Sufism and Personality Development

Personality development is the process of improvement in behaviors and attitudes to make an individual a unique person. Sufism brings about positive changes in the behaviors of individuals. The positive changes are brought through moral development within   inductive environment griped by building of character. Moral development guides through “Zuhud” and “Taqwa” for minimization of material luxuries, enhancement of repentance and self-purification. The purpose of moral development is achieved with an institution articulated with teacher-student (Murshid-Murid) relationships; this environment ensures the provision of guidance and scholarships for the engaged students. The engagement of students revolves around knowledge, awareness and behavior. In the dimension of knowledge students are helped with raising moral and spiritual awarenessto enhance firmness in faith and encouragement towards good deeds. In addition, behavioral (amal) dimension is covered with remembrance of Allah, optional prayers, fasting services, alms giving along with obligatory ones. All these behavioral deeds are performed with devotion for the sake of closeness “Taqarrub” to Allah. Finally, ma’rifat (Recognition) is applied to secure soundness in building of character.

Methodology of Purification in Four Orders A Comparative Study

Allah Almighty created man and send him to the world to establish his deputation and delegation. As both good and evil are found in man, man has always preferred evil to good. Allah Almighty send prophets in different ages to save them from evil and to purify them. In this way, prophets purified people to make them able to establish his deputation in the world. This pedigree continued till the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) came to the world. After holy prophet (P.B.U.H), this responsibility was given to the companions of holy prophet (P.B.U.H) and Muslim Ummah. The companions of holy prophet (P.B.U.H) fulfilled this responsibility in excellent manner. But after that when the Government was changed from Caliphate to Kingship, the evil trends again began to flourish in man. Then this task was fulfilled by the mysts and Sufis. They struggled alot to purify the spirits of people and established an institution which was hammed as mysticism.