THE IMPORTANCE OF SULOOK AND TASAWWUF IN ISLAM

BY SHAYKHUL ISLAM HAZRAT MAULANA SAYYED HUSSAIN AHMED

MADANI (rahimahullah)

“Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem”

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

“Fas Aloo Ahladh Dhikri In Kuntum Laa T’alamoona”

So ask the people of the message if you do not know. (al-Nahl, verse 43)

The Importance of Sulook and Tasawwuf in Islam

(An English rendering of an Urdu speech on Bay’ah and Tasawwuf in Islam, in the light
of the Qur’an and Sunnah. The speech was delivered in Madras, India by Shaykhul Islam
Hazrat Maulana Sayyed Hussain Ahmed Madani (rahimahullah), formerly Shaykhul
Hadith, Darul Uloom Deoband, India)

With a foreword by Sufi Muhammad Iqbal (hafizahullah), Khalifa e Majaz of Qutub ul

Aqtaab Shaykhul Hadith Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Zakariyya Khandhalwi
(rahimahullah)

FOREWORD

It was just one month before the death of Hazrat Shaykhul Hadith, Maulana Muhammad
Zakariyya (rahimahullah), when the Shaykh had recovered from illness and had resumed
visits to Haram Sharif, the Prophet’s (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) Mosque at Madinatul
Munawwarah, that one evening, in the beginning of Rajab, 1402 A.H., after Maghrib
Prayers, the tape recorded speech in Urdu of Hazrat Shaykhul Islam Maulana Sayyid
Hussain Ahmed Madani (rahimahullah) on Bay’ah, was played back to him (Hazrat
Shaykhul Hadith) in a select gathering of his Khuddam (disciples). Hazrat Shaykh
(rahimahullah) liked the speech very much and finding it of great value asked me to get it
printed.

From the recorded tape I wrote down the speech on paper in only a couple of days and
Dr. Muhammad Aslam (hafizahullah) assisted me in doing so. That done, I sent the script
along with the cassette to Hafiz Saghir Ahmed (hafizahullah), a Khalifa of Hazrat Shaykh
(rahimahullah) who lives in Lahore, Pakistan asking him to hand them over to Maulana
Abdul Ghani (hafizahullah), with the request to compare the written speech with the
record on tape. I considered him to be the best person to do it, as he had the honour to be
with Hazrat Madani (rahimahullah) since his boyhood days and was well conversant with
the distinctive features of Hazrat Madani’s (rahimahullah) voice, intonation and accent.

Maulana Abdul Ghani (hafizahullah) checked the script twice, first with the tape I had
sent him, then with another tape of the same speech that he had with him.

However, it could not be printed in the lifetime of Hazrat Shaykhul Hadith

(rahimahullah). The first Urdu edition “Bayat Ki Shari Haisiyat” was published in August
1983 from Lahore. Then its Arabic translation “Ahmiyat us Suluk wat Tasawwuf fil
Islam” followed.

In September last year I asked Professor Jalil Ahmed (hafizahullah), a disciple of mine, to
translate the speech into English. He began to translate it immediately but did it in fits
and starts. In November, he could not make any progress as he went down with a high
fever. One night he saw Hazrat Shaykhul Islam (rahimahullah) in a dream, who gave Jalil
syrup to drink and told him to inform me that I should write his biographical sketch on a
single sheet of paper and add it to the speech that was being translated in English. Jalil in
a letter related his dream to me, adding that his fever went down that very day.

Earlier, while the speech was being translated in Arabic, I myself had thought of adding a
note on the life of Hazrat Shaykhul Islam (rahimahullah), and with that purpose in mind
had copied a few pages on his life out of Nuzhatul Khawatir. But for the English
translation, as I had been instructed to limit the sketch to only one leaf, I kept strictly to
the limit as further I thought that instead of a detailed biographical account, only a few
events from the lives of Awliya e Ummat, together with a few of their utterances, were
sufficient by way of guidance for the Urdu and English speaking Muslims.

But for a few re-arrangements in the sequence, the English translation is almost literal
and is very close to the original text. Technical terms and phrases (in Arabic, Persian, and
Urdu) that a Muslim should know and understand have not been translated, but have been
arranged in a glossary at the end of the pamphlet. Efforts have also been made to
transliterate Arabic words into English letters.

I hope, inshallah, that the pamphlet will be of great value and interest for the English-
speaking people.

Muhammad Iqbal
Madinatul Munawwarah
April 1984.

Life Sketch of Shaykhul Islam Hazrat Maulana Sayyid Hussain Ahmed Madani
(rahimahullah)
Born in 1296 A.H. and died in 1377 A.H. Hazrat Shaykhul Hadith Maulana Muhammad
Zakariyya (rahimahullah), in his book “Al I’tedal fi Maratib ir Rijal”, writes: -

“Amirul Hind Hazrat Madani (rahimahullah) completed his education in Islamic theology
in 1314 A.H. Thereafter he spent the whole period of his life in teaching, in spiritual
attainments and imprisonment in India and abroad”.

In his struggle against the British masters, he was sent to prison more than once. In the
famous Karachi trial he was sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment. In this case,
the court at first recorded the statement of a most famous and sincere leader of the
Muslims, Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar (rahimahullah), in which he said, “I have
supported a person whom I am proud to call my master and my elder and he is Maulana
Sayyid Hussain Ahmed Madani (rahimahullah)”. Then the long statement of Hazrat
Shaykhul Islam (rahimahullah) was recorded in which he said, “I will be the first to lay
down my life for the cause of Islam”. When he uttered these words, Maulana Muhammad
Ali Jauhar (rahimahullah) came forward and kissed his feet. Away from India, Hazrat
Shaykhul Islam (rahimahullah) spent three years in exile in a prison on Malta Island, with
Hazrat Shaykhul Hind Maulana Mahmudul Hasan (rahimahullah).

Hazrat Shaykhul Hadith (rahimahullah) writes at some other place, “During the initial
stages of teaching in Madinatul Munawwarah, Hazrat Madani (rahimahullah) led a very
hard life. For many years during certain periods, he taught twelve to thirteen lessons in a
day and had hardly two or three hours sleep in the twenty four hours, the only free time
when he was not teaching or studying”.

All these lessons he taught were in Hadith, Tafseer, and Fiqh. He also wrote Fatwa in the
nights. All this work was done just in the cause of Allah without any remuneration. Thus
he taught for thirteen long years under the shadow of the Green Dome.

Hazrat Shaykhul Hadith (rahimahullah) continues, “This much about ‘Uloom. In Sulook
he had the fathomless sea if ‘Ishq and Ma’rifah (gnosis) in the pious and noble company
of Shaykhul ‘Arab wal ‘Ajam Hazrat Haji Imdadullah (rahimahullah) and for long he
remembered the name of Allah in loud voice, in the blessed seclusion of Masjid ul Ijabah
in the holy city of Madinah”. In those days forests surrounded the Masjid, but now it
forms the suburbs of Madinah Sharif. “Then he perfected Sulook under the guidance of
Qutubul Irshad Hazrat Gangohi (rahimahullah)”.

