What is the Salafi view on Tariqas?

[JayshAllah]

What is the Salafi view on Tariqas? Please cite evidence if possible as well, Insha-Allah.

[Madarijas-Salikeen]

Sufi tareeqahs and the ruling on joining them

Question:
In the sufis thariqa' there was a term call syari'a,thariqa',haqiqa' and ma'rifah.Is this term really have been tought by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)to his companion according to the definition by the thariqa' it self.

Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.

We must understand that the word al-soofiyyah (Sufism) refers to wearing woollen clothes [the Arabic word soof means “wool”] and nothing else.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

The word al-soofiyyah (Sufism) refers to wearing woollen clothes; this is the correct meaning. It was said that it comes from the word safwat al-fuqaha’ (the elite of the fuqaha’) or from Soofah ibn Add ibn Taanijah, an Arab tribe that was known for its asceticism, or from Ahl al-Suffah (poor Muslims in Madeenah at the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) who used to stay in the mosque), or from al-Safa (the mountain in Makkah), or from the word al-safwah (meaning elite), or from the phrase al-saff al-muqaddam bayna yaday Allaah (the foremost rank before Allaah). All of these views are weak (da’eef); if any of them were true then the word would be saffi or safaa’i or safawi, not sufi.

Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 11/195

Sufism (tasawwuf) did not appear until after the first three generations which the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) praised when he said, “The best of mankind is my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them…” (narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2652; Muslim, 2533; from the hadeeth of Ibn Mas’ood).

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

With regard to the word soofiyyah (Sufism), it was not known during the first three generations, rather it became known after that.

Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 11/5

This tareeqah and its like are among the innovated ways that go against the Qur’aan and Sunnah and the way followed by the best generations. All the shaykhs of these tareeqahs have made up their own wirds (phrases to be uttered as dhikr), hizb (books of du’aa’ to be read daily by their followers) and ways of worship by which each of them may be distinguished from the others; this goes against sharee’ah and divides the ummah.

Allaah has blessed this ummah by perfecting its religion and completing His Favour upon it, so everyone who comes up with an act of worship or a way that was not brought by sharee’ah is effectively rejecting what Allaah has said and accusing the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) of betraying the trust.

Along with this innovation of theirs, they may also be lying by claiming that they received their tareeqah from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), or that they are following the path and guidance of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs (al-khulafa’ al-raashideen).

The scholars of the Standing Committee were asked:

Is there any such thing in Islam as the numerous tareeqahs like the Shaadhilyyah, Khalwatiyyah etc? If there is such a thing, what is the evidence for that? What is the meaning of the verses in which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And verily, this is My straight path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His path. This He has ordained for you that you may become Al‑Muttaqoon (the pious)”

[al-An’aam 6:153]

“And upon Allaah is the responsibility to explain the Straight Path. But there are ways that turn aside (such as Paganism, Judaism, Christianity). And had He willed, He would have guided you all (mankind)”
[al-Nahl 16:9]

What are the ways that separate people from the path of Allaah, and what is the way of Allaah? What is the meaning of the hadeeth narrated by Ibn Mas’ood, according to which the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) drew a line and said, “This is the path of guidance,” then he drew lines to its right and another to its left and said, “These are other paths and on each path there is a devil calling people to it”?

They answered:

There is no such thing in Islam as the tareeqahs that you mentioned, or anything else like them. What there is in Islam is what is indicated by the two verses and the hadeeth that you quoted, and what was indicated by the hadeeth in which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The Jews split into seventy-one sects, and the Christians split into seventy-two sects. My ummah will split into seventy-three sects, all of which will be in Hell except one.” It was asked, “Who are they, O Messenger of Allaah?” He said, “Those who follow the same path as I and my companions are on today.” And he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “A group among my ummah will continue to follow the truth and to be victorious, and they will not be harmed by those who forsake them or oppose them, until the command of Allaah comes to pass when they are like that.” The truth lies in following the Qur’aan and the saheeh, unambiguous Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). This is the path of Allaah, this is the Straight Path. This is the straight line mentioned in the hadeeth of Ibn Mas’ood, and this is what was followed by the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) (may Allaah be pleased with them and with their followers among the early generations (salaf) of this ummah, and with those who follow their path). All other tareeqahs or groups are the paths mentioned in the verse (interpretation of the meaning):

“… and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His path…”

[al-An’aam 6:153]

Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 2/283, 284

And Allaah knows best.

