What is Sufism?

Embark on an intellectual journey into the realm of Sufism. Explore the intricate history, philosophical underpinnings, and mystical practices that have shaped this fascinating tradition. Join me as we delve into the topic of Sufi mysticism, shedding light on its profound impact on Islam & its history.
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Music by:
Filip Holm
Sources/Recomended Reading:
Abu-n Nasr, Jamil M. (2007). "Muslim Communities of Grace: The Sufi Brotherhoods in Islamic Religious Life". C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd.
"Al-Qushayri's Epistle on Sufism - Al-Risala Al Qushayriyya Fi 'ilm Al-Tasawwuf". Translated by Alexander Knysh. 2020. The Center for Muslim Contribution to Civilization.
Avery, Kenneth S. (2004). "A Psychology of Early Sufi Sama: Listening and altered states". Routledge.
Casewit, Yousef (2017). "The Mystics of al-Andalus: Ibn Barrajan and Islamic Thought in the Twelfth Century". Cambridge University Press.
Chittick, William (1989). "The Sufi Path of Knowledge: Ibn 'Arabi's Metaphysics of Imagination".
Chittick, William (1998). "The Self-Disclosure of God: Principles of Ibn al-'Arabi's Cosmology". State University of New York Press.
Cornell, Vincent J. (1998). "Realm of the Saint: Power and Authority in Moroccan Sufism". University of Texas Press.
Caner Dagli (translated by) (2004). Ibn 'Arabi - "The Ringstones of Wisdom (Fusus al-Hikam)". Great Books of the Islamic World. Kazi Pubns Inc.
Ernst, Carl W. & Bruce B. Lawrence (2003). "Sufi Martyrs of Love: The Chishti Order in South Asia and beyond". Palgrave Macmillan.
Homerin, Emil (Translated by) (2001). "'Umar Ibn al-Farid: Sufi Verse, Saintly Life". Classics of Western Spirituality. Paulist Press.
Homerin, Emil (2019). "Aisha al-Ba'uniyya: A Life in Praise of Love". Makers of the Muslim World Series. Oneworld Publications.
Karamustafa, Ahmet T. (2006). God's Unruly Friends: Dervish Groups in the Islamic Middle Period 1200-1550. Oneworld Publications.
Karamustafa, Ahmet T. (2007). "Sufism - the formative period". Edinburgh University Press.
Knysh, Alexander (2000). "Islamic Mysticism: A Short History". Brill.
Knysh, Alexander (2019). "Sufism: A New History of Islamic Mysticism". Princeton University Press.
Lewis, Franklin D. (2000). "Rumi: Past and Present, East and West". Oneworld publications.
Malik, Jamal & John Hinnells (ed.) (2006). "Sufism in the West". Routledge.
Ridgeon, Lloyd (ed.) (2015). "The Cambridge Companion to Sufism". Cambridge University Press.
Schimmel, Annemarie (1975). "Mystical Dimensions of Islam". The University of North Carolina Press.
Van Bruinessen, Martin & Julia Day Howell (ed). (2007). "Sufism and the Modern in Islam". I.B. Tauris.
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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
4:27 What does "sufi" mean?
5:37 The Earliest Sufis
8:20 Basic sufi teachings and practices
12:49 Dhikr & Sama´
17:41 Fana (& Baqa)
20:06 Systematization & Sufi manuals
22:33 The Sufi Orders
28:11 Sufi poetry & music
32:31 Sufi "Philosophy" (Metaphysics)
38:49 Intuitive/Mystical Knowledge (Ma'arifa/Dhawq, Kashf)
40:40 Sufi saints (awliya) & Insan al-Kamil
43:01 Post-Medieval developments
44:44 Sufism, Politics & Dispelling misconceptions
47:25 Sufism today & in the west
52:43 Conclusions
#sufism #mysticism #islam

[@LetsTalkReligion]

Dive deeper into Sufism with some of my other videos: Sufi Music: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pH7EgYyZmKatnNk Andalusian Mysticism/Sufism: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJDGg52fa6ilbq8 Ibn Arabi: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5PKiKGwn7SBjqc Naqshbandi order: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aYeYqGmXftSkgbs Dara Shukoh: kzbin.info/www/bejne/opK8qqWdmcZ6bZI Shadhili order: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j321oX2fftmpg9k Conference of the Birds: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpy6nXd6i6drmJo Ahmadou Bamba: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqXdhpmYfbKijac al-Shushtari: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipaQoJuOZtaZftU ---------------------- Support Let's Talk Religion on Patreon: www.patreon.com/letstalkreligion Or through a one-time donation: www.paypal.com/paypalme/letstalkreligion Also check out the Let's Talk Religion Podcast: open.spotify.com/show/0ih4sqtWv0wRIhS6HFgerb?si=95b07d83d0254b Music by: Filip Holm Find me and my music here: linktr.ee/filipholm

[@drmahtabkehar7583]

Plz do a program about new age spirituality

[@dylanroberts3666]

Would you consider the Knights's Bible code also an extension of Sufi history. A people set apart to have a different mutual history and instruction from the original religion's teacher and Rabbis?