In his twenty-second year, two years after the Bay’ah, Hazrat Gangohi (rahimahullah)
called him from Madinatul Munawwarah and conferred Khilafah on him and himself put
the Dastar e Khilafat on his head. It should also be kept in mind that of all the illustrious
elders, Hazrat Gangohi (rahimahullah) had a higher standard for, and used more care and
caution in, conferring Khilafah and Ijaazah on his disciples.

Hazrat Maulana ‘Ashiq Ilahi (rahimahullah) in Tadhkiratur Rashid writes, “By the grace
of Allah Maulana Hussain Ahmed Madani (rahimahullah), also known as Shaykul
Haram, won great fame for his teaching in Haram un Nabwi and Allah has given him
such honour, that, not to mention ‘Ulema from India, even among the ‘Ulema from
Yemen, Syria, and Madinah, none is his compeer.

“Dhaalika Fadhlullahi Yu’teehi Mayn Yashaa”

This is from the bounty of Allah. He gives to whom He pleases.

He is very gentle, hospitable, modest and possesses such rare qualities as fill a person
with wonder on knowing him”.

At another place Hazrat Shaykhul Hadith (rahimahullah) writes about him, “Who can
compare with a person to whom it is the same whether he is on a journey or at home,
whether it is day or night; who needs no rest, and is never tired. It so happened, in this
last Hajj, that he left Hijaz for Karachi and after two days non-stop journey he reached
Deoband at five o’clock and taught a lesson, on Bukhari, to his students at six o’clock.
Only last year, for fifteen days, he travelled hundreds of miles every day and at the same
time delivered many speeches. It was only two years ago that he promised to deliver a
series of weekly lectures on Seerah and for months together he came every week, all the
way from Deoband to Saharanpur to deliver a lecture, which lasted till 1:00 A.M. Then he
would wake up by himself at 3:00 A.M. to catch a train for the return journey and would
again deliver lectures for two to three hours to his students in the morning”.

In 1346 A.H. while Hazrat Madani (rahimahullah) was in Calcutta, certain developments
took place, which threatened the very existence of Darul Uloom, Deoband. To meet the
exigency, Hakimul Ummah Hazrat Thanwi (rahimahullah) recommended Hazrat Madani
(rahimahullah) as the rector of the Darul Uloom, with lavish praises. Hazrat Madani
(rahimahullah) joined the Darul Uloom and consequently Allah showered much
prosperity and progress on the institution.

In 1366 A.H. after the British were expelled from India, Hazrat (rahimahullah) retired
from politics, and severed all connections with the politicians and the Government. In
1373 A.H. the President of the Indian Republic telegraphically conferred a title on him,
but he refused it, saying that it was against the way of his elders.

During the struggle for the independence of India the British rulers and their henchmen,
due to which the Muslims had to face many troubles, committed many mistakes. Their
religious centres and institutions were threatened with extinction and the common
Muslims were exposed to apostasy. Even before some Muslims living in the areas of non-
Muslim majority became Murtad, Hazrat Shaykhul Islam (rahimahullah) had forewarned
them of all these dangers. To avert these dangers and to safeguard the interests of
Muslims and ensure their prosperity and the progress of Islam, he proposed a very useful
and wise plan, which is known as “Madani Formula”. But the British conspiracy was
successful and they took full vengeance on the Muslims who had expelled them from
India. In that hour of dire need, Hazrat (rahimahullah) did not turn away from the
Muslims on the ground that it was their own doing but continued to help and guide them
as a kind preacher and not only exterminated apostasy with his enlightening exhortations,
but enriched the misguided souls with furbished faith.
To meet the need of a changed situation he exerted all his spiritual force and gave his
whole attention to and prayed to Allah for, the prosperity of Pakistan and of the Indian
and Pakistani Muslims. No doubt what he did was worthy of such a pious and noble
person as Hazrat (rahimahullah) was, and Inshallah, this will lead him to a greater glory
and recompense in the hereafter. As for his adversaries, they will be benefited by the
blessings of Hazrat (rahimahullah), only when they confess their excesses and repent of
them instead of foolishly extolling them.

The number of his pupils or those taught by them exceeds tens of thousands; and those
who got Ijazat e Hadith in Darul Uloom is 3,856. In the field of Sulook and spiritual
attainment his disciples are countless, and thousands of them are those who attained
Nisbat. He has 167 Kholafa e Majaz who by the grace of Allah still guide men to the
divine path.

In his last years, modesty and devotion to Deen became the predominant feature of his
character. He could not tolerate to see or hear anything contrary to Shariah or Sunnah. He
had become very tender hearted and had entirely humbled himself before Allah, and in
this condition he left this world on the 13th Jamadi ul Awwal, 1377 A.H. His Namaz e
Janazah was conducted by Shaykhul Hadith Maulana Zakariyya (rahimahullah).

I close this account on a “Basharat”, a happy vision, which Shaykhul Hadith

(rahimahullah) entered in his “Roznamcha”, when it was related to him some two months
before his death.

Hazrat Maulana Abdul Hafeez Makki (hafizahullah) had the honour of seeing Rasulullah
(sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) in a vision. He saw Hazrat Madani (rahimahullah) was also
standing there. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, “He is Shaykhul Islam wal
Muslimeen; a champion of Liberty, a Mujahid, a unique person. He at one and the same
time imparted religious education while fighting the infidels at one end and waged war
against false sects at the other. His followers are on the right path”.

“Wa sallallahu ta’aalaa Khairi Khalqihi Sayyidina wa Maulaanaa Muhammadin wa

Aalihi wa Sahbihi Ajma’een”

“Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem”

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

“Alhamdu Lillahi wa Kafaa wa Salaamun ‘alaa ‘Ebaadihil Ladheenas Tafaa”

Praise be to Allah, and peace upon His servants whom He has chosen. (an-Naml, verse
59)

I have been asked to express my views on Bay’ah and Suluk e Tariqat. People think that
Bay’ah is against Shariah and our illustrious Master Hazrat Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi
wa sallam) did not preach it. The misconception that it is against the teachings and
practice of Rasulullah (sallallahi ‘alaihi wa sallam) is due to the fact that the ways and
deeds of the spiritual guides and masters of Tasawwuf of today are contrary to Shariah.
Bay’ah is simply an oath of allegiance.

Evidence of Bay’ah from the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah

Bay’ah is a promise or an oath taken from a person to carry out acts and ordinances of
Shariah. It may be about all the acts and ordinances or specifically about any one of them.
As ordered by Allah, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alahi wa sallam) executed it and asked his
followers to swear fealty to him on various occasions.

