Divine permission (idhn) is a prerequisite for spiritual elevation (rifʿa); without it, such elevation cannot be attained. This principle is fundamental. Many engage in acts of worship, yet their prayers fail to rise even a handspan above their heads, remaining earthbound due to the absence of permission (idhn).

Moreover, spiritual permission (idhn) is indispensable for the acquisition of authentic religious knowledge (ʿilm). Anyone who claims to have memorized a ḥadīth or to grasp its meaning must have obtained permission (idhn) from the source (maṣdar)—namely, from those who transmitted that Prophetic ḥadīth, its interpretation (tafsīr), or its underlying significance. These transmitters are the scholars of ḥadīth (muḥaddithūn), who possess well-established chains of transmission (isnād).

In the realm of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), learning must take place under the guidance of a jurist (faqīh) who has been authorized with a permission (idhn) that can be traced back to the Prophet ﷺ. This transmission of knowledge must occur through a continuous chain (silsila) from teacher to student. The validity of one's knowledge in fiqh depends on this unbroken chain of transmission (isnād), which must ultimately lead to one of the four recognized schools of thought: Ḥanafī, Mālikī, Shāfi‘ī, or Ḥanbalī. For instance, if one claims to be a Mālikī scholar, their chain of transmission must trace back to Imām Mālik, who himself received his knowledge from the early generations, ultimately linking back to the Prophet ﷺ. Only such a chain constitutes a valid isnād.

Simply put, one who has not received their knowledge through a documented chain of teachers (shuyūkh) that reaches back to the founding figures of their school cannot be considered to possess authentic knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh). Filling one's library with books and reading them endlessly does not suffice to make one a jurist (faqīh).

Similarly, memorizing Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī or Sunan al-Tirmidhī does not confer the true knowledge of Prophetic ḥadīth. Merely memorizing ḥadīth from texts is praiseworthy, yet it falls short of acquiring genuine knowledge. True mastery of the ḥadīth sciences requires the receipt of permission (idhn) through an unbroken chain of transmission that leads directly back to the original compiler, such as al-Bukhārī. Only then can one rightfully claim to possess a connected understanding of the Prophetic ḥadīth as conveyed by al-Bukhārī.

This principle applies not only to the text of the ḥadīth itself but also to its interpretations and, more broadly, to Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) and its juristic applications.

The recitation and memorization of the Qur’ān are governed by the same rules. Learning from the codex (muṣḥaf) or listening to recordings does not suffice. Even if one’s recitation is flawless, it holds no true spiritual weight in the absence of permission (idhn). God Almighty warns of such individuals in the Qur’ān, comparing them to "a donkey carrying scrolls" (Qur’ān 62:5) and describing their recitation as merely cast "into the hearts of the criminals" (Qur’ān 15:12). The blessing (baraka) and spiritual elevation (rifʿa) must be received from a Shaykh, serving as a human intermediary (wāṣiṭa).

The Prophet ﷺ instructed, "Choose your imams as your intercessors on the Day of Resurrection." The imam from whom you acquire your knowledge—whether it be Prophetic narration (ḥadīth), Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), Qur’ānic recitation, or any Prophetic practice (sunnah)—if linked to the Prophet ﷺ through a chain of transmission, will serve as your intercessor before God. Hence, it is of utmost importance to choose your imams, your guides in your religious pursuits, with great care.

In today's world, knowledge is widespread, and libraries and digital resources are easily accessible. One can study the four schools of thought and acquire technical proficiency without undergoing formal traditional training. The six major collections of Prophetic ḥadīth, including Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, are available to all. However, the spiritual blessing (baraka) cannot be downloaded from the internet or purchased from a bookstore. Without permission (idhn), all reading and listening lack the transformative power that spiritual idhn imparts. Understand this well, disciples: without spiritual permission (idhn), there can be no true elevation (rifʿa), no blessing (baraka), and diminished reward (ajr).

Our litany (wird) transmits divine light instantly because its chain of transmission (isnād) connects directly to Sayyidunā ʿAlī (ʿalayhi al-salām), who received it from the Prophet ﷺ. Our isnād is unbroken, a living chain, the proof of which is the Light of God (nūr Allāh).

You must also be aware, disciples, that in our time, the number of individuals tracing back to the Prophet ﷺ in an unbroken chain of transmission (isnād) must number between forty-five and forty-six. Anyone claiming a shorter isnād—such as forty-four—is not being truthful. In all matters of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), Prophetic narration (ḥadīth), and practice (sunnah), there must be forty-six or, in rare cases, forty-five intermediaries tracing back to the Prophet ﷺ in the chain of transmission. This knowledge is crucial for you to authenticate the isnāds you seek in the broader Islamic sciences, beyond just Sufism (taṣawwuf).