8/16/2019 28 Renard

1/9

6 0

T R D I T I O N S O F S P I R I T U L

G U I D N C E

I s lam ic T rad i t i on o f Sp ir itua l G u ida nce I I

N A N E A R L I E R L O OK a t t h e I s l a m i c tr a d i t i o n , P a u l J a c k s o n s k e t c h e d

o u t t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e t h e o r y a n d p r a c t i c e o f s p i ri tu a l g u i d a n c e .

A g a i n s t t h a t b a c k d r o p h e t h e n t r e a t e d a t s o m e w h a t g r e a t e r l e n g th t h e

lif e a n d w o r k s o f S h a r a f u d d i n M a n e r i , o n e o f t h e m a j o r f i g u re s i n t h e

h i s t o r y o f S o u t h A s i a n I s l a m i c s p i r i tu a l i ty .

T o p r o v i d e a s li g h tl y d i f fe r e n t p e r s p e c t i v e o n t h is v a s t s u b j e c t, I p r o p o s e

t o g i v e a b r i e f s u r v e y o f s o m e o f t h e p r i n c i p a l k i n d s o f

sour es

o f t h e

t r a d it io n a n d o f p r o m i n e n t

themes

i n I s l a m i c s p i r i t u a l g u i d a n c e , a n d t h e n

t a k e a c l o se r lo o k a t a c o n t e m p o r a r y o f M a n e r i s f r o m t h e o p p o s it e

( w e s te r n ) e n d o f t h e m e d i e v a l I sl a m i c w o r l d . I b n A b b a d o f R o n d a a ls o

l i v e d i n t h e f o u r t e e n t h c e n t u r y ( 1 3 3 0 - 9 0 ) a n d w r o t e i m p o r t a n t l e t t e r s o f

s p i ri tu a l d i r e c ti o n . B u t u n l i k e M a n e r i , I b n A b b a d w a s b o r n in S p a i n

a n d l i v e d m o s t o f h is lif e in M o r o c c o , w r o t e h i s l e tt e rs i n A r a b i c r a t h e r

t h a n i n P e r s ia n , a n d b e l o n g e d t o a r e li gi o us o r d e r w h o s e c h a r i s m

c o n t r i b u te d t o w a r d s t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a k i n d o f l a y s p i ri tu a l i ty .

A c r o ss th e le n g th a n d b r e a d t h o f M a n e r i a n d I b n A b b a d s w o rl d,

M u s l i m s p i ri tu a l w r i t e r s d e v e l o p e d t h e t r a d i t i o n o f s p i ri tu a l g u i d a n c e

t h r o u g h a v a r i e ty o f l i te r a r y f o r m s . M a n y v a r i a t io n s o n t h e t h e m e o c c u r

i n s u c h i n d i r e c t t y p e s o f s p i r i t u a l c o u n s e l a s o n e f i n d s i n t h e s a p i e n t i a l

a n e c d o t e s o f P e r s i a n s t o ry t e ll e r s a n d m y s t i c a l p o e t s , o r i n o c c a s io n a l

e x e g e t i c a l w o r k s w h e r e a t e x t p r o m p t s t h e i n t e r p r e t e r t o e x p o u n d o n

s o m e t e c h n i c a l t e r m o f p a r t i c u l a r s ig n i fi c an c e i n I s l a m i c s p ir i tu a l it y . I t

w i ll su i t o u r p u r p o s e h e r e t o m e n t i o n o n l y f o u r t y p e s o f l i te r a t u r e :

m a n u a l s , c o n v e r s a t i o n s o f t h e s h a y k h s , t r ea t is e s o n p r o p e r c o n d u c t a n d

l e t te r s o f s p i r i t u a l d i r e c t i o n .

F r o m a r o u n d th e te n t h c e n t u ry , c o m p e n d i a o r m a n u a l s o n th e m a j o r

t h e m e s a n d r e q u i r e m e n t s o f t h e S u fi P a t h ( th e m y s t i ca l d i m e n s i o n o f

I s l a m , u n d e r s t o o d i n a g e n e r a l w a y ) b e g a n t o a p p e a r . T h e s e o f te n l e n g t h y

t r e a t i s e s f u n c t i o n e d p a r t l y a s b i o g r a p h i c a l d i c t i o n a r i e s , m a n y i n c l u d i n g

e x p li ci tl y a W h o s W h o A m o n g S u f i s s e g m e n t , a n d p a r t l y as l ex ic a o f

t h e t e c h ni c al t e r m i n o l o g y a n d t h e o r y r e q u i s it e f o r a n a d e q u a t e u n d e r s t a n d -

i n g o f t h e P a t h . S o m e a l s o in c l u d e d s e c t io n s s p e c i fi c a ll y d e v o t e d t o

a d v i s in g th e n o v i c e o r s e e k e r a s t o c o n d u c t e x p e c t e d o f h i m i n r e la t io n

