Are Haqiqa and Shari’a Separate Paths?

Question

(1) Among the common people, some ignorant men say that whoever does not become the disciple of some spiritual guide and then dies will not be forgiven; they also say that the path of Shari’a and the path of haqiqa (truth) are separate paths, and that those versed in Shari’a know nothing of what the dervish [Sufi] knows — indeed, how could a religious scholar ever grasp the secret of the dervish?

Answer

This is ignorance upon ignorance. Such people are themselves astray, and they lead others astray as well — keeping their company is like deadly poison. The very purpose of becoming a disciple is that observing Shari’a should become easier and one should not fall into the deception of the nafs and Shaytan.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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