Accustaions against the Science of Tassawuff: Answered

Asslamo Allaikum,

Weirdos & people of Bid'ah have put all sorts of ideas into Tassawuff when in fact its consultation with a Shaykh (of Tassawuff) about personal improvments and taking Mushwara and asking for reformation and self-correction.

Anyone who consults a Shaykh and asks him for Islah (reformation) is in Tassawuff.

Tassawuuf starts with "correction of intention" and progress to "worshipping Allah (SWT) as you are seeing Him (SWT) and if you can't see him (SWT) then Allah (SWT) sees you" as mentioned in the Hadeeth of Saheeh Muslim.

Obviously it doesn't mean that you will start seeing Allah (SWT) with your eyes in this world!

So exchange of emails with a Shaykh about personal circumstances and asking for advice & Dhikr to recifty our faults and reform ourselves is Tassawuff.

Argument 8: Tassawuff has methods and Adhkaar which are not in the Qur’aan & Sunnah.

You know what? I am in a good mood today so I will give you a short answer.

Not everything has to be “explicit” in the Qur’aan & Sunnah for it to be permissible. Here is a Fatwa of Shaykh Salih Al-Uthaymeen (RA) and please tell me where does he get this from?

http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/showthread.php?67447-Shaykh-Salih-al-Uthaymeen-%28RA%29-on-dua-after-completing-Qur-aan&p=561005

Mashaykh of Tassawuff get their evidence from the same place. : - ) : - ) : - )

Just Kidding! This question will be thoroughly analysed in the next few posts, Insha’Allah.
 

P.S: Just a light hearted joke about "Salafi Fatwaas" and normal Service shall resume Insha'Allah.

Argument 9: Why is it that Tassawuff people engage in Loud Dhik’r when we know that Sahaba (RA) disapproved of this practise and considered it Bi’dah and stopped people from it?

The entire refutation of Loud Dhik’r is based on a SINGLE INCIDENT of Sayyidina Abdullah Ibn Mas’ood (RA) and there is NO OTHER report in its refutation to the best of our knowledge.

Refutation by Sahaba (i.e. in plural is nothing but exaggeration).

Here is the Athar in Arabic.

أخبرنا الحكم بن المبارك، أخبرنا عمرو بن يحيى، قال سمعت أبي يحدث، عن ابيه، قال كنا نجلس على باب عبد الله بن مسعود قبل صلاة الغداة فإذا خرج مشينا معه إلى المسجد فجاءنا أبو موسى الأشعري فقال أخرج إليكم أبو عبد الرحمن بعد قلنا لا فجلس معنا حتى خرج فلما خرج قمنا إليه جميعا فقال له أبو موسى يا أبا عبد الرحمن إني رأيت في المسجد آنفا أمرا أنكرته ولم أر والحمد لله إلا خيرا قال فما هو فقال إن عشت فستراه قال رأيت في المسجد قوما حلقا جلوسا ينتظرون الصلاة في كل حلقة رجل وفي أيديهم حصى فيقول كبروا مائة فيكبرون مائة فيقول هللوا مائة فيهللون مائة ويقول سبحوا مائة فيسبحون مائة قال فماذا قلت لهم قال ما قلت لهم شيئا انتظار رأيك وانتظار أمرك قال أفلا أمرتهم أن يعدوا سيئاتهم وضمنت لهم أن لا يضيع من حسناتهم ثم مضى ومضينا معه حتى أتى حلقة من تلك الحلق فوقف عليهم فقال ما هذا الذي أراكم تصنعون قالوا يا أبا عبد الرحمن حصى نعد به التكبير والتهليل والتسبيح قال فعدوا سيئاتكم فأنا ضامن أن لا يضيع من حسناتكم شيء ويحكم يا أمة محمد ما أسرع هلكتكم هؤلاء صحابة نبيكم صلى الله عليه وسلم متوافرون وهذه ثيابه لم تبل وآنيته لم تكسر والذي نفسي بيده إنكم لعلى ملة هي أهدى من ملة محمد أو مفتتحو باب ضلالة قالوا والله يا أبا عبد الرحمن ما أردنا إلا الخير قال وكم من مريد للخير لن يصيبه إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم حدثنا أن قوما يقرءون القرآن لا يجاوز تراقيهم وايم الله ما أدري لعل أكثرهم منكم ثم تولى عنهم

