Sufi Islamia Ruhaniat Society

Marin County Office: Hurkalya

147 Humboldt Avenue

San Anselmo, California 94960

March 9, 1978

Beloved One of Allah,

As-salaam aleikhum!

I have read your letter of January 23 to Masheikh Wali Ali Meyer, my closest spiritual brother. Many were the times when I took Murshid Sufi Ahed Murad Chisti’s letters in dictation to you. This was, of course, several years ago during his lifetime on earth. It is to be hoped that the renewal of our correspondence after so long a lapse be propitious for the work of the followers of the Holy Prophet and Khawaja Gharib Nawaz, inshallah. And I pray that Masheikh Wali Ali will be enabled to travel to Ajmer in the coming year to meet with you and your spiritual colleagues. (I would attempt to come in person, but as I am a kidney patient on hemodialysis, travel is impossible at this point, as Allah wills.)

This letter is written with faith and trust in the Living Allah that you and your fellows will hear the cry of one’s heart. Five years ago at a gathering of some three hundred Sufi mureeds Pir Vilayat Khan told the story of how, when he was ten years old, his blessed father Hazrat Inayat Khan confirmed him as his spiritual successor. After telling the story, Pir Vilayat called me to come before the group. He took off his sandals and placed them in my hands; next he removed the tashbih he was wearing and placed it over my head in blessing. He then took both my hands and led me in a circular dance motion and chanted, “El Allah Hu!” several times. This event is recorded on firm, and indicates that at that point in time Pir Vilayat regarded this person as one who should succeed him spiritually, or at least stand as protector of the Divine Message in the West until the year 2000 A.D. when his son Seraphiel Inayat Khan would come of age.

But times and people are subject toall kinds of changes. Two years ago one sensed that Pir Vilayat’s real successor in so many ways was his own wife, Taj Inayat Khan. I had a meeting with Pir Vilayat a that time and suggested seriously to him to consider drawing up new legal papers which would insure that the succession—or at least the regency for Seraphiel—would go to Taj Inayat. Pir Vilayat agreed with me, and I believe that the new papers have been drawn up.

Now the above story may or may not be connected with Murshid Sufi Ahmed Murad Chishti’s appointment of me as his Khalif and spiritual successor, confirmation of which was given by him many times verbally in the presence of witnesses, once on his death-bed in a dictated statement which we have on file, and even on some film footage complete with sound which we have in our archives. Needless to say, Murshid Sufi Ahmed Murad Chishti has been one’s guiding spiritual light on the Path of Sufism from the beginning, and I consider his appointment of me as his Khalif and the spiritual assignments he has given to me as paramount to any other commissions I may have received along the way.

Having lived with Murshid Sufi Ahmed Murad Chishti in his Khankah, the Garden of Inayat, for three years until his death on January 15, 1971, one can affirm that he endeavored every moment of his life to fulfill the responsibilities placed upon his shoulders by his first Sufi teacher, Hazrat Inayat Khan. If you are truly familiar with the teachings presented by Hazrat Inayat Khan and Murshid Sufi Ahmed Murad Chishti, and indeed of Pir Vilayat Khan, to Western peoples, you will note that Sufism is considered to be the very heart and perfume of all Faiths, including the mysticism of Islam. This point is stressed over and over and over again, and I include with this letter some pertinent materials for your perusal. It should be remembered that the United States and the European community of nations are not fundamentally Islamic in their religious outlooks, despite the fact that Sufism—following Holy Quran—teaches that all the world’s Avatars, Pygambars, Nabis and Rassouls are united in One Essence.

Murshid’s last words to me (shortly after his passing) from Malakut, before his ascension into Djabrut, stand as living testimonial to all the above points; “If Islam wishes to be the supreme Religion it will have to prove it by its better deeds, and not by claims or words. Otherwise, Islam must take its place alongside the other Religions of the world in the spirit of absolute and complete brotherhood.” You may accept this statement or not, as you like, but I must stand behind these worlds—as indeed I must stand behind every Divine Impulse from the Inner Realm.

The matter of schism also needs some explanation. We have tried in the Bismillah magazine to present as clear a picture of the realties, as we see them, which have led to the dividing of the Sufi Islamia Ruhaniat Society from the Sufi Order of Pir Vilayat Khan. It is no doubt difficult for you and your colleagues to appreciate our position. The issue at state is not in actuality based upon the use or abuse of intoxicants or drugs. The Ruhaniat Society is not, I repeat not, a refuge for riff-raff or other types of insincere human beings. I will stand behind the glowing and growing hearts of our entire mureedship and their abundant fine qualities, until my dying breath.

The real issue is Pir Vilayat’s denial to Murshid Sufi Ahmed Murad Chishti’s mureeds full scope within the Sufi Order to carry out the teachings with which Murshid entrusted us. As this denial left us no choice—except perhaps the choice of either languishing or becoming a class of subordinates—we chose to stand upon the spiritual principles and inner experiences bestowed upon us, through Grace of Allah, by our beloved Murshid. We deeply feel that his baraka and living spirit are with us in our endeavors. And though many thousands of miles separate us geographically from the Dargah of Hazrat Khawaja, we Western Sufis feel a perfect at-one-ment with the music and message of Hazrat Moineddun Chishti.

As much as we are disappointed by the schism, we realize that we were forced into such a move. But praise be to Allah that the members of each group continue to maintain and develop the spirit of friendship as one would expect of real Sufis.

We shall continue to adhere to the profound and comprehensive teachings bestowed upon the Western world by Pir-O-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan, inshallah. We shall strive to fulfill the lessons given both as teachings and living example by our Murshid Sufi Ahmed Murad Chishti. And we shall trust, inshallah, that this letter will speak to the ears of your hearts.

BISMILLAH, ER RAHMAN ER RAHIM…

PRAISE BE TO ALLAH,

THE CHERISHER AND SUSTAINER OF THE WORLDS:

MOST GRACIOUS, MOST MERCIFUL,

MASTER OF THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.

THEE DO WE WORSHIP,

AND THINE AID WE SEEK.

SHOW US THE STRAIGHT WAY,

THE WAY OF THOSE ON WHOM

THOU HAST BESTOWED THY GRACE,

THOSE WHOSE PORTION IS NOT WRATH

AND WHO GO NO ASTRAY.

AMIN.

Faithfully, with all love and blessings,

Murshid Moineddin Jablonski