Whats tasawwuf and whats not?

[Bitter Chocolate Soldier]

:salam:
I understand tasawwuf/sufism is becoming popular amongst non-muslims as well as Muslims. You see a lot of kafir records which claim to be influlenced by 'sufism' with special sufi musical instruments like flutes and guitars (?).

How can we distinguish whats genuine tasawwuf and whats kafir innovations? in other words, what aspects of tasawwuf are within shariah?

:salam:

[Hamood]

:salam:
I understand tasawwuf/sufism is becoming popular amongst non-muslims as well as Muslims. You see a lot of kafir records which claim to be influlenced by 'sufism' with special sufi musical instruments like flutes and guitars (?).

How can we distinguish whats genuine tasawwuf and whats kafir innovations? in other words, what aspects of tasawwuf are within shariah?

:salam:


See: http://www.tasawwuf.org/basics/what_tasawwuf.htm for a good definition of authentic tasawwuf.

If Not All Sufis Are Authentic How Can I Judge Which To Learn From?

Many of our scholars have addressed this question by listing the "signs" of a true shaykh. Needless to say the common principle has always been submission to the shariah, by following the teachings of one of the four schools of fiqh, and a complete submission to the inner and the outer of the sunnah. This is based on the idea that the Prophet is the nearest and most God conscious of Allah's creation. His daily acts are an exemplification of how the most god-consciousness of all of creation lived his life. For example, the Prophet's treating others with kindness, soft speech, humility, preference for white clothing, growing of a lengthy beard, use of the tooth stick, etc are all intentional acts of service to Allah . If someone lacks these sunnan, while claiming they can help bring you closer to Allah, know that they will eventually lead you to a dead end.

[IlyasLahoz]

Salaam 'Alaikum,
Sister Umm Zaid has some excellent links on that very subject up at the Modern Muslima website: http://www.modernmuslima.com/tasawwuf.htm

[umrah2004]

Assalamualykum,

Out of subject,
Could some1 tell me if this site is legit

http://www.themuslimwoman.com

Jazakhallah

[Omar HH]

Goto this book about true Tassawuf and the basis for Tassawuf in Islam. There is currently nothing comparable in English on the subject - and it is also one of the best books in Arabic about it.

Translated by the Guiding Helper Foundation:

http://guidinghelper.com/pdf/MA_Explanation.pdf

And also goto Ibn 'Ashir's Murshid al-Mui'n:
http://guidinghelper.com/pdf/Murshid_Translation.pdf

Skip everything and go straight to page 34 of the text (it will be page 38 of your Adobe PDF reader) starting from line 291 to line 312.

Also goto the Guiding Helper Explanatory Notes:
http://guidinghelper.com/pdf/GH_Explanation.pdf

Songs 41 and 42 will explain what true Tassawuf is.

If you are still not convinced then I invite you to look at the advanced proofs from the Qur'an and Sunnah for Tassawuf (also from the Guiding Helper foundation!)

Goto this book:
http://guidinghelper.com/pdf/GH_MainText_Sources.pdf

Goto page 741 (it will be page 756 of your Adobe PDF reader) and continue reading until you get to page 768 (it will be page 783 of your Adobe PDF reader) insha Allah,

wa Allahu 'Alam.

There's nothing thats going to beat everything I posted, lol!

May Allah (SWT) reward the Guiding Helper foundation with nothing less than firdows,
Ameen.

[Hamood]

There's nothing thats going to beat everything I posted, lol!


:thumbsup:

You win. :rolleyes: (just kidding)

[Abba]

DO shadhillis allow ritual dance?

[Salika]

DO shadhillis allow ritual dance?
What do you mean by dance? If you mean bowing and swaying, yes.

[Mossy]

Assalamualykum,

Out of subject,
Could some1 tell me if this site is legit

http://www.themuslimwoman.com

Jazakhallah

Salafi. Make of that what you will.

[MurtazaHaroon]

What is Tasawwuf

"There is no doubt that Tasawwuf is an important branch of Islam. The word itself may have been derived form the Arabic word "Soof" (Wool) or form "Safa" (cleanliness), but its foundation lies in one’s personal sincerity in seeking Allah’s nearness and trying to live a life pleasing to Him. Study of the Quran, the Hadith, and the practical life of the Holy Prophet-saws and his faithful Companions provide unmistakable support to this reality." (An Objective Appraisal of the Sublime Sufi Path by Shaikh Allah Yar Khan.)



The Object of Sufi Orders



The Quran has linked success with Tazkiyah (purification). He, who purified, is successful. (al A’la. 87: 14)

Sufi Orders of Islam are basically the training workshops where the fundamentals of Tazkiyah (soul purification) and its practical application are taught. The Sufi Orders have graded programs in which initially every new seeker is educated in Zikr-e Lisani (oral Zikr) and is finally taught the Zikr-e Qalbi. In the Naqshbandiah Order, Zikr-e Qalbi is practiced form the very beginning.



Adherence to the Sunnah is greatly emphasized because the seeker achieves better and quicker progress through its blessings. The essence of Tasawwuf is that through continuous repetition of Allah’s Name, the heart develops the capability, by which a person accepts the Islamic beliefs from the depths of his heart and finds the courage to follow the Sunnah.



If the heart is acquainted with Allah and is engaged in His Zikr; when it contains the Personal Name of Allah it will never issues a command against His Injunctions and the limbs will not indulge in disobedience. This is why Sufi saints target the heart and teach the seekers to practice Zikr-e Qalbi. Once the heart becomes illuminated with Divine Lights, the whole body will turn to virtue. Mind, eyes, ears, tongue, hands and feet are all pawns to this monarch (the heart) and dare not act against its desires. This is the meaning of a Hadith “There is a lump of flesh in the human body; if it goes astray the entire body is misguided, and if it is reformed the entire body is reformed. Know that this lump is the Qalb”.

Compiled from “Asrar at-Tanzil” of Ameer Muhammad Akram Awan.





What is not Tasawwuf



“Kashf (visions) and Karamah are not essential to Tasawwuf (Sufism) though charlatans claim such gifts as Sufism, in order to gain advantage in commerce, or win cases in the courts of law. Nor is Sufism in any way involved in hocus pocus and talisman trading. Sufism has also nothing to do with prostration on tombs or the lighting of lamps on them. To predict future is not Tasawwuf either, nor is calling the Aulia in absentia (with the belief that they hear such a call), nor belief that they have the power to deliver mankind from its sufferings. No Tawajjuh of a mentor can edify and enlighten a disciple and direct him toward the Straight Path without his own efforts and his own adherence to the Prophet’s Sunnah. Claims for the veracity of Kashf and Ilham are not Sufism, nor are taken to be essentials of Sufism, whereas in fact they are its opposite.”(An Objective Appraisal of the Sublime Sufi Path by Shaikh Allah Yar Khan).



Any action against the Sunnah cannot be called Tasawwuf. Singing and dancing, and the prostration on tombs are not a part of Tasawwuf either. Nor is predicting the future and predicting the outcome of cases in the courts of law a part of Tasawwuf. In fact these absurdities are just its opposites. It is an established fact that Tazkiyah stands for that inner purity which induces a person’s spirit to obey the Holy Prophet-saws. If a false claimant of Tasawwuf teaches tricks and jugglery, ignoring religious obligations, he is a plunderer. A true Shaikh will lead a believer to the affectionate audience of the Holy Prophet-saws. If you are fortunate enough to be blessed with the company of an authentic guide and Shaikh of Tasawwuf, and if you follow his instructions, you will observe a change in yourself taking you from vice towards virtue.

www.owaisiah.com
www.oursheikh.com