Category: English

Diversity, English, Extremism

The Diversity of Islam

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Nicholas Kristof, Oct. 8, 2014 A few days ago, I was on a panel on Bill Maher’s television show on HBO that became a religious war. Whether or not Islam itself inspires conflict, debates about it certainly do. Our conversation degenerated into something close to a shouting match and went viral on the web. Maher and a guest, Sam Harris, argued that Islam is dangerous yet gets a pass from politically correct liberals, while the actor Ben Affleck denounced their comments as “gross” and “racist.” I sided with Affleck. After the show ended, we panelists continued to wrangle on the topic … Continue reading The Diversity of Islam

Diversity, English, Extremism, Sufism

Who Are Sufi Muslims and Why Do Some Extremists Hate Them?

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By Megan Specia, Nov. 24, 2017 Sufism is a mystical form of Islam, a school of practice that emphasizes the inward search for God and shuns materialism. It has produced some of the world’s most beloved literature, like the love poems of the 13th century Iranian jurist Rumi. Its modern-day adherents cherish tolerance and pluralism, qualities that in many religions unsettle extremists. But Sufism, often known as Islamic mysticism, has come under violent attack in recent years. On Friday, Takfiri Islamist militants stormed a Sufi mosque on the Sinai Peninsula, killing at least 305 people in what officials are calling the worst terrorist … Continue reading Who Are Sufi Muslims and Why Do Some Extremists Hate Them?

English, Sufism

The Mystical Tradition of Sufism

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There is a lot of press given to Sufism (or Tasawwuf) these days, focusing on its moderate and inclusive political affiliations and promoting it as a paradigm of ecumenical tolerance and spiritual transcendence. One example of this is the worldwide popularity of Rumi.  He was cited as the best-selling poet in the U.S. in 2014 (BBC – http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20140414-americas-best-selling-poet).  It is largely due to Rumi, in fact, that Sufism provides such potent imagery and ideas and has captured the Western popular imagination. Sufism consists of much more than the order founded by Rumi, of course, and its practices are as diverse as … Continue reading The Mystical Tradition of Sufism

Diversity, English, Extremism, Sufism

Sufi Muslims face prejudice and negative stereotypes by some sections within Islam

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The world’s 1.6 billion Muslims are united in their belief in God and the Prophet Muhammad and are bound together by such religious practices as fasting during the holy month of Ramadan and almsgiving to assist people in need. But they have widely differing views about many other aspects of their faith, including how important religion is to their lives, who counts as a Muslim and what practices are acceptable in Islam, according to a worldwide survey by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life. The survey, which involved more than 38,000 face-to-face interviews in over 80 … Continue reading Sufi Muslims face prejudice and negative stereotypes by some sections within Islam

English, Sufism

The diversity and unity of Sufism: a conversation with Peter Samsel

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SUFISM is sometimes called “the inner power” of Islam because of its focus on the Qur’an, the Prophet Mohammad, and tawḥīd— the ultimate divine oneness of God. Nevertheless, it is often misunderstood by both well-meaning newcomers and those seeking to strip Islam of its authenticity. While recognizing the complexity of all religions, independent scholar Peter Samsel wants to simplify Sufism in his book A Treasury of Sufi Wisdom, which includes a collection of and commentary on Sufi works. His aim is to provide a unifying concept to Sufi thought and practice, introducing the newcomer to its depths and diversity while also … Continue reading The diversity and unity of Sufism: a conversation with Peter Samsel

Diversity, English, Understanding Islam

Introduction to two mainstream sects of Islam: Sunni and Shia

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Sunni and Shia Muslims are similar in terms of their belief in oneness of God, finality of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the Quran, fasting in Ramadan, the Hajj pilgrimage, the Zakat (charity tax), and several other basic tenets of Islam. Both sects have peacefully lived with each other barring a few incidents and phases of intolerance and violence. Both branches of Islam represent the early, mainstream versions of Islam and their differences are not only in some matters of jurisprudence but also in terms of politics. Sunni Shia Population ca. 1.2 billion (approximately 70–75% of Muslim population) ca. 200–250 million … Continue reading Introduction to two mainstream sects of Islam: Sunni and Shia

English, Sufism, Videos

Historical Beginnings of Sufism – Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee

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From the introductory series on Sufism, The Sufi Path of Love and the Secrets of Mystical Oneness with Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee. Recorded October 18, 2009 in Tiburon, California. Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee (born 1953, London) is a Sufi mystic and lineage successor in the Naqshbandiyya-Mujaddidiyya Sufi Order. He is an extensive lecturer and author of several books about Sufism, mysticism, dreamwork and spirituality. Continue reading Historical Beginnings of Sufism – Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee

Diversity, English, Understanding Islam

Introduction to Islam: The Major Difference Between the Shia and the Sunni

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All the Muslims agree that Allah is One, Muhammad (pbuh) is His last Prophet, the Qur’an is His last Book for mankind, and that one day Allah will resurrect all human beings, and they will be questioned about their beliefs and actions. There are, however, disagreements between the two schools in the following two areas: 1. The Caliphate (successorship/leadership) which the Shiaa believe is the right of the Imams of Ahlul-Bayt (the Prophet’s family). 2. The Islamic rule when there is no clear Qur’anic statement, nor is there a Hadith upon which Muslim schools have agreed. The second issue has … Continue reading Introduction to Islam: The Major Difference Between the Shia and the Sunni

English, Understanding Islam

Introduction to Islam – by M. Cherif Bassiouni

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Introduction The purpose of this book is to convey to a non-Muslim audience an understanding of Islam, its history, culture, and contribution to civilization. The mix of an easy-to-read text and visual representations including maps, charts, pictures, and drawings with informative captions explains the important message of Islam in a way that the reader will hopefully find thoughtful and appealing. Relevant verses of the Qur’an and sayings of the Prophet (Hadith) have been included where appropriate, as support for the narrative, and their interspersing sets out their relevant importance. The Arabic text of the Qur’an was also included because no … Continue reading Introduction to Islam – by M. Cherif Bassiouni

English, Understanding Islam

A brief introduction to the meaning of Islam

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By Daniel Masters, AbdurRahman Squires, and I. Kaka Islam and Muslims The word “Islam” is an Arabic word which means “submission to the will of God”.  This word comes from the same root as the Arabic word “salam”, which means “peace”.  As such, the religion of Islam teaches that in order to achieve true peace of mind and surety of heart, one must submit to God and live according to His Divinely revealed Law.  The most important truth that God revealed to mankind is that there is nothing divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Almighty God, thus all human … Continue reading A brief introduction to the meaning of Islam