On The Need for a Spiritual Guide: An example of the spiritual battles that I waged without the guidance of a Shaykh, was that I would peruse the books of the folk (the Sufis) such as: The Epistle of al-Qushayri, ‘Awārif al-Ma’ārif, al-Qūt of Abu Tālib al-Makkī, and al-Ihyā’ of al-Ghazālī, etc. I would act in accordance with the understanding shown to me, and after a period of time, I would see things differently and leave off what I was doing and go to the next thing. I was like one who entered a narrow mountain pass, unsure of when it would become expansive. If he saw it become expansive, he would continue his journey, and if not, he would go back. If only such a person would seek the counsel of one who is aware of the mountain passes before he undertakes such a journey, he could save him from much fatigue. This is the similitude of he who has no Shaykh. The benefit of the Shaykh is that he condenses and shortens the path for the spiritual aspirant. Whoever travels the path without a Shaykh is foolish, and he will spend his whole life having not reached his goal because the Shaykh is like the guide who leads the pilgrims to Mecca on a dark night. If it were true that the spiritual path of the folk (the Sufis) can be reached with understanding alone and without recourse to a Shaykh who takes the aspirant, then the likes of the Proof of Islam--Imām al-Ghazālī--and Shaykh ‘Izz al-Dīn b. ‘Abd al-Salām would have been in no need of taking their manners from a Shaykh. This is despite the fact that before they entered the spiritual path of the folk, both of them used to say: “Anyone who claims a path to knowledge different from what we have, he has invented a lie against Allah, the Exalted and Sublime.” Afterwards, when the both of them entered the spiritual path of the folk, they said: “We wasted our lives in idleness and being covered with veils.” They both [eventually] affirmed and praised the path. The knowledge of where such guides are to be found is not necessary for you to know. All that you need is the sincerity in seeking them. If you are utterly sincere, you will surely discover a spiritual guide.~Shaykh Abdul-Wahhab al-Sharani (ra) in Lataif al-Minan He who wants to connect himself with a shaykh in the present age, but finds it difficult to recognize him--afraid of being ensnared by the liars (& imposters)--he must devote his attention to Allah with absolute sincerity. He must turn to Him with a steadfast heart and humbly invoke Him to reveal the consummate shaykh capable of delivering the disciple from his affliction. He must beg Allah to guide him toward his shaykh, to enable him to comply with his command, and to let him plunge int the depths of the shaykhs ocean.~Shaykh Ahmad b. Muhammad al-Tijani (ra) in Jawahir al-Maani THE REQUIREMENT IS SINCERITY. Via Sidy Muhammad Abdullahi Al-Tijani Al-Ibrahimi
Posted on: Thu, 20 Nov 2014 04:37:14 +0000
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