Sufi covenant: Sacred bond between the Sheikh, Disciple

By Aya Ezzat

In Sufism (the Islamic Mysticism), the Sheikh and disciple are main pillars of any order, having a strong bond between them. This bond is called “the covenant or the homage.”

Sufism defines the covenant as allegiance that aims at transporting the disciple from the life of pleasures and luxuries to the life of repentance and making him to search his soul via approaching to Allah (God).

“The Era of Sufism”…The bond

The covenant is considered the strongest bond between two men pledged to worship Allah. It means obedience to the Sheikh of the Order with keeping the teachings and duties of Islamic Shariaa. Also, the disciple should follow the Sheikh’s teachings of the supplications, the daily invocations, and performance of prayers.

In Sufism, the Sheikh’s hand, via which he shakes the disciple’s hand during reaching the covenant, symbolizes the homage (allegiance) that the Muslims paid to Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings be upon him – PBUH) in the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, which is an agreement reached between Prophet Muhammad in Medina and the tribe of Quraish in Mecca to de-escalate the tension between both sides during the beginning of Islam.

Allah, the Almighty, says in the verse No. 10 of Al-Fath Chapter (Victory): ” Surely, those who pledge allegiance to you, are pledging allegiance to GOD,” according the authentic translation of Khalifa.

The Sheikh of a Sufi order sees that the covenant is a sacred bond, from which the disciple cannot disown at any time. So, many Sheikhs are always cautious and are not in a rush to accept the allegiance from any disciple. Disciples should be given tests to prove their desire for joining the order. Sheikhs should evaluate them morally and religiously.

“The allegiance in any Sufi order is a sacred bond connecting the disciple with the Sheikh to move forward to the right path and to be close to Allah,” said Abdel Khaleq Shabrawy, the Sheikh of Shabrawyia Order and member of the Supreme council of The Sufi Orders.

He said that the principle of allegiance is not a heresy posed by Sufism. However, it was taken from Quran and Sunna, he added.

How is the covenant pledged?

Pledging the covenant  has a specific approach. The disciple should be in immaculate condition, abluting and dressing new clothes. In good faith, he also should perform two units of the Islamic prayer to Allah for repentance. Then, the disciple should humbly sit down in the same direction of Qibla (Direction to Mecca in Saudi Arabia), looking to his Sheikh to repeat what he says.

After repeating the words of allegiance, the disciple and the Sheikh should shake hands, believing that handshake is a Sunni ritual that makes a spiritual connection between them and Prophet Muhammad’s soul (PBUH).

Every Sufi order has its own rituals of covenant; some Sheikhs put green-colored turbans on the disciples’ head, while others put just a piece of cloth on the disciples’ heads.

What should the disciple say?

Puts his hand on the disciple’s head, the Sheikh of the order asks the disciple to recite the Quranic verse No. 91 of Chapter of Al-Nahl (Bee) “You shall fulfill your covenant with GOD when you make such a covenant. You shall not violate the oaths after swearing (by God) to carry them out, for you have made GOD a guarantor for you. GOD knows everything you do.” The meaning of the  verse was authentically translated by Khalifa, according to Quran browser website.

Moreover, the disciple should recite the verse No. 10 of al-Fath chapter (victory) in the noble Quran. Allah says “Surely, those who pledge allegiance to you, are pledging allegiance to GOD. GOD approves their pledge; He places His hand above their hands. Those who violate such a pledge, commit the violation to their own detriment. As for those who fulfill their pledge with GOD, He will grant them a great recompense.”

After reciting those two verses, the disciple should repeat the daily supplications that uttered by the Sheikh. Each Sufi order in Egypt and all over the Islamic world has its own supplication; however, all of the supplications should include asking for Allah’s forgiveness, and praying for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).