If you look at the people who are in the path of tasawwuf, you will see that many of them are in denial, in disorder and in a state that messes with all methods to make inventions from nowhere. Many of them are ignorant, stupid as well as deceitful, cheating, self-boasting and arrogant. The worse of them are the ones who look badly upon the people of zuhd (abstinence) and taqwa (piety) and the people of sidk (loyalty) and safa (purity).
The people of safa carry signs which are too exquisite to describe, too far to imagine.
Being clear from the dirt of the nafs, the common people and the disasters of the world in his speech, actions and behaviour is one of the signs of the sufi. Clearing the inspirations that come to his heart from the dirt of being far from Allah; looking at nothing else but Him. Also, these are among the signs of the sufi: Although he is with his nafs, he is far from the disgraceful traits of the nafs. Although he is with the common people, he does not mix in with the disgraces of these people. He has a heart, but his heart belongs to Allah. He has states, but he is unaware of the states. He has time, but he is free of the records of time.
That he stands firm and stable in the ground of al-Haqq, that he is down and low before the majesty of the power of al-Haqq, that he is content with al-Haqq without need for anyone other than Him; these are among the traits of the sufi.
The sufi whips his heart with the fear of turning toward anyone other than al-Haqq in apparently or secretly, with the fear that the connection between him and al-Haqq will be severed. The sufi illuminates his nafs with the noor (light) of service, his heart with the noor of muhabbat and his essence with the noor of marifat.
The heart of the sufi flies with the wings of passion. Another sign of a sufi is his essence being together with al-Haqq for al-Haqq in the path of al-Haqq, along with the grace of his longing and the depth of his sadness. The sufi moves away and escapes from the possessions (the creatures) of al-Haqq to turn to His supremacy with all his being. For the sufis, the taste of being a friend to the Rabb of the realms is hidden in the intensity of the delight experienced with finding Him.
The sufi has abandoned turning from al-Haqq in order to to turn to common people; he has turned to Him, he has trusted Him and he has found certainty in Him.
Fearful heart, divine speech, ilm (knowledge) from Rabb, individual striving, soulful life, illuminated destiny and supreme meaning are among the traits of the sufi.
The sufi has apparently and secretly surrendered all his will and choice to al-Haqq with gratitude. Reciting al-Haqq at all times with his tongue and with his heart, he never falls into the sea of blasphemy, he never gets lost in the deserts of forgetfulness.
He knows that his Rabb watches him from the ultimate sky and that He is aware of his every state. He dissolves before the supremacy of the gaze of al-Haqq. His being gets blown to pieces before the magnificence of His power. Letting go of all pleasures other than the sweetness of the muhabbat of his Rabb, he dives into the sea of blessings in a pure state.
The sufi walks right ahead on the straight path of being the qull (servant) of Allah, without remaining at the surface of the ibadat (worship). Due to his heart trusting Allah, he remains far from any affair which keeps Him from Allah. He is extremely modest before the holders of iman. Till the moment he attains the intimacy of Allah, he sits on the mantle of sadness with His forgiveness and blessing.
The tongue of the sufi is the same as his heart; he is whole in essence and speech. He is straight in all his behaviour and speech. He is far from the disgraceful trait mentioned in the verse: ‘Why do you tell the things you will not be able to do?’ (the Qur’an, Al Saf, 2) He is grateful for the smallness of the blessing, he is patient before the greatness of the trouble. He is content with the decisions of al-Rabb the holder of grace. His heart is always wide awake for Allah.
He fears no one other than Allah, he expects nothing from anyone else but Allah. When he asks, he asks only from Allah. He knows that there is no being other than Allah who gives harm or gives blessings or raises or takes down or gives grace or gives misery.
The sufi is subject to the sunnah and the ethics of the Prophet (sa) of Allah and to the path of his Ashab (companions). He fears from being disgraceful. While common people are busy with destiny, he is busy with the creator of that destiny. While common people are busy with taking precautions, he is busy with al-Haqq who does and explains everything with precaution.
The sufi sits on the mantle of service with edeb (divine manners). He leans on the cushion of faqr and non-possession. He becomes worthy of being accepted to the rooms of intimacy and witnessing of his Rabb. He drinks from His cup of muhabbat and friendship. The sufi keeps quiet and swallows his anger. Without bothering with the tendencies of his heart, he takes hold of his worldly desires and leaves comfort.
A person who moves from the benefits to his nafs, who leaves worldly desires and comforts with the fear that a distance would enter between himself and his Beloved, is the most gracious and pious, the most straight and clean, the most wise and dignified. He looks at the world with the eye of watchfulness, he looks at his nafs with degradation, he looks at the ahirat (afterworld) with hope, he looks at his Rabb with adoration.
In terms of his loyalty, the sufi is like the high unshakable mountains. No violent storm can move him from his place. He does not want what does not belong to him, he does not worry about what is not given to him. He is far from being a servant to the created, he has devoted himself to serving the Rabb of the realms. He does not turn his face from al-Haqq beecause of the troubles that come from Him. He does not choose any other than Him as his Beloved. The nafs of the sufi is clear from faults and misery, his heart is far from ignorance and forgetting. His heart is not content with any power other than al-Haqq.
The sustenance of the sufi is the approval of Allah. His crying is like the heartfelt crying of a mother who has lost his child. His heart only leans on Allah, only surrenders to Him; he is grateful to Him only for any blessing. He presents his needs to Him only. In all circumstances, he is friends with al-Haqq. He turns to Him with his every act. He speaks about al-Haqq with his every word. He has left his will to Allah the holder of majesty. His sleep is little, his sadness is deep, his body is weak, his friend is Allah the Maleek (Owner) and the Jaleel (Majestic).
Allah suffices for us, what a gracious caretaker He is!