Sufi and Sufism

Sufism is a branch of Deen just as Tafseer, Hadith and Fiqh are branches of Deen. Fiqh deals with external subjects and issues such as Taharat, Salaah, Roza, Hajj, Nikah, Talaaq, Inheritance, etc. Sufism is a branch that deals with the purification of the interior which is labelled as Tazkiyat-un-nafs or Tahzeeb-ul-Akhlaaq. A person who follows this treatment or is in this field is called a Sufi. The person who disposes this treatment is a Murshid or a Sheikh. In the past, there were people such as Hazrat Hassan Basri, Hazrat Ibrahim Bin Adham, Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelaani, Sheikh Jounaide Al-Baghdaadi, Sheikh Mu'-inuddeen Chisti (Rahmatoullaahi 'A'laihim) who were spiritual guides and who have disposed this treatment during their respective times.

The term Sufism or Sufi is an absolutely correct term. There is nothing wrong in using these terms. Some people say that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam), the Sahaabah-e-Kiraam (Radiyallahu Anhum) and the Taabi'in were not Sufis. The term Sufism did not exist during their time. So, that is why it is an innovation and deviation. Nonetheless, did titles such as Sheikh-ul-Islam, B.A in Shari’ah or M.A in Shari’ah exist during the time of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam)? If Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) was not a Sufi, he was also not a B.A or M.A in Shari’ah. Similarly, no Sahaabi was a B.A. or M.A. in Shari’ah.

Now, if we say that B.A or M.A in Shari’ah is a deviation and an innovation merely because these terms did not exist during the time of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam), it will be a very banal statement. Similarly, it is not correct to label the term Sufism or Sufi as deviation. Otherwise, we should stop our studies at university because it did not exist. Similarly, we will have to tear our degrees of B.A. and M.A. because this did not exist. Just as the Sahaabah were not Sufi, they were also not taking a remuneration to learn Deen at university. They were not writing exams to get a certificate. They were also not taking any remuneration to propagate Deen. It does not require a person to be educated to say how this logic is banal, ! If the term Sufi or Sufism is deviation, then the series/chain/string/ all of these things also must be labelled as deviation. 

[English version of "Soufi et Soufisme" – Al Jamiat – Vol.2 No.7]