldly life is one of the stagesof the lourney to God, and the body is
the vehicle for this iourney. As such, it behoovesthe traveler to maintain
the body in optimum condition, so that the diversions of discomfort and
pain do not distractone from concentrationupon the goal.
Digestionis the processof taking in nutrients through the mouth and
then refining thoseelementsin the body.When it is saidthat the stomachis
the home of disease,this means that diseaseariseswhen this digestive
processbecomesunbalanced. "Diet is the main medicine"is taken to mean
that we should first use foods themselves to rebalance and rebuild the
digestiveprocess.The foodsare usedas vehiclesfor conveyingcertainheal-
ing formulas-both herbal and nonphysical-to the body.
The possibleexceptionto this generalrule occurswhen the body and its
organshave been damagedso severelythat there remainsno regenerative
power to rebuildan organ or bodily system.In suchcases,surgeryor other
radical modes might be the treatment of choice.However, if the principles
of health are followed throughout life, from earliest childhood onward, one
need have no more fear of falling ill than being struck by lightning. Indeed,I
have known quite a few men and women (mainly residing in the East)who
have never had a day of illnessin their lives. They had never had so much as
a headacheand never visiteda doctor or a hospital.Perhapshealth is best
definedas that statein which one neverneedbe awareof the body.In other
words, a healthy person receivesno signalsof pain, disturbance,or discom-
fort-all of which signify some kind of imbalancein the body. Nonetheless,
if we recall the pathways of the soul'sevolution, originating in the station of
egotism, we know that these imbalanceshave developedin many people.
Let us review the processof digestion so as to determine how and why
imbalancesoccur.
40 | ThcBuk of9rfi Huling
they really do not even take the time to sit down and eat properly, preferring
to have a paper-wrapped clod slapped into their hands as they drive by a
window.
In my family, my wife, Iman, and I are constantly conferring with each
other about what foods ought to be included in the menu. Shell inform me
what small things are going on with our children's health, or what particular
foods are coming onto the market by season.We make adjustments accord-
ing to the situation. For example, it is a very common notion in the East that
milk and fish should never be consumed together. Biochemicalresearchhas
shown that milk and fish both have a high concentration of a particular
.amino acid. When they are eaten together, the concentration is so great that
it may cause allergic reactions.
Another important consideration is that fruits and vegetables at the
beginning of the growing seasonhave a healing quality, while those at the
end of the growing season can produce disease.This is confirmed with
apples,for example, which are very tart and astringent early in the growing
season. But after the freeze, the sugar content soars and can easily cause
excessivemucus buildup. Flus, colds, and the like may result.
Attention must be given to the selection and buying of foods. Where are
you going to buy your food products? Where do they come from? Are they
treated with chemicals?If so, what chemicals?Most foods should be obtained
from the locale in which you reside. Always buy onions and potatoes grown
locally (or within one day's iourney), because they contain the cure and
antidote for all of the little viruses, bugs, and specialbacterial strains that
occur in your region. One should not forgo onions from one's own neighbor-
hood in favor of those trucked in from a thousand miles away. Of course, if
you live in an area where potatoes and onions are not grown at all, then you
generally should not eat those particular foods. Eskimos seldom, if ever, eat
bananas!
People who enter a supermarket are often pleased by the sight of the
bonanza of foods, a virtual cornucopia. Yet almost all of the foods, including
fresh fruits and vegetables,have been severely altered with chemical addi-
tives and treatments. It may be marvelous that you can obtain Egyptian
mangoes, Bolivian pomegranates, and Mexican bananas ar your corner
grocery, but that does not necessarilymean they will sustain you properly.
Conventional advice about food selettion emphasizes consuming the
main food groups daily. Some people refine the concept somewhat and
suggest choosing whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetablesin season,and so
forth. Others offer analysisof the vitamin, mineral, and nutrient content of
the foods as the key to eating for health. The Sufis view the matter
somewhat differently. Just as they perceive the soul or essenceof the body
as the most important, so, too, do they seek the essenceof food as the most
important element.
Let us assume for the moment that we have selectedthe correct foods
+z I TheBookof iufi Hwlbtg
and have the best intentions in regard to feeding our family and friends.
The next stage is the actual cooking of the food. I have said many times that
the most important hospital in the world is your own kitchen, becauseit is
here that the essenceof the food is extracted, and health gained or lost.
If the food is being prepared correctly-taking sufficient time for each
stage-the first thing that occurs in the kitchen is the most delightful
explosions of scents. When onions are heated in olive oil, for example, the
volatile oils and essenceare driven off into the air. When you add spices
such as cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and similar aromatic spices,anyone
who comes into the house and gets a whiff of these wonderful scents is
immediately uplifted.
The matter of scents is important, and indeed many today are becoming
interested in the essencesof floral substances(including what we generally
call spices) and their effect on health. The body responds to all of these
smells in various ways. As the nose perceives certain odors of cooking,
information is delivered to the internal organs that a meal is being readied.
The stomach, gallbladder, liver, colon, thyroid gland, and other endocrine
glands-all respond in their own ways. Moreover, the essencesof oils,
driven off by the heating, can themselves alter the temperament of internal
organs and thus affect health greatly. At the very least, cooking fragrances
are responsible for altering the body to conclude the prior meal's digestion.
When people come into the dining room only moments before eating, and
thus are deprived of the intake of scentsprior to the meal (or even through-
out the day), some of the most important initial stagesof digestion are lost.
In fact, the process of digestion actually begins at the time of the mental
conception of a meal.
These scented vapors not only affect the bodily functions, including the
skin, but also have a beneficial influence on the eyes. Onions, which make
you cry when you cut them, are the best example of this. Many injurious
toxins are built up as a normal result of the thinking and emotional life.
Particularly since many people think that crying is somehow unmanly or
weak, the tendency to release superfluous matters through the eyes by
crying is suppressed.During cooking, the vapors of onions as well as other
spicesencourage elimination through the eyes. When onions are cut in the
kitchen, it is surely not a mournful matter.
When I cook, I start at noon. To me, preparing meals for others is one of
the most enjoyable and wonderful things a human can do. Cooking is
healing in its essence.I have one dish made of basmati rice with chopped
pistachios,almonds, raisins, and tiny carrots slivered into piecesthe size and
shape of toothpicks. I need about three dozen large carrots to make this dish
for eight or ten people. I always sit down with a sharp knife and spend an
hour or more at this task of slicing, until a huge pile of carrot slivers is
sitting before me.
One day someone helping in the kitchen saw me doing this and informed
Food
andHeslth| +g
me, "l have a great idea.Here, put thosecarrotsin the food processor,and
the iob will be done in lessthan a minute!" I thankedmy assistantfor the
suggestionand then explainedthat the reasonI preferreddoing the iob by
hand was that with eachsliceI madea little prayerthat the food be a healing
influencefor the personwho eatsit. So the thought of desiringwellnessfor
peoplealso needsto be addedto the foods that you preparefor them.
We certainlycan tell the differencebetweenfood eatenin a restaurant
and food preparedproperlyin the home.Too often, the peoplewho work in
public eatingestablishments haveno concernwhatsoeverfor the food they
serve (food which almost alwaysis preparedby machines).In fact, many
peoplehavingjobs in restaurantsare anSryand disgustedthat they haveto
work there in the first place.The mentalvibrationsof suchpeopleinevitably
work their way into the food.
Let us now assumethat we havethe bestfood,preparedaccordingto the
correct methods,and are ready to put it into our mouths. Even beforewe
put the food into the mouth, we haveto think for a second:Wheredoesthis
food comefrom, and what is our purposein consumingit? For the Sufi, the
eating of food is a time of fellowship, a celebrationof life, and a rededication
of life to the highestidealsof human existence.Beforeeating,the Sufi says,
"Bisni Llnhiir-Rnfumdn, ir-Raftlm:In the name of God, the most merciful,the
most compassionate. O my Lord!I will eat this foodonly to bea betterservant
of yours. Use this food to uplift me and uplift all of your humanity.r4nrin."
The reasonfor eating is not simply to derive pleasure.It is to maintain
the body, which is the vehiclefor conveyanceof the soul and the meansby
which we improve and give strength and gracefulnessto the soul. Only
after applyingsuchan invocationto the food do we put it into our mouths,
tn gnq .auan.
The refinement,or digestion,of food requiresfrom one to eight hours,
dependingupon the food. Sciencehasdelvedinto the biochemicalstructures
of foodsand the body and derivedsome facts and theoriesthat purport to
explainwhat goeson during digestion.
The most importantconceptrelatingto humanphysicalhealthis centered
on the notions conveyed by two Persian words, sardi and garmi, meaning
"hot" and "cold." Before explainingthis conceptfully, let me say that the
entire processof digestion should be thought of as one of heating, or
cooking, the nutrient substances.The're is a Persian word, pokhta,which
means"cooking,"but also refers to what the body doesin breakingdown
food into its compositenutrients.Pokltameansthat somethingis cookedand
ready to serve.For example,one knows that a curry is pokhtawhen the ghee
or oil is floatinglightly, shimmeringand glittering,on top of the sauce.Until
then, it is not ready to serve,is not fully cooked.
There is a moment of ripenessto everything.We can easilyseewhen a
fruit is unripe, and we would not eat it until it is ripe. The grosscookingof
food leads to a moment of ripeness,and the bodv itself "cooks" the food
e4 I TheBookof SufiHwling
The four essences of the physicalbody ariseat the site of the liver and are
part of the processof digestion.Eachof theseessences, or akhlit,(sing.tltill),
is producedas the food is broken down into ever-smallercomponentsof
nutrients and by-products.The accompanying chart summarizesthe origin
and fate of eachof the four essences.
Let us now focus upon the four essences:
BlooilEs*nce:Hot and Moisr
PhlegmEs*tru: Cold and Moist
Bilious Esxnce:Hot and Dry
AtrnbiliousEssmce:Cold and Dry
Eachof theseessences has a characteristictemperamentof heat and mois-
ture associatedwith it. When this temperamentis altered or disturbed,
imbalanceoccurs,frequently leadingto one or more diseaseconditions.(I
use the term "intemperament"for suchimbalances.) Like the other essences
do not exist asseparateentities,but only
describedin Sufi healing,the alrfrlnl
as a part of the entire processof digestion.When the body no longer
functions.the essences alsoceaseto exist.
To illustrate how theseessences function,let us considerin somedetail
the phlegmessence.
th" phl"g- essencecomes into'being as part of the third stage of
digestion,and is formed from the less choicenutrient parts (the choicer
parts having alreadybeenutilizedin the formationof bloodand its essence).
Phlegmis usedin many ways in the body:as a lubricant,as a shieldagainst
foreign matter, includingbacteria,and as a coatingof the internal viscera,
amongother things.Phlegmby nature is somewhatsticky,but it frequently
can be observedto changeits character-to salty, thin, rough, watery, and
so forth. Normal phlegm will always be the result of a cold and moist
essence.When the essencemoves to either a hotter or colderdegree,the
45 | The BookofSuli Hcaling
'The prince of physicians,Hakim Abn cAli ibn Sint, known as Avicenna in the West,
wrote an eighteen-volume encyclopediaof medicine, in which can be found a complete
discussionof the essences and which diseases result from which imbalanceof each.I have
published a book, translated from Persian sourcesincluding the works of Avicenna, which
introduces this system of physical medicine for the lay public and natural practitioners:
NaluralMeditine(London: Wildwood House. 1980).
Akhllat:The Four Essences
ol the Body I 47
MOUTHTAKESIN
FOOD& DRINK
FIRST
DIGESTION
PARTS
UPON BY
FLUIDS
IN S MA LL IN TE S TIN E
CHYME8Y
WITH DICESTIVE
FLUIDS
& INCESTED
PARTS TO
IN TE S TIN E :
For instance,a man may come before the shaykh complaining of painful
joints-a condition calledarthritis in Western terminology. The shaykh
knows that the proper temperamentof the interior nervesand loint fibers is
somewhat cold and moist in a state of health. By observing the physical
condition of the man, the shaykh will determine whether or not a cold or
hot excesshas createdthe imbalance,and he can prescribean herb or food
to correct the problem. This is similar to what a physiciandoes,but the
shaykh is also taking into account the effect of the nafas,or activator of the
physiologicalactions.
When the breath is drawn in thrgugh the mouth and nostrils, it is
destined to penetrate to the furthest reachesof each organ. True, the
breath may undergo many changesbefore it reachesits goal, but it will
alwayscarry an intention to travel to the furthest reachesof all extremities.
When a constrictionoccursin the pathwaysof thesebreathsof life, disease
conditions developquickly. We could assigna value to the type of imbalance
and peer inside the tissues to see that a particular bacteria thrived in the
atmosphereof imbalanceand grew to a larger than normal population.How-
ever, it is first of all necessaryto unblock the constriction of the dispersalof
the nafas-the life force itself. This accountsfor the vast malority of miracu-
lous cures of physicalproblems accomplishedby the Sufis. The methods by
which these blockagesare unlocked will be taken up in a later chapter.
With all of the foregoing as a preface,we can now turn to study some
of the specificknowledge of foods, as related by the master and guide of all
Sufis, the Holy ProphetMuhammad(s.a.w.s.).
6 t
Foods of th
Prophet (s.a.w.s.)
And the eatth hath He appointed Jor
His creadnes
Whercin are Jruit and shathed
plm trees,
Husked gruin and rrcated ffi.
Wbicb is it oJ thee Javon oJyow lnrd
tlnt ye deny?
@n'an 55:10-13
51
52 I TheBookof 9nfiHuling
'ln my judgment, the cuisineof Afghanistan providesthe best recipesfor applying all of
these foods in proper proportion, and in that country, at least,the foods are eaten in light of
availability by season.Unfortunately, there are few easily obtainable books on Afghan
cooking. It is also a fact that the men and women of Afghanistan are probably among the
most vigorous and hearty and pious on earth.
