691. Imam Mahdi (AS) is narrated to have said in respect of Bandagi Miyan Shah Nemat (RZ) that he was a miqraz-e-bid'at (the scissors of innovation).

692. Imam Mahdi (AS) is narrated to have described Bandagi Miyan Shah Nemat (RZ) as Qallash (friendless). (By that expression, he meant that the Shah (RZ) had perished in Allah and what was remaining was Allah --- fani fillah, baqi billah).

693. Imam Mahdi (AS) passed away. Bandagi Miyan Shah Nemat (RZ) gave him the funeral bath. He drank the water that had remained at the navel (naf) of the Imam (AS).

694. Bandagi Miyan Shah Nemat (RZ) went to Kaabathullah. He encountered great difficulties there. In a dream, Imam Mahdi (AS) is narrated to have told him, "There is the difference of a grain between your tawakkal and my tawakkal (trust in Allah).

695. Imam Mahdi (AS) is narrated to have recited a dohra: "Whether you like me or not, I am the one who likes you."

696. Imam Mahdi (AS) is narrated to have described Bandagi Miyan Shah Nemat (RZ) as ikhwan (brothers, friends).

697. In respect of Bandagi Miyan Shah Nizam (RZ), Imam Mahdi (AS) is narrated to have said, "Firstly, he has seen and tasted; secondly, darya-nosh (one who drinks the ocean of divinity); thirdly, mast mast, hushyar hushyar (one drunk with divine Love at times and alert at times); fourthly, kashk-e-malamat (pot of reproach); fifthly, balkeh woh sab us mein hain (but all that is in him); sixthly, witness to the seeing of Allah through physical eyes (sar-ki-aankh se); and seventhly, (as stated in Quran) men whom neither merchandise nor traffic can beguile from the remembrance of Allah…" (S. 24: 37 SAL) Rijaalu-laa tulhiihim…

698. Imam Mahdi (AS) is narrated to have told Bandagi Miyan Shah Dilawar (RZ), "Whatever has happened before us will happen before you also."

699. Imam Mahdi (AS) is narrated to have said, "The bounty (faiz) of Bandagi Miyan Shah Dilawar (RZ) will flow and run till the Day of Resurrection is established."

700. Imam Mahdi (AS) is narrated to have said, "Bandagi Miyan Shah Dilawar (RZ) is deendar (a man of religion) and dianatdar (honest).

701. Bandagi Miyan Shah Dilawar (RZ) is narrated to have said, "Allah Most High has shown everything (including) the skies, the earth, The Empyrean, The Seat, The Luh-o-qalam (The writing surface and the pen), The Paradise, The Hell, The World, The Hereafter, The Sempiternity to the Day of Resurrection to me as a grain of mustard in the palm of my hand, so that I can recognize everything."

702. Imam Mahdi (AS) is narrated to have called Bandagi Miyan Shah Dilawar (RZ) an 'alam-e-dil (world of heart). [It can also be read as aalim-e-dil (learned man of heart)].

703. Imam Mahdi (AS) is narrated to have said that when a person does (good) deeds but does not experience any divine inspiration (kashf), all his deeds are wasted and he gets no benefit of this world or of the Hereafter.

704. Imam Mahdi (AS) is narrated to have said that if a person sees some thing (or experiences some divine manifestations), he should go to Bandagi Miyan Shah Dilawar (RZ) and tell him about it.

705. Imam Mahdi (AS) is narrated to have said that Bandagi Miyan Shah Dilawar (RZ) is nobler than the nobles (ashrafon-se-ashraf).

706. Imam Mahdi (AS) is narrated to have said, "See Bandagi Miyan Shah Dilawar (RZ) if you have not seen a corpse walking on the earth."

707. It is narrated that somebody in Khanbel abused the companions. Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ) gave him a beating. Miyan Syed Jalal (RZ) told Bandagi Miyan (RZ), "Miyan (RZ), he had abused you too." Bandagi Miyan (RZ) immediately said, "Release him. I had beaten him because he had abused the companions. For his abusing me, I release him."

