Islam is one of the most widely practiced religions around the globe. Like any widely practiced religion, Islam is defined by a number of aspects or characteristics. For one to be considered a Muslim, he or she must practice the religion as guided by the Quran. Some practices are considered at the heart of varied religions and for Islam, one of the key dimensions around the Islamic religion is Sufism. One would, therefore, wonder what the significance of this dimension is in the context of Islam. This paper will seek to explore the concept of Sufism and determine if it really sits at the heart of Islam.
Essay Outline
Introduction
Sufism is a key dimension in the Muslim faith.
Thesis statement. Sufism sits at the heart of the Muslim faith, and only through it can one become a Muslim.
Body
Faith according to the Muslim faith is about the belief is a supreme being.
Sufism is the process of purification of the heart in order to cleanse it from bad characteristics or manners.
The path to becoming a Muslim is through Sufism
Conclusion
Since one has to have a clean heart, then only through Sufism can one become a Muslim.
Therefore, Sufism sits at the heart of Islam.
Annotated Bibliography
Allison, A. "Book Review: Islam - The Basics: John L. Esposito, What Everyone Needs To Know About Islam". The Expository Times 125.6 (2014): 302-303. Web.
Allison explains that Sufism signifies the mystical aspect of the typical religious life in Islam. On many occasions, the term "mystical" is often used to refer to the alleged magical deception of religious movements. The word sometimes also represents the expression of weird feelings by the individuals perceiving some spirituality standards. Sufism, however, has little to do with these regards. Sufis aspire to attain a direct connection to God; therefore, some perceive Sufism as a consistent cleansing of personal being, of every evil aspect to achieve virtue. On the other hand, some people perceive Sufism as a freedom path leading away from all earthly weakness and human vices, to acquire qualities attributed only to angels.
Both non-Muslims and even Muslims have strongly criticized Sufism; others have disputed the fact that Sufism is the heart of Islam. Questions have been raised asking why the Wahabi and other Islamic sects are not considered Islamic heart as well. The phrase ‘the heart’ makes the Sufis, the most important and respected group within Islam, or even the real Islamic truth. This article discusses the validity of the statement and the arguments are based on thorough research of Sufism in Islam
.
Sufism sprung up as a religious response to particular characteristics of Orthodox Islam. Sufis supported and observed the strict religious law observance as an external conformity issue and supported a longing for essential individual understanding of the divine through means like meditation among others. They pushed themselves further from the habits of class distinction and the love for wealth and preferred simple lifestyles. Unlike the worldly Abbasid and Umayyad caliphates, who led some of the Islamic sects, the Sufis had Prophet Muhammad. Sufis also depict a tight attachment to seclusion and the remembrance of Allah, and concentrated more on the notion revolving around loving God. Later on, the Sufis adopted a more organized arrangement, where they formed groups of devotees headed by a Sheikh. These groups then formed Islamic instructions offering guidelines regarding the purification of the heart.
Voll, John O. and Kazuo Ohtsuka. "Sufism." In The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World. Oxford Islamic Studies Online. 17-Mar-2016. <http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t236/e0759>.
This article delves deep into the Sufism dimension of Islam. It defines Sufism as an intensification process of the Islamic practice as well as faith. Even though the Sufis majorly focused on the spiritual impacts of religious meanings and commandments on an individual's inner being, it poses no threat or even contradiction to the ways of the Muslims, as per the Sunna and Quran. These teachings most embraced by the Sufis are mainly derived from the Sunna and the Quran and are deduced by Islamic scholars who are considered purified for the task. As known to many, the Quran lays down the commandments and Islamic philosophies while the Sunna contains the manners, actions and sayings of the prophet which must be followed by all Muslims. Therefore, since the Sufis only derive their practices and teachings from these Islamic holy documents, then they are the true heart of Islam.
