A couple years ago, i have a speech on this topic to an organization im part of, ISRA (Islamic Studies and Research Association… www.israinternational.com) during the occasion of the Mawlid.
Here is an excerpt:
Allah says that He taught (‘allama) Adam all the Names (Q2:30), but the word ‘allama also means “to make a mark,” and so in this teaching of the Names, (which was not didactic), He marked Adam with all the Divine Names and Qualities, reflecting the traces of each of them in the Adamic form. Our servitude to Him means exactly our returning our qualities to Him – their origin – and relinquishing any power or strength (hawl wa quwwa), for Allah is ‘ala kulli shay’in qadir (over all things powerful).
This process is the return arch of the circle back to Him. He ends, “and a lamp giving light.” Here we have arrived at the true reality of the Muhammadan presence (Haqiqa Muhammadiyya), for the light that reflects from his face to us is the same light that Allah shines on his face. From him comes the essential light-mercy that keeps the creation living in tasbih and hamd. As long as it abides in the life of its essential tasbih and hamd, it is able to return the Trust of the Divine Qualities back to its owner. That is its true life.
Consider the meaning of the statement of the Prophet (salla allahu alayhi wa sallam) when he said: “the difference between the one who invokes Allah and the one who is heedless of Him is as the difference between the living and the dead.” Shaykh al-Akbar Muhammad Muhyiddeen ibn ‘Arabi wrote about the Haqiqa Muhammadiya in his books and said, “from the niche of his prophet-hood, all of the prophets received their prophet-hood thru his light-emanation.”
To read the whole speech, go here. Please leave your comments and insights…
http://www.israinternational.com/library/topics/2004/june.php
