Sufi Rituals and Practices: Experiences from South Asia, 1200-1450

The book delves into the lesser-explored history of Sufi practices in South Asia, exploring practices like sama and zikr through the careers of the Chishti and Suhrawardi orders. It provides critical insight into Sufi exercises, the meaning, structure, and performance of sama, the debate on the legality of music, dance, and poetry as religious practices, tensions between Sufis and the State, and the importance of etiquette in Sufi communities. The author also focuses on the Deccan, weaving a seamless narrative that reflects the contributions of generations of important Sufi masters and introduces English language readers to a full-length translation of a treatise written in defense of listening to music and poetry as an integral spiritual exercise.

Format: Hardback
Length: 306 pages
Publication date: 05 December 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

The book delves into the lesser-explored history of Sufi practices in South Asia, spanning the formative period of Sufism in this region. Through the narratives of the earliest Sufi orders, Chishti and Suhrawardi, it explores practices such as sama (listening to poetry and music) and zikr (remembrance of God). This comprehensive work offers valuable insights into Sufi exercises, their meanings, structures, and performances, including the long-debated issue of the legality of music, dance, and poetry as religious practices. It also sheds light on the tensions between Sufis and the State regarding the permissibility of sama (listening) and zikr (remembrance) as core Sufi exercises. The book explores the practice of sama and zikr across different orders and emphasizes the importance of etiquette within Sufi communities. By transcending the north-south binary, the author also delves into the Deccan, weaving a seamless narrative that reflects the contributions of generations of influential Sufi masters. Furthermore, the work introduces English language readers to a full-length translation of a treatise written in defense of listening to music and poetry as an integral spiritual exercise, providing a unique perspective into the private world of Sufi practices.

Weight: 510g
Dimension: 223 x 146 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192889225