At-Tazkiyah 11

corrects it.
9. In his company, one can feel a decrease in the Verily, he who has purified the heart is successful
and he who has despoiled it has lost.
love of the world and an increase in the love for (Glorious Qur’ān 91:10-11)
Allāh S.
10. He himself regularly performs dhikr and spiritual
exercises.
the path to
In searching for a shaykh, do not look for his abil-
ity to perform miracles (karāmāt) or to foretell the
future. A very good shaykh may not be able to show
purification
By Ḥakīmul-Ummah, Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā
any miracles. On the other hand, a person showing Ashraf ‘Alī Thānwī v
supernatural feats does not have to be a pious person,
or even a Muslim. The prominent Ḥaḍrat Bāyazīd
Busṭāmī says: ‘Do not be deceived if you see a per-
former of supernatural feats flying in the air. Meas-
ure him on the standards of the Sharī‘ah.’
When you find the right shaykh, and you are satis-
fied with his ability to provide spiritual guidance,
you perform bay‘ah or pledge. This is a two-way
commitment; the shaykh pledges to guide you in the
light of Sharī‘ah and you pledge to follow him.
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 R
The Sharī‘ah is divided into two parts: external and
Taṣawwuf is the soul of Islām. Its function is to pu-
rify the heart from the lowly, bestial attributes of lust,
evils of the tongue, anger, malice, jealousy, love of the
world, love of fame, niggardliness, greed, ostentation,
internal. The department of Sharī‘ah relating to external
vanity, deception etc. At the same time, it aims to adorn
deeds like ṣalāh and zakāh is called ‘fiqh’, while the one
the heart with the lofty attributes of repentance, perse-
dealing with internal feelings and states of the heart is
verance, gratefulness, fear of Allāh S, hope, abstinence,
called ‘taṣawwuf’. Both are commands in the Qur’ān.
tawḥīd, trust, love, sincerity, truth, contemplation etc.
Thus, while commanding ṣalāh and zakāh, the Qur’ān
also commands gratefulness and love of Allāh S, and To diagnose and treat the diseases of the heart nor-
condemns the evil of pride and vanity. mally requires the help of an expert mentor or shaykh.
Here are the qualities of a good shaykh:
Similarly, in the books of ḥadīth, along with the
chapters on ‘ibādāt (worship), trade and commerce, and 1. He possesses necessary religious knowledge.
marriage and divorce, are to be found the chapters on 2. His beliefs, habits and practices are in accordance
riyā (showing off), takabbur (pride), ḥasad (jealousy), with the Sharī‘ah.
ṣabr (forbearance), shukr (gratitude) etc. These com- 3. He does not harbour greed for worldly wealth.
mands are as much a mandatory requirement as the 4. He has himself spent time learning from a good
ones dealing with external deeds. shaykh.
On reflection, it will be realised that all the exter- 5. The scholars and good mashāyikh of his time hold a
nal deeds are designed for the reformation of the heart. good opinion about him.
That is the basis of success in the Hereafter, while the
6. His admirers are mostly from among the people who
despoiling of the heart is the cause of total destruc-
have good understanding of the religion.
tion. This is precisely what is known in technical terms
as taṣawwuf. Its focus is tahdhībul-akhlāq (the adorn- 7. Most of his followers follow the Sharī‘ah and are not
ment of character); its motive is the attainment of Di- seekers after this world.
vine Pleasure; its method is total obedience to the com- 8. He sincerely tries to educate and morally train his
mands of the Sharī‘ah. followers. If he sees anything wrong in them, he