This paper utilizes a content study to clarify the concepts and relationship between sharic
ah, tariqah, haqiqah, and marifah by Wan Sulaiman b. Wan Siddik, a Malay Sufi scholar in 19th in the Malay world. He clarifies these four terminologies in his epistle Mizan al-uqala’ wa al-udaba’ due to many misconceptions about this matter by his Sufi Malay local. The impact of misconceptions causes some Sufi local Malay to discount shariah as outward skin by giving preference to tariqah, haqiqah, and marifah as these three are the kernel of shariah. At the end, the study singles out that these four terminologies are one substance of the shariah and no dichotomy to disconnect its teaching to each other and no contradictory and distinction from the shariah as the holistic teaching. The differences only rely upon to its expressions and terminologies utilized for the sake of clarity.
Source: Journal of Islamic Studies and Culture
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