What is Sharia in Sufism?
What Is Sharia in Sufism? When people hear the word Sharia , they often think of Islamic law, religious regulations, or even the harsh punishments sometimes associated with extremist interpretations of Islam. When they hear the word Sufism , however, they may think of mysticism, spiritual love, poetry, meditation, and the search for union with the Divine. At first glance, these two concepts may seem very different. One appears concerned with rules and behavior; the other, with the inner life of the soul. Yet in traditional Sufi thought, Sharia and Sufism are not opposites. They are intimately connected. To understand why, we need to look beyond the popular understanding of Sharia and explore how Sufis understand the relationship between outward conduct and inward spiritual transformation. What Does Sharia Mean? The Arabic word Sharia (sharīʿa) is often explained as referring to a path leading to water—a particularly meaningful image in the desert cultures of Arabia, where water ...