Sufism as a Complete Spiritual School
Sufism is one of the oldest spiritual schools in Islamic history that has maintained its identity independently despite the diversity of other Islamic sects. Sufi schools focused on the spiritual aspect and purifying the soul, while Islamic jurisprudence schools focused on legal and theological aspects. Sufism is not separate from other Islamic schools, but rather complements them. The spiritual knowledge followed by Sufis is added to the legal knowledge to form a complete human being both religiously and spiritually.
Sufism and Jurisprudential Schools: Balancing Knowledge and Spirituality
As Imam Malik said: “Whoever learns fiqh and does not practice Sufism has become corrupt, and whoever practices Sufism and does not learn fiqh has become an heretic, and whoever combines both has achieved the goal.” Thus, Sufi schools remain vibrant, following a spiritual path aligned with the teachings of the companions and their followers, who combined fiqh and Sufism. Despite scholars specializing in certain fields such as hadith, fiqh, and grammar, Sufism has remained an essential part of Islamic faith in promoting piety and purifying the soul.
Sufism in the Time of the Companions and Their Followers
The beginning of Sufism was during the time of the companions and their followers, such as Imam Ali, who represented the pinnacle of combining knowledge and spirituality. It is mentioned that great scholars like Sheikh Junayd al-Baghdadi, al-Qushayri, al-Kalabadhi, al-Ghazali, and Sheikh Abdul Qadir al-Jilani combined religious sciences such as fiqh and hadith with a Sufi way of life, teaching everything from basic knowledge to the highest levels of spiritual understanding.
Islamic Specializations and the Evolution of Sufism
As time passed, specializations in fiqh and knowledge developed, and scholars became more focused on studying each specific field. There were scholars dedicated to hadith, others to fiqh, and others to grammar. However, Sufism remained an important part of their educational life, with some dedicating themselves to studying spiritual purification and soul refinement. Sufism thus became centered around refining ethics, with its goal being to teach people the path of truth.
Sufism and Ihsan: Worship in Its Highest Form
The role of Sufis in both knowledge and action was complementary, as they elevated people to higher spiritual ranks and taught them about perfect worship and inner purity. In a famous hadith, the Prophet ﷺ said: “Islam is that you testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, establish prayer, give zakah, fast in Ramadan, and perform the pilgrimage to the House if you have the means.” He was then asked about faith and Ihsan, and he ﷺ answered: “To believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in divine predestination, both good and bad.” He then spoke about Ihsan: “To worship Allah as if you see Him, for if you do not see Him, He sees you.”
Sufism as a Path to Perfect Ihsan
At its core, Sufism is a form of worship aimed at achieving perfect Ihsan; worshiping Allah as if you see Him, where complete connection with Allah is realized through faith and action. Sufism complements all Islamic sciences, emphasizing spiritual purification and correct behavior in life.
Conclusion: Sufism and Purification of Souls
In conclusion, Sufism is not just a set of rituals; it is a comprehensive educational and scientific practice that elevates a person to the level of Ihsan and leads them to complete spiritual realization. All Islamic schools of thought need to crown their legal knowledge with the science of Sufism, which deepens our understanding of ethics and elevates souls to the highest levels of piety and spirituality.