Bay’ah for Jihad

At Hudaybiyya Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) had taken a promise from his
followers that in case of encounter with the enemy they would not run away from the
battlefield but would fight to death. The Holy Qur’an mentions it in the Suratul Fath.

“La Qad Radhiyallahu ‘Anil Mu’mineena Idh Yubaaye’oonaka Tahtash Shajarati Fa

‘Alima Maa Fi Quloobihim Fa Anzalas Sakeenata ‘Alaihim Wa Athaabahum Fathun
Qareebun”
Certainly was Allah pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you, (O
Muhammad), under the tree, and He knew what was in their hearts, so He sent down
tranquillity upon them and rewarded them with an imminent conquest. (al-Fath, verse 18)

When Hazrat Salma bin ‘Akwa (radhiyallahu’anhu) was asked about the nature of Bay’ah
pronounced under the tree at Hudaybiyya, he said, “(It was) on death”. That is they would
not run away from the battlefield but would fight to the death.

Allah, through the Qur’an, reveals them the happy news that He was well pleased with
them, and knowing what was in their hearts sent down tranquillity on them and rewarded
them with a victory.

Likewise, there is another reference to Bay’ah in the same Surah.

“Innaladheena Yubaayi’oonaka Inna Maa Yubaayi’oonallaha Yadullahi Fawqa Aydeehim

Faman Nakatha Fa Inna Maa Yankuthu ‘Alaa Nafsihee Wa Man Awfaa Bimaa ‘Aahada
‘Alaihullaha Fasay’uteehu Ajrun ‘Adheemun”
Indeed, those who pledge allegiance to you, (O Muhammad) - they are actually pledging
allegiance to Allah. The Hand of Allah is over their hands. So he who breaks his word
only breaks it to the detriment of himself. And he who fulfils that which he has promised
Allah-He will give him a great reward. (al-Fath, verse 10)

This Bay’ah was for Jihad at Hudaybiyya and was sworn at the Holy hand of Rasulullah
(sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam).
Bay’ah for Abstaining from the Major Sins

Yet there is another type of Bay’ah mentioned in the Holy Qur’an in Surat ul
Mumtahinah.

“Yaa Ayyuhan Nabiyyu Idhaa Jaa Akalmu’minaatu Yubaay’inaka ‘Alaa Al Laa Yushrikna
Billahi Shay An Wa Laa Yusriqna Wa Laa Yuzneena Wa Laa Yaqtulna Aulaadahunna Wa
Laa Ya’teena Bi Buhtaanin Yaftareenahoo Bayna Aydeehinna Wa Arjulihinna Wa Laa
Y’aseenaka Fi M’aroofin Fabaayi’hunna Was Taghfirlahunnallaha”
O Prophet, when the believing women come to you pledging to you that they will not
associate anything with Allah, nor will they steal, nor will they commit unlawful sexual
intercourse, nor will they kill their children, nor will they bring forth a slander they have
invented between their arms and legs, nor will they disobey you in what is right - then
accept their pledge and ask forgiveness for them of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and
Merciful. (al-Mumtahinah, verse 12)

Thus this Bay’ah was introduced by the command of Allah.

“Fabaayi’hunna Was Taghfirlahunnallaha”

Then accept their pledge and ask forgiveness for them of Allah. (al-Mumtahinah, verse
12)

Bay’ah for Different Ordinances and Acts of Shari’ah

Before Hijrah when twelve Ansaar leaders came to Makkah tul Mukarramah, Rasulullah
(sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) imparted them instructions on Deen. One of them, Hazrat
‘Abaida bin Samit (radhiyallahu’anhu), reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa
sallam) said to us.

“Baayi’oonee ‘Alaa Al Laa Tushrikoo Billahi Shay An Wa Laa Tasriqoo Wa Laa Taznoo”
“Do you swear fealty to me that you shall not associate anything with Allah, nor steal, nor
commit fornication?”

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) took an oath from them, the twelve leaders,
about different things pertaining to helping and defending him and added that: -

“Whoever keeps his promise, Allah would forgive him and would grant him paradise, and
whoever broke his promise and was punished here for it he would be forgiven in the
hereafter; but if such a person who disobeyed and was not punished here, then Allah is all
powerful, either to forgive him or to punish him in the hereafter, as He willed.”

Bay’ah is mentioned at length in the Holy Qur’an and Hadith. There are various instances
where Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) has received Bay’ah from people about all
the acts and ordinances of Shari’ah in general, or about a few specific items. For
example, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) received Bay’ah from some of his
Ashaab (radhiyallahu’anhum), pious companions, that they would not ask for or beg
anything from anyone. The Sahabi (radhiyallahu’anhu), who swore that oath, was so firm
in keeping it to the letter, that he would not ask anyone to pick up his whip, if he dropped
it incidentally, instead he would alight from his horse and would himself pick up his
whip. Hazrat Jarir bin ‘Abdullah al-Bajali (radhiyallahu’anhu), says that Rasulullah
(sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) asked him to take an oath to wish well and to do well to
every Muslim always. He would always offer good counsel to every Muslim, where it
was necessary. There is nothing new about Bay’ah. Many instances in the Holy Qur’an
and Hadith literature confirm it. It has been handed down to us from the days of
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam).

Bay’ah e Tariqat

Bay’ah e Tariqat is also a kind of Bay’ah whose origin we trace back to Rasulullah
(sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). It is a promise that is made to obey steadfastly all the
ordinances and acts of Shari’ah, to abstain from the unlawful, to perform Dhikr, the
constant recollection of Allah, and to worship Allah with full devotion and utmost
submission.

Bay’ah is a constant tradition in Islam and has remained prevalent ever since the days of
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). A few God fearing pious and select people have
always been there to have the promise on the oath of allegiance made to them from the
Muslim Ummah. Actually to become Mureed to a Pir, for spiritual guidance, is nothing
but the same as Bay’ah for which the Mureed puts his hands in the hands of a Shaykh and
takes the oath of allegiance.

It is not for every one to accept Bay’ah. In former times only that person was thought fit
to be a Shaykh, and the general Muslims would swear fealty only to him, who faithfully
obeyed the divine acts and laws of Shari’ah, abstained from wickedness, sins and Bid’ah,
had acquired Nisbat e Batini and had abandoned the wealth of the world and the
temptations of the body by entering in the service of some Wali, who was his Murshid.

