If you mean with it to clear yourself and your heart of all vices, then, it is an individual duty on everyone. But if you mean to join a certain, authenticated Tariqa whose lineage goes back to the Messenger of Allah (Prayers and peace be upon him), it is not an ordinance but advisable. So, paying homage to a certain Sufi Sheikh is advisable but acting upon what his Sheikh asks you to do, is necessary as it is a religious duty. But the Sheikh can accept or refuse a certain disciple who wants to learn his Tariqa as it appeals to the Sheikh. It is advisable for the Sheikh to accept him; so, if he accepts him, he will be rewarded for it; if he refuses, he won’t be punished.
But it is better to act upon the advice of Imam Ash-shafi‟e, may Allah be pleased with him, and combine between Sufism and the religious sciences (Jurisprudence). He said,
A jurist and a Sufi, you should be both, * By Allah, I only advise you.
That is cruel, with no piety, * And this is ignorant, of no avail.
If you ask: is it necessary to be a Sufi so as to get into Paradise? I will say: of course, not. It is because, according to Ahl Assunna Wl-Jama’a, (Abu Al Hassan Al Ash‟ary and Abu Mansour Al Maturidi), all Muslims will get into Paradise, either directly, or after staying in Hell for some time if they are sinful.(1)
But it is better for you to trace the road of Sufism to be in the highest rank on the Doomsday
You shall be divided into three parties, Companions of the Right, what are the Companions of the Right? Companions of the Left, what are the Companions of the Left? And the Outstrippers, the Outstrippers Those are they brought near (to their Lord) in the Gardens of Delight [Al Waqia 7:12]
Sufis are a very special group of Muslims who are so loyal to their Lord in their practices. They are men of high resolutions in their worship and they are so modest to Him. They go on sincerely in their worship with no weariness to gain antecedence in the Hereafter, as it is mentioned in the Holy Verses. They always ask Allah for everything good and seek refuge with Him from anything bad. Isn’t this a good reason for you to be a Sufi?
You should know that selves are three kinds:
- Al Mutma'inna: (the soul of peace): which is illuminated with the light of the heart and has given up all its evils. It has the innate property of being near to Allah all the time, turning away from all kinds of evils. These are the selves of Prophets and the very special believers. Allah’s Light has shone on them and attracted them to Him
- Al Ammara: which turned away from Allah and is prone to enjoin evil as it always tends to the bodily pleasures and the forbidden desires. It renounces all kinds of spiritual pleasures and rational thinking. These are the selves of the wrecked people who are veiled from their Lord and from anything good.
- 3) Allawwama (the self accusing soul): which is illuminated with the light of the heart; so, it sometimes obeys the power of the mind, and sometimes disobeys it; but when it commits sins, it blames itself and regrets doing it. This self, though veiled from many of the Divine facts, can be chastened through some religious, spiritual exercises.
When we ask people to leave out everything bad and do everything good, we mean this kind of self. It is because the first kind refers to those people who are so close to Allah and He takes care of them and safeguards them from all kinds of sins. We don’t mean the second kind either, as it is molded in all kinds of sins in the Origin of the Book, and there is no changing for Allah’s creation. We seek refuge with Allah to be of this kind
So, we do our best in this book to put the bases which can chasten the third kind of selves and clear away any kind of dark from thier heart, which is like a mirror that can be polished from time to time until they reach the Divine Attendance and watch the Divine Lights.
Reference : See: Guidelines on Sufism and the Naqshabandi Tariqa (Questions and Answers) by Counselor Dr. Mohammad Najm Addin Al Kordy, Translation: Taha Ibrahim Badr
- Abu Dharr repoted that the Messenger of Allah (Prayers and peace be upon him) said, "Someone came to me from my Lord and told me that he, who dies from my Nation believing in Allah without any partner, will get into Paradise." I asked, "Even if he committed adultery or stole?' He said, ", "Even if he committed adultery or stole". Narrated by Al Bukhari No. 1180, Muslim No. 94