AHYA Multi-Media - QSEP

Tawheed al-Matlab as explained by Rasheed Ahmad
Gangohi
“Tawheed al-Matlab is to have complete faith and a strong belief in
one’s Shaikh that as far as reaching the desired destination
(matloob) is concerned, none can make me reach my goal apart
from my own Shaikh 604 , even though there may be other Shaikhs
present in the world, who have qualities similar to my Shaikh.
Therefore, Tawheed al-Matlab is a major pillar of Sulook (the way of
the Sufis). The one who cannot acquire this (attachment to a single
Shaikh) will always be distressed, even if he died wandering in
the forest. Allah does not care for such a person at the least. To
consider every Shaikh as the one, who can quench my thirst and
help me reach my goal, is harmful to the Sulook. Just as there is
one Haqq (truth) and one Kiblah, the spiritual guide should also
be one. Otherwise, nothing shall be achieved apart from
destruction and many have perished in this state of distress. So, if
one has the slightest thought that anyone in this world apart from
my Shaikh can help me reach the Matloob; Shaytaan will misguide
him and leave him in a state of forgetfulness (about one’s goal).
It happens many times that Shaytaan comes in the appearance of
another saint. It the disciple’s conviction is weak, he will be
inclined towards the Shaytaan who appears in the form of a Pir
(spiritual guide). Once Shaytaan has impressed him, he will have
total control over him, and thereafter the disciple cannot escape
the clutches of the Shaytaan. This will destroy the disciple. In
order to strengthen the disciple’s belief in him, the Shaytaan may
also show him some supernatural feats. Shaytaan is never pleased
when one acquires Tawheed al-Matlab. And he cannot appear in
the form of one’s Pir (Shaikh), because, “A Shaikh is to his
followers, what a Prophet is to the nation (Ummah). He also
said, “The scholars of this Ummah are like the Prophets of Bani
Israel.” …. Hence Shaytaan cannot appear in the form of one’s
604 This is also the saying of Imdadullah Muhajir Makki, Mashaikh-e-
Chist (Eng. Trans.) p.232.
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