Sufism in the west pdf

The way of the sufi presents an unparalleled crosssection of material from sufi schools, teachings and classical writings, as a. A journey with the sufis of the indus peabody museum. A tradition describes the prophets spiritual journey, the miraj, in which a celestial steed carried him to jerusalem, from where he ascended into the highest heavens and came face to face with god. Although it has been the subject of a considerable number of academic works, sufism in west africa remains. Western sufism is sometimes dismissed as a relatively recent new age phenomenon, but in this book mark sedgwick argues that it has deep roots, both in the muslim world and in the west. Gritt klinkhammer notes that the german understanding of sufism as a universal and positive mysticism would feed into a rising religious narrative in western. Sufism, being the marrow of the bone or the inner dimension of the islamic revelation, is the means par excellence whereby tawhid is achieved. Hazrat later married the niece ofmary baker eddy, the founder ofmore. Words, being limited, can never really express the perfection of the absolute, the unbound. Recorded march 21, 2010 in tiburon, california this talk looks at the. Mystical life was first restricted to the relation between a master and a few disciples.

Sufism in the west jamal malik, john hinnells with the increasing muslim diaspora in postmodern western societies, sufism intellectually as well as sociologically may eventually become islam itself due to its versatile potential. Sufism in the west chapter 10 the cambridge companion to. Professor of arabic language and sufi literature at the moroccan ministry of national education, he is the author of four books about islamic sufism in the west and sufi literature. Abd alqadir aljilani died 1166 gathered the first and still most. Sufism is a way of life in which a deeper identity is discovered and lived. It is in operation all the time, all over the world, in every country, sometimes openly, sometimes not. With the increasing muslim diaspora in postmodern western societies, sufism intellectually as well as sociologically may eventually become islam itself due to its versatile potential. Islamsu sm is masterpiece by titus burckhardt examines. One can see sufism as a major continuous fountain of spiritual growth in the world over centuries. The practice of sufism is the intention to go towards the truth by means of love and devotion. Idries shah, a leading sufi guide says, sufism is not a religion. Sufisms contribution to the west llewellyn vaughanlee. Mar 19, 2019 although he wrote quite a bit against traditional sufism and its practices in british india, thereby silencing and seeking to obliterate islamic mysticism, his writings nevertheless resonate with sufi terminology and deliberations harking back to the concept of tahdhib alakhlaqin sufi parlance, controlling the carnal self nafs by means of. Bringing together leading international authorities to survey the history of islamic mysticism in north america and europe, this book elaborates the.

In fact, although the first significant western sufi organization was not established until 1915, the first western discussion of sufism was printed in 1480, and western interest in sufi thought goes back to the. Pdf in sufism east and west, the contributors investigate the redirection and dynamics of sufism in the modern era, specifically from the. Historically, sufis were organized into a number of brotherhoods or mystical orders tariqat, literally paths, each with its own religious rites, saintly lineage and leadership structure. Turning to the core of spirituality there is some qualiltya vitality, a yeastin sufi work that affects in ways not easily explained. Although it has been the subject of a considerable number of academic works, sufism in west africa remains understudied and often misunderstood. This deeper identity, beyond the already known personality, is in harmony with all that exists. The way of the sufi presents an unparalleled crosssection of material from sufi schools, teachings and classical writings, as a basic course. Jun 27, 2016 david ault reads the way of the sufi, by idries shah. With the increasing muslim diaspora in postmodern western societies, s. The arabic term sufi has been used in islamic literature with a wide range of meanings, by both proponents and opponents of sufism. Sufism had a decisive influence on the development and spread of islam in west africa. They are said to represent the mystical heart of islam, yet the term sufism is notoriously difficult to define, as it means different things to. The importance of public scholarship and the questionable opposition between islam and the west are also addressed.

