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Sufism: An Islamic Mystical Movement
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18567 |
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Section : |
MODERN THOUGHT
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| Issue
Date : |
4 / 1991 |
4,498 Words |
| Author
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Hisham Khogali
Hisham Khogali, a practicing Sufi, is acting head of the
Department of Philosophy at the University of Khartoum, Sudan. |
During the 1980s, the Middle East became synonymous--at least in the minds of many Western commentators and observers--with political anarchy, the abuse of civil rights, and the destruction of civil society. By now Westerners have heard much about the violent nature of various Islamic movements, although they know little about the positive aspects of Islam. The deteriorating security situation resulting from the depressing political events in Iraq and Iran has led many Western observers to believe that Islam, in most of its social, economic, and political attitudes, ignores the barest essentials of individual welfare. For many analysts, the almost total lack of beneficial socioreligious development is the leading cause of the continuous warfare in the Middle East. The rise of Islamic fundamentalism and the increase of religious intolerance in the modern Shia Iranian state, according to many Western observers, make the future political prospects of Islam look very unsettled.
It is unlikely, however, that we would be correct in using the practices of certain religious groups to condemn an entire religion as a doctrine. All over the world we can find religious groups that preach morality in the morning and break with it at noon. It is very common for fundamentalists and fanatics to say that they believe in positive ethical doctrines, which are nevertheless distorted in practice to suit aggressive ends.
More publicity may be needed to convince the West of Islam's social virtues. In an attempt to alter the gloomy present picture of Islam, my goal here is to elaborate the fundamental tenets of Sufism, the main mystical movement in Islam.
Sufism has had important adherents, and their devotion to Sufism has often led to admirable behavior. For example, the late Anwar El-Sadat, the assassinated former president of Egypt, was himself a practicing Sufi, a member of the Shaehiliyyah order. It is reported that during his time in prison, Sadat learned Persian so that he could read Sufi poetry. It is reasonable to conclude that Sadat's adherence to Sufism helped give him a more universal perspective, both religiously and culturally, and that this was a central factor in his ability to make the important political overtures to Israel that ultimately resulted in the Camp David Accord, which brought peace between Egypt and Israel.
Origins and Beliefs of Sufism
Many opinions and interpretations have been offered about the derivation of the word Sufi (mystic). The
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