Old Jing Qui and Tan Kian Yit

Jing Qiu-The Barber

My friend sidi Mazli from Perbadanan Nasional Berhad recently sent me this moving story from modern atheistic China about the active saintly barber of Jing Qui aged over 90 years serving his mainly lonely and abandoned old men and couples in urban city of Beijing. He cycled around every month to regular customers to cut their hair, shave and cheer them up in the neirbourhood. It contain many lessons to us as younger men. He is a superior man according to the Tao or Confucian teaching. By mastering himself and serving others in his unique trade, this is a hidden futuwa. He did not speak about God or the Sages openly but imagine if he is a muslim at heart.

You see even the christian science monitor journalist try to capture this lost wisdom of noble fitra and accepting the Heaven Will. We cant give wealth or power or status to people but we can give them a little human warm recognition and love or service witha heart. Three days ago i walked across the Teluk Cempedak 1 km shore among hundreds of people, climb the rocks and hill, no affinity at all.Sat at a rock on the hillside doing the wird and then walk back touching the oncoming waves to my hotel when almost maghrib sang the lakal hamd and ahimu wahdi from heart.

O Allah how vast is the South China Sea
and how numerous are the sands, how small
and insignificant this nameless seeker at Chempedak Beach,
yet i am here at Hyatt hotel Kuantan
to attend the financial meeting of a sovereign state
All praise to You, Possessor of Hilm and Forgiveness
Increase us in blessings, light and unveilings
and strenghten us in irsyad with idhin and secrets



My old student Tan Kian Yit : The Lost Seeker

About ten years ago in 1995, we had met a young Chinese student from Petaling Jaya. He is a muslim at heart. Why. He declared in my night class his believe in Allah, the Messenger and the Revelation of the Quran, only he dared not to publicly among his friends and try to hide it from his family.

He is still studying and dependent on his family financial support. After my Monday class at Balai islam , Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur we had a long chat about his search for Islam while having a drink at the warung around 11.00 pm. After finishing A level here, he will be studying in England. Since then , we lost contact but he give us an email address. So this is our letter of advice to him paraphrasing Edwin Sumun Four Letters to The Eastern Empire.

Warmest greeting dear Tan Kian Yit,

Thanks for your two provoking articles. As you climb higher up the mountain, you will see a clearer view. Overcoming obstacles and hardship. A new vista and the feet on firm elevated ground on iman and knowledge about the Path of Allah. Of course don’t forget the Enemies are at every steps. Inside and outside. Those read the book by Niestzche : Thus Speak Zarathustra will understand what I mean. Or Mathnawi by Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi, he says : we write this book not to be read, but to be put under their feet (he means action) and fly to the highest Goal.

I am glad your final year exam is over. The mind is free to roam the world of maturity and self responsibility. A mumin is a man of freedom ,right action and fearless in the sense he know what to face the test of dunya.. this include attachment and dependent on something that hinders the journeying toward the Real. Take your time. No need to rush. As my teacher advised, the seeker in the beginning thirst for knowledge, feels correct and see many faults in others. But later he will know why and had compassion rather than criticisms. This is the second stage for action and wisdom. This is the moment when people listen to you. They see in you sincerity, determination and inward strength.


From my experience, you need to refine the adab of using the subtle language when addressing the Reality. We cannot assume and put some words as if we know God wanted it this way or that way. We are perplexed and in doubts when reading various books or hearsays. But this condition will fade away when your inner voice start to ask, praise and beseeching the Reality to keep you safe and certain on the siratal mustaqim. You will realize that true sufic teaching are the best guidance for healing this inward turbulent and trials.

Who is the seeker ? What qualities and characters the seeker had to acquire ? What knowledge does he desire and the service he had to undertake. I hope you can read more. Until the self said enough. Enough, I cant absorbed anymore. Give me adventure, give encounter, give actions and give me a genuine Master. Be careful, outside there hundred of self professings Gurus waiting to ambush you and put you in their sphere of influence. Heard of Master Dharma, Maharishi Yogi, Sai Baba, Master alHuang, Idris Shah, Fritjof Schuon, Madame Blavasky, Kebir Helminski, Eva Vitray, Reverend Moon, Billy Graham, Muhammad Subud, Nazim Haqqani, Ahmad Dede, Tijani and Halveti, Chistiyya, Tao of Physics, The Fourth Way, the Ennegram, Gurdjieff, Martin Lings, Rene Guenon, Amatullah Amstrong and many more… if not careful, the enemy will overpower us in a sweet many and embroiled muslims and non-muslims in endless conflicts.

Cyber wars of words are worst. The rebel forces of the Empire are using coded language to destroy the straight guys.Trilogy of the Rings getting more real. You see the fans are dressing exactly like the fiction characters because they are hollow spiritually so that they take pride and identity with what they fantasied.

The next encounter, I think the topic about attraction and secrets of the woman which overhelmed many of us will be the most suitable subject to explore. If we can maintain the yin-yang balance , perceptions and natural desires, it is a great victory to any seeker who crossed this path and still maintain his vigilant over its dangers.

Cai jian. Fasalamun
ala man tabaal huda.