According to some authors, Sufi is traceable to the Arabic word, pronounced ‘soof’,which literally means, ‘wool’ referring to the material from which the simple rooes of the early Muslim mystics were made.
Mysticism in the Islamic context has traditionally been intertwined with the notion of Ḥikmah, which is at once both wisdom and philosophy (Nasr 1996). The source of mysticism and the mystical elements in Islam are to be traced to the Qur’an and the Islamic doctrine itself. Some of the Qur’anic verses have been viewed by the mystics and philosopher-mystics of Islam as allegorical and esoteric hints for those who can see them. “God is the Outward and the Inward” (Qu’ran 57:3), “he for whom wisdom is given, he truly has received abundant good” (Qu’ran 2:269),
‘He was a doctor, and the king of a certain country called him to treat his ailment. The sage refused. Then the King ordered soldiers to seize the doctor, and to bring him to his presence. ‘When they were face to face, the King said, “I have brought you here, bound hand and foot, to […]
Who think that “deceit” is always evil Read More »
I am being asked to illustrate that the learning process is distinct from its emotionally stimulative content.There is a story of a teacher who spent much of his salary on alcoholic drink.When this became known, students deserted him, saying ‘We can hardly understand what he says.’A friend, another scholar, suggested that, as he now had
Once, two students of the Sufi Way found themselves in a heated argument about the nature of human understanding. The first student claimed, “Man arrives at Truth through personal effort and diligent research. He begins in ignorance and gradually acquires knowledge.” The second student disagreed, “No, man reaches Truth only under the guidance of expert
A Lesson in Understanding: The Two Sufi Students and the Truth Read More »
There is a story of old, once told by a people who hearkened to wisdom. As the members of that community do not now listen to meanings, it really matters little whether they are told the story or not, or have preserved it or not.But to proceed: the story concerns four men, who lived in
The Four Scholars and Lion Read More »
There was once a man who became tired of his life in his village. The more he heard, from travelers passing through the nearby market town, of the ’greater world’, the more he longed to enter it, and to escape from the limitations which he felt surrounded him at every turn.Finally he made his decision,
A haughty aristocrat fell into a well, and hung suspended just above the water, praying and shouting for help.After some time another man came along and said:‘Take my hand, and I will pull you out.’‘One moment,’ said the trapped man, reverting to habit, I must first know your name.’‘My name, if it is of any
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A Sufi teacher on his death-bed gave a bundle of papers to his disciple and said:‘Take these. Some are written upon and others not. Those which are blank are as valuable as those which are not.’ The disciple took the papers, and studied those on which there was writing. The others he kept just as
There was once a king who had been trying to treat his subjects with enlightened kindness and the minimum of control. The people showed signs of disaffection and instead of showing co-operation and respect for the administration, became complaining and turbulent. The king was standing on the ramparts of one of his castles one day
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One day, the Shah was praising the head cook for the appetizing pulao he had prepared. ‘There is nothing more fit for a king than pulao!’ ‘Indeed,’ agreed Nasrudin, who was a guest at the royal table.The King continued to eat greedily. After his fourth serving he started to feel a heaviness in his stomach.
Invited to a grandee’s court, Nasrudin was offered a horse to ride. As soon as it was brought to him, he placed his right foot in the left stirrup, sprang up, and landed on its back, facing the animal’s tail.‘Perhaps you are not accustomed to the mount of gentlemen sniffed the aristocrat.‘Perhaps not,’ said Nasrudin.
Facing Animal’s Tail Read More »