[@kellysam2076]

HI. CAN YOU DO A VIDEO ON THE 12 IMAMS OF SHIA ISLAM. AND SEPARATE VIDEO ON THE LIFE AND SACRIFICES OF THE HOLY PEOPLE AT KARBALA SUCH AS IMAM HOSSAIN, LADY ZAINAB, HIS HOLINESS ABBASS. And the children ali asghar and bibi sakina Of what happened to them during and after karbala.

[@hefzibahgayatriwedotami]

Salam You have not mentioned one big Sufi Shia the Bektashis. We are also interesting people 😅😅

[@kellysam2076]

@@hefzibahgayatriwedotami shias in general and the sufi shia are the real Muslims. They are interesting and if anything sufi qalam and knowledge elevate Imam Ali (as) the way prophet Muhammad PBUH wanted us to.

[@pseudopetrus]

I am a Dervish, too old to whirl, but my mind turns to God when my body can no longer turn.

[@chadmapping3401]

beautiful. is this the saying of mevlana jalal-ud-din rumi

[@chadmapping3401]

ofcourse sufis do pray @@morankurdistan4716

[@KingaKucyk]

Wonderful ❤

[@PinkKitten77]

So basically you only turn to god when your sick/injured????

[@KingaKucyk]

@@PinkKitten77 You CLEARILY misunderstood what the OP said...

[@NG-fq5lf]

I don’t have enough words to express my appreciation for your work.

[@LetsTalkReligion]

I like those words right there :)

[@Jacob19988]

​@@LetsTalkReligionprobably the best reply to the comment. Gonna copy it late ;)

[@grizzlymac-tight]

​​@@LetsTalkReligionhey let's talk, I understand that ur chanel aims to inform. But I just wanted to point out that though there are a variety of sects in islam, it doesn't mean that every interpretation is valid. As u may know, the prophet muhammad was sent with the qur'an. And he dwelled amongst the people as a prophet for 23 years. During that span, he would explain the religion. I'm sure you would agree that his interpretation is the correct one. So since we have his explanations preserved in the form of the ahadith, you may ask, if it is so clear, then why is there still sectarianism and how could I claim that there is a correct sect. And the answer to that is that if you adhere strictly to the text, you will be able to sift through the sects and realize the ones that are conflicting with the texts. And you will realize that these sects indeed do conflict with these texts. It is not true that all the sects are valid. It must make sense to you that islam needs to be based on the preserved texts. The scholars of these preserved texts have alrdy refuted these sects.

[@johnrossbleacher5381]

@@grizzlymac-tightit seems like you’re missing the point of this channel. He’s not trying to win over any converts in any of his videos.

[@user-cq8hw3ni7g]

no one care bro@@grizzlymac-tight

[@toseef777]

There has been a lot of misinformation and stereotypes surrounding Sufism/tasawwuf. Thank you for your insightful analysis. Your doing God’s work.

[@vol94]

​@@1RAAREYEnot sufism

[@benjaminrobinson6507]

Wrong ... very wrong

[@RLM321]

As a muslim woman with sufism at heart, you have been able to show me the beauty of Islam. Your vision and perception is always inspiring and extremely well balanced ❤

[@sit5imaryamjameelahal-faisal]

Beloved i am sufi i have a wonderful Shaykh id like to invite you to his daily livestream

[@RLM321]

@ruthzxcvmmcghee8284 @yes please. I wld love that ❤️

[@sosueme2386]

This is deviance

[@Friendlyinternetuser]

​@@sosueme2386poor knowledge

[@zbigniewdzwonkowski3536]

As a Sufi woman try Hazrat Babajan the woman Sufi Perfect Master (1790-1931) born as elder daughter of Afghan Chief Minister...left Her body in Pune India...

[@DamassiTV]

I am an Arab Muslim from Morocco. I enjoyed watching this amazing video. Your channel is great. We travel with you in old islamic history. Thank you for the Arabic subtitle. we want more videos like this ❤️🇲🇦

[@shereenhabib9626]

Beautiful... It's not an easy road.

[@ahmedharajli189]

Hope you’re safe brother

[@Alejandro-te2nt]

Allahi hafdhik ya khouya❤🇲🇦 dima maghrebi

[@DamassiTV]

@@Alejandro-te2nt تبارك الله على واد البلاد ديما مغرب ❤️🇲🇦

[@DamassiTV]

@@ahmedharajli189 Than you my brother. May Allah bless you ❤️

[@toseef777]

The medieval Sufi era was far ahead in thinking than today’s salafi/wahhabi era.

[@unmothered333]

They dressed better, too.

[@Farhadmoh]

Agree

[@ayofzi8895]

lmao

[@bathwaterseller7080]

i love shirk

[@Muslimiintawaawalaalo]

YES WAHABI SHIRK FOR WORSHIPING IDOLS 😂​@@bathwaterseller7080

[@malikhalilovic7996]

There is a yugoslavian book called 'Death and the Dervish', an existentialist novel where the main character is a Sufi monk. It is a great read!

