A Spiritual And Austere Muslim?

Sufism, also known as Tasawwuf or ascetic Islam, is a mystic body of religious practice within Islam that focuses on Islamic purification, spirituality, and rituals. The origins of mysticism and the mystical elements in Islam can be traced back to the Qur’an and the Islamic doctrine itself. Sufism holds a significant place in the spiritual landscape of the Muslim community and has several stages of growth, including the appearance of early asceticism and the development of classical mysticism of divine love.

Islamic mysticism has had several stages of growth, including the appearance of early asceticism and the development of a classical mysticism of divine love. Over the centuries, the spiritual beliefs, rituals, and practices of Sufis have inspired poets and artists to create extraordinary verses and artworks. Sufism is considered the major expression of mysticism in Islam, developed out of the fusion of Qur’anic ascetic tendencies and the vast fund of Christian (and other) mystical.

As a mystic and ascetic aspect of Islam, Sufism deals with the purification of the inner self by focusing on abstinence from worldly pleasures, often for the purpose of pursuing spiritual goals. Mysticism in the Islamic context has traditionally been intertwined with the notion of Ḥikmah, which is at once both wisdom and philosophy.

Sufi mystics often lived life on the margins of society and went against what they regarded as petty cultural norms. Many of them were ascetics who wore austere clothing. Some Muslim mystics are members of an ascetic Christian sect, such as SUFIS or some Muslim mystics.

What is a Muslim ascetic called?

Sufism, a religious tradition in the Muslim world, emerged during the early Umayyad Caliphate (661–750 CE) and grew as a mystic tradition in mainstream Sunni and Shia denominations of Islam. Sufi Muslim ascetics, including fakirs and dervishes, were highly influential in spreading Islam between the 10th and 19th centuries, particularly to the Middle East, North Africa, the Balkans and Caucasus, the Indian subcontinent, and Central, Eastern, and Southeast Asia.

The term fakir has taken on a more recent and colloquial usage for an ascetic who renounces worldly possessions, and has even been applied to non-Muslims. Fakirs are prevalent in the Middle East and South Asia, believed to be self-sufficient and possess only the spiritual need for God. The term is also frequently applied to Hindu ascetics, such as sadhus, gurus, swamis, and yogis.

The Mughal era in the Indian subcontinent developed these usages, with a distinct clan of faqeers found in North India, descended from communities of fakirs who took up residence at Sufi shrines. Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī, the son of ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib and grandson of Muhammad, is believed to have written the first book on Sufism, Mirat ul-Arfeen, on the topic of tasawwuf. However, under Umayyad rule, this book was not allowed to be published and openly discussing tasawwuf, Sufism, or faqr was not allowed.

What is a Muslim mystic called?

Islamic mysticism, also known as Sufism in Western languages, originated from early Islamic asceticism as a counterweight to the expanding Muslim community’s worldliness. The movement, which originated from non-Islamic sources in ancient Europe and India, educated the masses and deepened the spiritual concerns of Muslims, playing a crucial role in the formation of Muslim society. Sufism opposed the dry casuistry of lawyer-divines and scrupulously followed divine law commands.

They have been responsible for large-scale missionary activity worldwide and have elaborated the image of the Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam. Sufi vocabulary is important in Persian and related literatures, such as Turkish, Urdu, Sindhi, Pashto, and Punjabi, and through the poetry of these literatures, mystical ideas spread widely among Muslims. In some countries, Sufi leaders were also active politically. The movement’s roots are believed to have originated from early Islamic asceticism, which developed as a counterweight to the increasing worldliness of the expanding Muslim community.

What are the two types of ascetics?

The concept of asceticism can be classified into two distinct categories: The first category is “natural asceticism,” which entails the minimization of material aspects without causing harm to the body. The second category is “unnatural asceticism,” which encompasses practices that are specifically related to the body. Natural asceticism is characterized by an emphasis on simplicity and minimalism, with the objective of avoiding any form of harm. In contrast, unnatural asceticism encompasses practices that are specifically related to the body.

What is asceticism in Islam?

Zuhd, or “detachment” in Islam, is a concept that encourages Muslims to live a simple and pious life, despite the freedom to enjoy unforbidden pleasures. The Qurʾān, the Islamic scripture, highlights the fleeting nature of life and the eternal hereafter. Zuhd is influenced by Christian hermits and pre-Islamic Arab ḥ anīfs, who practiced the ascetic life and may have had significant influence on the Prophet Muhammad.

