September 7, 1966
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti,
(Mr. Samuel L. Lewis),
772 Clementina St.,
San Francisco 3, California
Respected soul-in-me,
What a pleasant surprise to get your gracious letter of 1st Sept. 1966 by Air. It is highly inspiring to the soul, most interesting to me, a humble devotee of Great Sufis, Avatars and the Purified Souls of this sinful world. I am sure it is God-inspired introduction for some “unseen” good in the future. I wonder, how should I admire this Allah’s blessing-in-disguise upon a poor soul like me. I read it and re-read it and enjoyed its contents to my heart’s satisfaction. May God Gracious bless you for the keen interest you took in reading my Brochure “The Miracle of the Holy Saint of Ajmer.”
I am devoted for the past 10 years to the service of translating the “Lives” of the Great Sufi Saints of India who spread the Light of Islam and Peace in this country during the past 800 years. And, thank God, I am successful in this most humble work. Now I am praying sincerely for the publication of my next book The Big Five Of India In Sufism, the manuscripts copy of which is ready. But there is no money—sufficient for this publication as yet. I am collecting funds for it. Brother Musheraff Khan sent me only last week a gracious donation of Rs. 300/- for this work. The Honorable Mr. Justice Mushtaq—Ex-Judge of Allahabad High Court (a great devotee of Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Hasan Chishti Ajmer) paid Rs. 1000/- and others are coming in slowly. To get the best “modern type” of printing, a sum of Rs. 25,000/- is required for this book. But, I am not afraid of it. These “Big Five” and their great Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin have all the wealth of the world at their feet. They can make my task easy by their spiritual blessing as it was done in the case of “The Holy Biography” of the “Great Saint of Ajmer.” I am praying at his feet and I am sure the day is not far off when God Gracious will grant my prayer. I want you also to pray. The stories of these “five” great Sufis are wonderful and most useful as a lesson for the present world to solve the problem of Peace among mankind. It is a pity nobody cared to translate these grand and miraculous stories from Urdu and Persian into English for general benefit of mankind in the past 800 years. And this tedious work is entrusted to a “poor soul” like me, who had had no proper education even, is an ordinary man broken by the misfortunes of this “age” and has already entered the last stage of his life. But, my dear brother, this is the miracle of God and His beloved souls whether man believes it or not. God is bound to fulfill one’s ambition if it is in the service of mankind and is selflessly sincere and honest.
I am a staunch believer in “Universal Religion” like you. I have greatest regard for all the great prophets of God, irrespective of caste, creed or color. Has it not been preached in the Holy Qur’an which I read every morning?
I know Janab Hassan Sani Nizami personally and intimately and I also knew his father Hazrat Khwaja Hasan Nizami. Mr. Fayazuddin was kind enough to lend me help in the work of “The Holy Biography” which has by now earned hundreds of appreciations for its success in English both at home and abroad. I am writing to Miss Saadia Khawar Khan at her Lahore address with all my literature and am sure she would welcome it.
Please note I have sent 10 copies of “The Holy Biography” of Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti of Ajmer to Mrs. Ivy O. Duce, c/o Sufism Reoriented Inc., 1290, Sutter St., San Francisco (94109) USA. She has read it with overwhelming interest. You can get a copy from her easily if you like. I entreat you to give some of your precious time to this publication. You will be in the gracious “comedy” of the Great Saint which is bound to enlighten your heart more. You will never repent it. Mrs. Ivy O. Duce’s Phone numbers are—415-771-2056. I am sending you soon a copy of Secret of Permanent Happiness written by a God-fearing friend, Mr. Ranjeet Mal Mehta, Retd., Judge, High Court, Jodhpur. It is just now in press but will be out by the end of this month. He is also, more or less, a Sufi, a great devotee of Sufi Saints. His essays on modern life are extremely enlightening. I read your letter to him this morning, for he is in Ajmer nowadays on retired list. He admired it highly and has asked me to give him a copy of it as your memento.
I shall write you again on hearing from you and hope to remain in constant touch with you in our mutual interest. It is a great pleasure to know that you will always welcome my humble communications.
I am returning your check for favor of correction. The bankers made a mistake in dating it. Instead of 1-9-66 they typed 9-1-66 which invalidated it for encashment. It is only a typing error. Next time, you can make it payable at the State Bank of India, Ajmer Branch, Ajmer, to facilitate encashment.
I will close it now, for the time being, with prayers for your health and many, many thanks for your check. With salaams and best regards,
Yours obediently,
W. D. Begg
July 3, 1967
Mr. Samuel L. Lewis,
(Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti)
772, Clementina St., San Francisco. Calif. 94103.
My dear “Self,”
It was indeed a great pleasure to get your kind letter of 25th June (with its enclosure) after a long time on my return from a South Indian tour in connection with the fund-raising mission of my next book The Big Five Of India In Sufism, the MSS copy of which is ready to go to press. I have collected a couple of thousand but I need 16 to 17 thousand for its printing. God is great and the blessings of these 5 saints is also great. Indian Sufis are a poor lot and hence I have to knock at the door of the rich, who can hardly realize the value of my humble work in a world torn by strife and mutual hatred. Americans are rich and good people but I can’t approach them easily. It is both expensive and dreary. How I wish I had someone like you to help me there. I wonder if you can concentrate with your age and ill health on this Divine Mission?
This 2nd book contains the biographies of Hazrat Qitubuddin, Fariduddin, Nizamuddin, Allauddin and Naseeruddin which I have translated from Persian into English for the first time for the benefit of the ailing world and Sufis. It has cost me a lot of money and time and energy. The Sufis of the world can help me if they like.
I am very glad to learn of your recovery from recent illness and also of your success in litigation. But what pleases me most is your intended visit to India and Ajmer for the next Urs of Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin, the Spiritual Lord. Apart from this good news, your learned comments on the topics of the day are most revealing and interesting to me. Needless to add that I shall always welcome news and letters from you.
With kindest regards and looking forward to hearing from you again and, of course, to meeting you in the Ajmer Urs,
Yours sincerely,
W. D. Begg
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
25th May, 1968
Beloved Soul - May God bless you.
Wa-alaikum-us-salaam. God is Great. It is a great pleasure to have your letter of 15th instant after some long time. It is also a pleasure to learn that you are hale and hearty and your service to God and Humanity is progressing with rapid strides. Ameen.
Thank God, the copy of “The Rajasthan Chronicle” has reached you safely to remind you again of the sacred life and glorious mission of our beloved Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Hasan Chishti, the holy saint, of Ajmer. This is not the only “review” on this humble-work; there have been 100’s of such appreciative comments on the grand mission of the Great Saint from all quarters, religious and irreligious from India to Europe in the past 7 years. This is an age of publicity and I want as much of it for Hazrat Khwaja Saheb’s message of Love and Peace for the suffering humanity as I can do. If I publish all the bulk of public opinion on this “Holy Biography,” it would be another volume very expensive to publish and circulate.
My work on The Big Five Of India In Sufism had a set-back due to my wife’s sudden death in 1966 (May). Then I had to contend with some other misfortunes too. But, in any case, I did not lose my aim or love or devotion or enthusiasm for this book. They all remain alive by the grace of God and I live on hope of publishing it as soon as I get the necessary price to pay the printers. Those who serve God and His beloved “Ones” have never been rich in the long history of the world. One must remain patient and wait for the Blessings of God; they must come sooner or later. I am not a Sufi but I am a staunch devotes of Sufi saints. My aim is to translate the biographies in English of the Great Saint of Ajmer and his “Big Five” Khalifas as who did wonders with Sufism in this country.
On the 4th of May, 1968, I have had a very narrow escape from a serious attack of Gastro-Enteritis. I have just resumed work after 3 weeks’ complete rest under the doctor’s advice. I must thank God for this further lease of life. I am 72.
With all best regards and good wishes, believe me,
Yours in devotion & service,
W. D. Begg
410 Precita Ave.
San Francisco, Calif.
24th June 1968
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
Beloved One of God:
Your letter of the 25th May has been here quite a while. It was answered and the answer withheld because of the pressure of events. It is very hard to get people who are full of enthusiasm to see that God-Allah works everywhere and not only in their small or big selves. I am only slightly younger than you, but full of vitality having practiced (and I mean practiced) both Sufi and Hindu Yogas, in the sense only that Yoga means “union with God” and not bunches of exercises, tricks, fantasies and metaphysics.
Before God-Allah I have undertaken burdens without depending upon anybody. There is a saying in the Bible, “Unless the Lord buildeth the House they labor in vain” and most people call for outside help when they have ides or “inspirations’, and expect man to help, and never thank those who help but only God. The Sufi expresses appreciation for any help at any level.
It is not surprising then, that the new generation called “Hippies,” and often vilified, are slowly, gradually and definitely coming to this person, a validated spiritual teacher, many times over (but not accepted by the metaphysical money-grubbers).
There was a most beautiful meeting here Sunday. After waiting for over forty years, there is total peace and harmony with Pir Vilayat I. Khan and he gave such a favorable report of you, it has made me very happy.
A funny thing happened today at the bank, uncertain whether to send your (forty dollars) or Rs. 300 and they turned out to be practically identical. But the bank insisted on dollars (which I should have preferred) and hope this cheque will be helpful to you at this time.
I wish also you will send anything you have to
Miss Julie Medlock
Auroville,
Pondicherry, 2
Miss Medlock is a very good friend of mine and is most active in working for the New Civilization or New Age Culture, following in the main the writings of the late Sri Aurobindo. But at the moment, though they seem to have a very wide outlook, they have by-passed the work of the Sufis, especially those of Ajmer and the Moghul Family, but also others extending down to this day. I believe the Sufis have done more in the realm of universal culture than anybody else.
A number of wonderful things came out at the Pir’s meeting. We did no advertising, but invited a few older spiritual friends. The whole house was packed and the impressions were most favorable.
We are going to put into operation as soon as God wills all the things the Pir spoke about. Thus our intention has been to teach the Upanishads. None of this intellectual nonsense one gets from university professors, but real Yogic and mystical practices, especially in the vast domain of the Breath.
Then the spiritual dancing, which has already been started all those things he spoke about will be done and the things he did not mention will not be done exactly as if it had been the Voice-of God (or Nada Brahma) or what you will; to me it was just that. He is representing the Message of God as his father did and not himself and not in any limited sense, “Sufism.”
If you may be needing financial help, I trust to Allah it will come and this also will be taken up. For we are planning to send a committee or group to India, inshallah. I will not give details here, but they will undoubtedly be able to do for Auroville what the “karma-yogins and “purna-yogins” who talkie-talkie-talk will not do, for they have neither the Prajna nor Vijnana.
Besides, the New Civilization is arising here, multitudes of reincarnated Indians who are so easy to awaken, rather than to teach. It is necessary now to double the disciples from 30 to 60 and help fulfill whatever seems to have been in the Pir’s mind and heart. And with God’s help there is no obstacle—something one hopes others will learn.
When the Pir started we gave a Sufi prayer and when he concluded the RamNam and no intellectual or dualistic comments. There was so much love and enthusiasm aroused. It was most wonderful, and every week here seems to be more wonderful, alhamdu lillah.
With all love and full assurances of brotherly corporation.
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
410 Precita
San Francisco, Calif. 94110
September 2, 1968
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
Beloved One of God:
Your airmail of 29 August has been received and read with more than passing interest. I am making a copy of this for Miss Julie Medlock and also for my disciple Sheyla, who should be leaving here in about 3 weeks.
For your information, I have been initiated under 4 different Chisti masters; also, into the Naqshibandi, Rifai, Shadhili, Khadri, Khalandari, and Sabri orders in that sequence. I also had rather complete Sohrawardi training under a Murshid in this region. This hard substantial series of experiences has been shunned also universally in the Western world. Nor is it accepted by the Sufism Reoriented group here. When Vilayat Khan came here from France, it was necessary either to lay our cards on the table or to join in a concerted effort. As the eyes are the windows of the soul, the latter took place.
I am pleased now to state that since Vilayat’s coming my entourage has vastly increased; there are many signs of augmented income; and several universities have succumbed to honest objectivity. I mention this not only as news but because this will open the doors for your writings and efforts in this land.
I am hoping to have a dinner for Professor C. Naim, now at the University of California, acting head of the Urdu—Hindi Division of the department of Near-East languages. Many Indian professors and scholars will be invited. Dr. Naim was in the chair when this person answered many technical questions beyond the scope of the chief orientalists in this land. That is to say, the famous ones could ask questions, but only this by-passed individual could answer them. It is very difficult to impress upon Westerners of dialectical outlooks the truth of mysticism and mystical experiences. Once tested a firm friendship follows; but egocentric people will not test—they are afraid of something, which is only natural. In any event the horizons are all broadening, the outlooks improving, and there is more than an equal chance of my returning to India after my disciple Sheyla comes home.
We would like very much to help Auroville, but we have totally failed to impress upon them the need for proper import permits. I have asked my friend Professor Merchant of Bombay, one of your leading scholars, to help in this. He is now chief director of customs at that important seaport. But we still need the import license.
It is very difficult for some intellectuals to understand ways of heart. The first time I called on Miss Julie Medlock I was accompanied by 3 disciples in Tasawwuf. She herself benefited from a very important rind Sufi while in Pakistan, Far from being a pauper, he has been most instrumental in financing the undertaking of the new University of Islamabad.
I thank you for the enclosure. The poet Allen Ginsberg is well known to me, but as yet he has had no real mystical experience. The strange by-passing of the views of your former President Dr. Radhakrishnan end your present President, Mr. Zakir Hussein, form impediments in honest East-West cultural exchange. Cultural exchange is not the result of super-advertising. It comes from hearts and minds commingling beyond the differences of race creed and caste.
There is no doubt in my mind that millions of former Indian “souls” are now incarnating in California. I am perhaps the only completely, validated American Guru + Murshid. I not only have fairly complete understanding of all the equipments of Sufism (vide initiations referred to above), but a pretty good working command of Indian Cosmic Psychology etc.
It is most peculiar that many people who claim to believe in karma are also adept in rejecting the qualifications of others. My Indian guru, the late Papa Ramdas, accepted all the gurus of India, but they have certainly not accepted each other, and many whom he recognized, did not accept him.
The divine vision is corroborated be the performance of Tawajjeh and Darshan. This is act and fact, attested by a growing number of young people and very occasionally by one of mature age.
Love unites everything and everybody. When I think of you, I am always reminded of Khwaja Sahib sitting with a great yoga whose name I do not recall; the picture is deeply embedded in my consciousness.
Love is love and not qualified by anything else. Murshid and Mureed are one; and, tat twain asi, and love and blessings,
Sufi Ahmed Chisti
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
4th Nov. 1968
Gracious and Blessed Soul,
Although still in bed due to prolonging illness, yet I cannot delay acknowledgment of your gracious letter of 25th October which I received on 1st November. God be praised for your mystic “Mujahedas” (strivings) without which there has never been a great Sufi dervish. God be also praised fur your vastly increased following, the new Khankah in Novato, and the devoted “mureeds” you have to support this “Temple of God” or Sufism among an affluent, society, now pining for peace-of-mind against overwhelming “materialism.” Indeed the printer-mureed and the book establishment would be of tremendous help not only to cause of Sufism, God and World-Peace but also to a poor soul like me who is devoted to this mission for the Past 14 years single handed in India. It is heartening news to me as it should be to all devotees of Sufism. Allah is Great. When He wants anything to be done for the benefit of mankind, He creates His own ways and means. This is His promise in the Holy Qur’an.
As I see from press reports and as you now confirm in your gracious letter, “there has been a vast increase of interest in spiritual matters here (USA) especially Indian and Islamic.” Sir Bernard Shaw has predicted that West will find peace and happiness in Islam in the future. In any case, I personally feel I should be on a tour of the West to contribute my humble bit to the cause of Sufism, the Sufi Message and the Islam for the suffering humanity. The translation and publication of the biographies of the founder of Islam in India and his big Five Khalifas in English is hailed by all intelligent persons as a most timely undertaking. The West is in darkness and needs modern publicity for the miraculous work and message of Islam and Sufism. There has been a lot of misrepresentation by prejudiced persons against Islam in the Nest. This must be removed by real facts and figures of history.
If I could distribute my books’ literature among the USA Universities, I shall be acquiring a great success. I had posted 200 circulars to various educational institutions some 3 years ago but none, not a single one, ever responded acknowledged. I wasted more than Rs. 300/- in printing and postage. If you get into the Universities, I will be successful.
The Universities and educational institutions are the best places for propagating the Truth about Sufism, as you know.
Perhaps you must have also received the first issue of “The Sufi Messenger” published by International Headquarters of The Sufi Movement, Geneva. Its Editorial Offices’ address is: The Sufi Messenger Quarterly, 434, 35th Avenue, Seattle, Washington, 98122 USA. - Publisher & Mg. Editor: Martin E. Dickinson - European Editor: Count Willem Van Bylandt.
I like the enterprise; it meets the need of the times. Although a modest beginning, but with proper support it can be a powerful voice in due course of time, dealing, as it does with Oriental knowledge and giants of Sufism like Maulana Roum, Fariduddin Attar, Hafiz, Inayat Khan, etc., etc. Please get a copy from their Washington address if you like?
I must close it lest the doctor’s may scold me for trespass upon their orders for complete rest. I am improving but slowly. It is enlargement of liver—a dangerous thing at advanced age. But I depend upon the mercy of God and those to whose service I have dedicated my humble mission. They are keeping up my morale and spirits.
Your own prayers, I am sure, will not go unrewarded by The Supreme Lord.
With all devotion and enthusiasm for your success.
Yours as ever,
W. D. Begg
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
19th Dec. 1968
Beloved soul,
I had received yours of 13th Nov. on 18th but ill health caused delay in reply. I crave forgiveness. God be praised your prayers are heard and I am much better now. My work however in heavy arrears. The illness took 3 months and now I am weak to resume work in full swing.
It is gratifying to learn of your dervish dances. They are praised by Hazrat Baba Faridudain Ganj Shakar, the great Sufi saint of India whose full life-story is being printed in The Big Five of India in Sufism. I saw a most fascinating picture of a Sufi dance in “The Muslim Digest” of Durban which I am reproducing in this book.
I have collected Rs. 10,000/- for the printing estimate of this book by now, but the total cost will be Rs. 20,000/- . The spiritual powers of the “Big Five” are working and I am sure I will get the balance on tour which I propose to undertake immediately the doctors permit me. There are certain promises.
This Maharishi Mahesh Yogi is now on tour in India. He advocates “transcendental meditation.” The press gives him front-page headlines and he travels by Air—an expensive thing for a Yogi. He is building a very costly modern ashram in the Hardwar Hills, lavishly furnished. Replying a question at Ahmedabad recently, he said, “at present I get the money from U.S.A. where it is in plenty.” I wonder why we can’t get the small balance or a part of it for our coming book which is a solid, useful, everlasting, inspiring, instructive and highly illuminating service to the cause of Sufism? The American public is philanthropic. They can help us only if they can know about my work. Cannot you manage to put a small advertisement in the “New York Times”? I can prepare a write-up. I am very desperate to get the book out as soon as possible now, after all the huge expense of time and money in its research and compilation work. I am eager to know your views on this matter, and also your blessings.
I have received 2 copies of “The Sufi Messenger” which has been launched by the Sufi Movement International Headquarters of Geneva. It is the organ of Hazrat Inayat Khan’s Mission and contains very interesting articles on Sufism. It’s Editor, one Mr. Martin B. Dickinson (Editorial Offices—The Sufi Messenger quarterly, 434 35th Avenue, Seattle, Washington, 98122, U.S.A.). Did you get a copy of this publication? It is worth reading. I think it is a step in the right direction. The get-up & printing are nice. I have written to the President and others of this organization about my coming book.
I eagerly await Mr. Hussein’s letter. Perhaps he will stock some conies of “The Holy Biography” in his establishment for ready sale and thus help the cause of Sufism. Geneva and Holland people admire this work very much. But the material in “The Big Five” is rare—it is the juice of Five Great Sufis’ lifelong experiences with particular chapter on Hazrat Ali Eujwari Data Ganj Baksh of Lahore’s masterpiece to the cult of Sufism embodied in his book “Kashful Mahjoob.” I am collecting some literature for your new Khankah’s secretariat to be posted by the following mail. Perhaps you will keep it there on exhibition for your mureeds information.
I now close it with best prayers for the success of your work and the Khankah, and hope you will keep my humble work always in view for further financial help from your circle in U.S.A. Sufism needs publicity; publicity needs money and if Mahesh Yogi can get tons of it, why can’t we?
May God help us.
Yours sincerely
The Garden of Inayat
910 Railroad Ave., Novato, Calif. 94947
6th February, 1969
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
Beloved One of Allah: As-Salaam Aleikhum
It is some time since I have had a letter from you and it has been unanswered due to the enormous amount of work and the burdens of life quantitatively. It is almost impossible to surmise this quantity and it is the great miracle (karamat) that now in my seventies, one faces life with utmost vigor and save on rare occasions the health is marvelous.
There is no doubt that this is due to a combination of the Grace of Allah (to Whom be all praise) and the pursuit of the practices assigned respectively by the late Hazrat Inayat Khan whose remains are in the Dargah Nizam-ed-din Auliya in Delhi and of the living Pir Sufi Barkat Ali of Salarwalla in Lyallpur District of Pakistan. Both of these Murshid’s were devotees of the Chisti School, plus other tariks, and both have had a profound effect on the way of life, though I live among the “kaffir Feringhis”).
I am disturbed by your being disturbed by want of funds. I myself was over $900 American in debt in the month of January and by karamat a mysterious cheque for a thousand ($1000) dollars arrived, wiping out this debt and enabling me to carry on under much better circumstances than in previous years. But this is very necessary because of the constantly growing following particularly among the young. For there is a spiritual revolution going on. There is a desire for the Living God and the question is what does the Living God (Al-Hayy) want? I do not assent that people are “Muslims” because they follow a pattern. As the Grand Sheikh Al-Alawi, visiting here from North Africa said, people are Muslims who surrender to Allah, not because they follow formulas. And the modern science demands more than rituals or formulas to prove anything at all.
I feel, inshallah, that it is necessary to prove by life, not by argument that Allah is (which is assumed and not proven mostly); and that he is closer than the neck-vein (which is absolutely assumed without any proof whatever). The result is that the young are turning away from religion, which is imposed anyhow, and seeking Truth and they are alive and awake to the Truth. And when I teach the young, Ya Hayy! Ya Hakk! they recover from diseases of all sorts, find the Living Allah and pursue the path of self-realization with zest, though this is far, far from orthodoxies.
Recently an editor asked for stories about Sufis and I told him that I was not interested in relating tales of miracles of the past, especially enigmatic or doubtful ones, as the proof of anything at all. But I assured him if he wished tales of living Sufis, that would be different. In the past this meant one was shunned, but now, Alhamdu Lillah, an editor has accepted.
This is all to the point. I have before me The Holy Biography of Hazrat Khawaja Muinuddin Hasan Chishti. It assumes much, too much for the scientific age. Yes I myself have had such an experience at the cell of Bakhtiar Khaki which supports to me many of the tales you have given. If they are relegated to the past only they deny that Allah is Al Hayy and no argument has any value. Every day I repeat a number of times Ya Haya Wa Khayyum and this has been realized which keeps this body and mind in fine fellow and constantly confused the critics and enemies, for they are unable to explain the vitality.
I was also pleased to see the picture of Hazrat Pit Zamin Nizami Saheb who was my host in my visit to Ajmer. And Fayazuddin Sahib of Hyderabad, Deccan, has been my host and friend, and in many ways my spiritual brother.
Many times I used to see in visit a huge iron kettle filled-with rice, many times. And when I entered the compound there it was and I can understand therefrom your dedication to Prince Mukarram Jah Bahadur.
But I fail to understand the criticisms of Emperor Akbar after your dedication in Love and, Good-will with your final tribute to two of the Presidents of India who were not “Muslims” in the traditional sense, although I have no doubt of their devotion to the Living God, as above. It is inconsistent and not proven.
Now I realize in writing this letter and also in my social and intellectual functions here that I shall be subject to criticism—it has always been that way. But having had the good-will and blessings from The Inner Planes of the Great Saints whom you justly admire, my introduction of dance patterns into spiritual matters will be met with rages and ranges of hostilities from people who verbalize good-will. It is not true that most Muslims accept Mohammed, on Whom be Peace, as the Seal of anything. They say, but they go no further than saying.
The Prophet David gave us both Music and Dancing as ways to spiritual realization. And there is no doubt that Mohammed himself really accepted the contributions of his predecessors though the majority of his followers dissent. Nor is there any valid discussion of Wujud. A book is written in English, ostensibly for the Western world and terms are assumed, not explained. The non-Muslims can hardly understand what you are writing about and the majority of the orthodox in what is called “Islam” (which has little to do with any surrender of any kind or any peacefulness of any kind) will criticize your work.
As soon as arguments enter into Ruhaniat, it is no longer Ruhaniat. There is no doubt in my mind that Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Jesus (on whom be peace) reached their eminencies without adhering to any Shariat. Yes, they prayed, fasted, gave alms, had their pilgrimages and proclaimed Unity, though not in Arabic and it seems as if Allah has accepted them and the Divine Messenger also accepted them, but not most Muslims who only accept the Qur’an and thus ignore the scriptures of other peoples no matter what they say. The proclamation (which is very dear to me) that Allah has sent His Messengers to all peoples is strengthened by the fact that there have been Divine Messengers who brought codes but not written scriptures and their teachings are most wonderful though confined to Anthologists and Archaeologists.
The Heart full of love is not concerned with doctrine. The Bismillah either means what it says or it does not. If it means what it says it should be most effective and we have found it is most effective.
We are now introducing Dancing and rituals based on the Sifat-i-Allah One will be accused of making “innovations” and absolutely pleads guilty. But these “innovations” are winning the admiration of a growing number of young people who have given up religion in almost every sense of the term, but they have not given up God and they certainly are accepting Allah at a rate no missionary has succeeded in.
It is so easy to write about the Auliya, etc. But are they realities? Are we referring to living men? to those that lived only in the past? or to some abstraction which wins our admiration and convinces nobody else? This is the way of Orthodoxy. The way of Reality is to accept the experiences of others and do this without condemnation. When it became evident that an ever growing sector of the human race was demanding experience beyond the material and took to bizarre ways to experience—and I mean experience, this person began Joy Without Drugs. His efforts seem to have the Living Allah for the respond of the young grows weekly, and this week, curiously, there are requests from both Jews and Christians. One cannot be assured of anything but one can repeat the words of a former Teacher, “I come to bring you the Message of the Living God.”
There are all kinds of pseudo-teachers here, especially from India. They often charge large amounts for what they call “Yoga” which has nothing to do with living God-realization. Among a multitude of so-called Krishna-devotees, hardly one or two realize, experience Krishna. What good is that? We are having the experiences and with that the charges of heresy, of course. They go together, but this very situation attracts more of the young.
We have no “moral” teachings. We repeat the Sifat-i-Allah not as epithets and characteristics of some Abstraction named “God” or “Allah” but the epithet of Life Itself, that Life is God, Al-Hayy. And we find all these Attributes in the Living God, and so they belong to man, made in the Divine Image, actually, not abstracting or symbolically. Thus man has within him all the Beautiful Names, the Beautiful characteristics, and by repeating Wazifas the Sifat-i-Allah begin to manifest in human beings, with mostly Strength stress for the men and Beauty for the women, always remembering that Allah is One and in Him all Attributes are found together, separated by the minds of men.
When we become aware of the Living God (Allah, Al-Hayy) we promote Peace and find Peace and out of that fountain all the other good and beautiful characteristics through mankind, made in the Divine Image. I am not concerned with traditions, I am concerned with human experience and I see ways out of the turmoils of the day. Those who join in recitations and dancing experience this and their questions are answered. It is a New Day, my brother, a dance of universal love and brotherhood and not of sham words masquerading at eternal veridities and values.
One never loses sight of Love, Beneficence and Compassion. Anyone can use empty words. The strength of Baraka (barkat) especially as transmitted through the Chain of the Sufis is exceedingly great. The one also surrenders to the living God removes the energy-resistance to it just as the copper has less energy-resistance to electricity. To say one is a channel is one thing. To demonstrate this in the application of Zikr to the Dervish Dancing is another. We have two forms of dance, one based on Zikr and the other on the Sifat-i-Allah as expressed in the Wazifas. It does not take long to win hearts that way for one never forgets that the “soul is born a believer” and that everyone is essentially the Beloved of Allah. “Allah loves His offspring more than a mother loves her children.” Allah undoubtedly does and the hard fact that Muslims do not, and other religionists and non-religionists still less does not detract from the Rahmat of Allah.
