All praise is to Allah, the Lord Of The Creation. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Owner of the Day of Recompense. Who blessed us being the Ummah of His Beloved Rasool Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam. Who sanctified our hearts with the Love and Affection towards His Beloved Rasool Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam. Who blessed us the with the most precious treasure of Iman (Faith)... Countless Salutations, Peace and Blessings be upon the Cream of the Creation... Mercy for all Worlds... Seal of the Prophets Sayyiduna wa Maulana MuHammadur RasoolALLAH Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam, His Blessed Parents, His entire Family, His Progeny, His Companions and all those who Follow Him!! Dear Brothers and Sisters! Iman is to accept every word of Sayyiduna RasoolAllah SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam as absolute and nothing else but truth and to testify whole-heartedly the reality and truth of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam. One who observes the above would be called a Muslim, that is, if any of his words, actions or conditions does not reject, insult or falsify Almighty Allah and His Rasool SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam. His relationship with Almighty Allah and His Rasool SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam must be above all other relationships. He must love and respect all those who are the beloved of Almighty Allah and His Rasool SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam even though that person may be his enemy. He must disrespect and hate all those who disrespect and hate Almighty Allah and His Rasool SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam even if that person may be his beloved son. Whatever he gives should be for Almighty Allah and whatever he abstains from must be for Almighty Allah. Such a persons Iman is known as "Kaamil" or "Complete". Sayyiduna RasoolAllah SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam states: من أحب لله وأبغض لله وأعطى لله ومنع لله فقد استكمل الإيمان "One who loves for Allah, hates anyone because of Allah, spends for Allah and holds back for Allah, then, indeed, he has completed his Iman." [Sunan Abi Dawood, Vol. 2, Page 632, Hadith 4681] Penalty for Insulting the Beloved Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam This is an enormous subject, but we shall concentrate in what constitutes an insult then the impending penalty. 1. The verdict of infidelity for insulting the Holy Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam will depend upon the apparent words and no consideration will be given to the intention and the purpose of the person committing the insult and the circumstances of the time. [Imām Shahāb ud-Dīn Khafājī Hanafī, Nasīm ar-Riyadh, Vol. 4, Page 426] 2. When a person (a Muslim) speaks ill of the Holy Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam is any connection, he becomes an infidel. According to some 'Ulamā, if a man uses an insulting word even for the sacred hair of the Holy Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam he will become an infidel. [Fatāwah Qadī Khan, Vol. 4, Page 882] 3. If a Muslims abuses the Holy Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam or lies about him or picks out faults in him, or robs him of his dignity, he commits the act of infidelity against Allāh Almighty. [Imām Abū Yūsuf, Kitāb al-Khiraj, Page 182] 4. Truly whoever abused the Holy Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam or ascribed any fault to him or attributed any defect to his family, religion or his habit, or reproached him, or compared the Holy Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam with any defective thing with the objective of degrading his personality and prestige, he is truly an abusive person and deserves to be executed. We make absolutely no exception to this verdict, whether the insult has been committed intentionally or unintentionally. This has been the verdict of all the 'Ulamā of the Ummah from the time of the Companions to the present day. [Qadī Iyadh, Ash-Shifa, Vol. 2, Page 214] 5. It is narrated by Imām Abū Hafs al-Kabīr Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu that if anybody ascribes a defect even to the sacred hair of the Holy Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam he will become an infidel. Imām Muhammad Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu mentioned in his 'Mabsūt' that it is an act of infidelity to abuse the Holy Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam. 6. It is beyond doubt that the whole of the Ummah is unanimous that the one who slanders the Holy Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam or any of the other Prophets, is an infidel, whether he committed this act while considering it legitimate or illegitimate. He is an infidel in the opinion of the Ulema, and whoever doubts his infidelity is also an infidel. [Dhakhairat al-Uqba, Page 240] 7. It is stated in Fatawa Alamgir (also known as Fatawa al-Hindiya) that No ta'wīl will be heard for manifest, unambiguous words. Fatāwah Khulasa, Fusul 'Imadiya, Jami' al-Fusulin and Fatāwah Hindiya and others state: If someone calls himself RasûlAllâh or refers to himself as Paighambar in Persian and then says that he meant that he is an ambassador who delivers someone's message; then he will become a Kâfir. [Fatāwah Hindiya, Vol. 2, Page 263] 8. Imām Qadī 'Iyadh writes that Imām Ahmad bin Abī Sulaiman, student of Imām Sahnun rahimahumAllah, was asked about a man to whom it was said that "In the name of RasûlAllâh", he said "May Allah do so-and so with RasûlAllâh" and uttered insolent words. It was said to him, "Oh enemy of God! What do you utter about the Messenger?" He replied using even harsher words and then said, "By saying RasûlAllâh, I meant a scorpion". Imām Ahmad bin Abī Sulaiman advised the questioner thus, "Bear witness against him so that he may get the punishment of death and that you get the reward. I am with you on this" [meaning, give evidence against him to the Muslim judge and I will also try that we get the judge to issue a verdict of capital punishment and gain the reward of this]. Imām Habīb bin Rabī' says that this is because no ta'wīl is heard for explicit words. [al-Shifa' fī Ta'rif Huqūq al-Mustafa, Vol. 2, Page 209] 9. Mawlana 'Alī Qarī writes that is, when that man said that he was referring to a scorpion – he claimed the literal meaning of the word Risalah in that even the scorpion is sent by Allāh to the people – this ta'wīl is rejected according the rules of the Sharī'ā. [Sharh Shifa' Mullah 'Alī Qarī ma'a Nasīm al-Riyadh, Vol. 4, Page 343] 10. 'Allamah Shihāb Khafājī writes that Indeed the literal meaning of the word that he referred to is true and denying this is stubbornness. However, his claim that he had intended these meanings will not be accepted because this ta'wīl is extremely farfetched. To twist the meaning of word from its apparent meaning will not be heard just as when a man says to his wife that you are taaliq and then gives the explanation that what I meant was that she is open, not tied up [literally, taaliq means extended]. Such a ta'wīl will not be accepted and he will be thought to be delirious. [Nasīm al-Riyadh Sharh Shifa', Vol. 4, Page 343] We can go on quoting the righteous Ulama on this topic and the verdict is the same, a single bad word towards the Holy Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam under any circumstance, intentional or not, leads to Kufr! Furthermore, any Muslim doubting the Kufr of an abuser of the Holy Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam will himself become a Kafir!! Dear Muslims!! Is it possible that the heart that contains the love and honour of the master of the universe, Sayyiduna Muhammad SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam, could ever tolerate insults to him, though it may be his Ustadh, Murshid, leader or even father? Would the heart that extremely loves the Holy Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam above all creation, ever respect or love one who belittles the unique and faultless Prophet of Allah SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam, even though it may be his own child or intimate friend? All good is from Allah Ta'ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta'ala bring us closer to Him and His Rasool SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. May we live in this World with extreme protection of Iman and leave this world having our Iman safe and sound... Aameen bi jahi Sayyid al-Ameen Alaihi Afdal as-Salati wa at-Tasleem!! -- Courtesy: Faysal Noori Ridawi Slough - United Kingdom

