Altruism

Sufism emphasizes the importance of altruism as a fundamental principle in spiritual practice. Altruism is a trait found in humans and some animals that drives them to help others often at a cost and risk to themselves.

Recent studies in neuroscience suggest that there is a neurological basis for altruism. In other words, it is natural for us to behave altruistically; this behavior is not solely instilled in us through religion or moral teachings. Our selfish instincts do not always conflict with our desire to care for and love others.

There are many forms of altruism, including sexual selection, kin selection, and reciprocal altruism. To the best of my knowledge, pure altruism—defined as selfless acts towards complete strangers without any expectation of reward or recognition—is unique to human species. In this context, it is also important to note that humans are capable of extreme cruelty, examples of which have not been observed in other animals.

The role of any spiritual discipline, including Sufism, is to nurture and promote the natural instinct of altruism in human beings. Sufis have always taught that the only way to liberate oneself from the bonds of ego and to realize our purpose in the world is to perform selfless acts for others.