Spending Ramadhaan with one's Mentor

Q: Imaan-85: Hadhrat Sheikh Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya RAH. would gather his successors (Khulafaa) and special devotees (Mureeds) in Sahanpur during the month of Ramadhaan, where they would spend the entire Ramadhaan in I'tikaaf with him. Here they would engage in Muraaqaba and Dhikr. An Urdu monthly' paper has taken strong exception to this Is this an act of Bid'ah? Please clarify.

Answer: When a Mushid (spiritual mentor) summons his followers to spend time with him, he does so to teach them, to nurture them and with the intention of spiritual reformation. By remaining in the attendance of the Murshid, the devotee gleans from his spirituality and as his heart becomes enlightened, his conviction strengthens and evil traits within him are dispelled. The special attention that he now receives directly from the Murshid is a unique and most effective manner of learning.

This was a practice of Hadhrat Shah Wali'ullaah Muhaddith Dehlawi RAH. who stated that many saints and friends of his father used to gather for I'tikaaf in the Masjid during their times in the month of Ramadhaan. In fact, Shah Wali'ullaah Muhaddith Dehlawi RAH. himself used to summon his devotees for the same. He therefore wrote a letter to Hadhrat Shah Abu Sa'ed RAH. saying. lf you wish, you may come and spend Ramadhaan with us here."

The gist of it all is that the practice of Hadhrat Sheikh Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya RAH. not an act of Bid'ah. When a teacher adopts a method of education that is proven to be beneficial, it may be practised as long as it is within the bounds of the Shari'ah. It is therefore wrong to take exception to this and to criticize it.

And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah (Vol.1)

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