1. Mysticism in Islam: Sufism

2. Sufism Aka the heart of Islam
Is the name of an old and widespread devotional movement
Or group of movements
Sufism derives from the Arabic word suf= wool
Because early Sufis wore a simple robe made of common wool
Sufism values simplicity
Seeks involvement of emotions

3. The core of the Sufi movement is its mysticism
Believe that the highest experience a person can have is a direct experience of God
An individual can experience God face to face on earth
Experiencing God is the whole purpose of life not something that has to wait until after death
Sufis have spoken about the sense of loss of self that occurs in mystical experience
This sense of loss of self is called fana or al-fana meaning extinction
When the self is gone, all that remains is God

4. Sufi practice Sufi Shaykh Deep regular breathing during meditation
Repetition of the 99 names of Allah (dhikr)
Sometimes counted on a rosary, to enable a constant remembrance of God
Sufi Shaykh
A teacher
Leads his disciples through a variety of spiritual disciplines to help them achieve union with God
Sufi practice

5. Branches of Islam

6. Muhammad died without a hereditary male successor
His sons died in infancy
Muhammad apparently never appointed anyone to succeed him
The result was confusion and an unclear line of succession
This created a division in Islam
Muhammad had asked Abu Bakr to be the principal leader of prayer
He was his friend and the father of his youngest wife
Abu Bakr was recognized as Muhammad’s first successor
Caliph means successor
After the death of the fourth Caliph, Islam was taken over by its opponents
This period marks the division of Islam- which broke into two factions: 1) Shiite and 2) Sunni

7. Shiites
The division began as a political argument over who should succeed Muhammad
10-15% of Islam is Shiite
From shia meaning faction
The faction/party of Ali, the son-in-law and cousin of Muhammad
Some early Muslims held that Muhammad had assigned Ali to be his first successor

8. Hereditary succession
Shiite Islam believes that the legitimate succession was hereditary, descending from the immediate family of Muhammad
A God-given hereditary spiritual power called the Light of Muhammad
It is thought to have passed to a total of 12 successors, or Imams
The imam is believed to have special spiritual insight, and is revered as the true earthly authority
Ali was the first Imam and the line ended with the disappearance of the last Imam
According to traditions, the last Imam (Muhammad al-Mahdi) did not die but entered a hidden realm from which he works by guiding Shiite scholars and leaders
Shiites believe that he will emerge from this state in the future to help restore Shiite Islam
His reappearance in the world will bring on the Day of Judgment

9. For Shiites, their religious leaders possess great authority because are guided by the last Imam

10. Sunnis From sunna meaning tradition and example
It refers to the entire body of traditional teachings that are based on the life and teachings of Muhammad
Sunnis follow the established custom, or sunna, meaning the Sunna of the prophet
Sunni Islam developed in response to the claims of Shiite Islam
85-90% of Islam is Sunni

11. Orthodox sect: Taliban
Within Sunni Islam emerged the Taliban
Means seeker of truth
Their views are extremely strict
Prohibit women to work, to uncover when in public
Men cannot cut their beards
Nonreligious music is forbidden
Television and film were banned
Goal: create the purest Islam in the world
They follow their own strict interpretations of the Koran
Claim attacks to be heroic
Believers commit suicide

12. 9/11: Taliban Reasons to attack U.S. troops in their land
U.S. soldiers do not respect sacred places and their women
U.S. brings new customs that challenge Islamic traditions
United Nations not helping- did not do anything to U.S. while they were in Muslim land
Bin Laden:
Issued the Fatwa- a religious ruling requiring killing Americans and their allies
Used (misused) the Koran- he proof-text the original phrases
Infidels- non-believer, enemy of faith
Called on Jihad
Used believers as scapegoats to attack America

13. Jihad Literally means struggle Referred as the sixth pillar of Islam
On the personal level (greater jihad), jihad refers to the individual’s spiritual struggle against anything that detracts from venerating Allah and from acting in accordance with the divine will
On the social level (lesser jihad), jihad refers to the preservation of the order that Allah has willed for the word
Jihad is also used in a more controversial way
It refers to armed struggle
It is sometimes thought of as meaning “holy war”
The Koran supports armed struggle for the sake of Islam only if it is carried out in self-defense
Become martyrs and go strait to heaven
JIHAD = CRUSADE