If you work in any sort of medical, scientific, technical or educational field there is a very simple concept to understand.
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When you study a book, you assume that it is a point in time (reflection). A book written in 1863 cannot reflect the scientific advances of 2018
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When you hear a speech, you assume that it is a point in time (reflection). Charles Darwin DOES NOT and CANNOT reflect the gains of modern Genetics.
People get old, people lose their memory, people make mistakes, facts change etc etc etc
This is reflected in the science of Hadeeth and narrators who were perfectly graded as “Sudooq (truthful)” in earlier years are downgraded later (down the years) and we are warned to stay away from their narrations depending on what point in time they have narrated the Hadeeth.
The school of Imam Shafa’e (RA) has an old school and a new school and distinction is made, point in time.
However, when it comes to Sufees everything is PERMANENT.
- Khilafa given is FOREVER
- Parise by certain scholars is FOREVER
- Words/Malfoozat are FOREVER
- IF a person is deemed to be upon Hidayah, it is FOREVER
- And most importantly, mistakes are FOREVER
The last point is critically important. Humans make mistakes, they learn new things and change opinions. If you fall on the wrong side of Sufees you stay there FOREVER because there is no redemption for you. You were misguided once so you stay there.
Similarly, you were close to the Shaykh once and you can become an open Mulhid but your faults and errors will be hidden, explained and excuses made for you no matter what you do.