708. It is narrated that Bandagi Miyan Shah Dilawar (RZ) came to Khanbel to meet Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ). The Shah (RZ) relieved himself at the edge of a garden. The gardener came and started abusing the Shah (RZ) and uttered some harsh words. When the brothers of the daira came to know about this, they got hold of him and brought him before Bandagi Miyan (RZ), who gave him a severe beating. Miyan Syed Jalal (RZ) (son of Bandagi Miyan (RZ)) came out of the house and told his father, "Abbaji, you did a good thing by beating him. The other day he was abusing you also." Bandagi Miyan (RZ) told the brothers, "Leave him now. I had beaten him because he had abused Dilawar Bhai." Turning to Miyan Jalal (RZ), he said, "Baba, we are the tree of abuses. There is no fear for us."

709. Allah commanded Imam Mahdi (AS), "You are the Mahdi al-Mauood." The first to take the oath of fealty was Bandagi Miran Syed Mahmood (RZ). Then the Imam (AS) came out of the house. There Bandagi Miyan Shah Dilawar (RZ) took the oath of fealty. The Imam (AS) had gone to Kaabathullah (Makkah). There he sat on the pulpit and made the call (dawa). He said, "Whoever followed me is a mumin (believer)." Bandagi Miyan Shah Nizam (RZ) took the oath of fealty to the Imam (AS) there. At Barhli, an angry command of Allah Most High came. Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ) took the oath of fealty to the Imam (AS). In a forest, Bandagi Miyan Shah Nemat (RZ) took the oath of fealty.

710. It is narrated that Imam Mahdi (AS) went to Kaabathullah (Makkah). Bandagi Miyan Shah Nizam (RZ) was with him. He told the Imam (AS) that he heard a voice that said, So let them worship the Lord of this House, …(S. 106: 3 MMP) "Fal-ya'-bubuu Rabba haazal-Bayt,…" Imam Mahdi (AS) told the Shah (RZ), "Miyan Nizam (RZ), Allah Most High has given you a pair of ears. You hear the voice."

711. Bandagi Miyan Shah Nizam (RZ) met Imam Mahdi (AS). The Imam (AS) told him,
(COUPLET),
"The manifest beauty is nothing, /
O brother, bring the beauty of the character."

In reply The Shah (RZ) said,
(COUPLETS),
If the world is the face, the meaning is The Friend, /
And if you set your sights on the meaning, everything is He. /
I eat everything with the remembrance of The Friend, /
I have given up every hue that is without The Friend. /
I have become like a dry betel nut in separation, /
Why should I not be zealous of my Friend.

712. It is narrated by an elderly respected person, "The person, who knows Allah, does not say anything other than the remembrance of the Truth."

713. An elderly respected person is narrated to have said, "When Allah was Merciful, a Voice said, 'Are you not ashamed that you place my name on the fruit?'" Forty days passed. Allah knows that the heart of the person forgot Allah. The elderly respected person said, "I have taken an oath in the name of Allah that I would not eat the fruit of the garden as long as I am alive. The person who gives up the desires of his nafs (lust) reaches Allah." Prophet Muhammad (SLM) has said, "Keep your hearts alive by eating less, laughing less and sleeping less; keep your hearts pure by hunger and set your sights on the magnificence of Allah." It is written in the book, Bahr-al-Haqaiq, "Blind is he who sees the truth to be untruth and untruth as truth. Deaf is he who hears the truth as untruth and untruth as truth and the seer (bina) is he who calls truth as truth and follows the truth, and sees untruth as untruth and abhors it. A listener is he who hears the truth as truth and acts according to it and who listens untruth as untruth and abhors it."

714. Imam Mahdi (AS) went into the house of Bibi Buwan (RZ). Bibi Malkan (RZ) threw soup on the Imam (AS). Bandagi Miyan Shah Nemat (RZ) saw this and respectfully told the Imam (AS), "What is this behaviour?" The Imam (AS) said, "How can a person be happy if his or her beloved goes away from him or her?"

