and shame before God, blaming their selves for what proceeded from them. In their disobedience they do not flee to decree and destiny, for that is poor courtesy toward God.
They are easy, gentle, and affectionate, “merciful among themselves; you see them bowing and prostrating” [al-Fath 48:29]. Their gaze has mercy for God’s servants, as though weeping. Care predominates over joy, as the abode of obligation requires. Such are those whose example is followed and who must be respected: seeing them brings remembrance of God.
(People of States and the Limits of Following)
Another group of shaykhs are people of states, marked by scattering and without that outward restraint. Their states are conceded, but they are not accompanied. Whatever breaking of customary courses appears through them is not relied upon while poor courtesy toward revealed law exists. There is no way for us to God except what He prescribed. Whoever says there is a way to God contrary to what He prescribed speaks falsely. A shaykh without courtesy is therefore not followed[11], even if truthful in his state, but he is respected.
Know that the Real’s sanctity is in the shaykh’s sanctity, and offending Him is in offending him. They are the Real’s veils, preserving disciples’ hearts’ states. Whoever accompanies a shaykh worthy of following without respecting him is punished by deprivation of finding the Real in his heart, heedlessness of God, and poor courtesy toward him: he intrudes upon his speech and crowds him in his rank.
Finding the Real belongs only to the courteous. The door is closed to others. No deprivation is greater for the disciple than failing to respect shaykhs.
One of God’s people said
Notlar
[11]
(The author distinguishes respecting a possessor of a state from following his example, making agreement with revealed law a condition of following.)
Translator’s note TN4795-1: Tabdīd is scattering or dissipation; no particular behavior is supplied. The paragraph explicitly preserves respect while withholding companionship and imitation where conduct lacks courtesy toward revealed law. Finding the Real renders experiential wujūd al-Ḥaqq in the heart.