The rights of the Beloved Prophet Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon Him and the devotion, respect, esteem and honor that are owed to him are made clear in the Holy Book and the Sunnah and the consensus of the community. In His Book, Allah has made it haram to harm him. The community agrees that anyone among the Muslims who disparages him or curses him is to be killed!!

Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala says,

إن الذين يؤذون الله ورسوله لعنهم الله في الدنيا والآخرة وأعد لهم عذابا مهينا
"Indeed those who trouble Allah and His Noble Messenger – upon them is Allah's curse in the world and in the Hereafter, and Allah has kept prepared a disgraceful punishment for them." [Surah al-Ahzab, Verse 57]

And,

والذين يؤذون رسول الله لهم عذاب أليم
"and for those who trouble the Noble Messenger of Allah, is a painful punishment." [Surah al-Tawbah, Verse 61]

And,

وما كان لكم أن تؤذوا رسول الله ولا أن تنكحوا أزواجه من بعده أبدا إن ذلكم كان عند الله عظيما
"and you have no right to trouble the Noble Messenger of Allah, nor ever marry any of his wives after him; indeed that is a very severe matter in the sight of Allah." [Surah al-Ahzab, Verse 53]

Know that all who curse Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, or blame him or attribute imperfection to him in his person, his lineage, his deen or any of his qualities, or alludes to that or it's like by any means whatsoever, whether in the form of a curse or contempt or belittling him or detracting from him or finding fault with him or maligning him, the judgment regarding such a person is the same as the judgment against anyone who curses him. He is killed as we shall make clear. This judgment extends to anything which amounts to a curse or disparagement. We have no hesitation concerning this matter, be it a clear statement or allusion.

