The majority of Hafiz Ibn Rajab’s books are full of mention of the Sufi shaykhs, and their words and condition. We shall suffice here with several quotations from his excellent book Al-Dhayl ‘ala Tabaqat al-Hanabilah. All of those who he mentions and who we shall mention are Hanbali predecessors, or from those to whom the shaykhs of the Salafi movement attribute themselves. By this, the purpose will be achieved in the best way, insha-Allah, and it is He Most High upon Whom trust is...
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Ibn al-Qayyim writes in Madarij al-Salikin (vol.2, p.464): Section — from among the stations of, “It is you who we worship and it is you from who we seek aid,” (4:1) there is the station of knowledge (‘ilm). If this station does not accompany the salik from the first step that he places in the path until the last, then his suluk will be on another path; the path of connecting to Allah (wusul) is cut off from him, the paths of guidance are...
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Know that the pledge is Sunnah and not obligatory. This is because the folk took the pledge from the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) and sought proximity by it with Allah Most High, and there is no evidence indicating that one who foregoes it is a sinner, neither did any of the Imam's rebuke anyone who abstained from it.
Know that the Sunnah of Allah Most High is that affairs which are subtle and hidden in the consciousness are determined by actions...
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Shaykh al-Islam Mawlana Husayn Ahmad Madani (may Allah enlighten his resting place) has also stressed in his letters that the original purpose of Suluk is ihsan. In one epistle he writes, "My respected one. The original purpose of Suluk is ihsan -- 'that you worship Allah as if you are seeing him' (Al-Hadith). In other words an ingrained ability should develop in the salik and this should be at the beginning. As to the end, then that...
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It has been mentioned above that Sayyiduna Jibril (may Allah grant him peace) asked the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), "What is ihsan?" The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) replied, "Ihsan is that you worship Allah as if you are seeing him..." Tariqah in reality is another name for ihsan, or the way to acquire the quality of ihsan. It is this that is called Tasawwuf and Suluk, or name it what you wish -- these...
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It is also called the exercise (shughal) of Rabitah, Barzakh and Wasta (see Ta'lim al-Din); to the mashayikh of Tasawwuf it is a very important exercise. The mashayikh have written many benefits of this. Some seniors said it is unconditionally (mutlaqan) impermissible. According to this slave, this is incorrect, as Tasawwur al-Shaykh is understood from many hadiths. Because of this, I have not understood why some have deemed it unconditionally impermissible.
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In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful, and peace and blessings upon His final Messenger, Muhammad, and upon his Family and Companions. Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf 'Ali Thanawi needs no introduction. He is the author of many books including the famous Behishti Zewar and Bayan al-Qur'an, a Tafsir of the Qur'an in Urdu comprising of three volumes. His books have covered all the various sciences of the din. His sermons, lectures and advices (malfuzat and irshadat) have been...
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