What is Sufism?

Answer 1

As a previous response points out, Sufism is the 'mystical' branch of Islam. It is one that focuses on a direct 'knowing' and connection with God in a 'real time' way rather then that of 'worldly' affairs. They are known as the 'Lovers', 'drunken' in God's light, etc. A lucky lot, by my view. (But not particularly popular in the larger Islamic scheme of things, unfortunately.) The famous "Whirling
Dervishes" are Sufi. So was the the famous and popular author and poet, "Rumi". It is an active and alive belief system and there is much information available on the web as well as many fine books where you can gain more insight into the customs, practices, and beliefs of this sect. Please do so, I have, and have found it very enlightening to say the least. Blessings...

Answer 2

If Sharia describes the borders of Islam, sufism describes all that is inside the borders: spiritual content.

Sufism is an effort to understand the spiritual content and gist of Islam. It is an effort to create an awareness that is so fond of the gist of the message that it will not depend solely on the borders of Islam, to continue its existence.

But without Sharia, sufism is corrupt. Without sufism, Sharia looks like a bunch of rules without emotion.

Sharia: the laws and regulations of Islam

Answer 3

"Sufiism: "Sufism or tasawwuf, as it is called in Arabic, is generally understood by scholars and Sufis to be the inner, mystical, or psycho-spiritual dimension of Islam." Some Muslims reject the concept that Sufism is part of Islam."

http://www.religioustolerance.org/gl_s1.htm

you might also try:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sufism

Answer 4

It's the "mystical" branch of Islam, kind of like Cabala in Judaism.

Answer 5

It is the realzation of connection of human body with spirit and spirit with Soul. Once the connection is established, it is pretty much like a holy spirit in you. You go in a joy where you dont fear or grieve. It is acquired through self-correction by accepting God's will which is a human's ultimate Jihad, the correction of Self!

Answer 6

Mystic Islam.

Isn't that bizzarre?

Answer 7

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sufiism

Answer 8

the most beautiful thing in the world !!!

Answer 9

http://www.sufism.org/ very ood site

Answer 10

Following is the Text I wrote & E mailed to my Friends, who criticised Sufism. Sorry that a short description might not fully describe Sufism.

It is true that the word “Sufi” was not in use during the period of Rasoolullah and Sahaba e kiraam. The word Sahabi and its status are above Sufi or Wali Allah of later times. You know there was a distinction among sahaba with “As-haab e Sufa” who were the most poor and dedicated their lives and time fully to be in the company of Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam and prayers. Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam loved As-haab e Sufa, serve them personally and advice Sahaba e kiraam to take care of them too. Their Seclusion from the worldly life was not been degraded by Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam. The word “Sufi” has one of its roots from As-haab e Sufa and the other roots shall be explained later.

Islamic Khilafat was responsible to up keep the true spirit of Islam in all its fields of moral virtues, prayers, character, practicing piety and humanity. When the period of Khilafat was over and the Kingdom has taken over in its place, a group of Muslims decided to get away from the fold of the kingdom and take this responsibility to work for the sake of moral and spiritual up-lift of Ummah. It has been proved and admitted even by non Muslims; if this group would not have worked for this cause the moral and spiritual face of Islam would have been disfigured. This was necessary as the Kings were not Khulafa and the people were not obeying them willingly instead of the fear of the punishment imposed by them. On the other side the Pious Fuqara and Sufis were ruling the hearts of the people by their actions and character. To keep up the integrity of this project they formed certain guidelines base upon Quran and Sunnah and wrote books on it.

Read the famous books on Sufism written by the great Scholars and Sufis, few are named herewith which shall benefit the readers:

Lama’at written by: Shaikh Abu Nasr Sarraj Tosi rahmatullahi Alaih. 378 Hiri
Quwwatul Quloob written by: Abu Talib Al Makki rahmatullahi alaih, passed away 386 Hijri.
Ar Risaalatul Qashiriya written by: Abul Qasim Qasheri rahmatullahi alaih, passed away 425 hijri
Kashful Mahjoob written by: Syed Ali bin usman Hajweri rahmatullahi alaih, passed away 562 hijri
Futoohul Ghaib written by: Syed Abdul Khader Jeelani rahmatullahi alaih, passed away 620 Hijri
Tazkiratul Awliya written by: Shaikh Fariduddin attar rahmatullahi alaih, passed away 620 Hijri
Awariful Muarif written by: Shaikh shahabuddin seherwardi rahmatullahi alaih, passed away 632 Hijri

I am sure whoever reads these books shall get the first hand knowledge about Sufism and the Eemaan and Taqwa of Sufis Inshallah. Instead, if you just read and believe the writings of the pseudo scholars of this period of Fitna you will be carried away and commit a sin by degrading Awliya Allah and Mumineen Ma’zallah.

Another Explanation by one of the Scholars & Sufi himself:

Let me place before you following excerpts from the book Islam & Sufism written by Dr. Syed Liaqat Peeran, a sitting member of the judiciary, a poet, a practicing Sufi from Bangalore India . This book is about to be released in January 2007, which will benefit the readers to remove misconception about Sufism Inshallah.

