According to Sahibul Jalwah (rali) of Kilakarai, a newcomer to the Sufistic fold has to undergo intensive training under the guidance of a Spiritual Master, after becoming his murid. The Shaykh will train him in the fields of 'Earnest Striving against the Carnal Soul'. The Shaykh will also teach the exercises of al Khalwah wal 'Uzlah (solitariness and withdrawal),
at taqwa wal wara'u (the Awe of Allah and Abstaining from the undesirables) and az Zuhd was Samt (Renunciation and Silence).

With this the Murid will try to overcome illusions, desires and egoisim, which are the strongest obstructions in his way. He will also try to get rid of the egocentric impulses of the evil inspiring soul called An Nafsul Ammarah.

In his Ghaninatus Salikin (which means 'The booty of the travellers in the spiritual path'), Imamul 'Arus (rali) says as follows:

A beginner to the Sufistic path is known as Salik. He, as the murid of a tariqah, has to slowly ascend through the four stages under the guidance of a Shaykh (Murshid). The first stage is humanity (Nasut), in which the disciple must live according to the laws of Shariah, including additional spiritual activities taught by his Shaykh. The second stage is the nature of angels (Malakut) for which there is the Pathway of Purity. The third stage is the possession of power (Jabarut), for which there is knowledge (Ma'rifah) and the fourth is extinction (Fana) i.e. annihilating all and getting absorbed in the love of Allah, which, then is the state of Haqiqah.

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