Muslim saints of south asiapublished in russian in 1999 was prompted by the works of professor christopher shackle of soas, university of london, on provincial indopakistani su. Sufism has played a significant role in fighting against tsars of russia and soviet colonization. They renounced the world and devoted themselves to his service. Sufism known as tasawwuf in the arabicspeaking world, is a form of islamic mysticism that emphasizes introspection and spiritual closeness with the god. The teaching, practice, and political role of sufism in dushanbe 2 significant role in politics in the region, even though sufi philosophy in doctrine encourages the turning away from worldly affairs towards spiritual practices and essence. Sufism played the most important role in working out the great synthesis. In the subcontinent, the sufis made untiring, selfless and incessant struggle for the spread of islam. Sufism, being the marrow of the bone or the inner dimension of the islamic revelation, is the means par excellence whereby tawhid is achieved.
A case study of ali hujwiris impact on history of the punjab find. There is also preliminary discussion on the nature of islamic mysticism or sufism as such. Sufism is a mystical dimension of islam, often complementary with the legalistic path of the sharia had a profound impact on the growth of islam in india. What is the role of sufis and saints in subcontinent. Farhat alvi abstract central asia is considered to be a centre of sufism. They strived hard to sensitize people about the teachings of islam and molded their characters. Following the entrance of islam in the early 8th century, sufi mystic traditions became more visible during the 10th and 11th centuries of the delhi sultanate and after it to the rest of india. The political situation in north india was in favor of the spread of sufism in these regions. Sufism started gaining popularity in early centuries of islam.
Following the attacks of september 11, 2001 and within the framework of its war on terrorism, the united states of america would focus efforts on encouraging a return to and an adoption of islamic su tendencies. Five of these sufi orders migrated to the subcontinent in the coming centuries, namely the chishti, suhrawardi, qadri, naqshbandi and the firdousi schools. Sufi s and saints were the ones who introduced islam in subcontinent. It consists of mystical paths that are designed to learn the nature of humanity and of god and to facilitate the experience of the presence of divine love and wisdom. Suharawardiyya order of sufism became popular in bengal contemporary relevance of sufism, 1993, published by indian council for cultural relations. Nizam aldin auliya structured a system of belief which was upheld by the axial role played by the sufi shaykhs in the lives of ordinary muslims.
The history and methodology of sufism sufism is an esoteric doctrine transmitted by word of mouth, and sometimes without even a spoken or written word, by an authorized teacher to a disciple, and from disciple to another disciple, in confidence. Pdf on jan 1, 2011, dr mughees ahmed and others published role of mysticism in sociopolitical change in subcontinent. Advent of islam in sub continent since its first appearance islam has a close relation with indian sub continent arab traders been coming to indian shore to cell their goods. Muslim rule in india 7121857 authorstream presentation. Sufi movement the origin of sufism lay in mysticism tassawuf and one could discern from the very beginning two trends natural mysticism and the esoteric. Notes on ibn arabls influence in the indian subcontinent, muslim world.
If an alternative praxis of islam could have such a. Role of sufis in the spread of islam in subcontinent css. Sufism is traditional in morocco but has seen a growing revival with the renewal of sufism around contemporary spiritual teachers such as sidi hamza al qadiri al boutshishi. A final section considers issues surrounding the roles of the sufis in the relationship between islam and hinduism. By the eleventh and twelfth centuries, sufism gained popularity to such an extent that india grew to be islamicate. Khwaja moinuddin chishti introduced the chishtiyyah in india. A case study of notan wali sarkar1917 1994 muhammad iqbal chawla university of the punjab, lahore. The chishti order which became the most prominent in the subcontinent, originated in afghanistan in the middle of the twelfth century. The orthodox disagree with such aspects of sufism as saint worship, visiting of tombs, musical performances, miracle mongering, degeneration into jugglery, and the adaptation of preislamic and unislamic customs. I read them avidly with a feeling of growing admiration that almost imperceptibly turned into desire to explore the subject from my own viewpoint. Download sufi saints of the indian subcontinent pdf. In the subcontinent, by far the most outstanding among the great sufi shaykhs was khwaja moeenuddin chishti of ajmer.
