The Light of Truth

Assalamu 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu


The late Mawlana Kawthar Niazi writes:


“Who can stop the tongue of those who speak. They [his opponents], even claim that A'la Hadrat Imam Ahmad Rida Khan, [Allah, The Exalted, be pleased with him], favoured the British in every matter. During all the revolutionary movements; the Khilafah, the Boycott & the Hijrah Movements, his attitude was based on the enmity of the revolution. Regarding the question on whether Hindustan [all India], was the Dar al-Islam; Abode of Islam or the Dar al-Harb; Abode of War, he maintained a reactionist’s attitude. Hence, his role was merely negative in the Freedom Movement of the sub-continent & nothing more.


Firstly, one must understand that Imam Ahmad Rida [Allah, The Exalted, be pleased with him], was not a Politician, he was a Statesman. He was not a political leader, his wisdom, insight & integrity was more sublime. Politicians & political leaders follow the aspirations of the people, whilst the Statesman & his virtue of insight & sagacity, determine the direction of the circumstances. There is no doubt that the aforesaid movements were the overflowing floods of sentimentalism at their respective times, but what was the result of these movements?


Commenting on the Hijrah Movement, Mawlana Ra’ees Ahmad J’afaree Nadwee, writes;


“Then the Hijrah Movement emerged. Eighteen thousand Muslims sold their houses, belongings, immovable property & household goods, without concern of profit or loss …………………………………., most of the buyers were hindu, as they emigrated to Afghanistan. When they could not be accommodated there they returned. Some died due to hardships. The rest who returned safely were ruined, exhausted, helpless, destitute, wretched, miserable, afflicted & distressed. If this is not death & destruction, then what is it!”


The Hijrah Movement was a logical outcome of the discussion on whether India was the Dar al-Islam or the Dar al-Harb. Imam Ahmad Rida, [Allah, The Exalted, be pleased with him], never declared Hindustan Dar al-Harb. He knew this would lead Muslims to partake in interest deals but compel them to Hijrah & raising the sword. He declared it Dar al-Islam because the Muslims had ruled there for hundreds of years. Even then peace prevailed & the Muslims faced no obstacles in observing their religious obligations & commandments. It is surprising that people who insisted on declaring Hindustan Dar al-Harb during the days of the British, TODAY do not utter even a single word to declare her Dar al-Harb under the hindu rule. The meaning is clear! The hindu’s had been puppeteering the threads of the Fatawa’s behind the cover on which hindustan was being declared a Dar al-Harb, instigating the Muslims to raise the sword against the English rulers, ultimately leading them to destruction & death, & those who survive leave this land forever through Hijrah [migration]. If today India was to be declared a Dar al-Harb, the talisman of hindu secularism would be shattering to pieces. In the name of jihad the Muslims would be on the battlefields or emigrating. The air from the balloons of secularism would escape. Hence, today we see the lips sealed of the supporters of those [reactionist] Mufti’s who declared hindustan Dar al-Harb. Moreover, through this silent act endorsing the noble fatwa’ of Imam Ahmad Rida, [Allah, The Exalted, be pleased with him].


The matter of the Khilafah Movement & the Boycott Movement is not much different to this either.


In 1914 the first World War broke out. With a view to carry out recruitment in India, the British announced to liberate hindustan after achieving victory in the war. It is apparent the Muslims had no conception of Pakistan then.


