Sufi Soul
I was struck while watching Sufi Soul last night (recorded some time ago, but we’ve only just got around to it) that one of the many ways in which you can classify religions is by their attitude towards facets of human nature. Some religions seem to put followers into the role of children, with the divine being as a strict parent and religious officials as enforcers and interpreters of his/her (let’s face it—-his) will. Many perfectly normal aspects of human nature are seen as wicked or sinful, and must be resisted by the children in order to gain the approval of the divine being.
Other religions see the same aspects of human nature as part of the expression of our humanity, and a perfectly valid way of expressing our love for the divine being. They tend to have a more liberal approach to the Right Way, with individuals finding their own way to know the divine, with guidance and help from religious officials. They also tend to be more inclusive—-it doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve done, it’s your attitude now that matters. It’s probably worth saying that some religions incorporate both of those approaches, either at different times in their history or simultaneously in different sects.
Which brings me back to Sufism. Sufism is a sect of Islam, but they sit uneasily on opposite sides of the divide I’ve just described. Sufism is a pluralistic, transcendental, and tolerant religion, stressing love as the path to the divine, not fear. They use beautiful and trance-inducing music as an important part of their worship, to help followers reach an ecstatic and transcendental unity with god. Sufis welcome everyone, regardless of their faith or past history. I don’t mean to imply that traditional Islam is the opposite of all these traits, but I think it’s fair to say that it’s stricter and more prescriptive. During this fascinating program, William Dalrymple talked to a traditional Islamic religious leader about their attitude to music. He asked why music was so frowned upon when the Islamic world had produced some of the most talented musicians in the world. The man half-smiled sadly and said that they were wrongdoers and would be punished.
Meanwhile, back at the Sufi temple, an annual festival celebrating the anniversary of the death of an important Sufi saint was in full flow. The temple was literally dripping with brightly coloured neon lights and fairy lights, and the courtyard was packed with smiling, laughing people. Wonderful, primal, infectious music filled the night air, and people whirled, danced, threw rose petals around and hugged one another. On the surface, at least, it would be difficult to recognise these two religions as stemming from the same root.
As regular readers will know, I’m not religious, but have a strange fascination for religious music of many kinds. I’ve long adored the style of Qawwali popularised by the late, great Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, but the programme also introduced me to the different styles of Sufi music from Morroco, Syria, India and Turkey. Each style was strikingly different from the rest, but all were life-affirming and ecstatic, and made me want to go and hear them live for myself in Morocco or Pakistan.
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Good point re religions treating believers like adults or like children. Reminiscent of Transactional Analysis... I very much agree with you about Sufism; a beautiful religion, spiritual in the deep sense. The strange thing is that the fundamentalist christians gaining power in the west have more in common with fundamentalist Islam than enlightenment influenced secular society in the west or the scholarly tradition of the east. Then again there's the hippie/bohemian/mystic tradition of the west and similar strands like sufism in the east. My hope is that the mystic/spiritual tradition merges with the scholarly tradition and wins out over the fundamentalists. Or something
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Nice observation. i will quote u in my blog.
One point, its wrong to say Sufism is a sect of Islam. Infact sufism transcend beyond religion. Its the soul of all religion and also it is more than religion.
See u here, http://mysticsaint.blopspot.com
by MysticSaint @ 21/11/2005 9:12 am • Permalink •
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Martin: Yes, I know what you mean. Despite being an atheist, I know which kind of religion I would rather have in the ascendancy. You're right that modern Christian fundamentalism has a lot in common with Islamic fundamentalism. I don't know why the people involved don't see it.
MysticSaint: Thanks, and sorry for the error. I obviously picked the wrong word, but I meant that Islam and Sufism are closer to one another in origin than they are to other religions. Obviously they are very different today. Perhaps I'm wrong about this too, but that's what I'd understood from previous reading and watching on the subject.
by bsag @ 21/11/2005 6:12 pm • Permalink •
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Many cults (godd, bad or "mostly harmless") may claim to "transcend religion" and maybe do so but when they quote & reference from a particular holy scripture, it´s prophet(s) and function in a particular a religions frame then it it is a cult of that religion doesn`t matter how much it gives a tolerant condescending nod to someother rligions spokemystics. The mystics of a religion maybe hanging out in some sort of blissful abstract angel land but the realities and practices of the religion which birthed them is completely somewhere else and it is usually not so pretty. The Dalai Lama, for instance, is regarded by many to have transcended Tibetan Buddhism, he may even be a really really nice guy, but in reality he still represents completely, wether he´s reforming it or not, the feudal primitive,superstition filed (and at times very beautiful) Tibetan Buddhism which has historical, political and cultural reasons for it´s particular form and practice like all religions ( and it´s got nothing to do with gods will unless he/she is super schizo) Enjoy the art, the music, the complexity but be ever aware of what is actually being said and done behind the incense smoke screen.
by john(jc.) @ 22/11/2005 8:12 am • Permalink •
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Yes, sufism is beautiful!the music touches me every time.
by seema @ 24/11/2005 3:12 pm • Permalink •
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I'd recommend checking out Mystical Dimensions of Islam by Anmarie Schimmel. It's a well referenced text that covers the history and development of Sufism, and does a particularly good job of revealing the points of contact between orthodox Islam and the more `adventurous' paths of the Sufi tradtion. It is more of a scholarly book than a light 'New Age' read - so it takes some effort but the rewards are well worth it.
It may be right to say that some Sufi practices are no longer considered to be contained within Islam as a religion, however in reading Schimmel's book I found that an understanding of how deep the roots of Sufism go within Islam gives a greater insight into what may be going on beneath the surface for many Muslims, Sufi or not. This was a breath of fresh air in the current media atmosphere as far as the stereotype of Islam goes.
by mark @ 26/11/2005 6:11 pm • Permalink •
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You are like the full moon, nay you are brighter Your face is like fine water that drips
O Ornament of the World, O Aim of Hopes Who has ever perceived a face such as yours?
No descendant of Eve from the essence of Adam And none in the Eternal Heavens is similar to you
Your first is the sun, your second a star The circular and luminous full moon is your third
And your fourth is camphor, your fifth ambergris Corundum your sixth, the rest of you gems
Your five fingers refers to five tidings They aim at the signs, so observe
Your middle finger is Abu Bakr, ‘Umar the ring finger ‘Uthman the smallest finger, ‘Ali the thumb
His forefinger is the seal of the Messengers, Muhammad And that is none else save a Prophet, purified
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and the Ka’abah is my Qiblah My religion is more exalted and honoured than other religions
Mediate for me, Messenger of Allah, Allah is Merciful There is no god save Allah, Allah is Great
Blessings of Allah for every day and night Upon Ahmad, the Chosen One, the Purified
by Solomon Marni @ 14/06/2007 12:06 am • Permalink •
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