Sufism has a history in india evolving for over 1,000 years. Islamabad muslim saints have played an important role in spreading islam in the subcontinent without using force and authority, said prominent scholar professor dr sabir ayub at booklaunching ceremony here on thursday. An educationist and reformer of south asia abstract after they spearheaded the first war of independence 1 857, the condition of the muslims of the indian subcontinent was pathetic and abject. Beginning with the highly influential formulation of sufism as islamic mysticism, it analyses the serious shortcomings of this category, before moving on to assess the impact of anthropological, socio. Role of sufism in spreading islam highlighted newspaper. In a similar fashion, one of the largest works of history of the subcontinent was called chachnama, a compilation of historical happenings, and which provides details on islams arrival in india. Growth and evolution of islam in indo pak subcontinent css.
Some of the major religions of the world have been started over here. In the subcontinent, the sufis made untiring, selfless and incessant. Pdf religion and societyredefining the role of sufi shrines in. The punjab derives its name from a persian compound comprising the words of panj. Here, sufis and their different orders are the main religious sources. They devoted their lives and gave up their homes to champion the cause of islam in a miraculous way. Our analysis of various historiographicd traditions produced in the subcontinent between the eleventh and the twentieth centuries, will show that this image of sufis qua missionaries is more the result. Suharawardy order of sufism was founded by shihabuddin suharawardy of baghdad and introduced in india by his disciple bahauddin zakariya of multan. Social roles of sufis in medieval india, princeton. Nizamuddin auliya spread sufism in delhi from where it diffused to the south of india accompanying the expansion by the.
Sufi saints in india india is the land of spiritualism. In the early days of islam period of companions tasawuf or sufis as a popular terminology was not exist, although the sources of all the traditions and practices of sufism were available at that time. An interesting feature of introduction of sufism in india, as nizami. Pdf download sufi saints of the indian subcontinent pdf online. Sufism in india a bloodied history indiafactsindiafacts. Full text of sufism in subcontinent internet archive. The roles played by sufis as litterateurs and seekers of divine transcendence. Sufism is popular in such african countries as morocco and senegal, where it is seen as a mystical expression of islam.
A conglomeration of four chronologically separate dynasties. Mughal empire under the mughals, india was the heart of a great islamic empire and a prolific center of islamic culture and learning. Sufism in india had an instrumental role in spreading islam in india. Download fulltext pdf role of mysticism in sociopolitical change in subcontinent. It was their their effort that islam developed its root in india and the concept of spiritualism arose. The article stars with a definition of metaphysics both traditional and modern, giving a relationship between religion and metaphysics. Get an answer for what roles have ulama and sufis played in the history of the muslim world, and what significance should we attach to them. If one includes all the ismaili groups that have settled in the. A helpful summary of the theological and historical dimensions of sufism. The sufis belonged to different tariqas orders of sufism. Sufism has also been present in india since a long time and even today we find a number of sufi followers here. Role of mysticism in sociopolitical change in subcontinent. Sufis and saints were the ones who introduced islam in subcontinent. Sufi saints and sages of indian subcontinent india has always been a land of great saints and free thinkers, which has been assimilating in its fold various cultures and thoughts from time to time.
The partition of the indian subcontinent seen through margaret bourkewhites. Indeed, he is generally accepted as the fountainhead of islamic spiritual movements in india and pakistan. Chishti sufi order in the indian subcontinent and beyond show all authors. Pdf download sufi saints of the indian subcontinent pdf. It is the land of ancient wisdom, where sufism in its true spirit has flourished from time immemorial. The presence of sufism has been a leading entity increasing the reaches of islam throughout south asia.
It was their humanistic position, and piety which won over the. The efforts rendered by the sufis in propagation of islam in the sub continent are unforgettable, innumerable and splendid. Mystic interpretation of islamic life within the bonds of religious orthodoxy is known as sufism, which was initially launched by god fearing people of persoarab world. Sufis of the subcontinent if you read the history of subcontinent, what strikes you is that although this same area was the land of pagans, idol worshippers, magicians and sorcerers at one time. Pdf the role of sufi tombs towards the development of islamic. The role of sufi missionaries in the islamization of kashmir aijaz hussain malik centre for historical studies, school of social sciences, jawaharlal nehru university, new delhi110067 abstract this paper is an endeavour to decipher the roots of conversion to islam in kashmir with an emphasis on the.
