Extremism and Moderation, the Syrian Crisis and King Abdullah II, the Caliph of Islam - in the Land of Shams the Saints are Marching in

1. Arabi's Arrows and Darts

Do we not have All Eternity?

And from our heart,

Do we not shoot

Volleys of Ibn Arabi’s arrows?

And rain on the enemy whistling darts?

For it is we who are besieging doubt,

Our Master has taken to the field, you see

And He is saying unto the enemy,

Come out! Come out!

............................................

Faith is not a numbers game. If you were to trawl the cyber ocean of the Internet, you would grow despondent and sad at the countless millions of websites, blogs, forums, commentaries, tweets and postings that appear to exhibit humanity at our very worse - all the hate, hubris, anger, bias, despair and that unending cacophony baying for war, war, war. And that is only in English. Heaven knows what other malevolence are expressed in the other languages of Man.

Neither Christianity, Islam, Democracy, Sharia or very smart... this is simply hubris, ignorance and despair.

I would think that Christians, with the teaching of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, would be the first to preach love and understanding. And I would have thought that Muslims, with the Sunnah (traditions) of Muhammad (s.a.w.) would have promoted moderation, compassion and mercy. And wouldn't you think that the unbelieving Atheists themselves would be a big force for openness and understanding? 

Atheism - not very open-minded

But alas, not. For many Christians, many Muslims, many Atheists and many believers of other religions and ideologies have forgotten the singular factor that affects the human politic - manners and courtesies. Instead of exhibiting humility as human beings, a little sparse dot of life in the great cosmos, people are wont to be swaggering bullies. And when they should show magnanimity, they show instead condescension. Patience is replaced with impatience, and understanding is replaced with intolerance. 

The truth of the matter is that the extreme forces of hate is arrayed against each other according to their different banners and flags that they follow. Yes, you may be a Muslim or a Christian, or even an Atheist. But by your rude manners, you are following the Religion of Hubris and your fight, your revolution, your great crusade or jihad has nothing to do with us. Indeed, you are just bandits, mercenaries and pirates - Neo-conservative chicken hawks, old mad clerics, despotic tyrants, the neo-Young Turks, Salafis, closed-minded academicians, reformist political Islamists, arms-dealers, warmongers and crooked politicians. They dress differently and perform different rituals and prayers... but all are united in the Religion of Hate.

Well, this cannot continue forever. The Era of the Lost Caliphate has ended, King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is the new Caliph of Islam and the Commander of the Faithful. Next door in Syria, violent forces are gripped in a proxy battle. But the word is for the faithful of Shams (the old name for Syria) to stay indoors, to keep their family close, to pray upon their sajadah (prayer mat) for peace and understanding. And not to lay hand on a single weapon. 

Ignore those who seek to define their faith with AK47s, grenades, bombs, drones, missiles, jet fighters and destruction. It is not faith nor certainty that adorn their actions, but doubt and despair, masked in hubris. Have faith, sunshine... for in the holy land of Shams, the Saints are marching in. Lo... they have never forsaken her! For they remember the Prophet's promise!

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

The Legion of Saints in The Age of 'Enlightenment' and 'Renewal' - democracy and the repeated lies of the Arab Spring

The Mawlana

Life begins at 40, they say, so I must be only 2. Hehehe. Life begins at our birth they say, and yea they are not wrong. But my life, your life, our lives is much, much older than that. From our birth, we have in our beings already the past history of mankind, from the creation of Adam and Eve, through the tumultuous events of the past Prophets of God until the arrival upon this Earth, and great was the welcome given unto him because by his birth God has honoured and blessed the world, of the Seal of the Prophets, Master of the Beginning and the End, our most beloved Prophet, Nabi Muhammad ibn Abdullah (pbuh), radiant light of Mercy, perfection upon perfection, the most beautiful rose in the Garden of Creation. Muhammad(pbuh) is the final and complete divine assurance given by God that verily, He has not forsaken us and verily He is most concerned unto his creation with the sublime and all-encompassing attribute as the Most Compassionate (ar-Rahman) and Most Merciful (ar-Rahim).

