Connection with the Shaykh (Rābiṭah al-Shaykh)
By: Addressed to the son of Mir Muhammad Nu‘mān Bukhshī (may Allah have mercy on him)
نَحْمَدُهُ وَنُصَلِّي عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِ الْكَرِيمِ
اَمَّا بَعْدُ: If during the act of dhikr the image of the Shaykh appears naturally and without effort, then it should be brought into the heart and dhikr should be continued while keeping the gaze upon the heart.
Do you know who a Shaykh is? A Shaykh is the one from whom you learn the path to reach the court of Allah, Glorious is His Majesty, and who assists and supports the murīd along that path.
Simply wearing a turban or possessing a lineage chart (shajrah) — practices that have become customary — do not constitute the reality of Shaykhhood and discipleship (pīrī-murīdī); these are merely cultural habits. However, if a piece of cloth from a perfect Shaykh comes into one’s possession as a blessing, and it is worn throughout life with belief and sincerity, then one can strongly hope for excellent spiritual benefits and outcomes.
And remember: dreams and experiences that occur in the hearts of seekers are not inherently reliable or worthy of dependence. They are like someone seeing himself as a king or the spiritual pole (quṭb) in a dream — while in reality, he is not. Yes, if someone becomes a king or quṭb in wakefulness without a dream, that is an established reality.
Therefore, only those states and spiritual experiences that manifest in a condition of wakefulness and awareness are to be considered reliable. Otherwise, they hold no real value.
Also know that the benefit and impact of dhikr are directly connected to the practice of the rulings of Sharī‘ah. Therefore, utmost care must be taken in performing the obligatory and sunnah acts, and in abstaining from prohibited and doubtful matters.
In all issues, whether major or minor, one should refer to the scholars and act in accordance with their legal rulings (fatāwā).
Wa-s-salām.