Authority for Irshaad

Question:

Assalaamualaykum wa ragmatullahi wa barakaatu,

We are experiencing a serious situation in Cape Town whereby the Naqshbandi khalifa here has asked some mureeds to leave the tariqa and join other tariqas. This was done via general email (sent out more than once), so it is not hearsay. Attempts to discuss/clarify this instruction have been denied.

If someone is instructed to leave the tariqa, is the bayah automatically broken?
Is this khalifa able to do this in the Naqshbandi tariqa and have such instructions been given by Mawlana Shaykh Nazim previously?

Jazakallah for your time and efforts.
Wassalaam

Answer:

Alaykum Salam,

In short, Mawlana has given such instructions and they are light in
comparison to some tests he might give other groups. The bay`a is never
broken. And actions are only according to intentions so do not judge
your leader, nor strive to lead others, but strive to do your best on a
basis of humbleness.

The blessings of good work in your city and country are huge; so are the
difficulties faced, the hunger of people for spirituality, and the
Divine reward. Therefore it is normal that shaytan will try to cause
problems; what is more, not with unbelievers or Wahhabis, but in our own
midst, with what Mawlana calls filthy politics. Sadly, it also takes a
few juniors to quickly undermine the long-standing work of seniors and
the beliefs and trust of the majority.

Mawlana Shaykh Nazim (may Allah grant him long life) established a very
public, very solid foundation when he visited South Africa and that is
still the case. Loyalty to that foundation and unity are key for our
murid’s success here and hereafter. He gave several people permissions for
dhikr and giving bayaa just as in any other country but never as an
excuse to undermine his first foundation. For the latter is where the
big help is.

Unfortunately the majority of us murids fail that test all over the
world when it comes to tariqa building, but what is saddest is the
camouflaging of our ego-tricks, our free-agent Nimrod behavior as piety
and obedience.

If you feel slapped in the face by your elder in Tariqa it is from
Mawlana; yet Mawlana never takes his love away even if he might shout at
someone and call them shaytan. He is looking at their heart to see if
pride or anger will creep in. But the great blessing of Tariqa is that
if our biggest tests are from our own egoes it means that the spiritual
opening is also in ourselves, and lies much closer at hand than we might
think.

Shaykh Hisham often tells the story of the murid who after twenty years
tires of not seeing or practicing miracles. When he complained to his
Shaykh the latter simply said: You are free to leave me for another, but
know that you have spent the last twenty years standing in front of
Allah. Has Mawlana not delivered? But we have a problem with authority
and we want to be somebody, or with somebody different.

Tariqa is routine and patience. Discussion and questioning are not the
way of Tariqa but rather uncredited work, simple service, obedience,
humbleness and trust. Give your khalifa the benefit of good opinion even
when you feel he is wrong. That is spirituality with which Mawlana
builds up our hearts in sha Allah, because it reflects trust in Allah
Himself. And Allah never lets down those who trust in Him.

Therefore anyone that does their best to keep unity and quell dissension
is immeasurably blessed. If thrown out of doors justly or unjustly, come
back through the window, ask forgiveness, Allah will support you more.
Do not split and separate. The Hand of Allah is with the group and
whoever parts ways, parts for the fire.

“Of the believers are men who are true to that which they covenanted
with Allah. Some of them have paid their vow by death, and some of them
still are waiting; and they have not altered in the least” (33:23).

Hajj Gibril Haddad

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