30. SECLUSION IS NECESSARY
He who is granted knowledge (ilm) and insight (nadr) in the ways of the Salaf will realise that this world is nothing but darkness (’zulma), and that most people are not on the Straight Path, so mixing with them only brings harms and benefits not.
It is strange that some people support intermingling with others while knowing he who intermingles will assume some of the traits of his acquaintances.
One should thus only mix with those who are better than him in knowledge and action so he can gain benefit from him. As for mixing with lower people, it is harmful, except in cases of mixing with laypeople to teach them.
Mixing with laypeople in our time cruds the heart because they bring utter darkness. When a scholar is forced to mix with them he should be careful and he should only mix with them to admonish them, for most scholars are not on the proper path.
They seek superficial knowledge instead of acting upon knowledge.
Rarely do you see them discuss matters of the Hereafter. They occupy themselves with backbiting (ghiba), worldly matters and overpowering other scholars. They have indescribable jealousy (hasd) towards fellow scholars.
As for mixing with leaders, it causes corruption in religion. If a person were to be appointed in a worldly position then it is likely to involve oppression as they are usually distant from Islam. If the position is a religious one, such as judgeship, then he will be ordered to make wrong rulings. Most people fear for their positions, so they will do as ordered even if it is unlawful.
I have seen some people paying money to become judges or witnesses only to gain status.
As for those who pretend to be ascetic (mutazahiid), most of them are not on the right path, and are not consistent with sound knowledge. They made up their religion; they do not come out in public nor visit the market place. They show excessive humility (khusbu), but it is all hypocrisy (nifaq).
Some of them wear wool underneath their clothing and weave their sleeves in order for the wool to be seen.
An ascetic man was asked: ‘When did you enter ‘Iraq?’ He replied: ‘I entered it twenty years ago, and have been fasting for the past thirty years.’
So people commented: ‘We asked you one question, but you gave us two answers.’
Sufis build tents outside was/ids, near to bad shops where lazy people hangout. They ask for charity and befriend oppressors. Many of them do not pray nafila or night prayers and only care about eating, drinking and dancing.
They practice things that are not from the Sunnah. They wear patched clothing for example, not out of poverty but to only demonstrate asceticism through wearing this type of clothing. So their clothes yell, ‘we are ascetic people.’
Yet, the rest of their actions expose them! Food is always circulating, and sweets, perfume, relaxation and arrogance are always abundant because of this clothing.
The Prophet told Malik Ibn Fadilah {radiy Allahu ‘anhu) when he saw him in a bad physical condition: “Don’t you have any money?” He replied: ‘I do, Allah has given me from all types of wealth.’ He said: “When Allah bestows bounties on His servant, He likes to see the bounty to be seen on the servant.”
Sufis also repel people away from seeking knowledge {‘ilm). They claim that there is no need for intermediaries. All there is, is one’s heart and a Lord. I have mentioned some of their bad sayings and actions in my book Talbis Iblis.
Had ‘Umar {radiy Allahu ‘anhu) been present today he would have needed a hundred sticks. In fact he might have used a sword against those Kharijites {Khawarij). Scholars’ opinions of them are not well taken within the town.
So he who is blessed by Allah to look into the ways of the Salaf and was blessed by following their example, he prefers to abandon most people and avoid mixing with them because whoever intermingles will be harmed, and whoever acts politely may still fall into deception. Today, the advice (nush) is not well taken.
(Source: al-Hafiz Abu’l-Faraj ibn al-jawzl [d. 597AH] “CAPTURED THOUGHTS being” a translation of his masterpiece ‘Sayd al-K hatir)
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