Page 87 - RISALAH-BAI-AT_Neat

“And be not as those who divided and differed

among themselves after the clear proofs had come to

them. It is they for whom there is an awful

58
torment”.

A student must be grateful for the kindness of a teacher

who has already taught him knowledge. However, a

person is not permitted to pledge allegiance (make an

agreement) to absolutely (shaddal was† - appoint [fasten]

59
as mediator) bond ‘himself’ (be submissive) to a good

person whether it be a teacher or some other person.

Because this mimics the ignorant people, and it is a type

of agreement that was once adhered to by the Mushrikün.

However, if that agreement is within the sphere of mutual

help (cooperation) in virtue and piety, then it is not held,

because mutual help within (matters of) virtue and piety is

58 Sürah ◊l fiImr+n (3), ayh 105.
59 Taqiyud-Dın As-Subkı explains the evils of shaddal was† within the book Fat+w+ (2/548-551) that this custom
was spread in the era of Shaikhul Isl+m Isl+m Ibnu Taimiyah and continued amongst students (novice sufis) who
practiced upon their teachers. Questions posed to the Shaikhul Isl+m Isl+m were as follows: “Is it permissible for
beginners to sit between teachers and say: ‘O gathering of good people! I ask All*h and ask you all for one of the
teachers to accept me as a student, or friend, or brother, or one such as that’. Then one present in that jam
fiah
stood and took ‘his’ agreement and gave requirements in accordance with the desires of that teacher. Then his
middle finger was tied with a handkerchief or something else. Is this matter permissible? Because it will give rise to
mutual love and fanaticism towards one of the teachers, whereby ‘he’ becomes a friend, a brother, a follower, and
part of that factious group that is always together with ‘him’ both in truth and falsehood and is hostile towards
whom ‘he’ (the teacher) is hostile towards and is answerable to whatever it is that ‘he’ defends”.
Shaikhul Isl+m Isl+m Ibnu Taimiyah did not answer the questioners question: “I ask All*h and all of you, this is
wrong because it associates in partnership with the name of All*h with the name of something besides Him”. This
custom continued until after Ibnu Taimiyah died by means of other additions that are contrary to the Sharıfiah of
Isl+m. Refer to Fat
w
As-Subkı.