Principle of Maizbhandariya Tariqa

PRINCIPLE OF MAIZBHANDARIYA TARIQA

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Across all faiths and philosophies, every human being bears personal responsibility—moral, spiritual, familial, and social. To fulfill these responsibilities with integrity, one requires both conscious awareness and an enabling socio-economic and spiritual environment. Without adherence to a clear and just framework of principles, such an environment cannot be nurtured.

These principles must be realistic, contemporary, and aligned with the welfare of global humanity, rooted deeply in the spirit of peace and harmony. They should guide the formation of responsible human beings, capable of embodying divine love and practicing it through a well-defined spiritual discipline.

Such a framework of principles is abundantly present in the sacred path of the Maizbhandari Sufi Order, where Divine wisdom meets practical application.

Through the call of the Maizbhandari Sufi Order, the foundation of Iqamat-e-Deen—the holistic structure of Islamic life—is beautifully and completely arranged. The spiritual call of this path encompasses the following five universal utilities:

۩ Religious Utility

۩۩ Philosophical / Ethical Utility

۩۩۩ Social Utility

۩۩۩۩Personal Spiritual Utility

۩۩۩۩۩ Pluralistic Utility – Tawhid al-Adyan

۩ Religious Utility ۩

Following the Luminary Wisdom of the Perfect Friends of Allah (Awliya Kamilin)

Allah, the Lord of all worlds, along with His Beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), has provided humanity with divine guidance through the Qur'an and Sunnah. The true embodiment of this guidance is found in the lives of the perfected saints of Allah — the Awliya Kamilin. These enlightened souls internalize the essence of the Qur'an and Sunnah and live accordingly, inviting others to walk the same illuminated path. The Awliya are those who have attained Divine proximity and stand as the true deputies (Na’ib) of the Messenger (peace be upon him). Within them shines a unique fusion of ‘Ilm-e-Tahqiqi (knowledge grounded in deep intellectual insight) and ‘Ilm-e-Kashfi (knowledge unveiled through divine inspiration). Guided by these two streams of sacred wisdom, they offer divinely-aligned solutions in response to the evolving challenges of time and context. Hence, the religious significance of the Maizbhandari Sufi Path lies in following the radiant knowledge (Nurani Ma‘rifah) of the saintly guide of the age — the Wali-e-Kamil — as the beacon for spiritual and worldly life.

۩۩ Philosophical / Ethical Utility ۩۩

A Call to Universal Ethical and Moral Excellence

Though the external rituals and legal frameworks of the world’s religions may differ, their essence remains united in promoting universal virtues—honesty, devotion, altruism, and unwavering resolve. At the heart of every divine path lies the call to righteous action and the pursuit of the Creator’s pleasure. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was sent to elevate humanity to the highest standard of moral excellence. For without refined character and noble conduct, mere ritualistic religion risks becoming a veil that obscures the true light of faith and taints the purity of human compassion. Moreover, when the soul’s inner spirituality becomes misaligned with outward practice, the human spirit falters and loses its divine compass. It is for this reason that the Maizbhandari Sufi Order extends its invitation to all of humanity—irrespective of nation or creed—to unite under the shared principles of spiritual morality and luminous character. In this lies the hope for a world renewed in divine harmony.

۩۩۩ Social Utility ۩۩۩

‘Adl al-Mutlaq (The Absolute Justice)

The profound essence of Adl-e-Mutlaq lies in the universal application of the principle of equity in every sphere of life. In the Maizbhandari Sufi Order, Adl-e-Mutlaq is understood and implemented through three harmonious dimensions:

i. Religious Equality

ii. Economic Justice

iii. Judicial Justice

i. Religious Equality

The world is home to numerous religions. Every follower has the inalienable right to practice their own faith freely and without coercion. Islam not only acknowledges but upholds this right. When followers of different religions maintain mutual respect and peaceful coexistence, society flourishes with balance and harmony. Conversely, when inter-religious relationships are marred by hostility and intolerance, social equilibrium is disrupted. Such discord paves the way for religious extremism and atheistic tendencies to rise—both of which are detrimental to the well-being of humanity and pose grave obstacles to global peace.

