Sufism
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Sufism is the mystic path of Islam. Someone who practices Sufism is called a Sufi, a Dervish, Wali or a Fakir. It could be a Muslim who seeks direct experience of Allah.
In Sufism there exist many different orders (tarikas), that were founded from the 12th and 13th centuries until today, mostly practiced in Iran.
The underlying theme of Sufism is that an individual can achieve oneness with God during his mortal life. The way is to first destroy the difference or the duality that exists between God and him by self destruction of the self or the ego. This is known as fanaa. Besides various Sufi prayers (which are different for different Sufi orders), one should make it a part of life to remain humble, considerate and indulge only in acts which help one in his quest to control his desires.
After fanaa is achieved, the individual is resurrected in the mould of God (this is called baqaa). This is the state where he has achieved the divine love of God. (In a certain sense he has achieved God now.) He should now try to keep increasing this closeness throughout his lifetime.
Sufi practices are usually defined within the tenets of Islam, (although some orders include singing and dancing in the love of God, something some Muslims frown on.) Hence the practices of sufism are best suited for Muslims only. However the underlying message and aim of the quest for the love of God is true for all humanity. For a non-Muslim the most important ideas in Sufism are love for fellow human beings (which reflects one's love of God) and living ones life in such a way where all actions are against the self. This automatically starts him on the path of fanaa.
There are some Muslim schools of thought who oppose Sufism because they feel it obliterates the difference between God and man and bypasses the common method of salvation. Also there are non islamic versions of Sufism too (Universal Sufism).
[change] Riaz Ahmed Gohar Shahi
Riaz Ahmed Gohar Shahi was heavily criticized by orthodox theological scholars in Pakistan and abroad. Shahi's books were banned by the Government of Pakistan.[1] Public meetings are not allowed to his followers[2] and no press coverage is allowed to either Gohar Shahi or to his followers due to charges of blasphemy law. Many attempts were made on Shahi's life including a petrol bomb attack, thrown into his Manchester residence,[3] and an attack with a hand grenade during the discourse at his home in Kotri, Pakistan.[3] Gohar Shahi was booked in 1997 on alleged charges of murdering a woman who had come to him for spiritual treatment;[4] Gohar Shahi, and many of his followers,[5] were later convicted under Islamic blasphemy laws[6][7] by an antiterrorist court in Sindh.[8] Gohar Shahi was convicted in absentia[6]—as then he was in England[5]—resulting in sentences that totaled approximately 59 years.[7]
[change] References
- ↑ Pakistan's Supreme Court upholds ban on a Shahi disciple's book
- ↑ 10 held for raising slogans in favour of Gohar Shahi
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Attempts made on Gohar Shahi
- ↑ Gohar Shahi Chief of ASI
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Int’l Religious Freedom Report - May, 2001
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices by United States of America
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "The Man in the Moon" by Ardeshir Cowasjee
- ↑ U.S. State Department Religious Freedom Report 2000
