"O Imam Ali, can you tell us how far it is to heaven?" asked a group of Muslim pilgrims to which the wise one replied, "Just Two Steps Away"... The cover of a new Islamic text reaches out to children worldwide with its witty quips.
A pictorial anthology, "40 Sufi Comics" by Bangalore-based entrepreneurs and creative artists Arif and Ali Vakil, has brought anecdotes, fables, lessons and traditions from Islam and Sufism in English for younger generations of Muslims across the world.
The book, launched in the capital Feb 17, is already in use in madrassas - Islamic seminaries - across Canada, Australia, Pakistan, Africa and Dubai which have stocked their libraries.
The Islamic Shia Study Centre (ISSC) at West Madrasah in Ontario has included the book in the syllabus, said Ali Vakil.
The book has been translated into French, Russian, German and Indonesian.
"We decided to create the pictorial book three years ago. It started as an experiment. We were running a spiritual blog to share with friends and family. And we thought why not put the stories from Islam in the form of a picture book with Islamic texts and share it with the world," Ali Vakil told IANS.
Vakil said the seeds of the book were sown during their (brothers Arif and Ali) childhood in Dubai.
"We went to school in the morning and a madrassa in the evening to study Islam. Our teachers would narrate stories of faith, wit, love, sacrifice and adventure. The stories stayed with us," the young writer said.
The Vakil brothers have also launched an I-pad app of the book in colour strips.
"We are trying to get it translated in Persian and Urdu for use in India," Vakil said.
The book is divided into five segments - "Ethics, Spirituality, Philosophy, Existence of God and References for Tradition".
The book conveys Islam to children through "exchanges of simple and practical wisdom".
"When a man asked the prophet to explain nobility of character to him, he replied, 'It means that you should forgive him who wronged you, re-establish ties with him who has broken them off, give to him who has denied you something, and tell the truth even if it is against your own interests."
The book even teaches the correct postures and thoughts for prayer in an illustrated section, "Secrets of Prayer Taught by Imam Jafar Sadiq".
"When you face the Qiblah, you should despair of this world, what it contains of creation and what others are occupied with, empty your heart of all pre-occupation which might distract you from Allah," the book teaches beginners, "Opening the Prayer".
The anthology has culled its texts from "Prophetic Traditions in Islam", "Nahjul Balaga", a collection of sermons from Imam Ali, "Sahife Sajjadiya" from Psalms of Islam, "Lantern of the Path", a collection of sayings by Imam Jafar Sadiq and Mizan Al-Hikmah, the scale of wisdom.
"We are working on the second volume of the Sufi comic in colour with short anecdotes," he said. Islamic pictorial books are still unfamiliar in India, Vakil said.
Mumbai-based Goodword Islamic Books, is one of the biggest publishers of Islamic children books and pictorial texts in the country with categories like "Treasury of Stories From Quran", "Tell Me About Series", "Quran Stories from Little Hearts", "Treasured Islamic Tales" and "Ramadan and Eid Stories".
Really WRONG and UNISLAMIC
Maybe Shias like it so much to include it in their syllabus but its UNISLAMIC and preaches wrong things. One thing I still wonder << What is so secretive about prayers ?? ? >> Blaspemy and LIES
SUFISM and soofis are now supported by shias as they tend to move people away from Sunni beliefs and adding SHIA traditions and mis beliefs in ISLAM
Syed Patel
You are on dot friend. A good piece of write up. I beg to say that Sufism is partly an offshoot of protestant Muslims, when after the departure of our beloved prophet, the progeny of Sahabas and Taba Taabaieen became power driven and they started classification, subjugation and exploitation of Muslims, then started a movement basically by the poor and the down trodden Muslims named and styled as Sufis. As for the term "Sophia" which in Greek means knowledge or Wisdom may so be, but yet the closest the word Sufi comes to is "Wool", symbolising Islam to be as gentle and comforting as wool. Sufi, (wool) could be apt because this movement was antidote to the exploitation and high handedness of the powerful Muslims then.
In present times the Sufi movement is on the back foot as it has dearth of powerful and knowledgable Murshids like late Abdullah Shah Sahab. Also materialism has no time for Mysticsm or metaphysics. Though not a Sufi, I for one believe, the ideology which suits Muslims in India is Sufism as it build bridges with other communities living in India.
Sufi
Sufi'ism is true and right path to be a moomin and good muslim, check around the world one who claim them-self Tawheed prasat all they know as AlQaida, Taliban, Terrorist,Extremist, fundamentalist,khawarij,
Great Job brother
May Allah(SWT) reward you br for the time you to took to clarify things..
