Synopses & Reviews
For many in the West, the ecstatic dancing ritual of whirling dervishes is
the most recognizable aspect of Sufism. Sufism is the mystical branch of
Islam, with which Muslims throughout the world identify. It emphasizes
direct knowledge of the divine within each person. Its adepts see
meditation, music, song, and dance as integral to the spiritual quest.
The Chishti Sufi order is among the oldest and most popular of all Sufi
traditions. Though most often identified with South Asia, today its devotees
can be found from California to Kuala Lumpur. What are the distinctive
practices of the Chishtis, and how do they differ from other orders? Who
were the founding figures, and what were the seminal texts that provided the
basis for this tradition? And how has this legacy continually been
reinterpreted until the present day?
Sufi Martyrs of Love provides access to the voices of Sufi authorities
through the translation of texts being offered in English for the first
time. It also offers a critical perspective on Western attitudes toward
Islam and Sufism, confronts the prejudices of the academy and the media, and
offers a clarification of the contemporary importance of Sufism from Asia to
America.
Review
"This book is a superb example of what subtly rigorous, questioning, and imaginative scholarship can contribute to inter-civilizational understanding - a goal that honours the Chishtis'own preoccupation with religious inclusiveness and tolerance."
--Farhan Nizami, The Prince of Wales Fellow, Magdalen College, Oxford
Sufi Martyrs of Love is particularly supple in its examination of intertwined topics like meditative practice, the complex role and nature of genealogies, the relation of tradition to tombs and shrines; the relation of the Chishti order to configurations of power--pre-colonial, colonial, and post colonial; and the pull between the the traditions homeland and its many and fascinating outposts or new centers. This is an outstanding book; it should be at the top of the reading list not only for Sufism but for comparative mysticism and the history of religions as well.
-- Michael Sells, Emily Judson Baugh and John Marshall Gest Professor of Comparative Religions, Haverford College
Synopsis
Sufism is a religion which emphasizes direct knowledge of the divine within each person, and meditation, music, song, and dance are seen as crucial spiritual strides toward attaining unity with God. Sufi paths of mysticism and devotion, motivated by Islamic ideals, are still chosen by men and women in countries from Morocco to China, and there are nearly one hundred orders around the world, eighty of which are present and thriving in the United States. The Chishti Sufi order has been the most widespread and popular of all Sufi traditions since the twelfth century. Sufi Martyrs of Love offers a critical perspective on Western attitudes towards Islam and Sufism, clarifying its contemporary importance, both in the West and in traditional Sufi homelands. Finally, it provides access to the voices of Sufi authorities, through the translation of texts being offered in English for the first time.
Synopsis
Sufism is a mystical branch of Islam, and one of the largest systems of religious affiliation in the Islamic world.
Synopsis
For many in the West, the ecstatic dancing ritual of whirling dervishes is
the most recognizable aspect of Sufism. Sufism is the mystical branch of
Islam, with which Muslims throughout the world identify. It emphasizes
direct knowledge of the divine within each person. Its adepts see
meditation, music, song, and dance as integral to the spiritual quest.
The Chishti Sufi order is among the oldest and most popular of all Sufi
traditions. Though most often identified with South Asia, today its devotees
can be found from California to Kuala Lumpur. What are the distinctive
practices of the Chishtis, and how do they differ from other orders? Who
were the founding figures, and what were the seminal texts that provided the
basis for this tradition? And how has this legacy continually been
reinterpreted until the present day?
Sufi Martyrs of Love provides access to the voices of Sufi authorities
through the translation of texts being offered in English for the first
time. It also offers a critical perspective on Western attitudes toward
Islam and Sufism, confronts the prejudices of the academy and the media, and
offers a clarification of the contemporary importance of Sufism from Asia to
America.
About the Author
Carl W. Ernst is Zachary Smith Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the author of
Teachings of Sufism;
The Shambhala Guide to Sufism; and
Eternal Garden: Mysticism, History, and Politics at a South Asian Sufi Center.Bruce B. Lawrence is the Nancy and Jeffrey Marcus Humanities Professor Islamic Studies in the Department of Religion at Duke University. He is the author of Shattering the Myth: Islam Beyond Violence; New Faiths, Old Fears: Muslims and Other Asian Immigrants in American Religious Life; and the translation of Morals for the Heart: Conversations of Shaykh Nizam ad-Din Awliya.
Table of Contents
What is a Sufi Order? * The Core Chishti Practices * The Art of Ancestry * The Chishti Masters * Major Chishti Shrines * Colonial Chishtis * Modern Day Chishtis