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[quote]Dear Usmani,

It is always useful to resort to questions, it allows the other person to clarify his/her point better. I am glad you asked a question instead of trying to present a rebuttal, which I am very sure you are capable of doing. So thank you for asking first.

You have asked, if you allow me to re-word it, that why is this question important? and how useful its answer would be in making an opinion about Tasawwuf. Tasawwuf, as you have also mentioned, and as I have observed from reading established scholars of this discipline, claims to be all about getting close to Allah. It has been a subject just like others such as Fiqh, or Tafseer etc. traditionally. However there is also a claim by its opponents that it tends to go beyond boundaries of islam, and hence creating room for Bida'aat.

Now, for the purpose of analysis, you would agree with me, that whether Tasawwuf is within or out of Islam's boundaries depends on the definition of the boundaries of Islam. You would also agree with me that the unquestionable sources of Islam are Quran and Sunnah. Then where is the difference?. Why the definitions of Islam differ? Obviously because there is a difference of interpretation (If we assume that both groups are sincere in their approach). Let me further clarify how the question I have asked changes things. For example, the 'ilqa' is similar in certitude to Wahi, the recipient of it gets a similar religious authority as that of a prophet (although his status is lower). In addtion to that, as it seems an established scholar such as Imam Ghazali is claiming, the boundaries of Islam are quite open for things like Sama a', Wajd, and Dancing for religious purpose (As practised in Shadhilli Silsila, Nuh Keller belongs to it, if I am not wrong). Why? because there will be a Divine sanction on these activities coming from the same source as that of Quran and Sunnah. Hence making it permissible.

However, if 'ilqa' is not similar to 'wahi' in terms of certitude, then the boundary becomes narrower. In that case any such activity will be compared to the times of the Prophet (sws) and religion suggested by him. If it seems to be even slightly different from what seems to be coming directly from the Prophet, it will be termed out of the boundary of Islam.

I hope I have clarified this concern, and explained why is it important to answer this question (asked in my last post) before justifying Tasawwuf as a valid part of Islam.

Regards,
Salman[/quote]

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