Sufi martyrs of love: the Chishti Sufism in South Asia and beyond

Sufism is a religion which emphasizes direct knowledge of the divine within each person, and meditation, music, song, and dance are seen as crucial spiritual strides toward attaining unity with God. Sufi paths of mysticism and devotion, motivated by Islamic ideals, are still chosen by men and women in countries from Morocco to China, and there are nearly one hundred orders around the world, eighty of which are present and thriving in the United States. The Chishti Sufi order has been the most widespread and popular of all Sufi traditions since the twelfth-century. Sufi Martyrs of Love offers a critical perspective on Western attitudes towards Islam and Sufism, clarifying its contemporary importance, both in the West and in traditional Sufi homelands. Finally, it provides access to the voices of Sufi authorities, through the translation of texts being offered in English for the first time. Cover 1 Half-Title 2 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dediaction 6 Contents 8 Figures 10 Acknowledgments 14 Introduction 16 1. What is a Sufi Order? 25 2. The Core Chishti Practices 41 3. The Art of Ancestry 61 4. The Chishti Masters 79 5. Major Chishti Shrines 98 6. Colonial Chishtis 118 7. Modern Day Chishtis 141 Appendix: 159 Notes 200 Bibliography on the Chishtiyy 220 Select Bibliography on the Chishtiyy 233 Index of Names and Glossary of Terms 246 Front Matter....Pages I-XIV Introduction....Pages 1-9 What is a Sufi Order?....Pages 11-26 The Core Chishti Practices....Pages 27-46 The Art of Ancestry....Pages 47-64 The Chishti Masters....Pages 65-83 The Major Chishti Shrines....Pages 85-104 Colonial Chishtis....Pages 105-127 Modern Day Chishtis....Pages 129-146 Back Matter....Pages 147-241 The first and major point to make about Sufi orders is simple but perplexing: We don't understand them, or at least we haven't figured out how to understand them as historical developments.