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**TeapseTic** · 01-08-2011, 08:59 PM

Imam Muhammad Ali al-Thanawi warned that:

“When a seeker (murid) thinks he has found a spiritual guide, it is incumbent upon him to be cautious and exert his utmost effort in finding out whether the guide is fit to be a Shaykh or not. Many seekers have been misled and perished in this area (by following would-be guides); rather, most of humanity has been led astray and has perished by following misguided leaders. The proper way, then, is to carefully examine whether the spiritual guide is uprightly adhering to the Sacred Lasw (Shari’a), the (principles of the) spiritual way (tariqa) and the higher realities (haqiqa). If he is an innovator, this can be known by what (learned) [eople say about him, and by the conduct of those who follow and love him without correcting him. If the seeker finds out that the scholars of the time are not critical of this spiritual guide, and that some scholars and notables, young or old, take him as a guide and turn to him in their search for the spiritual way and higher realities, then he will know that such a spiritual guide is worthy of being followed”
(Kashshaf Istilahat al-Funun 1:1050)

01-08-2011, 08:59 PM	#23
TeapseTic Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 517 Senior Member	Imam Muhammad Ali al-Thanawi warned that: “When a seeker (murid) thinks he has found a spiritual guide, it is incumbent upon him to be cautious and exert his utmost effort in finding out whether the guide is fit to be a Shaykh or not. Many seekers have been misled and perished in this area (by following would-be guides); rather, most of humanity has been led astray and has perished by following misguided leaders. The proper way, then, is to carefully examine whether the spiritual guide is uprightly adhering to the Sacred Lasw (Shari’a), the (principles of the) spiritual way (tariqa) and the higher realities (haqiqa). If he is an innovator, this can be known by what (learned) [eople say about him, and by the conduct of those who follow and love him without correcting him. If the seeker finds out that the scholars of the time are not critical of this spiritual guide, and that some scholars and notables, young or old, take him as a guide and turn to him in their search for the spiritual way and higher realities, then he will know that such a spiritual guide is worthy of being followed” (Kashshaf Istilahat al-Funun 1:1050)
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