Some european scholars find the origin of this philosophy in the teaching of islam, others connect it with buddhism. This happened in spite of the famous amman message, a joint declaration made by over 200 of the most noted moderate islamic scholars in a conference in amman, jordan, in 2005, stressing that sufism is very much part of islam. The histories of bengal, like those of many other parts of the subcontinent, mainly deal with courts and political developments only because the persian chronicles, which are the chief sources of muslim history, confine themselves to a narration of o 1 political events. But one can never say that islam was spread by the sword 12 here it can be deduced that the idea of islam spreading in a peaceful manner through sufism is problematised to an extent, and it is held that sufism almost always followed, or came hand in hand with the use of sword and enforced authority. For example, sufis and physicists have very similar views of the world.
A brief history of sufism rifai sufi order web site. Some sources state that sufism is the inner dimensions of the teachings of muhammad whereas others say that sufism emerged during the islamic golden age from about the 8th to 10th centuries. In contrast to the wests mechanistic worldview, sufis consider all things and events perceived by the senses as interrelated and connected, different aspects or manifestations of. Women in sufi history pratices on sufisms margins readings on rabia aladawiyya and the poems of mihri hatun, fatima jahanara, and aisha bauniyya. Pdf an analytical study of rise and development of sufism. The diversity of islam is a part of and a testament to its strength. The european historian sometimes traces the history of sufism by noticing the actual occurrence of this word and by referring only to those schools which have definitely wished to be known by this name. The history and methodology of sufism sufism is an esoteric doctrine transmitted by word of mouth, and sometimes without even a spoken or written word, by an authorized teacher to a disciple, and from disciple to another disciple, in confidence. While the orthodox muslims depend upon external conduct and blind observance of religious rituals, the sufi saints seek inner purity.
The term is taken from the root word in arabic suf which means wool. At first, sufism only meant making islam more personal and internal. It is a mystical form of islam, a school of practice that emphasizes the inward search for the god and shuns materialism. Offering the first truly global account of the history of sufism, this illuminating book traces the gradual spread and influence of sufi islam through the middle east, asia, africa, and ultimately into europe and the united states. Nicholson draws lines to old christian, gnostic, neoplatonistic and even the buddhist influences from where sufism read more and download pdf. Sufis trace the origin of sufism or tasawwuf to the prophet of islam. Mentions by sufi authors and teachers of their predecessors reveal a genealogy of. Islamic mysticism had several stages of growth, including 1 the appearance of early asceticism, 2 the development of a classical mysticism of divine love, and 3 the rise and proliferation of fraternal orders of mystics. In recent times the most notorious example was the outright banning of sufism in iran. Understanding the concept of islamic sufism journal of education. However it was only after the arrival of the prophet that the practice came to be known by the name of sufism. Pdf sufism tasawwuf is the name given to mysticism in islam.
In contrast to the wests mechanistic worldview, sufis consider all things and events perceived by the senses as interrelated and connected, different aspects or manifestations of the. An expert on islam, its arts and crafts, and its mystical dimension, su sm, he authored num erous books, including art of islam. Spencer trimingham, sufi orders in islam, 3166 pdf october 26. Download the bible, the holy quran, the mahabharata, and thousands of free pdf ebooks on buddhism, meditation, etc. A short introduction to origin, beginning and history of sufism or tasawwuf 76 observed incessant prayer and fasting as did the prophet muhammad s. In this comprehensive new history of sufism from the earliest centuries of islam to today. Sufism in india a bloodied history indiafactsindiafacts. I can say that these friends have a lot to contribute to illuminating our understanding of islam and sufism, feisals work, especially, has influenced us over the years.
The basis and beginning of sufism tasawwuf is iman faith which had six important beliefs and principles, viz the existence and unity of god, the angles, the prophets, the day of resurrection and good and evil, and lastly the gods predestination. Others have held that sufism is striving to live like the holy prophet muhammad, bringing you closer to allah, to god. Though many shia and sunni muslims reject sufis as true muslims, sufi muslims consider themselves followers of allah. These secret instructions are acted upon by a disciple with perfect faith in the teacher. We have already posted about the major kingdoms and tribals societies in medieval india. Sufism is popular in such african countries as egypt, tunisia, algeria, morocco, and senegal, where it is seen as a mystical expression of islam. Islam is not an historical phenomenon that began 1,400 years ago. However islamic scholars predating the islamic golden age were referred to as sufis, like hasan of basra. Each tariqa has its own founding or eponymous teacher, or shaykh.
Sufism, or tasawwuf in arabic, is practiced by many muslims around the world, both shia and sunni, as a personal, mystical, or. Pupils of a tariqa incorporate specific practices unique to each. The life of a sufi is the life of the spirit regulated strictly in accordance with islamic theology and traditions. In this comprehensive new history of sufism from the earliest. The earliest form of sufism arose under the umayyad dynasty 661749.
Beyond the history, sufism tasawwuf embodies the deeper spirituality of islam. Islam encountered christian monks in the desert, gnostics of various sorts, neoplatonic philosophy, and buddhism and hinduism from india. This is why the interior reality of sufism tasawwuf characterizes the practices of the ascetics of the first generations even though the term sufism was not used yet during that period. From here sufism went on the defensive affirming its authentic roots in islam through a juridical, shari. A brief history, combines the skills of the historian with the insights of the scholar of islam.
An introduction to the history, practices, and beliefs of sufi islam. It is as ancient as the rise of human consciousness. Her history therefore is not simply about the rise and fall of dynasties. A pathbreaking history of sufism, from the earliest centuries of islam to the present after centuries as the most important asceticmystical strand of islam, sufism saw a sharp decline. Islam representing the inward aspects of the worlds greatest religion. Islamic history, which embodied a spiritual movement that would continue and. Presenting sufism on its own terms, namely, as it was professed by countless sufi teachers and their disciples, was simply not an option for european and russian scholars of islam.
