TOPThe Pir and the Murid
What is your intention?
One of the first questions that always comes to mind is, why do we need guidance of a Pir? Nowadays are there any people who do not have a teacher or some sort of another. They will either be ignorant or a genius.
The Pir is the Khalifa of Almighty Allah [Invincible and Exalted is He] and our beloved Prophet Mustafa (Allah bless him and give him peace). The Pir is the spiritual doctor in this world, he is shining light, a ocean of knowledge and if someone looks at him and his actions, that person will be reminded of Almighty Allah and the beloved Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). The Spiritual Master is truly an ocean, he is like a very precious gem, he has much to give, but the problem is unfortunately that the seeker [the murid] is not aware of the great blessing of the Pir-i-Murshid.
In this day and age the murid just want the Pir to do things for him. In the material world, one hears things like: "Hazrat make dua for my business. Give me Taweez to protect my car and house, problems with love life, my business is'nt making enough money, etc". It is very rare that there is a request for spiritual advancement, many have become murids for ulterior motives. They have been told and indoctrinated, if you become a murid the Pir must take care of you. O foolish person: This is a road that is like the edge of a razor, yet it is the road of Almighty Allah. The Pir has the key, but many times the murid does not care about the Way, and even less about the Pir. His Eminence also noted that the master/disciple theme which, today, has unfortunately degenerated into a sort of business. People follow their fantasies and have become prey to their own desires.
It is very strange that many murids do not know or have forgotten how to treat and look after their Spiritual Director [Pir]. In the book 'Irfan' by the great Faqir and beloved Friend of Allah and his Prophet, Hazrat Faqir Nur Muhammad Sarwari Qadiri (may Allah be pleased with him), it is written, "If a perfect guide is met within the world, any amount of respect and reverence paid to them is insufficient. Ones soul and property should be sacrificed in their service. The dust of their footsteps should be made the collyrium of the eyes. Their rights have priority over al other rights, and are discharged, by discharging their rights, because these are the rights of the people who united. One with Almighty Allah and Prophet Mustafa (Allah bless him and give him peace), and make one acceptable in their courts. The keys of the blessing of both worlds remain in the hands of these people. The man on whom they cast a favorable glance is rendered prosperous in both the worlds whereby they discharge the rights of all the rightful."
If you truly desire the hearts light, serve them for this jewel is unobtainable in the royal treasuries.
So dear friends, if you serve the Kamil Pir you can only gain in this world and the hereafter. Then search your heart and ask yourself if you are doing what is required of you as a Murid. If you are doing your part, surely, the favorable glance of the Pir will be on you, even if he is 1000s of miles away from you. For the Kamil Pir is always busy with his murids. He is like the heart, it never stops. If there is true love from the murid to the Pir, then the Pir's presence will be felt in the heart of the murid.
Before becoming a murid, enquire within and also make sure that the Pir possesses the following qualities:
Kashf-l-Qulub - that is, he knows the heart and mind of the murid
Kashf-l-Qabur - that is, he knows the condition of those in the grave
If he does not have this ability it is haraam for him to have disciples, but once you have taken the hand [bayat] of the true Kamil Pir, it a contract similar to marriage. Shaikh al-Akbar (may Allah be pleased with him) has put it this way, "If a murid seeks another Pir during the lifetime of his Pir, he then breaks his covenant with Allah." Also, if you do not treat your Pir with respect and you do not look after him, you are also breaking your covenant. Remember well and write it on your heart that he [your Pir] is the Khalifa of Almighty Allah [Invincible and Exalted is He] and the beloved Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) on earth. He passes this way but once and like a flash he may not be there if you look again, so hang onto him with all your heart, and at the end of the day you will have no regrets.
O friends! "Die before you die. There is not the slightest difference whether one is fettered by a chain of gold or a rope of straw. I am on the bridge, and O marvel! it is not the river which flows, it is the bridge which moves over the torrent."
by Faqir Abdul Qadir Sarwari Qadiri