And we have reached our maqam…

We have reached the final stage of our online baya experience, having explored various aspects of baya. I think it is fair to say we have come a long way in understanding the reality of baya and the aims of its purpose. Turning such a spiritual experience to an online phenomenon has its pros and cons. Although it has proven to be of great benefit to remote believers one can still question the authenticity and validation of online baya. With self-proclaiming shaykhs and super miracle shaykhs attracting media attention, it thus comes as a struggle to potential murids searching for legitimate allegiances online.

Personally I have concluded that baya is a spiritual notion and thus can only be measured or authenticated by spiritual progress alone. So the method of giving baya should not be questioned as such or viewed as hindering the murids progress.

Thank you for all those of you who followed and commented on my blog! I wish you all the best should you decide to give baya! That’s a wrap folks!

Ooops I’ve given baya to the wrong shaykh!

This post is about exploring whether we can break or change our baya.Traditionally speaking, it is strongly advised to stick to one spiritual trainer and to not break your initial baya. There have been cases where shaykhs of baraka have been permitted. (This is where murids seek blessings off other noble shaykhs from different spiritual paths.) Yet there have been cases, to put it bluntly of ‘trial and error.’ Changing from shaykh to shaykh or jumping from one spiritual path to another is not a very wise idea at all. If you dig for a well in the sand in one spot but start digging elsewhere too, you will never dig far or reach your aim. Likewise you need to find a path, stick to a shaykh and continue to strive on that single path to reach your goal.

I will shed light on some of the reasons why people feel they need to question their baya:

·         I don’t feel a connection with my shaykh- Well then my advice is MAKE a connection! It could be that more commitment is required to strengthen the connection by doing zhikr practises and reading the wird, so the fault may be on the murids part. However if you still don’t feel a connection then some people do suggest that you can give baya elsewhere as the true essence of baya is to gain spiritual guidance and teaching.

·         I’ve met another great shaykh whom I wish to give baya to- This is great news but if you really cannot resist, seek permission of your current shaykh (this is compulsory to show adab towards your shaykh) to see if you can give baya of baraka to the other shaykh. This way the baya is not broken and you can benefit from both shaykhs.

·         My shaykh is not right-If someone finds that their shaykhs characteristics are questionable (in other words if he is dodgy), it has been suggested that you may seek baya elsewhere.

Essentially it is very important to nourish and maintain your baya in order to attain spiritual closeness with your shaykh. Failure to do this will only result in a lack of spiritual progression that will be mostly on your part. The main aim is to strengthen your faith and commitment in order to reach the ultimate goal- the love of the divine.

Examples of baya questioning discussions:

http://thinkaloudtoday.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/sufism-seeking-a-spiritual-guide/

http://islamqa.info/en/ref/23320

http://www.yanabi.com/index.php?/topic/280107-can-i-give-bayah-to-another-murshid/

The following post is about the secrecy and withholding of some information- now I promise this has some relevance at least to giving baya online. It raises the question of whether we should publish knowledge/materials explicitly online or keep it as restricted material.As you may or may not know the great sufi masters retained the deep secrets of tasawwuf  for over decades.

I will take the opportunity here to highlight that by the word ‘secret’ I do not imply that Sufis hide knowledge. This is far from it, if anything their knowledge and spirituality is as accessible as any other faith groups. There is a tendency though for disciples to refrain from disclosing certain matters e.g. dreams, spiritual progression, certain wird practises etc. The reason may be valid, for example they do not have permission from their shaykh to disclose such information. Or the most obvious reason being that it is an internal affair that people like to keep personal.

A deep and thorough search led me to the Deenislam site. The website is a personal reflection of knowledge dedicated to Sufism. But the peculiar thing to me was the idea of the founder of the website explicitly stating the secrecy of their tariqa…

‘I'm officially not allowed to mention the name of my Shaykh or Tariqah, on 'DeenIslam.co.uk' as Deenislam is a personal site which reflects my personal thoughts and comments, for information about or to Join my tariqah please email me […]’

Having said that the website is contradictory as immediately beneath it there are links that direct one exactly to the tariqa that this person is affiliated with:

I understand some disciples are reserved to revealing specific information about their shaykh or tariqa but as we have explored in previous posts this is the contrary. It could be said that those websites who do openly share their resources and materials create a sense of community and reinforce the concept of ummah.

The question then, is what should be secret or not?

There are some institutions that although do not offer online initiation have ‘private murid sections.’ Thus specific tariqa knowledge remains restricted to only the disciples. An example of this is the Shahdhili  tariqa  who limit their access of certain material to murids only:

The benefits of course is that the knowledge is kept restricted, therefore only being burdened upon to the initiated disciples. Material such as the wird  audios, spiritual guidance is usually what occupies the murid section. (I know this because I have my own murid login.) I wonder if the material was made available to the public would make a difference in terms of enlightening certain individuals who wish to seek knowledge and delve into this matter further. Would it increase the groups members?

