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A Shaykh of Sufism is a Sufi who is authorized to teach, initiate and guide aspiring dervishes. There are several types of such Shaykh.
- A Shaykh of barakah (blessing). This can, for example, be someone who inherits leadership of a group of Sufis, who although he does not have the spiritual standing of a genuine Shaykh of Tarbiyah (Instruction) nevertheless has a blessing in that by holding to him his followers have unity and community, as is in the Noble Hadith, "The hand of Allah is with the group (jama'ah)."
- A Shaykh of Ahwal (states). This is a shaykh who has genuine tasting of the states of Sufism and can transmit them.
- A Shaykh of Tarbiyah (instruction). This is properly the correct usage of the term Shaykh according to the Sufis. This is the realised gnostic ('arif) of Allah, who has been granted idhn (permission and authorisation) by the Allah and Muhammad, to lead the followers of the path of Sufism to knowledge of Allah. This idhn is not to be confused with ijazah (authorisation) granted by a Shaykh or a scholar to a student to teach. Even if all of the scholars and shaykhs granted their ijazah to a student, he would still not be a Shaykh of Instruction until he had the idhn of Allah and Muhammad. This is manifest in his tawfiq or 'success' in inculcating the perfections of Islam, Iman and Ihsan in his disciples [point 8, below].
The customary position with the people of Sufism, particularly in the Shadhili and the Darqawi tariqah, is that a person will not be a shaykh without having had a background in the basic disciplines of the Qur'an and Sunna. This is the position of Imam Junayd. However, in unusual circumstances there have been exceptions to this rule, among them the famous wali, Abd al-Aziz ad-Dabbagh [1] of Fez, and in the Darqawi tariqah, the Shaykh Sidi al-'Arabi ibn al-Huwari from whom Shaykh Muhammad ibn al-Habib took the tariqah, and most famously Shaykh Ahmad al-Alawi, a master of Sufism whom all accept without reservation.
[edit] Necessary qualifications of a Shaykh
The basic requirements for a person to be a Sufi Shaykh are as follows[1]. (from Shaykh Nuh Keller's Tariqa Notes).
- Being a Sunni Muslim with valid tenents of faith ('aqida)
- Being a scholar ('alim) of Sacred Law capable of answering most questions about what Allah expects of him and his students without having to ask someone else.
- Having a verifiably public authorization from a spiritual guide to be a spiritual guide, connecting him through a chain of transmission (silsila) without a single break back to the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace).
- Being male, as a guide is a heir of the prophets, all of whom were men.
- Being suitable to take as an exemplar in the religion, not disobedient or wicked in his personal life.
- Knowing the fundamental terms of Sufism such as fanaa' (annihilation), baqaa' (subsistence), marifa (gnosis), and the rest, by having actually tread the path under a shaykh and understood them at first hand.
- Exalting the commands of the Allah in word and deed, and knowing that it is above every human being.
- Having permission from the Allah and Muhammad - beyond the authorization given to him by his shaykh - manifest in his tawfiq or 'success' in inculcating the perfections of Islam, Iman and Ihsan in his disciples.
- Finding a disciple capable of taking his teaching and absorbing his secret from him; that is, being the shaykh that the Allah has destined for that disciple.
- Not being self-satisfied, or veiled from his own neediness to the Allah by his disciples' need for him.
[edit] The Conditions of a Disciple (related)
- Having a valid aim in taking the path, meaning the Allah alone and nothing besides.
- Being genuine, meaning convinced of the secret between one's shaykh and the Allah, and willing to submit, and listen, and follow.
- Having good manners, noble character, and respect for others.
- Having praiseworthy states such as patience, silence, reliance on the Allah, nonattachment to material things, and lack of curiosity about what does not concern one.
- Giving selfless service, whether convenient or inconvenient, to the Allah, the sunnah, the tariqa, and to one's fellow man.
- Venerating the Allah and Muhammad, its religion, its friends (awliya'), and everything else it is said to have exalted.
- Having high spiritual resolve.
- Unfalteringly carrying out one's decisions, undeterred by the Devil, this world, one's ego, or vain caprice.
[edit] External links
- www.darulehsan.org
- www.hazratsultanbahu.com site of Free online Books and for The way to get spiritual power from Hazrat Sultan Bahu (r)
- [2] www.hakkanipost.com
- [3] YaBahu,This is the only website which is created with the spiritual approval of Hadrat Sultan Bahu R.A for our spiritual guidance.
- [4] The genuine spiritual guidance direct way Sarwari Qadri Tariqa of Hazrat Sultan Bahu
- [5] The Naksibendi Tariqa of Shaykh Maulana Nazim al-Hakkani as represented by Shaykh Effendi Abdul Kerim
- [6] Shadhili Tariqa of Shaykh Nuh Ha Mim Keller
- [7] Shadhili Tariqa
- [8] Fassiyathush Shadhili Tariqa
- [9] Shaykh Nuh Ha Mim Keller
- ourworld.compuserve.com
- Introduction by Shaykh Muhammad ibn al-Habib as presented to his Diwan
- What does a Shaykh do in Tasawwuf and Tazkiyah A blog of a prominent Shaykh of Sufism, Tasawwuf and Tazkiyah
- Shaykh Abdalqadir As-Sufi [10]
- [11] Shadhili Tariqa
- [12] Website of Ferozia Qasmia Buneria Order
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Tariqa Notes - Shaykh Nuh Ha Mim Keller. Masud.co.uk. Retrieved on MAY 28, 2007.
[edit] See also
