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Baiah in Shariah
(OATH OF ALLEGIANCE)
OR SPIRITUAL PATH OF ISLAM
By:
Dr. Mohammad lsmaeel Memon Madani

Khalifa of Shaikhul Hadis Hazrat Maulana Zakariya(Rh.)

Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Published by: DARUN NASHRUR RAHMANIYYAH
Lenasia, South Africa.

In the name of Allah, the Beneficient, the Merciful.

Praise be to Allah, and peace be on those servants of Allah, the Prophets

(Alaihimus Salaam) who were chosen.

In Ramadhan 1406 A.H. corresponding to May 31st, 1986 this humble servant
arrived in Canada. I have met different people here on various occasions.
Many people have asked me different types of questions regarding the Baiah. I
answered their questions orally for the time being. However, I felt that such
answers should be presented briefly in a written form. This will serve a better
purpose than an oral answer; as this subject is found scattered with its details
in various books of Islamic Mysticism or Sainthood. In my opinion, it was
better to compile it as a separate booklet. So with the name of Allah, I began
to write it, and by the grace of Allah this subject was compiled and completed
in two days. May Allah Ta'ala make it beneficial for the writer and for those
who read it, Ameen.

Dr. Muhammad lsmaeel Memon Madani

(at present a resident of 213 Erb Street West, Waterloo Ontario, NZL 1V6
CANADA)
Baiah in Shariah

Reality of Baiah in Shariah

The proof of taking the Baiah is abundantly found in the Aayat of the
Holy Qur'aan, and in the noble sayings of our beloved Prophet,
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam.

Two Aayat of the Holy Qur'aan are presented as examples:

Those who are swearing allegiance unto thee (Muhammad) In reality they are
swearing allegiance to Allah the Exalted, because the object of this allegiance
is to obey the Commandments of Allah the Exalted, and when this is so, then
the hand of Allah is above their hands. Then (after allegiance) If anyone who
would break his oath or covenant (that will exhibit opposition instead of
obedience) then the punishment of breaking the covenant will fall on him, and
he who fulfills the covenant which he has made with Allah (in his “Oath of
Allegiance”) then Allah will bestow on him an immense reward in near future.
(Al-Qur'aan 48:10)

0! Nabi Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam when the Muslim

women come to you (with the object) of taking the Baiah (Oath of
Allegiance) on the following points that they will not join any
partner with Allah the Exalted, will not commit theft, nor commit
adultery, nor kill their children, nor will produce any illegitimate
child forging falsely (that it Is from the sperm of their husband.) (In
the age of ignorance, it was a custom of Arabian women to rear up
a child of someone else, and claimed that it was the child from their
own husband, or committed fornication and the illegitimate child so
born was ascribed to their own husband, which besides the major
sin of adultery, the sin of ascribing the child of someone else, to
their husband is also involved on which great warning of
punishment has been foretold in the sayings of Muhammad
Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam as related to in Abu Dawood and Nisaai)
and will not disobey you in Islamic Canonical Laws (which include
all religious commandments. Then If those women accept all these
conditions which form the basis of faith and acting upon them,
perfects one's faith) then accept their Baiah and ask Allah to
forgive (the previous sins.) Verily Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. (Al-
Qur'aan 60:12).

The Holy Qur'aan and the sayings of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam are
full of such references regarding the Baiah. Presenting all of them here will
make the subject very lengthy. Whilst I was in Madinah, I found a speech, in a
cassette recording of the learned scholar, the late Maulana Husain Ahmad
Madni Rahmatullah Alayh. I requested my spiritual guide to hear it. After
listening to it, he ordered that it be printed, which was subsequently published
under the title “Shar'ee status of Baiah”. This contains many sayings of
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam concerning this subject. In one of the
books of my Murshid (spiritual guide) entitled “Inseparability of Islamic
Canonical Law with that of spiritual Sufistic Orders~, many sayings of
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam has been mentioned. Those who are
interested should read those books.