Of all the Sahaba (radhiyallahu’anhum), only a select few accepted Bay’ah. The Khulafa
e Rashideen and particularly Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu’anhu) are the fountainheads of this
way. After Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu’anhu), Hazrat Hasan Basri (rahimahullah) and then
his Kholafa through the succeeding generations kept the tradition alive. The Khalifa who
had the promise or oath of allegiance made to him was called Pir. Pir, a Persian word, is
literally an old man. Shaykh is its Arabic equivalent. Pir is neither the first name of a
person nor his family name nor that of a person who follows a particular cult. Any person
who is old and experienced, has spent a lot of his time in obeying the commands of Allah
and Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) with due submission and sincerity, in
prayers, meditation and Dhikr that have created a love of Allah in his heart, a close
relationship and concord with Him, a Nisbat, resulting in the absence of desire for
worldly possessions, deserves that fealty is sworn to him to carry out the acts and
ordinances of Shari’ah. And such a person is a Shaykh or a Pir.
Pirs: False & True

With the passage of time as there comes a decline in every sphere of human activity
which gives birth to persons who pretend to have knowledge, equal to the real masters, so
it happened in the field of ‘Ilm as well as Tariqah. A person who does not adhere to the
dictates of Shari’ah or Sunnah is not good enough to be a Pir. The Holy Qur’an says:

“Ya Ayyuhaladheena Aamanut Taqullaha Wa Koonoo M’as Saadiqeena”

O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are true. (al-Tawbah, verse
119)

Saadiqeen are the persons who are truthful both towards Allah and towards the people,
His slaves. They have no deceit or pretensions and are steadfast and true in their
obedience and submission to Allah. It is with them that Allah orders us to be. And they
alone are fit to become Pirs.

“Koonoo M’as Saadiqeena”

Be with those who are true. (al-Tawbah, verse 119)

In this context let us consider another verse of the Holy Qur’an that reads:

“Ya Ayyuhaladheena Aamanut Taqullaha Wabtaghoo Elayhil Waseelata Wa Jaahidoo Fi

Sabeelihee La’allakum Tuflihoona”
O you who have believed, fear Allah and seek the means (of nearness) to Him and strive
in His cause that you may succeed. (al-Maaidah, verse 35)

“Wabtaghoo Elayhil Waseelata”

And seek the means (of nearness) to Him. (al-Maaidah, verse35)

In the verse the Mu’mins, those who have Imaan, have been ordered to become pious and
to seek Wasila, a means to please Allah.

The experts in Tafseer agree that Wasila in this verse stands for a Murshid, a source of
help that may win you the blessings and pleasure of Allah. And it is in his company that
you have been ordered to be, in the previous verse.

“Koonoo M’as Saadiqeena”

Be with those who are true. (al-Tawbah, verse 119)

If we read both the verses together we come to the conclusion that after Imaan, a mention
has been made of Taqwa. After a Mu’min achieves these two qualities he has been
ordered to seek a Wasila, that is the Murshid, and to obey his commands. The next order
is to persevere in the way of Allah, to strive hard, to act against one’s Nafs and to
sacrifice the life of ease and comfort. Wasila is the third thing that has been mentioned
besides Iman and Taqwa. It is nothing but the search of a Murshid and to obey him. The
fourth thing, that has been ordered here, is to strive hard in the way of Allah to win His
pleasure.

Thus we can easily conclude that there is nothing new in Tasawwuf or Tariqah and there
is no innovation. The acts and ordinances of Tasawwuf, Dhikr, prayer, meditation and
austerities form a continuous tradition and may be traced back to Rasulullah (sallallahu
‘alaihi wa sallam).

“Wa Jaahidoo Fi Sabeelihee”

And strive in His cause. (al-Maaidah, verse 35)

Strive hard in His cause is what Allah orders. Jihad, means to strive, to struggle hard.

Hadith e Jibreel (Sulook and Ihsan)

It is reported by the great companion ‘Umar (radhiyallahu’anhu) that one day while we
were sitting with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) there appeared before us a man
whose clothes were exceedingly white and whose hair was exceedingly black; no signs of
journeying were to be seen on him and none of us knew him. He walked up and sat down
by the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). Resting his knees against his and placing
the palms of his hands on his thighs, he said:

“Ya Muhammad Akhbirnee ‘Anil Islam”

O Muhammad, tell me about Islam.

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:

“Al Islaamu An Tashhada An Laa Ilaaha Illallahu Wa Anna Muhammadar Rasulullahi Wa

Tuqeemas Salaata Wa Tu’tiyaz Zakaata Wa Tasooma Ramadhaana Wa Tahujjal Bayta Inis
Tat’ata Elayhi Sabeelun”
Islaam is to testify that there is no deity but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of
Allah, to perform the prayers, to pay the Zakaah, to fast in Ramadhaan, and to make the
pilgrimage to the House if you are able to do so.

He said, “You have spoken truthfully”; and we were amazed at him asking him and
saying that he had spoken truthfully. He then said:

“Fa Akhbirnee ‘Anil Imaan”

Tell me about Imaan.

He (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:

“An Tu’mina Billahi Wa Malaaikatihee Wa Kutubihee Wa rusulihee Wal Yaumil Aakhiri

Wa Tu’mina Bil Qadari Khairihee Wa sharrihee”
It is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day, and to
believe in divine destiny, both the good and the evil thereof. .
He said, “You have spoken truthfully”. He then said:

“Fa Akhbirnee ‘Anil Ihsaan”

Tell me about Ihsaan.

He (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:

“An T’abudallaha Ka Annaka Taraahu Fa Illam Takun Taraahu Fa Innahoo Yaraaka”

It is to worship Allah as though you are seeing Him, and while you see Him not, yet truly
He sees you.

Thus Ihsan as defined by our illustrious Master Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam)
is that ‘Ibadat should be done with deep sense of devotion and with humble submission
as if you see Allah just before you. When a servant or slave knows that his master is
present and watching him, he pays full attention to his work and does it with utmost care,
but becomes slack and careless if the master is not present. In case you feel that you
cannot see Allah then there should be no doubt in it that He sees you all the time and also
all your deeds and actions. Hence you should have the same devotion in ‘Ibadah that you
would have if you knew He were watching you. The slave who performs his duty
punctiliously in the presence of his master does so, because the master is watching him.

Ihsan is a quality of exalted rank and in the Hadith is the third important question that
Hazrat Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam) asks Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam).

The Holy Qur’an mentions Ihsan, in different verses, with great praise. A few of them are
quoted below:

“Inna Rahmatallahi Qareebum Minal Muhsineena”

Indeed, the mercy of Allah is near to the doers of good. (al-A’raaf, verse 56)

“Lilla Dheena Ahsanul Husnaa Wa Ziyaadata”

For them who have done good is the best (reward) - and extra. (Yunus, verse 26)

“Innallaha Ma’alladheenat Taqaw Walladheena Hum Muhsinoon”

Indeed, Allah is with those who fear Him and those who are doers of good. (an-Nahl,
verse 128)

“Wa Yajziyalladheena Ahsanoo Bil Husnaa”

And recompense those who do good with the best (reward). (an-Najm, verse 31)

“Hal Jazaaul Ihsaani Illal Ihsaan”

Is the reward for good (anything) but good? (ar-Rahman, verse 60)

To Achieve Ihsan is the Chief Aim of Tasawwuf

Ihsan is one of the four important duties assigned by Allah to Rasulullah (sallallahu
‘alaihi wa sallam). These have been mentioned at three or four places in the Holy Qur’an.

