The
Deobandis claim that Sufism is just
another name for Tazkeyyatun-Nafs
(purification of the soul) and Ihsan
(the highest stage of Eemaan). Moulana
Muhammad Maseehullah Khan, a Khalifah
(successor) of Moulana Ashraf Alee
Thanvi states, “It’s (Sufism) function
is to purify the heart from the lowly
bestial attributes of lust, calamities
of the tongue, anger, malice, jealousy,
love of this world, love for fame,
niggardliness, greed, vanity, deception,
etc.”[1]
And, as
such, they claim that Sufism does not
contradict the Sharee’ah (Islamic
Regulation), rather “It is incumbent for
every Muslim to become a Sufi. Without
Sufism, a Muslim cannot be described as
a perfect Muslim”[2]
It is also claimed that a Sufi is
someone who strictly adheres to the
Sunnah and the Sharee’ah.
But in
reality, Sufism is far from the above
description. Purification of the soul
and curing the heart from its sicknesses
is part of the religion of Islam and is
completely explained by Allah’s
Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam).
“Purification of the Soul” as Moulana
Muhammad Maseehullah Khan further
explains is just the first part of the
journey of Sufism, and it is referred as
journey towards Allah.[3]
The next part of this journey is called
– ‘The journey into Allah’, and “In this
high stage of spiritual development,
matters pertaining to the Thaat (Being
of Allah), Sifaat (Attributes of Allah),
Af’aal (Acts of Allah), Haqaaiq
(realities) as well as relationships
between Allah and His servants become
manifest.”[4]
And thus,
everything is manifest to the Sufi and
nothing is hidden from him. He
accomplishes this by either exaggerating
in prescribed forms of worship or
indulging in innovative forms of
worship. This is the real face of
Sufism!
[2]
Shariat and Tasawwuf p.11. Some also
go to the extent of saying that the
Messenger of Allah and his Sahabah
were nothing but Soofis. Especially
the group of students who resided in
the Prophet’s Mosque – the
Ashabus-Suffah.
