I can try to help for translation, but I wish the translated article of Malay is published under authorisation of Imam Suhaib Webb(Whom a respected imam in Malaysia) that will be better and people will believe this more.

I believe through this translation will benefit more.

Sofiah

I disagree very staunchly with Dr. Sa`id Ramadan al-Bouti, may ALlah bless him and preserve him. However, besides mentioning my “disagreement” in this matter, I will not delve into this matter with you for three reasons

a) my opinion doesn’t matter
b) he’s elder and to disrespect him would be bad adab
c) my opinion will cause outrage and even possible offense

I hope I haven’t angered anyone. If I have, then please accept my apologies and my respectful regards.

Wassalamu alaykum.

Your ignorant, unworthy, and arrogant brother
Muhammad A.Y. Qadiri

salaam,

A point that I missed earlier: from reading the thread on that discussion board, it seems that there was a famous story of a karamah that occurred with Sh. Rifa’i that Sh. Bouti believed was munqati’ and later considered authentic. His critique was of a particular case, that most likely had to do with the isnad of the narration. That is not the same as what is being extrapolated and implied- that he was at one time ‘hard’ or skeptical of all karamaat and then came to accepted them as his position towards tassawuf ‘softened’.

as salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

In response to Point #1:

The post you are referring to says: “A number of years ago he [referring to Sh. Bouti] sent a letter to Sh. Ahmad Fathullah Jami in which he retracted his previous statement (about there being no more perfect teachers [murshid kaamil] in our times).”

I believe that there may be some mistake or misunderstanding here for the following reasons:

1.) The clip that I translated was taken from an interview with Sh. Bouti, hafidhahullah, from Ramadan 2009 as mentioned by the original poster here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITRkzTaftrU&feature=related That, and the evident signs of his age (may Allah preserve him), which can be heard in the tone of the shaykh’s voice and in his appearance, indicates to me that this is a very recent clip.

How can it be that Sh. Bouti retracted such statements in a letter a number of years ago, but then went on to repeat and reiterate those very same statements in an interview done just last year?

2.) There are a number of avenues by which the shaykh’s changed opinion could be made known to his students and his large following. For example, via his website (or a new one if he has disassociated himself with the old one as you mentioned), through the website Naseem al-Sham where both he and his son answer fatawa and where his lectures are available in transcript form, through the many classes that he teaches, through his books and other publications, through his audio lectures that are on CD, etc. If his long-standing and well-known opinion on this matter had changed, it seems unlikely to me that none of these means would have been utilized to make it known to the people.

3.) We do not know of the exact content of the letter that has been mentioned, as it was a personal communication between two people. Therefore I do not feel comfortable extracting these types of conclusions when we do not have access to the original material.

As for Point #2: In the clip that was posted, Sh. Bouti actually mentions that specific story as an example of the karamaat of righteous awliyaa of old, so it seems that he accepts it (though I do not know if he had a different opinion in the past). Please refer to the original Arabic to hear that portion, though the dialogue at that point is unclear (with the interviewer and the shaykh talking at the same time).

As a final caveat, I am not in any way personally connected to the shaykh other than as someone who hopes to benefit from his knowledge, so I cannot say anything with absolute certainty, and it does happen that scholars change their opinions, perspective, etc. However, from the information we have before us, I feel more confident in standing by Sh. Bouti’s words in the interview, and what is known to be a well-established and long-standing opinion of his, than the mere mention of a private letter, or other such information that has not been confirmed.

As to Sh. Habib Ali holding Sh. Bouti in high respect, I would venture to say that pretty much *everyone*, with few exceptions, has respect for Sh. Bouti due to his dedication to learning and teaching, his devotion, and his high level of scholarship, and that does not necessarily imply anything in particular about his opinion on this issue. That was actually my very point in translating and sharing this piece – that someone of Sh. Bouti’s caliber, who is so well-respected by the people of Tassawuf, can have a critical opinion of some elements of Sufism and that does not take away from his standing or rank.

To repeat a point I made earlier: I would love if people just took the time to stop and consider the points Sh. Bouti made, and the larger lesson which I was trying to establish – which is that people can be critical of Tassawuf while still having love and honor for it – instead of simply looking for ways ‘around it’ so to speak.

salaam,
shazia

Dear brothers and sisters,

Ithink we should not lose sleep over what the esteemed Sheikh said. The shuyuukh have been saying this and similar statements for a long time. Shibli said the same over athousand years ago, Zaruuq said the same too. But we know that after them came some of the greatest Sufis.

In March I attended, at the invitation of a friend, a Suhba Sheikh Nuh Keller had with his mureeds here in Dubai. I am not a mureed of Sheikh Nuh Keller, but I can tell you what I heard those 3 days, anyone who wants to listen to a Murshid should listen to Shaykh Nuh Keller. He was so uncompromising when it comes to aqida and sharia to the extent that he said in an answer to a question that if one is not ‘a 100 percenter’ in sharia then one will not make any progress in this path.

So, Alhamdulilah, there are Murshids. Alahamdulilah. He is so Kariim. He will not let this Ummah without true and sincere scholars in every dimension of our religion .

N.B: This is the first time I post, so please forgive me if I transgressed any rules.

Salam,
Ahmed.

Salam Shaykh Suhaib,

can you please elaborate on the Ijaza that you have on the Tariqa? And how long you’ve kept company of the particular shaykh to getting that Ijazah?

Someone referred me to this comment, and i was surprised, maybe you mean ijaza in fiqh or something, or is it Ijazah in a Tariqa?

Wa ‘alaykumus Salama

Awaiting Reply

As posted somewhere else:

http://cb.rayaheen.net/showthread.php?tid=26346&page=1

According to a moderator of the Rayaheen forums, sidi Ayman ash-Shafi`i, Sh. al-Buti took back his position in a letter sent to Shaykh Ahmed FathuLlah Jami. He also seems to have changed his positions on the Rifa`i karamaat. In addition he has no contact with his website…

So according to the moderator at the rayaheen forums:

1. Shaykh al-Buti took back his position of there not existing a true murshid in this day and age in a letter to Shaykh Ahmed FathuLlah Jami. He is the shadhili shaykh Ahmed FathuLlah Jami student of Shaykh Abdal Qadir `Isa

2. Shaykh al-Buti previously questioned the authenticity of one of the rifa`i karamaat (see the page) but did not deny its possibilty. Now he has acknoweledged it as being authentic.

The Shaykh has softened his opinions on the sufiyyah. Habib `Ali holds Sh. al-Buti in great respect. Check the al-Morid series where Habib introduces Shaykh al-Buti and the latter speaks about Khushu` in Salah.

Wa salam

Dr. Ramadan al-Bouti is the Scholar of the Scholars, he has perfected his character as good as possible. When he meets the real sufi shaykhs of today, then he has already surpassed them both in Ilm and in the Science of Tassawuf. We the common people are in need of these real Sufi shaykhs but al-bouti.

His father is considered to have been one of the Abdals of Shaam and that is sufficient in it self for Dr. Ramadan, he is not in need of a Sufi shaykh!