Fundamental Principles of Tasawwuf

The science of Tasawwuf, often misunderstood and misrepresented, is the cornerstone of spirituality that guides the seeker toward sincerity, self-purification, and closeness to Allah. In this abridgment of The Principles of Tasawwuf (Qawā‘id al-Tasawwuf), lessons from the illustrious Sheikh Ahmad Zarrūq (d. 899 AH) presents a timeless masterpiece, systematizing the core principles of the spiritual path with unparalleled clarity.


This concise yet profound work delineates 40 essential principles, or qawā‘id, from his larger work, that navigate the reader through the intricate interplay of īmān, practice (‘amal), and self-awareness. Sheikh Ahmad Zarrūq explores the essence of Tasawwuf by bridging it seamlessly with Islamic jurisprudence and theology. The text emphasizes that true spirituality is unattainable without sound understanding of the Sharī‘ah, and vice versa, reminding us of the holistic unity between outward adherence and inward sincerity.