Blemishes of the Soul

Imam Zaid Shakir translated this wonderful work of the great Shaykh Ahmad ar-Rifa’i, may Allah bless his soul and grant us benefit from his knowledge, lights and secrets.

And may Allah greatly reward Imam Zaid Shakir for this invaluable contribution.

Blemishes of the Soul

Shaykh Ahmad ar-Rifa’i mentioned in his al-Burhan al-Mu’ayyad:

“Gentlemen! Beware of looking to the satisfaction of your soul! Beware of self-deception! Similarly, beware of false pride! All of those things are ruinous. One who belittles others while exalting himself has never attained nearness to God. Just who are you and I? My Brother! You and I are lowly wretchedness whose beginning is an indistinguishable lump of flesh, whose end is a corpse.

The ennoblement of this indistinguishable contingent creature is [his] essential intellect. The intellect is that quality that restrains the soul and causes it to know its place. If a person’s intellect is not restraining his soul, whether that soul is taking or giving, then [in reality] he has no intellect.

When a person is denied this humanizing essence, ennoblement escapes him, and he remains an indistinguishable contingent creature, unfit for neither a mighty station, nor a precious calling. When his intellect is mature and complete, his absolute essence comes to control [his soul] and he is fit to be elevated over worldly kings and rulers.

The first rank for the soul is to be divested of mendacious egoism, false claims [of spiritual excellence], and the tyranny of believing oneself to be in control of ones spiritual progress. Even when he becomes established in a respectable spiritual station, possessing lofty attributes, it is incumbent on him that he remembers that he began as clay and his end is to dirt. Hence, while he exists between this beginning and that end, he must remain appropriately humble in his speech and actions. A preacher keeping one aware of God is in the heart of every Muslim. One who lacks [such] a preacher warning him against his soul will never benefit from the preaching of others. How can one whose heart is heedless ever benefit [from others]?

Sahl [at-Tustari] said, “Heedlessness is the darkness of the heart.” The Prophet, peace and blessings of God upon him, mentioned, “Is there not in the body a lump of flesh, if it is sound the entire body is sound, and if it is corrupt, the entire body is corrupt. Is it not the heart?”

My brother! You will benefit from my admonition and I will benefit from your admonition, if we are both sincere. You are better than me. You have come to me in humility desiring to learn, while I have been moved to arrogance by the drunken delusion arising from teaching others. When I conquered my wretched soul, I said to it, “God has taught you and made it incumbent on you to teach others. ‘The concealer of knowledge will be reined with a bridle of fire [on the Day of Judgment],’ so your fatigue [due to teaching] is for your own benefit. Observe your limits! Perhaps amongst the students is one who is better than you. He has been hidden from you in order to test you.” Thereafter, its virulent agitation settled down, it realized its place, observed its limit, and maximized its fortune. Such can be your lot [if you conquer your soul].

My brother! If you conquer your soul and force it to learn; if you slaughter your caprice with the knife of adhering to the prophetic way; if you take wisdom while lowering your gaze from the honor and knowledge associated with learning; if you turn away from the status afforded you by your lineage, your father, your wealth, and your state; you have indeed achieved the great victory.

Finally, you should know that whomsoever fails to take his soul to account for every breath, and similarly fails to suspect its motives, will not be recorded as a follower of this way.”