Was Ibn Taimiyyah a Sufi?

Ibn Taimiyyah, also spelled as Ibn Taymiyyah (1263-1328 CE), is generally not considered a Sufi. He was a prominent Islamic scholar, theologian, and jurist from the Hanbali school of thought. While he did interact with Sufi teachings and had a complex relationship with Sufism, his views were often critical of certain Sufi practices that he saw as innovations (bid'ah) not rooted in the Qur'an and Sunnah.

Key points about Ibn Taimiyyah and his stance on Sufism:

Critique of Certain Sufi Practices: Ibn Taimiyyah was critical of practices that he believed deviated from orthodox Islamic teachings. This included practices like excessive veneration of saints, the use of music and dance in worship (such as the whirling dervishes), and beliefs in certain mystical experiences that he felt were not supported by the Qur'an and Sunnah.

Respect for Early Sufis: Despite his critiques, Ibn Taimiyyah showed respect for early Sufis like Junayd al-Baghdadi and Abdul Qadir Gilani, whose teachings he felt were more aligned with the Qur'an and Sunnah. He distinguished between what he saw as the legitimate spiritual discipline of early Sufism and the later developments he criticized.

Spirituality and Mysticism: Ibn Taimiyyah did not reject spirituality or mysticism outright. He emphasized the importance of sincere worship, inner purification, and the love of God. However, he insisted that these should be based strictly on the teachings of the Qur'an and the Prophet Muhammad.

Complex Relationship: His relationship with Sufism is complex and cannot be categorized as outright rejection. Instead, it was a critical engagement, aiming to reform and purify Sufi practices to align them more closely with what he considered authentic Islam.

Thus, labeling Ibn Taimiyyah as a Sufi would be inaccurate, as his approach was more about reforming Islamic practices and returning to what he saw as the pure teachings of Islam, rather than fully embracing the Sufi tradition.