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History of Sufism

There are three ways to experience a flame. One may be told about the flame, one may observe the flame with their own eyes, and one may reach out to touch the flame and be burned. The Sufi wishes to be burned by God. History of Sufism. Basic Beliefs Basic History Notable Sufis

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History of Sufism

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  1. There are three ways to experience a flame. One may be told about the flame, one may observe the flame with their own eyes, and one may reach out to touch the flame and be burned. The Sufi wishes to be burned by God.

  2. History of Sufism • Basic Beliefs • Basic History • Notable Sufis • Sufis in India • Sufi Practices & Philosophy

  3. Basic Beliefs • Communication w/god via asceticism • Divine love, union w/god, spiritual guide • Expanding the mystic ideas of the Quran • Duality vs. divine unity/single reality (Tawheed)

  4. History of Sufism • Began in 8th century • No single founder • AKA Sofiti, Tasawuuf, Sufigari, Irfan • Tariqas • 1000 CE – Sufi Literature • 1200-1500 CE – “Golden Age”

  5. Notable Sufis • Ali ibn Abi Talib (599-661) • Hasan al-Basri (642-737) • Rabia al-Adawiyya (717-801) • Bayazid Bastami (804-847) • Rumi (1207-1273)

  6. Sufis in India • 4 Orders • Chistiyya • From Afghanistan in 1195 • Absorbed ideas from Hindu Bhaktis • Naqshabandiyya • From Turkistan abt. 1370 • Rigid adherence to Shariah • Qadiriyya • Popular in South India • Suharabardiyya • From Multan • Popular in Bengal

  7. Sufi Practices • Dhikr/Zikr: maintaining awareness of God • Repetition of divine names, sections of the Quran • Dhikr beads (tasbih) – usually 100 beads • Hadrah – ritualized Dhikr ceremony • Sema: ceremonies involving prayer, song, dance • “Whirling dervishes” • Mevlevi Sufi tradition

  8. Sufi Practices (cont’d) • Muraqaba: meditation • Gnosis of Self • Ghanood, Adraak, Warood • Gnosis of Universe • Kashaf, Shahood, Fatah • Gnosis of the Creator • Fanaa, Sair Illallah, Fana Fillah • Baqaa Billah

  9. Sufi Philosophy • Ihsan – responsibility to obtain perfection in worship • Lataif-e-Sitta – faculties of sensory/supersensory perception • Noor – light. Binds being to knowledge • Maqaam – developmental level • Haal – elevated state of consciousness

  10. References • Denny, Frederick M. An Introduction to Islam. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, Inc., 1994. • www.answers.com/topic/history-of-sufism • www.britannica.com • www.meta_religion.com/world_religions/sufism/practical_sufism.htm • www.saag.org • www.wikipedia.com

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