Allah says in Quran that
Allah says in Quran that dont call them dead they are very much alive in their resting places. when Allah says that they are alive then the topic is closed. This is the fact that in india real islam was spread by sufis. I agree that some of the people nowadays have started business in the name of sufisim. But just because of these people you cannot blame all.
i think you are really out of your mind. what is your qualification in islam are you a scholar. have you ever gone through the books which are written on islam, prophet and his followers.
first
Very good Jamal Quadri
Very good Jamal Quadri Shah.
Jazak Allah Khair
Soofism have no connection with ISLAM...
Siasat misguiding readers specially muslims by posting such useless articles of "SOOFISM". As so called soofism has no connection with Islam. I fully agree with the above comment / article posted by one of our brother in Islam.
JazakAllah bro for posting such a detail article..
As any worthy and good
As any worthy and good newspaper, Siasat presents both sides of the story - it is not the job of a newspaper to be judgemental of any subject. It is left to the reader to make his/her own judgement about any and everything. You must know the basics, Habeebi.
Sufi-ism
The word “Sufism” was not known at the time of the Messenger or the Sahaabah or the Taabi’een. It arose at the time when a group of ascetics who wore wool (“soof”) emerged, and this name was given to them. It was also said that the name was taken from the word “soofiya” (“sophia”) which means “wisdom” in Greek. The word is not derived from al-safa’ (“purity”) as some of them claim, because the adjective derived from safa’ is safaa’i, not soofi (sufi).
The emergence of this new name and the group to whom it is applied exacerbated the divisions among Muslims. The early Sufis differed from the later Sufis who spread bid’ah (innovation) to a greater extent and made shirk in both minor and major forms commonplace among the people, as well as the innovations against which the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) warned us when he said, “Beware of newly-invented things, for every newly-invented thing is an innovation and every innovation is a going-astray.” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, who said it is saheeh hasan).
The following is a comparison between the beliefs and rituals of Sufism and Islam which is based on the Qur’aan and Sunnah.
Sufism has numerous branches or tareeqahs, such as the Teejaniyyah, Qaadiriyyah, Naqshbandiyyah, Shaadhiliyyah, Rifaa’iyyah, etc., the followers of which all claim that their particular tareeqah is on the path of truth whilst the others are following falsehood. Islam forbids such sectarianism. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“… and be not of al-mushrikoon (the disbelievers in the Oneness of Allaah, polytheists, idolaters, etc),
Of those who split up their religion (i.e., who left the true Islamic monotheism), and became sects, [i.e., they invented new things in the religion (bid’ah) and followed their vain desires], each sect rejoicing in that which is with it.” [al-Room 30:31-32]
The Sufis worship others than Allaah, such as Prophets and “awliya’” [“saints”], living or dead. They say, “Yaa Jeelaani”, “Yaa Rifaa’i” [calling on their awliya’], help and save”our dependence is on you”, etc.
But Allaah forbids us to call on anyone except Him in matters that are beyond the person's capabilities. If a person does this, Allaah will count him as a mushrik, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And invoke not, besides Allaah, any that will neither profit you, nor hurt you, but if (in case) you did so, you shall certainly be one of the zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers).” [Yoonus 10:106]
The Sufis believe that there are abdaal, aqtaab and awliya’ (kinds of “saints”) to whom Allaah has given the power to run the affairs of the universe. Allaah tells us about the mushrikeen (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say [O Muhammad]: ‘…And who disposes the affairs?’ They will say. ‘Allaah.’…” [Yoonus 10:31]
The mushrik Arabs knew more about Allaah than these Sufis!
The Sufis turn to other than Allaah when calamity strikes, but Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And if Allaah touches you with harm, none can remove it but He, and if He touches you with good, then He is Able to do all things.” [al-An’aam 6:17]
Some Sufis believe in wahdat al-wujood (unity of existence). They do not have the idea of a Creator and His creation, instead they say that everything is creation and everything is god.
The Sufis advocate extreme asceticism in this life and do not believe in taking the necessary means or in jihaad, but Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“But seek with that (wealth) which Allaah has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter, and forget not your portion of legal enjoyment in this world…” [al-Qasas 28:77]
“And make ready against them all that you can of power…” [al-Anfaal 8:60]
The Sufis refer the idea of ihsaan to their shaykhs and tell their followers to have a picture of their shaykh in mind when they remember Allaah and even when they are praying. Some of them even put a picture of their shaykh in front of them when they are praying. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Ihsaan is when you worship Allaah as if you can see Him, and although you cannot see Him, He can see you.” (Reported by Muslim).
