The Relationship Between Shariah and Tasawwuf

The complete set of rulings for practising the religion is called the Shariah. These rulings are derived from the Holy Qur'an, the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, Ijma (scholarly consensus) and Qiyas (analogical reasoning). Some of these rulings relate to outward actions, such as prayer, fasting, Hajj and Zakat, and some relate to inward actions, that is, actions that cannot be seen from outside, such as patience and gratitude.

Detail: Iman, Islam, Ihsan and Tasawwuf

In the early period, the rulings on outward actions were also called Fiqh al-Zahir (the fiqh of the outward), and the rulings on inward actions Fiqh al-Batin (the fiqh of the inward). But over time, the rulings on outward actions came to be called simply Fiqh, and the rulings and matters related to inward actions became known as Tasawwuf.

In other words, Tasawwuf is carrying out the inward rulings of the heart in accordance with the Shariah [the Qur'an and Sunnah].

The Holy Qur'an says:

قَدْ اَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ ۔ الَّذِیْنَ هُمْ فِیْ صَلَاتِهِمْ خٰشِعُوْنَ۔

Success is really attained by the believers. Who concentrate their attention in humbleness when offering Salāh (prayers)

Fiqh, or the outward Shariah, teaches the rulings of prayer, that is, standing (qiyam), bowing (ruku), prostration (sujud) and so on. But this blessed verse makes clear that having khushu (heartfelt humility) in bowing and prostration is also necessary for success. Just as we need to learn the knowledge and methods of standing, bowing and prostrating to pray correctly, in the same way we will also have to learn the methods of developing khushu in prayer.

Just as the Qur'an commands us to establish prayer and pay Zakat, it also commands us to be patient and to be grateful. And just as it condemns those who do not pray or pay Zakat, it also condemns those who show off. Developing khushu in prayer, attaining patience and gratitude, and avoiding showing off and arrogance: such inward actions of the heart are the field of Tasawwuf, and all of them are proven from the Qur'an and Hadith.

Hazrat Mujaddid Alf Thani (may Allah have mercy on him) says:

"Tariqah and Shariah are one and the same; there is not even a hair's breadth of contradiction between them. The only difference is one of summary and detail, and of reasoning and unveiling (kashf). Whatever goes against the Shariah is rejected.

كل حقيقة ردته الشريعة فهو زندقة

(Every 'reality' that the Shariah rejects is heresy.) To seek the Reality while keeping the Shariah firmly in its place is the work of brave men.

رزقنا الله سبحانه وإياكم الاستقامة على متابعة سيد البشر عليه وعلى آله الصلوات والتسليمات والتحيات ظاهرا وباطنا

(May Allah ﷻ grant us and you steadfastness, outwardly and inwardly, in following the Master of mankind, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Ameen.)"

All the great masters of Tasawwuf say the same thing: Shariah and Tariqah are inseparable, and the two cannot be separated from each other. Whoever says that Tariqah can exist without Shariah is misguided. Without following the rulings of the Shariah, Tariqah is a burden, and a path that leads away from Allah.