8 SIGNS OF AN ACCOMPLISHED SUFI GUIDE
- He must be knowledgeable (aalim) in the matters of Deen. It is forbidden (Haraam) to take an oath of allegiance (Bait) on the hand of a person devoid of religious knowledge.
- His beliefs must be right. An improper belief has nothing to do with Sufism
- He must strictly adhere to the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم), as all excellence emanates from obeying the Holy Prophet
- He should never venture close to Polytheism or invent new practices into the religion
- He should not be running after worldly things, as love of Allah and love of the world cannot reside in one heart simultaneously
- He must be accomplished in the disciplines of Tasawwuf and Sulook, as he would not be able to guide others if he does not know the way himself
- He must be conversant with the ways of the inner training of his students, and must have received this training from some expert of Sufism
- He should be able to establish a spiritual link between the Holy Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) and the seeker. As the Holy Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) is the only link between man and God