Sufism is so broad , there are many different sufi groups and schools of thought, so such a blanket written essay does not do the topic any justice. The only way to resolve these issues is to define what we are talking about when we refer to sufi practises, and as ibn tamiya said, see if each action is accordance with quran and sunnah.
:salam2:
That is very true. However, if you were to give the finest example of Sufism at its pinnacle, it would still have issues with Aqeedah and Tawhid in the light of Quran and Sunnah. The best "version of Sufism" still leaves the door open to misguidance and further deviation, and history only testifies to that. If you compare the early Sufis let's say around the time of Ghazali (IMO sufism at its strongest), and compare to the Sufism of today, you cannot help but conclude that they are worlds apart. Their misguidance will only continue in time and they will deviate further and further. And Allah knows best how far they will go in their deviation.
Fast forward 300 years, perhaps they will start making sujood to their Sheikhs.(some of them already make a mini sujood to their sheikhs).
Once people deviate so far and gather a large following, it is very hard to deal with them. That is why it is essential for us to bite with our teeth to the Quran and Sunnah, as the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) commanded us to do so.
The consequences of allowing deviated sects to flourish can be found in the Sub-continent
You can even find Sufi teachings in the books of the Sikh. IMO, the Sub-Continent Muslims are infested with the practices of Sufism in one way or another. Most of them do not know that some of the practices they follow are Sufi in origin. I won't even mention them, it sickens me to do so.
Allah knows best!