Foods (s.o.u.s.,
ofthcPrcphd I ss
Allow your food to cool before eating, for in hot food there is no blessing.
When you eat, take your shoesoff, for then indeedyour feet havemore
rest. This is an excellentadvice.
There is blessingin the middleof a dish.So commencefrom the sideand
not from the middle..
There is blessingin three things:in the earlymorning meal,in breadand
ln soup.
Brush your teeth with a miswik[a woodentoothpickusuallymadefrom a
twig of the pelu tree] after a mealand rinse out your mouth. For thesetwo
practicesare a safeguardfor the eyeteethand the wisdom teeth.
Usemiswltk,for this practicecomes from cleanliness,
andcleanliness
comes
from faith, and faith takesits practitionerto heaven.
The dish pleadsfor mercyfor the onewho takesup the lastmorselIi.e.,do
not be wastefull.
Eat togetherand then disperse,for a blessingresidesin groups.
Lessfood, lesssin.
To horde in thesethings is unlawful: wheat, barley,raisins,millet, fats,
honey,cheese,walnuts, and olives.
Let no one drink while standingup, exceptone who is suffering from
sciatica.
Eat your meal at dawn, for there is blessingin a meal at dawn.
When I was takenup into Heaven,I did not passoneangelwho did not say
to me:"O Muhammad,tell your peopleto makeuseof scarificationIallowing
out a smallamount of blood from an incisionl.The best treatment that you
have is scarification,coriander,and costus[an EastIndian herb].
Whoeveris sickfor sevendays,therebyhe expiatesbeforeAllah the sins
of seventyyears.
There is no pain like pain in the eye,and no worry like the worry of a debt.
LIST OF FOODS
Aniseed (arisfin)-Among its many properties, the seed of anise soothes
internal pains, increasesmenstrual flow, promotes secretionof milk and
semen,and dissolvesintestinalgas.It may be appliedin tea form to the eyes
to strengtheneyesight.ln nature,snakescomingout of winter hibernation
seek out the anise plant and rub their eyesagainstit, becausetheir vision
becomesweak over winter.
Banana (mawz)-Hot in the first degree, banana has little use as a food.
exceptfor peoplewith a very cold intemperament,who should eat it with
honey.
Basil,.Sweet-
\rayfiAn)-smelling basil strengthens the heart. Sleep is pro_
moted by rubbing the headwith basiland water.
Bread,(khubz)-The best bread is madeof the finest whole grain flours and is
bakedin a circular stone oven. Breadshould be allowedi'o cool somewhat
beforebeingeaten,or it will makeone excessively thirsty. Stalebreadclogs
the bowels.Breadcontainingsubstantialbran is d-igested quickly,but is veiy
nourishing.The softer the bread,the easierthe digestionanj the greater
the nourishment.Breadcrumbsproducegas.Breadi madefrom Uuj"y u.,a
pea flours are slow to be digestedand must have salt addedto them. Said
the Prophet(s.a.w.s.):"Do not cut breadwith a knife, but give it due honor
by breakingit with the hands,for Allah has honoredit.,,
Canol (jaztrl-Sexual urges arise from eating carrot, which is hot in the
seconddegree.It also is usedto increasemenstrualflow and urination.
Coconut @drJil ilay'a'l)-The best type is very white, which is hot and moist.
The natule of coconut is that it increasessexualpowers and relieves pain in
the back
Fig (#z)-Fresh figs are preferred to dried. Although quite nourishing, they
are very hot. The Prophet (s.a.w.s.)is reported to have said, "If you say that
any fruit has come from Paradise,then you must mention the fig, for indeed
it is the fruit of Paradise.5o eat of it, for it is a cure for piles and helps gout."
Foods (s.a.w.s,l
ofthePropfut I 59
Fish (sarae&)-Fresh-waterfish are best, and those which feed on plant life,
not mud and effluvia.Uncookedfish is hard to digestandproducesimbalance
of phlegm.
Honey (ccsal)-Allah has said: "There comesforth, from within [the bee], a
beverageof many colors in which there is a healingfor you." Mixed with
hot water, and taken in severalsmall doses,honey is consideredthe best
remedy for diarrhea.
The Prophet(s.a.w.s.)once said,"By Him in whosehand is my soul,eat
honey. For there is no house in which honey is kept for which the angels
will not ask for mercy.If a personeatshoney,a thousandremediesenter his
stomachand a million diseaseswill come out. If a man dies and honev is
found within him, fire will not touch his body {i.e.,he will be immune from
the burning of helfl."The Prophet(s.a.w.s.) himself usedto drink a glassof
honey and water eachmorning on an empty stomach.
Honey is consideredthe food of foods,the drink of drinks, and the drug
of drugs. It is used for creatingappetite,strengtheningthe stomach,and
eliminatingphlegm;as a meat preservative,hair conditioner,eye salve,and
mouthwash.The besthoney is that producedin the spring;the secondbest
is that of summer,and the leastquality is producedin winter.
oo I Thc Bcokof Suli Hwling
Meat (latnr)-Allah has said in the Qur'an (52:zz): "And we will aid them
with fruit and meat, suchas they desire."The Prophet(s.a.w.s.) reportedly
said that one who doesnot eat meat for forty consecutivedayswill waste
away,whereasto eat meat for forty consecutivedayswill hardenthe heart.
In other words, one should moderatethe intake of meat.
The most desirableof all meats is mutton, which is hot and moist in
temperament.The best mutton is that of a male yearling;the best cut is a
shoulderroast.Mutton shouldbe cookedin someliquid, or it tends to dry
out.
Beef fat mixed with pepperand cinnamonacts as a tonic medicine.The
meat of pigs is forbiddento eat. The consumptionof horsefleshas a food is
disputed.Avicennasaidthe flesh of camels,horses,and assesare the worst
of all meats. Also prohibited for human consumptionare beastsof prey,
animalsthat possesscanineteeth, and birds with hookedtalons.
Said the Prophet (s.a.w.s.):"Do not cut up meat with a knife upon the
dish,for that is the way of non-Muslims.But graspit in your fingersand so
it will taste better." And, he said:"One sheepis a blessing;two sheepare
two blessings;three sheepare wealth."
Olives and Olive Oil (nyt and zsytfinl-The older olive oil is, the hotter it
becomes.Olive oil is an excellenttreatment for the skin and hair, and it
delaysold age.
Allah has said of the olive tree: "And a tree that grows out of Mount
Sinai which producesoil and a condimentfor thosewho eat. For olive oil is
the supremeseasoning."Allah has also'calledit the BlessedTree (Qur'an
24:35).
Creen olivesare the most nourishing,and counteractautointoxication
Black olives cause the spleen to overproducebile and are hard on the
stomach.Olive leavescan be chewedas treatment for inflammationof the
stomach,skin ulcerations,and eruptionsof herpesand hives.
Onion (bafal)-Quite hot, the onion is a good corrective for all excess
wetness.Onion improvesthe flavor of foods and eliminatesphlegm.Raw
62 | TheBcrkof SuliHuling
Parsley (karnfsYA Hadith states that eating parsley just before sleepwill
cause one to awaken with sweet breath and will eliminate or prevent
toothache.Parsleystimulatessexualactivity.
Peach (kftr'lrfi)-Peaches generate cold, relax the stomach, and soften the
bowels.A good laxative,peaches shouldbe eatenbefore,rather than after, a
meal.
Pistachio (fusfuql-lt is said that to eat the heart of a pistachionut with egg
yolk will make the heart grow strong.The reddishskin stemsdiarrheaand
vomiting.
Rhubarb (rfrwanill-Rhubarb is hot and dry, and best when picked fresh. It
opensblockagesof the liver and resolveschronic fever.
Satfrcn (zncfarfrn)-Hot and dry, saffron is excellent for the blood and
strengtheningto the soul. It easespains in the joints, but can causegrear
increasein the sex drive of young men.
Al-lpmitulr-Uhi Rebbil-Alsminl
So all praisebe to Allah,
Lord of the t.r'Jorldsl
Amin!
Herbal Forrnulas for
Common Ailments
O manhind! Thete hath come to lou
a direction Jrom your Lord
And a healing Jor the diseases in
your hearts-
And Jor those who believg
a Guidance, and a Mergr.
Qgr'an IO:57
It.is the customof the shaykhsto first of all resort to someform of dietary
advice to effect the cure of simple imbalances.This dietary reform may
includeadiustingthe use of various herbs and spicesin cooking.
The herbal formulasgiven in this chaptermakeuse of the foods,herbs,
and spicespresentedin the foregoing chapters.They are usuallyeasy to
obtain and requirevery little effort to prepare.Theseremediesaie formu-
lated accordingto the qualitiesof heat and coldnessQarmiandsnrli)of each
substanceand work primarily by rebalancingthe temperamentof one or
more of the four essences of the body.Despitetheir simplicity,theseherbal
formulasare quite effective.
Preparation of Remedies
1. Formulasshouldbe preparedaccordingto instructions.
2. When a formula calls for pouderetherbs,they should be ground to a
fine powder and sievedthrough a muslin cloth or a sieveof 100 mesh
(unlessformula saysa coarsepowder may be used).
3, When herbsare to be madeinto a decoction(boiledin water),as soon
as the water startsto boil, the vesselshouldbe removedfrom the fire
and allowedto sit for five minutes;then the liquid shouldbe strained
and drunk warm.
4. When a formula calls for a liquid to be red.uerl
to half, the vesselshould
be kept on a medium fire until about half the water has evaporated
by boiling.
56 | Thc Bookol Sufi Hwling
DOSAGE
Adults (aboveage fifteen) should be given a full dose. Children may be
given the following amountsaccordingto age:
WEIGHTSAND MEASURES
l tablespoon 3 teaspoons
1 cup 8 fluid ounces
1 pint 2 cups
l quart 2 pints
l gallon 4 quarts
Lessthan
a teaspoon a few grains
l teaspoon 1 dram
l tablespoon 4 drams
1 teacup 7 ounces
THE FORMULARY
ANEMIA
Paleness of whole body,eyes,and fingernailbeds.Swellingof faceand feet,
especiallyin the morning.Generalweakness,giddiness,lossof appetite,and
sometimesdiarrhea.
Instructions: Light diet, with fresh fruits and foods such as chicken soup,
liver extract, beets,carrots, spinach,and fenugreek, is advised.Avoid fatty
foods.
FORMULA1
6 teaspoonsfennel seeds,crushed
6 teaspoonsred rose petals
Preparation: Boil in 1 112 cupswater and strain.
Dosage: Twice daily.
FORMI.JLA 2
4 teaspoonsground Indian cinnamon
I teaspoonshoney
I cupspomegranateiuice
Preparation: Dissolve cinnamon and honey in pomegranatejuice.
Dosage:2 teaspoonsin 1i2 cup of water, as needed.
FORMI,JLA 3
1 teaspoonpurslane
1 teaspoonsweet basil
1 teaspoongum arabic
9 teaspoonsolive oil
1 cup rose water
Preparation: Fry first three ingredients in olive oil for ten minutes.
Remove and soak in rose water for one hour.
Dosage: 1 teaspoonseveral times per day.
ANGINA PECTORIS
Pain in the chest muscles in the area of the heart, due to cold (snrli)
imbalance.
Instructions: Avoid exposure to cold air.
HerbalFotmulasfor Cornmon
Ailfients | 69
FORMULA1.
1 teaspoonfenugreek
2 teaspoonshoney
Preparation:Boil fenugreekin 7 ll2 cups of water, strain, and
add honey.
Dosage: Twice daily.
TORMULA 2
1 teaspoonrose oil
4 teaspoonssweet almondoil
Preparation:Thoroughly mix two oils together.
Dosage:Rub on chest,morning and evening.
ARTHRITIS
There is pain and/or stiffness, without swelling, in one or more joints.
Sometimes fever.
Instructions: Avoid sour and spicy (garrni)foods. Take walks in the morning,
but avoid exposure to very cold air.
External Treatment: Rub with oil of amber and frankincense.
FORMULA1
1 teaspoon powdered valerian root
1 teaspoonchamomile
1/2 teaspoon hops
1 teaspoon hay saffron
Preparation: Mix first three ingredients in 3 cups water and bring
to boil. Remove from heat at first sign of boiling. Add saffron and
steep for twenty minutes. Strain.
Dosage: 1/2 to 1 cup before bedtime.
FORMULA2
6 teaspoonsginger
6 teaspoonscaraway seeds
3 teaspoonsblack pepper
Preparation: Combine into a fine powder and preserve.
Dosage: 1/2 teaspoon with water, twice daily.
70 I Ttu Bookol 9ufi Huling
ASTHMA
Asthma occurs in spasmodicattacks of difficult breathing.When experi-
encing the asthma attack, the person should sit forward with the head
resting on the hands and elbows on the knees.The face turns pale,and
there is a wheezing sound in the breath. After extendedcoughing,the
personusuallyemits a smallamount of phlegm.
Instructions: Avoid exposureto cold air. Avoid cold (sanfi)and sour foods.
External Treatment: Rub chestwith oil of sweet almond.
FORMULA1
1 teaspoonground ginger
Preparation:Pour 1 1/2 cupshot water over the ginger.
Dosage One teaspoon,lukewarm,at bedtime.
FORMULA 2
1i2 teaspoonskunk cabbage
1/2 teaspoonhorehound
1/2 teaspooncayennepepper
1/2 teaspoonbayberrybarL
1/2 teaspoonpowdered valerian root
3 ouncesmolasses
Preparation: Grind all herbs fine and mix with molasses.
Dosage:1 teaspoonin cup of hot tea, as needed.
BEDWETTING
FORMULA1
1 teaspoonpomegranateflowers
1 teaspoonground sesameseeds
1 teaspoongum acacia
1 teaspooncrushedcorianderseeds
Dark brown sugar Qur),as needed
Preparation: Fry coriander seedsin a cast-iron skillet until they
are lightly burned.Mix in other ingredients,exceptbrown sutar,
and make a fine powder. Add brown sugar to equal the amount of
powdered herbs.