“Yatloo ‘Alaihim Aayaatika Wa Yu’allimuhumul Kitaaba Wal Hikmata Wa Yuzakkeehim”

He will recite to them Your verses and teach them the Book and wisdom and purify them.
(al-Baqarah, verse 129)

“Yatloo ‘Alaihim Aayaatika”

He will recite to them Your verses.

Firstly, he (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) recites to the people verses from the Holy Qur’an
as and when they are revealed.

“Wa Yu’allimuhumul Kitaaba”

And teach them the Book.

Secondly, he (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) teaches the words of Allah and explains to
them the meaning of the Holy Qur’an.

“Wal Hikmata”
And wisdom.

Thirdly, he (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) interprets the philosophy or the underlying idea
of every commandment of Allah with its reasons and consequences.

“Yuzakkeehim”
And purify them.

And fourthly, he (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) purges the hearts of the people of their
impurities and purifies and polishes them.

Ihsan and its Attainment during the Lifetime of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam)

In the lifetime of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) it was very easy to attain Ihsan.
A Muslim, without making any effort, would attain it, just by being in the company of
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). This was due to the extraordinary spiritual force
of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) that in his presence, the heart of a Muslim
was so charged with the love of Allah that he would forget all else. The following story
will illustrate this point: -

On the continuous absence of Hazrat Hanzalah (radhiyallahu’anhu) for a few days

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) out of the great regard he had for his
companions, asked:

“Ma Fa’ala Hanzalah”

How is Hanzalah?

As nobody knew it Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (radhiyallahu’anhu) said, “I will go and
find out”. He went to the house of Hazrat Hanzalah (radhiyallahu’anhu) and said to his
wife, “Where is Hanzalah?” She said, “He is in his small room”. He said, “Is he alright?”
She said, “He is all right, but downcast”. On entering the cell he found that Hazrat
Hanzalah (radhiyallahu’anhu) sat with eyes down cast and all wet with tears. He said,
“What is the matter with you?”

Hazrat Hanzalah (radhiyallahu’anhu) replied:

“Naafaqa Hanzalah”
“Hanzalah has become a Munaafiq”

On further questioning he said, “When we are with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa

sallam) and he talks about the Heaven, the Hell, the Hereafter, and the Last Day, I feel as
if I see all these things with my eyes; my heart is solely turned to Allah, but as soon as I
reach home and am with my wife and children the condition of my heart undergoes a
change. Is this not Nifaaq?”

Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (radhiyallahu’anhu) said, “Same is the case with me”. He too
started weeping. Both of them wept for a while then Hazrat Siddeeq (radhiyallahu’anhu)
said, “It is no use to sit here and weep. Let us go to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa
sallam) and tell him all about it”. Both of them came to the Holy Prophet (sallallahu
‘alaihi wa sallam) and revealed to him the whole truth. On hearing it, Rasulullah
(sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, “If you always remain the same as you are in my
presence and in my company, the angels shall shake hands with you in your beds. These
are two different conditions: one, when you are in my presence and the other, when you
leave me”. This can be explained by the example of the sun. An object, facing the sun,
with the light on it becomes radiant and luminous, but when it is removed from the sun
the radiance vanishes into thin air. All those Muslims who came to the Holy Prophet
(sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) with due sincerity, had their hearts purged of impurities,
love of worldly possessions and Ghaflat. This was due to the impact of the great spiritual
force radiating from the mighty heart of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) on the
hearts and minds of his companions (radhiyallahu’anhum) and the impact was according
to their respective capabilities. But a change used to take place in their conditions, the
moment they were left alone. This has been shown in one Hadith reported by Hazrat Anas
(radhiyallahu’anhu):

“Qaala Lammaa Kaanal Yaumalladhee Dakhala Feehi Rasulullahi Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wa

Sallam Almadeenata Adhyaaunm Minhaa Kulla Shayin Falamma Kaanal Yaumalladhee
Maata Feehi Azhlama Minhaa Kulla Shayin Wa Lafaqnaa Aydeenaa ‘Anit Turaabi Wa
Ana Lafaa Dafnahu Hattaa Ankanaa Quloobanaa”

As Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) entered the city of Madinatul Munawwarah

we noted that every thing became bright and effulgent and it remained so as long as
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) lived. But we perceived a change in our hearts,
though we had hardly cleaned our hands after burying Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa
sallam)

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) was the bright sun of the spiritual powers. The
condition of one’s heart used to undergo an immediate change as soon as one attended his
pious company. There is a general consensus, among Ahl us Sunnah wal Jama’ah, that
Sahabi, if he had the honour of being with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) even
for a few minutes is far superior even to the greatest Wali and pious person of a later
period. (The reason for such change has been explained by Hazrat Shaykhul Hadith
Maulana Muhammad Zakariyya (rahumahullah) as: The Glow and effulgence
experienced in the direct communication of divine grace, and in the contemplation of
divine essence, in the Holy presence of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) came to
an end. Even today in the company of Mashaaikh we can experience a spiritual light,
which dies out as we leave their company. It is to create and retain this divine grace that
Adhkaar and Muraaqabah are now prescribed, but were not required in the time of
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). The phenomenon of change and decline was
interpreted by Hazrat Hanzalah (radhiyallahu’anhu) and Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq
(radhiyallahu’anhu), due to their intense love for Imaan, as Nifaaq, which, for their
satisfaction, they referred to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). Love breads a
thousand suspicions.)

It was sufficient for the spiritual attainment just to be present in the Holy company of
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) as a sincere Muslim, as his spiritual force was
more intense and speedy that lightening in dispelling the darkness of the hearts and minds
and in irradiating them. Therefore it was unnecessary to practise the austerities, a later
development, for the attainment of Ihsan.

But, as Hazrat Anas (radhiyallahu’anhu) has reported, in the above quoted Hadith, after
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) left this world there was a decline. The spiritual
light of the Sahaba (radhiyallahu’anhum) which they had enkindled from Rasulullah
(sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) waned as that luminous orb set and disappeared. Farther as
the Muslims were being removed from the time of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa
sallam) dimmer was becoming the spiritual light and force of their hearts and souls in
proportion to their being remote. With the passage of time the hearts became so rusted
and thickly coated with the dust and dirt of the worldly indulgence and decrease of
spiritualism, that like neglected utensils, it became difficult to clean and polish them.
Naturally added efforts and special methods were required if one was keen to burnish
them, without which it was not possible to attain Ihsan, and Ihsan is the sole aim of
Tasawwuf, as mentioned before in Hadith e Jibreel.

