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jinnzaman said
Wa alaikum assalam
The problem is that your premise is weak. Sufism was not a "foreign" element that "infiltrated" the Islamic sciences. The Islamic sciences were also not "originally" part of "Islam." All of these arts and disciplines were developed and refined as a tradition over time. Even the concept of a "madhab" and various elements of usul al fiqh (ijma, qiyas) were disputed and alleged to not be a part of Islam. Up to today, we are still battling over the legitimacy of ilm ul kalam as can be witnessed between Asharis and Salafis.
However, there have been times where Sufism and the Shari'ah have been at variances and this is why many of the fuqaha have respected Sufis, while still viewing it with some caution. I think most historians would estimate that it was not until Imam Ghazzali came about until the tripartite system of Islam that we have today was fully expounded and developed into a coherent system of islam, iman, and ihsan (fiqh, aqeedah/kalam, and tasawwuf).
"Vision of Islam" by William Chittick is probably the best book on this topic.
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You used to be my hero
No I'm not making a point or forcing a debate rather I want to understand the relationship between Sufism and Islamic legalistic externalism and whether the Orientalist's dichotomy between Sufism and 'Literalists' can be justified. Your last paragraph was useful, i'll read up.
I need links, hot links cos the exam is soon but I'll read any books you recommend for next semester.