Had hindustan been free, the government would have been of the hindu majority. That is why ghandhiji strongly supported the military recruitment & almost two hundred thousand hindu & Muslim soldiers fought along with the British armies. Turkey was defeated in this war. After victory, the English did not fulfil their promise. Now ghandhiji was determined to punish the English. For this purpose, the issue of Khilafah was found. However, it was clear to all that the ‘Uthmaniyyah Sultanate [Ottoman Empire], of Turkey due to her misconduct, was no more than a stain on the name of Khilafah. Then, suddenly, it was widely rumoured, [by the contriving hindu’s], that the Sultan of Turkey is the Khalifah of Islam & to end his rule & Khilafah is equal to assaulting Islam. The Muslims revolted & a Movement initiated. However, it was wonderfully ironic that the leadership of the Movement was in the hands of ghandhiji. The man who was not in favour of giving the Muslims a separate piece of land in hindustan, was now working to restore the Muslim Khilafah on an International level. Imam Ahmad Rida, [Allah, The Exalted, be pleased with him], was carefully watching this cleverly camouflaged net of unified colours laid by ghandhiji. He raised his voice against the One-Nation theory advocates at a time when even Iqbal & Qaid e Azam were captives of her conspiracy. One can adjudge that Imam Ahmad Rida, [Allah, The Exalted, be pleased with him], was the principal leader & these two nobles were followers of the Two-Nation Theory. The Pakistan Movement, [Tahreek e Pakistan], would have never prospered, if Imam Ahmad Rida, [Allah, The Exalted, be pleased with him], had not informed the Muslims of hindu deceit & conspiracies, many years before.


The circumstances of the Boycott Movement, [Tahreek e Tark e Mawalat], was the same. Ghandhiji was inciting the Muslims to unite with the hindu’s, in every sort of boycott, [against the British]. Imam Ahmad Rida, [Allah, The Exalted, be pleased with him], was of the opinion that the mawalat; meaning co-operation & friendship, is the general command under which Muslims abstain from befriending & co-operating with polytheists & infidels. However, this ruling does not include the abandonment of business & trade. As far as abstention from friendship is concerned, it is not solely applicable to the English, it also includes hindus. It does not suit Muslims to further loving ties with one polytheist & simultaneously severe with another polytheist.


Qa’id e Azam Muhammad ‘Ali Jinnah, opposed the Boycott Movement, yet Mawlana Muhammad ‘Ali & Mawlana Shawkat ‘Ali, along with many Muslim leaders supported ghandhiji in this very issue. Inspired by the word of Truth spoken by Imam Ahmad Rida, [Allah, The Exalted, be pleased with him], these political leaders gradually became aware of hindu diplomacy & policies. At one stage, even ‘Allama Iqbal was the President of the Provincial Committee of the Khilafah Movement but on realising the real objectives of the movement, he resigned from the office. These couplets of Iqbal remind us of those days;

In such circumstances, disregarding the oppositions & slanders, remaining uncompromisingly firm on the course of moderation & adhering to the prudent politics of Statemanship & Sagacity, with a view to promote the Two-Nation Theory, such was the task of a MAN having iron-like nerves, as Imam Ahmad Rida Khan, [Allah, The Exalted, be pleased with him], had demonstrated.

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Question : "In the last two years, these kinds of people have multiplied in India: an organization named 'Nadwat ul-ulama' has been found in claim of service to Islam and to awaken Muslims. Here, every kind of people and those with heretical beliefs have gathered, and the la-madhhabi [wahhabi/salafi] people, including a few belonging to the Ahl as-Sunnah wal Jama’ah, have taken hold of high chairs. What do you have to say about this?"

Answer : This behaviour of their’s is Haram and heretical. It is intended to estrange Muslims with little knowledge from their madhhabs. Such Muslims, upon seeing heretical men of religion in cooperation with Ahl as-Sunnah scholars, all sitting at the same line of chairs, think of those heretics also as respectful and beneficial. They will begin to show respect for them, which is sinful. Islamic Shari’ah commands humiliation and severe treatment of the men of bid’ah and forbids showing respect to them. In the Classical Books of ‘Aqaa’id, for example, in Sharh al-Maqaasid, the 'ulama' of Islam wrote, "It is necessary to treat severely, to humiliate, to refute and to expel the men of bid’ah." When Muslims see them at high ranks, their hearts gradually become inclined to listen to them and, with Satan's evil whispers, begin to admire and love them. In actual fact, those who cooperate with the men of bid’ah cause the dissention of them from the right path. Gathering of people with different beliefs results in the destruction of the religion. Those who say that they will wake up Muslims, in fact, try to poison them and lead them to disaster.

