Sufi Rituals in the Middle East and the Balkans

This book offers intimate and moving portraits of Sufism as practiced in five countries. Sufism, the mystical tradition of Islam, is as far from the strident and often violent fundamentalist strain of the religion that has so captured world attention as it is possible to be. Sufis in all parts of the Islamic world are broad-minded, tolerant, and non-violent, their quest only to find and approach God through all means, including poetry, music, and dance. Historian Nicolaas Biegman has been observing and photographing Sufi practice and ritual in different Muslim lands for many years, and here in this collection of extraordinary photographs he feels the pulse of the Sufi experience, with its enormous variety in discipline and exuberance, intellectualism and spontaneity, in Egypt, Syria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Macedonia. In accompanying texts he explores what lies behind the rituals, and explains aspects of Sufi life and practice such as the position of women.

Author Biography:
NICOLAAS (NIEK) BIEGMAN holds a Ph.D. in Balkan history, and is an expert on Islam. He has produced a number of photographic books on Egypt, Haiti, Manhattan, and most recently a Sufi community in Skopje (God's Lovers)

 

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

Sufism Books among other subjects - 18th century library reopens

18th century library reopens in Aurangabad after 70 years By Abdul Hadi Aurangabad, Dec.23 (ANI): An 18th century library, housing manuscripts and a number of precious books including a version of the Quran penned by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, has been reopened after 70 years here at the historical monument Panchakki in Maharashtra. According to library officials, Hazrat Babashah Musafir, who migrated to Aurangabad in 18th century from Bukhara in Russia, founded the library as well as the Panchakki. The library treasured about 100,000 books and writing pieces till Indian independence (1947). However, it was closed down in 1970s due to administrative reasons due to which many of the library books were shifted to Hyderabad.The library presently houses 2,500 books on various subjects related to history, law, medicine, Sufism, religion and philosophy in Arabic, penned by philosophers, saints and scholars in Urdu and Persian languages. The cover of holy Quran here has a coating of gold on both sides, which has been preserved till date. Moreover, a holy book written in 1, 283 in four languages is also available at this library. According to Librarian Hafiz Abdul Jaleel, Baba Shah Musafir founded the library to spread knowledge. “The library was considered to be the largest one in Asia during that time. Now, it has around 2,500 rare books. After reopening the library, many students especially those who are engaged in research are thronging it. There is no entry fee,” Hafiz Abdul Jaleel informed. People have appreciated the efforts of library’s restoration but say that it has a long way to go. M.A. Haq, a historian in Auranagbad, expressed disappointment that such a library fell victim to colossal neglect for so long. “This is a great failure, a disaster, that such a grand and important library has been decimated like this. It was one of the best libraries, once. But it is a matter of pride that with the efforts of the (Waqf) Board, the library would come to life,” said M.A. Haq, Aurangabad based historian. Locals feel that if maintained properly, the library would benefit people of all walks of life. (ANI) Read more: http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/feature/18th-century-library-reopens-in-aurangabad-after-70-years_100293869.html#ixzz0aeZkc6Dx

