Tasawwuf (Sufism) rests on a set of timeless principles derived from Qur’an and Sunnah. The masters of Sufism (like Imam al-Ghazali, Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani, and later Sufi silsilas) summarized them into core principles of purification, service, and remembrance.
🌿 Core Principles of Tasawwuf (Sufism)
- Ikhlas (إخلاص – Sincerity): Worshipping Allah with pure intention, free from pride or show.
- Tazkiyah al-Nafs (تزكية النفس – Purification of the Self): Removing arrogance, greed, envy, and filling the heart with humility and love.
- Zikr & Fikr (ذكر و فكر – Remembrance & Contemplation): Constant remembrance of Allah through recitation, meditation, and reflection.
- Ihsan (إحسان – Spiritual Excellence): Worshipping Allah as if you see Him, as described in the Hadith of Jibril.
- Sabr & Shukr (صبر و شكر – Patience & Gratitude): Remaining patient in trials and grateful in blessings.
- Khidmat al-Khalq (خدمة الخلق – Service to Creation): Serving humanity selflessly, seeing it as service to Allah.
- Suhbah (صحبة – Spiritual Companionship): Keeping the company of pious guides and saints.
- Fana & Baqa (فناء و بقاء – Annihilation & Subsistence): Effacing the ego (fana) to live in the light of God’s will (baqa).
Hazrat Syed Mansur-ul-Hasan Shah (رحمة الله عليه) embodied the noble principles of Tasawwuf throughout his life. His humility as a simple taxi driver, despite being a descendant of the Prophet ﷺ, was a reflection of ikhlas (sincerity) and *tazkiyah (purification of the self). His restless search for truth led him to Hazrat Khwaja Sufi Mohammad Hasan Sarkar (Sultan -ul – Auliya), where he immersed himself in *zikr and fikr, polishing his heart through the companionship (suhbah) of a perfect guide. His entire life was a testament to the Hadith: “The best of people are those who are most beneficial to mankind” — for he served creation through his khanqah, teaching patience, gratitude, and discipline.
Today, this same light shines in the guidance of his grandson, *Hazrat Sufi Syed Waseem-ur-Rehman Shah (دامت برکاته). As the SAJJADA NASHIN, he continues to uphold these principles — guiding disciples towards **ihsan (spiritual excellence), teaching *zikr as the lifeblood of the heart, and expanding the Khanqah’s service through *khidmat al-khalq (charity, education, and relief work). Through his leadership, seekers learn the path of *fana and baqa — effacing their ego to live a life centered on Allah’s will. In both grandfather and grandson, the essence of Tasawwuf is preserved: to purify the heart, to remember Allah, and to serve humanity.