The same applies to anyone who curses him, invokes against him, desires to harm him, ascribes to him what does not befit his position or jokes about his mighty affair with foolish talk, satire, disliked words or lies, or reviles him because of any affliction or trial which happened to him or disparages him, because of any of the permissible and well-known human events which happened to him. All of this is the consensus of the 'Ulama' and the Imams of fatwa from the time of the Companions until today.

..:: Verdicts by the Jurists and Scholars of Islam ::..

1. Abu Bakr ibn al-Mundhir said that

أجمع عوام أهل العلم على أن من سب النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم يقتل ، و ممن قال ذلك مالك بن أنس ، و الليث ، و أحمد ، و إسحاق ، و هو مذهب الشافعي
The bulk of the people of knowledge agree that whoever curses the Prophet is killed. These include Malik ibn Anas, al-Layth, Ahmad ibn Hanbal and Ishaq ibn Rahawayh, and it is the position of the Shafi'i school.

2. Qadi Abu'l-Fadl said that

و هو مقتضى قول أبي بكر الصديق رضي الله عنه ، و لا تقبل توبته عند هؤلاء المذكورين و بمثله قال أبو حنيفة ، و أصحابه ، و الثوري و أهل الكوفة ، و الأوزاعي في المسلم ، لكنهم قالوا : هي ردة
It is based on the statement of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq. His repentance is not accepted. Something similar was stated by Abu Hanifa and his people, ath-Thawri and the people of Kufa and al-Awza'i about the Muslims. However, they said that it constitutes apostasy.

At-Tabari related something similar from Abu Hanifa and his companions about anyone who disparages the Prophet, proclaims himself quit of him or calls him a liar.

3. Sahnun said about those who curse the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam),

ذلك ردة كالزندقة
"This is apostasy in exactly the same way as heresy (zandaqa) is."

4. Muhammad ibn Sahnun said that

أجمع العلماء أن شاتم النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم المتقص له كافر . و الوعيد جار عليه بعذاب الله ، و حكمه عند الأمة القتل ، و من شك في كفره و عذابه كفر
The 'ulama' agree that anyone who reviles the Prophet and disparages him is an unbeliever and the threat of Allah's punishment is on him. The community's judgment on him is that he be killed. Anyone who has any doubts about such a person's disbelief and punishment is also an unbeliever.

For a proof of this, Ibrahim ibn Husayn ibn Khalid, the faqih, uses the instance of Khalid ibn al-Walid killing Malik ibn Nuwayra for referring to the Prophet as "your companion."

5. Abu Sulayman al-Khattabi said,

لا أعلم أحداً من المسلمين اختلف في وجوب قتله إذا كان مسلماً
"I do not know of any Muslim who disagrees about the necessity of killing such a person if he is a Muslim."

6. Ibn al-Qasim reports from Malik in the book of Ibn Sahnun, the Mabsut, and the 'Utibiyya and Ibn Mutarrif relate the same from Malik in the book of Ibn Habib,

من سب النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم من المسلمين قتل ، و لم يستتب
"Any Muslim who curses the Prophet is killed without being asked to repent."

7. Ibn al-Qasim said in the 'Utibiyya,

من سبه أو شتمه أو عابه أو تنقصه فإنه يقتل ، و حكمه عند الأمة القتل كالزنديق
"Anyone who curses him, reviles him, finds fault with him or disparages him is killed. The community says that he should be killed just like the dualist. Allah made it obligatory to respect the Prophet and be dutiful to him."

8. In the Mabsut from 'Uthman ibn Kinana we find,

من شتم النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم من المسلمين قتل أو صلب حياً و لم يستتب و الإمام مخير في صلبه حياً أو قتله
"Any Muslim who reviles the Prophet is killed or crucified without being asked to repent. The Imam can choose between crucifying him and killing him."

9. In the variant of Abu'l-Mus'ab and Ibn Abi Uways, they heard Malik say,

من سب رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم ، أو شتمه ، أو عابة ، أو تنقصه ـ قتل مسلماً كان أو كافراً ، و لا يستتاب
"Anyone who curses the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, reviles him, finds fault with him or disparages him is killed, be he Muslim or unbeliever, without being asked to repent."

10. Asbagh Alaihir raHma said,

يقتل على كل حال أسر ذلك أو ظهره ، و لا يستتاب ، لأن توبته لا تعرف
"He is killed in every case, whether he conceals it or makes it public, without being asked to repent because his repentance is not recognized."

11. Malik Ibn Wahb related that Malik said,

إن رداء النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم ـ و يروى زر النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم ـ وسخ ، أراد عيبه ـ قتل
"Anyone who says that the Prophet's cloak (or button) was dirty, thereby intending to find fault with him, should be killed."

