Ninety Nine Names of Allah : Part 8

He accepted the house, repaired the outside and filled the interior with the light of love. Eventually people who could see this light were drawn to him. More and more the house became honored, for the honor of a house is revealed by the dweller.

The office which assigns position and housing became aware of the students crowding around this shaikh whom they did not think much of and decided to test him. He stated his readiness to be examined.

The scholars said that the first lesson of a dervish is "la ilaha illa'llah," and asked him to tell what this meant. He asked if he should give an answer that they expect or should he answer as he really knows it to be.The examiners said that the way they knew was common and that he should tell the way he understands its meaning.

"If you wish the answer the way I understand it, then I cannot do it alone. I ask permission to have with me the one dervish with whom I sought the house,"

He sat with his one dervish in front of the religious scholars and began the dhikr. When he said la ilaha, he disappeared and when he said illa"llah, he reappeared. Again he said la ilaha and disappeared, then said illa"llah and reappeared. The third time he disappeared on la ilaha and reappeared on illa"lllah. The fourth time he said la ilaha the entire crowd including the examiners disappeared and when he said illa'llah they all reappeared. Now they understood that under this poor appearance there existed a great treasure. This is the way he showed the meaning of la ilah illa'llah.

In the following test the commentaries and number of repetitions suggested are open to be altered or determined by the shaikh of an order. The information given is an introduction to the meanings and effects of the Names. It is advisable to follow the guidance of a shaikh.

The first Name in the text refers to the Attribute of Allah. The repetition preceded by Ya refers to the appeal to that attribute.

Shemseddin halved al-jerrahi

Al-Hajj Shaikh Muzaffereddin