Declaration – 1 Muharram 1433 (2011-11-27)

Instructions from Hazrat Dr. Nour Ali Tabandeh, Majzoub Ali Shah
To the Honorable Mashayekh

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To the esteemed brothers, the honorable Mashayekh – may God grant them success,

With greetings and prayers to the Divine for your increasing success in carrying out the entrusted divine mission, I hereby remind you of a few matters which, due to the current time and circumstances, require heightened attention and adherence:

1. Opposition to the path of “faqr” and “Mysticism”, whether intense or mild, has existed throughout Islamic history and indeed, signs of it are present in the history of all religions. In essence, this opposition is mostly from the people of outward form and appearance toward the inner and spiritual truths, which God has deprived some from comprehending and attaining. Yet in our time, this opposition—and even outright hostility—has reached its peak. The antagonists, with all their craftiness, seek to discredit the elders of this path by exposing minor and insignificant faults—faults that are widespread among themselves—trying to portray them in a negative and distorted manner in public to undermine the popularity born of their moral integrity. Although God is our protector, we must remain vigilant; when these external devils align with the internal ones (the ego), combating them requires alertness, vigilance, and the greater jihad (“jihad al-akbar”)—a task that is not easily accomplished.
2. The words and actions of the Mashayekh are a model for other “fuqara”, and even serve as a measure for others in society who form opinions about “faqr” and “Mysticism”. For this reason, in the spirit of the saying حَسَنَاتُ الْاَبْرارِ سَيِّئَاتُ الْمُقَرَبِين (“The good deeds of the righteous are the sins of those close [to God]”), there may be acts that others might find acceptable, yet are unbecoming if performed by you. If there have been, God forbid, any past shortcomings by any of you, once appointed to the mission of spiritual guidance and support, those errors are considered forgiven and, God willing, erased. But from the moment of appointment onward, any slip—even minor—can cause greater lapses in the “fuqara” and damage their faith. Such repetition is therefore unacceptable. Safeguarding the divine responsibility entrusted to you is a heavy and serious task. At a higher level, even the Prophet (PBUH) was advised by God to exercise patience and steadfastness. Considering the corruption common among some who wear religious garb, which has driven people away from religion, you must be more vigilant than ever about your smallest actions and movements. This very mindfulness is the highest form of inviting others to the Straight Path and guiding them.
3. The Mashayekh should act and provide guidance strictly within their assigned duties and must avoid any involvement in the personal affairs of the “fuqara”, including economic or family matters. They must also instruct their relatives and associates not to exploit their good name for material gain or worldly interests. Of course, such avoidance does not contradict our duty to serve God’s creation and to support the “fuqara”, which remains a shared obligation for all of us.
4. In interactions with women, strict adherence to religious standards must be observed, avoiding any situations that might arouse suspicion. Therefore, private meetings with women should ideally be reduced or eliminated. Necessary answers to their questions should be provided in public settings in a way that does not reveal the identity of the questioner. During visits by women, full attention must be given to ensure that, where possible, a trustworthy elderly woman is present, and that the seeker is modestly dressed, without makeup, and maintains proper distance. Touching hands with women, even with gloves, is strictly impermissible. Attending mixed gatherings where hijab is not observed, such as some wedding events, is also not appropriate. The Mashayekh must earnestly remind women that public gatherings in “faqr” differ from other social gatherings. The sanctity of these gatherings depends on observing their etiquette. Wearing inappropriate clothing or heavy makeup under the chador in a gathering held in remembrance of the Beloved must be avoided to maintain its sanctity.
5. Regarding financial matters—which, after gender interactions, are the second most common basis for accusations against the Mashayekh—great caution is necessary. For example, do not accept religious dues (“wujuhat”) personally; instead, direct the donor to the officials responsible for such funds. Do not accept donations or gifts meant for you from non-“fuqara”, unknown individuals, or those potentially suspected of misconduct.
6. Avoid behaviors that may appear inappropriate or provoke envy. For instance, avoid traveling in luxurious cars or attending potentially extravagant gatherings. Even unnecessary expansion or decoration of “faqr” gathering places under current conditions is ill-advised. Never forget that the economic conditions of most people—including the “fuqara”—are such that they sometimes cannot even meet their basic daily needs.
7. Given the current political disputes, avoid expressing opinions on political matters in a way that may lead others to think you support a specific group or figure. As I stated in the first “Declaration”, every “dervish”, including yourselves, is free to engage in social and political matters according to their faith-guided reason. However, this must not give the impression that your stance reflects the official view of the “faqr” path.
8. Encourage the “fuqara” to be more committed to ethical principles. The current state of affairs clearly reflects the Qur’anic verse ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ . Adhering to moral principles, which the Holy Prophet (PBUH) declared as his mission to complete, is crucial in our time. While it may not cure the moral and spiritual decline in society, it can at least soothe it. Kindly and with wise counsel, warn the “fuqara”—especially the youth and women—against spending their free time in activities that consciously or unconsciously promote immorality and societal corruption or weaken family structures. Such activities include attending certain parties, excessive interaction with friends who lack ethical commitment, or watching certain television programs and foreign films.

Clearly, most of the above are among the longstanding general guidelines that, praise be to God, the Mashayekh have always observed. Nevertheless, it is necessary to reiterate them to ensure even greater attention. It is also appropriate for those authorized to lead prayers (“ma'zunin-e namaz”) to be made aware of the parts that concern them. Peace be upon those who follow guidance and avoid error and ruin.