The Followers' Position Toward Their Shaykhs
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The third question of Fatwa No. ( 21025 )
Q 3: Some ignorant Sufis follow their shaykhs in their misguidance
and their open sinfulness , and indeed one of them is before his shaykh like a dead body before its washer, who turns him however he wishes, thinking that the shaykh is a close friend of Allah whose following is obligatory, based on His saying:[Luqman 31:15], and more cunning and worse than that is their belief that they know the unseen, citing as evidence for this His saying, the Exalted: [Al-Baqarah 2:255]. How do we respond to them? And what is the correct interpretation of these two verses?
A 3: It is obligatory for the Muslim to follow what Allah, Mighty and Majestic, revealed to His Prophet in the Book and the Sunnah, for in them are guidance and light, and to strive to understand their meanings and act upon them, and to bear harm in the way of holding fast to the straight path of Allah, which was the path of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). Allah, Exalted and Majestic, said:[Al-An'am 6:153], and He, Blessed and Exalted, said: [Al-A'raf 7:3].
And there are many well-known verses in this meaning. The Muslim must not pay attention to those who discourage following the revealed revelation and those who deviate from it, namely the people of religious innovation, superstitions, open sinfulness, and grave sins. This is the meaning of the saying of the Exalted:[Luqman 31:15] meaning the path of those who believe in Allah, His angels, His books, and His messengers, who submit to their Lord and turn to Him in repentance. Following their path means to walk in their way of turning to Allah the Exalted, which is the attraction of the heart's desires and will toward Allah, followed by the effort of the body in what pleases Allah and brings one closer to Him, Glorified and Exalted is He. From this, it is known that following a person who deviates from the revealed revelation, which is the straight path, whether in his belief, worship, or conduct, is clear misguidance, and a deviation from the straight path. We ask Allah for safety and well-being for us and for all Muslims. And the meaning of the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Baqarah 2:255]
[Al-Baqarah 2:32] So claiming knowledge of the unseen, which Allah has kept to Himself, is disbelief in the Great Allah; because it is a contesting of Allah in His lordship. He, the Exalted, said: [Al-An'am 6:59] And He, the Exalted, said: [An-Naml 27:65] And He, Exalted and Majestic is He, said: [Al-Jinn 72:26-27] So these verses indicate that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, is unique in the knowledge of the unseen, apart from His creation, then He excepted those of the messengers whom He chose and deposited in them what He willed of His unseen through the way of revelation to them, and He made
a prophetic miracle for them and a true indication of their prophethood. As for others, their claim of knowledge of the unseen is a lie and a fabrication against Allah; we seek refuge in Allah from that. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Q 3: Some ignorant Sufis follow their shaykhs in their misguidance
and their open sinfulness , and indeed one of them is before his shaykh like a dead body before its washer, who turns him however he wishes, thinking that the shaykh is a close friend of Allah whose following is obligatory, based on His saying:
follow the way of those who turn back to Me
وَاتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ مَنْ أَنَابَ إِلَيَّand they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills
وَلاَ يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلا بِمَا شَاءَA 3: It is obligatory for the Muslim to follow what Allah, Mighty and Majestic, revealed to His Prophet in the Book and the Sunnah, for in them are guidance and light, and to strive to understand their meanings and act upon them, and to bear harm in the way of holding fast to the straight path of Allah, which was the path of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). Allah, Exalted and Majestic, said:
And, [moreover], this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow [other] ways, for you will be separated from His way. This has He instructed you that you may become righteous.
وَأَنَّ هَذَا صِرَاطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعُوا السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَنْ سَبِيلِهِ ذَلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُمْ بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَFollow, [O mankind], what has been revealed to you from your Lord and do not follow other than Him any allies. Little do you remember.
اتَّبِعُوا مَا أُنْـزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعُوا مِنْ دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ قَلِيلا مَا تَذَكَّرُونَAnd there are many well-known verses in this meaning. The Muslim must not pay attention to those who discourage following the revealed revelation and those who deviate from it, namely the people of religious innovation, superstitions, open sinfulness, and grave sins. This is the meaning of the saying of the Exalted:
follow the way of those who turn back to Me
وَاتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ مَنْ أَنَابَ إِلَيَّHe knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills.
يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلاَ يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلا بِمَا شَاءَExalted are You; we have no knowledge except what You have taught us
سُبْحَانَكَ لاَ عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَاAnd with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him.
وَعِنْدَهُ مَفَاتِحُ الْغَيْبِ لاَ يَعْلَمُهَا إِلا هُوَSay, "None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allah
قُلْ لاَ يَعْلَمُ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ الْغَيْبَ إِلا اللَّهُ(26) [He is] Knower of the unseen, and He does not disclose His [knowledge of the] unseen to anyone (27) Except whom He has approved of messengers, and indeed, He sends before each messenger and behind him observers
عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ فَلا يُظْهِرُ عَلَى غَيْبِهِ أَحَدًا (26) إِلا مَنِ ارْتَضَى مِنْ رَسُولٍ فَإِنَّهُ يَسْلُكُ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ رَصَدًاa prophetic miracle for them and a true indication of their prophethood. As for others, their claim of knowledge of the unseen is a lie and a fabrication against Allah; we seek refuge in Allah from that. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.