Religion as Viewed by Sufism

As with their other doctrines which are based on another world beyond this tangible one, the Sufis think of religion as having an inner nature in addition to its outward appearance. In their opinion, the outward appearance of the religion, cut off from its inner nature, is a framework with no value in itself and can lead its believers neither to their destination nor to their goals. In their religious discourse, inner nature and appearance, principles and commandments, and theory and practice are blended together. They conceive the true meaning of the religion as revelatory certitude and serving people and put more emphasis on the latter, i.e. serving people. The writers, throughout this essay, are seeking to discover the true manifestation of religion. In conducting this research, the researchers have relied mainly on quotations and works of the greatest Muslim Mystics of 2nd to 5th centuries (AH) – Bayazid Bastami, Abul-Hassan Kharaqani, Abū Saʿīd Abi’l-Khayr, Imam Mohammad Ghazālī and Ayn-al-qożāt Hamadānī.