Dosage: 1 teaspoonat bedtime.
Herbsl Formulasfor CornmonAil cnts I 7l
FORMULA2
3 teaspoonsground driedwater chestnut
3 teaspoonsraw sugar
Preparation:Make a fine powder of dried water chestnutand
mix with sugar.
Dosage:1 teaspoon,twice daily.
FORMULA3
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon mastic herb
3 ounces honey
Prepqration: Crind and mix the first three ingredients, add honey,
and mix well.
Dosage: 1 teaspoon, morning and evening.
BRONCHITIS IN CHITDREN
Breathing is rapid, and there is a hollow sound beneath the ribs while
breathing. Cough, pain, and high fever are often present. Facebecomesred
and nostrilsdilate while breathing.Child becomesrestless.
Instructions: Avoid exposure to cold air. Take liquid diet.
FORMULA 1
2 teaspoonscut licorice root
2 teaspoonslinseed
12 teaspoonshoney
Preparation: Boil the first two herbs in 7 Ll2 cupswater for ten
minutes.Strain and sweetenwith honey.
Dosage Two to three times per day.
FORMULA2
1/8 teaspoonaloe
Preparation: Dissolve in mothert milk or cow's milk.
Dosage: (1) Administer to child as such. (2) Dissolve aloe in
lukewarm water and apply on the chest.
72 I Thc Bookol Stli Hallng
FORMIJLA 3
1 teaspoonoil of garlic
3 teaspoonshoney
Preparation: Mix ingredients together.
Dosage: Allow child to lick up a small amount with tongue, three
times per day.
BURNSAND SCALDS
FORMI.'LA 1
Pomegranate flowers, as needed.
Preparation and Administration: Grind with water to make a
paste and apply on affected part.
FORMI,JLA2
4 teaspoonslime water
4 teaspoonscoconut oil
Preparation and Administration: Combine and rub until mixture
turns white; then apply on affectedparts.
FORMI.JLA 3
I egg white
Preparation and Administration: Apply to affected parts. Espe-
cially effective if blister has appeared.
COLIC
Acute pain in abdomenand constipation,Abdomenis distended.Flatulence
and gurgling sound are present.
External Treatment: Massagebody with rose oil or sweet almond oil.
RecommendedFoods: Green pea soup, chicken soup.
FORMULA 1
2 teaspoonswild basil
Preparation and Administration: Grind with water to make a
paste,and apply to abdomen.
Hefiel Formuhslor Commot Ailments I 73
FORMULA2
1 drop oil of peppermint
0r
1 teaspoonpeppermint leaves
Preparation: Mix peppermint oil in 6-8 ounceswater; or boil leaves
in 1 cup water for three minutes.
Dosage Drink glassful twice daily.
FORMI,]LA 3
6 ouncesrosewater, honey water, or fennel water
Dosage: Drink once per day.
COMMON COLD
Attacksof sneezing,watery dischargefrom nose,headache,
cough,malaise,
sometimesmild fever.
FORMULA 1
1 teaspoonviolet flowers
Preparation:Boil for three minutes in 1 cup of water and strain.
Dosage: Twice daily on empty stomach.
FORMULA 2
1 teaspoonwheat husk
5 black peppercorns
1/6 teaspoonsalt
Preparation: Boil ingredients in 1 cup water for three minutes,
and strain.
Dosage: Twice daily.
FORMULA 3
1/2 teaspooncinnamonbark, broken into bits
freparation: Boil in 1 1/2 cupswater for ten minutes,strain,and
sweeten with honey.
Dosage: Twice daily.
74 I TheBmkof 1rfi Hcaling
CONSTIPATION
Instructions: Consume leafy green vegetables,fruit iuice. and plenty of
water. Avoid sugar, candies,and all sweets. Avoid straining the bowels.
Establishhabit of going to toilet at regular tirnes.
FORMULA 1
5 teaspoonsminceddried dates
5 teaspoonsalmond, mashed into a pulp
10 teaspoonshoney
Preparation: Grind the first two ingredients separately,combine,
and add honey.
Dosage: 3 teaspoonstwice daily.
Note: Thrs formula also useful for hemorrhoids and chronic constipation.
FORMI.ILA 2
1 teaspoonsenna leaves
1 teaspoonground ginger (dried or fresh)
1 teaspoonfennel seeds
1 teaspoonrock salt
Preparation: Make a fine powder of all ingredients.
Dosage: I teaspoon with water at bedtime.
COUGH
FORMULA 1
1 cup ginger water
2 teaspoonshoney
Preparation: Mix ingredients together.
Dosage: Two or three times per day.
FORMULA 2
2 teaspoonspoppy seed
3 teaspoonscut licorice root
Preparation: Boil in 1 cup water for ten minutes and strain.
Dosage: Twice daily.
Hrbtl Formuhs for C.ommonAilmcnts | 75
OTHER
UseFormula2 under'Asthmaheading.
Dosage:1 teaspoon,three or four timesdaily.
DIABETES
Frequentand excessiveurination, excessivethirst, weak appetite,and gen-
eral debilityare commonsigns.Sugaris presentin the bloodand urine.The
presenceand amount of sugar in the urine should be determinedby a test
administeredby a physician.
Instructions: Avoid sweets and sweet fruits. Avoid such carbohydratesas
white potato,sweet potato,and rice. Mild exerciseis advised.
FORMI,JLA 1
I teaspoonscrushedcumin seeds
Preparation: Make a fine powder.
Dosage: 1/2 teaspoon,with water, twice daily.
DIARRHEA
Instructions: Eat a light diet. Avoid chili peppersand spicy foods.
FORMULA 1
1 teaspoonpowdered ginger
1 teaspoonpowdered cumin
1 teaspoonpowdered cinnamon
Preparation: Combine all three powders, add honey, and mix into
a thick paste.
Dosage 1/2 to 1 teaspoon,three times daily.
FORMULA 2
3 teaspoonspowdered ginger
5 teaspoonsfennel seed
honey, as needed
Preparation: Grind ginger and fennel into a powder. Add honey
to make thick paste.
Dosage: 1 teaspoonin tea, three times daily and before bedtime.
76 | ThcBookof 1tfi Haliag
FORMULA 3
6 ouncesMadlool dates
3 teaspoonsmyrrh
rose water, as needed
Preparation: Make a fine powder of first two ingredients, then
mix with rose water to moisten.Make fingernail-sizedpills.
Dosage: Two pills, twice daily.
DYSENTERY
Frequentbowel movements,sometimesmixed with mucusand blood,grip-
ping pain, and pain in abdomen.
Instructions: A diet of yogurt and rice is advised.
FORMI.JLA 1
10 pomegranateflowers
Preparation: Grind flowers with 1/2 teacup water. Strain.
Dosage: Twice daily.
FORMI,JLA 2
2 teaspoonsgreen leavesof rose bush
Preparation:Grind with 1/2 teacupof water. Strain.
Dosage: Twice daily.
HEADACHE
Headacheis of different types, sometimesfelt in different parts, or all over
the head.Nauseaand vomiting may also be present.
FORMULA1
3 teaspoonslavenderflowers
3 teaspoonscorianderseeds
5 black peppercorns
Preparation: Grind all ingredients into fine powder.
Dosage: Take one-half of dose with water, early in the morning,
then rest in bed for thirty minutes.
Hcrbal Formuhs for C.ommonAilmcnts | 77
FORMULA2
1 teaspoon
Spanishsaffron
gum myrrh
1 teaspoon
1 teaspooncinnamon
Preparation:Make a fine powder of all ingredients,add a little
water, and mix well into a paste.
Adrninistration: Put the paste onto a piece of clean cotton cloth,
and apply to one or both temples.
FORMULA 3
6 teaspoonsjasminewater
% teaspoonseasalt
Preparation:Dissolvethe salt in the lasminewater and preserve
in a cleanglassdropperbottle.
Dosage:Two drops in eachnostril, twice a day or as needed.
FORMULA 4
(for migraine)
1/2 teaspoonblackmustard seeds
Preparation:Grind with 3 tablespoonswater and strain.
Dosage:One or two drops in nostrils.
HEMORRHOIDS
Constipation,passingof hard stool with blood, burning and irritation in
anus, and discomfortin sitting. Presenceof pile mass in anus. Blood may
oozeout after bowel movement.
Instructions: Exerciselightly. Light diet with green vegetablesis advised.
Avoid hot spices.
External Treatment: Rub anus with rose water or other flower water to
soothe.
FORMULA 1
1 teaspoonhenna leaves
Preparation: Crind henna leaves into powder with 1 cup water.
Strain and let sit for twenty minutes.
Dosage:Drink 1/2 cup twice daily.
78 I Thc Bookol Suli Huling
FORMULA2
1i8 teaspoon coriander leaves
1i8 teaspoon red clay earth
Preparation: Grind to make a paste and apply to anus.
FORMULA3
3 teaspoons marshmallow
3 teaspoons dill
Preparation: Put herbs inside a clean sterile cloth; wet with warm
water.
Application: Apply to anal area for half-hour at a time.
INDIGESTION
Feeling of heaviness in stomach after eating. Lack of appetite, nausea,
flatulence, and vomiting. This condition is usually due to faulty, irregular
diet, especiallyeating before the previous meal is fully digested.
FORMI,JLA1
1 teaspoonfennel seeds
1 teaspooncardamomseeds
Preparation: Make a fine powder of the seeds.
Dosage: 1/6 teaspoonwith water twice daily after meals.
FORMULA 2
1 teaspoonfennel seed
1 teaspoondried ginger
1 teaspooncloves
Preparation: Grind fennel, ginger, and clovesinto a fine powder.
Add honey to make a thick paste.Preservein a glasslar.
Dosage:1 teaspoonfifteen minutes after eachmeal and at bed-
time.
FORMI.JLA 3
1 teaspoonrock salt
1/2 cup ginger water
1/2 cup lime water
Hefiel Formuloslor CommonAilmmts I 79
FORMULA 4
1-3 drops peppermintoil
Preparation:Mix 1-3 dropsof peppermintoil with 8 ounceswater.
Dosage: Drink as needed.
FORMULA1
1 cup ginger water
1/2 teaspoonsalt
Preparation:Mix salt with ginger water.
Administration: Apply by dipping finger in water and rubbing
on 8ums.
FORMULA 2
Oil of clove, as needed
Administration: Apply to gums or aching tooth.
FORMULA 3
3 teaspoonsvinegar
6 teaspoonsrose water
Preparation:Mix vinegarand rose water in glass.
Administration: Garglewith solution three times per day.
IAUNDICE
The color of urine and eyesis yellow. Skin is pale.Stoolsmay be white or
grayish.Generallynausea,vomiting, fever, and weakness.
ao I ThcBookol Sufi Haling
FORMULA 1
1 teaspoonhenna leaves
Preparation:Crush leaves,boil in 1 1/2 cupswater, strain.
Dosage:Take as such in the morning.
FORMULA 2
1 teaspoonroasted chickory root
Preparation:Soakin l cup water overnight;strain in morning.
Dosage:Drink whole cup in morning.
TORMT.JLA3
1 teaspoonchickoryseeds
1 teaspooncut licorice root
1 teaspoonrock salt
Preparation: Make a fine powder of all ingredients.
Dosage:1/2 teaspoonwith water twice daily.
LOSSOF HAIR
FORMULA
2 cups roots of fig tree
1 quart coconutoil or olive oil
Preparation: Dry out fig roots in shadefor three days.Then crush
roots and immerse in oil for fifteen days. Strain and preserve
in glassbottle.
Administration: Massageon scalpat bedtime.Leaveon overnight.
OBESITY
FORMULA 1
(to curb excessiveappetite)
1 teaspoonvalerian root
1 teaspoonnutmeg
Preparation: Grind the two herbs into fine powder.
Dosage: 1/6 teaspoon,thirty minutes before meals,with water.
Hcrbtl Form as for Ctmmon Ailmmh | 8l
FORMULA2
limejuice
1 teaspoon
Dosage:Take with 1 cup water in the morningon an empty
stomach.
PAINFULMENSTRUATION
This condition is preceded by severe pain in the thighs, pubic region, and
groin. Sometimes heavy nausea and vomiting occur. Usually blood flow is
very scanty.
FORMI,JLA1
1 teaspoongum myrrh
1 teaspooniuniper berries
Preparation:Boil in 1 cup of water. Strain.
Dosage:Take in morning for sevento ten daysafter menstrual
period has ended.
FORMULA 2
1 3/4 teaspoonspowdered rhubarb
Preparation: Dehydrate and make into a fine powder.
Dosage: 1i 8 teaspoonof rhubarb powder with water twice daily,
for one to two weeks following end of period.
FORMULA 3
1 teaspoonfennel seeds
1 teaspoonwild rue
1 teaspoonwormwood
1 teaspoonrose hips
1 teaspoonchoppedfigs
4 teaspoonshoney
Preparation:Boil all ingredientsin 1 cup water for five minutes.
Strain and preserve.
Dosage: Consume in tablespoondosestwice a day for three days.
Stop for three days.Then repeatdose.
82 | Thc Bookof Sufi Huling
SLEEPLESSNESS
FORMULA1
1/2 teaspoonpoppyseeds
1/2 teaspoonlettuceseeds
Preparation:Boil in l cupwater, strain,and sweetenwith honey.
Dosage:Twice daily.
FORMULA2
1/2 teaspooncinnamonstick
Preparation: Boil in 1 cup water for five minutes, strain, and
sweetenwith honey.
Dosage: Twice daily.
FORMULA 3
3 drops rose oil
3 drops violet oil
1 ounce sweet almond oil
Preparation: Thoroughly mix the three oils and preserve.
Administration: Apply to scalp, ears and soles of feet before
retiring. A small amount can be applied to the anus as well.
VAGINAL ITCHING
Itching and burning in vagina; burning sensationwhile urinatinS. Rest-
lessness.
