Introduction to Islam 4. Sufism, the Mystical Dimension of Islam EAPI, Manila

1. Introduction to Islam 4. Sufism, the Mystical Dimension of Islam EAPI, Manila 31 October - 4 November 2005

2. Sufism is not: a religion separate from Islam, a sect, a parallel path opposed to the shari’a. Sufism is: the Islamic movement to lead the believer to a union of love with God, an expression of interior jihad, a practical program of spiritual development so that Muslims can live united with God in their daily lives.

3. The word means “effort”, “struggle”. Premise: It is not easy to live in accord with God’s will. It takes effort, sacrifice, deep motivation to allow God to govern one’s life. Jihad

4. Aspects of jihad Scholars distinguish 3 types of jihad: 1) The “greatest struggle”: to live every aspect of one’s life in conformity with God’s will. 2) The struggle to live as persons of faith in modern societies. 3) The struggle to oppose injustice/oppression. When possible, this should be done without violence. When necessary, force and military action can be employed. This aspect - rare in real life and history – is the basis for the notion that there is “holy war” in Islam.

5. Sufism: an expression of al-jihad al-akbar, “the greatest struggle,” a lifelong effort to submit every aspect of one’s life to God’s will.Sufism represents the spirituality of Islam, the process of interiorizing Islamic teachings to shape one’s behavior and activities.

6. Historical development of Sufism • Origins in the first Islamic century • Reaction against power, riches, corruption, political struggles etc. that emerged with worldly success • The first ascetics (centered in Madina) • Ali ibn Abi Talib, idealist, honest, upright • Hasan al-Basri, critic of rulers

7. Ali ibn Abi TalibThe first model of holiness

8. The term Sufi: where does it come from? • Tasawwuf (Arabic) = Sufism (English) • Suf (wool) • Ahlussaffa (“people of the bench”) • Safa’ (purity) • Sufi = one who practices the Sufi way • Murid (seeker) • Shaykh, pir, ishan, guru, kiai, marabout (spiritual director) • Zawiya, khanaqah, ribat = the Sufi convent • Ribat = a fortified convent

9. The Abbâdan community • Abbâdan, a small island in the Persian Gulf • 9th century, mystics retired there to live in faithfulness to God • They formed a community, praying together • They interpreted Islam as a path leading to a union of love with God • God is the Lover (Habib), the Beloved (Mahbub) • Goal of human life: love God for God’s own sake

10. Rabi’a bint Adawiyya “O my God, All the good things you have prepared for me on this earth, Give them to Your enemies. And everything you have prepared for me in the other world Give them to Your friends, Because You are enough for me. My God, If I worship You out of fear of Hell, Burn me in Hell. And if I worship You out of hope of Paradise, Keep me out of Paradise. But if I worship You solely for Yourself, Do not deprive me of Your eternal beauty.”

11. Two Sufi currents • Baghdadi (Junayd) “sober”: quiet, moderate, rational, stresses the importance of following the regulations of the shari’a, urban-based, educated classes • Khorasani (Abu Yazid Bistami) “drunken”: ecstatic, emotional, tendency to reject the Law, rural-based, ordinary people

12. The Sufi Orders (Tariqat ) • Since the 13th century, most Sufis belong to a Sufi Order. • Strong missionary impulse • The Sufis are mainly responsible for conversions to Islam in Asia and Africa. • They usually take the name of the founder (e.g., Naqshbandi, Qadiri, Mevlevi etc.)

13. The Sufi Path The Sufi path consists of a series of spiritual exercises. • Stations (maqamat): remove the obstacles to God’s grace • States (hal/ahwal): special graces given by God • Retreat, spiritual exercises 3/7/30 days Step by step, the murid arrives at the goal of life: union of love and will with God. Parallels the Purgative, Illuminative, and Unitive Ways described by Christian mystics.

14. The Stations (maqamat) Remove the obstacles to grace Prepare oneself to accept God’s favors Tawba (repentance, metanoia) Tawakkul (trust, God will guide) Sabr (patience) Fakr (poverty, the model is Isa/Jesus) Temperance, obedience, humility etc.