[@martinseptimryden7272]

I'll check it out, thanks bruddah ❤

[@heroidshehu]

What is it called who wrote it ?

[@heroidshehu]

Is it available in English

[@malikhalilovic7996]

@@heroidshehu YES. You can download an English version online.

[@andrejdivjak4607]

@@heroidshehu en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_the_Dervish

[@FPoP1911]

you and religion breakfsat have taught me more about beauty of Islam in ways that I've never experienced before. And I'm iranian born and raised and right here still. thank you. it's like coming from a dysfunctional family and someone showing you what a loving functional one looks like.

[@LetsTalkReligion]

Glad to hear it!

[@bilkishchowdhury8318]

Modern Man is mentally and physically incapable of being Muslim

[@rdklkje13]

Do you know the @AlMuqaddimahYT channel? They’ve had some collabs with the channels you mention and their focus is exclusively on Islam, also very interesting and informative.

[@devotionalre-upload4241]

sufism perhaps came from involving ideas from the guru shsishya tradition, advaita and vedanta... check them out... : )

[@FPoP1911]

​@@devotionalre-upload4241 ​ thank you.

[@rafiaakram5801]

As a Muslim woman from South Asia, growing up in a religious, mystical household but surrounded by a really world application of Islam that places women on the fringes. Sufism is a path that envelopes me, I had not spend a lot of time studying Islam but find myself after listening to you to explore my relationship with the divine. Thank , may you stay blessed.

[@QueenAmethyst55]

❤

[@MohamedRamadan-qi4hl]

Really world application of Islam? What?

[@BuddhaMelffyQueen]

@@MohamedRamadan-qi4hl I believe they meant "real world application". Meaning not a mystical application(the Shams AL-Ma'arif being an example) but rather the practical/day to day life impacting beliefs inside the Qu'Ran.

[@powervibes]

explore other religions and the subject of philosophy..... I hope that you find that you can have a relationship with the divine without needing a religion

[@harharharharharharharharha240]

@@powervibeslol cope ❤

[@jaygarcia6338]

as a non-muslim "mystic" person, all these points hit home. some people have known The Truth for thousands of years - but not everybody will understand it. hearing The Truth may even make them murderous. and as the Quran warns, not everybody will completely understand the wisdom within, even as a Muslim. it's insanely comforting to know there have always been people who could See and Hear surrounded by Deaf and Blind.

[@GuilhermeSantos-uq9mc]

I've just reverted to Islam last sunday (05/09/23). And now this video appears, as a gift.

[@zak992]

welcome to islam, may allah guide ever closer to Him, take slow baby steps, islam is very easy to understand but requires much discipline and sacrifice to walk its path, so pace yourself. Read the quran just a few verses at a time think/ponder deeply over them, let Allah`s direct speech to you and me ( the quran ) guide you. In your life whatever you come across if it agrees with the quran accept it if it disagrees with the quran question it. And finally if your parents are still alive love them, respect them be the best for them even though they may be hostile to your new religion. Good luck to you, may Allah protect you all times

[@nadirashaikh6265]

Subhanallah, mashallaha

[@alenezi989a3]

Welcome, if I may I advise you to learn Arabic, I'm learning too. Reading the Quran in Arabic is the most beautiful and peaceful feeling I have ever felt words can't begin to express that feeling. Translations don't even hold a candle to it( only if you don't already know Arabic)

[@eladdad]

May Allah continue to guide you

[@Alejandro-te2nt]

Allahu akbar! Warm welcome brother. I also am a convert to Islam. My son was born 2 days after your conversion. May Allah bless your journey

[@ZenSolipsist]

I’ve been looking forward to this subject for a long time 🧡 the Sufi poets writings resonate like no other ☪️ thank you

[@CrashMetaReligion1996]

I’m a Christian but I became aware of Sufism through the poet and metaphysician Charles Upton. Charles is a Sufi Muslim and his work and knowledge are extremely interesting.

[@westcoast20007]

You heard of sheikh nazim?? Watch him❤

[@karamigfer]

Dostum Müslüman ol,ne zaman öleceğimiz belli değil ! Ölüm sana gelmeden önce Müslüman ol ! Hz. İsa,Musa ve diğer tüm peygamberle İslamda ! Peygamber Muhammedin ahir zaman sözlerini okumalısın bunlar senin İslama girmen için delil olacaktır.

[@akibmahmud5845]

Can you share me some online links where I can find or read his works and thoughts

[@user-pk9ju6bg2t]

Dopesmoker . Is this the type of video where stoner doom fans hang out ?

[@nedekrug372]

Charles Upton is great

[@constancewalsh3646]

The maturity and intelligence of this beautiful voice - I expected to see an erudite, gray-bearded elder, not this young man! Not only the beauty of your readings, but expressed appreciation for your patrons, listeners and commentators touches the heart.

