REL 137g 1st Edition Lecture 16 Current LectureSufism - continuedSufi, from woolen cloakSafa: puritySuffah: poorAsceticism Hasan al-BasariA way to avoid distractions by surviving on the absolute minimum of what is neededTo transcend all the obligations of society by withdrawing from attachment to the materialWithdrawing from attachment to social recognition and therefore ego, self-validationNo mysticismRenounce worldly pleasuresBut to be married and have a family did not at all negate asceticismSexual pleasure okayA clear Gnostic elementPhysicality is a problem because that is where many passions lie that can come between us andGodNotion of transcending the fleshDoing away with the self, both in passions and the egoOne is humble, not filled with pride, no drive for revenge or wealthEarly pracitioners called “Faqir”: poor, impoverishedBecomes an elitist endeavorBecause the people who were able to give up these things and be humble were the oneswho had it all in the first placeThose that were humble and already had nothing were just being themselves Critics of the early asctics Said that it was “bid’ah”: innovation that goes against the ways taught by the prophetAn internal obsession in Islam The biggest potential enemy of a religion are the followers themselves, can do more damage than outside enemiesHermits who completely withdraw from society, even those who were once royalLove traditionRabi’ah al-‘AdawiyahSold into slavery and then freedA major figure; enormous degree of charisma and a lot of influence Extreme in her asceticism regardless of her universally recognized beauty Celibate, never married Her commitment was to worship God out of pure loveThe obsession with heaven and hell undermines religionPeople should not worship based on fear in hell or hope in heaven but in pure love of God Religion entails not simple worship of God but also enjoyment of GodThe actual satisfaction of an actually loving relationship with God here and nowMysticism Al-Muhasibi Introduced a kind of religious psychologyBecame the bridge between asceticism, love and mysticism Holding to account. We can only enhance our religious life by holding the soul accountable By annihilating the self one becomes closer with
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