(People of Sufism; pillars of Sufism; science of Sufism; foundation of Sufism)
When Abū Yazīd (al-Bisṭāmī) was asked what Sufism is, he replied as follows: It is mutual assistance; rushing to serve and giving up expecting anything in return.
Again, when a man asked Abū Yazīd what Sufism is, he received this answer: To bind the nafs (the lower self) to ʿubūdiyya (servitude), to attach the qalb (the heart) to rubūbiyya (lordship of God), to practice every exalted custom, and to gaze entirely upon Allah.
(Again, al-Bisṭāmī said:) Sufism is a radiant light from which no share is obtained by eyes that glance sideways at it.
The nature and characteristics of Sufism were asked to Muḥammad ʿAlī Kassāb, the shaykh of Junayd, and he gave the following answer: They are noble traits that appear from a noble person, at a noble time, among a noble group.
When the question was posed to Junayd, he replied: It is to be with Allah, free from all attachments.
When Ruwaym Aḥmad was asked what Sufism is, he said: It is for a person to submit fully to what Allah wills.
When Samnūn was asked what Sufism is, he replied: It is to possess nothing, and for nothing to possess you.
When Abū Muḥammad Jarīrī was asked what Sufism is, he answered: It is to adhere to every exalted akhlaq (character trait) and to rid oneself of every bad trait. Sufism, according to ʿAmr ʿUthmān al-Makkī, is for a servant to be, at every moment, in the most appropriate ḥāl (spiritual state) for that moment.
ʿAlī ʿAbd al-Raḥīm Kannād: It is to expand the spiritual maqām (station) and never depart from it. (Lumaʿ, 45)
When Abū'l-Ḥasan Kannād was asked about the meaning of Sufism, he replied: The word tasavvuf (Sufism) is derived from safā (purity). It is to fulfill the requirements of loyalty at every moment. (Lumaʿ, 46)
Kannād said: Sufism is a name given to the outward (zāhir) garment (ṣūf, meaning wool), but the meanings given to this word and the states of the Sufis differ greatly from one another. (Lumaʿ, 47)
One of the shaykhs gave three answers to the question of what Sufism is: The first is according to the condition of knowledge, which is the purification of the heart from turbidity, treating existing beings well, and following the Prophet (peace be upon him) in matters of the sharia (the sacred law).
The second is an answer in the language of ḥaqīqa (inner reality): it is the absence of ownership, liberation from servitude to attributes, and sufficing with the Creator of the heavens.
The third, given in the language of the Truth, is this: He purifies them completely from their attributes, cleanses them, and thus they are called Sufis. (Lumaʿ, 48)
Abū Ḥusayn Nūrt: Sufism is to abandon the pleasures of the nafs (the lower self).
Junayd: It is to purify the qalb (the heart) from attachment to people and the morals of the (lower) nature, to avoid carnal calls, to be adorned with spiritual attributes, to be concerned with the sciences of ḥaqīqa (inner reality), to practice what should be preferred for eternal life, to give good naṣīḥa (advice) to the ummah, to be loyal to Allah with sincerity, and to follow the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) in matters of the sharia (the sacred law). (Taʿarruf, 9)