Moreover, the Sufis live on the essential Islamic virtues; these virtues include; perfect goodness, understanding of God, and sincerity among others. The Sharia and Sufism, therefore, share the top Islamic priorities of Godly actions, good conduct, and belief in Allah. The Islamic law and the acts of Sufism both rely on the Sunna and the Quran and emphasize on trust and belief to live a pure life. Sufism makes attempts to perform Godly deeds in their daily endeavors, another reason making them the Islamic heart.
Another significant attribute associated with the Sufis is the Islamic surrender, according to Islam, surrendering is associated with a complete offering of one’s being and willingness. Submission has always been existing; it is not associated with a place or even time. Submission law is present in every creation of Allah, it exists in the human cells, air, the universe and in everything we hear, perceive, touch and feel. The religion states that a person has completely surrendered to God when he or she strictly follows His commandments. It is clearly seen that Allah has indeed offered Muslims numerous capacities like intellect and free will, and, therefore, Allah demands a free and complete surrender which do not seclude other capabilities. The religious surrender must also be in the entire personal being to prevent disastrous outcomes which may arise from unintentional evil emotions and thoughts hidden under a perception of outward surrender to the will of Allah. Sufism encourages and maintains both internal and external surrender, unlike others who only surrender to the religion only where it touches other legal aspects. Sufis embrace even their main beliefs in their surrender and, therefore, are the heart of Islam. Sufism is strongly attached to Shariah, who seeks to attain inner importance.
Chittick, William. "Love In Islamic Thought". religion compass 8/7 (2014): 229-238. Print.
William additionally stress that Sufism is considered the heart of Islam since even though the religious documentations stress the equality of Muslims before Allah; they also emphasize the religious distinctions according to one's understanding of Allah, virtue, and Islamic truth. The Quran states that those who know the truth are not equal to those who do not know. Sufis are more dedicated to knowing and always strive towards grasping the knowledge of Allah, which qualifies them as the core of Islam. The sect creates additional stress on the essential Islamic qualities.
Rustom, Mohamed. "Approaches to Proximity and Distance in Early Sufism". Mystics quaterly 33.1/2 (2007): 1-25. Print.
According to Rustom, both Sufism and Muslim have embraced the most important steps of doing away with the boundaries of separations, unveiling the universe's secrets, and combining in the unity of Allah. Sufism, the Quran, and Prophet Muhammad are one and can, therefore, not be separated. The Sufis has a unique Quran interpretation which demonstrates their more dependence on the inner aspects of Godliness and connection with the outer world. In their interpretation of the Holy Book, the Sufis stress the angels' admiration and the presence of God's Spirit in our lives due to the gift. A close observance of the Sufism-oriented Persian paintings shows smiling and adoring angels, who are happy for the human beings who are completely aware and appreciative of Allah's presence in their lives.
Finally, Sufism being the heart of Islam is indirectly reflected through the outstanding 13th century Islamic poetic works divinely inspired and unique, which were associated with the sect. It's important to note that Sufism came about as a result of corruption noticed among early leaders. The Sufis has put extra strength in upholding the Islamic values more than the other sects, hence a society of individuals free from earthly longings.
Conclusion
In Islam, Sufism has always been the concealed Islamic heart, which has ethically, spiritually and even intellectually transformed the Islamic religion as a whole. It has played a central role in its association and spread. As a whole, Sufism has perceived Islam as a community whose outstanding dedication is to reveal the actual truth. Evidence highlighted above supports the statement regarding Sufism as being the heart of Islam.
Works Cited
Allison, A. "Book Review: Islam - The Basics: John L. Esposito, What Everyone Needs To Know About Islam". The Expository Times 125.6 (2014): 302-303. Web.
Chittick, William. "Love In Islamic Thought". religion compass 8/7 (2014): 229-238. Print.
Rustom, Mohamed. "Approaches to Proximity and Distance in Early Sufism". Mystics quaterly 33.1/2 (2007): 1-25. Print.
Voll, John O. and Kazuo Ohtsuka. "Sufism." In The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World. Oxford Islamic Studies Online. 17-Mar-2016. <http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t236/e0759>.
