Examination of Sufi Preferences

Mystic preferences or inventions are not so rooted in the Islamic sources, but they are not yet proved to be innovations, because there is no reason that these are invented and introduced as religious rituals. As for their origins there are two viewpoints: the anti mysticism movement asserts that they have invented these preferences because of one of these three reasons: not bounding to religion, being eclectic, or being anti-science persons. This approach doesn’t seem to be correct because the great Sufis are bound to religion and well-known persons as well and there is no reason proving that they have copied their rituals from other religions. The second viewpoint which seems true is that they have developed these things on the basis of advice. Advice is considerable from various viewpoints one of which is Ibn ‘Arabi’s theory of man-made religion. He believes that some teachings are sent by God to people as divine religion, but some others are left to wise men to develop and create them according to advice which is called man-made or human religion. It can be considered from jurisprudence perspective too. Preferences and advice are more impressive in Sunni jurisprudence than Shi’ites. Sufis, following normally Sunni jurisprudence, have no reason for their preferences to resort better than advice. They find, however, reasons to prove that thins such as audition, making Sufi center, wearing mystical robe, and seclusion are according to Qur’an and narrations, but they failed.