So how can we say we are young? It makes no sense, even if we are 1 year old or 15. We are only young in experience. So how can we say we are old, for our life stretches from the known history into the known future. The Devil, who is our tireless enemy, has conspired through his arsenal of tricks and traps to disconnect us from this knowledge. And verily, he has succeeded. First through the Renaissance of the West, when he duped people into thinking, “We are young! We are new! We are fresh thinkers! What for we obey the traditions of our forefathers? What for we respect our elders and their silly bumbling ways? King? Who needs a King when we can ALL be Kings?”

146. Old King Louis

Who was it that deposed the King,

And invited the devil(s) in?

Hah! They speak of nations with no thrones,

They speak of republics with no tyranny.

In truth, what have they done

Save only to leave the people

Kingless and unguided

But for the single-minded pursuit of avarice.

Emptying the Bastille

Only to fill her up again.

The hallmark

Of mobs in power.

..........................

They started it.

And we follow. Very smart. 

For the Devil knew that if he wanted to use a people to corrupt others, they themselves must be assured that they are right, that they are the enlightened ones. And the Devil was most arduous in cultivating his ideas amongst the young, the intelligentsia, the soldiers, the politicians and the merchants, breaking down the authority of the Church and the King, until churches and palaces are now mere museums and a showcase for European royalties without authority. Figureheads forced to accept the tyranny of the majority.

PR and Propaganda at its finest.

And once assured of his control, the Devil used the West to spread the Renaissance ideas of corruption, deception and ill-manners under the guise of egalitarianism, liberty and equality, this poison upon the natural human spirit that is called popular democracy. And they found amongst the young Turks and Arabs an eager audience of listeners, ready to uproot the old ways, to topple the Throne of the Shadow of God, to stop calling themselves Ottomans, but now simply Turks! To stop calling themselves Arabs and the Nation of Muhammad but now Iraqis, Jordanians, Egyptians etc… The Devil has reintroduced selfish nationalism and tribalism back into the soul of Islam, when the Prophet himself(pbuh) has cursed it for the hatred and enmity that it sows amongst humanity.

What has happened has happened.

The House of Democracy, Tahrir Square, Egypt.

The House of God, Mecca. Which of this places has God blessed?

The Mawlana of Lefke, Cyprus is calling unto the Nation of Muhammad, and the Believers not to forsake their history. To remember and respect the past, and to seek support from the Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) and unto all His Companions and Saints who are themselves ready and supported by the Light of God. But now people are walking past the Maqams (graves and tombs) of the Saints not knowing or not caring. They don’t even bother to give gracious greetings of salam(peace). Do they think such personages are dead and sleeping in their graves? The saintly dead has hallowed their life and death in the perfection of their Adab (courtly manners and courtesies) while the living walk around with no Adab at all.

What has happened has happened.

You and I know that the dead do not sleep. That death is but a door, a gateway to another place, and verily the blessed Friends of God are more alive than we are. Let us recall our history, for alone we cannot sustain our vigilance against the unending conspiracies of the accursed Devil and his tribe, who sleeps not for even five minutes in their undying hatred for all of Mankind.

God has blessed you, sunshine. For though we are weak and a little pathetic, we are with The Legion of Saints.

Three don't make a Legion, you say? Look with your heart, they reply.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way.

The Djinn Battles above Kuala Lumpur, circa early 1970s - the Djinns, the Caliph and the coming melee

The sky seems empty but for the gorgeous sunset. But what is
going on up there that we do not see?

Sunday ended beautifully with a dimming sunset in red and golden hue. But it was under this same sky, some 40 years ago that a young Mr. Ikhlas (see below on my earlier postings about Mr.Ikhlas) was driving to Kuala Lumpur one auspicious night. He was travelling along one of the main tributaries into the capital city, Jalan Kuching, which was then a single lane trunk road winding its way through a quiet and very much rural scene when he suddenly notice something very strange overhead. Very strange indeed. He stopped the car by the side of the road and came out to have a better look.

The Djinns were in a pitch battle with each other above the skies of Kuala Lumpur. "It was a pitiless fight, a very bloody battle. No quarter was given and none was expected...", said Mr. Ikhlas.

It is funny that coincidentally I am informed that there is a right ruckus now in the Djinn nations. With the advent of the new Caliph of Islam, King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the ancient veteran Djinn soldiers of the Caliphs are mobilising in battle orders for yet another upcoming melee against their old adversaries, the evil Djinns.