Narrow minded people of every faith and no faith, perceiving the “sins” of the world, blame. The Malamatiyas do not throw blame and they are willing to accept blame. Religionists do not accept the words of Isa: “Judge not that ye be not judged.” Whatever their “faith” they delight in judging and condemning. And so the world is in chaos because the “good” people delight more in judging and condemning than in loving and offering mercy and compassion tote world. There is no end to the value of repeating the Bismillah.
The Prophet, on whom be peace said, “My words can never abrogate the words of Allah but the words of Allah can abrogate my words.” Nonsense! Who accepts that? Only a few Sufis perhaps, not otherwise. And so legal codes, very valuable for certain times and places and institutions very valuable for certain times and places are fostered on the world and fail, because they do not come from the Throne of Allah. What comes from the Throne of Allah is Infinite in all respects and this Throne is found in the heart of man.
With all love and blessing,
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
(Samuel L. Lewis)
410 Precita Avenue
San Francisco, Calif. 94110
April 18, 1969
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
Dear Ram,
You have been very kind to me to send a brochure in regard to Saint Sachcha Baba. I greatly appreciate your kindness. It comes at a time when the Indian students here are very active, and we are hoping to cooperate with them. No doubt I shall place this brochure in their hands.
But there are some things I do not understand. Why should Adi K. Irani, quondam secretary to the late Meher Baba, be concerned with another supposititious Saint or Avatar? I personally am sick and tired of the long parade of so-called super-personalities. I do not see the problems of India solved, nor do I believe they will be solved by homage to fleshly beings. I firmly believe La Illaha El Il Allah. I believe that He presents and re-presents His eternal Message through what we may call avatars, and in this I do include Rama, Krishna, Buddha and Christ, ending with Mohammed (on whom be peace). I think it is utter and absolute sacrilege to be constantly adding to this list without there being any evidence other then the emotions of personalities.
It may shock you to have me say I don’t give a damn for any league of planets and stars or for the welfare of any sentient being not of this earth, somehow, sometime. I believe absolutely Tat Tvam Asi, and I repeat, I don’t give a damn for any Maharaj, and I do have utmost solicitation for every peasant and outcaste as well as for human beings who are more fortunate than the peasants and outcastes.
I am teaching effacement, and I mean effacement, in Rama, Krishna, Shiva, Buddha, Jesus and Mohammed. I see no homage to them in classifying every admired Hindu and no non-Hindu in the same ranks. I see a great value in studying Holy Scriptures. I see no value in the endless divisions in India and sometimes in other lands, each with a separate Saint, a separate Avatar, a separate Sadguru—nobody is satisfied with gurus any longer.
I understand we are soon going to have one Sai Baba come to this land. No doubt he will be welcomed. I should like to see one of these saints or holy men do something to stop war, to mitigate poverty, to extend a loving hand to those in need, lead in worshipping and decry those that worship them.
This no doubt is strong language. I have been called to account here for not using strong language. I think this is the only way to awaken those who regard other than God (Allah, Ram) for worship. To me it is sacrilegious and disgusting.
My dear friend, beloved of God, I shall be glad to take back every word I have said if your own problems are solved. By standing firm for the One Only Being and for none else, I have seen one after the other of my problems dissolve. Today I am doing, teaching, dervish dances, Mantric dances, Yoga dances, etc. They are communicable, and every single week this year my total audiences have been larger than the previous ones. Every sign that it is still mounting. Not only that but God Himself must be pleased, for my income is mounting. You have been crying about this. I would like to help you, but God Himself says that you must turn to Saint Sachcha Baba for help now, and not to me. This is your test and not mine.
I have gone all through this with the followers of still another avatar (India has so many?), Anandamayi.
Praise be to Allah, I am now definitely following in the Path of Khwaja Muinuddin Chisti, whom I thought you revered. I have introduced spiritual choral singing. It has been most effective. People are beginning to accept that God is—not that this saint or that saint or sadguru is. This music is electric and electrifying. And the other day when I chanted Azan before a group of Kaffir Feringhis they were spellbound, and I was spellbound to learn that they were spellbound.
In the service of God I forget both my egotistic pride and super-egotistic humility.
To me love is the greatest miracle. And I am intensely in supporting The Holy Mission of the “Chisti” Order of Indian Sufism. When I am assured that you intend to devote yourself to that I shall certainly cooperate financially as well as otherwise. La Illaha El Il Allah.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
22nd April 1969
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
410 Precita Avenue,
San Francisco, USA.
My dearest Soul,
It was a great pleasure to get your letter of April 18 today, and to know that the brochure of Saint Sachcha Baba reached you safely. Nowadays postage is very dear and if letters or mails are lost in transit, I am extremely disheartened. I depend on post office very much for my mission’s work and because money is hard earned, hence the letters are precious to me in the service of God and His beloved friends.
I entirely agree with you in the true philosophy of La Illaha El Il Allah all else is secondary. In fact, all “else” ultimately merges with the Supreme Divine. The roads are different but when the pilgrims reach Him, He embraces them All—irrespective of the path or road one has to travel to get unto Him.
I am sending a picture by separate Book Post tomorrow in the hope that it will reach you safely, and that you will be kind enough to send me its acknowledgment immediately you get it. It contains “portraits” of six greatest Sufi saints, though it is only the artist’s imaginary dream, because pictures or photographs of Islamic saints are strictly forbidden and there was no photographic science during their times. It was feared that the people may resort to idol worship if pictures of saints or prophets were current in the world after their demise. But this picture must help you to attract more disciples of this modern age. Perhaps you will hang it in a frame in your study?
My health has given me much trouble in the past 10 months. I however went to seek blessings of Hazrat Allauddin Saabir of Kalyar and the 3 great saints of Delhi last month. In Delhi I drew up an estimate for printing “The Big Five” with the help of “The Statesman” press. It comes to Rs. 46,000/- to get out a really illuminating edition like The Holy Biography. I am not dejected at this estimated price. I have faith in God that He will manage to provide this sum soon by His grace. I need now only 50% more. And I need the necessary sound health to accomplish this ambitious to task of my life. When God wishes to help, He does it through “unexpected” sources as He did in the case of The Holy Biography.
I am printing another “Special Bulletin” to introduce my forthcoming book The Big Five of India in Sufism in advance of its publication to attract public attention as I did in the case of The Holy Biography. It is in the hands of my printers just now. As soon as it is out of press, I will send you a copy by Air if possible. This “Bulletin” contains a part of my “Preface” and the “List of Contents” of the Book with an appeal for help. It has been a costly affair to compile and do the research work. It has cost me Rs. 5000/- so far, apart from its estimated cost as indicated above. Never mind, once it is printed, it will be all in a good and noble cause, a selfless service to Islam, God and humanity wherein money has no value.
Avatar Meher Baba kept us waiting for years to speak out his missions’ purpose but, it is a pity, he was not able to do so till his last breath and his disciples and public wire left guessing as he passed away. Anyway, he was a sort of a Sufi. I wish, like other Sufis, he should have given peace and solace to the suffering humanity before departure. May God bless his soul. Islam respects all devotees of God, even its foes. With profound regards and love, Yours sincerely,
W.D. Begg
Six of the Greatest Sufi Saints of Islam
From left to right:
Ashraf-ul-Aulia, Khwaja-e-Khwajagaan, Sultan-ul-Hind, Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Hasan Chishti, the Holy saint of Ajmer, with his mausoleum at Ajmer.
Shaheed-e-Ishq Hazrat Khwaja Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki of Delhi with his mausoleum at Delhi. He was the first Khalifa or “spiritual successor” of Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Hasan Chishti of Ajmer, the founder of Islam and Chishtia Silsila of Sufism in India.
Hazrat Baba Fariquddin Ganj Shakar of Pak Patan (in Pakistan) with his mausoleum. He was one of the greatest Khalifas of Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti of Ajmer who rendered meritorious services to the cause of “Chishtia Silsila” or Sufi saints in India after the demise of his Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Khwaja Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki of Delhi.
Ghaus-ul-Azam Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Qadar Mohiyuddin Jilani of Baghdad—one of the greatest names in the Sufi world. In each of his lectures in the support of La Elaha Illillah, 70,000 persons adopted this “Kalima” of Islam. One of the greatest saint orators Islam has ever produced to prove to the pagan world that “there is only One God and Mohammed is his prophet.”
Hazrat Sharfuddin Bu Ali Shah Qalandar, the great Qalandar saint of Panipat (near Delhi). He has a most peculiar and amazing history of his mission in the service of Islam in India. Two ferocious lions always remained in his attendance in the work of God.
Sultan-ul-Mashaikh Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Aulia, Mehboob Elahi (beloved of God), of Delhi and his mausoleum at Delhi.
(Note—Pictures or photographs are strictly forbidden in Islam. These pictures are therefore only an imaginary dream of the artist to meet the demand of the public who are madly in love with these great Sufi Saints. Their full life stories or biographies will be found in my coming book The Big Five of India in Sufism—first and only English version ever written.
W. D. Begg.
Author of
The Holy Biography of Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti of Ajmer,
The Big Five of India in Sufism.
W.D. Begg’s Office, Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer (India)
22nd April, 1969
Presented to Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti with Best Compliments and Love
410 Precita Ave.,
San Francisco, Calif.
April 28th, 1969
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
Beloved One of Allah:
As-salaam aleikhum. Year letter of the 22nd has brought both joy and satisfaction, but there is a strange note—it is as if you had the problems and Allah came and answered this person as if he were the one with the problems you have. Praise to Allah but every month, nay every week this year has shown an improvement over the last. The attendance at meetings grow, the number of mureeds and candidates grow and the collections at meetings increased. This at a time when there has been entire satisfaction with my personal affairs in all directions.
We had a seminar on mystical experience here and it came out wonderful. In the past these affairs have always been in the hands of some “famous” person who determined everything by personality and never by experience inner or outer. To me science is learning through outer experience and mysticism is learning through inner experience, but both are ways of knowledge and in a sense, directly or indirectly ways to God.
The introduction of Dervish dancing was followed by Mantric dancing and now slowly Yoga and ceremonial dances and rituals. These all came out of the akasha and the future generations will accept what the passing ones will not: “In the hour ye think least the Son of man cometh.” God is not restricted to certain personalities. Nor to the philosophers who praise Sankara that God is in everybody and then deny it to certain ones, generally to the majority.
I should like to have joined the Sri Aurobindo movement but when they elevate politicians and degrade mystics and won’t accept Akbar or even President Zukair Hussein it puts one in a ticklish position.
My teacher taught: “Open Thou our hearts that we may hear Thy Voice which cometh constantly from within.” But today there are so many cults, groups, all verbalizing cosmic consciousness and integration and brotherhood and then denying it to others. The openness of my work, the acceptance of the spiritual methods of all schools is bringing an ever greater following among the young. It may well be that “Say Allah and Allah thou shalt become.” The effectiveness is marvelous and scores of young people who used to resort to drugs now join both in La Illaha El Il Allah and Om Sri Ram! Jai Ram! Jai Jai Ram!
There has not been the slightest questioning of my own choral based on Ya Mohammed Abdullah, Mohammedar Rassoul Lillah.
It has been so electric and effective. And one is now called to visit some of the other Western States. I should have preferred to prepare to go to India but the non-acceptance of the mission of Akbar makes it imperative that I go where people will listen to the story of Akbar and Fatehpur Sikri and even to “The Religion of the President of India.”
The words and choral ideas both spring from Our Saint. I am thoroughly in accord with all you report and am not in the least troubled by subjectivities. I have visited the tombs of many saints and had either communion or even open vision of them so am not disturbed by subjectivities. Nor by the refusal of people proclaiming brotherhood and a New Age to accept these experiences, or similar ones from other sources.
This week we dedicate The Garden of Allah and have a “tamasha-shindig” at The Garden of Inayat. We shall formally dedicate both a pottery work and printing establishment and later may have the means to house them, Inshallah.
Here inwardly I represent the Chisti-Kadri-Sabri movement but outwardly the Chisti-Kadri-Khidri movement. This is based on actual experience and awakening.
As the older people disappear, the young will accept. One is tired of hearing about claims from those who deny one’s relation with God. Whatever has taken place inwardly has never lead to the denial of others but one is tired of accepting those that deny and sometime do nothing more than deny.
I am far more disturbed by ego-worship than by idol-Worship.
In our Dervish dancing we have a movement for health an so tonight we shall remember you with our Ya Shaffee! Ya Kaffee!
Love and blessings,
Samuel L. Lewis
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
6th May 1969
Beloved Soul in-the-garb-of-man,
Wa-Alaikum-us-Salaam wa barakaat-o-hu. I am glad my poor letter of 22nd April reached you safely and hope the “Picture” (referred to therein) will also reach you safely. Believe me, I don’t find words to thank you for your cheque of 20 dollars towards the expenses of the nobly cause. Your previous contributions are also on record in the books of my humble mission. These due encouragements help me immensely to go on in my work.
The promised “Bulletin” is nearing completion and, if God wishes, it will soon be in your hands to enjoy the “Preface” of the coning book—the wonder book on Sufism and Great Sufi dervishes, on their teachings and amazing services to the cause of God, religion and humanity. God gracious is listening to my and 100’s of my patrons’ prayers for my health which is on much better side now. Of course, your own congregation dance’s prayers cannot go unheeded in this respect. I have no other interest whatever in this world now, except the service of the Great Saints belonging to All Religions.
I purpose to send you another extremely interesting ”Picture” of “Sufi Dance” in ecstasy with a complete description of what it means to a Sufi. I shall try to send it with the copy of the “Bulletin” which is engaging all my best attention for the time being. God gracious has given me due strength, after 10 months’ serious illness, to supervise its printing in the press, though the press-people gave me enough trouble this time.
It is heartening, to know that your “seminar” proved a great success and that success awaits other progressive schemes in the service of God, specially the printing establishment in which I am keenly interested. If you move out on your anticipated tour of other Western States, please don’t forget to keep in touch with me. This year, I shall have to work very hard to bring out the book. How lucky I am to receive your prayers for my health in your Dervish dances? Is it not the favor of Allah, the gracious and Mighty? Best regards and wishes for the time being. Hope to write again very soon.
Yours as ever,
W. D. Begg
P.S. A great soul, Dr. Zakir Hussein, passed away on 3rd May, 1969, at 11:40 while in bathroom. His heart trouble in these days has been causing havoc. But it is all a means. “To every man upon this earth, death cometh sooner or later.” He was a great soul indeed. A religionist and God-fearing person, he was. May his soul rest in peace. He was buried with all due honors at 9 P.M. last night (5th May).
13th May, 1969
Beloved One of Allah:
As-salaam aleikhum. Thank you for your letter of the 6th. It is a great joy to hear from you. One attended the memorial service for President Hussein and said to the local Consul: “That man was myself; I was commemorating my own funeral.” He understood.
There are things which happen by Divine Grace. Two different disciples have recently performed miraculous healings. And the Dervish Dancing is expanding—more forms, more performers and better response. We now have both Zikr and Kalama as the basis for both dancing and chanting and it is almost like a new Ajmer is being born here, Inshallah. True, the Hadith say, “In that day will the Sun rise in the West and all men seeing will believe.” And you will find us “Kaffir Feringhis” changing the praise of Allah and the self-centered “Muslims” engaged in politics.
I have asked that copy of The Oracle be sent air-mail; it may cost a little but will save time, or at least a portion on the dervish dancing. People will object to the mingling of sexes but in my work there is no sex, merely the human being.
The result of the “seminar” was most gratifying and has opened the doors at another college where one speaks on Sufism and on mysticism generally. The response is very different. Data Sahib taught that ecstasy was good for the young and this Murshid teaches it is better than the psychedelic drugs which have upset the whole Nation and apparently other parts of the world. Even now one teaches Irfan, the use of the word-sound “Allah” for the alleviation of ills. The Hindu and Buddhist practices, while welcomed, do not seem in the end to awaken the heart and remove the pain. Otherwise one accepts their techniques.
One is now beginning to write up these dervish dances. The local secretary says he will enclose copies which will give an idea of what we are doing.
All love and blessings,
Samuel L. Lewis
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
25th May ‘69
Holy Soul, My benefactor,
May the blessings of Allah be with you and your divine work. I have much pleasure in acknowledging receipt of:
your gracious letter of 13th May,
page from “Oracle” showing your “Spring Dances”
your-portrait from a newspaper cutting, and
explanatory notes on “Spiritual” or Dervish Dance.
I read and enjoyed every word of them, the technology behind the Dervish Dance and so many other enlightening hints. I have promised you a “rare picture” of the “Heavenly Dance” of ancient Sufi dervishes reproduced in a very interesting article by Dr. Annemarie Schimmel of Ankara University in the “Muslim Digest.” Published from Durban (S. Africa) by Mr. Mohammed Makki. This dance with “Sama” is also called mystical dance of the Moulvi Dervishes. The great Maulana Rum said about “Sama” and its accompanying “mystical dance,” as under:
“Sama” is an essential like prayer (namaz) and fasting (roza) for a mature Sheikh and is “mubah” (permissible under the Shariat) for a pure disciple. Allah is a complete pleasure and belief is a complete joy.” Sama, is the singing of the dervishes while they dance.”
Dr. Annemarie’s article is a most interesting one and, if I get time, I propose to send you a typed copy.
I have brought out yet another “Special Bulletin” to propagate my next book’s publication, a few copies of which I am today sending you by separate Book Post by surface mail. The postage even on printed matter from India to USA is horribly high by Air Mail. So I am compelled to use the surface mail which is too slow.
Perhaps you know that “Hazrat Makhdoom Allauddin “Saabir” the great saint of Kalyar (one of the “Big Fives” I am keenly interested in) conducted the funeral service (Namaz-e-Jenaza) of his own, himself, to the surprise of his beloved disciple Hazrat Shamsuddin Turk of Panipat, which was attended by all great saints, Abdaals, angels, etc. etc. So you commemorated “your own funeral” at the memorial service of the late Dr. Zakir Hussain. This mundane world can hardly understand such divine things from divine personalities. I, as a true devotee of and believer in Sufism, can understand them.
It is a historic fact that the Great Saint of Ajmer spread the gospel of Truth all over India and many of the far Eastern countries. I read in the papers that USA is coming up in search of “spiritual” pleasure, comfort, solace and guidance. It seems to me the blessings of God and the Saint of Ajmer that you are deputed to do this duty in USA. Allah be praised; He is All-powerful. Let the misguided mankind of 20th century forget Him, but, I am sure, it will be given a lesson of those previous rebels of God whose mention is repeatedly made in the Holy Qur’an. I am watching if the scientist’s rocket would succeed in putting man on the moon. What is the human gain in this mad squander of poor people’s hard earned money when millions die of hunger? Surely the time is near for another lesson for man and he will get it.
Urdu couplet:
“Barson falasfi ki chunan aur chunin rahi,
Lekin Khuda ki beat jahaan thi wahin rani.” (Poet Akbar Allahabadi)
Yet another beauty of “truth.”
“Hazaar science rang laye hazaar qanoon ham banayen,
Khuda ki qudrat yahi raheigi hemari hairat yehi rahaigi
(Trans: Let science proclaim a thousand successes and let man frame a thousand laws, yet the ways of Almighty God shall ever remain unchanged much to our bewilderment. (Akbar of Allahabad).
A Sufi dervish is above sexes but his disciples must be strictly rigid in Sufism; the woman also has the same Atman.
I am sending a copy of my above mentioned Bulletin to the Editor of The Oracle also. Perhaps he will give due publicity in his columns in the Service of Sufism?
I am not a Sufi myself by action, practice or constant devotion. But I am one of the most humble devotees of all Sufis striving hard to explain Sufism and its benefits to the English-reading world with all my poor resources and strength. Thank god, I am fit again after 10 months’ illness With all homage and humble devotion, Yours as ever,
W. D. Begg
410 Precita Ave.,
San Francisco, Calif.
June 9, 1969
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
Beloved One of Allah:
As-salaam aleikhum: One is very happy to have letter no. 319-69 which was received several days ago, along with the paper on “The Holy Saint of Ajmer.” I am glad you sent two copies so one can be shared. Just now we are going through two crises of opposite natures, and I am sure, with the help of Allah, they will be solved.
One receives considerable mail from leaders of all faiths, and it is very noticeable that Muslims very seldom allude to Allah and that they use glibly the terms “Qur’an and Hadith” without giving any direct reference. What is worse, the reports from the so-called leaders of other faiths are even more degrading. Each religion has assumed that its own followers are good, noble, and privileged, especially privileged. The very moral laws that they are supposed to uphold are laid aside in connection with the behavior of their devotees and rigidly used to point out the weaknesses of the devotees of other faiths or of no faith. With respect to the Muslims, one continually quotes “Say Allah and leave them to their devices.” But self-privileged Muslims do not say Allah, and all over the world devotees do not leave anything to anybody else’s devices.
It seems to have pleased Allah, to Whom be all praise, that one has become a leader of an ever-growing number of young people chiefly through the use of music and dancing. Also one has within the last year established excellent relations with many university professors and sometimes with dignitaries of these Universities. This is exactly what the late Hazrat Inayat Khan, of blessed memory, wanted. It has taken almost 16 years to date to bring this result about. His many followers, divided by their adherence to nufs rather than Allah, refused to accept his wishes. One has had to go through all the trials of “The Cave” but now with the help of Allah Al-Hayy Al-Haak, it seems that every step one takes has been successful. It is notable that out of the growing following exactly two persons are among the mureeds here because of self effort. All the rest from the grace of Allah. And as you say, what one does is not so important as keeping the Remembrance which we do.
Very shortly I shall enroll at a University here in a course on poetry writing as the result of study of Oriental Philosophy. I shall bring to class copies of “Saladin” or portions thereof written in hal, in fana-fi-Rassoul, whence the glorious Messenger often dictated word for word, etcetera. “Saladin” is not my masterpiece. The masterpiece, inshallah, comes from experiences in fana-fi-lillah. When the time comes, it will be resumed. But only last night one of my Khalifs-designate reported a divine experience with a vision also of the other Khalif-designate. I am therefore taking the liberty to send a copy of this each to Pir Hasan Sani Nizami and Fayazuddin Nizami of Hyderabad, whom I consider my “equal” brothers in the mighty cause of Allah. One has to do this because of the threats of legal restrictions quite contrary to the whole spirit of Sufism. The late Hazrat Inayat Khan had to give up his work because of legal restrictions. The grace of Allah is not and cannot be circumvented by any group whatsoever without also the grace and blessings of Allah. There are now a number of so-called Sufi Movements in this land, and I do not know any which accept the full Sufic interpretation of La Illaha Il Illa Allah.
Last week this person was thrown into a state of intoxication (sukr) when his mureeds sang Zikr. It was tremendous, it was glorious, it was beautiful; it was just like Ajmer. And sometimes one considers the Hadith “In that day shall the sun rise in the West, and all men seeing will believe.”
I do not know which has provoked the most pleasure—your letter or your publication. Here in America we have had no separation of sexes. Here in America I find women equally avid in their devotions, prayers, and esoteric practices (Ryazat). True up to the present time, there has been more lifting of veils among the men although in the field of Cosmic Vision some of the women mureeds, all young, are more advanced.
I am pleased to learn you are in good health. I find, though in the seventies, one has unusual vigor of body, mind and heart. One practices in absolute faith the repetitions of Zikr, and Sifat-i-Allah. From this Sifat I am bringing to the Western world, by the grace of Allah, psychic, moral, and mystical sciences. Man cannot prevent this. Man has nothing to do with the lifting of veils. My own life has made the blessed Mohammed (on whom be peace) a sort of super-guru through whom I have learned much of the wisdom end mysteries of all faiths, all living faiths, and some extant only in memory. I accept in actuality, though many Muslims will not agree, that Allah has sent a Messenger or representative to many of the peoples, perhaps all of the peoples of this planet, at some time or other. This is not pretense—this is the result of outer scientific research as well as of Kashf or even Mushahida. I am finding my teachers at the Universities both scientists and non-scientists paying tribute to Mohammed as an historical character.
We have just finished a course on Arabic Art. In the fall we shall begin studies in Islamic Art to the full. It is noticeable that Muslims in general pay no attention to this type of study, but still are filled with self praise about the accomplishments of other years. I tell you, although I have seen Taj many times, there are other accomplishments which rival it in beauty, and I do not find—though this is personal—any other faith producing equal works excepting perhaps the Zen gardens of Japan.
Not only has “The Oracle,” but another publication “Planet News,” given considerable attention to this person and his rather successful endeavors with the young. It is the living heart which rouses life in the hearts of others. It is the living spirit which touches all souls.
Although I am sending copies of this to Pir Hasan Sani Nizami and Fayazuddin Nizami as above, I find you have listed a number of persons for whom I have tremendous respect and love. I believe our mutual endeavors may do much to promote universal understanding. I believe that the spirit of man, freed from restrictions and bonds that limit him, will establish brotherhood on earth. There is now such a tremendous outflow of this among the young in this land, especially in the Western States, that I am now busy seven days and six nights a week. Perhaps this is as Allah wishes. Yet love is not restricted, and those who saw the meeting with Asoke Fakir of Bengal the other night recognized the mutual love and the mutual objectives of spiritual realization through music and dance.
It is not often that I feel like writing in superlatives. Inshallah, I may come to Ajmer with disciples and sing what is being composed through but not by me at this time. The love of Allah is reflected in sweet sounds, from sweet hearts, from loving persons. I am thankful we have the air mail. I send all love and encouragement and only wish I had the time to furnish you with more details of our undertakings, and now by grace of Allah, quite successful undertakings, in this region.
With all love and blessings,
Sufi Aimed Murad Chisti
Samuel L. Lewis
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
27th July 1969
Sufi Ahmed Murad,
San Francisco, USA
Beloved & Holy Soul,
Wa-alaikum-us Salaam wa barakatu-hu. God be praised for your prospective success in His and humanity’s service, as described in your affectionate letter of 9th June 1969 which I could not answer earlier due to pressure of work in connection with the two latest “Bulletins” which I have issued throughout this month busily. More than 3000 copies have gone out in the past 3 weeks while the time taken by printers was awfully long this time. Without due publicity, we cannot succeed; it is indispensable even in God’s work in this age, although it was always so but the modes were different. Modern publicity is most expensive, as you know.
Yesterday I received another most encouraging letter of yours dated 21st July by air. It is heartening to know how keenly you realize my troubles in conducting the mission here singlehanded through the political turmoils and atmosphere. Whatever you have done for me in the past, which was truly philanthropic, will be admired by God and His beloved Sufi saints to whose service I am wholeheartedly dedicated for the past 14 years. Needless to say that I am also praying here at the feet of all these “Great Saints” at Ajmer, Kalyar and Delhi for your success. How happy I feel when I learn from you that your work is spreading at long last, and the Universities and young people are getting interested in Sufism and its noble message of Love and Peace. I am sure, with more success, you will never forget my humble efforts for the next book which is a marvelous and historic contribution to Sufi literature, revealing the grand work of the “Big Five.” I am sending you, by separate Air Mail, 2 copies of my second “Bulletin” dated June and hope its pages 1 & 4 will interest you and your disciples. “Matter” on pages 2 & 3 is the same, as it was in the Bulletin of 20-4-1969.
This second book, after the first Holy Biography of the Holy Saint of Ajmer, (which you have studied) will give essence of Sufism and its teachings to this modern world in English in the form of the marvelous biographies of the “Big Five” great successors of the Great Saint of Ajmer. If the people can learn lessons from these exemplary lives, the world can be a happier place for them to live in. In the past 750 years, no Muslim, or any other historian tried to translate these precious biographical accounts of these great saints in English. You can imagine the hard work in research and compilation which I had to do in this tedious undertaking. But it is the will of Allah and these saints that I should have done it. The miracle of my recovery in health (after 11 months’ serious illness) is wonderful indeed. Hazrat Allauddin Saabir of Kalyar is a Sufi saint of “extraordinary” type and his life-story makes a most amazing revelation. While other saints take time, Hazrat Saabir disposes off prayers immediately. I wanted to have a stay of 4 days at his shrine but I was permitted to leave after 26 hours. I prayed for my health and also for the printing arrangements of my next book containing his own biography. And, lo, on return home after all the travelling in delicate state, I was OK in a weeks’ time to the surprise of my tried doctors. I wanted to eat “langar” at his shrine out of my faith. But in the evening when “langar” (cooked food) was sought by my son, he was informed that he was late and all was distributed to the poor. I was much disappointed. But at 12 P.M. in the night when I and my son were sleeping, a man came unexpectedly, woke us up and asked my son to go with him to get the “langar.” I was surprised that at 12 midnight where can “langar” be had, very odd hour? But my son came back with a bowl full of “Pulao” (delicious rice and meat cooked together in India). We both ate it relishly and I gave up all medical restrictions in
eating this delicious food. I was jolly glad that the Great Saint granted by with of eating his “langar” to do away with my ailment. How this “langar” was prepared in his kitchen at midnight to grant my wish is a mystery, but here it is my personal experience as one of his most devoted and humble worshippers. Such are the miracles of these “sleeping saints” and my next book is full of such miracles and endless beneficial things for the suffering humanity. May God help me bring it out in 1970. My mind assures me that money will come from “gheb” (unseen) to pay the printing bill and the book will be out in 1970 by the grace of God. People like you, great Sufis and devotees, are getting interested in this work day by day. Now the Bulletins must arouse more interest. Allah is Great, and Faith moves mountains. I pray my faith must stand like a rock till my last breath. I have had the most successful worldly career but now I am mad to serve the cause of God and Sufism alone. I do not want riches; they only breed sin.
