SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES OF INITIATES

IN THE NAQSHBANDI-NAZIMI ORDER

I do not change anyone, I do not add to anyone. I only pass on Divine

Knowledge. I give from you to you, from within yourself. I make

Connections.
Sufi Master Muhammad Nazim Adil al-Haqqani (1921-2014)

~ Koran 15:98-99
Seyyidena Muhammad (S) is reported to have said, Laisal kaburukal maimah : Nothing

is more valuable than direct experience. A person having direct experience is convinced
without doubt of the reality. His outlook is that of certainty. Some experiences of mureeds
(seekers of certainty) initiated by MSN [Mawlana Shaykh Nazim] in the Most Distinguished
Naqshbandi Sufi Order are given below.

LIGHTS |
Witnessing lights of different shapes and colours is a commonly reported
experience. Seekers see pin points of different coloured lights at various times of the
day and night which appear in flashes and disappear. Some also see waves of gold

or silver light appearing in front of them. These lights are said to be comparable to a
heavy mist and they always move about in waves. Even in utter darkness these
disciples are able to see all around them. Some have also experienced seeing a big
golden or silvery light close to their foreheads or at the positions where their hearts
are. Some seekers also see big flashes of light appearing in blotches in front of
them. Some have experienced seeing lights in the form of streaks and lightning.
Others have perceived lights in the shape of the moon and stars. Lights of various
colours and hues particularly, red, purple, light blue, green, gold, silver and white
have been seen by these seekers. Light like that of the shining sun at noon with all

its intensity and brightness have been witnessed. In short so many types of lights
have been seen by these seekers that it would be difficult to enumerate all of them
here.
FRAGRANCE |
Another common experience of many seekers is the sudden inhalation of a whiff of
incense or attar (perfume). The type of perfume in almost all cases is one that is not
being worn by the mureed and is easily recognized due to its unexpected presence.
During the repetition of Dhikr some seekers have experienced a sweet taste on their
tongues which lingers sometimes from between a day to three or four days on end.

Journey to the Divine Presence

by Prophets, particularly Seyyidena Muhammad (s) and Seyyidina al-Khidr during

the recital of Selawat (Durood) and Dhikr. These liquids represent secret knowledge.
SPIRITUAL VISITATIONS |
Some mureeds have also reported experiencing the sense of touch when they have
been totally devoid of other company. This experience is common to seekers who
are nodding off to sleep while reciting Quran or while praying or while in Dhikr. Such
an experience usually has the effect of awakening the mystic and helping him to
concentrate.
Many Mureeds have had the experience of seeing their spiritual Master and other
saints of the Naqshbandi Golden Chain appearing before them. Some have had the
experience of seeing a host of the Saints (awliyah) appearing
FANA FI-SHAYKH (annihilation / extinction / union / absorption / oneness with the
Master) |
A selection of seekers see MSN in flashes at various times of the day or night. Some
see the entire form of the Shaykh, while some see just the bust or only his face.
Certain of these mureeds see Shaykh Nazim in front of them all the time and
Mawlana is always with them. Wherever they may be or wherever they may go the
Shaykh is always present with them. Some of them have also been granted the gift
of being able to communicate with him. Any question that they put to their Shaykh is
immediately answered by him. Whatever they want to know their spiritual Master

gives them the answer. Vast amounts of hidden knowledge have been
communicated to his seekers by MSN in this manner.
Questions by these seekers regarding day to day life, or questions relating to religion
and Marifatullah (hidden knowledge) and also many other subjects have been
answered by MSN. An example of Marifah would be the knowledge of the secrets of
nature. For, instance the secrets of plants etc, have been granted to these seekers.
When this type of communication has been granted to a traveller of this path, he no
longer needs to resort to books in order to further his knowledge. Anything that he
desires to know is told to him directly by his Shaykh.

Seekers have been given various types of liquids such as water and milk etc to drink

appearing within them. When this happens, they are no longer conscious of
themselves as themselves.
They lose their individual self-identity and are conscious of themselves as their
Shaykh. They see through Mawlanas eyes when they look, they hear through
Mawlanas ears when they speak.
They no longer see or feel themselves as they no longer exist, only MSN exists.
When a disciple makes any movement in this state, this movement is seen by him to
be a reflection of MSN. This state is temporary for some seekers while for others it is
established and permanent. In this state the mureed is known to be going through
the station of this path many denote Fana fi Shaykh.

FANA FIL-RASUL (annihilation / extinction / union / absorption / oneness with the

Prophet) |
There are some seekers who have been given the gift by MSN of being able to see
the Sayidena Muhammad appearing before them. To some of them, he appears to
them in flashes. Some are in the presence of the holy Prophet at all times 24 hours
a day. They are able to communicate with him and have their questions answered.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (S) teaches, instructs and guides them.
This is then accompanied by experience of the state Sufis denote Fana fi Rasool
which is the next station of this journey towards the Divine Presence. In this stage,
the Sayidena Muhammad (S) is experienced within the mureed. As in the earlier
case, the seekers lose their identity and are conscious of themselves as Mawlana
Shaykh Nazim (i.e. theyre annihilated in his being) who in turn is lost in the Holy
Prophet Muhammad (S). They no longer identify themselves as themselves. They
now identify themselves while in this state as being mirrored by the essence of the
Muhammadan Reality. They now see, hear and experience sensation through the
Holy Prophet.