Personally, I feel that giving baya requires as much training, knowledge and experience as possible. If such websites or people share these aspects, then it can only benefit the one who wishes to know more about giving baya- take for example my blog! J

The Deenislam creator although hiding their tariqa identity provides us with a wealth of information.  Withholding our experiences or knowledge I believe will only hinder our choices to giving baya. So my suggestion to anyone looking to initiate themselves with a particular shaykh or tariqa, search for those secret pearls of knowledge, and anyone who has something to share please do so openly!



CASE STUDY: SHAIKH MIR ASEDULLAH QUADRI

 Naqshbandi’s you are not alone…

The CIFIA claim to be, ‘the largest Islamic association of Sahih Imam on earth.’ The website is based on  Shaykh Mir Asedullah Quadri, whose lineage can be traced backed to the Qadriyya tariqa. The website states the Shaykh’s mission quite clearly, to reform people through sufi spirituality, one of which is baya. One can give baya to Shaykh Quadri by following instructions online:

And it’s as easy as this….  

“CONGRATULATIONS

YOU HAVE JOINED

 

 SILSILA-E-AALIYA QUADRIYYA ASADIYYA”

The process itself is very similar to that of the Naqshbandi’s. Perhaps the only further benefit of giving baya with Shaykh Quadri is that, specific ‘training for mureeds’ is also provided. The website goes through a great deal in explaining the essence of baya, followers are also able to contact the shaykh via email, which is encouraging to know that help it as hand whenever guidance is needed.

Aside from our case studies, to conclude, the ultimate spiritual concern lies in the hands of the believer….

Attaining true spirituality online is determined and driven by intention alone. Baya itself is a profound notion that requires commitment and dedication. So in theory, if someone did give baya online, whether it was to Shaykh Nazim or Shaykh Quadri, as long the disciple is genuine and committed in his/her approach the baya will be accepted in the eyes of God.



CASE STUDY: SHAIKH NAZIM AL-HAQQANI

Many of you may be familiar with Shaykh Nazim (infamously or famously, that’s a whole new agenda in itself which we shall not go into today!) As the founder of the Naqshbandi tradition, he is held with very high esteem and reverence. Shaykh Nazim (residing in Cyprus) has followers from all over the world who speak of him very loyally, with the upmost respect. The very reason why he has so many followers is due to the Naqshbandi’s prominent online dominance, enabling the initiation process to be very accessible.

Some Testimonials:

The ultimate worry, tears of sadness as some wait in anticipation……

“June 2, I took online baya with Maulana Shaykh Nazim and I’ve been patiently waiting for a confirmation on this. But now sadness and tears overcome me when I think of the fact I haven’t recieved anything, fearing that my baya is not accepted. Should I do it again, or should I wait for a reply? Please inform me on this.”

The downer as they would say is, curiosity killed the cat. You could be waiting months on end for a reply or a sign that your pledge has been accepted.

All is not lost though…

 “I recently took online bay’at and said to myself that I would only consider my bay’at accepted if I received a sign from Mawlana Shaykh Nazim or if I see the Prophet-Sallallahu-’Alaihi-wa-Sallam. Alhamdulillah that night I dreamt of the Prophet-Sallallahu-’Alaihi-wa-Sallam. […]. This is the karam of Mawlana Shaykh Nazim.”

Or on the positive side of things, you may very well receive a dream or a positive sign that will strengthen your faith in your baya.

There is no need to question why some people would pledge allegiance to the Naqshbandi tradition. With the means available and a well renowned shaykh, one wouldn’t think twice to query the legitimacy of Shaykh Nazim’s authority or the initiation process.  Having venturing the risks of trusting online shaykhs in previous posts there are on the contrary, genuine reasons for pledging allegiance online:

·         Remote believers; unable to access the shaykh.

·         Being a woman. Not in a discriminative way, but generally speaking, there are many women that have given baya that have never faced their shaykh directly, yet reap the same spiritual rewards as oppose to someone who has direct contact with their shaykh. Thus our female audience can argue that physical interaction is not required for spirituality.

·       Spirituality is an internal affair; many people have spiritual experiences via dreams, positive signs or symbols. Evidently from the example of one of our testimonials it is apparent to see that dreams are a strong form of spiritual communication.  

Can we then based on these reasons justify online initiation processes? That once you’ve pledged allegiance with Shaykh Nazim you shall reap the same rewards via non-physical means?

In the context of online baya, it all essentially comes down to the believer and their faith; if your intentions are pure and it is purely for the sake of God, then surely you will be rewarded!

Reality of Baya…

Baya has been at the heart of a much heated debate mainly due to the fact that the masses are unaware of this allegiance and its purpose. This post will attempt to shed light on the grounds for which baya is given and the reality of what is encompasses.

Based upon the following Quranic verse we come to establish the pledge of baya as the prophetic sunna.

