SUFISM

"Verily, he who has purified the nafs has attained victory, and he who has despoiled it has lost."

"That Day (Day of Judgment) neither wealth nor sons will benefit (anyone), but that person who

comes to Allah with a reformed heart."

THE ORIGINS OF SUFISM

The foundation of all Islamic teaching is two sources:

1. Qur’an

2. The Tradition of the Prophet (pbuh)

THE ORIGINS OF SUFISM

Two sides of Islam: External vs. Internal

1. Various religious sciences deal with the vital issues in a Muslim’s individual and collective life:

• Qur’anic Exegesis (Tafseer)

• Tradition of the Prophet (Hadith)

• Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh)

THE ORIGINS OF SUFISM

2. Sufism, or Tasawwuf, deals with the internal feelings and states of the heart.

Concentration on the pure spiritual dimension of the Muhammadan Truth

Attention to the essence of man’s being, the real nature of existence and the inner dynamics of man and the cosmos

Attention to the reality of things lying beneath and beyond their outer dimension.

TASAWWUF - SUFISM

Tasawwuf, or Sufism, is an acronym made up of four consonant letters: t, s, w, and f.

t for tawba, repentances for safa, purity, peace and joyw for wilaya, the sanctity of the lovers and friends of Allahf for fana, the annihilation of self into the nothingness

TASAWWUF - SUFISM

The motive of tasawwuf is the attainment of

Divine Pleasure

TASAWWUF - SUFISM

The function of tasawwuf is to purify the heart from the lowly bestial attributes such as:

Greed

Lust

Calamities of the tongue

Malice

Jealousy

Love of the world

Ostentation

TASAWWUF - SUFISM

The focus of tasawwuf is adornment of character and heart with qualities such as:

Divine Unity (tawheed)

Love

Repentance

Perseverance

Gratefulness

Sincerity

Truth

TASAWWUF - SUFISM

The method of tasawwuf is total obedience to the commands of the Islamic Law (Shariah)

1. Observing even the most “trivial” rules of the Islamic Law in order to penetrate their inner meaning.

2. Resisting the temptations of the carnal self and bad moral qualities

TASAWWUF - SUFISM

3. Keeping the Presence of Allah in one’s heart both in public and in private

4. Renouncing this transient, material world, as well as the desires and emotions it engenders

5. Deepening awareness of oneself through constant worship of God

TASAWWUF - SUFISM

3. Keeping the Presence of Allah in one’s heart both in public and in private

4. Renouncing this transient, material world, as well as the desires and emotions it engenders

5. Deepening awareness of oneself through constant worship of God