CBA of joining Tariqah

I was just itchy and wanted to see things from the pragmatic economist’s prespective, with a twist; with the main objective in mind to reach closer to God. If we don’t have this main objective, then economic gains are all technically speaking, material gains! So here goes nothing!

The COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS of joining Tariqah.

This by no means serves as an authoritative argumentation for and against Tariqah, just me simply crapping whatever is in my head into typed words, that’s all. Although I try as much as possible to jot down all the points relating to the subject matter, and all I hope is that as rational people, we make the right informed choice when we take the pledge.

Be default, everything has to begin with definition of key terms. In this case, I do not seek to define Tariqah, because I would only do injustice to it. Although it is related to a path to God while having an authorized guide, sets of prescribed litanies etc. but what is more relevant to laymen like me is that Tariqah is just one word: COMMITMENT

With commitment, you have consistency, and insyaAllah with that and sincerity, we can achieve the purpose of Tariqah. Whatever Turuq really is, if there is no commitment on our part, then it is pointless to be discussing it anyway. Just something to get us more committed to good deeds and seeking of knowledge.

In tariqah, there is a student and teacher relationship. Something like Jedi-Padawan relationship (of course loosely lah, nanti orang complain pulak maner ada guru mursyid ketot kulit hijau, pas tu berbual subjek and predikat terbalek, eg. Murid aku, engkau adalah). The murid has to maintain some form of adab with the teacher etc etc.

Before we begin, we must lay down some assumptions.

1. There is sincerity in threading this path, purely for God and becoming His better servant ie. Not for boast, show, dreaming to dah sampai etc Time for us to get over with such mundane matters. If you want to fly, get someone to sponsor you an air ticket. If you want to stay afloat, use a float! PRACTICAL PEOPLE, PEOPLE!
2. An authorized guide on a legitimate path.

DISCLAIMER: any ‘YOU’ that you find appearing below will refer to myself.

Just very briefly:

THE BENEFITS
1. Loving Him more.
2. Loving His Messenger more, because in all tariqahs, love for Nabi saw is central
3. You will probably end up doing more zikir/nawafil routinely.
4. You will make more salawat upon the Beloved.
5. Ever tried differentiating the sinner and the sin? Perhaps can learn how to love the sinner, hate the sin. No overlap! The story when the Prophet backed up a companion who drank, after he received some beating, saying that verily he loves Allah and His Messenger. At this point, who is to argue?
6. You learn to become more humble. Arrogance and ostentation will hinder you from paradise.
7. Simply out of knowing that in this world, you do not have the capacity to understand Paradise and Hell, and that your fate in either one is solely His to decide, not even your amal has any bearing on that, you will not bother about paradise or hell, just wanting to be with God.
8. You are under constant guidance, provided you keep the company of your guide.

THE COSTS

In general, the costs incurred are the same demands of sacrifice that God calls of us; such as sacrificing our time, effort striving to be better Muslims.

1. More tribulations and whispers. This is EXPECTED. We are all going to be tested. This can actually be viewed as a Benefit!
2. Less time for idle things.
3. Tendency to be guilty of ta’sub, although truthfully speaking, if Tasawwuf is properly appreciated, this should not be a problem. Ta’sub is when you listen to only your teacher and you deny and ridicule others. No one is asking you to do this. Seek knowledge from as many as thousands of teachers! Just that out of not overburdening yourself, you can only afford to follow one for a mursyid. Which vessel is commandeered by 2 captains?
4. People may view you differently, specially maybe? Just need to know that the path is not some special thing, I mean it is special, but not exclusive or an extravagant thing to be proud of. Ultimately, it is incumbent upon every individual muslim to be on a path.
5. You may be incited to feel like a mystic with whatever miracles/unveilings, but the truth is. LET’S GET REAL. Make the path solely a journey to rid the heart off any negative traits, and to love and obey Him and His Beloved s.a.w. even more! PERIOD

So yeah, what was described was in terms of qualitative description, not quantitative description. Hence no numerical value assigned to the points above. We will need to weigh the pros and cons.