The Disaster of Being Content with One’s Own View
One of the greatest traps on the Sufi path is for a person to believe that they do not need a spiritual guide or Divine guidance, relying on their limited intellect and restricted knowledge. Pride is the most fundamental characteristic of Satan and leads people astray. Geylani (may Allah be pleased with him) summarizes this danger with these clear words: “He who is satisfied with his own opinion perishes. He becomes humiliated. His foot slips on a straight path. Whoever likes his own opinion is deprived of guidance.” The person who, filled with pride, does not listen to the advice of others, especially ignoring the experiences of perfect individuals, is doomed to sink like a ship without a compass in a stormy sea. For no one can safely advance alone on the spiritual path without seeking the opinions (views) of others.
Claiming Knowledge Without Action and Pride
One of the most dangerous dimensions of pride is when a person, having read a few books and acquired religious knowledge, considers themselves to be a superior scholar but does not translate this knowledge into their life (action). Geylani (may Allah be pleased with him) shakes those who make empty claims like this: “You claim knowledge. Where is the action? What effect can an empty claim have? Where is the confirmation of this claim?” One cannot attain spiritual stations simply by producing words and trying to show superiority over others. The admonition, “What are you boasting about? Can you even take a single step? Abandon your boastfulness,” reminds us how helpless we are in the face of Allah’s power. A true scholar is someone who sees their flaws as their knowledge increases and whose humility deepens.
Submission and True Gnosis
No matter how much a believer knows, they always need consultation and the company of elders to break down their pride and increase their gnosis. “There is no scholar who does not need another scholar, who does not want his knowledge to increase.” For those who wish to progress on the spiritual path, there must be a guide leading the way, and the person must have sincere inclination towards that guide. By shedding the cloak of pride and sitting on the rug of humility, abandoning the claim of “I know,” the servant who shrinks in the face of the greatness of Allah will see true knowledge and wisdom sprout in their heart.