Please read! Sufism?

Question

I've been researching different sects of Islam and am fascinated with the unity, love and peace that Sufis focuse on. Does anyone have any good books I can read about it? Or perhaps the philosophical/mystical aspect to Islam..? What are the main points of Sufism, how do you practice it etc? Please, no rude answers. Thanks.

Answer 1

There seem to be two major strains of Sufism present in the world today. There is "universalist, non-denominational" Sufism, which really represents a syncretic Hindu-Islamic Sufism that emerged out of India under the guidance of people like Hazrat Inayat Khan. Another is what we might call "Sufism as inner dimension of Islam". This school of thought is specifically Islamic, looking for the transformational aspects of Islamic practice.

If you're looking for more information on the Universalistic type of Sufism, I suggest you look at:

http://www.sufiorder.org/

This is the website of Hazrat Inayat Khan's group. It's very open and welcoming.

If you're looking for more on a traditional Islamic sufism, I would recommend taking a look at the Naqshbandi order.

www.naqshbandi.org

A good group that falls kind of in the middle of these would be the Threshold Society. They are the US representatives of the Mevlevi Order - the Whirling Dervishes founded by Mawlana Rumi.

www.sufism.org

Another good website for exploring the various issues around Islam and Sufism is that of Prof. Alan Godlas:

http://www.uga.edu/islam/Sufism.html

I was once a muslim, and I would offer you my feelings on the subject, but I fear I'd be a little too jaded to be honest with you. If I can help out in any other way, feel free to contact me.

All the best,

Lazarus

Answer 2

Assuming that the questioner is looking for a description of Sufism: Anne-Marie Schimmel's "Mystical Dimensions of Islam" Margaret Smith's "Rabia the Mystic and Her Fellow Saints in Islam" Various introductory works by: R.A. Nicholson, Titus Burckhardt, Carl W. Ernst Next level would be Rumi's Mathnawi, complete English translation by R.A. Nicholson Hujwiri's Kashf al-Mahub, also translated by R.A. Nicholson Then check out translations by William C. Chittick and James W. Morris, related mostly to ibn Arabi

Answer 3

Sufism & Good Character
author: Imam Zafar Uthmani

Answer 4

true sufism is true Islam. when Islam has become distorted, historically, the sufis bring it back. here are some good websites:

www.sunnah.org
www.daar-ul-ehsaan.org

Answer 5

OH MY GOD IS THAT THAT THING WHERE OUNG MEN HAVE DIED ID SAY WHY GO THERE YOUR HAPPY WITHOUT WINDOW OPENED RIGHT SO DONT SMOKE RRRIIIGGGHHHHHHTTTTTTTT I JUST CAME HERE TO ADD COMMENT TO THE GATDEN QS CAUSE IM SO TIRED AND MUST BACK AWAY FROM THIS FUN FUN SET OF REPLYS SOME DAYS THE INTENSE IMPORTANCE OF LIFE IS SO TTAKEN TO SERIOUSLY BUT TO NIGHT I LAUGHED AS ID NOT DONE PRETTY DAMN GOOD ...GO CHECK IT OUT ITS THE TULIP ONE READ ALL THE ANSWERS THEN POPS UP A ANSWER SAYS I KNOW WHERE YOOU PLANT TULIPS AND I LAUGHED GOOD A 10 AMNSWER IN THE TIMED PLACEMENT MADE MY YR THANKS PERSON SAYS HES THE LIGHT NO ONE PASSES HE IS FIRSTR TO SE IFWHAYEVEA IM NI NIGHT

Answer 6

http://www.islamawareness.net/Deviant/Sufi/
There's only one Islam, Sunni is just a title but that is Islam. Just read and use your common sense, do you think the prophet(pbuh) danced around like that?

Answer 7

I guess if you are gonna be muslim, its better than many. since it doesn't seem to follow the other groups that see violence as a good thing.as long as you are busy studying and learning, you aren't gonna strap on a bomb and try to blow up my grandkids at the zoo.

Answer 8

read rumi.......it is beautiful...... he was a sufi poet....
sufiism is identical to mystic christianity and tibetan buddhism,,,,,,they all three embrace each other,,,,,,funny thing huh,,,

Answer 9

here is a great site about it

http://www.islamreview.com/articles/madinasuras.shtml

David T