715. Bibi Malkan (RZ) is narrated to have recited this Quranic Verse at the time of her death, Lo! Those who say: Our Lord is Allah, and thereafter walk aright, there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve. (S. 46: 13 MMP)

716. The daira of Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ) was at Jival where there was great distress. A hundred fuqara died. A thought occurred to Bandagi Miyan (RZ) in respect of the fuqara that they were in great trouble. Allah's command arrived, "We have put out gold from your right and left eye. Give it to the fuqura. But we want to give them the bounty (nemat) of the other world." Hence, Miyan (RZ) became silent.

717. Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ) is narrated to have said, "Are there people after us, among whom the religion (deen) will survive by following us?"

718. Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ) is narrated to have washed the hands of his companions and drank that water. Such was his humility.

719. A seeker of Allah is narrated to have asked Miyan Khund Malik (RZ), "A large number of thoughts occur to me." Miyan (RZ) told him, "You are experiencing Vision (binai). Hence, you have realized that thoughts are occurring to you. Try to remember (zikr) Allah. The thoughts will vanish,"

720. It is narrated that there was a seeker of Allah with a vali. He used to follow in the steps of the vali very strictly. He did whatever the vali did. One day the vali was going somewhere and, on the way, saw a woman. He caught hold of her neck and kissed her. The seeker too repeated the exercise and kissed her. Another day, the vali was going somewhere else. On the way he saw a piece of hot iron. He picked it up and kissed it too. But the seeker could not pick it up. He was astonished and repented (performed tauba). The vali told him, "Do not do what all I do. But do what I ask you to do." The seeker strictly followed the advice. Such is the distinction between muridi (discipleship) and murshidi (guidance of the preceptor).

721. A slave of Allah did great religious exercises and underwent much trouble. He slept on a bed of thorns day and night but he had no kashf (inspiration). He told his preceptor (murshid) about it. The preceptor asked him to go and sleep on a comfortable quilt that night. The disciple (murid) obeyed his preceptor. The door of immanence (batin) immediately opened for him. All the veils were removes. The preceptor was wise and the disciple was true.

722. A seeker of Allah went to a holy man (banda-e-Khuda) and told him that he worshipped much but he got no divine inspiration. The holy man told him, "Do not say your obligatory (farz) night ('isha) prayers also tonight." In the late night, a thought occurred to him, "How should I give up the obligatory prayers?" Then he said the 'isha prayers but did not say his witr prayers. Later in the night, he got some divine inspiration. He then met the holy man the next day. On seeing the seeker, the holy man said, "You said your 'isha prayers." The seeker said, "Yes." The holy man said, "Had you not said the 'isha prayers, you would have had greater divine inspiration." The seeker asked, "Why is this so?" The holy man said, "Your worshipping ('ibadat) itself had become a veil."

723. May it be known that the morning (fajr) prayers were said in congregation in morning light in the daira of Bandagi Miran Syed Mahmood (RZ). The Miran (RZ) used to lead the prayers. Miyan Dilawar (RZ), Malik Maaroof (RZ), Miyan Salamullah (RZ), Miyan Yusuf (RZ), Miyan Bhai Mohajir, Miyan Khizr (RZ), Miyan Nizam Ghalib (RZ), Miyan Daulat Khan (RZ), Miyan Adam Sindhi (RZ), Miyan Ali Kashmiri (RZ), Miyan Soorma (RZ), Miyan Muhammad Dalvi (RZ), Miyan Shaikh Farid (RZ), Miyan Shaikh Hindustani (RZ) and Miyan Nasiruddin (RZ) (and others) used to join the prayers. There used to be three hundred and fifty shares of sawiyat in the daira.

724. Be it known that Miyan Shah Dilawar (RZ) used to come occasionally to the daira of Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ). Miyan Yusuf (RZ), Miyan Ibrahim Sindhi (RZ), Malik Mahmood (RZ), Miyan Hasan Hindustani (RZ), Miyan Bhik (RZ), Miyan Ahmad Shaman (RZ). Miyan Malikjeo (RZ) and others used to attend the prayers. The fajr prayers used to be said in the morning light (just before the sunrise).

725. Be it known that after the demise of Bandagi Miran Syed Mahmood (RZ), a large number of muhajirin used to live in the daira of Bandagi Miyan Shah Nizam (RZ) at Barhli. They all used to say their fajr prayers in the morning light.

