SUFISM

What Sufism is All About What Sufism is All About

SUFISM
WhatSufismisAllAbout WhatSufismisAllAbout
Resources Resources
KeyConceptsinthePracticeof
Sufism,
KeyConceptsinthePracticeof
Sufism,
(Vols.1&2)
http://www.thelightpublishing.com
htt // lif i f
(Vols.1&2)
http://www.thelightpublishing.com
htt // lif i f http://www.slife.info
http://www.fountainmagazine.com
The Letters 29th Letter by Said
http://www.slife.info
http://www.fountainmagazine.com
The Letters 29th Letter by Said TheLetters ,29thLetterbySaid
Nursi.
EssentialSufismbyFadiman&
F
TheLetters ,29thLetterbySaid
Nursi.
EssentialSufismbyFadiman&
FFrager.
Heart,SelfandSoulbyFrager.
The Knowing Heart by Helminski
Frager.
Heart,SelfandSoulbyFrager.
The Knowing Heart by Helminski TheKnowingHeart byHelminski.
TheAlchemyofHappinessbyal
Ghazali.
TheKnowingHeart byHelminski.
TheAlchemyofHappinessbyal
Ghazali.
2
Outline Outline
OriginsofSufism.
D fi iti f S fi
OriginsofSufism.
D fi iti f S fi DefinitionofSufism
KeyConceptsandPrinciples
Mevlevi Sufi Video
DefinitionofSufism
KeyConceptsandPrinciples
Mevlevi Sufi Video Mevlevi Sufi Video
TheSufiPath
PracticesofSufism
Mevlevi Sufi Video
TheSufiPath
PracticesofSufism
GroupDhikr Video
Conclusion
i & i i
GroupDhikr Video
Conclusion
i & i i Questions&Discussion Questions&Discussion
3
DefinitionofSufism(1) DefinitionofSufism(1) ( ) ( )
Theoretically,Sufismis Theoretically,Sufismis y,
thepathfollowedby
S fi h h
y,
thepathfollowedby
S fi h h Sufistoreachthe
Truth God.
Sufistoreachthe
Truth God. Truth God.
Practicallyitisreferred
Truth God.
Practicallyitisreferred
toasbeingadervish. toasbeingadervish.
4
DefinitionofSufism(2) DefinitionofSufism(2) ( ) ( )
Thepathfollowedbyanindividual
h h i b bl f lf
Thepathfollowedbyanindividual
h h i b bl f lf who,havingbeenabletofreeoneself
fromhumanvicesandweaknessesin
order to acquire angelic qualities and
who,havingbeenabletofreeoneself
fromhumanvicesandweaknessesin
order to acquire angelic qualities and ordertoacquireangelicqualitiesand
conductpleasingtoGod,livesin
accordancewiththerequirementsof
ordertoacquireangelicqualitiesand
conductpleasingtoGod,livesin
accordancewiththerequirementsof q
Godsknowledgeandlove,andinthe
resultingspiritualdelightthatensues.
q
Godsknowledgeandlove,andinthe
resultingspiritualdelightthatensues.
M.F.Gulen,KeyConceptsinthe
PracticeofSufism
M.F.Gulen,KeyConceptsinthe
PracticeofSufism
5
PossibleOriginsofthe PossibleOriginsofthe
TermSufi TermSufi
Suf: Wool: A traveler on the way to Suf: Wool: A traveler on the way to Suf:Wool:Atraveleronthewayto
thetruthwhowearsacoarse,woolen
cloakasasignofhumilityand
thi d h th
Suf:Wool:Atraveleronthewayto
thetruthwhowearsacoarse,woolen
cloakasasignofhumilityand
thi d h th nothingness,andwhorenouncesthe
worldasthesourceofviceandcarnal
desire.
nothingness,andwhorenouncesthe
worldasthesourceofviceandcarnal
desire.
