Define Sufisticism

These disagreements led to the development of three rival sects in the Muslim community. The Shi’ites supported Ali’s claim to the caliphate and believed that the position of caliph rightly belonged to the descendants of Ali. Those known as the Sunnis believed that the first three caliphs had been correctly chosen and supported the Umayyad Caliphate. The most militant followers of Ali formed the Kharijite (rebel) sects. Most of the 800 million Muslims of today are either Sunnis or Shi’ites.

Amina Wadud, a historical Muslim feminist argued the absence of women’s voice within the structure of Islam. In observing many parts that govern Islam, it is men that control them and it is women that are left out of the equation. Amina recognizes that Islam is a religion of equal rights, however through the examination of the sacred text the Qur’an and the language it only refers to men, the presents of men’s voice in the writing of traditional tafasir, and even the position of leading the people religiously. This radical convert questioned these actions and as a result she went against them being the first Muslim women to deliver Friday payer to mixed gender congregations and has also given her own interpretation of the Qur’an within the

“Women and Gender in Islam” by Leila Ahmed was published in 1992, at a time when research on Arab women was a young, newly emerging field of study. Leila Ahmed is an Egyptian American writer and feminist. Her text “Women and Gender in Islam” targets proclaimed feminists, both western and non-western, as the intended audience. The text is involved with the discourse of gender, the discourses of women, the discourses of feminist, and colonial and post-colonial discourses.

Islam, meaning submission or submitting oneself fully to God, is one of the world’s largely practiced religions. Those that participate and practice the Islamic religion

When studying Islam, it is important to understand the essential elements of the faith, how they are practiced, and the distinctions among the three branches: Shiite Islam, Sunni Islam, and Sufism.

Aisha bint Abu Bakr was a leader, a woman, a wife, a theologian, a scholar and a political activist. She was precocious, loyal, brave and remarkably intelligent. These aspects of her humble life have allowed her to make a powerful impact on the development and expression of Islam that “no woman [has] reached”[1]. Not only did she influence the position of women in Islamic society, Islamic ethics, and the understanding and interpretation of the Qur’an, but she also modelled these qualities for the men, women and children of Islam.

There are few different branches of Islam but the two most prominent branches are Sharia law and Sufism. Sharia law and Sufism both seem to contradict each other. Sharia laws are the Qur’anic rules for the tangible world. The law includes predetermined punishment and rewards for actions, clearly defined by the Qur’an. It also has a spectrum of the lawfulness of actions, ranging from required to forbidden. Sufism, however, takes a more mystical approach to the practice of Islam. Sufism focuses on rejecting the material world and becoming one with God through self-annihilation. Despite the difference, I argue Sharia law and Sufism can be reconciled because although one person cannot practice both at the same time, but both versions of Islam

Chraibi also took a monumental risk by making Khadija one of the central figures of mysticism in the novel. Though she has been regarded in traditional texts as one of Islam’s most important women, as well as Muhammad’s first and, arguably, most influential wife, no one gave as much importance to her in Muhammad’s journey as did Chraibi in this novel. In the Sahih Muslim, Muhammad said “God Almighty never granted me anyone better in this life than her. She accepted me when people rejected me” (Wikipedia). Khadija is known to have been extremely beautiful, Muhammad’s closest confidant, his only monogamous wife, and

Mevlana Jalal al- Din Rumi is one of the most influential Islamic mystics of all times. It is no surprise that even seven hundred years after his death; he remains to be the best selling poet in North America. His poetry reflects the teachings of Islam and his opinions on various matters such as faith, prayer, love, free will etc. are assembled in a book called “The signs of the Unseen”. Occasionally, commentators dissociate Rumi poetry’s from Islam but the fact is that Rumi’s entire writings are inspired from the Quran and sayings of Prophet (PBUH) and represent the essence of Islam.

The purpose of this essay is to analyse S. Rushdie's Good Advice Is Rarer Than Rubies from feminist perspective. To fully understand the views that Rushdie exhibited, with respect to feminist approach , it's important to notice the contrast between men's expectations about women in Islamic culture and the unforeseen behaviour of Miss Rehana, claiming her freedom.

The religious practice of Islam began with the prophet Muhammed, which means surrender in Islam. The central idea is to surrender to the will og God. The Qu'ran is a book that actually contains very little about Muhammed himself but more of the stories of the prophet that provides narration of his life. The religious practice of Islam means "to submit to God," as soon as the Islamic armies conquered land they began building mosques. The religious practice is based on five pillars called the arkan, which all members should adhere too.

The poem by Rumi about the Sufism part of Islam is a very beautifully written text. However, the piece is quite old and has gone through many different translations and interpretations from many different people and languages. It is hard to differentiate whether these are Rumi’s words or one of the many translators’ interpretations. Although, since this version was translated into English, it could also have used words that are more persuading to English

Sunni – a member of one of the “divisions of Islam” faith which basis is faith on “Sunna as a basis for law” (Dictionary)

corrupted. The Sufi's path is a path of love, to be thankful of all God's

In discussing the role of women in contemporary society there are three main areas that can be addressed. The perceptions of woman within contemporary Muslim societies. The status, position and role of woman in the Qur'an and in early Islam