Declaration – 15 Jumada al-Thani 1431 (2010-05-29)

Declaration of Hazrat Haj Dr. Nour Ali Tabandeh, Majzoub Ali Shah
Regarding the Prohibition of Drug Addiction, Distribution, and Sale

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Dear brothers, especially the esteemed Mashayekh and authorized representatives, may God protect them,

It has recently been heard that in some areas, individuals have become addicted to narcotic substances or have been involved in their distribution and sale. While hoping that this news is entirely unfounded, I found it necessary to emphasize the following points:

• As I have pointed out in the first Declaration on the occasion of the passing of Hazrat Mahboub Ali Shah —may his soul be sanctified, and have repeated in various ways on numerous occasions, addiction to narcotics disrupts and even eliminates one’s reason, and leads to hallucinations which are particularly harmful for the seeker. Morally, it induces weakness and disgrace that are contrary to both individual and social ethics. Its physical effects are also quite evident.
  The harmful consequences of this act are so numerous that more than a century ago, my noble ancestor and venerable Sufi predecessor, the late Hazrat Sultan Ali Shah the Martyr, despite generally not involving himself in legal-religious rulings, sensed the danger and, for the first time, declared its prohibition in his exegesis “Bayan al-Sa‘adah”, under the verse cited at the beginning of this letter. The outcomes of his mystical insight and foresight are now observable, as this affliction has become a national and even international crisis. Since then, his successors have confirmed and implemented the same ruling.
• Addiction to narcotics not only corrupts the addict but also leads to the corruption of others. Therefore, efforts must be made to prevent its spread. Those who, God forbid, engage in the distribution or sale of narcotics are more sinful than the addicts themselves. The sin of this act increases when it occurs in Sufi gatherings, which are gatherings of intimacy and remembrance of God and possess their own sanctity. Vigilance is necessary to prevent the presence of addicts or distributors in these gatherings.
• It is the duty of all “fuqara” to assist in the rehabilitation of addicts and to prevent the spread or normalization of addiction. Especially the Mashayekh, who are responsible for the spiritual guidance of the “fuqara”, are obliged to take serious action in this regard.
• The most important responsibility and occupation of the esteemed Mashayekh is the education and rectification of the brethren’s deficiencies. Their presence in gatherings brings spiritual vitality, which compensates for intellectual voids. Therefore, all brothers, and especially the Mashayekh and authorized representatives, must attend the gatherings as much as possible. Their zeal for the brethren and sensitivity to faults, mistakes, and insubordination should not hinder their participation.
• The enemies of “faqr” have made efforts—and continue to do so—to sow discord and to shut down gatherings of God's remembrance, even if by our own hands. The absence or withdrawal of brothers, especially the Mashayekh, from these gatherings only facilitates the enemies’ goals. Let us not set ourselves on fire with our own hands. Dear brothers must obey the Mashayekh in such matters, and in urgent cases, remind them confidentially.

I pray to the Generous Lord for your success in this path. Wa al-salam (Peace).