Instructions: Avoid close,tight-fitting underwear, especiallymadeof nylon
or other synthetic fabrics. Acute cleanlinessof the vaginal area is required.
Bathe immediatelyafter urinating and after sexualintercourse'
Hrbal Fornths fot Comnon Ailncah I 83
FORMT,JLA1
3 teagpoonsfennel seeds
2 teaspoonslily-of-the-valley root
1/2 teaspoonpomegranateflowers
1/2 teaspoonrosehips
Preparation: Pound and grind into powder. Sift.
Dosage: 1 to 2 teaspoonsdaily with buttermilk or a glassof iuiced
green graPes.
FORMULA 2
1/3 teaspooncamphor herb
6 teaspoonsrose water
Preparation: Grind camphor in rose water.
Administration: Soak a tampon in solution and apply to vagina
for thirty minutes. Repeat as necessary.
Fasting:
The Best Medicinle
Every act oJ the son oJ Adom is Jor him
except Jasting,
It is done Jor My sake, and I will give
as mucA reward Jor it as I lihe.
Allah, the Mojestic and the Exabed
The Sufis probably have more experiince .than any other group of
.
performing fasts. The accounts are legion of'Sufi shaykhs and
\uma.ns in_
discipleswho endured fasts of varying durations,frequently with miraculous
results. As has been noted, the Sufi doesnot take upany physicalprocedure
relating to health for any reason except to earn tle pi""rr." oithe Most
High God. Allah has informed us in the Holy eur,an:,,O ye who believe!
Prescribedunto you is fasting even as it was prescribedunio those before
you, that perhapsyou may becomeGod-conscious,, (2:1g3).
65
a5 I Thc Bookol Suli Healing
simply state:"l intend to offer fast this day, for the sakeof Allah and only
for the sakeof Allah."
Having entered into this formal pledgewith Allah, having made this
promise, if one intentionally breaks the fast during the avowed period, one
is liableto compensatefor the fast by making up one or more days-
Generally, to perform a fast day the following conditions must all be
met:
L The niyyat,or intention to fast, must be made, aloud or silently.
2. The periodof the fast must extendfrom the time iust beforesunrise
_(foir) until iust after sunset(maghrib)."
f-During the period of the fast, iotal abstinencefrom the following is:
J required:food, drink (includingwater), smoking or consumptionof
I tobacco,sexual intercourse, and any form of negativity, backbiting,
l__ fighting, cursing, arguing, and similar behaviors.
T SJ*"r,-.r,"y ,,oI bu-d"li6"."tely emitted, nor may one deliberateb'
vomit.
5. Pregnant or lactating women, the seriouslyill, the aged, and the
insaneare exemptedfrom fasting,but in somecasesmay be liableto
make up misseddays.A woman doesnot fast on days when she is
menstruating,but must make up the misseddays.When her period
ends, she must resume fasting. Children under the age of twelve
generally are excludedfrom the fast, but may fast part of the day or
-for some of the days.
. The fast is broken after sunset with a date or a glass of water, ]
i
I followed bv a modest meal.
There are severaldozensof specialcaseswhich apply to the fasting man or
woman, and the adviceof a practicing Muslim shaykh should be sought to
resolveany question.
T\: specialnature of fasting is that it engendersforbearanceand sacri--
fice.lFasting occursin the mind primarily,and so it is hiddenfrom all human
leyes, visibleonly to the Eye of God: it is a secretaction.
*
During the time from midnight to the beginningof the fast, it was the
practiceof the Prophet(s.a.w.s.) to eat a meal, calledsafiir.This may consist
of any lawful foods. The fast is usually broken by eating one or a few dates,
followed by some water, which must be done prior to offering the sunset
(maghrib) prayer. Even though cleaningthe teeth is Permitted,it is more
meritoriousif one doesnot do so after midday.
In addition to these iniunctions,one should be engagedas much as
possiblein reading and reciting the Holy Qur'an, and should distribute as
much charity as one is capableof.
All of the creation, except man, follows the dictatesof God derived fro4g-
natural lawsJAnimals do not have to be restrainedfrom overeatingand \
ldietary abuses.But for humans,the loveof materiallife and the temptationsI
fof the physicaldesiresare responsiblefor the vast maiority of illnesses.J
{Therefore,Allah the Most Kind hasprovidedguidanceto control and annul I
ithese appetitesby the mechanismof the fast. )
--
The Qur'an statesthat a human cannot attain salvationunlessthe low
desiresare restrained:"And as for him who fears to stand beforehis Lord
and restrains himself from low desires, the paradiseis surely the abode"
(zg:+o-+t\.
The exerciseof abstainingfrom things that are ordinarily lawful and
permittedin life, solelyfor the sakeof Allah, strengthensmorality and self-
control and deepensawarenessof Allah. This is what distinguishesfasting
in Islam and Sufism from ordinary fasting for health.
The primary fast to be taken up is that generally called Ramadan in
Islam.Ramadanis one of the months of the Islamiccalendar(seeAppendixI
for Islamic months)-the month during which the Qur'an, as well as the
Torah, the Psalms of David, and the New Testament, all were first sent
down from Allah.
The excellenceof fasting is known from these two statementsof the
Prophet (s.a.w.s.).
By the onein whosehandis my life, the fragranceof the mouthof a fasting
man is dearerto Allah than the fragranceof musk.
Paradisehasa gatenamedRayyin.Noneexcepta fastingpersonwill enter
Paradiseby that gate.
Allah has promiseda vision of Him as reward for fasting.
,- The word ramalandoes not actually mean "fast."fhe technicalterm for \
lfasting is 1iyEm,whoseroot word means"to be at rest." By abstainingfrom I
lfood, drink, and sexualintercourse,thesefunctionsof the body aregranted I
[est, and an opportunity to becomerevivified. _)
The general fast during the month of Ramadanis enjoinedupon the
whole humanity; thosewho actuallydo it are Muslims.Many personswho
have closecontact with Muslims also engagein this form of fast and derive
someof the benefitsfrom it. But there are severalregulationswhich must
be followed for any fast to be valid.
First, one must clearlystate the intention to fast. SinceAllah has said
that we will be iudged accordingto our intentions, one cannot get the
benefits of good actions which occur entirely by accident.For exampleffi
Fie was deprived of food by being lost in the wilderness, this would not I
iconstitute a formal fast, becauseone would have eatenif the opportunity I
i.1g.9represent.This formal declarationto perform an action is teried, niyyfi)
It is preferablystatedin Arabic,but is just asvalid in any language.One may
Festing Thc BestlvledicineI 87
simply state: "I intend to offer fast this day, for the sake of Allah and only
for the sake of Allah."
Having entered into this formal pledge with Allah, having made this
promise, if one intentionally breaks the fast during the avowed period, one
is liable to compensate for the fast by making up one or more days.
Generally, to perform a fast day the following conditions must all be
met:
l. The niyyat,or intention to fast, must be made, aloud or silently.
2. The period of the fast must extend from the time iust before sunrise
_Aajr) until lust after sunset (maghrib).'
I
\3. During the period of the fast, total abstinence from the following is
I required: food, drink (including water), smoking or consumption of
! tobacco, sexual intercourse, and any form of negativity, backbiting, '
l_ fighting, cursing, arguing, and similar behaviors.
ts SJ*"n--"y ,roi b"-duli"b".utely emitted, nor may one deliberately'
vomit.
5, Pregnant or lactating women, the seriously ill, the aged, and the
insane are exempted from fasting, but in some casesmay be liable to
make up missed days. A woman does not fast on days when she is
menstruating, but must make up the missed days. When her period
ends, she must resume fasting. Children under the age of twelve
generally are excluded from the fast, but may fast part of the day or
some of the days.
-for
15,The fast is broken after sunset with a date or a glass of water,)
i followed bv a modest meal.
There are severaldozensof specialcaseswhich applyto the fastingman or
woman, and the adviceof a practicingMuslim shaykh shouldbe sought to
resolveany question.
The specialnature of fasting is that it engendersforbearanceand sacri-
fice.JFastingoccursin the mind primarily,and so it is hiddenfrom all human
leyes, visibleonly to the Eye of God: it is a secretaction.
-. During the time from midnight to the beginningof the fast, it was the
practiceof the Prophet(s.a.w.s.) to eat a meal, calledsalyr.This may consist
of any lawful foods.The fast is usuallybrokenby eatingone or a few dates,
followed by some water, which mustte done prior to offering the sunset
(naghrib)prayer. Even though cleaningthe teeth is permitted, it is more
meritoriousif one doesnot do so after midday.
In addition to these iniunctions,one should be engagedas much as
possiblein reading and reciting the Holy Qur'an, and should distribute as
much charity as one is capableof.
Monthly Fasts: The best days to keep fast during any month are the first
day, the middle day, and the last day of every month. In addition, there is
fasting on the ayyim bayid-the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth days
of the moon's cycle.
Weekly Fasts: While fasting any week,one shouldendeavorto fast Thursday,
Friday, and Monday, which are the days of excellence.
tions, the toxic matters back up within the system,until organ damage
occurs and there is no hope for a cure, except by the most drastic means.
Even then it is difficult and gruesome.
Effort and disciplineare required to make it through these recommended
fasts. I suggestpersonswith no experiencebegin with iust one day, or part
of a day, and gradually extend it to the desired level of performance.
Muslims have a specialadvantage,for they are strengthenedand helped by
Allah to complete a full thirty days each year. One of the great Sufis was
said to have fasted on alternate days during the last forty years of his life.
And, at that, when he did eat, if he discoveredhe was deriving any pleasure
from the food, he would immediately spit it out half-chewed.He lived to be
ninety-six years old.
Allah the Almighty has promised uncountable rewards for those who
fast. One such reward for the fortunate onesoccursduring the last ten days
of Ramaddn.This is known as Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Power).For one
who has performed the fast perfectly and accordingto the strictest criteria,
Allah sendsan angel to personallymeet this person,and any wish what-
soever the person may make is granted. Yfr llayya! Ya Qdyyln!
Fasting is prescribedby the Most High God as a great blessingupon His
humanity. As the Maker of human bodies,He knows the best techniques
and practicesfor maintaining its health. And not only is fasting the best and
safestmeansof protectingthe physicalhealth, but it alsocarriesimmense
spiritual rewards.
One other aspectof physicallife bearssignificantly upon human health.
It is the cornerstoneof all Sufi activities,the galil,which servesas the ladder
by which one may approachGod.
$aldt: The Postures
of the Prophets
The Great and Glorious Gd
does not insist upn the
prJormance of any other devotion
as much as He does on the
perfonnance oJt Faht.
Hazmt Khw6|t Ghafib Nawtu (r.a.)
Ihdin;q-9iratal-mustaqim
calayhim.
$iri! alladhina ancamta
Show us the straight path,
The path of those whom You love and have favored.
Not only as the Most Kind God provided humans with the best possible
invocation to Him, but immediately after He hears this sincere request, He
informs His creatures of the means of attaining it-by revealing the entire
Qur'an for the perfect and total guidance of humankind.
However, in the very first verses of the iecond slral of the Qur'an, Allah
establishesthe only keys that will open the blessingsof this book:
9l
92 | TheBookofSufiHwliag
The word galil in Arabic is translated as prayer or worship, and also supplica-
tions for forgiveness, compassion, and mercy. (In Persian, Turkish, and
Urdu, the term is namiz.)
Western scholarshave unfortunately misrepresentedthe true conception
of s.aldtby translating the word simply as "prayer" or "worship." In fact, the
practice of 2nl-at is very specific and forms the most unique and central
feature of religious life in Islam and Sufism. The Holy Prophet Muhammad
(s.a.w.s.)is reported to have said, "The difference between a believer in God
and a disbeliever in Him is the performance of galit."
The great saint Hazrat Khw6ja Gharib Nawdz (r.a.) commented on the
importance of the snlit with the following statements:
qnlalis the climax
Without performinglliil, nonecan approachGod,because
in the processof such approachfor the pious.
sdl;l is the ladderleadingto the proximity lqurblof Cod.
Srlalis a trust committedto human careby Almighty Cod, a secretrelation-
ship existingbetweenthe worshiperand the Worshiped,
The Indian mystic musician Hazrat Inayat Khan, who brought some Sufi
ideas to the West in the early part of this century, said, "A person who
never accomplishes[snlnt]has no hope of ever advancing any other way, for
every posture has a wonderful meaning and a particular effect . ' it is to
be prescribed before further sacred teachings. lf he fails to advance in this,
there is no hope for his future."
Sallt is at once an external and an internal practice: a set of physical
exercises(somehave compared them toyoga asanas), and the richest spiritual
nourishment. By considering each of these aspects in some detail, we can
learn why the Sufis have consideredin many casesthat they would rather die
Ma sha'Allah!
than forgo the\r s.alat.
The practice of qnlif is performed at five regular intervals throughout the
day as a minimum and can be done ai other times accordingto the capacities
of the worshiper. The times of performance are fixed according to the
journey of the sun and planets across the heavens. These times are as
follows:
fuhn Begins after the sun has passed the median point in the sky and
has iust begun its downward arc.
cAgr: Begins when the sun has crosseda bisection of the arc made by the
sun, midpoint between noon and the line of the horizon; or when the
body's shadow is equal to two body lengths.
Maghrib'.Begins just after the sun has set below the horizon and no light
is left reflecting off the clouds (i.e., there is no more redness).
clsfti: Begins when night has fully fallen, approximately one hour and
twenty minutes after the time of maghrib,or sunset.
POSTURE1
Bring hands, palms open, up to ears, and place thumbs behind earlobes,as
" All1hu akbar"(God is Great) is uttered.
Nameof Posture:Niyyat
Time to fu Held: 5 szconds
fucitation: Allabu akbar.
POSTURE2
Placehands,right over left, lust below navel.
