He is asking about Sufism and the Jamaa’at al-Tableegh

 

Is the “Da’wah and Tableegh” group one of the misguided groups? And what about Sufism?.

Praise be to Allaah.
 

 

It is important for us to
understand, firstly, that the words “Tasawwuf” and “Sufism” are modern terms
which refer to something that is not automatically approved of in sharee’ah
as the words eemaan (faith), Islam and ihsaan are. Neither is it
automatically condemned like the words kufr, fusooq (immorality) and ‘asyaan
(disobedience, sin).  

In such cases, we need to find out more about what is meant
by such words before we can pass comment. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may
Allaah have mercy on him) said: “The words al-faqr and al-tasawwuf (i.e.,
Sufism) may include some things that are loved by Allaah and His Messenger,
and these are things that are enjoined even if they are called faqr or
tasawwuf, because the Qur’aan and Sunnah indicate that they are mustahabb
and that is not altered if they called by other names. That also includes
actions of the heart such as repentance and patience. And it may include
things that are hated by Allaah and His Messenger, such as some kinds of
belief in incarnation and pantheism, or monasticism that has been innovated
in Islam, or things that go against sharee’ah and have been innovated, and
so on. These things are forbidden no matter what names they are given… And
it may include limiting oneself to a certain style of clothing or certain
customs, ways of speaking and behaving, in such a way that anyone who goes
beyond it is regarded as an outsider, although this is not something that
has been stipulated in the Qur’aan or Sunnah; rather it may be something
that is permissible or it may be something that is makrooh, and this is a
bid’ah that is forbidden. This is not the way of the friends of Allaah
(awliya’ Allaah); such things are innovations and misguidance that exists
among those who claim to follow the Sufi path. Similarly, among those who
claim to be servants of knowledge there are innovations that involve beliefs
and words that go against the Qur’aan and Sunnah, using phrases and
terminology that have no basis in sharee’ah. Many such things happen among
those people. 

The wise believer agrees with all people in that in which
they are in accordance with the Qur’aan and Sunnah and obey Allaah and His
Messenger, but he does not agree with that in which they go against the
Qur’aan and Sunnah and disobey Allaah and His Messenger. He accepts from
every group that which was taught by the Messenger… when a person seeks the
truth and justice, based on knowledge, he is one of the successful friends
of Allaah and His victorious party… 

Al-Fataawa, 11/280-290. 

But what Shaykh al-Islam
said about the view of Sufis depending on their situation is almost too
theoretical for our times, when the objectionable matters that he referred
to have become part of the path of those who call themselves Sufis nowadays,
in addition to the different occasions they celebrate such as the Mawlid,
and their exaggeration about their living shaykhs, and their attachment to
shrines and graves, where they pray and circumambulate the graves and make
vows to them, and other well-known practices of theirs. Because of these
matters, the correct approach now is to warn against them with no
reservations. This is what was agreed upon by the Standing Committee in
their answer to a question about the ruling on the Sufi tareeqahs that exist
nowadays. They said: 

Usually those that are called Sufis nowadays follow bid’ahs
(innovations) that constitute shirk, as well as other kinds of bid’ah, such
as when some of them say “Madad ya sayyid (Help, O Master)”, and call
upon the qutubs (“holy men”), and recite dhikr in unison using names by
Allaah has not called Himself, like saying “Huw, Huw (He, He)” and “Ah, Ah
(a contraction of the word ‘Allaah’)”. Whoever reads their books will be
aware of many of their innovations that constitute shirk, and other evils. 

With regard to the Jamaa’at al-Tableegh, this is one of the
groups that is active in the field of da’wah, calling people to Allaah. They
do a great deal of good and make commendable efforts. How many sinners have
repented at their hands, and how many have now become devoted to worship of
Allaah. But this group is not free of some innovations in knowledge and
action, to which the scholars have drawn attention. But whatever the case
they cannot be described as being one of the misguided groups. We have
quoted above the words of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah:  The wise believer
agrees with all people in that in which they are in accordance with the
Qur’aan and Sunnah and obey Allaah and His Messenger, but he does not agree
with that in which they go against the Qur’aan and Sunnah. For more
information on this group, see the answer to questions no.
8674 and
39349.