Sufism in Practice
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The following is taken from “Sufism in Practice according to the Teachings of Imam Ahmad ibn Ahmad az-Zarruq ( q.s. )”. This is adapted from “Zarruq the Sufi”, by Ustadz ‘Ali Fahmi Khushaym. On companionship, Imam az-Zarruq ( q.s. ) said, “There are a number of prescriptions for the wayfarer that will help him or her on the journey towards the Higher. The most important is the companionship of like-minded people and singing the praise of the Creator. The Prophet ( s.a.w. ) said, ‘To sit with the righteous is better than sitting alone. Sitting alone is better than sitting with evil men. The good companion is like a perfume seller, even if you do not have some of his perfume you smell of it, while the bad companion is like a blacksmith, even if his fire does not touch you, some of his stinking smell will attach to you.’ According to this tradition, companionship, swuhbah , is necessary for the beginner ...