Definition of Baiah

Mufti Muhammad Shafi Rahmatullah Alayh writes: The words Baiah in fact
means to take a promise for performing some special deed. Its customary
method according to the practical way Sunnah of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi
Wasallam Is to place the hands of both persons one on top of the other,
although placing the hands above one another is not compulsory. If you make
a promise to do something, then it becomes religiously incumbent on you to
keep it, and breaking your promise is unlawful. (Ma'areful Qur'aan)

Kinds of Baiah

Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam had taken the Baiah at different times
on different occasions. He had taken such covenants, at the time of accepting
Islam, or for performing actions according to all the Commandments of Islam.
Some times, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam had taken the Baiah for
abstaining or avoiding certain sins, or for doing particular deeds.

Thus there are different kinds of Baiah:

Baiah for Islam: Is defined as when an infidel or a polytheist discards his

previous convictions, seeks repentance and makes a covenant to accept
Islam, it is called Baiah in Islam.

Baiah for Jihad: This was done at the time of Be'it Ridwan In Hudaibiyah
when Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam had taken Baiah from his Sahaba
Radiallahu an hum, that if there would be a need of fighting against the
enemies of Islam, then they would not desert the battlefield, but would face
the enemy until the end.

Baiah for Caliphate : This is the Oath of Allegiance accepting a Vying person
as the Caliph of the Muslims, who would rule over them. After the death of
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam the Sahaba Radiallahu an hum of
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam unanimously accepted Abu Bakr Siddiq
Radiallahu anhu as their Caliph and took the Oath of his Allegiance, and this
system continued in this manner.
Baiah against committing major sins: As has been stated above with reference
to Ayah 12 of Surah 6O. There are many incidents in the Ahadith of Rasulullah
Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam that he took an Oath of Allegiance from men and
women that they would not make NOHA*.

Taking an Oath for performing Islamic deeds: Auf bin Malik AshJaee
Radiallahu anhu relates that there were 8 or 9 persons sitting in the company
of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam when he asked, “Why do you not take
an Oath of NOHA.”

Allegiance on the hand of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam?”

“We extended our hands, and asked him what was the issue on which we were
to take the Oath of Allegiance; 0 Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam?”

Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said: “On these issues: Worship only
Allah and do not Join partners with Him, perform 5 daily prayers and hear and
obey all commands.” Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam also added some
thing in low tones, which was “Do not beg anything from anyone”. The narrator
says that he had observed the Companions of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi
Wasallam to the extent, that if the whip of a horse had dropped from their
hands, they would not ask anyone to pick it up for them, but would dismount
and would pick up the whip themselves. (Hayatus Sahaba, Tabrani, Abu
Nuaim, AlHakim, Al-Baihaqi and lbn Asakr etc.)

In this manner, there are clear proofs that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi
Wasallam took Baiah on the occasion of migration, victory, on death and on
other deeds and occasions.

Saintly Oath of Allegiance: Regarding this Shah Waliullah Rahmatullah Alayh

writes in the book Al-Qaulul Jameel, the Baiah which is inherited from the
Saints (mystics) can be given for many purposes.

1. The Baiah to avoid committing sins and to make sincere repentance.

2. The Baiah for blessing or benediction, which means to enter the fold of
the righteous people to attain auspiciousness, which is proved by a chain of
authoritative sayings of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam.

3. The Baiah for leaving overt or covert forbidden things, and making a firm
intention to act sincerely on Divine Commands, and attaching your heart to
Allah the Exalted and Sublime. This third kind, Is most fundamental. In the
first two kinds, the aim is to leave all major sins without insisting on minor
ones, and to practice all the ways of ordained obedience, such as “Sunnat
Muakkedah”. The breaking of this Oath will involve persisting on committing
major or minor infractions against ordained Commandments of obedience. In
the third one, fulfilling the Oath means continuous steadfastness for
migration, or striving in the path of Allah, or performing spiritual exercises,
until one attains a light of satisfaction, and it becomes his instinctive
voluntary habit. In such a condition, he is allowed to enjoy certain things
which are permitted in the Canonical Law of Islam; or to keep himself busy in
certain activities, the completion of which requires a long time, such as
courses of religious sciences or judicial matters. The breaking of Oath refers
to the condition of making it defective before achieving any enlightenment of
the heart. (Shariat-u-Tariqat Ka Talazum Pg. 124)

