al-shaykh al-matbūʿ; shaykh al-murshid (spiritual guide); walad (disciple).
The shaykh al-matbūʿ (the shaykh to be followed), who treats the nafs (the lower self) of the murīds (aspirants, disciples) and those who seek hudā (guidance), should not impose spiritual exercises (riyāḍa) and special obligations upon the murīds without first knowing their character. The shaykh recognizes the negative traits that dominate the murīd, knows the worth, state, and age of the murīd, and, if he understands how much treatment the murīd can bear, he determines the appropriate path for him. For these reasons, the shaykh may indicate (ishāra) to some murīds that they should go to the market and beg. This is done as follows: if the shaykh observes in the murīd a tendency toward riyāsa (leadership) and arrogance, he treats him with a state of humiliation that is contrary to his disposition, in order to break his pride. If the shaykh finds the murīd to be inappropriate in cleanliness, he ...