What is Sufism?

13 snips

Dec 7, 2023

Explore the origins and practices of Sufism, including the purification of the soul and the master-student relationship. Discover the essence of love in Sufi poetry and the practices of thekir and samah. Delve into the controversy and powerful experiences of samah in Sufism. Learn about the role of women in early Sufism and the controversy surrounding mystical experiences. Understand the development and acceptance of Sufism within mainstream Islam. Delve into the metaphors and poetic language of Sufism, including the concept of annihilation. Explore the historical development and global influence of Sufism, as well as its relationship with Islamic law.

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Introduction

00:00 • 3min

Exploring the Origins and Practices of Sufism

02:40 • 10min

The Practice of Thekir and Samah in Sufism

12:22 • 2min

The Practice of Samah in Sufism: Spiritual Listening and Ecstasy

14:39 • 2min

The Role of Women and the Experience of Fanaa in Sufism

17:05 • 2min

The Development and Acceptance of Sufism in Mainstream Islam

19:30 • 10min

Exploring Sufism: Metaphors, Poetry, and Annihilation

29:51 • 13min

Development and Influence of Sufism

43:05 • 11min

Embark on an intellectual journey into the realm of Sufism. Explore the intricate history, philosophical underpinnings, and mystical practices that have shaped this fascinating tradition. Join me as we delve into the topic of Sufi mysticism, shedding light on its profound impact on Islam & its history.

Sources/Recomended Reading:

Abu-n Nasr, Jamil M. (2007). "Muslim Communities of Grace: The Sufi Brotherhoods in Islamic Religious Life". C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd.
"Al-Qushayri's Epistle on Sufism - Al-Risala Al Qushayriyya Fi 'ilm Al-Tasawwuf". Translated by Alexander Knysh. 2020. The Center for Muslim Contribution to Civilization.
Avery, Kenneth S. (2004). "A Psychology of Early Sufi Sama: Listening and altered states". Routledge.
Casewit, Yousef (2017). "The Mystics of al-Andalus: Ibn Barrajan and Islamic Thought in the Twelfth Century". Cambridge University Press.
Chittick, William (1989). "The Sufi Path of Knowledge: Ibn 'Arabi's Metaphysics of Imagination".
Chittick, William (1998). "The Self-Disclosure of God: Principles of Ibn al-'Arabi's Cosmology". State University of New York Press.
Cornell, Vincent J. (1998). "Realm of the Saint: Power and Authority in Moroccan Sufism". University of Texas Press.
Caner Dagli (translated by) (2004). Ibn 'Arabi - "The Ringstones of Wisdom (Fusus al-Hikam)". Great Books of the Islamic World. Kazi Pubns Inc.
Ernst, Carl W. & Bruce B. Lawrence (2003). "Sufi Martyrs of Love: The Chishti Order in South Asia and beyond". Palgrave Macmillan.
Homerin, Emil (Translated by) (2001). "'Umar Ibn al-Farid: Sufi Verse, Saintly Life". Classics of Western Spirituality. Paulist Press.
Homerin, Emil (2019). "Aisha al-Ba'uniyya: A Life in Praise of Love". Makers of the Muslim World Series. Oneworld Publications.
Karamustafa, Ahmet T. (2006). God's Unruly Friends: Dervish Groups in the Islamic Middle Period 1200-1550. Oneworld Publications.
Karamustafa, Ahmet T. (2007). "Sufism - the formative period". Edinburgh University Press.
Knysh, Alexander (2000). "Islamic Mysticism: A Short History". Brill.
Knysh, Alexander (2019). "Sufism: A New History of Islamic Mysticism". Princeton University Press.
Lewis, Franklin D. (2000). "Rumi: Past and Present, East and West". Oneworld publications.
Malik, Jamal & John Hinnells (ed.) (2006). "Sufism in the West". Routledge.
Ridgeon, Lloyd (ed.) (2015). "The Cambridge Companion to Sufism". Cambridge University Press.
Schimmel, Annemarie (1975). "Mystical Dimensions of Islam". The University of North Carolina Press.
Van Bruinessen, Martin & Julia Day Howell (ed). (2007). "Sufism and the Modern in Islam". I.B. Tauris.

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