[@Moomin360]

I grew up in a remote part of Bagnladesh where Sufism is very common. My own gradfather was a Sufi. I do not practice it but I know all about it. I am astonished at how detailed the explanation of Sufism given in this video and the accuracy of the information, along with correct pronounciation of the arabic words used in Sufism. How long it had taken to research all this I do not know but it must have take a long time. What is also remarkable is that the author is able to narrate flowlessly which tells me that he had not only researched it but actually taken an interest in it and made the effort to learn an understand this complex subject. Congratulation sir.

[@silvo9460]

Unfortunately it’s not ur people’s culture.

[@nkhan6648]

​@@silvo9460you can't divide culture from people...

[@pulse3554]

@@silvo9460well Sufism in large part emerged from Hinduism as its inspiration, so the existence of it in Bengal is like a return to origin.

[@theUNDEFEATEDone1]

@@pulse3554 Sufis are the who brings islam largely in bangladesh!They came from middle east to spread islam .You can find in history how many sufis defeat hindu empires and buddhits empires in sylhet and on other side . So they dont take inspairation from hinduism

[@Ani-lt3td]

Hi five on a pir grandfather. A lot of sufis settled in bengal.

[@InayaNasira79]

So brilliant! I am currently on the path to revert to Islam and as a deeply spiritual and mystical being Sufism resonates so much! Thank you 🙏

[@salahben2350]

But Sufism is not from Islam (Quran or Hadith). The Prophet peace be upon him wasn't a Sufi nor his companions.

[@theguyver4934]

convert not a revert and im saying that as a muslim

[@InayaNasira79]

@@theguyver4934 it is my understanding, thus far alhamdulillah, that Allah created all humans as Muslims hence the use of the term revert not convert. ❤

[@InayaNasira79]

@@salahben2350 Perhaps, I am still very early on in this process. I have not completed reading the Qur’an or Hadiths inshallah ❤

[@omaraboal-azm8705]

May God guide you to his way

[@jasemalhammadi4228]

It’s a great to have a revision of an earlier video you made about this topic. I am sure that your understanding of this topic is also widening. you recently made a very comprehensive video about Andalusian Sufism. But we are lacking about the evolution of entire sufism traditions across all muslim world throughout history. many people hate to hear it but the Muslim world was at its Zenth when Sufism was the main stream faith. Saladin was Sufist. Mohamed II who conquered Constantinople was Sufist. Some of the greatest liberators were sufists. To label them by the traditionalist as heretical is overlooking their contributions and impact on the history of Islam.

[@comparativereligiondailynews]

Sufism and Golden Age of Islam came after a long time after Islam was formed in Arabia. It means rationalistic people and logical people discovered Sufism.

[@Mika-El-]

Interesting. I would have loved to live in the 1200's in southern France/Occitania. Intense mixture of cathar christians, sufism and kabbalah.

[@CatastrophicDisease]

Saladin literally executed Suhrawardi for spreading his beliefs so I have no idea what you’re on about.

[@blacksheep6174]

​@@CatastrophicDiseasewell back then everyone was somehow pro Sufi if not Sufi take Ottomons mamluks mughals Timurids Khanates Persians before shia-ization were sufis all those scholars of medieval golden age were sufis and sufis had great Role spreading Islam by will of Allah SWT like Shah Jalal in Bengal in Moinuddin in Ajmer Ali Hujveri etc

[@icysaracen3054]

@@CatastrophicDisease I think it was his son. Saladin army had hardline sufis in his army. His biographer who was a Sufi cursed Muslims who worked as servant for the crusaders. The whole reason why Muslims have Islamised the Israelie Palestinian conflict is the influences of sufis wanting to liberate Al aqsa mosque from the franks

[@Alex11V]

Sufism is the cure for Fundamentalism

[@IngridHurwitz]

Thank you. I also loved your lectures on Ibn al-Arabi and Al-Ghazali. Precise, generous and heartful ❤

[@2011szaman]

I always thought sufism was highly misunderstood in the modern world. Thank you so much for this wonderful episode. I have seen some other videos on sufism on your channel and looking forward to see more. Thank you again 🙌❤!

[@shaffehaffejee3657]

Sushmita: returned from Turkiye recently and attended 2 x Dervishes "ceremonies" It was absolutely mind-blowing and very spiritual which made me feel extremely emotional. I could watch the Dervishes for hours because I connected to the entire Swirling, Music and Mystics ❤

[@cheri238]

Thank you, Filip, for all your wisdom you share with all of us. Rumi and Hafiz have a special place that has a special place in my heart. With the deepest appreciation and reverence for all you are and do. 🙏❤️🌏🕊🎶🎵

[@rdklkje13]

Thank you for this Filip, especially for the number of times you say some form of the word “nuance”. It’s good to see a KZbinr who manages to bring a great deal of nuance to complex topics so delicately and clearly. And to see this work be appreciated by so many viewers too.

