Sufism has a history in the Philippines evolving for over 1,000 years. Sufism, also known as the science of Tasawwuf, encompasses numerous interpretations by its practitioners and critics. The term is derived from the Arabic words "Safa" (purity) and "Suwf" (wool), symbolizing the woolen garments traditionally worn by Sufis. Essentially, Tasawwuf is the science of Ihsan, focusing on the purification of the self for the love of Allah. This involves following specific Tariqas (spiritual paths), practices, and litanies. Tariqas in Sufism can be compared to spiritual orders in Catholicism, such as the Jesuits, Franciscans, and Dominicans. Numerous Tariqas exist in the Philippines today, with followers spread across the country, although they have faced opposition from Wahhabis despite the Sufis' peace-loving nature. The presence of Sufism has been a leading entity increasing the reaches of Islam throughout South Asia. [1]
Historically, many Tariqas have existed, but currently, there are 41 major Tariqas. Four of these are widely recognized by scholars: Naqshbandi, Qadiri, Shadhili, and Chisti. Following the entrance of Islam in the early 8th century, Sufi mystic traditions became more visible during the 13th century before the Sultanate of Sulu and after it to the rest of Philippines, particularly, Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Zamboanga. [2]
The Ba 'Alawi sada and Persian influence saturated Southeast Asia with Islam, Sufi thinking, syncretic values, literature, and education swept throughout Nusantara and has left an indelible mark on the presence of Islam in the Philippines. [3] Sufi preachers, merchants and missionaries also settled in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi through maritime voyages and trade.
Historically, Islam reached the Philippine archipelago in the 14th century, [4] [5] through contact with Muslim Malay and Arab merchants along Southeast Asian trade networks, [6] in addition to Yemeni missionaries from the tribe of Alawi of Yemen from the Persian Gulf, southern India, and their followers from several sultanates in the wider Malay Archipelago. The first missionaries then followed in the late 14th and early 15th centuries. [7] They facilitated the formation of sultanates and conquests in mainland Mindanao and Sulu. [8]
Sufism arrived in the Philippines with the Sharif Sab’ah or Lumpang Basih, Sufi missionaries who introduced Islam to the region. Over time, elements of Tasawwuf merged with local spiritual beliefs, leading to the development of Indigenous Islam or Ilmuh kamaasan. Professor Yusuf Morales describes this as "an indigenized amalgamation of Islam from preceding schools of thought and local cultural customs." This integration became a cultural treasure, especially among the Tausugs of Sulu, passed down through generations.
In the Philippines, common Sufi practices include Mawlid (celebration of the Prophet's birth), gatherings for Isra wal Mi’raj (the Night Journey and Ascension), reciting Surah Yasin on Nisfu Sha’ban (the middle night of Sha’ban), visiting the graves of pious individuals, and performing Tahlil Arwah (prayers for the deceased). Despite increasing opposition from Wahhabis, who deem these practices un-Islamic, these traditions have been preserved.
These practices of the makhdumin , the first missionaries of Islam in the Philippines are the treasures of the Bangsamoro. There are already many practitioners of Sufism in the country from different social status. The orders or tariqas that are present in the country are: the Naqshbandi Aliya, Naqshbandi Chisti, Qadiri, Rifai, Shattari, Rifai Qadiri Shadhili, Tijani, and Khalwati. The Naqshbandi Aliya tariqa have the most followers, concentrated in Manila, Cebu, Zamboanga, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi. There are also Sufis from the students and alumni of known universities, such as the Ateneo de Manila University, the Ateneo de Zamboanga University, and Western Mindanao State University. [9]
Despite Sufism's wide acceptance among Sunnis, Wahhabism's rise has fueled opposition. Wahhabis often label Sufis as Kafir (disbelievers), Mushrik (polytheists), or practitioners of Bid’ah. Historically, Wahhabis have committed atrocities against Sufis, including desecrating graves, abusing Sufis, and murdering Sufi masters. The ISIS has also targeted Sufi scholars. Wahhabis and Salafis, lacking proper knowledge of Tasawwuf, are often driven by zealotry and bigotry.
Wahhabism has been implicated in extremism and terrorism worldwide. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] Examples of these groups are the Mahad Moro, Mahad Salamat, and Mahad Quran wal Hadith Zamboanga City, the Mercy Foundation in Manila and Davao City, the Al-Maarif Educational Center in Baguio City, and the Jamiatul Waqf al-Islamie, and Jamiato Monib al-Kouzbary al-Arabiyah in Marawi City.
Sufism is a mystic body of religious practice found within Islam which is characterized by a focus on Islamic purification, spirituality, ritualism, and asceticism.
A tariqa is a religious order of Sufism, or specifically a concept for the mystical teaching and spiritual practices of such an order with the aim of seeking haqiqa, which translates as "ultimate truth".
Sulu, officially the Province of Sulu, is a province of the Philippines in the Sulu Archipelago.
The Tausūg, are an ethnic group of the Philippines and Malaysia. A small population can also be found in the northern part of North Kalimantan, Indonesia. The Tausūg are part of the wider political identity of Muslim Filipinos of western Mindanao, the Sulu archipelago, and southern Palawan, collectively referred to as the Moro people. The Tausugs originally had an independent state known as the Sultanate of Sulu, which once exercised sovereignty over the present day provinces of Basilan, Palawan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga City, eastern part of Sabah and northeastern part of North Kalimantan. They are also known in the Malay language as Suluk.
Islam in the Philippines is the second largest religion in the country, and the faith was the first-recorded monotheistic religion in the Philippines. Historically, Islam reached the Philippine archipelago in the 14th century, through contact with Muslim Malay and Arab merchants along Southeast Asian trade networks, in addition to Yemeni missionaries from the tribe of Alawi of Yemen from the Persian Gulf, southern India, and their followers from several sultanates in the wider Malay Archipelago. The first missionaries then followed in the late 14th and early 15th centuries. They facilitated the formation of sultanates and conquests in mainland Mindanao and Sulu. Those who converted to Islam came to be known as the Moros, with Muslim conquest reaching as far as Tondo that was later supplanted by Bruneian Empire vassal-state of Maynila.
The Qadiriyya or the Qadiri order is a Sunni Sufi order (Tariqa) founded by Abdul Qadir Gilani, who was a Hanbali scholar from Gilan, Iran. The symbol of the order is the rose. A rose of green and white cloth, with a star in the middle, is traditionally worn in the cap of Qadiri dervishes. Robes of black felt are customarily worn as well. The names of God are prescribed as chants for repetition, or Dhikr, by initiates.
Muhammad al-Hasan ibn Alawi ibn al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Aziz (1944–2004), also known as Muhammad ibn Alawi al-Maliki, was one of the foremost traditional Sunni Islamic scholar of contemporary times from Saudi Arabia. He is considered to be the Mujaddid of 20th-21st century.
The Uwaisī silsila or tariqa (pathway) is a form of spiritual transmission in the vocabulary of Sufism, named after Owais al-Qarani. It refers to the transmission of spiritual knowledge between two individuals without the need for direct interaction between them.
Sheikh Uways Al-Barawi was a Somali scholar credited with reviving Islam in 19th century East Africa.
The Ba'Alawi tariqa, also known as the Tariqa Ba Alawiyya is a Sufi order centered in Hadhramawt, Yemen, but now spread across the Indian Ocean rim along with the Hadhrami diaspora. The order is closely tied to the Ba'Alawi sadah family.
Sufism has a history in India that has been evolving for over 1,000 years. The presence of Sufism has been a leading entity increasing the reaches of Islam throughout South Asia. Following the entrance of Islam in the early 8th century, Sufi mystic traditions became more visible during the 10th and 11th centuries of the Delhi Sultanate and after it to the rest of India. A conglomeration of four chronologically separate dynasties, the early Delhi Sultanate consisted of rulers from Turkic and Afghan lands. This Persian influence flooded South Asia with Islam, Sufi thought, syncretic values, literature, education, and entertainment that has created an enduring impact on the presence of Islam in India today. Sufi preachers, merchants and missionaries also settled in coastal Gujarat through maritime voyages and trade.
Qadiriyya wa Naqshbandiyya is a Sufi order which is a synthesis of the Qadiri and Naqshbandi orders of Sufism. The Qadiriyya wa Naqshbandiyya Sufi order traces back through its chain of succession to Muhammad, through the Hanbali Islamic scholar Abdul Qadir Gilani and the Hanafi Islamic scholar Shah Baha al-Din Naqshband, combining both of their Sufi orders. The order has a major presence in three countries, namely Pakistan, India, and Indonesia.
Muhammad bin Yahya al-Ninowy is a Syrian-born American Islamic scholar, theologian, and medical doctor. He has been listed among The 500 Most Influential Muslims in a publication compiled by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre in Amman, Jordan.
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.
Ghawth SayyidMir Jan Shah Saheb ibn Hasan Naqshbandi Ishaani was a Sunni saint from Kabul and contemporary supreme leader of the Naqshbandi Tariqa and Naqshbandi Ishaani Sub-Tariqa as the 7th hereditary successor of his ancestor Hazrat Ishaan.
Gibril Fouad Haddad is a Lebanese-born Islamic scholar, hadith expert (muhaddith), author, and translator of classical Islamic texts. He was featured in the inaugural list of The 500 Most Influential Muslims and has been called "one of the clearest voices of traditional Islam in the Western world", a "prominent orthodox Sunni" and a "staunch defender of the traditional Islamic schools of law." He holds ijazas from over 150 scholars across the Muslim world. He was a visiting fellow (2013-2015) then senior assistant professor (2015-2018) at the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Center for Islamic Studies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam. He is also a staunch critic of Wahhabism and Salafism.
Sufism, or Taṣawwuf, variously defined as "Islamic mysticism", or, the inward dimension of Islam, is the primary manifestation of mystical practice in Islam. Jordan is considered by many Sufis to be "a spiritual center and a fertile environment for Sufism," at least in part due to the fact that many of the narratives from the Qur’an take place within its modern borders. Many of the Sufis in Jordan today belong to one of six main orders or tariqa: Qadiri, Naqshbandi, Rifa'i, Shadhili, Khalwati, and Tijani. The oral history of Sufi practice in northern Jordan goes back at least as far as the 13th century, and was "documented as early as the 16th century in Ottoman tax registers." Sufism in modern-day Jordan remained prominent through the mid-20th century.
Up until the era of independence, Sufi orders and popular forms of Sufi religiosity dominated the religious scene, with other Islamic movements and groups beginning to emerge only later as branches of other groups already established outside the boundaries of the Hashemite Kingdom.
Islamic neo-traditionalism, also known as Wasatism is a contemporary strand of Sunni Islam that emphasizes adherence to the four principal Sunni schools of law (Madhahib), belief in one of the Ash'ari, Maturidi and Athari creeds (Aqaid) and the practice of Sufism (Tasawwuf), which Islamic neo-traditionalists consider to be the Sunni tradition.
Islam arrived in the southern Philippines in the 14th century
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