Bad thoughts about the sufis is the death of the heart

[Kowneyn]

Tasawwuf is integral part of the muslim faith As Imam Anas ibn Malik explained in his memorable statement:

 

"-man tafaqqaha wa-lam yatasawwafa fa-qad tafassaq;

-wa-man tasawwafa wa-lam yatafaqqaha fa-qad tazandaq

-wa-man jamaca baynahumâ fa-qad taxaqqaq"

 

OR

 

-'He who learns jurisprudence and neglects Sufism becomes a reprobate;'

-'he who learns Sufism and neglects jurisprudence becomes an apostate;'

-'and he who combines both attains the realization of the Truth.'

 

What is tasawwuf: This is What one of the greatest shaikh , Shaikh Cabdul-Qaadir Al-Jeylaani( Radiallaahu canhu) said When someone asked him about Sufism [tasawwuf], the Shaikh (may Allah be well pleased with him) explained: 

 

 "The Sufi is someone who makes that which the Lord of Truth wishes from him the object of his own wish.  He renounces this world, so it serves him, and his allotted shares [aqsam] coincide with his needs.  He achieves his purpose in this world, before the Hereafter, for his well-being is ensured by his Lord." 

 

To those who have jumped on the band wagon of the wahhabi/salafi fitna we remind you of al-Dhahabi's advice in his biographical notice on Ibn all-Farid in Mizan al-i`tidal: "Do not hasten to judge, rather, keep the best opinion of Sufis";(9) of Imam Ghazali's advice in al-Munqidh min al-dalal: "Think good thoughts (about Sufis) and do not harbor doubts in your heart";(10) and of Ibn Hajar al-Haytami's fatwa concerning critics of those who respect tasawwuf and believe in awliya': "Bad thoughts about them (Sufis) is the death of the heart."(11) Take the great good that is in each of the works of the Sufis in the proper manner, respect the masters of tasawwuf, the least among whom towers high above you in knowledge, do not search out the disagreements of scholars, and stick to humbleness and respect before those who speak about Allah from Whom comes all success.

 

Allahummahdina fii man hadayt.

 

Kowneyn

 

Kowneyn

[Armstrong]

Salaamu Alaikum,

 

Nice article but some people have commited bidca and take sufism to a different level. I saw documentaries once on BBC and Channel 4 in England of mainly asian suffis doing a lot bidca singing and dancing and men and women were sitting in circles holding hands and meditating. Some suffi mosques in India are open to Muslim and Non-Muslim this is rather absurd.

 

W/Salaam,

 

Mujahid over and out !

[Samafal]

salaam,

 

Following the Holy Book, the kuran and the way of the prophet and his khulaful rashidin will do better than following certain sections.

 

Let us be muslims and let us follow the way of allah and his messenger then we will find succes in this world and hereafter.

 

w/salaam

[Baydan]

Salaama Aleykum, Kowneyn

 

Brotha, I'm still researching on the whole thing about sufism. There below is little something I found from Online Islamic dictionary. I'm inclined to do some more research but my bad suspisions of any sects/group or any particalur labelings, according to this article, is well founded. Your take in this, if you may O'brother of Islam.

 

Sufi

A Muslim who has accepted misguidance by dividing into a sect of people who worship graves and saints and claim Divine incarnation. Tasawwuf (mystism) has come to be known as "Sufism" in the west.

SUFI, (The Persian form of the plural being Sufiyan). A man of the people called Sufiyah who profess the mystic principle of Tasawwuf. There is considerable discussion as to the origin of this word. It is said to be derived (1) from the Arabic Suf , "wool," on account of the woollen dress worn by Eastern ascetics; (2) or from the Arabic Safu, "purity," with reference to the effort to attain the metaphysical purity (which is scarcely probable); (3) or from the Greek, meaning "wisdom"; (4) or, according to the Ghiyasu'l-Lughat, it is derived from the Su fah, the name of the tribe of Arabs who in the "time of ignorance," separated themselves from the world, and engaged themselves exclusively in the service of the Makkah Temple.

 

From the very days of Muhammad, saaws, there have been always those who, whilst they called themselves Muslims, set aside the literal meaning of the words of Muhammad, saaws, for a supposed mystic or spiritual interpretation, and it is generally admitted by Sufis that one of the great founders of their system, as found in Islam, was the adopted son (sic) and son-in-law of the Prophet, 'Ali ibn Abi Talib. The Sufis themselves admit that their religious system has always existed in the world, prior to the mission of Muhammad, saaws, and the unprejudiced student of their system will observe that Tasawwuf, or Sufism, is but a Muslim adaptation of the Vedanta school of Hindu philosophers (sic), and which also we find in the writings of old academics of Greece, and Sir William Jones thought Plato learned from the sages of the East.

 

The Sufis are divided into innumerable sects, which find expression in the numerous religious orders of Darweshes or Faqirs; but although they differ in name and in some of their customs, as dress, meditations and recitations, they are all agreed in their principal tenets, particularly those which inculcate the absolute necessity of blind submission to a murshid, or inspired guide. It is generally admitted that, quite irrespective of minor sects, the Sufis are divided into those who claim to be only the Ilhamiyah, or inspired of God, and those who assert that they are Ittihadiyah, or unionist with God (sic).

 

There is more, but this article was more acute, some what summarises what the others I've read said about sufism.