Mahabbah in Sufism: A Comparative Study of the Thought of Rābi‘ah al-‘Adawiyah (95-185 H) and Mālik bin Dīnār (131 H)

Abstract

This article aims to analyze and compare the concept of mahabbah in early Islamic Sufism through the spiritual thought of Rābi‘ah al-‘Adawiyah and Mālik bin Dīnār. The study is motivated by the diversity of spiritual orientations in early Sufism, particularly between ethical-ascetic Sufism and divine love–oriented mysticism. In the era of secularism and modern spiritual crises, understanding the classical concept of mahabbah becomes increasingly relevant for Sufi psychotherapy and spiritual healing. This research employs a qualitative approach with a library research design and a comparative hermeneutic analytical method. Primary data were obtained from Kitāb Rābi‘ah and Hilyat al-Awliyā’, supported by relevant secondary literature. The findings reveal that Rābi‘ah al-‘Adawiyah makes mahabbah the highest goal of the spiritual journey, characterized by pure and selfless love that transcends fear (khauf) and hope (raja’). In contrast, Mālik bin Dīnār represents a spirituality oriented toward moral consciousness, ascetic discipline, and fear of God, in which divine love appears implicitly and functions as a secondary spiritual dimension. This study concludes that early Islamic Sufism was dynamic and evolved gradually, with mahabbah transforming from an ethical dimension into a mystical orientation. The implication of this study lies in the potential application of Rābi‘ah’s model of divine love as a framework for Islamic psychotherapy and spiritual healing.