Old vs New

Spent my sat afternoon having lunch with ishak at salamath, then off to Tampines for a while and then to Ust’s place. As usual, we sat there, built our rapport better and had a good chat. Ishak was there from like 4 to 6, then off he went to airport for thailand. Ust asked me to stay so yeah. We ordered kfc and ate till I’m super full, at night he told me to makan nasi. Haha

Stayed there till very late, had a fruitful discussion and somehow this topic came to highlight. We were comparing the systems of learning of old and new.

The old one was undoubtedly very different from the new. The old system requires the murid or the salik(seeker) to SIT by his Guide, and to always to always keep the physical presence of his Guide. This is the way of the traditional scholars, be they from yaman, morocco, uzbek and what have you.
In contrast, today’s system is markedly different, it adopts the lecture-tutorial system, during which, attendance is marked by paper or the scanning of cards. There is no camaraderie, or as ustaz said, barakah. The lecturer may very well not even notice who attended his lesson. Graduation or authorisation in this system comes in the form of certificates

But in the old system, authorisation comes in the form of an ijazah, usualy verbal, after thorough scrutiny by the guide. Suffice to say such an approach has its own spiritual significance.

The thing is, even in our age, we ought to search for such a guide, not just teachers who lecture in classes. For such a knowledge is likened unto how the Prophet POURED knowledge into THE HEART of ABU BAKAR. It makes all the difference. Period
Learn from as many schlolars as possible, but take your allegiance to one, the shaykh of tarbiyyah who is learned in BOTH the exoteric and esoteric sciences. One such shaykh is enough, more will only be extra burden we can’t bear.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُبَايِعُونَكَ إِنَّمَا يُبَايِعُونَ اللَّهَ يَدُ اللَّهِ فَوْقَ أَيْدِيهِمْ فَمَن نَّكَثَ فَإِنَّمَا يَنكُثُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ وَمَنْ أَوْفَى بِمَا عَاهَدَ عَلَيْهُ اللَّهَ فَسَيُؤْتِيهِ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا

48:10 Verily those who plight their fealty to thee do no less than plight their fealty to Allah. the Hand of Allah is over their hands: then any one who violates his oath, does so to the harm of his own soul, and any one who fulfils what he has covenanted with Allah,- Allah will soon grant him a great Reward.

im sure u all know, it is easier said than done ;)