The sacred teachings of the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah emphasize the importance of avoiding religious animosity and nurturing interfaith goodwill. In this light, the message of the Maizbhandari Sufi Order is clear and universal: to renounce all forms of religious discord and to uphold the right of every soul to freely practice their chosen path to the Divine.

ii. Economic Justice

A just distribution of wealth is a divine mercy upon the dispossessed. When wealth circulates fairly between the rich and the poor, it fosters economic harmony and social balance. However, if wealth remains trapped in a closed loop among the affluent alone—without flowing toward the impoverished—economic disparity deepens. This leads to class division, wherein the privileged exploit the underprivileged. The excessive hoarding of wealth, driven by worldly obsession, distances the heart from distinguishing between the lawful (halal) and the forbidden (haram). Such greed inclines humanity toward materialism, detachment from spiritual truths, and ultimately, moral decline. Abundance, when misused, often gives rise to unnecessary desires, destructive indulgence, and the erosion of noble character. The Holy Qur’an declares: “So that wealth may not merely circulate among the rich among you.” (Surah Al-Hashr, 59:7). In light of this divine wisdom, the Maizbhandari Sufi Order invites believers to uphold the sacred principles of Zakat (obligatory almsgiving), Fitrah (charity at the end of Ramadan), Sadaqah (voluntary charity), Qurbani (sacrificial offering), inheritance distribution, and fulfilling the rights of the needy, the destitute, the neighbor, and kin. Through these spiritual instruments, the Maizbhandari Sufi Order ensures the rightful flow of wealth, dissolves social inequalities, and reestablishes the balance ordained by the Divine in the economic realm of human life.

iii. Judicial Justice

Every human being is inherently bound by social, moral, and at times material obligations toward others. These rights and responsibilities must be fulfilled in the light of ‘Adl (justice) and Ihsan (gracious compassion). True justice requires a sound mind and an impartial heart, for no justice can emerge from bias or prejudice. Likewise, a cold, mechanical form of justice—void of empathy and mercy—is insufficient for establishing genuine balance. Justice without compassion becomes rigid, and compassion without justice becomes indulgent. A society founded upon the harmonious fusion of justice and benevolence is one that is orderly, dignified, and peaceful. For this reason, the Maizbhandari Sufi Order calls upon individuals, families, communities, and the state to uphold Justice (Adl) and Compassion (Ihsan) in every sphere of life. It invites all to embody these twin principles—not as mere ideals, but as living realities—in courts, homes, and hearts alike, so that the spirit of Divine justice may prevail upon the earth.

۩۩۩۩ Personal Spiritual Utility ۩۩۩۩

Usul al-Sab‘ah (The Sevenfold Path)

The term Usul-e-Sab‘a refers to the “Sevenfold Method” — a synthesis of spiritual disciplines practiced by Sufi masters through the ages to attain divine proximity (Qurb Ilahi). These principles — such as Shukr (gratitude), Sabr (patience), Faqr (spiritual poverty), Tawbah (repentance), and Mujahadah (striving against the self) — have been integrated into a practical spiritual path by Gausul Azam Hazrat Syed Ahmad Ullah Maizbhandari (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu), the founder of the Maizbhandari Sufi Order.

This Usul-e-Sab‘a (Sevenfold Path) is a concise, accessible spiritual regimen designed to facilitate inner ascension (Ruhani ‘Urujiyyat) at the personal level. A brief overview of its core components follows:

Threefold Annihilation (Fana’ Thalatha):

۝ Fana ‘an al-Khalq (Annihilation from Creation): Becoming inwardly detached from expecting benefit from others and striving for complete self-reliance under divine care.

۝۝ Fana ‘an al-Hawa (Annihilation from Desires): Abstaining from vain thoughts, idle actions, and frivolous speech.

