[Majlisul Ulama]
Some of the ‘khulafaa-e-mutakh-khireen’ (the later spiritual mentors) of this lofty branch (of Tasawwuf, viz., Naqshabandiyah) have been guilty of the introduction of bid’ah practices into the Path. Consequently, they strayed from the Path of the Seniors (Akaabir). They have thus lost the direction of the Senior Mentors of this Path. A group of the disciples of these later mentors (who had gone astray by their introduction of bid’ah) hold the i’tiqaad (belief) that the perfection of this Path (of Naqshabandiyah) is to be achieved via the means of these bid’ah practices. Allah forbid! Never is this possible.
A large group of ‘sufis’ have made their exit from the confines of the Shariah. They labour in the deception that they have emerged from the shell of the Shariah and have attained the essence of Tariqat. This deception is among the errors of the sufis. In this way many imperfect persons have embraced atheism and irreligiosity and have made their exit from the glittering circle of the Shariah. Thus have they gone astray and have led others astray as well.
Barkat and Fuyooz (spiritual grace and benefit) remains only as long as bid’ah has not been introduced into the Path (tareeqat). When bid’ah is innovated into the Path (of Tasawwuf), the spiritual effulgence and benefit of the Path come to a halt The mashaa-ikh (spiritual mentors) of other Paths of Tasawwuf too have introduced bid’ah practices based on their intentions and opinion. And, among these mentors of Naqshabandiyah too, a group of later mentors have shunned the lofty Way of their predecessors and have innovated the practices of samaa and raqs (spiritual darkes and music) and zikr jahr (loud forms of zikr).
(Note: According to the general purport of the Ahaadith, Thikr bil Jahr is prohibited. This is also the view of Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahmatullah alayh). Hadhrat Maulana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi (rahmatullah alayh) was a Faqeeh and the greatest among our Buzrugs. According to him it is bid’ah to consider Thikr bil Jahr to be better and more meritorious. However, for gaining concentration it is permissible, but if this same act is given more larger stage as Masnoon Ibadat, then it will be a bid’ah, and this is what the present-day sufis are guilty of by conducting such mass collective-loud “Thikr-programmes”.)
People of this calibre ( i.e. mentors who have introduced bid’ah) by virtue of spreading bid’ah have extremely little relationship with the Seniors of this Path (of Naqshabandiyah) which is a Path established of Sunnah. There are those in this Path who have by virtue of their short-sightedness accepted the bid’ah practices and by means of these bid’ah have; attracted the hearts of people towards themselves. They labour under the deception that their bid’ah practices have achieved the perfection of this Path. Allah forbid! Never is this possible. In reality, this group (of innovators) have initiated the annihilation of this Path.
The way of najaat (salvation) is obedience to the Shariah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), both in belief and practice. The mureed (disciple) submits himself to an Ustaad or Peer (Spiritual Mentor) for this very reason – that the way of the Shariah is indicated and by virtue of its grace, practice and belief of the Shariah is made easy. The purpose of being initiated into the Path is not to obtain freedom for the disciples so that they may do as they please and eat as they please the Spiritual Mentors becoming the shield of their disciples, saving them from the punishment (of the Hereafter). This is a hollow wish. There (in Qiyaamah) no one will be able to intercede on behalf of another. without Divine Permission.
In this age many have donned the garments of the Sufis and are masquerading (as spiritual mentors). They are advertising the question of ‘wahdatul wujood’ (unification with Allah) and besides this question they know of no other goodness. They have deprived themselves of the reality of true knowledge. They have dragged the actions of the Senior Mashaa-ikh into the scope of their forged and baneful interpretations and in this manner have set themselves up as the leaders of the community. By means of their deception they are seeking to create a boom in the slump which their market (which involves the plunder of mean) has suffered.
Spiritual exercises which have been adopted besides the taqleed (following) of the Sunnah of Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) are of no significance because even Hindus, Yogis, Brahmins and the Greek philosophers are their co-partners in such forms of soul-exercising practices. These soul and mind exercises are nothing but error for them. They are led astray by these very practices. These ‘mind over matter’ practices indicates to them no road other than the path of spiritual ruin.
In the view of Tareeqat even the ‘shathiyaaf (statements which are made in ecstacy) of the Mashaa-ikh which are in contradiction of the Shariah, are on the stage of kufr. The true Auliyaa who have been infused with the wealth of Islam are pure from such disrespect and are the firm followers of the Ambiyaa, both in the zaahir (external path) and in the baatin (internal path).
These mentors of bid’ah accord priority to the observation of the day of Aashuraa, the day of Baraat, the 27th night of Rajab and the first Jumu’ah night of the month which they name ‘lailatur – raaghib’. They observe these occasions with the utmost of preparation, and with the fullest of contentment do they perform Nafl Salaat in congregation. They regard these practices as meritorious. But, they are unaware that these practices (the manner in which the innovators are practicing) are among the deceptions of shaitaan who presents evil in the form of virtue.
Also Read: The reasons for un-Islamic ideas being mixed into True Islamic Tasawwuf
Islam Reigns 