Declination of Sufism among Muslims - Assignment Example

Besides, it can be said that it is a mission of the higher religious order of any faith, which disdains conflict and violence in any form. The ultimate goal is the joy of self-realization which is generally experienced after a long spiritual practice (Upadhyay n. pag). Ev Even after the popularity of Sufism, there are several instances where the Sufi practices are suppressed using violence. There are several reasons for this and in spite of varied debates and modernist and reformist attempts to separate or dissociate Sufism from Islam.

Take for example in orthodox Islam, according to Najaf, the object of creation is the worship of God," This is an association of subordination or in other words - a one-way association in which God is the master and the devotee is the slave. On the other hand, Sufis argue opposing the view of orthodox Islam that God should be worshipped not because of the fear that you will be punished if you did not worship, rather God should be worshiped because of the love that an individual feels for God. The main ideology of Sufi is love.

As a result, Sufis believe that there exists equality among all people and everyone irrespective of gender or place in the social order is capable of expressing his or her love for God, and that surpasses religious associations (Dalrymple n. pag). One of the main themes in the ideology and activities of contemporary Sunni Islamist movements is deep-rooted opposition to Sufism. The reason for the suppression of Sufism is the modernist approach to knowledge or disdain of what cannot be scientifically explained led to the dismissal of Sufism too.

The mutual rivalry between these groups has become prominent in the modern setting of heightened political Islamism. The doctrinal roots of opposition to Sufism are found in the important writings of the 13th-century Hanbali 'alim Taqi al-Din Ahmad ibn Taymiyya (Majmu'a Fatawa Shaykh al-Islam Ahmad ibn Taymiyya). Besides, Ibn Taymiyya in his quest to purify the Muslim faith strongly opposed Sufi pantheism and such practices as the worship of saints and pilgrimages to their shrines (Makdisi 247-251).