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Murshid
''Murshid'' () is Arabic for "guide" or "teacher", derived from the root ''r-sh-d'', with the basic meaning of having integrity, being sensible, mature. Particularly in Sufism it refers to a Spiritual director, spiritual guide. The term is frequently used in Sufi orders such as the Naqshbandiyya, Qadiriyya, Qādiriyya, Chishti Order, Chishtiya, Shadhiliya and Suhrawardiyya. The path of Sufism starts when a student (murid) takes an oath of allegiance or ''Bay'ah'' (''bai'ath'') with a spiritual guide (''murshid''). In speaking of this initiatory pact of allegiance, the Qur’ān (48:10) says: ''Verily they who pledge unto thee their allegiance pledge it unto none but God. The Hand of God is above their hands''.Cf. Martin Lings, ''What is Sufism'', Islamic Texts Society, Cambridge, p. 125. The murshid's role is to spiritually guide and verbally instruct the disciple on the Sufi path, but "only one who has himself reached the End of the path is a spiritual guide in the full sense of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Spiritual Director
Spiritual direction is the practice of being with people as they attempt to deepen their relationship with the divinity, divine, or to learn and grow in their personal spirituality. The person seeking direction shares stories of their encounters of the divine, or how they are cultivating a life attuned to spiritual things. The director listens and asks questions to assist the directee in his or her process of Introspection, reflection and spiritual growth. Advocates of Spiritual direction claim that it develops a deeper awareness with the spiritual aspect of being human, and that it is neither psychotherapy nor counseling nor financial planning. Historians of philosophy like Ilsetraut Hadot, Ilsetraut and Pierre Hadot have argued that spiritual direction was already practiced and recommended by the main schools of philosophy, as well as by physicians like Galen, as part of spiritual practices in Ancient Greece and Rome. Roman Catholic forms While there is some degree of variab ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Spiritual Direction
Spiritual direction is the practice of being with people as they attempt to deepen their relationship with the divine, or to learn and grow in their personal spirituality. The person seeking direction shares stories of their encounters of the divine, or how they are cultivating a life attuned to spiritual things. The director listens and asks questions to assist the directee in his or her process of reflection and spiritual growth. Advocates of Spiritual direction claim that it develops a deeper awareness with the spiritual aspect of being human, and that it is neither psychotherapy nor counseling nor financial planning. Historians of philosophy like Ilsetraut and Pierre Hadot have argued that spiritual direction was already practiced and recommended by the main schools of philosophy, as well as by physicians like Galen, as part of spiritual practices in Ancient Greece and Rome. Roman Catholic forms While there is some degree of variability, there are primarily two forms of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Murid
In Sufism, a (Arabic ) is a novice committed to spiritual enlightenment by (traversing a path) under a spiritual guide, who may take the title , or . A or Sufi follower only becomes a when he makes a pledge () to a . The equivalent Persian term is . The initiation Initiation is a rite of passage marking entrance or acceptance into a group or society. It could also be a formal admission to adulthood in a community or one of its formal components. In an extended sense, it can also signify a transformatio ... process of a is known as () or . Before initiation, a is instructed by his guide, who must first accept the initiate as his disciple. Throughout the instruction period, the typically experiences waridates like visions and dreams during personal spiritual awrads and exercises. These visions are interpreted by the . A common practice among the early Sufi orders was to grant a or a robe to the upon the initiation or after he had progressed through a series ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tariqa
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 , which translates as "ultimate truth". A tariqa has a (guide) who plays the role of leader or spiritual director. The members or followers of a tariqa are known as (singular '), meaning "desirous", viz. "desiring the knowledge of God and loving God" (also called a '). The murshid of the tariqa is also believed to be the same as the '' tzadik'' of Judaism, meaning the "rightly guided one". The metaphor of "way, path" is to be understood in connection of the term sharia which also has the meaning of "path", more specifically "well-trodden path; path to the waterhole". The "path" metaphor of ''tariqa'' is that of a further path, taken by the mystic, which continues from the "well-trodden path" or exoteric of sharia towards the esoteric '. A fourth "station" following the succession of ''shariah'', ' and ' is called ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sufism
Sufism ( or ) is a mysticism, mystic body of religious practice found within Islam which is characterized by a focus on Islamic Tazkiyah, purification, spirituality, ritualism, and Asceticism#Islam, asceticism. Practitioners of Sufism are referred to as "Sufis" (from , ), and historically typically belonged to "orders" known as (pl. ) — congregations formed around a grand (saint) who would be the last in a Silsilah, chain of successive teachers linking back to Muhammad, with the goal of undergoing (self purification) and the hope of reaching the Maqam (Sufism), spiritual station of . The ultimate aim of Sufis is to seek the pleasure of God by endeavoring to return to their original state of purity and natural disposition, known as . Sufism emerged early on in Islamic history, partly as a reaction against the expansion of the early Umayyad Caliphate (661–750) and mainly under the tutelage of Hasan al-Basri. Although Sufis were opposed to dry legalism, they strictly obs ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Naqshbandiyya