۝۝۝ Fana ‘an al-Iradah (Annihilation from Self-Will): Submitting entirely to the divine will in all aspects of life, letting Allah’s intention override personal preferences.

Fourfold Death (Maut Arba‘a):

۝ White Death: Observing fasting and cultivating restraint through the inner wisdom of abstinence and self-discipline.

۝۝ Black Death: Accepting criticism with grace. If the criticism is valid, one should use it for self-correction; if false, one should thank Allah for being free of that fault.

۝۝۝ Red Death: Suppressing the carnal self (Nafs al-Ammarah), shunning Satanic temptations, sensual urges, and lustful inclinations.

۝۝۝۝ Green Death: Leading a life free of extravagance and refraining from the use of objects that display pride or arrogance.

Through sincere practice of the Sevenfold Path, individuals awaken both the spirit of humanity (Insaniyyah) and a sense of practical realism in thought and action. It elevates moral character, simplifies worldly life into a state of inner harmony and balance, and offers a profound route toward the solution of global crises. Most importantly, it enhances the prospects of a blissful afterlife. A remarkable feature of the Usul-e-Sab‘a is its universal compatibility — it does not contradict the ethical goals of any religious path, but rather harmonizes with them. Hence, the Maizbhandari Sufi Order extends an open invitation to all people — regardless of creed, caste, race, or nation — to engage in this spiritually enriching, simple, and transformative path at the individual level.

۩۩۩۩۩ Pluralistic Utility ۩۩۩۩۩

Tawhid al-Adyan (Unity of Religions)

Human society is a tapestry of diversity—woven with threads of ethnicity, culture, thought, expression, religion, and politics. This diversity is not accidental but a manifestation of the Divine Will. The Holy Qur’an affirms this truth:

“O humanity! Indeed, We created you from a male and a female, and made you into peoples and tribes so that you may ˹get to˺ know one another.” (Surat al-Hujurat, 49:13)

Recognizing this diversity as a natural and divinely ordained phenomenon is not merely a philosophical insight, but a necessary condition for cultivating a harmonious and well-balanced society. Within the Islamic worldview, embracing pluralism is not a compromise, but a reflection of the spiritual maturity and universality that Islam embodies.

Among the various dimensions of diversity, religious diversity stands as the most expansive and delicate. Throughout history, the failure to understand the philosophical basis of religious plurality has given rise to relentless conflicts—rooted in tribal fanaticism, blind dogma, extremism, and the inability to tolerate the ‘Other’. These conflicts have often claimed more lives than even the deadliest of plagues, pushing human civilization to the brink of collapse. However, it must be distinguished that those struggles born out of the defense of faith, resistance to religious oppression, or barriers to spiritual propagation belong to a different category of sacred striving.

To preserve global equilibrium, what is most urgently needed is the peaceful co-existence between adherents of differing faiths. Such co-existence must be anchored in the shared core beliefs of all religions—foremost among them, the belief in a Supreme Creator and the oneness of that Creator. This shared spiritual foundation can serve as a luminous bridge across theological divides and foster true brotherhood among nations.

Likewise, within the vast ocean of Islam itself, there exist multiple schools of thought and spiritual traditions. Although these may diverge on jurisprudential or theological points, the fundamental belief in Tawhid (the Divine Unity) and Risalah (the Prophethood) remains unanimously upheld. This essential unity can serve as the inner sanctum for peaceful intra-faith cohabitation, dissolving disputes and promoting a just and spiritually balanced society.

It is in this sacred context that the Maizbhandari Sufi Order proclaims its call: a message of Tawhid al-Adyan—the Unity among all divinely inspired paths. It extends the invitation to build a pluralistic society wherein followers of different religions and interpretations within Islam can live in peace and balance, grounded in the shared core of Divine belief. This invitation is not a call to dissolve differences, but a sacred invitation to transcend them—through love, wisdom, and spiritual unity.