Sufi Tawheed Teacher: Are Sufis Deviant? Do They Engage in Strange Dhikrs?

I work for a Muslim organization and recently organized a class for Muslim women on tawheed. I was recently approached by a sister who says that the women who are teaching this class follow the Sufi-way which is against the shariah and against the way of Islam. She forwarded me an article that says that Sufis are deviant Muslims who engage in strange forms of dhikr that are against the sunna of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). I am confused. How should I handle this situation?

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate

wa `alaykum as salam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh

I pray that this email finds you well. Jazakallah khayr for sending me your question.

There are two issues here: (1) the issue of Sufi dhikr''s and (2) the issue of working with other Muslims.

Sufism & The Sunna

Regarding the first issue, If you search the Q & A archives at SunniPath for keywords such as "Sufism" and "dhikr", you''ll see a large number of answers that address your concerns. In brief, it is not true that Sufism is a violation of the sunna of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). To the contrary, following the sunna of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) in all matters is an integral part of Sufism.

One of the most common objections raised against Sufi orders is that most of them use forms of dhikr that were not practiced in their particular forms by the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). This objection doesn''t hold weight at all because the Quran and sunna indicate that dhikr is praiseworthy regardless of its form. What the Sacred Law wants from us is to have presence of heart with Allah through His remembrance, and any lawful action that results in a heightened state of remembrance is praiseworthy because it is a lawful means to a praiseworthy goal. This doesn''t mean that every Muslim *has* to do the forms of dhikr practiced by the various Sufi orders. All it means is that if someone chooses to do it, they are not to be blamed.

Tolerance & Cooperation

The second issue in your question is probably more important here. Part of working with other Muslims is tolerance, understanding, and compromise. Your organization has higher goals that all Muslims agree with. I would advise against arguing with your critics and engaging them instead at the higher level of tolerance and understanding. In other words, try to convince them that we are all Muslims and, as such, we need to learn to work together for the sake of the greater good. Differences will always exist and complete agreement on all issues is an unachievable goal. Intolerant internal bickering harms all of us. If your critics are insistent that they will not work with a Muslim who is "XYZ", then everyone will recognize that it is they who are being intolerant and that you are being reasonable.

I hope that helps clarify things.

wassalamu `alaykum

Hamza.