The Sufi's Way
A practical guide to the way of a Sufi
Who Is a Sufi?
A simple answer is that a Sufi is someone who follows Tasawwuf: a person who works to purify both the outer and inner self and learns to practise Shariah with sincerity.
The origin of the words “Sufi” and “Tasawwuf” is a longer discussion. For our purpose, a Sufi’s way of life can be understood as a practical expression of Surah Al-Muzzammil. In this great surah, Allah Most High gave the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ a programme of inner and spiritual training to prepare for the call to faith and the great responsibility of Prophethood.
Let us explore the Sufi’s way of life through the guidance of Surah Al-Muzzammil.
Surah Al-Muzzammil and the Sufi’s Way
1. “یا اَیُّھَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ” — O you wrapped in your cloak
The surah opens with the tender address “یا اَیُّھَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ” (O you wrapped in your cloak). At the beginning of revelation, the Prophet ﷺ had wrapped himself in a cloak. In a similar spirit, people following the spiritual path may seek quiet and solitude to focus their hearts, keep their thoughts from wandering, avoid distractions and engage in the remembrance of Allah.
2. Standing at Night and Remembering Allah
قُمِ اللَّیْلَ اِلَّا قَلِیْلًا ۔ نِصْفَهٗ اَوِ انْقُصْ مِنْهُ قَلِیْلًا ۔ اَوْ زِدْ عَلَیْهِ
“Stand in prayer at night, except for a little—half of it, or a little less, or a little more.”
Night prayer is a foundation of the seeker’s spiritual life. The final part of the night is usually free from noise and worldly distractions, allowing the heart to become more focused, present and receptive.
Balance and moderation matter. Rather than staying awake all night, the guidance allows time for both sleep and worship. This makes the practice sustainable and prevents exhaustion. A Sufi undertakes spiritual effort with moderation: the aim is not to make life unnecessarily difficult, but to seek Allah’s pleasure. Unlike extreme asceticism, Tasawwuf does not call for hardship for its own sake; it teaches people to meet their bodily and social responsibilities within lawful limits.
3. Reciting the Qur’an with Care and Reflection
وَ رَتِّلِ الْقُرْاٰنَ تَرْتِیْلًا
“and recite the Qur‘an clearly with tartil (in a distinct and measured tone.”
For a Sufi, Qur’anic recitation is more than pronouncing words. It means engaging with the words of the Beloved and reflecting deeply on their meaning.
Pausing over the verses helps bring the tongue and heart together (اَشَدُّ وَطْئًا وَّاَقْوَمُ قِیْلًا). For the Companions Of the Prophet ﷺ and the righteous generations after them, reciting the Qur’an and praying were central means of drawing close to Allah. Later Sufis had to prescribed other forms of remembrance and spiritual practice to help soften a hardened heart. The underlying aim remains the same: to build a sincere and attentive connection with the Word of Allah.
4. Bearing the Weight of Allah’s Message
اِنَّا سَنُلْقِیْ عَلَیْكَ قَوْلًا ثَقِیْلًا
“We are going to send down to you a weighty discourse.”
Following Allah’s commands and carrying the responsibilities of Shariah can be demanding for the Nafs. Night worship and Qur’anic recitation develop inner strength, helping a person bear religious duties, difficulties and hardships with greater steadiness. (اِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ الَّیْلِ هِیَ اَشَدُّ وَطْاً وَّ اَقْوَمُ قِیْلًاؕ: Truly, rising by night (for prayer of tahajjud ) is the most effective way to subdue (one‘s base self) and to make speech more upright.)
A true Sufi never treats the commands of Shariah lightly. Guided by the principle “الاستقامة فوق الكرامة” (steadfastness is above extraordinary spiritual feats), a Sufi remains committed to every command of Shariah regardless of its difficuluty.
5. Balance Between the Rights of the Creator and Creation
اِنَّ لَكَ فِی النَّهَارِ سَبْحًا طَوِیْلًا
“Surely, in daytime, you have a lengthy work to do.”
A spiritually mature person does not abandon society and retreat permanently to a cave. Daytime is for social responsibilities, serving others, teaching, learning and helping improve people’s circumstances. Night is a time for private devotion and intimate supplication to the Creator.
A Sufi’s way of life is built on balance between the rights of Allah and the rights of people. Even while engaged with others, a Sufi remains inwardly mindful of Allah.
6. Remembrance of Allah and Complete Devotion
وَ اذْكُرِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ وَ تَبَتَّلْ اِلَیْهِ تَبْتِیْلًا
“And remember the name of your Lord, and devote yourself to Him with exclusive devotion.”
