THE MODE OF BAY’AT
The bay’at is enacted by the Shaikh taking into his right hand the right hand of the mureed (disciple). If the group contracting the bay’at is large, the Shaikh used a length of cloth onto which each member of the group holds with his right hand. Ladies who contract the bay’at do so from behind a screen. A mahram of the lady should also be present at the bay’at ceremony. Hadhrat Aaysha Radhiyallahu Anyha said:
"Rasulullah Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam never touched the palm of a woman, but he would make the (pledge-bay’at) upon her. Upon having made the bay’at he would say: Go.' Verily, I have already made bay’at with you."
(Bukhaari, Muslim, Abu-Daawood)
It is for this reason that in entering ladies into the bay’at, the Mashaa’ikh do so verbally or by means of a cloth which is spread from the Shaikh to the lady behind the screen.
This is the method of bay’at when in the presence of the Shaikh. Those who are not able to present themselves personally to the Shaikh could contract the bay’at by means of a letter or through the agency of a responsible and trustworthy person. This form of bay’at is called bay’at-e-Uthmani. Rasulullah Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam on the occasion of bay’at-e-Ridhwaan made the bay’at of Hadhrat Uthman in his (Uthman's) absence. On this occasion, Rasulullah Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam placed his right hand on his left hand and announced that he has made bay’at of Uthman. (The bay’at in absence of the mureed is therefore termed bay’at-e-Uthmani.)