Tasawwuf ...

Tasawwuf has been explained by various aulia (friends of Allah) in varied ways. All have, however, expounded the one and the only reality, which is Allah. Knowledge of Allah, His worship, Our relationship as His servants and He as our Lord and Master. Tasawwuf is the essence of the message of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) as well as all other prophets of Allah. It is the core of Islam and the goal of our existence. The Holy Quran and the sunnah are essential in Tasawwuf. Hereunder, are a few verses from the Holy Quran which formulate the mentality and attitude of a sincere seeker of Allah:

I have not created Jinn and men but that they worship me (S.51 V.56 )

And those who believe are overflowing in their love for Allah (S.2 V.165 )

O man, verily you are toiling on towards your Lord-strenuously toiling, but you will certainly meet Him (S. 84 V. 6)

That to your Lord is your final goal (S.53 V. 42 )

One who Cleansed his ego achieved salvation (S.91 V. 9)

One who spoilt his nafs became mislead (S.91 V. 10)

For Believers are those who when God is mentioned, feel tremor in their hearts, and when the hear his signs rehearsed, find their faith strengthened, and put their trust in their Lord; who establish regular prayers and spend (freely) out of the gifts We have given them for sustenance. Such in truth are the Believers; the have grades of dignity with their Lord, and forgiveness, and generous sustenance (S. 8 V.2, 3,4)

Those who spend the night in adoration of their Lord prostrate and standing (S.25 V64.)

Those whom God wills to guide, He opens their breast to Islam (submission to His will) (S.6 V.125)

The Holy Prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) speaking of this level and station has called it the station of Al-Ihsaan. To worship Allah as if you are seeing him, and if you cannot imagine that certainly know that Allah is watching you. (Bukhari) Sufis have defined Tasawwuf in various ways.

Junaid Baghdaadi (radiallahu anhu) states: Tasawwuf is derived from the Arabic word Istafa (selection). A sufi is one who has been selected by Allah.

A sufi is one who achieves the Khullat (Allah's friendship) of Sayyiduna Ibrahim (alaihi salaam), the submission of Sayyiduna Ismail(alaihi salaam)the grief of Sayyiduna Dawood(alaihi salaam) the patience of Sayyiduna Ayoob (alaihi salaam)the yearning of Sayyiduna Moosa (alaihi salaam)and the sincerity of Sayyiduna Muhammad(sallahu alaihi wasallam).

Perhaps the most apt is "To abandon/cancel/negate everything other than Allah and then to annihilate one's self in Allah is Tasawwuf.

The greatest of gifts is to keep the mind and heart clear of the existence of anything but Allah and not to allow the thought of any beloved but Allah to enter the heart. May we point out that love for the Holy Prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam), other prophets sahaaba, aulia is also love for Allah, since we love them for the sake of Allah, as they are the beloveds of Allah.

Compulsory is My (Allah's) love for those who love one another for My sake, who sit together for My sake, who visit one another for My sake, who spend for one another for My sake (Muwatta Imam Maalik)

Without the knowledge of the laws of Allah (Al-Shariah) deeds are impossible and knowledge without actions is futile. Deeds without God consciousness (Taqwa), sincerity, and deep concentration are useless. Imam Malik (radiallahu anhu) states: One who indulged in Tasawwuf without Ilm is a Zindeeq (heretic) and one who indulged in Ilm without Tasawwuf is a faasiq (major sinner) and one who indulged in both has reached Tahqeeq (researched truth).

Sufis don't belong to a club, clique or cult. A sufi must necessarily posses the Sifaat (attributes) of a thoroughly cleansed human being who has freed himself from the chains of his carnal soul and ego; who is the bestowed with wilayah (sainthood) by Allah. Miracles are not an integral part of Tasawwuf. "Steadfastness (on Taqwa etc.) is greater than miracles. This, in brief, is an introduction to Tasawwuf and the spiritual dimension of Islam


Yaa Hayyu Yaa Hayyu Yaa Qayyum
Yaa Hayyu Yaa Hayyu Yaa Qayyum