This type of Baiah can be continuously traced since the days of Rasulullah
Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam. In Quranic terminology it is called TAZKIYAH, and
in the tradition of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam it is called IHSAN
which is mentioned in the “Hadith of Jibraeel”. Later, it was entitled as
Tasawwuf or Mysticism. The order of spiritual leaders and their disciples is an
offshoot of this system. The four major tasks for which Rasulullah Sallallahu
Alayhi Wasallam was responsible, which are mentioned in 4 places in the Holy
Qur'aan. One of them Is Tazkiya (the purification of self) as Allah the Almighty
says:

It is He, who sent a Prophet for the illiterate people (of Arabia) who was from
their own (nation), and who recites before them the Aayat of Divine
Revelation, and purifies them (from false convictions, and immoral practices)
and teaches them the “Book” (Al-Qur'aan) and words of wisdom (which
include all internal or external branches of religious sciences). (Surah 62 Ayah
2)

Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam used to train and purify his Sahaba
Radiallahu anhum. If he detected any special (spiritual) disease, he would pay
special attention for its reformation, and adopt different methods for its
elimination. After the demise of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam the
Sahaba Radiallahu anhum used to take Baiah and this system was continued
by their followers, and the disciples of the followers. These spiritual leaders
then give permission to some to take the Baiah who in turn then can
administer this oath to others provided he is granted authority. It is not
permissible that everyone should administer the oath. This privilege is
reserved for those who have been given permission by a true spiritual leader.

Advantages of Baiah

Shaikhul Islam Husain Ahmad Madni Rahmatullah Alayh says that Sayyid
Ahmed Shaheed states that when a person takes a Baiah at the hands of a
chosen servant of Allah or saint then the honour and dignity which is accorded
to him in the majestic Court of Allah the Exalted, supports the man who
becomes his disciple, and Allah's blessings begin to shower on the disciple,
and guards him in one of the two ways.

(1) If the spiritual guide has achieved a high station or rank in the eyes of
Allah the Exalted, then if the disciple of the spiritual guide is going to fall in a
pit of sinful activities, then Allah the Exalted informs the spiritual teacher of
the condition of his disciple, and the teacher is ordered to pull him out from
the pit of degradation, then the teacher adopts ways and means to save his
disciple from the situation.

Some times, Allah the Almighty Himself saves that disciple from falling into
the abyss of sins, or either orders some angel or some spiritual, invisible force
to guard the disciple from going astray, but these forces assume the shape of
disciple's spiritual guide. An example of this is the situation, which has
confronted Prophet Yusuf Alayhis Salaam. Zulaikha tried to seduce Yusuf
Alayhis Salaam, closed all doors, and took him in a private room, to satisfy her
carnal desires. Yusuf Alayhis Salaam avoided her but she continued to insist
and asked Yusuf Alayhis Salaam to comply with her wishes, so much so that
there was a possibility of Yusuf Alayhis Salaam committing some mistake, at
that juncture, Allah the Exalted appointed the angel Jibraeel Alayhis Salaam
to guard Yusuf Alayhis Salaam. Jibraeel Alayhis Salaam came to Yusuf Alayhis
Salaam assuming the form of his father Yaqoob Alayhis Salaam and standing
before him, pressed his finger with his teeth, and warned him not to make
such a mistake. Actually, Yusuf Alayhis Salaam's father Yaqoob Alayhis
Salaam, had no knowledge of it, but it appeared so to Yusuf Alayhis Salaam,
who was stopped and saved from a critical crisis. This is why Sayyid Ahmed
Shaheed says that some time when a disciple of a spiritual guide is ready to
fall towards a sinful path, then Allah the Almighty guards him by means of an
angel or invisible forces. (Vide Shari status of Baiah pg. 25). Numerous
incidents of this type are stated in the books of Saints. For example, I relate
an incident from “Tazkeratur Rasheed” Maulana Aashiq Elahi Rahmatullah
Alayh writes:

