Sufism

A book titled 'In Search of the Divine: Living Histories of Sufism in India' was recently published.

What is Sufism?

Sufism is a mystical form of Islam, a school of thought that emphasizes the spiritual search for God while rejecting materialism.
It is a type of Islamic mysticism that emphasizes asceticism. There is a great deal of emphasis on devotion to God.
Self-discipline is regarded as a necessary condition in Sufism for gaining knowledge of God through sense perception.
Due to the increasing materialism of the Caliphate, some religious people in Persia turned to asceticism at the beginning of 12 AD. They became known as "Sufis."
The Sufi movement in India began in 1300 A.D. and spread to South India in the 15th century.
Self-discipline was regarded as a necessary condition for gaining knowledge of God in Sufism. While orthodox Muslims place emphasis on external behaviour, Sufis place emphasis on inner purity.
Multan and Punjab were early hotspots, and it later spread to Kashmir, Bihar, Bengal, and the Deccan.

Etymology:

The term "Sufi" is most likely derived from the Arabic word "suf," which means "one who wears wool." Woollen clothing was traditionally associated with ascetics. Another possible origin is the Arabic word'safa,' which means purity.

Sufism's Stages:

Stage 1 (Khanqah): Started in the 10th century, also known as the Golden Age of Mysticism
Second Stage (Tariqa): 11-14th century, when Sufism was institutionalised and traditions and symbols began to be associated with it.
Tarifa (Third Stage): Sufism first gained popularity in the 15th century, when it was founded.

Sufi Major Orders:

Khwaja Moin-Uddin Chishti founded the Chishtiya Order in India.
It emphasised the doctrine of being one with God (wadat al-wujd), and its members were also pacifists.
They rejected all material things as distractions from God's contemplation.
They avoided any association with the secular state.
The recitation of God's names, both aloud and silently (dhikr jahr, dhikr khaf), was the foundation of Chisht practise.
Khwaja Moin-Uddin Chishti's teachings were carried on and popularised by disciples such as Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki, Fareeduddin Ganj-e-Shakar, Nizam uddin Auliya, and Naseeruddin Charagh.

Sheikh Shahabuddin Suharwardi Maqtul established the Suhrawardi Order.

Unlike the Chishtis, the Suhrawardis accepted maintenance grants from the Sultans.

The Khwaja Baha-ul-din Naqshbandi Order was founded by Khwaja Baha-ul-din Naqshbandi.

Khwaja Bahauddin Naqshbandi founded this order in India.
The mystics of this Order have always stressed the importance of adhering to Shariat.

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Source: Frontline

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