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Standard of love with the
Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him)
Shariah
and Tariqah (Revealed law and Observance) are not two different or opposite
things. Without obeying the Shariah (Revealed Law) one cannot approach Allah.
Revealed law is the collection of all the commands concerning body and soul, the
spirit and heart, all the divine science and the infinite knowledge. A part of
Shariah (Revealed law) is called Tariqah. It possesses cognizance so unanimously
that it is conclusive and final. So all the actions and performances of the
saints have to be judged in accordance with the divine Shariah (Revealed law).
If they are perfectly in accordance with the said law then they are true and
acceptable, otherwise they are condemnable and unacceptable.
So necessarily the absolute Shariah (revealed law) is a must. It is the centre
and the orbit. It is the only standard and in fact a touch stone to test the
truth and the falsehood. Shariah means the path and the Shariat-e-Muhammadia
means the path followed by the HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) and it
is absolutely popular and universal and is not limited to few commands relating
to physical existence of body. This is the path which is prayed for five times
(in every prayer (Namaz) in its every "rakat" (part of Namaz) saying "(Oh Allah)
lead us to the straight path". This path is the path of steadiness and of the
uprightness. It is the path of the HOLY PROPHET HAZRAT MUHAMMAD (Sall Allaho
Alaihe Wasallam). We pray Allah to establish us firmly on this path.
Similarly Tariqah is also a path, it does not mean an approach. So if Tariqah
would have been a different path from Shariah then it may not help us in
approaching Allah and on the other hand it may lead us to Satan. He latter may
carry us to the Hell instead of Paradise, because except the Shariah (revealed
law) all other paths are false and condemnable according to Holy Quran. There is
no crime if we believe that Tariqah is the same path as that of Shariah and that
in fact it is a lustrous part of the latter, which can not be separate from it
in any case.
One who regards Tariqah (Observance) to be separated from Shariah (Revealed law)
then he regards the former to be a separate path or the path of Iblis (Allah
forbid it).
Tariqah (Observance) is absolutely the path of Allah and not the path of Iblis.
Any individual who performs many austerities and religious exercises and also
sacred endeavours cannot attain such rank or status that he can be exempted from
the commands and prohibitions of the Shariah and he is not free to behave like a
horse let loose from reins or a camel without bridle. Allah reveals in Quran:
"No doubt on this straight path meets my Rab (Raiser)" from the beginning of the
Ruku (Section) Allah addresses the HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam)
saying "And that this is my straight path (Shariah) so follow it and accept it
do not follow any other paths for they will separate you from the way of Allah."
Thus the Holy Quran has clearly stated that Shariah (Revealed law) is the only
path of which the final destination is Allah. One who follows it he advances
unto Allah. Except this path one that follows any other path will be dragged
away from the path of Allah.
Whatever is disclosed in Tariqah (Observance) it is the grace of obeying the
Shariah. Otherwise without following the Shariah also great disclosures were
made to people like hermits and jog’s (ascetics/yoga devotees) and Sannyasis
(Brahmins of fourth order/religious mendicants). But all these disclosures lead
them to Hell and they deserve the painful torment.
On the other hand Sufi (Muslim abstemious devotee) who controls his wishes and
desires according to the Shariah (Revealed Law) and is never swept away by
self-desires nor falls prey to the lust of life and lasciviousness, he never
disregards the Shariah.
Remember that Shariah is food and Tariqah is energy. If one stops to consume
food then he is bound to suffer the loss of energy. The Shariah is like a mirror
and Tariqah is the power of sight. If one damages his power of sight by
destroying his eyes then he loses his power of sight. Any contradiction to this
belief may not be acceptable by common sense. If the compliance of Shariah would
not have been compulsory or if it could have been neglected or set aside
optionally then the Syed of Worlds HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam)
and Hazrat Ali (Radi Allaho Anho) (Allah's favours be bestowed on his face)
would have regarded to be right to leave or discard Shariah.
Absolutely not. Appearance to the contrary as the degree of nearness to Allah
increases the reins of Shariah are held more tightly. The good deeds of the
righteous people happen to be greater in number than the common people. The
people who enjoy supreme and exalted ranks in the presence of Allah are bound to
perform many good deeds. The HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) used to
offer voluntary prayers (Nafil Namaz) for the whole night and used to be sorry
and always shed tears in the interest of welfare of Muslims Ummah. The daily
five time prayers Namaz) was obligatory for the HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe
Wasallam) like any other but in addition to those prayer the pre-dawn prayer (Tahajjud)
was also made obligatory for his whereas this prayer is only a Sunnat (Tradition
of Prophet) for the Ummat.
When Syed of the Taifa (party) Hazrat Junaid Baghdadi (Radi Allaho Anho) was
asked about some people who were proud of the fact that by following command of
Shariah they had become "Joined" (Wasil) and they did not need Shariah any more,
then he replied "They are telling the truth they have become Wasil (Joined) but
unto What? unto Hell."
He added:
"The thieves and adulterers are better than the people of such faith. If I live
for a thousand years I shall neither reduce any obligation and Wajibats
(expedients) nor shall I without any excuse of Shariah reduce the number of
Nawafil (supplementary prayers) and Musta-habat (preferable religious acts)
which I have fixed for myself. So, for the people all other ways except the way
of the HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) are closed.
One who does not follow the way of the HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam)
then he can never reach his destination.
It should be borne in mind that the disrespect or contempt of Shariah tantamount
to infidelity. Those who reproach and use abusive language against the scholars
of the religion then they are bound to be disgraced and humiliated in Hereafter.
Those who go out of the circle (Jurisdiction) of Shariah they actually commit
disobedience of Allah.
On the other hand a Sufi (abstemious Muslim devotee) is in fact righteous and
truthful in his action therefore an upright Sunni Muslim who follows the true
faith following the commands of Allah and His HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe
Wasallam) always believe that the scholars of the manifest. Shariah are the
heirs of the Last of the HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) and that
they are the flag bearers of the troops of religion and are guardians and
custodians of the Science of Shariah.
So they regard that paying respect to the scholars is in fact like honouring the
HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) which is the real orbit of religion.
So those who behave humbly and respectfully with the upright righteous and
people fond of Allah are in the refuge of Allah and they are Knower of Allah.
Those who regard the scholars of religion to be eminent and superior to
themselves and to be free from the worldly vices if by chance they find
something in the scholars which is repugnant to Shariah then they should broad
mindedly over look such errors and leave them to Allah so that He sets them
right. It is the only way open to the true followers of Sunni faith in the
aforesaid circumstances.
Oh Allah Guide all of us and make us steadfast and firm in our faith and make us
to part from this world being the perfect followers of the truthful articles of
faith. Amen oh the Merciful of the Merciful.
Oh Allah all praise is for you and unto you we look for help and there is no
power nor any force except you, you are Allah the exalted and the greatest. Let
greetings of Allah be unto His friend HAZRAT MUSTAFA (Sall Allaho Alaihe
Wasallam) and unto his pious members of household and unto his purified
companions collectively.
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