The Ruling on Following the Shaykhs of the Sufis
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Q: I am a Sudanese resident in Anbar. In our country, there are divided sects, each following a shaykh who guides them and teaches them things. They believe that these shaykhs will intercede for them with Allah on the Day of Resurrection, and that whoever does not follow these shaykhs is lost in this world and the Hereafter. Should we follow these people or oppose them? Please inform us, may Allah reward you.
A: Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and whoever follows his guidance. As for what follows: The questioner mentions that they have shaykhs whom they follow, and that whoever does not have a shaykh is lost in this world and the Hereafter if he does not obey this shaykh.
The answer to this is: This is an error and an abomination; it is not permissible to adopt it or believe in it. This is the reality of many of the Sufis, who see their shaykhs as leaders and believe that it is obligatory to follow them absolutely. This is a great error and great ignorance. There is no one in this world who must be followed and whose words must be accepted, except the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him); he is the one to be followed (peace and blessings be upon him).
As for the scholars, each one errs and hits the mark. Therefore, it is not permissible to follow the opinion of any person, whoever he may be, except if it agrees with the Shari'ah of Allah. Even if he is a great scholar, his opinion is not obligatory to follow except if it agrees with the Shari'ah of Allah that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) brought. This applies to the Sufis and non-Sufis alike. The belief of the Sufis in these shaykhs is false and erroneous. It is obligatory for them to repent to Allah from that, and to follow Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) in what he brought of guidance. Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Imran: 31]. The meaning is: Say, O Messenger, to the people: If you love Allah, then follow me, and Allah will love you... The intended meaning is: Say, O Muhammad, to these people who claim to love Allah: If you love Allah, then follow me, and Allah will love you.
And Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Hashr: 7]. And He, the Sublime, said: [An-Nur: 56]. The obligatory obedience is obedience to Allah and His Messenger. It is not permissible to obey any person after the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) except if his words agree with the Shari'ah of Allah. Everyone errs and hits the mark, except the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), for Allah protected him and preserved him in what he conveys to the people of the Shari'ah of Allah. Allah the Exalted said: [An-Najm 53:1] Your companion has not strayed, nor has he gone astray. Nor does he speak from desire. It is not but a revelation that is revealed. [An-Najm: 1 - 4].
It is obligatory for all of us to follow what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) brought, to hold fast to the religion of Allah and preserve it, and not to be deceived by the words of men or to follow their errors. Rather, the sayings and opinions of people must be presented to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger; whatever agrees with the Book and the Sunnah, or one of them, is accepted, and otherwise it is not. Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Nisa: 59] And He the Exalted said: [Al-Shura: 10] And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [Al-An'am: 153].
Following the shaykhs and adhering to their opinions without knowledge and insight is a matter that is not permissible according to all scholars. In fact, it is an abomination by the consensus of the people of the Sunnah and the community. However, whatever of the scholars' words agrees with the truth is accepted because it agrees with the truth, not because it is the word of so-and-so. And whatever of the scholars' words, or the words of the Sufi shaykhs or others, contradicts the truth, must be rejected and not accepted because it contradicts the truth, not because it is the word of so-and-so or so-and-so.
A: Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and whoever follows his guidance. As for what follows: The questioner mentions that they have shaykhs whom they follow, and that whoever does not have a shaykh is lost in this world and the Hereafter if he does not obey this shaykh.
The answer to this is: This is an error and an abomination; it is not permissible to adopt it or believe in it. This is the reality of many of the Sufis, who see their shaykhs as leaders and believe that it is obligatory to follow them absolutely. This is a great error and great ignorance. There is no one in this world who must be followed and whose words must be accepted, except the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him); he is the one to be followed (peace and blessings be upon him).
As for the scholars, each one errs and hits the mark. Therefore, it is not permissible to follow the opinion of any person, whoever he may be, except if it agrees with the Shari'ah of Allah. Even if he is a great scholar, his opinion is not obligatory to follow except if it agrees with the Shari'ah of Allah that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) brought. This applies to the Sufis and non-Sufis alike. The belief of the Sufis in these shaykhs is false and erroneous. It is obligatory for them to repent to Allah from that, and to follow Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) in what he brought of guidance. Allah the Exalted said:
Say, [O Muhammad], "If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins
قُلْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْAnd Allah the Exalted said:
And whatever the Messenger has given you - take; and what he has forbidden you - refrain from
وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُواAnd establish prayer and give zakah and obey the Messenger - that you may receive mercy.
وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَBy the star when it descends,
وَالنَّجْمِ إِذَا هَوَى It is obligatory for all of us to follow what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) brought, to hold fast to the religion of Allah and preserve it, and not to be deceived by the words of men or to follow their errors. Rather, the sayings and opinions of people must be presented to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger; whatever agrees with the Book and the Sunnah, or one of them, is accepted, and otherwise it is not. Allah the Exalted said:
O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًاAnd in anything over which you disagree - its ruling is [to be referred] to Allah.
وَمَا اخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِيهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَحُكْمُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِAnd, [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 وَلا تَتَّبِعُوا السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَنْ سَبِيلِهِ ذَلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُمْ بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَFollowing the shaykhs and adhering to their opinions without knowledge and insight is a matter that is not permissible according to all scholars. In fact, it is an abomination by the consensus of the people of the Sunnah and the community. However, whatever of the scholars' words agrees with the truth is accepted because it agrees with the truth, not because it is the word of so-and-so. And whatever of the scholars' words, or the words of the Sufi shaykhs or others, contradicts the truth, must be rejected and not accepted because it contradicts the truth, not because it is the word of so-and-so or so-and-so.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.