Kur'an i sufizam
The Qur'an and Sufism

Summary/Abstract: According to the author, Sufism can best be understood in relation to the structure of the Islamic tradition. The outstanding characteristic of the Sufi approach to the Islamic tradition has been to focus on assimilating the soul to the Divine Word, always on the basis of the model established by the Prophet. Sufi teachers often speak of the goal of the Islamic tradition as “realization” which demands the transformation of the very being of the seeker, whereby the role of the Qur’an is unavoidable. In summarizing the nature of the path to God, the teachers often speak of “purification of the soul” (tazkiya al-nafs). Like other Muslims, not only did Sufis highly value memorization and recitation of the Qur’an and invocation of the Divine Names contained in the Qur’an, but they also expressed their teaching in Qur’anic terminology. This special dedication to the Qur’an can be observed clearly among the Sufi teachers of the early generations who are remembered mainly by aphorisms that elucidate the spiritual significance of key Qur’anic words and phrases. When later Sufis began to write detailed exposition of the human position in relation to God and the cosmos, they filled their works with commentary on Qur’anic verses. Common insight of Sufi teachers is that the Qur’an, along with the Sunna, provides the guidelines for the realization of the Divine Form that is latent in every soul. Thus, in this paper the author discusses the relation between the Qur’an and Sufism, pointing out their close intertwining.

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