Islam and Spiritualism
Mysticism in Islam
William C. Chittick
It is worth noting that modern-day "Islamism"—that is, ideological posturing and political activism in the name of Islam —agrees with the early Orientalists on the origins of Islamic mysticism. Despite the fact that the Islamists are harshly critical of Western scholarship, they adopt many of its positions. They love Western technological expertise along with its guns and bombs, and they also love the various political theories that justify totalitarian control. By claiming that mysticism derives from outside sources, they embrace the Orientalist myth of a harsh and sterile Islam and ignore the spiritual and intellectual heritage of their religion. They have focused all their efforts on turning people away from the Islamic tradition and establishing authoritarian regimes.2
In my own writings, I have always avoided the word "mysticism," partly because of its strong negative connotations. I prefer instead the word "Sufism," which has the advantage of deriving from Arabic and pertaining specifically to Islam. Nowadays, this word is rather well known in the West. In the United States, Rumi has recently been the best-selling poet, and every introduction to his poems points out his affiliation to the Sufi tradition. Health clubs and New Age centres teach "Sufi Dancing" along with yoga and Zen meditation. At least the name is no longer strange in English, even if, in contrast to "mysticism," few people have any real idea as to what it might mean......
Religion based terrorism is perhaps the most dangerous phenomenon of Muslim history. Throughout Islamic history, that is, until very recently, action has always meant result-oriented action. But in modern times, for the first time, the Muslim mentality has become so distorted that, on occasion, fruitless action has also come to be considered desirable…..
The intellectual dimension of human beings is constantly highlighted in Islamic teachings. The Holy Quran has reinforced the concept of human beings using their intellect and reflecting on the mysterious creations of God.... Therefore, in Islam seeking knowledge is viewed as abundantly good and it is obligatory for every Muslim to seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave....
Many of us know Imam Abu Hanifa as a teacher and a Faqih who used to narrate Hadith on behalf of the Prophet (peace be upon him). But if you wanted to buy silk in the city of Abu Hanifa, the best place to buy silk was his shop that he ran with his brother. So even though he was an Imam, he still had his business and he made this money to be sufficient. Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal once was asked: “If somebody has a 100,000 dinars can he be from the people of zuhd, can he be a pious person?....
An important way of counterbalancing pride in one’s heart is to lower oneself to the very people s/he feels arrogance over, and to seek out tasks which help break one’s ego and increase humbleness. Physically serving others, especially the elderly and the poor, are actions that are humbling and a sure way of connecting with God. The best way to polish the heart and keep it free from rust is constant remembrance of God...
A list of do’s and don’ts would help the general readers about the simple but effective teachings of Islam. Before listing the do’s and don’ts let me remind the readers that a “do” will count to 10 and a “don’t” will count to 1. This means that a good deed will yield ten times the reward, but a bad deed will yield only one punishment.......
As most of us have come to realize, happiness is that ethereal quality that encompasses contentment and peacefulness; it is the soft joy that causes our lips, faces and hearts to smile. It is determined by faith in God and obedience to Him. Thus happiness embodies the peace security and submission that is Islam. The injunctions and regulations of Islam reinforce the happiness that comes from knowing God...
There is no radicalism in Islam, which commands to be moderate, temperate and compassionate, and prohibits extremism. In one verse Allah relates thus: “Say: ‘People of the Book! Do not go to extremes in your religion, asserting other than the truth, and do not follow the whims and desires of people who were misguided previously and have misguided many others, and are far from the right way’.”...
Sadia Dehlvi, a writer and Sufi activist read her paper on Sufism in Delhi. She said that she was proud to be a part of Delhi which was the centre of all the Sufi orders and most importantly the Dargah of Hadhrat Nizamuddin was located here. She appreciated the inclusive approach of the Sufis in an age when the ordinary and the downtrodden people did not get love and respect from the upper caste and the ruling elite. The Sufis and particularly Hadhrat Nizamuddin’s personality had become a rallying point for all the people irrespective of caste, creed or religion. She also said that it was a wonderful aspect of the Sufis that all the Sufis of India had formed a framework which connected the people from all religions and castes. .....
All the Surahs quoted are to remind the rich and powerful (and ignorant) rulers and citizens to pay heed to what the Almighty has warned of in unambiguous terms. We have the example of Qarun, whom Allah punished for his arrogance and ingratitude for all the wealth with which he had been blessed (Surah Qasas 28:76-84). When requested to be grateful and give thanks to Allah, he replied: “All this has been given to me on account of a certain knowledge that I have.” There are more recent examples too – i.e., King Farouk, the Shah of Iran, Saddam Hussein, Hosni Mubarak, Qaddafi, Marcos, etc...
For those who wish to connect with God, the need to describe Him with certain names is essential. It is not possible to worship that which is completely unknown. The knowledge of Asma ul Husna allows us to become acquainted with God, for it sheds light on the relationship between Allah and the world. Be it wrath or mercy, Allah reveals Himself to us through His names....
The moment a man opens his eyes to this world, he encounters a great order surrounding him. If he needs oxygen to survive, the atmosphere provides more than just the adequate amount of oxygen he needs; and thus he breathes without difficulty. If heat is essential for the existence of life on this planet, the sun is located at just the right distance to emit the exact amount of heat and energy human life requires….
The concept of God in Islam describes Him as the most merciful and the most loving and whatever He prescribes for humankind is in their best interest. Total submission to the will of Almighty God is a pathway to purity, peace and ultimately Paradise. The word the Quran most frequently uses to describe the act of worship is Ibadah. Ibadah is the root of the word ‘Ubudiyyah, which means to express one’s humility or humbleness.....
The importance of holy Surah like Al-Asr lies in the fact that it delineates the perfect all-embracing system of human life just as the Creator of mankind desires. Throughout all human history, everywhere and at all times, there has been only one system and way that guarantee happiness and prosperity to all mankind in this present world and the world to come. All other systems and ways have all been conducive to loss, wretchedness and perdition....
Lowliness and servitude before the Almighty are attributes the Prophet of Islam adorned. Lowliness before God is a spiritual stage which the Prophet and the sufi saints after him preferred in order the reach the glorious Lord. Hazrat Abdul Quader Jilani (God's mercy be upon him) narrates in his book of discourse, Al-Fat Al Rabbani, that one day a man came to the Prophet and said: "O Messenger, I love you." The prophet answered: "Be prepared to wear the garment of poverty."...