Advice of Scholars - GRADES IN FOLLOWING RASÛLULLAH ‘SALL-ALLÂHU ’ALAIHI WA SALLAM’ (PART 1)

There are seven grades in following Rasûlullah (‘sall-Allâhu ’alaihi wa sallam’). The first one is to learn, believe and do the rules of Islam. All Muslims, savants, zâhids and, âbids following Rasûlullah (‘sall-Allâhu ’alaihi wa sallam’) are in this grade. Their nafs haven’t fully believed or surrendered to Allah. Allahu ta’âlâ, with His great pity, accepts only the belief in their hearts.

The second grade, together with doing the commands, is to follow all the instructions and habits of Rasûlullah (‘sall-Allâhu ’alaihi wa sallam’) and to purify the heart from evil inclinations. Those who walk on the path of tasawwuf are in this grade.

The third grade involves conforming oneself to all the states, spiritual pleasures, and things that come to the heart which occurred to Rasûlullah (‘sall-Allâhu ’alaihi wa sallam’). This grade is obtained in the rank which tasawwuf calls wilâyat-i hassa. Here, the nafs, too, believes and obeys and all worships become real and perfect.

The fourth level consists of being real and faultless in all auspicious deeds as well as in all acts of worship. This is peculiar to the great ones who are called ’Ulamâ-i Râsihîn. These savants with perfect knowledge understand the deep meanings and denotations in the Qur’ân and hadîths. Such were the Ashâb (radî Allahu ta’âlâ anhum ajmâ’în) of all the Prophets. The nafs of all of them believed and became obedient. Blessings of this sort falls to the lot of either those who advance in the way of tasawwuf and wilâyat or those who obey all the sunnats and abstain from all the bid’ats.