The purpose of
Sufi Training
and how it is accomplished

We read in the Holy Koran:

“To each among you,
we have prescribed a law
and an open way.”

Sharìat is defined as the law of practical conduct and Minhaj, finer things, which are above the law. Sufis learn, from within themselves, about the higher regions of spirit by devotion and by the assistance of their respective Sufi teachers, leaders and saints.

The Prophet Mohammad, swa, says:

“Sharìat is my speech, Tarìqat is my work and Haqìqat is my inspiration. Marìfat is my hidden truth and my mystery.”

The aforesaid verses of the Holy Koran and the Hadith reveal that the completion of the religion of Islam depends upon Sharìat, Tarìqat, Haqìqat and Marìfat. Anyone who wants to become a perfect Muslim must follow these four basic elements of Islam. Millions of renowned Islamic scholars have dedicated their lives to the cause of searching for the hidden truth or mystery of Sufism.

A famous verse of Sufi poet, Allamah Rumi, clears the subject enormously:

“And strive in
the cause of Allah,
as you ought to strive."

In the Holy Koran,
we read:
The religion of Allah
is Islam.

Without a doubt,
Islam is the complete
code of life.

However,
mere Sharìat
does not mean
complete Islam.

Islam has
several elements
on which its
completion depends.



By
ShahzadaH Al hajj
Shah Sufi Moulana Syed Mainuddin Ahmed
Al Hasani Wal Husaini Maizebhandari

The Holy Koran says:

“And those who strive in our cause
will certainly be guided to our path.
O ye who believe! Do your duty to Allah.
Seek the means of approach unto Him
and strive with might and main in His cause that ye may prosper.”

Without submitting into the hands of a perfect Sufi leader, no one will receive the means to approach Allah. The accomplishment of Sufi training depends upon the ways, means, and suggestions of Sufi leaders. There are innumerable Sufi processes and innumerable Sufi teachers. Sufi leaders give importance to deep devotion. The Prophet, swa, of Islam spent time in deep devotion in the cave of Hira.

Sufi leaders have found that there are some sensitive areas in the human body. By the zekr of Allah, stress in these areas may be relieved. Gradually, the appetite of the human being becomes weaker and weaker and the remembrance of Allah increases more and more.
Sufism discourages love connected with the appetite of the world. Sufi leaders encourage and inspire their disciples to become indifferent to attachments. Sufis are always on the quest of approaching Allah.
Moulana Rumi could not reach perfection alone, until he surrendered to the will of Allah when he met Shams i Tabrizi, the renowned Sufi Saint of Islam. Imam Ghazzali also surrendered himself to a saint like all other Sufi scholars. His spiritual leader was Sufi, Hazrat Shah Bu Ali Formadi.

The question: Why is Sufi training necessary? generally arises in the mind and the answer is that Sufi training is the key to success. Without training, no one can become skillful in any subject. With this end in view, everyone should take training in many walks of life. Hence, in Sufism, training is indispensable.

We must keep in mind the aim of our life. The aim of our life is only to receive the identity of Almighty Allah and to have a deep love and connection with Allah.

In the Holy Koran, we read:

“The believers have a deep,
strong love for Allah.”

The followers of Sharìat bother very little about the love of Allah. They want to purchase paradise for a very cheap price without giving importance to the remembrance of Allah.

We know there is a great difference between a true lover and a lover who is a fake. A false lover is not at all a lover. A false lover is a hypocrite. A Sufi is a true and perfect lover of Allah. A man who only follows the external rituals of Islam, ignoring the importance of Allah’s love, is not in the religion of Islam, though people may know him as a Muslim. Herein lies the difference between a Sufi follower of Islam and a general follower of Islam.

A Sufi strives hard to win Allah: to Allah is the extreme goal and no one will be able to win Allah without the assistance of a Sufi leader. The Sufi leader will give a disciple suggestions and . . .

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