[@moecooper3037]

Phenomenal watch. Cleared up so many of the misconceptions I've had about this extremely diverse part of Islam, and has honestly reinvigorated my wonder and love for the golden ages of Muslim philosophy & spiritual exploration! Thank you so much for not just making this video, but every single one you've put out so far.

[@brandonmcalpin9228]

Not going to lie, some of the descriptions of listening to music and feeling it in your soul, experiencing a form of ecstasy, really hits home. I listen to predominantly instrumental music. I’ll pace around and sometimes dance while feeling this overwhelming sense of unconditional love and joy. Never knew anyone else experienced that besides myself. Just thought I was weird. Rumi always resonated with me and the poetry I write. Unconditional love and joy is a spiritual experience I feel a lot, mainly when listening to music or being in nature. I’m not even religious though. I believe in god, but I believe god is here, all around us, in us. God is the eternal present, god is within the breath we take and the breath we also must let go of. God is not something that can be understood with logic or science, only experienced in the moment. I also tend to resonate with Gnosticism to a degree.

[@rebirthofthecool5619]

Sounds like you are bipolar

[@brightmal]

I love your videos. I grew up in a Christian context, and consider myself to be a Christian, but I had started to realise in my teens that my understanding of Christian theology was not the norm. Reading C. S. Lewis at the age of 8 helped, but your videos have taken my comfort with this to a whole new level. There are fundamental truths across almost all religious traditions, and it is often in the mystical traditions these are found most clearly. With your help, I've seen this in Islam, and Judaism, and also in Taoism, Buddhism and the Hindu Traditions. Most surprisingly, you've pointed out these themes even in Catholic mysticism, which my Pentecostal upbringing and experience at a Catholic school had suggested was almost impossible.

[@toseef777]

Mysticism focuses on the direct experience of God rather than the politics. Which is what makes it so attractive. Mysticism is embedded in our nature no matter which culture we were born into.

[@rdklkje13]

Pentecostal parents sending you to a Catholic school sounds interesting. I wonder if it’s like some Muslim parents sending their kids to Protestant schools here where I live cos although it’s the next best option it’s the best one available.

[@dr.klausschwab6184]

Read the Church fathers and real Orthodox Saints, then the Theologie does make sense, it is also very Mystical, The Literal Mystical Union of God and Man. Man becoming like God through drinking of The Holy Grail and gaining Eternal Life.

[@matthewcarter2500]

You outdid yourself with this one, Filip! It feels like a wonderful summation of all of your previous work on Sufism. I've gained such a deeper and richer appreciation for the Islamic tradition through your work, as I'm sure we all have :) I've been meaning to say for a while - I'm sure you have many topics in mind, and plan them out far in advance, but I would really love to see your take on the Alevis or the Bektashi order. They have both fascinated me for many years. But whatever topics you cover will be great, I have no doubt.

[@lab9567]

I very much enjoy your thorough synthesis of complex history/ideology.

[@grinningchicken]

This video came right on time. I’ve been waiting for this one

[@thomashutcheson3343]

This is superb, and merits a much wider audience.

[@davidskeffington1269]

As someone who lived in Saudi Arabia for 3and half years, 1978 to 1981. if I remember correctly. I very much appreciate your video and attention to this matter. Please continue what you are doing.

[@peterfoster7143]

Great video. Islam is fascinating and your work is so informative!

[@mattata-san]

Yeah fascinating how one religion can be responsible for so many rapists and murderers, I love Islam

[@rebirthofthecool5619]

Ultimately, Islam is evil. The more you know about it this will become apparent

[@zorgius]

So warm to the heart. Thank you for this.

[@Z10N4Z1]

The most profound video I have ever watched on KZbin since signing up over a decade ago and countless videos watched. Next is your video on ibn Arabi. Truly life changing.

[@kirkdougherty8690]

Thank you so much! This video just happened to appear in my feed and I'm so happy that I responded by watching it. I became attracted to Sufism about 15 years ago. Now at the age of 68, I feel so worn out by materialism, political, ethnic, racial, religious, and sexual labels that I'm coming back to it but am searching for the niche that will help with this spiritual longing that I have. I've tried orthodoxies, but they focus too much on exterior forms rather than what's in one's heart. We'll see. Thank you so much being here. Much love to you and yours. ❤

[@TheBobbysPerspective]

Thank you for your Work

[@alibinnaseer]

omg! I really love your video bob, keep em going!

[@alwilliams5177]

Fantastic episode. Another in your growing library. Thank you for sharing this more nuanced understanding of the tradition.

[@internetgal1739]

I love this so much. Please post more content about sufi and sufism

[@jamesfry8983]

This seems very Buddhist, it even has some aspects of the five noble truths.

[@shahrukhharoon7891]

It is. Many muslims believe buddha to be a kind of saint himself who realised the truth without even being muslim.

[@jojoanggono3229]

I guess everybody is after the universal truth. If this is the case then we can conclude universal truth is cross religion and not exclusive to one specific religion, no?

