The Prophet's Traditions Concerning the Criticism of Sufism

One can firmly claim that the Sufi sect has been the object of more criticism than any other Islamic sects; and it may be the only sect that has been criticized by every group. A large number of critics have even considered Sufism outside the sphere of Islam, tracing its origins to the non-Islamic sources. However, according to some impartial people, including the outsiders such as some orientalists, Sufism originates in the knowledge-promoting Islam. Appealing to the Prophet's traditions as well as those of the Infallible Imam's (PBUT) is one of the ways in which the opponents of Sufism criticize it. They hold that it has been rejected by the religious leaders, presenting some traditions to confirm their claim. The present writing is an attempt to examine the traditions ascribed to the Holy Prophet of Islam (PBUH) in terms of authenticity and content, evaluating the accuracy of the claims made by the opponents of Sufism.