Is Sufism or Tasawuuf an Biddah(Innovation) ?

As Salaamualaikum to all brothers and sisters.

Today many of us are simply ignorant about the reality of Sufism.
Many of us simply say that it is an Innovation ( Bidah ).
First of all one should understand the real meaning of sufism.

SUFISM IS NOT WORSHIPING THE GRAVES OF WALIULLAH.

SUFISM IS NOT ASKING THINGS FROM GRAVES AS TOLD BY DR.ZAKIR NAIK.

SUFISM HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CELEBRATING URUS.

“Kashf (visions) and Karamah (wondrous acts) are not essential to Tasawwuf though charlatans claim such gifts as Sufism, in order to gain personal advantage in business, 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 Sufism either, nor is calling the Aulia (Saints) in absentia (with the belief that they hear such a call), nor the belief that they have the power to deliver mankind from its sufferings. No Tawajjuh (spiritual attention) 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!”

(Tasawwuf - An Objective Appraisal by Shaikh Allah Yar Khan)



Any action against the Sunnah (Prophet’s way of life) cannot be called Sufism. Singing and dancing, and the prostration on tombs are not part of Sufism. Nor is predicting the future and predicting the outcome of cases in the courts of law, a part of Sufism. Sufis are not required to abandon their worldly possessions or live in the wilderness far from the practical world. In fact these absurdities are just its opposites. It is an established fact that Tazkiyah (soul purification) stands for that inner purity which inspires a person’s spirit to obey the holy Prophet-saws. If a false claimant of Sufism teaches tricks and jugglery, ignoring religious obligations, he is an impostor. A true Shaikh will lead a believer to the august spiritual audience of the holy Prophet-saws. If you are fortunate enough to be blessed with the company of an accomplished spiritual guide and Shaikh of Sufism, and if you follow his instructions, you will observe a positive change in yourself, transferring you from vice to virtue.

All of the above mentioned rituals and many more are created and in the name of Sufism by frauds to make money and to misguide the people.

Because all these rituals have become commonly followed by many in the world, many scholars like Zakir Naik assume these rituals as Sufism , and Declare it as Bidah. But all these rituals have nothing to do with Sufism and with Islam as well.

THE REALITY OF SUFISM AND TASAWUUF:

Sufism originates from a Farsi word " TASAWUUF ".

The first translation of THE HOLY QURAAN was done in the persian language.
Tasawuuf is the translation of the word which quraan refers as " TAZKIYAH" which in english means " PURIFICATION OF SOUL"

Hnece TASAWUUF means PURIFICATION OF SOUL.

The people who practise Tasawuuf are called as Sufis.

WHAT EFFECTS DOES TASAWUUF HAVE ON A MOOMIN or WHY IT IS NECESSARY TO PRACTISE TASAWUUF?

The first aim of Tasawuuf is purification of our soul (or ROOH), and thereby to devolop IKHLAAS or Sincerity in our every act of Worship ( or Ibadath ).
Secondly it aims to attain the Nearness of Allah and to gain his Pleasure and his hapiness.
And there are many purposes of Tasawuuf.

PROCESS OF PURIFICATION:

Zikirullah of Zikir of Allah ( Remembrance of Allah ) is the process adopted. 

To know more about zikirallah please visit the following link:
http://www.zikr-e-ilahi.com/english/zikr-english.php