Tassawuf is a science to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala. It means a science that fits with islamic path through direct experience of the Real and it does not through the tongue or learn from the book. This implies that any theology has been abandoned. Tauhid is illogical. In this case, Tassawuf is the protector of Tauhid : La ilaha illallah.
Muslims confirm : La halwa wa la quwwata illa billah. This implies that there is no two powers in this universe like modern tassawuf.
There is only Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala. This is a typical of esoteric theology to say that the world is divided into two fighting powers; The good verses are evil or darkness versus light or truth versus the wrong. “Haqq is fighting Batil” this is a special dualist statement. But it is impossible. Batil, “falsity”, can not stand to fight Haqq, because there is no two powers except in the imagination of mushrikun.
However, there are many modernist book that present with this deviate cosmology according to mushrikun. La halwa wa la quwwata illa billah also means there is one source strength. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala gives us His power and licks from us with our limitations.
Because of that, we are a the source of our own adversity. We only hamper the formation of Islam. All facilities are available for us. From here, tawakkul comes : hasbunullahu wa niamal wakil, “Allah has been sufficient for us and He is the best guardian” as the essence of philosophical tassawwuf.
Benefits of Tawakkul is a belief to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala. This is a faqir food. This strengthens faqir like zuhud which weakens “me”, and this is one of commendable quality that everyone must have it. Allah SWT said, “Whoever relies on Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, he is sufficient for Him.” The reality is a confidence, calmness and awareness that the rizq of your physical body is only given by Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala as tassawuf amali.
Tassawuf does not become a passive and benign consumer in this society with an enlightened night and weekend. Tassawuf is the transformation of your heart, so you will realize that you are responsible for the world and the world is not responsible for you.
This allows us to understand that what Allah commands is possible and this shows our way to reach the highest of our goal, fisabilillah. Tassawuf maybe us to understand that the actions of heart are stronger than the actions of body parts.
The Foundation of Tassawuf in Quran
About Tassawuf, some Sufis rely on the understanding and basic of Tassawuf to the verses of Quran. The theory of tassawuf are identified with the theory of Islam, although other religions have the same thing to Tassawuf , too. The following are verses of Quran that related with the basic of Tassawuf according to the Sufis :
- Q.S Al-Baqarah : 115
“And Allah belongs the east and the west. So wherever you [might] turn, there is the Face of Allah. Indeed, Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.”
- Q.S Al-Baqarah : 186
“And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me – indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.” [AdSense-B]
- Q.S Qof : 16
“And We have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than[his] jugular vein.”
- Q.S Al-Kahfi : 65
“And they found a servant from among Our servants to whom we had given mercy from us and had taught him from Us a [certain] knowledge.”
The Importance of Tassawuf in Islam
Tassawuf has many benefits in the life and the Islamic world, here are the 10 importance of tassawuf :
- In the field of emotional intelligence
If you can apply tassawuf well, then you can control your emotional well, too.
- In the field of spiritual intelligence
Tassawuf remembers human about the death, so that mankind always worship, do good deeds and away from the actions of sin and evil. You may also read ways how to gain spiritual knowledge in Islam.
- In the field of religion
Tassawuf is very needed for Muslims to apply the Islamic theory in a kaffah. Besides that, tassawuf can develop the social integration and the harmony of life in religion and nation.
- In the field of work ethic
Tassawuf can strengthen the work ethic because in Islam, work is obligatory to provide the needs of yourself, family and ummah. See also ethical values of Islam.
- In the field of education
Tassawuf is one of subjects that need to be taught in Madrasah and Islamic College. It is useful to develop a comprehensive religious life. Besides that, it can also develop a clean, healthy and advanced society and nation. See also Importance of Islam in education.
- In the field of science
Tassawuf educates community members to make a wise and rational decision. It also educates them to have a social responsibility.
- A source reminder
What will help us with this is remembering Allah SWT. Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala guarantees us for provision, knowledge and His perfect strengthen. He is independent from creation, away from forgetfulness and incompetence. Shaykh Ibn Ataillah wrote in his book The Abandonment of the Management of Affairs : “Trusting our business to Allah is also a very important quality to be gained.”
- The Foundation of Life
Without this understanding, Muslims will be paralyzed in the end. But with that, Muslims are free to be slaves. Muslims obey with an unhindered way. The problem of trying to be obedient with understanding is you can only do what you can.
But the way to obey Allah while trusting Him is leaving all of practical limitations and starting to reach what Allah has commanded us to do. [AdSense-C]
- Limitation of Islamic Science
Because of Tassawuf, all other knowledge subject obey to the highest knowledge, La ilaha illallah. With Tassawuf, we realize that the knowledge of Allah SAW is higher than every other knowledge. Tassawuf allows us to taste La halwa wa la quwwata illa billah. See also ways of acquiring knowledge in Islam.
- Love Allah more
In Quran, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala related that the believers between Pharaoh’s people said : “I have believed my affair to Allah.” The reality is our wishes for Allah SAW to preserve us from all dangerous things and we do not have security without Him.” You may also read Quran verses about love of Allah SWT.
Thus the importance of tassawuf in Islam. Hopefully we can take the wisdom and learn well about the thing that contains in the benefits of Tassawuf.