Sufism’s purpose is aligning human desire with sharia commands

Evidence

According to Ibn Taymiyya the only point of spiritual discipline (the point that makes sufism essential) is to promote a convergence between human willing and the commands of God as expressed in the shari¯‘a. Thus for Ibn Taymiyya (and for Abduh) “at every stage the servant must desire to do that which has been commanded him in the shari¯‘a and avoid what has been forbidden him in the shari¯‘a. When [the mystic Abd al-Qadir] commands the servant to leave off his desiring, that pertains to those things which have been neither commanded nor forbidden.” — Talal Asad, Formations of the Secular, 1205 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Al-Gazali insisted Sufi initiation must follow rather than replace orthodox religious duties; Sufi spiritual discipline aims to align human will with sharia commands. — Talal Asad, Formations of the Secular:…, 1205; Islamic spiritual discipline aims to align human desire with divine law — Talal Asad, Formations of the Secular:…, 1205 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Sufi spiritual discipline aims to align human will with sharia commands. #corroborates (0.98) — Talal Asad, Formations of the Secular, 1205