Old Manuscripts written in Arabic

Dozens of old manuscripts were threatened with extinction. Abandoned, dog-eared or severely damaged. Many of their owners could not even read them as they were written in Arabic, without any punctuation marks. The contents remained a mystery to the public. Thanks to Habib A. Syakur, people can now understand what is written in these precious manuscripts, which recount the teachings of Islam from the 17th to the 19th century. The 44-year-old resident of Bantul, Yogyakarta, patiently worked on the papers, read them carefully, translated, rewrote and printed them out for the public. “These fiqh, Islamic laws, are very important for the people, especially academics,” Syakur said. The old manuscripts belonged to individuals, who kept them in their own homes, considering the historical religious documents their heirlooms. “Not just anyone was allowed to look at the papers, let alone read them, because their owners believed they held mystic powers,” he said. Some documents were damaged as the owners could not look after them properly. Others were in good condition but their owners could not read the papers. Those who could read them did not think of informing the public about their content or preserve them. “If nothing was done about these old manuscripts, invaluable heritage would have disappeared. I took on the responsibility to rewrite and translate them,” Syakur said. “Since I was a kid, I have been used to reading Arabic books, which ignited my passion for old manuscripts.” But he realized his interest alone would not enable him to translate the papers. In order to really delve into the old manuscripts, after completing his Arabic language studies in Egypt, Syakur continued studying languages at a graduate level at the Sunan Kalijaga Islamic State University in Yogyakarta. With his mastery of Arabic and his love for old manuscripts, in 2007, Syakur started hunting these old religious documents individually kept and owned. He went to regions as far as Probolinggo and Ponorogo in East Java, and the centers of Islamic development in Central Java like Demak and Temanggung. Even though Syakur knew who kept old manuscripts, he had difficulties accessing the papers, given people’s possessiveness and reluctance to let the documents out of their sight. To obtain the manuscripts, including the one about Prophet Khidir he found in Temanggung, Central Java, Syakur approached people closely acquainted with the owners, and managed to collect about 30 manuscripts from their owners for free. “They only wanted to make sure that I did not lie about my intention to copy the contents,” he said. Then, after two years of hunting for old manuscripts, Syakur started translating them. Among them was Inayatul Muftaqir, an old book about Prophet Khidir. Many people have longed to read it because there is little information available about this charismatic yet mysterious prophet. Another manuscript touches upon Sufism and karomah received by the saints, titled Bughyatul Adzkiya. Syakur spends his spare time translating the manuscripts while lecturing at the Sunan Kalijaga Islamic State University. “I tend to work on translations for four to five hours a day on average,” said Syakur, who had four children with his wife Khuni Khumairoh. “I mostly do the translating after praying at dawn until I leave for work, and at night before going to bed.” When translating, not only does he read and rewrite the papers, but he also compares them with available reference books. “I often use other works to find the golden thread and clarify some of the mystifying writings contained in the manuscripts,” he said. The pleasure Syakur derives from doing these translations simply cannot be measured. He cited as an example the story of Prophet Khidir. It was widely known this prophet was related to Prophet Moses, while the old manuscripts said he was also related to Alexander the Great. He had to plough through countless reference books to interpret just one missing word from the damaged document. “When there are parts of text missing, the interpretation should come with notes, because we need to be intellectually responsible [about our interpretation of the texts],” he said. Some manuscripts do not seem to have authors, as they form part of the body of knowledge from Islamic teachers recorded by their faithful students. “Sometimes the students would forget to write on the cover, and went straight to the content.” Syakur knows many old manuscripts remain with their owners, and that it would be impossible for him to collect them all. So, he has called upon all individuals to hand them over to a foundation to prevent them from vanishing forever. Translations of old manuscripts can also be used to learn about how science developed. “By studying the manuscripts, we could study the science and technology that developed at that time,” Syakur said.

TheJakartaPost

Sufis and Jesus

Christianity is rooted in the belief that Jesus is the Son of God, so is Islam’s version of Christ a source of tension, or a way of building bridges between the world’s two largest faiths?

The Sufi philosopher al-Ghazali described Jesus as "the prophet of the soul" and the Sufi master Ibn Arabi called him "the seal of saints".

An article by Mehdi Hasan about a new book by the former Cambridge professor of Arabic and Islamic studies Tarif Khalidi on Newstatesman.com

Three Books on Sufism

You can read these books online.

The titles are:


Ikmalush Shiyam

Description : Ikmalush Shiyam (Perfection of Morals) is a treatise for the Muhibbeen (Lovers of Allah). Although every Mu’min is a Lover of Allah, this treatise is largely directed to the attention of the Muhibbeen who are conscious of Divine Love. Nevertheless, it will benefit even the unconscious lovers by inducing in them some consciousness of the love lying dormant in their hearts which have been created for being the Abodes of Divine Love. Since Ikmalush Shiyam is a treatise for Muhibbeen, it speaks the language of love – Divine Love. Thus, the book abounds with paradoxes and seemingly contradictory calls and cries sounded for the guidance of those who understand the language of Allah’s Love. The advices and prescriptions herein are balm for the Souls searching the Path of Love, leading to their Beloved, Allah Azza Wa Jal. This book is not for the rational probing of a sceptic mind stunted by crass materialism.
Author : Maulana Muhammad Abdullah Gangohi


Scattered Pearls

Description : This is a short compilation of selected sayings and anecdotes of the illustrious Auliyaa (the special friends—saints) of Allah Ta'ala. The perpetuation of Islam in its original purity has been ensured by the various classes of Auliyaa among whom are also found the great Fuqaha, Muhadditheen and Mufassireen. The sayings and anecdotes presented in this book belong to the domain of Islamic morality, spirituality and the remembrance of Allah, which in fact is the goal of life. No order has been observed in this compilation. It is essentially a book of Naseehat—advice and admonition.
Author : Mujlisul-Ulama of South Africa


Shariat and Tasawwuf

Description : A SINCERE Wali of Allah is the Representative (Khalifah) of Allah Ta’ala on earth. He is the rooh (soul) of creation. All creation exists on his presence. Everything supplicates for the grace emanating from his spiritual effulgence. His heart and brain are the repositories of Divine Knowledge and Grace. Allah Ta’ala has decreed him (the Wall) as His special servant and has grated him the closest of proximity. Allah Ta’ala has expanded his breast for the understanding of the meaning of His Kalaam (The Qur’aan Shareef). Allah Ta’ala has granted him the Knowledge of the Qur’aan and has revealed to him the inner meanings and realities of the verses so that he may guide mankind and cure its spiritual maladies. He (the Wall) has been appointed by Allah Ta’ala to execute the obligation of Amr Bil Ma’roof (Commanding virtue) and Nahu anil Munkar (prohibiting evil)
Author : Hadhrat Maulana Maseehullah Khan