t o t h e s p i r i tu a l g u i d e ( t h e s h a y k h ) . 1

8/16/2019 28 Renard

2/9

TRADITIONS OF SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE 61

A second literary genre developed from collections of discourses and

obiter dicta of the more famous and revered guides. Such sayings recorded

by disciples (a type known as malfuz, to which Paul Jackson referred in

his discussion of Maneri ), had in most instances the added au thority of

directives or advice from one s own shaykh or a majo r figure in one s

own religious order. In any case, the form intentionally preserved the

exemplary reflections of some shaykh for the emulation of seekers,

although the content rarely followed the organizational structure of a

formal treatise. 2

Comb inin g the more direct authority of a particular guide s instructions

to a specific group of seekers along with the order of topics found in the

treatise or manual form, spiritual writers developed a third genre. Books

of

Adab

contain the shaykh s directives on a variety of matters of

external behaviour, such as garb, conversation, eating, travelling and

companionship. Even though these generally small documents emphasize

especially the seeker s ou tward depor tment , they do so in the belief that

the outer and the inner condition are inseparable: behaviour both

expresses one s attitude and helps to mould and t ransform one interiorly

by subtly modifying on e s inner disposition. 3

Still more direct and more personal, correspondence from a shaykh to

a particular seeker constitutes the last important form of spiritual guid-

ance. In their letters the guides address, of course, the more predictable

generic issues, such as the use of various traditional methods of prayer,

spirkual reading, fasting and pilgrimage. Beyond that, however, this

more personal vehicle for guidance affords us a glimpse into numerous

individual matters of conscience and religious experience. Topics range

from scruples over the acceptance of stipends for instructing children in

the faith, to confusion over the absence of sensible consolation while

reciting scripture, to the perenn ial question of how to find a suitable

spiritual director. 4

Themes in Islamic spiritual guidance

Muslim spiritual writers regard the need of a spiritual guide as of

paramoun t importance, analogous to humani ty s need of a prophet to

reveal God s word. Even Moses had to apprentice to his father-in-law

(Shu ayb, a prophet in Islamic tradition) as preparation for encountering

God. The ordinary wayfarer faces far too many perils on the path to

hazard the jou rney alone. On the other hand, one cannot simply designate

one s own shaykh; God grants guidance as a gift.

Qualifications of the guide form a second theme. Virtually every

document on spiritual guidance mentions these in greater or lesser detail.

Najm ad-Din Daya Razi (d. 1256) wrote one of the more extensive

treatises on the subject. His

Path of G od s bondsmen,

based in part on

similar work by earlier writers, lists the following attributes of the

8/16/2019 28 Renard

3/9

6 2 T R A D I T I O N S O F S P I R I T U A L G U I D A N C E

a u t h e n t i c g u i d e : s e r v i t u d e t o G o d a l o n e , r e c e p t i o n o f t r u t h d i r e c tl y f r o m

G o d , p r i v il e g e d a c ce s s t o G o d s m e r c y , a h e a r t p u r i f ie d o f a ll n o n - d i v i n e

f o r m s o f k n o w l e d g e , r e b i r th i n to k n o w l e d g e o f t h e e s se n c e o f G o d s

p r e s e n c e . O t h e r a t t r i b u t e s t h a t f o l l o w a r e c o r r e c t b e li e f, i n t e l li g e n c e ,

l ib e r a li ty , c o u r a g e , c h a s ti ty , l o f ty a s p ir a t io n , c o m p a s s i o n , f o r b e a r a n c e ,

f o r g i v e n e s s , s w e e t t e m p e r , s e lf le s sn e ss , c o n t e n t m e n t w i t h o n e s l o t, d i g -

n i t y , t r a n q u i l l i t y , s t e a d f a st n e s s a n d a p r e s e n c e w o r t h y o f r e v e r e n c e , a

R a z i s s u b s e q u e n t c h a p t e r o u t l in e s t h e t h i r d t h e m e , t h a t o f t h e b e h a v -

i o u r adab ) r e q u i r e d o f t h e s e e k e r o r n o v i c e . I n o r d e r t o f a n th e s p a r k

G o d s t ri k e s f r o m f l in t w i t h i n th e i n d i v i d u a l , t h e s e e k er m u s t w i l li n g ly

s u b m i t to th e t u t e la g e o f t h e g u i d e . R a z i e n u m e r a t e s t w e n t y e ss e n ti al

q u a li ti es : r e p e n t a n c e , r e n u n c i a t i o n , a b a n d o n m e n t o f f a m i ly t ie s, p r o p e r

b e li ef , f e a r o f G o d , p a t i e n c e , s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e l o w e r s e lf ( t h e g r e a t e r

s t r u g g l e Uihad] a s c o m p a r e d t o s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t e x t e r n a l f o e s ) , c o u r a g e ,

r e a d i n e s s t o sa c ri fi ce , c h i v a l r o u s n e s s , s i n c e r i ty , k n o w l e d g e , a c t i v e s e a r c h -

i n g , w i l li n g n e s s t o s u f f e r r e p r o a c h w i t h o u t g i v i n g o c c a s i o n f o r it , i n te ll i-

g e n c e , e v e n d i s p o s i t i o n , s u b m i s s io n t o t h e s h a y k h a s a c o r p s e in t h e

h a n d s o f t h e c o rp s e w a s h e r , a n d u t t e r a b a n d o n m e n t t o G o d . O f c o u r se ,

