The essence of Sufi religion is contained in the
teachings and principle of Sufism. Read about the history of Sufism in
India.
Sufism
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.
- Dhikr
Dhikr is basically about remembering God for all Sufis. According
to Islam, one who engages in Dhikr has awareness of God. It
basically includes chanting of God's name and reciting sections of
the Quran. It has similarities with the Jewish Merkavah practice of
meditation used to attain a higher level of consciousness. This can
be done through singing, dance, meditative music, swirling, etc.
that finally leads to a trance.
- Hadhra
The Hadhra basically consists of various forms of Dhikr, songs and
dances that are used to appeal God and Angels. The word Hadhra is
Arabic and it means "Presence".
- Qawwali
In Sufism, Qawwali is the devotional form of music, which is common
in Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Turkey, Iran, etc. The Qawwali is
known for its worldly appeal and transcends all bounds and
limitations of countries and different regions. Some of the modern
day masters of Qawwali are Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Sabri Brothers.
- Sama
Sama is an Arabic word which means listening. In Sufis, the holy
ritual of whirling dance is known as Sama. It is basically an act of
devotion that takes a person to a higher level of consciousness. The
right kind of music invokes the right kind of emotion which is
elated when one does the whirl dance. This helps in the process of
contemplating the divine force.
- Khalwa
Khalwa basically refers to a kind of retreat that a person can
experience under the guidance of a Sufi teacher. There is a belief
in Sufism that all prophets must have retreated into seclusion at
some point of time in order to derive inspiration and divine power.
Thus, the Sufis practice retreat in order to concentrate on the
divinity of the Almighty.
