Imam Amjad Ali al-A’zhami (رحمة الله عليه) has mentioned regarding this deviant idea: “No Wali (Friend of Allah), however great, can come out from the responsibility of adherence to the Shari’ah rules.

Some ignorant people say that ‘Shari’ah is a path and it is those that have not arrived at the intended goal that are in need of the path, as for us we have arrived.’

Sayid at-Ta’ifah Imam Junayd al-Baghdadi (رحمة الله عليه) has answered them thus: “They have told the truth, indeed they have reached (their destination), but where have they reached? They have reached the Fire!”

[Bahare Shari’at vol 1 pg 266]

Allah knows best.

Answered by Mawlana Ibrar Shafi

Tassawuf is a reality established from the Quran and Hadith. It may have been known by other names over the times like tazkiyyah or ihsaan, but the reality of all these words is one. As a Muslim one remains empty without it. The role of a Peer Murshid (Spiritual Shaykh) is to set out a path guiding you when needed through these noble realities. Tassawuf is something praiseworthy and highly recommended and the active seeking of a Shaykh can therefore only be praiseworthy and recommended also.

Allāh knows best.

Answered by Shaykh Naveed Jameel

Intermingling of non-mahram men and women is haraam (forbidden), be it in front of Pirs/Shaykhs or the Masjid or any other place. A non-mahram woman cannot kiss the hand of a Pir or Shaykh. It is haraam and an act that will lead one towards Hell.

It says in the Holy Qur’an:

“And command the Muslim women to keep their gaze low and to protect their chastity, and not to reveal their adornment except what is apparent, and to keep the cover wrapped over their bosoms; and not to reveal their adornment except to their own husbands or fathers or husbands’ fathers, or their sons or their husbands’ sons, or their brothers or their brothers’ sons or sisters’ sons, or women of their religion, or the bondwomen they possess, or male servants provided they do not have manliness, or such children who do not know of women’s nakedness, and not to stamp their feet on the ground in order that their hidden adornment be known; and O Muslims, all of you turn in repentance together towards Allah, in the hope of attaining success.” ​

[Surah al-Nur Verse 24: verse 31]

The Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم) ordered his wives Umme Salma and Maimoona (may Allah be pleased with them) to observe the veil with Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Maktoom (رضي الله عنه), who was blind. When the wives said that he is blind, the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم) replied he is blind but you are not blind.

[Mishkat – Babul Nazar ilal Makhtoobah]

Imam Ahmad Rida Khan (رحمة الله عليه) answering to a similar question writes, “It is obligatory to observe veil with a Pir when is he not a mahram.” and in this case (of a Pir giving bayah with non-mahram women without veil) it is against the Shari’ah and against modesty – Bayah should not be done with such Pirs.”

[Fatawa Ridawiyyah Vol 22 Page 247]

Any true Peer or Shaykh would not allow these prohibited things to happen in front of him. This is the reason why one of the prerequisite for someone to become a Pir is that, he should be an Aalim, so that he knows the Islamic Laws and abides by them.

Imam Ahmad Rida Khan (رحمة الله عليه) has described four pre-requisites of a Pir:

1. His chain should be continuous and unbroken from him till the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم)
2. He should be Sunni Sahi-ul-Aqeedah
3. He should not be Fasiq-e-Mu’allin i.e openly doing acts against the Sharia’h and
4. He should be an Aalim, having enough knowledge not to be misguided himself nor misguide others, and be able to extract rulings from books by himself. [Fatawa Africa Page-123]

Allah knows best.

Answered by Mufti Mohammed Kashif

The intellect is an intrinsic essential nature (jawhar) that is free from a body, however it is attached to the body. Where it dwells is a matter of dispute, some stating it is in the brain and others saying it is in the heart.

It has also been stated that it is a light in the heart by which the truth and falsehood is determined. Variant definitions have been forwarded by different scholars and this is a matter of dispute and not agreement (ijma’). For further simple definitions see al-Ta’rifat of Sayyid A’li bin Muhammad Sharif Jurjani (رحمة الله عليه).

Allah knows best.

Answered by Shaykh Muhammad Asrar Rashid

I pray to Allāh that He removes anxiety and Gives you inner and outer peace, Āmīn.

One of the main reason why, as Muslims, we sometimes feel low and depressed is because of our relationship with the Creator. If someone recognises that everything that happens in the life is by the Will of Allāh, then the person will never be disappointed, but will be pleased to submit to the Will of Allāh. This is the reason why the Awliyā never had any sleepless nights due the anxieties and worries related to this world; rather they were seen rejoicing in whatever state they may be. This is because they submitted themselves for the sake of Allāh.

Allāh says, “Whoever submits himself for the sake of Allah, and is virtuous, his reward is with his Lord; and there shall be no fear upon them nor shall they grieve.”

[Surah al-Baqarah verse 112]

In another place He says, “Indeed those who said, ‘Allāh is our Lord’, and then remained steadfast – upon them is neither any fear nor shall they grieve.”

[Surah al-‘Ahqaf verse 13]

Another reason which is related to the first one, is to have total reliance in Allāh (Tawakkul). When someone puts his trust in Allāh and believe that He can ward off the harms of this world, provide you blessings and happiness, then the person will accept the results that He decides regardless of how they may turn out to be.

