Hello, I was introduced to Sufism in my late teens and unfortunately it was to advanced for my understanding of the universe at the time. I discovered Sufism when a renowned orchestra leader was conducting us musicians in such an extra ordinary manner. He explained he was a student of Sufism and also spoke about the 4th way. Both were new concepts to my teenage mind. Although it was beyond me, the words stuck and the experience I felt had me searching for such a miraculous feeling again.
I now at the age of 30 find myself reading and researching.
Are there any Sufi groups in Southern California? And would I be welcome? As I am not traditionally trained or taught.
Thank you
I know sufism (tasawuf) in general is more closely associeted with sunnism, despite existing one tariqa considered "shia" (the Ni' matullahi). But i don't ask about the tariqas in itself, but sufism in the meaning of an ascetic sense - the philosophy and way of life. What is the shia position related to sufism and the ascetic religious life (sometimes even with celibate vote) in seek of a more close "mystical" relation with God (swt)?
Many understand Sufism to be the mystical understanding of Islam. Some consider it another separate branch, others consider it the inner core, regardless of it is definitely the most mystical interpretation of Islam (and quite honestly my favorite), that has created some of the greatest minds and philosophers of the Islamic world.
I know Mysticism has been a thing in Christianity before but why hasnβt Christianity adopted a more mystical side of itβs doctrine in a similar fashion?
I left islam some time ago, almost 10 years and became an athesit. currently I am an agnostic. I believe a God could very well exist, I dont have evidence for it yet but I do accept personal experience as evidence. So with mediation and prayer I believe I could know God.
My life has since been quiet meaningless inherently. And ever since leaving, I find I am still looking for the truth and elevating my spirituality.
My reasons for leaving islam do not make me doubt the validity of islam or confirm that islam is false. I just struggle to reconcile them with a just and merciful God and I feel hypocritical worshipping such a God whom I feel this way about.
The 3 main reason I left islam makes God seem evil or irrational. I dont believe the true God is evil or irrational. I believe the 1 true God is beautiful and merciful and within us all.
I will quickly summarise my reasons for leaving Islam and I will add a small reason why I believe sufism solves this issue.
- problem of eternal hell - if hell is a real physical place, no matter which sin someone committed, I cannot reconcile it with a merciful God.
My understanding of sufism is that hell is metaphorical place and simply an absence of the love and light of knowing God which is the worst thing. I believe one can be in hell both on earth and in death. I believe hell is not painful or eternal as in roasting in a fire forever. It is just nothingness upon death or it is the heedlessness of not choosing to know God and thus succumbing to the ego and suffering as a result. My understanding of heaven is that it is pure conscious awareness that you are God and the understanding of the illusion of duality. Once you reach this state you have no more desires or needs. You are content. Again, I believe once can be in heaven on earth and after death.
- Free will - god created us and bought us into existence with the absolute foreknowledge of our end. hell or heaven. regardless which illusion of free will we have, God bought into fruit our eternal salvation or eternal damnation as we once did not exist.
My understanding of sufism is that the world is an illusion and not a real physical place. Essentially, it is a dream God is having and one in which we must wake from and remember we are one with God. Hence dhikr. God did not do anything to us. We just are. And we need to wake up and remember what we are. There is no test to pass or fail. God did not "create us" we are a manifestation of God. We exist because
... keep reading on reddit β‘
I was before a typical Sunni kid, I just followed and was extremely gullible aswell (simpler times) never questioned much about Islam, the only time I questioned something when I was young was when I asked my dad about finding god and where he is, he didn't know but rather than tell me that he said people go crazy trying to find that question, just pray and do your Muslim duties and you'll go to heaven. I then moved to England as a teenager where I started to see the different lifestyle and all the things that were not avaible in my country. I got corrupted severely, yet somehow I stumbled on Shia branch of Islam and I stayed a Shia for a good 6-7 years. They were nice people, strong views which I still agree with some of them. I still was kinda corrupt with the nightlife and the pleasure that this world gives. Then depression happened, then anxiety and finally insomnia. That was my turning point, when I started to look inward, rather judge the outward and others, I started looking at different religions, especially the ones who are linked to mediation, I wasn't gonna leave Islam I was just curious about the spiritual side of their faith. I really like sitting with monks from Hindu and Buddhist faith and I asked questions and researched. It was a good experience, that's when I eventually started to seriously look at the spiritual side of Islam, I was oblivious of it, I knew how to pray, I knew how to due fasting and how to say the right words but no connection to a higher power no love. Just a person in a certain group called Muslim. I found tasawuf, it was everything I ever imagined a Muslim with love for Allah would be, the piety, the humbleness, the humility and the the emphasis on opening the heart for the creator to clean it and purify it. I am content and am happy with my quest as it brought me to a good place in my life.
