Sufi Culture Syncretic Mysticism Islam was not the only religion in India contributing the mystical aspects of Sufism. The Bhakti movement also gained respect due mysticism popularity spreading through India. The Bhakti movement was a regional revival of Hinduism linking language, geography, and cultural identities through devotional deity worship.[59] This concept of “Bhakti” appeared in the Bhagavad Gita and the first sects emerged from south India between the 7th and 10th century.[59] The practices and […]

Sufi Tariqahs Madariyya The Madariyya are members of a Sufi order (tariqa) popular in North India, especially in Uttar Pradesh, the Mewat region, Bihar and Bengal, as well as in Nepal and Bangladesh. Known for its syncretic aspects, lack of emphasis on external religious practice and focus on internal dhikr, it was initiated by the Sufi saint ‘Sayed Badiuddin Zinda Shah Madar’ (d. 1434 CE), called “Qutb-ul-Madar”, and is centered on his shrine (dargah) at […]

Someone said: “There is something I have forgot-ten.”Rumi replied: There is one thing in this world that must never be forgotten. If you were to for-get all else, but did not forget that, then you would have no reason to worry. But if you per-formed and remembered everything else, yet for-got that one thing, then you would have done nothing whatsoever. It is just as if a king sent you to the country to carry […]

Sufism has a history in India evolving for over 1,000 years.[1] The presence of Sufism has been a leading entity increasing the reaches of Islam throughout South Asia.[2] Following the entrance of Islam in the early 8th century, Sufi mystic traditions became more visible during the 10th and 11th centuries of the Delhi Sultanate.[3] A conglomeration of four chronologically separate dynasties, the early Delhi Sultanate consisted of rulers from Turkic and Afghan lands.[4] This Persian […]

This is part of an analytical article about Political Islam in today Algeria which you can read the whole article here. The selected part focuses on the role of Sufis in the political status of Algeria. Sufi brotherhoods have come to have a larger political function in Algeria despite their outwardly apolitical character. Many play important roles in how the state attempts to manage political Islam and to maintain a monopoly over religious symbolism and […]

The Amir said: “Night and day my heart and Soul are intent upon serving God, but because of my responsibilities with Mongol affairs I have no time for such service.” Rumi answered: Those works too are work done for God, since they are the means of provid-ing peace and security for your country. You sacrifice yourself, your possessions, your time, so the hearts of a few will be lifted to peacefully obeying God’s will. So […]

A king purchased two slaves, one extremely handsome,and the other very ugly. He sent the first away to the bath,and in his absence questioned the other. He told him thatthe first slave had given a very bad account of him, sayingthat he was a thief and a bad character, and asked if it wastrue. The second slave replied that the first was everythingthat was good, his inward qualities corresponding to thebeauty of his outward appearance, […]