TASAWWUF (I)

Tasawwuf’ means to make the heart pure, to cleanse it. And that is accomplished by way of dhikr-i-ilâhî. Attainment of the blessing of se’âdet-i-ebediyya by the entire humanity, i.e. goodnesses in this world and in the Hereafter, is realizable only by dhikring very much the Name of Allâhu ta’âlâ, our real Owner. However, this dhikring has to have been taught and permitted by a Walî or by a true and faithful follower of that Walî who has been authorized by him and who does not change the adabs of Islamic principles and truth or insert bid’ats into Islam. Dhikring done without being taught by such an authorized person will give little benefit, if any at all. For, dhikring done with a permission is the business of (people called) muqarrabs, whereas (people called) ebrârs will do dhikring without a permission. Hence the blessed statement: “The ebrârs’ acts of worship and good deeds are sinful acts and faults for the muqarrabs.” [Imâm Rabbânî ‘rahimahullâhu ta’âlâ’ states in his hundred and ninetieth letter, and Abdullah Dahlawî states in his ninety-ninth letter: “Dhikr’s being useful and effective is definitely contingent on obedience to the Islamic principles. The person to do dhikring has to practise the acts that are farz and sunnat and avoid committing harâms and doubtful acts. And these things must be learned from sâlih scholars of Ahl-as-sunnat [or from their books.]” A person who does dhikring as we describe in our books will have done it with a permission.]