Sufism is less an islamic sect than a mystical way of approaching the islamic faith. Elif shafak goodreads author shelved 60 times as sufism. Piety, politics, and popular culture is a mustread for students, researchers, and those with an expertise in religious studies, islam, and sufism and is highly recommended for the general readership as well. Sufism is the inner spiritual dimension within islam. Listen to thousands of best sellers and new releases on your iphone, ipad, or android.
This first part defines sufism, mentions its origins and how it differs from islam in the concept of belief in god, belief in the prophet muhammad may the blessing and mercy of god be upon him and belief in heaven and hell. Indeed this prophecy has come true with the prevalence of sects and deviant beliefs within the religion of islam. The moral dimensions of sufism and the iberian mystical canon. Sufism simply means a love affair with god, with the ultimate, a love affair with the whole. Conforming to the outer form of religion is important for sufis. If it was mere learning, one could acquire it by studying. Despite the long and wellknown history of conflict between christians and muslims, their mystical traditions especially. This deeper identity, beyond the already known personality, is in harmony with all that exists. Sufism and the christian east is an informed and informative study of the common threads and traits shared between the traditions of the christian east and islamic sufism.
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. We are currently offering free shipping on all domestic orders to customers in the united states. Type some details of the book like a title, author or keywords. Transcending the mere religion wars, he outlines a system of ethics for our shared world, one that gives full respect to religion. Dec 08, 2007 sufi practices have their foundation in purity of life, strict obedience to islamic law and imitation of the prophet. To be a true human being, free from all bondage and honest with the almighty is being a sufi. Sep 08, 2009 nonmuslims often mistake sufism as a sect of islam. Cutsinger professor of theology and religious thought, university of south carolina, paths to the heart. In recent years, many historians of islamic mysticism have been grappling in sophisticated ways with the difficulties of. Sufism evokes considerable interest amongst people mainly because of the mysticism associated with it and also because not much is known about the secrets.
Christian mysticism is also not a religion, it is an approach to religion. Read by david ault perhaps the best introduction to the body of shahs work, the most comprehensively informative. He explains that any person whose heart is attuned to the divine presence is a sufi, because sufism means purifying oneself and ones mind from preconceived ideas. The essence of sufism by john baldock book read online scribd. Sufism is the religion of the heart, the religion in which the most important thing is to seek god in the heart of mankind. The book is beyond islam, beyond sufism to knowledge of heart purification and. Sufism evokes considerable interest amongst people mainly because of the mysticism associated with it and also because not much is known about the secrets of. Difference between islam and sufism difference between. Hidayat defines the word sufi as wisdom and purity. Read sufism and society arrangements of the mystical in the muslim world, 12001800 by available from rakuten kobo. Through selfdenial, careful introspection and mental struggle, sufis hope to purify the self from all selfishness, thus attaining ikhlas, absolute purity of intention and act. Excerpted from the knowing heart, a sufi path of transformation is it possible for humanity, or even a portion of it, to embrace a truly universal spirituality. Sufism, on the other hand is spiritual dimension of godman union.
Parallels between sufism and christianity the path of the. Read unlimited books and audiobooks on the web, ipad, iphone and. In the 20th century, thomas merton, one of christianitys great mystics, encountered the ancient eastern mystical tradition known as sufism. Sufism is the mystical dimension of the islamic faith. As an inner school it is dedicated to nurturing mystical awakening in individuals. The book is oriented around islam, but has meaning for all religions and particularly for those individuals who are looking for a spiritual approach to life beyond the external. To attain this his first lesson is unshakable belief in the existence of god and unconditional surrender to his will. This article focuses on how sufis, carmelites and other mystical authors expressed.
The wisdom of the sufis audiobook by hidayat inayatkhan. While sufism is said to have incorporated elements of christian monasticism, gnosticism, and indian mysticism, its origins are traced to forms of devotion and groups of penitents zuhhad in the formative period of islam. Sufism is a way of life in which a deeper identity is discovered and lived. The forty rules of love by elif shafak, the conference of the birds by attar of nishapur, the essential rumi by rumi, the sufis.
The result was an outpouring of mystical insight and spiritual wisdom. Tasawwuf sufism is neither a religion nor a philosophy. This produced a moral ethos, an expected standard of conduct that was part of both religious systems but tried to reach beyond them. Islam once gave birth to a great civilization that respected religious diversity, freedom. The life of a sufi is the life of the spirit regulated strictly in accordance with islamic theology and traditions. The sufi way is contemporary expression of a perennial spiritual path. With muslim mysticism we see the climax of the development of religious life and teaching in islam. Sufism is more accurately described as an aspect or dimension of islam. In his new audiobook, renowned spiritual teacher and sufi sheikh kabir. Of their seven children only their daughter fatimah survived beyond childhood. Here is an excerpt taken from one of their descriptions of. If so, what would a universal spirituality be based on. Jun 22, 2007 sufism is not a religion, it is the diverse mystic tradition within islam. List of books and articles about sufism online research.