Another dimension to this spiritual station is the disciple experiencing their Master

interpret dreams. This they do either by asking for the interpretation of these dreams
from MSN or from the Holy Prophet. Sometimes they do this by means of
interpreting these dreams according to the knowledge that has been given to them.
When a person relates a dream to these seekers, this class of mystics may even
able to actually see the dream visually unfolding before the very eyes of their hearts.
In some instances, these seekers have been able to remind the one who related his
dream of certain portions of his dream that had been forgotten by him and therefore
omitted in the narration of it and subsequently the dreamer is able to recollect quite
clearly what he had forgotten.
IMAM al-MAHDI | The existence of the Mahdi is doubly confirmed by those disciples
of who have been given the gift of ascending to his presence. He is so powerful that
it is not possible for people to look at his eyes. MSN has however, granted some of
his seekers the power to gaze directly into the eyes of Imam Mahdi (as) and also to

communicate with him.

JOURNEY THROUGH TIME Harnessing the 4th Dimension | The ability to look
into and witness events that have occurred in the past has also been given by MSN
to some of his special disciples. All that these seekers have to do is to think of this
particular event and they are shown it as it actually happened.
For example, if a disciple with this gift wished to see a certain incident related in the
Koran, for instance the incident described in Surah al-Yusuf where the ladies of the
court of the King while paring fruits were so rapt in the beauty of Prophet Joseph that

they did not realize that they had cut their fingers, or the creation of Adam or
incidents in the life of any Prophet or Awliyah, it would be portrayed to them as they
actually took place.
For instance, if these seekers were to read the life story of our Prophet (S) they
would see the incidents unfold before them as if they were happening at that time.
The same is true if they were to read the life story of a Saint.
This is not only restricted to reading. The same would occur if another person is
relating a story as well, where the story would unfold in front of the seekers who
actually witness the events talked about. In short, all that these seekers wish to see
of the past are depicted to them.

DREAM INTERPRETATION | Many seekers have also the gift of being able to

transported to other countries and places. For example, they may be transported in a
moment to London where say, MSN would be delivering a lecture. Some are known
to have visited Mecca, Medina, London and Baghdad in moments through the power
of the Sultan al Awliyah by the grace of the Almighty.
Of course there are also certain seekers who have had the opportunity of being
transported beyond the limits of this world, beyond the limits of this Galaxy even, and
to the very edges of constellations afar. They have been taken to the Paradises and
have experienced the delights therein. They have even seen the hells too. They
have also visited other worlds and met with non-human intelligent lifeforms.
MOTH IN THE FLAME ECSTASY AND UNION | A common phenomenon at this
point is the intense experience of jadhba (mystical ecstasy), shawq (longing desire)
and ishq (intense love) for the Master (which then translates to the Prophet, and the
Divine Presence). This euphoria can never be accurately expressed as there is no
other sensation that can be compared to it. It can only be pointed out that it is very

much tangible, and more powerful than the greatest heat of passion that two ardent
lovers may have for each other.
There are also seekers who have even developed to the state where they have been
given the gift of being able to witness everything in creation performing Dhikr
constantly. They witness everything that they look at shimmering in constant Dhikr.
Some even perceive/hear this Dhikr.
REMOTE VIEWING LOOKING THROUGH ANOTHERS EYES | There are those

who have been given access to witness whatever is presently occurring anywhere in
the world. They have been given the gift of all that they wish to see. A few of them
have been given the gift of being able to look through the eyes of everyone. These
seekers, usually simply ask MSN for this ability and are then able to look through
anothers eyes and see whatever they are seeing. Sights which have arrested one
in the past and is imprinted in his memory may be recalled by him at a particular
instant which a mureed with this ability of looking through anyones eyes may see in
all its glory. For instance, if a person has been to the Himalayas and seen a

particular mountain range, all that the disciple with this ability has to do is to make
rabitah (connection) and ask Mawlana Shaykh to let him look through this persons

JOURNEY THROUGH SPACE.. AND BEYOND | Sometimes, seekers have been

limited to this, but also to dreams and spiritual visions. If a mureed with this ability
desires to look through the eyes of another mureed with spiritual vision, he is shown
this spiritual vision which may be the vision of Prophets or saints, or even MSN
himself.
Fana fil-llah INTO THE OCEANS OF ONENESS THE DROP MUST VANISH!
A degree of Unity have been experienced by certain seekers where they have
expanded to the extent that they see the Universe at a glance. They are able to see
right across the Universe and also able to focus on any place that they desire. They
see the entire Universe as one in all its vastness. They have beheld that the entirety
is made of one substance. At some point some seekers reach the state where they
no longer can differentiate between themselves and the Universe in its entirety. At
this point they see themselves as the entire Universe with a single soul their soul.
They witness the macrocosm (universe) through the microcosm (their self). They feel

as if theyre present everywhere. This is due to them being annihilated in divine light,
which manifests through each atom of creation. (Allah is the light of the Heavens &

The Earth- surah nur). They dont see anything, but that they witness and recognise
the His Ayaat [signs of oneness] within it. (We will show them Our Signs in the

universe (mascrocosm) and within their own selves (microcosm) until it becomes
clear to them that He is the Truth koran 41:53)

EPILOGUE
MSN says that the purpose of religion is to know Allah. He quotes the Hadith Qudsi
I was a Hidden Treasure and loved to be known. Therefore the purpose of any
divine path is to find this Hidden Treasure and to discover its secrets. It is towards
this end that MSN is training his seekers. Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran I
give sovereignty to whom I want. Mawlana Shaykh Nazim is therefore guiding every
seeker who comes to his threshold towards this goal. All the phenomena
experienced by seekers discussed above only represent a tiny drop in the ocean of
knowledge that MSN intends to impart to his seekers. He puts it very simply when he
says Come to me and I shall give you everything. Is there anything that falls short
of everything?

eyes and he would see what that person had seen. This phenomenon is not only