Imam al-Qushayri (d. 465 AH / 1072 CE) lived during a turbulent period in Islamic history. Sufism was facing heavy criticism from legalists and literalist theologians who viewed certain mystical expressions as deviant or heretical. Simultaneously, some pseudo-Sufis were abandoning religious obligations ( Shari'ah ) in the name of spiritual freedom ( Haqiqah ).
The Risala became one of the most important references for Sufism for several reasons. It was among the first comprehensive works to harmonize Sufi doctrine with Sunni orthodoxy. By grounding its discussion in the Qur'an and Sunnah, it integrated Tasawwuf into the mainstream of Islamic sciences and became a standard textbook in madrasas across the Muslim world. Its combination of a well-structured format, a reliable author, a biographical dictionary of the great masters, and a clear glossary of spiritual terminology made it a uniquely valuable reference work. Moreover, its continued relevance as a primary source for understanding classical Sufi thought makes it essential reading for students of Islamic spirituality, theology, and history. To this day, it is used in traditional Islamic seminaries and academic courses as the primary introduction to the science of Tasawwuf .
Abu al-Qasim al-Qushayri (986–1072 CE) lived during a turbulent period in Islamic history. He resided in Nishapur, a vibrant intellectual hub in modern-day Iran. During this era, Sufism faced intense scrutiny and criticism from legal scholars who feared that certain ecstatic expressions deviated from mainstream Islamic theology.
al-Risalah al-Qushayriyah fi ilm al-tasawwuf. by: Qushayri, Abd al-Karim ibn Hawazin, 986-1072; Ansari, Zakariya ibn Muhammad, ca. Internet Archive Al-Qushayri's Epistle on Sufism - nur.nu Al-risala Al-qushayriyya Pdf Arabic
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Compare Al-Qushayri's views to later works like Al-Ghazali's Ihya . Imam al-Qushayri (d
Each chapter begins with relevant Quranic verses, followed by prophetic traditions, and concludes with aphorisms and anecdotes from early masters. This structural design leaves no doubt that Sufism is an internal science directly derived from orthodox source texts.
Paper Proposal: The Synthesis of Law and Mysticism in Al-Risala al-Qushayriyya 1. Introduction
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