Shah Naqshband (q) said, "Our Way is very rare and very precious. It is the curwati-l-wuthqa ("Firm Handhold"), the way of keeping firm and steadfast in the footsteps of the Prophet and of his Companions. They brought me to this Way from the door of Favors, because at its beginning and at its end, I witnessed nothing but the Favors of God. In this Way great doors of Heavenly Knowledge will be opened up to the seeker who follows in the footsteps of the Prophet ." - http://www.uksufi.co.uk/Mureeds/Golden_chain/17.htm, site found through Dr. Alan Godlas, University of Georgia at http://www.uga.edu/islam/sufismorders.html#Naqshbandi

Really. I absolutely fell in Love.

I doubt that I’ll ever walk in the Prophet’s (saw) shoes, but I did learn that if one cannot afford the hajj, seven trips (preferably by foot) to a saint’s tomb and/or masjid can be considered an imperfect replacement.

…Let’s see… two trips to the Naqshbandi masjid… (does marshrutka count?)…. Six hours hours total walking one Saturday after I got back home…. Maybe I ought to start saving my nickels for hajj…:0

Allah (swt) is said to be Merciful, so hopefully a walk to and from Masjid in thanks for my safe return home, and in petition for the safety of a former pupil who was visiting our oft-unsafe land, counted with our Creator…:)

Certainly Allah (swt) kept me safe on 43rd, and 57th, and 69th… and back again.... :))

Toutes les Créations apparurent par l’Amour Divin. Il les aima et elles apparurent. C’est pour cette raison que tout ce qui existe apporte avec lui sa part d’Amour Divin. Quand je dis "tout", je veux dire tout, à partir des atomes et leurs particules, véritables fondateurs de l’Univers, jusqu’à l’humanité. - from L’amour divin, in (Les perles de la sagesse) by Mawlana Shaikh Mohammad Nazim Adil al Haqqani al Qubrusi an Naqshbandi, http://haqqani.levillage.org/amour.htm

I pray God will show me the Way of religion and that I will keep to it until I die. - So Verily by Nana Asma’u Dan Fodio of Nigeria, excerpted from Camille Adams Helmisnki Women of Sufism