Question : "The aim in the establishment of this organization, Nadwa, has been asserted to be the abolition of the difference between the Sunni and other groups of bid’ah. 'They should not refuse one another's beliefs, but live brotherly. 'Ulama' should not speak or write on the beliefs in disagreement among themselves. Or else, they set a bad example to be copied by all Muslims and their disciples. Difference and argument cause perishing and stem from the desires of one’s nafs and self-esteem,' they say. Are these words right or wrong or excessive?"

Answer : When a bid’ah becomes widespread, it is fard to refute it and to try to disseminate its harmfulness and wickedness. That, this is fard has been unanimously declared by the 'ulama' of Islam. The Salaf as-Salihin and the 'ulama of all times up to now have always opposed bid’ah in this way. One who does not refute the men of bid’ah, but leaves them to themselves will have dissented from the Consensus of the Muslims', separated himself from the Muslim majority and consequently become a lover/ally of the Ahl al-bid’ah and the offenders of bid’ah. And this undermines and discredits the Ahl as-Sunnah Madhhab and the Muslims of this right path; to forbid the established correctness and to command the prohibition; to lead Muslims to the damnation of Allah. The Great Master Hadith Scholar, Imam Hafiz, Ahmad ibn Hajar al-Makki, the Imam of Muslims, said in the preface to his work As-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqa, "Though I do not have the profound knowledge to comprehend the reality and essence of the writings in this book, I was inclined to write because of the following Hadith ash-Sharif reported in Al-Jami' by Khateeb al-Baghdadi: 'When seditions and bid’ah’s spread and my Sahaba, [Allah be well pleased with them all], are slandered, those who know the reality shall declare what they know! May those who do not declare what they know be damned by Allahu ta'ala, by the Angels and by all the people! Allahu ta'ala, does not accept any of their 'ibadaat and goodness." The statement, "Instructing what one knows causes disunity, is sinful and is the cause of self-destruction” is a slander against Allahu ta'ala, and the Classical Muslim Scholars, dissention from the Ahl as-Sunnah Madhhab and denial or prohibition of an important fard.

Question : "They say, 'The most important aim of Nadwa is to annihilate the differences among the Ahl al-Qiblah; to unite Muslims of different groups of the Ahl as-Sunnah and the Ahl al-bid’ah; to do away with disagreements; to bring them all into a state of benefaction and sweetness of taste, like milk and sugar; to render the simultaneous beat of hearts and create consciousness among everyone in sharing each others sorrows and loss; to make known that all who say the Kalimah ash-Shahada are brothers even if their beliefs would be different. This is aimed on account of the command in the Hadith, "O Muslims! Be brothers to one another!" Disagreement on anything or speaking ill of one another is unnecessary. Such unity is a command, a fard, of Allahu ta'ala. The Salat, Sawm and taa'aat of only those who unite in this way are acceptable. Those who do not unite in this way will not attain to happiness in this and the next world. Moreover, until the Ahl al-Qiblah does not love one another, they cannot possess Iman and enter Paradise. Though every kind of sin of man may, possibly be forgiven, discord and enmity between one another will not be forgiven."

Answer : Not all of the above statements are in conformity with Islam. They are harmful to Muslims and lead them to heresy. Many Ahadith and the authentic texts of the great Imams of Islam support this. Let's quote some of the Ahadith that forbid friendship with the men of bid’ah and the commands in keeping well away from them: the Hadith reported in the Sahih of Muslim from Abu Hurayrah radi-Allahu ta'ala 'anhu says, "Run away from them! [So] they shall not lead you to heresy, throw you into discord!"

