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Muhammad Ali

Professor Huda Imtiaz

Writing and communication (SS100)

21 October 2023

“Celebrating the divine: My personal odyssey into Sufism”

It was a moment that was going to be etched in my memory forever when I witnessed

the most enchanting sight of a person in the state of wajhd clad in a flowing white robe and

adorned with a vibrant green Islamic cap, dancing like a flickering candle with eyes half

closed, swaying like a swan and his hands moving in perfect harmony with the rhythm of

qawwali and leaving behind the worries and cares of the world. At that moment, I wondered

how someone could be so drenched in “ishq.” From that very moment, my journey towards

spiritualism began. My heart and mind started to question the reality of my being. Coming

from a family where the culture of “peeri-mureedi” is very common and considered sacred

my mind questioned many things, I usually sat with my father and used to ask him “Why it is

important to have a ‘rohani paishwa’ commonly called as a “Peer” in life?” his answer once

left me bewildered, he replied.

“Son when Islam got completed and the prophet (PBUH) passed away Allah had to

continue his system of hadiya therefore Allah gave this responsibility to these wali’s, who

devoted all their lives in the service of Islam and humanity. Hence by following these Allah’s

wali’s one can find his purpose in life more easily.”

This reply made me think about how and what makes a person devote all his life to Allah’s

mission.

Finding Peace and Connection in Pakpattan

My journey into the world of Sufism deepened when I visited the shrine of Hazrat
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Baba Fareed Ganjshakar situated in Pakpattan on his ‘urs’ – the death anniversary of a Sufi

saint-. The city of Pakpattan has revolved around the gleaming presence of Baba Fareed for

nearly seven centuries. As I arrived in this city I was greeted by the sight of bustling streets

and vibrant colors of marketplaces, most of the business’s names began with ‘Baba Fareed’

examples such as ‘Baba Fareed Chai wala’, ‘Baba Fareed poultry shop’, it struck me deeply

that a person who lived here long ago continues to hold such deep importance in daily life

and commerce of this city. As I entered the shrine's courtyard, I was touched by the sounds of

qawwali music and the scent of incense. Thousands of devotees chant slogans ‘Haji Khawaja

Qutab Fareed, Haq Fareed, Ya Fareed!’ The shrine itself was a masterpiece of amazing

architecture, adorned with intricate floral patterns and Islamic calligraphy on walls. Standing

before the grave I felt an emotional connection with Baba Farid thinking about how he

devoted his full life to the service of Islam and humanity. I felt peace and serenity standing in

the shrine. On my way back home, I began to question myself

“Why I was having a such peaceful and calm feeling in a place I was visiting for the first

time?”

“Does Sufism actually exist and am I connected to it in any way?”

Annual Urs of Hussain Hazrat-My Father’s Peer.

The urs scheduled for the 2nd and 3rd March is one of the significant events in our

family, it is a time of spiritual renewal. Urs include a series of spiritual practices, we gather to

recite namaz in a congregation, and naat khawans recite hamds and naats in their heartfelt

voice in praise of our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), after Isha prayers, starts the mehfil of

qawwali, well for me qawwali holds significant importance. Wudu-ritual ablution- is a must

for qawwali, before sitting in the mehfil my father said,

“Beta go and perform ablution for you cannot sit in mehfil without ablution”

I asked, “Why is it important, for we are not reciting namaz.”

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“This is for your own purity or kuynkay qawwali main Allah, uskay rasul, or unkay naik

bandon ka zikr hota” he said.

The scene of mehfil was nothing short of enchanting, hundreds of people gathered on

intricately woven carpets laid on the floor, canopy covers above, On carpets, people sat with

orderly rows on both the left and right side of the stage, by this free space like a pathway was

created, on one end of this pathway sat ‘Peer Inayat Hussain hazrat’ -heir of my father's peer

and hopefully the person on whom I will bayt in future-. Opposite of peer Inayat sat the group

of qawwal dressed in vibrant traditional attire, ready to perform spiritual melodies. As

everyone was assembled the head of the group said into the mic facing peer Inayat

‘hazoor apki ijazat hai? kia hum shuru krain?’ -we have your permission? Shall we begin?-

peer Inayat raised his hand in the air symbolizing that he had given them permission to

perform. And with that simple, yet profound moment, the qawwal’s voices soared, carrying

with them the melodies and poetry that would touch the souls of listeners. The group started

with the qawwali written by famous Pakistani poet, Muzaffar Warsi, ‘Tu Kuja Man Kuja’-

where are you, where am I?

Many qawwali’s were performed, some I understood and some I did not, but one of

the qawwali ‘sare lan makan sai talab hoi’ had a deeply moving effect on me, as this qawwali

beautifully describes the miraculous event of Prophet (P B U H) journey of Isra and Miraj

and love that Allah has for His beloved Prophet. Listening to it I got so lost and emotional,

and tears started to flow from my eyes for the love of Allah and His Prophet.

