PRISTINE SUFISM: SUFISM OF THE PAST AND PRESENT BY USTADH SHITTU OLANIPEKUN

SUFISM OF THE PAST AND PRESENT

(How to Create A Nexus Between the Sufis of the Past and the Present)

(Being the transcript of presentation to a Sufi Group “DAFTIMON” on 23/12/2018)

By: Ustadh Shittu Olanipekun

I seek refuge in the name of Allah from Shaytan the accursed, I begin in the name of Allah, the most Compassionate, the most Merciful.

All praise be to Allah, the First, the Last, the Manifest, the Hidden. I praise His Holy name, I adore Him, I exalt His Mightiness and confirm His Oneness.

May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon the Radiant Light, the Lightning Flash, the Fountainhead of Divine Effulgence, our Master Muhammad, the Opener of what was closed, the Seal of what has passed, the Helper of the Truth by the Truth, the Guide to Your straight path, and on his family, may this prayer be equal to his worth, and greatness of his extent in space and time.

In the same vein, may the peace and blessing of Allah never elude the soul of the Fountainhead of our spiritualism, our master, Sayyidina Ahmad Tijani, and upon the Sahib al-faydah, Mawlana As-Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse. May this mercy never elude the soul of our leader, Mawlana Shaykh Jami'u Bulala and to our master, whose auspices is being used for this platform, Mawlana Shaykh Nuru al- Hakeem {Fakharul faydah} .

May Almighty Allah sanctify their secrets (Amīn).

Brothers and sisters in Islam, Muridun and Muridaat, Muqaddamun and Muqadimaat, I welcome you all to this lecture tonight with the most blessed greeting by saying’

"As-salam alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatuhu".

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته.....

The topic presented to me for discourse is;

"SUFISM OF THE PAST AND PRESENT"

From this, three words are germane:

1. SUFISM.

2. PAST.

3. PRESENT .

Conjoining these words together, I will segment this topic to address the following:

- Introduction (What Sufism is about),

- Who are the Sufis?,

- Who are the Sufis of the past?,

- Who are the Sufis of the present?

How to create a nexus between the present and the past (This will contain the way forward/ recommendation), and Conclusion.

INTRODUCTION

Looking at the topic, it is easier to submit that it is more of Historic Research than a Descriptive Research, thus, attempts will be made to trace history.

The doctrine Sufism has generated series of controversies both in the academic and non-academic realm due to the ambiguity posed in both the etymology and origin.

Etymologically, Sufism is said to be traced back to those "who wears wool (Suf)", which happens to be one of the features of the Sufis of the past.

It is also traced back to the word, Suffah (People of the bench/Ahlu Suffah), they happened to be part of the companions of the Prophet at Madinah, because these people exhibited distinct features of the Sufis. They were the core ascetics whom neither sought after worldly pleasures nor get moved but worldly enticements.

They were those whom only priority was to emulate the distinct quality of Prophet (S.A.W).

Another etymology which was proffered for Sufism is Saf (Purity), this is because the Sufis are considered as those whose heart are pure toward Allah and His creatures.

The origin of Sufism too has been traced to different world religions and doctrines, Sufism was believed in some quarters to have been originated from Buddhism, Hellenism, Hinduism, Neo-Platonism, Christianity, among others. Scholars like R.A. Nicholson especially would like his readers to believe that the coarse garment the Sufis used to wear to have been derived from the Clothes of the Seminary monks!

The cogent reason that makes Sufism a controversial issue is because scholars cannot pinpoint to a particular ayah(verse) or word from neither the Qur'an nor the Hadith where the word (Tasawwuf) is specifically mentioned.

To unveil the dark veil, “Sufism” is the anglicized word for “Tasawwuf” (Arabic word), while Mysticism is the recognized English translation.

On the definition of Sufism, according to an author, there are over a thousand definitions for the term “tassawuf”, but In-shaa-Allah, attempts will be made to refer to a few here;

Sufism according to Trimigham, is a particular method of approach to reality, making use of intuitive and emotional spiritual faculties which are generally dormant and less called into play unless under the training of a spiritual guidance.

"Sufism is a complete obedience to the injunctions of the Qur'an and to the elevated sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W). If the Qur'anic commandments or the Shari'ah is the shell or the outer layer, then Sufism is its kernel.

However, a kernel without its shell is inconceivable. When the shell is united with the essence, this is the path of those seeking perfection".

Sufism is the soul of a living being, for a being is worthless without it soul.

Sufism is the inner dimension of a circumference.

Sufism is a spiritual clinic with doctors who have knowledge of ailments of the soul attending to it. - Shaykh Hassan Cisse.

Thus, I could submit that Sufism is a doctrine that is basically on spiritualism, it is the inner and spiritual dimension of Islam.

WHO IS A SUFI?

A Sufi is a person who believes in the possibility of having direct experience of God and is prepared to go out of his way in putting himself in a state where he can be enabled to do this. - Trimigham.

A Sufi is a person whom God has chosen for Himself, rendering him a sincere affection, setting him free from his carnal soul, and not allowing him any more to labour to undue fatigue under any pretext. - Bundar ibn Husayn.

A Sufi is he whose heart is sincere towards God. - Bishir ibn al-Harith.

WHO ARE THE SUFIS OF THE PAST?

In doing justice to this section, a recap of the Sufi tendencies in Islam is required. In Islam, the Qur'an is the source of our guidance while Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) is our perfect guide. This is in tandem with the Qur'anic verse i.e. Q33:21, where Allah said "Verily, in the Apostle of Allah you have the perfect example..."

