Sufism - the science of purification of the soul
Others, saying that the term “Sufism” comes from the Arabic word “suf” (wool), believe that it appeared in connection with the wearing of coarse woolen clothes by Sufis. Sufis preferred to wear such clothes because of their simplicity. Some deny this term, referring to its absence during the life of the Prophet ﷺ and his companions, but this is unfounded, since many Islamic terms, such as fiqh (Sharia law), nahvi (grammar), mantiq (logic) and others, were adopted after the Prophet ﷺ - the essence is not in the names and terms, but in the content.
Many are concerned about the fact that at the dawn of Islam there was no call to Sufism and it appeared only after the era of the Companions and their followers. This can only be explained by the fact that in the first centuries there was no need or demand for Sufism, since it was the era of especially God-fearing, pious people, people of persistent aspiration and complete conversion to Allah ﷻ.
The Companions literally competed in imitation and following the Prophet ﷺ in everything. And there was no need for science that would teach them what they were doing in practice. Calling for following Sufism, we propose to begin working on purity of heart, ennobling morals and achieving the degree of ihsan (sincerity).
This can be called whatever you like - the moral, spiritual side of Islam or something else, in accordance with its essence and content. We call it Sufism, because the scholars of the Ummah have accepted this name and its content from previous teachers and Islamic scholars from the first centuries of Islam to the present day, and this has become a tradition.
Hasan al-Basri on Sufis
Hasan al-Basri (25–110 AH) was a man who is extolled by believers all over the world, the best man from the generation of Tabi’ins who lived after the Companions. He wrote: “I saw a Sufi who was performing a circumambulation (tawaf) of the Kaaba and I wanted to give him moneу, but he refused, saying, “I have four coins (danik), this is enough for me.” (Abu Nasr Sirajuddin at-Tusi. “Al-Luma fi at-Tasawwuf”).
This Sufi did not take money from Hasan al-Basri, saying that what he had was enough for him and he did not even have a single dirham. Hasan al-Basri tells this story, amazed at the true wealth of this man’s heart. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “True wealth is not a large amount of money but the wealth of the heart (soul).” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari, Muslim).
