RLG205H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Sufi Poetry, Husayn Ibn Ali, Shia Islam
RLG205H5 Lecture - “ufis ad “hiis i Idia November 8th, 2016
Devotion to the family of the prophet Muhammad
- Family of the prophet Muhammad – the family is known as Ahl-e bait – generally these
people are also known as the pure ones = The Panjetan-ePak which are the Daughter
Fatimah al –zahra; cousin nd son in law ali, and their sons hassan and husssain ( 2n and
3rd shiI ia + lood desedats
- Both sufis ad shiis ete o deotio to these histi figue
o Intimacy and love centred on five peple ( poetry, Lithograph) – in lecture shown
the Pic of Royal Ashurkhana – i sufis the pophet is osideed the
prototyupical sufi – ali as the successor and idea of him being his successor is
important – often considered founder of all sufi orders except for one ( ali)
Coetig “ufis ad “hiis
- Ho a e oet sufis ad shiis? Ho effetie eee these diesios of isla
in enculturating the religion in a south Asian religio-cultural enviornemtn ? ( second
readings this week) – thinking about the role of vernacular sufi poetry and devotional
ritauals and material practices that help epeopel remember the marydum of imam
Hussain – transcommunal event ( mohammarm ) – hidus ad suis patiipate – going
to dargas and seeking healing so sufi saint is something that crosses religious bourdaries
Sufism – (decatin article – problem of definition) – metaphysical dosnet connect to everyday
muslim and is rooted in the questions of being – spiritual dimension : how did sufism appeal to
ower caste hindus? Areas beyong the ganges river islam spred through sufism ( popular sufi
practices) – ism – tends to make sufism down to its limited components – we have to keep in
mind hwo sufism was defined in british colonial period ( serperted out into elemtns) – Suf –
dedrives from Arabic – rich range of accomatations – Lecture: painting od sufi with woolen cloak
looking like an angel wings ( signs of renunciation: begging wool, shaved head, no beard ( wearing
facial hear is sunna) – another signs would be renunciant wearing an animal skin representing
kalandars- these people ofte dot follo shaia. – bodily and spiritual purity ( sfa– as status
being spiritual elite you are Safwa ( you are not an ordinary muslim) – you are going above and
being to attain deper spiritual kwnoelege – marks you as a spiritual elite – Tassawuf – the pratcive
of becoming a sufi – a self cultivation – shaking of the desires of the world, remiivong the vails of
ignorance and polishing the heart- idea of becoming a sufi is deeply expereincial – sufism is
something that is experiental – it is this apect that made islam ( the larger tradition of islam)
successful in cultivating itself in south asia – traditions like sufism are relatibel to bhakti tradition
and to toher devotion traditions acresss the subcontinent
- Problem of definition : western, colonial, orientalist legacies
- -is:
- Arabic: Suf: wool, cloak/garment worn by ascetics
- “afa:
- Safwa:
- Tasawwuf:
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DEfintion – fo sufis theseles
- Sufism nto defined by praying and fasting but the secutiry of the heart and the generosity
of the soul another sufi simply defines sufism through a negation – that a true sufi is he
who is not ( explanation: someone that dosent need a title to define what they do, we
can think about this throught the idea of being overly attached to the identity – similar to
what Krishna advocates to arjana ( goal of karma yoga – dot oel attah ouself to
the outcome of what you are doing - if you are too worried about the outcome you are
not going to attain what you desire )
Methodology – hwo to attain union with god – yoga ( breath control) exteremly importnat –
shataia sufi ode lose oetios ith atogis – sufis do oga – but that idea of using
asaas postues ad position to master and control the body as a way of attaining ghlimpses
of spiritual knowledge of god is a logn tradition in south asia – other pratices includes fasting,
sleep depervation ( how many days can you go w/o sleep – hallucinations = insights , seclusion (
going into state of Khilwa) is also engage, more phsycially demanding practices; Chila ( hanging
uoside down for 40days ) – practice sof zikr and Sama – Zirk ( remembrance – particularly of god
)recustiation of a word of a formula recited over and over again, it may be accpmpanied by a
physical movement ( bending over or standing up) - may be silent or verbal – one might use a
tasbee to count of a circuit ( you may aim to say it a set number of timeto cultivate a still and
clear mind) – Hal ( state of ecsatcy) – extra prayer ( beyond the 5 prayers) – Sama to listen (qawali
( spiritual poetey wchich is Sam : Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn) – music mostly focuses on ali and goes
on in the evrnign for hours to induce people into high spiritual states ( meditation) – 2 dispositions
with regard to how one can attain union with god – Sober , in practice of zik you perform it silently
– shown by Nasqbandu=iyyya and theory deined by Junaid – The Chistoyya ( qawali)- vocal –
central to Chishty devotional practices
- Zikr:
- Sama:
- Meditative practices that control the body ( yoga!)
- Poverty: being a faqir
- 2 dispositions
o soe: Au L- Qasim al Junaid ( d. 910)
▪ Naqshabandiyya
o Ecstatic : Abu YAzid Taifur al –Bistami (d.874)
▪ Chishtiyya
Tariqa Sifusm – Sufism moved from a highly indivisdulaized practice to institutionalized because
there were teachers who embodied charisma people gathered to learn and seek out their
spiritual guidance and get their assistance ( 11th century (instrutinaliaztio) ) – as if became more
popular Tariqa ( schools of sufi practice and knwolege ) in the 11th century gains a new meaning
( in original mena an inner approach – movement toward spiritual path to god) the new meaning
has instituainalized connotation and refers to these schools of sufi practice and knowledge that
were set up around particular methodologies ( sober /ecstatic) – ho the theoize aout gods
uniqueness and what other teories these teachers have – The tariqas are set up in a Khanqah(
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
Rlg205h5 lecture - ufis(cid:373) a(cid:374)d hi(cid:859)is(cid:373) i(cid:374) i(cid:374)dia. Devotion to the family of the prophet muhammad. Family of the prophet muhammad the family is known as ahl-e bait generally these people are also known as the pure ones = the panjetan-epak which are the daughter. Fatimah al zahra; cousin nd son in law ali, and their sons hassan and husssain ( 2n and. Both sufis(cid:373) a(cid:374)d shi(cid:859)is(cid:373) (cid:272)e(cid:374)te(cid:396) o(cid:374) de(cid:448)otio(cid:374) to these (cid:272)h(cid:396)is(cid:373)(cid:395)t(cid:395)i(cid:272) figu(cid:396)e. Hussain transcommunal event ( mohammarm ) hi(cid:374)du(cid:859)s a(cid:374)d su(cid:374)i(cid:859)s pa(cid:396)ti(cid:272)ipate going to dargas and seeking healing so sufi saint is something that crosses religious bourdaries. Problem of definition : western, colonial, orientalist legacies. Arabic: suf: wool, cloak/garment worn by ascetics. Shown by nasqbandu=iyyya and theory deined by junaid the chistoyya ( qawali)- vocal central to chishty devotional practices. Meditative practices that control the body ( yoga!)