Arising from this, the Pristine Sufis viewed the Prophet as an epitome of morality who is deemed to be emulated. His distinct lifestyle piqued their interests. Before his call to prophethood, Prophet Muhammad was fond of meditating in the seclusive cave of Hira. During his messengership period, he was fond of constant remembrance of Allah(dhikr), he would fast for days. His was an ascetic to the core who never attached importance to the worldly ephemeral things. Thus, the Sufis consider the Prophet as the first Sufi in Islam due to this distinct lifestyle which was in consonance with theirs.

Suffice it to say that before a person can be regarded as a Pristine Sufi, such person must possess the following features;

1. Zuhd (asceticism) renounce the worldly ephemeral things. The more reason they were addressed as Zahids or Faqirs(poors). This is depicted in the coarse clothes they wore.

2.Meditation(tafakkur). Meditation occupies an important realm among the characteristics of Sufism. Pondering, reflecting, examining are the synonyms that are usually be referred to in some Sufi texts.

3. Remembrance of Allah in every situation(Dhikr). This is repetition of the words, phrases or verses of the Qur'an, because surely in the remembrance of Allah can the hearts find succor.

Looking at these three features of a Sufis, one can conveniently say that the early generation of Muslims were Sufis with RasuluLlah as their guide. Reference was made to the distinct companions known as Ashabus Suffah who were like the Hawariyyun of Prophet Issa(AS) as the Pristine Sufis of the first generation of Islam. Prominent among them are Abu Hurayrah, Bilal, Abdullah Ibn Maktum, Salman al-Faris amongst others.

Subsequent generations also borrowed cue from them especially during the Umayyad era when corruption was the norm of the day. A period when fabrics and brocades were the wears of the people. Thus, selected few revert to the course of the Pristine Sufis. Little wonder names of legends like Hassan Basri, Rabiyyah Al-Adawiy, Dhu Nun Misri, Mansur Al-Hallaj, Abu Yazid Al-Bistami, Al-Ghazali, Jalalludin Ar-Rumi among others feature prominently in the Sufi literatures. These coterie of Pristine Sufis and their likes lived from the First Century of Hijrah till around the tenth Century of Hijrah.

These are the core ascetics whom Allah (SWT) described in the Qur'an, i.e. Q2: 207,

"And there is the type of man who gives his life to earn the pleasure of Allah: and Allah is full of kindness to (His) devotees".

WHO ARE THE SUFIS OF THE PRESENT?

Unlike those of the past, the Sufis of the present are those who maintain the middle course. They are neither ascetics nor tricked by worldly enticements.

They are those who seek Allah's favour in this present life and also the hereafter.

This moderation enjoyed by the present Sufis is consequent upon the benevolence of the present Spiritual masters. May Allah have mercy on the soul of Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse and the likes who work assiduously in spreading the spiritual flood(faydah).

However, the Sufis of the present are often criticised due to some excesses exhibited by some splinter groups of some present Sufis who are better regarded as Pseudo Sufis.

The Pseudo-Sufis are elements polluting the good air of Sufism there by spreading oil on the clean water of Sufism by not adhering to the teachings of the Qur'an .

It should be reiterated that there is no much difference between the Past Sufis and present ones except the simplicity employed by the present.

The features of the past Sufis like dhikr, tafakkur, Zuhd and the likes are still present in the present Sufi.

HOW TO CREATE A NEXUS BETWEEN THE SUFIS OF THE PAST AND THE PRESENT

It not a naysay to admit that majority of the majority of the Sufis of the present are overtaken by worldly affairs , which was the bone of contention amongst the Sufis of the past.

The Sufis of the past intentionally lived an austere life because they wanted to renounce this world, but the Sufis of the present due to the overzealousness on their part, have forgotten this spirit which happens to be the raison d'être of Sufism.

However, we can create a nexus by reverting in aspects where we the Present Sufis know that we are lacking and lagging to the Pristine Sufism .

The Pristine Sufis are those who worshipped Allah (S.W.T) wholeheartedly, they prayed fervently, they are nulli secundus in terms of morals, their spirit of worship has kept Sufism alive till present moment, without them, there is no Sufism. This spirit ought to be continued, we must not destroy it. They have surely established, thus, we must build on their foundation.

Their acts in terms of worship; remembrance; seclusion; meditation amongst others should be emulated.

Sufism is not established for possession of materialism, but to train the minds towards Allah .

We shouldn't emulate the Pseudo-Sufis who are either oblivious or nonchalant about the stipulations of the Shari'ah.

Knowledge seeking is another characteristics of the Pristine Sufis which shouldn't be held with levity; these people knew what they practised and reports abound on how they defended their practice from the source of the Shari'ah, thus, we should strive in the acquisition of knowledge especially now that we are young. Scholars like Imam Ghazali, Shaykh Junayd, Shaykh Ahmad Tijani, Shaykh AbdulQadir Jaylani amongst others should be our models.

CONCLUSION

So far, we have tried to address the topic; Sufism of the past and present. In ensuing this we segmented the topic to briefly discuss amongst others; What is Sufism?, Who is a Sufi?, Who are the Sufis of the past?, Who are the Sufis of the present? and how do we create a nexus between the Past and present?

I succinctly conclude that we the Sufis of the present should "borrow what is borrowable" from the features of the Sufis of the past.

May Allah help us.

Acknowledgement

I will like to thank the organizers of this program, DAFTIMON, under the auspices of Mawlana Shaykh Nuru Hakeem, for considering me fit to address this topic. Accept my error as an act of imperfection not of my incorrigibility. May the love of RasuluLlah be our cherished beacon.

Salam alaykum warahmatullah....

(Delivered by *OLANIPEKUN Shittu Tunde*, +2348167979848, shittuolanipekun@gmail.com, http://www. shittola.blogspot.com)

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