Ten characteristics of a True spiritual Guide
Shaykh Abū Saʿīd Abū’l-Khayr رَحِمَهُ ٱللَّٰهُ, a great Wali of the 10th-century of Persia and a teacher of Dātā Ganj Bakhsh ʿAlī al-Hujwīrī رَحِمَهُ ٱللَّٰهُ (the prominent Sufi master and author of Kashf al-Maḥjūb), was asked:
“Who is the spiritual guide who has attained to Truth?”
Shaykh replied:
“The spiritual guide who has attained to Truth, is he in whom at least these ten characteristics are found, as proof of his authenticity:
- He must have become a goal, to be able to have a disciple (Mureed).
- He must have travelled the Sufi path himself, to be able to show the way.
- He must have become refined and educated, to be able to be an educator.
- He must be generous and devoid of self-importance, so that he can sacrifice wealth on behalf of the disciple.
- He must have no hand in the disciple’s wealth, so that he is not tempted to use it for himself.
- Whenever he can give advice through a sign, he will not use direct expression.
- Whenever he can educate through kindness, he will not use violence and harshness.
- Whatever he orders, he has first accomplished himself.
- Whatever he forbids the disciple, he has abstained from himself.
- He will not abandon for creation’s sake the disciple he accepts for the sake of Allah.
- Muḥammad ibn al-Munawwar (d. 1202), Asrār al-Tawhīd Fī maqāmāt al-Sheikh Abī Sa’īd