TheMajlis.net


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Sufism. An Article

The author has named it "Sufism, the other face of Islam". Unfortunately, when we speak of Islam, many are reminded of Bin Laden, Al Qaeda, terrorism, bigotry, oppression of women. But not all of Islam is the case (not all Basques are ETA). There is a large moderate Islam, and within it, a current extremely old one, called Sufism, practiced by millions of people around the planet.

To not enter into Islamophobia (hatred of Islam), I would like you to read some words of a current Algerian Sufi master, Khaled Bentuonés, and think whether we should continue to say that Islam is carried to fanaticism.

It would be the perfect counterpoint to be showed as a reading in class.

Unfortunately today, Islam has become an ideology, a narrow religion, a limited thing (...) an instrument of mass manipulation.

The generous one gives himself a great good and creates an atmosphere of happiness around which increases their own joy of living.

Contrary to what many think, the great holy war (jihad) is not intended to spread Islam under the rule of a tyrant (...) The Prophet himself said: This is the great war that everyone should take against their own selfishness "(...) This is a war to fight the economic crisis, poverty, against new diseases ...

Doing my duty and my responsibility to assume within society, I give to my work a noble character (...) If we all did our work as if were prayer (in the form of prayer), we would perform this duty out as best as possible and we would not cheat not hustling, and it would be for us the best way forward in life.

Bentuonés Khaled Shaikh Sufism, the heart of Islam. Ediciones Obelisco, 2001

This is just the opposite of what we talked about some time discussing the movie Agora. Religion for the understanding not to hate. Something like what the great mystic of Al Andalus, Ibn Arabi, wrote in the thirteenth century


My heart has become capable of every form: it is a pasture for gazelles and a convent for Christian monks,
And a temple for idols, and the pilgrim's Ka'ba, and the tables of the Tora and the book of the Koran.
I follow the religion of Love, whichever way his camels take. My religion and my faith is the true religion.

Article written by:
Vicente Camarasa -


Image credit: asbf48 (ANTONIO)


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Turkey to honor Persian poet Mowlavi

Turkey is planning to hold a ceremony in commemoration of the world-renowned Persian poet Mowlavi in his eternal resting place in Konya.

The 10-day event will include mystic musical performances and various symposiums about the Sufi poet.

Visitors will also have the chance to watch Whirling Dervishes dancing the Sama, the traditional trancelike meditation of Sufism.

The Mowlavi symposium will host prominent Mowlavi experts from around the world including Dr. Mohammad-Ali Movahhedi from Iran.

Jalal ad-Din Mohammad Balkhi known as Mowlavi was a 13th century Persian poet, mystic and theologian, better-known for his six-volume poem Masnavi considered to be one of the greatest works of both Islamic mysticism and Persian literature.

UNESCO named the year 2007 as the year of Mowlavi in honor of the Persian poet's outstanding achievements.

Source: PressTv


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Sufism Books

More E-Books you can find at the "PEARLS OF WISDOM" Section (left bottom side of this blog)
TITLES:


Sufis of Sindh
Dr. Motilal Jotwani (1986)

Early Turkish Mystics in Turkish Literature (2006)
Memed Faud Koprula

Discourses of Rumi (It is What It is - Fihi Ma Fihi) (1999-2000)
A. J. Arberry

The Persian Mystics: Jalalud Din Rumi (1912)
F. Hadland Davis

The Sufism of Rubaiyat (1908)
Norton F. W. Mazeldin

Life of Omar Al-Khayyami(1905)
J. K. M. Shirazi

Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam (1900)
Edward FitzGerald

Sufism Omar Khayyam and E. Fitzgerlad (1915)
A. Bjerregaard

Thanks to Academy of Punjab in North America


sufism

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New E-Book added to Pearls of Wisdom Section

DOCTRINE OF THE ONENESS OF BEING, by William C. Chittick


" Ebno'l-'Arabi [sic], known as the "Greatest Master", was the most influential of all those Sufis who employed the language of philosophy to express the teacings of Islam. Born in Murcia in Muslim Spain in 560/1165, he exhibited his outstanding spiritual gifts at an early age. In a prefquently quoted passage, he recalls his meeting with the famous philosopher Averroes when the latter was an old man. Averroes preceived in Ebno'l-'Arabi, a youth with only fuzz for a beard, the wisdom for which he had been searching all is life. The meeting is highly symbolic in that the works of Averroes -which were largely forgotten in the Islamic world itself- became one of the major factors influencing the West to move in the direction of a rationalism closed to the intermediate realms of existence, while Ebno'l-'Arabi's, writings harmonized the rational and spiritual modes of perception and helped keep the minds of Muslim intelectuals open to the luminous presence of the angels and spirits."


