Benefits of the Swuhbah

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Shaykh Muhammad Nazhim Adil al-Haqqani (q.s.) said, “Although there are places to learn Islam, they cannot give the same benefit as a swuhbah.  A swuhbah is derived from the same root word as “swahabah”.  The Prophet (s.a.w.) taught his swahabah in an atmosphere of love and companionship.  In such an atmosphere, there is a familiarity between hearts and it is in this setting that one is able to derive benefit and learning. 

An air of officialdom is very different.  It raises some people above the rest.  In doing so, it creates barriers between hearts, and removes familiarity, which is crucial for learning to take place.  In such a setting, little learning takes place.  There is no genuine love and concern between teacher and student.  The relationship is forced.  The leader puts on an act of authority and knowledge in order to prove he has superior knowledge, and that is why he teaches.  It is an act, a fake show of piety.  It is akin to a fake diamond – it may look real, at first glance, but under closer scrutiny, it turns out to be glass.  No synthetic gem is of any real value, so no fake teachers have any real value either.  An appointment makes one put on a facade.  That is why the ego loves such appointments.”