Nameof Posture:Qiitm
Durstion: 40-60 seconds
Recimtion:
BismiLldh ir-fuhnon ir-Rahin
Al-lnndu li-lJah rabb il-c6lamin.
Ar-Rolnan, ir-Aolin.
Milihi yawn id-Dn.
Iyyakana cbuduwa iyyako nastacin.
rr4 al-mustaqim.
lhdinas-gi
calayhim
$ira1alladhinoancamta
c
Ghayril-maghlibiolayhin wo )ai.lithn.
Amin.
POSTURE3
Bend at waist, placingpalms on kneeswith fingers spread.Backis parallel to
ground,suchthat if a glassof water were on the back,it would not spill.Eyes
are looking down, directly ahead.Do not bend the knees.
Nome:Aukuc
Durction:12 seconds
fucitotion:Whllebndiry at
tlrc wdist,reciteAllihu akbar,
then:
SublzanaRobbld-cA7in
SubfianoRobbTol-cAvin
Subldna Robbid-cA7in
(Holy h ny Lord,
the Magnifcent)
Beneficial Effects: Fully stretches the muscles of the lower back, thighs,
and calves.Blood is pumpedinto upper torso. Tones musclesof stomach,
abdomen,and kidneys.Over time, this posture improvesthe personality,
generatingsweet kindnessand inner harmony.
Salct:ThcPwturcsol thcProphctsI 97
POSTURE4
While rising from the bending position of rukut, recite SamicaLlfrhuli-man
(Allah hears the one who praisesHim; Our
fianidah.Rabbaniwa lakal-fiamd
Lord, Yours is the praise).Then return to standingposition,arms at side.
Name:Qauma
Duration: 6 seconds
Aecitation:AJnr holdngfor six seconds,
say:
Allahu akbar
and moveto nextposition,
Beneficial Effects: The fresh blood moved irp irtto torso in previous posture
returns to its original state,carrying away toxins. Body regainsrelaxation
and releasestension.
e8 I ThcBuk of iuli Hrr,ltng
POSTURE5
Place both hands on knees and lower yourself slowly and easily into a
kneeling position. Then touch the head and hands to the ground. The
following sevenbody parts should be in contact with the ground: forehead,
two palms, two knees, toes of both feet. The end position of this posture is
given below.
Nome:kjdah
Durotion:12 seconds
Recitation:
SuphbnoRobbiaL-cAld
SulhonoRabblol-cAla
Sulhina RabbTal-clir
(Glory k to my Lord,
tlv Most Supreme)
POSTURE6
RecitingAlldhuskbnr,rise from Position5 and assumethe sitting posture
shown here.
Name: Qtcil
Durotion: 6 yconds
Redation: At end oJ 6 seconds,
Allihu akbar ond
rcfot actioridof
Puiion 5 exoctly.
Beneficial Effects: For men, the h6el of the right foot is curled up and the
weight of the leg and part of the body rests upon it. This aidsdetoxification
of the liver and stimulates peristaltic action of the large intestine. Women
keep both feet, solesup, underneath their bodies.The body returns to even
greaterrelaxation,and the postureassistsdigestionby forcing the contents
of the stomachdownward.
roo I Thr Bookol Suf Haling
POSTURE7
kpeat motionsof
Posture5 exactly.
Then,recitingAllahu akbar,
rctum to sitting as in
Posture6.
POSTURE8
From Posture 5, with head in prostration, lift the head away from the floor
and bring the torso backward.Placinghandson knees,reversethe procedure
for going down, and,while againreciting / Ildhuakbqr,return to the standing
position. This completesone rackatof prayer.
1O2I ThcBookofSt!fi H.aling
The galAtis done in either two, three, or four rackats,according to the time
of day:
Fajr: 2 nckah
fuhr: 4 rackah
ct*r: 4 rockah
Maghib: i rackah
Isha: 4 llccka/s
At the end of eachtwo units of prayer,the following supplicationis added:
At-talriyyaiuli-Llahiwaq:qalawetu wat-tayyibat
As-salirnu'alayka ayyuhin-Nabiyyu
Wa rafrmatuLlihi wa barak5tuhu
Was-salamu calayniwa cali cibidi Llihig-galilrin
Ash-haduan li iliha illaLlih
Wa ash-haduannaMul.rammadan cabduhuwa rasrlluh.
At the end of this recitation, the head is hung low, then turned slowly to full
extension to the right, so that the eyes can glance back over the shoulder,
and one recites:
As-salimu calaykum wa ralrmatu Llah
(Peaceand blessingsof Cod be upon you).
While turning the head to the left, one repeats the phrase:
As-salSmucalaykumwa ralrmatu Llah.
These last statements are addressedto the two recording angels, each of
whom sits poised over the shoulder, recording respectively the good and
wrongful actions. subhanAllah!
Another interesting feature of the qclatis that in the course of assuming
three main positions (qi\dm,rukat, and snjdah), one makes the physical shapes
of the Arabic letters alif dal, and mim. These letters spell the word,4dam,the
name of the first createdhuman and the first prophet (a.s.).The illustrations
on the following page show the body posture and letter correspondence.
The angels-who were created solely to worship Allah and do so as
their natural behavior-perform all of these postures of worship. All the
prophets of history (peacebe upon them all) also used one or more of these
postures. The prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) was granted the grace of
conveying to humanity the synthesis of all of the postures of all the
prophets. Al-fiandu li-Llah il-Hayynil-Qayyn!
Another important point regarding this practice, simply as a physical
activity, is that persons of all ages can dg it. It is smooth, flowing, and easy,
and in time becomes the greatest physical development that is possible.
In the course of one day, the minimum performance consists of seven-
teen units of prayer, composed of nineteen separate positions during each
ratkat. This is a total of 1le physical postures per day, or 3,570 postures
monthly, or 42,840 postures yearly.
In the average adult lifetime of forty years, 7,773,600 postures are
performed. Anyone so doing is protected and inoculated against a host of
ailments and diseases,such as heart attack and other cardiac problems;
emphysema; arthritis; bladder, kidney, and bowel problems; viral and bac-
na I ThcBaokol S{i Hedtug
It is incorrect to say, as some do, that when a seeker gains his desires,
worship and devotion are no longer incumbent upon him; for the Chief of
the World, blessingsand peaceof God be upon him, was always prostrating
in worship and devotion before God. Although he had reached the summit
of devotion, he would say, "O Lord, I am ashamed, for I did not worship
You as I ought to have done "
The following chart provides the correct number of obligatory and
optional rackstsfor the five daily prayers of galil.
NUMBER OF RACIC{TS
IN 5/IAT
Fai,
(Recitation 2 t
aloud)
Zuhr
(Silent) 4 4
,Al,
(Silent) 4 4
Maghrib
(First two 3 2
rqckatsaloud)
clshn
(Firsttwo 4 4 2 , 3
rq'kats aloud)
LO
The Soul of the Rose
There are thrce things oJ tbis wo d
that I have been nnde a preJer
pra)rc\ women, and scents,
Prophet M ulmmmad (s.a.w,s. )
The prophet Sulaymin (a.s.)was the one who first learnedthe healing
propertiesof herbsand flowers. One day as he was standingfor prayer in
the mosque,a flower sprang up before him and said, "As-sslsm taliykum,
Hazrat Sulayminl" Hazrat Sulaymanreturned the greeting and then asked,
"What are you doing here? What are you for?" And the flower answered
him that it was a remedy for such-and-sucha disease.The next day, a
different flower sprangup and told Hazrat Sulaymin the diseasefor which
it was the remedy. Over a course of time, all of the medicinal flowers
appearedand told Hazrat Sulaymdntheir healingproperties.And he was
the first to have this knowledge,which is of divine origin.
The absoluteof the essenceof Allah is called dhAt.We expressthis
unfathomableabsolutewith the pronoun Hn. Our human minds are in-
capableof conceivingof or expressingthe full reality of Allah. And in
considering the nature of God, we must look to the manifold forms of His
creationand know Him by His signs.
Eachof the divine attributeshas a dh-at, which is its totality. For example,
ar-Rafimin is the totality of every kind of mercy that exists,haseverexisted,
and will ever exist, in all forms, whether physical, mental, or spiritual, and
whether we know of it or do not. Allah,tn His mercv, has bestoweduntold
forms of this mercy throughout the human, angelic,and animal creation.
Yet all these untold numbers of manifestationsare still only a small part of
the dhAt,or totality, of Allah's attribute of ar-Rafumdn.
This notion of an absolute essencealso applies to the human being in
relation to the soul (rtl). This intimate relationshipbetweenabsoluteessence
and manifold forms of that essenceis duplicated in all of nature. Each
flower, tree, and shrub has its physical form and also its essence.The seed
of an oak will not produce a willow. All of the specificcharacteristicsof the
7tl
ll2 I ThcBook
ofSufiHealing
flower are containedwithin the seed,within its essence: the height of the
plant, the shapeof leavesand flowers, the plant's periodsof dormancy,
color, fragrance,and evenits healingcharacteristics. We learnedof someof
these essentialattributeswhen we studiedthe relationshipbetweenfoods
and health.
Our own human absoluteessence, or soul,is extractedat the momentof
death.Allah has inspiredvariousof His prophets(peacebe upon them all) to
discover the methods of extracting the souls lrrth) from flowers, and this
knowledgehas beenpreservedin Sufism.
A prominent exampleis what is calledruh-iguldb,or soul of the rose.It is
consideredthat the absoluteperfectedessenceof the roseexistswithin the
flower itself,iust as the perfectedessence or soul of a human existswithin
the body. These essences of flowers are of inestimablevalue in correcting
imbalancesin the human being.
The symbolof Sufismitself is the rose,becausethis flower is considered
to be the Mother of Scentsand the Queenof the Garden.The placementof
the rare and refinedbeautyand sweetnessof the roseblossoms-at the end
of a long, stern stem full of prickly thorns-aptly symbolizesthe mystic
path to Allah the Almighty.
The 124,000prophetsAllah hassent to the world with His Guidancdhad
different bodiesbut the same soul. Their messageto humanity was the
sameregardlessof the physicalform they had,the colorof their skin,or the
languagethey spoke.
Allah saidthat the first thing He createdin the universewas the soul of
prophecy.He saidthat He madeit from the absoluteof His own light, called
nirr. Allah further stated that if He had not createdthis soul of prophecy,He
woud not have createdthe unrverse.
After Allah the Almighty made this magnificentsoul, it was of such
luminous nature and so burning with light that it beganto sheddrops of
perspiration.And from this sweat of the soul of prophecy,Allah madethe
soul of the rose. This is the actualorigin of the art and scienceof aroma-
therapy.
Every prophetictradition uses flowers and their oils in healing.If we
considerthe nature of flowers themselves,we realizethat they are stimu-
lated into growth and subsistprimarily by virtue of their relationshipwith
the light rays from the sun, and by meansof the processcalledphoto-
synthesisgive off the componentsof oxygenand air that we usefor breath.
Flowers require this nourishmentof light, as well as that of the soil and
ratn.
It is said that peopleused to follow the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.
and collect the drops of his perspiration,finding them to be the very
sweetestsmell and fragranceof all, superior to any flower's scent.The
reason these droplets were of such eleganceis that they containedthe
essenceof his soul.
Thchul oflhc Rox I rt3
petalson the tomb itself, then retrieve them for later use in healing.Since
the soul of the saint is living, the roseessencewill imbibethe essence
of the
saint, which can then be consumedand conveyedinto any person with
uniformly positiveresults.
Many Sufi hhanagahs (monasteries)have rose gardensgrowing nearby.
The Sufis alsorecitevariousversesof the Qur'an over rosepetals,charging
them with even greater healing powers (seefollowing chapters).
Sufi Abu AneesMuhammadBarkatAli (mayAllah be pleasedwith him),
at his spiritualretreatin Pakistan,makeshis own soul remediesaccordingto
the abovemethods.From a nearbyrosegarden,he gathersup fresh petals,
over which constant prayers and remembranceof Allah are carried out.
Thesesamepetalsare dried out in a specialroom in which there are more
than 25o,oO0copiesof the Holy Qurin, as well as one of the four oldest
Qur'ans in existence,dating from the time of Hazrat cUthman (r.a.).The
room, which is calledthe Qur'En Malrall (Houseof the Qur'an), vibrates
with the divine presence.The petalsare laid out and arrangedso as to form
the shape of the word Allah, and various verses are recited over them for
some time, thus maturing them for healing.Even one or two petalsof the
medicinespreparedthus have been demonstratedto effect a cure, as it
pleasesAllah.
Anyone can utilize this method.Take a cleancloth, preferablyof forest-
green color, and if not that, blue or white, of largeenoughsizeto hold the
shape of the word (about three feet by four feet). After reciting Bisni Ll:ah
ir-Raftmin,ir-Raftim(In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful),
spreadout the petals to form the word Allah, following exactly the sequence
shown in the illustration.
After completingthe shapeof the word Allah in the order indicated,
recite over it 786 times, Bisni Lldh ir-Raftmin, ir-Rafiim.If you have the
time and inclination,this formula can be recited any number of times.
After completing this procedure, you may use the petals for healing.
11
10
Shapeand sequence
of writing the word AlI6h.
Thc Sorl,lof ahcRcg I 115
Amber
Oil of amber (kshrabah in Persian),or liquid amber,as it is sometimescalled,
is derived from a speciesof pine tree (Pircnsutdxt'era).
Many peoplehave had
contactwith amberstonesand beads,and it is this samebasicsubstancethat
is used in healing.But the stoneshave hardenedfor severalmillion more
years than the resin,which is used to manufacturethe oil
There are only three localesin the world where authenticambercan be
found. Its color variesanywherefrom a light, translucentpink to a heavy,
dark brown. When we realize that the essentialsap of these trees, to
becomeamber,has been preservedfor one to six million years,we under-
stand that we are tappinginto a very ancienthealingenergy.