The Sufis allow dancing, drums and musical instruments, and raising the voice when making dhikr, but Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“The believers are only those who, when Allaah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts…” [al-Anfaal 8:2]
Moreover, you see some of them making dhikr by only pronouncing the Name of Allaah, saying, “Allaah, Allaah, Allaah.” This is bid’ah and has no meaning in Islam. They even go to the extreme of saying, “Ah, ah” or “Hu, Hu.” The Sunnah is for the Muslim to remember his Lord in words that have a true meaning for which he will be rewarded, such as saying Subhaan Allaah wa Alhamdulillah wa Laa ilaaha illa Allaah wa Allaahu akbar, and so on.
The Sufis recite love poems mentioning the names of women and boys in their dhikr gatherings, and they repeat words such as “love”, “passion”, “desire” and so on, as if they are in a gathering where people dance and drink wine and clap and shout. All of this has to do with the customs and acts of worship of the mushrikeen. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Their salaah (prayer) at the House (of Allaah, i.e., the Ka’bah at Makkah) was nothing but whistling and clapping of hands…”
[al-Anfaal 8:35]
Some Sufis pierce themselves with rods of iron, saying, “O my grandfather!” So the shayaateen come to them and help them, because they are seeking the help of someone other than Allaah . Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And whosoever turns away (blinds himself) from the remembrance of the Most Beneficent (Allaah), We appoint for him a shaytaan (devil) to be a qareen (intimate companion) for him.”
[al-Zukhruf 43:36]
The Sufis claim to have gnosis and knowledge of the unseen, but the Qur’aan shows them to be liars. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say: ‘None in the heavens and the earth knows the ghayb (unseen) except Allaah…’” [al-Naml 27:65]
The Sufis claim that Allaah created the world for the sake of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), but the Qur’aan shows them to be liars. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And I (Allaah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone).” [al-Dhaariyaat 51:56]
Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, addressed His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) with the words (interpretation of the meaning):
“And worship your Lord until there comes unto the certainty (i.e., death).” [al-Hijr 15:99]
The Sufis claim that they can see Allaah in this life, but the Qur’aan shows them to be liars. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“[Moosa said:] ‘O my Lord! Show me (Yourself), that I may look upon You.’ Allaah said, ‘You cannot see Me…’” [al-A’raaf 7:143]
The Sufis claim that they take knowledge directly from Allaah, without the mediation of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and in a conscious state (as opposed to dreams). So are they better than the Sahaabah??
The Sufis claim that they take knowledge directly from Allaah, without the mediation of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). They say, “Haddathani qalbi ‘an Rabbi (My heart told me from my Lord).”
The Sufis celebrate Mawlid and hold gatherings for sending blessings on the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), but they go against his teachings by raising their voices in dhikr and anaasheed (religious songs) and qaseedahs (poems) that contain blatant shirk. Did the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) celebrate his birthday? Did Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthman, ‘Ali, the four imaams or anyone else celebrate his birthday? Who knows more and is more correct in worship, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and the Salaf, or the Sufis?
The Sufis travel to visit graves and seek blessings from their occupants or to make tawaaf (ritual circumambulation) around them or to make sacrifices at these sites, all of which goes against the teachings of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “Do not travel to visit any place but three mosques: al-Masjid al-Haraam [in Makkah], this mosque of mine [in Madeenah] and al-Masjid al-Aqsa [in Jerusalem].” (Agreed upon).
The Sufis are blindly loyal to their shaykhs, even when what they go against the words of Allaah and His Messenger. But Allaah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):
“O you who believe! Do not put (yourselves) forward before Allaah and His Messenger…” [al-Hujuraat 49:1]
The Sufis use talismans, letters and numbers for making decisions and for making amulets and charms and so on.
The Sufis do not restrict themselves to the specific blessings on the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) that were narrated from him. They invented new formulas that involve seeking his blessings and other kinds of blatant shirk which are unacceptable to the one on whom they are sending blessings.
With regard to the question of the whether the Sufi shaykhs have some kind of contact, this is true, but their contact is with the shayaateen, not with Allaah, so they inspire one another with adorned speech as a delusion (or by way of deception), as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And so We have appointed for every Prophet enemies – shayaateen (devils) among mankind and jinns, inspiring one another with adorned speech as a delusion (or by way of deception). If your Lord had so willed, they would not have done it…” [al-An’aam 6:112]
And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“… And, certainly, the shayaateen (devils) do inspire their friends (from mankind)…” [al-An’aam 6:121]
“Shall I inform you (O people!) upon whom the shayaateen (devils) descend?
They descend on every lying, sinful person.” [al-Shu’ara 221-222]
This is the contact that is real, not the contact that they falsely claim to have with Allaah. Exalted be Allaah far above that. (See Mu’jam al-Bida’, 346 –359).