A man, Zakir Shaghil (devoted in remembrance of Allah) used to remain in the

service of Maulana Rasheed Ahmad Gangohi Rahmatullah Alayh. His meals
were taken care of by a man who was a resident of Gangoh. He used to lead
prayers in a Mosque. We know full well that satan is always on the look out to
seduce a Muslim. That man fell in love with a woman and the mutual relation
reached such a point that a time was fixed for meeting together. There was no
possibility of acquainting anyone with this satanic engagement. So no one
knew how the satan was ruining the character of that person. On the night of
the appointment with that lady, the man after Ishaa served his master
(Maulana Gangohi Rahmatullah Alayh) and thinking that the master had fallen
asleep, he quietly walked out, the sky was quite clear, but after a few steps,
he found the sky was suddenly overcast with dark clouds. He went ahead and
the clouds continued to move with him, till he reached the wall of that house
where the woman was standing according to her promise. Before he could talk
to her, there was such great thunder and lightning, that both of them were
terrified. That woman ran to her house thinking that if the family members of
her house were awakened by the thunder, and did not find her there, it would
be very detrimental for her character. On the other hand, the man ran back
fast, knowing that the bed of his master was outside, and that he slept near
the bed and if his master was to call him, and would find him absent, his
service will be at stake. So he ran as fast as he could to the Khanqah, without
fulfilling his desire of meeting the woman. When he entered the Khanqah, the
sky became quite clear. He went towards his master, peeped and found that
his spiritual master was sitting near the bed, head downcast, hands resting on
the bamboos of the bed in a position as if he was in deep meditation like a
spiritual Sheikh. He quietly reached his own bed, which was a little away from
his master's bed under a tree. When he reached there, then his master raised
his head and lay down.

In the morning, his spiritual master gave him advices indirectly, and described
the excellences of controlling one self from baser desires, which are a test of
a man's moral character. After hearing his master's advices, his heart was so
much overwhelmed by shame and remorse, that he used to weep over that
incident when ever he recollected it, and used to repent whole heartedly.
After a few months, Allah the Exalted strengthened his spiritual relation with
his master, who invested him with the honour of making him his deputy
(Khalifa). Then he returned to his native place. (Vide: Tazkeratur-Rasheed
Vol.11 pg. 149)

Warnings

Incidents of this type have been written in connection with the Ahadith of
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam and from the biographies of Rasulullah
Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam's, Sahaba Radiallahu anhum, and other notable
spiritual leaders and guides. But such type of unusual occurrence and
miraculous performance is not necessary for every Murshid or spiritual guide
and for every disciple all the time. Some spiritual guides never display any
miraculous performance. But, the Baiah at the hands of a Sheikh and his
companionship is always fruitful to a greater or to a lesser degree. It is not
necessary for a Sheikh to show miracles. The thing, which is necessary for a
Sheikh, is following Islamic Canonical Law and valid practices of Rasulullah
Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam. Then he is a true spiritual leader, even if he does
not show miracles. On the other hand, if a person does not follow Islamic
Canonical Law, and opposes the Sunnah of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi
Wasallam even if he performs unusual or supernatural jugglery, he is himself
lost and is misleading others.
This is why Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi Rahmatullah Alayh writes:

(1) When a true spiritual guide is available, and one tries to become his
disciple, he should first understand the object of discipleship, as people
become disciples because of various personal ends.”

(2) Some want to discover things, which are not known to others. It has been
already emphasized that it is not necessary for a Shaikh himself to show
miracles or to get the power of disclosure of unrevealed things, then how can
a disciple get such power.

(3) Someone thinks that by becoming a disciple of a spiritual leader, his

Murshid will be responsible for his forgiveness. And on the Day of Judgement,
he would not go to hell inspite of all his sins. This is completely incorrect,
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam warned his daughter Fatimah
(Radiallahu anha) by saying: “0! Fatimah save yourself from hell fire (by doing
virtuous actions).”

(4) Some think that one glance from a spiritual leader will change him
altogether without any labour or struggle against bad tendencies. If this had
been the case, then the sacrifices which the Sahaba Radiallahu anhum of
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam made for upholding Islam would not
have been necessary. No one can be more perfect than Rasulullah Sallallahu
Alayhi Wasallam, but Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam laboured hard to
establish Islam. In exceptional cases, someone might have been changed by a
miraculous glance of a spiritual guide. But miracles do not occur all the time,
nor does every spiritual leader necessarily display miracles. It is a great
mistake to become a disciple Just for this reason.

