Sufism and Legal Thought in Islam

[Anderson]

Salam

Need help understanding this for exams. I know the view Sufism has always been at odds with Islamic legal thought is inaccurate but can anyone explain what justifications there are for incorporating Sufism in to Islam proper and support for this from prominent Islamic law makers.

I don't know if you can hear me but please help me Jinza Man!


Seriously if anyone can link me to some good articles i'll love you forever.

[sixpakistan]

Sufism and Shari`ah

[zzze]

asslamau alaykum

for contemporary islam, right?

You've probably done this already - but refer to last year's paper as last year we had a repeat paper for islam.

[Revert]

Salaams Bro theres some good quotes to digest here:

Shadhili Tariqa - What is Sufism?

theres also some good articles further down the page...hope this helps inshaAllah.

[rahma]

wa alaikum assalam,

If you have the time and $$ to buy a book, Reliance of the Traveller would make a nice source. If memory serves me correctly, there are quite a few sections in the notes on tasawwuf.

[Anderson]

zzze said

asslamau alaykum

for contemporary islam, right?

You've probably done this already - but refer to last year's paper as last year we had a repeat paper for islam.

I know, they use the same paper every year for most courses in the dept (or reword the same question) . I want to write out answers for each right now and build on them for the exam.

rahma said

wa alaikum assalam,

If you have the time and $$ to buy a book, Reliance of the Traveller would make a nice source. If memory serves me correctly, there are quite a few sections in the notes on tasawwuf.

Exam's on Tuesday

[jinnzaman]

Anderson said

Salam

Need help understanding this for exams. I know the view Sufism has always been at odds with Islamic legal thought is inaccurate but can anyone explain what justifications there are for incorporating Sufism in to Islam proper and support for this from prominent Islamic law makers.

I don't know if you can hear me but please help me Jinza Man!


Seriously if anyone can link me to some good articles i'll love you forever.

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.

[zzze]

asslamau alaykum

I'm not sure if we can question the question lol. Seriously, our opinions do not matter.

[Anderson]

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.

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.

[Revert]

A Reader on Islamic Spirituality (Sufism)

THis has a bunch of sufism and shariah related links..i hope it helps inshaAllah.

[Anderson]

Revert said

A Reader on Islamic Spirituality (Sufism)

THis has a bunch of sufism and shariah related links..i hope it helps inshaAllah.

Thanks alot mein freund

[wheelworks]

Sufis don't exist anymore. Sufi wannabes maybe, but not sufis.

p.s. I don't wanna be loved by you thankyouverymuch

[jinnzaman]

Anderson said

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.

haha, i guess i should've been more clear and used the term 'the' premise and not 'your' premise.

If the way your exam is structured is between "Sufis" v. "literalists" than this is also a false dichotomy. "Literalism" has never really been the "norm" in Islamic law. Literalism cannot exist because there are not always literal interpretations of texts. Each text must be placed within the proper context. Literalism, as an interpretative movement, is more of a 20th century by product of interaction with Western ideologies than an innate Islamic inteprretation.

Remember, there are various strains of Sufism: syncretic and reformist.

I'd start by definining each of these terms.

[Anderson]

jinnzaman said

haha, i guess i should've been more clear and used the term 'the' premise and not 'your' premise.

If the way your exam is structured is between "Sufis" v. "literalists" than this is also a false dichotomy. "Literalism" has never really been the "norm" in Islamic law. Literalism cannot exist because there are not always literal interpretations of texts. Each text must be placed within the proper context. Literalism, as an interpretative movement, is more of a 20th century by product of interaction with Western ideologies than an innate Islamic inteprretation.

Remember, there are various strains of Sufism: syncretic and reformist.

I'd start by definining each of these terms.

Thanks for that.

Speaking from a historical point of view, did Ibn Taimiyyah et al have a great impact on the Islamic jurisprudence of their contemporaries.

[jinnzaman]

Anderson said

Thanks for that.

Speaking from a historical point of view, did Ibn Taimiyyah et al have a great impact on the Islamic jurisprudence of their contemporaries.

I would say no. But it had more to do with politics limiting academic freedom.