Servant of Allah
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What is Sufism & what did the scholars say regarding it? &can you please mention a list of examples of Sufi beliefs in the modern day era
Sufism
- Thread starter Servant of Allah
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Here are the most prominent points regarding Sufism (Tasawwuf), its definition, the statements of scholars about it, and examples of modern-day Sufi beliefs.
1. What is Sufism (Tasawwuf)?
The terms Tasawwuf and Sufism are not names praised by Qur'an or Sunnah like Islam, Iman, Ihsan.
Nor are they automatically condemned like kufr, fisq, ‘isyān.
They are new terms that appeared after the first three generations.
Shaykh al Islam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله explained that:
So, Sufism is not one single thing:
• Some aspects = permissible (like basic zuhd)
• Some aspects = makruh
• Some aspects = bid'ah
• Some aspects = major shirk and kufr (e.g., calling upon dead saints)
2. Origin of Sufism
Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله said:
Sufism appeared after the best generations, whom the Prophet ﷺ said:
Thus Sufism is historically a later development, not part of original Islam.
3. How Sufi tareeqahs contradict the Sunnah
Every Sufi order (Naqshbandi, Qadiri, Chishti, Shadhili, Tijani, etc.) has:
[]A distinct ritual dhikr, invented by its founder
[]A special hizb/wird, not established by Qur'an or Sunnah
[]A chain (silsilah) allegedly reaching the Prophet ﷺ
[]Rules of uniform clothing, sitting, swaying, chanting- Absolute obedience to a Shaykh (murshid), even if he is ignorant
This contradicts the ayah:
The Standing Committee said:
4. The problem of Sufism today
While early ascetics practiced personal zuhd, modern Sufism is filled with innovations, and many of them are clear shirk:
The Standing Committee warned:
Thus, in our era, the correct approach is clear warning against Sufi paths, because:
• Mawlid celebrations
• Grave worship
• Dead-saint invocation
• Extreme obedience to shaykhs
• Invented dhikrs
• Chanting and dancing rituals
• Claims of miracles (karamat)
are all standard features of modern Sufism.
Shaykh al Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said:
5. Examples of modern Sufi beliefs & practices
Here is a summarized list of widespread Sufi innovations today:
A. Major Shirk practices
[]Calling upon dead saints:
“Madad ya Abdul Qadir”, “Ya Ghaws”, “Ya Data”, “Ya Khawaja”
[]Seeking help, children, wealth from graves
[]Slaughtering animals for saints
[]Making tawaf around graves
[]Prostrating at shrines
[]Making vows (mannat) at tombs
All of these violate:
B. Innovated forms of dhikr
[]Chanting “HUUU… HUUU” in circles
[]Chanting “AH, AH” as contraction of Allah
[]Jumping, dancing, whirling (Sama’, Hadra, Dhikr al Jama’i)
[]Clapping and beating drums in “zikr mehfils”
[]Spinning like whirling dervishes
[]Breathing exercises claiming “spiritual openings”
None of these were practiced by the Prophet ﷺ or Sahabah.
C. False beliefs about the Shaykhs
[]The Shaykh knows your thoughts
[]The Shaykh controls the universe (aqtab, awtad, abdal)
[]The Shaykh can forgive sins
[]The Shaykh appears in dreams and grants salvation- The Shaykh has “special light” passed by hand (bay‘ah)
These are forms of ghuluw (exaggeration) condemned by the Prophet ﷺ:
D. Innovated celebrations & gatherings
[]Urs (saint’s death anniversary celebrations)
[]Qawwali / Sufi music
[]Mawlid with chanting, parades, lights
[]Annual khatams at graves- Distributing food “in the name of the saint”
These have no basis in the deen and contradict the Sunnah.
E. False beliefs about Allah
Many Sufi philosophers believe in:
[]Hulool – Allah dwelling inside creation
[]Wahdat al Wujud – “Everything is Allah”, promoted by Ibn Arabi
[]Union with Allah through dhikr
[]Seeing Allah in dreams
These are kufri concepts, totally foreign to Islam.
6. Balanced view regarding people involved
Some Sufis are simply ignorant Muslims who love dhikr but have fallen into bid'ah.
Some Sufis hold beliefs that reach kufr.
Some Sufi groups (like Jamaat Tabligh) do good in da'wah but have innovations.
We judge each matter by:
As Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله said:
Summary
[]Sufism is a later development, not part of original Islam.
[]It includes some permissible zuhd but also many innovations and forms of shirk.
[]Modern Sufism widely promotes grave-worship, innovated dhikr, exaggerated shaykh-worship, and pantheistic beliefs.
[]The correct path is the Straight Path of the Qur'an and Sunnah upon the understanding of the Sahabah.
