[effenseshoora]

It is very ironic that whereas, most of the common lay Muslims are not aware of the basics of Islam we have people here talking about realities which are beyond the grasp of most of us.

Tabligh is for one's self and these simple lay public. Not for elite and intellectual individuals.
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salamu `alaykum

Just because tabligh is for oneself and the simple public does not mean that one can "dumb down" the science of tasawwuf and dilute the concept of this science in the eyes of the masses, transforming it into something as simple as outward action.

The same way Islamic Law cannot be "dumbed down" to following "sound hadith" for this opens a gateway to misconception and ignorance.

No wonder we have numerous laypeople who criticise not only Sufism, but the Sufi scholars en mass for their "innovation" and straying from the path of the righteous. It is only because they have been fed a simplified version of a science whose breadth and depth is beyond measure.

A more effective method would be trying to explain the reality of this science in a manner in which it can be understood, while stressing that such a reality is all together inconceivable at the initial stages of ones traversing.

Half-baked Mawlvi's, we have, half-baked Awliya', we shall have also if such a trend of utter simplification continues.

Wasalam
Salman