And the English translation:

From Amr Ibn Salamah: We used to sit at the door of Abdullaah Ibn Masood before the Morning Prayer, so that when he came out, we would be able to walk with him to the mosque. So Abo Mosa al-Asharee came to us, so he said, Has Abo Abdur-Rahmaan come out yet?So we said, No.So he sat with us until he came out. So when he came out, all of us stood up with him. So Abo Mosa said to him, O Abaa Abdur-Rahmaan, verily I saw in the mosque a detestable action that I hated but I did not see  and the praise is for Allaah anything except good. He said, So what was it?He said, If you live, you will see it. I saw in the mosque, a people sitting in circles, waiting for the Prayer. There was a man in every circle, and in their hands were pebbles, so he would say: So Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greater) one hundred times, so they would say it one hundred times. So he would say: Say al-hamdulillah (the praise is for Allah) one hundred times,so they would say it one hundred times. And he would say: Say subhanallah (Free is Allah from all imperfection) one hundred times,so they would say it one hundred times. He said, So what did you say to them? He said, I did not say to them anything, I waited for your command.He said, Would that you had ordered them to count up their evil deeds, and assured them that nothing from their evil deeds would be lost!Then he went, and we went with him, until he came upon the circles of these people. So he stood over them and said, What is this that I see you doing?! They said, O Abaa Abdur-Rahmaan, these are pebbles upon which we count the takbeer, tahleel, and tasbeeh. He said, Then count up your evil deeds, and I assure you that nothing from your evil deeds will be lost. Woe to you O Ummah of Muhammad! How quickly you rush to destruction! These are the Companions of your Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) who are abundant. And these are his clothes that have not yet decayed, and his bowl that is still unbroken. By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, either you are upon the religion better guided than the Ummah of Muhammad, or you are opening the door to misguidance. They said, By Allah O Abaa Abdur-Rahmaan, we did not intend anything except good. He said, And how many people intend good yet do not achieve it? Verily the Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) informed us: Verily there will be a people reciting the Quran, yet it will not pass beyond their throats. [1] By Allah I do not know, perhaps most of them are from amongst you. Then he left them. So Amr Ibn Salamah said: We saw the great majority of these people fight against us upon the day of an-Nahrawan along with the Khawarij.

First reply:

One of the chains of this Athar contains "Amr bin Yahya" in the chain and he is discarded by the Masters of Hadeeth, see below.

From Imam Dhahabis Mizan Al i'tidal (vol 3, #6474)

6474 - عمرو بن يحيى بن عمرو بن سلمة . قال يحيى بن معين : ليس حديثه بشئ . قد رأيته . وذكره ابن عدى مختصرا

- 'Amr bin Yahya bin 'Amr bin Salama. Ibn Ma'in said: "His hadith are nothing"....

From Imam Dhahabi in his Mughni al Dhuafa (#4728)

4728 - عمرو بن يحيى بن عمارة شيخ مالك وثقوه وقال ابن معين ليس بقوي

Shaykh al Islam Ibn Hajar 'Asqalani in his Lisan Al Mizan (Vol 4, #1128):

[ 1128 ] عمرو بن يحيى بن عمرو بن سلمة قال يحيى بن معين ليس حديثه بشيء قد رأيته وذكره بن عدي مختصرا انتهى وقال بن خراش ليس بمرضي وقال بن عدي ليس له كبير شيء ولم يحضرني له شيء

- 'Amr bin Yahya bin 'Amr bin Salama. Yahya bin Ma'in said, "His hadith are nothing"(same as Dhahabi". Ibn Khurash said, "He is not accepted."