The hadith reported from 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar radi-Allahu ta'ala 'anhu by Abu Daw’ud says, "Do not visit them when they are sick!" The Hadith reported from Jabir by Ibn Majah radi-Allahu ta'ala 'anhu states, "Do not greet them when you encounter them!" The Hadith reported by 'Ukaili from Anas ibn Malik radi-Allahu ta'ala 'anhum says, "Do not keep company with them! Do not eat or drink with them! Do not intermarry with them!" [This Hadith forbids friendship, eating and marrying with the Ahl al-bid'ah. It is written in Hindiyya and Bahr ar-Raa’iq, "Zindeeqs, Batinis, Ibahis and all the groups with beliefs that causes kufr are mushrikun (polytheists) like idolaters and worshippers of stars. Marriage with such mushrikun or intercourse with their females as jariyas is Haram."

The above writings conclude that, if the belief of those who do not belong to one of the four Madhabs, that is those who are not of the Ahl as-Sunnah wal Jama’ah, causes kufr, they become mushrikun. Marriage with them and eating the carcass they have slaughtered are all Haram. Of them, those whose belief does not cause kufr are Ahl al-bid'ah, and marriage with them is not Haram; though the nikah would be sahih, not with them but with the Ahl as-Sunna should Muslims get married to them, because living with them and even greeting them are forbidden by the rulings from the Ahadith.]

The hadith ash-Sharif, reported by Ibn Hibban says, "Do not perform their funeral prayers! Do not perform Salah with them!" The Ahadith reported from Ma'adh radi-Allahu ta'ala 'anhu by ad-Dailami say, "I am not of them. And they are not of me. Jihad against them is like jihad against disbelievers." The Hadith ash-Sharif, which was reported through the ancestral succession of Sayyiduna Amir al-Mu’minin, 'Ali radi-Allahu ta'ala 'anhu, Imam Husayn, Imam Zayn al-'Abidin 'Ali, Imam Muhammad Baqir, and Imam J’afar as-Sadiq and which was said to Abu Umama states: "Do not have relation with those in the groups of the Qadari, Murj’ii and Khariji! They will spoil your religion. They betray as did the Jews and Christians." The Hadith reported from Hadrat Anas ibn Malik radi-Allahu ta'ala 'anhu by Ibn ‘Asakir, states, "When you meet a man of bid’ah, treat him harshly! Allahu ta'ala, is hostile to all men of bid’ah. None of them will be able to pass the Sirat: bridge; they will fall in Hell fire." The Hadith reported from Hadrat 'Umar radi-Allahu ta'ala ‘anhu by Abu Daw’ud and Hakim says, "Do not be in company with the people of the Qadariyya group! Do not consult them in your affairs." The Hadith reported from 'Abdullah ibn Mas’ud radi-Allahu 'anhu by Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah and from Abu Musa al-Ash’ari Radi-Allahu 'anhum by at-Tabarani says, "The Sons of Israel committed sin. Their scholars advised them; they did not listen. Their scholars later talked with them. They ate and drank together. Allahu ta'ala, introduced enmity among them; He condemned them through the mouths of Dawud 'alayhi as-Salam and Sayyiduna 'Isa 'alayhi as-salam."

At-Tirmidhi, Abu Daw’ud and Ibn Majah reported from Nafi' that a man conveyed someone's Salam to 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar radi-Allahu ta'ala 'anhuma, who said, 'I have heard that he has become a man of bid’ah. If he is so, do not take my Salam to him." Imam Hasan al-Basri and Imam Muhammad ibn Sirin, Radi Allahu ta'ala ‘anhum, said, "Do not come together with men of bid’ah."