(5) Someone says a discipleship should create a great fervour and enthusiasm,
uttering loud spiritual slogans. This will curb sinful tendencies, and will
eliminate and minimize the desire to commit sin, and doing good deeds may
become involuntary acts. The heart would then be free from all bad thoughts
and we would be immersed in a spiritual-unconsciousness. Outwardly this
idea looks better than others, but this is based on ignorance. Such conditions
are Sufistic spiritual stages, which are not under the control of a human being.
Such thoughts and states are no doubt good, but they are not the be-all and
the end-all. The real object is to achieve something, which is under your
control. On thinking seriously you would realize that such desires are a hidden
deceit of your ego. Your ego loves rest, comfort and renown. These conditions
are based on these things. A person who is dedicated to please Allah, he has
nothing to do with such desires. His condition will show that he is saying:

“Separation or union is not important, the main thing is to earn the pleasure of
the beloved, because one cuts a sorry figure by asking his beloved to fulfill a
desire which is not according to the pleasure of the beloved.”
In other words, separation and union are only the phases; the main thing is to
earn the pleasure of the beloved. Asking the Almighty for a thing which is
other than Allah is regrettable:

“Passing of the days is of no value. The remembrance of Allah should remain

with us, because there is none other Holier that Allah.”

In other words, there is of no importance if different spiritual states come and

go. Our relation with Allah should be strengthened because nothing is Holier
than Allah:

“0! My heart you are still under delusion if you differentiate between good luck
and misfortune. In other words, the heart is still dominated by vicious
thoughts, if it distinguishes between comfort and calamity.”

Such a person suffers double anguish, because either he will undergo these
phases or not. If he has undergone these phases and has achieved some
spiritual insight, he regards himself a perfect sufi, ends up there and neglects
piety and worship of Allah, leaves Salaat and does not regard it necessary for
himself and does not attach any value to them.

On the other hand, if he is unable to achieve any spiritual insight, then he

pines away in sorrow. And this is not only the characteristic of such a person,
but any one who would desire such things which are beyond his control will
always suffer from sorrow and grief.

(6) Someone says that the spiritual leader knows many efficacious spiritual
practices, an amulet may be requested from him whenever needed, or the
Sheikh's supplications are always granted, in worldly affairs and court
matters. A request may be made to the Shaikh for a special invocation and
every problem will be solved accordingly, as if the spiritual guide or Shaikh or
the saint is controlling the whole universe. Or we will learn such a thing from
him, as to become a holy, blessed person, and our touch or breath will cure all
patients suffering from different ailments. Such people regard such
performances as the sign of being a saint. But such actions have nothing to do
with sainthood. Such intentions are based on worldly desires hence it is a
compound mistake.

(7) Someone thinks that by continuous spiritual exercises he will be able to

discern some kind of divine light, or an angelic sound. This is also incorrect
and an illusion. Because It is not necessary that by spiritual exercises one
may perceive some illumination, or hear some thing unusual, as this is not the
main object. More over, if during spiritual practices, any light or sound or
colour is perceived then it might be a reaction of the mind of the disciple. It
has nothing to do with Invisible forces. If for this sake of the argument, let us
say that one saw something or heard an unusual voice, what purpose was
served by it? No one can achieve the nearness to Allah by such things. One
can only achieve nearness to Allah by obeying and worshipping Allah
sincerely. Even the accomplices of satan also see angels sometimes, but they
remain as satans. And it is clear that after death even the disbelievers would
see invisible realities. Hence, a thing, which can be known to a disbeliever, is
not miraculous achievement. It becomes obvious that according to what has
been stated above, none of it is the primary aim of becoming a saint or a
spiritual personality. Therefore, all such thoughts should be discarded, and for
a Mureed the real aim should be to earn the pleasure of Allah, which can only
be achieved by obeying all the Divine Commandments and to keep His
remembrance always alive in the heart. This is what is taught by a spiritual
guide and the disciple acts upon it, whether one discerns one spiritual state
from another or not or whether one achieves a miraculous power or not, even
then, the real advantage of remembering Allah, and obeying His Commands,
which results in achieving the pleasure of Allah, will accrue in the life
hereafter, and he will enter Paradise as Allah is well pleased with him, and he
will have a beatific Divine vision of Allah the Exalted, and will be saved from
Hell.