Safa:Spiritualdelight
Safwat:Purity
S h Wi d
Safa:Spiritualdelight
Safwat:Purity
S h Wi d Sophos:Wisdom
(Historically/systematicallyincorrect)
Saf:Pure(grammaticallyincorrect)
Sophos:Wisdom
(Historically/systematicallyincorrect)
Saf:Pure(grammaticallyincorrect) (g y ) (g y )
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OriginsofSufism OriginsofSufism
Duringtheeraduringandafterthelast
Khalifas,Muslimscholarshavefocused
i i f h
Duringtheeraduringandafterthelast
Khalifas,Muslimscholarshavefocused
i i f h onpreservingvariousaspectsofthe
Islamictradition.
Prophetic tradition (Hadeeth and
onpreservingvariousaspectsofthe
Islamictradition.
Prophetic tradition (Hadeeth and Prophetictradition( Hadeeth and
Sunna)
Quranic sciences(Naskh,Inzal,
Tanzil Qiraat Taweel) Islamic Law
Prophetictradition( Hadeeth and
Sunna)
Quranic sciences(Naskh,Inzal,
Tanzil Qiraat Taweel) Islamic Law Tanzil , Qiraat , Ta weel )IslamicLaw
(Fikh)
Spiritualdimensionwaspreservedby
Tanzil , Qiraat , Ta weel )IslamicLaw
(Fikh)
Spiritualdimensionwaspreservedby
Sufis
Firsttobecalledasufi:AbuHashim al
Kufi (d 772 AD) second Islamic century
Sufis
Firsttobecalledasufi:AbuHashim al
Kufi (d 772 AD) second Islamic century Kufi (d.772AD) secondIslamiccentury
afterthegenerationoftheCompanions
Kufi (d.772AD) secondIslamiccentury
afterthegenerationoftheCompanions
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MajorReferences MajorReferences jj
RevivingtheReligiousSciences Al
Ghazali
RevivingtheReligiousSciences Al
Ghazali Ghazali
Theadvicesandobservationofrules
AlMuhasibi
Ghazali
Theadvicesandobservationofrules
AlMuhasibi
ADescriptionoftheWayofthePeople
ofSufism Kalabazi
The Gleams Al Tusi
ADescriptionoftheWayofthePeople
ofSufism Kalabazi
The Gleams Al Tusi TheGleams AlTusi
TheFoodofHearts AbuTalib al
Makki
TheGleams AlTusi
TheFoodofHearts AbuTalib al
Makki
TheTreatise AlQushayri TheTreatise AlQushayri
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FamousSufiMasters FamousSufiMasters
AlGhazali
Jami
AlGhazali
Jami
Amr ibn Uthman
alMakki
Amr ibn Uthman
alMakki
Bahauddin Nakshband
ImamRabbani
AbuSaid
H Sh li
Bahauddin Nakshband
ImamRabbani
AbuSaid
H Sh li
M.Jalaluddin Rumi
RabiaAdweyya
(woman)
Att
M.Jalaluddin Rumi
RabiaAdweyya
(woman)
Att Hasan Shazeli
Haci Bektas Veli
Ibn Arabi
Bayazidi Bistami
Hasan Shazeli
Haci Bektas Veli
Ibn Arabi
Bayazidi Bistami
Attar
AlSuhrawardi
Junayd alBaghdadi
Abu Muhammad
Attar
AlSuhrawardi
Junayd alBaghdadi
Abu Muhammad Bayazidi Bistami
Sadi
Nasafi
Sufyan alThawri
Bayazidi Bistami
Sadi
Nasafi
Sufyan alThawri
AbuMuhammad
Jarir
AbuMuhammad
Jarir
Sufyan al Thawri
Hujwiri
Qushayri
Shibli
Sufyan al Thawri
Hujwiri
Qushayri
Shibli
SelfannihilationinGod
J.Baghdadi
Always being together with God
9
Abulkadir Geylani Abulkadir Geylani
AlwaysbeingtogetherwithGod
Shibli
Mevlevi Sufi Order Mevlevi Sufi Order MevleviSufiOrder
WhirlingDervishes
MevleviSufiOrder
WhirlingDervishes
10
Sufismasan Sufismasan
OverloadedTerm OverloadedTerm
1 Original: Balanced emphasis on 1 Original: Balanced emphasis on 1. Original :Balancedemphasison
outerandinneraspectsofIslamic
worship.
