Dervish
Dervish is a word that means poor, destitute one. Even though it is used for the poor and…
Islamic Sufism
99 articles
Journeying and Initiation – 3
In the eyes of those who have reached the stage of the soul at rest, all things, all…
Journeying and Initiation – 2
Sincerity or purity of intention (ikhlas) and perfect goodness or excellence (ihsan) are the two bases and the…
Journeying and Initiation
In the language of Sufism, when used together, sayr u suluk (journeying and initiation) denotes becoming free of…
Conversation and Communion (Sohba and Musahaba)
Sohba (Conversation) means making effective speeches to direct people to the Almighty, enlightening others with words and thoughts,…
Chela 2 (Suffering)
Although suffering always takes on the same form, dervishes experience it differently according to their capacities and their…
Suffering – 1 (Chela)
Denoting abandonment of all (worldly) pleasures and delights, and the affliction and hardship one bears when overcoming corporeality,…
Striving
According to people of the heart, mujahada (striving) means doing what is required by having been endowed with…
Wakefulness (Yaqada)
In the language of Sufism, yaqada (wakefulness) means that an initiate must be aware, careful and sensitive with…
Unity – 2
(continued from the previous issue) God’s Lordship and the lights of His Existence and Lordship which shine on…
Unity – 1
Tawhid, derived from wahda (oneness), means unifying, regarding as one, believing in God’s Oneness or Unity, and sincerely…
Distinguishing (Farq)
In the language of Sufism, farq (distinguishing) has been interpreted as making a clear distinction between unity and…
Absorption (Jam’) – 2
Absorption can never mean the unity of being—the unity (union) of God and the universe or God’s being…
Isolation (Tajrid)
Literally meaning to separate, abstract, peel away, or to isolate oneself from every occupation and engagement, tajrid (isolation)…
Finding and Existence (Wujud) – 2
(Continuing from the previous issue) The All-Holy Unity (Wahidiya) has an inward and outer aspect. We can call…