Islam Q&A

[Tauheed]

Asalaam alaikum,

Just to make it a little more interesting here is a document attached which has evidence used for Loud zikr etc.

[Madarijas-Salikeen]

we still await evidence that following tariqas are allowed

[ykhan]

What is the Salafi view on Tariqas? Please cite evidence if possible as well, Insha-Allah.

As salaamu alaykum akhi,

Sorry to ask but, shouldn't that question be; what is the Shari'ah view on them.??

My point is that the divine Shari'ah is infallible, whereas the "salafis" are group of "infallable" human beings who try to cling onto the pure Islam of the early Muslims.

So the infallible Shari'ah is what is important not what a particular group of Muslims may or may not believe.

I hope I have explained that properly insha'Allah.

[Madarijas-Salikeen]

as salaamu alaykum

http://forums.islamicawakening.com/showthread.php?t=4528

[Madarijas-Salikeen]

http://forums.islamicawakening.com/showthread.php?t=3795

[Abu_Abdillah2000]

My point is that the divine Shari'ah is infallible, whereas the "salafis" are group of "infallable" human beings who try to cling onto the pure Islam of the early Muslims.

Shouldn't that be: "the salafis are a group of fallible human beings"?

[ykhan]

Shouldn't that be: "the salafis are a group of fallible human beings"?

Yes, I meant "fallible" as opposed to the revelation of the Shari'ah which came form an infallible source, and was recieved by a Messenger who was divinely protected [ ma'soom ] from errors in the Deen, unlike any one or group after him, sallallahu alayhi was salaam, like for example the noble brothers who today ascribe themselves to the first three generations of Muslims.

I must learn to type..!

[Tauheed]

we still await evidence that following tariqas are allowed

We still await evidence to prove the establishment of the 4 Mathahib
We still await evidence for the establishment of Madrassas.
We still await evidence ................
We still await evidence ...............
We still await evidence ..............
We still await evidence ...............

[Abd al-Haqq Marshall]

I assume that if the tariqah was upon the Qur'an and Sunnah (like the early Qadiri tariqah) it would be okay, but I haven't seen any today that are without innovations. Some people would say that turuq themselves are bidah, but that's like saying the madhahib are bidah. The entire Ibn Qudamah family was closely associated with the Qadiri tariqah. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyya (rahimahuallah) was a friend of al-Wasiti, a Shadhili Shaykh. Imam adh-Dhahabi (rahimahuallah) was in the Suhrawardi tariqah. Shaykh Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhab (rahimahuallah) was a friend of Ahmad ibn Idris (founder of the Idrisiyya and mentor of Ali as-Sanussi).

[Abu_Zahid]

Can someone please give a detailed definition of what a tariqa is?

[Madarijas-Salikeen]

I assume that if the tariqah was upon the Qur'an and Sunnah (like the early Qadiri tariqah) it would be okay, but I haven't seen any today that are without innovations. Some people would say that turuq themselves are bidah, but that's like saying the madhahib are bidah. The entire Ibn Qudamah family was closely associated with the Qadiri tariqah. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyya (rahimahuallah) was a friend of al-Wasiti, a Shadhili Shaykh. Imam adh-Dhahabi (rahimahuallah) was in the Suhrawardi tariqah. Shaykh Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhab (rahimahuallah) was a friend of Ahmad ibn Idris (founder of the Idrisiyya and mentor of Ali as-Sanussi).

jazakallaah khayr interesting akhi

so would it be permissible to follow a tariqa like that of shaykh zulfiqar from www.tasawwuf.org ? he is deobandi but it seems that he is not upon bidah (unless he is into the maturidi ilm al kalam etc.)

[Abd al-Haqq Marshall]

jazakallaah khayr interesting akhi

so would it be permissible to follow a tariqa like that of shaykh zulfiqar from www.tasawwuf.org ? he is deobandi but it seems that he is not upon bidah (unless he is into the maturidi ilm al kalam etc.)