R a z i d o e s n o t e x p e c t s u c h lo f ty a c c o m p l i s h m e n t o f a b e g i n n e r ; o n l y a n

a w a r e n e s s t h a t t h e p a t h m a k e s s e v e r e d e m a n d s . 6

G i v e n a g u i d e a n d a s ee k e r c a p a b l e o f h i g h a s p i r a ti o n , t h e r e l a ti o n s h i p

o f s p ir i t u a l g u i d a n c e m a y a d v a n c e t o t h e t a s k o f a ss e ss in g t h e s e e k e r s

i n n er n e e ds a n d n a m i n g G o d s m a n n e r o f d e a li n g w i th t h is u n i q u e

i n d i v id u a l . O n e m i g h t c h a r a c t e r i z e t h e e s se n c e o f t h e r e la t i o n s h ip i n

t e r m s o f o n e o v e r a r c h i n g c o n c e r n a n d f o u r s u b o r d i n a t e t h e m e s , a n d s til l

s to p j u s t s h o r t o f u n h e l p f u l e n t a n g l e m e n t i n t h e w o n d e r f u l l y c o m p l e x a n d

c e n t u r i e s- o l d u n f o l d i n g o f I s l a m i c s p i ri tu a l a n t h r o p o l o g y . A b o v e a ll t h e

s ee ke r m u s t a p p re c ia te h u m a n i t y s a b so lu t e n e e d o f G o d a n d G o d s

a b s o l u t e w i l l i n g n e s s t o f i l l t h a t n e e d b y p r o v i d i n g a l l n e c e s s i t i e s f o r t h e

j o u r n e y . H o w e v e r , n o t al l p r o v i s i o n s a v a i la b l e w i ll p r o v e e q u a l ly b e n e -

f ic ia l f o r a g i v e n i n d i v i d u a l ; s o m e t h e s e e k e r m u s t l e a r n t o r e je c t s o a s t o

m o v e o n .

W i t h i n t h a t c o n t e x t , t h e a n a l y s is o f t h e i n t e r i o r lif e t u r n s u p o n a

d i s c e r n m e n t o f f o u r as p ec ts o f t h e in n e r p r o v i s i o n s t h a t p r e s e n t t h e m -

s elv e s. T h e s h a y k h h el p s t h e s e e k e r t h r o u g h a h e i g h t e n e d a w a r e n e s s o f

t h e i m m e d i a t e s o u r c e , d u r a t i o n , c o n t e n t a n d a f fe c ti v e t o n e o f t h e m o r e

c r it ic a l p r o v i s i o n s t h a t t a k e t h e f o r m o f m o v e m e n t s o f s o u l .

A n e g a t i v e p s y c h i c fo r c e 7 i m p l a n t e d a t c r e a t i o n r e n d e r s t h e p r o c e s s

e x c e e d i n g l y d i ff ic u l t: th e l o w e r s e l f o f e a c h p e r s o n t h r e a t e n s c o n s t a n t l y t o

r o l l t h e w a t e r s f o r i t s o w n s e l f i s h e n d s a n d t o i n s u r e t h a t i t n e e d n o t s t i r

f r o m its b e d o f t o r p o r . T h o u g h M u s l i m w r i t e rs d i f fe r a s t o t h e p r ec i se

e n u m e r a t i o n o f t h e s o u r c e s o f c r u c i a l in t e r i o r m o v e m e n t s , t h e l o w e r s e lf

naJs) f i g u r e s p r o m i n e n t l y i n a l l t h e i r a n a l y s e s . Naf s c a n g e n e r a t e i t s o w n

m o v e m e n t s . O t h e r i m m e d i a t e s o u rc e s a u t h o r s lis t v a r i o u s ly a s G o d ,

8/16/2019 28 Renard

4/9

T R A D I T I O N S O F S P I R I T U L G U I D A N C E 6 3

S a t a n , a g o o d a n g e l , r e a s o n , c e r t i t u d e , t h e sp i r it , t h e w o r l d a n d so

f o r t h . 8

T a k i n g n o t e o f a g iv e n m o v e m e n t s d u r a t i o n a llo w s th e g u i de t o

s p ec if y m o r e m i n u t e l y t h e e x p e r i e n c e s v a le n c e . S o m e t y p e s o c c u r o n l y

m o m e n t a r i l y a n d i n r a p i d s u c ce s si o n. O t h e r s p e r d u r e a n d , o n c e f e n d e d

o f f i f n e c e s s a r y , c o n t i n u e t o b a d g e r t h e s e e k e r a n d c a u s e i n n e r t u r m o i l

a n d a n x i e ty . S ti ll o t h e r s , o f a m o r e w e l c o m e s o rt , r e m a i n b u t m a k e t h e ir

p r e s e n c e f e lt v e r y s u b t l y , l i k e a n a n t c r a w l i n g a c r o s s a b l a c k s t o n e i n t h e

d e a d o f n i g h t .

I n t h e c a se o f t h os e m o v e m e n t s f r o m G o d t h a t o c c u r b ri ef ly a n d i n

s u c c e s s i o n , a u t h o r i t i e s o n t h e s u b j e c t e x p r e s s v a r i o u s o p i n i o n s a s t o

w h e t h e r o n e o u g h t t o a t t e n d t o t h e f i r s t o r t o t h e s e c o n d s u g g e s t i o n , o r

w h e t h e r b o t h a r e o f e q u a l c o g e n c y s in c e b o t h c o m e u l t im a t e l y f r o m G o d .

F i n a l ly , a m o v e m e n t s d u r a t i o n c a n s e r v e to i n d i c a te its so u r c e . F o r

e x a m p l e , d i v i n e l y g i v en t h o u g h t s s t a y b u t m o m e n t a r i l y so t h a t o n e m u s t

p a y k e e n a t t e n t io n . S a t a n i c w h i s p e r i n g s a s s au l t, w i t h d r a w a n d r e n e w t h e

a t ta c k . N o t i o n s o r i g i n a t i n g i n t h e l o w e r s e lf t e n d t o li n g e r, w h i le t h e l o w e r

s e lf r a t i o n a l i z e s a n d p r o c r a s t i n a t e s , u n t i l s o m e d e s i r e f i n d s s a t is f a c ti o n .