12. Imam Qadi Iyad al-Maliki said,

قال بعض علمائنا : أجمع العلماء على أن من دعا على نبي من الأنبياء بالويل ، أو بشيء من المكروه ـ أنه يقتل بلا استتابة
Few of our 'ulama says that people agree that anyone who curses any of the Prophets using the expression "Woe to him" or anything disliked is to be killed without being asked to repent.

13. Abu'l-Hasan al-Qabisi gave a fatwa that

فيمن قال في النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم : الحمال يتيم أبي طالب ـ بالقتل
a man who called the Prophet "the porter, the orphan of Abu Talib" should be killed.

14. Abu Muhammad ibn Abi Zayd gave a fatwa to kill a man who was listening to some people discussing what the Prophet looked like. When a man with an ugly face and beard walked by, he said to them, "You want to know what he looked like? He looked like this passer-by in physique and beard." Abu Muhammad said,

و لا تقبل توبته و قد كذب ـ لعنه الله ، و ليس يخرج من قلب سليم الإيمان
"His repentance is not accepted. He lied, may Allah curse him. That could not come out of a heart with sound belief."

15. Ahmad ibn Abi Sulayman, the companion of Sahnun, said,

إن النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم كان أسود يقتل
"Anyone who says that the Prophet was black should be killed."

16. He was told about a man to whom someone said, "No, by the right of the Messenger of Allah," and he replied, "Allah did such a thing to the Messenger of Allah," mentioning some ugly words. People said to him, "What are you saying, enemy of Allah?" Then he said some even harsher things and added, "I wish for a scorpion for the Messenger of Allah." When someone asked him for fatwa about this man, lbn Abi Sulayman said,

شهد عليه و أنا شريكك
"Testify against him and I will be your partner,"

i.e. in killing him and getting the reward. Habib ibn ar-Rabi' said that is because trying to explain away the literal expression is not accepted because it is clear contempt and lack of respect for the Messenger of Allah. His blood is permitted.

17. The fuqaha' of Andalusia gave a fatwa that Ibn Hatim, the scholar of Toledo, be killed and crucified because there was testimony that he made light of what is due to the Prophet. In the course of a debate, he called him "the orphan" and the in-law of the lion (i.e. Mawla 'Ali)," and claimed that his doing-without (zuhd) las not intentional. He alleged that if he had been able to have good things, he would have eaten them. He said other similar things.

18. The fuqaha' of the Qayrawan and the companions of Sahnun gave a fatwa for the killing of Ibrahim al-Ghazari, a poet and master of many sciences. He was one of those who attended the assembly of Qadi Abu'l-'Abbas ibn Talib for debate. He was accused of objectionable things like mocking Allah, His Prophets and our Prophet. Qadi Yahya ibn 'Umar and other fuqaha' summoned him and commanded that he be killed and crucified. He was stabbed and crucified upside down. Then he was brought down and burned. One of the historians related that when the post to which he was tied was lifted up, the body turned around away from qibla. It was a sign to all and the people said, "Allah is greater!" Then a dog came and licked his blood. Yahya ibn 'Umar said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, spoke the truth," and he mentioned a hadith in which the Prophet said, "A dog will not lick a Muslim's blood."

19. Qadi Abu 'Abdullah ibn al-Murabit said,

من قال : إن النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم هزم يستتاب ، فإن تاب و إلا قتل ، لأنه تنقص ، إذ لا يجوز ذلك عليه في خاصته ، إذ هو على بصيرة من أمره ، ويقين من عصمته
"Whoever says that the Prophet was defeated is asked to repent. If he repents, it is all right. If not, he is killed because it detracts from the Prophet. Such a disparaging remark could not be said about the Prophet by anyone with understanding of his affair and certainty about his inviolability."

20. Habib ibn Rabi' al-Qarawi said that

مذهب مالك و أصحابه أن من قال فيه صلى الله عليه و سلم : ما فيه نقص ـ قتل دون استتابة
The school of Malik and his companions is that anyone who says anything disparaging about the Prophet is killed without being asked to repent.

21. Ibn 'Attab said that

الكتاب و السنة موجبان أن من قصد النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم بأذى أو نقص ، معرضاً أو مصرحاً ، و إن قل ـ فقتله واجب ، فهذا الباب كله مما عده ا لعلماء سباً أو تنقصاً يجب قتل قائله ، لم يختلف في ذلك متقدمهم ولا متأخرهم
The Book and Sunnah require that someone who intends to even slightly harm or disparage the Prophet, either by allusion or clear statement, must be killed. Anything like this which is something that the 'ulama' consider to be a curse or disparagement necessitates that the one who says it be killed. Neither the early or later people disagree about that.

