*************************************** QUALITIES OF A SPIRITUAL GUIDE (SHAYKH) *********** By Imam Al-Ghazali ************* ********** My Dear Beloved Son ************ The heir of Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) who is made one’s Shaykh (spiritual guide) should be a scholar but every scholar cannot be a Shaykh al-Kamil (a perfected spiritual guide). For this work [of guiding people spiritually by purifying their souls and helping them progress with their souls in the Way of Allah] only that person can be qualified who has some specific qualities. Here we briefly narrate some [such] qualities so that every nut head (crazy) and misguided person could not claim to be a Shaykh (spiritual guide) [as it is necessary to define these qualities due to the presence of a large number of fake impersonators claiming to be Shaykhs whose sole purpose is to deceive people to gain material benefits thus causing great damage to this important aspect of Islam by disillusioning people and misguiding many]. I say this that only that person can be a Shaykh (spiritual guide) who after having turned his/her face away from the love of the world, [love of] honor, and [love of worldly] ranks, has given the Bay’a (a way of promising Allah on the hand of a Shaykh to turn away from evil inwardly and outwardly and to excel utmost in the Path of God by obeying God’s commandment, staying away from His prohibitions, and struggling with one’s soul to excel oneself in the Path of God by purifying one’s soul seeking God’s nearness and approval) to a perfected spiritual guide [who in turn has given the Bay’a to his perfected spiritual guide and so on] so that this [spiritual] chain [in this way] goes back all the way to the Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). This person must have done all kinds of Riazat/Mujahada [spiritual struggles] and has obeyed every commandment of Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). This person must eat less, sleep less, prays more (performs prescribed five daily prayers along with optional prayers), fasts more, and does a lot of spending [in the Way of God] and charity. This person should have in his/her temperament (inner and outer personality) all good moral qualities and patience, gratitude, certitude [in Allah], generosity, contentment, trustworthiness, tolerance, seriousness [of purpose in life], humility, obedience [to Allah], truthfulness, shyness (modesty, reserve, fear of wrongdoing), dignity (an aura of honor and respect), tranquility, and other qualities like these should be a part of his character and conduct. This person should have acquired a light (illumination) from the lights (illuminations) of Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) so that all evil qualities like miserliness, jealousy, enmity, expectations from the world [and its inhabitants], anger, rebellion, etc., have been eliminated from him and he should not be dependent on anyone for knowledge except for that knowledge which we [specifically] obtain from the Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). These [above] mentioned qualities, among some qualities of perfected spiritual guides and leaders who lead spiritually on the Path of God, are capable of making one a deputy/heir of the Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Following such spiritual guides is the correct way.
Posted on: Wed, 02 Oct 2013 02:08:37 +0000
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