726. After the martyrdom of Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ), the daira of Bandagi Miyan Shah Nemat (RZ) was expelled from Jalore. He stayed for some days at the foot of the mountain. It is narrated that one day Miyan Hasan Qari (RZ), who knew the seven systems of reciting Quran and used to lead the prayers, was leading the fajr prayers. The sun rose (before the prayers were completed). The brothers told him, "Why did you recite such a long chapter of Quran that went on till after the rising of the sun?" Miyan Hasan (RZ) said, "This servant was doing no other work. What could I do if the Sun rose?" Miyan Shah Dilawar (RZ), Miyan Syed Mahmood (RZ), the son-in-law of Shah Dilawar (RZ), some of the migrant-companions and some seekers of Allah were saying their prayers in this congregation. Nobody said anything after the namaz was over.

727. . It is narrated that somebody asked Bayazid Bistami (RA), "I have been worshipping (ibadat) for the last thirty years, but I get no divine inspiration (kashaish)?" Bayazid (RA) said, "There is a remedy for this. I will tell you, if you are prepared to do it." He said. "Please tell me." Bayazid (RA) said, "Buy some almonds. Sit in the market place. Give the almonds to the children and tell them to slap on your cheeks. The children will slap on your cheeks. Clip away your beard. Be happy when the people see you in this condition. Then return to your hujra, take a bath and then engage in the remembrance of Allah. You will get divine inspiration." The person said sarcastically, "Excellent. Get the beard shaved. Get slapped. What a remedy? La ilaha illa Llah!" Bayazid (RA) explained, "Try to understand. Your adoration of yourself has become a veil between you and Allah. Hence, I told you all this. Your veil will never disappear unless you do as I have asked you to do."

728. Imam Mahdi (AS) is narrated to have said, "Inform this servant when it is time for the prayers (namaz). It is better if I come. Otherwise, say your prayers, as the time is obligatory. It is not proper to miss the time. The banda is subservient to time. The time is not subservient to this banda. People have made the religion of Allah subordinate to their desires. They will be called upon to account before Allah. These mullahs and Shaikhs have themselves misled all the people. And they have themselves become misled."

729. Imam Mahdi (AS) is narrated to have said, "The seeker of Truth should take strict care of his heart. He should not allow any thought to enter his heart (or mind).

COUPLETS:
"Guard your heart every moment,/
So that no thief has the strength to enter it./
Understand that every thought of things other than Allah is a thief./
Know that this practice is an obligation for the believers./
Cut every particle of things (other than Allah) that you have made your objective,/
With the sword of La (no) because that has become your ma'bud (the worshipped deity)."

730. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) is narrated to have asked his companions, "What date is it of the month of Ramazan today?" The companions said, "Twentieth." The Prophet (SLM) said, "I have no privacy here. Take my charpoi (bedstead) to the jama'atkhana (mosque). This servant (of Allah) has recited the niyat of i'tikaf (seclusion)." The Prophet (SLM) further said, "There is no believer (mumin) except he who is fond of Allah. A servant of Allah has no concern with any disturbance and mischief where he sits."

731. An elderly respected person is narrated to have said that it was an innovation (bid'at) in respect of those who used to say their fajr prayers very early in the morning. The time of fajr prayers begins at the subh-e-sadiq (true morning) and ends at the rise of the sun.

732. It is narrated that a king asked the religious scholars whether he was bihishti or dozakhi (whether he would go to heaven or hell in the Hereafter). None answered. Imam Azam Abu Hanifa (RA) was a child then. He asked the people to take him to the king. He said he would answer the king's question. On seeing the Imam (RA), the king asked, "Am I bihishti or dozakhi? Explain the difference.?" The Imam (RA) recited the Quranic Verses that said, Then, as for him who rebelled and chose the life of the world, Lo! Hell will be his home. But as for him who feared to stand before His Lord and restrained his soul from lust, Lo! The Garden (Paradise) will be his home (S. 79: 37 to 41 MMP). Then the Imam (RA) said, "Hence, do justice to your zath, on what you do. If one is busy in the worldly business, one goes to the Hell. If one is busy in the work of the religion, one goes to the Paradise." Shaikh Sa'adi (RA) has said these:

COUPLETS:
I have heard that once, in the river of Dajla (Tigris), /
The skull of a dead body told a holy man ('abid), /
"I used to have a kings glory, /
I used to have the monarchical crown. /
The skies and the times helped me. /
I conquered Iraq on the strength of my wealth. /
Then I was greedy to conquer Kirman. /
All of a sudden, the kirim (insects) ate away my head. /
Remove the cotton of negligence from the ears of discretion (hosh). /
So that you could heed to the advice of even the dead."

