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According to Hazrat
Khwaja-e-Khwajegaan Zohdul Ambia Baba Fariduddeen Ganj-e-Shakr (
radi Allahu Anhu ) , Tasawwuf is a code of mans morals,
religious life and conduct. Although a sufi is "cut
off" from the world yet he never curses or looks down upon its
affairs that is he neither has love for the world nor hatred towards
it. He also said , A Sufi is one who has nothing corrosive
around his heart which he must keep clean and clear with no
interference .
The aim and objective of Sufism
is the purification one's inner and outerself by which one can
become aware of his creator at all times and to attain his nearness
and divine proximity.
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Outer
Purification - To cleanse oneself from impurities which
according to
“Shariah” makes
one impure.
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Inner
Purification - firstly to repent for one's sins
and to purify one's innerself from things which make the
heart rotten such as; Pride, Hatred Jealousy etc.
The knowledge of Shariah is important
for those who adopt this path. As Hazrat Imam Malik (radi Allahu
anhu ) states :
" ONE WHO HAS INDULGED IN GAINING
KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT TASAWWUF IS A HERETIC, THE ONE WHO HAS INDULGED IN
TASAWWUF WITHOUT GAINING KNOWLEDGE IS A MAJOR SINNER AND, THE ONE
WHO HAS INDULGED IN BOTH TOGETHER HAS ACHIEVED ONE'S GOAL ."
To adopt this path it is compulsory
for one to be under the giudance of a Spiritual Guide or a
Murshid who is qualified in this field. It is very dangerous and
difficult to adopt this path without any guidance.
NB: Tasawwuf as
you can now see, is not a type of new “ bidat ”or a cult
where intoxicants are used to make people feel that they are in some
state of ecstacy .. Allah forbid !
Sufi's were highly
spiritualised people who ruled and still rule over the hearts of
people therefore one see's that all types of people ranging from the
very wealthy to the very poor flocking to their Khanqha's and
Mazaar's because in their presence everyone is equal and people
find peace and tranquility in their company.
| Basically SUFISM consists
of: |
a) Shariat |
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b) Tariqat |
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c) Haqiqat |
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d) Marifat |
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Success on this road depends on three
degrees of faith. |
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Ilm-ul-Yaqeen - |
knowledge of belief eg. knowing
about fire. |
| *
Ain-ul-Yaqeen - |
To witness what one believes eg. To
know about fire by seeing its flames and light |
| *
Haqq-ul-Yaqeen - |
To experience ones belief eg. To
feel the fire and feeling its burning capabilities. |
Each degree of
faith showing itself through the Shariat which is
the road, Tariqat which is the journey on this
road, Haqeeqat which is the destination, and
Marifat which is the secret which is revealed upon
arriving at the destination.
All are dependent
on one another like a bird which is dependent on its wings for
flight. There is no such thing that Shariat is
one form and Tariqat is another. Both are linked
to one another.
This relationship
can be described as follows using a circle as an example:
The circumference is the Sharia, the center is the Marifa' and the
radius proceeding from the circumference to the center represents
the Tariqat. The Sufi Masters especially those of the
SHADHILIYAH SUFI ORDER
often use this example to explain this concept.
| a) Shariat
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This is the divine and sacred law of Islam. It
makes one distinguish between RIGHT and WRONG, between HALAAL
and HARAAM |
| b) Tariqa`
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This is the beautification
of the Sharia' whereby whatever one has understood
in Sharia' is made
firm in one's heart under strict spiritual discipline. In this
stage one has to have complete trust in Allah and also have lots of
patience in whatever condition Allah keeps him in.This is the stage
where one's soul is cleansed to receive Allah's divine attributes. |
| c) Haqiqat
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This is the zenith of Spiritual
Perfection. In this stage the attributes of Allah begins
to manifest itself in one's self. |
| d) Marifat
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This is the goal to recognise our creator (Allah ), or to
become God-conscious in every state and action. In this state,
there is no "time-space".Here only purity exists
and only the pure can come close to Allah. In this state the Salik
does not forget that he is still a servant and no matter how high he
may progress spiritually he still remains the
created and Allah the
Creator. This state cannot be
expressed through our very limited human faculties. |
Golden Jaali
around the Sacred Grave of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (R.A.)
REFERENCES:
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