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The following selection was posted by: IRWINL@cofc.edu
To: gnosis@netcom.com
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 1994 14:24:25 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Sufi Mystica
SUFI TRADITIONS
by
Zos Imos
The following is a brief summary or basic overview of Sufism as i understand it, through study, practice and experience. It is presented in outline form to facillitate easy reading and review. Written by request, i try to address only the most basic and fundamental issues. Like all summaries, it is inadequate and only introductory. Real learning comes through direct experience and reading is not a substitute for real knowledge of the heart. May this document be a source of good for others and may no injury or harm be wrought by it's insufficiency or lack. Questions may be addressed to Zos at (Irwinl@ashley.cofc.edu).
I.TARIQAH...in Islam, the "spiritual path," also Tasawwuf "Sufism" or
"esotericism" ...possibly from suf = "wool" or safa' = "purity"; also
refers to "method" or "inner beliefs"
A. "SUFI"...a follower of the mystical path, those who seek experience
of the tawhid...the term applies only to the most advanced
practitioners
1. Various stages, according to development of the individual:
Aspirant: who wants to be initiated, but who may have to wait
years to be accepted by spiritual teacher
Mutasawwif: "novice" (murid) or one who "wills" to follow a
spiritual teacher; also called Faqir "poor one" or world
renouncing, or Darwish (Pers.)
Salik: "wandered" who may follow many different teachers seeking
goal, many different states or "level"
'Arif: "knower" or "gnostic" who has actually experienced the
reality of the Tawhid
Shaykh/Murshid: spiritual guide, teacher and example; those whose
presence is an inpsiration to spiritualk development,
matuirty and illumination
Wali: "saint" who possesses a direct experience of the reality
of God demonstrated through extraordinary spiritual
knowledge or mircales becomes spiritual guide (Shaykh)
Al-Insan al-Kamil "perfect man" who is the great spiritual teacher
of the age, called qutb or "pole" (Ahmad al-Alawi,
d.1934)
B. SOURCE...the holy Qur'an and the Hadiths or "sayings" of Muhammud
as the first "sufi"...term not developed until c.850 CE
1. QUR'AN...Sufis emphasize *ta'wi*l or allegoric or symbolic
interpretations, but do not deny *tafsir* or literal meanings
Every passage of Qur'an believed to have both outer
(zahir) and an inner (batin) or inner, hidden meaning
Ayat "verses" of Qur'an but also means "signs" which are
the manifestations of nature and all created reality,
everything is a "sign" of the reality of God
"We are nearer to him than his juggular vein."
(Qur'an 50:16)
"To God belongs the East and the West: wherever you
turn, there is the Face of Allah; Allah is All
-Embracing, All-Knowing." (Qur'an 2:115)
*Wajh Allah*: "Face of God" is an allusion (*isharah*)
referring to the essence and attributes, invisible and
eternal
Emphasis on *Dhikr* "remembering" or "mentioning" God,
who has 99 Names..."Mention God often" (Qur'an 3:41)
2. Sunna/Hadith...Sufism begins with the "people of the bench"
(ahl as-suffa), poor who practiced asceticism, or zuhd
(sg. zahid, pl. zuhhad); and lived at Mosque in Medina during
the life of Muhammud
Emphasize Hadith Qudsi "divine sayings" or God speaking
through Muhammud:
"I was a hidden treasure, and I desired to be known;
therefore I created the creation in order that I might
be known." [Immanance]
"My earth and My heaven contain Me not, but the heart of
the faithful servant contains Me." [Transcendence]
"Consult your heart and you will hear the secret
ordinance of Allah proclaimed by the heart's inward
knowledge, which is true faith and divinity."
"I am with My servant whenever he remembers Me and his
lips move [remembering]."