You have said many nice things in your letter of 9th June under reply, all of which inspire me in my zeal. A lot of precious information about “Sukr” and “sahve” and so many other Sufi things is included in Part II of my coming book, taken from one of the most authentic Persian publications “Kashf-ul-Mahjoob” by Hazrat Ali Hijwari, Data Ganj Baksh, of Lahore. This contains quintessence of Sufism as experienced and recorded by all Great Sufi Dervishes of the East. There is no other authentic publication more reliable than this; it has been translated in English also.
May Allah be with you and your strivings and may you continue to be a precious source of inspiration to me and my humble mission is my fervent prayer at the time.
Please acknowledge receipt of the 2 copies of the II Bulletin also, which is posted along with this letter by separate Air Mail.
An Urdu poetic couplet about your Sufi or dervish dancing by famous Urdu poet Akbar of Allahabad:
Wajd-e-Aarif ki haqiqat kuch sona doon aapko,
Go ke meri asl kiya ik banda-e-naacheez hun.
Naachti hai rooh insani badan me shauq se,
Jab kabhi pas jaati hai partao ke main kiya cheez hun.
(Translation in English: May I tell you the “reality” of a Sufi or dervish’s ecstatic dance, although I am a most humble and insignificant creature to attempt at revealing its Divine secret? It is the soul in human frame which dances with delight when it realizes that it has the spark of God within.)
To the 3 men who went into the moon and came back, Islam and Sufism say:
Hazaar science rang laaye hazaar qaanoon ham banayen,
Khude ki qudrat yahee rahaigi hamari hairat yahee rahaigi.
(Translation: Science may go on proclaiming a thousand successes and man may go on framing a thousand laws, Yet the ways of God shall ever remain unchanged much to our bewilderment.
Khuda Haafiz—May God protect you. With profound regards and best gratitude for keeping this humble soul and its divine mission in mind for help.
Yours affectionately
W. D. Begg
P.S. I await with keen interest a copy
1) of the “Planet News” so kindly promised by you WDB
2) The Air Mail postage for Bulletin packet is Rp 4.50 which is too high—hence the packet of 2 Bulletins is sent by ordinary surface mail unavoidably. Pity. WDB
Ajmer
3rd August 1969
Is the Day-of-Judgment Near?
Predictions from Holy Qur’an and Bible.
(By Mirza Wahiduddin Begg, Author of
The Holy Biography of Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Hasan Chisti
of Ajmer and
The Big Five of India in Sufism.)
This is a very crucial question which must be breeding in the hearts of millions of God-fearing people in the context of the current economic, social, religious and political conditions and uncertain peace throughout the world.
Over 1,350 years ago, God Almighty gave the following predictive message to His last prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) after serving many warnings and retributions through his previous prophets to the erring nations:
“The approaching day of judgment draweth near, there is none who can reveal the exact time of the same except God.” (Qur’an, Chap. LIII).
With the passing away of 1,350 years, the word “near” in the above verse may now be easily taken as “very near” especially in the light of the two ferocious world wars and the devastating and oppressive events of the last 50 years. Yet the world, specially the Muslims, intoxicated by the so-called modern civilization and the new scientific progress, believe that it is yet far off. But, according to the holy Qur’an, before resurrection comes “religion” because the earthly inhabitants would have never known “resurrection” without the light of a divine religion such as Islam, and without a heavenly book such as Qur’an which contains detailed historical information not only about resurrection but also about the all-round good conduct of man’s life on earth.
Apart from Islamic teachings, we find in the holy Bible that God did not send any of His previous prophets to preach any particular religion by a particular name. Even prophets Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them) were not commanded to preach Judaism and Christianity specifically and to call their followers Jews and Christians respectively. But in the holy Qur’an we find that God clearly names and commands His last prophet Mohammed to preach Islam significantly (having perfected religion finally) and thus prophet Mohammed was the first Muslim. In a sense, therefore, every Muslim is a Jew first, a Christian next and a Muslim afterwards because he believes in prophets Moses, Jesus and Mohammed (peace be upon them). It thus transpires that before Islam there was no religion based directly or explicitly on Divine commandment although there have been many prophets and messengers of God in all nations to guide mankind on the right path of Truth and Righteousness. Hence, according to Qur’an, God Ordained His final message about the religion of Islam and revealed the day of resurrection through His last prophet Mohammed. Every Muslim must have perfect faith in it, as he has.
With the religion of Islam divinely confirmed after many warnings and retributions to the erring nations comes the resurrection and its confirmation on the Day-of-Judgment.
Over 2400 years ago, when Daniel heard an angel saying that resurrection was to follow “two and a half periods” and according to prophet Mohammed’s own subsequent predictive sayings, it comes mathematically true that the time of resurrection falls near about the 14th century of Islam, and that we may safely take it granted that the day-of-Judgment is at hand. Oppressed by the disturbed conditions of the past 5 decades, even the people of other faiths are also waiting for some kind of “serious end” to the oppressed affairs of the world according to their own religious calculations.
For every Muslim, however, the revelations and clear commandments, embodied in the holy Qur’an and recorded Traditions of the holy prophet Mohammed, are the final word of God in his religion. To check up and corroborate the truth of the foregoing paragraphs, justifying the “nearness” and the inescapable certainty of the fast approaching Day-of-Judgment, I draw the attention of the readers to the following chapters of the holy Qur’an in which God Almighty argumentatively describes what “resurrection” means, and what would be the fate of those who ignore and ridicule His commandments and Divine Law and those who obey and live an ordered life, on the Day-of-Judgment? To save space, I give below only the numbers of the Qur’anic chapters etc which can be easily traced and examined:-
Chap. XXII—On the raising of the dead from their graves or dust.
Chap. XIV—On deferred punishment.
Chaps. XIV, LIV, XLIV, LXX, LV, LXXXI, & XVIII—On complete details and descriptive pictures of the horrible events preceding the Resurrection or Day-of-Qayamat.
Chaps. LXIX, XVIII, a XXVIII—On God’s Throne and the Seat of Judgment.
Chaps. XXXIX, LXXXIV, XXXVI, XXV and III—On the details of Judgment—To hell or to paradise.
Chaps. XVII, XXV, XXII, L, IV and VIII—On unbelievers and non-worshippers of God who doubt the raising of the dead and the Day-of-Judgment.
Chap. LXXIX—On the duration of the Day-of-Judgment. The Qur’anic verse says: “Hereafter shall they return unto Him on the day whose length shall be a thousand years of those which ye compute.”
So much for the coming of the Day-of-Judgment and resurrection according to Qur’anic teachings and predictions.
Christ’s Predictions.
Now let us examine what the learned and God-fearing true Christians, who abhor the current governments as the work of Satan, have to say about the Kingdom of God and coming down of Jesus Christ from the 4th heaven to destroy the Satan’s organization before the resurrection-day arrives. Their readings and explanations of the Holy Bible only coincide with and confirm what the holy Qur’an has laid down and predicted.
Judge Rutherford’s Interpretations of the Holy Bible.
It must be recalled that during the “thirties” of this century, one of the famous and devoted preachers and followers of Christianity, Judge J. F. Rutherford of America, emphatically challenged the clergy and clarified the predictive meanings and passages of the Holy Bible and Christ’s sayings through a series of his thought-provoking and enlightening publications printed by the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society of 117 Adams Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. This great end God-fearing Christian published his vast literature in book and pamphlet forms on the subject in 33 world languages and sent round his emissaries for door-to-door deliveries at nominal prices with open challenge to the clergy to come out and refute his explanations and interpretations. The combined circulation of this precious literature exceeded (in 1930’s) 93,500,000 copies. He dealt with his subject under such important titles as (1) Life, (2) Prophesy (3) Reconciliation, (4) Government, (5) The Harp of God, (6) Deliverance, (7) Creation, (8) War or Peace, Which? (9) What You Need? (10) Where are the dead? (11) Heaven and Purgatory, (12) Crimes & Calamities, (13) Our Lord’s Return, (14) Oppression and (15) Judgment.
They are written in very simple and understandable language in the light of the Holy Scriptures with quotations and lucid references running into thousands of printed pages for the benefit and enlightenment of the laymen and innocent public costing huge expense of time, money, and energy. All this gigantic and challenging effort cannot, and should not, be dismissed cheaply by the present-day misleading propagandists of vested interests. They deserve attentive study of the suffering masses because they expose a lot of fraud and misrepresentations in the religious world.
I reproduce in the following paragraphs some very revealing “extracts” from Judge Rutherford’s illuminating booklet entitled “War or Peace, Which?” They expose the hypocritical tactics of Satan the Devil and his worshippers who are supposed to hold the reins of power and wealth of the whole world. His learned analysis is based strictly upon the irrefutable Word of God as it came through Holy Christ and stands duly recorded in the Holy Bible. He accuses the invisible Satan, his intriguing politics and the Big Business for all the ills and evils of the world, and this accusation is in total conformity with the warning of God against the mischief and enmity of Satan explained in the Holy Qur’an too. This is how Judge Rutherford starts in one of his publications:
“For 6000 years, men have been trying to establish a government on earth that would bring peace; but what a mess they continue to make? Before 1914 men boasted that modern civilization had made war impossible. And now, 10 years after the most murderous of all wars (he wrote this in the 1930s) the whole world is again an armed camp. Why is this? Who or what is responsible? Will permanent peace ever come? Is there any hope of justice, liberty and happiness for the people?”
These are very deep and thought-provoking questions for the oppressed humanity—the millions or billions of dump sheep wailing under the influence of Satanic politics—to understand and judge. Judge Rutherford answers these pregnant questions very elaborately in the light of the Holy Scriptures in his book Government with solid proofs. Only a study of this publication can reveal the real truth.
At page 26 of “War and Peace, Which?” he reveals a Scriptural truth, as under:
“God made a covenant with the Israelites and they were recipients of his special favor. For their good He commanded that they should have no other God bedside himself.
Since he permits his creatures to make their choice, the Israelites fell away from God, were over-reached by Satan the Devil, and lost God’s favor. It was in the year 606 B.C. when God permitted Israel to be completely overthrown, and it was then and there that he indicated that the period of the Gentile dominion on earth would be 2,520 years. That meant, of course, that Satan would continue without interruption to be the god of this world until he should come whose right it is to rule (Ezek. 21:26, 27). That One whose right it is to rule is Jesus Christ.
“The period of the Gentiles of 2,520 years ended in the latter part of 1914 A.D. That would mark the time when the rule of Satan without interruption or hindrance would cease, and would mark the beginning of the activities of Christ Jesus as God’s active agent against Satan. Jesus had repeatedly told his disciples that he would come again at the end of the world, and that then his kingdom would begin. For this reason his disciples propounded to Jesus the question: “What shall be the sign (proof) of thy presence and the end of the world?” (Matt. 24:3). Knowing that Jesus spoke with authority and that his word is true, his answer to their question is of great importance. In substance, he answered that “the time would be marked by a world war in which nation would rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and that this period would be immediately followed by distress and perplexity amongst the nations.” (Matt. 24:7-12; Luke 21:26). According to the Bible-method of reckoning time, the year ends in the autumn season. Exactly 2,520 years after the overthrow of Israel, and therefore exactly on time, to wit, in the fall of the year 1914 came the great World War I. Never before was there anything like it. All Christendom was involved. It was a war in fulfillment of the prophecy spoken by Jesus, showing the end of the world and the beginning of the activities by Jesus Christ against Satan the Devil.
“Prophecy is never understood until it is in course of fulfillment, and seldom understood until it has been fulfilled. When we see that these prophetic words of Jesus have been fulfilled, and knowing that he spoke with authority, we should give full credit to all other words uttered by him in answer to the same questions which the disciples propounded concerning the end of the world. That war stopped in 1918 but no one could give a good reason why. The Lord foreknew and foretold the reason.
“We know that during the World War I various governments prohibited colporteurs and others from distributing Bible information and had many of them put in jail because they had published books explaining the Bible and were distributing these among the people. The action was taken, of course, upon the ground that everything must be done to win the war. In other words, there must be no prophetic explanation of the war while the war was going on. It follows, then, that before there could be a wide testimony concerning the meaning of these Biblical prophesies, there must come a time of comparative peace. The war ceased and there has been a period of peace since then for the express purpose of permitting God’s faithful witnesses on earth to tell the people the meaning of prophesy and to explain to them God’s purposes. And now in this connection note the words of Jesus in further answer to the question: (Matt. 24:14). “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
“What could he mean by the words “this gospel?” Of necessity he must have reference to some specific gospel. At once it is seen that he meant that a message of good news should be given to the people, because “gospel” means good news: and since he had just stated what the message was, to wit, the end of the world, his second coming, the world war and the things attendant thereupon, it would mean the beginning of the manifestation of God’s kingdom in behalf of the people. Jesus says “this gospel” must be preached and it therefore follows that there must be a time of comparative peace for doing this work of informing the people. In 1918 the Armistice was signed and peace was agreed upon in 1919. Shortly thereafter there began the widest distribution of Bible instruction ever given by any people on earth. Millions upon millions of books containing an explanation of the Bible have been printed and distributed among the people at a very nominal cost. I am just one of many persons going from place to place to deliver this message and to inform the people what is to be expected, as set forth in the Bible.
“You will further see that just about the time of the World War I the Scriptures describe a war in heaven between Christ Jesus and his angels and the Devil and his angels in which the Devil is cast out of heaven and cast down to the earth. (Rev. 12:1-7). Then this same Scripture says:” Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, and of the sea, for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” (Rev. 12:12) It is needless for me to tell you that since the World War I there has been more distress and crime than in the history of the world, and at the same time, great preparation for more war, and much talk of peace. “(How truly the world’s post-war events prove this—Author.)
“Now I will answer your question specifically. There is yet to be the greatest war that has ever come to pass since there was a nation.” (The II world war has already been fought causing unprecedented havoc upon mankind—Author). “No human power can now avert that great trouble. The League of Nations, the world Court and the peace pacts will not even delay that time of trouble an hour.” (They all were helpless to avert the II world war—Author.) “When God’s due time comes it will break in all its fury. It is important that the people be told of these facts because God has commanded that they shall be told. That is why we are going about the country telling the people this message of truth. We are not engaged in making a pecuniary profit out of this service, nor to do propaganda work, because we do not ask anyone to join any organization. We are trying to inform both the rich and the poor. The work is being done, however, not by the rich but generally by the poor in this world’s goods but who are rich in faith and in God’s word of truth.
“Please give special note to the words of Jesus that “this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached as a witness unto all nations, and then the end shall come.” It is manifest then that the period of comparative peace is specially for the purpose of giving to the people this notice concerning God’s kingdom. When this work is done as a witness, then Satan’s rule must come to an end. How is it to end? It will end with the greatest war or time of trouble (a third world war—Author) ever known and in it the whole world will be involved. In this connection note the words of Jesus: “For then (at the end) shall be great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” (Matt. 24:21, 22). These words of Jesus show that the trouble not only will be the worst ever known, but will be the last. It is that final conflict to whish the Devil is looking forward, and, as stated in Revelation 12:12, he knows that his time is short. What shall follow the trouble will be a period of everlasting peace and blessing for the people. But first let me give you further proof of the coming world war or time of trouble.
“Now note the next verse of that chapter in Revelation which reads: “And he gathered together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon…. And there were voices and thunders, lightnings; and there was a great earthquake such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake and so great. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.”(Rev. 16:16-21)
Satan’s Work
“Does it not seem to you that there is an invisible power or force that is driving the nations on to prepare for war while there is a constant cry of peace? That unseen force is Satan the Devil. Satan is drawing the nations into pacts, league and treaties and his purpose is to turn all against God. Satan, having been cast out of heaven, knows that the time is short until the final battle will be fought, and his attempt will be to turn all people away from God and if he cannot have them himself, to destroy them. God is all powerful, however, and when he is ready to act and sends forth his beloved prophet Jesus as his active agent to act, the result will be a victory for God and for Jesus. By his prophet, God says: “The Lord shall send (forth) the rod of thy strength out of Zion (saying): “Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. Hs shall judge among the heathen (nations), he shall fill the planes with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries: (Ps. 110:2, 5, 6).
“The Federal Council of Churches issued a statement in January 1919 to the effect that the League of Nations is the political expression of God’s kingdom on earth. The boast is that the League of Nations and peace pacts and similar movements will bring lasting peace and prevent further war. But nothing of the kind can prevent war. Concerning such treaties and combines, the Lord says: “Associate yourselves, O ye people and ye shall be broken in pieces; and, give ear, all ye or far countries; gird yourselves and ye shall be broken in pieces; take council together and it shall come to naught; speak the word and it shall not stand.” (Isa. 8: 9, 10)
“Why is this great trouble impending? Because God purposes to destroy Satan’s organization and his power, that the people may be unhindered in learning the truth. He is permitting the nations to be gathered together and his action shall follow shortly. (Zeph. 3:8, 9)
“If we believe the scriptures which state that Satan is the god or invisible ruler of this world and that the world is ruled, as we know, by the commercial, political and religious elements, then if these same ruling powers could bring in peace, would that not be a victory for the Devil? God will establish his government or righteousness and then put Satan and his makeshifts completely out.
By his prophet God gives a reason for the destruction of these organizations, and that reason is that they have given themselves over to Satan the Devil. By his prophet he says: “The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant (the covenant made by the Israelites).” Isa. 24:5.
Judge Rutherford’s book Prophesy gives the Bible’s explanation for the impending war, reading as under:
“Is it because a few men have become possessors of exceeding great riches that God will bring the great war? Surely that is not the reason. Material riches alone are not condemned by the Lord. Solomon was very rich (2 Chro. 1:12). Jehoshaphat had riches in abundance (Chro. 17:5). Hezekiah had “exceeding much riches” (Chro. 32:27). God did not condemn any of them because of their riches.
“Is the great war impending because the political rulers have not ruled the people perfectly? Surely not that. Someone has to rule, and, all men being imperfect, no man could rule perfectly. There have been many men in politics who have honestly done the best they knew how to do. Many of the rich men in politics have used their means to do good.
“Then why should this great impending calamity come upon the people of the earth? It is because the people have been turned away from God and caused to worship the Devil and because God’s holy name has been hypocritically used, thereby bringing reproach upon his and turning the people away from him to their own injury.”
Summary
There is endless religious wisdom in Judge Rutherford’s warnings against the mischief of Satan. They are based on Scriptural authority. His publications are a voluminous treasure-house of divine knowledge and predictions. Their study will open the eyes of the present-day innocent generation groaning under the Devil’s organization. They are not published by the followers of Satan. It is impossible to put all this precious knowledge in this limited space. I therefore close with a brief summary taken from one of Judge Rutherford’s booklets, viz. “Where Are the Dead.”
Upon a question asking as to why the papers did not publish these things, the learned Judge said:
“The devil has a great organization on earth, because he is the (false) god of the world. (2 Corinthians 4:3, 4; John 12:31) There are 3 combined factors that are the visible rulers of the world, namely the commercial, political and religious elements. The chief ones in the churches are the ultra-rich and the politicians. The preachers have made them the principal of the flock. The commercial and political elements arrange war, and the preachers urge the men to go to war.
“The big newspapers are owned by the rich and are used by the politicians, and since the preachers are a part of the organization they insist that the papers shall give no advertisement to the truth concerning God’s word. That is the very reason why the preachers in this town told their congregations to stay away from the Town Hall and not to listen to the lecture given there on “Where Are the Dead?” The master mind bank of all this is Satan who wants to keep the people continually in the dark. But the time has come for the people to know the truth, and they are beginning to get their eyes opened.
Kingdom of God is at hand.
“The long promised Kingdom of God is here. God indicated in his Word that he would not interfere with the Devil’s earthly organization until the end of the Gentile times. Jesus pointed out that that day should be indicated by a world war, famine, pestilence, revolutions, return of Jews to Palestine, and distress of nations. (Matthew 24th chapter; Luke 21st chapter). These prophecies began to have their fulfillment since 1914.
“The command of the Lord is that ‘this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.’” (Matthew 24:14).
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
5th September 1969
Sufi Ahmed Murad,
San Francisco U.S.A.
Beloved Soul, Asalaam Alaikum. This is to acknowledge due receipt of your affectionate Air letter of 23rd August 1969 and your cheque for 50 dollars. As desired, I have headed over today a sum of Rs. 100/- to Syed Tanvir Ahmed of Haji Nisar Manzil in appreciation of your and Miss Khawar Khan’s wishes. His formal receipt is attached herewith for information.
Please accept my hearty congratulations for your visit and success in the State of New Mexico. God Be Praised for this. It is a fact, as you say, Sufism cannot be taught in classrooms or on lecture platforms; it is a divine gift which one great Sufi gets from another spiritually after lifelong “Mujahidas” and “Ryazats.” All the “Big Five,” whose stories are embodied in my next coming book, have tried to explain what terrible hardships they had to encounter in reaching the apex of Sufism? It is a knowledge, a divine knowledge, which passes from one enlightened chest to another. Intellect has no place in this. One has to dive deep, renounce the world and establish one’s relation with God alone, if one wishes to reach the heights of mysticism.
If you go to the North, please do let me know the results of your progress there. Your solid practical work and experiences are the real service which a great Sufi can do to Sufism; all philosophical talk and arguments are nonsense in this divine subject. But there are very few to understand it in this mundane world. I attach little or no importance to Science and its materialistic innovations; they are perishable, false and misleading; destructive to human faith in God and His work.
By the way, did you get, along with my letter of 27th July, 2 more copies of my II Bulletin sent by Air Mail? You make no mention of them in your letter under reply.
I now close it with my best prayers for your success and best greetings and regards to your God-daughter Miss Khawar Khan who is so fortunate to enjoy your patronage & guidance in the difficult science of mysticism.
Yours as ever,
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
5th September 1969.
Received with thanks from Mr. W. D. Begg of Ajmer the sum of Rupees One Hundred only (Rs. 100/-) on account of Mr. Samuel L. Lewis (Mr. Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti) of San Francisco, as per his letter of 23rd August 1969.
410 Precita Ave.
San Francisco
Sept. 23, 1969
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
Beloved One of Allah:
As-Salaam-Aleikhum! I have just returned from a vacation tour with my esoteric secretary Mansur. I have long been overworked while Mansur has had to face some very complex personal problems. Someday I hope to convince the world (including those who themselves Sufis) that there is a living God (Allah) who can and does solve problems. I returned refreshed mentally, physically, and spiritually. Both Khawar and myself feel the need of absolute co-operation. We are also now legally attached to Ajmer, and in my case, by three different methods. I am sorry my colleague Pir Vilayat Khan has been very ill; he expected to be at Ajmer either for Urs or shortly thereafter. I also thank you for the receipt from Seyd Tanvir Ahmed, but it will be easier and proper I believe to work with and through you.
There are teachings of Mohammed, Christ, and Buddha which neither the religions nor world has accepted regarding the supreme value of love and forgiveness. My legal counselor affected a reconciliation with my brother who opposed me, selfishly I believe for 50 years. This reconciliation was followed almost immediately, by his becoming my champion, and since that time our mutual financial conditions have improved, praise to Allah. In my case also there is growing acceptance of real Sufism based on real traditions and esoteric practices along with corporations calling themselves Sufi, each of which is promoting various personalities, and in the promotion of the personalities overshadowed La Illaha El Il Allah.
I was taught early in life that the spiritual path was one in Allah, to Allah, with Allah. This may not be the general teaching of the various groups calling themselves “Sufi” but it certainly is effective. I am finding, praise to Allah, that neither the body nor mind need deteriorate or will deteriorate if one lives in Allah—Ya Hayy, Ya Haak.
The application of real love—not philosophy, not verbalisms, not emotion exhortation, awakens the love in others. This is now moving in two directions: a. the young; b. the colleges and universities. This morning the class on Asian Islamic Art starts under the joint auspices of the University of California and San Francisco State College. Later in the week a class on spiritual philosophy and its relation to the problems of the day will start, and I have been invited to present the Sufi point or view. But the doors of other colleges and universities are opening, making it very difficult in a quantitative sense, but very wonderful in a qualitative sense. One has had to pass through every type of trial, condemnation, and even persecution—in this land until the recent spiritual revolution only two things mattered—money and fame. Even people pretending to be spiritual recognized only money and fame, but now the whole of youth and much of the educational system recognizes the prowess of inner spiritual development.
This recognition on the local scene is also been reflected in the world scene. I have been invited, and inshallah, will attend the next Parliament of Religions scheduled to be held in Turkey the early part of next year. Fortunately that great American merit, money, is available, and besides my own efforts I have been promised financial assistance if needed from my goddaughter Khawar and others. Too often important and self-important persons have been successful either in preventing me from speaking or tacking me socially, establishing bars. But Allah Ho Akbar.
I have not received the bulletins you have mentioned and it would not matter if we had any extra ones, for as I have said, the doors are opening, Alhamdu Lillah! Not only that, several Indians have been joining me, mostly those of mystical outlooks and perhaps it is noteworthy, they do not recognize other Indian groups. The big thing here today is spiritual development through music, singing, and dancing. It is very big. It is growing at a tremendous rate. Even Tanzen, whom certain experts will not have mentioned, has been given an opening. And I shall see to it that you get copies of the local publication The Oracle, if this has not been done yet.
At the present time all directives seem to be to buildup the spiritual enterprises in the direction and to work toward a program, or rather the presentation of a program ready available, for the next Parliament of Religions. My present program for this affair will be an actual East-West assimilation based on:
The American Walt Whitman (“Song of the Answerer,” etc.)
The British born Sir Richard Burton (“Kasidah,” etc.)
Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
Sufi poetry, in particular Mantiq-ut-tair; perhaps Rumi
No man can take away this, and one must deride the derision. Making people important either by self-praise or personality attack indicates a sub-conscious making of partners with Allah. We are passing from a stage of verbal pseudo-love to actual vibrant love.
We have been studying and applying the Hadiths of Mohammed. These are certainly in accord with the Sermon on the Mount of Jesus and the moral teachings of Buddha. There can be, there is only, One Truth.
With all love and blessing and with assurance of continued cooperation, inshallah, I remain, sincerely and faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
9th October, 1969
Beloved & Gracious Soul—Wa-Alaikum-us-Salam we berakaat-o-hu.
I am in due receipt of your Air letters of Sept. 23 and 29th 1969. Both of them contain happy news and enlightening hints on your strenuous efforts in the service of God and Humanity.
Financial conditions must improve if our work for a Divine cause is honest and sincere. That is the value of material things before the spiritual richness. A Sufi is rich in both the worlds, as you know. He kicks away the Wealth of this passing world. Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya and his illustrious predecessors never permitted mighty monarchs of India to touch their feet. If USA could only understand you and your priceless personality and Divine service, most of its problems would be solved. But they won’t, as they are deep up to their neck in scientific materialism. I have written a most revealing chapter for “The Muslim Digest” of Durban on “Is the Day-of-Judgment Near”? in the light of Holy Qur’an and Bible. It will appear in this paper’s Annual Ramdhan Number and, if God wishes, you will get a copy of this highly illuminating journal.
It is not everybody’s fortune to understand the true meaning of La Illaha Illillah. It is bestowed upon a few selected ones by the grace of God alone. A Sufi is born and is not made, though he can guide those who can undergo hardships, renounce the world and entrust themselves and their work to the care of the Almighty. We live in most dangerous times. The world has discarded all religion and is drifting towards hell speedily. I am sure the Day-of-Judgment is near at hand, as I have tried to prove in my revealing article coming in the “Muslim Digest.”
In my humble opinion, you are penetrating the right places for Sufi work—the colleges and universities. I wish they would digest the Sufi message for their good. If there was a powerful newspaper to propagate the Divine Word and Warning to the people of USA, the benefits would be plentiful and quick. This is the age of relentless publicity. If publicity can do good to mundane and frivolous things, why can’t it benefit the Divine Cause better? Even God’s work in this age needs a lot of publicity to counteract all falsehood and corruption. Condemnation and persecution are the ornaments of great Sufis. No great Sufi cares for them because they fail against them ultimately and Truth prevails. Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin prayed to God to send calamities upon him as a token of His love for him. When he (the Khwaja) did not get a calamity, he thought God gracious (his beloved) had forgotten him. What a prayer??? Who can beg for calamities in these days? When you go to Turkey to attend that historic Conference, please send me a full report of the proceedings there. It is your good fortune to go there and it is also the good fortune of your friends and disciples who will be benefited by your experience there.