Fascinating stuffs. These are interesting times that we live in, sunshine. And just when you think that the sinner is only writing about love, mercy and beauty. But such events are occurring even as I am writing this. Just as the saints and angels go about their business often unseen, so too do the Djinns, and belief in their existence is an implicit part of our faith. Not many people are given (I shall not say blessed, because it is a burden) the third eye to see the Djinns, but for some, like Mr.Ikhlas and others, it is already a part of their life.

It is only with the grace of God and the guidance of the Prophet(pbuh) and the saints that such men are able to carry the weight of their responsibility with a light heart but a determined will. For contacts between mankind and djinnkind is always fraught with dangers, both physical and spiritual. And some men and djinns, alas, have fallen very low indeed. May God have mercy on them.

Contacts with Djinns is like climbing a mountain.
You get to see interesting things but lo, if you misstep
and lose your foothold and slip!

My prayers and thoughts today go to Mr.Ikhlas and such men who unbeknownst to the rest of mankind have toiled hard in the dark spaces between our reality and the Djinn's world to keep at bay the hounds of hate that ever seek to possess and misguide the human spirit.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Earlier Postings on Mr.Ikhlas -
*The Holy Quran, Mr. Ikhlas and Katmir the Dog - Man's Best Friend
*Mr. Ikhlas, Black Magic and The Divine Shyness in the Presence of Villainy

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

The Hashemite King as the Caliph of Islam - after 7 centuries of the Holy Ottoman Caliphate

10. The King

I held his hand,

This dying king,

But in his eyes,

I saw nothing.

No castles, no knights

No courtiers bold

No helms raised high

No lovers of old.

Only the eyes of a king

Returning to his King,

So ends one flight

Of a dragonfly’s wing.

…………………….

Thus ended the Holy Ottoman Caliphate almost 100 years ago. For a long time it was already referred to as the sick old man of Europe. It was indeed old, 700 years old. And alas, sickly it was also - With the rise of the Young Turks within the ranks of the imperial Turkish army, the rebellion of the Arabs and the dwindling authority and influence of the last Caliph of the Ottomans, the caliphate was in its final death throes.

Istanbul, previous seat of the Holy Ottoman Caliphate for 7 centuries. And now where
is the seat of the Caliphate? Why, wherever the living Caliph is of course...

But worst was yet to come. Slowly the history and stories of the caliphates began to be modified, adjusted and finally ignored totally. There was a movement within the Muslim world, fueled by oil money that propagated a revisionist program, casting doubts over the relevance and indeed, the legitimacy of the caliphates after the Kalifah ar-Rashiddin (the four rightly-guided caliphs immediately after the passing of Prophet Muhammad(pbuh), Abu Bakar, Umar, Usman and Ali).

For almost 1300 years, Muslims have lived under the authority of a living Caliph. In less than one century of revisionist programs of ‘New Islam’ and ‘reformation’, they have been taught to unlearn history. To forget and cast away the memories of the Caliphates - the Umayads, the Abbasids, the Andalusia-Umayads, the Fatimids and lastly, the longest reigning caliphate of the Turkish Ottomans. At best, they were recalled like two-dimensional comic characters of a comic book, a fairy tale even.

But the Sufis have not forgotten. And now that a living, breathing Caliph has been proclaimed, King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, they are revisiting the old songs and prose. Prophecies of hope and love…

11. Songs Revisited

Songs have ceased to bear

The same old meanings;

The King is taking the clothes of the rebel

And making it His own,

The King is taking the words of the jester

And making it His speech.

His claim is Highest and True.

And into the hearts of men,

He is now saying,

I have not forsaken you!

Ho, words now weigh heavier,

Sighs are drawn longer,

Passions have become eternal,

Tears run into a deep clear water,

As Love grows bold and Hope mightier!

…………………….

Already aspersions and doubts have been passed over His Majesty’s ‘right’ and ‘entitlement’ to be the Caliph of Islam, Commander of the Believers. He doesn’t seem the sort, does he? A bit too Westernised. A bit too close (especially his late father, al-Malik Hussein) to the British Royal Family. I am told he is a Star Trek fan and loves big bikes. Surely, this is not the Caliph!?

Oh, but he is, sunshine..,

Oh, well. You cannot please everyone. But my friends are happy. Well pleased to be alive in the time of a living Caliph, no matter if he does not fit the mental image that many Muslims may have of a ‘proper’ Caliph. Not Arab enough. Not traditional enough. Not conservative enough. And perhaps not tall enough. And not even a mustache now (above picture is old)! But that is okay. People will have their own standards that they aspire to.