Muhammad saws and his companions ashab, the term sufism tasawwuf did not exist as a distinct discipline. Sufi perspective,19 but they were socially, linguistically, and culturally specific to the regions where they originated and, to boot, hardly representative of the internally diverse sufi movement in islam as a whole. We are here this afternoon, like in a living room gathering, to reflect on anything, of course, but our main interest is the spiritual journey that we are on. Dec 08, 2007 history of sufism sufism has been a prominent movement within islam throughout most of its history. After centuries as the most important asceticmystical strand of islam, sufism saw a sharp decline in the twentieth century, only to experience a stunning revival in recent decades.
Sufism in islam ill the advent of islam and early history of sufism in india iv the advent of islam in bengal. Titus burckhardt 19081984 was a leading member of the traditionalist or perennialist school of comparative religious thought. Sufism, mystical islamic belief and practice in which muslims seek the truth of divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of god. Indeed, most sufis in the world today are muslim and many of them would consider a nonislamic sufism impossible. Sufism download books, sacred, spiritual texts and pdf e. It grew out of an early ascetic movement within islam, which sought to counteract the worldliness that came with the rapid expansion of the muslim community.
As an undergraduate student majoring in history at the college of wooster ohio, chittick spent the 19641965 academic year abroad, studying islamic history at the american university of beirut. Syed tasawwuf commonly known as sufism and quantum theory have several things in common. The islam that survived was a sufic islam, inwardlooking, spiritual, amalgamating within its folds the cultures of the lands where it flourished. Sufism known as tasawwuf in the arabicspeaking world, is a form of islamic mysticism that emphasizes introspection and spiritual closeness with the god. It consists of mystical paths that are designed to learn the nature of humanity and of god and to facilitate the experience of the presence of divine love and wisdom. In tracing the history of sufism, the earliest instances of sufism can be found even before the time of the prophet muhammad. Pdf islam a short history pdf download read online free. Islamsu sm is masterpiece by titus burckhardt examines. Pdf the origin and evolution of sufism researchgate. In their assessment of the sufi writings, they failed to give due consideration to the esoteric aspect of the quran and the enormous literature on the sayings. On the origin of the word of sufi, and its adoption, there are many different. Brahminism vs buddhismjainism vs devotional paths bhakitsm, sufism, and sikhism brahminism based on castesystem was prominent during the medieval period.
First, there was no one uniformly accepted, transregional metanarrative about sufism and sufis in the premodern and modern muslim world. Further, sufis believe they are practicing the highest form of worship or devotion. It was different in color and character from classical islam up to the destruction of baghdad in 1258, which was empirical, vibrant, extrovert. Islam a brief overview of the history of islam the origin of islam is placed around 610 ce when muhammad, a highly spiritual and religious man who spent months in praying and self contemplation in a secluded cave near the town of mecca, is thought to have received divine messages. Rather, it was inseparably and essentially present in the spirituality of islam. Sufism and islam cannot be separated in the same way that higher consciousness or awakening cannot be separated from islam. A sufi is a muslim who seeks annihilation of the ego in. Webb, sufism in america in americas alternative religions, ed. May 01, 2012 an introduction to the history, practices, and beliefs of sufi islam.
History of sufism sufism has been a prominent movement within islam throughout most of its history. Mar 02, 2020 academic introduction to the origins of sufism. Bridging the gulf between the islamic clerics and sufis, wali ullah infused new vigour in practice of naqshbandi sufi order. Sufism preaches no particular dogma, except the great truths that are the basis of all religious beliefs. Sufism and islam in africa readings tbd november 16. Introduction 1 sources li origin and development of sufism. To attain this his first lesson is unshakable belief in the existence of god and unconditional surrender to his will.
Givenits long history and its rich geographical and cultural diversity, any single portrait of islam would necessarily be incomplete. Introduction 1 sources li origin and development of. The traditional view is that sufism is the mystical school of islam and had its beginnings in the first centuries following the life of the prophet mohammad. There is no sufism without islam because sufism is the spirituality or mysticism of. Despite these general stages, however, the history of islamic mysticism is largely a history of individual mystic experience.
An ideal introduction to sufism, requiring no background knowledge of islamic history or thought. Tasawwuf sufism and quantum physics history of islam. Since their beginnings in the ninth century, the shrines, brotherhoods and doctrines of the sufis held vast influence in almost every corner of the muslim world. Some say it first came from constantly reciting the quran, meditating, and through experience. A brief history, second edition wiley desktop editions.
History of sufism follows a long period of evolution since the time of the prophet. A pathbreaking history of sufism, from the earliest centuries of islam to the present after centuries as the most important asceticmystical strand of islam, sufism saw a sharp decline in the twentieth century, only to experience a stunning revival in recent decades. It is the timeless art of awakening by means of submission. A pathbreaking history of sufism, from the earliest centuries of islam to the present. Sahabi companion was the only title given to the muslims of that period. Sufism is not divided into sects, but into paths or tariqas. Sufism has been a prominent movement within islam throughout most of its history. He synthesised the disciplines of the three major sufi orders namely qadari, chisti and naqshbandi with a view to unite the muslim society against the hindus. The teaching, practice, and political role of sufism in dushanbe. Tasawwuf commonly known as sufism and quantum theory have several things in common. Shaykhul islam dr muhammad tahirulqadri recommended for you. The first stage of sufism appeared in pious circles as a reaction against the worldliness of the early umayyad period 661749.
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