C o n t e n t v a r i e s c o n s i d e r a b l y , o f c o u r s e , a m o n g t h e s ev e r a l t y p e s o f

i n n e r m o v e m e n t . S a t a n i c w h i s p e r i n g s g e n e r a ll y p r o p o s e t o t h e l o w e r

s e lf s o m e s o r t o f c o n g e n i a l e a s e o r c o m f o r t , f o r th e l o w e r s e l f n a t u r a l l y

l o a th e s e f fo r t ( its n e m e s i s is t h e g r e a t e r s t r u g g l e ) . I m m e d i a t e l y f r o m t h e

l o w e r s e lf c o m e d e s i re s f o r a h o s t o f p h y s i c a l s a t i s fa c t io n s , h o n o u r , f a m e ,

w e a l t h , r e v e n g e a n d t h e li ke . D i v i n e i n t i m a t i o n s i n v a r i a b l y a n n o u n c e

t h e m s e l v e s a s s u c h b y t h e i r o b v i o u s c o n g r u e n c e w i th t h e re v e a l e d L a w ,

a n d b y t h e r e c i p i e n t s f i e rc e r e si s ta n c e t o t h e m . S o m e t y p e s o f s u g g e s t i o n

c a n c a r r y a m e s s a g e e i t h e r l a u d a b l e o r c e n s u r a b l e i n c o n t e n t . I n t h o s e

c as es , o n e m u s t ju d g e t h e m o v e m e n t s v a l u e b y t h e o t h e r c r it er ia .

S o m e l e v el s o f r e l i g i o u s e x p e r i e n c e s e e m c l o s e ly r e l a t e d t o t h e i n d i v i d -

u a l s e f f o rt a n d s t r iv i n g a n d a p p e a r t o p e r d u r e , s o t h a t o n e c o u l d

c h a r a c te r i ze t h e m a s p l a t e a u s . M u s l i m a u t h o r s h a v e n a m e d t he se

s t a t i o n s . M a n y i n n e r e x p e r i e n c e s , h o w e v e r , w i ll n o t y i e ld to p u r e l y

d i s c u rs i v e a n a ly s i s, n o r d o t h e y c o m e a n d g o m e r e l y b e c a u s e t h e s u b j e c t

w i ll s i t s o. M u s l i m w r i t e r s i n t e r e s t i n t h e a f fe c t iv e t o n e o f s u c h e x p e r i e n c e s

e v o l v e d i n to d e t a i le d i n v e n t o r i e s o f o t h e r e x p e r i e n c e s a t o n c e m o r e

e m o t i o n a l l y c h a r g e d a n d f le e ti n g, a n d a p p e a r i n g t o h a v e t h e i r o r i g i n i n

G o d r a t h e r t h a n i n h u m a n e ff or t. T h e s e t h e y h a v e c a ll ed s t a t e s . T h e y

i n c l u d e , f o r e x a m p l e , e x p e r i e n c e s o f d e s ir e , l o n g i n g , c o n t e n t m e n t a n d

n o n - d i s c u r s i v e i n t i m a t e k n o w l e d g e .

W h e r e a s t h e s t a t i o n s magamat, p l . o f magam) t y p i c a l l y t r a c e t h e

i t in e r a r y o f o n e w h o l a b o u r s t h r o u g h t h e p u r g a t i v e w a y o f mujahada

( s t r iv i n g ) , t h e s t a t e s ahwal, p l . o f ha0 f o r m a m a p o f t h e j o u r n e y

t h r o u g h t h e i l lu m i n a t i v e w a y o f mukashafa ( c o n t e m p l a t i v e v i s i o n ) . I d e a l l y ,

8/16/2019 28 Renard

5/9

6 4 T R A D I T I O N S O F S P I R I T U A L G U I D A N C E

t h e d i s t i n c t i o n s e r v es t o f ac i li ta t e a n a l y s i s ; o n e m u s t n o t t a k e i t t o o

l i t e r a l l y a s a c l e a r d i v i d e b e t w e e n e f f o r t a n d g r a c e .

W i t h s o m e b a c k g r o u n d o n t h e s o u rc e s a n d t h e m e s c e n tr a l t o t h e Is l am i c

t r a d i t i o n o f s p i ri tu a l g u i d a n c e a s a w h o l e , o n e m i g h t m o r e r e a d i ly a s se ss

t h e r o l e o f o n e c l as s ic p r a c t i t i o n e r o f t h e a r t .

I b n A b b a d o f R o n d a a s s p ir it u a l g u i d e

B o r n i n th e s o u th I b e r i a n h il l t o w n o f R o n d a , a b o u t s ix ty m il es f r o m

G i b r a l ta r , I b n ' A b b a d m i g r a t e d a s a b o y o f s e v e n t o M o r o c c o , t h e r e t o

s p e n d h i s l if e. T h e M a r i n i d D y n a s t y r u l e d h i s w o r l d , m o r e t e n t a t i v e l y

p e r h a p s t h a n t h e a v e r a g e c i t iz e n w o u l d h a v e l ik e d . S o c i al , e c o n o m i c a n d

p o l it ic a l c o n d i t io n s o f h i s d a y d i d n o t fill I b n ' A b b a d w i t h c o n f i d e n c e i n

t h e p r e s e n t o r h o p e f o r t h e f u t u r e ; b u t t h e n e e d f o r r e li g io u s r e f o r m h e

r e g a r d e d a s o f t h e h i g h e s t p r i o r i t y , f o r u p o n t h e r e n e w a l o f f a it h all e ls e

r e s t e d . S o l o n g a s i n a s o li t a ry h e a r t a s in g l e g r a i n o f f a i th r e m a i n e d , a ll

w a s n o t l o s t .