Read about the teachings and history of sufi religion. Between the th and 16th centuries, sufism produced a flourishing intellectual culture throughout the islamic world, a golden age whose physical artifacts survive. Oct 10, 2012 sufism in india had an instrumental role in spreading islam in india. Full text of sufism in subcontinent see other formats sufism muslim mysticism a tribute by muhammad hassan ali 1. Keynote speaker dr mohammad baqir khaqwani from allama iqbal open university said sufis played key role in spreading the message of islam and especially in the subcontinent, they played an active. A sufi attains a direct vision of oneness with god, often on the edges of orthodox behaviour, and can thus become a pir living saint who may take on disciples murids and set up a. Role of sufis in the spread of islam in subcontinent the efforts rendered by the sufis in propagation of islam in the sub continent are unforgettable, innumerable and splendid.
The advent and spread of islam in india prophet mu. Sufism mysticism played a pivotal role in sociopolitical change through learning. Pdf making sense of sufismin the indian subcontinent. Sufism is derived from the arabic word suf which means wool, refer to the garments worn by early sufis. These secret instructions are acted upon by a disciple with perfect faith in the teacher.
Understanding the concept of islamic sufism shahida bilqies research scholar, shahihamadan institute of islamic studies university of kashmir, srinagar190006 jammu and kashmir, india. The khwaja was born in sajistan in central asia in the year 19. Pdf sufi shrines are followed largely by rural population of pakistani punjab. A case study of ali hujwiris impact on history of the punjab article pdf available january 2011 with. Sufism, mystical islamic belief and practice in which muslims seek the truth of divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of god. Sufism also played a role in creating and propagating the culture of the ottoman world, and in resisting european imperialism in north africa and south asia. The role of sufism the subcontinent is unforgettable and splendid. W are also believed to be their gift to subcontinent. Sufism sufism in india, principle of sufism, history of. Mbacke suggests that one reason sufism has taken hold in senegal is because it can accommodate local beliefs and customs, which tend toward the mystical.
Shaykhulislam dr muhammad tahirulqadri recommended for you. This contradicted the foundations of the textual sharia praxis that the delhi sultans had laboured to construct over the previous century. It become their humanistic role, and piety which won over the hearts of lacs of humans. The spread of islam in the sub continent owes much to the efforts, exertions and the personal examples of the muslim saints and sufis who made concerted and diligent efforts to reach out to the amasses and sensitize them about the teachings of the islam. The earlier contacts of the muslims with the individuals of malabar coast dates back to the reign of umerr. A case study of ali hujwiris impact on history of the punjab. It is a mystical form of islam, a school of practice that emphasizes the inward search for the god and shuns materialism. Sufi and bhakti represented peoples revolt against the ossified practices, in search of, and as an endeavor to bring harmony in life. Sufism in its earlier stages was recited and meditated from the quran. Pdf role of mysticism in sociopolitical change in sub. Introduction literature is agog with stories about the life, thoughts and practices of several syeds and qalandars but not many words have been spent on the life of mian. Sufism is derived from the arabic word suf which means wool, refer to the garments worn by.
History of sufism sufism is said to have been originated near a place called basra located in iraq. The most prominent tariqahs of india are the shadhiliyya, chishtiyyah, naqshbandiyyah, qadiriyyah and suhrawardiyya orders. Hamda song or poem in praise of allah and naata poetry that praises holy prophet muhammads. The teaching, practice, and political role of sufism in dushanbe.
What roles have ulama and sufis played in the history of. Helpful interpretation giving special attention to the role of the orders in south asia. Sufism has helped to shape large parts of muslim society. Opposed to the dry casuistry of the lawyerdivines, the mystics nevertheless scrupulously observed the commands of the divine law. Chishti sufi order in the indian subcontinent and beyond.
Renowned indian preacher and founder of islamic research foundation, zakir naik, has always held that islam spread in india in a very peaceful manner, and the sufis played a positive role in bringing in all the great virtues and morals of islam through practice and preaching. The practice of sufism is the intention to go towards the truth, by means of love and devotion. Universal sufism has been defined by great sufi masters as a way to travel to the presence of the divine force and fill oneself with inner beauty and compassion. By educating the masses and deepening the spiritual concerns of the muslims, sufism has played an important role in the formation of muslim society. Tehmina mufti of sindh university said that sufi poets of the subcontinent.