Adab
Amongst the Sufiyya good manners (adab) is a great thing, it is the main foundation within the path to Allah, hence they say, “Adhere to adab or else await destruction!” And, “Maintain adab even if you have ascended to the highest rank.”
This is because of the soundness of the outward indicates the soundness of the inward, whatever is concealed in the inward will manifest upon the outward. The states of the outward comply with the states of the inward, whatever is upon your outward is within your inward, whatever is within the vessel will ooze out and upon the surface its effects will emerge. Therefore, refinement of the limbs indicates refinement of the hearts, and adab of the outward indicates adab of the inward.
Abu Hafs (RA)said:
Sufism (Tasawwuf), all of it is adab, at all times it is adab, in all states it is adab, and at every level it is adab.”
Therefore, whoever maintains adab at all times they will reach the ranks of “rijal”, one who falls short of maintaining adab, he is distant in spite of considering himself near, he is rejected in spite of his thinking that he is accepted.
Ibn Ata’illah (RA) said:
It is the ignorance of the murid when he acts disrespectfully, the punishment for him is delayed, and he is says,” If this was disrespectful (su’al-adab)then the blessings would be cut off from me, and I would be far away!” However, the blessing is cut off from such a person but he does not even realize, and he is very distant but he is not even aware of it, were this not the case he would not be doing as he pleases.
People do not become leaders except by adab towards Allah, towards His Messenger SAW towards their shuyukh and towards all of the muslims.
Adab with Allah is to be compliant to His commands and refrain from His prohibitions.
Adab with the Messenger of Allah SAW is to follow his Sunna, desire his companionship, follow his guidance, adorn oneself with his character.
Adab with the shuyukh is to protect their honour, always serve them with excellence, and have sincere love towards them.
Adab with the Muslims is to love for them what you love for yourself or more.
Adab of time is to occupy it with obedience. There are four aspects of time for a person, as mentioned by Sheikh Abu’l Abbas al-Mursi(RA):
1. The time of obedience
2. The time of sinfulness
3. The time of blessings
4. And the time of tribulations
· The time of obedience requires a person to witness the blessings of Allah.
· The time of disobedience requires a person to repent.
· The time of blessings requires a person to to be grateful and to do shukr.
· The time of tribulations requires a person to be patient.
When a person fulfils all these aspects of adab, then they will receive complete honour and a great rank amongst the general people and the elite by the grace of Allah, exalted be He.
~Excerpt from The Guide To The Path of Righteousness~
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