Art in Sufism

This is a breathtaking water color painting made by S. a. Noori. An article about a recent exhibition in Islamabad covers the spirituality that lives in them:

From Tribune.com./pk:

Noory’s work is nuanced with Sufism- white bearded men in trance, holding the Quran. Perhaps the most intriguing piece is a painting of a tall, bearded man with his hand outstretched upwards holding onto a rope as he looks serenely towards the sand. The rope goes straight into the sky and out of the painting where the viewer is left wondering where the other end of the rope must be.

You can read the complete article here.

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Sanam Marvi

From GulfNews comes this article about Sanam Marvi, considered one of the youngest singer-story tellers:

The rising voice of Sufi music
It's about love … the love of humanity.
It's about a world with no boundaries, no violence and no hunger.
It's about a path that says the only true thing to live by is ‘Haq' or ‘right'.
Its instrument is music. Its storytellers are poets and singers.
Its battle, or ‘jihad', is against the ever-manifest human ego.
Sufism is — compassion. And Sanam Marvi perhaps its youngest storyteller.

To continue reading this article please click here


sufism
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International conference on Sufism and peace begins in Pakistan

Delegates from 70 countries are attending the conference which is aimed at promoting the philosophy of Sufism as it can help fight the menace of extremism.
Source: Xinhua
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PAL plans conference on Sufism

ISLAMABAD (APP) - Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) has planned to arrange three-day International Conference on Sufism from March 14. The official sources of the academy told this agency that 80 delegates from around 40 countries are expected to participate in the conference.
The notable personalities having diverse knowledge about sufism and mysticism will share their views on the occasion.
The international conference would provide a platform to more than 200 delegates within the country to participate in the conference.
Sources said that PAL would translate books of Sufi poets belonging all the four provinces in eight different languages.
The translated books would be given to all the participants as it will help to project true image of the country on international level.
The sources informed that a international conference was also arranged in 1995. The writings of Pakistani writers from all Pakistani languages were translated in UNESCO languages and sent to different countries.
These books are still the identity of Pakistani literature in libraries there. However, PAL has also decided to set up a National Translation Bureau in the academy through translating Pakistani literature in foreign languages and the foreign literature into Pakistani languages, the sources added.

 

The Nation

The War That Wasn’t: The Sufi and the Sultan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) on Thursday launched Indian historian and scholar Dr Fatima Hussain’s book titled ‘‘The War That Wasn’t: The Sufi and the Sultan’.
Advisor to the Prime Minister on Education Assef Ahmed Ali was the chief guest during the book launching ceremony. Assef praised Dr Fatima for doing a wonderful job by writing a book on Sufism with a new approach.
He said the book would be of great significance during present times when fanaticism and extremism had become a challenge for Muslim society in the subcontinent. He said the book should be easily available across the country.
PAL Chairman Fakhar Zaman, who presided over the sitting, said Dr Fatima through her book had given people a new approach to look at the movement of Sufism in the subcontinent. He said the book would help promote spread the Sufis’ message of peace and brotherhood across borders.
Fakhar said the academy had planned to hold an international conference in the country on Sufism and peace in coming March. He said publication of Pakistani Sufi poets’ work and its translation in international languages was also on the cards.
Historian Dr Tariq Rehman said Dr Fatima’s main argument was that Sufis gave people the idea of moral government. He said sultan was one centre of power, while Sufi was another.
Prominent among those present on the occasion were noted scholar Khawaja Masud and Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) Vice Chancellor Mahmudul Hassan, who also appreciated Dr Fatima’s work.

Source: Daily Times

 

THE LIFTING OF THE VEIL: KASHF

“Have you found what you were looking for?”

 

UNLIKE the violent and extremist image of the Pakistan in the media, KASHF - THE UNVEILING takes us on a journey exploring the mystical side of Islam.

 

ARMAGHAN is born out of an oath his mother makes to a Pir (Holy man) she meets at a Sufi Shrine when she is childless. She promises the Pir who blesses her to let her child "walk the path" when he grows up. Armaghan "the gift" is born in Pakistan but sent off to the US to live with relatives after his father's death. He returns to Pakistan after 25 years, unaware of the family secret about to change his life...."

ALI MacGRAW on "KASHF: The Lifting of the Veil"
"Lifting the Veil" is a huge and impressive accomplishment...A Riveting Film. I was fascinated to see the many aspects of Pakistan which are not normally accessible to us on our television reportage, and to follow a story which is rich in details of this ancient culture."

Ali MacGraw

KASHF is releasing in the US JAN 9th 2009.

 

I can't wait to see this movie in Spain.

 

 

 

KASFH THE MOVIE

KASHF ON TWITTER

 

Promoting Sufism in Pakistanian Schools