A Disciple’s False Lawsuit Against His Spiritual Guide

Question

What should a disciple's relationship with his spiritual guide be like? A certain man is a disciple of his elder brother, and he brings a false lawsuit against him, levels a false accusation against the guide under oath, and gives false testimony against the guide. When people ask him about it, he replies: “We have filed the case against [our] brother, not against [our] guide.” To what extent is this disciple's statement correct? In this case, is the disciple a fasiq wa fajir (an open transgressor) or not?

Answer

A disciple's relationship with his spiritual guide should be such that he holds the conviction in his mind that, for the reform of the self and the purification of the inner being, he will benefit most from his own guide; and that by acting upon his guide's instructions he will attain gnosis of his Master, exalted is His majesty; and that love and inclination for the world…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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