01-29-2007, 09:01 AM
Bismillah
salam Unit
I m not sure if u still visit, I know u havent since mid jan.
Any way.
If u want to learn about sufism:
http://islamsms.com/bb/index.php?showt...=1743&hl=Sufism
Certainly in Islam there are teachers, who are scholars, for example abu Hanifa, Ibn Hanbal, Shafei who founded schools of thoughts, all taken after the Messenger's prayer and peace be upon him teachings.
While no bishops, cardinals and so forth.
There is a mufti who must be formally educated to play this role, educated enough to give fatwa, not that they dont err. To err is human. The mufti is a position occupied by a well versed scholar in each Muslim country. But we dont consider him more than this, a human being a qualified one to fit this position. He does not enjoy any sanctity more than deserving our respect like any other Muslim human being, but more so, it is highly encouraged not to slander to talk bad about a scholar or even a muslim seeking knowledge. In islam knowledge is a highly ranked item.
Again, the mufti is not a middle man. We dont need anyone to grant us forgiveness, only Allah Is Entitled for this. We can seek this thru praying to Allah and only Allah. When I say praying, I mean physical, not to invoke. I mean the person prays two Raka (prayer unit) and then invokes upon Allah for repentence and forgiveness.
Hope u come back and read, we still have more to discuss here.
commerce is mentioned, i take 'commerce' to be trading/business.. how does this square with the exhortation to surrender completely and just follow Allah?
There is much difference between following Allah, and doing business, working, and learing, and doing the latte with full heart being attached to those items.
Certainly, in Islam we are encouraged to work, not to sit and worship Allah day and night.
We are commanded to work and earn our living, a man is commanded to work and support a family and so forth. But we are not to have our hearts set on those items. In other words, suppose a merchant (businessman) looses a deal, or even goes bankrupt, he/she should not collapse, suicide, or things on those lines. BUt rather accepts what Allah decreed, start again, say Inna lilahi wa inna ilayhee rajoun = to Allah we are and to Allah we shall return. This is a supplication in Quran we must use in cases of crisis or calamity. In such case, Allah Shall recompensate and Gives reward. See everything in Islam is well regulated, nothing happens haphazardly.