Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

As we commemorate the 10th passing anniversary of our Beloved Naqshbandi Caliph of Southeast Asia, Tuanku Shaykh Raja Ashman Shahق, on the 30th of March, we celebrate his sheer tenacity for this Way and love for Allah Almighty.

Shaykh Raja Ashmanق had the special gift of “seeing” Allah ﷻ in every situation and everyone. Though a royal prince and son to the late 34th Sultan of Perak, he emanated humility and never treated anyone differently. There was no caste-system in his heart and for that, he is known today by those who follow him, as Sultanul Qulub, the Sultan of Hearts. He worked selflessly to lay the foundations of the Naqshbandi Way and exhibited a heart that was only for Allahﷻ.

“The Sultan (i.e. the Muslim ruler) is the shadow of Allah on earth, so whoever honours him (the Sultan), Allah will honor him, and whoever despises him, Allah will despise him.”- Hadeeth

Ku Ashق, as he was fondly known, saw everyone as an extension of The Creator. Like a master puppeteer pulling on every puppet string, he radiated this teaching to his mureeds in Nusantara.

This is the reality one must strive to achieve. As the puppets dance about and tell stories, so too are people attached to the Will of their Lord, who wrote their entire life story, from beginning to end.

Our beloved Qutub of Nusantara showed us that Allah ﷻ loves unity and is One. Seeing Oneness in the Will of Allah ﷻ and not the will of creation, in any given situation, is to attain true peace and complete Taqwa, piety and fear of God.

Wondrous is the affair of the believer for there is good for him in every matter and this is not the case with anyone except the believer. If he is happy, then he thanks Allah and thus there is good for him, and if he is harmed, then he shows patience and thus there is good for him.

Hadith Sahih Muslim 2999

Hence, a believer has all to gain and nothing to lose in being patient in adversity and foremost in thankfulness to every Divine Favour. He is quick to forgive and to value, as his vision only sees The Puppet Master, Allah ﷻ , through any means of difficulty and goodness.

For a sincere mureed, as Shaykh Rajaق was to Mawlana Shaykh Nazimق, the key to progress in attaining Taqwa is to follow whole-heartedly, the teachings of your Murshid, the one who holds the key to your heart.

May we reach to see Allah’s Will in every situation, leave our egoistic will, and be raised with our beloved Mashaikhق in Safety, to attain the Love of Allah Almighty with theirق guidance.