Question
Salam,
First of all I would like to congratulate your team on the excellent website and the immense benefits it brings to the ummah. Many thanks.
I have a question on sufism, and in particular following the Naqshbandi-Haqqani Order, headed by Muhammad Nazim Adil al-Qubrusi al-Haqqani. This is his wikipedia entry: Nazim Al-Haqqani. One of my cousins has decided to pledge allegiance to this sheikh. Is this allowed in Islam? When I asked why he is pledging allegiance to this sheikh he said he wanted him to bring him closer to Allah. That doesn’t quite sound right to me because only Allah can guide. Furthermore, I understand that this sheikh has made predictions and claims to have “visions”, are such claims valid in Islam?
My 2nd question is regarding the “Awliya” in general and their miracles and knowing the unseen? I know that the prophets (may Allah be pleased with them) where granted the ability to see some of the unseen, but what about “saints” that claim to see the unseen through dreams and other forms of inspiration? Are we allowed to believe in such saints, let alone pledge allegiance to them?
W/Salam.
Answer
Islam is the surrender to God and fealty to His message. No other allegiance to anyone or anything is required from a religious perspective. God has ordained that we seek Him, follow His tenants and be righteous in all we do. This is the straight path to Him and the correct way to true spiritual communion with the Almighty. Men and women maybe inspirational, they may even help in correcting us on our journey but there is no divine circuit in which you ally yourself to connect you to God. In Islam, the relationship is directly between the person and the Creator. This is a very profound detail that gives us the opportunity to engage God on a one-on-one basis; the focus would be completely on the person and his affinity with the Divine. If we depend on others for this closeness we miss the opportunity to establish that special relationship ourselves. Moreover, “visions” and “predictions” are not the ingredients that make someone special; rather, it is the righteousness and adherence to the faith that does. Things such as foretelling the future has no validity from a religious perspective.
“Awliyya’,” defined as it is in your question, has no basis in Islam. It does not recognize or require us to believe in anyone’s visions or claims of knowing the unseen.
In light of the above, pledging any allegiance for the said purpose has no place in Islam as it is unnecessary. The way to God is on the straight and unhampered path. Neither men nor their visions have paved this way, but the Divine mercy and love of the Almighty has created and illuminated it for those willing tread upon it.
I hope this helps.
God knows best.