Sufism Its Mystical Contribution to an Understanding of...

2.3 A God to be Remembered: The Sufi Practice of Dhikr In an interview on the Sufi concept of God’s oneness conducted in 2011, contemporary mystic Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee emphasised the ‘forgetfulness’ of today’s society. In the context of Sufism, this ‘forgetfulness does not refer to mere absent-mindedness but a kind of perpetual and periodic obliviousness to the centrality of God and the divine spark within. The goal of the Sufi then, is to maintain a constant state of remembrance of God through the recitation of His ninety-nine names – a practice known as dhikr. Although often occurring in the form of silent and prolonged meditation on God, the most popularized form of dhikr amongst the majority of Sufi sects includes a group of Sufis†¦show more content†¦Similar states of ecstasy are reached in the same way in Pentecostal or charismatic branches of Christianity where believers, filled with the Holy Spirit become enraptured and as if drunk, begin to speak strange utterances known as the d ivine language of tongues (referred to as shathiyyat in Arabic (Ernst 1997: 117)). These practices shed light on the nature of the divine from the perspective of the mystic. It is as if God consciousness and a divine connection can be reached by touching the inner workings of the spirit, by grasping at the core of one’s emotions, mental capabilities and spirituality in order to access what is already there – the divine spark that unifies God with mankind. The God of the Sufis exists beyond human egotism, beyond any normal state of consciousness – beyond the conventional. These trance-like experiences may occasionally be granted to a Muslim by spontaneous â€Å"divine grace† (Ernst 1997: 116) as in the case of the famous Luri tribesman who, when having encountered a sudden spiritual state where divine unity became apparent to him, became drunk and as incomprehensible as a madman. However, the majority of Sufis commit to a spiritual quest that is characteri sed by specific stages or spiritual stations,’ which illustrate a conscious progression towards the ultimate goal – reaching al-Haqiqah (commonly known as fana)Show MoreRelatedIslam : Religious Aspects Of Islam1380 Words   |  6 PagesProphet Muhammad† because of his vision of this religion that inspired him to preach the revelations of God which spread worldwide after his death in 632. Islam spread at a rapid rate all across the world and as far as India and China and was being done by many mean to include commerce and trade. Moreover, Islam is based on strict monotheistic teaching from the prophet Muhammad, which is based on their god â€Å"Allah†. However, before Muhammad begins his journey of prophecy at age forty, he was an orphan asRead MoreAl Gazali1257 Words   |  6 Pagesin 1058 AD in Tus, Persia and impacted greatly upon the Islamic faith, particularly toward Sunni and Sufi members; they know him as ‘the Proof of Islam’. Al Ghaza li provided a positive impact upon the Islamic faith and its million of devotees and still continues to do so today through his many works. Al Ghazali was educated in Tus, Persia, at the Nishapur School as well as at the Nizamayyah School in Baghdad. Here, he excelled in Islamic sciences. In 1095, Al Ghazali experienced a personal crisisRead MoreIslam s Impact On Modern Day2125 Words   |  9 Pageshave to define what â€Å"re-newer† is), Throughout the course of history, many influential thinkers and intellects arose during several eras and have left a profound impact on modern day (optional to add this if it sounds better) Islam. During the 5th Islamic century, Imam Al Ghazali became one of the most influential thinkers in the history of Islam. Born in Persia, Al- Ghazali lost the shadow of his father early in his life, as at a young age his father had passed away. Al Ghazali’s fathers’ desire hadRead MoreThe New Testament And The Christian Message1984 Words   |  8 Pagesaccordingly is sought after and taken up by the communities that seek to follow Jesus. Peace is understood as more than merel y an absence of violence and conflict. It refers more fully to an overall sense of wellbeing. Ultimately peace is found in union with God. Christians are taught to live at peace with others, both within their own communities and in the wider human family. The New Testament is the normative text for all Christians. While there are some differences in the way the New Testament is usedRead MoreWorld Religion5936 Words   |  24 PagesName________________________ Class Hour_______ CHAPTER 1-Understanding Religion STUDY QUESTIONS (Pages 1-29) Group A 1. What are some of the questions religion seek to answer? List some of the human needs served by religion? 2. Discuss a theory on origins of religion by one of the thinkers in the reading (Tylor, Frazer, Freud, James, Otto or Jung) that makes sense to you at the present time. 3. List and describe the eight elements that are developed in varying degrees in most religions?Read MoreA Picatrix Miscellany52019 Words   |  209 Pagesreplaced, in some manuscripts, by a detailed list of contents, arranged by chapter, of which a translation will be found on pp. lxxvi-lxxviii of the present volume. Chapter 1 (pp.4-7) demonstrates the importance of philosophy, on the one hand for the understanding of matters divine, natural and moral, and on the other as the premise for magic, which is its conclusio. In the first section there are verbal echoes of al-Fà ¢rà ¢bà ®Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s Classification of the Sciences (Ihsà ¢ al-’Ulà »m) and the Neo-Platonic doctrines