I am awfully pained to hear that my “Book Post” mail by sea does not reach you safely. It is a costly affair for me as it all means printing and circulation costs which are too high nowadays. However, I have to put up with all postal errors patiently.
The postage for foreign mail is also “killing.” It runs into many hundreds of Rupees annually in my accounts. Please note I am sending you by Sea Mail again a dozen of my Bulletins by Book Post which will take a month or so to reach you. Why should you not deliver a few copies at the Istanbul conference if you get them in time before your start?
Maulana Rumi? Oh what a divine soul and Sufi fame in the world of mysticism.
Molvi hargiz na shud maula-e-rum,
Taa Ghulam-e-Shams Tabriz na shud.
There is no discourse on Sufism better than this Masnavi of Maulana Rumi. It is a fact that there is only One Truth approached by different roads.
It is a pleasure to now that the glorious picture of 6 great Sufis has reached you at last safely. Can’t you have them enlarged by some devotee Artist for your room? It is my idea worth consideration. It is a fact that the Holy Qur’an recognizes all other great prophets who preceded Mohammed in different lands and languages. Why should the orthodox Muslims object the word of Qur’an which means Islam in its pristine glory?
May God gracious help you to keep up the marvelous progress with your service in His infinite glory, is my best prayer for your work, our work and the work of this world & its suffering humanity. Allah Be Praised, all else is a mirage, a dream. With kind regards to Miss Khawar Khan and your disciples. Believe me, Yours as ever,
W. D. Begg
W.D. Begg’s Office,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
15th October 1970
My dear Mr. Bryant, (copy to Sufi A. M Chisti for information and necessary action)
After you left Ajmer, I had only one telegram from Delhi confirming your safe arrival there. I do not know your movements thereafter but I trust you are back in U.S.A. by 5th October as you guessed, and I hope you will get this letter and favor me with a reply immediately giving description of your tour and good news of its success.
After your departure from Ajmer, I had two telegrams for Mr. Fred Cohn c/o my address which I am sending you herewith. I did not know Mr. Cohn’s address in India, hence I could not forward them to him. I think there was a change in your party’s personnel, as Mr. Cohn did not visit Ajmer.
I am sure you will never forget your Ajmer visit. It is a pity I could do no more than what I was able to do to make your stay with me for your comforts. Then your stay was so short and full of pressing engagements for picturing business, etc. There was one difficulty with me about your visit. It was the very short notice of your program and time of arrival in Ajmer. As you have seen, there is always overwhelming pressure on Ajmer’s accommodation to house 2 Lakh pilgrims during the Urs of the saint every year. If you or anyone else visits Ajmer next time for the Urs, then I must have at least 30 days previous information to book accommodation and comforts.
I hope you will remember all we talked over here about the arrangement of publishing my next book The Big Five of India in Sufism. I shall give 1000 copies duly and nicely printed to any firm, publishers or booksellers in U.S.A. against an advance or their price in India to facilitate printing arrangements here, as we discussed. Kindly give this matter your best attention to help a noble cause. I am anxious to publish the book immediately you fix up some accommodating arrangement. The firm, publishers or booksellers who may advance the price of 1000 copies will have additional advantage of sole distributionship all over U.S.A. for the book. Or, as alternative let them quote me their own terms. You, Sufi Ahmed Murad Chishti, Hazrat Inayat Khan or Mr. Davenport can vouchsafe this deal for the satisfaction of the U.S.A. party who may buy the copies against advance price.
With love and best wishes, I await your reply eagerly and remain yours sincerely,
W.D. Begg
29th October, 1969
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
Beloved On of Allah:
As-salaam aleikhum. We have just received another copy of your June 1969 Bulletin. It is so much in line with our efforts, and praise to Allah, our accomplishments, that there is a token enclosure. I am saving all the money necessary to attend a world conference of the real religions of this planet where I shall not be shut out by “experts” and “authorities” and “great personalities,” those that dominate most of the confer news, especially those under the control of American institutions. Indeed there are many American institutions which shut out Americans, along with valid representatives of great spiritual movements.
Sufism is as yet a hidden institution. The East-West conference at Hawaii, purporting to represent all the religious of the world, has five Jews on its executive Board, and not a single Muslim! The “great” teachers (?) of Sufism in this land are English or European born. We quackerize about moral and spiritual outlooks but each allocate to himself the right to bar others.
There was to have been a meeting of all the spiritual leader of the world in this city and I annoyed the promoters no end by merely asking who was on the board who was barring me! Of courses there are a lot of such institutions which bar the person, and more are coming into existence. Only it is a new age. The young are not easily fooled. They are not satisfied with sermons on the Upanishads, they want the experiences of the Upanishads.
There is an Indian teacher here who simply will not accept my backgrounds. It is impossible to reach him. He had as his own teacher in philosophy Dr. Chatterji of the Philosophy Department of the University of Calcutta and when Chatterji challenged me I asked, “Which do you want, to hear the Flute-of-Krishna” or have me speak off hand, no preparation on the Chandogya Upanishad.” He apologized. But excepting the University of Chicago until recently under no circumstances would I have been permitted to lecture on the Chandogya Upanishad. Too many “experts.”
The other teacher of this man was none other than Dr. Radhakrishnan between whom there is absolute attunement. We have performed the Maha Mudra meditation, forbidden here so far, but a new day is arriving when instead of mouthing “moral and spiritual” we shall demonstrate them.
When I visited the headquarters of the Royal Asiatic Society they snubbed me. Then I asked, “that have you on Prince Dara Shikoh?” They could not answer and in fifteen minutes I was elected a Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society by top “experts.” But the life and career of Prince Dara Shikoh is still shut out by the various schools of East-West colloquia and those pretending to integrate the various types of spirituality! But this is over.
I may have told you that on the 19th about a hundred young people gave me a birthday party. It was such a difference from the days when I was turned down especially by the leaders of “moral and spiritual” movements. And since then there has been a slight increase in each of my meetings and the best of reports on the class on Christian mysticism. I now teach:
Sunday: Dharma Class
Monday: Sufism and Dervish Dancing
Wednesday: Open meeting in Marin County to the North
Thursday: Advanced and intermediate disciples
Saturday: Dancing Class
Tuesday is given to a poetry class and there the teacher accepted in five minutes what all the “experts” and “spiritual leaders” excepting the Bhaktis and Vedantists have spurned and generally absolutely spurned. I am willing to send you copies of this. It is “impossible” for them to have been written by a Sufi, but “Saladin” based on Meraj, has been turned in to the University of California as a term paper. It is a cover for my true state, which may be kept hidden. That is, “Saladin” is written from the standpoint of fana-fi-Rassoul, while my fana-fi-lillah material has been stored for a time.
Our work is love, joy and awakening, beginning and ending with Allah. And our work in the chants is marvelous. But here there is help and inspiration from disciples. I believe, inshallah, we shall be establishing our own Ajmer. It is certain that our organic and legal relations with Dargah Shereef validate this. We leave the elder and more sedate people to their cults and dialectics. This person knows the scriptures of the world both from the literary and “awakening” standpoints.
We are therefor hoarding preparing to attend a world conference where either the great “experts” will be absent, or will be faced. There will be no more a priori rejections from self-established “authorities.” When I went to the Indian Embassy in this country at the time it started, I was questioned about Ibnu’l-Arabi. I answered by comparing Ibnu’l-Arabi with Shankaracharya. You can bet this theme was not permitted in the “schools” and East-West institutions but the truth is coming out, and while one does not expect intellectuals to accept that “Whatsoever ye do to the least of these, My creatures, you do it unto Me,” or the existence of Brahm in the lower of humans as well as in cows and elephants, the day is dawning as might be quoted: “When the Gods arrive, the half-gods go.”
So one feels the assurance and rise of Allah, and I wish to use this Bulletin for my preparations for materials which sooner or later will receive world attention. Or as the Messenger said, Say Allah and leave them to their devices.” I still have to face plenty of East-West and Integrative and “World Order” and Universal schools each ignoring the others, of course. One may rise above them. But now youth is stepping forward and more and more and more. Or as many say to me: “They (referring to would be leaders) are not Sri Aurobindo’s people; we are Sri Aurobindo’s people.”
Love and blessings,
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
5th November 1969
Holy soul, devoted to God,
Wa-Alaikum-us-Salaam.
I have two of your gracious letters, one of 11th October and the other of 29th October 1969 before me. Both are full of Divine Wisdom, your devotion and service to Divinity and humanity. And what service can be better in this treacherous world of today than yours? It is beyond my poor wisdom to describe or appreciate. I am now only looking forward with keenest interest to your forthcoming visit to that World Religious Conference in Turkey. Allah will bless you to spread His message of love and peace which the world needs so badly today.
Prayer—if sincere, repentant, from the bottom of one’s heart—never goes ungranted. Allah is merciful. His holy prophets were all merciful. One needs only patience to get His mercy and favors.
I try to digest your views on various subjects which I get through your instructive letters based on your vast spiritual knowledge and practical experiences. Sometimes I am puzzled to solve the underlying problems therein. Then a “Light” guides me and I go into meditation after my Namaz in the early mornings or in the night, if I am fit in health.
Thank God my Bulletins have at last reached you safely and I am happy you like them. And how to thank you again for the cheque of Ten dollars I have no words; my heart is subdued and I feel proud to know that there is at least one holy soul in U.S.A. who realizes my honest efforts for a deserving cause. Troubles & obstacles—they have come before all the Divine souls in the past and they must come also in the future. No success has ever been possible in this world without troubles and obstacles. We have to face them manfully and resign to the will of the Supreme Lord. Does He not test us in His path? The market is open for those who must pay the price of a thing if they want it. Everything has a price and so has Sufism. Its price is extremely dear and only those pay it who are selected by God. Otherwise it would have been a common thing for the imposters who are many in these days. I see a lot of them attending the Urs Fair here in glittering robes instead of rags. Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin—the great spiritual monarch of India—had only one chaadar all his life to cover his body which carried hundreds of patches sewn up by his own pious hands. But the false Sufis today wear silken robes glittering with gold and silver work and followed by false Mureeds likewise. What a hypocrisy?
And these “Sajjadanashins” of the various leading Dargahs of great Sufi saints of India. My investigations show they are a slur on the holy missions of these saints. Claiming heredity, they occupy the “gaddis”—lawfully or unlawfully—but are far from the characteristics of those saints. They are selling the Dargah properties and fighting in law courts to retain their rights as successors. I have devoted a full chapter in my next book to their intrigues. And the Khadims of Ajmer particularly are the worst. It is against my cult to speak ill of anybody but when it affects the dignity of great saints and their noble mission, I feel constrained to speak out otherwise keeping mum would amount to sin. “If you see a well and a blind man walking towards it, and if you sit, mum, you commit a sin,” says Sheikh Saadi.
I have read Meher Baba’s book God Speaks but I could not make out whether he was really an Avatar or Sufi or Yogi. He promised to speak out but he never did. He has many devotees in U.S.A. and whatever you say about Upasni Maharaj and his guru (a Sufi Master) is absolutely true. To me the Baba was a puzzle. He was worshipped by the Parsis generally. His discourse on Sufism and references to great Sufi saints were, of course, learned and knowledgeable. But any scholar can analyze this. However, the good man is gone. Sufis have, as you know best, nothing against even bad people.
You talk of “barring” you (or Truth) from certain conferences or meetings. But who has ever succeeded in barring the Divine Truth? It has always defied all barrings in history. Let them bar again. They will have an ignominious fall as they did, always nave. Truth cannot be suppressed, you know it.
I had promised to send you a very interesting article on “Sufi Dance” which was published in the Muslim Digest but I could not do so as yet. It is a long article duly illustrated. As soon as I am more fit to type it out, I’ll send it to you. You will enjoy it.
Sooner or later, USA will be forced to respect spiritualism. They are getting fed up with sheer materialism now. Getting into moon will not help the world. Armaments mean nothing but more wars. But we are getting nearer to the Day-of-Judgment. “The Kingdom of God,” according to Christ is coming. You will get my argumentative article on this—“Is the Day-of Judgment Near”? in the Muslim Digest in December.
With all devotion and homage,
Yours as ever,
W. D. Begg
Nov. 16, 1969
Begg Sahib Beloved One of Allah:
As-salaam-aleikhum! One herein acknowledges your Ref. No. 1035-69 of 5th November. The present outlook is most encouraging. Yes, there are a few hazards. There is a Meher Baba Movement here which relies almost entirely on personality-worship. I saw the same thing in India with regard to Anandamayee and others. So far as this country is concerned the young will accept that Atman is Brahm; they will reject this perennial nonsense of elevating a personality and daring to presume before the Living God that their own small ego declaration of who is the Great Soul will help them towards salvation. No, I do not reject the monkey-tradition, but it has become totally nonsensical—no prayers, no devotions, no veneration, etc.
The same thing has happened to the movements derived from the late Sri Aurobindo. He began with God, he ended with God, he elevated a cosmic Yoga, which his disciples and successors have abolished, totally abolished. They dare to presume and assume that the very word Yoga is automatically supra mental. They are trying to proclaim a supra-mental by abolishing Vijnanavada.
Sufism is based on Love, all inclusive Love. This week in full audience one had a reunion with both a Hebraic Chassid mystic and a Vietnamese Thien, i.e. Zen Master. It is this sort of unwelcome fact that disturbs all those people proclaiming. Let them proclaim.
The dances of universal peace are progressing in numbers, in response, in the growth in adoration and exaltation (Amanda). The intellectuals and cultists will of course ignore and reject. They are not only in minorities, but very divided. The young accept and coalesce with each other. I think we are going to have a brotherhood of man in the fatherhood of God, Inshallah, without any limitation “leadership.”
I have refused me silk and gold. My increased and increasing income is now solely to feed disciples and prepare for the trip to Istanbul next year, inshallah. Today I discovered a copy of Abu Fazl’s famous prayer. I had lost all records and copies of this, but praise to Allah, had one copy incorporated in one of my poems. This is being sent to The Temple of Understanding in Washington, and I have no doubt it will be proclaimed and accepted despite all the Meher Baba’s, Anandamayees and Godless followers of Sri Aurobindo and others. All my work, or rather our work, in the fields of music, dancing, and chanting, seem to come from and with the spirit of Khwaja Sahib. One feels him internally and externally.
I am now going over my poetry which is gradually being accepted and includes early inspirations from the great Muinuddin Chisti. Alhamdu Lillah I am now getting some secretarial help, so sorely needed. We are going to celebrate a Christ-Christmas—no Santa Claus. We are going to join the Chassid Jews, the Vietnamese and other Buddhists, just as we have been working with various schools of Bhaktis which do not always work with each other. La illaha el il Allah.
Love and Blessings,
Samuel L. Lewis
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
22nd November 1969
Beloved Soul of Allah,
God be praises at all times. I am sure you must have received my Air Mail letter of 6th November.
For many months I have been promising you to send you a copy of a most interesting article on “The Heavenly Dance,” but my illness prevented me to fulfill this promise earlier. However, I have now taken pains to copy out the said beautiful article and am sending it along with this letter. I am sure you will find it interesting. Please acknowledge its receipt. I am sorry; I could not send it by Air Mail which is too expensive nowadays.
I have little to add here for the time being but I am intending to go out on a tour of U.P. and Calcutta, if God Almighty wishes, next month in connection with the printing arrangements of The Big Five of India in Sufism. I wish the “spiritual” help must come. I have been struggling with ill health in the past years and this work is horribly delayed. People are getting impatient for it now. I hope you will not forget me in your prayers for the early success of this pork which will be a really masterpiece on Sufism for the modern man to understand.
With my Hearty Greetings and All Best wishes for Xmas and New Year. May God gracious bless you with best health in the coming Year and may your service to Allah’s cause be successful among the college and University Youngman and women—Ameen.
Yours as Ever,
W. D. Begg
Enclosed 1 article from “The Muslim Digest” of Duncan, South Africa.
The Heavenly Dance
(By Dr. Annemarie Schimmel of Ankara University, Turkey
Nobody who has seen the “sama,” the mystical dance of the Maulvi Dervishes, will forget its beauty, its harmony, and the sweetness of its music, and he will be sure that there must be, in the deepest roots of religious feeling, a particular connection between this kind of dance and the divine sphere.
And it is really so that, in almost all religions, dance has played a very important role. Dance is perhaps, in the first place, a play, even the purest, the absolute play; and since one of the most important roots of human culture is the play in its different spheres, as Huizinga has printed out, dance too belongs to the essential features of human culture.
The root and the fruits of the real play are hidden in a divine secret; man has, in playing and dancing, tried to express his relationship with the other world, his hope for a better future, his love of the Divine, and has tried to draw near by means of dance a sphere far away from the heavy earthly world. There is no medium for getting rid of this world as strong as dance is.
No branch of art has ever been so successful in expressing man’s yearning for the Divine; for it can be done without any outward resources, without voice, without pen or painter’s brush—only by means of man’s body. And the two aspects of the divine power which we are accustomed to, the dionysiac and the appollinic ones, find their expression in religious dance; it can bring man into ecstasy and make him forget all worldly things, and it can be a symbol of the harmonious beauty, the classical measure which we find in the rites of the Greek god Apollo.
An Illustration of the Maulvi Dance in Their Loose Apparel.
Maulana Rumi said, “Same is an essential like prayer (namaaz) and fasting (roza) for a mature Sheikh and is “mubah” (permissible under Shariat) for a pure disciple. It is “haraam” (not permissible by Shariat) for those who are neither of these. Allah is a complete pleasure and belief is a complete joy.” Sama is the singing of the dervishes while they dance. It is also called “muqabalah.” Other sects of dervishes have other rituals known as “zikr” and “dauren.”
Religious dance is also of social importance. Though man can dance alone and experience by this way perhaps the ecstatic union with the Divine, the dance of the community is a strong help in both magical and religious practices, or may express the marvels of the heavenly order by means of well arranged circles.
In the Muslim world, the role of turning and whirling round the own axis both with and without music, the famous “sama” is mentioned as early as in the 9th century A.D. and we can understand its importance in certain Sufi circles when reading the works of the great systematic thinkers of early Sufism, of Qushayri and Sarraj, of Hujwari and Sulami, who treated the subject with great care and agreed in the point that this kind of “sama” be allowed only for the ripened mystic but extremely dangerous for the beginners on the Path. And in many a chronicle we can read how Sufis, intoxicated by music, turned so intensely that they at last lost their consciousness and died. (An instance of this kind of death is found in the demise of Hazrat Khwaja Qutubuddin “Bakhtiyar Kaki of Delhi, who was the first great Spiritual Successor of Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Chisti of Ajmer—W. D. Begg.) Imam Ghazali has, for this reason, devoted not less than 20 big pages of his “Ahya ulum ad-din” to the question of “sama” (11, 236-256).
The mediaeval nuns in their ardent love have often used the form of the “Spiritual Dance” for the expression of their longing for union with the Divine Beloved. In sweet verses they tell how God is waiting for the human soul and asks it to enter the paradisic dancing place, how the soul is preparing this dance and how it ends in ineffable love-play. This symbol has been used in connection with the idea of the “stars and the angels” dance in all the mystic literature of the West, mystic poets have always loved and still love the idea of the mystic dance.
But however great the importance of this symbol may be in Western mystic and literature, it is even much greater in Sufism and in the literature which is inspired by more or less Sufistic ideas.
These expressions are existent since the early stage of Sufism and have been repeated through the centuries. Even as early a mystical poet as Yahya ibn Mu’adh of Rayy in the late it 9th century AD sings in one of his charming poems: “All my life time turns around God’s love full of longing.” And the most famous expression of this ecstatical dance which ends with the complete union has been given by Mansur al-Hallaj who quotes—the first time in Islamic mysticism—the story of the moth which flies around the candle until it is burnt, and finds union in death—a symbol which is used later on by the numberless poets in all Islamic countries. And it is impossible not to be reminded of white turning butterflies when looking at the dance of the Maulvi dervishes in their wide, white frocks.
For here, in the order of Maulana Rumi, the “sama,” the heavenly dance, has from the beginning taken the central place. It is both practiced and used as symbolical expression for the deepest mysteries of Divine love. Maulana Rumi himself is said to have often performed the whirling dance when he heard the voice of the watermills in the Meram gardens near Konya, or the rhythmical sound of the hammering of gold smiths in Konya bazaar were his mystic friend Husammuddin Zarkub was working. In his practical work, Maulana Rumi has united the different aspects of the religious dance. He tells in his “ruba’iyaat” how the Divine Beloved is appearing on the screen of the heart in a lovely dance, so teaching the lover the art of spiritual dancing, intoxicated, whirling. And this dance of his had a deep significance: wherever the foot of the Beloved touches the ground, the water of life sprints out of the earth. Perhaps the most beautiful expression of this dance of the friend may be seen in the charming “ghazal” with the beginning: “I saw my friend, he was turning around the house…” the friend who is playing on the lute or the lovers’ heart, or breathing into the mouth of the lover like into a flute, so giving him the power to speak and to sing. And the Phrygian flute was, as soon as in the time of Aristotle, known as a means of becoming spiritually intoxicated.
On the other hand, Maulana Rumi has often alluded to the old platonic idea of the cosmic dance, when he says that the spheres turn around the moon like the lovers around the Beloved. But this is only a weak comparison, for, to Maulana Rumi, the dervish who exercises the real “sama” is higher than the heavens, and his place is the placeless, the sphere of the Divine Light. Here he turns around the sun of the Godhead as the atoms whirl around the created sun. Here he finds his spiritual food—“sama” is the food of the dervish’s heart, the bliss of his spirit. One of the most touching religious songs all over the world is the short Turkish poem which used to be sung when the “sama” in the Turkish monasteries was nearly finished: flute, drum and human voice, in increasing excitement, told in a sweet melody what the meaning of “sama” was: happiness, spiritual food, purity of the heart.
Maulana Rumi has, taking the verse from the Qur’an according to which the Mount Sinai began to tremble in the presence of God, expressed the deepest awful mystery which is felt in God’s presence by the phrase “The mountain began dancing.” That is also the situation of man who, in the presence of the Most High, shows his emotions by a more or less regulated dance. For the real and original “sama” is not well organized but is a completely free and even not intentional action. It leads, then, man to such a spiritual level that he witnesses now not only he himself but the whole world is living in an everlasting dance, and how every branch, every leaf, every stone on the road is restless, is moving towards the spiritual goal in increasing spirals. In this moment man sees that, by the breeze of love every branch which is not dry, is moved and starts dancing.
“Sama” as we may understand from Maulana Rumi’s verses, is both death and resurrection; losing the connection with his material world man is carried away into the greater harmony of the spiritual world—the German poet Rueckert who had translated about one and a half century ago the poetry of Rumi for the first time into German (though not very close to the literal meaning but grasping the spiritual meaning in a most wonderful manner) has written:
Wer die Kraft des Reigens kennet,
lebt in God,
Denn er weiss, wie Liebe toete—
Allah hu
(He who knows the power of “sama,” lives in God: for he knows how love kills—Allah hu.)
Quoting this line of Maulana Rumi, one of the greatest and noblest German poets of this century Hugo von Hofmannsthal has compared life to a great “sama” in which life and death, birth and rebirth, are intertwined in an inexplicable way, and he sees the mystery of true life in the fact that man takes part in this “sama,” and is willing to give himself to the ever changing constellations of the cosmic dance and develop according to them.
Whatever we accept from these commentaries and tales it may be sufficient to show once more the importance of the dance in reality and symbolism for the religious life. Did not the Greek writer Lukian in the 2nd century A.D. write:
“The origin of dance lies in the same time as the origin of the world; it has appeared together with the pre-eternal love. Are not the dances of the stars, the well organized movements of the fixed stars and planets, the beautiful harmony of the movement only an example of that pre-eternal dance?”
It seems to me that the reality which all religious systems, all poets and mystics, all lovers and philosophers have wished to express in words and movements, in sweet songs and harmonious gestures, in ecstatic whirling and stammering words, is nothing other than the fact that the dance was born together with the eternal Divine Love.
(The foregoing article is an extract from “The Ramadan Annual” of “The Muslim Digest” dated February, 1963 and published by The World Federation of Islamic Mission and the International Union of Islamic Service, at 100 Brickfield Road, Durban, South Africa. Editor Mr. Mohammed Makki.)
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
6th Dec. 1969
Beloved Soul of Allah,
Assalam Alaikum. I have two of your gracious letters for acknowledgment, one dated 16th November and the other dated 1st December 1969. May God gracious bless you with best of health to carry on the great Divine work you are doing for the Americans.
When the Holy Prophet of Islam rejected personality-worship for his followers, how can we Muslims accept any one else’s personality for worship. I have regard for the late Meher Baba but I do not approve if his followers worshipping him instead of worshipping Allah, Wahda-hu-la-sharika-la-hu. There is one God and Mohammed is His prophet. This is Islam. Your convictions are absolutely right in this matter.
The world has seen numberless proclamations about so many cults according to each claimant’s knowledge and spiritual wisdom. But in the past 1400 years, nothing has beaten the true teachings of Christ or Mohammed. As for Sufism, it is higher than Yoga. Many think that it came out of Vedanta but none could prove it. I have written a most interesting article once more tracing the correct and most authentic history of Sufism. When ready, duly finalized, I will send you a copy. It is to be printed in “The Big Five of India.”
What true Sufi ever preferred silk and gold? True and great Sufis of the world always renounced all the luxuries of this world. Baba Farid could not afford to have a pajama for 7 years; he used to wear a long shirt up to his ankles. Hazrat Gharib Nawaz had only one wrapper “Chadar” all his life; when it needed repairs, he did them by his own hands. And yet he finished the tyranny of Prithvi Raj, the greatest Hindu Emperor of India. Sufis are divine souls, the whole world and its wealth belong to them but they despise them.
I am surprised but very glad to hear that my letter and the copy of the “Heavenly Dance” reached you so soon by surface mail. It was sent on 22-11-69 and you got it on 1-12-69. It is a miracle somewhere. Surface Mail takes 20 to 30 days, I suppose. In any case, I am glad you like it. I hope to be in Kanpur & Allahabad during the Xmas week for the publication arrangements of my book. I am much better in health but not as fit as I used to be 2 years ago. Allah is Great & Supreme. I implore Him for better health. He may be merciful as He has always been. With highest regards and salaams and id Mubarak and all the best wishes and luck in the coming Year in Turkey, Yours as ever,
W. D. Begg
Postscript, One good news to add. I have been trying to get a connection in Australia for the past 7 years with a view to sell some copies of “The Holy Biography” there, to spread the message of Sufism and Islam. There was no success. Last week, however, I got an urgent Air Mail letter from a party Shamus-Ashcroft Publications, Victoria whose representative had toured India and came to learn about our book. They sent a cheque and asked me to send them a copy urgently by Air Mail as they intend to buy more copies and are dedicated to Oriental literature. I was happy and have sent them a copy by Air. I await their reaction any day now. I take it a miracle of the Holy Saint of Ajmer.
16th December, 1969
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
Beloved One of Allah:
As-salaam aleikhum. Truth has never changed and I am not the least moved to alter the Bismillah. Last night it was necessary to condemn certain emissaries from India who have been making disastrous predictions, none of which have come true, but these people remain popular and all mal-prediction are against Bismillah. We do many things here which do not please “Muslims” but the question is, do they please Allah!
For instance the practice of Akhlak Allah. It is not a ceremony and it is not based on thought. It is based on spiritual freedom of the highest sort. But for beginners, they must learn Allah and Er-Rahman and Er-Rahim. Too much nonsense about the “Five Pillars” of Islam. The Pillar is Allah. If I were asked what are the Five Pillars, they are all under Allah and are Ishk, Ilm, Shahud, Rahmat and Mohammed. But I am not insisting and reject that so-called “Islam” with its conventions, rituals and compulsions, especially, its companions.
Meher Baba either was instructed in or appropriated the intellectual side of Sufism. He failed miserably as to fana. He called Love, surrender, meaning mostly surrender to him. I called Love, self-effacement in the Beloved. I may send to you part Two of “Saladin,” my grand epic based on experiences in fana-fi-Rassoul, by which I mean fana-fi-Rassoul. It is the compendium of experiences in fana-fi-Rassoul with Khatimal Mursaleen, and the inclusion of all the Prophets and Messengers of Allah in which Lord Mohammed himself was my “Sadguru” and no nonsense. But this excluded nobody.
It will shock “Muslims” no doubt to find I can “out-hari” the Krishna worshippers and the Rama-believer; out-dance the Shivaites; and out-“jhana” the Buddhists! We celebrated Hanukah with the Jews and will celebrate, inshallah, Christmas with the Christians. But all of this, including your suffering and mine points to Rassoul Gita which is this compendium of my life based on fana-fi-lillah via the Bismillah, for out of this comes everything and the goal set for me is to outdistance even Bhagavad Gita! Oh, it is within me and there are stacks of spattered notes, but now the transvision is complete.
