Not all followers of Sufism are disbelievers

15-9-2011 | IslamWeb

Question:

Is it permissible to consider all Sufis as Kaafirs (disbelievers) or Faasiqs (defiantly disobedient)?

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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 'alyhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger. 

Sufi sects nowadays are generally deviant and far from the ways of Ahlus-Sunnah Wal-Jamaa‘ah. Thus, followers of such sects are known for practicing many Bid‘ahs (religious innovations) and acts of deviation. They even commit deeds inducing disbelief, such as supplicating the dead, asking relief from them, believing that the allies of Allaah The Almighty know the Unseen and manipulate the universe, and believing in pantheism or the incarnation of Allaah The Almighty in the form of one of His creation.

However, some people may associate themselves with the Sufis out of thinking well of them, while being ignorant of their deviation. Therefore, it is impermissible to consider anyone affiliated to the Sufis as Faasiq or deviant. Rather, each person should be judged according to their actions and after the conditions for Kufr (disbelief) or Fisq (disobedience) are present and the impediments are absent.

 A person should be cautious not to stigmatize a Muslim with disbelief without justification. It is narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, warned anyone falsely claiming the disbelief of another Muslim, lest his claim turns back on him. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Allaah Knows best.