:salam2:
People here really seem ignorant of what really is tassawuf. Unfortunately most of those who call themselves 'sufis' nowadays are engrossed in wrongdoings thus giving a bad impression of true tassawuf. Heres something I took verbatim from somewhere:
Sufism among the four doctrines, Al-Ghazali and Ibn Taymiyya
We quote here some evidence of the founders of the four Sunni doctrines and testimonies of the Imam Al-Ghazali and Imam Ibn Taymiyya, about Sufism.
Imam Abu Hanifa (85-150 H.) said: "If there had been two years, I would have perished. (...) For two years I was the companion of Sayyidina Ja ' far as-Sadiq and I acquired the spiritual knowledge that made me a knowing ( 'arif) of the Way. " [1]
Imam Malik ibn Anas (95-179 H.) said: "The student of jurisprudence (tafaqaha) and not studying Sufism (tasawwuf) is a pervert (fâsiq), and whom study Sufism without examining fiqh is a heretic (Zindiq), whom combines both, reached the truth or is perfect (tahaqqaqa). " [2]
Imam Shafi'i (150-205 H.) said: "I attended the Sufis and I benefited from it (guild) in three of their words:
Time is like a sword, if you do not cut, he'll cut you.
If you are not occupying your mind with the truth, she bother with error (which is pointless).
The lack of protection (total indigence or poverty). "
He also said: "I loved three things in your religion : to not impose what is (too) difficult, the faxt that people meet each others with sweetness (friendliness), and the imitation of the way of people from "tassawwuf" [3].
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (164-241 H.), before the company of Sufi told his son: "Oh! My son, be with those who study the Hadith, and instead of meetings of those who call themselves Sufis. For among them, some ignore the principles of religion. Later he was the companion of Hamza al-Baghdadi, the Sufi, and he knew the spiritual state of insiders and he told his son: "Be in the assemblies of those Sufis (al qawm), for their attendance science, interior vigilance (al-murâqabah), humility (al-khashiyah), renunciation (az-zuhd), and increase spiritual aspiration.
It was reported that Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal said of the Sufis: "Don’t you know that among the groups, the better is ?
It has been said, « but they are making the sama '(spiritual songs) and know the ecstasy (al-Wajda, al-jadhb) », he said: "They call to rejoice in Allah ... "[4]
Imam Al-Ghazali (450-505 H.) said: "I knew with certainty that the Sufis are those who walk the Way of Allah, that their conduct is the most perfect, that their way is the safer and straighter, and that their character is the purest. I would say more, even if one adds the intelligence of men, the wisdom of sages and science scholars warned secrets of religious law in order reform the conduct of Sufis, or even improve, we could not do it. Because everything in their movement or stillness, externally and internally, is drawn in the light of the Niche (Mishkat) of Prophecy "[5]
Imam Ibn Taymiyya (661-728 H.) said:
"... Some have criticized the Sufis and Sufism, saying they were innovators, out of the Sunnah, but the truth is that they strive to obey Allah (...) Among them are the people Nearest [Allah] with their efforts (actions) [6]
"The miracles of saints are absolutely true and correct and accepted by all Muslim scholars. The Quran has stated in various places and the Hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him and hello) have mentioned and one who denies the miracles of saints is innovator or follower of innovators. " [7]
"Allah Almighty will reveal to His saints of states that have never been revealed before, and He will give them full support measure. If this saint began to speak of things unseen, past or present or future, it is considered Al-Bab Al-'Ilm khâriq the extraordinary knowledge. Everything taht a saint is doing which is extraordinary for people or for listeners, healing or knowledge of education is accepted and we must thank Allah for that. "[8]
"The great Sufi sheikhs are well known and accepted, such as Bayazid Al-Bistami, Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani, Muhammad ibn Junayd, Fudayl Hasan Al-Basri, Ibn Al-Ayyad, Ibrahim Ibn Al-Adham, Abi Sulayman ad-Daran , Ma'ruf Al-Karkh, al-Siri Saqtî, Sheikh Hammad Sheikh Abul Bayan. (...) These Sufis were great leaders of mankind and they called for what was right and forbid what God had forbidden evil . [9]
"I have worn the Sufi cloak (khirqa) a number of Sufi sheikhs, belonging to Turuq (lane congregations) varied among them Abdel Qadir al-Jilani, whose tariqa is the greatest of those well known that the mercy of Allah be upon him. "[10]
"It is said that after the Seal of the Prophets (peace be upon him and hello), the revelation does not descend to another. Why not? In fact it goes down, but then it is not called 'revelation' (but inspiration: Ilham). This is what the Prophet (peace be upon him and hello) said when he said, 'The believer sees with the Light of God.' When the believer looks with the Light of God, he sees all things: the first and last, present and absent. How one thing can be hidden in the Light of God? ... So the meaning of revelation exists, even if it is not called revelation . (...) what is considered a miracle for a saint is that sometimes the saint might hear something that others do not hear or see something that others do not, not when it is asleep, but an awakened state of vision (mushâhada). He can hear things that others can not know, through the inspiration. "[11]
[1] sentence from Durr al-Mukhtar.
[2] reported phrase by the hadith specialist Ahmad Zarruq by specialist hadith 'Ali ibn Ahmad al-'Adawî in Volume 2 of his works, by Hafiz al-`Ali al-Qari al-Harawi and other .
[3] cited by phrase 'Ijluni in his Kashf al-Khafa, vol. 1, p. 341.
[4] in the phrase quoted Tanwir al-qulub.
[5] Part from Al-Munqid min Azalâl, translated into French under the title Standard and Deliverance.
[6] Part extract Majmu'a Fatawa Ibn Taymiyya al-Kubra, volume 11.
[7] Part extract Mukhtasar al-Fataawa al-Masriyya.
[8] Part extract Majmu'a Fatawa Ibn Taymiyya al-Kubra, volume 11.
[9] Part extract Majmu'a Fatawa Ibn Taymiyya al-Kubra, volume 10.
[10] Part quoted from al-Mas'ala did Tabraziyya transmitted by Jamal ad-Din al-Talyani in his al-Targheeb Mutahâbbin labs Khirqat fi al-Mutammayyizîn.
[11]. Majmu'a Passages quoted in Fatawa Ibn Taymiyya al-Kubra
