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View Full Version : Ba`Alawi Tariq - Ishraqi or Burhani?



seekeroftruth
19-03-2006, 04:59 PM
Traditional scholars have told me that in general tariqas can be grouped into two categories. This is included by Ibn al-Banna in his great work al-Mabahith al-Asliyah. This is also included by many others.

Tariqa Ishraqi - This is a tariqa which works hard (mujahada) for openings (fath) and does mujahadah for EVERY SINGLE good characteristic and to get rid of the bad characteristics. Some of them are the tariqat al-Khawf (the way of fear) and they are really concentrated on fear of Allah ta`ala, strict obedience, and hardcore mujahadah. The examples are the Naqshbandi tariqa and Imam al-Ghazali.

Tariqa Burhani - This is the tariqa which is based upon thankfulness (shukr) and uses this shukr to reach different stations (maqam). They love hal (temporary spiritual state) and they look for hal. They use shukr and thankfulness to Allah instead of extreme khawf. This is what causes them their tawfiq. The examples of this tariqa are the Shadhili tariqa and the Chishtis.

What is the Ba`Alawi tariqa?

Also there are three types of tarbiyah (behavioral refinement) in different tariqas. Many have all three but in different forms. They are tarbiyat al-aqwal, tarbiyat al-af`al, and tarbiyat al-hal.

Tarbiyat al-Aqwal is the tarbiyah of words and is done by listening to words in associations with the Shaykh and following those words for spiritual refinement. An example of this is for instance the Shahdili's of Shaykh Nuh.

Tarbiyat al-Af`al is the tarbiyah of action and is done by doing a big act in a test from the Shaykh to reach tarbiyah such as Imam al-Darqawi who told his disciples to beg in public. Shadhili-Darqawis have this as a part of their tariqa for instance.

Tarbiyat al-Hal which is the tarbiyah by state. This is done by sitting with the Shaykh and taking his live state and applying it to yourself. I would say that this is really essential in the Ba`Alawi way it seems like.

Wassalam,

(Yes, I did do some major reading and studying about tariqas before deciding to join one. Reading Imam al-Ghazali's Ihya, the Hikam of Ibn `Ata Allah, and al-Mabahith al-Asliyah. I want a tariqa that "just fits" - and the Ba`Alawi one seems to so far. I just hope your not Ishraqi :( - I hope your BURHANI! ;))

interesting anaylsis...

more read: http://groups.msn.com/TheHabaib/general.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=11674&LastModified=4675563086676489013

talib al-habib
20-03-2006, 12:26 AM
salams Sidi

you've probably done a lot more reading than me, but it does seem that - in this day and age - most if not all tariqas are predominantly Burhani! :lol: Has something to do with our very weak spiritual states, the all-encompassing nature of the material world and our pampered and spoilt physical constitutions... :confused:

Also, it does seem rather artificial to make a categorical distinction like this - in all probablity (my experience anyway) - tariqas tend to combine the two, with the difference being one of emphasis and spectrum rather than anything else. Historically there was a lot more 'cross-fertilization' among the turuq than in other disciplines like fiqh, etc.

I'm sure that Shaykh Nuh Shadhili's doing the muraqaba durus would consider themselves to be perfoming a very 'ishraqi' mujahada; and I'm sure that Imam al-Ghazzali and others have their fair share of shukr, hal and uns.

Love the Ba`Alawi's - beautiful beautiful people! May Allah make us all like them! As Sayyidina Ali told Imam Hussain describing Rasulullah's (s) manner with people: 'kana da'im al-bishr (he (s) was perpetually joyful/smiling).'

Peace and blessings upon the bestower of the crown of wilaya, the generous distributor of what he (s) receives from Allah, our Beloved and ever-smiling Muhammad, his family, companions and his beloveds.

was salam
talib

Omar HH
20-03-2006, 01:51 AM
I was shocked.

This is my thread dude!

lol,

that it was transfered here.

LOLL

wassalam.