Question 1: our noble and respected Shaykh (Mufti) A.S Desai or Majlis(South Africa, In response to a question about loud Dhikr in Jamaat and people shaking when Tawwajjuh is given, you replied on the 29th of March 2011: “In the present age it is best and safest to refrain from joining any Tasawwuf Tariqah. Follow a Math-hab, study the writings of the Auliya and consult with an Aalim any issue which you do not understand.” Hazrat, I am neither Bayt to anyone nor part of a Tareeqah but I would like to seek some clarification on your response: If Loud Dhik’r is not done in Jamaah or not done at all, should we avoid such a Tareeqa as well? If no Tawajjuh is given OR no shaking is done, would the Tareeqa still be problematic? What practises in a Tareeqa would render the entire Tareeqa impermissible? Hazrat, you well know the inclination of our Akabir towards Tawassuf and their advise to laymen about seeking “Islaah” so what has changed since the time of Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA), Mufti Rasheed Ahmed Gangohi (RA) etc since they both made loud Dhik’r? Hazrat, Do you know of any Tareeqas and Auliya today (anywhere) who are upon the Sunnah in your view? Hazrat, do you completely advise a laymen to refrain from Tassawuff and Tareeqas even the Khulafas of our Akabir like Shaykhul-Hadeeth (Maulana) Zakariyya Kandhalwi (RA)? Jazakullah Khairun Response 1: ASSALAMU ALAIKUM 26 Rabiuth Thaani 1432 (1-04-2011) Abu Salih Muadh Khan Respected Brother, Your e-mail dated 31 March 2011 refers. In our answer to the question, we also mentioned several countries (Turkey, West Africa, etc.). In those places ‘sufi’ism’ is pure Satanism. They convert Muslims into mushriks. The advice is based on the predominant situation prevailing. Even khulafa of our Akaabireen are veering off into bid’ah. If there is a Tariqah which does not conflict with the Shariah, and its objective is purely Islaah-e-Nafs, then in our view it is Waajib to join such a Tariqah. If there are still such Tariqahs, we are unaware of them. There may be. Allah Ta’ala knows best. In 1970 while I was still in Jalalabad, Hadhrat Masihullah (rahmatullah alayh) visited Shaikh Zakariyyah (rahmatullah alayh) in his Khaanqah in Sahaaranpur. Hadhrat Shaikh was lying on his bed with a couple of his khaadims sitting around. Hadhrat Masihullah entered. When Hadhrat Shaikh Zakariyya saw Hadhrat Masihullah, he harshly barked at his khuddaam: ‘Get up and leave!” All of them made a quick exit. Hadhrat Zakariyyah then beckoned with his hand, calling Hadhrat Masihullah to come to him. When Hadhrat Masihullah was close by at the bed, Hadhrat Shaikh Zakariyyah grabbed hold of Hadhrat Masihullah, and broke down crying, and saying: ‘Take care of the khaanqas. All the khanqas are now desolate (weeraan).” Brother, all the khaanqas which exist nowadays are not even shadows of khaanqas. Their emphasis is on halqah thikr, singing nazams, and eating sumptuous foods. Wallaah! Many of the khulafa have no understanding of the meaning of ‘Islaah’, hence they stay in business with halqah thikr. If you know of a valid Khaanqah which emphasizes on Islaah-e-Nafs and which is free of bid’ah and nonsense, consider it a wonderful Ni’mat, and cling to it. May Allah Ta’ala keep you with aafiyat. Was-salaam A.S. Desai Question 2: our noble and respected Shaykh (Mufti) A.S Desai or Majlis(South Africa I have read your response over and over again and tried my level best to understand and comprehend your response and may Allah (SWT) reward you for your time and effort in this world and the next (Ameen). Hazrat, I would like further clarification on this matter. Ever since I was a little boy I was fascinated and absorbed in the personalities of Hazrat Mujaddid Alf Thani (RA), Shah Waliullah (RA), Syed Ahmed Shaheed (RA) & Shah Ismael Shaheed (RA) and I read their books and books about them although due to my age and lack of knowledge I understood little and still don’t. However, I recognised that all of these personalities emphasised “Murqaba” and