Why Did the Great Scholars Respect the Sufis and Friends of Allah?

■ Why Did the Great Scholars Respect the Sufis and Friends of Allah?

If we look closely at the history of Islamic scholarship, we find a beautiful and heartwarming pattern: the greatest scholars of Islam—those whose knowledge and piety are respected even today—used to hold deep respect and love for the Sufis and Aulia Allah. But why?

You see, the Akabir Ulama (great scholars) were not ordinary people. They were deeply grounded in the knowledge of the Qur’an and Sunnah. They were shining examples of how knowledge should lead to action, humility, and the fear of Allah ﷻ. But here’s what’s truly beautiful: These scholars knew that the Sufis were not inventing new paths or ideas—they were walking the exact same path laid down by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, but they focused deeply on the inner dimension of Islam: sincerity, love, purification of the heart, and being present with Allah ﷻ.

So naturally, the scholars recognized this and gave them the respect they deserved. They didn’t just tolerate the Sufis—they honored them, listened to their words, and even sought their advice when it came to matters of the heart and soul.

Let’s take a few examples to see how real and sincere this relationship was:

1. Imam Abdullah bin Mubarak (ر) [181 AH]:

He was a great scholar, a master of Hadith, and a symbol of zuhd (detachment from the world). He famously said:

❝When the righteous are mentioned, Allah’s mercy descends.❞

This shows that even just remembering the names and lives of the pious—like the Sufis—brings down divine blessings. SubhanAllah! Isn’t that amazing?

2. Abu Hashim Sufi (ر):

One of the earliest known Sufis, deeply respected by the legendary scholar Imam Sufyan Thawri (ر) [161 AH]. Imam Sufyan Thawri said:

❝If it weren’t for Abu Hashim, I would not have understood the subtleties of sincerity and spiritual leadership.❞

He also said:

❝Before I met Abu Hashim, I didn’t even know what it meant to be a Sufi.❞

Such a powerful statement from a scholar of Hadith and Fiqh tells us that even the most learned scholars needed the companionship of those who purified their souls.

3. Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (ر) [241 AH]:

The founder of the Hanbali school of thought, a giant in the science of Hadith, and a strict follower of Sunnah. But when it came to matters of the heart, even he would consult a great Sufi like Abu Hamza al-Baghdadi (ر).

He used to encourage his own son to attend the gatherings of Sufis. Why?

Because he said:

❝They have reached such a level of character that we cannot even dream of reaching.❞

SubhanAllah! A man whose name is a pillar of Islamic jurisprudence, humbly saying that the Sufis had achieved a level of spiritual refinement that even he couldn’t match.

And this is just a glimpse. History is filled with examples like these—of deep love, respect, and mutual learning between the scholars and the Sufis.

The true scholars of Islam were never enemies of the Sufis. In fact, they admired them. Why? Because they recognized that the Sufis were not offering something foreign to Islam—but rather, they were polishing the heart so it could reflect the light of the Qur’an and Sunnah more beautifully. The scholars dealt with the outer laws (zahir), and the Sufis went deeper into the inner world (batin). Together, they formed a complete picture of Islam.

This mutual respect is a lost treasure in today’s world, where people are quick to label and divide. But if we look back, we’ll find that the real giants of knowledge and piety didn’t draw lines—they built bridges of love, respect, and unity in the path of Allah ﷻ.

May Allah ﷻ fill our hearts with the love of the righteous and grant us the light of both knowledge and spiritual purity.

اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلَىٰ اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