733. It is narrated and said that the souls of those closer to the door of Allah are clean. The prophets and messengers of Allah have a clean body. It is also said that tawakkal is the beginning and assigning everything to Allah is the end. Submission and consent are in the middle. Qibla (the shrine at Makkah, facing which the Muslims prostrate) in Reality is abandoning the worlds (kaunain) with a sincere heart. Sincerity here means that all the words and deeds of the servant of Allah should be for the sake of Allah. Repentance (tauba) is giving up the authority (ikhtiar). Piety (taqwa) is continuously guarding the nafs (lust). Fear of Allah (wara') is giving up the position of suspicion and comfort and continuing to assess the nafs (lust). The taqwa of Shariat is abstaining from all those things, which Allah has prohibited (haram). This is the rank that is achieved after acquiring the knowledge of halal and haram. However, the taqwa in Tariqat is to abstain from receiving what is halal, to prevent the nafs from taste and enjoying and relishing the taste, to abandon the good things your nafs likes and the worldly things you like. Further, the taqwa in Haqiqat (Reality) is to protect the batin (immanence) from the incoming evil thoughts related to the world, the nafs and the people. This should be done by muraqaba (meditation).

734. An elderly respected person (buzurgwar) is narrated to have said that Allah will not waste the (day- and night-long) worship (bandagi) of the person who remembers (zikr) Allah on the following six occasions (1) from the fajr prayers to the rising of the sun, (2) from 'Asr to 'Isha prayers, (3) at the time of eating, (4) at the time of co-habitation, (5) while answering calls of nature, and (6) while sleeping. Zuhd is giving up saying bad things and abandoning the worldly desires. Zahid is one who does not utter bad words (about others). 'Ashiq is one who has given up his self (khudi). Faqir is one who does not possess any property and who has no money. Sabr (patience) is giving up the complaints of the body and the nafs. Yaqeen is the name of the absence of suspicion and doubt.

735. Imam Mahdi (AS) embarked on a ship. He accepted the futuh (contribution, charity) of the inmates of the ship for the first three days. He did not accept any futuh after that. He had complete trust in Allah. All of a sudden a ship appeared on the surface of the ocean. Some people got down from the incoming ship and asked, "Where are the people trusting in Allah. The passengers in the ship pointed towards Imam Mahdi (AS). They came to the Imam (AS) and said, "Allah has sent this. Please take it." The Imam (AS) told his companions, "Take it. It is halal-e-tayyab (chastely permitted)." There were some dates, rice, ghee (butter oil), onions, butter, fish, salt and firewood, a cooking vessel, water and some gold coins. The ship and its people went away after handing over all these things.

736. Imam Mahdi (AS) is narrated to be sitting on the ship. The ship was sailing. It entered some deep waters. A storm appeared all of a sudden. So much so that the shipmaster failed to steer the ship any further. Miyan Syed Salamullah (RZ) came to the Imam (AS) in great anxiety and saw that the Imam (AS) was in muraqaba. Miyan Salamullah (RZ) told the Imam (AS), "There is qahr (calamity) in the ship". The Imam (AS) said, "Why are you telling me? When had I told you that I had any authority over the commands of Allah Most High?" Miyan Salamullah (RZ) said, "Say it under oath that you do not have the keys of the divine treasures in your hands." Imam Mahdi (AS) raised his head and saw towards the sky and the ocean a few times. The storm subsided. They saw that the ship, which needed a fortnight to reach a port, was already in that port. On a search in the ship, it was found that the stock of provisions on the ship had depleted. Imam Mahdi (AS) then said, "You were not patient to see why Allah had sent this storm."

