A Spiritual Guide’s Violations of the Sacred Law

Question

A dervish has come here who sits with non-mahram women and even takes from them the service of massaging his hands and feet; these women kiss the dervish's feet. The dervish says that without this the disciples do not attain spiritual benefit. The dervish and his companions do not join the congregational prayer in the neighbourhood mosque, even though the mosque is only two or three minutes' walk from the house. They say the whole mosque is impure. Its lamp is lit with kerosene oil.

Answer

The noble Prophet ﷺ never took a woman's hand in his own hand in order to accept her as a disciple. He forbade being alone with a non-mahram woman. The congregational prayer is a confirmed sunna, standing at the level of an obligation.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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