The dances pour through this person. The inspirations come not only in poetry and vision but also in the scientific fields. Now we are awaiting a Sufi from Israel of all places! I shall keep you informed. I am all with you and for you.
We practice Akhlak Allah and “Ya Shaffee! Ya Kaffee!” Also refinement of breath which I do not find among the Yoga practices, for it is based on “Allah” and aspects of Shagal—which correspond roughly to Pranayama but with devotion.
Allah be praised that you are now receiving cooperation from abroad. Sooner or later your own countrymen, Muslims and non-Muslims, will see the value of your work.
Id Mubarak,
Samuel L. Lewis
410 Precita Ave
San Francisco, Calif.
21st January, 1970
W. D. Begg
Topdara, Ajmer
Beloved One of Allah:
As-salaam aleikhum. A visiting Sufi came to a meeting and said: “You have not only started the year right, you have started the decade right.” Sometime later he returned and we filled an auditorium without the slightest bit of advertising. And I am sending a copy of this to each of the two rival schools which claim to be teaching “Asian Philosophy” but so far both have agreed to exclude Sufism, although one must not say they stand alone—Sufism is generally excluded from the curricula in this land.
But a great change is taking place. One professor after another, one university after another has admitted that there are Sufis, that there are even important persons living toady who are Sufis. And more and more books are appearing, some by a scholars (who mostly do not know what they are talking about) and some by Sufis who do. My theme for the last public meeting, drawn from Shah Letif of Sindwas:
“Allah is not your jailer; he is your Lover.”
Not only is this the theme of Sufis (but not of scholars who write books on what they have never experienced), but it is this which is winning the hearts of young Americans and more and more and more.
While the main item of my programs is the attendance at the next conference of the world’s religions, all kinds of things happen. Very seldom do the scholars who like to lecture on Asian philosophy apply the laws of karma to themselves, but the laws are operative. They are really taught in various ways by all faiths. And it would seem to please providence that having been tried through the fires, one is now the beneficiary of Grace. But the public people are more interested in the fact that my financial condition seems to be constantly improving although it is at the moment legally but not otherwise held up. All would like the money, none seem to want Sufi teachings.
But as the universities are opening their doors something may be done, inshallah, and we shall soon be having honest, objective Oriental philosophy. There is a publication from the University of Chicago and the writers, after writing heavy themes—this time on Taoism, and finding the people did not believe that way or worship that way, have said so and corrected themselves. This is very interesting because the older scholars, finding the world is different, still try to hide both truth and facts. But the young professors, many of whom have visited or even lived in Asia, think and operate differently. They want facts, they want honesty, they even deeply admire (to say the least) spiritual experiences.
I therefore await your nooks, having just received more advance notices.
We always have the unexpected or dramatic in our programs, even daily. Today one item is the preparation for India’s Independence Day. As long as the scholars controlled this I was hardly tolerated, never permitted to say anything. But now India students have taken over. Two of the chief speakers are close friends and the third whom I have met, speaking on Indian agriculture, has almost the same views. In previous years these views were also barred, but it is a new day, the day of objectivity, factuality and “God is no respecter of persons.”
The other was my meeting with another disciple in Sufism is a citizen of Israel, of all lands. We have a number of mutual plans both to help bring real and lasting peace in the Near East; also to spread the active spiritual teachings mostly by chanting, dancing and singing. Indeed tonight we did this at an Indonesia restaurant here. And the Consul-General of Indonesia has sent for me, being himself a disciple in tarik.
We have also been joined by a dancing teacher from India, the first one who accepts alike “din” and “dharma’, has a wonderful heart, the devotional outlook, and skill in her profession. Everything looks auspicious for the New Year, alhamdu lillah.
Later I hope to write to you on financial matters.
Love and blessings,
Samuel L. Lewis
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
28th Jan. 1970
My Dear Benefactor,
Wa-Alaikum-us-Salaam. May God grant you necessary vigor and divine inspiration to propagate his holy mission among humanity. I am in due receipt of your kind letter of 21st instant. In this decade, we must bring out “The Big Five” Sufi’s illuminating biographies so that American people may get their blessings in solving their own and the world’s intricate problems. When divine power works, we need no advertising. God gracious does the work. If they suppress Sufism, let them do it. Many times in history, Sufis were tortured by the worshippers of materialism but they failed to suppress the “Truth.” Great Sufis always emerged triumphantly successful. So what do we care for the enemies of God and Sufism? If they exclude Sufism, let them do it. Who can suppress the “Truth?”
If the professors in U.S.A. are getting interested in Sufism, which is a most heartening news for me, then we must give them copies of our “Special Bulletins” which I can send you by post to be distributed in your meetings. Can we do this? If so, please let me know and I shall send you 50 or 100 copies at once which can be distributed.
I have already read the biography of Shah Latif, the great Sufi of Sind (India). He was a great soul indeed. No scholar can write a book on Sufism unless he has studied the subject and has a divine spark too. I am in this work ever since 1954. Many wealthy persons came to buy me for their materialistic purposes, but I always scorned them. I had told you that I am alive only because of the spiritual blessings of Hazrat Muinuddin Chisti, otherwise I should have died in 1968 under that most serious illness. But the coning book must come out which I have written after 5 long years, hard labor. I am thus blessed to bring it out. I am now 74, and have had my full time already. Only this divine cause is keeping me alive for service. If the USA universities can get interested in Sufism through your efforts, I shall be most happy. If your financial condition improves, and now sincerely I am praying for it here, then our work would be most successful. The cost of printing books has gone up 500%, as compared with the 1960 prices. I am puzzled but not dejected because I know the money will come “unexpectedly” from the unseen quarters for the printing of “The Big Five.” This is my greatest headache, day and night. I am trying to go to Allahabad to settle this printing business with one of my old printers on “credit,” if it suits him. Needless to say that the moment the book is out of press, I shall send you the copies. Your prayers and blessings must be concentrated for my success in this year. My illness has cost me big sum of money and time too, and delayed this noble work. This book contains the essence of Sufism, I assure you. One of my junior friends at Cambridge in USA wrote to me about the formation of Indian students’ Association there. He is studying there. This Assn. will be of much help to us in future. His name is P.K. Gupta of India studying at the Cambridge M.E. College. He was a poor man, but Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin blessed him and he got money and went to USA which surprised here everybody. He is a faithful boy. Inshallah, by the grace of God and your continued support and blessings, I shall be able to bring out the “Big Five” this year. I am interested in the financial matters which you promise to write to me about.
A lot of money has been spent in the compilation and publicity work of “The Big Five.” I wish I had enough money to propagate the Divine Cause. It is Allah’s favor that my work has been most successful in the past 14 years in the service of Sufism. And I am sticking to it through thick and thin, renouncing every other attraction.
When are you going to attend that Religious Conference at in Turkey? Alham-do-Lillah, (God be praised), Who is the Most Merciful to help us. With profound regards and best gratitude for your continued interest, Yours as ever,
W. D. Begg
8th February, 1970
W. D. Begg,
Topdara, Ajmer, India
Beloved One of Allah:
As-salaam Aleikhum. Your letter of the 28th of January is here. The easiest thing in the world is to give a sermon when another is in difficulties. We have introduced so many “innovations” here that the “Muslims” are horrified. We repeat the various Sifat-i-Allah in the form of Wazifas and otherwise and learn to accompany them with walk and dance and bodily movements to impress upon the whole personality what they mean and how they can be of unlimited value to the students and devotees.
Unlike the Orthodox we accept all scriptures excepting where they conflict with Qur’an. The Bible teaches that God made man in His Image, and the Messenger said, “I am a man like you,” but no “good Muslim” wants to accept that. The result is that man has been kept down by the priestcraft and power hungry people. And as written before I dare to use the theme of Shah Latif: “Allah is your lover, not your jailer”.
The young hungry-of-heart Americans may begin with hemp derivatives for trans-physical experiences; they learn there are unseen worlds, and Ya Latif can and does impress them. So today one has two forces working for one, and they in turn will drive back the forces of darkness and obscurantism. For instance there is an Indian teacher here from whom I studied certain aspects of philosophy. He is a Ph.D. He is proud of those with these degrees. And the worst insult was to tell him that Arjuna wanted only Sri Krishna and not all the power and prestige of the world.
There are now two forces operative for the Light and they are more or less in alliance and alignment: (a) the young people who are thoroughly disenchanted with the past and more with religious orthodoxies than with the social order. Many of them come from wealthy families. You cannot read the truth about them. All the publications are misinterpreting them from sociological and political views but the truth is that the soul of man is seeking freedom. And today I have two full dance classes, reciting the Names of Allah and finding an exaltation which they never experienced before.
Along with that is the growing number of college professors. The scientific discipline means that one must be honest in his researches and impersonal. The Hegelian and Aristotelian traditions are based on the assumption of ego-self, and thus the struggle for power, prestige, wealth and evils. But now many of the professors, having some scientific disciplines, are applying these to all their efforts, and especially when they see something operative succeed and that which they think fail.
Yesterday we were studying the affairs of Malaysia. The instructor said that most of the Malays are Sufis. This was somewhat new. The official teachings, given out by Europeans and disciples of Arthur Arberry, ignore the existence of the humanity and concentrate upon their ridiculous philosophical interpretations of translations, good or bad. The fact that there are millions in tasawwuf means nothing, yet, to our culture, but it will soon, inshallah.
Tawakkul may mean more than a word. Anyhow that insight called Kashf in Islam and Prajna in the Dharma is operative. Scholars will ultimately have to recognize it. And so with the utmost trust—and the Momin is either awakened or a hypocrite—we can find the living Allah and really surrender. For sixty years one lived in poverty, and then the father, seeking forgiveness on his deathbed, made it possible to live comfortably.
It can even be, Inshallah, what a hadith says: “In that day will the sun rise in the West, and all men seeing, will believe.” I returned to this part with the goal of getting fifty-thousand Americans to say “Allah”. Many are now doing this. Even the leading missionaries of Indian cults have acceded to this person when it comes to esoteric wisdom. An so before me is an important career, which, if Allah wills, will make a mark.
At the end of next month, inshallah, I should be going to Geneva, not Istanbul, to attend a conference of the religions of the world. I go both in an independent and traditional sense. In the traditional sense one has the Baraka and silsila, again not from the Sufis of the “East” and “West” but the blessing from Mohammed himself, and it does not matter what all the scholars and orthodox “think” from their ego-conciseness. Last night we went ahead with our work in tasawwur as well as in other matters, and the young are finding the direct exaltation in Allah, far beyond that of the drugs and psychedelics. You can be sure that the people who offer self-righteous sermons on this subject are more afraid of spiritual enlightenment than of anything else.
But the story is getting out. We are planning a gigantic spring festival and that there will be public attention. But one has colleagues now, those more interested in the spiritual awakening of humanity than either with the maintenance of traditions or the effecting what they call “revolution.” And sore afraid are the power-people of any spiritual revolution, more than anything else. Only many of these young people come from wealthy homes and they are even supplying the leaders for this spiritual revolution! It will take some time to send on details.
The great revolution before me is that the message I wish to bring is the Love of Heaven for Earth. The whole world has the love of earth for heaven and everybody has been asked to make sacrifices, sacrifices of everything but nufs. Taking the theme of Shah Latif: “Allah is your Lover, not your Jailer,” both in operations and in the cosmic poetry inside I hope to bring out this theme. It will appeal to the young.
I differ from the Shiahs not in their theologies and metaphysics but in their masochisms. The same with the Christian “mea culpa.” The Divine Light is always shining with its Rahmat and all virtues and they come from Allah and we can receive them, we do when we step upon nufs.
Before I continue you have mentioned P. K. Gupta at Cambridge but you do not give which Cambridge. I hope to go to London after leaving Geneva and then must come to the Boston-Cambridge area in the United States. Contacts are increasing and what we call “the grapevine” is working in this direction instead of the opposition. Or as Jesus has said, “My time has not yet come.”
What is needed today are not doctrines, traditional or new, but the emphasis that Allah is the All-Giving, All-Blessing, All-Helping, etc. The “religions” are demanding from man and Allah is donating to man. It is not easy to understand some faiths but the conclusion one has is that nearly all end in a Nirvana, a giving up, which corresponds to the Sufic fana. You do not hear about the baqa, the manifestation of the Divine Light through man, and man operating as the Vice-gerent of Allah upon earth. All seem to stop there. And so one has a message which can be a message of comfort, this is certainly being demonstrated here.
Some years back a very dear friend of mine, a leading Buddhist, wished to go to Australia. He had no funds but some golden statues which he was ridding himself of. Suddenly Tengku Abdul Rahman, the Prime Minister of Malaysia came suddenly to him; said he knew about his troubles and gave him a round trip ticket. This is Sufism in action. What will happen when the world comes to know of this method?
All love and blessing,
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
Samuel L. Lewis
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
13th February 1970
Revered Soul & My benefactor,
Wa-Aleikhum-us Salaam. May God bless you with more vigor and faith and excellent health in His service. Your affectionate Air letter of 8th Feb is before me. It gives me increasing good news about your efforts and success in the cause of Sufism and Divine Law. I note you are not going to Istanbul, but you will proceed to Geneva instead, for the world Religious conference. It is good news. Your success there is assured, I am confident. God be praised and so His beloved prophet and dear Sufi souls. By their grace, my health is much improved and I am once more working as hard for my mission as I did before 1968 when I got ill. I propose to move out in the country soon to preach for the support of my next book. Your prayers and benevolent blessings are needed. I am sure they will be an inspiration to my efforts as they have been in the past years.
They had a grand show of a Religious Conference in Delhi Last week; many countries were represented. I had also an invitation and was too eager to deliver a sermon on Sufis and Sufism. But, pity, my health and my purse did not permit me. But from the papers I gather, it was a mere show and nothing solid and lasting. Islam was poorly represented and there was no mention of Sufis or Sufism or their grand part in the history and world peace in the past. I have collected a small cutting from the papers for you which I will be sending soon by Sea Mail to you.
There is another good news. “The Illustrated Weekly of India” (Bombay)—a leading paper of Indian, has published a very attractive issue on 14 December 1969 which is dedicated to Islam and also to Sufis and Sufism, particular to Sufi Dances. I have just written to this paper’s manager at Bombay to send me 2 copies per V.P. Post at once. One copy is for you. It will follow by Sea mail (of course, under registered post). I am sure you will relish its contents and favor me with a line of its safe arrival. The postage on this copy will naturally be heavy. Anyway, Allah is there to help me to carry on His mission at any cost.
Here is Mr. P.K. Gupta’s full address: P.K. Gupta, 11-A, Academy Street, Arlington, Mass. 02174 (USA). I trust he will try to pay you his homage if he visits San Francisco. He is a nice boy. Only by the blessing of Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Chisti he went to U.S.A. for his studies.
I try to go deeper into your Divine deliberations which I get in your affectionate letters but I am still too poor to dilate upon this wisdom. Yet I learn a lot from them as to how things are moving under your struggles for the cause of Sufism. The world is undergoing a great transformation. It needs genuine persons to preach the Divine path to the younger generation against devilish materialism. People of your courage and wisdom are far and few. Please note, on the authority of history, that is was Sufism that spread the light of Islam in Malaysia. I have a great book to support it. It was Hazrat Khwaja Saheb’s missionaries who went to Malaya and Indonesia 700 years ago to spread the light of Islam.
Those who rule the world have always been afraid of the spread of spiritualism, so it is not a new thing in our times. Yet the “Spirit has always vanquished the Sword” and no power could avert it. Who can defy God gracious? Those who did, perished ignominiously. Every religions book confirms it and you know this better than me. Hence, who can defy your noble work when Allah is with you? Along with the packet of the “Illustrated weekly,” I am sending you a copy of my special article on “Is the Day of Judgment Near?” which I wrote for the “Ramdhan Number” of “The Muslim Digest” of Durban. Both Islam and Christianity predict that the time of resurrection of the Christ has arrived and is nearing every day.
If you go away to Geneva before the arrival of my promised packet by sea mail, please depute someone to collect it and keep it safely for your perusal on your return.
With the best of my prayers and blessings of the “Holy Saint of Ajmer,” I remain, yours affectionately,
W. D. Begg
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
17th March 1970
Respected Friend of Sufis and Lover of God & Humanity,
Alhamd-o-Lillah—God be praised. Just as I was starting on my tour for Upper India in connection with the work of my book The Big Five of India in Sufism, I had received your letter of February 1970 which I kept pending for acknowledgment on return from this much delayed tour; it should have been taken place in 1968 but my prolonged illness prevented it.
I returned only 2 days back. Thank God, there is success in sight after this tour, and I hope God gracious will help me to put the book in the hands of printers by May 1970 and it will come out by the end of this year, if all goes well. Some gentlemen have promised more financial help on this tour. It is a pity the prices of printing and publicity have gone exorbitantly high during the past 10 years, as compared to the cost of printing The Holy Biography which was done in 1960. Now the approximate cost of printing “The Big Five” will be about Rs. 26,000/-. A sum of Rs. 3,500/- has been spent already in research and compilation work of this new book. You can imagine that this work is not going to be a child’s play for me. Anyhow, I have full confidence in Almighty God’s grace and am proceeding with all due speed to complete this publication as soon as possible.
I am glad to learn from your letter under reply that “cheerful circumstances” are developing at your end in your mission. God’s ways are always wonderful and He is always so merciful and kind towards those who sin and also those who worship and lead a pious life alike. His compassion is infinite otherwise men of my poor status would have been nowhere in this world.
My work, on return from this tour, has considerably increased as I have to deal with a lot of people and have to make many important arrangements to put the book in the hands of the printers by May 1970 who have promised to do their best for its quick disposal from the press. This is encouraging news for us. Most of the Indian printers are awfully busy and refuse to take work. But my Allahabad old printers have taken it up. Kanpur printers could not.
I hope your brother’s health is improving now so that you may not have any worry to carry on your work. Please see if you can manage to send me a few more dollars to help me in my arduous work. Travelling is too costly and most troublesome in these days. And so are other expenses all round. With all due regards and Salaams,
Yours as ever (In haste)
W. D. Begg
March 28, 1970
Beloved One of Allah:
Your letter of 17th March arrived just as secretary Mansur and I prepare to leave this part of the world for a conference of the great religions meeting at Geneva, Switzerland. We are presumed to discuss what religion can do to promote world peace. This is a field in which I personally have been engaged most of my life but which has been aborted because the religious leaders of the world, whatever else they may say, are too often concerned with the prowess of human personality than with Divine Experience, and so long as this attitude persists we can hardly look for any solace through religious meaner, traditional or new.
There are today so many new groups claiming world outlooks and generally not recognizing each other. Fortunately your Sri Surendra Mohan Chose, deputy leader of the Congress Party, has recognized this. Many of his colleagues have not, especially those colleagues who have dared to assume leadership while even denying the historicity of the great Moguls Akbar and Dara Shikoh, and your recently esteemed President the late Zukair Hussein.
It is also notable that I shall be carrying with me excerpts from both Presidents Radhakrishnan and Giri, and I hope to be able to carry this message to a real open convention where no longer manas-ahankara can forbid speeches by those to whom God Allah has given His Blessing.
I am putting all my financial resources in this effort, but am not particularly troubled. Not only my brother but the last of my few relatives seem to be hospitalized today, hovering between life and death. Excepting the Wisdom of Allah, I have accepted this as part of His Will, knowing full well that in the end my affairs will be properly straightened out. Besides this there is a possibility that some of the world leaders will listen to me whereas their immediate disciples will not. Nor is there any care about this. The Union of Baraka and Dharma may hand unlimited possibilities, both of these spring from Infinity and I am sorry if people whose pretension for leadership is not based on spiritual awakening. Surrendering to Allah with full faith in his guidance through Kashf-Prajna, the heart is very much assured, and upon my return, if not before, I shall write further. Meanwhile at least being able to pray for you, and wish you all forms of love and blessings,
Samuel L. Lewis
April 10, 1970
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
Beloved One of Allah:
This letter is written from London in a spirit of love and hope. We have been to the world conference under the auspices of the Temple of Understanding Washington District of Columbia. It was perhaps the most successful conference that has been held up to date. Indeed, we had 14 prayers offered on a single occasion representing the real religions of the real world. Such minorities as the Sikhs, the Jains, and Parsis were among them.
The conference had many real spiritual leaders; excluded were the more modern movements of true or false eclecticism and pseudo-synthesis. When you permit one of these to come in, you permit others and this generally leads to a battle royal on personalities, and not on principles. This has happened before. Indeed it was one my chief Sufi colleagues that objected to what we can even call dajjalism. While many of the speakers, particularly of the small minorities, made passionate emotional appeals for love and understanding, it is these very passionate emotion appeals that stand in the way of universal concordance.
There was a very charming, handsome Sikh leader with perhaps as good understanding and usage of the English language as anybody. He was most outspoken for universal love, and also he was most outspoken. Indeed, this “scoundrel” told him that applause was of the devil, that loud applause for somebody’s speech keeps us from listening to God, that noise and noise-making prevented inner peace a quietude. He especially did Guru Nanak a disfavor by constantly praising Guru Nanak and ignoring Christ, Mohammed and Buddha, etc.
With Allah’s guidance, this person seems to have gained recognition and friendship from many. One was probably the only one there that understood all the faiths and even the many various branches of these faiths. One received the most profound apologies from representatives of important religion that have ignored one’s efforts to bring about first, better understanding, and then, peace. In fact Allah was with us from the very beginning. Without moving a step we met the legate of his Holiness Pope Paul. Almost immediately after that we met the senior of the Birla family, and after that it was they who sought out this person.
To us, the dominant figures were Swami Maharaj Ranganathananda, and Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr of Tehran. In addition, these two great men were very friendly and cordial to each other. I think the spirit of love and amity echoed and re-echo through the vast assemblage of peoples of all religions and every branch of Asian and European races and cultures. Not represented were the Africans and South Americans, and we are going to try to adjust this.
Even more obvious was the absence of a minority which by very biological laws will become the majority—that is the Young. The only way for the young to be heard was for them to do something and that is exactly what happened. I think oratory and applause are the greatest obstacles to peace and understanding. The representative of His holiness the Dalai Lama attracted more attention by his strong calmness than did the Sikh, for example, with his constant stirring emotional appeals, repeated over and over and sometimes echoed by others.
This person made the shortest speeches and always to the point. This may mean, inshallah, that next year we may play a more dominant part, not toward external leadership but toward brotherhood and fraternity. One knew all the religions, one could mingle with everybody and did, and one easily won the good will of the young. So this is a beginning.
In the meanwhile news has come that one’s brother has died, and sooner or later this means a substantial increase in one’s monthly allotment. Therefore after receipt of my next letter from you, which should be sent to San Francisco, I should do at least a little something. One cannot tell at the moment, because no details are available here. My family agreed that I should pursue the objectives for the journey and not hurry home even in a crisis. In a sense I shall be a totally free man, but in another sense I wish to be more devoted and dedicated to Allah, to perform his will and be his instrument actually. At least once I felt in complete attunement making my words short, direct, and to the point, but warning that we could build a universal temple without oratory and even without funds if we had the divine grace and inspiration. And perhaps, inshallah, we already have. Therefor from this end we send you
All Love and Blessing,
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
20th May, 1970
Respected Friend of Great Sufi Saints & their humble servants,
I am ashamed to acknowledge your loving letter of 10th April, 1970, from London so late due to many unavoidable reasons. One has to contend with the problems of the mundane world at every step. I had been travelling in connection with the printing arrangements of “The Big Five.” Please excuse me. I am much worried due to ever-increasing postage and the cost of paper and printing which have gone up exorbitantly, thus increasing my book’s printing cost to Rs. 25,000/-. Anyway, Allah is Great and the spiritual powers of “The Five” are with me. I am struggling hard.
Your report of the world conference makes a most interest in reading. Who was that Sikh who spoke of Guru Nanak alone forgetting so many other Greats, Allah’s beloved prophets? We have as much respect for Guru Nanak as is his due but to eulogize him above others is blasphemy. Anyway, I am proud of the role you played in the conference as a true Sufi and they have done the right thing in recognizing your worth. In fact, if the Lord recognizes one’s worth, where is the value of the recognition of man? I pray God gracious may mercifully recognize your services to the cause of Sufism, Religion and humanity.
Every day the youth of the world is going astray. As you see, there is a great turmoil among the student community. They have smashed all discipline to pieces. We are having a bad time with them in Indian schools, colleges and universities. This is the biggest problem before the country now. Unfortunately communism has also raised its ugly head. The tragedies of Ahmedabad and Maharashtra are the latest. May God gracious give His mercy to the suffering humanity. If humanity will not return to Religion, it would be destroyed. Materialism or Industrialism are not the remedies of the problems of the world. The “Spirit” must dominate if real peace is to come. We need a prophet but God has said: Prophet Mohammed is the last one; He will now take account and the Day-of-Judgment seems near at hand.
A most perplexing note in your letter is the sad news of the passing away of your dear brother. If he was a dear thing, then your loss is irreparable and I was simply shocked to learn of his death when you were away on tour. May Allah grant peace to his soul. We all have to follow in due course of time. May Allah give you long life to fulfill your sacred mission. I have to contend hard this year and do not know how and when help will come to enable me to bring out the book in hand—my last and greatest ambition.
After a very long time, The Times of India Press has published a Special Number of the “Illustrated Weekly of India”—(Muslims India) dated 14th December 1969 which contains some extremely rare illustrations of Sufis and Sufi Dances and Sufi Wajd, etc. etc. I have procured a copy of this rare issue for you which I am sending tomorrow by Surface Sea Mail under registered post along with a copy of my article “Is the Day of Judgment Near”? (In the Light of Bible and Qur’an). I had written this for the Annual Number of the “Muslim Digest” of Durban but it was late to catch the issue. It was delayed due to my nasty illness of 1969.
I hope this Book Post packet will reach you in a month or earlier by Sea Mail. Please favor me with a line of acknowledgment as soon as you get it.
Seeking your auspicious blessings for my humble mission and offering my most grateful this for remembering me with continuous affection and love. I remain.
Yours dutifully,
W. D. Begg
May 26, 1970
Mr. W. D. Begg
Ajmer, India
Beloved One of Allah: As-salaam-aleikhum!
I wish to take great precaution in answer your letter of 20th of May. I am going through a number of tests, both of the ego self and of the philosophical outlooks to which I seem attached.
Certain aspects of this maybe seen in the letter just written to Prof. Nazr of the Teheran University. But the life is so full, events are happening so rapidly by mail, by telephone, by visitors to this place, and the slow but ever-steady increase in audiences both in quality and quantity. If you look into the complex aspects of my life it is difficult to determine whether one is facing real obstacles or whether it is merely the confusion of and from the ego. For example, the immediate financial benefits from the death of my brother have not manifested. But neither can you say that they have not manifested. For there are other happenings in the private life indicating quite to the contrary of any logical conclusions. And the same applies to all the other aspects of life, covering a multitude of subjects.
Yesterday morning there was a preview of films showing the progress of spirituality in this region. You hear all the bad things about young Americans, and I can assure you that most newspaper, radio, and television reports are conglomerations of near-truths, and open lies. Theoretically, the deeper Indian philosophies proclaim cosmic evolution, proclaim the manifestation of higher forms of entities, or the awakening of higher consciousness in man. But the powers that be do not leave these things in the hands of Allah. False leaderships and false interpretations keep the world in turmoil.
Starting off with a few there has been a steady increase in response, in memberships, and even in the total financial benefits accruing to disciples and others interested in the spiritual growth of themselves and of mankind in general. Indeed there is what is called a “Holy Man’s Jamboree” to be celebrated shortly, here. As I understand it, Sufism will be represented by Pir Vilayat Khan who has long since been favored by the Pirs of Ajmer. If he is unable to attend, I can assure you I have a number of well-qualified persons, all quite capable of presenting the cause of Allah, and this has certainly been done in the films reviewed. When these have been criticized by people saying Muslims will not like, I always answer, “No doubt, but the question to me is whether Allah will like what I am doing or not.”—I have always understood that Allah is the Master of the Day of Judgment. I have no doubt that there are prominent Muslims who, while repeating this verbally, believe they are personally more qualified. And that is why, when everything is presented, the Islamic tablighi have not been successful. They may verbalize “All praise to Allah” but their tongues and minds wish a goodly portion for themselves.
With all that is said about the magnificence of Indian philosophies, very few seem willing to face samsara—or as I call it nufsaniat. Fortunately in this country the tendency among the youth is absolutely, and I mean absolutely, away from what is called communalism. There is everywhere the spirit of togetherness and brotherhood. And those in power are more afraid of this than they are of a Marxian revolution. Of course you will not read about this, any more than you would have read in most cases about The Temple of Understanding. Such things just are not done—yet.
