Is Tasawwuf (Islamic Spirituality)/Sufism a deviant form of Islam?

There are many websites against Tasawwuf or Sufism and there are many for them. The Muslims have been divided on this issue for a very long time. As a person who prefers to do his own thinking and reflecting based on true sources of knowledge, namely Qur'an and Hadith (Prophetic traditions), I started out with an open mind and now I have come to a conclusion.

To summarise my findings, I quote:

Tasawwuf consists of dedication to worship, total dedication to Allah Most High, disregard for the finery and ornament of the world, abstinence from the pleasure, wealth, and prestige sought by most men, and retiring from others to worship alone. This was the general rule among the Companions of the Prophet (s.a.w) and the early Muslims, but when involvement in this-worldly things became widespread from the second Islamic century onwards and people became absorbed in worldliness, those devoted to worship came to be called: Sufiyya or People of Tasawwuf
- Ibn Khaldun, al-Muqaddima [N.d. Reprint. Mecca: Dar al-Baz, 1397/1978], 467)

But there will still be a proportion of people who would disbelief. The question is: Did they do their own research or do they depend on someone else's thoughts and understandings?

Sufism is never against the accumulation of wealth. It is against the desire for wealth. Sufism does not require one to leave their families and friends but it does need you to understand your priorities right i.e. carrying out the commandments of God (such as prayers and fasting etc) must take precedence. For example, many of us miss or delay our prayers because we are out watching movies or chatting with friends.

Sufism promotes peace, humility, obedience to God and parents, good manners and tolerance in a multi-racial, multi-religious society. Now f you were to reflect on the last sentecne, you'd notice that the world today lacks "peace, humility, obedience to God and parents, good manners and tolerance in a multi-racial, multi-religious society"! This is what we need at the current moment. Hence the importance of Tasawwuf is more important now than ever before.

People who are against Sufism may look at it only from a religious point of view where Quranic verses and Hadiths are narrowly interpreted or quoted out of context to disregard Sufism as an essential need. If they did their research with an open mind they will find these Quranic verses and Hadiths misused by perpetrators who speak ill of Sufism.

Though people may disagree with my views above, I can sleep peacefully knowing I've done my resarch and conclude: Sufism or Tasawwuf is not a deviant form of Islam but an integral part of life.

Think about it...................