This is a universal code of ethics that transcends religion boundaries, that recognizes our common humanity and advocates for a global human community based on understanding and mutual respect. This deeper identity, or essential self, has abilities of awareness, action, creativity and love that are far beyond. Muslims pray five times a day facing the city of makkah. Osho is a spiritual master and awakened being, he has an explanation for everything. Jan 04, 2011 parallels between sufism and christianity during his life, the prophet muhammad pbuh prophesized that islam will be divided into sects just as judaism and christianity did before it. Sufism is popular in such african countries as egypt, tunisia, algeria, morocco, and senegal, where it is seen as a mystical expression of islam. Osho clarifies the sufi approach to religiosity, which is to become part of the mystery of existence by living meditatively, being total and transcending experience itself. 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. It is claimed that the idea of sufism has been expressed by hindu and christian hermits and later influenced islam. Inside every mosque is a niche, or recess, called the mihrab a vertical rectangle curved at the top that points toward the direction of makkah.
May 10, 2011 12 a very fine introduction to the history, essential devotional forms, and poetry of the various cultures of mystical islam, this book should lead to further study of sufi philosophy and metaphysics, the particular exercises or specific practices and approaches in dhikr, and the various states toward religious union and other deep experiences. The book is beyond islam, beyond sufism to knowledge of heart purification and interior selftransformation that kabir helminski calls universal applied spirituality. An introduction to the mystical tradition of islam. Sufism holds a doctrine of god which is extremely lofty. The mysticism of islam is known as sufism, a name said to be derived from the arabic word suf which means wool, referring to the woolen mantles worn by the sufis. Tradition, however, must be conceived in a vital and dynamic sense. Moving beyond the description of doctrine, this book places sufism in its social, cultural and historical contexts.
In this thoughtprovoking new book, he argues that religion is not a necessity for pursuing a spiritual life. Sufism and the christian east sufism and the christian east by james s. If you are in doubt to purchase this audiobook listen to osho on youtube, there a numerous videos on his discourses. In this remarkable dialogue between hidayat inayatkhan and deepak chopra, m. Popular sufism books showing 150 of 1,331 the forty rules of love hardcover by. A brief look at how sufism differs and contradicts the teachings of islam. I find is voice sooting to listen to and he gives a comprehensive introduction to sufism a topic i knew nothing about before. Sufis, therefore, lay stress on the unity of inner teachings of all religions rather than on their outer form. Sufism is less a doctrine or a belief system than an experience and way of life. Sufism beyond religion email sufism evokes considerable interest amongst people mainly because of the mysticism associated with it and also because not much is known about the secrets of their knowledge. Insight into life is the real religion, which alone can help man to understand life. The bahai faith is a religion, which has a strong mystic element. A decade later, his holiness enters the contemporary debate about religion vs atheism and returns to the theme of ethics with a major new work. It has been defined as mystical islamic belief and practice in which muslims seek to find the truth of divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of god.
Collected books and discourses of the masters of the most distinguished naqshbandi way. Plus, youll get an additional audiobook per month after trial. Beyond religion is an essential statement from the dalai lama, a blueprint for all those who yearn for a life fulfilled and a better world. Some scholars on religion and spirituality believe sufism is a mystical concept that predates history, long before organised religion came in to existence. Sufism and society ebook by 97816659041 rakuten kobo.
Sufism is traditional in morocco, but has seen a growing revival with the renewal of sufism under contemporary spiritual teachers such as hamza al qadiri al boutchichi. However you can still research sufism, and while the spiritual practices are focused on dhikr of allah and creating a spiritual connection with allah. These secret instructions are acted upon by a disciple with perfect faith in the teacher. It is a tradition of enlightenment that carries the essential truth forward through time. Now, in beyond religion, the dalai lama, at his most compassionate and outspoken, elaborates and deepens his vision for the nonreligious way. Since the emergence of sufism in the ninth century, the shrines, brotherhoods and doctrines of the sufis have held vast influence in almost every corner of the muslim world.
The book, sufism beyond religion is an attempt to distinguish between spirituality and religion, not by compring the two, but by describing how one could. Sufism beyond religion the sufis look into the heart of a sufi, if you want to see the reality, you would find there nothing but, the true reflection of the almighty. There are three ways of seeking god in the human heart. Sufis teach that sufism may be practiced with any religion it is the heart of religion. Sufism cherishes the esoteric secret of woman, even though sufism is the esoteric aspect of a seemingly patriarchal religion. Beyond religion audiobook his holiness the dalai lama audible. Beyond religion audiobook by his holiness the dalai lama. Islamic mystics are called sufis and their way of life is sufism also spelled. This contemplative process depends upon the simultaneous nurturing of psychological health, openheartedness, and caring action. Spiritual dialogue went beyond the chronological and geographical. Whenever a religion is alive it is because of sufism. His holiness the dalai lama speaks on universal values to students at salwan public school in new delhi, india on november 18, 2017. Sufi orders tariqas can be found in sunni, shia and other islamic.