I am enclosing herewith a small cheek to cover your postage. I am not doing more at this time because there is a need to re-evaluate everything. There was an American named Richard Alpert who has been a leader in the youth revolt, who went to India and came back as a sort of Guru. Evidently he has not attained what he sought spiritually and he is about to leave this country for further instructions. This has put on me both burden and obligation which I think Allah wants and I am accepting it. My feeling at the present, very indeterminate, is that I may have to establish a sort of elementary Bayat, like that of the Warisa School. I have been welcomed by the disciples of this school, which I find spiritually far more universal than let us say, Baha’is or Sikhs. My private life shows a tremendous upsurge in the spiritual urge, by, of, and from the young.
I have no doubt that this letter is incomplete. I am quite willing, if Allah so wills, to go to India later, even to face hostile mobs. But I believe there are more constructive forces at work, and in the end this hostility can be disarmed. I have already done this in your country before the communists, where all other Americans failed. And because I succeeded where prominent Americans failed instead of being congratulated I have been feared by a foreign office which is not equipped to meet the peoples of Asia, which has very little ideas either of Asian cultures nor the search for Allah which is inmate in all of us.
Love and Blessings,
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
4th June, 1970
Beloved soul of Allah,
This is to acknowledge receipt of your letter of May 26, its enclosure and a cheque for 10/- dollars. Allah is gracious. He looks after the needs of everything He has created. Words cannot express my gratitude, for your innumerable favors and munificent financial help from time to time in my humble mission. Although there have been so many hurdles in the way during the past 15 years, but, thank God, my determination and faith in, Him have never wavered. These are my tests of Eemaan. When God is pleased with you, He creates friends among your enemies. Nothing is possible without His dominating Will. If one’s faith is strong, He comes to one’s rescue. Patience brings its own reward in due course of time. I am working; have not wasted a single moment. God sees and knows everything. Those who fear Him do not fear the world. But trials are extremely taxing, as you know. We have to pay a price for everything in this world; nothing is gratis.
Your illuminating letter to Prof. Nasr is a mine of spiritual knowledge and intelligence. Sufi Inayat Khan did some useful work for Sufism in the West but why should his successors crave for his “gaddi” instead of craving for his mission’s pure and transparent missionary service? Why should there be difference of opinion among his followers? I get letters from The Hague and other centres of his mission in U. K. and. U.S.A. They differ from each other, though they profess his creed and eulogize his work. Instead of preaching his particular mission, they should take up the golden teachings of the world’s greatest Sufis who never did any propaganda but won the world by sheer spiritual powers and unfailing blessings of God Almighty.
Our “nufs” is the devil. How to avoid the devil is and has always been the greatest problem of mankind ever since the days of Adam and Eve. Those who could ride over their “nufs” were prophets and saints and great Sufis only. The commoners can seldom subdue it and this is the root cause of all worldly troubles. Islamic “tabligh” was done by our Great Sufis; not by the Molvis or rulers. History shows that Islam was always saved from its enemies by the Sufis.
How many sincere devotees of Islam today work for it selflessly? We live in a most dangerous scientific age. God alone knows the future though politicians think otherwise because they are irreligious. Their religion is power and wealth. They don’t believe in the Day-of-Judgment. “Tatha raja tatha prija” was the ruler so the ruled. This world has a majority of fools and wiser people take full advantage of their foolishness. It will go on like this as it has been in the past. Prophets remedy the ills but the devil soon beguiles man again.
If you establish some sort of elementary Bayat, it would do a lot of good in checking irreligious ideologies among the young aspirants. They are ships without a rudder. They need spiritual guidance. If your time, permits, you must accept disciples in “Bayat” in the service of God and Sufism.
If you can visit India, then try to be here by 3rd of Sept. 1970 when the annual “Urs” of Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Chisti starts this year. It will last till 12th of September.
I have already posted the promised copy of the Illustrated Weekly of India on 25th of May to your address under registered book post and trust it will reach you safely and in time. I am sure you will get some rare information on cold Sufism in this publication, specially of “Haal”“ or “Wajd.” Please do let me have its acknowledgment as soon as it reaches you.
With all the best regards and heartfelt gratitude for your fatherly guidance and interest in my poor work.
Yours as ever,
W. D. Begg
410 Precita Ave.,
San Francisco, Calif.
15th June, 1970
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
Beloved One of Allah:
As-salaam aleikhum. Your letter of the 4th June has been forwarded to where I am now staying in the Rocky Mountains, in the “Nathagalli” so to speak of this land, high up. But it was once a holy mountain to the original natives and still is to some.
One operates as a Murshid to the occupants and also there are some mureeds here. My whole role—and this may offend some “good” people is to play the role of a Moineddin Chisti and although a lot of “good Muslims” will not like that, there is a very sign that Allah, to Whom be all Praise, does like it. For there have been astonishing signs of His Grace, and more and more. And in these what you call “disturbing times” one accepts the teachings of the Final Messenger and goes around saying “Allah” and leaves others to their devices and schemata and blamings on everybody else. And so there is a certain calm and peacefully from which emanate strength, vitality, encouragement and countless inspirations.
Within a short period of two weeks a whole stretch of the Rio Grande River, from the border of the State of Colorado to the largest city of Albuquerque is responding to “Sufi Sam” and joining in dervish dances. And now it seems that the first mission assigned by Allah is on its way, to have fifty thousand (50,000) Americans chanting “Allah,” something no tablighi has succeeded in so far, although in this one is assisted by one’s esoteric secretary who is elsewhere and one’s choral master who is here with Murshid.
One arrived in this land from 1962 and for five years had to face The Cave experience knowing that Allah was with one. Then sudden illness and the divine message which has come through down to tiny details. One has to adjust to all sorts of growths and complications. One does not even know one’s financial situation, excepting to say one’s debts are very much larger while one’s income has growth to the extent that these debts seem minimal. I cannot therefore determine any status at the moment but am enclosing what to me is a small contribution but to you may seem substantial. I feel at the moment my zarkaat should go to the mosque in London. There is a tragic story there and also a beautiful one, either of which should make me feel willing to do this.
I do not feel Muslims are better—or worse—than other peoples, and it is sad to find them believing they are better and to ignore the very simple, sound fact that this belief that they are better has resulted in an actual persecution in England which is terrifying. While some Muslim editors are either from fact or fancy telling about Islamic persecutions in your land, there is no fancy, there is only fact about what is happening in London.
I am always of the side of the persecuted, no matter what race. Without exception. And I also differ from some Muslims because the Holy Messenger said, “Allah loves his creation more than a mother loves her offspring.” Also Rab Alamin.
I shall have three additional missions when I return to San Francisco; everyone very big. 1) the bayating and teaching of a large number of young Americans, and in sundry places; 2) a commentary on the Christian First Epistle to the Corinthians; 3) the synthesis and harmonization of the more advanced moral teachings of Hazrat Inayat Than with the Hadiths of the Blessed Prophet.
Each of these alone may be a large undertaking. But I have also found a very effective way in psychotherapy based on the teachings of tasawwuf. So far it has been so effective as to be astonishing. My war against Christianity is very simple: the Bible begins, “In the beginning God.” And the Christians begin, “I believe.” Thus nufs, and this nufs has to be eliminated to restore pure religion, whether it be the religion of Mohammed, Christ, Krishna, or any other Messenger.
You are now finding out about the disciples of Inayat Khan. I do not even know where the various headquarters are. Hazrat Inayat Khan left with me his final wishes. These were identical down to the smallest detail with his death bed requests to Hazrat Hasan Nizami. Even though most of these requests did not interfere with anybody, they all united in rejecting my appointment as exoteric representative to bring the Sufi Message to the intellectuals. I am now, mashallah, succeeding in doing just that while warring factions hide his teachings because they do not know them; they have the words and papers but it seems that the whole world is united against Imam Ghazzali who said, “Sufism is based on experiences and not on premises.” There are nothing but premises and divisions in the name of Tauhid.
I am teaching and quite successfully moral and psychic regeneration through reciting the names of Allah.
In the last month there have been two grand developments. The first has been the success of my esoteric secretary, Wali Ali, in presenting dervish dances to 100’s of young Americans. The second are the new compositions of my choral master who is with me. The time may come, inshallah, when we may go to Ajmer and also, inshallah, to Pakistan and elsewhere and present a type of choral which uses for a good part contemporary musical modes along with traditional sacred Arabic phrases and American chants. The blend has been most effective.
There is some drama going on. I have been attacked by some groups calling themselves Sufis as not being a Sufi. If this becomes public, inshallah, there will be a law court suit; for over forty years I suffered family persecution and acted like a Gandhian. Finally I brought suit. It never reached the court. It resulted in apologies, reconciliation, and a tremendous increase in income.
Now there have already been efforts to film our work. One group has done substantial filming. Originally the idea was to film those artistic and ritual methods now being used in this land toward and for God-realization. Unfortunately nufs entered and certain enterprising persons not only have been using those to build all their own positions financially and socially but without consent have added to them films of groups which do not accept God in any manner and are even my personal enemies.
Countering this, there are at least two larger efforts being made now to show pictures of real spiritual endeavor in what you regard as a land of turmoil and which is in some respects a land of turmoil. But even beyond these it is possible now to reach the most substantial, dignified and important leaders in religious and spiritual movements.
I have had two very strong letters from men of the highest caliber attacking daggalism. I have suffered more from the followers of various daggals than from all other sources combined. Fortunately the news has come that the young in San Francisco have flatly turned down the latest daggal. Some personality is used on whom every scamp and scoundrel leans and uses the excuse that faith in this person will absolve them from all sins. Although I have the greatest respect for much of India’s spirituality, Allah is neither a human incarnate, nor a river, nor a mountain. And the followers of human beings and rivers and mountains do not, even cannot, accept “Love ye one another” or the brotherhood of man.
Nevertheless Allaho Akbar, there is no power nor might save in Allah. There is no wisdom save in Allah. And while Muslims are running around praising each other and blaming others; and while devotees of other faiths are blaming each other, slowly but surely we are getting Americans to repeat the full Kalama along with the invocation left to us by Hazrat Inayat Khan.
Love and Blessings,
Samuel L. Lewis
1249 Princeton,
Albuquerque, New Mexico
June 24th, 1970
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
Beloved One of Allah:
As-salaam aleikhum. This is a sort of report that we hope may blossom, inshallah, until we can give more open support and cooperation. There is no question, Allah be praised, but that two are now doing a work comparable to Ajmer Shereef in this land and all the criticisms and denunciations cannot refute the fact of the accomplishments . They would be astounding excepting that Allah has revealed in hal, in makam, in vision and in kashf almost everything that has happens, is happening.
There is ever promise that our departure from this State will be a tamasha and also our return greeting in San Francisco. We have succeeded in this Rio Grande Valley where “top” ?Holymen? have failed and where also another one of the self-proclaiming World-Leaders has made no dent. He has gone to San Francisco where he may be greeted by multitudes although the number of World Leaders, Messiahs, Avatars, Sadgurus, Maharshis, etc. is growing so rapidly that one cannot limit them—more and more, all proclaiming.
The difference between the emotionalist and the mystic is vast. The emotionalist meets somebody and has what for him is a transcending; experience, and it usually is. But when it is all over he has hal but not makam; he does not grow and he thinks others are his inferiors and that he has a “world message” for them. In general the Leaders whom the divided emotionalists support have laid aside Christ’s “Sermon on the Mount.” They are so superior they can dispense with the moral order, and often do. But few know the depths of any Oriental Wisdom.
The other night one faced the followers of various Indian sects, all hopelessly divided and said that when one is self-proclaimed and does not have illuminated disciples, it was worthless to discuss the persons. They make noise. This person has achieved the descent-of-Baraka and the dharma-transmission and will go on in history as one of the few who did. He said he would continue to work with his hands, to do menial jobs, make mistakes and is not asking Allah to forgive any of them. He is willing to accept my proclaimed or not-proclaimed “guru” who has an illuminated disciple. This person refused to be called “Murshid” or “Sufi” until he had an illuminated disciple and then was proclaimed by Sufis at public gatherings and no hush-hush or secrecy.
This is not accepted by emotional lists or those who become “Sufis” by joining the “right” legal organization. They are entitled by common or public law to be known as “Sufis” but this one who passed the tests and received the bayats, etc.— it is not funny, it is not tragic, for the descent of baraka comes out so clearly that the young are accepting it more and more and more, all over; keeping this person joyfully occupied forever.
The extreme success in our music and dancing made us consider visiting Ajmer in the future, inshallah End giving you every consideration, i.e. financially, in turn for your hosting us. While this is still a dream it is time rather than money that stands in the way. Allah has been inspiring us so much and when we place these inspirations before the young they respond so much that it will be necessary to establish Centers in this State of New Mexico and it would appear, Inshallah, elsewhere.
Pir Vilayat Khan has already been given the Baraka from Ajmer and he too, is working on the music and dance program as would befit the son of a saintly father.
But in touring this State we ran into several interesting facts and factors:
1. Those purported Indian teachers who are so welcomed by the important organizations are at loggerheads.
2. They dogmatize.
3. They have nothing of the fusing of divine and human love common to Sufis.
4. This person is already known for his tolerance whether he has it or not; the young think so.
5. We happened upon a small spiritual dramatic group which is planning to produce dramas from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
This last, of course, has already been rejected by the so-called “Word” group. They are now out for “scientific yoga” as if Union with God were a matter of human effort and not grace. And they have self-selected the “world leaders” legalistic methods. We realize that between our refusal to be bound by common or uncommon law and our proclaiming the Divine Grace the doors may continue to open for us all over the world. But we do have in mind a grand celebration at Fatehpur Sikri. I have visited that place twice and met the Walis of the Selim Chisti family.
All of this is too soon to put together, but Allah guides whom he desires and as I have perhaps told you, one big job ahead is the fusing of the Hadith with Hazrat Inayat Khan’s moral teachings. No denunciations, no criticism from others can stop a divine work. Everything we have been doing seems to be having the Divine Grace, al-hamdu lillah and we are thinking of you all the time.
Love and blessings,
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building,
Topdara, Ajmer
25th June, 1970
Beloved benefactor of Allah’s cause,
Your letter of 15th inst. with another draft for 25 dollars was a god-sent gift to solve my problems. How can I thank you and God Almighty for this help? I have no words. The book should have been in the hands of printers last month at Allahabad but my friend Mr. D.F. Gandhi’s father had an operation at Bombay. It was successful but some complications kept the old man confined to bed and M. Gandhi and family was seriously upset. Thank God, only yesterday I got a letter from Mr. Gandhi saying fever has left his father and that they have brought him back to Allahabad. This caused dislocation in our program unexpectedly. We shall resume the work again in July. This man, Mr. Gandhi is a soft-hearted philanthropist, a devotee of saints and also a beneficiary of latter’s favors. In any case, your gift of 25 dollars at this time is extremely welcome. It will enable me to carry on. My last 18 months’ illness has caused me enormous financial loss. It made a dent in my plans. But Allah is very gracious and merciful. He has granted me a new lease of life to finish His work.
So the merciful God has been pleased to open new vistas for your work at “Nathagalli.” It is most heartening to me as it is to you. God must help His devotees to spread His mercy upon the strayed humanity.
I read your instructive long letters with keenest interest. I presented my humble homage, on your behalf last night, at the holy shrine of Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti here whose work you are doing in U.S.A. I see a mureed of Chishti “silsila,” doing his precious work among the Americans. What more can be heartening to us?
Having passes through so many obstacles myself in the past 15 years, I know and can appreciate your own troubles and trials. But what Sufi dervish was without them? Trials and tribulations are only mere tests for them to reach the stage of “Mukashfa.” They are meant to suffer all worldly persecutions. When you will read “The Big Five” you will find that every one of them was awfully persecuted. But did they leave their mission? No. In the end the world had to kneel down at their feet. This is the miracle of Sufism.
Money and financial handicaps in the service of God are nothing. What Sufi dervish had wealth for his work? But all the wealth of the world has always been at their feet. While they starved, they fed richest food to the oppressed and sufferers. Don’t you see me running a sacred mission so successfully single handed for the past 15 years on “Tawakkul” upon God? He raises benevolent souls like you to lend me a helping hand. 15 years is not a small period??? I have faith in Him and His promises made openly in the Holy Qur’an which I read every morning to strengthen my faith. You know better than me what “faith” can do for a devoted faithful. But to depend upon God’s mercy is also not a cheap bargain. It is He alone who favors man to endure a test.
One thing, little impertinent, to suggest. I am sorry, I disagree with your plan of launching a law suit against your adversaries. Why not leave these idiots alone? Give them a long rope; they will entangle themselves. All great Sufis have done this. We must carry on our holy service without distracting our attention. I personally abhor the law court as there is hardly any justice in the Kingdom of the devil. Is there any more powerful and honest court to get justice than the Court of our Almighty God? He is watching your war and is helping you. I respectfully apologize for this dissension. You are a matured dervish, far higher in spirits and ethics and morals then me, a poor soul. Forgive me please. Filming of your services is a mighty help in today’s cinema-mad world. But it should be fair, free of corruption and selfishness.
Daggling must also be despised like law suits, I think? Give the devil a long rope. Who on earth can stop God’s work by any dirty tricks, jealousy or corruption? None.
I close it for the time being and expect acknowledgment of my surface mail eagerly, which must reach you in the first week of July, I hope.
With all salutations and. best prayers,
W. D. Begg
410 Precita Ave.
San Francisco, Calif.
July 7, 1970
Syed Tanvir Ahmed Haji Nisar Mansil Dargah Sharif,
Ajmer, India
Beloved One of Allah:
As-Salaam-Aleikhum! It is with considerable pleasure that one has received notice of the wedding of sister Syeda Asifa Bibi. One is taking this into account because the gracious Allah, to Whom be all praise, has totally changed the inner and other conditions of life.
It is a little over three years since this person was flat on his back in a hospital and the Divine Spirit manifested to him saying, “I make you spiritual teacher of the Hippies.” This was followed immediately by a series of visions, all of which have since come into manifestation. Three stages of growth were seen by Kashf and Shahud; all have manifested and in the next two weeks, inshallah, the fourth stage will have begun. For one has now about 100 disciples and a scattered following of about five times that number of people, not including the intellectuals who are beginning to show some interest in the Divine Sciences.
One had long since been bestowed with the Robe physically which was presented on the inner planes in the presence of your late sainted father some years back.
The next stage was the inspiration and manifestation first of dances and then of chants; first singly and then with the spiritual cooperation of very devoted disciples who are filled with love and reverence.
At this writing there are several teams of technicians who are filming and tape recording these efforts. In the meanwhile a complete alliance and fusion had been made with Pir Vilayat Khan, eldest son of my first Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan. Also Pir Vilayat has been fully confirmed and blessed by the leading Pirs of the Ajmer Chisti School, making such an alliance firm inwardly and outwardly.
So it maybe inshallah, in the course of a few months, that either Pir Vilayat Khan or some Americans, or likely, both together, will appear in Ajmer to cement alliances and make it possible to work together for mutual ends.
I am therefore contacting the disciples so involved so that they can contact you in person in turn, and any business on any plane can be more easily conducted at personal meetings.
I am now in my mid seventies, but due to Divine Grace and successful pursuit of Ryazat, I am in excellent physical and mental health with an ever-growing following of young, loving, and devoted mureeds, I am a recognized Murshid today and have been meeting with all kinds of spiritual leaders from all parts of the world. It is necessary to function both here in California and now also in many parts of the United States.
Love and Blessings,
Samuel L. Lewis
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
Aug. 3, 1970
Beloved One of Allah:
As-salaam-aleikhum!
I have your two letters, no. 1376 and no. 1381. You will have to understand that this last meek I had my second day off for the whole year. I get endless letters of advice to take it easy with endless requests. I am trying very hard to follow in the footsteps of spiritual teachers, but there is one thing I cannot do—outstrip time—and this seems to be an unforgivable sin. For years I had to experience The Cave. Nobody believed me. Then I became ill and in the hospital Allah manifested and said, “I make you spiritual teacher of the Hippies.” So gradually and then suddenly I became the “Guru” of an ever-growing number of young Americans. But what we do is never in the press. We have never been guilty of envy, sloth, lust, and major sins, so we are not newsworthy. We are not only interested in Divine Consciousness; we are also interested in history and facts, and the alleviation of the pain in the hearts of men.
Two weeks ago my esoteric secretary presented to the leading disciples a list of duties; these duties have been augmented. During this time two of the secretaries have received outside remunerative jobs. My instructions from both Sufi Pirs and from Pir Vilayat Khan are to organize legally. You just don’t organize legally by saying “Boo.” It takes time; very valuable time. This also ties up funds, etc.
In the meanwhile, all meetings are having larger audiences. More and more every week. And as I write, we are waiting for a professor from a very large university who is preparing to offer courses on Sufism. This is not an easy subject. The courses on Sufism in this state have been entirely under the control of three Europeans who have seen to it that I be prevented from attending gatherings, etc. Professor Seyd Hussein of Tehran was amazed at the news I gave him about this. I think now, with Allah’s help, this will be reversed, but this means of course, more time and effort, and one can only do so much.
In addition to that we are receiving more and more telephone calls to join in what are called “Holy Man’s Jamborees.” It is an easy matter to refute the followers of the “Hare Krishna noises.” This type of stuff is welcomed by the press. Than they can easily prove that Christianity is superior to Oriental wisdom. I do not know of any cases of enlightenment. I myself have had the Divine Krishna experience, but then I have had the Divine Christ experience, the Divine Moses experience, the Divine Buddha experience. These have been recognized by Khalandars on earth and by the Seal of the Prophets in my poem Saladin. The unusual has always been unwelcome. Now the unusual is welcome. And I am overwhelmed with the duties laid before me, and the lack of help.
The same is true of Pir Vilayat Khan. He is, I think, deliberately overworking himself, for there seems to be no other course. In addition to this, I find I have an absolute, complete system of presenting the esoteric sciences to the world of today. I still believe in the Ahwal and Makamat. Last week, 18 of us—our choral group—went to an Afghan restaurant and chanted. The owners were amazed and delighted. The table-waiters were descendents from Sufi Murshids. Things are happening, but we only can do so much. We cannot transcend time processes. We have not yet received the materials sent by sea-post.
I have no intention of sending any funds to the Khadims. I have letters from them, unanswered.
The Hare Krishna people are all afraid of me, and I am willing to let it be that way. They are presenting nothing but alternate systems of excitement and excitation. This has nothing to do with Divine Experience. Now we are getting hundreds, even thousands, of young people to chant Allah. We are amazed at many of our young children saying Allah as soon as they begin to speak. This is not only true of disciples and their children, it is true of an ever-growing number of youngsters who hear others chanting Allah. Then they begin to do the same thing. As I have written elsewhere, when the Divine Messenger said every child was born a Muslim, he did not mean children are born known Sharia systems, or the work of the great Imams, or the complex legal systems which have uprooted every faith.
I shall show your letter to my disciple Fred when I next see him. But you will have to be patient. Our monies are tied up until we legally organize, and I have still a debt to pay off from my trip to Switzerland.
Love and Blessing,
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
410 Precita Ave.,
San Francisco, Calif. 94110
8th August, 1970
Syed Tanveer Ahmed
Khadim Khwaja Sahib,
Haji Nisr Manzil,
Dargah Sharif,
Ajmer, India
Beloved One of Allah:
As-Salaam Aleikhum. We have your notice of the 756th Urs and can also understand your need for help. But we do not agree with the attitude of our brethren in faraway places that we are expected to help them financially. This person has long since attained the Murshidship in some Tarika and the Khalifship in others. The spiritual leaders have been expecting him to spread the teachings of Allah in the Western world. They are no doubt right. If one did not accept them and agree with them then one had no right to accept the titles, although these titles are based on accomplishments in hal and makam.
Al-Ghazzali taught that tasawwuf is based on experience and not on premises. Philosophies have limited values; attainment is beyond evaluation. This person returned from the Orient with instructions to bring the divine teachings. For a long time he failed and then when ill Allah appeared and told him he would be spiritual teacher of the Hippies. These are young Americans who do not accept the common values of these people. They lean, for the most part, on Indian philosophies. They do not know that Sufism has all the wisdom-teachings plus humanitarianism.
Now one had long passed seventy years of age and one works incessantly, for one feels that one must serve Allah, not only in prayer and meditation but in the everyday life. One does not accept the methods that people may starve while others pray and preach. One does everything possible to grow more food and one has been immanently successful, alhamdu lillah, and one’s disciples have been more successful. And many of the disciples have found growing and selling food most profitable which is enabling Murshid to meet his financial obligations.
It costs much to live in this land and it costs very much more when one has to travel. Who pays for one’s travels? Long past the age of retirement one works. One does not purchase luxuries. One shares with one’s disciples, and they are growing in number rapidly. One’s work all over is being received better and better. And one listens to Allah. One have asks anything from anybody without asking Allah first and obtaining His permission to ask.
Then one uses Wazifas. There are Wazifas which answer every problem. One cannot demand faith of others but one has found there are values in Wazifas, values to help people morally, psychically and in everyday life including even rising above poverty. There are sacred thrashes, we believe, that are answers. And if money is needed both the Rahmat and “al-mu’ti” may be used. We have used them to success, and we do not feel comfortable when so many so-called “Muslims” in either Sharia or Tarika come to us asking. If they are so advanced, why do they not know? Why do they not have the answers from Allah?
We always ask Allah and now the answer seems to be to send people to Ajmer but if we send money to Ajmer we cannot spend the money for traveling. We are not that rich. And we wish to send somebody to your city either for Urs or otherwise. Our work is for Allah.
In creases in remuneration have not raised the standards of living. One owns no luxuries. The few one has were fits from others. But one listens always to and for Allah and thus one knows what to do without demanding on anybody. We really depend on Allah to whom be all praise.
There is now war between Arabs and Israelis. The Jews say they are the chosen of “God” and the Muslims say they are the chosen of “Allah.” Both take away choice from the Deity. And thus in England we blind lots of the young persecuting Muslims. They say, “You say you are the chosen of God, prove it.” So they torment them and injure them, far more than in your country. We had to witness it. So we decried to pay our Zakat to the Mosque of London. We do not believe in any kind of tormenting. We believe that Allah is Rab Alamin which includes all humanity.
Our decision at this moment is to save funds to send people to your sacred city. We cannot do it if we send funds. We are not that wealthy. But we do depend on Allah Rahmat and Al-mu’ti. We believe the divine teachings can be demonstrated. We are attracting more and more people but also more and more invitations to present the spirituality to Americans. We cannot do that if we share our modest funds.
So you must understand we must either server Allah or else. We hope you understand that.
Love and blessings,
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
8th August
Beloved One of Allah:
As-Salaam aleikhum. Today I have written as may agree with your request. There is a great deal of opposition in Islam to this sort of behavior that pilgrims are exploited and games and business made of holy institutions, as Christ also said.
Now we are organizing legally. This is very important. Our general revenues have increased but we must file as a religious institution. At this time I have been carrying loads. Now the mureeds know it. But praise to Allah, we have gone into new types of enterprise which have been very successful, praise to Allah.
I cannot at this time tell anything about my own affairs. One is still in debt on account of travel but it looks now that one will be relieved. We have so many classes in tasawwuf, more and more and more. So from this point of view also we must incorporate.
It is impossible at this writing whether some disciple will go to Ajmer or not. They are all working very hard. Allah seems to be satisfied. “Muslims” are not always satisfied, only with their egos. We shall not give to those who consider themselves more spiritual than we are. Only Allah is perfect.
In the course of life one has collected many materials of the spiritual sciences. They cannot be copied without secretaries and it is unfair to ask secretaries to work for nothing while we send moneys to other. Still wish to help you and the signs on the horizon are excellent but they are still on the horizon.
Love and blessings,
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
10th August 1970
Respected holy soul, Pir-o-Murshid.
Wa-Alaikum-us-Salaam. May God grant you vigor and courage to carry on His mission. Yours of 3rd instant is before me. It affords me great pleasure indeed to know your ever increasing success with the work of Allah. What greater treasurer man can expect in his life than this noble service? Not 100 but thousands are now coming to you for spiritual enlightenment and Truth! Allah be praised.
I read every line of your letters with absorbing interest and love. The more I read the more it puts me in ecstasy and reverence for the Almighty and His ways. I wish I could be with you for some time to derive some benefit. But, alas, it is not the Will of God. People ask me if I know any of the divine souls in this age. As I have not yet come across any matured soul, I disappoint them. There is a lot of hypocrisy in the world, as you know. I am satisfied with your explanation about this “Hare Krishna noise.” I myself thought it so, and it was just to clear my idea that I sent you the “cutting.” It is all sham show. God does not like sham shows and He does not help them. But our world is full of fools. “I make you spiritual teacher of Hippies?” What a divine blessing? The world is in need of a spiritual guide, a genuine one.