With this end in view, the great masters and Imams of Tasawwuf like Hazrat Shaykh
Abdul Qadir Jaylaani (rahimahullah), Khawaja Moeen ud Din Chisti (rahimahullah),
Hazrat Junaid Baghdadi (rahimahullah), Hazrat Shibli (rahimahullah) and Siri Siqti
(rahimahullah) with their varied experience evolved a course of Dhikr, devotions and
austere practises for their followers. Some of us without understanding their aim and
significance erroneously raise objections to them. It is said that the forms of Dhikr like
Bara Tasbeeh, Pas Anfas, and Muraaqabah (contemplation) as are prevalent in
Naqshbandiyyah, Qadiriyyah, and other Sufi orders are all Bid’ah as they are not
mentioned in any Hadith but it is incorrect.

To Devise New Means to Achieve the End is not Bid’ah

In the days of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) only swords, lances, bows and
arrows were used in Jihad. Guns, artillery, aircrafts and rockets etc. were not known to
them. Today if Muslims wage Jihad as commanded by Shari’ah would you disallow the
use of these sophisticated modern weapons on the plea that they were not used in the days
of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). Is so, then, will not the enemy roast you from
a distance without ever allowing you to use your outdated weapons? Must we not procure
such weapons as are used by our enemy? Does not the Qur’an order us?

“Wa A’iddoo Lahum Masta T’atum Min Qoowatin Wa Mir Ribaatil Khayli Turhiboona
Bihee ‘Adoowallahi Wa ‘Adoowakum”
And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which
you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy. (al-Anfaal, verse 60)

The real aim of Jihad is to exalt the word of Allah and to defeat the enemy. It does not
matter what force and which kind of weapons you use.

Like wise during the days of our illustrious master Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa
sallam) or the period near it a little, Dhikr or a little act of devotion and prayer were
enough for achieving the desired aim. Now, as we have been removed far away from that
glorious period, our hearts have become more rusted and therefore to clean and polish
them it is necessary to have a course of different austere practises and complete
absorption in Dhikr, Pas Anfas and Dhikr e Qalbi. Our aim is the same to obtain Ihsan,
but the methods and techniques are different to suit our times needs.

Example of Diacritical Marks on the Holy Qur’an

In the time of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) there were no diacritical marks on
the Holy Qur’an. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) dictated the text of the Holy
Qur’an, as and when it was revealed. Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (radhiyallahu’anhu)
collected it, on parchment etcetera, and Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu’anhu) arranged it
but even then it was without diacritical marks. The pious Sahaba (radhiyallahu’anhum),
whose mother tongue was Arabic, correctly recited the Holy Qur’an with ease, without
the vowel and diacritical marks just as we read Urdu today. But as a Bengali, a Burmese
or an Indonesian can not read Urdu correctly, we cannot correctly recite the Holy Qur’an
without the diacritical and vowel marks.

But soon, after the time of Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu’anhu), due to growing contacts
with other peoples, it became necessary that the diacritical marks be put on the written
text of the Holy Qur’an. Now, who but a simpleton will call it a Bid’ah, reasoning out
that it was not done in the days of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam).

We have been ordered to recite the Holy Qur’an and to understand it. Today even an
Arab, a native of Makkah and Madinah, whose native tongue is Arabic cannot recite the
Holy Qur’an accurately without the diacritical marks. Just as we must learn Arabic
grammar, morphology and lexicography, today they also are equally required to learn
them. The essence of the order to us is to recite the Holy Qur’an and to understand it. Can
we carry out the order by insisting that the Holy Qur’an be without diacritical marks?

We have been ordered to perform Hajj. In olden days camels were used as transport.
Today we travel by buses, cars or even planes. Now if a fool insists that he will travel on
a camel, while he wants to perform Hajj from India, will it be possible? Just the same, on
reaching Jeddah we have to travel by buses or cars. Since our aim is to reach Ka’bah,
little does it matter what kind of transport we use. None will be Bid’ah. Only the means
have changed with the change of times, not the aim.

If a person is asked to bake the bread, it is not necessary that he should always use the
same kind of fuel to light the fire. He may use firewood, coal, dung-cakes or any other
kind of fuel readily available to him, because the main object is to bake the bread, not the
use of a particular kind of fuel.

To conclude; as in the days of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), the hearts were
less rusted, these Adhkaar that were developed by our experienced Masters of later age,
were not required to attain Ihsan. Therefore, it is a mistake to call them Bid’ah. Thus the
use of new and appropriate means to achieve the fundamental aim, if it remains
unchanged, constitutes the components of a Sunnah.

In the Holy Qur’an special emphasis has been put on Dhikr, at many places. To quote few
examples:

“Fa Izaa Qadhaytumus Salaata Fadhkurullaha Qiyaamun Wa Qu’oodun Wa ‘Alaa

Junoobikum”
And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or (lying) on
your sides. (an-Nisaa, verse 103)

There is no limit to this Dhikr and no particular Dhikr is prescribed. You are free to recite
in any manner you like, with Darb or without it.

“Allahu” “Laa Ilaaha Illallaahu” “Subhaanallah”

Qur’an says:

“Yaa Ayyuhalladheena Aamanudh Kurullaha Dhikrun Katheerun”

O you who believed, remember Allah with much remembrance. (al-Ahzaab, verse 41)

“Fadh Kuroonee Adhkurkum Washkuroolee Wa Laa Tukfuroona”

So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me. (al-
Baqarah, verse 152)

In the last mentioned verse, no particular kind of Dhikr is mentioned. Only this much has
been mentioned “Remember Me”. Therefore none of the kinds of Adhkaar, as have been
evolved by our Masters and Elders, like recollection of Allah in every breath, or Dhikr e
Qalbi, Roohi, Sir, or Khafi etcetera, will be considered as Bid’ah.

It is a mistake to call the correct practises of Tasawwuf as Bid’ah. The aim of Tasawwuf
is to attain Ihsan, and the means and methods employed to do so, if they are not contrary
to Shari’ah, are to be considered as the constituents of Shari’ah.

Means Contrary to Shari’ah are Forbidden

True, it is improper to allow things that are unlawful in Shari’ah and Rasulullah
(sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and his Ashaab (radhiyallahu’anhum) have forbidden them.
But those that are not forbidden are a part of Sunnah. To consider Bay’ah as something
contrary to Shari’ah is a mistake. Just consider the verse in the Holy Quran:

“Ya Ayyuhaladheena Aamanut Taqullaha Wabtaghoo Elayhil Waseelata”

O you who have believed, fear Allah and seek the means (of nearness) to Him. (al-
Maaidah, verse 35)

The Migration of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam)

What is Wasilah? Wasilah is a means to achieve success and to obtain the object. For
example while going on a journey you must take a guide who knows the way.

