❖ Question:
Is it obligatory to follow Sufi orders such as Naqshbandi, Qadiri, Chishti, or Suhrawardi? And if someone does not adhere to any of these, will he be considered a fāsiq (sinner)?
All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
In Islam, obedience is due only to Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ).
﴿وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ﴾
“Obey Allah and the Messenger so that you may be shown mercy.”
(Āl-‘Imrān: 132)
Sufi orders (ṭarīqahs) hold no obligatory or binding status in Islamic Shari‘ah.
While it is possible that the founders of such orders were righteous individuals, many innovations (bid‘āt) and forbidden practices have been introduced into these ṭarīqahs over time.
“Today, many innovations have crept into the Sufi orders, such as:
“Whoever introduces into this religion of ours something that does not belong to it, it will be rejected.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 2697; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1718)
No. One who does not follow any Sufi order is not a fāsiq; rather, he is upon the correct belief.
On the contrary, those who promote innovations and un-Islamic practices within Sufi orders are themselves in error and misguidance.
“Sufi paths (ṭarīqahs) are not obligatory in Islam. Whoever follows the path laid down by Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) does not need any other path.”
[Majmū‘ al-Fatāwā: 3/416]
❶ Only the Qur’an and Sunnah are obligatory to follow.
❷ Following any Sufi ṭarīqah is not obligatory, as they hold no binding status in Shari‘ah.
❸ Many innovations and prohibited acts have entered modern Sufi orders.
❹ One who does not adhere to a Sufi path is not sinful, rather he is on the correct path.
❺ It is imperative that Muslims base their faith and practice solely on the Qur’an and Sunnah, and avoid innovations and deviations.
وَاللهُ أَعلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
May Allah guide us all to the path of truth.
Is it obligatory to follow Sufi orders such as Naqshbandi, Qadiri, Chishti, or Suhrawardi? And if someone does not adhere to any of these, will he be considered a fāsiq (sinner)?
❀ Answer:
All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
In Islam, obedience is due only to Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ).
Allah says:
﴿وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ﴾
“Obey Allah and the Messenger so that you may be shown mercy.”
(Āl-‘Imrān: 132)
❖ Legal Standing of Sufi Orders in Shari‘ah:
Sufi orders (ṭarīqahs) hold no obligatory or binding status in Islamic Shari‘ah.
While it is possible that the founders of such orders were righteous individuals, many innovations (bid‘āt) and forbidden practices have been introduced into these ṭarīqahs over time.
The Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Ifta’ (Fatāwā al-Lajnah al-Dā’imah 2/250–254) states:
“Today, many innovations have crept into the Sufi orders, such as:
- Group dhikr in circles
- Repetition of specific phrases in melodious tones
- Chanting 'Allāh Allāh', 'Hū Hū'
- Seeking help from the dead (e.g., saying 'Yā Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī, al-madad')
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:
“Whoever introduces into this religion of ours something that does not belong to it, it will be rejected.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 2697; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1718)
❖ Is One a Fāsiq for Not Following a Sufi Ṭarīqah?
No. One who does not follow any Sufi order is not a fāsiq; rather, he is upon the correct belief.
On the contrary, those who promote innovations and un-Islamic practices within Sufi orders are themselves in error and misguidance.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) said:
“Sufi paths (ṭarīqahs) are not obligatory in Islam. Whoever follows the path laid down by Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) does not need any other path.”
[Majmū‘ al-Fatāwā: 3/416]✔ Conclusion:
❶ Only the Qur’an and Sunnah are obligatory to follow.
❷ Following any Sufi ṭarīqah is not obligatory, as they hold no binding status in Shari‘ah.
❸ Many innovations and prohibited acts have entered modern Sufi orders.
❹ One who does not adhere to a Sufi path is not sinful, rather he is on the correct path.
❺ It is imperative that Muslims base their faith and practice solely on the Qur’an and Sunnah, and avoid innovations and deviations.
وَاللهُ أَعلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
May Allah guide us all to the path of truth.