T o t h e n u r t u r i n g o f t h a t f a it h i n i n d i v id u a l p e r s o n s I b n A b b a d d e v o t e d

c o n s i d e r a b l e t i m e a n d e f f o rt . H i s f i f ty - f o u r e x t a n t l e tt e rs c o n s t i t u t e o n l y a

p o r t i o n o f h is to t al w r i tt e n w o r k . W i t h s o m e ' c o m m e n t a r y ' o f a s lig h tly

m o r e t e c h n ic a l n a t u r e f r o m h i s o t h e r w r i t i n g s , o n e c a n s u m m a r i z e t h e

m a j o r c o n c e r n s o f t h is s p i r it u a l g u i d e .

Central i ssues in the sp ir i tual l i fe

I n t h e i n d i v i d u a l p e r s o n , t h e d e a t h o f f a it h g o es h a n d i n h a n d w i t h

e g o c e n t r i sm o r p r e s u m p t u o u s n e s s . O n a l a r g e r s ca le , t h a t s am e p r e t e n -

t io u s n e s s r e s u lt s i n t h e f r a g m e n t a t i o n o f s o c i et y a n d u n d e r m i n e s r e li g io u s

c o m m u n i t y . A s a s u b t l e f o r m o f i d o la t r y ( ' h i d d e n s h i r k , ' s e t t i n g u p a

p a r t n e r w i t h G o d ' ) e g o c e n t r i c i t y t a k e s c o u n tl e ss f o r m s : f al se h u m i l i ty ,

f e a r o f d e a t h , a c ts o f p i e t y f o r t h e s a k e o f d i s p la y a n d a t h o u s a n d o t h e r

w a y s o f c l i n g i n g to o n e ' s o w n d e e d s a s a so u r c e o f u l t i m a t e s e c u r it y . T h e

s e e k e r m u s t s t r i v e t o c o u n t e r a c t t h e t e n d e n c y t o e g o c e n t r i c i t y t h r o u g h

t h e a tt it u d e s o f 's e r v a n t h o o d ' o r ' w o r s h i p f u l n e s s ' , a n d g r a t it u d e , w h i c h in

t u r n a r is e f r o m a n a w a r e n e s s o f o n e ' s r a d i c a l i n su f f ic i e n cy a n d n e e d i n e ss .

A u t h e n t i c s e l f - k n o w l e d g e a l o n e c a n k e e p t h e s e e k e r f r e e f r o m t h e

a n g u i s h o f s c r u p l e s a n d t h e d e l u s i o n o f f a ls e a s c e t ic i s m . E x c e s s i v e a u s t e r i t y

o r u n d u e g r ie f o v e r o n e ' s f a il u re s m e r e l y m a s k s o t h e rw i s e n a k e d e g o c e n -

t ri c it y . G e n u i n e a s c e ti c is m p o s e s th e n e v e r - e n d i n g c h a l le n g e o f d i s c e r n i n g

h o w G o d r e v e a ls h i m s e l f t o t h e s e e k e r a t t h is v e r y m o m e n t , r e g a r d le s s o f

h o w s t ro n g l y t h e s ee k e r fe els h e ' o u g h t ' t o b r e a k o u t a n d m o v e t o s o m e

o t h e r s p i r it u a l s ta te . G o d w o r k s h e r e a n d n o w , a n d a t te n t i v e n e s s t o t h a t

p r e s e n c e r e q u i r e s a l if e t im e o f d i s c ip l i n e .

I b n ' A b b a d c o u n s e l s h i s d i r ec t e e s t o r e g a r d t h e ' g r e a t e r s t r u g g l e ' o f

t h e p u r g a t i v e w a y a s t h e o t h e r s i d e o f t h e c o i n f r o m t h e ' c o n t e m p l a t i v e

v i s io n ' O f t h e i l l u m i n a ti v e w a y . B e t w e e n m a s o c h i s m a n d h e d o n i s m t h e

8/16/2019 28 Renard

6/9

TRADITIONS OF SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE 65

path winds. Debilitating anxiety, self-doubt, ennui, fear of abando nment

and the like signal the victory of egocentrism as surely as does the

unbridled search for pleasure. The greater struggle means never surren-

der ing oneself to either stasis, while contemplative vision allows the

individual to perceive God's utter transcendence and incomparable maj-

esty. in the very midst of personal and cosmic poverty and neediness.

Contemplative vision both presupposes and reinforces the greater strug-

gle's challenge to the aspirant to become a 'chi ld of this momen t' .

T h e r o l e o f t he s p i r i t u a l g u i d e

Ibn 'Abbad expresses considerable concern over how the seeker can

find guidance for the journey. During his time the emphasis in the study

of religious law seems to have shifted from personal contact with an

acknowledged authority to the study of secondary works. Apparently

under the influence of that trend, the use of classic writings in Sufism

seems similarly to have taken precedence over individual guidance. One

could claim as spiritual master (or as license-granting authority in religious

law) any author whose works he had read. Ibn bbad himself considers

as his 'masters of initiation ' in the Sufi Path the authors of the classic

works through which he first became acquainted with the Path. Even

when he was a disciple of the stern master Ibn shir, he maintained his

independence.