2 d i h i
1. Original :Balancedemphasison
outerandinneraspectsofIslamic
worship.
2 d i h i 2. Modern:Heavieremphasison
spiritualside;possiblywithminor
deviationsfromprophetictraditionin
2. Modern:Heavieremphasison
spiritualside;possiblywithminor
deviationsfromprophetictraditionin
practice.
3. Radical:Seriousdeviationsfrom
prophetic tradition in beliefs and
practice.
3. Radical:Seriousdeviationsfrom
prophetic tradition in beliefs and prophetictraditioninbeliefsand
practice
4. Mystical:NonIslamicSufism.
prophetictraditioninbeliefsand
practice
4. Mystical:NonIslamicSufism.
11
MainCategoriesof MainCategoriesof
Sufis Sufis
Knowledgeoriented:Those
whostressknowledgeand
k t h th i
Knowledgeoriented:Those
whostressknowledgeand
k t h th i seektoreachtheir
destinationthroughthe
knowledge of God (marifa)
seektoreachtheir
destinationthroughthe
knowledge of God (marifa) knowledgeofGod(ma rifa)
Experienceoriented:Those
who follow the path of
knowledgeofGod(ma rifa)
Experienceoriented:Those
who follow the path of whofollowthepathof
yearning,spiritualecstasy,
and discovery (emotional or
whofollowthepathof
yearning,spiritualecstasy,
and discovery (emotional or anddiscovery(emotionalor
spiritualexperiences)
anddiscovery(emotionalor
spiritualexperiences)
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DifferenceswithMystic DifferenceswithMystic
Traditions Traditions
Sufis live their entire lives as a quest Sufis live their entire lives as a quest Sufislivetheirentirelivesasaquest
topurifytheirselvesviaInvocation
Regularworship
Sufislivetheirentirelivesasaquest
topurifytheirselvesviaInvocation
Regularworship
CompleteobediencetoGod
Selfcontrol
H ilit
CompleteobediencetoGod
Selfcontrol
H ilit Humility
Othertraditionsalsoseekself
purificationandstruggleagainst
Humility
Othertraditionsalsoseekself
purificationandstruggleagainst p gg g
carnaldesires,but
NoemphasisonbeliefinGodand
obedience to Him and worship
p gg g
carnaldesires,but
NoemphasisonbeliefinGodand
obedience to Him and worship obediencetoHimandworship
Principlesandpracticediffergreatly
obediencetoHimandworship
Principlesandpracticediffergreatly
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ASimpleDefinitionof ASimpleDefinitionof
Sufism Sufism
ItissimplythewaysdevelopedbySufisto
reachGod,acquireHislove,andthusto
f f
ItissimplythewaysdevelopedbySufisto
reachGod,acquireHislove,andthusto
f f purifyandtrainoneselfandbecomea
perfecthumanbeing,becomeatrue
human being.
purifyandtrainoneselfandbecomea
perfecthumanbeing,becomeatrue
human being. humanbeing.
AtransformationresultsinGodsdirecting
theindividualswillinaccordancewithHis
humanbeing.
AtransformationresultsinGodsdirecting
theindividualswillinaccordancewithHis
Will.
Acontinuousstriving*tocleanseonesself
f ll h b d d
Will.
Acontinuousstriving*tocleanseonesself
f ll h b d d ofallthatisbadinordertoacquirevirtue.
*Likeahoneybeeflyingfromthehivetoflowersandflowerstothehive
ofallthatisbadinordertoacquirevirtue.