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) himself did it. He took Abdullah bin Ariqat al-
Elian, an infidel, as his guide while migrating from Makkatul Mukarramah to Madinatul
Munawwarah. Well before, Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (radhiyallahu’anhu) brought two
camels and gave them to Abdullah, an expert guide, and asked him to feed them well and
to keep them ready for journey and also asked him to be their guide. Even Rasulullah
(sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) needed a guide for journey he had to perform and that too in
his native country. For the spiritual journey the Holy Qur’an orders you:

“Wabtaghoo Elayhil Waseelata”

And seek the means (of nearness) to Him. (al-Maaidah, verse35)

Seek the Wasilah (means) to Him; that is the guide who could show you the way so as
you could achieve your goal, all the more so because you have been ordered to be with
the truthful.

“Koonoo M’as Saadiqeena”

And be with those who are true. (al-Tawbah, verse 119)
Murshid is One who Knows the Way and is Experienced

Murshid is a spiritual guide and therefore he should be an experienced person, a person

who knows his job well. You cannot take just anybody as your Murshid. This is indicated
in the verse:

“Ya Ayyuhaladheena Aamanut Taqullaha Wa Koonoo M’as Saadiqeena”

O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are true. (al-Tawbah, verse
119)

Some of us doubt the very need of Bay’ah, they say just being with the truthful is
sufficient. This is wrong. The system of Bay’ah was introduced by Rasulullah (sallallahu
‘alaihi wa sallam) and the Holy Qur’an orders it.

The Advantages of Bay’ah

Enumerating the advantages of Bay’ah Hazrat Sayyed Ahmed Shaheed (rahimahullah)

who waged Jihad against the British rule in India says in his Siraat e Mistaqeem that
when a person places his hand for Bay’ah in the hand of one close to Allah and a pious
person whom Allah likes, the mercy of Allah becomes enough for that person in one of
two ways; either Allah makes the pious Murshid, for the high esteem he has for him,
aware that his disciple has swerved from the right path and needs to be guided, and the
Murshid remedies the Mureed’s fault, or secondly Allah Himself guides the person away
from the sins and orders an angel to do so or appoints someone from the unknown who
may appear to the person in the form of his Murshid and saves him, as happened with
Hazrat Yusuf (‘alaihis salaam). Hazrat Zulaikha (radhiyallahu’anhaa) locked Hazrat
Yusuf (‘alaihis salaam) in seven rooms and then solicited him. But Hazrat Yusuf (‘alaihis
salaam) resisted. The Holy Qur’an says:

“Qaala Ma’aadhallaha Innahoo Rabbee Ahsana Mathwaaya Innahoo Laa Yuflihudh

Dhaalimoona”
He said, “(I seek) the refuge of Allah. Indeed, he is my master, who has made good my
residence. Indeed, wrongdoers will not succeed.” (Yusuf, verse 23)

Hazrat Yusuf (‘alaihis salaam) says to Zulaikha (radhiyallahu’anhaa), “What? Shall I

have sex with the wife of my master and thus betray him, a master who has done me
great favours”. But she so vehemently insisted on it that he was about to yield. But Allah,
in order to protect him, sent Hazrat Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam) in the shape of his father
Hazrat Ya’qoob (‘alaihis salaam). He stood with his finger between his teeth signalling
Hazrat Yusuf (‘alaihis salaam) not to yield. Hazrat Ya’qoob (‘alaihis salaam) was quite
unaware of this but Hazrat Yusuf (‘alaihis salaam) was saved.

“Wa Laqad Hammat Bihee Wa Hamma Bihaa Lo Laa Arra Aaburhaana Rabbihee
Kadhaalika Linasrifa ‘Anhus Sooa Wal Fahshaa Innahoo Min ‘Ebaadinal Mukhlaseena”
And she certainly determined (to seduce) him, and he would have inclined to her had he
not seen the proof (i.e., sign) of his Lord. And thus (it was) that We should avert from
him evil and immorality. Indeed, he was of Our chosen servants. (Yusuf, verse 24)

This is, what Hazrat Sayyed Ahmed Shaheed (rahimahullah) meant when he said that
most often Allah saves a person by sending some spirit or an angel to him, from wrong
doing, if he has made his vow on the hands of a proficient master and a truthful and
perfect saint.

Bay’ah has many advantages, we have already noted the Holy Qur’an orders us to be
with the truthful.

“Koonoo M’as Saadiqeena”

And be with those who are true. (al-Tawbah, verse 119)

This is our common experience that when a person joins a particular party he naturally
receives the attention of every member of that party and everyone is sympathetic and well
disposed to him. This is also found among the good and pious people. Rather they excel
in it as they are selfless people. If you swear fealty to a person who enjoys the love and
favour of Allah and is one in the chain of truthful persons, then all the pious persons of
that order living or dead, become sympathetic to you and take care of you with their
spiritual force.

Thus, my friends, neither Bay’ah is Bid’ah nor is Tariqah. And Tariqah is not divorced
from Shari’ah. It is rather its helper and attendant. To attain Ihsan, an order of Shari’ah,
our great spiritual preceptors and Elders, like Hazrat Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jaylaani
(rahimahullah), Hazrat Khawaja Bahaa ud Din Naqshbandi (rahimahullah), Hazrat
Khawaja Moeen ud Din Chisti (rahimahullah), and before them Hazrat Junaid Baghdadi
(rahimahullah) and Hazrat Shahaab ud Din Saharwardy (rahimahullah), all these who did
not swerve an inch from the path defined by Shari’ah, invented Sufic methods to win the
pleasure and favour of Allah. Their sole purpose is to please Allah and there is nothing
against Shari’ah in them.

The Genuine and the Impostors

As elsewhere so in Tariqah also there are self-seekers and false people, who join it with
the sole purpose of gratifying their desires and to earn worldly fame and wealth in the
name of Deen. Such impostors are found at all times and in every group. But the presence
of such people does not mean that Tariqah itself is without virtue, Maulana Rumi
(rahimahullah) has warned us in his couplet:

“Ay Basaa Iblees Aadam Ruay Hast, Pas Bih Har Dastay Na Baayad Daad Dast”
Iblis has often the face of a man therefore you should not place your hand in every hand
(for Bay’ah).

In your worldly affairs you are very cautious and careful. In business, lawsuits and
treatment you seek the assistance from those whom you know to be experts and first rate,
but in seeking the favours and pleasure of Allah, you just place your hand for Bay’ah in
every hand. Can you accept as your spiritual guide a person who does not pray regularly,
or fast? One who does not faithfully adhere to the dictates of Shari’ah and accepts the
fealty from women without Purdah?