Here are some points you should try and implement:

1. Always perform ritual ablution (Wuđu) by taking care of all the Sunnah aspects and then perform the five daily prayers on time.
2. Give some charity in the way of Allāh. There are many ways of charity besides giving wealth. In one beautiful Ĥadīth the Prophet of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم) has said, “To smile to you your brother is charity. To command good and to forbid evil is charity. To guide a person in a place where he cannot get astray is charity. To remove harmful objects like thorns and bones from the road is charity. To pour water from your jug into the jug of your brother is charity. To guide a person with defective vision is charity for you.”

[Bukhārī]

3. Constantly engage yourself in Dhikr and meditation. Allāh says:

اَلَا بِذِکۡرِ اللّٰہِ تَطۡمَئِنُّ الۡقُلُوۡبُ

“Verily, by the Remembrance of Allāh do hearts find peace.”

4. After every Farđ prayer, place your right hand on the place where the heart is situated (left side of the chest) and recite the above verse (in Arabic) 11 times.
5. Recite Lā Ĥawla 100 times (Lā Ĥawla Wa Lā Quwwata Illā Billāh al-‘Aliyyi al-Adhīm) and Şalawāt (Durūd) as much as possible.
6. You should increase your islamic knowledge. Verily only by knowledge you will able to build your connection with Allāh the Almighty. Attend regular classes and sit in the company of the pious.

Remember! This no one will be free from any sort of worry or stress. This world is a test itself, and Allāh tests us in many ways. He says:

“And We will surely test you with some fear and hunger, and with loss of wealth and lives and fruits; and give glad tidings to those who patiently endure.”

[Surah al-Baqarah verse 155]

I hope this may have helped you. I pray Allāh remove all worries and stress from your life.

Allah knows best.

Answered by Mawlana Mohamed Husein Qadri

Whether or not the Holy Prophet ﷺ was wearing his blessed slippers on the night of Mi’raj is an issue which is not proven from any Sahih and famous narration, therefore I cannot give a definite answer about this. This is why Sadr-ul-Shariah (رحمه الله تعالى) says:

“It is common that on the night of Mi’raj the Holy Prophet ﷺ went on the arsh wearing his blessed slippers, public speakers also narrate a report about this, whereas there is no proof for this. However it is also not proven whether he was bare footed. Therefore it is appropriate to stay silent about this issue”.

[Bahar-e-Shariat part 16 pg 152]

Sayyiduna Sheikh Isma’il Makki (رحمه الله تعالى) reports in his Tafsir that on the night of Mi’raj, when the Holy Prophet ﷺ was about to take off his blessed slippers Allah (تعالى) said:

تقدم علي بساط العرش بنعليک ليتشرف العرش بغبار نعل قدميک و يصل نور
العرش يا سيد الکونين إليک

Translation: “Come onto the ‘Arsh with your slippers so that the ‘Arsh may be blessed by the dust of your feet”.

[Ruh-ul-Bayan vol. 5]

Similarly in Zarkani-‘alal-Mawahib vol. 6, Sharh-Shifa-lil-Khifaji vol. 2, Ma’arij-ul-Nubuwwat etc, there is mention that on the night of Mi’raj the Holy Prophet ﷺ was about to take his blessed slippers off but then he heard a voice, ‘O Muhammad ﷺ do not take your slippers off so that the ‘Arsh can be blessed with them’, he ﷺ said ‘O Allah You told Sayyiduna Musa (عليه السلام) to take his slippers off on the holy mountain’, Allah (تعالى) replied; ‘O Abul Qasim ﷺ, come close to Me, you are not like Musa, he is My Kaleem and you are My Habeeb’.

To consider this disrespectful is inappropriate because it is proven that the Holy Prophet ﷺ many times performed his Salah wearing his ﷺ blessed slippers, despite the fact that in Salah a person is in the court of Allah (تعالى) and especially in a state of sajdah.

Sa’eed bin Yazid asked Hazrat Anas (رضى الله عنهما) if the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed Salah wearing his blessed slippers, he replied ‘yes’.

[Sahih Muslim]

There is no difference of opinion amongst scholars in the permissibility of praying Salah in pure slippers in fact some scholars say it is better.

“Praying Salah wearing slippers is better”

[Tafsir-ul-Qurtubi vol. 11 pg. 117]

According to the majority of the Qur’anic commentators Sayyiduna Musa (عليه السلام) was told to remove his slippers because they were unclean, just like once the Holy Prophet ﷺ removed his blessed slippers during prayer and the Sahabah saw him and removed theirs but were instructed not to.

[Sunan Nasai]

In ‘Sharh-ul-Shifa’ Imam Khifaji (رحمه الله تعالى) says:

ذالک ليس بصحيح ولا ثابت

“This is not strong (Sahih) & not proven”, this comment does not prove that the hadith is fabricated (maudoo’), as is mentioned in books of Hadith-Principles.

Also a weak (da’eef) hadith is reliable in matters of excellences (fadaail), therefore in this issue the safest option is to follow the opinion of Sadr-ul-Shariah (رحمه الله تعالى) which is to remain silent and not comment about this matter.

Allah تعالى is most knowing.

Answered by Mufti Shams ul Huda Misbahi
Translated by Mawlana Muhammad Rashid Madani