Ayyub as-Sahtiyani said, "I and Talaq ibn Habib were sitting together. Said ibn Jubair, passing by, said to me, 'Do not sit with him! He is a man of bid’ah.' "Asma’ ibn ‘Ubaid said two men of bid’ah came to Imam Ibn e Sirin, and said that they wanted to ask him about a Hadith; "No, don't ask," he said. When they said that they will ask him about an Ayah, he said, "No! Get out of here or I will go!" The two men left. Those who were present said, "What if you spoke on an Ayah from al-Qur'an al-Kareem?" He replied, "I feared that they would read the Ayah after altering it and that this alteration might make place in my heart." Salam ibn Abi Muti' told that, when a man of bid’ah said to Ayyub that he would ask him a word, he said, "I wouldn't listen even a half word from you." Someone asked something to Said ibn Jubair, who gave no answer; when the reason was asked, he said, "He is a man of bid’ah, and so shouldn't be talked with." Imam Abu J’afar Muhammad Baqir, said, "Do not stay near those who dispute. They give meanings to Ayats as they wish." In the explanation of Mishkat, Imam Ahmad ibn Hajar al-Makki comments on 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar's radi-Allahu ta'ala 'anhuma saying, "Do not say my Salam to..." and adds, "Because, we are ordered to keep away from men of bid’ah." In the explanation of the Hadith, "Do not be in company with people of the Qadariyya group," in the book Mirqat, it is said, "Because, keeping company of enemies leads one to ruin and disaster." It is written in the book Shir'at al-Islam that the Salaf as-Salihin did not get close to men of bid’ah because a Hadith said, "Do not stay with men of bid’ah! Their vices are as contagious as scabies." Another Hadith says, "Do not greet people of the Qadariyya group! Do not visit their sick people! Do not attend their funeral! Do not listen to their words! Give them answer sternly! Humiliate them!" Another Hadith says, "Allahu ta'ala, fills with Iman the heart of him who gives stern answer to the man of bid’ah; He protects him against terrible things. One who disesteems the man of bid’ah will be saved by Allahu ta'ala, against the fears of Resurrection." It is written in the book Irshad as-saree sharhu sahih al-Bukhari that, unless it is understood that a man of bid’ah has vowed for repentance, it is necessary to keep away from him.

I, the poor servant [of Allah, that is, Ahmad Rida Khan], am preparing a treatise on this subject now. With references from al-Qur'an al-kareem and the Ahadith, I’ll explain the necessity of distancing from the men of bid’ah and treating them severely. And, additionally I’ll convey the comments of the authentic Scholars. This work will be the light for the eyes, and the remedy for the hearts.

While the harms of being together with men of bid’ah are so many, it should be estimated how many more the harms of loving and praising them are. A Hadith says, "One is with those whom he loves." Another Hadith quoted by Sayyiduna Amir al-Mu’minin, Hadrat 'Ali radi-Allahu ta'ala 'anhu and others, says, "I swear that Allahu ta'ala, will resurrect the man with those whom he loves." The Hadith reported by at-Tabarani, says, "Allahu ta'ala, will resurrect the man among those whom he loves." The Hadith reported from Abu Hurayra radi-Allahu ta'ala 'anhu by Abu Daw’ud and at-Tirmidhi, says, "Man's religion is similar to his friend's religion. Everybody shall examine whom he has friendship with!" Extensive explanation about the foregoing Ahadith is given in my book Fihan-Nasrin bi Jawabi 'l-as'ilati 'l-ishrin.

The aim of Nadwah al-'ulama' is the same as that of the damned Satan. They endeavour for the dissention of Muslims with little knowledge from the right path. They introduce a new religion with their statement, "It is fard to unite Muslims." Their saying, "Their 'ibaadaat will not be accepted. They will not attain the blessings and happiness," is a slander against Allahu ta'ala. Their words, "Dispute with and hostility towards men of bid’ah are sinful. This sin will not be forgiven. Pardon of it is impossible," shows that they have dissented from the right path of the Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah and that they deny the Ayats which say, "Allahu ta'ala, forgives all the sins but shirk of whomever He wishes," and "Allahu ta'ala, certainly forgives all sins." Their saying, "Pardon of this sin is impossible," results in their denial of these Ayats. Also, they ascribe wrong meaning to the Hadith, "Allahu ta'ala's servants, be brothers [of one another]!" The meaning of this Hadith, as reported in ‘Umdah al-Qari and other books, is, 'Do the things that will help you become brothers of one another.' Accordingly, in order for the men of bid’ah to become brothers to the Muslims of the right path, they should give up their bid’ah’s and accept the Sunnah. Their calling Muslims of Ahl as-Sunnat to become brothers for themselves despite their persisting in committing their bid’ah’s is an apparent heresy and an ugly deceit.

