What is Sufism in Islam?

In the early days of Islam, there were no sciences of tafsir (interpretation), no fiqh (Islamic law), no hadith (prophetic traditions), no rijal (hadith narrators), no usul al-fiqh (philosophy of Islamic law), no dakwah (Islamic call), no ilm al-kalam (Islamic philosophy of religion) etc.

But as times changed and people found themselves in dire need of such disciplines, scholars developed and classified such sciences for those who seek knowledge, and for those who wish to transfer their knowledge to others. Sufism is no exception.


Sufism is the science of soul purification (physically and spiritually) until it reaches a level of excellence (ihsan) in knowing God and worshipping (ibadah) Him. The journey begins with repentance to God, cherishing hope in His Mercy, learning sincerity to Him, relying on Him, reflecting upon His creation, and searching deep into one’s soul for one’s flaws.

The journey ends by reaching a level of awareness, humbleness, satisfaction, and excellence in order “to worship God as though you are seeing Him. If you ever find yourself having less hope in God when you make a mistake, then you should know that are only relying on your work, not on God’s Mercy.

Some Sufis misunderstood the concept of relying on God and
distort this great Islamic concept into laziness and apathy. Other Sufis misunderstand the virtue of hope in God’s Mercy and take it as a permission to sin, as if they were immune from heavenly punishment. Some Sufis misunderstand the concept of ‘fear of God’ and turn it into a state of hopelessness.

Thus, should we abandon Sufism or purification of soul (tazkiyatun nafs) or tasawwuf (regardless of the name it is given) just because some Sufis deviated from its right course? No one can become a good righteous Muslim unless they've went through the stages of Sufism.

In Islam, Sufism simply means the science of heart and inner souls, the science of wisdom, the science of humbleness, the science of moral and manners, the science of divinity and spirituality, the science of our journey to God. However, we are not concerned with the classifications and terminologies given. We only care about the meanings, the purposes and the essences of its teachings.


Source: The Journey to God by Dr Jasser Auda


Wallahu'alam