Declaration – 9 Rabi‘ al-Thani 1439 (2017-12-28)

Message from His Holiness Haj Dr. Noor Ali Tabandeh, Majzoub Ali Shah
on the Anniversary of the Passing of His Holiness Haj Sheikh Muhammad Hasan Bichareh Bidokhti Gonabadi, Saleh Ali Shah (May His Noble Secret Be Sanctified)

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On the anniversary of the passing of my physical and spiritual father—the beautiful exemplar for seekers of the path to God, the “Qutb” and guide of the “fuqara”, His Holiness Haj Sheikh Muhammad Hasan Saleh Ali Shah (May His Noble Secret Be Sanctified)—I extend my condolences to the “fuqara” and all devotees of His Holiness. I ask the Merciful God to grant joy to his soul and the ability for all “fuqara” to follow his teachings.

I had the honor of spending forty years of my life in the service, companionship, and under the training of His Holiness. Given the precision and special attention he had in educating his disciples, I must say that whatever spiritual gifts I have received from God, they are the blessing of his existence. He had such spiritual dominion over my soul that I would lose all sense of self before him, and thus, I submitted to his commands and wishes with complete contentment and spiritual delight. His speech, conduct, character, and mystical way of life during every moment of his fruitful and blessed life served as a perfect model for anyone seeking worldly happiness, spiritual salvation, and the ultimate goal of the gnostics. Among his prominent traits and behavioral characteristics were: adherence to the practices of the pure Shari‘a, even in recommended acts; service to all of God’s creation; efforts to improve agriculture and develop Bidokht; deep interest in literacy and elevating the cultural level of the people; promoting the culture of the Quran and Mysticism in educating the “fuqara” and “Mashayekh”; preservation and restoration of the graves and shrines of saints and gnostics; encouragement toward earning a living and being active, and discouragement from laziness and idleness; stern condemnation of drug addiction; assistance to the needy and sick; abstaining from political involvement and politicization. In general, whatever is described in the Quran regarding the special servants of God—especially in the concluding verses of Surah al-Furqan describing the “‘Ibad al-Rahman”—was fully embodied in the sacred presence of His Holiness. The only book that remains from him is the noble treatise “Pand-e Saleh”, which can entirely be regarded as a reflection and manifestation of his character and states. Also preserved are several of his letters, published in the book “Letters of Saleh”.

In one sentence, if we wish to define and understand the essence of a “Dervish” and “Dervishhood”, His Holiness was the finest embodiment of the word “Dervish”, and his “Pand-e Saleh” is a precise definition of “Dervishhood”. Therefore, despite the fact that nearly 78 years have passed since its first publication, as I have repeatedly said during the Friday night “faqr” gatherings, all its contents are to be followed both in thought and action by the “fuqara”, and with every passing day—indeed, every moment—its relevance grows. The importance and necessity of following the instructions of His Holiness become increasingly evident over time. In “Pand-e Saleh”, he encapsulated the entirety of religious and mystical guidance into three phrases: servitude to God, compassion and goodwill toward all people, and service and humility toward religious brothers. He always encouraged the “fuqara” to work diligently to earn a livelihood and serve society—a virtue in which he himself was exemplary. One of his instructive sayings on this matter is: “Hands at work, heart with the Beloved.”

On the anniversary of his passing, for the joy of his soul, the relief from all afflictions and calamities, and the acceptance of prayers, let us make a covenant with his pure spirit to adopt the following principles—approved by His Holiness and his noble predecessors, the Imams (AS)—as part of our life practice and mystical journey, so that divine grace may be granted to us even more, the gates of God’s mercy and forgiveness opened unto us, and we be protected from worldly and heavenly disasters:

1. Let us listen with the ears of our hearts to the call يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا... وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُمْ أَعْدَاءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ (“O you who believe… and remember the favor of God upon you—when you were enemies and He joined your hearts together”), and be thankful for the divine blessing that is the “wilayah” of Ali (AS), through which enmity among believers was transformed into unity and love. Let gratitude for this blessing, which lies in fulfilling our faithful commitments, become our life motto, and let us avoid any form of resentment, discord, or division among believers.
2. With appreciation for the efforts and service of the “fuqara” in helping the victims of the recent earthquake—which must continue—we should recognize and commit to the truth that “Dervishhood” means altruism, empathy in others’ suffering, and service. Therefore, let us never fall short in serving our fellow humans and compatriots.
3. Now that, thanks to scientific and technological advancements, communication and information tools are available to all—and this is a divine blessing granted through the thought, reason, and effort of His servants—we must not misuse these tools (websites, internet, social media) to turn this blessing into a curse. Let us not use them as instruments for slander, false accusations, baseless rumors, or personal and subjective opinions—especially concerning religious and mystical matters.
4. The Quran states: True religion before God is submission to His will. “Sufism” and “Mysticism”, which are the essence of Shi‘ism, the spirit of Islam, and the inner reality of the Quran, are nothing but submission to the Truth. Islam and the Quran are neither “traditional” nor “modern”; “Dervishhood”—as was declared to all this past Nowruz—means peace, health, and kindness. There is no such thing as traditional or modern “Dervishhood”; it is the sound human nature that God refers to in Surah al-Rum as the “upright and everlasting religion” , and calls it His divine nature. Let us therefore commit to strengthening peace, health, and kindness in our hearts through remembrance of God and spreading it throughout our families and communities. In this regard, it is appropriate to consider the advice that His Holiness Saleh Ali Shah (May His Noble Secret Be Sanctified) gave to Dr. Charles Perrier, a renowned physician and his surgeon in Geneva, when he requested guidance upon the Sheikh’s hospital discharge. His Holiness wrote in a note in Tir 1333 (1954):

   With your life, fulfill God's command in reverence,

   and in your heart, show compassion to all in presence.

   Leave not the weak abandoned on the way,

   for many such as these fall each day.

   If you grant someone grace or favor’s part,

   do not impose upon them—keep kindness from art.

   These are the core values and principles of “Dervishhood”, which are ever steadfast and unchanging. Can such guidance ever be deemed old or new? Those of us who claim love and devotion to His Holiness must strive to be the first to act on the meaning of these instructions.
5. Let us honor divine commands and show respect to His saints, strengthening unity and solidarity, and through attending “faqr” gatherings and participating in congregational prayers, enhance the vitality and illumination of this noble Sufi order.

I hope that the Merciful God showers His mercy and grace upon our hearts, bestowing upon us love for Himself and His saints and friends, which is the life of our spiritual hearts, and removes from them all the weeds and filth of resentment and impurity.

“O God, treat us with Your grace, not Your justice. Have mercy on us, O Most Merciful of the merciful.”