Muhammud's Night Journey (mi'raj): archetypal example
of the "journey to God" through seven heavens to the
Throne (17:11)
C. SUFI HISTORY...begins with Muhammud, Abu Bakr, Umar and 'Ali (not
Uthman)...especially the practice of asceticism (zuhd) and spiritual
poverty (faqr), leading to knowledge
1. Early Period...Hasan al-Basri (d.728), famous theologian and
preacher, early saintly figure in Islam, emphasized total
dedication of life to God, not philosophical doctrine (Basr)
-SAHW "Sober" school in complete accordance with Sunni
Islam; first follow the Shari'ah, then follow Tariqah;
emphasis on "spiritual behavior/actions" or "asceticism"
(Zuhd)
Example: Rabi'a al-'Adawiya (d.801), most famous woman
saint in Islam (Basr), emotionally centered, away from
legalism, never married
Rabi'a emphasized the importance of Mahabbah or
"selfless love" and devotion to God; "neither for the
reward of Paradise nor from fear of Hell, for only God
can fulfill the longing of the soul for union"
Goal of ecstatic love, union of the lover (soul) with
the Beloved (God)
Example: Al-Junayd (d.910) most famous sober Sufi,
respected teacher and Shaykh, developed concept of
spiritual "path" both ethical and philosophical
Emphasize the imporatnce of Mar'ifah or "selfless
knowledge" or gnosis, mystical, intellectual approach
(theosophical)
Goal of Fana' "extinction" or "annihilation" in God,
"Whatever exists is perishing (fanin), except His Face."
(Qur'an 55:27)...not ittihad "union" (that is shirk,
or "association, attributing to God something other)
-SUKR "Intoxication" of Fana'school, new life in God
is one of ecstatic union, joy and wonder
Example: Al-Hallaj (d.922) most famous Sufi martyr, was
imprisoned for nine years and then, after having hands
and feet cut off, executed
Emphasized "oneness" with God, wrote Ana al-Haqq, "I am
Truth/Reality", also claimed to have miraculous powers
Christic (both persecuted)
Intoxicated by Divine Presence, no distinction between
individual and God, give utterance to questionable
statement (shirk, "association": There is only God or
Truth, no second...mystical union is heretical)
Practiced *shathiyat* "mystical utterance" said while in
ecstatic state, non-orthodox
-Malamatiyya...those who "draw blame" or delibrately
draw the contempt of others while preserving purity of
heart, those who do not care if other Muslim accept
their faith or actions as legitimate
This can lead to exaggeration and excess and gave bad
reputation to other Sufis, drew distain from other
orthodox Muslims
2. SUFI ORDERS...many different orders, or "brotherhoods" (turuq,
sg. ta'ifa "association or order"); three types: "alive" active
"master"; "sleeping" no current "master"; or "dead" n extinct, no
followers
Shaykh (Pir in Persian), each order takes name from a
"master," "teacher" or "healer" part of *silsala*, or
"chain" of traditional teacher-student realtionships
Imam tradition of the Shi'ite also has mystical
tradition, emphasis on "Man of Light" (Light of
Muhammud)...Sixth Imam, major Sufi influence
Zawwiya...meditation and prayer center for collective
practice of spiritual disciplines (also Kanaqah, Per.)
Uwaysi or one who obtains illumination without being a
member of follower of a spiritual teacher
Majdhub "attracted" spontaneously, but also "crazed",
by powerful religious visions (God Intoxicated)
One of the earliest Sufi Order was founded by Abd
al-Qadir al-Jilani (d.1166), student of Hanbali fiqh in
Baghdad (sober), prominent in India and North Africa
Suhrawardiya...al-Suhrawardi (d.1234), India/Bengal
Shadhiliya...al-Shadhili (d.1258), North Africa, Egypt,
Arabia
Mawlawiya...Jalal al-Din al-Rumi (d.1273), in Konya,
Turkey..."whirling dervishes"
Ibn 'Arabi (d. 1240) great master of Sufism, wrote
many works on mystical journey, cosmology, symbolism,
etc...over 500 works, only 3-4 translated into English
Sufism preserved Islam during the collapse of Abbasid
(Mongols) and assisted social integration during modern
period, as spiritual base for soical transformation
D. SUFI METHOD...the Shari'ah is the "outer/external" (zahir)
requirements that all must follow; those seeking greater fulfillment
take on additional practices, not required but recommended
1. Has Orthodoxy basis...followers expected to "kiss the threshold
