Sufism in Pakistan

History of Islamic mysticism in Pakistan

This article is about post-partition Sufism in Pakistan. For pre-partition Sufism in South Asia, see Sufism in India.

This article is about Sufism. For other uses, see Sufism (disambiguation).

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Tomb: Syed Jalaluddin Surkh-Posh Bukhari Shrine of Islamic Naqshbandi saints of Allo Mahar Sharif Tomb of Fariduddin Ganjshakar Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam, Multan, Punjab Shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, Sehwan Sharif, Sindh Grand mausoleum of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai built by Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro in 1762  Shrine of Pir Hadi Hassan Bux Shah Jilani duthro sharf, Sanghar, Sindh

Sufism known as Tasawwuf in the Arabic-speaking world, is a form of Islamic mysticism that emphasizes introspection and spiritual closeness with God. It is a mystical form of Islam, a school of practice that emphasizes the inward search for The God and shuns materialism. About 60% Muslims in Pakistan regard themselves as followers of Sufi saints.[1]

## Sufi traditions

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Most of the Sufis in Pakistan relate to the four main tariqa (silsila): Chishti, Naqshbandi, Qadiri-Razzaqi and Suhrawardi.

## List of Sufi Shrines

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See also: Sufi shrine

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## Contemporary influence

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There are two levels of Sufism in Pakistan. The first is the 'populist' Sufism of the rural population. This level of Sufism involves belief in intercession through saints, veneration of their shrines and forming bonds with a pir (saint). Many rural Pakistani Muslims associate with pirs and seek their intercession.[2] The second level of Sufism in Pakistan is 'intellectual Sufism' which is growing among the urban and educated population. They are influenced by the writings of Sufis such as the medieval theologian al-Ghazali, the Sufi reformer Shaykh Aḥmad Sirhindi and Shah Wali Allah.[3]

## Attacks on Sufi shrines

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Sufism, a mystical Islamic tradition, has a long history and a large popular following in Pakistan. Popular Sufi culture is centred on Thursday-night gatherings at shrines and annual festivals with Sufi music and dance.[4][5]

Since March 2005, 209 people have been killed and 560 injured in 29 different terrorist attacks targeting shrines devoted to Sufi saints in Pakistan, according to data compiled by the Center for Islamic Research Collaboration and Learning (CIRCLe).[6] The attacks are generally attributed to banned militant organisations.[7]

The Sehwan Sharif shrine was the site of a suicide bombing in 2017 carried out by the Islamic State.[8]

## See also

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* Islam in Pakistan
* Sufism in Punjab
* Sufism in Sindh
* List of Sufi saints
* Shadhiliyya
* Kubrawiyyah

## References

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1. ^ Hays, Jeffrey. "SUFIS IN PAKISTAN | Facts and Details". factsanddetails.com. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
2. ^ Hussain, Rizwan. Pakistan. Archived from the original on November 21, 2008. "Sūfī Islam in Pakistan is represented at two levels. The first is the populist Sufism of the rural masses, associated with unorthodox religious rituals and practices, belief in the intercessory powers of saints, pilgrimage and veneration at their shrines, and a binding spiritual relationship between the shaykh or pir (master) and murīd (disciple). Many Muslims in rural areas of Pakistan, where orthodox Islam has yet to penetrate effectively, identify themselves with some pir, living or dead, and seek his intercession for the solution of their worldly problems and for salvation in the hereafter." `{{cite book}}`: `|work=` ignored (help)
3. ^ Hussain, Rizwan. Pakistan. Archived from the original on November 21, 2008. "The other strain is that of scholastic or intellectual Sufism, a recent phenomenon based in urban areas and becoming increasingly popular in educated circles. Influenced by the writings of the medieval theologian al-Ghazālī (d. 1111), the Sūfī reformer Shaykh Aḥmad Sirhindī (d. 1624), and Shāh Walī Allāh (d. 1762), and by the spiritual experiences of the masters of the Suhrawardī and Naqshbandī orders, these modern Sūfīs are rearticulating Islamic metaphysics as an answer to Western materialism." `{{cite book}}`: `|work=` ignored (help)
4. ^ Produced by Charlotte Buchen. "Sufism Under Attack in Pakistan" (video). The New York Times. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
5. ^ Huma Imtiaz; Charlotte Buchen (6 January 2011). "The Islam That Hard-Liners Hate" (blog). The New York Times. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
6. ^ a think-tank based in Rawalpindi
7. ^ Sunni Ittehad Council: Sunni Barelvi activism against Deobandi-Wahhabi terrorism in Pakistan – by Aarish U. Khan[usurped]| criticalppp.com| Let Us Build Pakistan
8. ^ "Sehwan bombing toll reaches 88, over 250 injured". The News. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2017.

## Bibliography

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* De Bruijn, The Qalandariyyat in Persian Mystical Poetry from Sana'i, in The Heritage of Sufism, 2003.
* Ashk Dahlén, The Holy Fool in Medieval Islam: The Qalandariyat of Fakhr al-din Araqi, Orientalia Suecana, vol.52, 2004.
* Chopra, R. M., "Great Sufi Poets of the Punjab", 1999, Iran Society, Calcutta.
* Chopra, R. M., "SUFISM" (Origin, Growth, Eclipse, Resurgence), 2016, Anuradha Prakashan, New Delhi, ISBN 978-93-85083-52-5.

## External links

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* The Islam That Hard-Liners Hate
* Pakistan's Sufis Preach Faith and Ecstasy
* Sufism in Pakistan – the tolerant antidote?
* Mystical Islam 'under threat' in Pakistan
* Steeped in ancient mysticism, the passion of Pakistani Sufis infuriates Taliban
* The Sufis of India and Pakistan
* Sufism and Pakistani society
* Why are they targeting the Sufis?
* /Sufism-in-Punjab/Sufis faced threatening from punjabi Taliban in Punjab
* Difficulties faced by Sufism in Pakistan

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