Our press is under the thumb and command of the devil, worshippers of dirty materialism in this age. But great Gurus and Sufi dervishes had never had any press help. They shunned it and preferred Cave through which you have already passed. I somehow think that in this age Truth needs the help of the press also; the age is changed. Falsehood rules by press; Truth can overwhelm falsehood in correcting the sinful. Our duty is to spread Truth as best as we can. The rest lies in the hands of God himself. We are only puppets in His mighty hands. This is a most puzzling question. Those who solved it never came back to the world.
Sufism, as you know, is a timeless business. Sufis spent all their lives in its devotion and yet could not complete the course. If Mr. Fred and Pir Vilayat Khan ever come to Ajmer, they must meet me. I am sure you will warn them in time. Money sent to Khadims is a sheer waste. Now most people in India too have realized this folly.
The illness of a friend’s father in Allahabad has come in the way of my book’s publication. God’s will. I am waiting patiently to resume my work there. I expect God’s mercy and your blessings. With profound salaams,
Yours as ever,
W. D. Begg
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
15th August 1970
Pir-o-Murshid, servant of Allah.
Wa-alikum-us-Salaam wa barakaat-o-hu. I have just now received you letter of 8th August along with a copy of your letter to Syed Tanveer Ahmed. I think you are absolutely right in all you explain to this gentleman. There are more that 3,000 “Khadims” attached to the shrine of the” Holy Saint here. Hardly 1% earns his living according to Islamic teachings. They have built mansions around the Dargah in the past 750 years. Their business is that they publish Lakhs of pamphlets every year 3 months before the Urs and post them to all over India and foreign countries asking for money in the name of offering “Fateha” at the Urs ceremonies. Printed & self-addressed money order forms are sent with invitations; if people cannot attend the Urs, they are asked to send money by ready-made M.O. forms with the promise that the Khadim will offer Fateha on their behalf. Thousands of innocent persons send lots of money like this annually. But, it is a pity, not a farthing is ever spent on flowers or Fateha. The Khadim community thus feeds itself on this money for 12 months till next Urs comes. Among them, there are at least 5 or 6 millionaires and rich, having rich clientele in Africa and Pakistan, etc. who send large sums as staunch “devotees” of the Great Saint. I am pained to tell all this “true” inside story to you as I think it is waste of funds to send like this. And many of these Khadims are very proud indulging into sinful frivolities. Allah may forgive me and you for speaking the Truth. I have nothing to do with this business at all as I am not a Khadim. My father came to Ajmer 90 years ago as a devotee of the saint and took up service in Ajmer and. adopted this city, being holy, for his permanent abode. He died in 1909. I worked here on a very nice job on the Railway, built a house, and settled myself also here permanently near the Saint, being myself a poor and humble devotee.
I am sorry to say, these Khadims have been publishing some wrong biographies of the Saint and claiming themselves to be Syeds. None of them is a Syed, in fact. A few followers who came with the saint, died without issues; they never married. These Khadims started calling themselves progeny of those followers and as Syeds. 750 years is a long time. Who cares to corroborate their pedigree? Every Khadim is a Syed now. When I wrote and published “true” biography of the saint in English for the first time, they got jealous of it so much so that they always tried to retard its sales and circulation among their clients. Naturally this was against the interests of Truth. Yet I did not mind. The book became most popular on its merits all over the world, as you know. But I find that none of these rich Khadims published the saint’s biography, true and correct and historically authentic, in the past 750 years after his death. On the other hand, they stood in its way out of sheer jealousy. But when the Great Saint spiritually inspired me for this work in the fifties, I had to do it under most trying circumstances to meet his wish. It was a “miracle.” I did not like to print a shabby biography of such an exalted saint, so I had to pay Rs. 16,000/- by begging for a decent and most authentic publication. The modern world won’t believe Urdu publications printed by Khadims to suit their own “business.” I hope you will now understand the whole position well. Many people have now understood the game of the Khadims. The world has changed. Darkness is giving place to light.
It pleases me most to hear that Allah is blessing you and your holy mission at every step with success. Those who work for Him are meticulously blessed. Nothing will please me more than hearing your galloping progress again and again.
If anybody comes from America for the Ajmer Urs, you can kindly inform me. I will do my humble best. My friend Mr. Gandhi’s father was seriously ill. Thank God he is now recovering and Mr. Gandhi is visiting the Urs when we shall plan further about the printing of the next book at Allahabad if God wishes. With profound respects and best prayers for your success.
Yours as ever,
W. D. Begg
August 17, 1970
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
Beloved One of Allah:
As-Salaam Aleikhum!
Many thanks for your wonderful letter of the 10th. We strive to put into practice what others verbalize. The “Hare Krishna” people are definitely superior to the materialists. They awaken life in the subtle body (lingua shira) to the djinn aspects of being. Fine. But we, inshallah, go beyond these to the causal body, the angelic being, the spiritual aspects of life; and then beyond that to the Divine.
Tomorrow night I expect to be dining with my god-daughter and her husband. His name is Ralph Silver. With the Divine Blessing and magnetism, Ralph has been successful so far in raising funds, and he also may be going to Ajmer. Everything is moving so rapidly here I cannot keep my secretaries. Allah, to Whom be all praise!, is seeing that they get good paying jobs. Allah, to Whom be all praise!, has given His blessing to the vegetables grown at the Garden of Inayat and the Garden of Allah. This is not fanciful, this is actual.
The attendance at all meetings is increasing. The numbers of applicants for Bayat is increasing. Allah is showing me more and more spiritual dances. This week I am starting on what might be called scientific Zikr; that is to say, Zikr combined and fused with Murakkabah and Sifat-i-Allah. Then, inshallah, we go on to and through the stages of Fana to Baqa.
Next month, inshallah, our publisher and editor will return. We are already also having wonderful reports from other parts of this land. My health has been excellent, praise to Allah; my finances are in a good state, and I believe, with Allah’s help, we shall soon have proper assistance on the physical plane. Both Pir Vilayat and Fred have agreed to work with and through you and have so written. And I am taking this up with Ralph and others this week.
We have already been most successful in our first stops to bring peace and understanding among the peoples of the Near East. We have been successful, Alhamdulillah! I’m getting Muslims to repeat the “Shemah” and Jews of all types to repeat the “Kalama.” Yesterday some Arabs saw our dancing class and were very uncertain. So we performed La Ilaha El Ilahu, Mohammedar Rassoul Lillah, right out in public. We are doers. Allah has made the American people to be a race of doers. We also appreciate you as a doer.
I think we have conformed to all your other suffusions. I do not regard yourself and myself to be different excepting in fleshly geography. I hope that this can be brought out further into manifestation, inshallah. I know this requires some patience on your part. I myself have already lived many years on this world, and becoming a master of patience, have become a master over time processes.
With all love and blessings,
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
Aug. 24, 1970
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
Beloved One of Allah:
As-Salaam-Aleikhum! Your letter 1403-70, Aug. 15, arrived in excellent time. Disciple Davenport and godson Ralph Silver are preparing to leave shortly, inshallah. They will be joined, sooner or later, by technicians, by disciple Fred Cohn, and Sufi Pir Hazrat Vilayat Khan. I understand they are traveling sometimes together, sometimes separate to reconvene at Delhi (Nizam-ud-Auliya) and then attend Urs.
We are not the least bit interested in the defects of Khadims. We are not interested in Khadims at all. We are interested in Allah. In one of the most inspiring talks that ever came from this person on Saturday morning this past week one read in the Christian First Epistle to the Corinthians, Chapter XII: “And those whom God placed in the congregation are first Apostles; second Prophets; third Teachers; next powers…. I think this explains sufficiently the spiritual hierarchy. The place of Mohammed (from whom be peace), the place of Ajmer Sheriff, and the place of all the Sufis in chain. We were taught that Allah alone was the Founder of Sufism. We regard Mohammed as the supreme organizer but not the Founder. Sufism is based theoretically on prowess in Hal and Makam. One hears that not too many have their inner eyes and heart open; we are not concerned with that. We are concerned with experiences and achievements on the inner and outer planes both. My work is so heavy now: I not only have no more days off, but hardly a free hour ever. My second Khalif, who is a very young man, now lives in the neighboring city of Oakland, but he has not only agreed to take on full responsibilities, but his prowess in Hal and Makam is simply marvelous.
One reason I am so over-burdened is that many disciples, including secretaries, now have excellent good-paying outside jobs. It is a long and beautiful story. Evidently Allah is showing His approval. In addition to that, the Sufi Dances are coming to me so rapidly we can hardly record them. And not only this project, with these people coming to India, but an entirely separate project to bring peace in the Near East is making remarkable headway. Unfortunately those in power and also those in control of publications do not seriously consider unknowns. I was sent to the Near East to promote peace. Most of the few men with whom there was entire agreement have been pushed out of the picture. But the other person who thoroughly praised my work was a Mr. Gunnar Jarring, who is now in charge of the peace negotiations. Allah has his means of working.
As we wish to cooperate with you, inshallah, you will realize it is only our very necessary travel expenses which prevent us from giving you more than encouragement at the writing. But I believe absolutely and thoroughly in Er-Rahman, Er-Rahim. You will undoubtedly hear from others referred to above. We are all in agreement of working with and through you.
Love and Blessings,
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
Ajmer
25th August 1970
Mr. Samuel L. Lewis
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chishti,
410 Precita Avenue,
San Francisco, Calif. 94110 (U.S.A.)
Respected Murshid and holy soul—Assalam-Alaikum.
I have safely received today your gracious letter of 17th August along with a Cable from Mr. Phillip R. Davenport, San Rafael, as under:
“Will arrive Ajmer on 8th September with crew of six. Hope accommodations are possible. Will contact on arrival—Phillip Davenport, Ram Film company.”
I have been moving about for their accommodation and filming arrangements ever since I had their letter of 7th August which reached me on 17th, and your last letter of 10th August. Some new things are being introduced in the Dargah administration; they want some money in lieu of filming as I have explained in my accompanying letter to Mr. Phillip Davenport. This is quite a new development. In any case, I met the Government authority here, W. Anil Bordia, the Collector of Ajmer. He has been kind enough to promise his help in this matter and all will be all-right by the grace of God.
Due to heavy rush of pilgrims, there is always unprecedented crowd of about 2 lakh visitors in Ajmer during the Urs fortnight. Accommodation therefore becomes a serious problem. But, in any case, I am sure, I shall find suitable accommodation for Mr. Davenport’s party in one of the best hotels as I have explained to him in my accompanying letter. I am sure you and he will get my letters in time.
I must know whether they are reaching Ajmer from Delhi or from Jaipur (both are Airports). Ajmer is not on the Air Map. Delhi is 250 miles by train and Jaipur is 80 miles by decent motorable road.
Tanvir Ahmed Khadim will also help the party in the Dargah, I have informed him. I look forward to meet W. Ralph Silver with the party of W. P. Davenport with pleasure. Officially the Urs starts on 3rd Sept. but it is always subject to the appearance of the moon which might make a day’s difference in the 6-day programme. Hence I have suggested to Mr. Davenport to try and reach Ajmer on 7th Sept. instead of 8th, a day earlier to be on the safe side. I have promised Mr. Anil Bordia to introduce the party to him when they come; he will be happy to meet them. I have accommodation at my own house here—2 rooms in Indian style—with Indian style bath rooms. I shall see what God decides. They need not worry at all. The great saint wants them here; his spiritual sway is there to help us all.
Congratulations on your galloping success; Allah is great.
With profound regards. Yours as ever,
W .D. Begg
Ajmer
25th August 1970
Mr. Phillip R. Davenport,
Ram Film Company, P.O. Box 33,
Lagunitas, Calif. (U.S.A.).
My dear Mr. Phillip Davenport,
Allah, the gracious, be praised. I am sure you must have got my Air Mail letter No. 1404/70 of 17th instant. I have just now at 9 A.M. today received your telegram confirming your arrival in Ajmer with a party of six, and I reply it immediately, after moving about your arrangements here, hoping that this will reach you in time before you all start.
Accommodation: I was sure to get it at Nagpal Tourist Hotel, as I said but when I called on them I found it was fully booked up. However I am trying to get it at (1) King Edward Memorial (2) Sartaj and (3) Another Hotel now that I know your date of arrival and number of crew. I am sure, I shall succeed in fixing it up at any of these 3 or at the Railway Retiring Rooms or finally at the Circuit House, by the grace of God. You need not worry.
Regarding filming: I had a formal talk with the Nazim of the Dargah (who is the Manager of Dargah Administration). He has received 2 more applications this year unexpectedly for filming from two Rajasthan firms, he told me. He expects to get some money and asked me to commit for “something” on your behalf. It was strange to me as never before there was anything like it in the history of the Urs. I declined to make any commitment and saw the Collector of Ajmer who is the chief local authority of Government of Rajasthan. He was too kind to me and assured me that he would find no trouble about filming for you. After getting your telegram, I again saw the Collector, Mr. Anil Borgia at 11-30 A. M. in his office and showed him your wire. He was happy and would see you when you are here. Perhaps he will speak to the Nazim also. I am doing my best in any case to lend you my best help when you come.
Important: The Urs always starts subject to the moon’s appearance on 6th of Rajab according to Muslim Calendar. It may be 2nd of Sept instead of 3rd. Hence, you must be in Ajmer on the morning of 7th Sept. instead of 8th to be on the safe side. Otherwise, we might miss the Qul ceremony, the finale of the Urs. I think you can make this slight change in your programme which is so necessary, due to “uncertainty” of moon’s appearance.
Please let me know whether you are coming into Ajmer by train from Delhi (Airport) or from Jaipur Airport by car? Jaipur is only 80 miles from Ajmer by decent motorable road; Delhi is more than 250 miles by train. I must know exact time of your arrival if possible. I think this is enough for the time being. More when we meet. With best of luck and prayers. Yours sincerely,
W. D. Begg
P.S. Memorandum for Mr. Phillip L Davenport.
If you are coming via Delhi, you might ring up to Mr. Yunus Salim, Deputy Law Minister, Govt. of India, New Delhi, and put a word, about your filming the Urs at Ajmer. He is the topmost authority over our Dargah Administration at the Central Government. It will be only a formality to help us. He is in charge a of our Wakf Board of India also. Your own Embassy at Delhi can also recommend to him if necessary. Since you will be passing through Delhi, I thought I must suggest this to get top authority for filming purposes alone, although W. Bordia, the Collector of Ajmer, does not think it so imperative.
Sept. 1, 1970
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
Beloved One of Allah:
As-Salaam-Aleikhum!
One expresses great appreciation for your letters 1417 and 1418 of this year. It may be, inshallah, that we may see the Divine will expressed in ordinary as well as in extraordinary matters. At this writing one is absolutely overwhelmed by the events of the day, keeping one busy every moment all seven days of the week. But perhaps this is as Allah wills. Certainly one has no complaints as to either health or financial problems, which plague most plague most people. Indeed the time is occupied very much with the unusual: unexpected visits, wonderful replies from many parts of the world, and a stream of applicants for Bayat. Two former secretaries have excellent outside jobs in connection with our own endeavors. The third and other disciples have gone far ahead in our efforts toward real peace in the real world—not oratory, not emotional appeals, nothing superficial.
Years ago one’s program for the Near East was approved in all respects by a gentleman whose name appears often in the daily papers, i.e., Mr. Gunner Jarring. We wished to bring the Israelis and Arabs together with programs realizing their common problems such as water supply and desert reclamation.
The Israelis would be asked to recognize Islam as a monotheistic religion and to cooperate in the construction of highways toward Mecca and the creation of hostels, which in the end would be self-paying. The Arabs and other Muslims states would recognize the existence of an Israel in the Near East, but all shrines and holy places to be either regarded as properties of the United Nations or as de-politicalized international sacred places.
This program was stymied not by the warring groups but by the religious and peace societies. But now there is a new kind of humanity among the young who do not believe in war, and who believe in spiritual experiences. The result is that we are succeeding where before we could only pray and that peace and human brotherhood mat be the wishes of our Divine Creator—not empty words, not verbalized emotions, but realities from the heart.
I have total faith in both Mr. Phillip Davenport and Ralph Silver. I am constantly in Hal, which makes it very difficult for me to write intelligently and in proper detail. All my spiritual classes—dancing, Ryazat, etc., are progressing Alhamdulillah! And we have hundreds of people of Jewish or part-Jewish ancestry reciting Mohammedar Rassoul lillah! I do not know whether this was ever accomplished previously in history.
I spoke last night on the work or Emperor Akbar and Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent of Turkey. There are too many so-called universal groups which have refused articles on these two great Sufi rulers, but now I am sure my own colleagues will not only correct this, but will attain world appreciation for bringing out into the open what so many pretenders have been hiding.
Love and Blessings,
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
P.S. We received by surface mail the copy you sent of The Illustrated Times of India and are using it in public lectures.
Sept. 6, 1970
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
Beloved One of Allah:
As-Salaam-Aleikhum!
It is now half a century since this person began studies and disciplines in Tasawwuf. The manners in which Allah acted are so contrary to what religious leaders and misleaders proclaim that it can be understood only from events and never from theories. Iman Al-Ghazzali wrote “Sufism is based on experiences, and not on premises”—proclamation denied and pseudo-refuted by very many essayists who have written and sold lucrative books, all of them working on the principles that Sufism is based on premises, and not on experiences. This is a denial of the existence of Allah Himself and a proclamation of nufs.
Taub consists in turning from nufs to Allah. The final messenger of Allah from whom we ought to be getting peace, we use in arguments against each other, and thus refute our very words. Having had little literature to go upon, and having nothing like an Iman within thousands of miles, one’s first studies outside a few papers of Hazrat Inayat Khan, were based on Al-Hujwiri’s Kashf Al-Mahjub. I had studied this for years before becoming aware that Al-Hujwiri and Data Ganj Baksh were one and the same, and as soon as there was this awareness the Saint manifested to me over and over again. The people of nufs always declare that such claims are of the devil. But this day is over; there is a new race on earth who continue the Divine enlightenment from childhood to adulthood. They are condemned most by the liquor interests. While I was in England it came out that 700 times as many crimes were caused by alcohol as by form all forms of drugs combined, including heroin. Furthermore, that of those who became criminals because of drugs, perhaps 5% were users of hashish-marijuana. But the press of the world, subsidized by the liquor-interests, are carrying on strange crusades against almost harmless drugs, and multitudes in their blindness are supporting those very interests which the Messenger of God would have condemned. So to me there is no use mentioning “Mohammed, on Whom be Peace”, and assuming that the evils of the world are caused by other facts and factors than what Jesus and Mohammed have openly and symbolically condemned.
It is with great regret that I differ entirely concerning the validity of Judge Rutherford. I also happen to have heard him in person. To accept anything from him is to operate contrary to both the words and spirit of the Hadiths of the Messenger of Allah. We have to learn that what Mohammed said about Allah and His nearness is absolutely true, and to take seriously the commentaries of unbelievers is a waste of time and energy.
My poetry is full of predications which have come true. A book written years ago by one Luther Whiteman and myself on the politics of California was full of predictions which came true. And my epic poem “Saladin,” which all “good” people have rejected, is not only a demonstration of fana-fi-Rassoul, but in it the last Messenger of Allah became my Yoga teacher, and no nonsense; became my instructor in Dharma, and no nonsense. To accept what he said in Hadiths: “Seek wisdom even unto China” is to make oneself a heretic. So I studied Chinese wisdom, and one of my colleagues, himself part Chinese, has become and adept in Chinese wisdom. Which makes us pretty good heretics, but quite open to the influence of Mohammed from whom we attain peace, not give—who said we can give peace! Also from Allah Himself, Who in recent weeks has lifted veil after veil before both of us, and also before some others who have becomes our disciples. (His name is Akbar, in case you visit this to the mention this to the visiting Americans.)
We have just heard that there is a Naqshibandi teacher in South America. Instead of trying to push by compulsion Holy Qur’an on the people—there is no compulsion in the Islam of Mohammed but there is plenty of compulsion in the Islam of Muslims—this Pir-o-Murshid is teaching from “The Thousand and one Nights.” One of the main teachings of this marvelous piece of literature is “There is no power nor might save in Allah.” This man is succeeding in South America, and the writer is succeeding in North America in getting multitudes to repeat Allah. Last week this person spoke in the city of Berkeley, and when he mentioned and defended Mohammed not an American in the audience challenged, but “the good” Muslims writers harp on enmity to Mohammed. There is enmity to the imbibing of hard liquor, the mistreatment of woman, and the exploitation of working people, in Islamic countries, and this will remain.
The young in America are fighting poverty and ignorance, and are seeking spiritual guidance—not outworn orthodoxies, and certainly not Judge Rutherford.
We have no time to indulge in arguments against human beings. We are proclaiming Allah. After that, Er-Rahman, Er-Rahim. After that, Mohammedar Rassoul Lillah. After that, Ishk Allah, Mahbood Lillah. With Allah’s help and guidance we are succeeding, Alhamdulillah! We are using singing, instruments, and dancing in the praise of Allah and the Sifat-i-Allah. But we recognize all religions and all efforts to reach Divine Wisdom.
We have no time for hypocritical peace, whatever that is. We have been successful in getting Jews, Christians, and Muslims to dine and pray together, and it is becoming known now that this person’s plan for peace in the Near East accepted once by Gunner Jarring and other UN officials is now beginning to be heard, not by the monsters, drunkards, and lovers of wealth and power, but by the scholars and the young who are derided so much by the press and publications.
You will soon be meeting, if you have not met, exemplariness of the new outlook which is expanding very rapidly here, praise to Allah.
At this writing, on a Sunday morning, this person is almost alone, as his disciples are attending sessions of a choral group which is doing here almost exactly what Khwaja Muinuddin Chisti did in India. The other night we went to a restaurant where the cooks are from Morocco. When we sang our Subhan-Allah, Alhamdulillah, Allaho Akbar, it set them into ecstasy. The local mosque will have none of that, but the people of the world are beginning to understand that peace, grace, and truth are with us, always have been with us, because as the Christian Paul said, “In God we live and move and have our being.”
Now the doors are opening under most trying circumstances. I am without services of two of my most faithful secretaries, both of whom now have lucrative jobs in these very projects, and are helping me, Alhamdulillah, financially. And it is possible, inshallah, there will be worthy successors. It is wonderful. It is beautiful. And it is as is said in “The 1001 Nights,”“There is no power nor might save in Allah.”
Love and blessings,
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
W.D. Begg’s Office,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
9th September 1970
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chishti
410 Precita Avenue, San Francisco.
Respected Pir-o-Murshid, Assalam-Alai-Kum.
I have to acknowledge your two letters, one dated 24th August and the other of 1st September, 1970. This is the report of my humble service to your two disciples, Mr. David R.B. Macmillan and Mr. Baird Bryant who reached Ajmer on the morning of 6th September just in time for the Urs of Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti and left Ajmer early morning by car for Delhi on 9th September. After fulfilling their holy mission and paying homage at the shrine of the Great Saint here, I am sure they were perfectly satisfied with my guidance and humble services.
One month before the Urs every year, all the available inch of space in hotels, Dak Bungalows, Circuit Houses and Private building is fully booked up. I tried for accommodation for 2 friends everywhere from 20th August, when I had first news of their coming, but totally failed. However, luckily I have enough room at my own building here and had no trouble in putting them up with me comfortably and thus saving a sum of Rs. 300/- or so for their lodging in hired hotels, etc, etc. They were happy, as I am not supposed to charge anything to the guests of the Great Saint to whose service and mission I have dedicated my life for the past 15 year. They liked my place, were thoroughly comfortable and left in delightful mood and due gratitude to the Saint who was too kind to them “spiritually” as I could guess from the grand success of their work. We had not a moment to waste in their 3 days’ stay in Ajmer. I took them to the Holy Pushkar Lake also yesterday, and they liked the scenes. Pushkar Lake is the holiest place in India for Hindu pilgrimage 7 miles from Ajmer Surrounded by wonderful sceneries, temples and the holy atmosphere.
Both of our friends had 3 assistants with them from Delhi; two motor car drivers by road and one guide. The guide was useless as he could not have been a better “guide” than myself in Ajmer. However, all were put up here with me comfortably.
Mr. Niyazi, uncle of Tanveer Ahmned, Khadim, got the clue of your disciples’ arrival and, I am sorry, with a Khadim’s naturally professional ingenuity, he squeezed out Rs. 200/- as a donation (imaginary) from our two innocent friends without my notice. I was informed after their commitment and I was sorry. This is the trick of Khadim’s trade, as I have already written to you in full details in one of my last letters. However, it is too late to cry over the affair. It was Allah’s will, I think. Allah is gracious to all; we have no say in his will.
Both the disciples got a “pugree” (a piece of cloth of the Saint’s colors)—a holy memento and some sweets as Tabarruk from Niazee. If they meet you, they will tell the story of how they were roped in my absence—poor innocent simple folks as they were.
I took them to “Qawwali” Mahfils also and showed them every ceremony in the Dargah Sheriff both in day and night. They enjoyed it all. They were highly impressed. Pir Vilayat Khan did not come. He stayed in Delhi for some urgent work. He might visit Ajmer after some time but the Urs is over today. Two of their crew of 6 are in Iran, I understand. Mr. Brayant has promised to get some American book sellers interested in advance of the printing of my book The Big Five and then write to me in October when he hopes to return to USA. Let us hope for the best. I have explained to him that I will supply a lot of copies of the book to the bookseller who advances some money for its printing in India. He has promised to do his best and is highly impressed with my office and real and honest work for my mission here. Mr. Davenport did not or could not come to Ajmer. I was told he was in Iran. Mr Cohn is with Pir Vilayat Khan at Delhi, doing some important work there.
It is the blessings of Allah that he deputed me here to help the 2 visiting friends for his work and I am happy I was able of doing my humble bit for Him. Once we are working together for the good cause of peace, I am sure, my financial difficulties about the printing of the next book will be over.
I am glad health is good and that financial worries are also vanishing slowly but surely. It’s all for all good. Our work is spreading. Both the disciples are keenly interested in The Holy Biography of the Saint of Ajmer which they have taken with them for study. May God help Mr. Jarring in his peace mission is my fervent prayer. I think Mr. Ralph Silver is with Mr. Davenport in Iran. I know you are in “constant” spiritual mood but I infer all I want to know from you in your letters. Don’t worry please. I daresay The Big Five will prove to be a great asset to your work once it is out. The pretenders must fail before truth. It is pity the wisdom of the “Big Five” lies in dormant; it is not translated into English ever since their demise. I am glad you got the copy of “The Illustrated Times” of India safely by surface mail and that it is proving useful.
I close it with profound salutations & regards,
Yours as ever,
W. D. Begg
Sept. 20, 1970
Mr. W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
Beloved One of Allah: As-Salaam-Aleikhum!
This is a rather hurried acknowledgment of your air mail letter of 9th September. One believes sooner or later one will be victorious in up-holding the teaching of Imam Al-Ghazzali that Sufism is based on experiences and not on promises. There are more books today purporting to be on Sufism than ever. Few of them mention Allah and Zikr; none of them mention Mohammed! Yet I am constantly being accused for not practicing Sharia. I never met an Imam until I was over 50 years of age, but had the blessings of Khizr and Mohammed, and of all the Sufis in chain, by direct experiences of Divine Grace, in Hal and Makam. It does not matter one bit to me whether the humankind, who have never experienced Hal and Makam and Grace, accept or not.
One has reached a stage that not only he works seven days a week, but is fortunate to have two night’s sleep. The attendance at all meetings is increasing. Sixteen more young people were given Bayat last Monday. The attendance at all meetings has improved in quality. The financial situation has greatly improved. Indeed, inshallah, on my return from the visit to the Eastern States, I shall consider very seriously more direct financial cooperation. But at the moment I am totally overworked, do not have proper secretarial help, and am in a constant stream of interviews.
Besides this, we have been successful in doing what all the talkers and orators have never succeeded in doing: bringing Israelis and Christians and Arabs together. We have gotten more Jews to repeat both Allah and Mohammedar Rassoul Lillah than any man on earth. We accept Allah, we accept Mohammed, we accept the Prophets and Sufis in chain, but we do not accept Sharia and challenge the defiance to Mohammed on the part of the Orthodox who demand compulsions after he said, “There is no compulsion in Islam.”
Our Sufi Dances have been followed by Mantric Dances and other such creations, and if I am following along the line of Prince Dara Shikoh, then I am following along the line of Prince Dara Shikoh, but I am in perpetual Zikr and do not care one bit if all the pseudo-Orthodox challenge these efforts, for Allah is giving approval, inwardly and outwardly, and more especially inwardly. And it is us kaffir-feringhis, and not the Muslims-so-called, who are repeating the Name of Allah and the praise of Allah all day and all night, and we shall continue.
Indeed I am fanatic enough to believe that the mission is being accomplished wherein I play the same role in the Western world that Saint Muinuddin Chisti did in India. All love, thanks, praise and blessings,
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
29th September 1970
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti,
San Francisco, USA
Respected Pir-o-Murshid, Peace be on you your mission.
The strain of the last “Urs” caused some illness, hence some delay in acknowledging your letters of 6th and 20th September 1970. I must apologize. However, I am now better and resuming office work.
