We should all have spiritual guides in our lives. Spiritual mentors are people who care about our spiritual health, personal development, and reaching our full potential. They may assist us in learning new skills or knowledge, providing guidance and wisdom for decision-making, or holding us accountable for how we interact with ourselves and the world around us. There are many benefits of following a spiritual mentor.
Spiritual mentors are not perfect individuals. They do not have to be perfect. They do not have to be elders or ordained community members. They should, however, outgrow you in spiritual maturity and challenge you in your growth. They should be friendly, loving, genuine, encouraging, and approachable. They should also be approachable and willing to mentor. Here are 30 benefits of following a spiritual mentor:
Benefits of following a spiritual mentor
1. A mentor is like a mirror who shows you your spiritual sicknesses which are completely hidden from your sight without him.
2. A mentor also acknowledges the distance that you have actually crossed in your spiritual journey, so you remain encouraged and motivated.
3. A mentor makes you develop that insight so you can see the virtues of other people rather than focusing on their vices alone.
4. When 2 Quranic verses or prophetic sayings seem contradictory to one another, a mentor tells you which verse or saying is applicable in your specific case.
5. Sufism is personalized Shariah. A mentor gives you guidance according to your personality, character, temperament, and habits, which will benefit your spiritual growth.
6. A mentor translates your life experiences into practical wisdom and insight, so you are able to comprehend God’s plan in what you went through.
7. A mentor teaches you real humility & humbleness because you always compare yourself with him rather than the society or world.
8. A mentor tells you where and how your Nafs (lower self) or Satan are deceiving you so you can see things with the light of Allah.
9. A mentor tells you what exactly Allah wants from you, so you don’t commit the blunder of traveling 100 miles on the wrong path, only to find it was not for you.
10. A mentor teaches you the reality of reverence for the Holy Prophet SWS and love for Allah which are the fuel for any spiritual journey.
11. While a scholar can only give you an intellectual understanding of religion, a mentor can instill in you the spiritual states which complement that understanding.
12. In the company of your mentor, there is no conflict between your heart and mind.
13. A mentor teaches you the art of silence when you don’t understand the wisdom of Sufis, saints, sages & mystics.
14. A mentor teaches you the limitations of logic, so you don’t apply it where it’s not to be applied.
15. A mentor inculcates in you a drop from the ocean of the morals of the Holy Prophet SWS so that people smell the fragrance of your good morals.
16. In the presence of a mentor, you feel a major boost in your level of faith and conviction.
17. A mentor teaches you that knowledge that is not found in books or Youtube – it is only possible to understand that after many years of experience on the spiritual path.
18. A mentor teaches you to get rid of those desires which are a hurdle in your relationship with Allah.
19. From your mentor, you learn how to attain purity of intention in an age devoid of purity.20. After following a mentor, you are less impressed by Philosophers or Scientists and more inspired by saints who have more worth in the eyes of Allah.
21. A mentor teaches you the mindset where instead of focusing on rectifying others, you are more interested in your self-purification.
22. A mentor grants you that attitude that makes you think positively in the face of harsh circumstances in life.
23. A mentor teaches you the reality of gratitude when you lose sight of your blessings from Allah.
24. A Mentor gives you a deeper understanding of patience so you truly practice it during adversity.
25. You learn to trust in Allah from a mentor who makes you escape from the chains of cause and effect.
26. You develop that eye by which you stop judging people according to their ranks – worldly or religious – you embrace them purely as people of Allah.
27. You are able to establish the hierarchy of objectives in Islam by correctly prioritizing which aspect is how important.
28. Instead of accumulating wealth, you start spending on others.
29. You climb the ladder of piety from belief to actions to excellence.
30. Instead of quantity, you concentrate on the quality of deeds.
