LadunaI:

Yes ofcourse! I know of his professorship. Infact, because of his rich fatwas as professor to his people then in Baghdad, that prevented him many time to take his Sufi path, until he was somewhat compel by the Supreme power.

You see irrespective of what we call our selfs, that's not what matters, is the substance in us that really count. Sufi, Salafi, shias etc are just names. We are all Muslims and that is it. And a well balanced Muslims is the one that is sound in bothIslamic jurisprudence (fiqh) and Islamic mystism (Ihsan) they're inseparable.

@ the bolded do you mean you or Imam Ghazali (ra) ?

Alhajiemeritus:
Are we sure this Mallam is not Ikupakuti?
I've been seeing his videos.

Empiree:
like you read my mind lol.

Excel70:
I believe he is not ikupakiti. From information Ikupakiti gave, he is from Ibadan and tijaniyyah. This sheikh is from Abeokuta and likely not a tijaniyyah. He also seems to be younger than Ikupakiti.

Excel70:
I believe he is not ikupakiti. From information Ikupakiti gave, he is from Ibadan and tijaniyyah. This sheikh is from Abeokuta and likely not a tijaniyyah. He also seems to be younger than Ikupakiti.

movado19:
Salam Alaikum And Jumma Mubarak to Everyone.

@ Alhajiemeritus, Empiree, LadunaI, Hkana, littleguy444, yasolan, Excel70, and everyone who wants to contribute, what's your take on:

1. Having a Living Shaikh in order to grow spiritually. Is it a necessity or not so much?
2. Ibn Khaldun's stance/criticism regarding the likes of Ibn Arabi, Al Buni, et al?

Please read the attachment and I look forward to interesting/ diverse views.

Please don't me to "summarize" oh!
It's only 30 pages.

movado19:

movado19:

movado19:

movado19:

movado19:

movado19:


1. Having a Living Shaikh in order to grow spiritually. Is it a necessity or not so much?

2. Ibn Khaldun's stance/criticism regarding the likes of Ibn Arabi, Al Buni, et al?

LadunaI:

Wow! You brought back my memory of two decades ago where I normally used all my library tickets (5) to collect Islamic literatures/books like the one you shared now, while I am an engineering student. Such is the level of my "addiction" to Islamic materials then lol.

I will have to read these screenshots in details and slowly. But from the what I can remember and a short answer to your questions.

#1 It was unanimously agreed in Sufi circle that a guide (murshid) is always needed for muridi to grow spiritually. And there is a popular slogan then that "Those that don't have a guide would have Satan has their murshid". This is later divided into two.
A. Those that have living guide
B. Those that are guided by the Ruh of "dead" Sufi Sheikhs or Living without physical relationship often called uwaysis phenomenon.

This phenomenon can be be seen in mostly all Sufi orders with physical murshid-muridi relationship. And some people without any know physical guide but are nurture by previous sheikhs. The likes of ibn arabi sheikh Akbar as fondly called has no living guide, Abu yazid bastami, Kharaghani, Shirindi etc.

Also the one we're familiar with Shehu AbdulQadir jelani, Shehu Ahmada Tijanniy (though has some living guide before transitioning to non living just like Shk. Shirindi) and Shehu Ibrahim Niyas. etc.

#2. Ibn Khaldun criticism of Ibn Arabi and the likes is well founded because the theories and concept ibn Arabi was dishing out was extremely esoteric that even elite find it controversial at time especially his infamous "Wahadahtul wujuhu". And you see this where imam Ghazali come clean from all of then that is impossible to always explain most of these Marifa in worldly languages. Is like trying to put an Ocean in a bottle is very difficult, no matter how much you try. To be contd...

Alhajiemeritus:
Let me search for the PDF file and download.
It's not easy reading the screenshots

Alhajiemeritus:
I may disagree with you a bit.
In my opinion learning from students of different Sheiks make those sheikhs your sheikh too, because you are following their path.
For example Prophet Muhammad is our grand Sheikh, once we are linked to him we do not really need to have a living Sheikh.
Do you get my drift?

movado19:


Here's a link to the online pdf:

https://journals.iium.edu.my/shajarah/index.php/shaj/article/view/313/196

LadunaI:

No brother don't get it twisted. A Muslims must forever be ready to learn from anybody (Muslims) in as much is the TRUTH. This is what Allah says in the Holy Quran that blessed are those who listen to talks and follow the best Hassan. You must be ready to extract truth anywhere and hold it with your molar teeth. That's why the Holy Prophet (saw) wisdom are lost property of a Muslim we should take wherever will find it.