Second reply:

We do understand that this same incident is narrated through another chain which is “Hasan Ley-Ghairihi” and in that case it contradicts with the solid and sound statement of a student of Sayyidina Abdullah Ibn Mas’ood (RA) i.e. Shaqiq Ibn Abi Wail (RA) who reports that if a report comes to you that Sayyidina Abdullah Ibn Mas’ood (RA) prohibited Dhik’r in a Majlis then reject it and here it is from Musnad of Imam Ahmed (RA):

ما في كتاب الزهد لأحمد عن شفيق بن أبي وائل قال هؤلاء الذين يزعمون أن عبد الله كان ينهى عن الذكر ما جالسته مجلساً قط إلا ذكر الله فيه،

And here is affirmation of Shaqiq Ibn Abi Wail (RA) (the narrator) by none other then Ibn Hajar (RA):

Third reply:

Lastly, despite being problematic in its chain and conflicting in its text this Athar of Sayyidina Abdullah Ibn Mas’ood (RA) about prohibition of Loud Dhik’r also conflicts with many other Ahadeeth of Rasul-ullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassalla) were loud Dhik’r is mentioned e.g:

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, thus stated: I am near to the thought of My servant as he thinks about Me, and I am with him as he remembers Me. And if he remembers Me in his heart, I also remember him in My Heart, and if he remembers Me in assembly I remember him in assembly, better than his (remembrance), and if he draws near Me by the span of a palm, I draw near him by the cubit, and if he draws near Me by the cubit I draw near him by the space (covered by) two hands. And if he walks towards Me, I rush towards him
 

Scholars have written many books detailing the narrations in which loud Dhik'r is mentioned so this 1 "conlicting" report from a Sahaba CANNOT be taken at face value.

Jazakullah Khaiurn

Argument 10: I follow traditional Islam and I believe that the Deobandees have gone away from traditional Islam and introduced matters into Tassawuff which are due to influence of Wahabi teachings e.g. Deobandees take a strange position on Istighatha which is at odds with traditional Islam?

Deobandi positions on Tassawuff and other matters are from classical Islam and it’s the other side who have introduced matters into Islam which are alien and in stark contrast to Islamic Shariah.

On Istighata, the position of Islam has always been clear; nevertheless I quote you one of the earliest Chishti Sufi Scholars who predates Deobandees by hundreds of years.

Shaykh Maulana Hamiduddin Nagori Chishti [rahimahullah - d. 673H] was one of the foremost khalifas of Gharib Nawaz Khawaja Muinuddin Chishti [rahimahullah], founder of Chishti silsila in India. He was the first Chishti shaykh to write a book and one of his books was on the usool of the Chishti tariqa. His fatwa regarding calling onto others beside Allah for help (istighatha):

ومنهم الذين يدعون الأنبياء والأولياء عند الحوائج والمصائب
باعتقاد ان أرواحهم حاضرة تسمع النداء وتعلم
الحوائج وذلك شرك قبيح وجهل صريح

"And there are those who call upon the Prophets and awliya for help in the time of distress with the belief that their souls are ever present, listening [hadhir nadhir] and aware of our needs. This is from the worst type of shirk and clear ignorance."

[Tafhim al-Masail ba-hawala Taushih from Jawahir al-Tauheed, p.272]

In 1432 AH Deobandees have the exact same position as stipulated and explained here:

http://www.deoband.org/2010/09/aqida/deviant-beliefs/istighatha-seeking-help-from-other-than-allah/

So it is to the credit of the Deobandees that they have not only preserved Tassawuff but also kept it away from unIslamic practices and ideas which have crept in.

Argument 11: Describe a methodology of Tassawuff?

Shaykh (Mufti) Kamaluddin Naqshbandi-Mujaddid (HA) who is currently doing his Phd at Cambridge addressed the matter at Wimbeldon Masjid (London) on Friday (18th of March 2011) and here is a Summary of what the Shaykh (HA) said.

Shaykh (HA) said that people misunderstand what and who a Deobandi is and they simply ascribe themselves to a label. Our elders have attributed four (4) key components to being a Deobandi:

1. Correct Aqeedah: A person has to engage himself (or herself) throughout their lives in learning and practising the correct Aqeedah
2. Adherence to Sunnah: There is no other path which leads to Allah (SWT) apart from the noble Sunnah
3. Tassawuff/Islah: Tassawuff has been a pivotal part of Islam since its inception and people always took their Islah from their Seniors
4. Khidmah of Islam: Everyone has to be engaged in serving Islam to the best of their capacity. Their capacity and talent dictates what and how they serve the Deen and they neither look down upon others nor upon the “other efforts” e.g. my Shaykh has taught me Tassawuff so that’s my humble way of serving the Deen and I am incapable of being a teacher at a Darul-uloom or any other way which the other noble Ulama are serving the Deen so it’s down to my weakness and lack of strength. We have to consider others who are serving the Deen better then us...

