How should a Muslim guard against religious innovations and Sufism?
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Question:
This questioner states that Sufism is a dangerous phenomenon that has spread in the lands of Islam, and that the enemies of Islam have played a major role in spreading it and calling people to it. So what is your guidance on how to guard against Sufism? And what is obligatory for the Muslim in his acts of worship and beliefs?
Answer:
It is obligatory for the Muslim to guard against every religious innovation that has been introduced: Sufism and other than Sufism. He must adhere to the straight path that the Companions followed in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and after him, and that their followers followed with excellence. He should guard against what people have innovated: Sufism and other than Sufism. This is introducing specific paths in which one follows a sect, or a shaykh, or the shaykh of his shaykh, or so-and-so, or so-and-so, in the dhikr or in the prayers. All of this is a religious innovation.
The obligatory thing is to follow the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in this, to follow the path of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and to proceed according to his methodology and that of his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them and grant them satisfaction).
As for the religious innovations that people have introduced, it is obligatory to abandon them and guard against them, as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 867a, and he said: , and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 1718b.
So the believer pauses in matters of religion, reflects, and takes the path of the righteous Salaf, proceeding according to their methodology. He warns his brothers of what contradicts this with kind words, wisdom, and gentleness.
This questioner states that Sufism is a dangerous phenomenon that has spread in the lands of Islam, and that the enemies of Islam have played a major role in spreading it and calling people to it. So what is your guidance on how to guard against Sufism? And what is obligatory for the Muslim in his acts of worship and beliefs?
Answer:
It is obligatory for the Muslim to guard against every religious innovation that has been introduced: Sufism and other than Sufism. He must adhere to the straight path that the Companions followed in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and after him, and that their followers followed with excellence. He should guard against what people have innovated: Sufism and other than Sufism. This is introducing specific paths in which one follows a sect, or a shaykh, or the shaykh of his shaykh, or so-and-so, or so-and-so, in the dhikr or in the prayers. All of this is a religious innovation.
The obligatory thing is to follow the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in this, to follow the path of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and to proceed according to his methodology and that of his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them and grant them satisfaction).
As for the religious innovations that people have introduced, it is obligatory to abandon them and guard against them, as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
And the most evil affairs are their innovations; and every innovation is error.
وشرُّ الأمور مُحدثاتها، وكل بدعةٍ ضلالةBeware of newly invented matters
إياكم ومحدثات الأمورHe who did any act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, that is to be rejected.
مَن عمل عملًا ليس عليه أمرُنا فهو ردٌّSo the believer pauses in matters of religion, reflects, and takes the path of the righteous Salaf, proceeding according to their methodology. He warns his brothers of what contradicts this with kind words, wisdom, and gentleness.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.