You see, my understanding of Sufism is like someone going for his PhD program, you can't compare that with just a high school or undergrad students. So there will be a time in which you will need a guide, sort of advisor that will guide you. One of the main problem in Sufism is those that are yet to understand the basic Islamic jurisprudence are directly moving to mysticism, it breeds nothing but nosensical we are seeing in Sufi nowadays. For me it's natural evolution of man's spiritual yearning which come effortlessly when you drift in that direction.

That's why the question arise, how will you even get a good guide nowadays where majority of the so called sheikhs are not that different from the muridi.

Lastly, the ultimate guidances come from Allah and his messenger, that is why even those that have physical or non living sheikhs have unbroken chain to the prophet. And sometimes have direct contact with holy Prophet(saw) and receive guidance from him thru uwaysis phenomenon.

LadunaI:

Wow! You brought back my memory of two decades ago where I normally used all my library tickets (5) to collect Islamic literatures/books like the one you shared now, while I am an engineering student. Such is the level of my "addiction" to Islamic materials then lol.

I will have to read these screenshots in details and slowly. But from the what I can remember and a short answer to your questions.

#1 It was unanimously agreed in Sufi circle that a guide (murshid) is always needed for muridi to grow spiritually. And there is a popular slogan then that "Those that don't have a guide would have Satan has their murshid". This is later divided into two.

I actually asked this question because there seems to be a surging popularity of 'doing away" with any guide to begin with.
The guides/teachers/murshid is viewed as a cumbersome presence who seems to have an exaggerated view of his importance in today's world.

A. Those that have living guide
B. Those that are guided by the Ruh of "dead" Sufi Sheikhs or Living without physical relationship often called uwaysis phenomenon.


Thank you for replying and I look forward to the continuation of your views. This is a hot-button topic as it's been termed "innovation" and "jinn deception" because according to them, who is dead is dead, and the dead cannot be of any use to the living. They even place RasulAllah (S.A.W.) on this pedestal too!

This phenomenon can be be seen in mostly all Sufi orders with physical murshid-muridi relationship. And some people without any know physical guide but are nurture by previous sheikhs. The likes of ibn arabi sheikh Akbar as fondly called has no living guide, Abu yazid bastami, Kharaghani, Shirindi etc.

Also the one we're familiar with Shehu AbdulQadir jelani, Shehu Ahmada Tijanniy (though has some living guide before transitioning to non living just like Shk. Shirindi) and Shehu Ibrahim Niyas. etc.

#2. Ibn Khaldun criticism of Ibn Arabi and the likes is well founded because the theories and concept ibn Arabi was dishing out was extremely esoteric that even elite find it controversial at time especially his infamous "Wahadahtul wujuhu". And you see this where imam Ghazali come clean from all of then that is impossible to always explain most of these Marifa in worldly languages. Is like trying to put an Ocean in a bottle is very difficult, no matter how much you try. To be contd...

Empiree:
Hummm so Ibn Khaldun didn't favor a guide shaykh. I actually thought being a philosopher he inclined to the idea teribiya. Since the sister posted this topic I gone through his book again. That was a great debate and he entitled to his view actually and he was right to some extent in his own right.

For me I am definitely in support of the former.

Alhajiemeritus:
I may disagree with you a bit.
In my opinion learning from students of different Sheiks make those sheikhs your sheikh too, because you are following their path.
For example Prophet Muhammad is our grand Sheikh, once we are linked to him we do not really need to have a living Sheikh.
Do you get my drift?

LadunaI:

No brother don't get it twisted. A Muslims must forever be ready to learn from anybody (Muslims) in as much is the TRUTH. This is what Allah says in the Holy Quran that blessed are those who listen to talks and follow the best Hassan. You must be ready to extract truth anywhere and hold it with your molar teeth. That's why the Holy Prophet (saw) wisdom are lost property of a Muslim we should take wherever will find it.

You see, my understanding of Sufism is like someone going for his PhD program, you can't compare that with just a high school or undergrad students. So there will be a time in which you will need a guide, sort of advisor that will guide you. One of the main problem in Sufism is those that are yet to understand the basic Islamic jurisprudence are directly moving to mysticism, it breeds nothing but nosensical we are seeing in Sufi nowadays. For me it's natural evolution of man's spiritual yearning which come effortlessly when you drift in that direction.

That's why the question arise, how will you even get a good guide nowadays where majority of the so called sheikhs are not that different from the muridi.

Lastly, the ultimate guidances come from Allah and his messenger, that is why even those that have physical or non living sheikhs have unbroken chain to the prophet. And sometimes have direct contact with holy Prophet(saw) and receive guidance from him thru uwaysis phenomenon.