Ruhul Adab

Commentary of Imam Hassan

32. Attaining Purity

The author explains in the next four verses that one can never attain purity from blemishes except by the help of a Shaykh that is a knower of God. One should not only visit the Shaykh regularly, but also hold tight to him if he desires a lofty and glorious position. The Shaykh will help the student through all the spiritual stages of worshiping until he worships as if he sees Allah.

33. The author then reiterated that the best of scholars is the leader of the Tijâniyya Sufi Order, Shaykh Ahmad Tijânî. This is because not only is he the Seal and the greatest of the Saints, but that it is also through him that the other scholars and Saints receive their spiritual blessings and power. Any Shaykh or scholar who accepts to spiritually train a servant of Allah, will by necessity initiate him into one of the 313 existing Sufi orders. The author explains that the best of these orders is the one that is headed by the last of the Sufi orders, and the only one to be established directly by the Prophet SAW. The excellence of this order is not challengeable, and it is impossible to combine the order with any other. The law of Allah respects that only one commander can exist, therefore a traveler cannot travel in two cars, nor can a wife have two husbands. Any disciple or student who joins this Tijâniyya order with any other can never profit from either of them. This Tijâni Tarîqa or order is more than sufficient for anyone who desires his Lord and wants to be certain. Obedience to the Shaykh is very important, because the covenant with your shaykh is a covenant with Allah. Because of this the Sufis have a saying: ‘When we prostrate once, we never raise our head from it.’ This implies that after submission to Allah and His commands, one never disobeys, as this submission is 100% and complete. Allah says in the Qur’an 2:208 “Enter into Islam completely.” Allah says with regards to obedience, Qur’an 33:36 “It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair…”

      In a sound Hadith, the Prophet ﷺ said: “None of you have a complete belief until his heart and desires follow that which I have brought.” In another sound hadith, the Prophet SAW said: “I am leaving behind with you two things, as long as you follow them, you will never be led astray…they are the Qur’an and my Sunna.”

      What the Shaykh does is guide the disciples using these two things according to an understanding that transcends that of an ordinary Muslim. Allah says in the Qur’an 3:7 “But those firm in knowledge say, “We believe in it. All [of it] is from our Lord.”

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