Hinduism has many gods and is polytheism and islam on the other hand is a radical monotheism, so there is a fundamental incompatibility her. Sufis teach that sufism may be practiced with any religion it is the heart of religion. Since their beginnings in the ninth century, the shrines, brotherhoods and doctrines of the sufis held vast influence in almost every corner of the muslim world. Islamic mysticism had several stages of growth, including 1 the appearance of early asceticism, 2 the development of a classical mysticism of divine love, and 3 the rise and proliferation of fraternal orders of mystics. Sufism is a way of life in which a deeper identity is discovered and lived. It consists of a variety of mystical paths that are designed to ascertain the nature of humanity and of god and to facilitate the experience of the presence. A model of how to approach a world religion such as islam from inside and outside, it will remain a reference on sufism for years to come. The headlines are filled with the politics of islam, but there is another side to the worlds fastestgrowing religion.
Dec 08, 2007 history of sufism sufism has been a prominent movement within islam throughout most of its history. Reconceptualising the study of islamic mysticism during an underresearched period of its history, this book examines the relationship between sufism and society in the muslim world, from the fall of the abbasid caliphate to the heyday of the great ottoman, mughal and safavid empires. Sufism has been opposed since its inception, in spite of its enduring appeal and broad base of adherents. Sufism is not a mixture of hinduism and islam, the closest thing to that is the sikh faith in my opinion. In this comprehensive new history of sufism from the earliest centuries of islam to today, alexander knysh, a leading expert on the subject, reveals the tradition in all its richness.
A new history of islamic mysticism and millions of other books are. This groundbreaking and beautifully written book by a towering scholar in islamic studies is nuanced and convincing. After centuries as the most important asceticmystical strand of islam, sufism saw a sharp decline in the twentieth century, only to experience a stunning revival in recent decades. Other sufis, like al tusi in the 1200s ad, were more philosophical, looking for ways to use logical thought to get closer to god. This contemplative process depends upon the simultaneous nurturing of psychological health, openheartedness, and caring action. Karen carr is associate professor emerita, department of history, portland state university. As the history of islamic religious sciences tells us, religious commandments were. Sufism has a history in india evolving for over 1,000 years. As an inner school it is dedicated to nurturing mystical awakening in individuals. This mystical strand is designated in arabic by the term tasawwuf, while in persian the term irfan gnosis is also used. He covers its beginnings, its basic philosophies, and its place in islam, keeping the discussion at a basic level so that anyone can read and understand his work. The traditional view is that sufism is the mystical school of islam and had its beginnings in the first centuries following the life of the prophet mohammad. This article provides a description of sufism and information about its history and practice.
Bilal orfali, american university of beirut a thorough rethinking and reframing of one of islams central traditions, this is an important and highly original book from a scholar who really knows what he. Here is an excerpt taken from one of their descriptions of. Proponents of sufism see it as inextricably arising from the qur. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Sufism holds a doctrine of god which is extremely lofty. Knysh explores how sufism has been viewed by both insiders and outsiders since its inception. A global history wiley blackwell brief histories of religion. History of sufism sufism has been a prominent movement within islam throughout most of its history. This book is a major contribution to the study of turkish literature and is essential reading for scholars of turkish literature, islam, sufism and turkish history. This deeper identity, beyond the already known personality, is in harmony with all that exists. The forty rules of love by elif shafak, the conference of the birds by attar of nishapur, the essential rumi by rumi, the sufis. His original and suggestive approach opens new doors in the study of comparative philosophy. Sufism arose from within islam in the 8th9th centuries c.
Sufism had a long history already before the subsequent institutionalization of sufi teachings into devotional orders tariqat in the early middle ages. Chittick, the leading scholar in the field, offers a compelling insight into the origins, context, and key themes of this fascinating movement. Sufism, language, and the religious margins in central asia, 14001900. A new history of islamic mysticism by alexander knysh. While sufism is said to have incorporated elements of christian monasticism, gnosticism, and indian mysticism, its origins are traced to forms of devotion and groups of penitents zuhhad in the formative period of islam. This inimitable volume sheds light on a multifaceted and alternative aspect of islamic history and religion. The book is well designed by categorizing first by time period, and then by specific topic. Alexander knysh, a seasoned expert in the field and already the author of islamic mysticism. Email citation in a style both academically sound and straightforward, this chapter is a basic introduction to the importance of sufism in the islamic tradition. Publishers weekly ernst succeeds admirably in completing our understanding of sufism. 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. This book has been translated into english by gary leiser and robert dankoff. Following the entrance of islam in the early 8th century, sufi mystic traditions became more visible during the 10th and 11th centuries of the delhi sultanate and after it to the rest of india.
History of sufism follows a long period of evolution since the time of the prophet. Demystified videos in demystified, britannica has all the answers to your burning questions. Alexander d knysh a pathbreaking history of sufism, from the earliest centuries of islam to the present. This mystical movement from the early ninth century rejects worship motivated by the. A pathbreaking history of sufism, from the earliest centuries of islam to the present. The first stage of sufism appeared in pious circles as a reaction against the worldliness of the early umayyad period 661749. Piety, politics, and popular culture is a mustread for students, researchers, and those with an expertise in religious studies, islam, and sufism and is highly recommended for the general readership as well. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading sufism. The early pious figures, later appropriated by sufism, include ali. Although it wasnt my most favorite book ever, i did learn a lot about the historical background of sufism and how it shaped the history is islam as a whole. Islamic mystics are called sufis and their way of life is sufism also spelled sufiism. The section on the modern period explains the controversies that surrounded sufism, the changes that took place in the colonial period and how sufism transformed into a transnational movement in the twentieth century. Ernst gives us one of the most complete and accessible guides to sufism available.