[@shahrukhharoon7891]

To a great extent yes. The only trouble is that everybody focuses more on the differences then similarities. But yes the universal truth does exist across religions

[@ali09gaming58]

Islam is both spiritual, personal, practical, objective spanning a wide range (political). There is Sufism in an IDEAL islamic state and also an unparalleled army with the best equipment and also an opportunity to anyone in the state to become super rich. But all are ways or paths that are meant to spread the truth and worship God. The weapons are used to stop injustice, the money is used in the way of God for needy people, building of an empire and spiritual asceticism is used by anyone who wants it that way. Islam is a universal religion. There is war when required, there is peace when required all should be done for the sake of God

[@willebri1412]

I am a Pentecostal from Africa, and this seems very Christian too. Guess we are discovering that when it comes to finding God, all religions are just metaphors for the same thing.

[@narveenaryaputri9759]

Absolutely love the arrangement of exquisite art with your words and in-depth explanations. It is very well arranged. It is very rare to see such artistically complete educational videos. Thank you specially.

[@galletasconcrema]

For one who is very far from true sheiks or tariqas, hearing you speak about sufism, seems like the closest to the real thing, you transmit the inner content of the ideas in a strange and poetic and beautiful way, like someone who has seen something first hand, like the poets themselves through their poems, even though you speak about data, authors, books, dates and history, not to mention, through your beautiful and heart touching music. Thank you Filip!

[@darrylviljoen6227]

Sometimes it helps to have a little distance when looking at the bigger picture. Also he does have a musical background.

[@lenaoliv9712]

16:40 16:56 17:12

[@aliseh9653]

Thank You for these videos! I love that You also mentioned the neo-sufis, because they are very important part of the Western understanding of "sufism" in general. I wrote my BA thesis about Idries Shah and now I am writing my MA thesis on Inayat Khan. Throughout my academic oriental studies Your videos have really helped me to better understand these complicated subjects. :)

[@aween42]

I have grown up within sufi ideologies all my life and yet i have never understood it this well, thanks for the great video

[@shourov3161]

Thank you for your patience and consistent organized work. It helps. Anyway commenting from Bangladesh 🤝

[@kozmickarmakoala3526]

I have embraced Sufism . I went to Turkiye and I was enthralled by Zikr , the Dervishes and Islamic dance and revere Islamic art in general. I am so thrilled he said "you don't have to be Muslim to be Sufi" . I felt that when I dance Lezginka, Zikr and Dabke I transcend religion . I only feel GOD WITHIN.

[@osmansaid4601]

Sufsm and islam are the same.

[@Sassy-Sam]

@@osmansaid4601Many would say that it’s not! I’m not sure I still have any beliefs, so I won’t argue, but I personally know of many who would claim it’s certainly not the same.

[@Sassy-Sam]

@@osmansaid4601”Shia are irrelevant” That comment and the intolerance is why people are turning towards atheism.

[@osmansaid4601]

@@Sassy-Sam only wahabi say.

[@Sassy-Sam]

@@osmansaid4601 That is true, it is usually Wahabi’s, but as someone who was born & raised in a Sunni family, I know that Sunni’s - some of them, not all thankfully, are also intolerant! You, as someone who denies Shia’s are Muslim, are similar in that respect. It’s the division, the hatred, the intolerance, which makes people turn away from religion.

[@derdadermenzi5294]

Sufism is alive and life itself from the spiritual perspective ❤

[@zbigniewdzwonkowski3536]

Please visit the Sufism Reoriented here on Internet... about Hazrat Babajan...

[@DougieLink]

I am pentecostal Christian and found this very interesting and eye opening. Thank you for the upload.

[@Aleemshah110]

Thank you my murshid for making me a true Muslim with Sufism path! ❤

[@actthree7810]

Thank you. I always feel more complete and more in touch with others and the world after watching one of your videos.

[@geraldgeizer1810]

I'm not a Muslim, but ,I do consider myself a mystic. Good video, nice to see others in this concept of what God, can do, in life experiences. Blessings to you.

[@thefonsotube]

This is awesome....thank you for being here

[@nazlihanmostafa8619]

Absolutely peaceful and informative to hear at the same time, keep up the good work!

[@themushmonk]

Your deep dives are very educational. Thank you for taking the time and hard work to produce this video. I had the honor to visit Konya and Rumi's tomb as well as the spinning Dervishes in Istanbul and became very interested in the Sufi. So this help a lot!

[@mattinaq]

Excellent work as always

[@icenarsin5283]

As always amazing work - Thank you!

[@richardl.metafora4477]

Comprehensive enlightening and splendidly presented. I can’t remember an hour better spent in a long time. Congratulations and thank you.

[@pouyanpiano]

this channel is among the reasons why we need to provide access to internet to everybody

[@sirjaime5889]

Your understand about soufism and knowledge amazed me , i'm glad to see someone with this level of understanding and still not arab , really you are on same level of this topic like abdelrahman badawy because you use the same tools he used , i hope you can gain the ability of reading the main topics in Arabic too

[@TheProms]

So glad I found your channel. Please keep up the good work.

