Question: I am a Muslim, as are my parents and grandparents. I believe in Islaam in my heart, have Eemaan (Faith), do good deeds, and behave in accordance with the teachings of Islaam, except that which I have no knowledge of. I have two Muslim friends; one of them follows the Al-`Uloowiyyah Tareeqah (Sufi order), which is named after Shaykh Ibn `Ulwah Al-Mustaghnee. He established a number of Sufi Zawiya (lodges) that are all called Masjid Al-Zuhd. I have other friends following the Hamdawah Tareeqah, and they play with fire and practice magic. Other friends of mine follow the `Issawah Tareeqah and they tame snakes, practice magic, and sell amulets to protect the people from snakes and from being harmed by the Jinn (creatures created from fire), etc. Another one of my brothers is a fighter in the National Liberation Front and another has joined the Muslim Scouts. Which of these Tariqahs is the most correct? Will the followers of these paths be rewarded or called to account due to their practices, and what is the evidence for that? Please guide me to the truth, as I cannot decide which path is correct and which is wrong, maybe because I am not well-versed in Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence). Is there any good in these superstitions; if they are really superstitions?
Answer: The sound path is the path of Islaam, which was revealed in the Qur’aan and clarified by the Messenger of Allaah, Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). This way necessitates belief in Allaah, His Angels, Books, Messengers, the Last Day, and the Divine Decree, whether good or bad, sweet or bitter. It also entails a declaration of the Shahaadah (Testimony of Faith), testifying to Tawheed (the Oneness of Allaah) and to the Message of Allaah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to all the people, establishing Salaah (Prayer), paying Zakaah (obligatory charity), Sawm (Fasting) in Ramadaan, and performing Hajj to the Ka`bah (in Makkah). Islaam requires enjoining what is good, forbidding what is evil, striving to support Islaam, being patient on experiencing hardship while protecting and spreading it, adhering to the Muslim mainstream, loving and hating for the Sake of Allaah, and other teachings revealed through the Qur’aan and the Sunnah… read more here.