The Hanābila and the Early Sufis

Abstract

This study does not intend to evaluate Sufism from an Islamic perspective, nor it will investigate the relationship between Hanbila and Sufis in the high-medieval era, but to show the relationship between early Hanbila of Baghdad and their contemporary followers of the then newly Sufism. Undoubtedly, there was a relationship between them, but it was not strong and was affected by apathy and tepid in a number of times. Though both sects followed the piety and ascetism approach, they later disagreed when Sufism created its own concepts which were not acceptable to Hanbalis and made them criticize Sufism publicly. It is true that Ahmed ibn Hanbal praised Beshr Al-Hafi, but he was hostile to As-Serri As-Seqti and Al-Mohasabi, and renounced Sufi’s meetings for Dhikr and dispraised all their customs.