[@Zoominero]

Been waiting for this video for so long

[@aliplayz2365]

I am grateful i found your videos. Please continue ❤

[@pietervoogt]

Beautiful selection of art, thank you!

[@farahtemessek8867]

What an amazing teaching and channel ! thank you for sharing your Knowledge!

[@mercymuj4hid]

Your standard of quality is incredible.

[@brometheus6354]

Great episode. Some other episode topic suggestions I would like to see are Vietnamese Cao Dai, The Urantia Book, Tengriism , and the Bahai Faith. Thanks and keep up the good work.

[@QED_]

Quiet. We don't want Cao Dai to become well known . . .

[@miguelatkinson]

​@@QED_why ?

[@antrant7533]

I absolutely love this video, and all of your other videos on this topic! Bravo👏👏👏

[@ognigiri]

❤❤❤

[@suite42014]

You have a great way of presenting information. It's very easy to understand. I enjoyed listening and learning. I'm in awe of your knowledge. 🙏🏻

[@marcomoraleschacon7018]

I hadn't noticed, but I have acquired a few books because of "recommendations" from this channel. This is to say, you're doing awesome work, and this video was enlightening. Thank you!

[@soureh]

I have just finished an extensive reading on sufism especially in Iranian art and history, and I must say I found your video a very good summery of the subject, especially considering how vast the topic is. So خدا قوت

[@TenTenTamten]

It is great to see that the people with a real passion (such as yours with religions) still exist. You are doing a great work by making people want to learn more about the world around them.

[@Nameless2k6]

I was waiting on this one by you for a while. Much love, brother ❤ 😊

[@kadachi2959]

Amazing, your works are always non biased, objective and informative, thank you

[@soniya6908]

blessed be the day when youtube recommended me your channel!

[@mash0000]

Dear Filip, Couple of other points you may want to consider adding to this summary (as addendum or part 2) is that during the Evolution of Sufism, it aquired a certaiun focus during the varios periods, though not mutually exclusive: early on it was zuhd, service, and chivalry (Hasan al-Basri, Muhasibi ), then mystical trend (Rabia, Karkhi, Hafi, Junayd), then ectstatic sufism (Misri, Bistami, Hallaj), then consolidation and simplification for widespread mainstream acceptance (Qushayri, Ghazali, Jilani), then the Philosophical Sufism with a focus on ontology (Ibn Arabi), then poetic expression of the ecstatic experiences (Attar, Rumi, Hafiz), and along the way institutionalization of sufism into various Sufi orders. These may not be formal, linear, mutually exclusive classification, I am just recollecting from my memory. Any thoughts on this aspect? Also, another idea that your audience may find useful: how about reading key passages from the works of leadng figures mentiond above, around 20 to 30 minutes length? This will give a cognitive understanding of the Sufi works to your audience. Thoughts? In Sha Allah, I will support your channel as soon as I can. I am currently supporting couple of other channels.

[@sajedunnahar894]

I have been looking for this kind of topic. Thank you for your elaborate description.

[@TheMaysoliman]

The content of your videos is always exceptional! Thank you

[@BuddhaMelffyQueen]

Yes, yes, yes I have been patiently waiting for a fresher and more in depth video on Sufism from you. Such a fascinating subject that I grew interest in after having read the Shams Al-Ma'arif. Edit: Sufism seems to have similar views to my own. The renunciation of ego "there is no I" is Buddhisms deepest and most beautiful lesson. It only makes sense those beliefs find their way to other religions.

[@Windradini]

Thank you. I was deep into sufism books and practice several years ago, but work and career forced me out of this. Your explanation made me read again 🙏🏼

[@bellarose6509]

Wonderful presentation! Thank you so much!❤

[@nulutabla]

I have been studying and performing Sufi Qawwali music for 15+ years... this video is so extraordinarily informative does a tremendous job summarizing the complexity and nuances of Sufi thought! Thank you so much for this work! It has given much better context for understanding the music of the Sufis i will be re-playing this video many times to internalize this knowledge ❤🙏🏾

[@tatoarg9508]

Amazing video. It's the kind of content that can foster and create new passions. Thank you

[@jasontravis3568]

Another excellent video Filip. Very well done. Jazak Allah Kayran

[@NNawar-lb2or]

Tremendous work. Thank you so much

[@ChrisTheLoneWanderer]

An incredible video on a very complex topic! Perhaps the most intriguing point is the parallel mystic movements in the early Islamicate world which communicated with the early Sufis. Who knows what wisdom these traditions hold.

[@LetsTalkReligion]

A lot of their teachings became part of the wider category of "sufism" later on. But in that process, there was a level of streamlining that happened, of course, so some aspects that was unique to certain regions probably faded away.

[@solomanhillman]

I'm new to the Sufi ways. It's exciting to be on this new journey. I would be greatly appreciative if others would share their experiences with me or point me in the right direction. Thank you and I love you all.

