The Tenth Point

However, if certain practices belong to the awrādRegularly recited supplications and dhikr performed to attain closeness to Allah. and adhkārThe plural of dhikr; remembrances of Allah; acts or phrases of remembrance of Allah. of a tarīqahA spiritual path within Sufism through which one is guided toward spiritual perfection under a system of spiritual training and discipline., they are not regarded as bidahA religious innovation not prescribed by the Qur’an or the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh), provided that they originate from the Qur’an and the SunnahThe sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that serve as a model for Muslims. and that their foundations and principles neither oppose nor alter the established SunnahThe sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that serve as a model for Muslims.. Although some scholars have classified certain such practices as bidahA religious innovation not prescribed by the Qur’an or the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh), they have described them as commendable bidahA religious innovation not prescribed by the Qur’an or the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) (bidahA religious innovation not prescribed by the Qur’an or the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) hasanah).

The renewer of the second millennium, Imam RabbānīAhmad Fārūqī Ahmad Sirhindī (1564–1624), an influential Indian Islamic scholar and Sufi, known as the “Renewer of the Second Millennium” (Mujaddid Alf Thānī)., said:

“During my spiritual journey, I observed that the words transmitted from the Noble Messenger (saw)Sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam (Peace and blessings be upon him) were luminous and shone with the light of the SunnahThe sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that serve as a model for Muslims.. Whenever I encountered powerful awrādRegularly recited supplications and dhikr performed to attain closeness to Allah. and spiritual practices that did not originate from him, I found that this light was absent. Even the most radiant of them could not equal the least radiant of the former. From this I understood that the rays of the SunnahThe sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that serve as a model for Muslims. are like an elixir. For those who seek light, the SunnahThe sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that serve as a model for Muslims. is sufficient; there is no need to look elsewhere.”

Indeed, the testimony of such a hero of Islam and the SharīahThe body of Islamic laws and guidance, based on the Qur’an and the Sunnah, that prescribes the proper way of life; Islamic law. demonstrates that the SunnahThe sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that serve as a model for Muslims. of the Prophet (saw)Sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam (Peace and blessings be upon him) is the cornerstone of happiness in both this world and the Hereafter, and the source and fountainhead of all perfection.

اَللّٰهُمَّ ارْزُقْنَا اتِّباَعَ السُّنَّةِ السَّنِيَّةِO Allah, make us among those who follow the noble Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh)

رَبَّنَاۤ اٰمَنَّا بِمَاۤ اَنْزَلْتَ وَاتَّبَعْنَا الرَّسُولَ فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَOur Lord, we have believed in what You have revealed and have followed the Messenger; so record us among the witnesses. — The Quran 3:53

The Tenth Point

The verse

قُلْ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللّٰهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِى يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللّٰهُSay: ‘If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you, forgive your sins, and Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’ — The Quran 3:31

displays a miracle of conciseness, for many meanings are contained within this single verse.

This verse declares: “If you believe in Allah, then surely you must love Him. To love Him means that you will live in the way of life beloved to Him. The way of life beloved to Him is attained by resembling the person whom He loves. Resembling that person means following him. When you follow him, Allah will love you as well. Indeed, you love Allah so that Allah may love you.”

Indeed, all these sentences express only a brief and concise meaning of this verse. Thus, the verse implies that the most important and highest aim of man is to attain the love of Allah. It clearly proclaims that this aim is reached by submitting to HabībullāhThe Beloved of Allah; a title of our Prophet Muhammed (pbuh). (saw)Sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam (Peace and blessings be upon him) and following his SunnahThe sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that serve as a model for Muslims.. When three points regarding this matter are established, the above truth becomes fully clear.

The First Point: Man has been created with an innate and boundless love for the Creator of the universe. For human nature is inclined to love beauty, to admire perfection, and to feel affection for beneficence. As the degrees of beauty, perfection, and beneficence increase, that love grows until it reaches the highest level of love.