DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS

GS-I : Art and Culture Religion

26 November, 2022
4 Min Read

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.

Read Also: Public office & Freedom Of Speech

Source: Frontline

Join Our Telegram

US Resumes Nuclear Weapon Testing

Formation Day

03 Dec, 25
SHARE

On 1st November, eight Indian states—Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu—along with five Union Territories—Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Delhi, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry—celebrate their Formation Day. This date marks an important milestone in India

Turtle (Kachhua) Wildlife Sanctuary

02 Dec, 25
SHARE

The Turtle Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as the Kachhua Sanctuary, is located in the Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh. It is recognised as India’s first freshwater turtle wildlife sanctuary, established to conserve endangered turtle species and support the ecological health of the Ganga River. Location and Extent The sanctuary co

Introduction of AI and Computational Thinking (CT) in

02 Dec, 25
SHARE

The Ministry of Education plans to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Computational Thinking (CT) from Class 3 onwards in the 2026–27 academic year. This initiative is part of the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023 and aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The aim is to prepare student

Sal Tree

02 Dec, 25
SHARE

Scientists from the Environment Department of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) in Shimla have recently revealed that the Sal tree (Shorea robusta) is the most effective natural air purifier for combating rising pollution levels. Their findings highlight the tree’s superior capacity to trap dust, absorb gases, and cleanse the air compared

US Resumes Nuclear Weapon Testing

02 Dec, 25
SHARE

The President of the United States has ordered the resumption of nuclear weapon testing after a gap of 33 years, the last test being in 1992. This decision marks a significant shift in global nuclear policy and has far-reaching implications for geopolitics, the environment, and international security. Status of Global Nuclear Weapon Testing

Quick Links Testimonials FAQ

Crash Course

Regular Modules 2024

Mains

Optional

Sufism

Sufism

What is Sufism?

Etymology:

Sufism's Stages:

Sufi Major Orders:

Sheikh Shahabuddin Suharwardi Maqtul established the Suhrawardi Order.

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

Formation Day

Turtle (Kachhua) Wildlife Sanctuary

Introduction of AI and Computational Thinking (CT) in

Sal Tree

US Resumes Nuclear Weapon Testing

DNA

03 Dec,2025

Important GS Topics

Toppers

Search By Date

Top Editorials

UPSC Courses

Saarthi Mentorship Programme

Important Tags

Articles:Geography And Environment

Articles: History Culture Society

Articles: Governance & National Issues

Articles: IR & IO

Articles: Economic Development & Economic Issues

Articles: S&T Internal Security

Articles: Ethics & Others

Articles: Others

Newsletter Subscription

SMS Alerts

Important Links