When Hearts Change

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
(Arabic text follows English)

[Extracts from Abu'l-'Abbas Ahmad ibn Yusuf ibn Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Fasi's Commentary on al-Sharishi's Poem Rhyming with R]

Raise no objection to the Shaykh for this
Is likely to cause disconcertedness to the
novice in addition to his desertion

Shaykh al-Sharishi means, and Allah knows best: O novice! Do not raise any objection towards your Shaykh regarding any of his words, actions or states, at any time, whether inwardly or outwardly, after submitting to his guidance. This is because your objection is likely to cause you disconcertedness in your religion and worldly affairs, and you will suffer the Shaykh's desertion, banishment and exclusion. Sometimes the Shaykh banishes the novice both inwardly and outwardly, such that he drives him out of his house and shuts his door on him.

Sometimes the Shaykh banishes the novice inwardly. This is more harmful to the novice for, in this case, the latter is not aware that he has been banished or that he deserves expulsion. This state of banishment will remain until the novice hearkens to his Shaykh: repentant, remorseful, meek and heartbroken. It is due to this subtlety that Shaykh Abu'l-Qasim al-Qushayri, may Allah be well-pleased with him, said:

If there is an aspirant among the folk of spiritual discipline who has not reached his goal, let him know that his failure is due to a concealed objection in his heart towards his teacher - an objection that he might have had at some point of time.

Al-Qushayri also said, may Allah be well-pleased with him: I heard the Shaykh Abu 'Ali al-Daqqaq, may Allah have mercy on him, say:

The beginning of all discord lies in opposition.

He means that whoever opposes his Shaykh no longer follows the Shaykh's path and his relation with his Shaykh is dissevered, even if they both happen to be physically close to each other. Whoever attaches himself to a Shaykh and then inwardly raises objections towards him has annulled the covenant of his attachment, and ought, therefore, to repent, despite the fact that the Shaykhs of the path have said: 'The disobedience to spiritual teachers cannot be expiated through repentance'. And with regard to the first case, when the banishment of the novice is done both inwardly and outwardly, Shaykh Muhyi al-Din ibn 'Arabi may Allah be well-pleased with him, said:

When the Shaykh knows that his reverence has dropped in the heart of the novice, he should tactfully drive him out of his house, for such a novice is one of the greatest enemies. The Shaykh should endear to the objecting novice a preoccupation with the outward requirements of the Sacred Law as well as with the way of the desired acts of worship in general. But he should close his door on him and prevent his other students from keeping his company, for nothing is more harmful to the novice than keeping the company of someone who is not like-minded.