AS-SIRAAT AL-MUSTAQEEM

Hadith

SUFISM AND THEOLOGY

In a well-known Hadith, the angel Gabriel asks the Prophet about the three key dimensions of Islam.  1st 2 relate to the pillars of ritual practice and core doctrines.  In response to the 3rd question, about ihsan, the Prophet describes it as worshipping God as if you see Him, and if you do not see Him, then the Prophet declares, know that He sees you.  From this 3rd dimension (the spiritual domain which exists even if unseen).  Sufism emerged as an integral part if religious heritage of Islam.  Sufism is, as the Hadith suggests, primarily about the believer\'s relationship with God beyond official duties and beliefs.  Thus, God, even wholly unlike His creation, is somehow present to it and intimately engaged with it, even if, mysteriously so.  This idea raises a number of theological challenges. So, it includes God\'s relation to account systematically for His relationship with existence, especially human existence.  Sufism and theology draws attention to this overlooked but very important aspect of theological reflection in Islam as played out in diverse centuries. Theology is thought of as Kalam; (dialectic theology) whereby the representatives of Islam\'s various sects defend their creedal definitions. However, Sufism demands reflections that goes beyond apologetics to what could be called systematic theology, religious reflection on \'the whole\' God and existence.  How Sufism is actually part and parcel of the theological spectrum of Islam, and that at a time when, in contrast to earlier Orientalist assumptions, we now better understand how integrally related it is to Shari\'a as well.

Tuesday 13 May 2025