Introduction to Muslim Spirituality: The Sufi Way

SUFISM MAY BE POWERFUL ANTIDOTE TO ISLAMIC EXTREMISM

(an article by Jane Lampman, staff writer of the CSM, Dec 5, 2007)

Images of Islam have pervaded the news media in recent years, but one aspect of the faith has gotten little attention – Islamic spirituality. Yet thousands in America and millions in the Muslim world have embarked on the spiritual path called Sufism, or the Sufi way. Some see its appeal as the most promising hope for countering the rise of extremism in Islam.

In recent weeks, celebrations in cities on several continents have marked the "International Year of Rumi." Sept. 30 was the 800th anniversary of the birth of Muslim mystic Jelaluddin Rumi, who is a towering figure in Sufi literature and, paradoxically, the bestselling poet in the United States over the past decade.

. . .

to continue reading the article click HERE (Thank you Sylvia for the link!)

Comments

[Christina Bratlund]

I love that the only initiation requirement for Sufism is "to be thirsty for God." That is the foundation. If we don't hunger and thirst, then we think we are complete and satisfied in and of ourselves. We don't reach out to God and we don't reach out to each other. We go around not paying attention to our soul...it's like we have this distorted view: psyching ourselves out to think we are full, when in reality we are anorexic. We must stop - Be still - Fight away all the distractions - And come to understand ourselves and our need.