“Lo! Those who plight their fealty to you, their fealty are actual fact with Allāh and the Hand of Allāh is over their hands.” [al-Fath: 10]

From this quotation we can comprehend the essence of baya…

Allah   < == Prophet Muhammad  < ==  Shaykh  < == Disciple

Baya works progressively as a spiritual transmission chain, the verse alludes to this connection through the Prophet in order to attain the ultimate reality. Unfortunately we cannot directly connect to the Prophet hence we require intermediary means (a pir/teacher/shaykh) to assist us in this journey which forms the ultimate goal for mankind. Once the pledge has been given the disciple is bound to that particular shaykh in terms of total annihilation and obedience. Immediately, I can sense a tension, you must be thinking why the shaykh assumes so much authority and reverence. Surely if we simply loved the Prophet we can attain nearness with God without requiring intermediary assistance. The Sufis would answer that the shaykh is an exemplar of prophetic sunnah and esoteric knowledge. It is through their barakah and spiritual inheritance that they are able to guide the disciple accordingly. Take for example learning the Quran, surely learning how to read the Quran from an experienced teacher is better than to teach oneself? In the same mode attaining nearness with the divine is far more beneficial through the guide of a shaykh.

I hope this short but meaningful post has enlightened our non- baya audience of the true essence of baya. Don’t worry I’m not trying to convert you to pro Sufism and drop everything right now to give baya! Just shedding a little light on the reality of baya…:) Now that we've come to understand the nature of baya let us put this in the context of the online world. If baya is a deep spiritual bond can the same level of spirituality be attained behind the computer screen? What are the implications of 'cyberfying' such a physical spiritual bond?

My next post will snoop around for evidence for online baya systems. Arguably the only legitimate tradition to offer this is the Naqshbandi group so I shall see how their online allegiance works.


Check out this brief video on images of the well known Naqshbandi Shaykhs....

 

DEAR GOOGLE SHAYKH…

With Google at our fingertips who needs a shaykh?

Folks today our enmity lies with Google…..relax just kidding! ( We all love Google I know J). Following on from my previous post if one was to need a shaykh  then theoretically they would approach them through normal conventional means e.g. mosque, institutions, school etc. However with the online phenomenon this can be far from it, one wouldn’t have to look very far to get in contact with a shaykh (hence the snide remark about Google). Allow me to prove my case :

“Dear shaykh google, Im tired...May I skip Salah? or pray in bed?”  (Like are you for real?????)

 

This post is all about understanding the legitimacy of resorting to online information. Lets face it one can access nearly everything via Google, with the prominence of the web I dare say people would favour getting off their back sides to find a shaykh these days. The prospects of ask the imam,  eshaykh and many more informative sites at the click of a button are seemingly more attractive. Having said that it is impossible to validate everything that is on the web especially when it comes to something as sensitive as religion. With differing views and self- proclaimed scholars danger lies in their sources and trusting the information obtained.

Surely it would be more beneficial to seek guidance in person should the need ever arise. People approach shaykhs/imams for all sorts of enquiries and clarifications from the smallest of matters.  Thus when it comes to giving baya online one can ultimately question its validity, should we take this risk and pledge allegiance blindingly online anyways?  The wiser option would be to do this in person, why wouldn’t you want to consult a shaykh in person with something so important as spirituality with your lord? Why not allow them to share their experiences and knowledge that will ultimately guide you in their footsteps? I don’t know guys what do you think can we attain the same spiritual experiences online or is it just a clear sign of our laziness and ignorance? Personally I opt for the super shaykh any day!



Super Shaykh to the rescue!

 Super Shaykh by my definition: A spritual guider and successor who strives only to achieve the love of the divine and the prophet.  (Amen to that! J)

 Do we need a super duper shaykh in our lives to guide us?

 For those who are unfamiliar with giving baya to a shaykh it may seem  obvious to ask why do we need a shaykh in the first place?  Some are under the view that we have all the knowledge and guidance already ordained for us by the prophetic sunnah and quran so there is no room to speak of relying upon the assistance of a holy other. In all fairness this view is valid and there are many muslims following this and living their normal day to day lives with the absence of a shaykh.

On the contrary some would beg to differ and would highly recommend the need for a shaykh Here are few short pointers as to why Sufis feel the need for a guide:

·         One cannot make this spiritual journey alone, the experiences and knowledge of a shaykh is most needed in order to travel this path correctly.

·         The shaykhs are blessed with esoteric knowledge handed down to them from their spiritual lineage.

·         There is a deep spiritual connection with the shaykh which can impact on our hearts, seek nearness to the divine.

The prospects of having a guide can be quite favourable yet at the same unnecessary for some (so I guess all those in favour of the latter I have lost your vote already!) It is crucial for us to question the legitimacy of shaykhs especially when it is solely involved with online contact. I mean how many of us have had encounters with dodgy, misleading fake shaykhs in the real world let alone in the web?

Some suggested sites for further reading:

1.      Do you need shaykh? Translated by Abdullah bin Hamid Ali  

2.      Shakyh & Mureed Relationship

3.      Tasawwuf-The Importance of a Sheikh