Do you guys have any experience with Sufism? Was it good/bad or indifferent.
I've long felt there to be a connection between the Sufis and the Stoics. Has anyone else felt this, and if so, who among the Sufis do you think best exemplifies the Stoic ideals? I have my own choice, but thought I'd leave it for now and see if anyone else comes up with it on their own.
For a while I've been obsessed with Sufism and especially Sufi art and poetry and for the most part it had nothing to do with Lebanon. While beautiful Sufi poetry is abundant I found beautiful Sufi songs, especially in Arabic, hard to find.
I mostly listened to an Egyptian group called Ensemble Ibn Arabi, some Moroccan groups, Tunisian Dhafer Youssef and Syrian-American Mouaz al-Nass.
However, there seems to be a burgeoning Sufi art scene in Lebanon led by this Shia Sheikh and he's been doing beautiful collaborations with artists like Ziad Sahab and Ghassan El Rahbani and reviving the tradition of twirling dervish which is pretty much dead in Lebanon. His art seems to be building bridges between communities but also (naturally) being attacked by religious people and groups including Hezbollah. In his article he mentions that and points out that his fans (from ticket sales and online stats) are primarily Christians then Druze, then secularists and atheists and lastly Sunnis and Shias.
Other than old sufi poetry he's been singing modern sufi and non sufi poetry written by a Lebanese poet Mahdi Mansour which sometimes mixes Christian and Islamic figures not to mention singing Christian "sufi" poetry. This is one of my favorites (starts at 39:40). Further he also covers some ballsy poetry which are either misinterpreted on first listen or just flirt with what religious people would consider blasphemy like ΩΩΨ±ΩΨ§Ψͺ Ψ§ΩΨΩΨ§Ψ¬ and Ibn Farid
Anyway back to the question: What do you know about sufism in Lebanon? I know there is some Sufi tradition in Saida but that's it.
Salam everyone!
Iβm not a Muslim (Iβm Sikh) but I find Sufism interesting (specifically Ibn Arabi, but also many others). From my understanding through having many Muslim friends, Sufism is seen as a fringe sect. But from my own research and understanding I have come to the understanding that Sufism was an integral part of the spread of Islam, and it is a modern conception that Sufism is somehow outside of the fold of Islam.
Some have even told me that Sufism is just Islam corrupted by Indian philosophyβs. I find that hard to believe since Sufism has its origins in Iraq if Iβm not mistaken.
So my questions is, how did Sufism βchangeβ in the eyes of the mainstream, and go from the spiritual side of Islam to becoming a sect?
Iβve noticed that as people tend to turn away from organized religion they arenβt necessarily embracing atheism. Neopaganism, and many New Age individual spiritual pursuits to connect to a higher source or create ritual still persists in many people who seek to better themselves.
Sufism has managed to serve a lot of great inspiration for spiritual understanding, ritual, community, as well as intellectual thought. It seems to be like an excellent option for people who want similar path they may find in New Age personal spiritual pursuits.
Do you think sufism will become more significant (grow into the mainstream practice) in the future?
Any decent sufi podcasts? I canβt find many for a western english speaker.
I have read works buy Guenon and Evola, Pallis and other Traditionalists and would like some accompanying podcasts to supplement.
I've heard some people say they do shirk so I'm curious what people here think about it
Salam Alaikum wa rahmatullah wa barakatu
Siblings I have some questions on Women in Sufism. I have of course seen videos and photos of women going to shrines and doing dhikr (both with men and by themselves) and I know there are Women Wali like Rabi'a al-'Adawiyyah (AS) but am unfamiliar with how our sisters relate to the Tariqa. Are there Turuq which have sisters as Murids or are there sisterhoods which operate independently and have female Shaykhs? Or do any major brotherhoods have like a female "wing" under the same shaykh or are there where women are totally integrated. Or is women's relationship to Tasawwuf less formal like they don't make Bay'ah to a certain master but still participate in "popular" sufism. Forgive the word salad. I'm sure this is an extremely complex topic which has evolved and changed over time and from place to place etc. but I am genuinely curious and thought it would be an interesting conversations. I would be honored to hear the perspectives of our Sisters but all feel free to comment.
Jazakallah Khairan
I looked at jerrahi Canada itβs online. And emailed them 2 days ago no answer. It said everyone is invited but itβs Islamic centric too and very few Islamic people accept transsexual/transgender people.
I am open to others sufi groups as long as they are pure Sufism not watered down Sufism
Does sufism belong to the 73 sect that prophet pbuh speak about.is it devient from 4 madhabs.