[@mash0000]

Real Sufism is living with a constant awareness of God in service of others within the envelop of Islamic forms of worship and moral vision. You may want to subscribe to Cambridge Muslim College KZbin channel for learning more about authentic Sufis well grounded within the Islamic tradition. Also, you may search for Shaykh Mukhtar al-Maghroui.

[@darkages9507]

Those who tell do not know, And those who know will not be able to tell. As a Turk, I find sufi poet Yunus Emre's sayings as direct examples of the sufi path: "Love the created, because of the creator." Peace.

[@zak992]

There is quite a lot of misunderstanding around sufism, the video that Filip has done is a good starting point. It really depends on what you are after. In my humble opinion traditional sufism as expounded by Filip has to be grounded in orthodox islamic beliefs and practices, for me this is the best way to connect to God and purify ones ego/self, this is a hard and disciplined path to follow requiring determination but most of all God`s /Allah`s guidance and mercy, if it so pleases Him you will find Him and once He draws you closer to Him your whole life changes there is amazement and great insight in your life. However if you just want a more philosophical introduction to mysticism there are many ways both eastern as well as western mystical philosophies and ways to choose from. Take your time and research, if you want the more islamic/ sufi way 3 good resources would be the Quran, Al Ghazalis works on purifying ones ego/self and Rumi`s works, goodluck to you

[@solomanhillman]

@zak992 Thank you. I'm familiar with Rumi. I've read the Quran before. I have a pretty good understanding of Orthodox Islam. I'm gonna continue my research and hope that this is the path for me.

[@RLM321]

​@solomanhillman Take it easy and slowly. Don't go to the routes of wahabism and salafi that are literal and rigid. Sufism is inclusive, flexible and very spiritual. Good luck

[@lessismore4470]

Thank you. Interesting (and invigorating) as usual. Please remember that some of your subscribers are looking forward to the new material. My suggestion would be the impact of Islam and Islamic philosophy on Dante and St Thomas Aquinas - I think this is a fascinating subject. Thanks again - here is one of my favorite channels. Greetings from Poland!

[@maazsajid5791]

Woaw just waow.. can't thank you enough for this video.. amazing work

[@nancytoulouse6973]

Great details and other videos to explore here on your channel. Thank you. I'm learning a lot.👍

[@cademosley4886]

Thank you for this Filip as always. I hope you'll be able to talk more about some of the modern history of Sufism. That really interests me. Not long ago I picked up a book in a library (can't recall the title now) and read a chapter about the change in policy to religious tolerance in the USSR under Brezhnev in the mid-1960s. Most Muslims in the USSR were of course the Turkic peoples, and although Sufism wasn't the majority (I don't think), because of some personal connections, Sufi leaders still got appointed as the bureaucrats overseeing state-sanctioned Islam, which created a kind of revival of Sufism in Central Asia, in the sense that the state sponsored Sufi facilities throughout the country. And then the chapter talked about the history of some of those facilities and the practice of Islam & Sufism in the USSR & later Central Asian countries from that period up to today. It was a really fascinating story and something we almost never hear about in the West. I'd be interested in hearing more stories like that, how Sufism and other religious movements play out in real history and politics. Thanks for again your contributions as always.

[@darkages9507]

Sufism has been the dominant Islamic tradition of all Muslim Turkic people for centuries.

[@samudroprem6936]

Many thanks to Filip for this updated version, it is refreshing to hear the clarifications and explanations. May I suggest a full episode on the life of Mevlana, to include his meeting with Shems, the reactions of their followers (and murder of Shems), whether Mevlana is correctly attributed with 'inventing' whirling during his grieving for Shems - as Coleman Barks said it was 36 hours of moving around one pillar... Barks also said Mevlana and Shems were gay lovers!!!... Debunking is needed of the Westernized ideas that have projected onto Mevlana & Shems because they can't imagine that 'such love could be expressed to the divine? They must have been in physical love !!!' So, such a topic needs your incisive explanation that Sufi poetry is borne out of the ecstatic love for the divine. It has to be experinced and not theorized about.

[@ObsidianSouls]

Thank you for dispelling me of the misunderstanding that Sufism is a sect of Islam. I fell into that camp, until today.

[@mimianwar5448]

Bless you for that beautiful truthful work in this video

[@klyanadkmorr]

So with this explanation of Sufism it TOTALLY EXPLAINS Frank Herbert's DUNE futurism blended religion of ZEN BUDDHIST SUFIs. The idea that to gain a perfection to be one with the ultimate one or god spirit, a cycle of self cleansing thru prayer meditation. All I kept thinking was aren't Buddhist monks.

[@88RI88]

words connot express how grateful i am fr sharing this very important info

[@SabbirAhmed-di6ly]

You are simply amazing, once I found this channel keep listening last several days.

[@musamusashi]

Another gem from Filip, barak Allah fik!

[@MAli-cd1iq]

What a beautiful explanation of the Sufi/spiritual aspect of Islam….

[@nysunra]

Brilliant, well spoken, beautiful presentation on Sufism. Thank you for your work.

[@babakpedram7561]

Very informative and useful. Thanks for your great work.