there is little or no mention of “loud and/or Halaqah Dhikr”. Therefore my heart has always gravitated towards Naqshbandi-Mujaddidi Silsila, although I have attended the Majalis of many Mashaykh and participated in their Dhik’r. My heart and mind doesn’t agree with “Loud Dhik’r” and “Khatm-e-Khawajagan” but since I am neither a Scholar nor every knowledgeable I have abstained from these matters but left it to the discretion of Scholars & Mashaykh. However, even in Naqshbandi-Mujaddidi Silsila in UK (& Pakistan) I have noticed Loud (& Halqah) Dhik’r and the Mashaykh have informed me that this is used in the SilSila as a medicine and not inherently part of the Silsila. I have also experienced that Durood and other Adhkaar are read in a rhythmic and melodious manner. Recently, I attended the Majlis of a Khaleefa of Shaykh Zulfiqar Naqshbandi-Mujaddidi (HA) and the Shaykh (a Mufti) at the time of Dhik’r asked some of his Khadims to pass out photocopies of certain Ayaat and it was discovered that Khadims had forgotten. So the Mufti Saheb (HA) said that we don’t make loud Dhik’r & I wanted to pass these photocopies to you but now I will read loud (to point out the verses) and you should read (but don’t raise your voices) and if we had photocopies we wouldn’t even be reading loudly. He also read Durood Shareef and other Adhkaar but it was not rhythmic, in fact it was very disjointed. Thus there was no loud Dhikr and there was no rhythm in Durood Shareef etc. Hazrat Mufti Saheb (HA) explained and emphasised the importance of Sunnah and then detailed six (6) matters which everybody should adhere to: Daily Recitation of the Qur’aan: Starting from ½ juz daily. Daily Astaghfaar Daily Durood Wuqoof-e-Qalbi: Which Hazrat Mufti Saheb (HA) explained to mean that whenever possible simply turn attention towards Allah (SWT) Muraqaba of Allah (SWT)’s name: Contact with the Shaykh I asked Hazrat Mufti Saheb (HA) in private if anyone can practise this and he said, “There are no secrets in our Tareeqa and anyone can practise this but the main point of Tassawuff is Islah and not Dhik’r”. In addition to the Majlis being devoid of certain “practises” (which I have witnessed and observed in the Majalis of other Naqshbandi-Mujaddidi Mashaykh) I also observed Hazrat Mufti Saheb (HA) in his Salah and in his sleep and other habits and found him to be a follower of Sunnah. I am not Bay’t to Hazrat Mufti Saheb (HA) but what are your comments on this matter and in your opinion Hazrat, as a layman and unknowledgeable person do you regard this as sufficient research and observation before participation in a Majlis? Generally, what should we laymen and unknowledgeable people do for our Islaah and how should we engage in Dhikr? Hazrat, I am asking for the benefit of us (who are not Ulama) and we don’t wish to criticise the Ulama & Mashaykh but we do wish to follow the Sunnah as closely as possible. Jazakullah Khairun Response 2: ASSALAMU ALAIKUM 28 Rabiuth Thaani 1432 (3-04-2011) Abu Salih Muadh Khan Respected Brother, Your e-mail dated 1 April 2011 refers. Islaah of the Nafs is Waajib. The Qur’aan and the Sunnah are emphatic on this issue. The Tareeqah of the Khaanqah is almost as old as Islam. It used to be the best way to gain Islaah. However, just as corruption has set in all Deeni institutions such as the Madaaris, corruption to a greater degree has overtaken the khaanqahs. It is for this reason that we advise extreme caution in this regard. Before becoming bay’t to a Shaikh, sit for a number of days in his majlis. Listen to his bayaans and observe his personal life to ascertain if he is a man of the Sunnah. After being convinced that he is a genuine Shaikh, then if your heart inclines to him, adopt him as your spiritual guide. We are not aware of the Tariqah of Shaikh Zulfiqar. After sitting in his company for some time, if you feel convinced that his Tariqah is on the Haqq, then you may become bay’t to him. May Allah Ta’ala guide and protect you. Was-salaam A.S. Desai For Mujlisul Ulama of S.A.