Sufi Mysticism

I. Traditional understanding of the Mystic Path: Three Stages.

A. Purgation or purification.

B. Illumination: Becoming endowed with love and gnosis.

C. The Mystic Union. Loving union or beatific vision.

II. Two main currents (Neither found in their purity):

A. The mysticism of Infinity: Plotinus and Upanishads.

• Numen = Being beyond all being, or even Not-Being.
• Numinous as a boundless ocean.
• Mystic Union is such that human personality drops out.

B. The mysticism of Personality:

• Stress on the difference between creator and created.
• Relation between God and individual: slave in presence of Lord.

II. Sufism

A. The word sufism probably comes from the Arabic root word meaning wool.

B. Sources of Sufism:

• Jewish and Christian Mysticism.
• Mysticism of Plotinus.
• Primary source: the Qur'an and the experience of Muhammad.

C. Historical Origins:

• Reaction against worldly nature of Umayyad period.
• Emphasis on piety and abstinence.
• Inwardness of ethical motivation.

D. Tawakkul- Quranic concept of trust in God. Striving to develop this trust = purification.

• Pietistic emphasis-concerns the heart.
• Developed into extreme doctrine of renunciation.
• Independence from natural causes.
• Twin concepts of love and grace fused into one sentiment.
• Dhikr- basic technique of Sufism. Means invocation and remembrance.

E. Safwa

• Purity = supreme virtue of mysticism. Perfection of annihilation (fana).
• Contrasted with faqr, which means poverty.
• Of what use is faqr in order to arrive at annihilation?

F. Tensions between Sufism and orthodox Islam (legists).

• Sufism-reaction to legalism of the Ulama (pure theologians).
• Sufis called action into question on grounds of faith.
• Orthodox Muslims: mysticism not for its own sake, but fulfilled in prophethood.

G. The Tariqa (the inner way) vs. the Shari'a: Three points of view.

• Sufis that believe that at higher levels, performance of the `ibadat and other aspects of the Shari'a function as a veil keeping seeker from realizing gnosis. Shari'a as provisional.
• Those that associate Sufism with this doctrine. Authenticity of Sufism doubted for this reason.
• Sufis that accept both Shari'a and Tariqa

H. Three kinds of Sufism:

• Orthodox Sufism or Sober Sufism.

a. mystical practices do not contradict Shari'a; reconcile law and devotion of the heart.

b. Hasan of Basra

c. Rabi'a al-Adawiya.

d. al-Junayd (d. 910).

• Antinomian Sufism.

a. Concern with following God without Ostentation or self-righteousness.

• Intoxicated Sufism.

a. Persons intoxicated with God; no distinction between self and God.

b. Abu Yazid al-Bistami: "Glory to Me! How great is my Majesty!" Highly regarded by Sober Sufis and sayings interpreted in an orthodox manner.

c. al Hallaj- Most famous utterance "I am God." Crucified 922.