Abstract
In this article, from the point of view of Imam Rabbani Ahmad Farouk al-Sarhandi, it was tried to present the qualifications required to be a sheikh, who is at the center of sufi education. The phrase “sufism is not a science of words, but a science of experience” draws attention to the importance of the sheikh in the system of sufi education. Because the sufi education is not conveyed with the information learned from the books, but through the sheikhs who actually lived this education in their soul. According to Imam Rabbani, the true sheikhs were the heirs of the Prophet (pbuh) in conveying people to the true path. But in order to be able to talk about a sound sufi education, the sheikh, who provided this education, must also bear on some qualities: the sheikh must have the scientific heritage of the Prophet (pbuh). His scientific heritage consists of the religious provisions and secrets. The sciences of provisions are the ostensible sciences that constitute the origin of shariah, while the sciences of secrets are sufistical knowledges. The sciences of religious provisions are like the root of a tree, whereas the sufistical knowledges are like the fruits of the tree. Just as it is impossible for a rootless tree to bear fruit, it is impossible for sufistical knowledges to emerge without the sciences of religious provisions. Therefore, the sheikh must master in both sciences.
Sheikh must comply the sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh). There are seven degrees of this compliance: The first degree belongs to the common Muslims who have faith and fulfill the apparent provisions of the shariah. The second degree belongs to the people of the Tariqa who follows the words and deeds of the Prophet (pbuh) in matters such as beautifying morality, refinement of the nafs and purification of the heart. The third degree belongs to the saints who follows the spiritual state and discoveries of the Prophet (pbuh). The fourth degree belongs to the scholars who have the right to be in the status of the heirs of Prophet (pbuh). This degree can be achieved by obeying the Prophet (pbuh) in the full sense and abandoning all kinds of innovation. The fifth degree belongs to the Prophets of Perseverance who follows the perfection of Prophet (pbuh). The sixth degree is to be being subject to the perfection of the Prophet (pbuh) regarding the position of "mahbubiyyah". The seventh degree is the most comprehensive degree that includes all degrees. In this degree, there is a great similarity between the followed and follower; but the follower is another person, the followed is another one.
The sheikh must be from the people of “sahw” (spiritual alertness), not from the people of "sakr" (spiritual ecstasy). This is possible by completing the process of spiritual development under the perfect sheikh. It is impossible for someone in a "sakr" situation to educate the disciples. Such people’s word that contradict the apparent provisions of shariah are not respected. Also, the sheikh must know how to behave towards his disciples. The sheikh should not teach the science of sufistical instruction to anyone without doing "istikhara" and should not be proud of the multitude of his disciples nor should he seek fame; while training his disciples he should only aim at gaining Allah's approval and should not pursue any interests.
The sheikh should act with the awareness that he is an exemplary figure for her disciples; he should abandon “rukhsah” while act with azimah (determination), and he must carefully protect the boundaries of the shariah in all respects, especially in teaching the sciences of tariqa to female students.
According to Imam Rabbani, the sheikh, who has the above qualities, is the true sheikh while the sheikh, who lacks these qualities, is an imperfect sheikh. Just as the imperfect doctors jeopardize the material life of the patients who applied to him, the imperfect sheikhs also jeopardize the spritual life of the disciples who attached to them. Therefore, a disciple who entered the sufi path, must pay attention to whether the sheikh to whom will has the qualities of the perfect sheikh. Otherwise, it is not possible for the disciple to mature spiritually.