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Chapter 14

THE GUIDANCE OF MASTERS AND THE NEED FOR IT

B: Social Guidance of Teachers

Preface: As in the development of worldly affairs, the leadership from guidances and instructors is a must. It is impossible for any one to completely build and correctly and soundly benefit the things without accepting studentship and a lot of hardships for the purpose of obtaining the preferred education. Similarly, for traversing and apprehending the inner path, and perceiving this, it is necessary to submit to the Instructors of Madrassa-e-Towheed and carefully learn the corresponding Epistles and books. As some Gnostic¹ has stated:

"No one becomes someone on his own;
No iron becomes a sharp dagger alone."

Hereby, please pay attention to the questions enlightening this issue:

1. Have you noticed? As, for learning the worldly affairs, the direction giving of Teachers is a necessity, indeed, for the leadership of the inner as well, the guidance of Teachers and leaders of Madrassa-e Quran is essential, especially in the present age when the agenda of soul and spirituality, in some places, is either annihilated or has absolutely weakened. Therefore, the palace of peace for Mankind and humanity in spite of all these sciences and inventions is going towards decline and annihilation.

2. Have you noticed? Concerning the acquisition of secular sciences, besides accepting hardships, student must learn things told by his Teacher, even though he may not grasp and he may consider them unbeneficial. Similarly, concerning passing the levels of the divine knowledge, as well, followers have to willingly accept things, which may not seem to them as correct.

3. Have you noticed? The only stubborn, first-hand enemy of Mankind on his way to draw near to Almighty God is Satan. It is also clear that enemy overcomes the opposition when, there is cooperation with him from within the opposition group. Hence, it is said that the tree was asked why a small saw can bring it to knee in spite of its bigness and strength. The tree replied, because the saw's handle is made out of my own.

4. Have you noticed? Hence, with the assistance of ego and its associates along with other means and tools, Satan overcomes Man. He even encourages Man for Remembrances (Dhikr Zikr Zikir) and deeds ahead of the appropriate time. Once, different activities of ego based on its desires, are gaining momentum, then Satan will gain further ground in the person's heart by fostering temptations, until Satan misleads him, or to forces him to be unlawful.

5. Have you noticed? Why I said that excess in Remembrances (Dhiker), or the good deeds of whatsoever kind, especially incantations² are conditioned by the allusion³ and permission of the Mastered Teacher?⁴ For, sometimes while the person lacking the physical stability, Satan still by using this opportunity encourages him for excess of supererogatory⁵ and increase of Remembrances. Even though, this is a good act, but at this time when the cleansing⁶ of Ego and purification⁷ of Heart as required are not obtained yet, the excess of deeds, Remembrances and incantations on a person would finally result in troubling him. This will lead to defects in his outer and inner states.

6. Have you noticed? Why is this harmful? Sure! It is harmful because the body is not purified yet, it can not tolerate the continuance of those excess Remembrances. Therefore, after some time, that particular act becomes heavy on him. He will gradually avoid performing hem one after the other. He will finally abandon them. Therefore, the most efficient and the least harmful unconditional of deeds is the Observation of Maker's the Magnificence and Perfection in Arts.

7. Have you noticed? At the end, Satan will make some people to such extent descend and weary them that they will fall behind in performing their Obligatory Prayers as well. For instance, those who are transformed into such a state by Satan, you might have observed them once being good worshipers and being beneficent, never quitting the extra volunteer prayers. However, at another time later they are being weary and disinterested in performing their obligatory pillars.

8. Have you noticed? The guidance⁸ of the Master in performing the increase of Remembrances or decrease of volunteer prayers is like the doctor, according to circumstances of the patient, expertly prescribing different types of tablets, vitamins and injections. Of course, the resistance of the disease will disappear and the person recovers his health.

9. Have you noticed? If someone enters a pharmacy and starts to take different medicines according to his own thoughts, indeed, instead of benefit, he will receive harm. Even though they are all medicines and are beneficial for the disappearance of diseases and are for the strengthening of the body, however, they have to be taken according to the directions of the Master or Doctor. Similarly, Remembrances and incantations are good, but they have to be performed according to the prescription of the experts. Where, the final Guidance and Leader of humanity are Mahdee (the Guide, peace be upon him) and his sincere hearted companions.

Footnotes:
1 Gnostic: Arif (Arifi Billah), the mature human being who has attained true knowledge of God
2 Incantations: (Werd) (repetitive verbal prayers)
3 Allusion: (Ishara) as a way of "saying the unsayable"
4 Ustad Kamil
5 A Nafl (supererogatory) act is an act of worship done because it has been suggested to us by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and practiced by him on at least one or two occasions. It earns a reward for the person performing it and its omission does not incur any punishment.
6 Cleansing of Ego (Tadhkia Nafs)
7 Purification of Heart (Tasfiya Qalb)
8 Guidance: Irshad