22. Qadhi Ayad al-Maliki says,

و كذلك أقول حكم من غمصه أو عيره برعاية الغنم أو السهو أو النسيان أو السحر ، أو ما أصابه من جرح أو هزيمة لبعض جيوشه ، أو أذى من عدوه ، أو شدة من زمنه ، أو بالميل إلى نسائه ، فحكم هذا كله لمن قصد به نقصه القتل
"This is also my position regarding the judgment of anyone who belittles him or insults him about having been a shepherd, oversight, forgetfulness, sorcery, any wound he received, the defeat of one of his armies, injury by an enemy, the intensity of his illness or his being attracted to his wives. The judgment of all this is that the one who intends to disparage him by it is killed."

--
Extracted from:
Al-Shifa bi Ta'rifi Huqooqil Mustafa, Part 4, Section 1
by Imam Qadhi Iyad al-Maliki Alaihir raHmah wa ar-Ridwan

An Ignorant (so-called) Sufi is a tool of the Cursed Shaytan!! The Awliya Allah state that an Ignorant Sufi is a tool of Shaytan. For the same reason, Sayyiduna Rasoolullah SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam said, فقيه واحد اشد علی الشيطان من الف عابد "A Faqeeh ('Alim or Doctor of Islamic law) is heavier than a thousand 'Aabids (Worshippers) upon Shaitan". [Tirmidhi, Vol. 2, Page 93] When an ignorant person worships or tries to tread on the path of Sufism, the Shaitan makes him dance on his finger tips by putting his reins in his mouth, the bridle in the nose and drags him to wherever he desires. The ignorant Sufi thinks that whatever he is doing is correct and excellent. False Sufis steal the words of the Sufis and present them as their own, and thus trick people with the beautiful teachings, which they are merely imitators of. They do not have true knowledge of that which they are speaking. Many of the great Sufi Shuyookh speak of deceptive false Sufis. These people take the title of "Sufi" because it gives them a certain amount of prestige and power, and they take advantage of those who cannot tell false Sufism from the real thing. Sayyiduna Junaid Baghdadi Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anho states that his Spiritual Master or Peer-o-Murshid, Sayyiduna Sirri Saqti Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho prayed in the following words: جعلك اﷲ صاحب حديث صوفيا و لاجعلك صوفيا صاحب حديث May Allah first make you a Muhaddith (Scholar of Ahadith) then a Sufi and not firstly a Sufi then a Muhaddith. [Ihya al Uloom, Vol, Page 22] Imam Ghazali Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho, commenting on this Dua said, اشار الى ان من حصل الحديث والعلم ثم تصوف افلح ومن تصوف قبل العلم خاطر بنفسه The meaning of Hazrat Sirri Saqti's Dua is that the one who first studies Hadith and Knowledge, then sets foot into Sufism, has indeed succeeded. But, he who wishes to become a Sufi before obtaining knowledge has certainly put himself into total destruction. [Ihya al Uloom, Vol, Page 22] Sayyiduna Sayyidi Abul Qasim Junaid Baghdadi Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anho states: من لم يحفظ القراٰن ولم يكتب الحديث لايقتدٰى به في هذا الامر لان علمنا ھذا مقيد بالكتاب والسنة "One who has not learnt the Quran and written the Hadith, that is, one who is ignorant about the Laws of Shariah, never follow him in anything pertaining to Tariqah and do not take him as your Peer because our knowledge of Tariqah is strictly in accordance with the Quran and Hadith (ie. Shariah)." [Risaalah al-Qushayriya, Page 20] Sayyiduna Sirri Saqti Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho states: التصوف اسم لثلاث معان وھوالذي لايطفى نور معرفته نور ورعه ولايتكلم بباطن في علم ينقضه ظاھر الكتب او السنة ولاتحمله الكرامات على ھتك استار محارم اﷲ تعالٰى Tassawuf is the name of three qualities: 1. His Noor of Ma'rifah (Knowledge of Allah) must not extinguish his Noor of Daragh (Falsehood). 2. Never speak from the knowledge of Batin (Interior) which may contradict the Zahir (Exterior) Quran and Hadith. 3. Do not let Karamats (Miracles) caste a veil on those things which Allah has made Haram. Sayyiduna Shaykh Shabuddin Suhrawardi Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anho who was taken by his uncle to visit Sayyiduna al-Ghawth al-A'zam Shaykh Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani said, حقيقة ردتها الشريعة فھي زندقة "The Haqiqah which is rejected by Shariah is not Haqiqah but irreligiousness." [Awarif al Ma'arif, Page 72] The exoteric religious sciences of Islam (religious law and jurisprudence, references to the Qur'an and Hadith, theology, etc) began simultaneously with the esoteric sciences of Sufism (self-purification, asceticism, and mysticism). There is no logical division between outer formal Islam and the inner school of Sufism. With the beloved Prophet Muhammad SallaAllahu Ta'ala 'Alayhi wa Sallam command of "seek knowledge even if it be in China"; the value of learning was given a divine status and great historic centers of learning were established. The wise and knowledgeable Peers were attached to Tariqas (spiritual path leading to Almighty Allah), international 'brotherhoods' that disseminated both the exoteric and esoteric Islamic sciences throughout the Muslim world. The teaching of each Tariqa would be traceable through a Silsila, the line of succession that connected members, through their Peer, with his master and in turn with their