[The Arabic work Fatawa'l-Haramayn, from which the foregoing ten fatwa’s are translated, has been reproduced in offset in Istanbul. The author, Imam Ahmad Rida Khan Baraylawi, Rehmatullahi ta'ala alaihi passed away in India in 1340 A.H. (1921).]

Source : http://www.hizmetbooks.org/Religion_Reformers_in_Islam/ref-59.htm

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Imam e Ishq o Mahabbah, Mufti ash-Shah, Haji, Imam Ahmad Rida Khan, Allah be pleased with him, describes the hindu's as muharib bi'l fi'l [active belligerents] and as qatilin zalimin kafirin [killers, oppressors, infidels]. [Al-Mahajjat al Mu'tamana]

The great Imam, Allah be pleased with him, through his wisdom & insight spoke out:

"Did they [the hindu's] not fight with us over Din? Has their extremely oppresive viciousness [sakht zalimana fasad] (already) grown old? Have the impure & terrifying tyrannies of Katarpur, Arrah & elsewhere, still fresh [in the mind], been obliterated from the heart? Innocent Muslims were sacrificed with great cruelty. They were set alight with petroleum. Those impure people demolished our pure Masjids & tore & burnt the pure pages of [our] Qur'an, & did other things the mention of which makes one sick."
[Al-Mahajjat al Mu'tamana]

Responding to the Non-Cooperation leaders' arguments that responsibility for violence of this sort lay with only a few individuals rather than with hindu's as a whole, he argued that on the contrary this was a case of the hindu qawm [community] fighting the Muslims. The individual aggressors had acted as representatives of the hindu community. For even if only a few committed the actual deed, others helped behind the scenes with money, or by their writings, or in other ways. At the very least, they acquiesced in it.

In the same book, the great Imam of Ahl as-Sunnah wal Jama'ah, Allah be pleased with him, went on to say; furthermore, that if one accepted the Non-Cooperation movement's argument that only a small number of hindu's were aggressing against the Muslims, then one must also argue, on the same principle, that only a certain limited number of Englishmen had aggressed against the Turks or against the Indian Muslims.

Imam e Ahl e Sunnat, Allah be pleased with him, maintained that his opponents had failed to make a vital distinction between two completely different sorts of relationship between Muslims & non-Muslims: those of 'mere human relations' [mujarrad mu'amalat] which were permitted with all non-Muslims under Shar'iah Law [though forbidden with a murtadd or apostate] & those of friendship or intimacy [muwalat], which Muslims may enter into only with other Muslims.

The Imam of Ahl as-Sunnah wal Jama'ah, Allah be pleased with him, believed that the relationship between hindu's & Muslims being advocated by the non-cooperators was one of love, intimacy, even unity, all of which, being forms of muwalat, were forbidden; while, on the other hand, worldly or social relations with the British were being forbidden although they had shar'iy approval.

As for his stand on joint action with hindu's, he opposed this consistently through the course of the Khilafah & Non-Cooperation movements. For Imam Ahmad Rida, Allah be pleased with him, direct political action against the British in co-operation with non-Muslims & even with Muslims of whom he dissaproved on shar'iy grounds, was to sacrifice principle for tactical gain.

