Sufi Masters and their 'Short-cuts' - the carrot for the donkeys

A lot of big hats and fancy twirling about... these Sufis and their shortcuts... Bah! Humbug!

Some Muslims complain that the Sufi way is full of "short-cuts" - As how the contemplation of a learned man is worth seventy (or seventy thousand) prayers of a layman. As how a courtesan can gain paradise after years of sinful trade by giving water to thirsty dying dogs... And many, many more examples to boot.

But I will let you into a secret, sunshine. These so-called 'short-cuts' are just bait, a carrot that the Masters dangle in front of their mureeds (students). So the mureeds are motivated and tempted by the sweet carrots and 'short-cut' stories and Prophetic traditions, and we take the bait, taking one grudging step after another, neither flying like a hawk nor galloping like an Arabian stallion but simply walking, iust like the donkeys that most of us are. But then, after what FEELS like the longest time, the Masters would suddenly turn to us and say, "Okay, my little donkeys... look how far you have traveled. Look around you!!"... For us to find ourselves at a different place from where we once were. Not physically, but in the most important sense of them all, in the sense of perspective and meanings - Perhaps you have not moved at all. You are still staying in the same house. You are still working in the same job and married to the same person. But now... Ah, everything and everyone appears much, much better. Because you have been trained to look with your heart, through love, mercy, understanding and tolerance. And patience. Lots and lots of patience.

You might not believe it, but this is a Sufi mureed.

Quite a good success story for a little donkey, don't you agree?

Hehehe.

So no short-cuts at all, sunshine. Only a path vouched safe by the Prophet, the Companions and the Saints, God's guide to the nation of Mankind (and Donkeykind).

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way