Sufism
Sufism is derived from the word “Suf” meaning wool. This relates to the dressing attire of the sufis, which is plain and simple. Sufism originated either in Iran or India or in a region there about, with an approach different from traditional Islam, with more focus on the inner world.
However, traditionalist don’t consider Sufism as part of Islam. It is true to an extent that Sufism, is not bound by any single religion. It allows worship of Allah/God in whichever way one deems appropriate. It can even involve music, dance as a medium of worship, deemed inappropriate by traditional Islam. It has elements of other religions like Hinduism, etc.
Sufis are associated with one or the other sufi order, which has a master who come through a chain of masters in the lineage of Prophet Mohammad, through Ali. One of the best medium of promotion is through sufi music and qawwali. They begin with the praise of Allah, Mohammad, Ali and his family. Then with a praise for a sufi master. This is followed by ghazals which are either devotional or love songs.
Sufism promotes love for mankind through its music and there are various gharanas. A recent news item from Yahoo! News talks about the struggle to keep old gharanas alive. Further details are available on wikipedia.
I learnt about this back when I was in school. It was part of the “religious studies” course, which was compulsory. I remember that in my exams I had to write an essay on Rabbia.
abolishtoronto
April 4, 2009 at 10:18 am
“Sufism originated either in Iran or India or in a region there about, with an approach different from traditional Islam, with more focus on the inner world.”
It did not originate in Iran or India. In fact, it did not formally originate from any particular place. Rather, it developed from a tendancy for asceticism of the zuhhad of Islam around the early 8th century who were in large part against the lavish lifestyle of the Muslims Ummah as a result of their successful military conquests, . Only later on, in Baghdad around the time of Hallaj and Junayd, did it receive a formal identity. And it isn’t an approach different from traditional Islam; that is because traditional Islam, i.e. the Islam people generally praciticed prior to modern times (colonialism), is sufism.
“However, traditionalist don’t consider Sufism as part of Islam.”
Who are these “traditionalists’É. The opinion of the majority of scholars is that it is, in fact, an integral part of Islam.
“It is true to an extent that Sufism, is not bound by any single religion.”
Sufims is bound by the framework of the Islamic tradition.
“It allows worship of Allah/God in whichever way one deems appropriate.”
No it does not. ‘California Sufism’ allows such a thing, but not traditional authentic Sufism as rooted in Islam.
Mashsha'i
December 30, 2010 at 10:33 pm