Masters. Ultimately this reached the Noble Companions of the beloved Prophet Salla Allahu Ta'ala 'Alayhi wa Sallam and the beloved Prophet SallaAllahu Ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam himself. Shaykh Bayazid Bustaami (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu) cautions us: لونظر تم الي رجل اعطي من الكرامات حتى يرتقي (وفي نسخة يتربع) في الهواء فلا تغتروا به حتى تنظروا كيف تجدونه عندالامر والنھي وحفظ الحدود و آداب الشريعة "If you see a person sitting cross-legged in the air, don't be fooled by his act! Observe his approach and attitude towards the compulsory acts (Fardh, Waajib) and prohibited acts (Haraam, Makruh Tahreemi) and detestable acts (Makrooh) and other restrictions and etiquette's of the Shari'ah". [Risaalah al-Qushayriya, Page 15] The miracle of a Wali is his complete compliance to the teachings of Nabi (Sallallaho Alaihi Wa Sallam). The steadfast adherence to the Shari'ah is the best Karaamat. A true Saint is righteous and follows the path laid down by the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihi Wa Sallam). Hadrat Data Ganj Bakhsh Ali Hujweri writes: "A group of heretics have joined the Sufis. They preach that once obedience to Shari'ah is intensified to such an extent that Wilayah (Sainthood) is achieved, Ta'at (obedience to the Laws of Sharee'ah) is no longer necessary. This is an incorrect and false claim. In the path of truth, there is absolutely no stage where Ta'at becomes redundant". [Kashf al Mahjoob, Page 312] Hadrat Data Saahib emphasizes, "To achieve Wilaayat, the compliance to the Sunnah of Nabi Kareem is definitely required." [Kashf al Mahjoob, Page 455] Hadrat Data Ganj Bakhsh explains the relationship of Haqiqah and Shari'ah as follows: "Shari'ah without Haqeeqah is a farce and show and Haqiqah without Shari'ah is hypocrisy. Pretence and hypocrisy are both the ruination of Imaan. Almighty Allah says: 'Whoever exhibits Mujahidah (continuous striving) towards us, We will show them Our path'. Mujahidah is Shari'ah and guidance towards the path of Almighty Allah is Haqeeqah. Shari'ah functions to protect the outward and Haqeeqah guards the inner conditions of the Believer". [Kashf al Mahjoob, Page 526] Hadrat Mawlana Jalal al-Din Rumi Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu says: "A disciple who is trained by a man of Allah will have a pure and purified spirit. But he who is trained by an impostor and hypocrite and who learns theory from him will be just like him: despicable, weak, incapable, morose, without any exit from uncertainties, and deficient in all his senses." [Fihi ma fihi, Page 145] Furthermore, on the topic of false Sufis and the harm they do, Mawlana Jalal al-Din Rumi says: You are the disciple and guest of someone who in his vileness will steal away all your attainments. He is not victorious, how will he make you victorious? He will not give you light, he will make you dark. Since he has no light, how can others receive light through associating with him? Like a blind man who cures eyes: With what will he anoint your eyes other than wool? He has no scent or trace of God, but his claims are greater than those of Seth or Adam. The devil himself is embarrassed to appear before him; he keeps on saying, "We are of the saints and even greater." He steals many of the words of the dervishes, so that people may think he really is someone. In his talks he even cavils at Bayazid; Yazid himself is ashamed of him. He is destitute of the bread and provisions of heaven: Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala has not thrown him a single bone. [Mathnawi of Jalaluddin Rumi, Book I, Page 76] Therefore we see that a great Shaykh such as Jalal al-Din Rumi Alaihir raHma warns us of the false Sufis. False Sufis may even be more prevalent today than they were in the past. We must distinguish between true Sufis, who follow the Shari'ah, and false Sufis, who often do not. Syyeduna Ala'Hadrat Imam Ahmad Rida al-Qadiri in his Malfuz Shareef while answering a question said, "A Murshid who does not respect and follow the Shari'ah is himself in darkness and totally incapable of illuminating (rating someone else's path or guiding them). Such people are disciples of Shaytan and the enemies of Islam. To follow any path other than that of the Shari'ah is the path of the Cursed Shaytan. The evil jesters who mock the Ulama and jeer at the teachings of the Shari'ah, They (falsely) claim that the Ulama and the Fuqara have always been at odds with each other. These ignorant idiots cast doubts over the most eminent Ulama and question their integrity." [Al Malfuz Sharif, Vol. 2] It is to be noted that Shari'ah is established on the firm foundation of Quran, Sunnah, Consensus and analogy of the Jurists. If a person disputes any particular analogical problem and is equipped with substantiating evidence, then the matter is not so serious. However, when a person openly defies the Quran, Hadith and Ijma (consensus), he not only gives up any claim to being a Sufi or a Murshid, but more then this... Surely, A donkey with a load of Holy Books is still a donkey!! -- Extracted from Irshaadat-e-AlaHadrat Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu Compiled and Translated by: Shaykh Abd al-Hadi al-Qadiri

Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala says in the Holy Qur'an قل إن كان آباؤكم وأبناؤكم وإخوانكم وأزواجكم وعشيرتكم وأموال اقترفتموها وتجارة تخشون كسادها ومساكن ترضونها أحب إليكم من الله ورسوله وجهاد في سبيله فتربصوا حتى يأتي الله بأمره والله لا يهدي القوم الفاسقين Say, "If your fathers, and your sons, and your brothers, and your wives, and your tribe, and your acquired wealth, and the trade in which you fear a loss, and the houses of your liking - if all these are dearer to you than Allah and His Noble Messenger and fighting in His way, then wait until Allah brings about His command; and Allah does not guide the sinful." [Surah Tauba : 24] This verse demonstrate encouragement, advice, proof and indication of the necessity to love Prophet Muhammad SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam. It is also sufficient to demonstrate that this duty is of tremendous proportion. It is an obligation and the right of the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam. You will have observed how Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala reprimands those whose love of relatives and property are dearer to them than Allah and His Messenger SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam. Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala concludes His warning with the threatening words "then wait until Allah shall bring His command." And from this it is understood that those whose love is other than for Allah and His Messenger SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam, are astray and are not guided by Allah. Sayyiduna Anas Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho tells us that one day the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam, told his Companions, لا يؤمن أحدكم حتى أكون أحب إليه من ولده و والده و الناس أجمعين "None of you will believe until I am more beloved to him than his children, his father and all people." Sayyiduna Anas Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho also reported, ثلاث من كن فيه وجد حلاوة الإيمان : أن يكون الله ورسوله أحب إليه مما سواهما . و أن يحب المرء لا يحبه إلا لله ، و أن يكره أن يعود في الكفر كما يكره أن يقذف في النار "There are three things that if someone were to seek refuge in them they would experience the sweetness of belief. They are that Allah and His Messenger are more beloved to him than anything else; that he loves a person only for the sake of Allah, and he loathes the notion of reverting to disbelief as much as he would loathe to be cast into the Fire." Sahih Bukhari, Kitab al Iman, Vol 1, Page 9 Sahih Muslim, Kitab al Iman, Vo1 1, Page 66/67 One day Sayyiduna Umar Ibn al-Khattab Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho went to the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam, and told him, لأنت أحب إلي من شيء إلا نفسي التي بين جنبي "I love you more than anything except my soul which is between my two sides." The Prophet replied, لن يؤمن أحدكم حتى أكون أحب إليه من نفسه "None of you will believe until I am dearer to him than his own soul." Sayyiduna Umar Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho immediately replied, و الذي أنزل عليك الكتاب لأنت أحب إلي من نفسي التي بين جنبي "By the One who sent down the Book to you, I love you more than my soul which is between my two sides." The Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam, replied, الآن يا عمر "Umar, you have reached it." [Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Iman, Vol 11, Page 522] Sayyiduna Sahl Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho warned, من لم ير ولاية الرسول عليه في جميع الأحوال ، و يرى نفسه في ملكه صلى الله عليه و سلم لا يذوق حلاوة سنته ، لأن النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم قال لا يؤمن أحدكم حتى يكون أحب إليه من نفسه If someone does not think that the Messenger of Allah is his master in all matters or should think that he does not fall under the his jurisdiction he does not taste the sweetness of his prophetic way, because he said, "None of you will believe until I am dearer to him than himself." [Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al Iman, Vol 1, Page 9] The reward for Loving the Prophet Sayyiduna Anas Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho tells us of the occasion when a man came to the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam and asked, متى الساعة يا رسول الله ؟ "When will the Last Hour come, O Messenger of Allah?" Whereupon the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam, inquired, ما أعددت لها "What have you prepared for it?" The man replied, ما أعددت لها من كثير صلاة و لا صوم و لا صدقة ، و لكني أحب الله و رسوله "I have neither prepared an abundance of prayer, fasting or charity for it, but I love Allah and His Messenger." The Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam, told him, أنت مع من أحببت "You will be with the one you love." Sahih Bukhari, Kitab Manaqib Umar, Vol 5, Page 11 Sahih Muslim, Kitab al Birr, Vol 4, Page 2033 Sayyiduna Safwan Ibn Qudama Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho was told the same when he declared his love for the Messenger of Allah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam. [Sunan Tirmidhi, Kitab az-Zuhd, Vol 4, Page 23] Sayyiduna Ali al-Mutardha Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho narrates that the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam, took hold of the hands of his grandsons Sayyiduna Al Hasan and Sayydina Al Hussain Radi ALLAHu Anhum Ajma'een and said, من أحبني و أحب هذين و أباهما و أمهما كان معي في درجتي يوم القيامة "Whosoever loves me and loves these two, their father and mother, will receive the same degree as myself on the Day of Resurrection." [Sunan Tirmidhi, Kitab Manaqib Ali, Vol 5, Page 305]     One day a man came to the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam, and told him, يا رسول الله ، لأنت أحب إلي من أهلي و مالي ، و إني لأذكرك فما أصبرحتى أجيء فأنظر إليك ، و إني ذكرت موتي و موتك تعالى فعرفت أنك إذا دخلت الجنة رفعت مع النبيين ، و إن دخلتها لا أراك "O Messenger of Allah, I love you more than my family and possessions. I always remember you and could not wait to come just to look at you. I bear in mind that I will die and you will die, and I know that when you enter the Garden you will be raised up with the Prophets, but when I enter it I will not see you." Shortly after Allah sent down the verse, ومن يطع الله والرسول فأولئك مع الذين أنعم الله عليهم من النبيين والصديقين والشهداء والصالحين وحسن أولئك رفيقا "And whoever obeys Allah and His Noble Messenger, will be with those upon whom Allah has bestowed grace - that is, the Prophets and the truthful and the martyrs and the virtuous; and what excellent companions they are!" [Surah al-Nisa, Verse 69] Having received this verse the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam, called the man back and recited it to him. [Tafseer Durr al-Manthoor, Vol 2, Page 588] A man came to visit the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam, and could not stop gazing at him. The Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam, gently inquired the reason why, whereupon the man replied, بأبي و أمي ! أتمتع من النظر إليك ، فإذا كان يوم القيامة رفعك الله بتفضيله "May my father and mother be sacrificed on you! I enjoy gazing at you and on the Day of Resurrection, Allah will exalt you on account of the high esteem in which He holds you!" It is also said that it was then that Allah sent down the verse mentioned above. We are given the good news transmitted by Anas that the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam, said, من أحبني كان معي في الجنة "Whosoever loves me will be with me in the Garden." [Manabil as-Safa lil Suyooti, Page 182] O Allah, We ask You and turn our face to You, by Your Beloved, the chosen, with You: O our beloved, O (our Master) Muhammad, we ask you to intercede with Your Lord us, so intercede for us with the greatest Lord. O best, pure messenger. O Allah accept his intercession by his honor with You. And make us the best of those who praise and call for peace upon him. And make us the best of those who are near to him and who are received by him. And the best of those who are in love with him, and are loved in his presence... Aameen!! -- Extracted from Ash-Shifa bi Ta'rifi Huqooq al-Mustafa by Imam Qadhi Iyad al-Maliki Alaihir raHmah

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