But my friends are fine with this Caliph. Indeed, they have already given their solemn oath to His Majesty. They do not care at all if he is not a ‘proper’ Caliph. To them, he is already THE Caliph, the Shadow of God on Earth. And, insyaAllah, they will follow him to the ends of the Earth.

How beautiful faith is. And crazy.

Hehehe.

God bless you, sunshine. Thank you for dropping in today.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will find the Way

In Jordan now reigns The Living Caliph - Heirs of the Shepherd vs The Three Horsemen of Despair

The Horsemen of Despair are forever our nemesis. We ride out against them
yesterday, today, tomorrow and everyday!

21. Heirs of Shepherds

The Three Horsemen of Despair

Ride in and out of our history books,

Garbed in the absence of Light

That folk call blackness

They spread misery and uncertainty

Beneath their banners that declaims;

Ego! Anger! Envy!

Their followers grow in numbers,

But between Points of Light and invincible fences

The heirs of Shepherds guard

And guide the frenzied herd

Into the Consuming Sea of Mercy.

…………….

I think very few people are willing to hazard a view that, “Oh wow, we are living in wonderful times!” There is no need to look far for problems, you can click the news on your computer and you can read about them in the newspapers. I think some newspapers should change their name from the Daily Herald to the Daily Trouble. Things are difficult the world over, and if we are not careful, trouble would come knocking on our door, asking to be let in. They often come in the guise of the human ego, anger and envy.

But however the world may turn, however high the price of oil and food is climbing, things are moving as planned. Of this, we must have a certain faith and belief – we cannot choose the times and epoch of our existence, but if you are born in these troubling days, it must mean only one thing – that you are meant to be here, with all the latent potential and promise within you to face whatever challenges fate may throw at you.

Against the Horsemen of Despair we have our own Horsemen for these times, often they are riding on the mount of humility, patience and servanthood. If you ask them they will say that they are nothing. But in these times when everyone wants to be famous and celebrities, that is REALLY something.

And do you know what else is quite something these days? The Living Caliph, King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. These little signals and clues are emanating from Lefke in the Island of Cyprus… From the Heirs to the Shepherds of God.

Have a lovely day, sunshine. Thank you for coming by.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

Mission in Jordan Accomplished - Oath of loyalty (bay'at) given and accepted by His Majesty, The Caliph of Islam, Commander of the Believers

Six Men From the East

Six men from the East bearing the banner of the dragon,

Stood before His Majesty and His Royal Throne,

Six giving oath of loyalty for themselves

And of those whose names were written,

To all whom the Caliph said, "Yea, I accept"

And with that glad tidings, the six men

From the East has returned home.

...............

The lads are back from Jordan, with their mission accomplished. The ancient tradition of the giving of the bay'at to the Caliph has been successfully performed and accepted by His Majesty himself. What interesting times we live in!

The Caliph, King Abdullah II of the Hashimite Kingdom of Jordan

Happy, happy days, sunshine. May you be blessed with happy, happy days. A bright light is shining, darkness is ebbing like a rising dawn. Have patience, maintain your good manners and be merciful, so surely you shan't go wrong, in whatever cloak of faith that you deign to dress in. May God bless all the believers in all faiths.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

Air Awliya, The Caliph & The Flight into Fana - now every heart can fly!

Flight into Fana.

Yes indeed, every heart can fly with Air Awliya™. Some are flying low under the radar, other hearts are flying high and about to enter into Earth's orbit while the very few have broken right through the Earth's gravitational pull and is heading for the Sun - towards fana (the self's state of annihilation in the Divine Presence of God) and really, God knows what else...

Friday night, in KLIA. 

Flying with my Ego and Crashing into Mountains

And my own flight? Gee, how nice of you to ask! I am not flying very high. I am flying close to ground level, hugging the treeline and hills in the hope of enjoying this material world as well as the spiritual world. This low-level flight is not without its hazards and I have crashed into a couple of mountains in my days. This normally happens when I am wrestling with my ego over the controls of my soul-plane. My ego wins too often, dagnabbit!

Present day, in Jordan!

The Flying Mounted Archers are coming!

