24.) Are
there any differences among the Sufi Orders, and, if so, are some of these Orders better
than others?
There are
no essential differences among any of the Sufi Orders. There do tend to be, however, some
differences of spiritual temperament, emphasis and practice from one silsilah to another.
For
example, some Orders permit sacred turning (e.g., the so-called Whirling Dervishes of the
Mevlevi Order), whereas other Orders may not allow such activities. Similarly, some Orders
permit sacred music during spiritual assemblies of audition, whereas certain other Orders
may not allow this to take place, although these latter Orders may permit singing
unaccompanied by musical instruments to occur.
Some Sufi
Orders may give emphasis to zikrs which are said aloud while other Orders may prefer
silent forms of remembrance. Some Orders may encourage organized service to, and for, the
community, whereas certain other Orders may de-emphasize this kind of activity while
emphasizing some other kind of commitment or service.
Whatever
these differences of temperament and emphasis may be, they are not essential in nature.
All of the Orders are in basic agreement concerning the essential nature, purpose, scope
and origins of the Sufi path.
Since all
Orders come under the same Divine umbrella of barakah, and because all Orders take their
spiritual direction and guidance from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), there can
be no sense in which one Order is better than another. Every Order is fully capable, God
willing, to assist any given individual to work toward, and, hopefully, realize the
purpose for which the mystical path exists.
When the
Madhi (May Allah be pleased with him) appears as one of the greater signs of the latter
days, he will, among other things, oversee the dissolution of the idea that Sufi Orders
are entities or institutions which can be considered as being either separate from one
another, or separate from Islam. This will be difficult for both some Sufis as well as
some Muslims to accept since it undermines some people's preconceptions concerning how
things are - although things are not this way at all except within the confines of such
preconceptions.
(Back to FAQs Menu)
|