The naqshbandi order is a notable exception to general rule of orders tracing their spiritual lineage through muhammads grandsons, as it traces the origin of its teachings from muhammad to the first islamic caliph, abu bakr. Sufism, or tasawwuf as it is known in the muslim world, is islamic. Neither the philosophers nor the theologians nor the canon lawyers have contributed so much as the mystics toward. A pathbreaking history of sufism, from the earliest centuries of islam to the presentafter centuries as the most important asceticmystical strand of islam, sufism saw a sharp decline in the twentieth century, only to experience a. With muslim mysticism we see the climax of the development of religious life and teaching in islam. In this deeply learned work, toshihiko izutsu compares the metaphysical and mystical thoughtsystems of sufism and taoism and discovers that, although historically unrelated, the two share features and patterns which prove fruitful for a transhistorical dialogue. The continual imagining and emplotting of the historical vicissi. A model of how to approach a world religion such as islam from inside and outside. The whirling dervishes, for example, are a branch of sufism that got started about 0 ad in the seljuk empire, where people used dancing to get themselves into a religious frenzy that helped them have a personal experience of god. However it was only after the arrival of the prophet that the practice came to be known by the name of sufism. A new history of islamic mysticism by knysh, a isbn. This week in history in these videos, find out what happened this week or any week. At times labeled heretical or simply extremist, each age has had its own sufis and anti.
Sufism, mystical islamic belief and practice in which muslims seek to find the truth of divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of god. Offering the first truly global account of the history of sufism, this illuminating book traces the gradual spread and influence of sufi islam through the middle east, asia, africa, and ultimately into europe and the united states. This book is very detailed and very dry in introducing the concept of sufism. 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. The presence of sufism has been a leading entity increasing the reaches of islam throughout south asia. Read about the teachings and history of sufi religion. This deeper identity, or essential self, has abilities of awareness, action, creativity and love that are far beyond. Some sources state that sufism is the inner dimensions of the teachings of muhammad whereas others say that sufism emerged during the islamic golden age from about the 8th to 10th centuries. Despite these general stages, however, the history of islamic mysticism is largely a history of individual mystic experience. History of sufism sufism is said to have been originated near a place called basra located in iraq. A global history wiley blackwell brief histories of religion 1 by nile green isbn. A new history of islamic mysticism kindle edition by knysh, alexander.
There is disagreement among religious scholars and sufis themselves about the origins of sufism. The book is packed with so much information, and it is one of the only ones i know of on sufism that covers that much territory to this extent. Sufism like many other institutions became, early in its history, a fertile ground for imitators, impostors, and charlatans. Sufism is a muslim movement whose followers seek to find divine truth and love through direct encounters with god. An ideal introduction to sufism, requiring no background knowledge of islamic history or thought. Moving beyond the description of doctrine, this book places sufism in its social, cultural and historical contexts.
The mysticism of islam is known as sufism, a name said to be derived from the arabic word suf which means wool, referring to the woolen mantles worn by the sufis. An ideal introduction to sufism, requiring no background knowledge of islamic history or thought offers the first history of sufism as a global phenomenon, exploring itsmovement and adaptationfromthe middle east, through asia andafrica, to europe and the united states of america covers the entire historical period of sufism, from its ninth. Oct 31, 2017 a model of how to approach a world religion such as islam from inside and outside, it will remain a reference on sufism for years to come. Mysticism, therefore, is not to be regarded as a religion in itself, but rather as the most vital. The sufi way is contemporary expression of a perennial spiritual path. Introduction sufism is the english term used to refer to mystical interpretations and practices of the islamic religion. Here is an excerpt taken from one of their descriptions of god. After centuries as the most important asceticmystical strand of islam, sufism saw a sharp decline in the. During some of its flourishing periods, the sufis were counted by the millions all over the muslim empire and in some countries their influence was so great that the heads of their orders.
After a general overview of the tradition, he draws upon the words of some of the greatest sufi writers among them ibn arabi, baha walad and rumi himself to give a fresh and revealing perspective on the teachings and beliefs of. The corrupting influence of these charlatans was regarded as a source of great confusion to all those who either wanted to follow the path of sufism. Sufism is less an islamic sect than a mystical way of approaching the islamic faith. Nile green since the emergence of sufism in the ninth century, the shrines, brotherhoods and doctrines of the sufis have held vast influence in almost every corner of the muslim world. One, then, wonders what an unbiased and authentic account of sufism, which ernst implies is possible,26 might look. About sufism 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. List of books and articles about sufism online research.
Gary leiser is the director of the travis air museum at travis afb, california. After a long period of hard struggle, sufism established itself in two quite different ways. One, then, wonders what an unbiased and authentic account of sufism, which ernst implies is possible,26 might look like. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. It has been defined as mystical islamic belief and practice in which muslims seek to find the truth of divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of god. A global history is a unique account of global sufism, tracing the gradual spread and adaptation of sufi islam through the middle east into central asia, india, southeast asia, africa, and in read more. In tracing the history of sufism, the earliest instances of sufism can be found even before the time of the prophet muhammad. Equally obvious and unavoidable are biases of sufisms muslim opponents whose views of sufism will be discussed in detail later on in this book. Sufism sufism in india, principle of sufism, history of. The cambridge companion to sufism edited by lloyd ridgeon. It grew out of an early ascetic movement within islam, which sought to counteract the worldliness that came with the rapid expansion of the muslim community. The naqshbandi order is a notable exception to general rule of orders tracing their spiritual lineage through muhammads grandsons, as it traces the origin of its teachings from muhammad to. She holds a doctorate in classical art and archaeology from the university of michigan.