On the whole, Ibn ~Abbad's approach to the role of the spiritual guide

strikes one as quite balanced. He examines thoroughly in one of his

Letters (Letter XVI in

L e t t e r s o n th e S u f i P a th )

the question of whether a

seeker absolutely needs a living guide. He concludes that one does not

simply attach oneself to the right shaykh. God alone can provide the gift

of a truly sagacious director. God decides whether and when the seeker

will find personal guidance. One ought therefore neither expend too

much effort searching, nor simply despair of ever finding a guide, but

merely be prepared for the gift should it be granted.

God ultimately guides the heart with his light. In other words, direction

occurs from within the individual seeker. Ibn bbad acknowledges the

already ancient tradition that God guides individuals generally in either

of two ways. Some God leads along a predominantly active, purgative

way. Through long periods of discipline and discursive meditation, God

leads the 'wayfarer'

s a l i k )

upward, from the effects of the divine action

in the world, to an awareness of God' s names, to the contemplation of

the divine attributes and finally to the divine essence. Others God guides

along a predominantly passive or illuminative path. The 'attracted' or

'drawn' seeker

m a j d h u b )

advances as though whisked along from an

experience of God's essence to an awareness of all creatures as existing

'in God'. In other words, the first type sees God in creation; the second,

creation in God.

8/16/2019 28 Renard

7/9

 

T R A D I T I O N S O F S P I R I T U A L G U I D A N C E

F r o m t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l p o i n t o f v i e w , g u i d a n c e i n v o l v e s h e l p i n g a

s e e k e r to d i s c e r n t h e v a r i e t y o f g u i se s u n d e r w h i c h t h e l o w e r s e lf , t h e

' w o r l d ' a n d t h e D e v i l p r e s e n t t h e m s e l v e s . A h e a l t h y i n d i v i d u a l k n o w s

t h e a r d u o u s n e s s o f s e l f - m a s t e r y . T h e o l o g i c a l l y s p e a k i n g , g u i d a n c e a i m s

a t g ra t it u d e t o G o d a n d a c k n o w l e d g e m e n t o f o n e ' s p o v e rt y . T h r o u g h

g r a t i t u d e o f t h e h e a r t , o n e a c k n o w l e d g e s G o d a s s o u r c e o f a ll g o o d s .

T h r o u g h g r a t it u d e o f t h e to n g u e , o n e s in g s G o d ' s p ra i se s . T h r o u g h

g r a t i t u d e o f a ll t h e s e n s e s, o n e e n g a g e s i n g o o d w o r k s a n d t h u s b r i n g s a

c o m m u n i t a r i a n d i m e n s i o n t o o n e ' s s p i r i t u a l l i f e .

I b n ' A b b a d i n h e r i t e d a h i g h l y s o p h i s t i c a t e d s p i r i t u a l a n t h r o p o l o g y ,

i n c lu d i n g a n a m p l e l e x ic o n o f fi ne ly n u a n c e d c o n c e p ts k e y e d t o t h e

s u b tl e ti e s o f p e r s o n a l r e l ig i o u s e x p e r i e n c e . I n a d d i t i o n t o th e r a n g e o f

' s t a t i o n s ' a n d ' s t a t e s ' m e n t i o n e d e a r l i e r , I b n ~ A b b ad p a y s s p e c ia l a t t e n t i o n

t o t h e e x p e r i e n c e s o f ' c o n t r a c t i o n ' a n d ' e x p a n s i o n ' g a b d a n d b a s t ) , t e r m s

t h a t o n e c o u l d a ls o t r a n s l a t e l o o se l y a s ' d e s o l a t i o n ' a n d ' c o n s o l a t i o n ' .

F o l l o w i n g th e l e a d o f h is s p i r it u a l a n c e s t o r I b n ' A t a A l l a h , I b n ~ A b ba d

b e l ie v e s t h a t e x p a n s i o n c a n b e m o r e d a n g e r o u s t h a n c o n t r a c ti o n , f o r t h e

f o r m e r m i g h t e n c o u r a g e t h e n o v i c e t o t h i n k h e h a s b r o u g h t t h i s p l e a s a n t

s t a te u p o n h i m s e l f . A s e e k e r c o u l d f o r g e t th a t G o d e f fe c t s a l l s u c h

c o n d i t i o n s .

C o n t r a c t i o n a n d e x p a n s i o n a p p e a r r a t h e r a s q u a l i t i e s t h a t b r o a d l y

c h a r a c t e r i z e a v a r i e t y o f e x p e r i e n c e s t h a n a s e x p e r i e n c e s i n t h e m s e l v e s ,

a l th o u g h o n e c o u ld c o n c e i v a b l y b e a w a r e o f c o n t r a c ti o n o r e x p a n s i o n

w i t h o u t f u r t h e r q u a l if i c a ti o n . H o p e a n d e x p a n s i o n , f e a r a n d c o n t r a c t i o n

o f t e n o c c u r a s p a i r s . I n a n y c a s e , t h e s p i r i t u a l g u i d e s t r i v e s t o t e a c h t h e

s e e k e r , f i rs t, a w a r e n e s s o f t h e i n n e r s u c c e s s i o n o f s t a t i o n s a n d s t a te s , a n d

s e c o n d , h o w t o i n t e p r e t t h e m a s in d i c a t o r s o f h o w G o d h a s c h o s e n t o

w o r k i n t h e s e e k e r a t a g i v e n m o m e n t .