But I have happy news. The maiden flight of Air Awliya has already flown last Friday night when a contingent of mounted archers of Malaysia took off from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, bound for Amman, Jordan. These keen gentlemen (and one lady, I think) are about to participate in the Al Faris International Horseback Archery Competition, an international event open to all exponents of traditional horseback archery. No fancy fibre-glass / composite alloy modern bows here. The competition is under the royal patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al-Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Ku Ash & his beloved Mawlana...
al-fatihah

Most of these gentlemen are friends, followers and groupies of al Marhum Shaykh Raja Ashman Shah ibni Sultan Azlan Shah (Ku Ash) who recently passed away almost 2 months ago. I cannot speak for Ku Ash (I can barely speak for myself), but I have no doubt that he would be pleased to see the progress of the traditional mounted archery here in Malaysia, something he was particularly concerned with (as I am informed).

The New Caliph
The followers of Ku Ash are by spiritual default, the followers of Mawlana Shaykh Muhammed Nazim al-Haqqani ar-Rabbani of Lefke, Cyprus. It is coincidental that about a week after the passing of Ku Ash, the Mawlana informed the world of the Divine determination of aforementioned King Abdullah II of Jordan as the new Caliph of Islam, Amirul Muqminin of the new epoch. And now again, coincidentally, a group from Ku Ash's jema'ah (congregation) and other jema'ahs from Italy, Spain, Germany etc. is gathering in the Hashemite Kingdom for a round of horseback archery. I love coincidences, don't you?

The Caliph of Islam, Commander of the Believers,
Shadow of God on Earth.

And coincidentally (last one for this posting, I promise), here you are and here I am. Sharing thoughts in the realm of the heart. God bless you.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Earlier Posting on King Abdullah II as the New Caliph of Islam (Click on links) -
* ISLAM'S CALIPH ON THE THRONE OF JORDAN? - Islam came as a stranger and will come back as a stranger... Therefore give glad tidings to the strangers...
* IN THE STRUGGLE IN THE MEANING OF WORDS THE LION OF GOD IS NOT SLEEPING - The Caliph, The Believers and the Banner of Truth
* King Abdullah of Jordan, the Caliph of Islam, Emir of All the Believers - May God grant his reign to be merciful and beautiful
* The Importance of the Silsilah - King Abdullah II of Jordan, Caliph of Islam, Commander of the Believers, Shadow of God on Earth
* The Coming of the Caliph, King Abdullah II of Jordan - sounds good, but God is in the little details.
* Today there is a Living Breathing Caliph - God does not work in a Committee
* The Divine Presence Tour - The Sultan and the Shaykh

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

The Divine Presence Tour - The Sultan and the Shaykh

Even Angels get distracted from their duties when
the opening acts of the Divine Presence Tour is about to start.

Have you been to a concert of the Divine Presence Tour? It is a whimsical title given by the sinner to a host of divine events commencing from the prophethood of Muhammad ibni Abdullah(pbuh) to present day. The road trip began in Mecca in 610 AD and is still a running show today. The heirs of the Prophet, the Masters are still packing in the stadiums with their performances. The current production has recently been reinvigorated with the announcement of the latest act booked - the new Caliph of Islam, King Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. 

Last Thursday night, I was lucky to catch one of the opening shows, a mawlud (songs in praise and veneration of God and the Prophet) performed at the Naqshbandi zawiya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Guest lead singer was Shaykh Bahauddin Adil, son of Mawlana Shaikh Nazim Adil - the present Master Producer at the Tariqa's studios(some people call it a dergah) in Lefke, Cyprus. We, myself and Mika were glad to make it for the performance, because surprise, surprise - the Sultan was here! - I guess it was a Royal Command Performance of sorts under the patronage of Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah ibni al-Marhum Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-Lah, Sultan of the royal state of Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia. *Phew!* That was a long introduction. But I thought that this time I would name someone in his proper station. His Majesty is of course the father to the late Shaykh Raja Ashman Shah, the present head of the Naqshbandi order in these waters. Funny, It's all a father and son thing going on that night...

There they are! The Sultan! The Shaykh! The crowd are going wild!
Trust me, when it comes to the Naqshbandis, this is considered 'wild'.
They are a sober lot, you know.

Sitting not far from me is Mikhail. In his pyjamas. When he saw the large crowd and
the Sultan, he was really upset and didn't want to go in at first, "Papaa... you made me
come in my pyjamaaas...! I soothed him by telling him, "Look, Mika, you are the only one
around wearing purple and white - It's Shaykh Raja's favourite colour!" His natural sense of
decency soothed, he walked in with me. 

