What Is the Benefit of Reciting the Chain of Transmission of a Sufi Tariqa?
Answered by Shaykh Jamir Meah
Question: Assalamu alaykum
I would like to enquire about the reality of some of these statements below given by a Sufi group. Especially point 3 and 4.
I would like also to enquire on the sort of statements whereby one is instructed to recite “yaa shaykh Abdul Qadir Jaylani” and the like?
Benefits of reciting one’s shajrah (lineage of the Grand Masters):
1. memorisation of the continuous spiritual chain which reaches back to the Messenger of Allāh .
2. invoking the mention of the pious, which brings about the descent of Divine mercy.
3. conveying the rewards of one’s deeds to each Spiritual Master individually, which brings about their generous spiritual focus.
4. the mentioning of such luminaries in times of safety will ensure they in turn come to his aid when times of calamity strike.
Answer: Wa’alaykum assalam, thank you for your question.
Each spiritual path and spiritual guide will have their own way of transmitting spiritual knowledge to their students, because each has an individual relationship with Allah Most High.
Therefore, each path may emphasis different aspects of spiritual training, or have differing focal points compared to another path. Many spiritual lines also have their own literature which explain their way and reasons for certain practices.
I would advise that you ask these specific questions to the spiritual guide that you are looking into. The essential thing to observe is that both the path and the guide are authentic, adhere to the shariah inwardly and outwardly in all matters, and despite the differing training methods, the ultimate goal is realizing one’s absolute slavehood to Allah Most High.
Please also refer to the following:
What Are the Conditions for a True Spiritual Guide?
Warmest salams,
[Shaykh] Jamir Meah
Shaykh Jamir Meah grew up in Hampstead, London. In 2007, he traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he spent nine years studying the Islamic sciences on a one-to-one basis under the foremost scholars of the Ribaat, Tarim, with a main specialization and focus on Shafi’i fiqh. In early 2016, he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continues advanced studies in a range of Islamic sciences, as well as teaching. Jamir is a qualified homeopath.
