Sufis: Esotericism, Mysticism, and Islam.

27/05/2024

Sufism is a branch of Islam influenced by pre-Islamic spiritual movements and the belief in Allah through the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. They focus on the search for spiritual truth through direct experience with divinity.

It is known that the two main branches of Islam are Sunni and Shia. While Sunnis believe that the caliphs close to Muhammad are the heirs to this legacy, Shiites believe that only the direct heirs of Muhammad have this legitimacy. Therefore, we could understand Sunnism as a sort of religious order similar to Catholic Christianity, which interprets the scripture of the Quran along with the Sharia law that shaped the caliphates. Shiites are a "Protestant" branch that is often associated with most guerrilla movements such as those in Iran and Iraq. At the same time, their imams boast immense wealth in areas of the Arabian Gulf to create a "paradise on earth" for Muslims. These differences have created different sects, causing conflicts in the Middle East for centuries:

For Sunnis, literal interpretations of their beliefs are used in an orthodox way for groups such as Salafis or Wahhabists, while on the other hand, there are other mystical sects such as the Alawites of Syria who are "ghulat," calling them extremist Shiites along with the Ayatollah of the Islamic Revolution in Iran.

The religious complexity within each territory is such that within predominantly Shia Iraq, there is Mandaism as a Mesopotamian monotheistic religion, Yazidism as a Kurdish minority that includes beliefs from Zoroastrianism, Islam, or Christianity, and the Sabaeans.

The Mandaeans worship a single god, known as Hajj, and consider the Jordan River sacred. They have a corpus of sacred scriptures, including the Ginza Rabba and the Drasha d-Yahya, a book dedicated to John the Baptist, since They practice purification rituals such as baptism.

On the other hand, the Yazidis maintain a caste system that worships Melek Taus, the "Peacock," who is seen as a divine angel who repented before God and was forgiven.

Finally, the Sabaeans focus on astrology, admiring celestial bodies such as stars and planets. This group may provide direct inspiration for the ancient Three Wise Men of the East.

In contrast, Sufi thought borders on the esoteric, as it is based on the inner dimension as opposed to material practices.

The Arabic term "Sufi" derives from suf, meaning wool, as the ordinary clothing of ascetics was made of raw wool, symbolizing the renunciation of worldly comforts.

Apparently, they remained neutral in the aforementioned conflicts between different religious movements, aligning themselves with the dominant one in each territory to ensure the survival of their practices.

For many historians, according to Marcel Hassin in his work The Black Book of Islam (2002), the roots of Sufism are to be found in the animist peoples of Siberia. Shamans, descended from the primitive man who had left Africa, had established their first colonies in the Middle East, between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and the Mesopotamia of the Sumerians and Akkadians, and had migrated to northern Siberia.

Their practices include the use of nature as a source of spiritual connection, trance rituals to achieve mystical states, and the valorization of individual experiences over dogmatic doctrines.

It is true that the Crimean Tatars, a nomadic people of Turkic origin with Islamic roots, settled within the geographical limits of present-day Russia.

Although there is evidence to support or refute these theories, interpretations when attempting to analyze historical and cultural events from the past can be biased or erroneous, as ritualistic practices are common across different religions.

Among the best-known Sufi movements are the Mevlevi Order, the Naqshbandi Order, and the Qadiri Order.

Within the Mevlevi order are the famous Turkish whirling dervish dances, where whirling dervishes lead to a state of meditative ecstasy.

The ritual follows a set of specific steps, beginning with a meditation-based preparation, and upon entering the stage, a reverential salute is made to the Sufi guide.

The whirling dervishes are performed with the right arm up and the left arm down, symbolizing the connection between the divine and the earthly. In addition, they bow their heads, representing the "death of the ego," accompanied by music with flutes and drums reciting sacred texts.

This ritual, celebrated in the city of Konya, was established by the mystic poet Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi in the 13th century, considering love as the fundamental link between human beings and the divine.

It should be noted that most dervishes are homosexual, finding refuge in their practices similar to the Andalusian brotherhoods of Holy Week, where contributing to the community allows them to express their sexuality.

The Naqshbandi order is characterized by the "remembrance of God" or dhikr as a contemplative meditation, reciting the names, attributes, teachings, or glorifying Allah. It is considered an essential practice to strengthen faith, purify the heart, achieve closeness to God, and cultivate a constant awareness of the divine presence in daily life.

They have leaders in their community called "sheikhs" as authority figures, whether they are elders versed in the Quran or political officials. They have spread mainly in Central Asia (Uzbekistan /Tajikistan/ Kazakhstan/ Turkmenistan) as well as in Turkey, India/Pakistan, and even Africa.

On the other hand, the Qadiri order is similar to asceticism, formed in local groups known as "khanqahs" or "tekkes," being the oldest and most respected Sufi order, and the most widespread in the world.

Similarly, the Alevis are found in the Anatolian region. They have a unique syncretic understanding of religion, identifying with Sufism and even engaging in shamanic practices typical of pre-Islamic Zoroastrian religions. They gather in "cemevíes," where they recite songs and practice "semah" as a form of ritual dance. For this community, it is performed in a circular space that symbolizes equality and unity among the participants.

Despite promoting religious tolerance due to their ecumenical nature, they have suffered marginalization by the Turkish government. Whether due to the secularism of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's modernist reforms at the founding of the country, or to Recep Tayyip Erdogan's religious overcompensation for these reforms, they have been repressed in the pursuit of cultural, religious, and political homogeneity, as is the case with the Kurdish people (Gülen case).

Some Sufis practice forms of magic such as divination or belief in talismans and amulets that are not accepted by the Muslim community. While there are a number of magical practices considered true and accepted in Islam due to divine or djinn intervention, many Sufi talismans do not meet the minimum standards: for example, using animal parts as amulets (animal fangs, scorpions, dragon snakes (nagas), etc.), or performing much more "shamanic" rituals, such as purifying people and places with incense and oils made from magical stones and herbs, covering a person with hyena skins to make them more attractive in a love spell, or using the Seal of Solomon, with the Star of David symbol, made of seven esoteric metals.

All of this is considered a deviation from Islam, and they are persecuted by extremist groups who consider them heretics, going against the oneness of Allah (Tawhid) and prohibiting any type of idolatry.

Without seeking meaning through prayer, relying on superstition, one goes against the Islamic faith. Some Sufis believe in the possibility of seeking divine guidance through dream interpretation or observing patterns in nature. Others use talismans that may include verses from the Quran, divine names, or sacred symbols, used as a tool to increase faith and devotion. Some even perform prayers to invoke divine presences.

Depending on the specific community, Sufi practices may involve invoking angels or other spiritual beings such as djinn to serve as intermediaries to achieve greater closeness with God, while others may focus more directly on communication and connection with the divine without the need for intermediaries.

Sufism remains a source of spiritual inspiration, helping us appreciate the diversity within Islam. With the Palestinian conflict, it offers us nuances that help us better understand the complex world in which we live.

Nuria Acquaviva - nacquavivaps@gmail.com