We praise Him and send blessings upon His noble Messenger.
What is Sufism and what is its reality?
Rais ul Ahrar Hazrat Maulana Habib ur Rahman Sahib Ludhianvi asked Hazrat Sheikh ul Hadith Maulana Zakariya Sahib Kandhlawi, "What is this thing called Sufism and what is its reality?" Hazrat Sheikh ul Hadith replied, "It is only the correction of intention, and nothing else. Its beginning is with 'Innamal a'malu binniyat' (deeds are judged by intentions) and its end is 'An ta'bud Allaha ka annaka tarahu' (worship Allah as if you see Him)." Upon hearing my answer, he was stunned and said, "I was thinking from Delhi that if he gives this answer, I will object to it, and if he gives that answer, I will object to it." In response, Hazrat Sheikh ul Hadith said, "You have two days to prepare your objections." The next day, Hazrat Rais ul Ahrar said, "I could not find any objections," and he also said, "Until yesterday, I had neither devotion nor love for you, but since you have given this answer, I have so much love that there is no end to it."
In essence, 'Innamal a'malu binniyat' is the beginning of all Sufism, meaning that a person should do every deed with the correction of intention, and 'An ta'bud Allaha ka annaka tarahu' is the end of all Sufism, meaning that a person attains Allah Almighty, and this is the reality of Sufism and the essence of Sufism.
Having come into the world, I looked here and there.
It was You who appeared wherever I looked.