Silsilah Rifa'iyya: The Sacred Sufi Order and its Paramount Significance

By Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi, New Age Islam

17 February 2023

May my fate be that of Pharaoh, Haman and Qarun; may I be impeached as they were if [even for a moment] a thought enters my head that I am a Sheikh of any congregation!

------------ Imam Rifai, as recorded in Tiryaq al-Muhibbin (Antidote for Divine Lovers)

One of the mystical and didactic spiritual branches of Islam that seeks to bring people closer to the Truth with a deeper personal relationship with the Divine is the Rifai Sufi Order, which traces its lineage back to Sheikh Ahmed Rifai. This 12-century Sufi Mystic has created a spiritual melody and has moulded the manners and ethics of modern Muslims in many Central Asian and Middle Eastern countries especially in Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. However in the Indian subcontinent and South Asia at large, the Rifai Sufi followers have declined after the Sufi shrines and Khanqahs have been overtaken by the Qadir and Chishti Orders.

Imam Rifai (R.A): Head of the Sufi Saints

Hafiz Muhaddith Abul Farj Wasti Shafi’i notes in his spiritual treatise titled as “Tiryaq al-Muhibbin fi Tabaqat Kharqah al-Mashaikh al-Arifin” (An Antidote for Divine Lovers in the circle of Wise Sages):

“Sayyid Ahmad Kabir Rifai is considered the Imam of Mashaikhs (Sufi saints) and the Sultan of his time as well as the leader of Awliya and Ahlul-Allah (God's friends) of his age. Certainly, we did not find anyone of the spiritual stature of Syed Ahmad Rifai after the 12 Imams of Ahlul-Bayt (Prophet's household) and Sahabas (Prophet's companions). In terms of creation (Khalqat), spiritual authority (Tariqat), realisation of Truth (Haqiqat) and possession of Gnosis (Ma’rifat), he was an embodiment of divinity (Rabbaniyat) who walked properly in the footsteps of his ancestor, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).”

Hazrat Syed Ahmad Rifa'i or Imam Rifai is best known as one of the four major Qutbs (Aqtab-e-Arba’a)—the four highest spiritual masters after the holy Prophets. He was also a blood relative of Sheikh Muhiyuddin Abdul Qadir Jilani (R.A), another major Qutb for all times to come. Today, Imam Rifai is popularly known in the Arab and Central Asian world as “Ghous-e-Akbar” (the highest-ranking saint), “Wali-e-Kabir” [great godly man], and “Imam-e-Shaheer” [renowned spiritual leader]. He was one of the chosen Sufi saints who happened to be Paidaishi Wali, a mystic by birth. Thus, he was initiated into the process of spiritual training, education, mystical growth and inner guidance in his early childhood days. It is narrated that in the womb of his mother, even before he was born in the physical world, he inspired his mother to follow some significant spiritual exhortations. The following incident has been greatly mentioned in his biographical accounts, which implies as an evidence of his great spiritual place and thus serves as a beacon of light for everyone who truly seeks inner guidance and intuitive light (Noor-i-Batin). Notably, these nine teachings form the basis of the Rifa'i Sufi Order.

Imam Rifa'i himself mentioned his name in his mother's womb and the first spiritual advice he gave to his mother was when he was in her womb. This was heard by his maternal uncle, Hazrat Sheikh Syed Mansoor Bataihi, while he was standing at the door when he went to meet his sister. After some conversation went on between the mother and the son, when the mother wished him to give her a spiritual advice, the answer came as follows:

      O my dear mother! Kindly hear and heed me! Always obey these nine spiritual instructions:

 (1) Always be pure and clean.

 (2) Keep fasts regularly.

 (3) Avoid lies, backbiting, abusing and finding fault with other people and indulging in needless things and useless talk.

 (4) Try to live in seclusion, spend most of the time in divine remembrance (Zikr), meditation and reflection (Muraqba) and silent observation.

 (5) Always recite "La ilaha ila Allah" with humility, sincerity and mindfulness.

 (6) Do not attach your heart to anyone other than Allah.

