Briefly speaking...

Briefly speaking, so many things are there, which have nothing to do with the ways of Allah, Prophet (S), Imams (a.s.) and Ahlul Bayt. Research shows that such mysticism began during the time of Bani Umayyah and Bani Abbas. The aim was to divert the attention of people from the teachings of the Holy Family, so that they might remain attached to unlawful rulers. The biggest machination for this evil purpose is Mukashifa (spiritual contemplation). There is nothing in it.

📌Mulla Ali Qari says that it can be obtained by both Muslims and infidels.[^4] In short, the best mysticism, in the opinion of the writer, is to follow the teachings of Allah, His Prophet and the Holy Imams (a.s.). “The path of purity can be trod only by following the Holy Prophet (S).”[^5] Note that the Imamites also have Persian mysticism, but theirs is not deviated from the Persian mysticism of the Shariat of Muhammad (S) even by an inch.

The Imamites also believe in Awliya (friends of Allah) but not so madly as seen among Sunni Sufis. A number of Sufis were there among Shias also, like Sadruddin Shirazi, Abdur Razzaq Laahiji, Mulla Hasan Kaashi, Hajib Rajab Barsi and others. Quite a long list of Shia Sufis can be seen in Majalisul Mo-mineen by Qadi Nurullah Shushtari.

Prominent among the listed are Shaykh Shahabuddin Suhurwardi, Najmuddin Kubra, Bayzid Bustami, Jalaluddin Rumi, Shaykh Muslehuddin Saadi Shirazi, Khwaja Hafiz Shirazi, Fariduddin Attar, Sayyid Ashrafuddin Jehangir Kachhoch, Sayyid Muinuddin Chisti Ajmeri. Many of them had to adopt dissimulation due to circumstances. That is why Ahlul Sunnat have mistaken them to be Sunnis. There are Sufis in Shias today also.

Here it seems proper to mention about Ghazzali that in the beginning he was not following any particular creed of Islam. Thereafter, he became a Hanafite and then changed to Shafei. Thereafter, he turned Sufi and at last adopted the path of Shiaism of Ahlul Bayt. That is why his works (books) show different colors of different periods of his life. This is what usually happens to researchers as their thoughts change in the matter of religion.

At last, when his research ends, he is seen in the color of the creed adopted by him after all the findings. Research shows that Ghazzali’s path before his death was that of Ahlul Bayt, that is, creed of the Imamites. “And whom Allah guides, there is none that can lead him astray.” [^6] All praise to Allah.

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