Written on the occasion of the 55th Urs of Murshid S.A.M.
Dear family,
Urs Mubarrak.
It has been fifty-five years since Murshid’s passing.
He never publicly proclaimed himself until he was on his deathbed:
“For I am the first to be born in the West to have received the Divine Message….”
We went from a small sangha in the basement of his house on Precita to a world-spanning phenomenon.
Mashallah!
I was present on the evening he took on his last new group of mureeds. My girlfriend, and soon to be my first wife, Majid, was to be initiated. A large group was present, all dressed up and flowered, awaiting initiation.
And we waited and waited for Murshid to appear.
Finally, after an hour or so, he walked in the back door in tears.
“This is the end of my spiritual family, and the beginning of my world mission.”
The room fell silent.
Many years later, I have come to understand what he meant.
There were around a hundred of us, with perhaps thirty or so actively involved in his activities — not an insurmountable number to hold in consciousness.
But thousands upon thousands chanting the Divine Names and moving their bodies in harmony — what beauty!
All blessings upon his memory.
May God be pleased with him and allow his work to spread and flourish.
Yours in service to the Real,
His Hakim
Saul-uddin
