Lecture 13 - Sufi Literature (Mysticism, Poetry, Folk Culture)

Added: 2026-05-09

[00:00:20]Uh, welcome friends to this new lecture.

[00:00:23]The title is on your screen. Sufi literature, mysticism, poetry, folk culture. That's going to be very interesting because the topic is very close to my heart. The entire Indian knowledge tradition is close to my heart. But this is specifically Sufi and Bi literature is especially uh somewhat very uh unique in that way because it presents the entire uh essence of Indian knowledge traditions in a spiritual way.

[00:00:53]So agenda for today's discussion is what is the origin of Sufi and Sufism? How sufism developed in Indian culture? What is the nature of Sufi literature? How Sufis were exposed to Indian mysticism or how Sufi literature contributed to Indian knowledge traditions? What are noted compositions of Sufism? So let's enter into the discussion genesis of the term Sufi. What do we mean by the term?

[00:01:16]So originally that term comes from the Arabic Sufi. Arabic term Sufi that comes from the Suf. Suf means the wool or sometimes it comes from the suffa or the sufa or the suff. So many words are there. So let's have a look what is the origin and this is the picture on your screen that depicts that connects you the emotionally to the idea of sufism that connects with the isolation or the meditation and so on.

[00:01:48]uh referring to the coarse woolen garment that souf means uh the coarse woolen garment worn by early aesthetics to express detachment from worldly pleasure. This definition has been given by the Nicholson in 1914 who translated the kashful maju one of the treatises of Persian alsoism.

[00:02:08]Then genesis of the terms again comes from uh the asabis sufa. This is a place people of the bench. It was a place when prophet of Islam uh prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam he constructed the first mosque of Islam that is called the mazjit nabi. And at the gate of Mazjitan Navi there was a platform where these people who were very uh uh dear to the prophet they used to sit there they used to worship there in the company of the prophet. So these people came to be known as the asab sufa asab here the companions of the prophet Muhammad who used to sit on that sufa on this platform. So from where this term comes the Sufi they lived an aesthetic life and stayed mostly near the prophet's mosque in Madina Mazitan Nabi that is given and modernday picture of this uh uh uh this asabu this this sufa the platform is inside the mosque that is given by the red carpet covered by this boundary wooden boundary and uh in the first picture you see that was the original picture where uh the platform was there uh behind or in front of the Mazitanabi Assab sofa known for their pity, spiritual devotion and poverty. Then Greek word sophia it means wisdom. So very less people or Sufi scholars have a consensus on this origin. Then suff first row in the prayer when uh you enter into the mosque than if you are in the first row before the uh after the imam who offers the prayer or the head priest you can say in the mosque. So if someone is in the first row he is called the that that row is known as the suff and you are in the first row then uh the sufi word cames from there. The people who always remained in the first suff or the first row for the worship obviously safa means purity. This is another term that gave horizon to the term sufi who has a pure heart or the clean heart.

[00:04:10]Then again Sufi's focus on inner purification, cleansing from ego, pride and worldly attachments to attain spiritual enlightenment. Then Sufi into South Asia. Sufiism is spread in the South Asia during 12th and 13th century and Chishi who settled in Ajmir and around in the 12th century in the very beginning who started the Chishi order of Sufism in India known for universal love and service. uh on your screen. His torm is given situated in modern day Amir. Hazan is Ammed Ninolia.

[00:04:46]He was a disciple of Kajamarin Chishi.

[00:04:48]His tomb is in Delhi. This is given on your screen. Then Amir Kusra was a famous disciple of Azatamudin Alia. He was a Sufi poet and musician. uh uh sometimes he is also credited to the music and kabali and the zabani hindavi in which he composed the poetry in Hindi language and udu language also then hassan basri these are the some early aesthetics and sufi 8 and 12th century they were basically not in India but basra Iran Baghdad these were the areas where sufiism developed out of the Arab boundaries so these are the early Sufis of Islam early Sufis of Islamic mysticism rather than Islam uh Hassan Al-Basri, Rabi Adavia, Ibrahim Adam and uh Usi Juned Baghdadi, Bait Bustami, Al-Halaj, Abu Hamid al- Ghazali. These are popular or these are unique because all of them or some of them composed their uh uh experiences in the form of the books or in the form of the narratives or in the form of the letters or in the form of the descriptions. they are known as the malusat or the maktubat they wrote the letters to their disciples. So these letters these malfus and these narrations they came to be known as the Sufi literature right from the very beginning. So today we find uh these reminiscences or these collections of literature in the form of Sufi literature. So here uh Roomie is one of uh the most celebrated Sufis of Turkish form of Sufism. He started the Turkish form of sophism. Molana Jalaludin Roomi the mystic poet and dvves. Roomie and his followers integrated music into their rituals as an articles of faith.