Our Mashaykh have given six pointers for someone to practise Tassawuff and they are as follows:

1. Recitation of the Qur’aan: Qur’aan needs to be recited (as Dhik’r) and understood under the guidance of Ulama-e-Kiraam (not by self study!) and here we recommend that YOU MUST at least recite half a juz daily and if you can’t then ¼ of a Juz daily and if you can’t recite at least grab it from the shelf, look at it and put it back. Shaykh Zulfiqar (HA) says, “Muslims don’t read the Qur’aan because they don’t touch the Qur’aan!”
2. Daily Istighfaar: “Astaghfirullah Rabbi Min Kulli Dhanbin Wa Atoobo Ileh” 100 times daily and the number comes from Authentic Sunnah and you should seriously feel embarrassed and ashamed over your sins and it’s the feeling which matters!
3. Daily Durood: “Allahumma Salli Ala Sayyidina Muhammadin Wa-Ala Ali Muhammadin Wa Barik Wassallam” and you should feel that Rasul-ullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) is your Prophet and you are the Ummati sins and it’s the feeling which matters!
4. Wuqoofe-qalbi: Throughout your day whenever you have sometime (more than 3 minutes) think about Allah (SWT) and when you are busy then start a task (take 1 moment) to think about Allah (SWT) in the middle, do the same and in the end do the same...The idea is to totally immerse yourself in the thoughts about Allah (SWT). Its discussed in detail here:

http://www.islamicspirituality.org/audio/download/64/On%20Wuqoof-e-qalb%20(vigilance%20of%20the%20heart).mp3

        5. Muraqaba: Take 5-10-15 minutes (whatever you can) daily to perform Muraqaba. Its discussed in detail here:

http://www.islamicspirituality.org/audio/download/59/On%20Muraqabah.mp3

       6. Tassawuff Tutoring: Contact a Shaykh about your issues and problems and bad habits (such as anger, Jealousy) and take Mushwara and act upon it.

I then asked the Shaykh if its OK for anyone to practise it and Shaykh replied, "We make no distinction between Mureeds and Non-Mureeds and we have no secrets so anyone can practise this...."

The evidence of this methodology and Naqshbandi-Mujaddidi Taqreeqa are discussed here by Shaykh (Dr) Maulana Hussain Sattar Naqshbandi-Mujaddidi (HA) M.D. :

http://euro-sunni.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=207

Shaykh (Mufti) Kamaluddin Naqshbandi-Mujaddidi (HA) can be contacted via his site here:

http://www.islamicspirituality.org/

Shaykh (HA) also has a weekly Radio Program on Cii South Africa:

http://www.ciibroadcasting.com/

Shaykh (Dr) Maulana Hussain Sattar Naqshbandi-Mujaddidi (HA) M.D. can be contacted via his site here:

http://www.sacredlearning.org/

Both are the Khaleefas of Shaykh Zulfiqar (HA) and his Urdu Bayans and books can be read and listened to here:

http://www.tasawwuf.org/

Argument 12: Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (RA) has REFUTED and CRITICISED Tassawuff.

Nope, he hasn't and neither did his teachers or students!. He has refuted and criticised BAD PRACTISES in Tassawuff and here are his words.

