Sufism in Pakistan explained

Sufism known as Tasawwuf in the Arabic-speaking world, is a form of Islamic mysticism that emphasizes introspection and spiritual closeness with God. It is a mystical form of Islam, a school of practice that emphasizes the inward search for The God and shuns materialism. About 60% Muslims in Pakistan regard themselves as followers of Sufi saints.^[1]

Sufi traditions

Most of the Sufis in Pakistan relate to the four main tariqa (silsila): Chishti, Naqshbandi, Qadiri-Razzaqi and Suhrawardi.

Contemporary influence

There are two levels of Sufism in Pakistan. The first is the 'populist' Sufism of the rural population. This level of Sufism involves belief in intercession through saints, veneration of their shrines and forming bonds with a pir (saint). Many rural Pakistani Muslims associate with pirs and seek their intercession.^[2] The second level of Sufism in Pakistan is 'intellectual Sufism' which is growing among the urban and educated population. They are influenced by the writings of Sufis such as the medieval theologian al-Ghazali, the Sufi reformer Shaykh Aḥmad Sirhindi and Shah Wali Allah.^[3]

Attacks on Sufi shrines

Sufism, a mystical Islamic tradition, has a long history and a large popular following in Pakistan. Popular Sufi culture is centred on Thursday night gatherings at shrines and annual festivals which feature Sufi music and dance. Most Islamic fundamentalists criticise its popular character, which in their view, does not accurately reflect the teachings and practice of the Prophet and his companions.^{[4] [5]}

Since March 2005, 209 people have been killed and 560 injured in 29 different terrorist attacks targeting shrines devoted to Sufi saints in Pakistan, according to data compiled by the Center for Islamic Research Collaboration and Learning (CIRCLe).^[6] The attacks are generally attributed to banned militant organisations.^[7]

The Sehwan Sharif shrine was the site of a suicide bombing in 2017 carried out by the Islamic State.^[8]

See also

• Islam in Pakistan
• Sufism in Punjab
• Sufism in Sindh
• List of Sufi saints
• Shadhiliyya
• Kubrawiyyah

Bibliography

• De Bruijn, The Qalandariyyat in Persian Mystical Poetry from Sana'i, in The Heritage of Sufism, 2003.
• Ashk Dahlén, The Holy Fool in Medieval Islam: The Qalandariyat of Fakhr al-din Araqi, Orientalia Suecana, vol.52, 2004.
• Chopra, R. M., "Great Sufi Poets of the Punjab", 1999, Iran Society, Calcutta.
• Chopra, R. M., "SUFISM" (Origin, Growth, Eclipse, Resurgence), 2016, Anuradha Prakashan, New Delhi, .

External links

• The Islam That Hard-Liners Hate
• Pakistan's Sufis Preach Faith and Ecstasy
• Sufism in Pakistan – the tolerant antidote?
• Mystical Islam 'under threat' in Pakistan
• Steeped in ancient mysticism, the passion of Pakistani Sufis infuriates Taliban
• The Sufis of India and Pakistan
• Sufism and Pakistani society
• Why are they targeting the Sufis?
• /Sufism-in-Punjab/Sufis faced threatening from punjabi Taliban in Punjab
• Difficulties faced by Sufism in Pakistan

Notes and References

1. Web site: Hays . Jeffrey . SUFIS IN PAKISTAN Facts and Details . 2023-02-07 . factsanddetails.com . en.
2. Book: Hussain, Rizwan. Pakistan. https://web.archive.org/web/20081121052313/http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t236/e0616. dead. November 21, 2008. The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World. Sūfī Islam in Pakistan is represented at two levels. The first is the populist Sufism of the rural masses, associated with unorthodox religious rituals and practices, belief in the intercessory powers of saints, pilgrimage and veneration at their shrines, and a binding spiritual relationship between the shaykh or pir (master) and murīd (disciple). Many Muslims in rural areas of Pakistan, where orthodox Islam has yet to penetrate effectively, identify themselves with some pir, living or dead, and seek his intercession for the solution of their worldly problems and for salvation in the hereafter..
3. Book: Hussain, Rizwan. Pakistan. https://web.archive.org/web/20081121052313/http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t236/e0616. dead. November 21, 2008. The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World. The other strain is that of scholastic or intellectual Sufism, a recent phenomenon based in urban areas and becoming increasingly popular in educated circles. Influenced by the writings of the medieval theologian al-Ghazālī (d. 1111), the Sūfī reformer Shaykh Aḥmad Sirhindī (d. 1624), and Shāh Walī Allāh (d. 1762), and by the spiritual experiences of the masters of the Suhrawardī and Naqshbandī orders, these modern Sūfīs are rearticulating Islamic metaphysics as an answer to Western materialism..
4. News: Sufism Under Attack in Pakistan. 21 May 2012. The New York Times. Produced by Charlotte Buchen. video.
5. News: The Islam That Hard-Liners Hate. 21 May 2012. The New York Times. 6 January 2011. Huma Imtiaz. Charlotte Buchen. blog.
6. a think-tank based in Rawalpindi
7. http://criticalppp.com/archives/239339 Sunni Ittehad Council: Sunni Barelvi activism against Deobandi-Wahhabi terrorism in Pakistan – by Aarish U. Khan
8. News: Sehwan bombing toll reaches 88, over 250 injured. 17 February 2017. The News. 17 February 2017.