[00:06:36]The roomi is basically known for a specialized form of uh sufism that also offers the whirling dance and the music.

[00:06:44]Most renowned for mashnavi. He is known for his wonderful celebrated Sufi literature. Masnavi Molana room that is the mystical dimension of Quranic teachings. Roomi emphasized that music uplifts our spirit to realms above and we hear the tunes of the gates of paradise. Their impact on classical poetry, calligraphy and visual arts was profounded in Turkey. Even modern day Turkey, you can find the influence of room upon the lives and the architectures and the philosophies and the thoughts of the people. So uh roomi and sufi whirling dance this is a unique contribution whirling dance is like that it is uh given on your screen was himself a dervish and sufi mystic dervish literally means doorway an entrance from this material world to the spiritual heavenly world the whirling dervish is associated to evolution of Ottoman high culture sufi whirling is a spiritual ecstasy so here you can see these are the certain uh in Turkey also even in nowadays Sufi festival is celebrated everywhere in India in Delhi and different parts of India everywhere around February or January and there uh the team from the spiritual team from Turkey they come and they participate in such festivals. So one of the uh uh pictures or the videos for your uh you may have >> [music] >> So it was A glimpse of some Sufi whirling dance that was uh initiated by Malana Jalarutin Romeiki. So here who is a Sufi and what is Sufism? One who purifies heart. Sufi one who remains secluded in his essence only. No one except Allah except uh him nor he accepts anyone except Allah. That's a beautiful definition. Inner purity reflected in his speech and conduct good manners. Adab that is called adab in all aspects of life. Then sufism begins with knowledge, fear of Allah, fear of god and purity of heart. Indian sufism uh philosophy, religion and spiritual quest. You see there are certain Sufi thinkers and poets that uh profounded or that that uh magnified the spiritual literature or the Sufi literature uh by contributing um they all belong to India. Sha Abdul Latif Metani uh he was a Sufi of the Sind Baba Fariduin Gan Shakar Shia Hussein Sha Sultan Bahu Bullesa Varis Alisha and Lalan Fakir of Bengal Bal or Suf Sufi mystic music.

[00:09:57]Bowels are basically they are also the Sufi singers and the Sufi performers. uh then uh uh Lalun Fakir and their followers like Bowels they rejected orthodoxy and cast and then Malik Muhammad Jai in 16th century he was a famous Hindi poet or also and this is the bowel this is a picture of a bowel in the picture you see that this is an instrument that is called the aktara they hold it bowels of Bengal they hold it and they just play the tune of a spirituality and they just engrossed engrossed in spiritual flavor, a spiritual flower and uh uh then certain Sufi literature we can have a glimpse on it for which this entire lecture le lecture is there. Risala al- Kusheria one of the early Sufi literatures that uh he started the Sufi uh intellectual compositions. So uh Rala Kosheria was composed by Imam Kosheri. Here is the uh translation version of uh originally it was composed in Arabic language but now it is available as episal on sufism al kusharis key themes is described as structure and function of hanka sufi seminary. It defines adab that is etiquates of sufi teachers and students.

[00:11:16]It introduces terms like murid or disciple and she like a spiritual master. It explains spiritual stations like Makamat and states Ahawal. Then another important book by Imam Ghazali ulum ya ulumin that was composed during uh 11th century by Abu Hamemed al- Ghazali. Key themes covers the integrate uh integrates Sharia that is Islamic law with Sufi spirituality. sections on adab of teaching and learning and then discusses spiritual mentoring and the role of the uh murchid that is guide. Uh then emphasizes inner purification that is called tuskia in the terminology of sufism a classic in both Islamic pedagogy and spiritual ethics widely used in madrasas and kankas during 12th and 13th centuries.

[00:12:13]Then another book uh uh assul to the mysteries of divine unity that was composed in Persian and author was Abu Sahed Abulkar. Uh key themes offers anecdotes and teachings of Abu Sahed and early Persian Sufi. Then it describes community of Sufis and Sufi living sama spiritual music and adab. It emphasizes love, humility, a love, humility and services to other that is called the khmat and it provides a vivid picture of early khanka atmosphere and spiritual mentorship. Then kashul maju that was composed in the boundaries of that time India because we are talking about the 11th century at that time Lahore was the part of India and he was a resident of Lahore. He used to live there his kashwul majum unveiling of the wield. It is the first retise on sufism in Persian language and this is translated by uh Nicholson Renald Nicholson. Uh author is Ali man al-Hujiri. He is popularly known as the data ganbak. Key themes. One of the earliest Persian Sufi text describes types of Sufi orders, rituals, etiquates and role of a spiritual teachers.

