Sufisim is not a sect

[Alphanumeric]

Those are question pertaining to Aqida. I'm tryong to get you to understand that Sufisim is a systematic method to purify ones heart and reach closer to Allah. Understand this and hold this as a seperate category from fiqh and aqida. Most tariqas are very orthodox sunnis, four madhabs for fiqh, and ashari or matrudi for aqida. These are the orthdox stances. Next understand one does not have to be a sufi either to follow the madhabs of fiqh and aqida. Once you understand this you will not so easily associate maters of action, beliefs, or worship with "sufis".

Well then, this contradicts your earlier stance that all Sufis have the same beliefs. That "their differences are methodological but not theology or jurisprudence".

If Sufism is an entirely personal matter, as Abuukar suggested, then that is what it is: personal. But if Sufi tariqahs are aligned to individuals or ideologies, where then the tariqahs may differ from one another in either jurisprudence or belief, then I'm sorry, to me that reads as the essence of sectarianism.

[SultanOrder]

Sufisim can be considered a personal matter in that it deals with trying to rectify the self so that it is in the best form to truly fulfill its purpose; that is, worshipping none other than Allah as though you see him, and if not that, then to atleast know he sees you. Tariqas formed by systemizing the various methods used by the Prophet scw to discipline and correct his sahaba ra that were passed down from one generation to the next. Most authentic tariqas have a chain of shaykhs going back to the prophet. Now just like fiqh was codefined and refined to particular schools so was tariqas. Tariqas also branched out as shaykhs used their own discretion to train their disciples and their particular branch became known after them. Now this doesn't make them sectarian. Otherwise the four madhabs could be called sectarian, which is wrong to say. You must also understand the fiqh and aqida of particular tariqa is only limited to the members of that tariqa.

[Alphanumeric]

You must also understand the fiqh and aqida of particular tariqa is only limited to the members of that tariqa.

This is what I cannot get past.

If I must choose a tariqa and align myself to it wholly, I am removing the probability of finding something which may help me better understand the fundamentals of my beliefs.

I already believe devotion and worship are entirely personal matters, not relying on groups and society; zuhd in its truest form. I also believe this may have been the cause and root of Sufism, but I don't see how tariqas have any relation to it. I am wary of groups and hopefully always will be.

[SultanOrder]

I wasn't clear enough it what I was trying to say. The fiqh or aqida of a tariqa is only limited by the fiqh or aqida of the members happen to be. There is no particular fiqh or aqida in tariqas, and a sufi shaykh sometimes isn't a fuqaha. This way you and the disciple next to you maybe different madhabs but have the same sufi shaykh.

As for the second part, nothing is absolute. Salat is a worship that is entirely a personal matter, yet when done in jama'a the reward is far greater as a general rule, yet in a particular case it could be better to do it alone. The reason people go to tariqas is thave someone more knowledgeable help you achieve your goals, and to prevent you from burning out or being to lax. To play the role that the prophet scw played to his sahaba ra.

[ZubeirAwal]

Tassawuf seems to be one of the sub-schools of the Sunni school that is very powerful.

I still remember how i was in doubt of tassawuf, then i dedicated 7 days on to it, the last day (monday) i fasted despite missing 2 Salah's while at college when i slept at night i read this dua that came from one of the righteous sufi's of the past.“say before you sleep ‘Bismillah ir Rahman ir Raheem’ 5 times
and ‘Audhu billahi min ash shaytan ir rajeem’ 5 times,and then say ‘Allahumma bi Haqqi Muhammad, Arini Wajha Muhammadin Haalan wa Ma’aala’ (O Allah, by the right of Muhammad, show me the face of Muhammad in this moment and in the end), then I will come to you and will not break my promise to you.”

And then by Allah's mercy and grace i had a strange dream that seemed all confusing, the only thing i remember that i saw myself standing infront of the prophet in 3rd person in a old looking library with books scattered all over the floor.

What i'm trying to say is that, to those ignorant folk who call Sufi's so much horrible and wrong things like Kaafir, Sufism is the spiritual face of Islam, and it's the Sufi's today who are the strangers of Islam.