Sufism and its teachings
Sufism or Tasawwuf or Irfan teaches humanism, love, brotherhood and oneness and believes in creating a world citizenship through “Tauheed” (monotheism). Sufism or Irfan is a way of life to achieve perfection in manners, cultivate and culture the mind and heart with purity of thought and good behavior, through possession of all virtues and negation of all vices by a process of self-annihilation, self realization, self sacrifice and surrender of will before the Supreme Will of Almighty Allah. Sufism is an absolutely peaceful and totally non-violent movement to awaken the soul to greater grandeur through simple living and practicing lofty ideals, through meditation, Zikr’ (incantation), Sama (singing of holy hyms) and other Sufi practices, by accepting the Risalat (Prophethood) of our Holy Prophet Mohammed sallallahu alaihi wasallam; by strengthening of faith, servitude (yaqeen), by protecting the precepts of Holy Prophet, performance of daily Namaz (prayers); acts and deeds of righteousness, seeking and observing ‘Taqwa’ (awe of Allah); ‘Taubah’ (repentance). “Tawakkal” (full surrender and trust in Allah); ‘Ikhlas’ (Sincerity), ‘Sidq’ (Truth fullness), ‘contentment (Tawakkul), ‘Haya’ (shame), ‘Sabr’ (patience), ‘Shukr’ (gratitude, thankfulness), ‘Zikr’ (remembrance), ‘Zohad’ (renunciation), ‘Khauf’ (Fear), ‘Rida’ (hope), Khushu’ (fearfulness, humility), ‘Istiqamat (uprightness) a ‘state’ in which Allah’s grace comes perpetual for it implies the perfect performance of Allah’s service, ‘Firasa (insight) as Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam said “Beware of the believers insight, for he sees with the sight of Allah”; ‘Wara’ (abstaining, that is from all unnecessary and unseemly occupations) and ‘Simt’ (silence). The Prophet is quoted as having said “Whosoever believes in Allah and his last day, let him speak good or else let him be silent”. Silence is interpreted both literally as meaning that the man should learn to govern his tongue and metaphorically is referring to a heart that silently accepts whatever Allah may decree), ‘Adab’ (Decent manners, as Prophet (SAS) said ‘Allah mannered me and taught me good manners” live in righteous conduct; Dua (Prayer, seeking constantly supplicant to Allah, for Allah says, pray for me and I will answer you”) ‘Faqr’ (poverty) for Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam said “The poor shall enter paradise five hundred years before the rich, ‘Tafakkur’ (meditation), ‘Muraqaba (contemplation) and ‘Muhasabah’ (Self examination), ‘Tauheed’ (belief in one Allah), ‘Mahabba’ (love), ‘Shauq (yearing), Uns’ (intimacy), ‘Rida’ (satisfaction). Truth is realized by daily submission to the rule of law laid down by Allah, for achieving the perfection of human self by “Mujahida; a collateral form of Jihad’ to mean ‘earnest striving after the mystical life”. As the Holy Quran says “And
they hat strive earnestly in our cause, we surely guide upon our paths (Quran 29: 69). Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wasallam says that the “greater warfare (Al Jihadal Akbar) is against the earnest striving with the carnal soul (mujahat at nufs). It is by seeking refuge in Allah and seek His protection from the animal and satanic forces working in man, by observing ‘Saum’ (fasting) for the purpose of purification of inner and outer actions of man, by ‘Kurbani’ (sacrifice) so as to enable man to break away from the shackles of selfishness, self centeredness and to break away from the indulgence of pleasure seeking, materialism, ritualism, taboos and superstitions so as to achieve perpetual peace and “As-Sakina” (eternal peace) through deeds of everlasting goodness (Baqiyat us Salihat), thus to achieve Allah’s realization.

Sufism enlightens the mind, sharpens the wit, broadens the outlook and purifies the heart and thinking. Above all Sufism or Irfan makes a person humane and a perfect gentleman in every sense of the terma. Sufism is a branch of Islamic spiritualism and its study and practice is known as “Tasawwuf” (Gnosis). The study is divided into four branches “Shariat” (common law), ‘Tariqat’ (spiritual path), “Ubudiat (servanthood – unity with Allah) and ‘Marifat’ (Allah’s realization – Gnosis). Sufism begins with acceptance of ‘Tawheed’ (monotheism) and Risalath of Prophet Mohammed sallallahu alaihi wasallam by observance of personal hygiene, strict disciplined life, doing charity and earning through the sweat of the brow.

Sufism or Tasuwwuf or Irfan has fallen into bad ways due to corruption, talisman, grave worship and ‘peerism, ‘amil, ‘kamils, exorcists and black magic. The ancient thought, philosophy search for truth and yearning for the effulgence of the Lord and for the merger of the soul and to sing paeans for Him and for His Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam has slowly declined. The Govt. of India promulgated Waqf Act which has taken over the administration of Dargahs and khankhas. All the lands attached to these Khankhas and Dargahs were all allotted to the tenents berefting it of any source of income. The families of Sajjada Nisheens have fallen to hard times, due to lack of traditional education and all ‘khankhas’ practically being closed. We therefore do not find the teachings of Sufism known as ‘Tasawaff’ being transmitted in the families of the Sajjada Nisheens and all those traditional families, who contributed do the growth and existence of the science of spiritualism have practically diminished. In its place have now come into existence “Peerism”, self styled ‘peers’ with colorful dresses and head gears, speaking jargons with scant or no knowledge of Holy Quran, precepts of Holy Prophet, intricate knowledge of
‘Tasawwuf”, Sufi literature, its culture and philosophy. They hardly do any ‘Zikr’ deep penance, meditations, self sacrifice and delve deep into their consciousness. The fundamental feature of Sufism is to have absolute control of the inner self and achieve higher consciousness, which is unknown to these self styled ‘peers’, who are nothing short of being ‘jokers’, charlatans, self styled godmen indulging in trickery and mockery of true saintship. Although it cannot be said of true sufies and real standard bearers of the science of Tasawwuf, on whose account the science of Tasawwuf is still in existence and Allah willing, with ushering of education, dawning of self realization and hard work of true sufies, the situation is bound to turn a new corner and the glory of Tasawwuf and emergence of true and real saints for guidance is sure to happen.