15. Under the guidance of his/her spiritual director, the murid passes from one station to the next, removing each obstacle to grace.The murid reaches the point where he/she realizes that it is not possible to go any farther by one’s own efforts.

16. The murid must wait patiently for the movement of God’s grace, the “states of soul” which God freely and generously grants.

17. The States (hal/ihwal) Graces freely given by God • Joy • Love • Fear of God • Hope • Qabd (the “dark night”) • Fana’: everything but God fades away • Baqa’: awareness of God remains • Al-Haqq: the goal, union of love and will with God

18. Al-Hallaj: martyr of love • Born in Iran in 858 • Profession: textile worker • Married man, children • Missionary in India • “Ana al-Haqq.” “I am the Truth.” • Spiritual interpretation of the pillars of Islam (make the pilgrimage to the Ka’ba of the heart) • Condemned for blasphemy, asked to be crucified in imitation of his model, Jesus • “O God, forgive them; they do me a great favor.”

19. Al-Ghazali: reconciliationof the Sufi path and the shari’a • After the death of Hallaj, tension between the mystics and the legal scholars • Al-Ghazali: professor of philosophy, theology • Rediscovered faith through Sufism • “Reviving the Religious Sciences” (Give new life to Islamic practice on the basis of immediate experience obtained in Sufi practice).

20. Dhikr (zikir) • “Remember God often” (Qur’an 33: 40) • Brief prayers repeated like a mantra, in silence, or accompanied by bodily movements, chants, hymns, dances leading to immediate awareness of God’s presence.

21. Each Sufi Order (tariqa) developed its characteristic form of dhikr. • La ilah ill’Allah : There is no god but God. • Allah : God! • Subhan Allah : Glory to God! • Al-hamdu li-llah : Praise God! • Allahu akbar : God is greatest!

22. Mevlevi Dhikr

24. Tasbih (the Islamic rosary) • The Islamic rosary has 99, 66, or 33 beads. • One way to pray the tasbih: • Repeat three short prayers 33 times each: Subhan Allah! “Glory be to God!” (33X) Al-hamdu li-llah! “Praise be to God” (33X) Allahu akbar! “God is great” (33X)

26. Tasbih with theBeautiful Names of God The Qur’an mentions 99 names of God, but Muslims agree there are many more. • Every name refers to one of God’s qualities • e.g., Al-Rahman, “The Merciful” refers to God’s mercy, Al-Aziz, “The Affectionate,” to God’s affection etc. On the tasbih, the Sufi repeats God’s names and reflects on God’s qualities.

27. Sufism in modern times • 1500-1800, almost all Muslims belonged to a Sufi Order (tarekat). • After 1800, Sufism came under criticism: • Wahhabis: “Sufis corrupted original Islam” • Arabia: Sufis killed, convents burned, practices forbidden • Modernists: “Sufis are obscurantist, decadent, medieval.” • Social Activists: Sufis are unworldly, pious.

28. Sufism today • In the Soviet Union, the Orders were the only institutions the State could not infiltrate. • Today, Neo-Sufism inspires dynamic modern movements in Islam (e.g. Said Nursi, Gülen)

29. The Sufi poets • The Sufis have produced beautiful poetry in all Muslim languages. • The great poets are much loved, their poetry is still read, memorized, set to music. • Persian: Hafiz, Sa’di, Umar Khayyam, Attar • Turkish: Rumi (Mevlana), Yunus Emre • Arabic: Rabi’a, Dhu’l Nun, Ibn ‘Arabi • Malay: Hamzah Fansuri

30. Silence • This prayer is not a prayer, O Lord, • If my heart does not see You face to face. • My purpose in praying is to complain, • To confide in You the pain of being separated from You. • How can it be truly a prayer • When, while I am near to You in the mosque, • My heart is still in the bazaar? • Truly praying is being like the angels. • But I, I am still prey to the beasts and the demons. • The hypocrisy of my prayer arouses shame in me, • And I don’t dare to raise my eyes to You. Mevlana, Jalal al-Din Rumi