Zuhd developed in Islam due to Muslim conquests, which brought material wealth and widespread indulgence in luxurious living. Religious Muslims reacted by calling for a return to the way of life of the Prophet and his pious Companions. The growth of the Islamic state also led to political disputes, prompting religious men to denounce such actions and seek peace in abstinence from distractions from worship of God.

The terms “zuhd” and “zāhid” were not used by pre-Islamic Arabs or early Muslims to describe the elaborate and systematic ascetic doctrines that became characteristic of later periods, from the 8th century on. The founders of Zuhd are often referred to as Ibrāhīm ibn Adham and his student and disciple Shaqīq al-Balkhī, who stressed poverty and self-denial, abandoning their father’s wealth and becoming a poor wanderer.

What is called ascetic?

Ascetic is a term used to describe a person who practices strict self-denial as a form of personal and spiritual discipline. It originated from the Greek adjective “ascetic”, meaning “laborious”, and refers to the labor involved in abstention from pleasure, comfort, and self-indulgence as a spiritual discipline. Today, ascetic is also used to describe anyone or anything demonstrating marked restraint, plainness, or simplicity, even without any appeals to the divine or spiritual. The term “severe, stern, austere” is associated with strict discipline and firm restraint, similar to the ancient Greek adjective “spartan”.

What is a Muslim angel called?

In Islam, angels are spiritual beings created by Allah from light. They play a significant role in worshipping Allah and obeying His commands. Angels are mentioned in the Quran and have various duties. Belief in angels is second among the six pillars of belief in Islam and is obligatory for every Muslim. The Quran describes angels as servants of Allah SWT, carrying out His orders in both the unseen and physical worlds. Angels are created solely to worship Allah SWT and do not possess free will or inclination towards food, drinks, or copulation.

What is the mystical and ascetic tradition in Islam called?

Sufism is the primary expression of mysticism in Islam, originating from the fusion of Qur’anic ascetic tendencies and Christian mystical sayings. By around the 10th century, it had become a uniquely Islamic feature. Sufism is understood as a life-long process guided by a spiritual mentor (shaykh or pir) with the goal of eventual union with God (Allah). This process involves combating baser impulses in the soul and performing spiritual exercises to empty out the individual’s personality and fill it with the divine remembrance.

Sufism is unique to Islam as a system but can be translated into other beliefs such as Christianity, Judaism, and Hinduism. From an early period, an ascetic strain emerged within Islam, with a minority of Prophet Muhammad’s Companions (sahaba) living an ascetic lifestyle. This contrasted with the luxurious and wealthy lifestyles affected by many Muslims during the early period, especially after the great Islamic conquests (634-732).

Muslim ascetics, such as Abu al-Darda’ and Abu Dharr al-Ghifari, followed closely in the ascetic practices of Christian monastics around them. For centuries, Christian monks in Syria and Egypt had practiced severe forms of bodily mortification and deprivation, which had acquired local social and religious prestige. These monks were seen as local holy men, looked to for arbitration and miracles, and were feared by secular and ecclesiastical hierarchies.

This social and religious prestige is reflected in the Qur’an, where it is said that those who say “we are Christians” are the closest in affection to the believers. Muhammad himself is said to have been close to a certain monk named Bahira (or Sergius).

What are spiritual Muslims called?

Sufism, a form of Islamic mysticism or asceticism, aims to help Muslims attain nearness to Allah through direct personal experience of God. The term Sufi is believed to originate from the Arabic word suf, which refers to the wool worn by mystics and ascetics. Sufi thought emphasizes the pursuit of a path leading to closeness with God, ultimately resulting in encountering the divine in the hereafter. Sufi orders and Sufi-inspired organizations are found worldwide, including Marrakech, Manila, London, and Lagos.

What is an ascetic person?

An individual who devotes their existence to contemplative principles and practices extreme self-denial or self-mortification for religious reasons, frequently abstaining from typical pleasures or material gratification. The term can be used as an adjective, adverb, or noun, and is derived from the Greek word askētikós, meaning “subject to rigorous exercise, hardworking.”

What are the names of the 5 ascetics?

The Pāli, a collective of five ascetics, were the initial disseminators of the Buddha’s inaugural discourse in the Deer Park at Vārāṇasī.

What is a spiritual ascetic?

Asceticism is a voluntary and sustained practice of self-denial in religious contexts, where immediate or sensual gratifications are renounced to attain a higher spiritual state. Most major world religions have ways for individuals to achieve a more thorough absorption in the sacred through ascetic practices. While some psychiatrists view ascetic or religious practices as pathological, others emphasize that religious or mystical practices can also be adaptive and creative. A study on religious and spiritual attitudes of patients with schizophrenic or affective disorders highlights the importance of understanding these practices.