Islamic Mystics?

Question

Almost every religion has at least one sect that’s mystic.
Generally these mystics have more in common with each other than they do the faith they originally came from.
I hope I’m simply uninformed and would love to hear a Mystic view from Islam.

Thank you ahead of time, may God be with you.

♥Blessed Be♥
♥=∞

I don't want to read about them. I want to know them and yes I did a Google and read what it said. Explanations of Mysticism are don’t read as they are perceived. Articles on the internet hardly apply.

silkenhijab Thank you for your question. Consider this.
If you find strongly opinionated believers a Christian, a Jew, and a Muslim and lock them in a room they will fight.
If you find strongly opinionated Mystics a Christian, a Jew, and a Muslim and lock them in a room they will learn from each other.
Mystics speak the same language regardless of religion which should tell us all that they know something the rest of us don’t know.

Peace

Answer 1

You are as likely to bump into a Sufi mystic as a Christian mystic on this site - they are few and far between. But, there is more of a following of mystical approaches in Islam than present day Christianity where remnants of trying to enter other states of consciousness - speaking in "tongues," healing services and the like is what the powerful tradition has degenerated into. What authentically remains of Christian mysticism is mostly monastic, but the discovery of the Gospel of Thomas has provided a profoundly insightful look into the subject. Gnosticism is an interesting mystical sect if you understand the symbolism.

You are right about mystics understanding each other. Jesus and Mohammed and Buddha (and numerous Hindu and Zen masters) would have relished comparing insights and approaches no doubt. Mysticism is primarily concerned with achieving "unity" with the divine, whatever the theology. Haqiqa means 'truth' or 'reality' in Sufism and refers to the concept of an essential truth that transcends human limitations. Buddhist enlightenment, Christian transcendence, Jewish 'pure' altruism (Kabbala), etc. are all about the same process just different approaches to achieving it. Psychological purification through various ascetic mental approaches is a part of each. The idea being that one's experience of "the Real" can be achieved through contemplation and other means - reality synchronizing with the mystics authentic being and purpose.

Nasrudin is probably not a good example of Islamic mysticism, being more like a Zen master in his approach. Rumi, however, is very much worth anyone's study.

The "key" to understanding esoteric mystical material (and it begins to sound all alike - despite the differences in culture and time) is to remember that these masters were describing unique insights into the nature of our relationship with reality before there was scientific terminology or any kind of terminology. The symbolism refers to the internal battle with the learned identity. The 'ego' psychologists try to moderate today, the mystic's sought to dismantle and annihilate in order to directly experience shifts in consciousness and reality.

Answer 2

Gnostic, that would be Sufism. They read the Qu'ran mostly allegorical, as they know it was written for spiritual/mystical reasons about our own being. But they are very mystical (they have a dance which is used to invoke consciousness out of our mechanical state), as you know it is the Mystics that more than likely were the creators and core of the movements/paths in their infancy. All paths inevitably turn against their first principles and goes by the wayside, from its purity, intelligence, brilliance, Benevolent excellency, true (Gnosis) education and mystical essence. These movements often become the very reversal of their purpose.

In Christianity it went from having the power, higher spiritual nature and duty to prove all things within yourself to not needing to prove anything, also from having a consecrated lifestyle and spiritual mindset set apart from the world (solitary) to being carnal, again from embodying the gospel (being an living Gospel) to being complacent, from "Faith without works being dead" to "faith with works being dead".

Then onto Islam, movement of peace became an movement of war.

Answer 3

LOL, Gnostic. It's scary isn't it? Mystics tend to have a sense of reality that IS unique only to our own kind. It doesn't make a bit of difference wheter we are Wiccan mysitrcs, Christian Mystice, Hindu Mystics or Islamic Mystics. We DO learn from each other, we accept each other as brothers and sisters. Even if our ways and interpretations are completely different from each other we are still able top see, know and accept that for each of us, the way that we follow is TRUTH for us, as individuals.

Brightest Blessings,
Raji the Green Witch

Answer 4

I am a Muslim very interested in Sufism and have even tailored some of my Islamic beliefs to incorporate the universal mystic aspiration of attaining God thorugh peace and love.

Answer 5

Hafiz, Rumi, Kabir, Moinuddin Chisti, Abou ben Adhem are few Sufi mystics of Islamic faith.

Sufi's talked about singing, indulging themselves in dancing, which orthodox islam looked down upon. Both Shia's and Sunni's talk and look down upon Sufi's. But Sufi's are a subset of Shia's and Sunni's.

Hope this helps. Be Blessed.

Answer 6

Ok I see, well I doubt there are any if few Mystics on here, the best thing to do is visit a Suffi Mosque, I'm pretty sure you will find some around you. I went to a Suffi Mosque once with my proffesor for religion class, it's rather beautiful.. And from one of the Suffi's I met, He was very intent on being inviting and caring. They do believe in the fundamentals of Islam, but we were invited to see them pray and it was a sight indeed. They don't pray as any other person would.. but rather their prayer is a performance. They become indulged and engulfed in making a deep connection with God. They either spin in circles, do a repition of a movement.. or say the word Allah.. to the point of meditation...
They believe basically that in order to succeed they must be in tune with Allah only, and not so conscious with the rest of the world around them... Very gentle people and welcoming as well.

From an Islamic point of view, I don't agree with the way of prayer, since in order to have a valid prayer in Islam it MUST be done as the Prophet did it. They have a lot of different interpretations of Islam. I am in no position of saying they are right or wrong.... Allah is the one who judges... But generally Islamically.... They would be lets say.. misinformed. Just my opinion...

Hope that helped.

P.S.... Since it was innocated or created with thoughts outside of Islam, and was present after the death of the Prophet (PBUH), a lot of the things aren't valid. But no one has the right to say they are not Muslim, Allah decides that.

Answer 7

Sufism would be the "mystical" sect of Islam. Most unfortunately, my book is nowhere near me right now. But if you type Sufism in your web browser, I'm sure you'll find some good stuff!

I remember some quote about treating unbelievers with such gentleness that their unbelief just simply melts away.

Thank you for your interest. May Allah bless you in your quest for knowledge!

Answer 8

Look to the immortal words of Mullah Nasrudin, and all shall be revealed.

A sample :

Two Sides of a River

Nasrudin sat on a river bank
when someone shouted to him
from the opposite side:

"Hey! how do I get across?"

"You are across!" Nasrudin shouted back.


Youth And Old Age

At a gathering where Mullah Nasrudin was present, people were discussing the merits of youth and old age. They had all agreed that, a man's strength decreases as years go by. Mullah Nasrudin dissented.

I don't agree with you gentlemen, he said. In my old age I have the same strength as I had in the prime of my youth.

How do you mean, Mullah Nasruddin? asked somebody. Explain yourself.

In my courtyard, explained Mullah Nasrudin, there is a massive stone. In my youth I used to try and lift it. I never succeeded. Neither can I lift it now.


Public Speaking

Mullah Nasrudin, who was really unaccustomed to public speaking, arose in confusion after dinner and muttered hesitatingly: "M-m-my f-f-friends, when I came here tonight only God and myself knew what I was about to say to you AND NOW ONLY GOD KNOWS!"

{{{{{{{{{{{{Cosmic Sufiism}}}}}}}}}}}

Answer 9

I only remember one person on Y!A who was a mystic Muslim (what's the word for them?)
I can't seem to find his ID... but I'm gonna star this question so he could see it hopefully...

:)

Meanwhile... care for some Islamic Mystic poems?

Answer 10

All faiths have mystics. The common thread is that they pursue direct experience of God through meditation and prayer.