يقول شيخ الإسلام ابن تيمية ـ رحمه الله ـ : ( لفظ الفقر والتصوف قد أدخل فيها أمور يحبها الله ورسوله ، فتلك يؤمر بها ، وإن سميت فقرا أو تصوفا ؛ لأن الكتاب والسنة إذا دل على استحبابها لم يخرج عن ذلك بأن تسمى باسم آخر ، كما يدخل في ذلك أعمال القلوب ، كالتوبة والصبر ... وقد أدخل فيها أمور يكرهها الله ورسوله ؛ كما يدخل فيها بعضهم نوعا من الحلول والاتحاد ، وآخرون نوعا من الرهبانية المبتدعة في الإسلام ، وآخرون نوعا من المخالفة للشريعة ، إلى أمور ابتدعوها ، إلى أشياء أخر ، فهذه الأمور ينهى عنها بأي اسم سميت ، ... وقد يدخل فيها التقييد بلبسة معينة ، وعادة معينة ، في الأقوال والأفعال ، بحيث من خرج عن ذلك عد خارجا عن ذلك ، وليست من الأمور التي تعينت بالكتاب والسنة ، بل إما أن تكون مباحة ، وإما أن تكون ملازمتها مكروهة ، فهذا بدعة ينهى عنه ، وليس هذا من لوازم طريق الله وأوليائه ، فهذا وأمثاله من البدع والضلالات يوجد في المنتسبين إلى طريق الفقر ، كما يوجد في المنتسبين إلى العلم أنواع من البدع في الاعتقاد والكلام المخالف للكتاب والسنة ، والتقيد بألفاظ واصطلاحات لا أصل لها في الشريعة ، فقد وقع كثير من هذا في طريق هؤلاء .

والمؤمن الكيس يوافق كل قوم فيما وافقوا فيه الكتاب والسنة ، وأطاعوا الله ورسوله ، ولا يوافقهم فيما خالفوا فيه الكتاب والسنة أو عصوا فيه الله ورسوله ، ويقبل من كل طائفة ما جاء به الرسول ، .....،ومتى تحرى الإنسان الحق والعدل ، بعلم ومعرفة ، كان من أولياء الله المفلحين ، وحزبه الغالبين . ) انتهى . ( الفتاوى 11/280ـ29


   

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
     
    “The words al-faqr and al-tasawwuf (i.e., Sufism) may include some things that are loved by Allaah and His Messenger, and these are things that are enjoined even if they are called faqr or tasawwuf, because the Qur’aan and Sunnah indicate that they are mustahabb and that is not altered if they called by other names. That also includes actions of the heart such as repentance and patience. And it may include things that are hated by Allaah and His Messenger, such as some kinds of belief in incarnation and pantheism, or monasticism that has been innovated in Islam, or things that go against sharee’ah and have been innovated, and so on. These things are forbidden no matter what names they are given… And it may include limiting oneself to a certain style of clothing or certain customs, ways of speaking and behaving, in such a way that anyone who goes beyond it is regarded as an outsider, although this is not something that has been stipulated in the Qur’aan or Sunnah; rather it may be something that is permissible or it may be something that is makrooh, and this is a bid’ah that is forbidden. This is not the way of the friends of Allaah (awliya’ Allaah); such things are innovations and misguidance that exists among those who claim to follow the Sufi path. Similarly, among those who claim to be servants of knowledge there are innovations that involve beliefs and words that go against the Qur’aan and Sunnah, using phrases and terminology that have no basis in sharee’ah. Many such things happen among those people.
     
The wise believer agrees with all people in that in which they are in accordance with the Qur’aan and Sunnah and obey Allaah and His Messenger, but he does not agree with that in which they go against the Qur’aan and Sunnah and disobey Allaah and His Messenger. He accepts from every group that which was taught by the Messenger… when a person seeks the truth and justice, based on knowledge, he is one of the successful friends of Allaah and His victorious party…(Al-Fataawa, 11/280-290)

This opinion is exactly in line with Ulama of Deoband i.e. practises which are against Sunnah are to be rejected in Tassawuff OR outside of it!

Argument 13:  People of “Tassawuff” have elevated Bay’ah to an obligation!

To take Bay'ah with a Shaykh is Sunnah Ghair Moakkidah (Mustahab, preferrable) and not even Sunnah Moakkidah  so it can't be classed as Fardh/Wajib or anything above.

Shaykh (Mufti) A. K. Hosein (HA) writes while describing signs of Bid'ah:
 

• Not to overrate an activity e.g. to take ‘ba’it’ to a Shaikh is Sunnat Ghair Muakkidah i.e. Mustahab and good, preferable, but to state that it is Fardh, Waajib or Sunnat is over-stepping the jurisprudic perimeters thus Bid’at.

