Question:
Asalaam-o-Alaiku
Q. ) Does Ilm-e-Laduni play any role in forming the Aqeeda and deriving the Sharai’
ahkam or is it only for spiritual purposes and tasawwuf? How does one draw a line between zahiri ilm and batini ilm concerning Aqeeda and Shariah.
Answer:
Wa `alaykum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,
As the awliyaullah tell us, the awliya of Allah always worship Allah (swt) by directly witnessing Him and through the ilm ladunni He grants them, not from their reading of books of `aqidah and fiqh. They do not take their knowledge and vision of Allah (swt) from books. Even their understanding of the Qur’an comes not from the paper mushaf that we have but directly from Divine Speech from the Heavens.
This rank is achieved or reached through much spiritual discipline and training. The basics of that training consists of dhikr, Qur’an and salawat upon the Prophet (s). Once they are ready, Allah (swt) admits them to His Presence by stripping them from their knowledge, ego and all that they know. Then, their journey begins.
Therefore, one’s seeking of shari` knowledge and studying of `aqidah helps a person progress on the journey where eventually Allah (swt) gives them ilm ladunni from Him, but this shari` knowledge should not be confused with `ilm ladunni. Even if one is seeking shari` knowledge,`ilm ladunni will not be obtained without abundant dhikr, Qur’an and salawat, because the door to all `ilm ladunni and any rank of walaya is love of the Prophet, sallaAllahu `alayhi wa sallam.
Ali Hussain
