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throughout the Islamic world, and has often been the driving force for
both the Quran and the Sunnah. (5:105, 2:152, 8:2, 22:35…) In Shiism,
Sufism. (Nasr, 11) Both however have a great deal of overlap, and many
think of Sufism as a separate deviant sect. This view has been shaped
stereotype images of Sufis such as the Rufa'ees. The very term Sufism
is also deeply contested as it is a Western interpretation of the
notions of monasticism and has over the years incorporated Hindu and
rituals of certain Sufi orders do have non Muslim origins and have
Perhaps the reason why Sufism is most criticized by the Ulama is the
deviation of certain Sufi orders from the Sharia and the Sunnah. The
Rifai Sufi order for instance uses body piercing, shouting and other
Some Sufi orders have Shaykhs who have divorced the world and live in
this practice by both the Quran (57:27) and the Sunnah. The
has also been a major attacking point against sufis. Furthermore with
groups like Junoon, the real values of Sufism are being questioned.
become identified as vagabonds who are linked with drug use and
immorality. Drunkenness and intoxication is explicitly forbidden in
drinking wine, and although this has a symbolic meaning, it has also
The real tension however between the Ulama and the A'rifs has often
been one of authority and authenticity. Islam has always been seen as
a sober (Ernst, 7,11) Sufi doctrine has often likened the tariqah to radii of circles,
hence
they have often Wine drinking, ecstasy, saint worship, aniti Islamic things at sufi
shrines.
Bibliography
http://al-islam.org/beliefs/spirituality/suffism.html
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throughout the Islamic world, and has often been the driving force for
the Quran (5:105, 2:152, 8:2, 22:35…) and the Sunnah, and they color
everyday Muslim life. (Ernst, 11) The criticism of Sufism thus is not
Sufism as a separate deviant sect. This view has been shaped by the
stereotype images of Sufis such as the Rufa'ees. The very term Sufism
notions of monasticism and has over the years incorporated Hindu and
rituals of certain Sufi orders do have non Muslim origins and have
Perhaps the reason why Sufism is most criticized by the Ulama is the
deviation of certain Sufi orders from the Sharia and the Sunnah. The
Rifai Sufi order for instance uses body piercing, shouting and other
Some Sufi orders have Shaykhs who have divorced the world and live in
this practice by both the Quran (57:27) and the Sunnah. The
excessiveuse of music and dancing, to a state of ecstasy Sufi rituals
has also been a major attacking point against sufis. Furthermore with
groups like Junoon, the real values of Sufism are being questioned.
become identified as vagabonds who are linked with drug use and
drinking wine, and although this has a symbolic meaning, it has also
The real tension however between the Ulama and the A'rifs has often
been one of authority and authenticity. Islam has always been seen as
Sufi doctrine has often likened the tariqah to radii of circles, hence
Wine drinking, ecstasy, saint worship, aniti Islamic things at sufi shrines.
Bibliography
http://al-islam.org/beliefs/spirituality/suffism.html
--------------------------------------------------
Sufism Expounded
Sufis then, are those Muslims (Shia and Sunni) who are not satisfied
with the Shariah alone. They dedicate their lives to a more sublime
spiritual path, the Tariqah, which is a journey to know God here and
is one who has already traveled the path, and hence guides the
rooted in the Quran and the Sunnah. Many verses in the Quran such as:
"O ye who believe, take charge of your own souls…" (5:105), "Remember
Me, I will remember you." (2:152) and hadith invite the human being to
ponder over his creation, free him/herself from the shackles of the
temporal world, and soar to the beloved (God). In this regard, the
most Sufi Turuqs, with the exception of the Naqshbandiyya order, link
with the Holy prophet through his cousin Ali. The sayings and life of
Ali, who is also revered by the Shiah as the first imam, served as a
vast treasure for the codification of the doctrines and practices of
Sufi writing defines the Awliya (friends of God) as "the pious for
for devotion [and obedience] to God." (Ernst, 59) A saint however only
attains this stage after he has annihilated (fana) his ego and in so
that only God alone is real, human beings merely partake of his
and focusing it on the Absolute that the human being can begin to
traverse the Tariqah. The doctrine of Walaya runs hand in hand with
God) representing His mercy on earth. (Ernst, 59) This doctrine has
psychology that forms the basis for this journey (Sayr). The human
self has three dimensions. The first one which is the nafs, is the
animal self which gives rise to the desires for food, material,
being with the Ruh, which contains the divine breath and hence directs
man towards the Divine. The dimensions of the nafs however are not
the human being has to tame the nafs and make it subservient to the
Ruh. Sufism thus is a discipline which guides the human being in this
Doctrine runs hand in hand with practice. When a person yearning for
personal relationship is established between the Pir and the murid and
the Pir guides the murid along the Tariqah. (Enrst, 142)
one can proceed to the Tariqah. Apart from the daily ritual practices
Sufis of the same order often meet at the Pir's house (tekke) to carry
out special meditations and zikr sessions where Allah's names are
carried out. The visit (Ziyarah) to a Pir's tomb has also become an
the hal as "an intense flow of God's barakah (blessing)." (Nasr, 12)
The Pir's guidance is essential in making sure the murid does not get
lost in the hal or does not slip on the path. When one has traversed
reflection of Gods love. Before his death, a Pir usually indicates who
Over the years, the Sufis have been guardians of tradition. Often it
was their activities that led to the spread of Islam far and wide.
rituals that complement the zikr. Some may seen to be very strange and
others are very much sober and rational. A common practice that has
order in South East Asia for instance is well known for the Sama or
Qawali music. The Mevlevi order, who claim their linkage through
Mawlana Jalal ad Din Rumi are also well known for their whirling dance
tradition.
on the web. Many Sufi orders in the West are also beginning to
incorporate women. Needless to say Sufism which has always been a
tradition.
Bibliography
Light Within Me: Khumayni, Ruhullah, Tabbatabahi Allamah, and Mutahheri, Murtaza