After the prayers, lead singer, Shaykh ''I-am-no-Shaykh' Bahauddin started the mawlud.
The darbuka (Arabic drum) of Ahmad Alatas started to sing its thunderous music.

After one song, SB would ask the Sultan, "One more, or stop?" The Sultan said "One more." 
three times that night. When you remember that the Sultan is a serious and stoic sort of man, and
not to mention a former Lord President of the High Court of Malaya , you will
perhaps observe how things have changed. How people can change.

Permission granted, Shaykh 'I-want-to-be-a-free-man-with-no-responsibilities' Bahauddin
would begin singing with the mawlud boys to the rapturous delight of the audience.

I had a seat in the back. But I was happy.

After 4 songs, the show finally ended about half past eleven. Mikhail and myself joined
the queue to meet the band backstage. Shyly Mika shaked the Sultan's hand and kissed it.

Shaykh 'I-don't-give-sermons-I-only-give-coffee-talk' Bahauddin. I grasped his hand like
a man foundering in a stormy sea. When the friends, followers and groupies of Ku Ash were left
in sorrowful bereavement for the passing of Ku Ash, it was Shaykh Bahauddin and his indomitable
cheerfulness that spurred us to smile again. To laugh again and to take courage.

As you shaked the Sultan and the Shaykh's hand you are later supposed to walk along.
But I quickly grabbed my son and led us behind the celebrated pair.  (The things I do for my readers...)
I stood behind the Shaykh and happily played with his robe. It was colourful, and the material
was quite soft. I took a picture and then noticed later that there I was, a shadow on
the clock of the Master. Hehehe. I like poetic endings...

After the passing of Ku Ash, Shaykh Bahauddin said to his followers - "Before, when he was alive, you are walking one step at a time. Now you shall walk ten steps!"

I don't know actually what that means. But events occurring have shown it to be true, in a kinda spiritually fuzzy Sufi-esque manner that is the natural remit of the Sufi tariqas (Path) and the Alwiyas of God (Saints). But that is story for another time.

God bless you, sunshine. Your presence here makes it all worth it, in whatever way you call upon our One Loving God, Most Merciful Creator of all humanity.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

Today there is a Living Breathing Caliph - God does not work in a Committee

148. Consensus

Certainty is not necessarily with the many.

Truth is not necessarily confined to the majority.

And I believe that the consensus of the learned

Does not contradict this, ergo;

If a bad idea is followed by 1 billion men,

It is still a bad idea,

If a good idea is practiced by just one man instead of 1 billion men,

It is still a good idea.

.................

Not Political - Generally, I think that the Sufis of all shade and colour are not political. At least not in the ordinary sense of the word.

Not Electable - If politics is about being popular and getting elected to office, then it is certainly not a particularly spiritual pastime. Although there are of course important exceptions to the rule.

Who cares about your Ideology? - Sufis observe and they cringe from the extremes of ALL political ideologies and religions. Because Sufis are actually students of the human soul and its internal conflict with the ego. Who cares about a man's ideology when they see human action as either being motivated by the heart or the ego?

God does not work in a Committee - A committee, conference or seminar will not bring the Caliphate into existence. Nor any ad hoc working group of any organization of God-botherers. Despite their best of intentions, a broad-based Caliphate movement will not lay the egg of the Caliphate. God kinda likes to decide these things Himself actually. You would think that people who espouse deep affection for God and the Caliphate can accept this readily. But I understand the reticence of people after investing time and resources into the cause of 'creating' a New Caliphate.

A Proclamation, not a Consensus - The Caliph of Islam, Commander of the Believers, Shadow of God on Earth was recently reveiled to be King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The proclaimer, an old Shaykh in Lefke, Cyprus then called upon the scholars of Islam the world over to confirm the proclamation.

It all begins this way if you look at God's previous handiwork. With one man - our common great-grandfather, Adam. Right up to the Seal of the Prophets, Muhammad ibn Abdullah (pbuh) of Mecca. Of course through out all the lineage of the Prophets, there would be a smattering little groups of people in-the-know. But theirs is to maintain the knowledge and await the arrival of the particular prophet. They did not sit around with the like-minded and concluded, "Hey, guys! We need to make a Prophetdom, or a Caliphate!" Like the wise sages of old, they submitted to the trials and tribulation of their time and prayed for Divine Grace, in whatever form it may come. Because really, if they start thinking on their own accord and 'deciding' things, who is then the Lord and who is the servant?