 (7) Keep up obedience to your Master (Murshid) as a humble follower like a dead person in the hands of a Ghassal [someone who gives bath to the dead body during the funeral].

 (8) Keep thanking Allah in every situation and be patient and calm.

 (9) Do not worship with the desire of heaven or in the fear of hell, but do all the righteousness being immersed in the love of Allah. By following these nine points, divine knowledge will be obtained and the pleasure of divine love will be truly achieved. (Reference: Rafi'-ush-Shan Hai Shaan-e- Rafa'i, p. 30)

Another significant saying of Imam Rifai, as recorded in Tiryaq al-Muhibbin (Antidote for Divine Lovers), goes like this: May my fate be that of Pharaoh, Haman and Qarun, may I be impeached as they were impeached if [even for a moment] a thought enters my heart that I am the Sheikh of this congregation.

Special Prophetic Blessings upon the Rifaiyyah

One day, Syed Ahmad Rifai (R.A) told his grandson Imam Ibrahim Al-A'azab as a matter of gratitude:

O Ibrahim, I swear by the one who made the winds flow and released water from the stones that the spirit of Prophethood is inside us i.e. the family of Yahya (the great ancestor of Imam Rifa’i) like the water of the eye lies in the eye. And as compared to our cousins, we have the special love, compassion, and mercy of our forefather, the holy Prophet (pbuh). These rewards have been bestowed upon us because of our internal struggle to eradicate egoism, illusions and by freeing our souls from mundane wandering desires, and obeying His orders and obeying Him in all our bodily movements. I have great hope in the mercy of Allah. The Almighty will continue to shower His blessings upon my family, children, relatives, disciples and followers until the day of His judgment, and He is the best judge.

(Reference: Al-Ma'arif al-Muhammadiyah by Imam al-Sayad)

Expounding the virtues and significance of the Rifa'i Sufi Order, Shaykh-ul-Mushaikh Ahmad Al-Zahid Al-Ansari (RA) famously known as Arif Billah (the one who had an intimate knowledge of God) said: "The fragrance of truth and righteousness in the spiritual chain of Rifa'iyyah will remain fresh until the Day of Judgment, and it will never be discontinued. More to the point, Shaykh Abu Bakr al-Hawazni al-Bataihi (R.A) wrote:

"All the followers, believers and adherents of the Rifa'iyyah Order are blessed with the special presence of Allah, the Almighty. The Rifa'iyyah Order is the path of sincere devotion, exhortation and tearful calmness and inner peace. It is the path of love and light, and a way to achieve continuous divine support and succour. It is the path of adopting humility and reluctance to all pride and arrogance. In fact, the Sufi Order of Rifa'iyya is the way to mystical intellect, wisdom, eternal salvation, spiritual well-being, honor and respect. The spiritual chain of Rifa'iyya is a way of humility and humbleness, and this is a way that Allah and His Beloved Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) love."

(Reference: Kitab Marahil al-Salikeen, by Syed Muhammad Mahdi Aal Khizam Al-Rifa'i

Ratib Rifa'iyyah: The Chief Objective of the Order

Hazrat Maulana Syed Qutbuddin Abul Qasim alias Zainul Abidin Abid Rifa'i R.A. (born on 17 Dhul-Qa'da 1269 AH, died on 27 Shawwal 1322 AH) writes in his book "Ratib Rifa'iyya" about the Zarbs (crystals or strikes in Dhikr) of Rifa'iyya: It must be borne in mind that striking in Dhikr (Zarb) is not a play or a show nor is it something to display. Therefore, it is strictly forbidden to show off in Zarbs. Hazrat Al-Shaykh Syed Ahmad Kabir Rifai R.A. (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), very particularly states that it is completely wrong and absurd to display and show off any of these blessings and honors that have been bestowed upon anyone by Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala). However, for the betterment and development of the religion of Islam and for the correction of the beliefs of people who have been led astray and are misguided about the saints, it is good and correct to use these blessings and virtues in order to save them from error. On the contrary, if a person uses these blessings for his own personal gain or for worldly greed, then beware! O people, such a person is not from amongst us, and Allah is his witness. If you wish to purify your heart, come into the fold of Hazrat Syed Ahmad Rifa'i (R.A).