*Likeahoneybeeflyingfromthehivetoflowersandflowerstothehive
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KeyConcepts& KeyConcepts&
Principles(1) Principles(1)
li i d i i d li i li i d i i d li i BelieveinGodsDivineOnenessandlivein
accordancewithitsdemands
Listen and obey the Divine Speech (the
BelieveinGodsDivineOnenessandlivein
accordancewithitsdemands
Listen and obey the Divine Speech (the ListenandobeytheDivineSpeech(the
Quran)
LoveeverythingbecauseofDivineLoveso
ListenandobeytheDivineSpeech(the
Quran)
LoveeverythingbecauseofDivineLoveso
Myeyessleep
but my heart
thattheuniverseisacradleofbrotherhood
Givepreferenceorprecedencetothewell
being and happiness of others
thattheuniverseisacradleofbrotherhood
Givepreferenceorprecedencetothewell
being and happiness of others
butmyheart
doesnot.
Hadeeth
beingandhappinessofothers
ActinaccordwithdemandsoftheDivineWill
notwithdemandsofoneswill
beingandhappinessofothers
ActinaccordwithdemandsoftheDivineWill
notwithdemandsofoneswill
Menare
asleep.They
wakeupwhen
Beopentolove Beopentolove
15
theydie.
Hz.Ali
KeyConcepts& KeyConcepts&
Principles(2) Principles(2)
i h i i h i d h h i h i i h i d h h Figureoutwhatisinheartsormindsthrough
facialexpressions,alsodetermineDivine
mysteriesthrougheverydayevents
Figureoutwhatisinheartsormindsthrough
facialexpressions,alsodetermineDivine
mysteriesthrougheverydayevents y g y y
Visitspiritualplacesandassociatewith
peoplewhoencouragestrivinginthewayof
God
y g y y
Visitspiritualplacesandassociatewith
peoplewhoencouragestrivinginthewayof
God God
Becontentwithpermittedpleasures
Struggle against worldly ambitions
God
Becontentwithpermittedpleasures
Struggle against worldly ambitions Struggleagainstworldlyambitions
Havepureintentionwitheveryact
Salvationispossibleonlythroughthesole
Struggleagainstworldlyambitions
Havepureintentionwitheveryact
Salvationispossibleonlythroughthesole
desiretopleaseGod desiretopleaseGod
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MajorVices MajorVices
S lf li id d S lf li id d Selfreliance,prideandarrogance
Selfishness
I
Selfreliance,prideandarrogance
Selfishness
I Ignorance
Hastinessandimpatience
G d
Ignorance
Hastinessandimpatience
G d Greed
Hypocrisy
L i
Greed
Hypocrisy
L i Laziness
Indulgenceincarnaldesires
Laziness
Indulgenceincarnaldesires
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MajorVirtues MajorVirtues
Humilityandsubmission
Recognition of ones needs and
Humilityandsubmission
Recognition of ones needs and Recognitionofone sneedsand
weaknesses
RecognitionandappreciationofGods
greatness
Recognitionofone sneedsand
weaknesses
RecognitionandappreciationofGods
greatness greatness
Contentment
Patience
greatness
Contentment
Patience
Devotion
Selfcontrol
Altruism
Devotion
Selfcontrol
Altruism Altruism
Sincerity
Wakefulness
Altruism
Sincerity
Wakefulness
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TheSufiPath TheSufiPath
Q:Howdoesoneachievethese
worthy goals?
Q:Howdoesoneachievethese
worthy goals? worthygoals?
A:Throughfollowingtheprinciples
and practices of the path of Sufism.
worthygoals?
A:Throughfollowingtheprinciples
and practices of the path of Sufism. andpracticesofthepathofSufism. andpracticesofthepathofSufism.