[00:13:32]Provides details of Khanka life, disciple and hierarchy, discipline and hierarchy. It offers biographies of famous early Sufis because this book mentions as much as 10 sils more than 10 silas of Sufis around 12 or 13 silas of Sufis popular at that time during his time major terms and manners in the Sufism. This book also offers the pedagogy and the manners and the teaching and the types of teachers types of people and so on. So this is very important book for the teaching principles in the Sufism.

[00:14:07]And then Saru Olia lives of the saints that is a biographical type of Sufi book. Mir Kmani composed it in 13th and 14th century. Key themes include the focuses on Chishi Sufis in India including Namud Dinolia details Khanka life in an Indian context. It describes the spiritual pedagogy, music, charity and teaching methods. a key source on the early institutionalization of sufism in India.

[00:14:35]So, Avariful Marif is another very important book by Sheikh Shahabuddin.

[00:14:41]Soravi language is Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Udu and English. And uh you see this is this book is uh also translated in English. Almost all the books are translated in English.

[00:14:52]Key themes cover uh khanka system and organization adab that is etiquates and uh of the murid disciple and role of sheh spiritual guide. It is basically a manual for uh the pedagogues manual for the teachers or the teacher educators.

[00:15:10]It also discusses the balance of sharia and hakika hakat that is sharatikat marfat hakikat. These are the four stages of sufism. So it discusses the two. It shaped institutional Sufism in India, Persia, Arab world and a Sufi manual widely used in Sufi seminaries or the Khanas. And you see uh Adabul Muridi this book is equally important.

[00:15:34]Atticates of the seekers. Murid here refers to the seekers of the knowledge.

[00:15:40]So eticates of the seekers or disciples.

[00:15:42]Abu Najib Aurora. He was the uncle maternal uncle of Shahabuin Sorwarti who composed Aariful Marif. Key themes covered by this book a Sufi rules for novice that is Adab Muridin. Systematic rules of conduct for Sufi disciples.

[00:16:00]Adab towards the sheh in Kanka and company of others. Rules of uh kalva is spiritual retreat when and in isolation a sufi when sits for meditation the isolation. What should be the rules that is discussed in this book that is the called the kalwat and companionship with other disciples. Spiritual readiness stages of disciple uh discipline one of the earliest detailed manuals on Sufi ethics and pedagogical methods. Then introductory spiritual training program for novice. Then uh Sufufism Sheikh and Mured are specifically discuss the subject matter of these entire Sufi literature. In Indian equivalent it is guru and shisha parumpara. So sufism gives utmost importance to this aspect and almost in all the books what we have discussed so far you see there is a compulsory chapter on the adhab murid or the rules for the disciplehip.

[00:16:58]Then Sufism in India, mystical Islamic tradition known for promoting uh tolerance, spirituality and interfaith dialogues that developed in India in the form of different Sufi cults, Sufi Sulas and each sula is associated with the uh principal founder of that souls. Chishti Sula, Nakshandhi, Saruradi, Kadari, Nakshbandhi, Chhatari, Rishi Sulsilla developed in Kashmir. The na name is very astonishing because she nuruin was the prof founder of this sula but he used to use the term rishi in his name because he was very much inspired by the li uh kashmiri sufi lady sufi saint and he was also inspired by the upnishadik mysticism as dharashiko was also inspired in the same way. So he started the rishi silsa in Kashmiri sufism and then early chishti sufi sayings and maluzat they are also the part of sufi literature composed by namadinolia by uh shehikh salibishi of he also belonged to the chishti sula and alawudin sabir kaleri and also by baba fared and nisamuin olia and uh uh you see that uh uh Chishi himself under the title Anisul Arva Favadul Favad. Favadul Fawad was written by uh it is a collection of the sayings of Nisamuinia and his assemblies or the majus and whatever he used to say to the disciples. It was recorded by Amir Hassan Siji. He was his disciple and a very good friend of Amir Kosu. So that book came to be known as the favadul favad. And these are the books.

[00:18:40]Sanva Favad Malat of Nisamia author Amirasan Sizi then Dalai Aribin and then Shalokas or Dhas of Baba Faredit's couplets and many poems composed by Baba Fared uh are the part of the Gurug gran Sahab because he was very good friend of the sik gurus also because Sufis had very cordial relations with yogis on the one hand and uh sik gurus also on the other hand. So uh they were all the people of love. Sufis, yogis and sik gurus they were all the people of love. So no need to uh talk about any kind of discrimination on their part. So that's why they shared the spiritual literature amongst themselves. And these are the Indian philosophical works by the Sufis uh Miratulhikaya because Sufis were equally inspired by the Indian mysticism available in the opanishas and they chishi Sufis also used to adopt the practices suggested by the heart yoga.

