Believer is a Mirror of another Believer

The attributes of Lower Self(Nafs) draw human beings towards Evil.Everyone is susceptible to the hidden illnesses and weaknesses of the heart. Man himself is not able to understand the symptoms. He may think that he is morally perfect and that his practices are of high level. This is sheer, ridiculous ignorance and erroneous orientation. Allah Almighty says: “Say: Do you want Me to show you those whose work will have been the most insignificant, those whose effort will have been futile in this world, who thought they have lived a noble life.” ►{Surah Al Kahf; Chapter 18 : Verse 103-104}

Just as a human being cannot see his face without a mirror, the Believer needs his fellow Believer brother who has a higher spiritual status, who knows his inner shortcomings and who will ensure that he is corrected through his high level of spirituality and wise words. This explains these words from the Prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him) :
“A Mu’min is a mirror for another Mu’min.” ►{Sunan Abu Dawud, narrated by Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah & Al Adab ul Mufrad by Imam Bukhari}

It goes without saying that the Believer has to take certain precautions to this effect, for all mirrors are not of the same nature. Some are perfectly leveled whereas others warp the image. The latter do not reflect reality but either enlarge or reduce the person standing before them. This is the case with the company of peers who do not reveal the true state of our Nafs. One will flatter us, causing pride and vanity to crop up in our selves; another will criticize us, causing anguish and despair in our minds. In both cases, we will move far from reality. The perfect Mu’min is a perfect mirror that has, in the past, been polished by another true and perfect Mu’min; this is a link that goes back to the Prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him) .

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Prophet (peace be upon him) is the most perfect mirror
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The Prophet (peace be upon him) is the mirror that Allah Almighty has made to always ideally reflect mankind. The company of a true and Faithful guide who is also a representative of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is per se the way to the purification of the Nafs and to the embellishment of the heart through the endowment of noble virtues. This shows to what great extent those who think that they can cure themselves the hidden illnesses of the heart and can cure others through the recitation of the Holy Quran and the study of Sunnah, are making a mistake. Far from making any judgement as to the obvious value of the Holy Quran and of the Sunnah, we would like to point out that they contain all the remedies for any hidden or apparent illness. But having recourse to a doctor is a prerequisite as far as diagnosis of illnesses and prescription of adequate medicine is concerned…

Similarly, though not under the same circumstances, it can be said that the pharmacist has a wide array of drugs. But someone who feels sick does not go directly to the pharmacist; instead, the person goes to doctor who, after having examined the patient, will prescribe the adequate treatment. The medicine will then be provided by the pharmacist on the basis of the prescription… If such is the way to proceed in the case of physical illnesses, then even more caution should be exerted with regard to the hidden illnesses of the heart… Several Hadith show that even the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) could not cure the hidden ailments within their heart by just reciting the Holy Quran; instead, they referred to the Prophet (peace be upon him) , this shows that Allah Almighty had sent the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) not only to teach the Holy Quran but also to purify the hearts.

Allah Almighty says in the Glorious Quran:
He is the One Who sent a (Glorious) Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him) among the illiterate people from among themselves who recites to them His Revelations and cleanses and purifies them (outwardly and inwardly) and teaches them the Book and Wisdom....►{Surah Al Juma; Chapter 62: Verse 2}

The importance of this verse lies in the fact that the recitation of the Holy Quran is one thing and the purification process is another.The words ‘Purify them’ implies that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) gave them a state of purification. Indeed, there is a difference in the knowledge of purification and the state of purification. We can acquire the knowledge of purification through the recitation of the Holy Quran, but that does not necessarily mean that we have reached the state of purification. This difference is the same as for that which exists between knowledge of medical science and the state of a man in good health. As a matter of fact someone learned about medical science is not necessarily in good health. That is the reason there are many people who despite their knowing the Holy Quran, are subject to Waswasa {Evil and Bad Inspirations} even at the time of Salah.

Thus, we can understand the complexity of hidden weaknesses of the heart that need the adequate expertise to be cured. Hence the need to have recourse to a spiritual guide/shaykh who can treat even more intricate cases; a spiritual guide/shaykh who has the relevant authority for that enterprise and who has inherited the required knowledge from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in terms of piety, guidance and aptitudes to purify the heart.

https://mail.google.com/mail/b/401/u...2145&zw&atsh=1
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Importance of having company of "The Knowers of God"
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In the midst of Ulamas are certain people who are the spiritual heirs of the Prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him) . They are called ‘Ulama ul Arifin’ {‘Arif’ means ‘The one who Knows’}. The Ulama ul Arifin posses deep Faith, are very pious and have acquired extreme Knowledge. They represent the Prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him) in the guidance process and Dawah Ilal Allah {Calling people towards Allah Almighty}. They have taken their light from the lamp of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and illuminate the path for believers.

They certainly are those people mentioned by the Prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him) as follows: “A group within our Ummah will obviously be on the path of truth. Those people who leave them will not be able to harm them. They will remain thus till the order of Allah comes {i.e. the End of the World}.”►{Sahih Bukhari, Kitab ul Itesam bil Kitab was Sunnah; Sahih Muslim, Kitab ul Imarah;Jami’ at Tirmizi, Kitab ul Fitan; Sunnan Ibn Majah, Kitab us Sunnah}

The link of the group mentioned by the Prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him) will never break. There will not be any region from which they will be absent. The company of these legitimate heirs of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is a verified antidote and the getting away from them is a deadly poison. Being within this group is a necessary therapy for purifying the heart and for acquiring noble virtues. This cannot be acquired through books. Being close to this group has certain emotional characteristics and practices that are devoid of ostentation. All this symbolises the salvation of Believers {Mu’minin}.