The Sheikhs of the Naqshbandi Order are known as the Golden Chain because of their connection to the highest, most perfect human being, Muhammad , the First to be created, the First to be mentioned, the First to be honored.
The mention of the name of the Prophet by Allah, Almighty and Exalted, is something which happened before the creation of anything, and its reality occurred in pre-Eternity. That is the reason the Prophet mentioned, “kuntu Nabiyyan wa adamu bayni-l-ma’i wa-t-tin” –
He is the Perfect Human Being. He is the Seal of all prophets and messengers. If it were not for him, no one would ever have known Allah, Almighty and Exalted. Never would the fabric of the universe have been woven into existence as it has been woven. About him, Allah has said, “Were it not for him I would not have created any of My creation.”
Sheikh Nazim has said "The whole universe has been created from the lights of Muhammad, peace be upon him, because he is the first creature. (Towards Allah Manifested Himself to). Allah Almighty catching one palm, one handful, from His Divinely Lights and saying '
...and beloved Muhammad appeared, peace be upon him. And from that Light Oceans Allah Almighty ordered to appear whole universes”Thus, the Prophet is the “one soul” mentioned in the Qur’anic verse, “[O Mankind] Your creation and your resurrection is in no wise but as an individual soul” [31:28].
Sheikh Nazim mentions that the Quran says that before all Prophets were sent to mankind from the spiritual world, they knew the last of Prophets, Muhammad (peace be upon him). Allah Almighty said to them, ‘He is the last, and the greatest Prophet. If he comes during your time, then you are not Prophets, you will be his followers! Do you accept this?’ And they said, ‘Yes!’ “Therefore, all Prophets know our Prophet (peace be upon him). They believe in him, and order their nations to believe in him also, in order that they may complete their faith as Prophets. They have ordered their nations to believe in all Prophets, past and future.”
The 124,000 Prophets who inherited the secret of Muhammad Rasoolullah (saw), were also Perfect Men. Each of these (Past) Prophets during his period of time was also perfect. Then, amongst the Prophets, Allah Almighty created key positions. Who are all of them representing? They are representing
Muhammad Rasoolullah (saw), and they are the Shadow of Muhammad (saw).
Even though the succession of prophet hood has spiraled to a climax, first with the advent of Jesus Christ, and then with the mission of the Seal of Prophets, Muhammed, (Peace be upon them all), whose duty it was to establish Divine Light throughout the world in a unified, universal way not possible in the earlier stages of the development of mankind, don’t think that access to Divine Knowledge is cut off.
Never! The Prophets of God have always been the leaders of spiritually illuminated people on earth, those who have been given the task of guiding initiates and mankind at large. Every one of them brought spiritual energy to this world, energy which did not leave this realm when they did, but remained as a beacon of light through the obscurity of this life. This light is not, as it were, unembodied, but incorporated in at least one spiritual heir in every period of human history.
Sheikh Nazim says
These Inheritors are connected spiritually with the Prophet whom they represent, and, consequently, when you meet them and are prepared to receive the transmission, you may receive a “photocopy” in your spiritual body and establish direct contact with that Prophet – you will be invited to his assembly"
“I was a Prophet when Adam was between water and clay.”
"He is the first creature that Allah Almighty created (& Manifested himself to), the first one that He spoke to, and Divine knowledge is, therefore, coming to all Prophets from the way of Muhammad (peace be upon him).”
"If a person seeks truth, Allah will lead him to such a beacon, to a meeting with an inheritor of a Prophet, whose particular guidance qualities suit his potentialities.
