Know Who You Follow: Family, Faith, and the Path to Ligh

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْم

Know Who You Follow: Family, Faith, and the Path to Light

"O you who believe, indeed, among your spouses and your children are enemies to you, so beware of them."
(Surah At-Taghabun 64:14)

In this world, the bonds of family may offer comfort, but in the Hereafter, they offer no refuge. The Day of Judgment will tear every tie, exposing each soul in isolation. The Quran says:

"The Day a man will flee from his brother, and his mother and his father, and his wife and his children. For every man, that Day, will be a matter adequate for him."
(Surah Abasa 80:34–37)

But there is one family that is never severed—the family of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Their connection is eternal. Their light is ongoing. And the Prophet made this bond clear when he said:

"I am leaving among you two precious things: the Book of Allah and my Family. Hold fast to them and you will never go astray."
(Hadith - Sahih Muslim, Tirmidhi)

This Hadith is not optional. It is a key.

The Light That Continues

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is not cut off.

"Indeed, We have granted you, [O Muhammad], al-Kawthar... Indeed, your enemy is the one cut off."
(Surah Al-Kawthar 108)

From this fountain flows the spiritual lineage that purified the Ummah for centuries:

Imam Junayd of Baghdad
Abdul Qadir al-Jilani
Imam Shadhili
Jalāl ad-Dīn Rūmī
Rabiʿa al-ʿAdawiyya

These saints are the purified vessels of the Prophet’s family. They did not theorize Islam—they lived it. They walked in light. They brought miracles. They did not abandon the sick or ignore the seeker. They guided souls back to Allah.

"Indeed, the allies (awliya’) of Allah—no fear will be upon them, nor will they grieve. Those who believed and were mindful of Allah—for them are glad tidings."
(Surah Yunus 10:62–64)

Character Is the Mirror

The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

"I was only sent to perfect good character."
(Sahih al-Bukhari)

And he also said:

"A Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hands the people are safe."
(Sunan al-Nasa’i)

Do not assume your charity or your prayer will protect you if your heart is diseased. Many Muslims today carry unseen illnesses of arrogance, anger, envy, deceit. Do not underestimate these.

"So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it."
(Surah Az-Zalzalah 99:7–8)

You must either admit you need purification or risk entering the grave with nothing.

The Divine Defense

"Indeed, Allah is the Defender of those who have believed."
(Surah Al-Hajj 22:38)

And He defends His close friends—those whose nights are filled with dhikr, whose hearts beat for the Prophet (ﷺ), and whose hands hold the Qur’an with awe.

These are the lovers of the Prophet. Their light is inherited. Their power is divine. Their station is not cut off.

Let this article be your lantern. Let the Qur’an and the family of the Prophet (ﷺ) be your compass. The world is deluded, but Allah is near. His Prophet is not cut off. His family is not abandoned.

You are the one who must return.

So my dear reader, I offer you the gift of the Tarīqa—the spiritual way of purification in Islam, passed down through the saints, the scholars, and the illuminated. This is not theory. This is the practical medicine for the diseases we carry, often unknowingly. If you believe you are free from these diseases—envy, arrogance, anger, pride, miserliness, heedlessness, and the rest—then perhaps this message is not for you. But for the rest of us struggling souls, it is a call to return.

I have invited many, both friends and family, to join the circles of light, to humble themselves and enter the sanctuaries of healing. I have said to them: Join the Tarīqa. Sit with the people of remembrance. Illuminate your soul with the light of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). But I have received deaf ears in return. So now, I leave this message as a legacy—accompanied by videos, links, and resources. If you are a family member, a friend, or someone seeking the truth, feel free to reach out. But know that I myself am still busy with my own spiritual diseases. I am not a guide—I am a patient.

Still, I have lit this lantern so you may not stumble in darkness. Because to paint the truth clearly is an obligation. Whether you choose to accept it or not is no longer my concern. The diseases of the heart are real, and if you do not deal with them, they will deal with you. The Tarīqa is not optional for the one who wishes to be sincere. The four madhāhib (legal schools) teach us how to worship—the Tarīqa teaches us how to purify.

Every great scholar was in a Tarīqa. Every heart that ascended did so through companionship and guidance. If you are not in a Tarīqa, ask yourself why. Do you not see your own flaws? Do you think you are safe from heedlessness, from vanity, from hidden shirk? Know that even those who pray and fast may carry envy, pride, or despair that bars them from Paradise.

So I leave you with the light. With the links. With the invitation to sit in the circles of guidance. May your journey be blessed. May your soul be illuminated. May you find the Family of the Prophet (peace be upon him), love them, honor them, and sit near them—because the Qur’an commands you to do so.

Allah said: "Say: I do not ask of you any reward for it but love for my near relatives." (Qur'an 42:23)

If you know nothing else, then just love them. If you do not know their names, their stations, their realities—then you are lost. You are walking or crawling when others are flying. And perhaps, you are far from the light because you have chosen to remain in the shadows of your nafs.

Remember this: your family can be your enemies. The Qur’an says:

"Indeed, among your spouses and your children are enemies to you, so beware of them." (Qur'an 64:14)

It is not evil to remain silent, to separate yourself from those who drag you away from Allah. Silence is not cruelty—it is protection. And love does not mean enabling the heedless.

So protect yourself. Know the friends of Allah. Sit in their circles. Do not speak against them. For even if you don’t understand them, their presence may be your salvation.

I am not perfect. I am not pure. But I know this truth and I have shared it. I leave you in the care of Allah. May your soul find its way to light, before it is taken.