Jazakullah Khairun

Argument 14:  What is the proof of chanting a certain verse or a certain attribute of Allah (SWT) a certain number of times collectively and in mixed gatherings?

Let us reiterate that we are here to defend Tassawuff which is in accordance with the Qur’aan & Sunnah and not free-mixed, happy, jolly freak shows on youtube like this and this!

• Free mixing of men and women is Haram and against Islam let alone part of Tassawuff
• Musical instrument are Haram and against Islam let alone part of Tassawuff
• Collective chanting is is Haram and against Islam let alone part of Tassawuff unless explicit references are given for specific occassions such as Takbeer of Eid etc

All of the above are more suited to the Southern Baptist Convention rather then a Masjid belonging to the Deen of Allah (SWT)

In my research the Ulamah of Tassawuff state that it is NOT Sunnah to collectively recite anything, therefore a person should recite Sunnah Adhkaar individually and loud enough for them to hear themselves or maybe slightly louder but not in a loud chanting manner, however the Shaykh does make the students recite something collectvely for them to learn the pronunciation and correct Tajweed (if its a verse of the Qur'aan).

What is to be recited can be divided into a number of things:

1. Sunnah duas of various actions of day and night
2. Sunnah Adkhaar authentically proven
3. Sunnah Adkhaar dervived from weak narrations which can be used in matters of Fadail (Virtues)
4. Permissable Ruqya (treatment) from Qur'aan & Sunnah

Notice that categorisation as it has been done deliberately and also notice that category 4 is missing the word “Sunnah”

Allah (SWT) has revealed the Qur'an as a mercy and healing for the belivers and this includes spiritual as well as physical healing as conclusively mentioned:

[17:82] We reveal the Qur‘an, which is cure and mercy for the believers; and it adds nothing to the unjust but loss.

Again, we will search the book of Allah (SWT) & the beloved Authentic Sunnah of Sayyidina Rasul-ullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) for specific verses or attributes of Allah (SWT) for recital for the purposes mentioned because the Barakah of Allah (SWT) is in it.

Then, we will search through weak narrations of Sayyidina Rasul-ullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) for specific verses or attributes of Allah (SWT) for recital.

Lastly, Ulamah & Hukamah have experienced and found certain verses or attributes of Allah (SWT) to be beneficial through personal experience and if the Ulamah of Tassawuff prescribe this as treatment to specific individuals to be recited because the benefit is known through personal experience then there is nothing wrong in the book of Allah (SWT) & the beloved Authentic Sunnah of Sayyidina Rasul-ullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) against this practise, but note the conditions:

1. This cannot be classed as Sunnah, it cannot even be classed as Mustahab (preferred) in Fiqh rather it is merely a permissable matter
2. This cannot be recited in a way which is against the Sunnah
3. The recital itself cannot contain Shirk or Anti-Islamic elements
4. The verses of the Qur'aan cannot be broken away or recited backwards or recited in a way in contradiction to the way of Ahlus-Sunnah Wal-Jamaah

This is the reality of books of certain Ulamah recommending certain Adhkaar to be recited after Salah for sharpening memory or aches and pains etc.

In summary, the Mubah (permissable) recitation of certain verses and certain attributes of Allah (SWT) recommended by Islamic Scholars known to be beneficial through personal experience is not prohibited in Islam and if you are claiming so then provide evidence but we have repeated multiple times that Sunnah Adhkaar authenticaly proven are superior and this is the agreed upon position of the Ulamah of Deoband.

And if you don't know then read the Master-piece, "Bid'ah: A Study of its Usage and Legal Application by Zameelur Rahman"   view inline which is based upon one of the most comprehensive works on the subject by Abu Ishaq al-Shatibi (1388) entitled, "Al-Aitesaam"

Jazakullah Khairun

Nice signature...

But Musk still needs to be out in the open for the fragrance to spread...even though it may not need a seller.

Which is why being good and all is not enough.

And your name is making me hungry : - )

ha ha..I did want my username to be kinda funny.