In surat Yasin we find the story of three messengers rejected by their nation, and a man from the far side of the city comes running, telling his nation to follow the messengers. His nation then kills him and God destroys them. We find in tafsir ibn Kathir that this man is mentioned as "His … Continue reading The Wali in Surat Yasin
The word tarīqa (طريقة) originally meant method. You have Shari'a and haqīqah, the law and the ultimate reality of things. The method to get from Shari'a to haqīqah and from haqīqah to Shari'a, is the tarīqa. The paths are as many as the breaths of human beings, as the shuyukh used to say. They are … Continue reading What is a Tariqa?
You may have heard the term murīd in Sufism, as in someone who is on a tariqa; a disciple of a spiritual master (sheikh or murshid). But what does it actually mean? In Arabic Lexicon The term murīd is a form 4 اسم فاعل of the word irāda (إرادة). Its trilateral root is ر و … Continue reading Love of God – What is Irada?
I've been thinking about a model of the heart and soul for awhile, and as I learn I develop my understanding. Here's where my current understanding is, subject to change as my knowledge grows and I ponder things, insha'Allah. Anything written here could very well be wrong. Qalb, Nafs, Waswasah, and Ruh The qalb, or … Continue reading An Islamic Model of the Heart & Soul
In Majalla al-Muslim: al-Ashira al-Muhammadiyya, Sayyid Abu al-Taqi Ahmad Khalil penned an article with the title: "Imam al-Shatibi: the Sufi-Salafi." He said: "The book, al-Itisam, is one of the books the would-be Salafis consider as a reference work for their views, and they believe that imam Abu Ishaq al-Shatibi is one of their imams. In … Continue reading Imam Shatibi on Tasawwuf
The great 'allama and famous Qur'anic exegete, Imam Fakhr ad-Din ar-Razi (تعالى رحمه الله), said in his book, "Itiqadat Firaq al-Muslimin wal-Mushrikin" (The Belief of the Muslim and Pagan Groups): "The eighth section regarding the states (أحوال) of the Sufis: Know, that most of those who enumerated the groups within the umma, did not mention … Continue reading Imam Fakhr ad-Din ar-Razi on Tasawwuf
Before imam Ahmad (رحمه الله تعالى) kept the company of the Sufis, he used to advise his son, Abdullah (رحمه الله تعالى): "Dear son! Upon you are hadith, and beware of sitting with those who call themselves Sufis, for perhaps one of them will be ignorant of the rulings of his religion." After he [Ahmad] … Continue reading Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal on Tasawwuf
Imam ash-Shafi'i (رحمه الله تعالى) said: I kept the company of the Sufis and I benefited in only two statements from them (and in one narration three statements): "Time is a sword; if you do not cut it, it will cut you." And their statement: "If you do not busy yourself with the truth, it … Continue reading Imam Shafi’i on Tasawwuf
Imam Malik (رحمه الله تعالى) said: "He who gains knowledge in jurisprudence (fiqh) without tasawwuf then he will certainly become corrupt (fisq), and he who practices tasawwuf without gaining knowledge in jurisprudence will become a heretic (tazandaqa), and he who gathers between the two has proven true (tahaqqaq)." Source: Hashiya of al-Adawi upon imam al-Zurqani's … Continue reading Imam Malik on Tasawwuf
Imam an-Nawawi (رحمه الله تعالى) said in his work, "al-Maqaasid (المقاصد): The usul (fundamentals) of the tariqa (path) of tasawwuf are five: Taqwa (fear) of Allah privately and publiclyAdherence to the sunnah in speech and actionIndifference to whether the creation accepts or rejects (you)Being content with Allah in scarcity and abundanceTurning to Allah in times … Continue reading Imam An-Nawawi on Tasawwuf
Halaqa 