Islam Explained: A Short Introduction to History, Teachings, and Culture by Salim Ahmad Rashid

Author:Salim, Ahmad Rashid [Salim, Ahmad Rashid]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rockridge Press
Published: 2020-10-21T00:00:00+00:00

Muslim community. They maintained that this was not simply their preference but what the Prophet (and by extension God) wanted. The Shi’a still consider the rule of the first three caliphs to be an infringement of Ali’s authority and against the wishes of Muhammad.

Certain Muslims and allied Arab tribes were uneasy about leadership continuing in the family of the Prophet Muhammad. Many also held animosity toward Ali for killing their relatives in battle, or they just considered him too young. Nonetheless, Ali and his supporters maintained his claim and emphasized statements of Muhammad for support of it. However, Ali prioritized the cohesion of the Muslim community and counseled the other caliphs. Ali’s merits are uniformly accepted by Muslims. His letters, sermons, and sayings are commonly referenced and collected under the title Nahj al-Balagha: The Peak of Eloquence . Among the collection is a letter to his governor in Egypt. The letter lays out Ali’s vision of how an Islamic government and rule should be. Ali reminds the governor that “People are of two kinds: either your equal in faith, or your equal in humanity” (Nahj al-Balagha , Letter 53).

SUFISM: THE MYSTICAL ORDER

Sufism, or Tasawwuf , is the inner, mystical teachings of Islam. It is not a separate school of thought, such as the Shi’a and Sunni, but an orientation toward a more subtle experience and understanding of Islam. The term derives from the word meaning “pure” or “wool.” Sufism emphasizes the purification of the heart, asceticism, and the inner realities of Islamic teachings. Using verses of the Qur’an and sayings of the Prophet, Sufi philosophy maintains that the heart must be purified in order for it to awaken to the reality of existence and God. A purified heart will ensure that the ego is overpowered and reality is witnessed. Sufis have a three-pronged approach for this: Shari’a (Islamic law), tariqa (Sufi order or path), and haqiqa (truth or reality).

Following demanding regimens of prayers, contemplation, dhikr (to lovingly recall and utter the names of God and devotional prayers), fasting, and other actions, the traveler (Sufi) progresses on the path of the heart’s purification. The path is formed by states and stations. States can be brief experiences of insight and spiritual ecstasy, but stations are more lasting experiences of spiritual progress.

The binary states of Sufi and non-Sufi did not historically exist in ways we find today. Eventually, certain Sufi orders were formed either by teachers or by their students and followers. Sufis trace their paths back to the Prophet via Ali. There are numerous Sufi orders in America. Concurrently, a number of individuals and groups appropriate Sufism but contradict traditional Sufi teachings and literature. Erasing Islam from Sufism by some in the West is problematic and connected to a precarious history.

Sufis are historically profound contributors to Islamic art, literature, and music. Of particular importance is the poetry of individuals such as Hallaj, Ibn ’Arabi, Ibn al-Farid, Sana’i, Mawlana of Balkh (Rumi), Hafez, Yunus Emre, and others. Sufism emphasizes the importance of love in the worship and realization of God.

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