Question:
Salamalaykum,
I remember reading books describing sainthood. I understood them to say that sainthood begins with attaining the eye of certainty which is the perfection of the human state, and the ego is mastered and therefore nothing opposes this person. But I keep hearing certain people are saints and signs tell me they haven’t attained human perfection and are not fully in control of their ego.
Obviously, I’m not talking about the big saints, but lower ones, and, well it doesn’t matter what they do. But I don’t feel safe around them or that I trust them unfortunately. (And end up missing their blessing)
Answer:
A`udhu billahi min ash-shaytan ir-rajeem
Bismillahi ‘r-Rahmani ‘r-Raheem:
Wa alaikum Salaam,
Allah said through Prophet (saws) ‘My saints are under My domes, no one knows them except Me.’
and, ‘Who opposes My Friends, I declare war on him…’
The eye of certainty is related to the vision of the heart. We must work to purify our hearts, but it is easier said than done because the more we try to purify, we may notice more faults and realize the need for intercession of the Prophet (saws). Our own faults should be enough to keep us busy and in the mean time keep a good opinion of others.
Whether or not people are saints we should look for their best qualities and ask Allah to connect us with his friends or at least keep love for them.
Wallahu Alam,
Kamau Ayubbi