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Imam-e-Ahl as-Sunnat, Mujaddid al A'zam, Shah Ahmad Raza Khan Qadiri (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote [Irshadaat e-Ala'Hazarat] that the Saints of Almighty Allah state that an ignorant Sufi is a tool of the Devil. For the same reason, Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: "A Faqhi (Aalim) is heavier than a thousand Aabids (Worshippers) upon Shaitaan". When an ignorant person worships or tries to tread on the path of Sufism, the Devil makes him dance on his finger tips by putting his reins in his mouth, the bridle in the nose and drags him to wherever he desires. The ignorant Sufi thinks that whatever he is doing is correct and excellent. Hazrat Junaid Baghdadi (may Allah be pleased with him) states that his Spiritual Master, Shaikh Sari Saqti (may Allah be pleased with him) prayed in the following words: "May Allah first make you a Muhaddith (Scholar of Hadith) then a Sufi and not firstly a Sufi then a Muhaddith." 

Ilm-e Hadith is knowledge of the Beloved Prophet's (Allah's grace and peace be upon him) sayings. These sayings [Ahadeeth] are the great source, after Quran, of comments. A person has to prove his ability of memorizing the Ahadeeth and narrating them with all the sources. It is examined, tallied and certified by the authorities having such authorities in Ahadeeth. Shaikh Ahmed bin Zain bin Dahlan Makki, Shaikh Abdur Rehman Siraj and Imam Kaaba Shaikh Hussain bin Swaleh Jamallul Lail Makki were three sources of Ilm-e Hadeeth at that time.

Imam Ahmad Raza Khan Qadiri (may Allah be pleased with him) who in 1906 passed a judgment of kufr [Husam al-Haramain] against Maulana Qasim Nanautawi [1833-79], who was a leading Sufi and founder of the Dar al-Ulum at Deoband is a typical example showing 'ignorant sufi (s)' as a tool of the Devil.

Imam Ghazzali (may Allah be pleased with him), commenting on this dua said, "The meaning of Hazrat Sari Saqti's dua (prayer) is that the one who first studies Hadith and Knowledge, then sets foot into Sufism, has indeed succeeded. But, he who wishes to become a Sufi before obtaining knowledge, has certainly put himself into total destruction."

Sayyidi Abul Qasim Junaid Baghdadi (may Allah be pleased with him) states: "One who has not learnt the Quran and written the Hadith, that is, one who is ignorant about the Laws of Shariah, never follow him in anything pertaining to Tariqa and do not take him as your Pir because our knowledge of Tariqa is strictly in accordance with the Quran and Hadith (Shariah)."

Hazrat Shaikh Sayyid as-Sari as-Saqati (may Allah be pleased with him) states: "Tassawuf is the name of three qualities:

1. His Nur of Marifah (Knowledge of Allah) must not extinguish his Nur of Wara (Piety).

2. Never speak from the knowledge of Batin (Interior) that may contradict the Zahir (Exterior) Quran and  Hadith.

3. Do not let Karaamats (Miracles) caste a veil on those things which Allah has made Haraam."

Sheikh Shihabaddin Umar as-Suhrawardi (may Allah be pleased with him) who was taken by his uncle to visit Shaikh Sayyiduna Abdul Qadir Jilani  (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "The Haqiqa which is rejected by Shariah is not Haqiqa but irreligiousness."

The exoteric religious sciences of Islam (religious law and jurisprudence, references to the Quran and Hadith, theology, etc) began simultaneously with the esoteric sciences of Sufism (self-purification, asceticism, and mysticism). There is no logical division between outer formal Islam and the inner school of Sufism. With the beloved Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) command of "seek knowledge even if it be in China"; the value of learning was given a divine status and great historic centers of learning were established. The wise and knowledgeable Pirs were attached to Tariqas (spiritual path leading to Almighty Allah), international 'brotherhoods' that disseminated both the exoteric and esoteric Islamic sciences throughout the Muslim world. The teaching of each Tariqa would be traceable through a Silsila, the line of succession that connected members, through their Pir, with his master and in turn with their Masters. Ultimately this reached the Companions of the beloved Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) and the Noble Prophet himself.

Source : http://www.sunnirazvi.org/sufism/index.htm

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