Even though you learn the singing of the birds, How will you be able to derive the inner state experienced by that bird when it sweetly sings. In spite of practicing and singing the sweet songs of the nightingale, In spite of executing it to perfection, What will you know of what it is saying to the flower?
Shaykh Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar sahib explains in Lessons on the Mathnawi:
What do those people who merely relate the word of the Ahlullah and thereby falsely command the respect of people but do not attach themselves to any Allahwala and tread the path of sulook, know of the inner treasures attained and enjoyed by them? Merely imitating them does not entitle one to the inner states they have attained. They attempt to demonstrate to people, See what great recognition of Allah we have. See how many malfoozaat, how many statements of the pious we can rattle off from memory. By this they resort to sophisticated deception. By merely repeating the name, Allah taala will not be attained.
That individual who remains close to the Shaykh and notes down his statements and advices is, as it were noting down the list of sweetmeats. Yes, when they resort to action, to attaining taqwa, when they will tolerate the grief experienced on the path of Allah taala, will Allah taala be attained. Merely repeating the words of ones Shaykh does not prove Wilaayat. The basis and foundation of Wilaayat is Taqwa.
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