When some of these Sufi shaykhs disappear suddenly from the sight of their followers, this is the result of their contact with the shayaateen, who may even carry them to a distant place and bring them back in the same day or night, to mislead their human followers.
So the important rule here is not to judge people by the extraordinary feats that they may do. We should judge them by how closely or otherwise they adhere to the Qur’aan and Sunnah. The true friends of Allaah (awliya’) are not necessarily known for performing astounding feats. On the contrary, they are the ones who worship Allaah in the manner that He has prescribed, and not by doing acts of bid’ah. The true awliya’ or friends of Allaah are those whom our Lord has described in the hadeeth qudsi narrated by al-Bukhaari in his Saheeh (5/2384) from Abu Hurayrah, who said:
The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah said, ‘Whoever shows enmity towards a friend (wali) of Mine, I declare war against him. My slave does not draw close to Me with anything more loved by Me than the religious duties that I have enjoined on him, and My slave continues to draw close to Me with supererogatory (naafil) acts, so that I will love him. When I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him, and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it.’”
And Allaah is the Source of Strength and the Guide to the Straight Path.
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I think that's one
I think that's one dimensional! Without touching the letter and spirit of the Quran and Sunnah, as there's scope for Ijtehaad, then some room could be found to accommodate the more closer to Shariah views of some of the Sufis. You know human beings evolve over a period of time; as time goes by there's certainly an impact over how one thinks and interacts in the world within the community and outside of it. Ijtehaad has allowed us the kind of mobility and standing room which the Muslim community desires from time to time. In todays' socio-politico-economic scenario, as there is a strong desire of the non-Muslim community to see some moderation in attitude and behaviour on the part of the Muslims at large, it will be well in order to research and study the views of those major Sufis that are closest to Shariah and who do not contravene the Quran and Sunnah - and accord them the kind of acceptability and respectability in order to soften the attitudes of the Muslim Community and make the violence-prone members more tolerant of and acceptable to the outside world. I think it is high time that some middle ground is found to accommodate extreme Wahabis, Ahle Hadeeth and Sufis views - so that a less violent and tolerant median is found for the sake of peace and tolerance in the world.
wow...
great article bro....guidance for the willing
Learn before you comment
Before you start copy & paste, I would like to ask you "Does Islam spread though Sword or Sacrifice"? Don't read history through deviant sects of Islam or though non-muslims. Read History "It was sacrife that led to expansion of Islam empire whether it was Imam Hussain(r.a) or Omer Muktar (may Allah be please with him)..All sufis were students of Hazrat Ali(may Allah be please with him)and Hazarat Ali ((may Allah be please with him)) was student of My God beloved, King of the two worlds Prophet Mohammed (May my life sacrifice on him and May Allah increase his rank). Even Beloved Prophet (salal lahu alahi wasalaam) said Hazrat Ali was gateway of knowledge. Sufis were major force in spiritulaisim to spread the message of True Islam, Sultan Salahuddin Ayubi, Omer Muktar or Mughal King Aurangazeb may Allah be pleased with them all were sufis ruler and direct responsilble to spread Islam and to protect the muslim ummah from evil forces.
The Sufis are not an ethnic or religious group, but a mystical movement that is found all over the Islamic world and that still has a deep influence on the varied populations of the Middle East.
Sufism grew historically as a reaction against the rigid legalism of the orthodox religious leadership and as a counterweight to the growing worldliness of the expanding Muslim empire.
One source of Sufism is to be found in the twofold presentation of God in the Qur'an: on the one hand he is described as the almighty creator, lord and judge, and on the other hand he is seen as abiding in the believer's heart and nearer to man than his own jugular vein.
Sufism believed that the Qur'an and Hadith have secret, esoteric, meaning and symbolism (Batin). In opposition to the literal method of interpretation (Tafsir), Sufism used an allegorical method (Ta'wil) which looked for the hidden meaning and symbols in the holy texts.
Sufism had an important part in the formation of Muslim societies as it educated the masses and met their felt needs, giving spiritual meaning to their lives and channeling their emotions. Sufis were also great missionaries who converted new regions to Islam.
From Last 1300 years Islam Flourishes and that was the time of Real Sufis, Once Abu l-Hasan Fushanji, quoted in Lings, Martin about Sufis "Today Sufism is a name without a reality. It was once a reality without a name"
Read History, It was Sufis hard works in spiritualisation that world bowed down to Muslims and its civilization for 1300 years and Mulims now are 1.3 billion in world thanks to sufis hardwork. Now in Todays world It was Muslims who are rejecting the Sufis and bowing to western civilization.
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