When news of the New Caliph reached our friends, they were gratified and happy. Not because they think that finally, the Great Islamic Revival has come! Not because they think that finally, Islam will rise above and take its rightful place in leading the World! Nothing of this sort. They were just happy that God and the Prophet loves us and has not forsaken us. They understand the importance of detaching themselves from the distractions of geo-politics. However this will play out, only God knows... but today for the first time in almost 100 years there is a living breathing Caliph of Islam. And that is enough really.

Thank you for coming by, sunshine.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way.

The Coming of the Caliph, King Abdullah II of Jordan - sounds good, but God is in the little details.

Royal Coat of Arms of the Royal Family of
the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

8 years ago (2004), I wrote this unfinished article to be sent to a local newspaper here in Malaysia. Now almost a full decade on I think that the thoughts contained here have not changed and I still feel the same -

This year is the 80th year of the end of the Islamic Caliphate which stretched uninterrupted for over 1425 years, and nobody batted an eye. It was the turning point and catalyst for the decline of the Islamic civilization. Since then, we have been inundated by New and Modern Islam in its many interesting varieties. Socialist Islam, Ideological Islam, Nationalist Islam and Political Islam grew in the popular thoughts of the masses, spread by their respective preachers and promoters. Before you slip in your vote come Sunday, please reflect on the following observation;

No Great Imam, Shaykh or Ulamak, in the 1425 years of the Caliphate desired or acted to pursue worldly power. They recognize the distinction between their role, and the role of the Caliph. They were very learned in the connection and distinction between the schools of shariah and tassawuf. Thirdly, there was never such a thing as an Islamic Republic. The temporal rule of the Caliphate was founded on the shoulders of one man, the Caliph.

If it was good for my predecessors who were so much better than me, it is good enough for me. In my perception, the fall of the Ottoman Caliphate has not introduced a new equation necessitating the creation of a theocratic state. Current events in Iran and Afghanistan have shown that theocratic leaders are just as resistant in letting go of power as other politicians. Please don’t measure Islam by the number of countries in the world bearing the title “Islamic”. Please don’t measure Islam by the number of citizens in a country registered as Muslim. Islam is beyond measure, it is God’s Own Sovereignty over mankind which exists above the rise and fall of the poor Muslims themselves. And to bring the Quran and Sunnah to the level of a grubby vote-grabbing exercise is like trading gold for dirt.

................................

Hehehe. I often write like this in the past. Drawing words across a large expanse of historical and geo-political landscape. Nowadays, I am much more reticent to make such vast conclusions, even though they may be true. Oh no. Nowadays I like to look closer on the smaller details about 'big events'. For instance the declaration by the old Shaykh of Lefke, Cyprus who confirmed that God and the Prophet has deemed that His Majesty King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is to be the new Caliph of Islam, reviving the Muslim Caliphate after almost 90 years of suspended animation. It was merely a suspended animation you see, because when the Young Turks of Kemal Ataturk resolved to abolish the Caliphate, they acted out of their jurisdiction (or ultra vires as how my old English law lecturer would have put it). For even assuming that they spoke for all the Turks of the land (which they did not), and although the Ottoman Turks held the Caliphate for 700 years, they do not own it per se, being only custodians for that glorious 7 centuries. Now the Caliphate is being returned to the clan of the Bani Hashem through the descendant of the Prophet himself(pbuh). So this is part of the big picture.

What did you say, Sire?

But on the smaller scale I am filled with empathy for the Caliph. I do not know whether he yearned or wanted this to happen - "Oh dear. What and how am I gonna tell my wife? My family? My friends? My ministers? My people? How will the other Arab rulers and kings respond? What about my other plans??" A burden has been hoisted on His Caliphate Majesty's shoulders that cannot be measured. While we may rejoice in his ascension to the throne of the Amirul Muqminin (Commander of the Believers), at a very human level we must empathise and ask God and the Prophet(pbuh) to weigh in with the heavenly support that must come to the Caliph.