An interesting dynamic has developed in the last two centuries, where a lack of traditional islamic knowledge and scholarship, coupled with reformist movements and the ability to easily and. The diffusion of sufi ideas in the west survivors handbook. This deeper identity, or essential self, has abilities of awareness, action, creativity and love that are far beyond. This dissertation examines and compares the epistemologies of two of the most popular west african intellectual traditions. This is called the tariqat, the spiritual path or way towards god. It is a second attempt by the state to promote sufi values, as under president musharrafs. This program is a general introduction to sufi theory and practice. Sufism in the west jamal malik, john hinnells download.

The indianborn sufi master hazrat inayat khan 18821927, the first major sufi figure to come to the west, brought his teachings to america in the 1920s. Oct 05, 2018 the importance of public scholarship and the questionable opposition between islam and the west are also addressed. Pdf sufism in west africa rudiger seesemann academia. Like so much else in a decentralized global faith such as islam, the practice. Sufism is a mystical form of islam that has flourished in the muslim world for centuries. Introduction jamal malik 1 literary productions of western sufi movements marcia hermansen 2 persian sufism in the contemporary west. The history and methodology of sufism sufism is an esoteric doctrine transmitted by word of mouth, and sometimes without even a spoken or written word, by an authorized teacher to a disciple, and from disciple to another disciple, in confidence. Islamsu sm is masterpiece by titus burckhardt examines the. Western sufism mark sedgwick oxford university press. Bringing together leading international authorities to survey the history of islamic mysticism in north america and europe, this book elaborates the ideas and institutions which organize sufism and folkreligious practices. Apr 18, 2006 providing a fascinating insight into how sufism operates within different spheres of society, sufism in the west is essential reading for students and academics with research interests in islam, islamic history and social anthropology. An old teaching from the middle east has applicability in the west. I would be very grateful for any corrections or additional information that anyone may have on any as.

It recently announced a plan to set up a sufi advisory council to combat evergrowing extremism and fanaticism in the country. While much of this book has focused on the role of sufism and its relation to politics in muslimmajority states, this chapter will examine the relationship between. The sufis are as diverse as the countries in which theyve flourishedfrom morocco to india to chinaand as varied as their distinctive forms of art, music, poetry, and dance. Sulaymancis in germany gerdien jonker third wave sufism in america and the bawa muhaiyaddeen.

Rereadings and transformations of sufism in the west. Sulaymancis in germany gerdien jonker third wave sufism in america and the bawa muhaiyaddeen fellowship gisela webb transnational sufism. In the west alone, sufism lies behind a host of diverse cultural heirlooms, ranging from freemasonry to alchemy to the kabala, and had a profound impact on such thinkers as roger bacon, paracelsus and st. Introduction jamal malik literary productions of western sufi movements marcia hermansen persian sufism in the contemporary west. The orthodox disagree with such aspects of sufism as saint worship, visiting of tombs, musical performances, miracle mongering, degeneration into jugglery, and the adaptation of preislamic and unislamic customs. Sufism in west africa seesemann 2010 religion compass. Sufism in the west by jamal malik and john hinnells. The government of pakistan has of late come up with its love for sufi islam. The primary focus of this chapter will be examining sufism in britain, but i will also spend discuss how nongovernmental actors have advocated sufism in the united states. Full text views reflects the number of pdf downloads, pdfs. An uneven and spotty but still useful introductory online article is a history of western sufism fixed january, 2005 by prof. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. A group of sufi masters who defended the works of theosophists such as ghazali and alqushayri began emerging in the late eleventh and early to midtwelfth centuries. Sufism has helped to shape large parts of muslim society.