Some people use the sap from trees and distill out the essence.But
others,realizingthis ancientenergywithin, prefer to grind down the stones
into powder and then heat it to retrieve the essence.This latter form of
amber is better for healing,but very, very difficult to locate.
Amber has been fossilizedfor so long that we even have no way of
knowing what other life forms were present.But we do know that the
prophets (a.s.)who lived long ago had extraordinarypowers of perception
and healing.It is said,for example,that one prophetwas ableto overheara
conversationof ants,at a distanceof more than ten miles!It is likely that in
additionto beingendowedwith spiritualpowers,they hadhiddenknowledge
of healingplants.Many of thesespeciesare now extinct.
Although the bestambercomesorily from the Near East,Russia,and the
DominicanRepublic,frequently it is taken to other parts of the world for
processingout its essences, for making it into attar. Amber processedin
Tunis and the Sudanis remarkablypure, clear,and healing.The Sudanese
variety is much hotter than the Tunisian,and thus strongerin effect.It is so
thick that it will not pour and must be heatedto get it out of the bottle.
A cake amber availablefrom Afghanistan is the best in the world, and
not so expensiveif purchasedin that country. Unfortunately,it is difficult
to obtain it at present.
116 | Thc Bookol Stft Heditg
Frankincense
The word inrersecomes from the French enensand originally meant "frank-
incense,"but it now refers to any kind of fragrant vapor. Frankwas ap-
pendedto the word incens, to add the meaningof "luxurious"or "expensive."
So, to the French, means the very best fragrance.
frankinrcrss
The original Latin word for incensewas parfumum,meaning"through
smoke."The burning of the oils is a commonmodeof application, becauseit
further refines the essence,releasesit into the air, and makesit easyto
disperseover a wide area.It is an effectivemeansof administeringscentto
the insane,children,or others who cannotor will not participatein smelling
the scents.
When an essenceis taken in its vaporizedform, it travelsinto the body
via the networksof the essences and reachesits goalmore easily;whereasif
it is swallowedor rubbedon the skin, there are many possibilities that it will
not arrive at the desireddestination,especiallyif it goesvia the stomach.
Digestivejuicesmay annul the healingeffects,becausealcoholis one of the
by-products of normaldigestion.
Frankincenseis hot in the seconddegree,but is not quite so hot as
amber.It is a little lessdrying, too.
Frankincenseis to this day used in the religious ceremoniesof the
CatholicChurch, and was one of the scentspresentedto the infant Jesus
(a.s.).This is so becausefrankincenseis a verv oowerful cleanserof the aura
and psychicplanes.
Myrrh
Myrrh is hot and drying. lt was one of the oils commandedby Cod to Moses
(a.s.),and alsoto Jesus(a.s.),to be one of the ingredientsin their healingand
holy anointingoil. In ancienttimes it was usedto conveyto peoplea certain
internal esotericteaching,to purify their spiritualenvironmentso that the
teachingswould have a proper soil in which to be planted.
Myrrh is mentionedin the Qur'an as having specifichealingproperties.
Again, there are severalvarieties,but that from Tunis and Moroccoseems
to be of first quality.
Th. Sorl.lof tfu Rolr I r77
Violet
Violetis coldandmoistin the first degree,
andthuscanbeconsidered
mild
in its action.Violet leaves,flowers,and oils are featuredin a great number
of healingformulas.
Sandalwood
Sandalis cold and dry in the seconddegree.The bestand most famousoil of
sandalcomesfrom Mysore, India. It is usedin many conditions,frequently
for genital and urinary tract infections.Sandalis also usedas the baseoil
into which other oils are extractedor blended.It is a very goodbasebecause
it evaporatesvery slowly and doesnot spoilover time. In fact, agedsandal-
wood is better than fresh.
Sandalwoodis recommended wheneverseriousmeditationand soiritual
practicesare being undertaken,becauseit is quieting to all of the egotisms
of the body, especiallythose relating to sexualenergies.
Musk
It was reported in the Hadith that the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)was
particularly fond of musk oil. True musk oil is derived from the sexual
glandsof a kind of deer,found only in remoteregionsof the world. Musk is
hot and dry. Somepeoplerefuse to use it becausethey objectto using any
animal substance,for anything. Musk, however,doeshave a definiteplace
in medicine,particularlyin healingheart and sexualproblems.
Rose
Roseis cold and dry in the seconddegree.There are perhapsthreehundred
different speciesof rosesusedin aromatherapy.The finest is saidby some
to be the attar of Bulgarianrose,which retailsat about $3SOper ounce.Few
peoplestock it. Others considerthat some of the first-pressingrose oils
from India are superiorevento the Bulgarianrose.Their priceis Jout $450
per pound in India. It requires almost 60,000 pounds of rose petals to
produceone kilogram (Z.Zpounds)of first-pressingrose oil.
The Indiansreportedlydiscoveredroseoil at the time of the weddingof
Shah fehan, the one who built the Taj Mahal and Shalimargardensas a
testamentof his unyieldinglove for his wife, Noor Jehan.For the wedding
day, the emperorhad filled the moat surroundinghis castlewith rosewater,
over which the weddingguestswere to be ferried.As the sun beatdown its
heat on the rose water, it causeda natural distillationof the oil, which
separatedoff and floated on top of the rose pond. This was skimmedoff,
and the Indianshave excelledat producingrose oil ever since.
The roseis the most superiorof all scentsin the floral realm.Roseworks
simultaneouslyon the physical,emotional,and spiritual bodies,purifying
and uplifting all three. It is the least toxic oil. One can make a delicious
summer drink by addingone drop of rose oil to a gallonof water. Shakeit
ll8 I Ttu Bookof SufiHwling
up, and then take onedropof that liquid and add it to another fresh gallon of
water. The resulting mixture is highly refreshing. This single drop still
carries the power to scent the water, even though it has been diluted almost
a million times.
Jasmine
is coldanddry. The flowersof jasminearecold,but theessential
Jasmine oil
is heating. This is an important consideration: that not all substanceswork
in the same way in all forms, just as water and ice are chemically the same
but quite different in their effects. It is also true that flowers and their oils
do not work the same way in humans as they do in animals:what is heating
to a human may be cooling to a fish. This fact makes random experiments
on animals a questionablepracticeat best.Jasmineis the scent favored by the
shaykhs of the famous whirling mystic dancersof Turkey. Its specialquality
is its unparalleled ability to uplift the mood and lessen mental depression.
Hina
Hina (pronounced huna) is the oil extracted from the flowers of the henna
plant. Hina is very difficult to obtain in the United States. It is considered
one of the finest and most refined oils in the world, and its price reflects
that. In India, a dram of first-quality hina oil (about a teaspoon)costs about
$100. This is becauseit is usually aged over a long time, and improves with
aging. I have seen cataloguesadvertising it for as much as $1,ooo a pound.
But one can obtain various hina oils that are blended,thus bringing the price
into reach of the average person.
The curious thing about hina (and some of the other oils as well) is that
the liking for its fragrance is an acquired one: many people on first srnelling
it find it repulsive.
cud
The rare and costly oil known as cfrd is taken from the wood of the
aloeswoodtree. The best cird comesfrom India. Its cost can be as high as
$8oo per dram. However,thosefamiliarwith its effectsdo not find the price
a consideration.
It could be statedthat cid is enioyedonly by thoseof the higher evolu-
tions of the soul;indeed,its applicationis usuallyrestrictedto imbalances
of
the last three stations.
fannat al-Fardaws
Although a blend,jannat al-fardawsis very popularamong the Sufis.It is
said that a Sufi tattir, or perfumer, one day entered the Fardaws-the
Highest Heaven-in his mysticalexertions.Once there, he experienceda
particular fragrance.Upon recoveringhis normal state of mind, he repro-
ducedthis fragrance,thus the name:Gateway to the Highest Heaven.
The Soslof thc Rts I 179
APPLICATION OF OILS
The most commonmethodof usingessentialoils amongthe Sufisis to rub a
smallamount of oil over the extendedright hand, palmsdown. This is the
etiquetteof receivingan oil offeredby a shaykh.Then the oil is rubbedover
the beardor chin, acrossthe front of the shirt, and onto the wrists.
A secondmethod of applying the oil, particulariy when a mental or
emotionalconditionis beingtreated,is the following.Put one or two drops
of the oil onto a pieceof cotton about the sizeof the end of a cotton swab
stick (do not use the stick,however).Then insert the cotton wad into the
ridgelike ledge of the ear, lust above the ear opening (notinsidetheear).The
illustrationshowsthe correctplacementof the oil. This must be donein the
rightear,not the left. In the right ear, at this point of placement,five cranial
nervescometogetherto form a nervemass,or ganglia.This is an important
point in other systemsof medicineas well, such as Chineseacupuncture,
where it is calledsfterwen,one of the important life-regulatingpoints.
Now that we understandsomethingabout oils,we can assignthe oils to
be usedin eachof the stagesof the soul'sevolution-the stagesof egotism,
heart, soul, divine secrets,proximity, and union. Eachof the stations,their
imbalances,and resultingconditionsare given in the next section,with the
proper oil to be used for each
Some readers may wonder why I do not suggest applying the oils
internally for physicaldiseases.Although there is a scienceof utilizing
attars and essentialoils in this way, I presentherethe applications which are
intendedto affect the emotionaland spiritualcentersbecausethat is where
the diseaseconditions originate.Another book presenting the applicationsof
oils for physicalconditionsis in preparation.
Generallyspeaking,the oils may be simply smelledfor effectin all of the
stationsof the soul and their imbalances. However,one will find them also
effectivewhen addedto massageoils and rubbed over the entire body, in
the stationsof egotism and the heart. The other stationsrequire simply
inhalationof the fragrance.
LOCATION
OF COTTON
VACUUM
DIV I NE UNION
ix;
(/.&)
".V*f
\\-.P,
'oY, a
\ ' Yo r ttl9
7\v(.vlE
'+SL-/-S
. " to r€ ' ,
'"^ti!:zf,.d
. - ' t Xt s 19' ,
r22 I ThcBmkof SufiHeding
t23
12a I The Bookof S'1f Hetling
The Arabic word i4ra'is lendered here as "recite" becauseit meansto read
from some book, from actual letters. Now, the Prophet (s.a.wg.) was an
Ilrnfli, an unletteredone who could not read or write, so the command
seemedpuzzlinS,even terrifyinS, to him at the time But the Holy ProPhet
(s.a.w,s,) was ableto memorizeeachof the versesas it cameto him, and
thus could "read" it from his memory, althouth actual physical written
copieswere producedduring the lifetimeof Muhammad(s.a.w.s.)
One of the Companionsof the Prophet related this comment by Mu-
hammad (s.a.w.s.)on the value of reciting the Qur'an: "Recitint the Qur'an
out of memory catries one thousand degrees of religious merit, while
reading the Qur'an from the Book itself increaseslthe merit] up to two
thousanddegrees."
Thg benefits and effects of Eading the Qulan are like a seed that
eventually 6ends out twi8s, branches,loots, and leaves of 6ustenancein
every dircction. The Hadith state: "Whoever reads the Qu/an and acts
upo; what is contalnedin it, his Parentswill be made to wear a down
on the Day of Judgm€nt, the brilliance of which wil exceedthat of the
sun, if it were brought down into your houses." So, if that is the r€ward
for the palents, what do you think is the leward fo! the Pe$on who
acts upo! it him6€lJ?
The most important considerationregarding the Qur'an is that Allah
statesin the Book that it is not of human origin; it consistsof the actualpre-
eternal, uncreated speechof Allah Himself As such, no other book exists
which carries the degreeof pedection and balancein its words. Even the
most disinterestedobserver cannot fail to be impressedupon hearing the
Qur'an recited. lt is of surpassingbeauty, melody, and majesty.
Another important point about the Qur'an is that within the first seven
a26 I Th. B@k ol Saf H.alins
lines, virtually all of the sounds that occur in Arabic are uttered. One of
theseletters is grdyfl,which when uttered caugesa kind ofgrowlinS, Suttural
sound in the backof th€ throat. Eachletter sets off a vibratory pattern that
travels in a specificdirection,lasts a specificduration, and producesspecific
physical, mental, and spiritual effects. The sound of the letter 3/rayn(and
also kli', rayr, and others) is usually not madein the English language.This
means that the effects associatedwith such letters are not felt unlessone
recites the Arabic. It is a bit curious that most of the sounds that occur in
Arabic and not in English are associatedwith the sounds of choking in
English!
Even more important, the various combinations of vowels and con-
sonantscombineto stimulate and dispersethe divine attributes throughout
the bodyof the reciterin perfectmeasure.One of the attributesis al-Chofnr
(the Forgiver),which containsthe letter grayn.One who never recitesthis
letter is deprivedof the fr.rllmeasureof forgivenessin his or her own soul.
There are three basicvowel soundsin Arabic: the letters fllil, Dnrr,and rA'.
ihou ahows
The illustralion ol tralrcloJlhe
thepoifll ol origiflafld direcliotl
nibralorylonesassocialedu,ilheach 1)outl ;ound.
a;n9lv,9l;dl,V, .?