[00:19:47]Nisamuin olia and khajamin chishi used to perform the pranayyam habsidam it is the term which is used for the pranayam and chakra kundalini yoga these were all the parts of uh daily routine of the khankas in in in the in the systems of sufism. So they also translated many uh mystical uh literature of uh Indian culture or Indian philosophical traditions like uh uh you see on your screen a Sufi interpretation of Bhagat Gita was done by Abu Rahman Chishi under the title Miratulhikayat.

[00:20:24]This is the commentary on Bhagat Gita or interpretation of Bhagat Gita. Then Sananka Daran and Patangjali Yok Sut was translated in Arabic by Albaruni. Then Alakbani it was written by Hamemed Dudu Nagori he was a Hindi Sufi poet. Then Jot Niranjan Rula Mushtaki he was a Sufi scholar he was inspired by the idea of Lord Shiva. So that's why jot niranjan and hul hayat it is one of the ancient text of amrit yog that is amrit kund originally written in Sanskrit during 11th or 10th century but it's I don't think that it's available the original sanskrit text is not available today in the form of manuscripts but its translation by sheikh abdul kudus kang gohi in Arabic language is still available and bhrul hayat it is the persian translation of amrit kund by Sheikh Muhammad Hos then Parasbach. It is not so that only Sufis translated the Indian books. Many Persian and Arabic text were also translated by the Indian saints and rishies like one of them is the Paras Bhag. It is the Hindi translation of Imam Gazali's schemia sad and its translation was done by Swami Sanatan Maharaj in 1952 and it was published by the Mushi Naval Kishor press of Lacna one of the renowned presses of India.

[00:21:48]Then man it's very astonishing that it is the partial Hindi translation of the Quran few chapters of Quran but the title given by uh uh this shafas Rahman of Muradabad district of UP in 1815 he translated this few chapters of Quran and he gave the title man moan that's very interesting that the translation is Quran and the title is manuan because he considered that man moan as prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam who manala as Lord Krishna also mesmerizes the people in the same way. Then rush the da nama a treatise on the interreation between the traditions of nat yogis and sufis. Sheikh Abdul Kudus Gangohhi and then she nuru din rishi founder of the rishi sufi uh in Kashmir.

[00:22:40]Then Indian symbols in Punjabi Cindi Sufi Kalam is also there. Sultan Bahu Bulles Sha they all use the Indian symbols of mysticism of society Hindu symbols and the Hindu traditions in their poetry. Shahabdul Latif a Sufi of Sind they used to go out with wandering yogis in his youth and perform yogic practices and he also gives the beautiful narratives of yogi sadhana in his poetry then Bullesha was a great Sufi saint of Punjab special impression on Vdanta philosophy is visible in his poetry at many places Sultan Bahu's poetry words like Hindu Muslim temple mosque are used to symbolize mysticism Bullesa says in one of the Punjabi kalam neither Hindu nor Musman let us sit and spin abandoning the pride and religion either Sunni nor Shia. So this is Bullesa and again you see Bullesa lessons from the dogs. This is very famous uh uh song of Bullesa often sung by the Punjabi singers.

[00:23:45]Then you see that he compares a worshipper with the awakening of the dog at night.

[00:23:52]And at the last he says that So the dogs also uh uh uh are awaken the whole night. If you are uh awakening and you are not sleeping and you are worshiping that what especially you are doing the same thing is being done by the dogs and they are more faithful to their masters as we to our supreme lord.

[00:24:20]So that's why that dog may take the advantage even if you are not awaken or you are sleeping. So this is the mystical poetry uh composed by the Sufis and this is the part of Indian knowledge traditions.

[00:24:34]Then language traditions and Sufi scholars Persian was the court language while Arabic was the language of the Sufis used the language of the common people to reach the masses. So they also contributed to develop a common language for the uh uh conversations of the people and that's why they originated the zaban hindavi or hindustani or the udu udu came to be known as the language of the people during that time 13th and 14th century and udu is purely the language of India nowhere else it originated rather it's the pure Indian languages then sufi literature abounds with metaphors and symbols dried from Indian culture sufis and Muslim writers presented Islam in Indian languages and Indian culture in Hindustani written in the Persian script which later came to be known as the Udu. This cultural and linguistic exchange brought Hindus and Muslims closer to each other. Then poetry of Udu, Hindi and Persian. These are the specific contribution of the Sufi literature. In the Hindi poetry of Shikh Hamemeduin Nagori there are descriptions of yogic practices. Shikh Abdul Kudus Kanghi in his work rush nama written under the pen name Alak used the term Alak Niranjan from Hindu mysticism and interpreted it as equivalent to the Sufi concept of Gatuljud unit of being.

