My fascination with the Sufi way of life took root when I first read 'The Forty Rules of Love.' Various Sufism quotes in the book mesmerized me. In Bilquis Jehan Khan's memoir, A Song of Hyderabad, her valuable insights are elaborated in Chapter 21 titled, 'A Holy Man's Life and Works."
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What is the most important belief in Sufism?
The author writes in her memoirs, "A Sufi should renounce himself, not others. My father used to say that while a man must stand in the water, his clothes should not get wet. Of course, this is an impossible ideal, but Sufis accept that the goal lies very far away."
She quotes her father's words, "Everyone has a pure heart, but on all hearts you normally find a layer of black tarnish. Why? Because like silver, a heart needs to be polished! And the only way to polish it is to call upon God's name."
Meditation, exercising self-discipline, invoking God's name are important parts of Sufi.
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The author and her family belong to the Chishtia group, which includes the tradition of Qawwali and swirling derweshes.
Interestingly, in the Chishtia group itself, there are two other groups known as the Salik and the Mazuf. The former is synonymous with an ascetic and can never talk about himself or show off mystical powers, whereas the latter cannot keep their feelings hidden and speak without restraint, occasionally predict the future as well.
"When we visited the shrine of a pir, we only did so to pay our respects, never to ask for anything. Many people have the wrong idea about pirs. They believe pirs perform miracles, but it is not like that at all."
Some of the healing miracles that her father did have been explained by the author as she had witnessed them. A young man was bitten by a poisonous snake, his body turned blue and he was frothing at the mouth. H
The author's father told his family that he would ask God to be merciful and prayed for sometime, looking at the young man, after which he then rubbed his handkerchief lightly over the wound three times.
Can you guess what happened next?
The man recovered completely and became his disciple!
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Sufism Orders
According to Bilquis Jehan Khan, four groups or orders of Sufism exist in India. They are as follows:
1. The Qadiria led by Hazart Ghaus-i-Azam Dastagir whose tomb and shrine are in Baghdad.
2. The Chishtia led by Gharib Nawaz Moinuddin Chishti whose shrine is in Ajmer.
3. The Suhrawardia.
4. The Naqshbandia.
Sufism Quotes
Her father became a mystic poet in the tradition of Moinuddin Chishti. In his last moments, he told his son, "A person who calls upon God's name will not die.
I will keep watch over you as you sit in my place and carry on our work. I am blowing out my spirit. Allah-hu."
A couplet of one of his poems is inscribed on his tomb next to a mosque and it reads, "Announce to all that Death, for the Lovers (Ghulam) of God, is naught but a Union with the Beloved."
Wow, such beautiful powerful words from a self-realised soul!
As I read these words, I felt goosebumps on my skin.
These words reminded me of the Bhakti poetry that celebrated the union of the Jivatma with the Paramatma.
The author's mother tells her, "The Sufi never dies...the Quran said these people remain alive in their God and in heaven..."
In the name of God, there are countless battles that have been fought. For us, ordinary mortals, the battle is not against another's faith, it is a battle within - of what we choose to identify with. The wise ones are those whose words and actions are in harmony with their Self and can guide our way forward.
What's your understanding of Sufism in India? DO share your favourite couplets and quotes with me in the comments section. I'd love to know!
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