CONFLUENCE OF SUFISM AND SHARIAH IN ISLAM

Shari¿ah and Haq¿qah are two terms of Tasawuf- Islamic Mysticism which had generated a lot of controversies among the Islamic scholars. Previous works have focused on the connotations of Shari¿ah and Haq¿qah individually and with some other terms that are connected to the two. However, there exists a dearth of literature on the study of relationship between Shari¿ah and Haq¿qah. This study, therefore, examined the relationship between the two especially as used in the works and teachings of Shaykh Ibrahim Iny¿s. The ethnographic research method, which involved participatory observation style, was used to collate data for this study. This also involved a trip to the Republic of Senegal where the Zawiyyah, Mosque and residence of the Shaykh are situated. Special interviews were also conducted with people learned in the subject area of the study. This study found solution to the predicament of divergent views hitherto promoted by scholars that connotations of Shari¿ah and ¿aq¿qah were uncomplimentary and opposite terms.