Sufi Festival: Haseeb ANSAR
Sufism
The term sufi (Arabic: mystic) is likely based on the root suf (wool), recalling the simple woolen garments worn by ascetics.
Sufism is often regarded as an unorthodox type of Islamic mysticism.
While Westerners might think Sufis are itinerant holy men wandering through remote deserts, Sufism became an organized movement around the 7th and 8th centuries, mostly in reaction to the worldly Middle-Eastern Umayyad dynasty.
The well-known Dervish orders arose in India around the 12th and 13th centuries. These emphasized ecstatic states and remained influential until quite recently.
The Sufi Al-Hallaj (CE 858-922 ) advocated the mystical union of the individual soul with God, was branded a heretic, imprisoned and later executed.
The essence of Sufism might best be expressed by the 13th-century and increasingly popular poet Jala ud-Din Rumi. Rumi’s verse can be found in New Age bookstores and his message prefigures Joseph Campbell’s dictum of follow your bliss.
» Islam, Prayer, Sikhism
At Earthpages.org:
- “Surfin’ with Sufis” (expands on this entry)
On the Web:
- Excellent entry at Wikipedia
- Try http://ias.org too. Good information there and they are non-sectarian and non-denominational Muslims (Buzz Kill)
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Good coverage. Try http:/ias.org too. Good information there and they are non-sectarian and non-denominational Muslims.
Comment by Buzz Kill — October 24, 2009 @ 4:13 pm |
Thank you very much and for the link to the interesting site!
Comment by Earthpages.ca — October 25, 2009 @ 12:39 pm |