I remember saying to Vincent (my Buddhist friend) a couple of months back, I told him that I was on a journey to find Islam. In my search, I went to different places and met different people both here at home and abroad. Many people who went on this spiritual journey went in search for something. For me, I acknowledged the fact that I found what I wanted to find before I went to Turkey and Cyprus. Hence I went without much expectations.
Using my brother’s words, I found that there are many dimensions of Islam which I hadn’t even known about before. In many respects, this trip had exceeded my expectations. I met many people from different walks of life. Everyone who was there was searching for an answer. I guess it was the inner peace which they were searching for. Many believe that by being around this man, they could find it. People I met on this trip ranged from those who dropped everything in London, including their construction company which had contracts with the councils to a prince of Malaysia who brought his music band to ex-prisoners. Oh, but you know what? There were too many white German people!
I guess nothing could really prepare yourself for meeting the shaykh the first time. Everyone wanted a spoonful of his spirituality. I had been told not to expect even to see him whilst I was there. However, for the 2 days in Cyprus, I managed to see him more than 30% of my time there. Every time I was in his presence, I was always within reaching distance of him without any obstruction of view. After Friday prayers, I found myself being the first to sit at his feet. Anyway, there were too many things on this trip I am still trying to absorb that perhaps it is a story for a different time.
On a side note, I finally asked my friend to bring me to Jerusalem to meet his Shaykh. I wonder when or if I will go, but anyway like many of these things, you cannot go unless you are spiritually invited.
Shaykh Nazim