of the law", and fulfill all legal requirements of Islam, then
find a spiritual teacher and undertake additional individual
and communal disciplines
Disagreements...some teachers have said that only
necessary to fulfill the minimul requirements, others
emphasize greater involvement in orthodox practices
Sharia'ah (Law) is not final authority on spiritual
issues, the Shaykh has knowledge suitable to disposition
of the Faqir (Seeker)
Must seek out apporpriate teacher who may reject until
convinced of sincerity, period of probation may last
years
Teaching is private and often secret, many not
understand teachings
2. Method...a devotional path of progressive development or
"unveiling of the heart" or discovering the "thrones of
compassion" dwelling in every soul
Both negative and postive, disciple must go through
negative experience to realize the falsehood of his
views
Observe the basic tenets of the Shari'ah, renounce
worldly (unworthy) goals
Intense practice of self-examination and spiritual
disciplines given by Shaykh to identify "weaknesses"
(and then strengthen)
Ikhlas "absolute sincerity" is critical, seeker must
believe in the inner truths of the path
Positive and negative experiences, reveal limitations
and potential of novice
Results in true knowledge of the Tawhid or Haqiqah
"Truth" (Name of God)
3. Stages...form hierarchy "stations" (maqam, pl. maqamat) and
"states" (hal, pl. ahwal)...seven most common...station
permanent, state is "gift" of God to novice
Emphasis on Ihsan or "spiritual virtues" usually start
with "repentance" (tawbat) and "renunciation" (zuhd)
Initiate must be as "a corpse in the hands of the
embalmer"...complete submission to Shaykh
Bay'ah...initiatic grace given by the Shaykh to the
Faqir, *barakah* passed on from teacher to initiate
Recieves khirqa "cloak", usually patched garment
representing renunciation of worldly value (dark blue,
green highest)...cloak is shroud, room--a tomb
Fourty days of retreat, entirely alone in meditation
room with only mat; not until judged ready by Shaykh
Shaykh interpretes all dreams and visions, emphasis on
fasting and not sleeping, to draw the *nafs* "soul" away
from world; spend nights in prayer...fast every other
day
Must complete all the requirements of each station
before going on to next, cannot "skip" any stages,
"states" (visionary experiences) come and go
spontaneously
Repentance, trust in God, poverty, patience, gratitude,
love, and "knowledge"...complete surrender (Muslim), or
*tawakkul* "trust", only God
Dhikr..."rememberance" or repetition of the names of God
(formulaic prayer/chant), which contain al-Ruh spiritual
power (as does the entire Qur'an)
"Remember Me and I will remember thee." (Qur'an 2:152),
to overcome forgetfulness (ghaflah) or "illusion" (wahm)
to realize the Unity of Allah (tawhid)
Three types of repetition, daily after at least two
of the five required prayers, a) 33 repetitions of
Subhan Allah (Glory to God), b) al-hamdu l'illah (Praise
be to God), and c) Allahu akbar (God is great)..."said
from the heart"
Tasbih (subha) "rosary" used as prayer beads used to
count repetitions (33 or 99 for Names)...true *dhikr*
leads to *Mushahada*, silent contemplation
Recited "alone" under supervision of Shaykh, with breath
control while (silent); or "communally" under
supervision of Shaykh, with singing or movements
Sama' "audition/hearing"...musical recitations (mystical
poetry, Qur'an, music) which leads to *wajd*
"trance"
Must resist the affects of trance--tears, tearing of
clothes, cries, fainting...intense love of God, divine
Presence. leads higher and higher if controlled
Haqiqah or Truth...the Goal, a mystical experience,
called dhawq "tasting" the immediate reality of God
(al-Ghazali)
Removal of wahm "opinion" "conjecture" "illusion" or the
veil of ignorance...attain the "vision of the heart"
(ru'yat al-qalb), direct spiritual intuition
Acquire an-nafs al-mutma'inna "soul at peace" with God
almost all Muslim Saints have belonged to Sufi orders,
primary source of spiritual renewal
Millions of Muslims have participated in Sufi orders,
hundreds of thousands active today, presently about 70
Orders
Last Updated: March 30, 1996
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