Integrating the theosophical and esoteric with the social and political, most tariqas have played, and many still play, a significant role in muslim societies. A sufi can be a scientist, a politician, a poet, a housewife, the usherette in the cinema and may never be known as one, since sufism may have nothing to do with outward appearance and behavior. Doris lessing, preface seekersaffer truth introduction the story of europe is familiar to all of us. Sufism is traditional in morocco, but has seen a growing revival with the renewal of sufism under contemporary spiritual teachers such as hamza al qadiri al boutchichi. In sufism east and west, the contributors investigate the redirection and dynamics of sufism in the modern era, specifically from the perspective of global crosscultural exchange. Chittick is masterpiece by titus burckhardt examines the essence of islamic mysticism, or su sm, presenting its central doctrines and methods to a we stern audience in a highly intelligible form. Jul 15, 2019 from the definition and typology of sufism to its orientalist and modernist constructions, from early encounters in arabia and india to todays manifestations in east and west, it contributes new findings and fresh insights to the everexpanding study of the mystical aspect of islam. All three are succeeding organizations of the sufi movement founded originally by inayat khan in the 1920s in the west. Dec 04, 2016 from the introductory series on sufism, the sufi path of love and the secrets of mystical oneness with llewellyn vaughanlee. Sufism in the west kindle edition by malik, jamal, hinnells, john. Sufism east and west mystical islam and crosscultural. Sufism has placed a distinctive stamp on the way the religion has been practiced in many arab countries, in parts of africa, in turkey, and especially in central asia. Although sufism has always provoked considerable interest in the west, no volume has so far been written which discusses this aspect of islam in terms of how it is practised in western societies. In terms of the presence of sufism in the west, there is no monolith that exists within sufi communities.

Although he wrote quite a bit against traditional sufism and its practices in british india, thereby silencing and seeking to obliterate islamic mysticism, his writings nevertheless resonate with sufi terminology and deliberations harking back to the concept of tahdhib alakhlaqin sufi parlance, controlling the carnal self nafs by means of. In the west at present there are three main groupings which together form the main body of western sufism. Sufism east and west mystical islam and crosscultural exchange. Available formats pdf please select a format to send. View sufism in the west research papers on academia. He has participated in many international conferences in morocco, the united states, egypt, spain, south africa, germany, and macedonia.

Bismi allahirrahmanirrahim the word sufi is derived from the arabic word suf which means wool and which refers to the coarse woolen. Introduction jamal malik literary productions of western sufi movements marcia hermansen persian sufism in the contemporary west leonard lewisohn the evolution of the naqshbandimujaddidi. Employing theories native to the traditions themselves and contemporary oral and textual sources, i. Sufism is popular in such african countries as egypt, tunisia, algeria, morocco, and senegal, where it is seen as a mystical expression of islam. The head of each order, generally a hereditary position known as the. Sufism dates back almost to the time of the prophet muhammad, and it has been present in muslim societies for more than 12 centuries. Sulaymancis in germany gerdien jonker 4 third wave sufism in america and the bawa muhaiyaddeen fellowship gisela webb 5. Sufism and the spread of islam to south asia and europe richard eaton, the rise of islam and the bengal frontier and nikolay antov, the ottoman wild west, selections tbd. The articles that follow explore multiple facets of sufism, the ethical and spiritual tradition that has flourished in muslim societies for over a thousand years.

All three are succeeding organizations of the sufi movement founded originally by inayat khan in. Sufism in the west ebook by 97814479818 rakuten kobo. Providing a fascinating insight into how sufism operates within different spheres of society, sufism in the west is essential reading for students and academics with research interests in islam, islamic history and social anthropology. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading sufism in the west. Sufism sufis sufi orders sufism, the west, and modernity in the twentieth century sufism began to spread in the west. Sufism, contemporary sufism, sufism in the west ivan agueli conference 2019. These secret instructions are acted upon by a disciple with perfect faith in the teacher. Pdf sufism had a decisive influence on the development and spread of islam in west africa. David ault reads the way of the sufi, by idries shah. Sufism in the westwith the increasing muslim diaspora in postmodern western societies, sufism intellectually as we. Sufism has spread around the world and is often embraced by westerners especially more readily than mainstream islam. Also at this time, eastern sufism was developing more as a communal movement, whereas that of the west including in alandalus, it remained largely an individual pursuit. Understanding the concept of islamic sufism shahida bilqies research scholar, shahihamadan institute of islamic studies university of kashmir, srinagar190006 jammu and kashmir, india.