The Importance of a Compass on the Spiritual Path
The nafs (ego) and Satan often approach to lead a person astray from the right path, disguising themselves as goodness and worship. Distinguishing whether a feeling, thought, or action truly comes from Allah, or from Satan or the nafs, is one of the most challenging processes in Sufism. Abdülkadir Geylani (q.s.) emphasizes that the only unwavering scale to protect the servant from these dangers is Divine Revelation and Prophetic Sunnah. He commands that every step taken and every inspiration arising in the heart must pass the approval of these two just witnesses, saying, “Find two witnesses for everything you eat and drink; one should be the Book [Quran], and the other the Sunnah.” No ‘spiritual state’ or ‘inspiration’ that does not conform to Sharia (the Quran and Sunnah) can be divine; it is only a deviation.
Avoiding Desire and Innovations
Those who place their own reason, personal desires, or whims ahead of religion will suffer great loss. Geylani (q.s.) draws a very clear boundary, saying, “Adhere to what the Prophet brought, that is, the Quran and Sunnah, for whoever abandons them becomes an apostate.” Those who mistake innovations (newly invented forms of worship) that have no place in religion for spirituality are actually playing into Satan’s hands. Whether a person is an ordinary believer or a great wali (saint), everyone is absolutely subject to Allah’s Sharia. A true dervish is one who follows the footsteps of our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) step by step, eating as He ate, and striving to embody His character.
The Truth’s Secrets Protected by Sharia
Sometimes spiritual travelers, deceived by certain discoveries and inspirations they have attained, fall into the negligence of abandoning outward worship or rules (ibaha). However, Geylani (q.s.) expresses that the boundaries of Sharia are like armor protecting the essence of truth. When a feeling comes to the believer’s inner world, he must first refer to the Quran and Sunnah; if they approve, he should look at his heart’s verdict, and finally, consider Allah’s pleasure. A servant who realizes that no case will be accepted in the spiritual court without “two witnesses” (the Book and the Sunnah) reaches their Lord directly on the safest and most illuminated path, without faltering.