Constant remembrance: A Sufi’s tongue and heart remain alive with the remembrance of the Allah.
Complete devotion: Tabattul means turning wholeheartedly towards Allah, freeing the heart from attachment to anything that distracts it from Him and from relying on worldly means as though they were independent. The Sufi’s deepest love and connection are directed towards Allah.
7. Tawakkul and Entrusting Matters to Allah
رَبُّ الْمَشْرِقِ وَ الْمَغْرِبِ لَا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ فَاتَّخِذْهُ وَكِیْلًا
“He is the Lord of the East and the West; there is no god but He; so take Him for (your) Guardian.”
True Tawakkul means entrusting one’s affairs, provision, health, planning and outcomes to Allah. When Allah alone is the Lord of the East and West, there is no need to flatter people or live in fear of them.
8. Patience and Graceful Forbearance
وَ اصْبِرْ عَلٰى مَا یَقُوْلُوْنَ وَ اهْجُرْهُمْ هَجْرًا جَمِیْلًا
“And bear patiently what they (the opponents) say, and part with them in a beautiful manner.”
A defining quality of the Sufi’s character is good conduct, patience, forgiveness and forbearance. When people cause hurt, mock or oppose them, Sufis respond with patience rather than anger or revenge.
Graceful separation means stepping away without hatred, resentment, a desire for revenge or poisoning relationships. The heart remains free from the urge to retaliate.
9. Remembering the Hereafter
فَكَیْفَ تَتَّقُوْنَ اِنْ كَفَرْتُمْ یَوْمًا یَّجْعَلُ الْوِلْدَانَ شِیْبًا ۔ اَلسَّمَآءُ مُنْفَطِرٌۢ بِهٖ ۔ كَانَ وَعْدُهٗ مَفْعُوْلًا
“So, if you disbelieve, how will you save yourself from a day that will turn the small boys into grey-headed old men, whereby the sky will burst apart. His promise has to be fulfilled.”
Keep the Hereafter in mind. This helps loosen excessive attachment to worldly life and strengthens the desire to prepare for the next life through good deeds and by avoiding wrongdoing.
Let the reward of the Hereafter and Allah’s pleasure be the intention behind good deeds—not worldly gain or showing off. Deeds performed for display or merely for worldly benefit will not bring the intended reward in the Hereafter.
10. Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness
وَ مَا تُقَدِّمُوْا لِاَنْفُسِكُمْ مِّنْ خَیْرٍ تَجِدُوْهُ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ هُوَ خَیْرًا وَّ اَعْظَمَ اَجْرًا ۔ وَ اسْتَغْفِرُوا اللّٰهَ ۔ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ غَفُوْرٌ رَّحِیْمٌ
“And whatever good you will send ahead for your own-selves, you will find it with Allah much better in condition, and much greater in reward. And seek forgiveness from Allah. Indeed Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful.”
Even while doing good deeds, keep turning to Allah in repentance and seeking forgiveness. This protects the heart from becoming impressed with its own actions or falling into pride and arrogance.
Summary: The Sufi’s Way
Surah Al-Muzzammil shows that the Sufi’s way is neither mysterious nor separate from Shariah. Its essential features are:
Inner life: solitude when appropriate, remembrance of Allah, Tawakkul, wholehearted attention to Allah and purification of the Nafs.
Outward practice: following Shariah—including obligatory, necessary and voluntary acts, and night prayer—reciting the Qur’an with love and care, remembering Allah, fulfilling social responsibilities, practising patience and showing good character.
Remembering the Hereafter: keeping the next life in mind, maintaining sincere intentions, repenting and seeking forgiveness.
Advice from Mujaddid Alf Thani (رحمة الله عليه)
In a letter to Khwaja Sharafuddin Hussain (رحمة الله عليه), Mujaddid Alf Thani offered advice along similar lines as discussed above:
Use free moments for what earns Allah’s pleasure, such as remembrance, Qur’anic recitation and voluntary worship.
Perform congregational prayers while observing proper composure in each movement and maintaining a focused heart—with sincere intention and attention directed towards Allah.
Do not abandon Tahajjud (the night prayer).
Do not neglect seeking forgiveness in the morning or remain lost in heedless sleep.
Do not become captivated by worldly comforts. Make remembrance of death and preparation for the Hereafter guiding priorities.
In short, engage with worldly life as much as necessary and devote the remaining time to preparing for the Hereafter. Let outward conduct conform to Shariah, and free the heart from attachment to anything that distracts it from Allah.