ISLA 200 Study Guide - Quiz Guide: Hoopoe, Dhikr, Sheikh
2 May 2016
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Document Summary
Most straightforward introduction to sufism is sufi parables (stories that illustrate moral or spiritual lessons) Parliament of birds is one of the most celebrated or treasured by attar. The story starts with a gathering of birds that are troubled because they have no king and guided by hoopoe bird they all set out to search for their ruler. Under its guidance, they start their journey towards the land of simorgh. One by one the birds drop out of the journey and they must cross valleys to get to simorgh. All these deterrents turn out to be tests and the birds pass and attar explains they realized they and the simorgh are one. Hoopoe symbolizes sufi sheikh leading his pupils to enlightenment. Maqamat: stations which the sufi arrives at through discipline and effort. Ahwal: pure gift of god"s grace and cannot be manufactured by human effort. It is the foundation of this path of sufism.
