By The Needy One, Mohamed Sameer Zuhoori

Have you heard about the Office Clerk who got Gold for his IPPT (Individual Physical Proficiency Test) Fitness test?

There was once a clerk who dreamed of passing his IPPT. His office was beside the Physical Training Instructor’s Wing (PTI). His daily job was basic administration but he dreamed of attaining a good pass for his IPPT. He mingled with many PTIs because of the proximity between the 2 offices. He mustered up the courage and asked one of the PTIs if he could accompany the PTI during his training sessions after office hours. The PTI gladly accepted his request and they both trained together for months before the next IPPT test. They consistently ran miles and exercised every day. The training sessions were not too intensive but consistent.

IPPT came and it was time for the participants to test their fitness and strength. The clerk confidently cleared every fitness station with a high score which was good enough to attain the Gold award—the highest for the test—and he did. That day, his face could not contain his happiness and proudly proclaimed to everyone about his miraculous achievement. From someone who could barely pass the IPPT to a Gold Award. His training partner, the PTI who assisted him, was very happy for the clerk yet ashamed at the same time. His shame came from the very fact that some PTIs were not able to attain even a Silver Award when the expected standard for PTIs was a Gold. These PTIs had ample knowledge about fitness, but they failed to put the knowledge into practice and did not attempt to find companions to train together. Having information without action became fruitless.

But the clerk who had bare minimum knowledge about fitness found a companion who had the tools for his goals and utilised every moment of it. And he succeeded. This is the power of Companionship (Sohbat) and Consistent Work (Amal) with the guidance of an experienced instructor.

وَتَرَى ٱلشَّمْسَ إِذَا طَلَعَت تَّزَٰوَرُ عَن كَهْفِهِمْ ذَاتَ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَإِذَا غَرَبَت تَّقْرِضُهُمْ ذَاتَ ٱلشِّمَالِ وَهُمْ فِى فَجْوَةٍۢ مِّنْهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ مَن يَهْدِ ٱللَّهُ فَهُوَ ٱلْمُهْتَدِ ۖ وَمَن يُضْلِلْ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُۥ وَلِيًّۭا مُّرْشِدًۭا

“And you would have seen the sun, as it rose, inclining away from their cave to the right, and as it set, declining away from them to the left, while they lay in its open space. That is one of the signs of Allah. Whoever Allah guides is truly guided. But whoever He leaves to stray, you will never find for them a guiding mentor.” 

Quran 18:17

A Salik (spiritual aspirant/student) who aspires to succeed in spiritual fitness and strength, therefore, must also strive to find a qualified spiritual Guide/Mentor (Murabbi), seek his tutelage and training and consistently apply the knowledge and skills attained (Amal). Over time, consistent efforts will grow into a huge progress to attain his spiritual mission of getting close to God and purifying one’s heart.

INFORMATION WITHOUT APPLICATION WILL NOT BEAR ANY FRUIT. HAVING EXPERIENCED MEN BY ONE’S SIDE GREATLY SURPASSES NAVIGATING INFORMATION STORED IN BOOKS. AND WHEN WE SOMETIMES SLIP, OUR GUIDES HOLD ON TO US AND CARRY US THROUGH THE JOURNEY. SEEK, FIND, JOURNEY, ATTAIN.

As Rumi beautifully mentions, “Whoever travels without a guide, needs two hundred years for a two-day journey.”

May Allah guide us to our true teachers who will give birth to our spiritual meanings. Ameen.

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