Tasawwuf and the Spiritual Life according to Abu Hasan Ali Hasani Nadwi - An Analysis

This article discusses the tasawwuf and the spiritual life according to Abul Hasan Ali Hasani Nadwi (1913 – 1999). Al-Nadwi acknowledges the importance of spiritual and soul purification for each and every faithful Muslim and the importance of spiritual lives that would inspire the spirit of jihad, perseverance of dakwah and love for syahid. To him, the term tasawwuf is not as important as its true meaning that is the spiritual and soul purification that needs to be undertaken in the life of every Muslim. The sufis have indeed given major contribution to the propagation of Islam and dakwah movement. Al-Nadwi has oft-used such terms as the rabbani (spiritual) life, fiqh al-Batin or ihsan and tazkiyyah al-Nafs to illustrate the dynamic world of tasawwuf simply because the term tasawwuf has been a major bone of contention amongst certain quarters of the Muslim society.