Permissibility of Sama’ According to Ibn Qaysarani and Ghazali

The present article aims to elucidate the role of Ibn Qaysarani in defending Sufism and solidifying its position from the perspective of Sama’. By using an analytical-descriptive research method, a brief report of Ibn Qaysarani's two narrations in Safwa al-Tasawuf and Kitab al-Sama’ is provided. Then, his method in substantiating the permissibility of Sama’ is clarified. Furthermore, Ghazali's view of Sama in Ehyaye Olum-e-Din is examined and its similarities and differences with Ibn Qaysarani's view are shown. The importance of this discussion lies in the fact that both of them were among the prominent scholars of religion and among the elders of hadith, who sought a root for their fatwas in the Qur'an and the Sunnah, and they figured out a way to the Sunnah of the Prophet and the Companions for all the movements and states of the Sufis in the monastic system. With their knowledge both in the field of theology and jurisprudence as well as the Book and Sunnah, unlike the conservative Sufis, they issued verdicts concerning permissibility of Sama’, through deploying the methods of scholars and jurists and relying on verses, hadiths, and Sunnah.