A b o u t t h e n a t u r e o f t h e r e l at io n s h i p b e t w e e n s h a y k h a n d a s p i r a n t , I b n

( A b b a d h a s s e v e r a l i m p o r t a n t t h i n g s t o s a y . T h e s h a y k h m u s t t r e a t t h e

s e e k e r l ik e a so n ; t h e s e e k e r , i n t u r n , m u s t p r a c t i c e d o c i li ty , c o n c e a l i n g

n o t h i n g . A v o i d i n g a u t h o r i t a r i a n i s m a t a ll c o s t, t h e g u i d e w o r k s t o u n d e r -

s t a n d w h a t t h e d is c ip l e h a s s a id b e f o r e r e n d e r i n g a n o p i n i o n . I b n ' A b b a d

k n e w o f t w o t y p e s o f s h a y k h . S e e k e r s w h o n e e d e d b a s i c c h a r a c t e r

f o r m a t i o n a n d s c h o o li n g i n t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f t h e r e v e a le d L a w a n d

t h e S uf i P a t h w o u l d d o b e t t e r w i t h a n ' i n s t r u c t i n g ' s h a y k h . O n e c o u l d

e v e n e n l is t th e s e r v i c e s o f s e v e r a l s u c h g u i d e s s i m u l t a n e o u s l y .

A n ' e d u c a t i n g ' s h a y k h , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t a u g h t b y e x a m p l e a n d

p e r s o n a l a s s o c i a t i o n r a t h e r t h a n b y m o r e c o n v e n t i o n a l p e d a g o g i c a l

m e t h o d s . T h i s l a t te r t y p e o f g u i d e w o u l d t e a c h a s e e k e r a l r e a d y t h u s

t u t o r e d i n t h e b a s ic s o f t h e tr a d i t i o n h i s p e r s o n a a n d p r i v a t e i n v o c a t i o n

d h i k r , a m a n t r a - l i k e w o r d o r p h r a s e i n t e n d e d t o a d d r e s s a p a r t i c u l a r

d i sc ip l e ~ u n i q u e n e e d s ) , l e a d h i m t h r o u g h t h e r e t r e a t o f ~ or ty d a y s

c h ~ 1 2 a ) ,

r e g u l a t e h i s d a i ly o r d e r ( s l e e p i n g , e a t i n g , t i m e s o f s i le n c e a n d s o f o r t h ) ,

8/16/2019 28 Renard

8/9

T R A D I T I O N S O F S P I R I T U A L G U I D A N C E 6 7

a n d p r e s c r i b e s p e c if i c d i s c i p l i n a r y a c t iv i ti e s . A s e e k e r c o u l d a s s o c i a te w i t h

o n l y o n e e d u c a t i n g s h a y k h a t a t im e . I n I b n A b b a d s e s t im a t i o n , a

s ee k er c o u ld m a k e m o r e r a p id p r o g r es s u n d e r a s h a y k h w h o m G o d h a s

d r a w n t h a n u n d e r a w a y f a r e r .

I b n A b b a d s le t te r s i n d ic a t e t h a t s u b j e c t m a t t e r f o r s p i ri tu a l d i r e c t i o n

c o u l d i n c l u d e v i r t u a l l y a n y t h i n g i n th e s e e k e r s e x p e r i e n c e t h a t h e p e r -

c e i v ed a s r e la t i n g i n a n y w a y w i t h h i s r e l a t io n s h i p w i t h G o d . S i g n if i c an t

m a t e r i a l t h u s e n c o m p a s s e d e x p e r i e n c e s o f s u c ce s s o r f a il u re , c l a ri ty o r

b e w i l d e r m e n t , g r i e f o r e l a ti o n , h o p e o r f e ar , l o v e o r h a te . I f a c o r r e s p o n -

d e n t e x p r e s s e d a p o w e r f u l d e s i re t o m o v e o u t o f h is p r e s e n t s ta t e, I b n

e A b b a d e n c o u r a g e d h i m t o s ta y w i t h i t u n t il h e a p p r e c i a t e d h o w t h a t

s ta te , h o w e v e r d is t as te f u l, c o u l d s p e a k a w o r d f r o m t h e L o r d . T h e s e e ke r

n e e d s , i n s h o r t , t o l e a r n t o t r u s t h i s e x p e r i e n c e , a n d f e n d o f f t h e t e m p t a t i o n

t o w o r r y t h a t h e s h o u l d b e e x p e r i e n c i n g s o m e t h i n g e ls e.

P e r s o n a l g r o w t h is p e r h a p s t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t c r i t e r i o n f o r j u d g i n g

t h e s u c c es s o f t h e r e l a t i o n s h ip o f d i r e c t o r t o d i r e c te e . A m o n g t h e v a r i o u s

t o u c h s t o n e s I b n ~ A b b ad u s e d t o a ss es s g r o w t h , h e r e g a r d e d t h e b r o a d

c a te g or ie s o f p r o p e r d e m e a n o u r ( h u s h a l - a d a b ) a n d t h i n k i n g w e l l o f

G o d ( h U S h a z - z a n n ) a s t h e c r u c i a l in d ic e s . H e r e o n e i n e v i t a b l y m a n i f e s t e d

t h e f r u it s o r l a c k o f t h e f u n d a m e n t a l v a l u e o f g r a t i t u d e ( w h i c h f u n c t i o n e d

f o r I b n A b b a d m u c h t h e w a y l o ve d o e s i n C h r i s t ia n t h o u g h t ) , a n d t h e

t o t al a p p r o a c h , t o lif e t h a t h e c a ll s c o n t e m p l a t i v e v i s i o n . T h e c l e a r e r

t h a t v i s i o n , t h e g r e a t e r t h e g r a t i t u d e a n d t h e s m a l l e r t h e d a n g e r o f

e g o c e n t r i c i ty . U l t i m a t e l y , s p i ri tu a l m a t u r i t y a p p e a r s i n t h e a b il i t y t o

t h i n k w e ll o f G o d , t h a t i s, a l w a y s a l l o w i n g th e C r e a t o r t h e b e n e fi t o f

t h e d o u b t a n d r e f u s i n g to w a l l o w i n th e c o n v i c t i o n th a t o n e h a s G o d

d o w n t o a p r e d i c t a b l e p a t t e r n .