Noted Disciples and Anecdotes

The disciples of Imam Ahmed Al-Rifai were great in number and of high stature, during his life and after his death, as Ibn Al-Muhadhdhab writes in his book The Wonders of Wasit: “The number of Imam Ahmed Al-Rifai’s successors and then their successors of successors reached 180 thouand during his life, and by the great grace of God, there was not a single Muslim country a city or a town where his books were not the source of spiritual intellect and inspiration, satisfying students and spiritual lovers. Among those who were blessed with his discplehood were: Sheikh Hafiz Izz al-Din al-Farouqi, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Badawi, Abul Hassan Al-Shazly, Sheikh Najm-ud-Din Al-Isfahani, Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Dasouki, Sheikh Ahmed Alwan Al-Maliki, Hafiz Jalal-ud-Din Al-Suyuti, Sheikh Aqeel Al-Manbaji and Sheikh Ali Al-Khawas”.

Imam Rifai would often teach his pupils: You have to give up and forsake the worldly fame and honour if you truly desire the heavenly respect. He had withdrawn from the worldly affairs and mundane desires. He had great wealth but he never accumulated or stored any commodity at any point of time. He felt overjoyed in sharing it with others and thus caring for all the creations.

In India, some the earliest founders of the Rifaiyya Silsila who mostly travelled from Iraq and Egypt, and built the Khanqah-e-Aalia Rifaiya in Baroda, Gujrat included:

(1) Al-Arif Ballah Mashuqullah Al-Hasani Al-Husseini Al-Rifa’i (512/578 AH, Umm Ubaydah Iraq)

(2) Shams al-Iraq Sayyid Muhammad Ma’dan Asrar Allah Al-Hasani Al-Husseini Al-Rifa’i (562 AH / 639 AH)

(3) Sayyid Razi-ud-Din Ibrahim Kanz Marfat Allah Al-Hasani Al-Hussaini Al-Rifa’i (598 AH/683 AH)

(4) Umar Jaishullah Al-Hasani Al-Husseini Al-Rifa’i (640 AH / 751 AH)

(5) Saif al-Din Abd al-Rahman Mukhtarullah al-Hasani al-Husseini al-Rifa’i (687 AH/813 AH, Egypt).

(6) Syed Abul Abbas Ahmad Hajjatullah Al-Hasani Al-Husseini Al-Rifa’i (733 AH / 824 AH, Iraq)

(7) Syed Ali Dagher Sahib Al-Shabak Al-Hasani Al-Hussaini Al-Rifa’i (770 AH/856 AH, Egypt)

(8) Syed Abul Muhammad Yusuf Tajuddin Haibatullah Al-Hasani Al-Husseini Al-Rifa’i (850 AH/927 AH, Egypt).

(9) Syed Qasim Sharafuddin Ahmadi Bahr Uloom Allah Al-Hasani Al-Husseini Al-Rifa’i (787 AH/953 AH)

(10) Sayyidna Qutb-Zaman Sayyid Hussain Ahmadi Al-Hasani Al-Husseini Al-Rifa’i (919 AH/990 AH, Egypt)

(11) Syed Abdullah Al-Hasani Al-Husseini Al-Musawi Al-Shafa’i Al-Rifa’i (948 AH/1011 AH, Egypt)

(12) Syed Ali Al-Husaini Al-Husseini Al-Musawi Al-Shafa’i Al-Rifa’i (970 AH/1030 AH, Egypt)

-----

Regular Columnist with Newageislam.com, Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi is an Indo-Islamic scholar and English-Arabic-Urdu writer. He graduated from a leading Islamic seminary in India, and acquired a Diploma in Qur'anic sciences and a Certificate in Uloom ul Hadith from the Al-Azhar Institute of Islamic Studies. He has also participated in the 3-year “Madrasa Discourses” program initiated by the University of Notre Dame, USA. Presently, he is pursuing his Ph.D. in Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.

URL:   https://newageislam.com/islam-spiritualism/silsilah-rifaiyya-sufi-significance/d/129127

New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism