Sufi Orders
Sufism is mostly practiced within fraternal orders. Each order is headed by a Sufi master who teaches his version or "method" to his followers. To join an order, beginners must show serious interest in pursuing the spiritual path, and take a vow to straighten their lives and to obey their teachers.
The initiation ceremony follows the example of the Prophet Muhammad when he asked each of his followers to take a vow of loyalty before he embarked on controversial negotiations with his enemies at Hudaybiah.
The seekers advance toward their spiritual potential using meditations from the Qur'an and exercises designed by the teachers to meet the seekers' needs. The advance takes place in a stepwise fashion to raise the seekers spiritual presence from one condition or rank to the next.
The early steps in a Sufi retreat provided the inspiration for all 12-step programs.
Seekers who reach enlightenment, are given a future life prediction by their master and are ordered to leave and start a new branch at a distant location. This follows the practice of the Prophet Muhammad who used to send his top companions to distant locations to call people to Islam and to advise new converts and administer Muslim Law. The Prophet used to give those companions a future life prediction before their departure.
Sufis hold a ceremony, which is usually open to the public, every Thursday evening to recite poetry, listen to music or dance. The best known Sufi poets are Rabi'a Al-'Adawiyyah ( the best known Sufi woman), Ibn Al-Farid (the best Sufi poetry), Sa'di, Hafiz, and Rumi.
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Revised on 10/3/99
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