The 4 Classic Stages of Sufism:
1. Shari‘ah (الشريعة) – The Law
Meaning: The outer path; divine rules and ethical conduct based on the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Goal: Submission and obedience to Allah.
Practices:
1) Praying 5 times a day
2) Fasting in Ramadan
3) Giving zakat
4) Avoiding haram
👉 Focus: Action and discipline
“Shari‘ah is the body. Without it, there is no foundation.”
2. Tariqah (الطريقة) – The Path
Meaning: The inner spiritual path to Allah through discipline, purification, and devotion.
Goal: To purify the nafs (ego/self) and draw closer to Allah.
Practices:
1) Following a spiritual guide (Shaykh)
2) Dhikr (remembrance of Allah)
3) Muraqabah (meditation and inner watchfulness)
4) Sufi rituals and litanies (awrad)
👉 Focus: Heart and soul
“Tariqah is the heart. Without it, actions are hollow.”
3. Ma‘rifah (المعرفة) – Gnosis / Divine Knowing
Meaning: True knowledge of Allah that comes through spiritual unveiling (kashf), not books.
Goal: To recognize Allah in all things with spiritual insight.
Characteristics:
1) Deep intuition
2) Inner certainty (yaqīn)
3) Moments of divine witnessing (mushahadah)
👉Focus: Enlightenment and vision of truth
“Ma‘rifah is the eye of the soul that sees what is hidden.”
4. Haqiqah (الحقيقة) – The Truth / Reality
Meaning: The ultimate reality; witnessing Allah as the only real existence (La ilaha illa Hu).
Goal: Complete annihilation in Allah (fana’) and subsistence through Him (baqa’).
State of Being:
1) Total surrender
2) Love without condition
3) Oneness with Divine Will
👉 Focus: Unity of existence (Wahdat al-Wujood)
“Haqiqah is the soul’s return to its source.”
Bonus Stage (Sometimes Mentioned):
5. ‘Ubūdiyyah (العبودية) – Servanthood
The deepest realization: After all knowledge and nearness, the Sufi realizes they are nothing but a servant (‘abd) of the Divine.
The Journey in a Sufi Saying:
“The Shari‘ah is like a candle. The Tariqah is its flame. The Ma‘rifah is the light. The Haqiqah is the vision it gives.”
شہزاد امیر (سید اشرفی)
Aal-e-Qutub Aal-e-Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi 