Which Madhab Does Sufism Follow? A Clear and Insightful Guide
Many wonder which school of Islamic law Sufis adhere to . The quick answer is: Sufism itself is not a madhab but a dimension of Islamic practice focused on personal refinement, and it is fully compatible with all four Sunni madhabs — Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maliki, and Hanbali. This article explains how Sufism relates to the madhabs, highlights regional variations in practice, explores its historical development alongside Islamic law, and clears up common misconceptions about its place within Sunni orthodoxy. Questions about the relationship between Sufism and the legal schools of thought arise because many people mistakenly assume Sufism is its own sect, separate from mainstream Islam. In reality, Sufism — or Tasawwuf, as it is called in Arabic — exists within the framework of Islamic law (shariah) rather than outside it. Every Sufi practitioner or order follows one of the established schools of law when it comes to matters of prayer, fasting, zakat, marriage, and other legal obligations...