School of Sufi Teaching

Naqshbandi, Mujaddidi, Chishti, Qadiri & Shadhili practices

Support the Sufi School
Sufi School is a non-profit charity involved in creating awareness about Sufism and providing authentic Sufi teachings to sincere seekers.

All the teachings are given free of cost and students are not charged for attending our weekly gatherings for teaching, mentoring, discussions and group practices.

Our activities are carried out through voluntary donations. We request you to donate generously to support our work. Any amount of donation to help us to continue this good work will be appreciated and thankfully accepted.

PayPal
Use PayPal to send a donation to the School of Sufi Teaching. You can also add a payment reference.

If you don't have a PayPal account, use this link to make a donation via credit card.

Wire transfer
For transfers in the UK (in GBP) use the details below.

Name: The School of Sufi Teaching
Account Number: 11397222
Sort Code: 40-03-16
Bank: HSBC UK

International transfers
Preferred option for cheap international transfers: Send money to our WISE account.

Spiritual Transmission (Tawajjuh)

Many scholars consider the angel Gabriel’s (AS) three embraces during the first revelation to the Prophet (SAW) a form of spiritual transmission.

Origin

The Prophet (SAW) was in the cave of Hira when Gabriel (AS) came and asked him to recite. He said, “I cannot recite.” Gabriel (as) embraced the Prophet (SAW), then pressed the Prophet (S) to him, declaring “Recite.” The Prophet (SAW) replied, “I cannot.” For the third time Gabriel (AS) seized the Prophet (SAW) and said, “Recite.” The Prophet (SAW) then recited the message of God,

“Recite in the name of your Sustainer who created. He created the human being from an embryo. Recite! Your Lord is the most Generous. He taught by the Pen, teaching humans what they did not know.” (Qur’an 96:1-5)

Examples

According to a hadith, one day the Prophet (SAW) was holding the hand of Hazrat ‘Umar (RA). ‘Umar said to him, “O Allah’s Apostle! You are dearer to me than everything except my own self.” The Prophet (SAW) said, “No, by Him in whose hand my soul is, [you will not have complete faith] until I am dearer to you than your own self.” Then Hazrat ‘Umar (RA) said to him, “However, now by Allah, you are dearer to me than my own self.” The Prophet (SAW) said, “Now, O ‘Umar, [now you are a believer].”

This was without doubt the result of transmission. The following incident was related by Hazrat Ubayy bin Ka’b (RA),

“When I was in the mosque, a man came in and started to say his prayers. He recited the Holy Qur’an in a manner that appeared incorrect to me. Then another man came in and recited the Holy Qur’an in yet another way. I went to the Prophet (SAW) and told him how these people had recited the Qur’an. The Prophet (SAW) asked both men to recite the Holy Qur’an and they did. The Prophet (SAW) then said that both were right. My heart was filled with evil doubt that was even stronger than that of the period of ignorance (jahiliyya). When the Prophet (SAW) saw my state, he struck my breast with his hand. I started perspiring profusely and my state of fear and awe was such that I felt I was seeing God.”

Goal

In addition to these examples, there are many other incidents that can be cited as evidence of the effects of spiritual transmission. However, it is true that spiritual transmission and spiritual affinity are not the real source of the effect: God said to Muhammad (SAW),

“You do not guide those whom you like, but Allah guides those whom he will.” (Qur’an 28:56).

The attainment of the final goal is not possible without God’s grace, but through guidance, following the sunnah, and the sayings, actions, company, and spiritual attention of saints, shaykhs, and their deputies, it is not impossible.

Total
17
Shares
Previous Article
Indiraj al-nihaya fil-bidayat

The Inclusion of the End in The Beginning (Indiraj al-Nihayat fil Bidayat)

Next Article
Nisbat

Spiritual Affinity (Nisbat)

Related Posts
Read More

Realizations on the Path

The investigations of those who travel the Sufi path are practical and personal, not theoretical, and the resulting realizations are difficult to convey in words. Sufism is a journey from the inner to the outer. Through the realization of the…
Dhikr
Read More

Remembrance of God (Dhikr)

Sufi masters stress dhikr (remembrance of God), for it grounds the belief, knowledge, and faith of the seeker by focusing his or her attention on God. One of the fundamental commands of God is to do dhikr as often as…
Nisbat
Read More

Spiritual Affinity (Nisbat)

The word nisbat in Arabic means an affinity or connection between two people. In Sufi terminology, it is the spiritual affinity that develops between God and human beings. The essence of Sufism is that a person should develop some quality…