I know that his tariqa engages in no innovated practices (ie. no dancing or visiting graves) but he and his mureeds are Maturidis. That's why I said it be permissible if you could find a Shaykh who was on what the Shuyukh of those earlier times were on. So far I haven't found any Sufis of today who are on Athari aqeedah. Ironic since al-Jilani said that there would never be a Wali of Allah on any other aqeedah.

[JayshAllah]

I find Tariqas useless.

[Um Abdullah M.]

what I understand is that in tariqa they follow one shaikh in tazkiyyah, doing what he tells them to, he is like a guide to them.

Isn't this against teachings of Islam? blind following one person who is not infallible?


and they say that there is this knowledge that was passed on in a chain, that only those people in that chain know it, and they pass it on to others, that is why you find every tariqah having a chain going back to one of the Sahabah, kind of like a secret knowledge, not available in books, only passed on through specific people, from a sahabi who got it from the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.

so how can one say that this is part of Islam?
that their is some knowledge that is only known to specific people through a chain ?

[Abu_Abdillah2000]

These tariqahs - in the way many understand them today, with all of their rules, regulations, secrets, formalities etc. - there is little doubt that they have become a bid'ah. And the interesting thing that you will find with so many of these tariqahs and their followers is that for every bid'ah that they bring, they abandon a sunnah (or two, or three, or more!).

That is not to say that they might contain some good or benefit, or that they may have helped Islam and the Muslims at some times, however it is questionable as to whether or not their harms outweigh their benefits!

[Abu_Abdillah2000]

Also, it should be noted that there were some positive comments from al-Imam Muhammad ibn 'Abdil-Wahhab and some of his sons regarding tasawwuf and the sufi tariqahs, however they made that conditional upon following the Sunnah and leaving bid'ah and doubtful aspects. It appears that they (and others from among the mujaddidun of around that era) called to reforming tasawwuf rather than throwing it away entirely. That is something that needs to be properly understood, as many of the pseudo-sufis today will quote from Ibn Taymiyyah or Ibn 'Abdil-Wahhab certain praiseworthy words that they said about tasawwuf, without looking into the context of them.

Shaykh 'Abd al-'Aziz al-Qari of Umm al-Qura university in Makkah wrote an article one or two years back regarding this reforming or purifying of tasawwuf. I have it with me somewhere, if I can find it I will translate it if I get the opportunity in sha' Allah.

My point is, back then, there most likely were (and perhaps still are somewhere) some of the sufi tariqahs which had not gone as far astray as many have today, wallahu a'lam.

[Tauheed]

what I understand is that in tariqa they follow one shaikh in tazkiyyah, doing what he tells them to, he is like a guide to them.

Isn't this against teachings of Islam? blind following one person who is not infallible?


and they say that there is this knowledge that was passed on in a chain, that only those people in that chain know it, and they pass it on to others, that is why you find every tariqah having a chain going back to one of the Sahabah, kind of like a secret knowledge, not available in books, only passed on through specific people, from a sahabi who got it from the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.

so how can one say that this is part of Islam?
that their is some knowledge that is only known to specific people through a chain ?


Asalaam alaikum,

With the knowledge it is not some secret. The chain just shows which Tariqa the chain goes back to and they don’t say it is obligatory for one to follow a Tariqa.

Also the knowledge generally it's about how strengthen yourself from things like Waswas etc. So practical advice is given in terms of how overcome problems such as when the Shaytaan plays you on the Niyaa (intention) game and whispers “.... don't do this action you are doing it for the people so refrain from it...." and this action could be Sunnah Maukdah which for the Hanafis if you leave without valid reason your sinful.
Also your mentor (so to speak) will give help with other aspects of life such as if your having problems with your wife, what is the Hukm related to it and how practically you should tackle the issue and not to have the approach ".. This is my right and I want it NOW...” not taking into consideration that the poor wife has been slaving all day and is physically and mentally drained. I am sure we can appreciate the above example in relation to some DIY Mujtahids.

The above I refer to some Deobandis and not the Sufi such the Brelvis as they are on another level.

[Abuz Zubair]

Dear brother, all of what you've stated above is not problematic at all, and whether Sufis or non-Sufis, we all have certain reference point in life we can refer to for such spiritual and ethical issues. One doesn't have to be a Sufi to think about such issues, just as the one being referred to for such problems doesn't have to be a Sufi following a Tariqa either.

