Comparison of Sufism to the Mystical Traditions of Other Religions

Just like other religion such as Islam, Sufism is an ideology which is based on harmony and tolerance. People normally go to the shrine to seek the spiritual nourishment and ask for forgiveness. Besides, the Sufis and Islam believe that whatever they ask will be directly or indirectly be given by Allah. These are believed which are common among the large and small shrines in the whole of Pakistan and they are based on the doctrine and tradition of Sufism. For instance, within and without Pakistan, about 160 million Muslim are connected to one or more of the Sufi tradition or another. In the same manner, Islam is believed to have originated in Mecca and Medina at the eve of the 7th century, Sufism can trace its roots in Iraq a million years ago and its main philosophy is going to all ends and becoming Gods beloved. It advocates for forgetting everything else and trying to emulate the attributes of God and follow his teaching with a purpose of reaching him. It is a step which is contrary to Islam which advocates for the admittance to paradise following the Day of Judgment. Besides, Sufism is more prevalent in the lives of the south Asian Muslims as compared to other Muslims across the world. It is due to the fact that those who joined Sufism in these regions did it under the influence of Sufi sect.

There are various values and doctrines which guides Sufism. For instance, one touches the fire to get the blessings of the saints buried in the shrine hence the acquisition of God's blessing. Even during the time of death, the Saints remain the link between the families, individuals and tribe links to Allah. The customs such as touching fire, singing and dancing at the Sufi festivals are done by the people who have a deeper understanding of Islam traditions. It is a tradition which thrives out of superstition and the Sufism practiced in Pakistan can be distinguished from the rich theory of Sufism. It has left the intellectual heritage where some were pointing out the mistakes in religion and life while others were writers, poets, and singers. These are some of the doctrines which are found in other religion such as Islam. However, the Christians and Muslims normally get linked to God through prayers and submission of supplication to God. Muslims normally attend the Mosques, the Christian the church while the Sufis in shrines.

Just like other religious institutions, there are various roles which the Sufi institutions perform in the society. They are the primary source of hope for the society that is poor and feudalistic. Most people flock to the shrine with the hope that their sin will be forgiven or their troubles will be removed. They also provide an opportunity for women to participate in the spiritual matters. For the poor and the poorest, the shrines are the source for daily sustenance since Sufism is based on the principle of the generosity. Some extend and offer education to those who cannot afford.

In My own understanding, I tend to believe that Sufism is a doctrine which advocates for the peaceful coexistence in the society and giving respect to God. It aims for equitable distribution of resources and ensures that no one's rights are violated at all costs. For instance, it promotes education and provides food to the poor in the society. It also provides shelter to the poor and the homeless. These thus show that the doctrine's philosophy was to improve the betterment of the society over a given period of time.

In my own understanding, the basic doctrine was to improve the spiritual self and improve the welfare of the general society. These ensure that they provide shelter, food, education and moral principles which guide individuals' behavior in the society over a given period of time.

References

Inside Pakistan's Sufism. (2009, March 29). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16uq0P-M2e8