Sufism is basically a religion based on the truth of
life. It is a mystic tradition that consists of a varied range of ideas
and practices that emphasize on the attainment of divine love and
compassion of the heart. In the 14th century, a Sufi saint wrote a book
known as the "Principles of Sufism" that defines the essence
of Sufism as "a science whose objective is the reparation of the
heart and turning it away from all else but God". Universal Sufism
has been defined by great Sufi masters as a way to travel to the
presence of the Divine force and fill oneself with inner beauty and
compassion. Read about the teachings and history of Sufi religion.
History of Sufism
Sufism is said to have been originated near a place called Basra located
in Iraq. The Muslims located in this region started off this religion as
a path to reach the divine. The divine form who is worshipped in Sufism
is Prophet Mohammed and all schools of Sufism consider the Prophet as
the manifestation of God. This is one reason why Sufi is considered to
have branched from Islam. However, ancient Islamic scriptures have no
mention of Sufism in them. Some scholars hold the view that Sufism is
the evolution of Islam in a more spiritual and mystic direction. Sufism
in its earlier stages was recited and meditated from the Quran.
Sufi Saints in India
India is the land of spiritualism. Some of the major religions of the
world have been started over here. Sufism has also been present in India
since a long time and even today we find a number of Sufi followers
here. Some of the popular Sufi saints of India have been discussed
below.
Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti
Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti was one of the most famous Sufi saints in India.
He is the founder of the Chishtiya order in India. He was born in Persia
and is said to be a direct descendent of Prophet Muhammad. He settled in
Ajmer in India from where he preached the principles of Sufism to all.
He had a massive following and even today, people irrespective of their
religions are adopting his principles of Sufism. Every year, his death
anniversary is celebrated in Ajmer at his tomb when thousands of
believers gather to pay respect to this great Sufi saint.
Hazrat Nizam-Ud-Din
Another famous Sufi saint of the Chisti order in India was Hazrat Khwaja
Nizam-ud-din Auliya, who was popularly known as Hazrat Nizam-ud-Din. His
real name was Mohammad and at the age of 20, he became the student of
Fariduddin Ganj-i-Shakkar. He was revered saint who is supposed to have
been the master of Amir Khusro. His shrine located in Delhi is a popular
attraction for Sufi followers.
Bulleh Shah
Baba Bulleh Shah was a revered Sufi saint of India whose real name was
Abdullah Shah. He preached his teachings and principles in Punjab.
During the time he was at his peak, there was much unrest between
Muslims and Sikhs. He preached nothing but the truth and his words of
wisdom pacified those affected by the constant tiffs between Muslims and
Sikhs. Through his poems, he criticized the orthodox religious systems
that were prevalent during his time. His poems were written in Punjabi
and Sindhi as these were languages that common people could read and
understand.
Sufi Practices
Given below is information about the various practices in Sufism that
form a part of this religion.
