SPOTLIGHT
SPOTLIGHT
While the exoteric knowledge has been
recorded and taught through books, it is
often said that Sufism is the knowledge
transmitted from the ‘chests’ of Sufi Masters
to the deserving aspirants. The reason being
that according to Sufism, many of the vital
subtleties in man are located in the human
breast, including the Spiritual Heart and
the Main Human Soul. 2 The Sufi Masters
are spiritually connected with Prophet
Mohammad’s Spiritual Heart and are
recipients of the esoteric knowledge of the
Koran. When they transmit knowledge to the
aspirants, they do so on behalf of Prophet
Mohammad.
In order to make themselves worthy of
receiving Prophet Mohammad’s esoteric
knowledge, seekers of Sufism (salik) spend
years in austerity, aiming to purify their
Carnal Selves (egos) and Spiritual Hearts
through the practice of generating Divine
Energy by invoking God’s name. 3 Many of
them adopt hermitage and make the jungle
their abode for this purpose.
Sufism, in short, is a mystical knowledge
that deals in enlightenment, transformation
and strengthening of the soul and auxiliary
spirits.
A true Sufi is one who has managed to
enlighten himself and bring divine attributes
into his being. Sufis are known for being
exceptionally humble and tolerant.
This is why His Holiness Younus AlGohar
said, ‘Sufi Islam is the best and most original
brand of Islam. The principles of Sufi Islam
are based upon compassion, tolerance, love
and self-negation.’
The necessity of practising Sufism in
Islam cannot be stressed enough.
To learn more about the Spiritual Human Anatomy, visit
http://www.theawaitedone.com/teachings/the-spiritual-hu-
man-anatomy or read His Divine Eminence Gohar Shahi’s
book, The Religion of God (Divine Love).
2
Learn more about this method in the section entitled,
‘Sufism: Knowledge of the Heart’ on page 15.
3
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THE TRUE MEHDI • ISSUE 03 •
MAR 2017
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
SPIRITUAL GUIDE
T
His Divine Eminence Gohar
Shahi asserts, ‘Knowledge
of Sharia hardens the heart.
Knowledge of spirituality
will soften the heart.
Exoteric knowledge without
esoteric knowledge is
nothing but mischief.’
Since Islam was founded, Sufism had
been prevalent in the Middle East and
South Asia. Famous Sufis inspired many
non-Muslims to accept Islam. Islam was
regarded by many to be a peaceful religion
when Sufism dominated Muslim societies.
Sufism profoundly enriched the cultures in
which it was practised. This was the case
until the Wahhabi/Salafi movement began
approximately 200 years ago.
Wahhabis considered Sufis to be heretics
and polytheists. They made it their agenda
to eradicate all Sufis and diminish the status
of Sufism in the eyes of common Muslims.
In doing so, they successfully managed
to decrease the popularity of Sufism. This
contributed to the alarming rise of extremism
and anti-Western sentiments in the Muslim
community that we see today. As people
forgot Sufism and confined themselves to
Sharia, they became stone-hearted and fell
prey to mischief. The result of the missing
element of Sufism from today’s Islam is being
felt by Muslims and non-Muslims alike,
every time there is a terrorist attack in the
West, a bombing of a Sufi shrine in Pakistan
or the murder of a Yazidi person in Syria.
he Sufi Masters play a central
role in helping the seeker achieve
enlightenment and making them
worthy of reaching the audience of God.
Therefore, a Sufi deeply reveres the Sufi
Master he takes to be his Spiritual Guide.
As part of the enlightenment and austerity
process, many disciples spend their lifetime
in servitude of the Spiritual Guide. The
commitment one makes to one’s
Spiritual Guide
is called ‘ba’it’
which is
translated as
‘to pledge allegiance’,
but it literally means ‘to sell oneself’.
This may seem a strange philosophy,
however, a lifetime of servitude is considered
a fair price for what is received in return. His
Divine Eminence Gohar Shahi explains that
a seeker should commit himself to a Sufi
Master only when that person has the ability
to give him what he can’t acquire on his own:
the way to God.
His Holiness Younus AlGohar notes, ‘The
most important thing in spirituality is t he
Spiritual Guide. Without him, you cannot
move an inch in spirituality. The Spiritual
Guide awakens your soul. He is the first one
to communicate with your soul before even
you communicate with your soul.’
The Koran decrees that those God intends
to misguide are deprived of a Spiritual Guide.
[KORAN 18:17]
The relationship between the disciple and
the Spiritual Guide in Sufism is like that of
an unconscious person and a surgeon. When
you have a
diseased organ, you go to a
surgeon.
In the surgery, you
cannot
dictate the
surgeon on
what to do,
for you are unconscious.
In Sufism, the Spiritual Guide
is responsible for reviving the souls.
When he revives the souls, they are weak
in the similitude of a newborn baby; he
provides them with the nourishment they
need to be strengthened and empowered.
For disciples then, strictly following the
advice of the divinely appointed Spiritual
Guide is the path to success. However, this
is only fruitful as long as you follow a true
Sufi Master, not an imposter.
For this reason, His Divine Eminence
Gohar Shahi declares, ‘Before you are
committed with a Spiritual Guide, you had
better test whether or not he is a Spiritual
Guide.’
THE TRUE MEHDI • ISSUE 03 •
MAR 2017
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