FUTILITY

Futile arguments/discussions involve o­ne in grave sins. The pious people exercised great care in order to refrain from such futility.

The system of the senior Masha-ikh was not to initially impose Wazaaif (forms of Thikr) and Nawaafil (abundance of Nafl acts) o­n their mureeds (disciples). They first attended to the reformation of the deeds and character. o­nly after self-purification had been achieved did the Masha-ikh initiate the ta'leem of Sulook (i.e. the special and higher forms of Athkaar, Ashghaal and ways of meditation, etc.).

It was the method of the Mashaikh (in former times) to develop in their mureeds the habit of abstaining from the razaa-il (i.e. the lowly and evil qualities of the nafs). Nowadays many masha-ikh ignore this essential requirement. The consequence of this attribute (of the Mashaikh of our time) is that while the mureeds become adept in carrying out the specialized forms of Athkaar, etc., they remain suffering from their spiritual diseases. They even fail to distinguish between haraam and halaal. They are indifferent in matters of truth and falsehood. This state of affairs has brought disrepute to the Tareeq (of Tasawwuf).

(Hakimul Ummat)