Khwaja Osman Faruqi : Sufism is more than a collection of rituals or ascetic acts. It is a way of seeing reality a spiritual philosophy that guides the human soul toward closeness with the Divine. At its essence, Sufism is the inward journey of transformation: purifying the self, cultivating moral integrity, and surrendering completely to Allah. To see it merely as religious practice is to miss its deeper truth, for Sufism unites Islamic spirituality, simplicity, and mysticism into one living, breathing path.
From the dawn of human awareness, people have asked: Where did we come from? Why are we here? The answers that emerged from such reflection are embodied in Tasawwuf or Sufism the discipline of spiritual refinement. Sufism teaches that the soul (ruh) is not just a function of biology but a spark of divine light, breathed into humanity by Allah Himself. The Sufi’s goal is to cleanse this soul of worldly impurities and restore it to its original purity through remembrance (dhikr), reflection, and disciplined living.
Throughout Islamic history, generations of Sufi masters have taught that the path to divine closeness requires both knowledge and action. Through practices such as tazkiyah (self-purification), khalwah (spiritual retreat), and constant dhikr (remembrance), the seeker learns to detach from material attachments and fix their heart upon divine love. The stages of the Sufi journey tawhid (oneness of Allah), tazkiyah, khalwah, dhikr, and ma‘rifah (divine knowledge) culminate in fana (the annihilation of the self) and baqa (everlasting presence in Allah).
Islam is a complete way of life, encompassing every dimension of existence spiritual, moral, social, and intellectual. The lives of the Prophets and the awliya Allah (friends of Allah) demonstrate this truth. Their words and actions were living interpretations of the Qur’an and Sunnah, offering practical examples of divine guidance in motion.
Faith in Islam begins with the kalima: There is no deity but Allah, and Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His Messenger. The Qur’an repeatedly affirms Allah’s absolute oneness He has no partner. He alone is the Creator, Sustainer, and Sovereign of the universe. Yet this truth raises a timeless question: How can finite humanity relate to the Infinite Creator?
Every spiritual tradition has sought to answer this mystery. Islam answers it through spirituality the bridge between the temporal and the eternal. This connection is beautifully expressed in the three dimensions of faith: Islam, Iman, and Ihsan. As described in a famous hadith in Sahih Muslim, Angel Jibreel appeared before the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to explain them. Islam refers to outward practice, Iman to inner belief, and Ihsan to spiritual excellence: “To worship Allah as if you see Him, for even if you do not see Him, He sees you.”
The one who reaches this level of awareness the muhsin becomes a soul so refined that it radiates divine light, mercy, and truth. This is the purpose of Sufism: to revive that state within the believer. It is the haqiqah (inner truth) that breathes life into the shariah (outer law). The two are inseparable: law gives structure, and spirituality gives meaning.
True Tasawwuf does not oppose Islamic law; it completes it by aligning intention with divine purpose. For the Sufi, piety without sincerity is hollow and ritual without love is lifeless. The Sufi vision transcends boundaries of race, class, and nationality. All creation is one family under Allah, woven together by the thread of divine unity. In the flowing of rivers, the stillness of mountains, and the movement of stars, the Sufi sees reflections of Allah’s oneness. This awareness leads to compassion for all beings and humility before the Creator.
In today’s modern world, where technology connects us but our hearts remain restless, humanity faces a paradox. Despite unprecedented progress, people feel increasingly empty inside. Anxiety, loneliness, and spiritual fatigue have become common even in societies of abundance. Sufism offers a timeless remedy: to return to the heart, to remember Allah, and to live with constant awareness of His presence.
The Qur’an expresses this truth through the concept of faqr (spiritual poverty): “O mankind, you are in need of Allah, while Allah is Free of need and Praiseworthy.” (Qur’an 35:15)
Here, faqr does not mean misery but humility recognizing that all power, knowledge, and goodness belong to Allah alone. The faqir and dervish embody this state, renouncing ego and attachment to draw closer to the Divine. Their apparent poverty hides a wealth of inner peace.
This spiritual truth resonates across faiths. The Bible declares: “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of Allah.” (Matthew 19:24) Both scriptures remind us that humility and detachment from excess are gates to divine nearness. As the Qur’an says: “For each of you We have appointed a law and a clear path.” (Qur’an 5:48)
That “clear path” points to the inner journey of the heart Tasawwuf. In Islamic civilization, Sufism has long been the living soul of religion. If shariah is Islam’s body, Sufism is its spirit. It is both faith-based and experiential; it cannot be grasped by study alone. True understanding arises when knowledge meets realization when outer obedience is joined with inner illumination.
As Imam Al-Ghazali wrote in Ihya Ulum al-Din: “Knowledge without action is insanity, and action without knowledge is vanity.” Over the centuries, Sufi thinkers and poets such as Ibn Arabi and Rumi have deepened the world’s understanding of spiritual truth. Ibn Arabi’s Fusus al-Hikam explores the soul’s journey toward unity with the Divine Essence, while Rumi’s Masnavi-i Ma’navi celebrates love as the animating force of creation. “The lamps are different,” Rumi wrote, “but the Light is the same.” Beneath all differences of language, culture, and creed lies one eternal source of truth.
Sufism has shaped Muslim societies through its literature, art, architecture, and ethics. Its spirit of love, service, and tolerance has built bridges across cultures and faiths. The khanqahs (Sufi lodges) once served as centers of learning, charity, and hospitality, nurturing both the intellect and the heart. Even today, their message remains urgent that the true measure of civilization is not material power but spiritual depth and moral beauty.
At its deepest level, Tasawwuf is the struggle of the soul against its lower desires a lifelong journey toward divine nearness. The Qur’an calls this the “greater jihad” (jihad al-nafs) the inner battle to free the heart from arrogance, greed, and heedlessness. Every act of worship prayer, fasting, charity, remembrance becomes a step along this sacred path.
From the earliest Prophets to the saints of later generations, this inner quest has formed the heartbeat of Islam: a call to cleanse the self, awaken the heart, and dissolve in the infinite love of Allah. For in that love lies the ultimate truth — that all beauty, goodness, and light flow from Him and return to Him alone.
References:
Qur’an 35:15; 5:48
Sahih Muslim (Book of Faith Hadith of Jibreel) Al-Ghazali, Ihya Ulum al-Din Ibn Arabi, Fusus al-Hikam Rumi, Masnavi-i Ma’navi
Writer:
Khaja Osman Faruquee
Sufi Meditation Master & Founding President, Sufi Spiritual Foundation.
