Sufism & Islam

Question:-

A Sufi quoted Ibn Arabi, a Sufi Master, as saying "I follow the religion of love." Many Sufis claim the same and regard Sufism to be the core of Islam. What, in your opinion, is the relationship between Islam and Sufism?

Comment:-

Yes, as you say, many Sufis place their emphasis on Love as does Christianity. It is true that the Quran certainly places great value on Compassion and Mercy and Benevolence which are the Attributes of Allah, and these may be regarded as the aspects of Love.

As has been pointed out by others, what Ibn Arabi said was "I follow the madhab of love." and this refers to the verse:-

"O you who believe! If any from among you turn back from his Faith, soon will Allah produce a people whom He will love as they will love Him,- lowly with the believers, mighty against the rejecters, fighting in the way of Allah, and never afraid of the reproaches of such as find fault. That is the grace of Allah, which He will bestow on whom He pleases. And Allah encompasses all, and He knows all things." Quran 5:54

The Quran also says:-

“Say: If you love Allah then follow me, and Allah will love you and forgive you your sins, for Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." 3:31

But the Quran also puts great value on Justice and places its emphasis on Truth, knowledge, and awareness as any one reading the Quran can see.

"Islam is the Religion of Truth" 9:29, 9:33, 61:9

Islam is certainly a method of spiritual development, but it also has a social aspect, (including a political, economic, cultural, ethical and legal) which is designed to facilitate such development and it also has an environmental aspect which is designed to facilitate the Social and Spiritual aspect. The Duties to Allah include duties (a) towards ones own spirit, mind and body and (b) towards other human beings and the society as a whole and also (c) towards the animals, plants and resources of the world and the rest of Creation. As part of the world, human beings have a function in the universal processes of transformation and exchange of substances, energy and order. As the Quran says:-

"And when your Lord said unto the angels: I am about to place a Vicegerent in the earth, they said: Will you place therein one who will do evil therein and shed blood? While we celebrate Thy praise and glorify Thee. Said (the Lord): "I know what you know not. And He taught Adam the Names, all of them ...." 2:30-31

These three duties interact and are inter-dependent so that each facilitates the other.

So, whereas certain kinds of Sufism certainly have value in Islam when they are effective as modes of spiritual development (not all are), I would say that it is only a limited part of Islam. However, some forms of Sufism are well aware of the wider function and promote it.

While the Prophet (saw) was alive, Islam was a comprehensive unity. But after his death the separation gradually took place between the Spiritual, the Philosophic (or Theological) and the Legal. This corresponds to the distinctions of spirit, mind and body (or matter) which appears in all aspects of the created world and human affairs. But the separation causes distortion in each.

Muslims differ from one another according to which of these groups they adhere to, or what proportions and how they combine these aspects within themselves or how much or what of Islam they know, understand and practice.

----------<O>----------

Contents