Must of what you've mentioned is discussed in works on Islamic Ethics.

What I think is undeniable is that nearly all Sufi Tariqas are actually built on certain spiritual exercises with the aim of reaching the truth/reality which cannot be reached by the dhahir of Sharia, fiqh, etc. It is an alternative method to know Allah, apart from 'ilm al-kalam. It is based on certain newly invented, and introduced terms and concepts, such as khulwa, ecstasy, kashf, etc, etc...

This is precisely why Ibn al-Jawzi refused to acknowledge any lineage for tasawwuf tracing back to the Salaf. He clearly distinguished between the Zuhd of the Salaf, and the tasawwuf of the khalaf.

[suhail]

There is indeed a very nice book in english now from Ibn Tayymiyah, friends of Allah and friends of Shaytan. It explain what is zuhd of the salaf and what are the others tariqas calling to in principle.

Tariqas have there own terminology and there own practices which are contrary to the sharia. There are something that people do which are just absurd. Read some books of these so called awliyas and there acts. You will see they are just too absurd to even discuss.

There is a zikr they do called khafi zikr and then after that they do something called muraqaba which will take ur soul to heaven and will allow you to meet Prophet and sahaba and walis is just absurd and doesnt make any sense whatsoever. It is just a totally different world. Dont even put a step in it.

Better stick to the way of the salaf and be a zahid like they were. I was reading the life of the sahabi Said ibn Amir and mashallah what a man he was. Such a zahid that you would be awed to read about his life. He isnt even among very well known sahabi. Life of the Prophet himself is filled with so many acts of sacrifices which needs contemplation by us. See how much he faught with so many things and how Allah Helped him.

I think all these tariqas are nothing but absurditites and dangerous path which shouldnt be followed.

Jazakallah Khair
Suhail

[JayshAllah]

He clearly distinguished between the Zuhd of the Salaf, and the tasawwuf of the khalaf.

What is Khalaf? I always thought this was a play on words used by Asharis/Maturidis to describe Salafis. :confused:

Or maybe that's Talafi I'm thinking about...?

[Abu_Abdillah2000]

The khalaf are those who came after the salaf, and followed a way different to the way of the salaf.

[Tauheed]

Dear brother, all of what you've stated above is not problematic at all, and whether Sufis or non-Sufis, we all have certain reference point in life we can refer to for such spiritual and ethical issues. One doesn't have to be a Sufi to think about such issues, just as the one being referred to for such problems doesn't have to be a Sufi following a Tariqa either.

Must of what you've mentioned is discussed in works on Islamic Ethics.

What I think is undeniable is that nearly all Sufi Tariqas are actually built on certain spiritual exercises with the aim of reaching the truth/reality which cannot be reached by the dhahir of Sharia, fiqh, etc. It is an alternative method to know Allah, apart from 'ilm al-kalam. It is based on certain newly invented, and introduced terms and concepts, such as khulwa, ecstasy, kashf, etc, etc...

This is precisely why Ibn al-Jawzi refused to acknowledge any lineage for tasawwuf tracing back to the Salaf. He clearly distinguished between the Zuhd of the Salaf, and the tasawwuf of the khalaf.

Asalaam alaikum,

It is true that the Tariqas have certain excercises or to be more precise 'Zikr'. However some of the Deoband base this upon evidence and I have posted a document regarding this earlier in this same thread.

Personally I don't follow a Tariqa, however because I am Hanafi in Fiqh I have access to Deobandi Muftis and Alims and hence know this information. There is even a split amongst the Deobandis where some don't follow Tariqas nor allow group Zhikr.

From this I feel that not all of them can be painted with the same brush and there are other more pressing issues that need to be delt with as they have evidences for doing loud Zhikr.


Allahu alim.

[knowrass]

jayshallah mentioned talafi, who are they?

[Madarijas-Salikeen]

This is precisely why Ibn al-Jawzi refused to acknowledge any lineage for tasawwuf tracing back to the Salaf. He clearly distinguished between the Zuhd of the Salaf, and the tasawwuf of the khalaf.

Akhi abu zubayr what about other ulama who followed a particular tariqa. would they be consider innovators?