[00:25:54]In the same way Abdul Wahid Bilgami in his book Hakkai Hindi used Vashnavaki as the theme of his poems which were read with great reverence among the Chishti Sufis and the Pranath sect of Gujarat is a unique tradition that emerged from the synthesis of Islamic and Indian religious beliefs and from Miraal Mir Takimir and Minham to modern poets like Farra Gorakpuri and Rahhati Indori and many other udu poets. We see the marvelous udu poetry a profound asset of Indian knowledge traditions because most of the books during medival period were translated either in Persian, Udu or uh Arabic. So most of the part of Indian knowledge tradition is was preserved in these three languages and of course in Hindi. So that's why these languages cannot be neglected because they consist or they they preserve the larger amount of the Indian knowledge traditions in the translated version. So in our another lecture of translation of Indian knowledge tradition translation we will discuss more about it. Then Sufi Khanka centers of education a unique contribution of Sufism. Khankas were the places where uh the teachings of the uh uh behavior or the conduct or the purification of behavior was taught apart from the uh canonical uh descriptions in the madrasas or the theoretical teaching in the madrasas.

[00:27:25]Khanas were the centers of the purification of self. So Abu Sah Abul established first kanka in nishapur Iran. In the khanka you don't just learn about god you begin to feel him in your heart. That is the Sufi saying. Then educational functions at Ga Khanka were basically center for spiritual education, Turbia or Taskia. First Kanka symbol was Sufa in Madina. Then Islamic text, music, sama, poetry and calligraphy. When Khanas were established in India, their nature and their functioning was highly inspired by the Indian culture and tradition. They were entirely different from the Khanas of the Iraq or Basra or Iran. So Khanka here were widely inspired by the ashram system of this nation and opanishadic mysticism. So that's why they are very much associated with the Indian culture and traditions. Then Sufi sama and kalam that's a very unique contribution of sufism. Even nowadays you see that the Sufi music is very popular even in the Indian movies, Indian cinema also the Sufi sama spiritual practice of listening to music, poetry or chanting in a devotional setting for inner purification is spiritual ecstasy that is called the vaj and closeness to god.

[00:28:40]So kavali comes from the term kal kal or the statements of hazat ali. It is the main uh uh content that is often sung in the kavali manto ma ma instrumental music because everything comes from the hazat hazat mola ali he was the one of the companions of prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam. So whatever he said that became the content of the kavali that is sung on the tune of music spiritual calam instrumental music recitation of sufi poetry and chanting divine names that is zikra this is the content so entirely spiritual music so I have brought for you the only two examples from the nushat fat alihan and you just have a glimpse of what kawali is >> [music] >> be huge.

[00:29:59]>> [singing] >> Halle happy happy.

[00:30:29]Hallelujah.

[00:30:35]Amen.

[00:30:54]So I think you enjoyed it. Now uh the legacy of Sufi music and Kalam Amir Kosro Nusatwat Ali Khan Abida Pervvin Sabri brothers Vardali brothers because there is no distinction of boundaries in the spiritual arena. Dharashiko found the spiritual unity between upanishas and Islamic mysticism. So music cannot be divided in the name of the boundaries or in the name of the uh uh uh the the the divisions in the hearts because all the hearts can feel the purity of love without any discrimination. That why I have collected these names from across the boundaries too. They all belong to when Sufism developed in India there was no boundaries political division of the two nations. So that's why you understand it.

[00:31:42]Mosin who doesn't know it then uh yes you can have a glimpse of uh this one.

[00:32:16]So uh now we come due to the positive of time u we just have a glimpse of Shahdul Lativ Siddhi Sufi Kalam uh he wrote about the he described in his poetry about the yogis and their uh routine. He was very much inspired and Amir Kushru again in Zabani Hindavi he writes the uses of the Indian symbols and the social and spiritual symbols like in the same way and in another Persian he uses the hijab hindi and the Indian symbols also here you see that zihal mski maga So this is the mesmeriism of the language what Amir Kosro uses in Islam.

[00:33:22]So uh now coming towards the end these are the suggested reading towards the sufism. If you are interested you may go through them. I am winding up this lecture with the beautiful lines of malana jalaludin room. You have to keep breaking your heart until it opens.

[00:33:39]Thank you very much. Wish you all the best. God bless.

[00:33:44][music]