19
PracticesofSufism PracticesofSufism
(Inner&Outer) (Inner&Outer)
Learning and Reflection (Marifa & Learning and Reflection (Marifa & LearningandReflection( Ma rifa &
Tafakkur)
ObservingGodsobligationsand
hibi i ( )
LearningandReflection( Ma rifa &
Tafakkur)
ObservingGodsobligationsand
hibi i ( ) prohibitions(Taqwa)
Observingouterandinner
requirements of worship
prohibitions(Taqwa)
Observingouterandinner
requirements of worship requirementsofworship
Individualandgroupremembrance
(Dhikr)
i d b i i l
requirementsofworship
Individualandgroupremembrance
(Dhikr)
i d b i i l Austerityandabstinence:Eatingless,
sleepingless,talkingless
Thought and emotion control
Austerityandabstinence:Eatingless,
sleepingless,talkingless
Thought and emotion control Thoughtandemotioncontrol
Servicetohumanityandcreation
Thoughtandemotioncontrol
Servicetohumanityandcreation
20
OuterandInner OuterandInner
Dimensions Dimensions
Islamic worship, law and Islamic worship, law and Islamicworship,lawand
principlesofconduct
representstheOuter
Islamicworship,lawand
principlesofconduct
representstheOuter
dimension.
Whatconcernsthestatesof
dimension.
Whatconcernsthestatesof
theheartandtheself
representstheInner
di i
theheartandtheself
representstheInner
di i dimension.
Outerandinnerdimensions
I d h
dimension.
Outerandinnerdimensions
I d h arenotseparate.Insteadthey
complementeachother.
arenotseparate.Insteadthey
complementeachother.
21
PotentialRisksinthe PotentialRisksinthe
SufiPath SufiPath
Preferringsainthoodtoprophethood
(messengership).
Overvaluingtheparticularprinciplesofones
di i h i i l f h h i
Preferringsainthoodtoprophethood
(messengership).
Overvaluingtheparticularprinciplesofones
di i h i i l f h h i traditionovertheprinciplesoftheprophetic
tradition.
Confusinginspirationwithrevelation.
traditionovertheprinciplesoftheprophetic
tradition.
Confusinginspirationwithrevelation.
Preferringextraordinaryexperiencesto
worship.
Neglectinghumilityandsubmissionafter
hi i i i l h i h
Preferringextraordinaryexperiencesto
worship.
Neglectinghumilityandsubmissionafter
hi i i i l h i h reachingacertainspiritualheight.
Aimingtoreaprewardsofthehereafterinthis
world.
reachingacertainspiritualheight.
Aimingtoreaprewardsofthehereafterinthis
world.
22
Conclusion(1) Conclusion(1)
Themainpurposeofcreationisto
achievespiritualperfectionand
i l G d h h
Themainpurposeofcreationisto
achievespiritualperfectionand
i l G d h h gettingclosertoGodthrough
worship.
Tasawwuf or Sufism representing
gettingclosertoGodthrough
worship.
Tasawwuf or Sufism representing Tasawwuf orSufism,representing
thespirituallifeofHollyBooks,
focusesontheheartbycleaningit
f i d filli it ith
Tasawwuf orSufism,representing
thespirituallifeofHollyBooks,
focusesontheheartbycleaningit
f i d filli it ith fromvicesandfillingitwith
virtues.
There is more than what appears
fromvicesandfillingitwith
virtues.
There is more than what appears Thereismorethanwhatappears
onthesurface innerdimension
andmeaningofrituals.
Thereismorethanwhatappears
onthesurface innerdimension
andmeaningofrituals.
23
Conclusion(2) Conclusion(2)
M.Fethullah Gulen says,
The true practice of Islam or Sufism
M.Fethullah Gulen says,
The true practice of Islam or Sufism ThetruepracticeofIslamorSufism
showsusthatitisnotfaith,beliefand
religionwhichcausehatred,conflict
ThetruepracticeofIslamorSufism
showsusthatitisnotfaith,beliefand
religionwhichcausehatred,conflict g ,
andviolence,butthesinsofhatred
andgreedandothersymptomsofthe
g ,
andviolence,butthesinsofhatred
andgreedandothersymptomsofthe
unrestrainedego,anditshowsushow
thetruepracticeofreligion,the
purification of the heart is the remedy
unrestrainedego,anditshowsushow
thetruepracticeofreligion,the
purification of the heart is the remedy purificationoftheheart,istheremedy
forthese.
purificationoftheheart,istheremedy
forthese.
24