Faqr and the Usmaniyya Order

rioters, “Remember! If you kill me you will not be able to offer salat together and perform jihad together ever again.” The truth is that the martyrdom of Usman tore away the unity of Muslims. They were divided in groups, sects and clans. Instead of using their strength against infidels, they wasted it in fighting among themselves. Usman‟s murder aroused a state of restlessness among the Companions. When Ali heard the news of assassination of Usman, he raised his hands in prayer and said, “O Lord! I am absolved of Usman‟s murder.”

Abdullah ibn Abbas said, “Had the whole creation participated in this assassination, Allah would have poured stones on them like He poured on the people of Lut.” Sa‟id ibn Zayd said, “O people! Even the eruption of Mount Uhad on you is a fair punishment of your wicked act.”

When Thumamah ibn Adi heard about it, his eyes filled with tears and he said, “This day marks the end of the succession of the Holy Prophet. Now the era of emperorship will begin.” Zayd ibn Thabit and Abu Hurairah were also saddened and wept on the martyrdom of Usman.

Aisha bint Abi Bakr said, “Usman came out clean like washed clothes after this incident.”

The way Muslims split into different groups after this incident, it ruined the Muslim harmony. Since then, Muslims are continuously being divided in different groups and sects.

In Sufism, Usman is considered the leader of the enduring Mystics. In al-Risala al-Qushayriyya it is mentioned that Usman was always engrossed in the observation of the Almighty. He with his patience, restrained Muslims from humongous bloodshed and

even in the most sensitive situation accepted his martyrdom but did not let Muslims fight with each other. The inward treasure that Allah and His Prophet bless to their loved ones is limitless and eternal. The beloveds of Allah who are attributed with generosity, whose purpose of physical and spiritual life is to spread the religion and who execute the responsibility to guide the seekers of Allah, they continue to spread this limitless treasure among the sincere seekers of Allah till the doomsday. The main objective of all the orders of Sufism is to transfer this inward treasure to the seekers of Allah. All the mystic orders initiate from the Holy Prophet and are transferred to the Muslim umma through his spiritual successors. The order of Usman is comprised of nine sub-orders, a few of them are described in detail in the books of Sufism. They are; Usmaniyya order, Usmaniyya Qudusiyah order, Usmaniyya Hanfiyah order, Usmaniyya Kareemiya order, Usmaniyya Saeediyah order and Usmaniyya Madariyah order. Usman ibn Affan gave the inward succession to his truthful follower Abd al-Rahman. Later on, Abd al-Rahman got succession regarding another spiritual status from Ali ibn Abi Talib as well. All the orders of Usman proceeded forward through Abd alRahman. From him the spiritual succession was transferred to Shaikh Asim ibn al-Samad. The proficiency in the knowledge of Quran that Usman gained, he blesses the followers of his order with the same according to their capability after spiritually training them. Thus, they develop spiritual connection with the Holy Prophet through the medium of Quran. (Tawarikh Aina-e-

Tasawwuf)

Although the Usmaniyya order is the personal order of Usman, however, the Sarwari Qadri order is such an order which directly connects to the Holy Prophet and because of this, all the Rashidun Caliphs bless its followers with their spiritual attention and guidance as well, as verified by the references from Sultan

Bahoo‟s books quoted in the preface of this book. The seekers of Sarwari Qadri order and other orders acquire the attribute of modesty and humility from the spiritual attention of Usman ibn Affan. Therefore, we can say that the beneficence of Usman ibn Affan is continued in all the orders. May Allah grant the Muslim umma the ability to not only follow the footsteps of the Holy Prophet and his Companions but also benefit from their spiritual attention and beneficence. (Ameen)