Sheikh Yahya Rhodus

The reality of the path for the Murid

Once you take bayah/allegiance with a Sheikh the first thing you will come across is the murids. Now the murids can be the worst and the best thing about your tariqah. Most murids are good in the presence of the sheikh but are the opposite in his absence. So you have to put up with a lot of rubbish, I am not joking.

The murids are like family to you and like any family there are those you like more than others. But you have to know that you have all taken the same oath by Allah (the Exalted) to follow this Sheikh. So you have bear this in mind.

Even though there should not be any troubles with murids, there is. Many of them might not like you, if you are in a position that they desire. They will annoy and harm you with their dirty looks. Many claim to be ‘turer’ murids than you. They also misrepresent the words and statements of the Sheikh. They sing a tune that they claim the sheikh sings but you know he does not. You may also come across cultural differences. They may all be from a certain background or understanding that you are not. People often make the mistake that all paths are the same when they are not and same sheikhs from the same path are different!

So what should you do when you face these difficulties? The spiritual path is like venturing through a jungle and no jungle is free from apes and pigs. The murids are also your mirror to your sheikh. If you treat them badly then your sheikh can turn away from one. At the same time being cordial with someone who has treated you badly is difficult. So your best plan is to remain calm and try your best in difficult situations.

Try your best to avoid conflicts, arguments and debates. And avoid those who try to drag you to them. This is part of your training as a Murid.

You may also come across other scholars who dislike your Sheikh and disagree with him. So they might try to undermine him. This happens to many of those scholars who see things they deem incorrect. 

Your most important focus in the path is adherence to your spiritual masters words. Everything other is secondary and unimportant. So maintain contact with them in dhikr circles and try your best to maintain focus on your goal which is to reach Allah (the Exalted).

Know you need to know your basics in terms of knowledge and without them you are lost. Also know that you may find many still stuck in their ‘old’ ways this is an obstacle that many are unable to overcome. 

In some ways being a murid is being part of a large family. They are your brothers and sisters and they are annoying  just like your real siblings! Yes, at times its dysfunctional and sometimes its good to be part of a family. 

This might not be your experience in the path, you might have a positive experience which we hope that you all do but the reality in this time is very different. Often the best part of the path is the sheikh and the worst parts of the path are the murids. 

 

Maintain focus on your litanies and work on that which has been assigned to you and do not allow yourself to be taken by the waves of passion. Many murids of many shaykhs are the worst advert for him. This is known throughout all the paths that you know. 

You have a lot to deal with, that you may not had to deal with, when you looked from the outside. So make your choice for your sheikh by basing it what the murids are doing. If they are wasting their time then there is a problem but if they are trying to do something good then take it as a good sign. But the best sign is that they are involved in spreading sacred knowledge. And the worst sign is that they are attacking scholars. This is a sure sign that they are misguided. Find a fellow murid who shares your views and stick to them. It will help you if you find someone who has been in the path longer than you. But as the sufi saying goes: the path is not about time, it is about those who are truthful. Those who have spent longer time with the Sheikh are not as blessed as those who are truthful. 

The most important point is not to involve yourself into matters that are of no concern to you. Meaning that which does not effect your life directly. Meddling in matters that do not concern one causes one to become immersed in falsehood. This is a waste of time for the murid and how many of you are wasting their time?! You already have been told what to do, so there is no doubt. 

Sheikh Yahya Rhodus

Sheikh Muhammad Al-Kawthari

Please click here for Sheikh Muhammad Al-Kawthari's fatwa on the 15th Sha'ban

Imam Zaid Shakir

Why do I write on Sheikhy Notes?

Back in 2007 I complied ideas and experiences on the subject of learning Arabic. At the time I was still putting notes on the blog. I did not see any need to put this article/post up. So I left it and did not go back to it for a few months. Eventually in 2008 I put it out and this lead to more written work. Eight years and one hundred and fifty articles later I am still writing. Some have caused more controversy in the tea cups of the misinformed.

I am used to being slandered and insulted by some of the misinformed of the general public. This year being no exception. It's very sad that the internet makes loins out of mice. Hiding behind their keyboards and phones insulting and attacking teachers who are trying to help. All my intention has ever been is to help people for the sake of Allah. I am not interested in position and nor do I covert one. If anything, I am persona non grata to most people. I am ignored in my area and beyond that, it does not bother me at all.

Question what I say all day long but I do draw the line against people who insult and slander me. When all I was doing is trying to clarify matters. Despite this, many people are influenced by the blog to better their lives and this what we want. I will never meet the people who have had confusing matters cleared up for them. This blog is built on giving you a window to sacred knowledge.

The work that I write is often observation. Most of the time it's a reaction to things that occur to me or things that I see happen. My aim is to clarify things and as a teacher that's part of my job.

So the people who are slandering me do so because they are unable to say anything to my face. Read the ayah on the top left side and you will see why I have every right to give advice. Whether you like it or not, plenty of people do. 

Maybe instead of criticizing me people should help. But no one has time to help anyone but they have all the time in the world to slander. Then you wonder why we are in such a mess! Even if I am wrong that does not give anyone the right to slander and spread lies about me. So what if I am right?

Imam Zaid Shakir

Imam Zaid Shakir

Sheikh Salek bin Siddina

Sheikh Salek bin Siddina

Sheikh Salek bin Siddina,

Sheikh Salek bin Siddina

Imam Zaid Shakir

Habib Umar ibn Hafiz