After the mehfil of qawwali commenced, the last ritual of urs, langar-food was distributed

among the attendees. Langar is a communal food meal open to all regardless of caste, creed

or social status. It was a beautiful scene where everyone could take part in a delicious meal,

served with love and humility. For me, urs was not just a religious event but it was a tapestry

of devotion and connection with Sufism and spiritualism.

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Change of Thoughts

One day Sitting with my friend’s father, who belonged to Ahle hadis sect -a sect

which does not believe in Sufism or any of Sufi ideas-, was a thought-provoking experience

that led me to question and re-evaluate my beliefs. He posed some challenging questions

about some rituals and practices that are common in Sufi traditions. He asked,

“Ali ap log peeron ki qabron pai ja kar sajday kyun kartay ho, peeron kay hathon ko kyu

chumty ho? Beta ye sab tou shirk hai.” -Ali Why do you people bow down to the grave of

peers, and why do you kiss their hands? Isn’t this considered shirk?

It was a question that struck at the heart of the matter I had grown up with and taken as a sign

of respect and devotion. I was speechless at this question and slowly began to think of an

answer to this where he added another question,

“kia Allah sai taluk sirf aik peer kay zariye hi banaya ja sakta hai?” he asked, -Can a

connection with Allah only be established through a peer?

The two questions he asked echoed in my mind and became a pivotal point of introspection

for me. As I contemplated these questions and engaged in further self-reflection, I found

myself at a crossroads.

Unveiling the Mysteries of Sufism

In the pursuit of deeper understanding and clarity on the path of Sufism, I turned to

research rather than just believing in it by observation or emotional connection. This quest

led me to uncover the profound terminologies related to Sufism: Tasawwuf- Islamic

mysticism, Darvaishi- member of a Sufi fraternity, dhawq- perceptivity gained through divine

grace, bayat- pledging allegiance to Sufi and initiation into Sufi order.

There exists numerous Sufi silsilas- a chain of Sufi teachers leading back to Prophet (PBUH),

such as, naqshbandiya silsila- by Hazrat Shayk Bahudin Naqshband, Qadiriya silsila- by

Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani, Chistiya silsila- by Hazrat Moinuddin Chisti, Suharwardiya silsila-
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by Hazrat Sihabuddin Suhurwardi. Ultimately, however, all of these are traced directly back

to Prophet (PBUH). Silsila to which my family belongs is Chistiya silsila.

In addition to this verses from the Holy Quran and poetry from Rumi had a great impact on

me, verses from Surah An-Nur(24:35) provide clear support for mysticism,

“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. His light is like a niche in which there is a

lamp, the lamp is in a crystal, the crystal is like a shining star, lit from ˹the oil of˺ a blessed

olive tree, ˹located˺ neither to the east nor the west, whose oil would almost glow, even

without being touched by fire. Light upon light! Allah guides whoever He wills to His light.

And Allah sets forth parables for humanity. For Allah has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of all

things”(The Quran,24:35).

Sufis devote their lives to Allah and persistently desire to experience intimacy with Allah, for

this Rumi wrote,

“… That which imagination never conceived, reason and understanding never perceived, has

entered my soul from you; therefore to you alone I turn in worship …

In the genuflections of prayer, your image, O King, is as necessary and obligatory to me as

the seven oft-repeated verses …

Life is a vessel, and in it union is a pure wine; without you, of what avail to me is the labor of

the vessel? …”(Rumi).

Reading the verses from the Quran and some poetry I felt the path before me becoming

clearer. Discovering the profound dedication of Sufis to Islamic principles, and their

unwavering love for Allah and for the Prophet (PBUH) brought me really closer to the heart

of Sufism. Their every breath, every gesture, and every step is a dance of devotion, moving in

harmony with the divine rhythm of life.

Bayat

The decisive moment, when I watched my sister take the sacred oath of bayat to our
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peer Inayat Hussain left me in a state of contemplation. I stood there, a silent observer. In the

wake of my little research and introspection, the question loomed over me like a gentle

breeze,

“Should I bayat too?”

Carefully observing the scene carrying this question in my mind, my father, in his usual

gentle manner turned to me and asked,

“Do you want to do bayat?”

In that moment my heart and world seemed to pause. Unable to find the words to express my

feelings I nodded with a gentle smile conveying my decision not to proceed with bayat at that

moment.

Today, I find a deep sense of reassurance in the decision I made not to bayat. I am

determined to delve more into the vast realm of Sufism, to choose which of the Sufi silsila I

must choose for myself, and to find the answers to the questions that were posed by my

friend’s father that led me to research. I have learned that this path is not just a matter of

tradition or ritual but a profound journey of the heart.

Back at home, with my head gently resting on my mother's lap, we spoke of the doubts that

had crossed my mind, In her comforting voice she said,

“you will find your guidance, just walk by the path of Allah and His Prophet”

As I continue my journey, I do so with a heart full of hope and a mind open to discovery that

one fine day I will do bayat and will fulfill my duty with my utmost presence of mind and

heart.
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Works Cited

Rumi, Jalal al-Din, Mystical Poems of Rumi. 1979

Quran, Surah An-Nur (24:35).