[RogHammon]

Here's a question. Is the work in Majmoo al-Fatawa not to be weighed with the remainder of his work?

Because it's quite clear that a large amount of his work was dedicated to criticizing heavily well-known Sufis and practices with regards to Sufism during his time- such as the Friends of Allah and the Friends of Shaytaan; that work in particular is quite scathing and obviously directed at certain sufis.

And then there's his (and others') takfeer of Ibn Arabi', who is regarded as 'al-Shaykh al-Akbar' by a great number of groups today. Then take into account his refusal to support any forms of dhikr not specifically (specifically, not implicitly) supported by the Qur'an and Sunnah... (an opinion shared by the Hanbali scholars, such as Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (see Jami al-Uloom wal Hukam) and Ibn Qudama , see Ibn Qudama's opinion of hadras)...

Taking all this into account, well, who exactly are the Sufis he praises, whose work can be seen and viewed today in a context free of additions? What Tariqa indeed would fit into Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah's Sufism paradigm? I doubt very much that the ones nowadays would.

Please quote the relevant parts in his Majmu' so it can be weighed in reference to Tasawwuf and Sufism.

Also please quote the relevant parts where he critisizes heavily well known Sufis. By any chance is Shaykh 'Abd al-Qadir Jilani in this list of those whom he critisized?

I for one would also critisize many people under the pretence of 'Sufism' and you would find many 'Sufis' of today doing the same - this doesn't mean anything.

The Takfeer of Shaykh Ibn al-'Arabi by Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah then this based upon some of the beliefs in Fusoos which he found inappropriate something to do with Aqaa'id - this has nothing to do with Takfeering a Sufi or reprimanding the Ahl al-Tasawwuf - otherwise Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah has many praises for Shaykh Ibn al-'Arabi's other books that deal with Tasawwuf and Tazkiyah al-Nafs.

As for Dhikr / Adhkar there are many Sufis that do recite the well known Adhkars that comes via Qur'an and Sunnah, your an example of a person painting everyone with the same brush.

And also for Ijtima'i Gatherings, Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah was asked:

http://www.islamweb.net/newlibrary/d..._no=22&ID=1727

وسئل عن رجل ينكر على أهل الذكر يقول لهم : هذا الذكر بدعة وجهركم في الذكر بدعة وهم يفتتحون بالقرآن ويختتمون ثم يدعون للمسلمين الأحياء والأموات ويجمعون التسبيح والتحميد والتهليل والتكبير والحوقلة ويصلون على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم والمنكر يعمل السماع مرات بالتصفيق ويبطل الذكر في وقت عمل السماع

And he answers:

فأجاب : الاجتماع لذكر الله واستماع كتابه والدعاء عمل صالح وهو من أفضل القربات والعبادات في الأوقات ففي الصحيح عن [ ص: 521 ] النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قال : { إن لله ملائكة سياحين في الأرض فإذا مروا بقوم يذكرون الله تنادوا هلموا إلى حاجتكم } وذكر الحديث وفيه { وجدناهم يسبحونك ويحمدونك } لكن ينبغي أن يكون هذا أحيانا في بعض الأوقات والأمكنة فلا يجعل سنة راتبة يحافظ عليها إلا ما سن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم المداومة عليه في الجماعات ؟ من الصلوات الخمس في الجماعات ومن الجمعات والأعياد ونحو ذلك

If by music / singing / dancing is what you see only amongst the Sufis today, then quite frankly you need to wake up . There are MANY Sufis that do not practice any of that even at times speaking against it.

lastly, you say:

I doubt very much that the ones nowadays would. Taking all into account you have bought from the works of IbnTaymiyyah (null), your claims is currently far-fetched.

anyway what i really would like to know Akhi,is what do YOU think Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah meant by Tasawwuf / Sufiyyah? and what practices / 'amals did he include and what did he dislike? please quote me from his kitaabs.

Ma'a al-Salaamah.