The proof of taking the Bay’at is abundantly found in the Ăyăt of the
Qur'ăn, and in the noble sayings of our beloved Prophet, Rasulullah (Sallallahu
Alaihi Wasallam).
Those who are swearing allegiance unto thee
(Muhammad) In reality they are swearing allegiance to Allah the Exalted,
because the object of this allegiance is to obey the Commandments of
Allah the Exalted, and when this is so, then the hand of Allah is above
their hands. Then (after allegiance) If anyone who would break his oath
or covenant (that will exhibit opposition instead of obedience) then the
punishment of breaking the covenant will fall on him, and he who fulfils
the covenant which he has made with Allah (in his “Oath of Allegiance”)
then Allah will bestow on him an immense reward in near future.
(Al-Qur'ăn 48:10)
O! Nabi Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)
when the Muslim women come to you (with the object) of taking the Bay’at
(Oath of Allegiance) on the following points that they will not join any
partner with Allah the Exalted, will not commit theft, nor commit
adultery, nor kill their children, nor will produce any illegitimate
child forging falsely and will not disobey you in Islămic Canonical Laws
(which include all religious commandments. Then If those women accept
all these conditions which form the basis of faith and acting upon them,
perfects one's faith) then accept their Bay’at and ask Allah to forgive
(the previous sins.) Verily Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
(Al-Qur'ăn 60:12).
Definition of Bay’at
Mufti Muhammad Shafi Rahmatullah Alayh writes: The words Bay’at in fact
means to take a promise for performing some special deed. Its customary
method according to the practical way Sunnah of Rasulullah (Sallallahu
Alaihi Wasallam) Is to place the hands of both persons one on top of the
other, although placing the hands above one another is not compulsory.
If you make a promise to do something, then it becomes religiously
incumbent on you to keep it, and breaking your promise is unlawful. (Ma'Ăriful
Qur'ăn)
Kinds of Bay’at
Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) had taken the Bay’at at
different times on different occasions. He had taken such covenants, at
the time of accepting Islam, or for performing actions according to all
the Commandments of Islăm. Some times, Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi
Wasallam) had taken the Bay’at for abstaining or avoiding certain sins,
or for doing particular deeds.
Thus there are different kinds of Bay’at:
Bay’at for Islăm: Is defined as when an infidel or a polytheist
discards his previous convictions, seeks repentance and makes a covenant
to accept Islam, it is called Bay’at in Islăm.
Bay’at for Jihăd: This was done at the time of Bay’at Ridhwăn In
Hudaibiyah when Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) had taken Bay’at
from his Sahabah (R.A), that if there would be a need of fighting
against the enemies of Islăm, then they would not desert the
battlefield, but would face the enemy until the end.
Bay’at for Caliphate: This is the Oath of Allegiance accepting a
Vying person as the Caliph of the Muslims, who would rule over them.
After the death of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) the Sahabah (R.A.)
of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) unanimously accepted Abu Bakr
Siddiq (R.A.) as their Caliph and took the Oath of his Allegiance, and
this system continued in this manner.
Taking an Oath for performing Islamic deeds: Auf bin Malik AshJaee (R.A.)
relates that there were 8 or 9 persons sitting in the company of
Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) when he asked, “Why do you not
take an Oath.”
“We extended our hands, and asked him what was the issue on which we
were to take the Oath of Allegiance; O Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi
Wasallam)?” Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “On these
issues: Worship only Allah and do not Join partners with Him, perform 5
daily prayers and hear and obey all commands.” Rasulullah (Sallallahu
Alaihi Wasallam) also added some thing in low tones, which was “Do not
beg anything from anyone”. The narrator says that he had observed the
Companions of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) to the extent,
that if the whip of a horse had dropped from their hands, they would not
ask anyone to pick it up for them, but would dismount and would pick up
the whip themselves. (Tabrani, Abu Nuaim, AlHakim, Al-Baihaqi and lbn
Asakr etc.)
