The Importance of Rabitah

The Prophet ﷺ said:

Allah has servants that if you look at one of them, that gaze will make you happy, after which you will never see an evil or bad ending.

Their one gaze is enough to fill your entire life with happiness! It is said by Grandshaykh (q), that if there is someone even on a mountain top, a wali must pass by him once in 24 hours to gaze upon him in order to keep him strong and powerful. Don't think there are no awliyaullah among the ummah; they roam the streets like angels in order to support the People of Dhikr.

Allah has servants that if they look at someone, aksaboo lahu as-sa`adah, they will give them happiness.

Also, ru'yatush-shaykh ahsan min adh-dhikr, to sit with a shaykh and look at him is far stronger than dhikrullah because he will take you by the hand to his level. When you do dhikr such as, “laa ilaaha illa-Llah Muhammadun Rasoolullah,” or, “Allah, Allah,” you are doing it with your ego, but the shaykh will take you to where he is.

That is why raabitah is important when you are far from your teacher as when you connect your heart with him, he will take you to where he is. He may be in the presence of other awliyaullah, in the presence of the Prophet ﷺ, or in the Divine Presence! He takes you where you cannot go. This is why Sayyidina Shah Naqshband (q) said, “Our way is through association and the goodness is in the gathering.”

Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Kabbani

The importance of Rabitah (2)

Do raabitah and connect your heart with your teacher and inshaa-Allah you will reach the highest level of sainthood. Some `ulama have said, `ala qadar isti`daad al-wali fa inna al-imdaadaat `ala qadr al-istidaad, “The one connected with that wali will receive as much as that wali is receiving, stronger and stronger.” 

And as much as that wali is ascending, that is how much he takes his followers with him. “And know, O my son! The presence of a wali is important in your life because he will guide you not only by his speech and gaze, but by the power that Allah put in the heart of his servant!” You will be raised with the amount of power that He put in that wali.

Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Kabbani

The importance of Rabitah (3) 

Awliyaullah make your heart your own Ka`aba because, as described in the hadith of Prophet (s):

ما وسعني أرضي ولا سمائي ولكن وسعني قلب عبدي

Ma wasi`anee ardee wa laa samaa'ee wa laakin wasi`anee qalbee `abdee al-mu'min.

My Earth did not contain Me, nor My Heavens, but the heart of My believing servant contained Me.

They open your heart to connect you to the light of Ka`aba, so it becomes like a pipe flowing with all these secrets, knowledge, and treasures. You begin to see, hear, and envision all kinds of unexpected experiences when you connect your heart with your teacher. It will be highly beneficial if you find a very strong sultan that can take you to where he is. Adab must always be with the shaykh and you must not doubt what the shaykh says even if you don't understand it. He is not going to cheat you as he gives us what Allah (swt) and Prophet ﷺ gave him.

Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Kabbani

The Importance of Rabitah (4)

 “Connect your heart with a shaykh who is a manifestation of the hadith of the Prophet ﷺ :

خير عباد الله الذين اذا رؤو ذكر الله

Khayru’l-`ibaad alladheena idhaa ru’oo dhukkir Allah.

The best servants of Allah are those who, when they are seen, remind one of Allah.

Keep your connection, raabitah, with those who, when they are looked at or seen, remind you of Allah and you say ‘subhaanAllah’ and make dhikrullah when you see them. Inshaa-Allah you will benefit from it.”

Don't keep company with devils whose behavior is not accepted by Allah. May Allah bless us and support us.

Wa min Allahi 't-tawfeeq, bi hurmati 'l-habeeb, bi hurmati 'l-Fatihah.

Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Kabbani