737. Imam Mahdi (AS) is narrated to have gone to Kaabathullah and sat near it. The companions asked him why he was not performing the circumambulation of the Kaabah. An hour elapsed. Miyan Shah Nizam (RZ) was sahib-e-kashf. He saw that the Kaaba was circumambulating around the Imam (AS). Then the Imam (AS) told the Shah (RZ), "Allah has given you the eyes. You see. The others do not see."

738. A respected elderly person (buzurgwar) is narrated to have said, "Be a rider in your heart of hearts. Bodily be on your feet. The sign of recognizing the Truth is that you run away from the people. Be silent on the knowledge of spiritual mysteries (gnosis)."

739. A mughal came to Imam Mahdi (AS) and sat before him. He said, "O Syed, The sign of Mahdi is that the sword does not cut him." The Imam (AS) gave his sword to him and said, "Try now." He took the sword in his hand and did his best to attack the Imam (AS). He had no strength to raise his hand. He told the Imam (AS), "A stone or lump of iron is tied to this sword. Hence, I could not raise it." The Imam (AS) said, "O brother, the work of the sword is to cut. The work of water is to drown. The work of fire is to burn. But none would be able to wield power over the Mahdi (AS) or Mustafa (SLM).

740. Bandagi Miyan Shah Nizam (RZ) and some companions were sitting. Imam Mahdi (AS) was washing his teeth. The Shah (RZ) said, "Miranjeo (AS), the ulema say that sign of Mahdi (AS) is that if he plants a dry branch (of a dead tree) in the earth, it will sprout and yield fruit." The Imam (AS) planted his miswak (the dry piece of wood from a particular tree), which was in his hand. Immediately, it became green and bore fruit. Then the Imam (AS) took it out of the earth. The Imam (AS) said, "This work is of a trickster. The meaning of the Hadis (Prophet's (SLM) tradition) is that the hearts will become alive during the period of Imam Mahdi (AS)."

741. It is narrated that Imam Mahdi (AS) went to take a bath in the river Sabarmati. He saw a young stranger there. The Imam (AS) asked him to rub his back. He did as told. Then the Imam (AS) told him, "Now you sit and I will rub your back." As soon as the Imam (AS) placed his hand on the back of the stranger, the latter got into a divine ecstasy. He began to see strange things.

742. Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ) is narrated to have gone to Sabarmati River. There he saw that somebody was washing the mouth of his horse. Miyan (RZ) asked, "What are you washing?" He said, "I am washing the mouth of the horse." Miyan (RZ) said, "Wash the mouth of your heart." Miyan (RZ) concentrated. Then the stranger had a kashf. He was in a divine ecstasy. He remained in the company of the Miyan (RZ). However, he could not stay in the daira. He stayed elsewhere.

743. Imam Mahdi (AS) is narrated to have taken a bath at the city of Farah (in Afghanistan) and was in remembrance of Allah while drying his hair sitting in sun at a place. All of a sudden a snake emerged from a hole and raised its head. The Imam (AS) bowed his head and placed it before the snake and said, "If Allah has commanded you to bite (me), we consent." Then the snake withdrew its head in the hole. The Imam (AS) too lifted his head. Again the snake came out and the Imam (AS) placed his head in front of it and said, "If it is the will of Allah, we consent." The snake withdrew again. The snake emerged a third time and for a third time the Imam (AS) placed his head in front of it. The snake this time spoke and asked a few questions. It then said, "We were eager to see you and have come to see your jamal (beauty)." The snake came near the feet of the Imam (AS). It rolled on his feet and went away.

744. Imam Mahdi (AS) was sitting at a place. All of a sudden a big snake came. The Imam (AS) spread both his feet in front of the snake. The snake rolled on both his feet and went back into its hole. This snake was from among the descendants of the snake, which had come in the august presence of Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (SLM).

745. It is narrated that Imam Mahdi (AS) was taking his bath on a Friday. Miyan Shaikh Bhik (RZ) was pouring water. He was hearing every drop of water that was falling from the body of the Imam (AS) say, "I am grateful to Allah. Cleanliness and purity is for You. You have blessed me with the touch of the body of the Master of the Times (Sahib-uz-Zaman --- that is, Imam Mahdi (AS)).

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