Monday, December 3, 2018

Reply to Khawar Bhai - Sufism & Islam 20th August, 2018

Salam,

 Khawar Bhai, Sufism, per my understanding, is where Sufis claim to be striving not only for the actions but also for the 'inner experience' of the prophet. They claim everything we see around us, including ourselves, is God - the concept of pantheism (وحدت الوجود). 

 The two ONLY components of God's last guidance are the Prophet Muhammad's way of life (in religious matters) called the Sunnah & the Quran. Both these pristine sources are devoid of going after the Prophets 'inner experience'. 

 God hasn't asked us to shun the worldly life for spiritual uplifting as in Buddhism or remain cut off from the normal way of life as in not marrying within the Christian priesthood or leave our homes to spread God's religion as the tableeghi jamaat people do or attain God's proximity by doing 'chilla's' and reciting some verse lakhs of time etc. 

 God wants us to be 'normal' human beings. Marriage, having children, going about doing our chores, pursuing our careers, competing in all walks of life. 

 That is why the Quran is also called a Tazkirah (in Arabic) meaning a ‘reminder’. Qur’an acts as a ‘reminder’ to us to remain vigilant and cognizant of the life to come. It says life doesn't end with this life. It transfers to an unending life.  Indeed, when we read the Quran all its reasoning revolves around this singular point - of resurrection. God wants us to lead a fantastic, fulfilling life here. I consider Sufism a 'parallel' religion. 

 The upper echelons of Sufism officially consider themselves as a 'Prophet' - a Nabi if you like. They claim as far as revelations are concerned those doors closed with Prophet Muhammad. But otherwise, we still commune with God. God communes with us. For this communion with God, they practice مُراقبہ، مشق، ریاضت etc. 

 All the Sufis have this stance. The high-level ones. They call themselves خواص meaning special. We are commoners to them; hence, we cannot see what they see. 

 Just for the record Mirza Ghulam Ahmed Sahib of Rabwah made similar claims. No different to all the Sufi saint's narratives - that he is a Nabi as the Sufis claim they are. And that, like the Sufi saints he receives directives (not revelations) from God. He doesn't claim an iota more. Only he belongs to recent times people couldn't relate to the Sufi narrative. 

 So, Sufism is something I may not relate to Khawar Bhai. The reason it looks attractive is that obviously, it is peaceful, nirvana oriented, brings solace to mind, etc. But it's not the way God desires to achieve this. 

 What God desires is mentioned in the Qur'an.  

 Aamir Yazdani

 

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