15 Interesting Facts About Sufism

However, Islam is the second-most followed religion in the world. But, within Islam, there is a mystical version by the name of Sufism, whose influence and acceptance is felt even by those who follow a different religion. That’s the most fascinating thing about Sufism, isn’t it? In this article we’ll discuss some important facts related to Sufism: its origin, meaning, the early Sufi pirs, and some other anecdotes related to it and its importance in India.

Sufism Facts

1. Sufism began as a reactionary movement against both the Imperial Islam of the Muslim dynasties like the Ummayad and Abbasid, and the rigid formalism of Islam’s “orthodox” learned class, the Ulama.

2. The coarse wool garments, or suf, worn by the first Sufis were a symbol of poverty and separation from the world.

3. The word Sufi is practically interchangeable with the words darvish or faqir, meaning “mendicant” or “poor”.

4. The Sufi Orders were led by spiritual leaders known as Shaykhs in Arabic and Pirs in Persian. Both of which mean “old man”.

Sufism Facts and its history.

5. Husayn ibn Mansur al-Hallaj, was one of the earliest and renowned Sufi masters. He was sentenced to death by the Abbasid Caliph Muqtadir. And that made al-Hallaj one of the earliest Sufi martyrs in history.

6. Rabia of Basra was the first female Sufi master in the history of Sufism.

7. Love is the foundation of Sufism. According to the Sufis, God’s very essence, i.e., God’s substance, is love.

8. Ta’wil, i.e., uncovering the hidden meaning of the Quran, is one of the most important aspects of Sufism.

9. According to various scholars, the Qadiri likely represents the first formally recognised tariqah (Sufi path or order) in Sufism.

10. Turkey’s Mevlevi Order, founded by Rumi and popularly known as the Whirling Darvishes,

11. Of the various Sufi orders that emerged, four enjoyed considerable importance in India:
 the Chishtis, the Suhrawardis, the Qadiris, and the Naqshbandis.

12. The Chisthis and Suhrawardis flourished in the Delhi Sultanate period, while the Qadiri and Naqshbandi orders gained prominence in the Mughal period.

13. Guru Granth Saheb, the holy book of the Sikhs, also contains Sufi poetry.

14. The main goal of Sufism is to thrust humanity toward God.

15. The state of being a Sufi is known as Tasawwuf.

I hope you like these facts about Sufism. Thanks for reading. Jai Hind.

You can also connect with me on my Instagram- dontbignorant