Sufism

=**Suf ** **ism ** =

=Introduction = The Sufis were the historical Islamic Empire’s most influential missionaries due to their quest to “nurture theirs and others' spiritual dimension”.3Their tendency to migrate among other ethnic groups allowed them to easily unify the diverse communities in both neighboring and distant lands. They created close connections of culture, rather than dominance, between the Muslim people and the people of surrounding regions such as Southeast Asia, Africa, and especially India. The Sufis were unique from the more military-driven Islamic forces because of their central idea of universal love, which led them toward a generally more peaceful and friendly approach to conversion. The Sufis' beliefs include specific social and religious beliefs and customs; however, they are willing to flex these customs in order to incorporate the potential Islamic converts' traditions and rituals. T his compromise allowed them to make a historic difference not only spiritually, but also socially, culturally, politically, and economically. Their significance was great, their impact was lasting, and their movement continues to this very day.

**Spiritual Beginnings and Beliefs** Sufism started as a mystical reaction against conventional Islam's strict outlook on the faith. They believed that their government should promote greater free thinking and equality for everyone, as opposed to the traditional Islamic legalist government that followed the Quran as if it was a rigid law that the believers were //forced// to follow. This led to the split of a relatively small band of believers from the majority of Islam’s followers around 675 CE 7; Sufism, as the new movement was called, allowed for a less restrictive form of Islam. The Sufis rooted their practice and theology in basic, mainstream Islamic principles and went on to encourage a special relationship with God through special spiritual disciplines. The Sufis believe that their lifetime goal is stated in Quran 51:56, which declares, “I [Allah] created the Jinns and humankind only that they may worship me.”18  Throughout all of history, Sufis believe that they are destined to be people of religious learning who aspire to be close to Allah. Their pursuit to become one with Allah bears some similarities to the practices of some Hindu and Buddhist sects, such as meditative yoga and walking on a bed of coals, which are intended to balance the mind. Some Sufism meditation exercises that are intended to bring one closer to Allah include //dhikr //, which is reciting prayers and passages from the Quran and repeating the names of attributes of God while performing physical movements, and Sufi whirling, where the dervishes (Sufi dancers), spin around in circles until they reach the point of bliss. Sufism played an important part in the formation of Muslim societies within other cultures and regions as it provided the masses of converts and unbelievers alike with an education and provisions to meet their needs, as well as introduced the people’s lives to a higher level of spirituality. Above all, the Sufis were influential missionaries who converted several regions to Islam in a peaceful manner. Part of this was due to the fact that the beliefs of Sufism are flexible enough to coexist with those of the foreign animist, Hindu, and Buddhist ideologies and traditions; consequently, many converts, such as those of the Delhi Sultanate in India, kept Hindu practices and the caste system alongside their Islamic beliefs. Sufism is still being practiced in several diverse countries and cultures worldwide.

=**Social Structure of the Sufi Movement **= =Cultural Impact = =Political Impact on the Globe =
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Within the Sufi movement are orders, //Tariqas//, which are guided by a man who is thought of as "the most spiritual"10 within the group.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Different Tariqas follow their own set of laws and rituals, although almost all orders gather around famous leaders.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Within Sufism, women are able to acquire a higher status, even equal to the status of men, in both the Islamic society and in the household.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Sufi converts still maintain certain Islamic social systems. [[image:ridgeaphistory/Whirling_Dervish.jpg width="150" height="266" align="right" caption="http://patcegan.wordpress.com/2010/12/28/spin/whirling-dervish/"]]
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Due to Sufism, priests and pastors are able to achieve a higher position within the social system because of their closer connection to God.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><range type="comment" id="160153">Through rich poetry in Arabic, Turkish and several other languages, Sufism was able to spread its mystical ideas throughout the Muslim world while enhancing an identity.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">In Sufi culture, music, dance and poetry play a large role in their celebrations and rituals. To the right is an image of a //whirling dervish//, common to Turkey. Dervishes twirl in circles in meditation, humming significant worship tones.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The Sufis' primary goal when they entered the land of India was to assist in expanding the Muslim faith and empire.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Sufis were a source of important guidance to the leaders of the Islamic empire because of their experience and interaction among the common people.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The Sufi missionaries encouraged extension of the Empire in the regions they reached with their popular influence in the regions.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">In regions where Sufis traveled to, rule was consolidated through educational facilities, as well as worship centers like the mosques.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">These public institutions were also used as a minimal type of defense for the locals.



= **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">World Economic Impact ** = =**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Conclusion **= <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The impact of Sufism is significant in many aspects beyond religion. The Sufis’ absorption into foreign regions and cultures produces great works of art, particularly poetry and hymns, in numerous languages and dialects. As a result, they are some of the most important contributors to Islamic literature, and their works are poured over and examined by numerous readers in the West today. While the Sufis are primarily a belief movement that operates on feeling rather than forcing, their past influence did introduce some traditional Islamic attributes regarding politics and military. They opened mosques and schools as well as encouraged the development and defense of the civilizations they inhabited. The Sufis had a positive effect on the status of women, as well as an even stronger emphasis on the equality of believers of Islam, which had a large social appeal to many of the converts at the time. All in all, the Sufis’ work and the consequential success in the regions they touch help the lives of many grow spiritually and peacefully.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Sufis had a roaming lifestyle and were willing to exchange ideas and goods from very distant lands.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">They introduced several somewhat isolated regions to the magnificent trade opportunities of the Islamic Empire.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">This helped struggling economies regain their footing.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">They, in turn, introduced the valuable goods of the previously isolated regions to the rest of the world.