To continue reading this text, you can download it at the bottom section of this blog, "PEARLS OF WISDOM".


Maryam

sufism

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sufi masters

New Uploaded E-Book

I have uploaded a new e-book:

Mysticism and magic in Turkey; an account of the religious doctrines, monastic organisation, and ecstatic powers of the dervish orders (1912), by Lucy Mary Jane Garnett.

You can download it at the "Pearls of Wisdom" Section, which is on bottom section as I have changed this blog design.

Thank you



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dervishes

Islam

Turkeys

Lawa'ih, a Treatise on Sufism

Lawa'ih, a Treatise on Sufism- Jami, Nur-ud-din 'abd-Ur-rahman

Hackenberg Booksellers especialises in scholarly, out of print, rare and unusual books.


Place Published: London
Publisher: Royal Asiatic Society
Date Published: 1928

Description: Facsimile of an old ms. With a translation by E. H. Whinfield & Mirza Muhammad Kazvini, and preface on the influence of Greek philosophy upon sufism. Reprinted with additions and corrections. xvii, 61p., plus the 56-page facsimile of the 10th-century Persian manuscript. Original blue cloth. (Oriental Translation Fund. New series, 16).



Price: $85.00


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Teachings of Sufism

The prose and verse readings in this book were chosen to interest the many people who have become attracted to Sufi teachings through their exposure to popular Sufi poetry, music, and dance. The selections—mostly from the Middle East and India, ranging from the tenth to the twentieth century—provide a sampling of Sufi thought on some of the basic aspects of this spiritual path. Most of the readings are published here in English for the first time. Brief introductory remarks place each selection into its historical and religious context, and an index of Qur'anic passages helps the reader to trace the extensive allusions to the Islamic holy scriptures. The topics covered include: The nature of mystical love Meditation Listening to music as a spiritual practice Ethical teachings of Sufism Pitfalls on the spiritual path Spiritual companionship and the master-disciple relationship The importance of the Qur'an and the Prophet Muhammad Biographical accounts of great mystics, including the poet Rumi as well as several female saints

 

 

The Sufi Bookstore

New eBooks added to the Pearls of Wisdom section

 

Check on right pane or here:

 

Ibn Arabi / Divine Imagination

Ibn Arabi/ Spiritual Ascension

 

Ibn Arabi - audio

 

 

 

 

From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia

 

Read by Maryam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To listen the Spanish version, click here

 

Download Mp3

 

Maryam Tasawwuf Podcast xml

 

Explanation of the Work of al-Ghazali and Nuh ibn al-Tahir al-Fulani

 

The World Digital Libray started yesterday its activities, offering digital works from all times to the public with sources from various libraries around the world, including the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

 

The first item I have found today is the Explanation of the Work of al-Ghazali and Nuh ibn al-Tahir al-Fulani. The Digital Library shows 21 pages from this Explanation dating from around 1800.

 

Here is the information of this precious “Explanation”:

 

Description

    * Timbuktu, founded around 1100 as a commercial center for trade across the Sahara Desert, was also an important seat of Islamic learning from the 14th century onward. The libraries of Timbuktu contain many important manuscripts, in different styles of Arabic scripts, which were written and copied by Timbuktu’s scribes and scholars. These works constitute the city’s most famous and long-lasting contribution to Islamic and world civilization. This work by Sulayman ibn Ahmad comments on the work of the famous scholar al-Ghazali and discusses a commentary on Ghazali's work by Nuh ibn al-Tahir al-Fulani, a well-known scholar from Timbuktu.

Author

    * Sulaymān ibn Aḥmad

Date Created

    * Around 1800

Language

    * Arabic

Title in Original Language

    * Sharh 'ala nazm al-muthallath lil-Ghazali wa nazm Nuh b. al-Tahir al-Fulani

Place

    * Africa > Mali > Tombouctou

Time

    * 500 AD - 1499 AD

Topic

    * Science > Astronomy > Astronomy & allied sciences

Additional Subjects

    * Arabic manuscripts ; Astrology ; Astronomy ; Ghazzālī, 1058-1111 ; Islamic manuscripts ; Nūḥ ibn al-Ṭāhir al-Fūlānī ; Sufism

Type of Item

    * Manuscripts

Collection

    * Islamic Manuscripts from Mali

Institution

    * Mamma Haidara Commemorative Library

External Resource

    * http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.wdl/mhcl.467

 

To view all the pages in this collection, visit this site