Is there a moderate Sufism, and what is the view regarding Hadith scholars who follow the Sufi school of thought?

The highest degrees of religion are ihsan (excellence) and its best aspect is wara' (piety/conscientiousness), just as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, encouraged zuhd (asceticism). The Companions embodied these injunctions.

When the generation of the Companions passed away and worldly matters became prevalent among people, a call emerged for zuhd, wara', and ihsan. Those who advocated these principles were later given the title "Sufis."

The early Sufis called for what the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and his Companions called for. However, with the passage of time, later Sufis became extreme and delved deeply into innovations (bid'ah) and polytheism (shirk), and they introduced philosophies that produced doctrinal innovations such as "unity of existence" (wahdat al-wujud) and "incarnation" (hulul).

The Sufism of al-Junayd and al-Fudayl no longer has a presence among contemporary Sufis. Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah exposed the deviation of contemporary Sufis and their transgression against the fundamentals of Tawhid (monotheism), adherence to the Sunnah, and Jihad. They are involved in polytheism and create innovations, and they permit dedicating acts of worship to other than Allah. They are far from striving in the way of Allah (Jihad fisabilillah). Their love for Allah resembles the love of polytheists, not monotheists, for they do not achieve adherence to the Messenger nor strive in the way of Allah. In fact, many of them dislike adhering to the Messenger and assist his enemies.

The affiliation of some hadith scholars with the Sufi path is either in the manner of the praiseworthy ascetic worshippers, or in the manner of the deviated, superstitious individuals who were involved in polytheism and innovations. There is no proof in their actions. The proof lies not in the sayings of men, but in the Book (Quran) and the Sunnah.