There is No Salvation Outside the Sharia
The most unwavering foundation of Islamic religion is the Quran, which is the Word of Allah, and the Sunnah (way) of our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Mankind often, swayed by their own desires or the tricks of Satan, seeks supposed spiritual paths outside these two primary sources. However, Abdul Qadir al-Geylani (may Allah be pleased with him) strongly warned those who stray into innovations (bid’ah) in religion, stating that salvation lies only in following the Prophet. He proclaims, “If you want to be saved, follow the Prophet immediately. Beware of trying to invent anything in religion,” declaring that this deviation will drag humanity to the lowest depths of Hell. Those who are true travelers on the righteous path do not incline towards foreign and fabricated customs; they merely follow the footsteps of the Messenger (peace be upon him).
Two Just Witnesses: The Book and the Sunnah
The spiritual traveler needs unwavering scales to understand whether an inspiration coming into their inner world or a task that appears before them is from Allah (Rahmani) or from Satan. Geylani (may Allah be pleased with him) says that a person must find two just witnesses for everything they eat and drink, and every action they perform: One is the Book (Quran), and the other is the Sunnah. In all circumstances, the command of Allah and the practice of the Prophet (peace be upon him) should be our guides. If the Book and the Sunnah permit something, only then can we consult our hearts and seek the manifestation of the righteous action. The rule, “Whatever truth it may be, if the religion of Islam does not bear witness to its authenticity, it is a delusion,” is the clearest declaration that Sufism can never be separated from Sharia.
The Danger of Heresy and Spiritual Abyss
Those who place their own narrow intellect and philosophical views ahead of the definitive commands of religion are plunged into a great spiritual catastrophe. Geylani (may Allah be pleased with him) expresses very sharply that whoever abandons the Quran and Sunnah will become a “heretic” and sever his connection to Islam. Such people think they are seeking spirituality through ostentatious rituals or fabricated worship, but a fiery constriction and torment await them. Even accomplished Sufi saints, no matter how high the station they reach, have always remained strictly committed to divine rulings and have not made even the slightest compromise.
The Recipe for Salvation: Repentance and Return to the Sunnah
For those who have fallen into the mire of bid’ah (innovation), strayed from the essence of religion, and delved into formalism and philosophy, the only way to salvation is to return to the essence with sincere repentance. Geylani (may Allah be pleased with him) commands us to follow the path of the great people of the past and to become accustomed to walking on the right path, ordering a return to the pure, clean, and unadulterated belief of the Companions (Sahaba) and those who followed them. A person who is content with their own opinion and tries to stretch religious rules according to their intellect (interpreting or twisting them) is in danger of denying Truth. True salvation is attained by unconditionally surrendering to the luminous path of the Quran and the pure Sunnah of our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), with unwavering commitment.