Arif ar-Riwakri ق
Is there any place our King is not?
But His sorcery has blindfolded the viewer.
He blindfolds your eyes such that you see a dustmote at midday,
but not the greatest Sun,
A ship at sea, but not the ocean's waves.
The ship's bobbing tells you about the sea,
just as the movement of people tells the blind man that it is daytime.
Have you not read the verse, 'God has set a seal...' [2:7]?
It is God who sets the seal, and it is He who removes it and 'lifts up the coverings' [50:22]
The Light in the Garden of Reality
He was a Knower whose Inner Truth appeared to him in all its brightness and light. He was a Sun of Knowledge who illuminated the dark sky of his Age. He was called the Light in the Garden of Reality and the Light in the Garden of the Prophet ﷺ.
Arif ق was born in the village of Riwakar six miles from Bukhara and one mile from Ghujdawan. He stood at the door of his Shaikh, Abdul Khaliq, and served him until the Shaikh gave him permission for irshad (giving guidance). He took the Secret of the Order from his Shaikh who witnessed his attainment to the state of perfection. He filled the countries around Bukhara with the scent of his blessings. He opened the minds and the hearts of the people of his time to the secrets of his knowledge.
His Teachings and Wisdom
His students recorded many of his sayings. The following are some of them:
On Trust and Preparation for Death:
- "Trust in God until He becomes your Teacher. Make the Remembrance of Death your partner."
On Hope and Divine Guidance:
- "Too much hope in the future veils you from the good found in Allah's Way."
On Prayer for the Ummah:
- "Whoever says ten times in a day, 'Oh Allah Guide the Nation of Muhammad. Oh Allah Bless the Nation of Muhammad. Oh Allah remove all afflictions from the Nation of Muhammad,' will be written among the group of saints known as the Abdal."
On Paradise and Intercession:
- "Whoever asks for Paradise without any good deeds it will be written for him as the Sin of Sins. Whoever awaits intercession without a cause, has a form of pride."
On the Righteous and Truthful:
- "It is surprising to see so many Righteous (saliheen), and yet so few Truthful believers (sadiqeen)."
On Dealing with Afflictions:
- "To achieve healing from any affliction keep your affliction secret from people because they can be of no benefit to you. They can neither help you nor can they keep it from reaching you."
The Three Types of Hearts
He taught about the different spiritual conditions of seekers through this beautiful metaphor:
There are three kinds of hearts: the heart like a mountain, which nothing can move; the heart like a palm-tree, its roots firm but its branches in motion; and the heart like a feather, which the wind blows from right to left.
On Spiritual Protection and Solitude
On Religious Protection:
- "Who hopes to protect his religion, must avoid the company of people."
On Divine Presence:
- "O Allah, whenever you want to punish me, do it, but don't keep me away from Your Presence."
This final saying reveals the depth of his spiritual understanding and priorities—that nothing matters more than maintaining connection with the Divine Presence, even in times of trial and difficulty.
His Spiritual Legacy
Mawlana Arif ar-Riwakri ق was not only a scholar and mystic but also a practical guide who understood the spiritual needs of different types of seekers. His teachings emphasize the importance of:
1. Constant remembrance of death as a spiritual practice
2. Balance between hope and action in the spiritual path
3. Prayer for the entire Muslim community as a mark of true sainthood
4. Secrecy in personal struggles to maintain spiritual dignity
5. Different levels of spiritual stability represented by his metaphor of hearts
His approach to spirituality was characterized by deep wisdom about human nature and the various stages of spiritual development. He recognized that seekers come with different temperaments and capacities, and his guidance reflected this understanding.
Death and Succession
Mawlana Arif ar-Riwakri ق died in the same city he was born, Riwakar, and he was buried there in 636 AH/1239 CE. He passed his secret of the Golden Chain to Grandshaykh Khwaja Mahmud al-Injir al-Faghnawi ق.
Through his life and teachings, Arif ar-Riwakri ق demonstrated that true spiritual knowledge illuminates not only the individual heart but radiates outward to enlighten entire communities. His legacy continued through the Golden Chain, passing the divine secrets and blessings from master to student in an unbroken line of transmission that continues to this day.
