TheRamadanOfShaykhAl-hadithMuhammadZakariyyaKandhelviAndOurEldersByShaykhDrMuhammadIsmailMemonMadani

Chapter Eightshaikh with firm belief in his own knowledge and views, he willnot get any share of the shaikh’s faiđ , no matter how great theshaikh is.May Allah u have mercy on me. I understood the answer to myobjection and realized my own reality this Ramadan.It was due to this unquestioning belief of unconditionalsubmission that Abū Bakr g became al-Śiddīq al-Akbar and thelack of it that Abū Jahl became accursed.It is the way of Allah u that the very group whose missionin life was dedication to the Dīn, and thus was most deservingand worthy of the company of the shaikhs, are farthest awayfrom them due to the aforementioned reasons. This is why ithas been observed that the shaikhs are unhesitant in acceptingthe general public in bai‘a but extremely precautious aboutaccepting scholars [in bai‘a] who are well-respected in society.In fact, they may even wish to take them in bai‘a but will neversay or emphasize its need in front of them. In this regard, onecan read the thought-provoking discussion between ĤađratRaipūrī and Shaikh Manżūr Nu‘mānī which he [ShaikhManżūr Nu‘mānī] narrates in his book “What is Taśawwuf”?Our Ĥađrat’s response to such people [scholars of high-standingliving under this deception] who wished take bai‘a with himwas, “Your intention is great but your choice is wrong. So-andsoamongst the elders are alive, you may take bai‘a to whomeveryou feel closest to amongst them.” There is still another groupamongst the scholars who do bai‘a and busy themselves in dhikrand ashgāl, but do not fulfill the condition of unconditionalsubmission to their shaikh. They can never be made awareof their self-deception and deprivation and usually wind upblaming the shaikh for their lack of progress. They becomejealous of people who take bai‘a with the same shaikh but whoprogress tremendously because of their unquestioning beliefand unconditional submission to him.May Allah u by His grace and blessing save us from the deceptionof Satan and the self and grant us His love and pleasure.75