(Vide: Tasheel Qasdus-Sabeel pg. 17)

Another advantage of Baiah

Maulana Muhammad Rafi Usman Rahmatullah Alayh describes another

advantage of the Baiah which he had heard from Dr. Abdul Hai Aarefi who
said: “An authorized transmitter of Prophetic Ahadith is he who has learnt the
Ahadith of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam from an authorized professor
of Ahadith, and that professor had given him the permission of narrating
Hadith.” This is the way in which we have received Ahadith from Rasulullah
Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam. When a professor relates a Hadith, he describes
the uninterrupted chain of authorities on which that Hadith is based, that I
have received it from that professor, and he had received it from such and
such, until the chain of narrators reaches up to Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi
Wasallam. Then that Hadith is also regarded as reliable. In this manner, that
student or pupil is also included in the chain of transmitters of that Hadith
which is a great blessing, because in transmission of Hadith his relation with
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam is properly inter-linked and becomes
authoritative. This is why the famous leading personalities of Ahadith used to
travel far and wide to make their narrated Hadith highly authoritative.

The same is true for the system for the Baiah that it is interlinked with all the
famous personalities, and finally reaches the greatest benefactor of humanity,
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam. Thus, we are also included in this
system of the Baiah and our relations is established with all religious divines
up to the greatest Prophet, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam. All the
stages of a saintly path are traversed smoothly with spiritual illumination, and
one achieves his object with a little labour and attention.

You can understand it by means of an example. Look at the bulb in front of us,
which is directly related with the powerhouse by means of continuous
electrical poles, which are interlinked by means of electrical wires. The
electricity starting from the powerhouse is being transmitted to this bulb
through all those wires and electrical poles. Similarly, Rasulullah Sallallahu
Alayhi Wasallam who is the treasure house or source of all gnosis and spiritual
blessings, we receive Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam's spiritual
emanation through the chain of these religious divines. By taking a Baiah
properly in any Saintly order, the affinity one establishes with its famous
personalities, in fact, becomes a source of receiving blessing and spiritual
emanation from Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam provided one ~s a true
adherent, and he continuously informs his spiritual master about his various
states of inner consciousness, and carefully acts on the advices of his
spiritual master.

(Vide: “Al-Balagh” Aarefi pg. 154)

After the death of the Murshid: Some people have not been able to reform
themselves completely and the treatment of their spiritual diseases has not
been completed when the death of their Murshid occurs. Among them, some
continue their spiritual journey by attaching themselves to some other
remaining spiritual guide. But some do not attach themselves to anyone, and
thus remain deprived of the spiritual progress. Shah Waliullah Rahmatullah
Alayh has described many kinds of the Baiah, as mentioned above, out of
which three types are mentioned here:

Baiah for repentance

Baiah for blessing or benediction

Baiah with a firm determination to traverse the spiritual path. Reforming one's
inner self, to achieve nearness of Allah, is called traversing the spiritual path
towards Allah. The one who traverses the path is called “Salik”. A Salik can
fall into three categories, the beginner, the intermediate and the one who has
reached the highest degree. It is written in the book “lmdadus Suluk”, “a
person who has no spiritual guide, his guide is satan.”

During the treatment of physical diseases, if your medical doctor dies, then
you refer your case to some other doctor. The same is true for the diseases of
the heart or spiritual ailments, that until you are cured, or reach such a point
where you do not need the help of spiritual doctor, up to that time, you must
attach yourself to some living spiritual guide. Some people think that the
emanation of their Shaikh continues even after his death hence we do not
need to go to another Shaikh. This idea is based on a misunderstanding. This
can be true only for those who have completed the spiritual training and
because of the strength of their relation with the previous Shaikh can
continue to derive benefit from it, but those who have not completed their
spiritual training, for them a living spiritual, guide is very necessary. The
treatment and reformation can only be provided by the living.

Sayyid Ahmad Shaheed says: “It should be known that death is a bridge which
takes the intimate and close friends of Allah, the Exalted, up to their Beloved,
and such spiritual rewards are bestowed on them, which the living one can
rarely get. For this reason, they can be called living, but according to the
material condition of this world, undoubtedly they are dead. They cannot have
that power and capability which the living ones of this world possess. If such
power and ability could be achieved by remaining in proximity of the graves,
then all the people would have gone to the grave of Rasulullah Sallallahu
Alayhi Wasallam, which is in Madinah, and the whole system of spiritual
training would have become useless and meaningless. Hence, it is clear that
in the spiritual training of the people, the Divine procedure is that inner
spiritual Insight should be achieved by remaining in the company of the living
Saints.”

