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English, Sufism

Ali, the Father of Sufism

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Thinking about the beginning of Ramadan.Thinking about the beginning of the Qur’an.Thinking about the line of Imams. Everything has a beginning. The Qur’an begins with the fatihah.  There is a tradition that the entirety of the knowledge of the Qur’an can be found in the fatihah; the entire fatihah is contained in the first line, bismillah ir-rahman ir-rahim, everything in that phrase is found in bismillah; all of that knowledge is found in the first letter, beh – a boat-shaped letter with a dot underneath; all of the knowledge of the beh is found in the dot, and that dot is Hazrat Ali. The … Continue reading Ali, the Father of Sufism

English, Sufism

Ali ibn Abi Talib and Sufism – Caner K. Dagli

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I am the abode of knowledge, and ‘Ali is its gate. – The Prophet. No figure in the early history of Islam, except the Prophet himself, has been the locus for so much controversy and debate as that of ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib. These controversies exist on more than one level, ranging from questions of politics and history to issues in theology and metaphysics. The intellectual breadth and spiritual depth of ‘Ali has inspired deep reverence on all parts of the Islamic world, both among the Shi’i’s and the Sunnis, and although most of the conflict between these two major … Continue reading Ali ibn Abi Talib and Sufism – Caner K. Dagli

English, Sufism, Videos

Why is Imam Ali Connected to All the Sufi Tariqas? – Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad

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Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad talks about the virtues of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib and the metaphysical significance of why he is at the head of all the Sufi paths of learning or turuq. Timothy John Winter (born 1960), also known as Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad, is an English Sunni Muslim scholar, researcher, writer and academic. He is the Dean of the Cambridge Muslim College, Aziz Foundation Professor of Islamic Studies at both Cambridge Muslim College and Ebrahim College, Director of Studies (Theology and Religious Studies) at Wolfson College and the Shaykh Zayed Lecturer in Islamic Studies at University of Cambridge. His work includes publications on … Continue reading Why is Imam Ali Connected to All the Sufi Tariqas? – Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad

English, Sufism, Videos

What is the Sufi view of Imam Ali and his descendants? – Shaykh Hisham Kabbani

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Muhammad Hisham Kabbani (born 28 January 1945) is a Lebanese-American Sufi Muslim. Kabbani has counseled and advised Muslim leaders to build community resilience against violent extremism. In 2012 the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre named him one of the top 500 most influential Muslims. Kabbani was also a member of the Elijah Interfaith Institute Board of World Religious Leaders.[4] Shaykh Hisham Kabbani has held meetings with numerous world leaders and has been a key speaker at various conferences, such as the World Economic Forum. Continue reading What is the Sufi view of Imam Ali and his descendants? – Shaykh Hisham Kabbani

English, Sufism

Is Sufism different from Islam? An interview with Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr

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Q: Some say that one can be a Sufi and not Muslim. What do you say to non-Muslims that embrace Sufism as non-Muslims?  A: For non-Muslims, Sufism can be a spiritual attitude, as far as ideas are concerned. As practices are concerned, no, a non-Muslim is not able to be a Sufi. As a spiritual attitude, yes, non-Muslims are able to embrace the spiritual attitude of Sufism which emphasizes charity, humility, unity. A Muslim should not wear a cross, just as a non-Muslim should not pray or associate with Muslim ritual symbols. Praying in unity with those of other traditions can … Continue reading Is Sufism different from Islam? An interview with Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr

Diversity, English, Sufism

Everybody Loves Ali ibn Abi Talib – Dr Muqtedar Khan

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Everybody loves Ali: Can He Bring Amity Between Shias and Sunnis? The Worst provision for the hereafter is aggression towards people. God Almighty commands justice and goodness. Justice is fairness and goodness is kindness. – Ali Ibn Abi Talib Of all the companions and relatives of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, none enjoys as much love, reverence, and respect as does Ali ibn Abi Tallib. He was the first male Muslim, a cousin of the Prophet, the husband of his dearest daughter Fatima, the fourth righteous Caliph of Islam, the first Imam of Shias, the dean of Muslim intellectuals, … Continue reading Everybody Loves Ali ibn Abi Talib – Dr Muqtedar Khan

Diversity, English, Sufism

Interview with Prof Seyyed Hossein Nasr

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by Kaleem Hussain Originally published on: 26th May 2009 Interviewing Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr, the eminent specialist of the Islamic spiritual tradition, means talking about the core of spirituality in Islam, the contributions of Muslim scholars and thinkers in developing an original spiritual dimension, the formation and spread of schools and currents in Muslim sufism, and the role of Islamic spirituality in today’s world. In a learned, informed and easy discussion, Professor Nasr covers the issue brilliantly and shows what meaning can Sufism and spirituality bring to our modern world, to cure some of its ailments. Welcome to the Muslim Heritage … Continue reading Interview with Prof Seyyed Hossein Nasr

English, Sufism

Introduction to Sufism

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Introduction Sufism Sufism, or Tasawwuf as it is known in the Muslim world, is Islamic mysticism (Lings, Martin, What is Sufism?, The Islamic Texts Society, 1999, pg 15). Non-Muslims often mistake Sufism as a sect of Islam. Sufism is more accurately described as an aspect or dimension of Islam. Sufi orders (Tariqas) can be found in Sunni, Shia and other Islamic groups. Most of Sunni Sufism while almost entire Shia Sufism revolve around the family of Prophet Muhammad, particularly his cousin and son in law Ali ibn Abi Talib and his descendants. Ibn Khaldun, the 14th century Arab historian, described Sufism as: … dedication to … Continue reading Introduction to Sufism

English, Sufism

Rumi and the Sufi Tradition – by Seyyed Hossein Nasr

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Wine in ferment is a beggar suing for our ferment, Heaven in revolution is a beggar suing for our consciousness. Wine was intoxicated with us, not we with it; the body came into being from us, not we from it. (Mathnawī, I,1811, trans. by R. A. Nicholson). LIKE a majestic peak that dominates the countryside around it near and far, the figure of Mawlānā Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī, that supreme Sufi poet of the Persian language, dominates the whole of the later Sufi tradition in the eastern lands of Islam. He stands out as aspiritual pole not only for the Persian people to whom he belongs by … Continue reading Rumi and the Sufi Tradition – by Seyyed Hossein Nasr

Diversity, English

Does Islam teach hatred for Non-Muslims?

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No. One of the fundamental teachings of Islam and one which every Muslim cultivates in his heart is that of brotherhood and equality of human beings. Since Islam considers the diversity of people and nature as God’s creation, respect for diversity is commanded. Especially noted in the Qur’an are “People of the Book”, namely Jews and Christians, who were always given a special place in Muslim society. Muslims are commanded to safeguard their right to worship and their places of worship, a command that has been historically followed, as is evidenced by the existence of old churches and synagogues throughout … Continue reading Does Islam teach hatred for Non-Muslims?