Bay’ah from Women

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) used to take oath of fealty from men by placing
their hands in his holy hands. In case of a big congregation everyone used to hold one end
of a piece of cloth whose other end was on the hands of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa
sallam). But in case of women, he (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) would never place their
hands in his hand. This has been reported by Hazrat Aisha (radhiyallahu’anhaa) and is
mentioned in Bukhari, at more than one place.

“Wallahi Maa Massat Yadu Rasoolillaahi Sallallaahu ‘Alaihi Wa Sallam Yada Imra Atin
Qattu Inna Maa Baaya’a Hunna Bil Qauli”
By Allah, never did the hands of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) touch the hands
of any woman (in Bay’ah).

A curtain was hung and Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) used to pronounce the
words of Bay’ah, which the women, sitting behind the curtain, would repeat or
sometimes a piece of cloth was provided to them which they all held in their hands, while
its other end was in the hands of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam).

But these misguided Pirs of today, who are possessed by Satan, insist on women to leave
Purdah and come out to them, reasoning that they would not recognise them on the Day
of Judgement unless they saw them here. They ask them to give up Purdah as they were
like their daughters and grand daughters. This all is the devil’s work. To our illustrious
master Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) all women are like daughters. The Holy
Qur’an says:

“Wa Azwaajuhoo Ummahaatuhum”

And his wives are (in the position of) their mothers. (al-Ahzab, verse 6)

When all the wives of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) are mothers to all the
believers then he (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) is their father. And some (Shaaz) Qiraa’ah
reads:

“Wa Huwa Aboohum”

And he (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) is their father.

In spite of all this Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) did not allow the women to
come without Purdah before him and did not touch their hands; but these misguided
people (present day Pirs) allow them to come to them uncovered; to sit with them in
privacy and ask them even to massage. This is all sinful and unlawful. The person who
allows it is not a Pir but a Satan, and we should keep away from him. We must pay
attention to what we have been ordered in the Holy Qur’an:
“Ittaqullaha Wa Koonoo M’as Saadiqeena”
Fear Allah and be with those who are true. (al-Tawbah, verse 119)

“Watta Bi’ Sabeela Man Anaaba Ilayya”

And follow the way of those who turn back to Me (in repentance). (Luqman, verse 15)

Reverting to our main topic, that is the careful selection of a spiritual guide, it is foolish
and wrong to select a Pir at random. It may result in misguiding you. Be with the truthful.
See that your Pir does not ask you to do anything contrary to Shari’ah like prostrating
before an idol or a grave.

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:

“Laa Taa’ata Li Makhlooqin Fee M’asiyatil Khaaliqi”

There is no obedience to any creation in which the disobedience of the Creator is
involved.

Do Not Obey Any Person in Doing a Thing That is Sinful to Allah

A chief or commander is only to be obeyed in those things that are reputable and lawful
according to Shari’ah.

Once, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) despatched a body of soldiers for Jihad
and ordered them to obey their commander. In the way some of them cut jokes with the
commander, which infuriated him. He ordered them to collect firewood and to light a fire.
When it was done he ordered them to plunge into it adding that Rasulullah (sallallahu
‘alaihi wa sallam) had ordered them to obey him. Some of them were ready to carry out
the order while others stopped them from it and said, “We obey Rasulullah (sallallahu
‘alaihi wa sallam) to save ourselves from fire; shall we today, plunge into the fire with his
(commander’s) order?” They disputed for sometime. In the meantime the fire
extinguished, the anger of the commander also cooled and the matter came to an end.
When they came back from Jihad, the matter was referred to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi
wa sallam). He was displeased with both, the commander as well as those who wanted to
plunge into the fire.

So if the Murshid asks you to prostrate before an idol or a grave he should not be obeyed.
He is not worthy of being a Murshid. He is a Satan and should not be followed as is clear
from the above-mentioned incident, which took place in the time of Rasulullah (sallallahu
‘alaihi wa sallam). Some witless persons quote the following lines as an authority for
blindly following the Murshid. They actually misinterpret these lines.

“Bamey Sajdaah Rangeen Kun Girut Peer e Moghan Gaweed Keh Saalik Bey Khabar Na
Bood Zarah Wa Rasam Manzilihaa”
Soak your prayer carpet in wine if Peer e Moghan so orders, as Salik is not unaware of
the requisites of the way faring.
If a Murshid orders you to do a thing that stands in defiance of Shari’ah he should not be
obeyed. Bay’ah is based on Shari’ah and Suluk is yet another name to obey Rasulullah
(sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and to seek the favour and pleasure of Allah. Perfection lies
in obeying Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and our salvation in loving him and
following his orders.

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:

“Laa Y’uminu Ahadukum Hattaa Akoona Ahabba Ilayhi Min Waalidihee Wa Waladihee
Wan Naasi Ajma’een”
None of you can be perfect in Iman (that is, be a perfect Momin) unless he loves me more
than his father, his son and the whole mankind.

It is necessary that you should love Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) more than all
the things of the world and all persons.

It is sheer folly that today, though we claim to love Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa
sallam), we do no follow his ways and make our features look like him. Instead we prefer
to look and act like his enemies. We shave off our beards like a Lloyd George or a Carson
or get them cut according to the French fashion, we keep our hair like an Englishman and
wear clothes of the European style. And since we are ignorant of Deen, we incur the
wrath of Allah and forfeit His Mercy.

Dear brothers we must understand this and should not follow the wrong path. Allah says:

“Qul Inkuntum Tuhiboonallaha Fat Tabi’oonee Yuhbibkumullaha”

Say, (O Muhammad), “If you should love Allah, then follow me, (so) Allah will love you.
(Aali ‘Imraan, verse 31)

There is only one way to win the love and pleasure of Allah and that is to follow
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) in every field of human activity.

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) orders you:

“W’aful Luhaa Wa Qassush Shawaarib Wa Khaaliful Mushrikeen”

Keep your beards long, trim your moustaches and do not be like infidels (in appearance
and behaviour).

But, unfortunately, today now foolishly we take pride in looking like the enemies of Allah
and His Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). We should be afraid of incurring the wrath
and displeasure of Allah.

Emphasis on Dhikrullah

My brothers follow the life of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) as a model, in

every little detail; in appearance and behaviour and do not neglect dhikr. Take life as a
boon and spend as much time as you can in dhikr. It is a great blessing to recollect Allah.

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:

“Li Kulli Shayin Siqaalatun Wa Siqaalatul Quloobi Dhikrullahi”

For everything there is a burnishing material, and the thing that burnishes the heart is
dhikr.

And again he (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:

“Maa Min ‘Amalin Anjaa Min ‘Adhaabillahi Min Dhikrullahi”

There is nothing more effective than dhikr to save you from the wrath and displeasure of
Allah.