Naqshbandi (Persian: نقشبندیه) is a major Sufi order within Sunni Islam, named after its 14th-century founder, Baha' al-Din Naqshband. Practitioners, known as Naqshbandis, trace their spiritual lineage (silsila) directly to the Prophet Muhammad through the first caliph, Abu Bakr, via Ja'far al-Sadiq. This order is distinct for its strict adherence to Sharia and silent dhikr practices adopted from earlier Central Asian masters. History The order is also known as the "convergence of the two oceans" due to the presence of Abu Bakr and Jafar al-Sadiq in the ''silsila'' and the "Sufi Order of Jafar al-Sadiq". The Naqshbandi order owes many insights to Yusuf Hamadani and Abdul Khaliq Ghijduwani in the 12th century, the latter of whom is regarded as the organizer of the practices and is responsible for placing stress upon the purely silent remembrance of Allah. It was later associated with Baha al-Din Shah Naqshband in the 14th century, hence the name of the orde ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Qutb
The term () means 'axis', 'pivot', or 'pole'. Qutb can refer to celestial movements and be used as an astronomical term or a spiritual symbol. In Sufism, a is the perfect human being, ''al-Insān al-Kāmil'' ('The Universal Man'), who leads the saintly hierarchy. The is the Sufi spiritual leader who has a divine connection with God and passes knowledge on which makes him central to, or the axis of, Sufism, but he is unknown to the world. There are five s per era, and they are infallible and trusted spiritual leaders. They are only revealed to a select group of mystics because there is a "human need for direct knowledge of God". According to the Institute of Ismaili Studies, "In mystical literature, such as the writings of al–Tirmidhi, Abd al–Razzaq and Ibn Arabi (d. 1240), [] refers to the most perfect human being who is thought to be the universal leader of all saints, to mediate between the divine and the human and whose presence is deemed necessary for the existence ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Islamic Honorifics
Islamic honorifics are Arabic phrases, abbreviations, and titles that mostly appear as prefixes before or suffixes after the names of people who have had a special mission from God in the Islamic world or have done important work towards these missions. In Islamic writings, these honorific prefixes and suffixes come before and after the names of all the prophets and messengers (of whom there are 124,000 in Islam, the last of whom is the Prophet Muhammad), the Imams (the Twelve Imams in Shia Islam), the infallibles in Shia Islam and the prominent individuals who followed them. In the Islamic world, giving these respectful prefixes and suffixes is a tradition. Among the most important honorific prefixes used are Hadhrat (, '). and Imam (, ') Among the most important honorific suffixes used are (') and ('), which these two suffix phrases used specifically for the Islamic prophet Muhammad in Islamic world, its abbreviation is also given in parentheses as in Arabic and " ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Guru
Guru ( ; International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: ''guru'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian religions, Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: traditionally, the guru is a reverential figure to the disciple (or ''wikt:शिष्य, shisya'' in Sanskrit, literally ''seeker [of knowledge or truth'']) or student, with the guru serving as a "counsellor, who helps mould values, shares experiential knowledge as much as Knowledge#Hinduism, literal knowledge, an Role model, exemplar in life, an inspirational source and who helps in the spiritual evolution of a student". Whatever language it is written in, Judith Simmer-Brown says that a tantra, tantric spiritual text is often codified in an obscure twilight language so that it cannot be understood by anyone without the verbal explanation of a qualified teacher, the guru. A guru is also one's spiritual guide, who helps one to discover the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Starets
A starets ( ; ''fem.'' ) is an elder of an Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox or Eastern Catholic Churches, Eastern Catholic monastery or convent who functions as venerated adviser and teacher. ''Elders'' or ''spiritual fathers'' are charismatic spiritual leaders whose wisdom stems from God as obtained from ascetic experience. It is believed that through asceticism, ascetic struggle, prayer and hesychasm, the Holy Spirit bestows special gifts onto the elder including the ability to Faith healing, heal, Prophet, prophesy, and most importantly, give effective spiritual guidance and direction. Elders are looked upon as being an inspiration to believers and an example of saintly virtue, steadfast faith, and spiritual peace. Elders are not appointed by any authority; they are simply recognized by the faithful as being people "of the Spirit". An elder, when not in prayer or in voluntary seclusion, receives visitors (some who travel very far) and spends time conversing with them, o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rōshi
(Japanese language, Japanese: "old teacher"; "old master") is a title in Zen Buddhism with different usages depending on sect and country. In Rinzai Zen, the term is reserved only for individuals who have received ''inka shōmei'', meaning they have completed the entire ''kōan'' curriculum; this amounts to a total of fewer than 100 people at any given time. In Sōtō Zen and Sanbo Kyodan it is used more loosely. This is especially the case in the United States and Europe, where almost any teacher who has received dharma transmission might be called rōshi, or even use it to refer to themselves, a practice unheard of in Japan. Etymology The Japanese ''rōshi'' is a translation of the more antiquated Chinese ''Laozi'' (Wade-Giles; ''Lao Tzu'') meaning 'Old Master' and connoting the archetype of a wise old man. The modern Chinese 老師/老师 (''Chinese'' ) is a common word for teacher or professor without the religious or spiritual connotation of ''rōshi''. Chinese Chan Buddhi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pir (Sufism)
''Pir'' () or ''Peer'' is a title for a Sufi spiritual guide. They are also referred to as a '' Hazrat'' (from ) . The title is often translated into English as "saint". In Sufism, a Pir's role is to guide and instruct his disciples on the Sufi path. This is often done by general lessons (called ''Suhbas'') and individual guidance. Other words that refer to a Pir include ''Murshid'' () and ''Sarkar'' (). The title ''Pir Baba'' (from ) is common in the Indian subcontinent used as a salutation to Sufi masters or similarly honored persons. After their death, people visit their tombs or mausolea, referred to as dargah or maqbara. An alternative title is Pirzada or Peerzada. The people having this title are also called Shah. The title is most used by Pirs of Sindh. The title is common in Iran, India and Afghanistan. Pir-o-Murshid is a Persian term that is often used in Sufism Sufism ( or ) is a mysticism, mystic body of religious practice found within Islam which is ch ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
