A Letter Of Counsel To A Dervish

It is said that Khwaja 'Abd al-Khaliq (4th deputy of Khwaja Yusuf al-Hamadani, d. 1140 CE) wrote the following letter to his dervish (and 3rd deputy), Khwaja Awliya' Kabir:

You should thoroughly imbue yourself with knowledge, self-discipline and piety. Make a profound study of the Islamic classics. Learn jurisprudence and the Prophetic traditions. Steer clear of ignorant zealots. Always perform your ritual prayer in congregation, but do not act as prayer-leader or muezzin.

Do not seek fame, for in fame lies calamity.

Do not get involved in other people's affairs. Do not frequent the company of kings and princes.

Do not build a dervish convent or live in one. Do not engage too often in sacred music and dance, for over-indulgence in this is fatal to the life of the heart.

But do not reject the sacred dance, for many are attached to it.

Speak little, eat little, and sleep little. Avoid the crowd and preserve your solitude. Do not converse with young people, women, the rich, or the worldly. Eat lawful food and avoid suspect provisions. Postpone marriage as long as you can, for its worldly demands will be detrimental to your religious life.

Do not laugh excessively, for undue hilarity deadens the heart.

Treat everyone kindly and look down on no one. Do not embellish your outward appearance, for ornament is a mark of inward poverty. Do not get into quarrels. Ask favors of none and do not let yourself become a burden to others.

Place no trust in this world and do not rely on worldly people. Let your heart be filled with melancholy and disillusion; let your body suffer and your eyes weep. Let your conduct be upright and your prayers sincere. Wear old clothes and choose a poor man as your companion. Let your home be a house of worship and let the Exalted Truth be your most intimate friend.

[H. L. Shushud, Masters of Wisdom of Central Asia, 30-31].





H. L. Shushud