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Fatwa CenterSufism is a religious innovation
Question
Could you please provide me with evidence from Sharee‘ah (Islamic legislation) proving that Sufism is a religious innovation?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr 
narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, informed us that Muslims will do exactly what Bani Israa’eel did; for instance, if a person from Bani Israa’eel was found committing adultery with his mother in public, a Muslim would be found doing the same thing. He then added that Bani Israa’eel were split up into seventy-two sects and likewise, Muslims will be split up into seventy-three sects, all of which will be in Hell except for one. He then clarified that the saved sect will include those who follow his way and that of his Companions. [At-Tirmithi. Al-Albaani: Hasan]
This Hadeeth (narration) provides explicit proof that all sects, which are found under the name of Islam, are deviant as they adopt incorrect beliefs and are based on religious innovations, except for one; the sect of those who follow the same way of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and that of his Companions 
. This means that the only criterion for judging whether a certain sect is on the right path or not is examining the extent to which it adheres to the Sunnah (tradition).
That is to say, whoever clings to the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is considered among his followers and whoever deviates from his way, is considered an innovator in religion.
There is no doubt that the conditions and practices of most Sufis today are known to contradict the Sunnah and are based on religious innovations that were not known at the time of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, or at the time of his Companions.
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