Recognize Of Tasawuf Madzhab Of Rifai’s Teachings

Tanbihun.com- In regard to Tasawuf, Ahmad Rifa’I stated that Tasawuf dogma is the knowledge dealing with purity of the heart, with commendable and disgraceful morals (Al- Mahmuudaat wal Madzmuumaat), which is the way to achieve Allah’s blessings. Written by Ahmad Rifa’I in some of the verses in the book of  Ri’ayat al Himmat Tha’at: ‘Actually Tasawuf is to distinguish the commendable and disgraceful traits in the heart to instill the sincerity to devote to Allah.’ (Ri’ayatul Himmat:1/7).

According to Ahmad Rifa’I, the purpose of Tasawuf is to sanctify the heart and purify it so that it is able to sincerely stand before Allah and gets blessed.  In the book of Ri’ayatul Himmat, Ahmad Rifa’I wrote: “Tasawuf is a matter of purifying the heart to stand before The All Merciful Allah, The All Glorious Allah, and any devotion other than to Allah is bathil (damaging) and  mungkar (Out of law)”. (Ri’ayatul Himmat:1/8)

The deep influence of Ahlussunah sect makes Ahmad Rifa’I’s discussion on tasawuf is free from syncretism mysticism non Islam which gets into other Tasawufs. So Ahmad Rifa’I’s tasawuf is in accordance with syara’ and doesn’t include any rituals. His tasawuf is better known as Tazkiyyatun Nafs (polishing and cleansing the ego). Accordingly Syari’at and Tasawuf are two disciplines which bind each other like two sides of a coin. Syari’at is the outward aspect of faith and Tasawuf is the inner side of faith and often called as IHSAN.

Commendable and Disgraceful Characters

In K.H.A. Rifa’I’s works, the most important noble and commendable characters which must be tried to accomplish are: Zuhud, Qana’at, Shabar, Tawakal, Mujahadah, Ridla, Syukur and Ikhlas, and other noble characters. As stated by Ahmad Rifa’I RA in his book Asnal Maqashid: There are eight  commendable characters among others which are in accordance with syara’:  Zuhud, Qana’ah, Shabar, Tawakal, Mujahadah, Ridla, Syukur and Ikhlas, all of which imply KHOUF (fear), MAHABBAH (love), dan MA’RIFAT (contemplation on Allah)”. (Asnal Maqashad:1/407).

Disgraceful characters are Hubbuddunya, Thama’, ittiba-ilhawa, Ujub, Riya’, Takabur, Hasud and Sum’ah. This translated Nadzam explains those characters: “According to syara’, which will be explained later, eight things which destroy hearts are: Hubbudunnya, Thama’, Ittiba-ilhawa, Ujub, Riya’/ Takabur, Hasud and Sum’ah. The hearts will realize it later, insya Allah because of Allah’s help and Nabi Muhammad SAW’s blessings”. (Asnal Miqashad: II/408).

by: H. Khaeruddin Khasbullah

Versi Indonesia: Mengenal Madzhab Tasawuf Rifaiyah

Share on :

    Tagged with: biography syaikh ahamd rifa'i, Tasawuf