Episode 155
Sufism (Arabic tasawwuf) deals mainly with mental, spiritual and philosophical aspects of Islam, the essence of which is to establish a direct relationship with Allah by purifying the soul.Opinions vary regarding the etymology of the word tasawwuf. Some believe that the word is derived from suf (wool) and refers to the rough woollen clothing worn by early ascetics. Some other opinions are that it derives from safa (purity), from saf (row), or from ashab-i-safa (row of holy persons). Whatever its etymology, however, tasawwuf or Sufism essentially means spiritual meditation for the purification of the immortal soul. The purified soul achieves baqabillah (eternal love of God) through fanafillah (absorption in God). Since God is invisible, it is through love alone that a soul can become one with God (Al-Quran, 2:165).
