The Incorporation of Un-Islamic Practices and Ideas in Islamic Sufism: A Critical and Reformative Study

Abstract

Sufism represents a delicate yet profound dimension of Islamic civilization and spirituality that has, for centuries, played a pivotal role in the purification of hearts, moral refinement of souls, and the strengthening of the believer’s connection with Allah. The early Sufi masters, drawing their inspiration from the Quran and Sunnah, exemplified rigorous struggle (mujahadah), asceticism (zuhd), sincerity (ikhlas), piety (taqwa), fear of God (khushyat Allah), and exemplary ethics (akhlaq al-hasanah). Their practices—such as sincere intention, remembrance and contemplation of Allah, meditation, and night vigils served as authentic indicators of nearness to God, rooted firmly in the Qur’anic and Prophetic traditions and illuminated by the asceticism and devotion of the Companions, the Followers (Tabi‘un), and the pious predecessors (Salaf al-Salih).However, over time, deviations and excesses began to infiltrate the originally pure and authentic concept of Sufism. While Sufism continued to be a means of spiritual advancement and reform for the Muslim community, it simultaneously absorbed certain practices and ideas that were not only un-Islamic but, in some cases, explicitly contradictory to the Shariah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The institutionalization of specific Khanqah (Sufi lodge) systems, unsubstantiated concepts of spiritual master-disciple relationships (Piri-Muridi), dubious litanies and invocations (awraq and adhkar), ecstatic states and dance (wajd and raqs), gatherings of musical listening (sama‘), seeking help from graves (tawassul), legitimizing visions and inspirations (kashf and ilham) as absolute proofs, and the philosophical doctrine of Wahdat al-Wujud (Unity of Existence) are among those innovations that have marred the pristine fabric of Islamic Sufism.This study critically examines whether these ideas and practices are truly derived from Islam’s foundational sources the Quran, Sunnah, consensus (ijma‘), and reasoned analogy (qiyas) or whether they represent foreign influences drawn from Hindu, Greek, Persian, or Neo-Platonic philosophies that have detached Sufism from its authentic spirit. The present research attempts a critical and reformative analysis aimed at distinguishing the pure Islamic principles of Sufism from the later-introduced innovations and un-Islamic practices. Through a thorough examination of the Prophetic traditions (Ahadith), this study seeks to identify which practices are genuinely rooted in the Sunnah and which fall within the realms of innovation (bid‘ah) and superstition (khurafat). Moreover, it highlights the imperative of religious renewal (tajdid) aimed at restoring Sufism on its original, simple, and Qur’anic foundations. The purpose of this research is neither to reject nor disparage Sufism but rather to purify, reform, and renew it so that it may serve as a harmonious and authentic system of spiritual purification within Islam, guiding the Muslim community toward true devotion and nearness to Allah, rather than becoming a ground for innovation and polytheistic ideas.

Keywords: Incorporation, Islamic Sufism, Contemplation, Institutionalization, philosophies, Polytheistic