One is the concept of Bay’at and the other is the concept of Islaah al – Nafs/Tazkiyah al – Nafs (purification of the soul). Bay’at refers to the promise of allegiance that the Mureed takes with the Sheikh that he will not go against the dictates of the Shariah. Bay’at is sunnah. Islaah al – Nafs (self reformation) refers to the purification of the soul from the bad qualities (Akhlaaqe – Razeelah) and to imbibe within ourselves the good/praiseworthy qualities (Akhlaaqe – Hameedah). Islaah al- Nafs (self reformation) is Fardh (obligatory) on every mature adult Muslim. While one can reform himself by practicing on certain Ashgaal/Ma’moolaat, in today’s day and age of Fitnah, Fasaad and filth it is practically impossible for one to reform himself on his own. The above can be illustrated by a simple example: If a person intends to proceed for Hajj, he can either walk to Makkah Mukarramah or he can use the available mediums of transport such as train, airplane or ship. Obviously, a person would choose one of the various modes of transport available. These mediums of transport signify the Sheikh who acts as the agent/medium in transporting one to the Maqsood/desired objective which is Nisbat/pleasure of Allah (Ta’ala). According to Worldly standards, if a person aspires to become a professional, for example, a doctor or carpenter, he will have to undergo rigorous training under an experienced doctor or experienced carpenter. Similarly, if a person desires to become a friend/Wali of Allah (Ta’ala), he has to undergo rigorous training under a Sheikh e Kaamil who has similarly undergone training under his Shaikh and so forth until this chain of spirituality reaches Rasullullah (Sallallahu Aklayhi Wa Sallam). Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) says: (يا ايها الذين امنوا اتقوا الله و كونوا مع الصادقين (التوبة ” Oh you who believe, Adopt the fear of Allah and be in the company of the truthful ones The above verse links the quality of Taqwa with that of the companionship of the truthful ones. This clearly advocates and demonstrates the importance of Suhbat (companionship of the pious). Allah (Ta’ala) has given us the prescription of Suhbat in order to develop Taqwa. The Sahabah (Radhiyallahu Anhu) were called Sahabah due to their Suhbat (companionship) with Rasullullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam). They could have been described by so many other good qualities that they possessed, but, they were described with the quality of Suhbat. This shows the importance of being in the companionship of the Sheikh e Kaamil. Hakeemul Ummah, Hadhrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) has written that “To sit in the companionship of the pious is Fardh” (Imdaad al–Fatawa, Baab al – Sulook, Vol.5, Pg.139) We advise one to search for a suitable Sheikh e Kaamil within close proximity so that you can derive maximum benefit from him. The objective is Islaah and one should see how that objective can be best attained. Hakeemul Ummah, Hadhrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) writes in his book entitled Kamaalaat e Ashrafiyyah that “The main thing is Islaah and always stay in the companionship/suhbat of the Ahlullah/friends of Allah (Ta’ala). (Kamaalaat e Ashrafiyyah, Pg.172, Suhbat e Ahlullah aur us ka fawa’id, Pg.53)
There are two issues of note: 1. Bay’at. This is refers to the pledge that the Saalik takes with the Sheikh of a Tareeqah. 2. Islaah al-Nafs. This refers to the spiritual reformation of the Nafs (lower carnal self). Bay’at (pledging allegiance on the hand of the Sheikh) is Sunnat, whereas Islaah al-Nafs (Reformation of the soul) is Fardh (obligatory). Bay’at is not a precondition for Islaah al-Nafs. When a person is sick, he will go to a doctor, when a person wishes to purchase Mango’s, he will go to the Mango Wala (Mango dealer), and similarly, one who is spiritually ill and sick will have to go to the spiritual heart specialist. Who is this person? He is referred to as the Sheikh or Murshid (spiritual guide). When a patient is given a prescription by the doctor, he does not question why this amount and why that color tablet and medicine. The patient knows that his cure lies in following the full treatment or prescription of the doctor. Similar is the case of the Sheikh and Murshid, the prescriptions of the Sheikh is like that of a doctor, the doses of each person varies according to his/her immune system of Taqwa, spirituality and capabilities. While it is indeed commendable that you prescribe for yourself some Zikr, Tilawat, etc, we advise one to search for a Sheikh e Kamil to be one’s life guard from sins and guide towards good and closeness towards Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala). Hadhrat e Aqadas Qutbul al-Alam Hadhrat Moulana Rasheed Ahmed Gangohi (Rahmatullahi Alayhi), a very great Faqeeh and Aalim of the Indian Sub – continent, was asked as to why he had bowed his head at the feet of Hadhrat e Aqdas Sayyidul Millat Wa al-Tara’iq Hadhrat Hajee Imdadullah Muhajir Makki (Rahmatullahi Alayhi), the simple reply was that “We have studied the books in Deoband, we have now come to Hadhrat Hajee Saheb to learn how to implement what we have learnt”.