(Vide: Serat-e-Mustaqeem)

Hence, those people whose Shaikh has died, without giving them permission
of administering the Baiah or if the permission was given~ on the condition
that the disciple should establish his relation with such a person, such
disciples should go to a living saint. If their late Shaikh had assigned someone
as their next teacher after his death, then they should go to him. If no one was
assigned, then the disciple should select someone from the Deputies
(Khalifahs) of his late Shaikh or any other true Saint compatible to him, who
possesses all the requisites, which are required for a spiritual guide, and
should traverse the spiritual path with his guidance and supervision.

Some people commit this mistake, that they want to attach themselves to
another Shaikh, but they search for the same qualities, which were in their
previous Shaikh, and when they do not find those qualities in others, they do
not become their disciple, hence their spiritual journey is stopped. It is clear
that a man does not always remain in one condition, either he will make some
progress or recede, but as their progress is stopped such people show marked
decline without even feeling it.

My Shaikh and spiritual guide, Maulana Mohammad Zakariyya Rahmatullah

Alayh writes: “There is a necessary warning that those who were being
benefitted by the company of great Saints, fall in extreme deprivation after
their death, because they try to compare other living Sheikhs with the
personalities of those who have passed away. This is a great mistake; hence
they cannot be benefitted by the blessed company of the then, living Saints.
Thus, the most Important warning, advice, or testament is that my friend
should not compare the living spiritual guides with those who passed away,
but should look at the living ones with the perspective that if they die, even
their equal will be difficult to find. It is evident that even other Prophets had
no comparison with Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam, then how can it be
in Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam's Sahaba Radiallahu anhum, or the
followers of the Sahaba Radiallahu anhum and so on. It is unjustified to seek
the qualities of the by-gone Saints, in those who are living. It is a famous
saying of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam:

“That none of the coming, year will be such that it would not be
more deteriorating than the previous one.”

(Vide: Aap Beti (Autobiography) Vol.Vl pg. 435)

One more important advice: If you are selecting someone for taking Baiah,
that person should have all requisites of becoming a spiritual guide, as well as
be compatible with your nature, and it should be easy to avail of his company
and be benefitted from him, even if he is not a very great Saint. Some people
always search for a great Saint, whether they have compatibility with him or
not, whether they can avail his company nor can be benefited by him with out
undergoing difficulties. Maulana Abdul Qadar Raepuri Rahmatullah Alayh had
become a disciple of Maulana Gangohi's deputy, Maulana Abdul Raheem
Raepuri Rahmatullah Alayh, while Maulana Gangohi was still alive. Similarly,
during the lifetime of Haji Imdadullah Muhajir Makki, Maulana Khaleel Ahmad
Saharanpuri, and Shaikhul Hind Mahmoodul Hasan Rahmatullahi Alayhi, and
others had become the disciple of Haji Imdadullah's deputy Maulana Rasheed
Ahmad Gangohi Rahmatullah Alayh. Such examples abound in the lifetime of
great Saints. Many people became disciples of Saints of lower grade, and
Allah the Exalted bestowed on them high degrees of spiritual blessings. As a
matter of fact, the Absolute Divine Guide is only Allah the Almighty, all others
are ways and means to receive Divine blessing from Allah Ta'ala.

Some ignorant people mistakenly take Baiah from more than one Saint at a
time. This is unlawful and harmful for them. There should be only one spiritual
guide at a time and one must not take Baiah from any other Saint, as long as
the previous one is alive, provided that, that Saint is the real and authentic
one and has all the qualifications to perform the Baiah.

Praise be to Allah that by His grace most of the necessary things connected
with the Baiah have been recorded. The readers are requested to inform me
about those errors which may have crept in these pages, so that they may be
rectified in the next revision. I will be greatly indebted to them for this
kindness. I conclude with the call and close with the words “Praise be to
Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the universe, and peace and blessings of
Allah be on Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam, the best of creation and on
his descendants and on all his Companions Radiallahu anhum.

DARUL ULOOM ILAHIYAH

INSTITUTE OF ISLAMIC RESEARCH
ILAHI BAGH, BUCHPORA, SRINAGAR, 190011, KASHMIR, INDIA