The Caliph

Thank you for coming by today, sunshine.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Post Script - My friends of all faiths - I myself am not prepared for this present movement of affairs in the world of Islam. As I write now, I have not breakfasted and I am still in my pyjamas(!), slowly slurping my lukewarm cup of coffee. If there is a fool known in the village, that fool would be me. If there is a sinner known for his ups and downs, that sinner would be me. In the vast operation of this Universe, I am not worthy of any mention. But this man here, with our without his mustache, is the Caliph to me. So if you are interested, stick around as I try to weave my pen around this unexpected and amazing turn of events that shall bring hope for a more enlightened, compassionate and merciful age. For as Caliph, he is enjoined to bring no other thing to this torn and battered world that we all live in but God, Truth and Love. Amen.

Other Postings on King Abdullah II as the New Caliph of Islam (Click on links) -

* ISLAM'S CALIPH ON THE THRONE OF JORDAN? - Islam came as a stranger and will come back as a stranger... Therefore give glad tidings to the strangers...

* IN THE STRUGGLE IN THE MEANING OF WORDS THE LION OF GOD IS NOT SLEEPING - The Caliph, The Believers and the Banner of Truth

* King Abdullah of Jordan, the Caliph of Islam, Emir of All the Believers - May God grant his reign to be merciful and beautiful

* The Importance of the Silsilah - King Abdullah II of Jordan, Caliph of Islam, Commander of the Believers, Shadow of God on Earth

* Today there is a Living Breathing Caliph - God does not work in a Committee

* The Divine Presence Tour - The Sultan and the Shaykh

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way

King Abdullah of Jordan, the Caliph of Islam, Emir of All the Believers - May God grant his reign to be merciful and beautiful

The Lion of the Desert

O’ rightful heir,

O’ rightful king,

O’ rightful deputy,

We are in the desert of ignorance,

We are thirsty for guidance,

We are waiting for a leader,

We are proclaiming our allegiance to thee,

Following a full moon shining over Qubruz,

We are proclaiming our allegiance to thee,

O’ Lion of the Desert,

O’ Lion of God!

Accept our allegiance

With kisses on your blessed hands and feet,

Accept our allegiance

As weak servants to thee,

O’ Sultan!

O’ Lion of the Desert!

O’ Lion of God!

With your three regiments,

Bearing the Banner of the Prophet!

The banner of the Mahdi!

And your royal standard!

Truth is with you, we are with Truth!

Falsehood is broken and wounded!

Truth is with you, we are with Truth!

Falsehood is broken as Truth commanded!

.................

We have all been waiting...

This is what I call a technical prose and perhaps more relevant to the Muslims, as it is related to the new Caliph of Islam, Amirul Muqminin (Leader of the Believers) - His Majesty King Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. But Muslim, believer or otherwise, you will want to be able to answer your kid, "Hey Dad, where were you when the new Caliph of Islam was announced?" Your reply: "Oh my son, I was reading that fatuous blog 'The Sinners Almanac'. In fact I got the news from there, of all the unlikely places!" But to share a little bit more disclosure than is common by your reticent writer, the pronouncement by the Sufi shaykh in the small town of Lefke, Cyprus can be seen on video by Clicking Here - The pertinent videos are entitled "To King Abdullah" (28.04.2012). And you can scroll down to the earlier video entitled "Arshu Sham" (08.04.2012). For English, click on the subtitle.

Have a beautiful Sunday, sunshine. God bless you.

Earlier Postings on the New Caliph:
* ISLAM'S CALIPH ON THE THRONE OF JORDAN? - Islam came as a stranger and will come back as a stranger... Therefore give glad tidings to the strangers...
* IN THE STRUGGLE IN THE MEANING OF WORDS THE LION OF GOD IS NOT SLEEPING - The Caliph, The Believers and the Banner of Truth

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Footnote 30.04.2012: There is a little bit more flurry of activity about the pronouncement on the new Caliph. And perhaps it is enlightening (but predictable) that it has become some subject of ridicule and even vilification in some Muslim forums. It is also ironic that the only online coverage is by Muslims forums that attack the good King Abdullah as either unworthy (read too Western), a traitor to the Arabs, a CIA flunky or even worse, an Israeli-zionist agent on one hand, and on the other hand are a whole tribe of neo-con fundamentalist 'Christian' end-of-time Dominionist websites (like Jihadwatch) that have long eyed King Abdullah, being a direct descendant of the Prophet (pbuh) as a likely candidate for the Caliph.

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way