Assalamu Alaikum
Tasawwuf is `Ilm al-Ishan, `Ilm al-Ruh & `Ilm al-Nafs. It has been accepted as a valid science in Islam by consensus of all Sunni `Ulema from the four schools. Many times the opposers of Tasawwuf who appeared in the last 2 centuries use Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyya as their source for opposition; they forget to mention that the Shaykh was a Qadiri. Sometimes they even go so far to claim that the 4 Imams opposed Tasawwuf; but they forget to mention how they praised it.
<b>يقول الامام مالك رحمه الله: من تفقه ولم يتصوف فقد تفسق ومن تصوف ولم يتفقه فقد تزندق ومن جمع بينهما فقد تحقق</b>
<b><i>Yaqoulu l-Imaam Maalik Rah.imahu Allah: Man tafaqqah wa-lam yatas.awwaf faqad tafassaq wa-man tas.awwaf wa-lam yatafaqqah faqad tazandaq wa man jam`a baynahumaa faqad tahaqqaq.</i></b>
<b>Meaning and Reality of Tasawwuf in Islam</b>
Ma`salamaat