6*3t4sJl
6i-EvugY
6,({i5'nU-6'^;:,\ltJ
6.,i*Atv,WrU;v
(!
gtop for the second level of reciting Another mode of reciting allows
pr.i the 4i as well, stopping only when the sign '*! i-.l ,'
'".il"g -of
aDoears over the circle Thus, one may recitethe entire 5urat al-!arlr'!an
usingsevenb.eaths,threebreaths,or onebreath ln someof the dyals'these
is
;;;;lh ou""t allow for recitationslastingalmost two full minutes lt
indeed istonishing to hear the Qur'an recitedin thrs manner'
'- 'ih"re
iurth".*o.", are additional levels of recitation which involve
proionging the breathsand focus upon certain vowels and consonants'One
would of necessity requireyealsto attaincomPlete masteryof the.m-odes of
recitinBthe Holy Qur'an Personsattainint this.maslery are called 44lI' ano
have committed the entire Qur'an to memory by this stage'
For the Sufi aspirant, the fiist requirement is knowledSeof the correct
modegof recitinSihe versesof the Holy Qur'an The ascensions of ecstasy
producedtherebycanonly be imaginedThere are more than a lew rePorts
ii-"irur.fr. *hil" eng"gedin listeningto a recrtation of' or them-
""oiiite
the Holy Qur'an. ShaykhBayazidBistami (r'a l once,noted
selvesreciting,
that it waethe Ereatestmysteryto him that the Personwho recrted tne call
to prayer did not die from it
'Obviously,
not every Person,particularlya novice' can achievefull
recitationof the Qur'an within a short time ln order to accelerate the
of tft" Qurin-in its effects uPon body, mind, and soul-the,Sufis
reeortto useof the divinenames,whrchcondenseand compressthe elfects
"ii".ir
into a brief sPace
-' lonserrecitations
of
ii i. i"* tf,ut we step off into the realm of the divine realities'where
only true and great faith will sustainone'
L2
Ib'wrdh:
The Merciful
Prescriptions
We send dowD stage by stage in the
.l'r'an tlut which is a healing and
a mercy to those who believe. . .
Qtrhn 17:82
131
82 I ThcBlr,kol Stfi Huling
400 ld: t t.
g 900 4A: .Z
7
(: 5 ttrn:t ? 7,000 ghayn:gh
7 I ha'h 19 80 la: I
4 cql: d
.tJ 20 ral: K
700 dhdl: dh
J 30 Fam:I
, &
200 fa: f
I mtm: m
7 z c :z flun: n
tJ
d 60 stn: s A 5 h6: h
a a
300 shin:sh 6 oa@: w
!r
,tA 90 s.idt q rt 70 va:y
To'widh: The Merciful Pftsciptions I l,g3
2340 - 2346
ZJ+J 2339 2344
2344 2348 2347 2338
2342 2337 2335
*
AJJI !ul"i!'fi'1"*l:#*'o
The number for BismiLlith ir-Rahman,ir-Rallimis computed as follows:
The totals:
{0 60 2
f,o I
A I I I A llnh:1-t30 + 3 0 + 5 = 6 6
HA LAM IAM AUE
50 {0 8 200 30 I
7 ,I ir-Rafumdn1 + 30 + 200+ 8 + 40 + 50
I I : 329
NiN MlM HA R/{ IAM AUF
{0 10 I 200 30 I
7 ir-Ralpm 1 + 30 + 2oo + 8 + 10 + 40
I i' !
= 289
MiM YA' HA RA TAM ALIF
T o ta l : 786
causeof the diseaseon the spiritual realm so that the remedywill haveits
desiredeffect.
Not all shaykhspossessthe sameknowledge,Somespecializein one or
severaldiseaseconditions,suchas jaundice,blindness,insanity,or others.A
patient may go to one shaykh for Buidanceand then be referredby him to
another shaykh,one who has the requisiteformulasto heal the person.
The shaykh writing out tactDidh must be very pious,devoidof miterialistic
intent. The writer must also be maintainedin the state of purity, or wuflu.
The formulasare written in Indiaink, and sometimeswith vegetableinks of
red or green color. Once the tatwidhis prepared,it is placedinsidea metal,
cloth, or leathercontainerand worn on somepart of the bodv. Someof the
ta(widhare for a limited time, while others are worn for years.Once their
effect is achieved,they must be buried in a safeplace.
Becausemany phyiicaldiseases havetheir origin in emotionalimbalances
or conditions affecting life-style, the tacwidhcover a very wide range of
apiplications.For example,if a man is sickbecauseof worry over debts,the
healerwould provide the patient with a tatwrdhthat would increaseliveli-
hood, which is the causeof the disease,in the end. Tacwidhalsoexist for
improvingcrop output and honeyproductionof bees,to avert calamities, to
annul the plots of enemies,for virtually any disease, and for satisfactionin
interpersonalrelationships.
The following pagesreproducesomeauthentic taruidl formulas from the
Naqshbandiyyah and ChishtiyyahSufis in Afghanistan.(lt is not permitted
to reveal all of the existing tacwidhor to make the effects availableto the
generalpeople,lest someonemisusethem.)
136 I ThcBookol 9ufi Hcditg
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Let us now turn to the most concentrated and condensed healing formula
that exists, the Divine Remembrance, the Celestial Conversation, the Fa-
vorite of Allah and the lifeblood and life breath of the Sufis: dfriLr.
Ql,r'an 33:jS
Remember
thy Lordmuch,andpraiseHim in the earlyhours
of the night and rnorning.(3:41)
After you have performed the act of worship lsalill, remember
Allah standing,sitting, and lying down. (l:103)
Lo! Even I am Allah. There is no glod Me. So serve Me and
""."pt
establishworship for My remembrance. (20:14)
But verily, remembranceof Allah is more important. (29:45)
O ye who believe!RememberAllah with much remembrance.
(gz:zs)
There are dozens more verses in the Holy Qurhn that contain similar
testaments to the exalted position in which Allah holds the dhikr.
141
ofStfi Heeling
ttz I TheBook
those people think if they had seen Me?" The angels reply that in such a
case,they would have been engagingthemselveseven more in His worship.
"What do they ask of Me?" Allah the Almighty then asks..'They long for
Your Paradise,"the angels respond. "Have they seen My Paradise?,'Allah
agk?."No, they have not seenit," the angelsrespond."What would happen
if they had seen it?" Allah inquires of the angels.,.They would lon!-for
it all the more," is their reply.
Then Allah the Almighty asks the angels,"From what were the people
seekingprotection?"The angelsinform Him that the peoplewere seeking
protection from the hell. "Have they seen My hell?" Allah inquires. ,,No,
Lord, they have not," the angelsreply. "What if they had seenMy hell?,'
AIlah the Almighty asksof the angels,who reply that the peoplewould have
even more sought refuge and protection from it.
Then Allah the Almighty commandseachof the angelspresentthat He
has forgiven all of those who were engagedin remembranceof Him. One
angel says to Allah, "But Lord, there was one among them who only
accidentallysat down and did not belongthere" (that is, he was insincere).
Allah the Almighty replies,"Even that one have I forgiven, so exaltedis the
assemblythat even one on the edgeis not deprivedof My reward."
The dhikr assemblytakes many forms and is calleddhiir-fualqah, samhc, or
simply dhikr. Each Sufi order may have its particular form and sequenceof
performing the dhikr,but these differences are so minor as to be incon-
sequential. The dhikrceremony of the Chishti is composedof four parts,
each Iasting approximately one hour, although the shaykh pr"r"r,i
extend the ceremony to five or more hours, dependingupon the stations ^"yof
thosepresent.Pir SyedDaoud Iqbali,leaderof the Naqshbandiyyah Sufisof
Afghanistan, once remarked that any dhikr that lasts less than lour or five
hours is lust "fooling around."
For anyoneseriouslyinterestedin deriving the ultimate benefitsof the
Sufi dhibr,a true shaykh (or murshid)is an absolutenecessity.As the one of
the great Sufis commented:"He who hasno shavkhand followshimselfhas
taken satanas his guide."
Furthermore,Allah has warned us in the Qur'an that one who has no
marslidbecomestotally lost.
Generally, the dhilcr ceremony is held on Thursday evenin& which the
Sufis consider the beginning of Fridan the day of community prayers in
Islam. Usually the dervishes will arrive for dinner or shortly thereafter and
pray the final night prayer (cishd)together. Then they await the signal from
the shaykh to begin.
The seated dervishes form a circle, and the shaykh begins by reciting
praisesupon the ProphetMuhammad(s.a.w.s.) and variousother supplica-
tions. Then the sacredformula of Ln ilnhailli llAhtlis intoned. This recitation
follows the lead proposed by the shaykh. It may be swift or slow, loud or
144 I ThcBook ol Stfi Heding
soft. In any event,the real objectof the dftikr-intenseas it may be-is not
to get "high" or to becomedisoriented;rather, it is to ascendthe ladderof
stationsof the soul, so that one may arrive ai the Thresholdand attain a
glimpseof the Divine. When this happens(which is by no meansuniformly
achieved),the personmay fall into a state of arajl (ecstasy).As a mark of
respect,all presentrise until this conditiondepartsthe dervish.
The shaykhsignalsthe end of one phaseof the dlitr and the beginningof
the next. In the Chishtiyyah, the initial phase of the tlhikr consistsof
recitationof Ii iliha illaLlahu,with a breathbreakat a particularplace'The
second,third, and fourth parts of thg tlhikrare composedof segmentsof
the sacredformula (illa llahil, nothing except Allalr;Allah, God; and Hi, the
One). Amendments to the dhikr may be made at the discretionof the
shaykh,by addingvariousof the divine attributes(€y'il)at variousplacesin
the dhikr.
After the term of the clhikr,longor short, the shaykh or other dervish
recites from the Holy Qur'an. There then follows extendedsupplications
for the ProphetMuhammad (s.a.w.s.), his family and followers(may Allah
havemercyon them all),the other prophets (a.s.),the piousancestorsin the
order, and others.
The posture and motions of the head are done in a specificmanner by
the Sufi orders and constitutesthe main differencesamong them.
In the Chishtiyyah Order, the dhikr is ordinarily accomplishedin the
following manner:
br ilAhaillALlihu:First one must haveablution.Beginin a sitting posture
as in prayer, the legs foldedunder the body. If the legs are crossedtailor-
style, the vein in the juncture of the left leg behind the knee must be
graspedwith the big toe. This posture dispelsevil insinuationsand also
dissolvesfat around the area of the heart, which is the abode of the
"sneakingwhisperer"(sl-khannis), one of the forms of the Devil.
WhilJ reciting, the head is moved in the motion of an arc, starting
with the left cheek resting upon the left shoulder. The head is then
swung downward acrossthe chest, and a pause is made with the face
looking upward. This is done as Ld ilila is uttered. Then, as the syllableill
is voiced, the head is thrown rather forcefully downward in the direction
of the heart. The recitation concludesby raising the head again,looking
upwardas" Allihn" is said.Thesemotionsare summarizedin the accompany-
ing illustrations.
There is no harm if one takes up this practicein moderation-a few
dozentimes-alone. However,the Sufishaveorganizedtheir studentsinto
the tariqats,so that closesupervisioncan be maintainedover thoseperform-
ing the variouspractices.Whenevermaking recitationof formulasto treat
disease,it is important that the number of recitationsend in zero (e.g.,SO,
60, 1OO,3OO).This is so becausethe desireis for the result to end with
nothing.
Dhikr: DloineRcmcmbrsnce
I l4S
Moreover, there exists one corner of the heart (and therefore certain
divine potentialities within) that is not opened except by dhikr.
Dhikr of Allah the Almighty is the touchstone of all mystical practicesof
all Sufi orders. When one arrives at the state of performance of dftikr,with
sincerity, one is at that famous stage when knowledge gleaned from books
is of no further use. Allowed to flourish and unfold, the dlritr leads one, as
He may decide, to the highest stages of human evolution, and one gains
accessto the origin of miracles.
Qyr'an j6:82
ALLAH
A = The Creator (the absolute Owner of all existence)
L = The divine commandment
H = Creator in relation to what is below Him (the divine essence[dhit]
in relation to His manifestations['asna-'])
To say the word Qur'an sirnilarly invokes overtonesin the divine realms:
AL.QOR'AN
A = The Creator (the absolute Ownet of all existence)
L = The divine commandment
Q = The assemblyof all things in the plan of the Creator (the final code
covering and ordering all of eistence)
R = The retum of all things to the One (the divine purpose in creation)
A = Creator,Who by ordering sets in motion the foregoing Intention
N = The twofold aspectof being (the separationfrom the Creator: man
and God)
Thus, for the Sufi when the word Allah is spbken,a sequenceof stirrings
are ignited within the deepestrecessesof his mind and soul, which remind
(dh*r) the remembererof the One remembered.
The very essenceof the human being, when saying the word, Alldh, is
impressedin this manner: the Creator, the Absolute Lord and Master of all
existence,in sending a soul into human li[e, imbues the soul with an inherent
knowledge of and obedienceto the divine commandments.Theseexist and
are interwoven in an inexpressiblyrefined manner within the body/mind/
soul of the human being. Then the Creator issuesthe order to the soul to
inhabit a particular drop of sensitizedblood (ovum), and life begins. From
that moment, human life is nothing except a reflection of the Creator.
A similar soliloquy is suggestedwith the word Qur'an:The Book"al-Kitab.
Thc Origin ol Mbtclr I l.5g
The Qur'an is the collection of the information of "all things in the plan of
the Creator." Allah has said that nothing hasbeen left out of the eur,ary and
that if all the tlees were pens and all the oceansink, and all of this doubled,
we could not write down the knowledge contained in the Qur'an,
With the utteranceof the first letter of the Qu1an, we are stirring within
the deepestparts of our mental and psychologicalworld. As we continue the
word maldng the sound of the letter rd, our souls are beckonedto the return
of all things to the One." As the first three letters ignite the unimaginably
immense totality of the Plan of the Creator and our purpose in human life,
the fourth lettet, aliJ,stirs again remembranceof the Creator, declaring the
reality of our presentsituation of duality, of separationand absenceof union
with our Lord. Indeed this is the eternalcondition of life. This is not an idea.
The scienceof Sufism is conducted within a closed society, an esoteric,
private Broup. The knowledge possessedby the Sufis is derived from the
deep immersions in the nature of existencereferred to above, Allah has
provided the"accesscodes" to utilize theseknowledgesto effect miracles on
the human plane.
Examples have been given of reciting a particular divine attribute a
particular number of timesf to prevent harm from one's enemy. Other codes
exist to utilize a great many tvats of the Qur'an. (The word ayat,incidentally,
meansboth "verse" and "miracle.") One Sufi practice createsan effect upon
the soul equal to performanceof salattor sevenhundred years.The practice
itself requiresonly about five secondsof recitation,Now, not everyonecould
endure such a practice. For some,it would be like giving a full syringe of
penicillin to a fly suffering from a cold!
