Aqidah
The inner path
Worship God as though you see Him.
4 min, Intro, Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review
Part 1 of 3
In the famous hadith of Jibril, the Prophet defined ihsan, excellence, as worshipping God as though you see Him, for even if you do not see Him, He sees you. Sufis see their path as the pursuit of ihsan.
Qur'an 13:28
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَتَطۡمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِۗ أَلَا بِذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطۡمَئِنُّ ٱلۡقُلُوبُ ٢٨
28 those who believe and whose hearts find tranquility in the remembrance of Allah, for indeed in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find tranquility.
Lesson
In the hadith of Jibril, ihsan is the third level: worshipping God as though you see Him.
Part 2 of 3
That inner path had great teachers. Al-Ghazali (died 1111) reconciled Sufism with law and theology. Rumi's poetry is read worldwide. Sufi orders such as the Qadiri, Naqshbandi, Chishti and Shadhili spread Islam through teaching and service.
Lesson
Many historians credit Sufi teachers with carrying Islam to new lands.
Part 3 of 3
Most classical scholars accepted tasawwuf as part of Islam. Critics, especially in modern Salafi movements, condemn practices such as seeking help at saints' tombs as going beyond the Sunnah. Sufis reply that sound Sufism follows the law.
Lesson
Muslims still debate where the inner path goes too far.
Reflect, just for you
Seen by lamplight. It gives more each time.
Worship God as though you see Him.