My report about the visit of two American friends for the “Urs” is before you in my letter of 9th September. I think they will reach back and write to me as promised by them, in October. They are keenly interested in the printing cost of my book “The Big five.” Let us see what Allah Decides.
Hazrat Baba Farid said: “If one has not Murshid to guide, “Kashf-ul-Mahjub” can be his guide and Pir-o-Murshid.” So you were guided by the blessings of Ali Hujwari Data Ganj Baksh, the first Sufi Saint who captured the soul of Northern Indian for Islam. Hazrat Kwaja Muinuddin was the second one. On his way to Ajmer in 1191, A.D. the latter stayed in a cell at the former’s Dargah in Lahore for 40 day’s “Chilla.” They had spiritual communion and Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin emerged with all praises for him, Kashf-ul-Mahjub is the quintessence of Sufism. It is recognized by great subsequent Sufis.
As for Imam Al-Ghazzali, who can dispute his lifelong experiments and final findings to harmonize Sufism with orthodoxy? “If all the spiritual knowledge of the world were lost I could revive it with “Ihya Uloom Al-Din,” the masterpiece of Al-Ghazzali, says the great Sufi.
All great Sufis have obeyed and recognized prophet’s Sharia strictly for its own sake, and for the sake of the layman. But, as you have experienced over the last 60 years, “Sufism is based on experiences and not on premises.” Every great Sufi proclaims it. All strivings and “Mujahidas” are done to gain “experience”—to come face to face with the great Light of God gracious. Sufism recognizes all other great religions. It is only the scholastic teachers and “Mullas” who preach hatred among mankind, not Islam or Sufism. These Mullas and Kazis were henchmen of the ruling classes but all Sufi refused to go astray and accept wealth and position. Wealth and position are too strong to be resisted by the layman and so they fall victims easily.
It is not you alone to be accused of ignoring Sharia; Maulana Shams Tabriz’s example is before the world—how he was persecuted by the Mullas and Kazis under Sharia and yet he was one of the greatest Sufis the world has ever known. Great Sufis suffer for the sake of “Anal-Huq” because the world cannot understand them and their “experiences” behind the Divine veil. But do they mind?
P.S. Mr. Bryant told me, while leaving Ajmer, that it is possible for him to arrange payment of 1000 copies or so of The Big Five of India in Sufism from some U.S.A. Booksellers in advance it I agreed on business terms. I said, it would be a tremendous help and that I would welcome any such proposal or arrangement through him. He said printing of his book in America would be too costly but printed copies would be welcomed when our Indian printing is good enough like The Holy Biography of Hazrat Muinuddin Chishti. I hope Mr. Brayant would write to me soon after reaching back from his tour in India. I do not know his movements or program, neither do I know about the movements of Pir Vilayat Khan. He was in Delhi during the “Urs” period at least and was expected to visit Ajmer also.
W. D. Begg
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
Oct. 1970
Beloved One of Allah:
As salaam aleikhum! We have a dance wherein the partners say the welcome three times and add La Illaha El Il Allah. In one sense, that is all I have to say; all that has to be said.
Your letter 786 of the 29 September has reached me in New York City. Everything makes me happy. In my own life, having very few papers from Hazrat Inayat Khan, I began the study of Kashf-ul-Majub in 1923 or before—I don’t remember exactly. I have used this book very effectively, alas, in criticisms both of Muslims (so-called) and non-Muslims. I have also meditated many times on the sacred stone before the tomb of Hujwari Data Ganj Baksh in Lahore. My god-daughter from Lahore is here. She has performed the Urs and Hajj, both. She is a highly spiritual lady and has won the hearts and friendships of many Americans. She is returning home for her marriage, and I am exceedingly enthusiastic and happy over the man. After their marriage, they will return to Cornell University in this country.
I have not yet contacted my colleagues and disciples who have visited you, but surprisingly have run into a number of people in this city who know them; it is truly wonderful.
My last efforts before leaving San Francisco were in three directions: a) to open up Zikr as science and art for the spiritual development of the young, b) to extend Dervish dancing. On the day before I left San Francisco I had about a thousand young people dancing and chanting Allah, something that has never been done in this land before. It is due to Divine Grace and the grand transmission of Baraka stemming from our saint, Moineddin Chisti, c) Our efforts to bring Muslims and Israelis—not Jews, but Israelis—to dine together has been most successful. It is exceedingly easy to get young people of Jewish ancestry to repeat Kalama. Even the synagogues are becoming uneasy because they do not retain their young. I have not had the slightest opposition in presenting Mohammed (from whom be peace) to the young people. Indeed, yesterday I had two serious discussions, one with a very important man who is a Protestant Christian, and one with a very important man who is a Roman Catholic Christian on the career of Khalif Omar. At Cornell University I spoke on the relation of the Miraj to Khalif Omar’s entry into Jerusalem.
I personally am unable to do anything more. I work every day. Nearly everything is turning out successful, praise to Allah. But we shall give every encouragement to Mr. Bryant, and I shall send this letter to the Khankah to my disciple, Mr. Hassan Herz, who is also a printer. Pir Vilayat arrives today and tomorrow his organization has one of the Muslim leaders of New York addressing his group.
Love and Blessing:
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
October 25, 1970
c/o L. Less
27 W. 71 Street
New York, New York
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
Beloved One of Allah: As-salaam-aleikhum;
We have returned to New York City from a very profitable visit to the New England states. No mail was forwarded, and the first letter opened was yours 1493/70 of 15 October. It is not too important at the moment that one receives news.
While I am not sure at this writing what financial assistance can be extended to you, please bear in mind that Allah the Merciful, the Compassionate, the Provider, is not overlooking your efforts. We are in the middle of a number of projects that consume all our time. Some of them are attracting money, but the disbursement of funds cannot be settled until I return. We shall at that time, if not before, contact both Mr. Bryant and Mr. Cohen. But in at least two other directions we seem to be attracting monies, and I am very near the maximum which Allah would allow a Dervish even if he be Murshid or Pir.
It is very necessary for the sake of the world to get your material out. For example, I have run into two slightly complex situations, both involving the presumable worth of the late Mahatma Gandhi. I have never discountenanced this man; he is to me almost supreme. So there are in America and in other lands many attached to non-violence, and most of them ignore Gandhi’s satyagraha. Muslims here deplore the rise of the influence of Indian teachings, but they do nothing, practically nothing. This one has now gotten hundreds and hundreds of Americans to repeat Kalama. Audiences of many hundreds have also been approached on the subject of Mohammed, and there has been exactly one challenge. Leading Muslims prefer to lie about this. They take great pride in saying that the last Messenger of God has been derided, but few of them ever go before the public. The last Muslim speaker I heard was so superficial he lost the audience. And now I am challenging both the Hindus and Muslims on the statement of Mohammed, from whom be peace, that Allah is closer than the neck vein. Sometimes I am almost intolerant toward egocentric emotional devotees who reject scriptures to further their claims. Last week I picked up a book by Imam Al-Ghazzali on his advice to kings and rulers. I was totally amazed. It was one of the most humanitarian manuscripts I have ever encountered, and I have read much. The book was totally amazing, and I intend to do something about it. In this world of ignorance, stupidity, egocentricity, and supreme emotions.
I shall write my goddaughter at Lahore about you and also speak to Pir Vilayat Khan who should be here in a few days. Our program to establish peace in the Near East; to promote real cultural exchange; and now for me to write both memoirs and manuscripts is keeping me totally busy all the time. Down to details, all my efforts, Alhamdulillah, have been successful.
Love and Blessings,
Samuel L. Lewis
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chishti,
San Francisco, Calif. USA.
Respected Murshid—Assalam Alaikum was barakaat-o-hu.
I am very busy this week planning a tour with the blessings of Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti . But I must reply your kind letter received from New York at any cost. I have noted its contents with great pleasure. Your letter according to posting date left New York on 7th instant. It had no date inside, as you are too busy. Why not ask your goddaughter of Lahore to get in touch with me and do something tangible for our mission in Pakistan and among her friends in U.S.A.? Perhaps you will give this suggestion your appreciation?
I do not know if your disciples and colleagues have since come back to U.S.A. after their tour of September. Mr. Bryant told me he expected to return home by 5th October. I am enclosing herewith a copy of my letter to him at his “home address” for favor of your kind perusal and information and also taking any necessary action which you might think fit on the contents of this letter. God certainly be praised for your galloping success. He is so merciful and helpful for all noble causes. I hope Mr. Bryant will meet you on his own otherwise he will write to me, as promised by him while leaving Ajmer. I must hear from him; he can do something substantive for our mission. He was too happy with the picturing he did here with Mr. Macmillan. They are nice fellows and sincere too;, I hope Mr. Hassan Herz must also get deeply interested in lending his kind help. I never met Pir Vilayat Khan as he did not come to Ajmer. He must also help. With profound respects, yours as ever,
W.D. Begg
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building,
Topdara, Ajmer
11th Nov. 1970
Respected Murshid, Assalam-Alaikum,
I am in due receipt of your favor from New York of 25th October 1970 with recurring good news of your success in the New England states. I think God gracious has been kind to us in giving us consecutive success through your strenuous tours in various parts of USA. All praise is due to him. Yes, it is true, Allah can never overlook my most humble, sincere, and continuous efforts in his and his beloved Sufi dervishes’ services. He is trying my patience. But Khwaja Muinuddin’s trial of my patience in writing and publishing his “Holy Biography” in 6 long years was perhaps the greatest and hardest of my life. Thank God I passed this examination with distinction. I am perfectly satisfied with this book’s marvelous success. It is all sold out and has repaid me for my poor labors. Again, Allah be praised 24 hours of day and night. My greatest reward in this work is “Contentment.” You don’t need explanation of this richest word in Islam. In fact, you can write a book in its explanation and lecture on it for months together for these Millionaires of the world.
Hence I am sure, sooner or later, my last wish of life (I am now 75) will also be fulfilled and I shall print the “Big Five” in 1971 at least. Many pictures develop for help and then they fade away. The Allahabad picture is fading now. But my courage is not fading, God be praised. These Big five saints are watching it and they must recommend my case to the Great Saviour, Allah, the merciful. That’s enough for me just now. Let the whole world go cold, I am determined and it is God’s promise in the holy Qur’an that he answers all prayers if they are sincere and legitimate. I am sure, I am working for this cause—He must help me whether through you or some other angel, as He did in the case of the “Holy Biography.” I must bear the ordeal of patience, that’s all my duty.
I am sure you will not forget, in the pressure of your engagements, to speak to Mr. Bryant and Mr. MacMillan both of whom, I believe, must have returned home by October’s first week, as they told me while leaving Ajmer?
Dervishes hate money. I know. They abhor it. Yet when God sends any, they part with it at once. I have many beautiful stories of Hazrat Baba Farid and Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia in this regard. Once the Kaliph of Baghdad, who was persistently kept away from the Ziarat (audience) of Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani, the great Qadaria dervish, for years, was at long last permitted to see the saint. He came with mules of gold mohars to present to the saint in gratitude of the permission. But the Saint refused it. Yet the Kaliph obediently persisted upon its acceptance. And, in a Jazba, the saint picked up two bags of gold mohars in each hand, squeezed them and, lo, real blood oozed out of them. “Abdul Mustaqeem, see, you want to give me the blood of the poor subjects of your kingdom,” said the great saint. The Kaliph was horrified to see it and went away in disgraceful disgust. That is Sufism in its grandest grandeur, as you know. They get it by one hand and part with it by the other—not caring a fig for tomorrow’s provision.
Bryant can do much to help me. He has promised me to get some publishers in USA (or booksellers) who can buy a 1000 copies of the “Big Five” and pay in advance—it is quite business like. If it matures, I can get out the book in India in 3 months’ time. My prolonged ill health has cost me a lot of money but I never starved—it all came and went to help me to get fit.
You say “it is very necessary for the world to get your material out.” This is a great encouragement to me from a great Sufi like you. It incites my passion for the work and this is extremely precious—more precious than the money for, after all, the money will go to the printers while your good wishes will linger with me for all time to come. Muslims in USA must see that they put our great Sufis’ non-violence as living example of forbearance, love and toleration before the people Sufis came long before Mahatma Gandhi and spread peace and love for more than 900 years. The world wants practical examples along with necessary literature to reinforce Sufi teachings. I hope to send you a “cutting” from the Times of India on Hare Krishan” ideology and how it is spreading in Indian now, coming back from USA with Americans turned Brahmans. Very interesting for you. Every reform tears up a scripture these days. But they will not gag the voice of Almighty God. With respect, Yours as ever,
WDB
I have gone through Al-Ghazzali’s “Ihya “Ulum Al-Din” devotedly already. Please do speak to Pir Vilayat Khan & your Lahore Goddaughter about my work.
Nov. 17, 1970
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
Beloved One of Allah:
There arrived in the mail today at the same time your clipping from the Times Weekly dated Nov. 8 and your letter No. 131/10 of the 11th of November. Everything is right but one thing: no matter how much one does, others expect more and more and more and more. The non-doers are never satisfied. We had to return from New York because of a series of successes. The successes are wonderful, but where are the workers? Blind enthusiasts expect sane kind of magic … from others of course.
I attended a so-called peace conference, entirely dominated by Hindus. They all claimed to be spiritual leaders, and they certainly were more advanced than the dominant American groups, but they had no consideration for age or wisdom, and they do not face one fact, one exceedingly simple fact—that there was never any country called India under any practitioner of Hindu Dharma until the appearance of Mahatma Gandhi. And these belligerent, noise-making Hindus ignore the simple history that India never had any Indian empires save perhaps a few Buddhists in earlier times and the Moguls and Bahmanis of later times. They are not keeping American people in ignorance; they are themselves ignorant.
Jesus Christ said that devotees should not make vain repetitions “as do the heathens.” Sri Krishna did not go around yapping “Hare Krishna.” The Pandarvas won the battle of Kurukshetra because they had Sri Krishna on their side. They did not have the noisemakers, the wealthy, the famed, the self-important. And today many Hindus support the idea that all Hindus are more spiritual, and they forget the Kuravas and the Asuras or rather they don’t forget because they don’t know at all.
According to my understanding of Indian philosophy, noisemakers are Asuras. They can yap and yell all they wish; they can claim and proclaim all they wish. And they do not have peace in their own land, although I see tremendous possibilities.
Before we left San Francisco one led a thousand people chanting Allah. Now they are chanting Allah in many places. The Muslims sit by and criticize. When they are not criticizing they are self-praising. They do not praise Allah, they praise themselves. A lot of Muslims, so-called, criticize the Jews; not the Israelis but the Jews. I visited a book store of a born Jew named Samuel Weiser in New York. His latest achievements was to republish L’awarifu-al Ma’arif by Grand Sheikh Shahbuddin Ibn Omar Sohrawardi. A born Jaw does that while self-praising Muslims sit around and gawk.
If ever I learned wisdom from a book it was from this book. We are teaching; we are doing. We are establishing a new form of psychiatry based on the Sifat-i-Allah and the use of Wazifas. Before I said; now I am doing. But the more we do, the more others come and expect more and more and more and more. So we believe we are satisfying Allah, and we are praising Allah, but we cannot do more. There are only seven days a week and twenty four hours in the day. Like the great emperor Akbar, whom both the noisy Muslims and noisy Hindus of the day seem to overlook, sleep is not important in this one’s life. At night one has visions, but one has not a host of secretaries, and if one has to write those visions up, it keeps him very busy. And yesterday I had to pound firmly into some people, that to rob my time was no better than their breaking a limb. But other than this there is no bad news.
This is not a in any respect a critical letter. I am only slightly younger than you, but due to the Grace of Allah and the direct blessings and visitations of Khwaja Khizr years ago, I am in excellent health physically and mentally and the inspirations pour upon me, through me and to me, all hours of the day and night continually.
I now have to re-write and this time for publication: Six Interviews with Hazrat Inayat Khan. This time I shall put in exact cosmic experiences and mystical blessings. I am no longer concerned with the rejections from the self-important. The Universities are now opening their doors, and as rapidly as one can assimilate. Back home there is no sign of ever having another day off again, but one is content, the real contentment, Inshallah.
The audiences are growing; the number of disciples is growing. The interest is growing in other states of the Union, compelling me to travel, to travel when I have so little time available. But it may be, it just may be, that Muhammad was right and the vast majority of so-called Muslims wrong when he said, “In that day will the sun rise in the West, and all men seeing will believe.”
Sura 18, passage 108 reads:
“Say: “If the waters of the sea were ink with which to write the words of my Lord, the sea would surely be consumed before His words were finished, though we brought another sea to replenish it.”
“Say: “I am a mortal like yourselves. It is revealed to me that your Lord is one God. Let him that hopes to meet his Lord do what is right and worship none besides Him.”
I do not intend to try to convince so called Muslims of the truth of this. Biased bigots yell: weak Hadiths, when you say anything they don’t like. But the weakest of the weak Hadiths came from a Muslim. And to me, the weakest of the weak Hadiths is infinitely superior to anything coming from a bigoted politician. And that is why, with all its beauties and wisdoms, and majesties, the more educated people of the world have not been drawn to the Apostle of Allah and the Holy Qur’an.
There are plenty of lying missionaries. Before Allah I say they are liars. I have not met a single challenge to any aspect of the life and career of Mohammed for a long time. You can believe anything you wish. It is a simple matter to lecture on Mohammed, and it has been simple and easy when one is given the opportunity, to present the program of Khalif Omar as a solution to the complexities of Palestine. But bigots and liars accomplish nothing.
I have not had time to contact either Mr. Bryant or Mr. McMillan or their principle and they have not tried to contact me.
Yes, my income is going up, and my savings are not going up, because there is something to do with every dollar received. But I am doing what Allah tells me to do, and in this way have been helping others, and also help spread the Divine Message, to and among the young Americans, and more and more and more and than anybody in history so-far. And now, with the tragedies to East Pakistan, one has to go into careful meditation before taking any step whatever. Whatever else a Dervish is, he is not a person who runs around obeying every human being who crosses his path. One wishes to give you every sort of cooperation, but it is Allah alone who can perform the miracle and I do not know how I can get out anything without compensating the people who work for me a little bit. Please consider that a little.
Love and Blessings,
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
410 Precita Ave.
San Francisco, Calif. 94110
1st December, 1970
W. D. Begg,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
Beloved One of Allah:
As-Salaam Aleikhum. This is a partial answer to letter 1547/70. Ina few minutes I shall be going out with Mr. Fred Cohn, the associate or employer of Mr. Bryant and Mr. McMillan and will place your letter and one carbon copy of this in his hands.
In preparing for the Christmas celebration I am speaking on “The Sermon on the Mount” to show how far it is from Christianity. And also I am stressing so many passages of Holy Qur’an which certainly dispute in part sections of Sharia and are in entire conflict with deductions and orthodoxies.
The Sufism of Hazrat Inayat Khan presented fana-fi-Sheikh; fana-fi-Rassoul and fana-fi-lillah. There is a possibility that I may be known in the future for adding fana-fi-Pir between fana-fi-Sheikh and fana-fi-Rassoul. For in fana-fi-Sheikh one learns from the living teacher and this learning may continue after death. But in fana-fi-Pir one learns from other than one’s own initiator, from some great soul—which has been my case with both Moineddin Chisti and Abdul-Kadiri-Gilani (Ghaus-i-Azam) but after entering fana-fi-Rassoul this seldom happened and perhaps was not necessary. But I do have the poetry from St. Chisti and the much greater poetry from Mecca Shereef.
Now I am writing “Six interviews with Hazrat Inayat Khan” and I am telling some very plain, simple facts which “important” people have refused to accept claiming this one was an egocentric, a bombastic braggart and what not. There were disputes after Inayat Khan’s death but neither my words nor those of the late Pir-o-Murshid Hasan Nizami or Nizam-ed-din Auliya—in complete agreement although we never met—in the flesh were rejected by rival camps of legally (?) organized Sufis!
These interviews were sought by the Pir, not by myself but I was blamed. They were sought because of the appearance to me of Khwaja Khizr at a very dramatic and traumatic time and I was saved from the jaws of death and then offered the choice of poetry and music. But in the course of time both the poetry and music came, are coming. And the vitality is marvelous and now a publisher wants my things.
In 1930 I again went into Khilvat to commentary the third anniversary of the death of Hazrat Inayat Khan, taking with me “L’Awarifu-al-Ma’arif” and as Iman Ghazzali stated “Sufism is based on experiences, not premises.” It resulted in the initiation into fana-fi-Sheikh although the teacher was no longer in the flesh. But he manifested to me then physically and there has not been any diminution of psychic and transient faculties although one is not always successful in convincing egocentrics who place themselves about Allah.
I cannot tell all the resulting recognitions in India, Pakistan and U.A.R nor is there time. But some time, perhaps late next month, inshallah, I shall not only give “Six interviews with Hazrat Inayat Khan” but follow this up with much more based on the inner Sufi experiences which are very much like Efleki.
One is terribly restricted, busy all the time without proper secretarial aid and with the need to grant more time in interviews with application for Bayat. When I visited the Pakistan Consulate recently they were amazed to find one had already here a hundred mureeds with more coming and we are also sowing longis for East Pakistan, etc,
You are entirely correct concerning East Pakistan. Some Pakistanis had the audacity to insist that Allah loved Muslims more than others (quite contrary to the Apostle himself) and they loved him more. And I prayed and Allah said: “Look! So I looked, through Shahud-Mushahida and had to watch the six-day war from the heavens and keep quiet. And also a warning came for East Pakistan.
It seems that all religions consist of self-approval which the devotees call “humility” and this has nothing or little to do with reality. And I have been studying Futuh-ul-Ghaib and trying to maintain that steady cosmic calmness with surrender to Allah. Besides this I really represent what is called the Christi-Kadri-Sabri school with the addition of the Khidri Baraka.
The Publishers of “Sufis Speak” are perhaps the best group in the United States at present. The efforts for an Urs at the Dargah of Hazrat Inayat Khan are to me excellent and elementary, the first steps only. But they are steps and they show the appearance and thus growth of spirituality in the West.
Today I am especially handicapped but nothing wrong. My chief secretary is on the campus of the University of California to introduce Dervish dancing and tonight I speak. Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr of Tehran could not understand my absence at world conferences on religion. This was due to an American institution, the European professor of Oriental philosophy. These men kept me off the campuses and out of the conferences and were very successful in giving me a bad name. The group was entirely made up of Englishman and Europeans and their American disciples and includes wastrels, perverts, drunkards and lechers. For the first time I am making this known, but they were successful for years!
Pragmatically we must regard ourselves as Chistis because we work mostly with song and dance. Our choral group is magnificent. They told me they would hope to get money to make tape and phonograph records and almost immediately they received an anonymous cheque. We then discussed taping and recording ostensibly to help the victims of East Pakistan. And the way they use the spiritual phrases of Islam; or amalgamate Jewish and Christian sacred themes with “Allah” and the Sifat-Allah. It is not only being done, it is attracting attention and I believe, inshallah, it will show the way toward world unity and spirituality.
My own work Toward Spiritual Brotherhood is also being published. This did not have my consent because I thought things more important but it is being done. And gradually one must face the public as having had the bayat of Khwaja Khizr and no nonsense.
I have also finished Al-Ghazzali’s “Counsel to Kings.” While a great admirer of Mahatma Gandhi I always felt something was missing and I felt this lack is still supplied in Al-Ghazzali. For he taught a humanitarianism and humanism which is still lacking in the world, and I believe his work is on excellent foundations. Buddhism and Hinduism offer perfect versions of purification to Nirvana but it is the Sufis who have the positive elements of baqa. And although fana is always stressed virtually, there are the two aspects of La Illaha El Il Allah. And these I am also teaching through song and chanting but with movements—la always backwards; il always elevated, etc, And the use of sacred phrases psychically mechanically and morally all the time is working, praise to Allah. And now even after written this the doors open and we hope write further.
All love and blessings,
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
W.D. Begg’s Office,
Begg’s Building, Topdara, Ajmer
28th May 1973
Hazrat Moinuddin Jablonski,
Garden of Inayat, 910 Railroad Avenue, Novato, Calif. 94947, USA
My respected Sir – Assalam Alaikum.
In continuation of my letter No 319/73 dated 26th instant, I most respectfully beg to take the liberty of drawing your and Hazrat Vilayat Khan’s gracious attention to the contents of the enclosed “Cutting” from the “Times of India” (Delhi Edition) dated 27th May 1973, in our common mission of spreading the Sufi Gospel preached by the late Hazrat Inayat Khan in the West.
No doubt, we are, as humble devotees of Hazrat Pir Inayat Khan, doing our level best to propagate the Massage of Sufism in the world (specially in the Western countries) but if we can accelerate the speed of our humble counties on the lines of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, we can certainly succeed in the cause of Islam. This does not mean that the followers of Hazrat Inayat Khan are not doing their best, but here is an example which must inspire us all to do our duty more vigorously in introducing the marvels of Sufism in the West and, of course in the world in this irreligious age. Meditation can be done with immense profit by Sufi technique more easily than any other way. Only we need due publicity which we do not get at the hands of monopolized press which is in the hands of rank materialists today. But our spiritual powers are already working well and the message of Sufism is spreading slowly and gradually in the West by the blessings of our Pir-o-Murshid. God be praised. We live in an age of publicity and my humble point of view is that we must strive hard to give due publicity (like the Maharishi’s) in the West if we can. I am only emphasizing my poor opinion on this vital need although you are wise enough to realize it yourself. Whenever I read such things in the daily press that gives them wide publicity, I long to have such parallel publicity for Sufism which the press always ignores by virtue of the power and wealth. Sufism hates worldly wealth. Our Buzurgaan-e-Deen have done wonders in the spread of Islam by peaceful means in the past 1400 years under divine patronage. Why cannot we do our humble bit to compete the rivals of Islam in this ago too?
My two humble books on the lives and work of the illustrious Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti of Ajmer end his “Big Five” Khalifas are devoted to the cause of Sufism in English—the first of their kind. I am pretty sure they can surely help you to propagate Sufism and Islam in accordance with Hazrat Pir Inayat Khan’s grand and noble mission.
Sir, when you have gone through this letter and the enclosed “cutting,” will you be kind enough to forward them to Hazrat Pir Vilayat Khan on his present touring address??? I am sure you will graciously grant this humble request and confirm by your letter to me at your early convenience. Since his visit to Ajmer, I am very highly impressed by his graceful personality and divine service.
With many many apologies. I await your views on this letter with keen interest.
Believe me always to be a humble servant of Islam and Sufi to be dervishes.
Enclos. 1 Cutting from The Times of India of 27th May 1973
Yours Affectionately,
W. D. Begg
Postscript to letter of 27th May 1973
1. I am very eager to send the literature of the Holy-Biography and “The Big Five” to the leading American Universities, specially those where the Maharishi Yogi’s “Science of Creative Intelligence” is being propagated. I am also eager to bring to the notice of American public my books through some U.S.A. newspapers. I therefore seek your and Hazrat Pir Vilayat Khan’s kind advice before posting the literature and spending precious postage on it. Perhaps in this idea you and our other records and devotees of Hazrat Pir Inayat Khan in USA can land me a helping hand. The ignorant people of USA must know more about Oriental Sufism and its great masters so elaborately recorded in English for the first time.
2. Another important thing in this connection for your information is that our common brother Mr. Abdul Rahman Lomax of Tucson (Ikhwan Press) is contemplating to own copyrights of The Holy Biography in response to my advertisement, for all U.S.A. He has suggested certain modifications in the contents of the book to which I have agreed in the interests of USA people’s requirement. For the sake of our common mission and a noble cause, I have quoted a minimum price of copyrights, viz. £ 416/- only. He expects to confirm this arrangement as soon his press and inshallah’s financial position improves further. He says it is improving gracefully. But, I beg to suggest that if you, Hazrat Pir Vilayat Khan, Mr. Barodofsky and Mr. L.W. Carp of Holland—all devotees of Hazrat Pir Inayat Khan and the great Chishti saints of India—can join hands with Mr. Abdul Rahman Lomax of Tucson by making suitable contributions jointly to make up the price of £ 416/-, we can save precious time in closing this deal. I entreat you to give this idea your gracious consideration and favor me with your views.
3. With the favorable circulation of The Big Five in the past 8 month in the sprite of my dangerous illness (more than a thousand copies), there is increasing demand for The Holy Biography in India, Ceylon, Middle East, South Africa, Malaysia and Australia. A second edition of the book is imperatively necessary. Now that I am better with a new lease of life at the age of 79 by the grace of God, I am eager to print this 2nd edition when I am living, with the amount of £ 416/- plus a grant of Rs, 5,000/- sanctioned already for this edition by the local Dargah Committee of Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti of Ajmer. After me, for life is now uncertain at the age of 79, nobody would be able to print a 2nd edition, you can imagine.
Please let me hear your views and oblige,