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Sufism

Maḥmūd al-Iḥsān

Muftī Aḥmad Ṣāḥib Khānpūrī

A record of the counsel and conduct of the elders, collected by one of their students.

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Contents

  1. Shariah (Islamic Law) Allāh addresses His beloved Messenger, the Pride of the World :
    Sections 3
    1. The Reality of Sharīʿah and Its Necessity
    2. The Components of Religion and Sharīʿah
    3. The Definition of Sharīʿah, Ṭarīqah, Ḥaqīqah, and Maʿrifah, and Their Interrelation
  2. Tariqah (The Spiritual Path) In this verse, the basis of sainthood (wilāyah) has been declared to rest upon two things: faith (īmān) and taqwā (God-consciousness). Thus, whatever...
    Sections 9
    1. The Reality of Ṭarīqah
    2. The Necessity of Taṣawwuf and Its Prevalence
    3. The Aspects of Sainthood (Wilāyah)
    4. Beneficial Investigations Relating to Prophethood and Sainthood
    5. Types of Spiritual Paths and Wayfaring
    6. The Station of the Spiritual Wayfarer (Sālik)
    7. The Rectification of the Inner Self and Its Requirements
    8. A Brief Outline of Ṭarīqah
    9. The Order of Attaining Spiritual Wayfaring and Its Headings
  3. Pledge of Allegiance and Discipleship The practice of bayʿat (the pledge of allegiance) that is customary among the noble Sufis is, in essence, a covenant to observe and uphold the Divine...
    Sections 8
    1. Chapter One: On the Pledge of Allegiance (Bayʿat)
      1. The Establishment of Bayʿat and Its Reality
      2. The Necessity of Bayʿat
    2. Chapter Two: On the Perfect Spiritual Guide (Shaykh-e-Kāmil)
      1. The Importance of the Perfect Spiritual Guide and How to Recognise Him
    3. Chapter Three: On Spiritual Affinity Between Shaykh and Disciple (Munāsabat)
    4. Chapter Four: On the Company of the Shaykh (Ṣuḥbat-e-Shaykh)
      1. The Necessity of the Company of the Shaykh
  4. (A) Actions Striving against the self (mujāhada al-nafs) has been termed "the greatest striving" (jihād-e-akbar) in the sayings of the elders, and this ḥadīth...
    Sections 41
    1. Chapter One: On Spiritual Discipline and Striving
      1. On Spiritual Discipline and Striving (Riyāḍat and Mujāhada)
    2. Chapter Two: On Character (Akhlāq)
      1. On Character
      2. On Praiseworthy Character Traits
      3. First Section: On Intention (Irāda) and Niyyat
      4. Second Section: On Sincerity (Ikhlāṣ)
      5. Third Section: On Intimacy (Uns) and Fondness (Nāz)
      6. Fourth Section: On Propagation (Tablīgh)
      7. Fifth Section: On Reflection (Tafakkur)
      8. Sixth Section: On Entrusting to Allāh (Tafwīḍ)
      9. Seventh Section: On God-Consciousness (Taqwā)
      10. Eighth Section: On Humility (Tawāḍuʿ)
      11. Ninth Section: On Repentance (Tawba)
      12. Tenth Section: On Divine Unity (Tawḥīd)
      13. Eleventh Section: On Trust in Allāh (Tawakkul)
      14. Twelfth Section: On Humility in Worship (Khushūʿ)
      15. Thirteenth Section: On Fear (Khawf)
      16. Fourteenth Section: On Supplication (Duʿāʾ)
      17. Fifteenth Section: On Hope (Rajāʾ)
      18. Sixteenth Section: On Contentment (Riḍā)
      19. Seventeenth Section: On Abstinence from the World (Zuhd)
      20. Eighteenth Section: On Gratitude (Shukr)
      21. Nineteenth Section: On Longing (Shawq)
      22. Twentieth Section: On Patience (Ṣabr)
      23. Twenty-First Section: On Truthfulness (Ṣidq)
      24. Twenty-Second Section: On Love (Muḥabbat)
    3. Chapter Three: On Blameworthy Character Traits (Akhlāq Dhamīma)
      1. First Section: On the Afflictions of the Tongue
      2. Second Section: On Extravagance (Isrāf)
      3. Third Section: On Miserliness (Bukhl)
      4. Fourth Section: On Malice and Rancour (Bughḍ / Ḥiqd)
      5. Fifth Section: On Arrogance (Takabbur)
      6. Sixth Section: On Love of Status (Ḥubb-e-Jāh)
      7. Seventh Section: On Love of the World (Ḥubb-e-Dunyā)
      8. Eighth Section: On Greed (Ḥirṣ)
      9. Ninth Section: On Envy (Ḥasad)
      10. Tenth Section: On Showing Off (Riyāʾ)
      11. Eleventh Section: On Desire (Shahwat)
      12. Twelfth Section: On Self-Admiration (ʿUjb)
      13. Thirteenth Section: On Anger (Ghaḍab)
  5. (B) The Fruits of Actions In the Hereafter, reward (badal) will be given for good character and righteous deeds, and punishment (ʿawaḍ) for sins, that is, every person will...
    Sections 6
    1. Chapter One: On the Fruit from the Servant, Servitude (ʿAbdiyyat)
      1. The Reality of Servitude
      2. We Are Slaves, Not Merely Servants
    2. Chapter Two: On the Fruit from Allāh
      1. First Section: On the Pleasure of Allāh
      2. Second Section: On Nearness and Arrival (Qurb wa Wuṣūl)
  6. The Means The words "means" (dharīʿah) and "objective" (maqṣūd) are used in everyday speech and conversation, yet very few of those who use them truly...
    Sections 11
    1. Chapter One: On Ḥikmī Striving (Mujāhada Ḥikmiyya)
      1. Excess and Deficiency in Striving
      2. This Is My Sunnah
      3. Actions Are the Goal of Striving, Not States
      4. First Section: Reducing Food (Taqlīl-e-Ṭaʿām)
      5. Second Section: Reducing Sleep (Taqlīl-e-Manām)
      6. Third Section: Reducing Speech (Taqlīl-e-Kalām)
      7. Fourth Section: Reducing Mixing with People (Taqlīl-e-Ikhtilaṭ maʿ al-Anām)
    2. Chapter Two: On True Striving (Mujāhada Ḥaqīqiyya)
      1. First Type: Beneficial Practices Without Risk
      2. Second Type: Beneficial Practices With Risk
  7. Glossary