MAWAANI' (IMPEDIMENTS)

All sin and connections other than those with Allah Ta'ala are the bandits along the Path of Sulook, However, there are several things from which the Saalik has to abstain. This is vital. If the Saalik does not rigorously abstain from these aspects, his efforts and struggles will be utterly wasted. These fatal impediments strewn along the Path of spiritual progress are:

• Opposition to the Sunnah:

Alas! In the present age, customs and innovations are in great prevalence. Nowadays such innovatory customs are being regarded as Tasawwuf. Rasulullah Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam said:

"Soon there will dawn an age over people when there will remain of Islam nothing but its name, and of the Qur'aan there will remain nothing but its script."

• Inadvertently becoming the mureed of an irreligious peer and Inspite of the error in this Bay’at, clinging to him life-long. When the peer himself is not Waasil, how will he cause the mureed to become Waasil?
• Association with females and lads and casting lustful glances at them. It is narrated in Jawaahir -e-Ghaibee that a man once while making Tawaaf of Baitullaah was uttering: "O Allah ! I seek Your protection from Yourself." Someone enquired from him the meaning of this. He replied: "Once I cast a lustful glance at a handsome lad when Lo, a hand from the unseen (Ghaib) appeared and slapped me causing the loss of my eye." Yusuf Bin Husain said: "I have observed that the calamities of the Sufis are in association with young lads, in companionship with impious persons and inclining tenderly towards females."

Lust for lads is worse than lust for women. Nowadays such unnatural practices of lust with lads are very prevalent. The act of sodomy is in the severest degree of prohibition, hence Rasulullah Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam said:

"I greatly fear for my people the practice of the nation of Loot."

In another Hadith, Rasulullah Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam said:

"The curses of the Angels of the seven heavens descend on seven types of sinners. The intensity of this La'nat (curse) is sufficient to destroy the Mal'oon ((he accursed). (The first of the seven types) is one who practised sodomy."

Nabi-e-Kareem Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam repeated the above warning thrice.

In another Hadith it was said:

"Allah Ta'ala abhors looking at a man who commits sodomy."

Some people although not committing acts of lust are involved in the malady of gazing with lust. It should be borne in mind that the eyes also commit Zinaa (fornication). Few people exercise caution in this respect despite the fact that staring with lust is a stepping-stone to fornication. According to the principle of Fiqh, the means and agencies of haraam are likewise haraam. So remember this, and understand it well.

• Evils of the tongue.

Speech in abundance and claiming excellence and virtues as well as speaking disrespectfully of the Shari'ah or Allah Ta'ala are among the greatest of impediments along this Path. Some Jaahil (ignorant) peers indulge in such evil use of the tongue.

• To engage in Mujaahidah of one's own making in addition to the Ta’leem (instruction) of the Shaikh. Such unauthorized prescription by the mureed is detrimental. Within a short while, the Mureed will become frustrated and discard even the little which he was instructed to do by the Shaikh. This calamity has befallen many a mureed. It was because of this pitfall that Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wasallam instructed the adoption of only that much A’maal (righteous practices) which will not weary one down producing frustration. Rasulullah Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam said in this regard that Allah Ta'ala will not "weary" and be "frustrated" as long as you do not become weary and frustrated.
• Haste in expecting the fruits of Mujaahidah. This is also a great obstacle. The Mureed sometimes in his haste and impatience feels that even after having made much Mujaahidah for a while, he has not derived the fruits thereof. The consequence of this attitude is that the Mureed either loses confidence in his Shaikh or he neglects his Mujaahidah. This is indeed a great calamity which can befall the Mureed. It is imperative that the Mureed realizes that nothing is achieved overnight. The selfsame person at one stage was an infant. Only after a considerable lapse of time did he attain youthood. At first he was ignorant and only after some time had passed did he become a learned man. Similar then is the case of spiritual progress along the spiritual journey.

In short, haste and expectation (for the effects of Mujaahidah to become manifest) are by implication demands which the Mureed puts to his Shaikh. Such demands are very harmful. This type of mureed does not remain contented with his Shaikh. He turns to all and sundry for remedies. He is like a vagrant along this Path and he in consequence loses the grace and favour of the Shaikh. The Mureed in the final analysis loses in entirety what he had initially desired so impatiently. His frustration and worry multiply. Outwardly and inwardly he becomes engulfed by harm.

Introducing defect in one's confidence and love for the Shaikh. Of greater calamity than even this, is to hurt the feelings of the Shaikh and to harm him. Such action and attitude bring about the total destruction of munaasabat (congeniality) between the Shaikh and the Mureed.

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