وَمَن يُؤْمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ يَهْدِ قَلْبَهُۥ
"And whoever believes in Allah—He will guide his heart." (Qur'an 64:11)

So my dear reader, I offer you the gift of the Tarīqa—the spiritual way of purification in Islam, passed down through the saints, the scholars, and the illuminated. This is not theory. This is the practical medicine for the diseases we carry, often unknowingly. If you believe you are free from these diseases—envy, arrogance, anger, pride, miserliness, heedlessness, and the rest—then perhaps this message is not for you. But for the rest of us struggling souls, it is a call to return.

I have invited many, both friends and family, to join the circles of light, to humble themselves and enter the sanctuaries of healing. I have said to them: Join the Tarīqa. Sit with the people of remembrance. Illuminate your soul with the light of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). But I have received deaf ears in return. So now, I leave this message as a legacy—accompanied by videos, links, and resources. If you are a family member, a friend, or someone seeking the truth, feel free to reach out. But know that I myself am still busy with my own spiritual diseases. I am not a guide—I am a patient.

Still, I have lit this lantern so you may not stumble in darkness. Because to paint the truth clearly is an obligation. Whether you choose to accept it or not is no longer my concern. The diseases of the heart are real, and if you do not deal with them, they will deal with you. The Tarīqa is not optional for the one who wishes to be sincere. The four madhāhib (legal schools) teach us how to worship—the Tarīqa teaches us how to purify.

Allah said: "Say: I do not ask of you any reward for it but love for my near relatives." (Qur'an 42:23)

Remember this: your family can be your enemies. The Qur’an says:

> "Indeed, among your spouses and your children are enemies to you, so beware of them." (Qur'an 64:14)

It is not evil to remain silent, to separate yourself from those who drag you away from Allah. Silence is not cruelty—it is protection. And love does not mean enabling the heedless.

So protect yourself. Know the friends of Allah. Sit in their circles. Do not speak against them. For even if you don’t understand them, their presence may be your salvation.

I am not perfect. I am not pure. But I know this truth and I have shared it. I leave you in the care of Allah. May your soul find its way to light, before it is taken. Unless you have free yourself from all the diseases of the heart which I want you to look closely.

You're right — let me restore that important part for you. Here’s the classic checklist of the 40 spiritual diseases of the heart according to traditional Islamic scholars, especially those in the science of tazkiyah (purification of the soul). This list is often referenced in the circles of Tasawwuf and the ṭarīqah (spiritual path), especially by masters like Imam al-Ghazali, Imam al-Haddad, and more contemporary Sufi teachers.

40 Spiritual Diseases of the Heart

(You can use these as a personal self-inventory or checklist for purification)

Riyā’ – Showing off in worship or good deeds
Kibr – Arrogance, pride
Hasad – Envy
Ghībah – Backbiting
Namīmah – Tale-carrying/slander
Ghaflah – Heedlessness of Allah
ʿUjb – Self-admiration
Ḥasad – Wanting others' blessings to be removed
Ḥirṣ – Greed
Buẓr – Stinginess
Takabbur – Exaggerated self-importance
Ḥaqqad – Hatred for others
Ḥamm – Excessive worry or anxiety about dunya
Jubn – Cowardice in standing up for truth
Kadhb – Lying
Khiyānah – Betrayal of trust
Hirs ‘ala al-dunyā – Worldliness
Tashabbuh bil-kuffār – Imitation of disbelievers’ values
Tamaʿ – Expecting from people instead of Allah
Suhbah as-sū’ – Keeping bad company
Nifāq – Hypocrisy
Kufr an-niʿmah – Ingratitude for Allah’s blessings
Fujūr – Sinfulness/rebellion
Ghadab – Uncontrolled anger
Ḥub al-jāh – Love of status
Ḥub ad-dunyā – Excessive love of the world
Kashāfah – Shamelessness
Isrār ‘ala al-dhanb – Persistence in sin
ʿAdam al-ṣidq – Lack of sincerity
Tafākhur – Boasting
Taswīf – Procrastination in repentance
Ḥusn al-ẓann bi-nafsihi – Thinking highly of oneself
Sū’ al-ẓann – Having bad suspicion of others
Iḥbāṭ – Despair in Allah’s mercy
Khawf ghayrillah – Fear of other than Allah
Rajā’ fī ghayrillah – Hoping from other than Allah
Zuhūr – Vanity in clothing, wealth, or beauty
Ikhlāṭ al-niyyah – Mixing intentions
Tughyan – Transgressing limits
Takāthur – Competing in worldly gain

I called you—to understand what a ṭarīqah is.

To know what it means to have a teacher, a spiritual guide, a murshid—someone who has walked the path, who has been trained, who has trained others, and whose character has been purified by sitting in circles of light. These circles are not just gatherings—they are sanctuaries where hearts are healed, diseases are addressed, and the soul is illuminated.

The ṭarīqah is not a trend. It is not a theory. It is the living inheritance of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), passed down heart to heart, teacher to student, through generations of saints, scholars, and sincere seekers. It is mentorship born from love, correction rooted in compassion, and light that is only offered to those who seek it with humility.

I leave you with links and videos to help you reflect, to understand what is being offered, and to contemplate the gift that still exists among us today.

You may not be told where these circles are. You may have to journey. You may have to weep. You may have to experience disappointment until Allah shows you what He has preserved in His mercy. Guidance is personal. It happens one heart at a time.

If you find it—and you purify yourself—then know that you have attained success. If not, do not give up. Keep seeking, and at the very least, be someone who recognizes the beauty of what has been mentioned.

May you be blessed. May you be among those whose hearts are illuminated, whose diseases are treated, and whose souls are prepared for the greatest meeting—with Allah and with His beloved Prophet.

Watch "What Is Tariqa - Abdal Hakim Murad" on YouTube

I leave you now with the links and videos on this sacred subject.