By adding practicestogether,the effectsare extendedto a point that they
cannot be expressedeven using mathematicalabstractconcepts.Some Sufis
have accomplishedrecitations of these formulas running into the tens of
millions of times,
One of the problems of expressingconceptsof Sufi healing is that one
who may witness a healing, even a miraculous one, can perceive very little
going on. Someoneappearsbefore the shaykh,the shaykh seemsto mumble
something and blows a breath toward the patient, and the patient is healed
of a crippling disease.Yet one cannot witness the decadesof preparation
required for the shaykh to perform that act. It may have been that the shaykh
sat in seclusionfor thirty years,reciting a formula fifty million times, to be
able to heal that one person. And that healing may have been the shaykh's
main purpose in life.
Some people would like the Sufis to provide a list of diseasesand the
specific formulas that would miraculously cure them. However, it is not the
formula per se but the utilization of the formula by means of the agency of
the purified breath and soul of the shaykh that causesthe effects.The formu-
las by themselveswould be rather uselessto the lay person.
The human mind and body become clouded and covered over with
ofStfi Heallng
ls4 I TheBook
Ya Hayyul Ye Qeyyim!
L5
The Keys
of the Treasures
of the Heavens
and the Earth
lf ye count theJavors of Allah,
Never will ye be able to number them,
Qtr'an 14:33
to its recitationare not limited to physicalhealth,as one can glean for the
following accountfrom the Hadith:
It is ieported that cUthmin ibn cAffin, may Allah be pleasedwith him,
requestedfurther information about Allah's iniunction of the Keys of the
Treasuresof the Heavensand the Earth (mentionedseveraltimes in the
Qur'an). The Prophet (s.a.w.s.)said to him: "You have inquired of me
something which nobody has ever asked me before. The Keys of the
Treasuresof the Heavensand the Earth are as follows":
';AA6"a'.ilrwi5
t f l t.? ..' L ./(tttu
) !).t)eJt29!lgt-+''f
a- / | /a , 1 at t ,a ,
Y,t+ltY 6 uJIaj.ruii':*,1
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ebtrltr
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Jj-$,,;,;9["';;
La iliha illS LlEhuwa-Llihu akbar.
Wa subl.rin Allahi wal-hamdu li-Llahi
wastaghfiru Llih alladhi li il5ha illi Hn
wal-Awwalu wal-Akhiru w aq-llhitw wal-Betinu
yulryi wa yumitu wa huwa $ayyan 15yam0tu.
Bi-yadihil-khayr wa huwa cali kulli shay'in Qadir.
There is none worthy of worship except Allah.
Allah the Almighty is the greatest.
Allah is the glorious and praiseworthy
and I ask Allah for forgiveness
There is no power to do good
and no strength to be saved from evil
exceptwith the graceof Allah.
He is the First and the Last'
He is the Apparent and the Hidden.
He is the Ever-Living Who never dies.
He imparts and takes awaY life.
There is blessingwith Allah the Almighty.
He is the Ruler over everything.
The Kcysol the Treasuresof the Hetoms ond thc Ecrth I 157
The Holy Prophet of Allah the Almighty (s.a.w.s.), whose virtues are the
most excellent,was the most trustworthy personof all creation.Evenprior
to his mission as Prophet, he was called Amin, the trustworthy, and was
never known to have spoken anything except the truth.
The Prophet (s.a.w.s.)said:"ln Snrat al-Fatihahthere is a balm for all
ailments."He went on to providethe specificinstructionsfor utilizing this
most treasured remedy.
The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) alsosaid:"I tell you of a s-urah that is the greatest,
the most virtuous, in the Holy Qur'an. It is Sfrrat al-flamd [the opening
sfirah, al-Fitifrahl, which has seven verses. These are the sabcahmsthLni
[the Oft-RepeatedSeven]and representthe Grand Qur'an."
In another Hadith, the Prophet (s.a.w.s.)is reported to have said:"By
Him Who is in possessionof my life, a s rah like this one has been revealed
neither in the Torah nor in the Bible, nor even in the rest of the Qur'an."
The accumulatedexperienceof the Sufis confirms that the readingand
reciting of Sirat al-Fatihahwith true faith and sincereconviction,curesall
maladies, whether spiritual or worldly, external or internal. The Sffrat
al-Fatibahenters into the writing of almost all tacwidh;it is alsowritten in ink
made of saffron and rose water, and consumed.All six books of authentic
Gotill)Hadith report that the Companions(r.a.a.)used to read it for treat-
ment of diseases, both physicaland mental.
The satanlamented,wept, and tore his hair out on four occasions: when
160 I Tlu Bor,kol SufiHmling
6b9t'dsJl
A'i.;tVs-gy
6f,ft5'!u!'I!'AUS
dt';;i.Arvpr\t$J
-,HWi'&GX:i(rrrtg;e
aafel,64b
Bismi Llih ir-Ralrmin ir-Rahim
ll-hamduli-Llihi rabb il-celamin
Ar-ra!rmin ir-Rahim
Maliki yawm id-din.
Iyyika nacbuduwa iyyika nastacin.
lhdinaE-9ira!al-mustaqim
calayhim
$ira; alladhina ancamta
Ghayril-maghdibi calayhim wa lid-dilin.
Allihu aclam!
calaykumoa ralmatt Lllahiua barak&uht!
As-safamu
Rabbiqad-ataytani
min al-mulki
tm catlamtanimints'wil il-ahldith
F-eliras+amdtfrtiwal-ar{ f
Anta waliyifid-dunyEaal-dkhirah.
Tawnffanimuslimenwa nlhiqnibi1-s.dlihm.
Ashtuduan fa ilnhailli Llih;
Woashhadu
snnsMuhsmrnadan cabihht ua raslhh, ''$nin!
t62 I ThcBookol Srft Hcahng
O mY Lordl
Thou hast given me somethingof sov€reignty
and hast taughl me something
of the interpretationof events-
Creatorof the Heavensand the Earth!
Thou art my protecting Friend
in this world andthe Hereafter.
Make me to die submissiveunto Thee
and ioin me to the righteous.
I bearwitness
that there ii no dtity exceptAllah
and I bear witness
That Muhammadis His servant and Messmger' Be it so!
165
il
Some Useful Short Sflrahs
of the Holy Qur'an
o;;91,:i:Jvnt;.
63;iabErai
6d;-glraii
6(;,j-lfiw-t
6A$rS&Atk
Bismi Llah ir-Rafman ir-Rafim.
1. Qul Huwa Llahu Alad;
2. Allahuq-gamad;
3. Lam yalid, wa lam ytrlad;
4. Wa lam yakul lahl kufuwan a[ad.
167
168 I 'Ihe Brr,kd Sufi Heoling
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br;fiJrttrVJtgitt
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6u;ur6teJki
i.
Bismi Llih ir-Rafman ir-Rafim.
l. Qul a'udhy bi-Rabbin-nas,
2. Malikin-nas,
3. Ilahin-nas
4. Min sharr il-waswas il-khannis,
5. Alladh-i yuwaswisu fi gudtuin-n6si,
5. Min al-jinnati wan-nas.
171.
r72 | TheBookol SufiHeding
'#i-lg
I. AR.RAHMAN 6. AL-MU'MTN lt. AL-KHALIQ
The Gtacious; The Keeper of Faith; The Cr.eator
The B€neficent; The Bestower of SecuritYi
Th€ Compa$ioBate Th€ Faithful
qt 4u- .l
L --Lhl
--
-at
3. AL-MALiK
I
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8. AL-cAzlz
l ^%9 tl. ALMU$AWWIR
Tbe King; The Mighty The Fashioner
Th€ Sovcreign Lord
^tl,ns
tr ll z
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eil ..) |
f t
tt --t --
aa
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4. AL{UDDOS 9. AL-JABBAR !4. AL-GHAFFAR
The Holy Th€ ComP€ller The Forgiver
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-(=
-/-
s. A5-SALAM IO. ALMUTAKABBIR rs. AL-eAHHAR
The Peacc . The Mai6tic; The subduer;
lre Superb The Almightyi
The Conque ng
The Dioine Attibutes I 173
4UJtgJ 5:
a
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18. AL-FATTAH 23. AR-Rlfrc 2t. AL-HAKAM
Thc Op.ner; The Ex.lter The Judge
The Reliever;
The Judge
'frtra'l il
a
,0v'l/. o
-
t
20. AL-QABTD 25, AL.MUDHILL xr, AL-utTfF
The Rcitainer; Th€ Dirbonerer; The Subtle;
Thc Withholde' The Humiliator Thc Gracious
va t TheBookol 5tfi Hcaling
a l: | .
v, .t
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f I
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t .]V a ,t \t
!- r\ .
tv .o
'*(:<
t, I
rs. AL-HArl? 43. AR-nAQIB
t3. ALcA?lM
The Prc:erver; Thc Watcher;
The Magnificent; The W.tchful
The Trernendou6 Th€ Prot€ctor;
'yiA
The Guardian
WC I yL
0
t i- .
t9, AL-MUQIT 44. AL-MUJIB
14. AL-cHAFiiR
The Fceder; The R€sPonsive;
The forgiving Th€ Hearkener
The Suctainer;
The Str.engthener (to prayet)
lE :, !,"A*\t
hffi\
15. ASH-SHAKOR
The Gratcfuli
r a.
40. ALTJASIB
The Reckoner
\e
"E@U
45. AL-WASIG
The Vast;
The All-Embiacing;
ThGRcpayer of Cood
The Comprehensive
The Dioine Attib cs I 175
't*1lz
\ 2'
,17.AL-WADOD 52. AL.WAKIL s7. ALMUTJSI
The lrving The Truttee; The Accountanti
The Advocate; Ihe Counter
Th€ Repres€Dtative
'#yY'i
48. AL-MAJID 5r. AL-QAwl s8. AL-MUBDI'
The Glorious The Strong The Originatori
The Producer
,t)
)t ,,L
lr
"E
49. AL-BACITH 5,1. AL-MAI|N 59. AL.MUCTD
The Rairer (from death) The Firm; The Reproducer;
The. Steady The Reitorcr
g,.r/.
'et ,
,,
v
V
'rffi)t*u,
Thc D€stroyer The Exp€diter;
fhe BringeFForward
1../.
#82
tl'
62. AL-HAYY
" 57. AL.AHAD 72. AL.MU.AXHKHIR
The Ever-Living; Thc One The Defeder;
'yffi\
The Alive The Retarder;
The Postponer'
A#rG
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,r\' - rl ) ., t. a r
^ .J)?. /. \ ).|.
-;{_r- J
@,v)) / ^-
v
--\xl
./9/
59DJ76. AL-BAT|N
4Y2127
t 2l't
"$
'tns
Th€ Hidden; The Avengel The Equitable
The Inrvard
'4Y.tLt7
|la r. I I I
L'29-78 |
-.<-11- I
78. AL-MUTACALI 8t. AR-RA'OF
The High Exalted The Comp..sionatc;
The Full of Pity
1. )t.l/'
d)l.-l)l-[ ^
e(at),1[
V-t
,&AY
Ihe Pr.eventcr
a lr l,^ lr ll
a rrD v \- ! I
.4 .. .- , t | -l I
ft).vrl
el. AD-DAR 94. AL-HADI 9. AL.WAR|TH
The Di.trc66€r The cuidc The Heir;
The lnberitor
99. A$-SABIiR
The Patient
IV
Glossary
Atlar-An expressed true oil of a flower, wood, or bark, said to contain the
essenceof its soul.
Bisni LIih ir-Raftnanir-Raftim-"ln the Name of Cod, Most Gracious, Most Mer-
ciful"; the opening words of the Qur'an, frequently used as an invocation at the
commencementof any word or action.
Chilla-A secludedroom for spiritual practices;a forty-day retreat.
Dargah-A spiritualshrine or meetingplacefor living Sufi masters.
Dayoparee-Chosts,
Qammah-A mark used in the Arabic languageto denote the long vowel sound of r.
Dhikr (also spelledzikr, which signifies the Turkish and Persian pronunciation)-
"Remembrance";the Sufi ceremoniesof liturgical recitations of sacred formulas
and divine names.
Fajr-The predawn obligatory Islarnicprayer; the time for this prayer.
Fq,rr'-Annihilation;effacement;passingaway.
Fntllah-A mark used in the Arabic languageto denote the long vowel sound of a.
al-trotiftnh('fhe Opening)-The first chapter of the Qur'an, said to concentrate
within iiself the whole Qur'an.
Filrr-The world of thought; deep meditation; remembrance of God by mental
means.
Furjah-The human kingdom; the fourth interspacein the hierarchy of creation.
Garzi (Persian)-"Warm"; term used in referenceto the metabolicvaluesof foods.
al-Ghofur(The Forgiver)-One of the divine attributes.
Ghnyb-The Unseenas describedin the Qur'an; includesthe worlds of jinns, angels,
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Ci d d i n ess,29 Kidneys,29
rJrnger, sw
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L e ttu c e ,6 0
Hair loss, 80 Light of Himmah, 21
He a d ache,29,76 -77 , 8 9 LUnacy, JU
Healing
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Health Mars, realm of, 21
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q e neo, rt- ro Melon, 60
Heart (4nlr), 14 Menstruation, painful, Et
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b u rning, 3l Merciful prescriptions, 131-140
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Heat, food, 43-44, 48 M et abolis m , 4 6
Heavens, 17 Michael, archangel, 21
a n d E arth, Keys o f Tre asure sof , 155- l5E M i8r aine, 29
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He n n a , 59 Miracles, origin o(, "149--1,54
Herbal formulas Moon, realm of, 2o
administration, 67 M us L, 117
preparation, 65-67 Myrrh, 116
storage,67 M y r t le, 61
Indu | 789
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