=<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 40px;">Bibliography = <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">
 * 1) Armstrong, Karen. "The Esoteric Movements." Islam: A Short History. New York: Modern Library, 2000. 74-76. Print.Great information on the impact of the Sufi movement on the Islamic empire.
 * 2) Armstrong, Monty. "The Abbasid Dynasty: Another Golden Age to Remember." Cracking the AP World History Exam. New York: Random House, 2011. 136. Print.Last paragraph contains a basic statement on the Sufis and their impact on the spread of Islam.
 * 3) "BBC - Religions - Islam: Sufism." BBC.co.uk. The BBC, 8 Sept. 2009. Web. 12 Jan. 2012. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/subdivisions/sufism_1.shtml#h2>.History and theology of Sufism.
 * 4) Cegan |, Pat. "Whirling-dervish | Source of Inspiration." Source of Inspiration | All Is One, Co-creating with the Creator. 28 Dec. 2010. Web. 18 Jan. 2012. <http://patcegan.wordpress.com/2010/12/28/spin/whirling-dervish/>.Whirling Dervish image.
 * 5) Ferguson, James. "ISLAMIC CULTURE AND THE POLITICS OF SUFISM." The International Relations and International Cultures Portal. Bond University, 2007. Web. 16 Jan. 2012. <http://www.international-relations.com/>.
 * 6) Gunes, Mavi. "Poems of Kabir." Http:goto.bilkent.edu.tr/gunes/default.htm. Web. 12 Jan. 2012. <http://goto.bilkent.edu.tr/gunes/SAGES/KabirPoems.htm>.Poems and Quotes of Kabir, a well-known Muslim Sufi poet.
 * 7) Khalek, Nancy, Kathleen A. Mulhern, and Jacob N. Kinnard. "Sufi Origins, Sufi History, Sufi Beliefs." Patheos.com. Patheos, Inc. Web. 12 Jan. 2012. <http://www.patheos.com/Library/Sufism>.In-depth collection of information on Sufi origins, history, beliefs, ritual, worship, devotion, symbolism, ethics, morality, and community.
 * 8) Krishan, Rajender. "Kabir: The Mystic Poet." Boloji.com - A Study in Diversity. Boloji Media, Inc., Sept. 1999. Web. 12 Jan. 2012. <http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content>.Background history on Kabir, a prominent Muslim Sufi poet.
 * 9) Pareles, Jon. "NY Times Advertisement." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. New York Times, 21 July 2010. Web. 18 Jan. 2012. <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/22/arts/music/22sufi.html>.
 * 10) Pike, John. "Sufi Islam." GlobalSecurity.org. GlobalSecurity.org, 7 May 2011. Web. 16 Jan. 2012. <http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/intro/islam-sufi.htm>.
 * 11) "Quran 51:56" Islam.TheTrueCall.com. The True Call: A Paradigm Shift. Web. 09 Feb. 2012. <http://islam.thetruecall.com/Quran_Chapter_51:56.htm>. Quran 51:56 is the Sufis' purpose statement.
 * 12) Schimmel, Annemarie. "Sufism (Islam) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia." Britannica.com. Encyclopedia Britannica Online, 2012. Web. 12 Jan. 2012. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/571823/Sufism>.Credible source with tons of information, including a specified section entitled "Significance".
 * 13) Stearns, Peter N. "Abbasid Decline and the Spread of Islamic Civilization to South and Southeast Asia." World Civilizations: The Global Experience. 3rd, AP ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2003. 162+. Print.Details on the Sufi impact on the spread of Islam to South and Southeast Asia.
 * 14) "Sufi Mysticism (Overview)." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 12 Jan. 2012. <http://ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Topics/Display/1185330?cid=41&terms=sufism>.Discusses the impact of the Sufi movement in the spread of Islam.
 * 15) "Sufism." Rim.org. Reformed Internet Ministries. Web. 12 Jan. 2012. <http://www.rim.org/muslim/sufism.htm>.Cited quotations from various sources, analyzes Sufism from several points of view.
 * 16) "The History of Yoga." Regimes.HotExercise.com. Hot Exercise. Web. 10 Feb. 2012. <http://www.regimes.hotexercise.com/eastern/yoga/what-is-yoga/>. Global context for spiritual disciplines of Sufism.
 * 17) Thadani, Shishir. "South Asian History." South Asian History. 30 May 2009. Web. 16 Jan. 2012. <http://india_resource.tripod.com/sahistory.html>.
 * 18) Tickr. "Google Images." Google. Dipity, 25 Apr. 2009. Web. 18 Jan. 2012. <http://www.dipity.com/tickr/Flickr-sufi-sufism/>.
 * 19) Upadhyay, R. "SUFISM IN INDIA: Its Origin, History and Politics." SouthAsiaAnalysis.org. South Asia Analysis Group, 16 Feb. 2004. Web. 12 Jan. 2012. <http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/%5Cpapers10%5Cpaper924.html>.Detailed analysis of Sufism.