F i n a ll y , I b n A b b a d e x h i b i t e d p r e - e m i n e n t l y t h e sp i ri tu a l g u i d e s v i r t u e

s ine qua non: r e t i c e n c e a b o u t h i s q u a l i f i c a t io n s a s a s p ir i tu a l g u i d e . H e

d i d n o t c o n s i d e r h i m s e l f a n a u t h o r i t y o n m a t t e r s s p ir it u a l o r r e l a t in g t o

r e li g io u s la w . N e i t h e r d i d h e p r o t e s t t o o m u c h ; o n l y e n o u g h t o le a v e t h e

m o d e r n r e a d e r c o n v i n c e d th a t I b n A b b a d m u s t h a v e b e e n a n e x ce ll en t

s p i r i t u a l g u i d e .

J o h n R e n a r d S J

NOT E S

I Good translations of this type are: Razi, Najm ad-Din Daya,

The path of God s bondsmen,

trans Harold Algar (N ew York: Caravan, 1982); H ujw iri ,

The Kashf al-Mahjub,

t rans

R. A. N icholson (London : Luzac, 1976).

2 See for example, A .J . A rberry s translation o f

Discourses of Ru mi

(New York: Samuel

W eiser; 1972), and Paul Jackson s translation o f M aneri s discourses,

Khwan-i Pur N i mat:

a table laden with goo d things

(Delhi: Idarah-i Ada biyat-i Delli, 1986).

8/16/2019 28 Renard

9/9

  8

T R A D I T I O N S O F S P I R I T U A L

G U I D A N C E

3 S e e f or e x a m p l e I b n a l - A r a b i s I n s t r u c t i o n s t o a p o s t u l a n t , t r a n s la t e d b y A . J ef f re y i n

h i s e d i t i o n o f p r i m a r y s o u r c e t r a n s l a t i o n s , A re ad e r o n I s l a m ( T h e H a g u e : M o u t o n , 1 96 2) ;

M . M i l s o n s t r an s l a ti o n o f A b u N a j i b S u h r a w a r d i s K i t a b A d a b a l - M u r i d i n , e n t i t l e d i n

E n g l i s h A S u f i ru le f o r n o v i c e s ( C a m b r i d g e , M A : H a r v a r d , 1 97 5) ; a n d G . B o e w e r i n g s

t r a n s l a ti o n o f A n s a r i s s h o r t t re a ti s e, a l o n g w i t h a b r i e f s u r v e y o f t h e g e n r e , i n T h e

A d a b

l i t e r a t u re o f c l a ss i c al S u f i s m : A n s a r i s c o d e o f c o n d u c t , i n B a r b a r a M e t c a l f, e d . ,

M o r a l

conduc t and au thor it y : t he p lace o f Ad ab in South A s ia n I s lam

( B e r k el e y : U n i v e r s i t y o f C a l i f o rn i a

P r e s s , 1 9 8 4 ) , p p 6 2 - 8 7 .

4 S e e P a u l J a c k s o n s t r an s l a ti o n o f M a n e r i s

The hundred Le t t e rs

( N e w Y o r k : P a u l i s t P r e ss ,

1 98 0) ; A . H . A b d e l K a d e r , t r a n s , The l if e personali ty and w ri t ings o f a l -Junayd ( L o n d o n :

L u z a c , 1 9 7 6) ; S h a y k h a l -~ A r a b i D a r q a w i , Let ters o f a Suf i master, t r a n s T i t u s B u r c k h a r d t

( L o n d o n : P e r e n n i a l B o o k s , 1 96 9) ; a n d I b n A b b a d o f R o n d a s

Le t t e rs on the Su f i Path , a

t r a n s l a t i o n o f s ix t e e n le t t e rs , w i t h a n e x t e n s i v e in t r o d u c t i o n o n t h e m e s a n d s e t t i n g o f I b n

c A b b a d s sp i ri t u al i ty , b y J o h n R e n a r d ( M a h w a h , N e w J e r s e y : P a u l i s t P r e s s , 1 98 6 ).

5 R a z i ,

op. c i t . ,

p p 2 4 3 - 2 5 4 .

6 I b i d . p p 2 5 5 - 2 6 7 .

7 B o e w e r i n g G . :

Th e myst ical v ision o f existence in c lassical Isl am

( B e r li n : d e G r u y t e r , 1 9 8 0 ) ,

p 2 5 3 .

8 F o r e x c e l le n t a n a l y s i s o f t h e s e a n d r e l a te d i s s u e s s e e P e t e r A w n s S a t a n s t ra g e d y a n d

redempt ion: Ib l i s i n Su~ psychology

( Le id en : B r i l l , 1 9 8 3 ) , e sp . p p 6 4 f f .