On Oct 20, 2010 Mawlana Shaykh Nazim declared, “‘The Lord wants to change everything now…new declaration first time in Islamic history, that 73 sects will now be made one…they are putting a line for ending Tasawwuf (Sufism), from now until end of world because Holy Prophet and Quran never spoke on it…no more Naqshbandi, Qadiri, 40 tariqats, no Tasawwuf (Sufism) or Salafi, Wahabi…no where it is saying Israel chosen ones, twelve sects (the twelve tribes of Israel mentioned in Surah al-Maidah v. 11-12) no more…from now until end of world we must say we are Rabbaniyoon…no any Tasawwuf, I am not Sufi, I am Rabbani, that is highest honour, this is for Christians, Jews, whole Islamic world, to end all nifaq (treason), that order coming tonight, don’t say “I am Naqshbandi, I am Haqqani”…just say I am Rabbani, finish…. O `ulamas! If anyone asks you what is your way, say, “I am trying to be Rabbani,” or “I am Rabbani.” Finished! La ila aha illa-Llah.That is bombardment on the fortress of Shaytan. Finished! Don’t say, “I am Christian,” “I am Jewish,” “I am Maronite,” “I am Orthodox,” “I am Catholic,” “I am Protestant,” “I am Shi`a,” “I am this, or that”. No! No more using the term “tasawwuf” as it was never used by the Sahabah (r)!…Quran saying only Rabbaniyeen, no more Naqshbandi, no more Tasawwuf (Sufism)….you must be for whole nations…no more fighting between Mutasawwif (Sufis) and Salafis….I am saying first for myself, that I am not Mutasawwif, but trying to be Rabbani (Divine)” (SufiLive.com).
Q. How do you interpret Mawlana Shaykh Nazim’s statements as mentioned above? Is he calling for the end of Tariqa Sufism and the Naqshbandi-Haqqani Sufi Order? Is he saying that Shiism and all other sects within Islam will end as well as Judaism, Christianity? Did he not, through this very strange declaration, nullify his entire life’s work to spread Sufism in the West and throughout the world, both directly and through his appointed Deputies, by cancelling the Naqshbandi Haqqani Sufi Order or atleast its name?
A. (Nov 29th, 2010) Wa Alaikum As Salam. Thank you for asking for clarification on this particularly difficult sohbet. When Mawlana said that all 73 sects will be made one, he was declaring to Awliyas that Sayyidina Imam (alaihi salam) is here now, and all sects and madhabs within Islam will end under the Imam’s leadership, and they will no longer serve any greater Divine purpose, of preserving different aspects of Islamic thought. Hadrat Mahdi is Mujtahid-i-Mutlaq on his appearance, and as such, will bring an end to Hanafi, Shafii, Sunni, & Shiite, winning over the hearts and minds of all those who profess belief in Islam as his followers, and not make them followers of the various Islamic sects or even Sufi orders for that matter. This statement is in line with the statements of Shaykh al-Akbar Muhiuddin Ibn Arabi. The Sufi methodogoly facilitats allegiance to the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and his successor Imam ‘Ali (alaihi salam) for the people via baiah, as I have discussed in other sohbets, without which there is no Ihsan, nor the achieving of the state of Rabbani. We believe, based on the statements of Mawlana Shaykh Nazim that all of the Tariqats have lost their power to complete the task of reforming people to the level of Khalifatullah, or Representative of Allah, except for the Naqshbandi-Haqqani chain, which we believe is a live link to the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and was carried by GrandShaykh ’Abdullah Daghestani, and passed to Mawlana Shaykh Nazim. In our time, and the days immediately approaching, according to Mawlana, Imam Mahdi (alaihi salam)’s spiritual and even political leadership, will be manifest for all, and as such, people will give allegiance to him and his fathers directly, for both their spiritual leadership, as well as for their socio-political affairs, and as such, people will no longer be dependent on pledging allegiance to Imam ‘Ali (alaihi salam) for Ihsan through the Sufi spiritual lineages, or forty tariqats, all of whom link back to him and his family, as mentioned by the Naqshbandi greats like Shah Wali Allah and Imam Rabbani Mujaddid Alf Thani. Sufism is, or now was, a school and a science, which graduated people, and elevated them from the level of their ego’s to that of Saints. The purpose of Sufism is the production of Saints. People, or followers of Tariqats now have made Tariqa Sufism their goal, or even their end, not wanting to graduate with their Phd. (spiritual), nor allowing others to do the same. Rather through social pressures, these so-called Sufis try to make everyone conform their cult-like ways. When you are initiated into a Tariqat, it is not so you stay at the same level for the rest of your life, that of the murid, but rather it is so you become a human being, a Muslim, and learn to act like one, and take the energy you acquired from the Shaykh, from the NurMuhammad (s) and apply it in the socio-political plane of your community, country, or society to benefit humanity. Those who had to reach this level in the world, under the spiritual gaze of the Sultan ul-Awliya Mawlana Shaykh Nazim, the Qutb, have reached it. Others, especially self-professed Naqshbandi-Haqqani followers as we are seeing from Mawlana’s statement, will remain childish and will keep to their corrupt ways, so Mawlana declared an end to Tariqats as well as Naqshbandi-Haqqani title. It does not mean to stop entering Tariqats, but for Awliyas, it means they must make their students realize that the path is that, a path, to a goal, and not the goal in itself. So many so called Naqshbandis and Qadiris and Sufis have forgot this, as well as their Shaykhs, so many of whom have abandoned social work, politics, and activism, in the name of “Sufism”, when in reality, based on the example of the Pride of Creation (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), we must be socially and politically involved in our communitiesto reach Ihsan. In regards to his statements about the Salafi and Wahabis, they will end all of a sudden with Hadrat Mahdi (alaihi salam)’s advent also, because they, based on their collections of Hadiths (Siha Sitta) see the world as being away from the teachings of the Salaf, like so many closed minded Ulema also believe, and as such, were also referred to in the sohbet (al-Azhar & others). When Hadrat Mahdi (alaihi salam) appears to them, they will abandon their books, and will be guided inshallah, referring to him instead, and his collection of Hadith over their own, fulfilling the Holy Prophet’s guidance to hold to the Thaqalayn (the Book of Allah and Ahlul Bayt, i.e. Imam Mahdi). When Mawlana said no more claiming that the Israelites have divine right, it was referring to the return of Jesus son of Mary (alaihi salam), and his task to establish the Kingdom of Heaven for the Ishmaelites under the Mahdi. In regards to the statements about no more Shiites and other sects, yes, because previously, to be follower of Ahlul Bayt, meant in a broader sense to to be accused of being “Shiite” like Imam Nasai’i, Imam Shafii, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal and Imam al-Adham Abu Hanifa. Now, in the time of Imam Mahdi, to be a follower of Ahlul Bayt is synonomous to being Muslim, all others claiming Islam without claiming to, and following the Ahlul Bayt, will become unbelievers, as per the ahadith. Wa minAllahi tawfiq!