In this manner, there are clear proofs that Rasulullah (Sallallahu
Alaihi Wasallam) took Bay’at on the occasion of migration, victory, on
death and on other deeds and occasions.
Saintly Oath of Allegiance: Regarding this Shah Waliullah (R)
writes in the book Al-Qaulul Jameel, the Bay’at which is inherited from
the Saints (mystics) can be given for many purposes.
1. The Bay’at to avoid committing sins and to make sincere repentance.
2. The Bay’at for blessing or benediction, which means to enter the fold
of the righteous people to attain auspiciousness, which is proved by a
chain of authoritative sayings of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam).
3. The Bay’at for leaving overt or covert forbidden things, and making a
firm intention to act sincerely on Divine Commands, and attaching your
heart to Allah the Exalted and Sublime.
This third kind is most fundamental. In the first two kinds, the aim is
to leave all major sins without insisting on minor ones, and to practice
all the ways of ordained obedience, such as “Sunnat Muakkadah”.
The breaking of this Oath will involve persisting on committing major or
minor infractions against ordained commandments of obedience. The
breaking of Oath refers to the condition of making it defective before
achieving any enlightenment of the heart. (Shariat-u-Tariqat Ka Talazum
Pg. 124)
This type of Bay’at can be continuously traced since the days of
Rasulullah Sallallahu (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). In Qurănic
terminology it is called TAZKIYAH, and in the tradition of Rasulullah (Sallallahu
Alaihi Wasallam) it is called IHSĂN which is mentioned in the “Hadith of
Jibraeel”. Later, it was entitled as Tasawwuf or Mysticism. The order of
spiritual leaders and their disciples is an offshoot of this system. The
four major tasks for which Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)
responsible, which are mentioned in 4 places in the Qur'ăn. One of them
Is Tazkiya (the purification of self).
Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) used to train and purify his
Sahabah (R.A). If he detected any special (spiritual) disease, he would
pay special attention for its reformation, and adopt different methods
for its elimination. After the demise of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi
Wasallam) the Sahabah (R.A.) used to take Bay’at and this system was
continued by their followers, and the disciples of the followers. These
spiritual leaders then give permission to some to take the Bay’at who in
turn then can administer this oath to others provided he is granted
authority. It is not permissible that everyone should administer the
oath. This privilege is reserved for those who have been given
permission by a true spiritual leader.
True Nature of Bay’at
Shaykh Ashraf Ali Thanwi (R), a great scholar writes that the nature of
Bay’at and the relation between Murshid (the spiritual guide) and his
disciple is that the Murshid promises to instruct how to perform Zikr or
keep alive the remembrance of Allah, and act upon Divine orders. He also
tries to diagnose the spiritual diseases of his disciples and prescribes
remedies for their treatment. The disciple gives an assurance that he
will act upon the advices and instructions of his Murshid. This
reformation may be achieved without the customary method of taking
Bay’at. But becoming a disciple (Mureed) of a spiritual guide in the
customary manner has an advantage that the spiritual teacher pays more
attention to his disciple, and In turn the disciple takes special care
in obeying his spiritual teacher.
The Need of a Spiritual Guide
Shaykh Ashraf All Thanwi (R) says that one needs a teacher even for
learning how to perform outward religious requirements with their
accompanying problems. Religious actions can go wrong without the
direction of a teacher. But there is a greater need for a teacher for
acquiring the knowledge of and acting upon spiritual and hearty actions
some of which are compulsory injunctions, some semi-compulsory ones.
Technically the teacher of these spiritual branches of knowledge is
called MURSHID (spiritual guide).
Understanding your inner baser motives, and treating yourself of
libidinal disease is not possible without a Murshid. Hence, anyone, who
steps on this path, needs to search for a Murshid. When he has found
him, then he should follow his teachings and should act on his orders
with full submission. He would realize that even making repentance
requires guidance of a spiritual teacher; otherwise he would not know
how to make repentance properly. (Tasheel Qasdus-Sabeel pg. 15)
Article taken (with Thanks) from IslamicTarbiyah.com
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