Bay‘ah to One Without a Shaykh’s Authorization

Question

Question: If a person who is not authorized (has not received ijaza) by any shaykh of a tariqa — is it permissible for him to take bay‘ah from someone in the same manner that the shaykhs of the tariqa take bay‘ah, and to teach dhikr and the like exactly as the shaykhs teach their disciples — or [is it permissible for him] to take bay‘ah only for performing the prayer and the fast and abstaining from theft, adultery, and the like?

Answer

For Muslims it is necessary to attain sound beliefs, praiseworthy character, and righteous deeds; and it is not enough merely to know and understand them at the level of theory — one must attain a firm quality and spiritual state in which these virtues are embodied, and this is a matter of the utmost importance.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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