One mureed, after having spent many years in the company of Shaykh Abdul Qader Jailani (Rahmatullaahi ‘alayhi), requested some parting advice, before taking leave from his Shaykh. Shaykh Abdul Qader Jailani (Rahmatullaahi ‘alayhi) told him : “Do not claim Divinity and do not claim Nabuwwat (Prophethood).”

The mureed asked : “Does Hazrat think that after all these years in Hazrat’s company, I will make such a claim ?”

Shaykh Abdul Qader Jailani explained to his mureed,

“Do not claim to be Allah.” means that do not wish that everything happens according to your will and desire. If you do so, then you are claiming to be Allah; whereas whatever Allah Ta’ala wills, will happen, for it is HE who makes the final decisions in all matters. As far as we, human beings, are concerned, if we feel that our whims and fancies have to be fulfilled as is, then we are claiming to be Allah.

“Do not claim Nabuwwat.” means that no matter how much of piety and Taqwa you acquire with Islaah and Tazkia, don’t make the claim that you are sinless and never in the wrong. This is the sifat (attribute) of the Ambiyaa (‘Alayhimus Salaam), for they are ‘ma’soom’ (sinless) and ‘mahfooz’ (protected from sin). Therefore, no matter how much of time you have spent in the suhbat (company) and khidmat (service) of your Shaykh and no matter what high rank you attain to, do not think that you are like the Rasul of Allah and that no slip can occur in your life. Do not claim that you will never err because of the years spent with your Sheikh and because of the Wilayat conferred upon you. Being human beings we are prone to slip.